Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Texas Grade 3 Underrepresented Boys and Economic Status Differences in Reading: A Statewide, Multiyear Study

In this statewide, multiyear analysis, the extent to which differences were present in reading by the economic status of Grade 3 Asian, Black, and Hispanic boys was determined. Specifically examined was the relationship of poverty to the three State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Reading Reporting Categories for Grade 3 Asian, Black, and Hispanic boys in the 2015-2016 through the 2018-2019 school years. Also examined was the relationship of poverty to the STAAR Grade Level Phase-in Standards for Grade 3 Asian, Black, and Hispanic boys. Inferential statistical analyses revealed the presence of statistically significant differences in reading as a function of the economic status of Asian boys, Black boys, and Hispanic boys. In every instance, Asian boys, Black boys, and Hispanic boys who were Poor were outperformed by their counterparts who were Not Poor. Considering the majority of students in Texas come from poverty backgrounds, these findings are of great concern. Implications of these findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Optimal Admission Control Mechanism Design for Time-Sensitive Services in Edge Computing

Edge computing is a promising solution for reducing service latency by provisioning time-sensitive services directly from the network edge. However, upon workload peaks at the resource-limited edge, an edge service has to queue service requests, incurring high waiting time. Such quality of service (QoS) degradation ruins the reputation and reduces the long-term revenue of the service provider.To address this issue, we propose an admission control mechanism for time-sensitive edge services. Specifically, we allow the service provider to offer admission advice to arriving requests regarding whether to join for service or balk to seek alternatives. Our goal is twofold: maximizing revenue of the service provider and ensuring QoS if the provided admission advice is followed. To this end, we propose a threshold structure that estimates the highest length of the request queue. Leveraging such a threshold structure, we propose O2A, a mechanism to balance the trade-off between increasing revenue from accepting more requests and guaranteeing QoS by advising requests to balk. Rigorous analysis shows that O2A achieves the goal and that the provided admission advice is optimal for end-users to follow. We further validate O2A through trace-driven simulations with both synthetic and real-world service request traces.
Linking servant leadership to customer-oriented organisational citizenship behaviour: The moderating role of perceived interactional justice

This study examined the association between employee servant leadership perceptions and their customer-oriented organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB), and the influence of perceived interactional justice in this relationship. Participants were 708 hospitality industry employees from across China (female = 66.53%; mean age = 24.56 years, SD = 7.50 years; mean tenure = 3.04 years, SD = 7.45 years). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis results indicated perceived servant leadership was significantly and positively related to customer-oriented organisational citizenship behaviour. Perceived interactional justice moderated the relationship between perceived servant leadership and organisational citizenship behaviour. This positive association was more pronounced when perceived interactional justice was higher. Sex, education level, and monthly salary were not related to OCB. However, employees’ age and organisational tenure were two predictors of their OCB toward customers. Older employees tended to display more OCB behaviours. The longer employees stayed in the current hotels, the more likely they performed OCB behaviour. The servant leadership quality of perceived interactional justice enhanced employees’ OCB customer service self-ratings.
Classical and Quantum Algorithms for Finding Cycles

Quantum computing—so weird, so wonderful—inspires much speculation about the line between the possible and the impossible. (Of course, there is still unclarity about how “impossible” intractable problems are and about how “possible” quantum computers are.) This thesis takes a slightly different tack: instead of focusing on how to make the impossible possible, it focuses on how to make the possible easier. More specifically, this paper discusses quantum algorithms for finding cycles in graphs, a problem for which polynomial-time classical algorithms already exist. It explains and compares the classical and quantum algorithms, and it introduces a few new algorithms and observations. However, the primary contribution of this paper is its compilation of—and coherent progression through—old and new research. Interest in quantum cycle algorithms mushroomed in 2003, and many of the new algorithms are included here. While not a comprehensive catalog, this paper is a carefully chosen selection of the most important, elegant, and efficient cycle algorithms.
The Effects of Standardised versus Individualised Aerobic Exercise Prescription on Fitness-Fatness Index in Sedentary Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

A poor Fitness Fatness Index (FFI) is associated with type 2 diabetes incidence, other chronic conditions (Alzheimer's, cancer, and cardiovascular disease) and all-cause mortality. Recent investigations have proposed that an individualised exercise prescription based on ventilatory thresholds is more effective than a standardised prescription in improving cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), a key mediator of FFI. Thus, the aim of the current study was to determine the effectiveness of individualised versus standardised exercise prescription on FFI in sedentary adults. Thirty-eight sedentary individuals were randomised to 12-weeks of: (1) individualised exercise training using ventilatory thresholds (n = 19) or (2) standardised exercise training using a percentage of heart rate reserve (n = 19). A convenience sample was also recruited as a control group (n=8). Participants completed CRF exercise training three days per week, for 12-weeks on a motorised treadmill. FFI was calculated as CRF in metabolic equivalents (METs), divided by fatness determined by waist to height ratio (WtHR). A graded exercise test was used to measure CRF, and anthropometric measures (height and waist circumference) were assessed to ascertain WtHR. There was a difference in FFI change between study groups, whilst controlling for baseline FFI, F (2, 42) = 19.382 p < . 001, partial η2 = 0.480. The magnitude of FFI increase from baseline was significantly higher in the individualised (+15%) compared to the standardised (+10%) (p = 0.028) and control group (+4%) (p = <.001). The main finding of the present study is that individualised exercise prescription had the greatest effect on improving FFI in sedentary adults compared to a standardised prescription. Therefore, an individualised based exercise prescription should be considered a viable and practical method of improving FFI in sedentary adults.
Determination of the number of containers, production kanbans and withdrawal kanbans; and scheduling in kanban flowshops - Part 2

We consider the problem of determination of the number of containers or container size, production kanbans and withdrawal kanbans, and scheduling of containers in presence of material handling between workstations, and dual blocking mechanisms operative on both workstations and material handling. A heuristic is proposed to address the problem of determining the number of containers, and production and withdrawal kanbans, and also determining the sequence of containers to minimize the sum of weighted flowtime, weighted earliness and weighted tardiness of containers. Recursive equations, developed in part 1 of this paper, are used for time-tabling of the sequence of containers. An extensive performance evaluation of the heuristic and a benchmark procedure, based on random search, has been carried out by generating a number of problems of various sizes.
Teaching & Learning in Virtual Reality: Metaverse Classroom Exploration

Virtual reality (VR) offers a potentially engaging environment for teaching college students. The faculty of an interaction design program is currently creating a college course where students are taught entirely in a VR classroom. The curriculum and study methodology are simultaneously in the development process and intend to measure the impact of such a course on students and instructors. The research questions in consideration involve understanding the needs for facilitating a classroom in a virtual world while ensuring learning occurs. The faculty plans to use the metaverse as a dual workspace and classroom for student participants. The metaverse is an online social experience where students interact through an internet connection in a seemingly lifelike digital space. Additional questions involve the adoption of a beta of the Meta Horizon Workrooms and whether the technology offers a viable platform for virtual classroom instruction. The proposed technology integrations include video conferencing, spatial audio, and additional app integrations for increasing student engagement and academic performance.
Behavioral Reserve in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

“Reserve” refers to the individual clinical differences in response to a neuropathological burden. We explored the behavioral reserve (BR) and associated neural substrates in 40 participants with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) who were assessed with the frontal behavioral inventory (FBI) and magnetic resonance imaging. Because neuroimaging abnormality showed a high negative correlation with the FBI negative (but not positive) symptom scores, we developed a linear model only to calculate the nBR (BR for negative symptoms) marker using neuroimaging abnormalities and the FBI score. Participants were divided into high nBR and low nBR groups based on the nBR marker. The FBI negative symptom score was lower in the high nBR group than in the low nBR group having the same neuroimaging abnormalities. However, the high nBR group noted a steeper decline in cortical atrophy and showed less atrophy in the left frontotemporal cortices than the low nBR group. In addition, the fractional anisotropy (FA) values were greater in the high nBR than in the low nBR group, except in the sensory-motor and occipital areas. We identified an nBR-related functional network composed of bilateral frontotemporal areas and the left occipital pole. We propose the concept of BR in bvFTD, and these findings can help predict the disease progression.
Airborne Delivery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles via Joint Precision Airdrop Systems

The purpose of this project is to provide a technology demonstration of the aerial delivery of cargo-carrying UAVs. This capability will allow small, high-value payloads to be delivered over the same long distances as the traditional airlift and Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) combination with previously unattainable accuracy. A team of undergraduate students at the United States Military Academy accomplished this goal by designing, building, testing, and demonstrating a scale model of a UAV aerial delivery system. The customer for this product is the Aerial Delivery Directorate at Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center, which will expand the scale model prototype into an operational system. The system leverages the existing technologies of JPADS and GPS-enabled multi-rotors and combines them to create the airdrop method of the future. The operational system will have the capability to deliver a 5-15 lb. payload to within 5 meters of the target location. This will enable effective resupply of individuals or troops in contact, who could pick up an airdrop without having to leave cover.
Using Oyster Shells for Customized 3-D Structures for Monitoring Ecosystem Shifts on Ascidians Diversity

Biofouling communities are broadly distributed and there is a growing need to understand, monitor, and prevent their dispersal and colonization. Ascidians are a major group of fouling organisms but have remained poorly studied in this context. Furthermore, the search for improved sustainable practices regarding shipping networks, biofouling management, treatments, and monitorization has made headway rapidly. The present study surveyed and established a baseline for the ascidian biofouling community in a coastal lagoon, by operationalizing the concept of artificial substrate units (ASU) through a customized 3-D unit with the shape of a triangular-based pyramid, a nature-based structure that simulates natural habitats, made with oyster shells sourced from local aquaculture farms. The ASU were grouped into a five-replicate star-shaped, to be collected at each sampling moment. Throughout the 295 days (from May to December of 2020) of the present study covering five different locations of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) coastal lagoon, a total of 12 species of ascidians were collected. While Ascidiella aspersa, Microcosmus sp. , and Molgula sp. 1 were registered in all the locations surveyed, the remaining nine ascidian species were dominant only in specific locations of the coastal lagoon. Values of total abundance presented an overall increasing trend in all locations surveyed, with maximum values corresponding to summer periods. Two locations (Oyster Farm and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Farm) recorded the highest abundance values. The present findings demonstrated that the ASU employed using oyster shells, a widely available co-product of oyster farming, can be considered an efficient support structure for short- or long-term monitoring of the ascidian community, as well as fouling communities in general. Hydrodynamics, seasonality, and nutrient-enriched waters were the main contributors to the establishment of ascidians. For the first time, Clavelina lepadiformis and A. aspersa were collected and reported in coastal waters of mainland Portugal. While preventing the settlement of fouling communities can be extremely difficult, an improved understanding of existing communities of these organisms can undoubtedly contribute to the development of improved management practices to control them. An updated list of all ascidian species recorded to date from coastal waters of mainland Portugal is also presented.
A new logistic regression model for early prediction of severity of acute pancreatitis using magnetic resonance imaging and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scoring systems

Background The aim of this study was to develop a new model constructed by logistic regression for the early prediction of the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scoring system. Methods This retrospective study included 363 patients with AP. The severity of AP was evaluated by MRI and the APACHE II scoring system, and some subgroups of AP severity were constructed based on a combination of these two scoring systems. The length of stay and occurrence of organ dysfunction were used as clinical outcome indicators and were compared across the different subgroups. We combined the MRI and APACHE II scoring system to construct the regression equations and evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of these models. Results In the 363 patients, 144 (39.67%) had systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), 58 (15.98%) had organ failure, and 17 (4.68%) had severe AP. The AP subgroup with a high MRI score and a simultaneously high APACHE II score was more likely to develop SIRS and had a longer hospitalization. The model, which predicted the severity AP by combining extrapancreatic inflammation on magnetic resonance (EPIM) and APACHE II, was successful, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.912, which was higher than that of any single parameter. Other models that predicted SIRS complications by combining MRI parameters and APACHE II scores were also successful (all P<0.05), and these models based on EPIM and APACHE II scores were superior to other models in predicting outcome. Conclusions The combination of MRI and clinical scoring systems to assess the severity of AP is feasible, and these models may help to develop personalized treatment and management.
Online Monitoring and Analysis of Lube Oil Degradation for Gas Turbine Engine using Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)

Lubrication is one of the important aspects of the engine that will impact the overall performance of the gas turbine engine. Degradation of oil is usually known by offline analysis that use oil sample to check some properties and contaminant. The offline analysis will take a longer time, as needed to collect the sample, send it to the laboratory, analyze the sample and create the report. The purpose of this research is to analyze oil parameters in real-time so can predict oil degradation. Sensors and transducers installed on the lube oil system can read some parameters of the oil then transmit easily to the server. The method that will use in this paper is Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) with multi-step Long Short Term Memory (LSTM). The result of this paper will predict oil degradation on the future operation of gas turbine engine.
The Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Exercise Combined With an Isocaloric High-Fructose Diet on Osteoporosis and Immunomodulation in Ovariectomized Mice

Background Osteoporosis and immune-associated disorders are highly prevalent among menopausal women, and diet control and exercise exert beneficial effects on physiological modulation in this population. A controlled diet with a low fat content and a balanced caloric intake improves menopausal health, but the health effects of excessive fructose consumption on menopausal women are yet to be confirmed. In addition, whole-body vibration (WBV), a safe passive-training method, has been shown to have multiple beneficial effects on metabolism regulation, obesity, and bone health. Methods The ovariectomized (OVX) C57BL/6J model was used to verify the effects of WBV combined with a high-fructose diet (HFrD) for 16 weeks on physiological modulation and immune responses. The mice were randomly allocated to sham, OVX, OVX+HFrD, and OVX+HFrD+WBV groups, which were administered with the indicated ovariectomy, dietary and WBV training treatments. We conducted growth, dietary intake, glucose homeostasis, body composition, immunity, inflammation, histopathology, and osteoporotic assessments (primary outcomes). Results Our results showed that the isocaloric HFrD in OVX mice negated estrogen-deficiency–associated obesity, but that risk factors such as total cholesterol, glucose intolerance, osteoporosis, and liver steatosis still contributed to the development of metabolic diseases. Immune homeostasis in the OVX mice was also negatively affected by the HFrD diet, via the comprehensive stimulation of T cell activation, causing inflammation. The WBV intervention combined with the HFrD model significantly ameliorated weight gain, glucose intolerance, total cholesterol, and inflammatory cytokines (interferon gamma [IFN-γ], interleukin [IL]-17, and IL-4) in the OVX mice, although osteoporosis and liver steatosis were not affected compared to the negative control group. These findings indicate that an isocaloric high-fructose diet alone may not result in menopausal obesity, but that some deleterious physiological impacts still exist. Conclusion The WBV method may modulate the physiological impacts of menopause and the HFrD diet, and should be considered as an alternative exercise prescription for people with poor compliance or who are unable or unwilling to use traditional methods to improve their health. In future studies, using the WBV method as a preventive or therapeutic strategy, combined with nutritional interventions, medication, and other exercise prescriptions, may prove beneficial for maintaining health in menopausal women.
Comparison of Two Surgical Techniques for the Treatment of Canine Disc Associated-Cervical Spondylomyelopathy

Objective To compare prosthetic disc and vertebral distraction stabilization in dogs with disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (DA-CSM). Study Design A retrospective clinical study. Animals 25 dogs. Methods Dogs presenting with clinical signs and MRI findings compatible with DA-CSM underwent surgery. Implantation of the Adamo's prosthetic disc (PD) or vertebral distraction-stabilization (DS) with intervertebral cage, ventral locking plates, and dorsal transarticular screws was performed. All dogs were followed-up and evaluated clinically for a minimum of 1 year and radiographically for at least 3 months. In particular, we focused on the evaluation of subsidence (the degree of vertebral collapse). Results Twenty-five dogs were enrolled: 12 with PD implantation and 13 with DS implantation. Of these, 24 dogs were followed-up at 1 year. Overall, 12 dogs improved (4 PD and 8 DS), eight were stable (4 PD and 4 DS), and four deteriorated (3 PD and 1 DS). Deterioration was more common in PD cases, especially soon after surgery. In a few PD cases, a second surgery was necessary. The most common complication in dogs with DS was discospondylitis. Subsidence was detected in 11 PD and 7 DS dogs. Subsidence was more severe and occurred sooner after surgery in PD cases compared to DS cases. DS cases were more prone to clinical improvement and less prone to subsidence than PD cases in this study. However, the statistical evidence was weak owing to the small sample size. Conclusion The preliminary results suggest that prosthetic disc implantation is more prone to clinical and radiographic failures than distraction stabilization. Clinical Relevance The DS technique is a valuable surgical option for treating dogs with DA-CSM, with favorable short- and long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes.
Complete Response to Immunotherapy Combined With Chemotherapy in a Patient With Gynecological Mixed Cancer Mainly Composed of Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma With High Tumor Mutational Burden: A Case Report

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) is rare in the gynecologic tract, which has high invasive and metastatic ability. Due to the aggressive behavior and lack of treatment, patients have an extremely poor prognosis. Here we report a 66-year-old female diagnosed with SCNEC in the gynecologic tract, mixed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, and adenosquamous carcinoma. A tumor mutational burden of 13.14 Muts/Mb was detected by next-generation sequencing. The patient underwent a palliative operation of total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy but suffered from disease progression in a short time after the operation. Chemotherapy (paclitaxel + carboplatin) combined with immunotherapy (toripalimab) was conducted every 3 weeks, achieving a partial response after 2 cycles of treatment. After 5 cycles of combined treatment, the patient consolidated with monotherapy of toripalimab for about half a year and achieved a complete response. Until December 2021, the patient has achieved 27 months of progression-free survival and maintains a continued complete response. This case is presented due to the rare combination of pathological types and durable response to treatment especially immunotherapy, suggesting the potential value of immunotherapy in SCNEC of the gynecologic tract.