Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-term exposure to air pollution and mental disorders: a case-crossover study in New York City

There is growing evidence suggesting that exposure to air pollutants is associated with mental disorders. We investigated the impact of short-term exposures to both fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) assessed at fine spatiotemporal resolutions on emergency room (ER) visits related to mental disorders using 475 755 records from New York City between 2010 and 2016. We assessed the short-term impact of daily air pollution exposure on ER visits using a case-crossover design with conditional logistic regression. We further tested whether the impact of PM2.5 and O3 varied by individuals’ age, sex, and race/ethnicity, and if associations were modified by the degree of visibility of greenspace at individuals’ residences. Results suggested that the relative risk of visiting an ER for mental-disorders increased by 2.78% (95% CI: 1.82%–3.76%) with a 10 μgm−3 increase in ambient PM2.5 concentration over a 4 day (d) moving average (lag 0–3 d) and increased by 0.71% (95% CI: 0.28%–1.15%) with a 10 ppb increase in O3 concentration on a single day lag (lag 1 d), and that these effects were modified by age and race/ethnicity, but not by sex or surrounding greenery. Specifically, we found that age group 19–35 years old and non-Whites were more susceptible to the effects of ambient air pollution exposure. In terms of specific disorders, we found that both PM2.5 and O3 have an effect on ER visits for psychotic disorders, but not dementia. Our findings suggest that short-term exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with increased ER visits for mental disorders. Further research is needed to determine the underlying mechanisms by which exposure to PM2.5 and O3 is linked to these ER visits.
A numerical train–floating slab track coupling model based on the periodic-Fourier-modal method

A numerical model based on the periodic-Fourier-modal method is proposed for the dynamic analysis of a train-floating slab track coupling system with random track irregularity. In the model, each vehicle of the train is modeled as a multiple-degree-of-freedom vibration system consisting of one car body, two bogies, four wheelsets, and two groups of spring-damper suspension devices. The floating slab track is modeled as a periodic-infinite structure with discrete supports and discontinuous slabs. Linear springs are used to couple the train and the track. In order to establish this numerical model, an efficient periodic approach named periodic-Fourier-modal method for solving the dynamic response of the floating slab track under a harmonic moving load is first developed. Based on this, a strategy is then proposed which can couple the moving train to the track with random irregularity and express the wheel–rail force as a superposition of a series of harmonic loads. With the solved wheel–rail force, the vehicle response can be directly calculated through vehicle dynamics, while track response can be calculated through the principle of superposition and the reuse of the initially proposed periodic-Fourier-modal method. Using this train–floating slab track coupling model, the solution of the dynamic response of the infinite track can be transformed to perform only within a single periodic range, which can save the calculation time significantly. The numerical results of the Beijing subway, based on the proposed model, are discussed in detail, and some important conclusions are drawn.
A knowledge-based NSGA-II approach for scheduling in virtual manufacturing cells

This paper considers the job scheduling problem in virtual manufacturing cells (VMCs) with the goal of minimizing two objectives namely, makespan and total travelling distance. To solve this problem two algorithms are proposed: traditional non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and knowledge-based non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (KBNSGA-II). The difference between these algorithms is that, KBNSGA-II has an additional learning module. Finally, we draw an analogy between the results obtained from algorithms applied to various test problems. The superiority of our KBNSGA-II, based on set coverage and mean ideal distance metrics, is inferred from results.
Fintech and Bank competition: The role of screening technology and collateral requirements

Using a theoretical model that assumes heterogeneity in lenders’ screening ability and in borrowers’ investment horizon, we show that fintech loans to entrepreneurs are more likely to be unsecured and short-term while bank loans are expected to be asset-backed and long-term. The findings suggest that fintech lenders substitute data for collateral to leverage their advantage in borrower screening. Nev-ertheless, as this advantage declines with loan’s term, banks are able to leverage their own advantage stemming from lower collateral underwriting costs. The results offer a supply-side explanation for the recent proliferation of unsecured lending. We also provide theoretical justification for the empirical observations about credit availability and interest rates offered by fintechs and banks, drawn from the Federal Reserve’s Small Business Credit Survey. The model can be used to derive predictions as borrowers’ data availability and methods of analyzing these data improve.
Effect and Mechanisms of State Boredom on Consumers’ Livestreaming Addiction

With the rapid development of livestreaming marketing in China, consumers spend an increasing amount of time watching and purchasing on the platform, which shows a trend of livestreaming addiction. In the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the addiction exacerbated by a surge of boredom caused by home quarantine. Based on the observation of this phenomenon, this research focused on whether state boredom could facilitate consumers’ livestreaming addiction and explored the associated mechanisms of this relationship. Based on three studies, this research found that state boredom had a positive effect on consumers’ livestreaming addiction, and this relationship worked through the mediating effect of consumers’ sensation seeking. We further verified a moderated mediation effect of consumers’ life meaning perception, where the indirect effect of state boredom on consumers’ livestreaming addiction via consumers’ sensation seeking existed for high and low levels of life meaning perception, but in opposite directions. The conclusions provided theoretical and practical implications of livestreaming marketing and healthy leisure consumption.
Adaptive feedforward control design for gust loads alleviation and LCO suppression

An adaptive feedforward controller is designed for gust loads alleviation and limit cycle oscillations suppression. Two sets of basis functions, based on the finite impulse response and modified finite impulse response approaches, are investigated to design the controller for gust loads alleviation. Limit cycle oscillations suppression is shown by using the modified finite impulse response controller. Worst case gust search is performed by using a nonlinear technique of model reduction to speed up the costs of calculations. Both the “one–minus–cosine” and Von Karman continuous turbulence gusts of different intensities were generated to examine the performance of controllers. The responses of these two types of gust can be reduced effectively by finite impulse response controller in the whole process, while the modified finite impulse response controller is found to increase the loads during the initial transient response. The above two types of gust induced limit cycle oscillations were used to test the modified finite impulse response controller. Results show that it can suppress limit cycle oscillations to some extent
The effects of dual credit college algebra on postsecondary education outcomes

Using data from the Kentucky Center for Statistics, this study aimed to explore the impact of participation in dual credit college algebra on longitudinal postsecondary education outcomes of high school seniors in Kentucky. Seniors were divided into students who took dual credit college algebra in high school and those who did not. Each group was further divided into two subgroups using junior ACT (American College Testing) math score of 22 (the benchmark in Kentucky for college algebra readiness). Propensity score matching was used to match dual credit college algebra participants with their non-participating peers based on student and school characteristics. The comparisons showed statistically significant advantages in terms of postsecondary enrollment, first year GPA, time to degree, and completion of a bachelor's degree for students in the low ACT group who took dual credit college algebra. Students in the high ACT group who took dual credit college algebra showed statistically significant advantages in terms of postsecondary enrollment, time to degree, and completion of a postsecondary certificate.
Mobilizing social support: New and transferable digital skills in the era of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global crisis that has had profound impacts on people’s lives. Under these circumstances, social support can buffer against pandemic-related stress. Yet, the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic with its stringent health guidelines have created unique challenges to the mobilization of social support. These challenges particularly affect vulnerable groups with limited digital life skills. Based on a qualitative study of 101 semi-structured interviews with East York residents in Toronto, Canada conducted in 2013–2014, we investigate what new and transferable digital life skills are needed in the pre- and post-pandemic era to mobilize social support. Our findings reveal that East Yorkers easily transfer their digital skills to many spheres of their lives, which help them to organize their busy social lives and coordinate events and gatherings as well as to flexibly socialize online. When needed, East Yorkers adapt and expand their digital skills to substitute for in-person contact, often overcoming communication barriers. One of the key benefits of developing digital life skills is the ability to mobilize social support (i.e., companionship, emotional aid, large services, and technical support), whereby individuals employed different digital skills to mobilize different types of support. The findings demonstrate what new and transferable digital life skills are needed to navigate social support in a post-pandemic era. The study has implications for the development of age-specific interventions to strengthen much needed digital life skills that will aid individuals in mobilizing their social support during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and help mitigate the negative effects of stress.
Parking Lot Allocation Using Rematching and Dynamic Parking Fee Design

In urban areas, traffic congestion is caused by vehicles slowing down as drivers search for vacant parking spaces. In this study, we propose a novel smart-parking system that allocates parking lots based on the matching theory, considering both the drivers’ and parking managers’ preferences. Some drivers may be unable to be allocated to parking lots because of the high traffic volume in urban areas that causes many parking lots to be full. Therefore, we propose a prior reservation system that can reallocate parking lots considering the waiting time until vacant parking spaces appear. The driver’s preference is redetermined considering the waiting time obtained by both the parked drivers’ and reallocated drivers’ information. We also present a parking lot allocation algorithm, including rematching, and discuss stability and strategy-proofness, which are important properties of matching. Furthermore, we propose a dynamic parking fee design, considering different parking statuses (“full,” “congested,” and “available”). By combining the “price increase” with the “price decrease” based on parking status, the proposed dynamic parking fee aims not only to level out parking utilization but also to secure the parking managers’ profit. Finally, numerical simulations confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method using rematching and dynamic parking fee design.
Evaluation of Flotation Collectors in Developing Zero Waste Technology for Processing Iron Ore Tailings

Reverse cationic column flotation technology is gaining traction in iron ore processing industry for recovering iron values from iron ore slimes/tailings. Development and selection of appropriate collector suitable to the material to be processed plays vital role in the development of the process/technology. Three cationic collectors which are vegetable oil based, biodegradable and environmental friendly were tested for their efficacy in reducing alumina and silica and improve iron content in the tailings of an operating iron ore washing plant. Selectivity index as defined by Douglas was used as response parameter to measure the efficiency of separation while comparing the performance of these collectors during flotation tests. Sokem 522C proved to be better in comparison to Sokem 701 and Sokem 702 with the highest selectivity index of 20.87. The concentrate generated analyzed 63.30% Fe, 2.20% SiO2 and 2.52% Al2O3 with 69.00% weight recovery and 79.21% Fe recovery from the tailings containing 55.14% Fe, 17.34% SiO2 and 4.04% Al2O3. The concentrate generated is suitable for pellet making due to its attractive granulometry and acceptable levels of alumina content (≤ 2.50%) in it. The tailings generated in this process could be utilised for cement manufacturing and tiles or pavement blocks making.The process developed is ‘zero waste’ while mitigating the environmental issues related to managing tailings in iron ore processing plants.
Strategy Selection in the Implementation of PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia's Security Management System in The Greater Jakarta Area

The purpose of this study is to describe a general description of the conditions of Security Management System (SMS) implementation in the PT KCI Greater Jakarta area, examine indicators that can affect the implementation of SMS at PT KCI Greater Jakarta area, and formulate a priority scale strategy for SMS at PT KCI Greater Jakarta area during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher uses Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method by including six indicators of field certification, employee skills training, reporting & administration, archive documentation, and performance evaluation as the selection of indicators that affect implementation, and three alternative selection strategies, namely training competencies, documentation & records, and controls & processes. The results showed that the most influential indicators were the Documentation Archive 0.331, Reporting & Administration 0.223, and Operational Control 0.203, while the appropriate alternative strategies to determine steps in implementing SMS during the covid-19 pandemic were Documentation & Records 0.594 and control and process 0.262. The results imply that to achieve the successful implementation of the SMS program at PT KCI, a document filing system and good operational control are needed in each security unit.
A Mixed Methods Study of On-Farm Apprenticeship Learning in Virginia

The average age of principal farm operators rose from 50.3 years in 1978, to 57.1 years in 2007, as farmers retire and new farmers do not enter farming (NASS, 2013). With declining numbers of entrants into farming, agricultural educators and service providers must better understand strategies for effectively preparing beginning farmers. On-farm apprenticeships in the U.S. show promise as a means to prepare farmers and are increasing in number (Niewolny & Lillard, 2010). Lave (1988) writes “knowledge-in-practice, constituted in the settings of practice, is the locus of the most powerful knowledgeability of people in the lived-in world” (p. 14). Thus, farming, as a complex set of interwoven skills, is best learned in situ, as situated learning. Onfarm apprenticeships therefore may allow learners to construct knowledge in context, and build identities as farmers. In this thesis, I share findings from a mixed methods study that explored what kinds of on-farm apprenticeships are available, and to whom; and important educational practices, structures, and institutions that support on-farm apprenticeship learning. This study comprises data from a survey (N=45) of Virginia farmers who host apprentices, and interviews (N=12) with farmers and on-farm apprentices. Findings describe who undertakes on-farm apprenticeships, and suggest that apprentices develop expert identities through situated learning with farmers. Findings describe how farmers participate as educators, and how farms function as sites of situated learning. This study also found that on-farm apprenticeships are embedded within alternative food movements, with social reproduction potentially occurring. I also explore broader implications for preparing beginning farmers.
A Novel Link-Network Assignment to Improve the Performance of Mobility Management Protocols in Future Mobile Networks

5G is expected to support new services and applications that will change the user experience and will drive to a new business landscape. Moreover, most of the services will require optimum connectivity and seamless mobility in heterogeneous networks. To cope with these challenges, network mobility management and network densification are envisioned to be key factors in the emerging 5G architectures. By deploying a large number of cells, 5G architectures can provide users with high throughput and flexible access services, an improvement of the network scalability and optimized network coverage. However, with this densification, seamless mobility support can lead to significant increasing in signaling overhead due to frequent handovers. In this context, network operators need to efficiently plan the deployment of the base stations taking into account the mobility management of the users, and the service degradation that this mobility process could cause. This article aims to optimize the assignment of the base stations to the access routers in the mobile network to improve the network performance. The results obtained show that our proposed Link-Network Assignment algorithm based on clustering techniques achieve significant gains in terms of signaling and data forwarding costs. These simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can successfully reduce signaling cost and packet delivery cost by up to 56% and 5%, respectively, on average, compared with baseline algorithms.
The effects of 884 MHz GSM wireless communication signals on spatial memory performance: An experimental provocation study

We investigated the efiects from a double-blind radiofrequency (RF) exposure (884MHz, GSM exposure with a temporal change between non-DTX and DTX at a time averaged peak spatial SAR of 1.4W/kg) on spatial memory and learning. The exposure was conducted in the evening between 7.30 p.m. until 10.30 p.m. (i.e., for three hours). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether exposure to radio RF flelds, equal to GSM mobile phone use had any direct impact on spatial memory performance in human adults. The participants were daily mobile phone users, men and women age 18 to 45, with and without symptoms (headache, dizziness and concentration di-culties) they associated with mobile phone use. The primary outcome measure was a computerized \virtual" spatial navigation task (vMWT) modeled after the Morris Water Task (MWT), administrated on a standard desktop computer. The task environment was a circular pool surrounded by several cues, which could be used to guide navigation. Hidden beneath the surface of the arena was a platform, and participants were required to locate the platform as quickly as possible. On each of seven trials participants were placed in a difierent position of the area and facing a difierent orientation and were informed to locate the platform as quickly and as accurately as possible. The primary dependent variable used in the analysis was the distance traveled on each trial and the amount of improvement (i.e., learning) from trial 1 to 7. The test was conducted twice per test session, before (6 p.m.) and at the end of exposure (10.00 p.m). A signiflcant RF exposure efiect on distance travelled during the 7 trials was found for the symptomatic group. RF exposure had no signiflcant efiect on the amount of improvement (i.e., learning) from trial 1 to 7 on neither of the groups, compared to sham. The results of this double-blind intervention study suggest that the simulated GSM exposure at 884MHz performance. Dosimetry modeling of GSM RF suggest that parts of the brain of relevance for executive functioning, including the pre-frontal cortex and the para-limbic area are exposed. This is compatible with the known dependence of spatial memory performance on limbic/hippocampal and pre-frontal systems. Our flndings suggest that, under conditions repre- sentative of real-life mobile phone exposure, certain cognitive functions of interest are afiected. Further studies are needed to pin point the brain mechanisms that may underlie these efiects, for example identifying which speciflc parts of the brain are most afiected by GSM exposure.
Low-Temperature (≤500 °C) Complementary Schottky Source/Drain FinFETs for 3D Sequential Integration

In this work, low-temperature Schottky source/drain (S/D) MOSFETs are investigated as the top-tier devices for 3D sequential integration. Complementary Schottky S/D FinFETs are successfully fabricated with a maximum processing temperature of 500 °C. Through source/drain extension (SDE) engineering, competitive driving capability and switching properties are achieved in comparison to the conventional devices fabricated with a standard high-temperature (≥1000 °C) process flow. Schottky S/D PMOS exhibits an ON-state current (ION) of 76.07 μA/μm and ON-state to OFF-state current ratio (ION/IOFF) of 7 × 105, and those for NMOS are 48.57 μA/μm and 1 × 106. The CMOS inverter shows a voltage gain of 18V/V, a noise margin for high (NMH) of 0.17 V and for low (NML) of 0.43 V, with power consumption less than 0.9 μW at VDD of 0.8 V. Full functionality of CMOS ring oscillators (RO) are further demonstrated.
Hypermethylation-Mediated Silencing of CIDEA, MAL and PCDH17 Tumour Suppressor Genes in Canine DLBCL: From Multi-Omics Analyses to Mechanistic Studies

Gene expression is controlled by epigenetic deregulation, a hallmark of cancer. The DNA methylome of canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (cDLBCL), the most frequent malignancy of B-lymphocytes in dog, has recently been investigated, suggesting that aberrant hypermethylation of CpG loci is associated with gene silencing. Here, we used a multi-omics approach (DNA methylome, transcriptome and copy number variations) combined with functional in vitro assays, to identify putative tumour suppressor genes subjected to DNA methylation in cDLBCL. Using four cDLBCL primary cell cultures and CLBL-1 cells, we found that CiDEA, MAL and PCDH17, which were significantly suppressed in DLBCL samples, were hypermethylated and also responsive (at the DNA, mRNA and protein level) to pharmacological unmasking with hypomethylating drugs and histone deacetylase inhibitors. The regulatory mechanism underneath the methylation-dependent inhibition of those target genes expression was then investigated through luciferase and in vitro methylation assays. In the most responsive CpG-rich regions, an in silico analysis allowed the prediction of putative transcription factor binding sites influenced by DNA methylation. Interestingly, regulatory elements for AP2, MZF1, NF-kB, PAX5 and SP1 were commonly identified in all three genes. This study provides a foundation for characterisation and experimental validation of novel epigenetically-dysregulated pathways in cDLBCL.