Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Data Mining and Machine Learning Retention Models in Higher Education

This study presents a systematic review of the literature on the predicting student retention in higher education through machine learning algorithms based on measures such as dropout risk, attrition risk, and completion risk. A systematic review methodology was employed comprised of review protocol, requirements for study selection, and analysis of paper classification. The review aims to answer the following research questions: (1) what techniques are currently used to predict student retention rates, (2) which techniques have shown better performance under specific contexts? , (3) which factors influence the prediction of completion rates in higher education? , and (4) what are the challenges with predicting student retention? Increasing student retention in higher education is critical in order to increase graduation rates. Further, predicting student retention provides insight into opportunities for intentional student advising. The review provides a research perspective related to predicting student retention using machine learning through several key findings such as the identification of the factors utilized in past studies and methodologies used for prediction. These findings can be used to develop more comprehensive studies to further increase the prediction capability and; therefore, develop strategies to improve student retention.
Comprehensive circular RNA expression profiles in intermuscular fat from lean and obese pigs

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important regulatory role in development and differentiation. Intermuscular fat in pork affects the tenderness and juiciness of the meat. In this study, we investigated the performances of Landrace (lean) and Jinhua (obese) pigs at the fattening period and explored the expression profile of circRNAs in intermuscular fat from the two breeds by Illumina high-throughput sequencing. we identified 5 548 circRNAs, specifically 2 651 (47.78%) in the Jinhua pigs, and 2 897 (52.22%) in the Landrace pigs. A totale of 809 differentially expressed circRNAs were observed between the the Jinhua and Landrace pigs, but only 29 of these circRNAs showed significant difference (19 upregulated and 10 downregulated). All 1 306 unigenes and 27 differentially expressed unigenesinvolved in lipid transport and metabolism; replication, recombination and repair; and signaling pathway were annotated. A total of 550 target miRNAs were perfect seed matches and 20 522 target genes were foundBy RNAhybrid and miRanda software prediction. Results from real-time quantitative PCR also confirmed the differential expression of 13 mRNAs between the two pig breeds. This study provides comprehensive expression profiles of circRNAs in Sus scrofa adipose metabolism and development, which can be used to clarify their functions. Summary statement The paper explored the expression profile of circRNAs in intermuscular fat from Landrace and Jinhua pigs at the fattening period, to provide insights into circRNAregulation in animal adipose metabolism.
Torpor duration, more than temperature, is key to hummingbird nighttime energy savings

Torpor is an important energy saving strategy in small endotherms, but it has been insufficiently studied in natural field conditions. Building on what we know from laboratory studies, we compared torpor use across hummingbird species and different natural temperature regimes to explore predominant hypotheses about torpor use and evaluate the possible effects of environmental variation on energy management. We found that the probability of an individual entering torpor was correlated with mass and unrelated to nighttime temperature, and that hummingbirds at both warm tropical and cooler temperate sites used torpor. Energy savings in torpor were maximized as ambient temperatures approached a species’ minimum body temperature consistent with laboratory studies; energy savings ranged between 65-92% of energy per hour in torpor compared to normothermy. However, variation in total nighttime energy expenditure was more significantly influenced by torpor bout duration than by the variation in energy savings in torpor. Our results show that a small endotherm’s nighttime energy management in its natural habitat is more affected by torpor bout duration, which is linked to photoperiod, than by temperature. This result suggests that in their natural environments, hummingbirds are able to save energy in torpor across a range nighttime temperature, indicating that they may have sufficient physiological flexibility to tolerate climatic variation.
On the 5G and Beyond

This article provides an overview of the fifth generation of cellular communications (5G) and beyond. It presents the transmission techniques of current 5G communications and those expected of future developments, namely a brief study of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) using the single carrier with frequency domain equalization (SC-FDE) block transmission technique, evidencing its added value in terms of spectral efficiency. An introduction to the sixth generation of cellular communications (6G) is also provided. The insertion of 5G and 6G within the Fourth Industrial Revolution framework (also known as Industry 4.0) is also dealt with. Consisting of a change in paradigm, when compared to previous generations, 5G supports a myriad of new services based on the Internet of things (IoT) and on vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, supporting technologies such as autonomous driving, smart cities, and remote surgery. The new services provided by 5G are supported by new techniques, such as millimeter waves (mm-wave), in addition to traditional microwave communication, and by massive multiple-input multiple-output (m-MIMO) technology. These techniques were not employed in the fourth generation of cellular communications (4G). While 5G plays an important role in the initial implementation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 6G will address a number of new services such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), holographic services, the advanced Internet of things (IoT), AI-infused applications, wireless brain–computer interaction (BCI), and mobility at higher speeds. The current research on systems beyond 5G indicates that these applications shall be supported by new MIMO techniques and make use of terahertz (THz) bands.
Localizing non‐line‐of‐sight nodes in Vehicluar Adhoc Networks using gray wolf methodology

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) evolved by adopting the principles of mobile ad hoc networks. This network has been designed to deploy safety related application in vehicular node in the less chaotic environment in road scenarios. Vehicles exchange emergency messages through direct communication. In a practical situation, a direct communication between the vehicles is not possible, and it is prohibited by either static or dynamic obstacles. These obstacles prevent the direct communication between the vehicles and can craft a situation like non‐line of sight (NLOS). This NLOS becomes a perennial problem to the researchers as it creates localization and integrity issues which are considered to be important for road safety applications. Handling the moving obstacles is found to be a challenging one in the VANET environment as obstacles like truck are found to have similar characteristics of the vehicular nodes. This paper utilizes the merits of the meta‐heuristic approach and makes use of the improved gray wolf optimization algorithm for improving the localization and integrity services of the VANET by overcoming the NLOS conditions. The proposed methodology is found to have improved neighborhood awareness, reduced latency, improved emergency message delivery rate, and reduced mean square error rate.
Increased soil temperature stimulates changes in carbon, nitrogen, and mass loss in the fine roots of Pinus koraiensis under experimental warming and drought

The effects of warming (+3 °C) and drought (-30% precipitation) on the fine root decomposition of Pinus koraiensis seedlings were examined using a litter bag method. The study site included a full factorial design with two temperature and two precipitation levels, with three replicates. Litter bags containing fine root litter of 2-year-old P. koraiensis seedlings were retrieved after 3, 6, and 12 months of decomposition. After 12 months, the mass loss of fine roots was significantly increased in response to warming (control = 31.1%, warming = 35.9%, drought = 29.2%, and warming plus drought = 35.5%); no change was observed until 6 months. Mass loss was not influenced by drought or by the interaction between warming and drought. Warming increased the nitrogen concentration of fine root litter but decreased the carbon concentration and carbon/nitrogen ratio after 6 and 12 months. This may be because warming stimulated nitrogen immobilization, which reduced the carbon/nitrogen ratio. Therefore, the carbon/nitrogen ratio may be affected by warming prior to changes in the mass loss of fine roots because roots with a low carbon/nitrogen ratio are generally characterized by high available nitrogen for decomposers. These results suggest that climate change (especially warming) may cause rapid decomposition of organic matter.
Computer-Mediated Communication, Social Media, and Mental Health: A Conceptual and Empirical Meta-Review

Computer-mediated communication (CMC), and specifically social media, may affect the mental health (MH) and well-being of its users, for better or worse. Research on this topic has accumulated rapidly, accompanied by controversial public debate and numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Yet, a higher-level integration of the multiple disparate conceptual and operational approaches to CMC and MH and individual review findings is desperately needed. To this end, we first develop two organizing frameworks that systematize conceptual and operational approaches to CMC and MH. Based on these frameworks, we integrate the literature through a meta-review of 34 reviews and a content analysis of 594 publications. Meta-analytic evidence, overall, suggests a small negative association between social media use and MH. However, effects are complex and depend on the CMC and MH indicators investigated. Based on our conceptual review and the evidence synthesis, we devise an agenda for future research in this interdisciplinary field.
Predicting the Material Footprint in Germany between 2015 and 2020 via Seasonally Decomposed Autoregressive and Exponential Smoothing Algorithms

Recent research on the natural resource use of private consumption suggests a sustainable Material Footprint of 8 tons per capita by 2050 in industrialised countries. We analyse the Material Footprint in Germany from 2015 to 2020 in order to test whether the Material Footprint decreases accordingly. We studied the Material Footprint of 113,559 users of an online footprint calculator and predicted the Material Footprint by seasonally decomposed autoregressive (STL-ARIMA) and exponential smoothing (STL-ETS) algorithms. We find a relatively stable Material Footprint for private consumption. The overall Material Footprint decreased by 0.4% per year between 2015 and 2020 on average. The predictions do not suggest that the Material Footprint of private consumption follows the reduction path of 3.3% per year that will lead to the sustainable consumption of natural resources.
The Enlightenment of social model of disability on the formulation of employment policy for the disabled----Take China's disabled employment policy as an example to analyse

This article introduced China’s leading employment policy for the disabled at first. And then, based on the analysis of the difference between the medical and social model of disability, the transformation from medical to social model of disability in legislation in US and UK were summarized, and the advantages of the social model of disability were admitted in guiding the employment legislation for the disabled. Furthermore, from the perspective of the social model of disability, this article summarized the problems behind the employment policy for the disabled in China and the according enlightenments were put forward. Firstly, China’s government should consider integrating social model in policy-making on the basis of its own situation. To be specific, the formulation of policies should not only focus on the injured individuals, but also pay more attention to the structural barriers in the society that the disabled have suffered. The new objective of those policies should aim at eliminating social oppression and discrimination that widely exist in the modern world. Secondly, China should further optimize the policies without the regulations for the reward or the punishment, so as to enhance the prestige of the policies. Finally, the enforcement mechanism should also be improved to a large extent, therefore truly contributing to the implement of employment policy for the disabled.
A Novel index-based multidimensional data organization model that enhances the predictability of the machine learning algorithms

Learning from the multidimensional data has been an interesting concept in the field of machine learning. However, such learning can be difficult, complex, expensive because of expensive data processing, manipulations as the number of dimension increases. As a result, we have introduced an ordered index-based data organization model as the ordered data set provides easy and efficient access than the unordered one and finally, such organization can improve the learning. The ordering maps the multidimensional dataset in the reduced space and ensures that the information associated with the learning can be retrieved back and forth efficiently. We have found that such multidimensional data storage can enhance the predictability for both the unsupervised and supervised machine learning algorithms.
The Extent Of Awareness Regarding Green Financing Among Jordanian Commercial Banks From The Perspective Of Investment Department Managers

Chronicles Abstract Current study is an attempt to find out the awareness level of commercial banks in Jordan about the concept of green financing and the extent of the commercial banks' use of this type of financing. The current study relied on the quantitative methodology by distributing a questionnaire to (142) managers, leaders and employees in commercial banks in Jordan (49) commercial bank. Results of the study proved that there is an acceptable level of awareness within the categories studied in banks about the concept of green financing and that there is an actual application for this type of finance within banks in Jordan.also, results indicated that the first and most important supporter of green financing in banks are the government, legislations and laws must be framed and oriented towards supporting foreign investment in environmental projects in addition to back up banks in its approaches to finance green investments.
BIOCENOSES OF SMALL RIVERS IN THE KRASNODAR KRAI

Дана краткая характеристика исследованных малых рек Краснодарского края и их рыбохозяйственная категорийность. Впервые по результатам изучения основных групп гидробионтов (фитопланктон, зоопланктон, зообентос, рыбы) проведено описание и анализ качественных и количественных характеристик зооценозов малых рек Краснодарского края. Приводятся сведения о среднегодовых биомассах фитопланктона, зоопланктона, зообентоса. Представлены сведения о видом составе ихтиофауны малых рек, их потенциальной рыбопродуктивности и продуктивности нерестилищ. Исследование ихтиофауны представляет как научный фаунистический интерес, так и несет практическое значение в изучении и сохранении биологического разнообразия в условиях мощного антропогенного воздействия.
Piezoelectric Nylon‐11 Fibers for Electronic Textiles, Energy Harvesting and Sensing

Electronic textiles and functional fabrics are among the key constituents envisioned for wearable electronics applications. For e‐textiles, the challenge is to process materials of desired electronic properties such as piezoelectricity into fibers to be integrated as wefts or wraps in the fabrics. Nylons, first introduced in the 1940s for stockings, are among the most widely used synthetic fibers in textiles. However, realization of nylon‐based e‐textiles has remained elusive due to the difficulty of achieving the piezoelectric phase in the nylon fibers. Here, piezoelectric nylon‐11 fibers are demonstrated and it is shown that the resulting fibers are viable for applications in energy harvesting from low frequency mechanical vibrations and in motion sensors. A simulation study is presented that elucidates on the sensitivity of the nylon‐11 fibers toward external mechanical stimuli. Moreover, a strategy is proposed and validated to significantly boost the electrical performance of the fibers. Since a large fraction of the textile industry is based on nylon fibers, the demonstration of piezoelectric nylon fibers will be a major step toward realization of electronic textiles for applications in apparels, health monitoring, sportswear, and portable energy generation.
A Non-Invasive Sampling Method for Detecting Non-Native Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

Abstract The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a cool-water fish species native to central North America. Widespread introductions and secondary spread outside of its historical range have led to new recreational fisheries and associated economic benefits in western United States, but have also resulted in a number of ecological impacts to recipient ecosystems, including threats to Pacific salmon. Management of introduced smallmouth bass populations, now and into the future, relies on accurate detection and monitoring of this species. To address this need, we developed an environmental DNA assay that can detect smallmouth bass DNA extracted from filtered water samples in concentrations as low as 2 mtDNA copies per reaction. Field testing demonstrated that eDNA sampling produced results largely consistent with snorkel surveys, a traditional visual assessment, and gained a few additional positive detections. While this assay is robust against non-target detection, including the only other Micropterus in Pacific Northwest streams, largemouth bass (M. salmoides), the high genetic similarity within the sunfish family Centrarchidae made it unable to distinguish smallmouth bass from spotted bass (M. punctulatus) and some Guadalupe bass (M. treculii). The high sensitivity of this method and assay will be particularly useful for identifying the location of non-native smallmouth bass in the Pacific Northwest, quantifying its rate of spread, and aiding management actions.
Bulb organogenesis of Tulipa tarda in vitro cultures in relation to light environment

ABSTRACT Here organogenesis of tarda tulip (Tulipa tarda Stapf.) from callus explants is presented. The callus tissue was cultivated on MS media containing 3% or 6% sucrose and either no addition of BAP (6-benzyl-aminopurine) or supplemented with 0.5 μM BAP. The cultures were maintained under a 16 h photoperiod under white, red or blue fluorescent light, at 20 ± 2°C for 12 weeks. This study aimed to determine the most suitable light conditions and medium composition for seed-derived callus explants in order to obtain an efficient formation of adventitious bulbs. There were no differences between the spectra of light in differentiating adventitious bulbs. Explants cultured in darkness (control), on 0.5 µM BAP and 3% sucrose, formed the highest number of adventitious bulbs. The efficiency of adventitious organogenesis amounted to 36.6 bulbs per 1 g of callus tissue. The fresh weight of biomass, cultured in these conditions, increased within 12 weeks from 1 to 6.99 g. Supplementation with BAP of the medium containing 3% sucrose promoted the formation of bulbs, but in the case of the medium with 6% sucrose, BAP had an adverse influence under every type of light. The obtained results provide a useful protocol for the micropropagation of T. tarda, which can be used commercially for rapid and cost-effective production of the tulip.
Family socioeconomic status and parental expectations affect mathematics achievement in a national sample of Chilean students

Family socioeconomic status (SES) has a significant influence on children’s academic success and is related to parents’ attitudes toward education. Moreover, according to the expectancy-value theory, parental expectations are linked to their children’s perceptions of school, which, in turn, influences the way their children invest themselves in education. In this study, we aimed to test a part of the theorical expectancy-value family socialization model that links family SES and parental expectations and explore their influences on children’s mathematics self-concept and achievement. This study was conducted in the Chilean context, which is characterized by strong neoliberal educational policies that induce a strong relationship between family economic resources and children’s educational trajectories. We utilized a longitudinal design, and our study sample (N = 157,814 Chilean students) came from a national assessment that was conducted from 2007 to 2013 when students were in their 4th, 8th, and 10th grades. Our results showed that, while controlling for children’s previous mathematics achievement, their final mathematics achievement was influenced by children’s mathematics self-concept, the family socioeconomic and educational context, and parental expectations regarding their children’s academic achievement. Our findings also highlighted that Chilean parents base their expectations on parents’ capacity to support their children’s education as much as on their children’s previous academic achievement.
An Overview of the Treatment Contributions Measured Globally for the COVID-19 Outbreak

SARS CoV2 is a newly emerged animal beta coronavirus that causes respiratory illness. This infection has affected 212 countries to date and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Due to the high transmission rate and lack of availability of any approved anti-viral drug, the formulation of a specific anti-viral therapy has now become a global emergency. Genomic studies have revealed a 79% identity of SARS CoV2 with SARS CoV and 50% identity with MERS CoV, which has given a clue point to test the drugs that were efficient against previously encountered beta coronaviruses. For this purpose, several clinical trials based on the knowledge of existing drugs are moving ahead. These therapies include chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, corticosteroids therapy, favipiravir, ribavirin, lopinavir/ritonavir, anti-cytokine therapy, and convalescent sera. The purpose of this review is to give a pointer of contributions conducted globally, including strategies utilized for treatments, the pattern of dosage, adverse reactions, and effective outcomes from different drugs. Literature has been retrieved from PubMed, PubMed Central, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, using a combination of keywords for extensive information. Among all the drug options, Remdesivir and the use of Convalescent Sera have been considered as the safest options for treatment against COVID-19. Data from the ongoing clinical trials will be required for the formulation of a specific and approved anti-viral drug.