Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inclusive placement learning for diverse higher education students: anxiety, uncertainty and opportunity

ABSTRACT There is an increasing policy emphasis on supporting diversity and inclusive practice, as well as graduate employability for higher education students. Work-based learning (WBL), placement learning, or work integrated learning (WIL) is a key component of many undergraduate degree programmes. However, for many students, factors such as disability, ill-health, caring or work responsibilities can impact on their placement experience. This paper presents research based upon students’ experiences and staff members’ views of placement learning. It offers a wider discussion of inclusion and inclusive practice that goes beyond a single focus on disability. Firstly, the paper addresses the challenges that a diverse range of students face when considering placement and then discusses the experiences of staff in support of this activity. These are conceptualised within the three themes of anxiety, uncertainty, but also opportunity. As researchers and reflective practitioners, the authors present discussion that aims to develop our understanding of inclusive practice, inclusive placement learning, and meeting the needs of diverse groups of students. These are universal requirements, relating to themes of social justice, reaching across different institutions, subject disciplines, and international boundaries.
The Interplay of the Levers of Control in Product Development

This paper contributes to the research on management control systems (MCS) in product development (PD) by exploring the performance effects and the interplay of the levers of control (LOC), i.e., interactive, diagnostic, beliefs, and boundary control systems. We use data from a survey of 468 senior managers from the manufacturing industry and identify the direct and indirect effects of the LOC on PD performance and organizational performance. Therefore, we first scrutinize the possible types of interplay of the levers by comparing by structural equation modeling a base model of unrelated LOC (additive model) with (a) a model of mutual association of LOC (interdependence model), (b) a model of joint use of LOC (interaction model), and (c) a combined model of mutual association and joint use of LOC (combined interdependence/interaction model). The results show that the interdependence model is the most suitable in terms of fit to the data and parsimony, providing evidence of the fact that the LOC move together and influence PD performance and organizational performance both directly and mediated through each other. Interestingly, PD performance is positively affected by both the beliefs system and the diagnostic use of performance measures, as these LOC have a significant direct effect and generate the largest total effects on PD performance. However, the boundary system and the interactive use of performance measures, the last being praised in previous literature for its suitability for PD, have no significant direct effects, show lower total effects than beliefs and diagnostic control systems, but have rather meaningful indirect effects on PD performance. These results hold across different industries and firm sizes. The paper contributes to research and practice by uncovering the interdependence of the LOC in PD, thus clarifying the role of each of the levers for PD performance and organizational and therefore providing suggestions for a more successful design of LOC for PD. Furthermore, it directs the attention of researchers to the consequences of potential misspecifications of LOC models.
A Strong Secure V2I Authentication Scheme from PKI and Accumulator

The Internet of Vehicles takes intelligent connected cars as the main body of information interaction perception, and realizes intelligent management, efficient control and timely dispatch of smart traffic by establishing a vehicle-cloud-road-pedestrian interaction system. However, key leakage and illegal intrusion attacks have caused many security risks in this field. To solve the problem of untimely revoking of illegal vehicles in V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure) authentication, we give an improvement combining PKI and accumulator. First, we utilize PKI to achieve strong authentication. Second, we employ accumulator for timely and secure revocation. Finally, we utilize blockchain to store certificates and CRLs to prevent single points of failure. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that our work satisfies: (1) strong authentication; (2) timely and revocation; (3) high efficiency.
Optimization of a Vaned Diffuser Geometry for Radial Compressors: Part I — Investigation of the Influence of Geometry Parameters on Performance of a Diffuser

In the present investigation the influence of different diffuser geometry parameters on the stage efficiency and operating range of radial compressor stages has been studied. In addition to a parallel-walled vaneless diffuser, 20 vaned diffusers were experimentally tested with three different impellers having the same meridional contour. All diffusers were designed for industrial compressor stages with subsonic diffuser flow and had parallel sidewalls, diffuser vanes with simple circular are profiles of constant thickness and rounded leading edges.In the first part of this investigation the length of the vaneless space, the number of diffuser vanes, the vane length, the inlet vane angle of a diffuser, and the solidity have been altered systematically.The results show that the throat area of a diffuser, and consequently the number of diffuser vanes, are the most important parameters affecting the operating range of a diffuser. The vaneless space extent and the diffuser vane inlet angle have a significant effect on diffuser efficiency, while their effect on operating range is much smaller. Changing these two parameters induces primarily a shift of diffuser characteristics. The diffuser vane length is a very important parameter at overload, where high losses in a diffuser channel occur when using a long diffuser vane.Copyright © 1999 by ASME
Effectiveness of pre-mix formulation fipronil 15% + emamectin benzoate 5% WdG against thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis hood) and fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (hübn) of chilli

Field evaluation of the bio-efficacy of pre-mix insecticide fipronil 15% + emamectin benzoate 5% WDG along with traditional insecticides as foliar spray against chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis and fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera was undertaken at district seed farm (AB block) of BCKV, located at Kalyani, West Bengal and in a farmer's field at Kakdwip (24 Parganas South), West Bengal respectively under irrigated conditions with a HYV chilli cultivar “Bullet”. The treatment at higher dosages (500, 750 and 1000 ml/ha) followed by lower dose 400 ml/ha was superior over standard check treatments fipronil 5% SC and emamectin benzoate 5% SG. The highest yield was obtained in case of higher dosages (16.15–18.00 q/ha). The survival of thrips was minimum in treatments with high dosages with mean ranging from 2.25–2.87 number of thrips/leaf. It was relatively safe to important natural enemies like Menochilus sp. and Coccinella sp.
Hybridization Of A Boundary Element Method With The Finite ElementMethod In Electromagnetics

A three-dimensional finite element method hybridized with tjhe spectral and spatial domain method of moments is presented for the analysis of ferritet,uned cavity-backed slot antennas. The cavity, which is partially filled with magnetized ferrite layers, is flush mounted on an infinite ground plane with possible dielectric or magnetic overlay. The antenna operates primarily in the ultra high frequency band. The finite element met>hod is used to solve for the electric field distribution inside t,he cavity whereas the spectral dornain approach is used to solve for the exterior region. An asymptotic extraction of the exponential behavior of the Green's function followed by a spatial evaluation of the resulting int,egral is used t,o improve computational speed. Radar cross section of ferrite-tuned cavity-backed slots are calculated for various biasing conditions. Numerical results are compared with data from the literature.
A distance-based methodology for increased extraction of information from the roof matrices in QFD studies

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a process in which customer needs are operationalised into deliverable Technical Characteristics (TCs) at the design stage. A system of matrices known as the House of Quality (HOQ) works collectively to produce Final Weightings (FWs) for TCs, enabling prioritisation and focusing design activity. In prioritising TCs, QFD practitioners often fail to fully integrate the diverse information within the HOQ. In this article, we address the inclusion of ‘Roof Matrix Correlations’ (RMCs). We show that, while other heuristics have been developed to integrate RMCs, they each have limitations and only result in changes to the FW values. We present a methodology based on the Manhattan Distance Measure (MDM) that integrates RMC data into the FWs, but also measures the overall nature and level of intercorrelation within the matrix. This facilitates a more efficient selection of TCs because the MDM provides a consistent informational basis for substituting negatively correlated TCs with better alternatives, and reducing duplication of effort in cases of highly positively correlated TCs. Application of the method is illustrated through re-analysis of a well-known, published QFD example. Our approach can help practitioners to avoiding duplicating effort or to address contradictions between TCs in a timely fashion.
Efficient Routing in Coarse-Grained Reconfigurable Arrays Using Multi-Pole NEM Relays

In this paper, we propose the use of multi-pole nanoelectromechanical (NEM) relays for routing multi-bit signals within a coarse-grained reconfigurable array (CGRA). We describe a CMOS-compatible multi-pole relay design that can be integrated in 3-D and improves area utilization by 40% over a prior design. Additionally, we demonstrate a method for placing multiple contacts on a relay that can reduce contact resistance variation by 40 × over a circular placement strategy. We then show a methodology for integrating these relays into an industry-standard digital design flow. Using our multi-pole relay design, we perform post-layout simulation of a processing element (PE) tile within a hybrid CMOS-NEMS CGRA in 40 nm technology. We achieve up to 19% lower area and 10% lower power at iso-delay, compared to a CMOS-only PE tile. The results show a way to bridge the performance gap between programmable logic devices (such as CGRAs) and application-specific integrated circuits using NEMS technology.
Interlocal interactions, municipal boundaries and water and wastewater expenditure in city-regions

Urban regions derive social and economic benefits as local governments supply water and wastewater services. We analyse differences in water and wastewater spending programmes in US city-regions. The municipal provision of water and wastewater services is situated in a regional context, examining how cities respond to different needs for services within regions. We use pooled data from 2002 to 2017 to examine changes in municipal water and wastewater expenditures. Our central finding is that water and wastewater programmes vary considerably across city-regions. Additional findings are that the municipal provision of these programmes appears to be correlated with the interaction between adjacent cities and changes to their jurisdictional boundaries. City governments may adapt their allocation of resources to water and wastewater functions according to the regional conditions surrounding city jurisdictions. This article connects theories of boundary change with systems of interlocal cooperation that support water and wastewater functions in urban regions.
Preamplifier-shaper prototype for the Fast Transition Detector of the Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR

In this work a preamplifier-shaper prototype for the Fast Transition Detector of the Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR fabricated using a 0.35 μm CMOS technology will be presented. The ASIC integrates 16 identical Charge Sensitive Amplifiers (CSA) followed by a Pole-Zero network, two bridged-T filters, Common-Mode FeedBack (CMFB) network and two non-inverting level shifting stages. The circuit is optimized for a detector capacitance Cd of (5-10)pF. Measurement results confirm the noise of 330 e + 12 e/pF obtained in simulations for a pulse with a Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) of 71 ns. The circuit recovers to the baseline within 200 ns. The conversion gain is 12.64 mV/fC. An integral nonlinearity of 0.7% is also achieved. The maximum output swing is 2 V. The power consumption is 16 mW/channel where the main contributors are the input transistor and the level shifting stage with 5.3 mW and 6.6 mW, respectively. The total area of the chip is 12 mm. Although the circuit was designed for a positive input charge it has in addition the ability of handling negative current pulses of about 85% of the typical charge of 165 fC without any degradation of the signal. The chip was submitted for manufacturing in AMS’s C35B4M3 0.35 micron CMOS technology in October 2005. This circuit has been successfully used in the CBM test-beam at GSI Darmstadt in February 2006.
Decade of Research in Review at the Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility

Sediment remains one of the most commonly occurring pollutants affecting the U.S.’s water bodies, as identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1). Construction activities largely accelerate soil erosion and subsequent sediment deposition. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Construction General Permit requires construction operators to implement erosion and sediment control (E&SC) plans to minimize downstream implications from sediment-laden discharge. However, E&SC practices are often designed from “rules of thumb” and lack scientific, performance-based evidence in their design and implementation. The Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility (AU-SRF), previously the Auburn University Erosion and Sediment Control Testing Facility (AU-ESCTF), is an outdoor research center dedicated to evaluating E&SC practices and products commonly used on highway construction projects. Large-scale test apparatuses and methods at AU-SRF are designed to mimic construction site conditions, including rainfall, flow rates, topography, and soil characteristics, to evaluate existing and novel E&SC practices. Since its inception in 2008, AU-SRF has provided small-, medium-, and large-scale testing evaluations for numerous Departments of Transportation and product manufacturers. Findings from controlled testing have continued to inform the selection, design, implementation, and maintenance of E&SC practices used on construction sites and protect downstream waters and infrastructure. In the first decade, AU-SRF has directed 13 research projects and produced more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and 100 professional presentations. As AU-SRF grows into its second decade and efforts reach outside of the southeastern region, the mission to advance knowledge through E&SC research and development, product evaluation, and training remains constant. This review synthesizes the research produced from large-scale testing at AU-SRF to date and presents ongoing projects.
Antithrombotic Effect of Sorbus commixta in an Arterial Thrombosis Mouse Model

Sorbus commixta Hedlund (S. commixta) is known to possess cardiovascular protective activity. However, its effect on thrombosis has not been reported, although thrombosis plays a primary role in diverse circulatory diseases. Thus, this study was performed to assess the antithrombotic activity of dried S. commixta fruit extract. Mice were fed with a diet containing 8.3% extract for 4 weeks, which corresponded to the consumption of approximately 1000 mg extract/kg/day. The antithrombotic effect was tested in a FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis model. Additionally, the effects on platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation were examined in vitro using washed platelets (WP) and isolated blood plasma, respectively. Thrombotic vascular occlusion time was significantly prolonged by the 4-week administration of the extract. Treatment of WP with the extract resulted in a decrease in thrombin-induced aggregation, which was concentration-dependent over 10 to 100 μg/mL and was not attributed to the direct inhibition of thrombin. The extract did not affect blood plasma coagulation, which was assessed by measuring prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. S. commixta is capable of preventing arterial thrombosis and such an effect may be attributed to the inhibition of platelet aggregation.
Adaptive Traffic Signal Control on a National Road Intersection

Adaptive traffic signal control is the process by which the timing of a traffic signal is continuously adjusted based on the changing arrival patterns of vehicles at an intersection, usually with the goal of optimizing a given measure of effectiveness. In this paper a traffic signal program is developed in which the characteristics of a traffic signal cycle are optimized at the conclusion of every phase based on the arrival times of vehicles to an intersection, using stopped delay as the measure of effectiveness. The methodology which leads to the signal plan is shown to provide improvement in performance for a number of intersection configurations and traffic regimes over traditional forms of traffic signal control.
Deadbug Bridging Performance in 6- to 15-Year-Old Competitive Alpine Skiers—A Cross-Sectional Study

Simple Summary In competitive alpine skiing, a stable trunk plays an important role in increasing performance and preventing injuries. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability to stabilize the trunk during so-called deadbug bridging (DBB) exercises, a stabilizing, dynamic movement task in the supine position with the pelvis lifted and unilateral leg raising, in 6- to 15-year-old skiers. Trunk stabilization performance was better in female skiers of the under 15-year (U15) category than in their male counterparts, whereas there was no sex difference at ages under 10 years (U10). The only potential confounder when testing youth skiers revealed being body height, but only in female U10 skiers. In summary, this study provided sport-specific normative reference data that may be of equal interest to both researchers and sport practitioners. Abstract In competitive alpine skiing, a superior antirotation and rear-chain stabilization capacity is essential to constantly remain in dynamic equilibrium while skiing and to counteract the ski-specific adverse loading patterns of the back. As such, skiers’ trunk stabilization performance during deadbug bridging (DBB) exercises has been shown to be associated with both skiing performance and overuse complaints of the lower back in skiers under 16 years of age (U16). However, to date, little is known about the corresponding stabilization abilities in younger skiers, i.e., 6- to 15-year-old skiers. As part of a biomechanical field experiment during a national off-snow fitness competition, a total of 101 youth competitive alpine skiers were tested with respect to their trunk stabilization performance during DDB exercise. The maximum contralateral displacement of the pelvic drop during leg lift (DBBdisplacement) was quantified using reflective markers and a motion capture system (Vicon, Oxford, UK). Potential age group and sex differences in DBBdisplacement were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p < 0.05. Within each subgroup, the associations of DBBdisplacement with age, anthropometrics and maturity offset were analysed using Pearson’s correlation (p < 0.05). Female skiers under 15 years of age (U15) showed better DBB performance than male U15 skiers, while there was no sex difference at the under 10-year (U10) level. In female U10 skiers, DBBdisplacement was moderately associated with body height, while in all other subgroups, no confounding associations with anthropometrics or biological maturation were found. Biomechanically quantifying DBB performance may be considered a feasible and nonconfounded screening test approach in young skiers older than 6 years. Body height may represent a confounding bias in exclusively the U10 female skier cohort and, therefore, should be considered when interpreting the test results. In summary, this study provided sport-specific normative reference data that may be of equal interest to both researchers and sport practitioners.
DFUC2021 Dataset Classification based on Deep Semi-supervised Learning Methods

This paper uses deep semi-supervised learning methods to classify the Diabetes Foot Ulcer Challenge 2021 dataset and shows that using unlabeled data can effectively improve classification accuracy. Diabetes Foot Ulcer (DFU) is a global epidemic, which affects the security of life of about 100 million people. In recent years, the rapid development of deep learning has made it possible to reduce medical pressure. There are many deep learning methods for DFU medical image classification, but these works are isolated and lack systematic evaluation. In addition, there is little research on the problem of how to utilize unlabeled data effectively. We also find that using the Sharpness-Aware Minimization (SAM) optimization algorithm can further improve the precision and recall of the model. Finally, we got a macro f1-score of 0.5984, which is better than the official analysis results of DFUC2021.
MiRNA-29b and miRNA-497 Modulate the Expression of Carboxypeptidase X Member 2, a Candidate Gene Associated with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a major risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events. Recently, a novel candidate gene encoding the carboxypeptidase X member 2 (CPXM2) was found to be associated with hypertension-induced LVH. CPXM2 belongs to the M14 family of metallocarboxypeptidases, yet it lacks detectable enzyme activity, and its function remains unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of micro (mi)RNA-29b, miRNA-195, and miRNA-497 on the posttranscriptional expression control of CPXM2. Candidate miRNAs for CPXM2 expression control were identified in silico. CPXM2 expression in rat cardiomyocytes (H9C2) was characterized via real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Direct miRNA/target mRNA interaction was analysed by dual luciferase assay. CPXM2 was expressed in H9C2 and co-localised with z-disc associated protein PDZ and LIM domain 3 (Pdlim3). Transfection of H9C2 with miRNA-29b, miRNA-195, and miRNA-497 led to decreased levels of CPXM2 mRNA and protein, respectively. Results of dual luciferase assays revealed that miRNA-29b and miRNA-497, but not miRNA-195, directly regulated CPXM2 expression on a posttranscriptional level via binding to the 3′UTR of CPXM2 mRNA. We identified two miRNAs capable of the direct posttranscriptional expression control of CPXM2 expression in rat cardiomyocytes. This novel data may help to shed more light on the—so far—widely unexplored expression control of CPXM2 and its potential role in LVH.