Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reading from Screen Vs Reading from Paper: Does It Really Matter?

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether reading comprehension would differ when the texts are studied and tested on screen or on paper. Participants were 69 college students who were attending a college in midwestern United States. Participants read two expository texts each, under comparable paper and screen conditions and answered comprehension questions. Test forms and the order of the conditions were counterbalanced. The correlations between reading outcomes and reader characteristics were examined. Participants also completed a survey on their views on the two media (paper or screen). The results did not indicate a significant difference on students’ reading comprehension as a function of medium and reader characteristics. However, students reported preferring paper-based reading for complex material.
Due Windows Scheduling Model and Algorithm of Track Utilization in Railway Passenger Stations

Track utilization planning is the key point of realizing decentralized and self-regulated control in railway passenger stations under the condition of CTC.Taking timetables,tracks and platforms as research objects,combining with route arrangement,maintenance and train early and delay time windows,analyzing parallel processors scheduling and multicriteria scheduling of track utilization and applying the modern scheduling theory,the due windows and multicriteria scheduling I model is established with the minimum total costs and balanced track utilization as its objective functions.Adopting the basic and composite dispatching rules and local improvement strategies,the self-regulated optimization algorithm and three-step algorithm are designed to make and adjust plans of track utilization.Instance study demonstrates as follows: Averagely speaking,the rule and approximate solutions with soft time windows are better than those with hard time windows by 17.8% and 14.1% respectively;the convergence speed of solutions with hard time windows is much faster,so better solutions can be achieved by using Rule θ with both soft and hard time windows;it is suitable to integrate all dispatching rules,especially Rules 6 and θ,to make plans and to utilize Rules 10 and 12 directly to adjust the plans.It is seen that plans of track utilization can be made quickly and reasonably by use of the proposed model and algorithms.Track utilization with time windows can be accomplished effectively and all resources in stations can be fully utilized.
Characterizing the complete chloroplast genome of the Impatiens davidii (Balsaminaceae)

Abstract Impatiens davidii Franch, 1886 is a rare ornamental flower used in gardens and has high economic value. In this study, we characterized the chloroplast genome of I. davidii and analyzed its phylogenetic relationship with other Impatiens species. The length of the complete chloroplast genome sequence of I. davidii is 152,214 bp, with a GC content of 36.9%. The chloroplast genome shows a typical quadripartite structure with a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,634 bp, separated by one large single copy (LSC) region of 83,128 bp and one small single copy (SSC) region of 17,818 bp. We annotated 125 genes, of which there were 85 protein-coding genes, 32 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The Bayesian phylogenetic tree strongly supports that I. davidii has a close phylogenetic relationship with a group including I. piufanensis and I. alpicola.
Study and Development on Electric Control Technique of Distributed Control System

In connection with the successful experience of inodification from mtegrerted electric control system into distributed control system (DCS) in No.A2 generator set(200 MW)Shajiao Power Plant Guanding,the problems of the control system merged into an organic whole for large thermal power gennator set,especially related to electric control were discussed.
Cervical Lymph Node Metastases from Central Nervous System Tumors: A Systematic Review

Introduction Lymph node metastasis (LNM) from primary tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) is an infrequent condition, and classically it was thought that CNS tumors could not spread via the lymphatic route. Recent discoveries about this route of dissemination make its knowledge necessary for surgeons and pathologists to avoid delays in diagnosis and unnecessary treatments. The aim of this paper is to review the literature and to discuss the relevant pathogenetic mechanism and the cytologic features along with recommendations for surgical treatment of these cervical LNM. Materials and Methods Using PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of the literature published from 1944 to 2021, updating the comprehensive review published in 2010 by our group. Results Our review includes data of 143 articles obtaining 174 patients with LNM from a primary CNS tumor. The mean age of the patients was 31.9 years (range, 0.1–87) and there were 61 females (35.1%) and 103 males (59.2%), and in 10 cases (5.7%) the gender was not specified. The more frequent sites of distant metastasis were bones (23%), lungs (11.5%) and non-cervical lymph nodes (11%). Conclusion Cervical LNM from CNS tumors is infrequent. Pathologic diagnosis can be obtained by fine-needle aspiration cytology in most cases, giving surgeons the option to plan the appropriate surgical treatment. Given the poor prognosis of these cases, the most conservative possible cervical dissection is usually the treatment of choice.
Prognostic Signature of Chronic Kidney Disease in Advanced Age: Secondary Analysis from the InGAH Study with One-Year Follow-Up

The negative impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on health status and quality of life in older patients has been well documented. However, data on frailty trajectories and long-term outcomes of older CKD patients undergoing structured Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) with multidimensional frailty evaluation are sparse. Here, we analysed records from 375 CKD patients admitted to our university hospital (mean age 77.5 (SD 6.1) years, 36% female) who had undergone a CGA-based calculation of the frailty score with the multidimensional prognostic index (MPI) as well as follow-up evaluations at 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge. Based on the MPI score at admission, 21% of the patients were frail and 56% were prefrail. MPI values were significantly associated with KDIGO CKD stages (p = 0.003) and rehospitalisation after 6 months (p = 0.027) and mortality at 3, 6 and 12 months (p = 0.001), independent of chronological age. Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) showed a significantly lower frailty compared to patients with renal replacement therapy (RRT, p = 0.028). The association between frailty and mortality after 12 months appeared particularly strong for KTR (mean MPI 0.43 KTR vs. 0.52 RRT, p < 0.001) and for patients with hypoalbuminemia (p < 0.001). Interestingly, RRT was per se not significantly associated with mortality during follow up. However, compared to patients on RRT those with KTR had a significantly lower grade of care (p = 0.031) and lower rehospitalisation rates at 12 months (p = 0.010). The present analysis shows that the large majority of older CKD inpatients are prefrail or frail and that the risk for CKD-related adverse outcomes on the long term can be accurately stratified by CGA-based instruments. Further studies are needed to explore the prognostic and frailty-related signature of laboratory biomarkers in CKD.
Effect of a Single Intrauterine Dose of Human Recombinant Galectin-1 Buffered on Pregnancy Rate in Inseminated Cows

The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of exogenous galectin-1 in improving the pregnancy rate in inseminated cows, comparing the pregnancy rate of the two groups (treatment and control Groups) into 107 contemporary groups (YG) established. An ultrasound exam determined the pregnancy rate performed 25 to 35 days after the fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) of breeding beef cows (n = 3469). The pregnancy rate of cows that received a single dose of eGAL-1 (200 ± 10 µg), with an intrauterine administration (n = 1901), was compared with the pregnancy rate of cows inseminated using a conventional AI protocol (n = 1568), both comparing into the same YG. YGs were created considering the grouping of cows belonging to the same farm, with the same nutritional score and management, inseminated by the same inseminator and semen batch, and using the same estrus synchronization protocol). The statistical method used calculated the probability of obtaining pregnancy within each group. The administration of a single dose of eGAL-1 can increase the probability of obtaining pregnancy in beef cows by up to 8.68% (p < 0.0001), suggesting that a single dose of eGAL-1 during the FTAI procedure was reasonable in the beef cattle AI routine and can improve the pregnancy rate considerably.
Dynamic Marketing Resource Allocation with Two-Stage Decisions

In the precision marketing of a new product, it is a challenge to allocate limited resources to the target customer groups with different characteristics. We presented a framework using the distance-based algorithm, K-nearest neighbors, and support vector machine to capture customers’ preferences toward promotion channels. Additionally, online learning programming was combined with machine learning strategies to fit a dynamic environment, evaluating its performance through a parsimonious model of minimum regret. A resource optimization model was proposed using classification results as input. In particular, we collected data from an institution that provides financial credit products to capital-constrained small businesses. Our sample contained 525,919 customers who will be introduced to a new product. By simulating different scenarios between resources and demand, we showed an up to 22.42% increase in the number of expected borrowers when KNN was performed with an optimal resource allocation strategy. Our results also show that KNN is the most stable method to perform classification and that the distance-based algorithm has the most efficient adoption with online learning.
Salt‐marsh retreat on different time scales: Issues and prospects from a 5‐year monitoring campaign in the Venice Lagoon

Lateral edge erosion is one of the main mechanisms leading to loss volume of salt marshes. Given the relatively large number of field measurements of eroding salt marshes reported in the literature, and the different ways they were performed, some natural questions arise. (i) What is the relationship between wave climate and erosion rate at different time scales? (ii) How can the surveys based on a single meteorological event support large‐scale monitoring campaigns? (iii) What are the main meteorological and morphological parameters correlated to the erosion process? (iv) Why do only some marshes show cantilever profiles? (v) What are the most common issues to deal with in monitoring campaigns? Most of the previous studies considered large spatial and temporal scales only, providing an estimation of the overall behaviour of the system without identifying the specific role of each event. In this study, we attempted to answer these questions by investigating the lateral evolution of salt marsh margins located in the Venice Lagoon at different time scales, combining marsh retreat measurements, remote sensing data and numerical modelling. Field data were collected monthly for 5 years (2014–2018), covering 26 storms. A linear relation linking erosion rate to wave power is confirmed at different time scales, with a decreasing slope at higher elevation of the marsh bank that explains the occurrence of cantilever profiles. Mass failures can occur over long‐period cycles, related to the geomorphic characteristics of the area. Finally, the major issues affecting the in‐situ monitoring campaigns have been highlighted.
Current Reconstruction by One-Step Compensation for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor With Fixed Sampling Interval in Position Sensorless Control

To improve the performance of position sensorless control with a single current sensor in low-speed range, an improved current reconstruction method is proposed. High-frequency voltage is injected to estimate the rotor position. The time interval between two sampling moments is fixed as the minimum sampling window time. Therefore, the phase current can be compensated by an online adaptive one-step method. And the time-aligned three-phase currents can be reconstructed. The influence of the error between time-aligned reconstructed currents and the full sensors sampling currents on sensorless control is discussed. With the proposed method, the injection frequency can be improved to half the switching frequency. Finally, a permanent magnet synchronous motor is sensorless controlled with the proposed method in the experiments.
PID Tuning based on Genetic Algorithms in Electro-Hydraulic Position Servo System

In order to improve the performances of electro-hydraulic position servo system,tradition GA(Genetic Algorithms)was applied to PID Tuning.The results of SIMULINK simulations indicate that the system not only has the faster dynamic response,but also shows the better ultimate precision.It was proved to be effective by test also.
Dietary Acid Load Modulation of Asthma-Related miRNAs in the Exhaled Breath Condensate of Children

Individual nutrients and bioactive compounds have been implicated in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are related to inflammation and asthma. However, evidence about the impact of diet is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between dietary acid load and asthma-related miRNA in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of school-aged children. This cross-sectional analysis included 150 participants aged 7 to 12 years (52% girls) from a nested case–control study, which randomly selected 186 children attending 71 classrooms from 20 public schools located in city of Porto, Portugal. Dietary data were collected by one 24 h-recall questionnaire. Dietary acid load was assessed using the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) scores. Based on previous studies, eleven asthma-related miRNAs were chosen and analyzed in EBC by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR. PRAL, NEAP and miRNAs were categorized as high or low according to the median. Logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between dietary acid load scores and miRNAs. Children in high dietary acid load groups (PRAL ≥ 14.43 and NEAP ≥ 55.79 mEq/day) have significantly increased odds of having high miR-133a-3p levels. In conclusion, higher dietary acid loads possibly modulate asthma-related miRNAs of school-aged children.
To return or not to return? Identifying VFR travel constraints during the pandemic

ABSTRACT Despite the prominence of visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel to show strong resilience in the face of global crises, it has been one of the most underexplored tourism contexts in the literature. This study examined travel constraints of VFR travelers during the pandemic to enrich this tourism context. Using an inductive theory approach, thematic analysis of 167 online posts and 8,403 online comments from prospective Taiwanese VFR travelers living elsewhere unveiled a framework of VFR travel constraints that included six types of travel constraints for VFR tourists who have made travel-related decisions amid COVID-19. Specifically, fourteen travel constraints were identified and situated within a three (individual - family - community) two (tourist generating country - tourist receiving country) framework to understand their causes and natures. Theoretically, this study served as a pioneering attempt to link the concept of travel constraints with VFR tourism and enriched our understanding of VFR travelers’ related decision making. Practically, destination management organizations and tourism businesses should find the study findings insightful because they demonstrate ways of promoting VFR travel to foster tourism rejuvenation in the post-pandemic. Limitations and future research directions were discussed at the end of this study.
The COMPASS-COVID-19-ICU Study: Identification of Factors to Predict the Risk of Intubation and Mortality in Patients with Severe COVID-19

In some patients, SARS-CoV-2 infection induces cytokine storm, hypercoagulability and endothelial cell activation leading to worsening of COVID-19, intubation and death. Prompt identification of patients at risk of intubation is an urgent need. Objectives. To derive a prognostic score for the risk of intubation or death in patients with COVID-19 admitted in intensive care unit (ICU), by assessing biomarkers of hypercoagulability, endothelial cell activation and inflammation and a large panel of clinical analytes. Design, Setting and Participants. A prospective, observational study enrolled 118 patients with COVID-19 admitted in the ICU. On the first day of ICU admission, all patients were assessed for biomarkers (protein C, protein S, antithrombin, D-Dimer, fibrin monomers, FVIIa, FV, FXII, FXII, FVIII, FvW antigen, fibrinogen, procoagulant phospholipid dependent clotting time, TFPI, thrombomodulin, P-selectin, heparinase, microparticles exposing TF, IL-6, complement C3a, C5a, thrombin generation, PT, aPTT, hemogram, platelet count) and clinical predictors. Main Outcomes and Measures. The clinical outcomes were intubation and mortality during hospitalization in ICU. Results: The intubation and mortality rates were 70% and 18%, respectively. The COMPASS-COVID-19-ICU score composed of P-Selectin, D-Dimer, free TFPI, TF activity, IL-6 and FXII, age and duration of hospitalization predicted the risk of intubation or death with high sensitivity and specificity (0.90 and 0.92, respectively). Conclusions and Relevance. COVID-19 is related to severe endothelial cell activation and hypercoagulability orchestrated in the context of inflammation. The COMPASS-COVID-19-ICU risk assessment model is accurate for the evaluation of the risk of mechanical ventilation and death in patients with critical COVID-19. The COMPASS-COVID-19-ICU score is feasible in tertiary hospitals and could be placed in the diagnostic procedure of personalized medical management and prompt therapeutic intervention.
CurIAs: Current-Based IC Authentication by Exploiting Supply Current Variations

Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have emerged as one of the most notable hardware primitives to mitigate the ever-growing global issue of counterfeiting and cloning of integrated circuits (ICs) in recent times. PUFs exploit the intrinsic manufacturing process-induced parametric variations for generating unique chip identifiers. However, most of the existing PUF implementations require complex structures or the inclusion of additional components, which incur performance and area overheads. In this work, we introduce CurIAs, a supply current-based novel PUF implementation to authenticate ICs and to protect them from counterfeiting attacks. It exploits the dynamic current stemming from temporal switching activities in existing on-chip structures as an entropy source to generate high-quality IC-specific digital signatures. First, we investigate the source of the entropy of this PUF, i.e., the dynamic current variations in different circuit structures, with transistor-level Monte-Carlo simulations in HSPICE. Next, to evaluate its effectiveness in Silicon, we apply this approach to map LFSR (Linear Feedback Shift Register) designs into 20 FPGA chips (fabricated in TSMC 55nm process node), perform practical measurements, and generate digital signatures. These signatures show high uniqueness, robustness, uniformity, and randomness features, and the overall implementation requires modest hardware overhead ($<$<</mml:mo>1%). We assess and substantiate the robustness of this approach at eight different operating points by varying supply voltage and temperature. Furthermore, we upscale the design to more extended LFSR sizes, and it exhibits a constant trend of performance improvement over the operating points. Through a judicious selection of challenge vectors, CurIAs demonstrates a high resilience against model learning attacks, with an average prediction accuracy of 50%. These intrinsic variations in supply current across ICs for varying workloads entail unique chip-specific signatures, which are extremely difficult to clone, and can be deployed effectively against IC counterfeiting issues.
Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplements in Treatment of Acute Respiratory Infection: A Meta-analysis for Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported inconsistent findings regarding the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of acute respiratory infections (ARIs). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of ARIs using a meta-analysis of RCTs. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant articles in June 2021. Two of the authors independently assessed the eligibility of the trials. Results: Out of 390 articles retrieved from the databases, we included 18 RCTs, which involved 3648 participants, with 1838 in an intervention group and 1810 in a control group in the final analysis. In the meta-analysis of all the trials, vitamin D supplements had a beneficial effect in the treatment of ARIs (relative risk (RR) = 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.13; I2 = 66.9%). Publication bias was observed in the funnel plot. In the subgroup meta-analysis of high-quality RCTs, no significant efficacy of vitamin D supplements was found (RR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.98–1.06; I2 = 24.0%). Although statistically significant changes of 7% in the treatment effects were observed, they are not considered as clinically substantial ones. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis suggests that vitamin D supplements are not clinically effective in the treatment of ARIs.
Research of Quality Evaluation Methods for Certain Missile

Based on the test data of missiles and experiences of experts,the quality elements of certain missile are analyzed,and the quality structure is built to calculate cost coefficient by the means of IAHP and Delphi.According to the distributing disciplinarian,the corresponding models are built to synthesize unitary dispersions and calculate quality value of sub system or entire missile.Then the integrated fuzzy evaluation method is used to assess the quality state of certain degree.
Experimental Modelling and Optimal Torque Vectoring Control for 4WD Vehicles

This paper addresses the design of a torque vectoring architecture to control the four electrical machines in a four-wheel-drive (4WD) formula-type competition vehicle. The scheme includes a new yaw-rate controller and a novel optimal torque distribution algorithm. Two yaw-rate controllers are proposed: one based on $\mathcal {H}_\infty$ optimal control and another based on linear parameter varying (LPV) system concepts. Both controllers are designed using an extended bicycle model validated with experimental data. Simulation results shown the effectiveness of the proposed overall control scheme in terms of energy efficiency, cornering speed and stability no matter the high-demanding working conditions. Such an effectiveness is quantitatively demonstrated by means of several key performance indicators chosen to ease the comparison of the proposed approach with respect to other reported works.