Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-Rejection Aware Online Task Assignment in Spatial Crowdsourcing

Spatial crowdsourcing as a promising computing paradigm has received significant attention recently. A fundamental issue of spatial crowdsourcing is online task assignment, i.e., the platform must make decisions immediately (assign or reject) for newly arriving objects (tasks or workers). Previous studies mostly focus on the rejection-aware assignment, which rarely considers non-rejection assignment for new arrival objects. To solve this new allocation model, in this paper, we first formulate a novel problem, namely Online Non-rejection aware Task Assignment (ONRTA) in spatial crowdsourcing, where an object cannot be rejected by the platform as long as there is a neighbor that satisfies the matching constraint with it. Then, we develop a non-rejection threshold-based random algorithm ONRTA-RT under the adversarial order model while obtaining a theoretical bound on the competitive ratio. More importantly, we consider a more natural random order model and propose a two-stage-based non-rejection aware task assignment approach, ONRTA-Base, which achieves a competitive ratio of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\frac{1}{4}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mfrac><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mn>4</mml:mn></mml:mfrac></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="yang-ieq1-3327858.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>. Based on this framework, we further devise two non-rejection assignment approaches, ONRTA-OP and ONRTA-Greedy, which are more effective and run faster with a competitive ratio of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\frac{1}{4}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mfrac><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mn>4</mml:mn></mml:mfrac></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="yang-ieq2-3327858.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\frac{1}{8}$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mfrac><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mn>8</mml:mn></mml:mfrac></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="yang-ieq3-3327858.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>, respectively. Finally, experiments on synthetic and real datasets demonstrate that our proposed methods outperform the representative methods.
Comparative Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds in Two Bottle Gourd Accessions with Distinct Fruit Shapes

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.) belongs to the cucurbit family and has a long history of cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, both for food and medicine. Popularized by its unique fruit shapes, gourds are used to make ornaments and musical instruments. However, there is limited information on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the bottle gourd fruit. In the present study, we conducted a comparative analysis of VOCs profiled in two accessions (USVL5 and USVL10) with distinct fruit shapes: bottle and cylinder. While USVL5 only produced long cylinder fruits, USVL10 produced two fruit types, cylinder (USVL10CYN) and bottle (USVL10A and USVL10B). VOCs in each line were analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). Aliphatic aldehydes and alcohols were the most abundant compounds found in these bottle gourd accessions. Based on the functional profile of the identified VOCs, our results reveal the suitability of our tested line (USVL10), enriched in functionally important VOCs such as hexanal (abundance = 381.07), nonanal (abundance = 9.85), 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane (abundance = 21.26) and D-limonene (abundance = 31.48). The VOCs profiling and functional analyses support the notion that the bottle gourd accession USVL10 can be a good candidate for its use in agriculture, the health care industry and domestic uses.
Immersive virtual reality or computerised mindfulness meditation for improving mood? Preliminary efficacy from a pilot randomised trial

Introduction Mindfulness interventions are effective in improving mood, reducing stress, and increasing quality of life. New developments in technology bring important channels to deliver mindfulness interventions that can increase accessibility, such as the Internet, computerised interventions, mobile apps and recently, virtual reality (VR). The aim of the present study is to enhance our current understanding of the use of VR in mindfulness, namely we examined in a pilot randomised trial the efficacy of an immersive VR-based mindfulness approach compared to an active control (computerised-based mindfulness meditation) on improving mood. A secondary objective was to examine whether VR use resulted in simulator sickness which could affect user engagement. Methods Forty-seven (Mage = 29.22 years) healthy participants were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. Results A mixed 2X3 ANOVA showed a significant Time effect. Namely, negative emotions were reduced in both groups, with non-significant differences between groups. For positive emotions, on the other hand, our results showed no significant impact. Simulator sickness in VR was not present, according to t-test, making VR a safe delivery method. Discussion Future research should investigate VR dosage and combine VR with other interventions (e.g., blended with face-to-face mindfulness interventions, with Internet-delivered interventions).
Examining the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Network in the Placental Tissues of Pregnancies Complicated by Pre-Eclampsia: An Explorative Case–Control Analysis

Severe maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality associated with pre-eclampsia, which are caused partly by premature delivery, affect a factual proportion of pregnancies. Despite its prevalence, the underlying causes of pre-eclampsia remain elusive, with emerging evidence implicating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in its pathogenesis. This study sought to elucidate the involvement of the AhR and its associated pathway in pre-eclampsia by comparing placental components of the AhR pathway in pregnant individuals with and without pre-eclampsia. This case–control investigation was conducted at the University Hospital of Udine from May 2021 to February 2023. The AhR was assessed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, and its mRNA was evaluated using a Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR. Levels of mRNA expression were also estimated for other components of the AhR pathway (CYP1B1, IDO1, ARNT, TIPARP, S100A4, and AHRR). Our findings show decreased levels of expression of AhR, IDO1, ARNT, TiPARP, and S100A4 in the placental tissues of individuals with pre-eclampsia compared to controls (p < 0.05). The AhR exhibited a distinct localization within the syncytiotrophoblast (nuclei and cytoplasm) and CD45-positive cells (nuclei and cytoplasm). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between the AhR and S100A4 (rho = 0.81) was observed in normal placentas, while CYP1B1 displayed a significant negative correlation with the AhR (rho = −0.72), within addition to its negative correlation with TiPARP (rho = −0.83). This study illuminates pre-eclampsia’s molecular aberrations, suggesting new diagnostic, therapeutic, and mechanistic approaches. This study emphasizes the need for more research to validate and broaden these findings to improve the management of this complex pregnancy condition.
Large-Area MoS2 Films Grown on Sapphire and GaN Substrates by Pulsed Laser Deposition

In this paper, we present the preparation of few-layer MoS2 films on single-crystal sapphire, as well as on heteroepitaxial GaN templates on sapphire substrates, using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. Detailed structural and chemical characterization of the films were performed using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction measurements, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. According to X-ray diffraction studies, the films exhibit epitaxial growth, indicating a good in-plane alignment. Furthermore, the films demonstrate uniform thickness on large areas, as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The lateral electrical current transport of the MoS2 grown on sapphire was investigated by temperature (T)-dependent sheet resistance and Hall effect measurements, showing a high n-type doping of the semiconducting films (ns from ~1 × 1013 to ~3.4 × 1013 cm−2 from T = 300 K to 500 K), with a donor ionization energy of Ei = 93 ± 8 meV and a mobility decreasing with T. Finally, the vertical current injection across the MoS2/GaN heterojunction was investigated by means of conductive atomic force microscopy, showing the rectifying behavior of the I-V characteristics with a Schottky barrier height of ϕB ≈ 0.36 eV. The obtained results pave the way for the scalable application of PLD-grown MoS2 on GaN in electronics/optoelectronics.
Enhancing Linearity in Parallel-Plate MEMS Varactors through Repulsive Actuation

This paper presents a new MEMS varactor that uses repulsive actuation to achieve an ultra-linear capacitance-to-voltage response. The approach proposed involves actuating the moveable electrode away from the fixed electrode, instead of the conventional closing-the-gap direction. This increasing-gap movement reduces the capacitance as the actuation voltage increases. The MEMS variable capacitor is fabricated using PolyMUMPs technology and exhibits an excellent linearity factor of 99.7% in capacitance-to-voltage response, and a capacitance tuning ratio of 11× was achieved. The proposed strategy will enable the development of high-performance MEMS-based tunable devices for various applications.
Student Evaluation of a Learning Enhancement in Anatomy Program (LEAP) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

Background and Objective. The pandemic acted as an accelerator for the development of online teaching formats in anatomy and histology worldwide. The authors introduce a bridging program that reinforces the knowledge and understanding of gross and correlative anatomy and histology acquired in a virtual environment in preparation for its future clinical application. The study aims to evaluate the Learning Enhancement in Anatomy Program (LEAP) conducted among first-year medical students at the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila.Methods. This descriptive cross-sectional study aims to determine the initial experience of implementing a learning enhancement program and assess areas for its improvement. An internally validated questionnaire was given to students after the program to gauge students’ reactions (Kirkpatrick Level 1 evaluation). Pre- and post-tests were administered to evaluate knowledge acquisition (Kirkpatrick Level 2 evaluation). Short-term behavioral peer evaluation (Kirkpatrick Level 3 evaluation) was also instituted.Results. One hundred fifty-two (152) students participated in the study. General reactions from students to the LEAP were consistently positive, with a steady majority of the students rating ‘5’ or a ‘Strongly Agree’ to positive statements regarding the program. Higher ratings for more traditional teaching methods, such as cadavers, formalinized specimens, and bones, compared to virtual systems were apparent. However, inter-student variation in preference for teaching modalities was observed. All stations of the LEAP were evaluated satisfactorily, with most gross anatomy stations rated higher than histology stations. A significant increase was noted in the total post-test scores compared to pre-test scores. This improvement in test scores was observed in the anatomy and histology subcategories and in six of the seven organ system modules. Perceived behavioral outcomes were also generally positive.Conclusion. The LEAP is a worthwhile endeavor, garnering overwhelmingly positive reactions and asignificant improvement in test scores. Future studies are necessary to fine-tune teaching and training in ablended learning environment.
Terrestrial laser scanning for crop monitoring.Capturing 3D data of plant height for estimating biomass at field scale

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is a young remote sensing method, but the trustworthiness of such measurements offers great potential for accurate surveying. TLS allows non-experts to rapidly acquire 3D data of high density. Generally, this acquisition of accurate geoinformation is increasingly desired in various fields, however this study focuses on the application of TLS for crop monitoring. The increasing cost and efficiency pressure on agriculture induced the emergence of site specific crop management, which requires a comprehensive knowledge about the plant development. An important parameter to evaluate this development or rather the actual plant status is the amount of plant biomass, which is however directly only determinable with destructive sampling. With the aim of avoiding destructive measurements, interest is increasingly directed towards non-contact remote sensing surveys. Nowadays, different approaches address biomass estimations based on other parameters, such as vegetation indices (VIs) from spectral data or plant height. Since the plants are not taken it is feasible to perform several measurements across a field and across the growing season. Hence, the change of spatial and temporal patterns can be monitored. This study applies TLS for objectively measuring and monitoring plant height as estimator for biomass at field scale. Overall 35 TLS campaigns were carried out at three sites over four growing seasons. In each campaign a 3D point cloud, covering the surface of the field, was obtained and interpolated to a crop surface model (CSM). A CSM represents the crop canopy in a very high spatial resolution on a specific date. By subtracting a digital terrain model (DTM) of the bare ground from each CSM, plant heights were calculated pixel-wise. Manual measurements aligned well with the TLS data and demonstrated the main benefit of CSMs: the highly detailed acquisition of the entire crop surface. The plant height data were used to estimate biomass with empirically developed biomass regression models (BRMs). Validation analyses against destructive measurements were carried out to confirm the results. The spatial and temporal transferability of crop-specific BRMs was shown. In one case study, the estimations from plant height and six VIs were compared and the benefit of fusing both parameters was investigated. The analyses were based on the TLS-derived CSMs and spectral data measured with a field spectrometer. The important role of plant height as a robust estimator was shown in contrast to a varying performance of BRMs based on the VIs. A major benefit through the fusion of both parameters in multivariate BRMs could not be concluded in this study. Nevertheless, further research should address this fusion, with regard to the capability of VIs to assess information about the vegetation cover or biochemical and biophysical parameters.
SARS-CoV-2 and Epstein–Barr Virus-like Particles Associate and Fuse with Extracellular Vesicles in Virus Neutralization Tests

The successful development of effective viral vaccines depends on well-known correlates of protection, high immunogenicity, acceptable safety criteria, low reactogenicity, and well-designed immune monitoring and serology. Virus-neutralizing antibodies are often a good correlate of protective immunity, and their serum concentration is a key parameter during the pre-clinical and clinical testing of vaccine candidates. Viruses are inherently infectious and potentially harmful, but we and others developed replication-defective SARS-CoV-2 virus-like-particles (VLPs) as surrogates for infection to quantitate neutralizing antibodies with appropriate target cells using a split enzyme-based approach. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-derived VLPs associate and fuse with extracellular vesicles in a highly specific manner, mediated by the respective viral fusion proteins and their corresponding host receptors. We highlight the capacity of virus-neutralizing antibodies to interfere with this interaction and demonstrate a potent application using this technology. To overcome the common limitations of most virus neutralization tests, we developed a quick in vitro diagnostic assay based on the fusion of SARS-CoV-2 VLPs with susceptible vesicles to quantitate neutralizing antibodies without the need for infectious viruses or living cells. We validated this method by testing a set of COVID-19 patient serum samples, correlated the results with those of a conventional test, and found good sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this serological assay can be adapted to a human herpesvirus, EBV, and possibly other enveloped viruses.
How Lung Volume Recruitment Maneuvers Enhance Respiratory Function in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Quasi-Randomized Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a decrease in muscle strength can lead to limitations in pulmonary functions, potentially causing respiratory complications. To address these challenges, the lung volume recruitment (LVR) maneuver has emerged as a potential intervention. This study sought to evaluate the impact of a four-week LVR protocol on respiratory function in secondary progressive MS patients. Materials and Methods: In a quasi-randomized pre/post-controlled trial, 24 patients with secondary progressive MS were recruited. Participants aged 20–70 years with an EDSS score of 2 to 9 were alternately allocated to intervention (n = 12) or control groups (n = 12). The intervention group underwent a 4-week respiratory rehabilitation training focused on LVR, using a standardized cough machine treatment protocol twice daily. The control group received no respiratory intervention. Outcomes measured included forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal insufflation capacity (MIC), and peak cough flow (PCF), using turbine spirometry and other associated equipment. All measurements were taken at baseline (T0) and after 4 weeks (T1) by a blinded assessor. Results: For the intervention group, the mean difference pre/post-treatment in MIC (mL) was 0.45 (SD 1.13) (p = 0.02), and in MIC (%), it was 0.13 (SD 0.24) (p = 0.03). Compared to the control group (n = 10), the between-group mean difference for MIC (mL) was 0.54 (p = 0.02), and for MIC (%), it was 0.15 (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The short-term daily LVR protocol notably improved passive lung capacity, despite minimal changes in active lung capacity or cough force. The LVR maneuver offers promise for enhancing respiratory function, especially passive lung capacity, in secondary progressive MS patients. Further research should explore optimal treatment durations and frequencies for more extensive respiratory gains.
Ab Initio Optimization of System-specific Dispersion Corrections for Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations: Acetonitrile as a Test Case

Grimme’s dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D) methods have emerged among the most practical approaches to perform accurate quantum mechanical calculations on molecular systems ranging from small clusters to microscopic and mesoscopic samples, i.e., including hundreds or thousands of molecules. Moreover, DFT-D functionals can be easily integrated into popular ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) software packages to carry out first-principle condensed phase simulations at an affordable computational cost. Here, starting from the well-established D3 version of the dispersion correction term, we present a simple protocol to improve the accurate description of the intermolecular interactions of molecular clusters of growing size, considering acetonitrile as a test case. Optimization of the interaction energy was performed with reference to diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculations, successfully reaching the same inherent accuracy of the latter (statistical error of ~0.1 kcal/mol per molecule). The refined DFT-D3 model was then used to perform ab initio MD simulations of liquid acetonitrile, showing again significant improvements towards available experimental data with respect to the default correction.
The treatment of meltwater retention in mass-balance parameterizations of the Greenland ice sheet

Abstract Retention of meltwater runoff by percolation and/or refreezing in the snowpack cannot be neglected when studying the surface mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet. In this paper, we make a detailed comparison of several treatments proposed in the literature to account for this process in large-scale mass-balance parameterizations. The melt on the Greenland ice sheet is calculated with a revised degree-day model using updated datasets of surface elevation and precipitation rate on a 5 km grid. Crucial model parameters are recalibrated by comparing mass-balance characteristics with available observations on a regional basis. We discuss the role of meltwater retention in the light of the overall mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet and its sensitivity to climatic change, and display patterns of effective-retention fractions for the various methods. As a main conclusion it appears that overall results are quite similar for the various models, but that meltwater retention has a large spatial variation not described by the simple treatments. Using the most comprehensive retention model, the sensitivity of the runoff is found to be +0.35 mm ˚C–1 of sea-level change per year. We also present a new map of the different zones (facies) that characterize the accumulation area of the Greenland ice sheet, which is useful for interpreting field data and calibrating satellite observations.
Interactions between Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass) and native ruderal species in ecological restoration

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v TABLE OF CONTENTS . vii CHAPTER 1. TAILORING NATIVE SEED MIXES TO RESTORE INVADED AREAS: THE CASE OF BROMUS TECTORUM . 1 1.
Traversing the Pass: Improving the Knowledge Retention of Serious Games Using a Pedagogical Agent

Machine learning is an essential aspect of modern life that many educational institutions incorporate into their curricula. Often, students struggle to grasp how neural networks learn. Teaching these concepts could be assisted with pedagogical agents and serious games, which both have proven helpful for complex topics like engineering. We present "Traversing the Pass," a serious game that utilizes a mentor-like agent to explain the underlying machine learning concepts and provides feedback. We optimized the agent's design in a pre-study before evaluating its effectiveness compared to a text-only user interface with experts and students. Participants performed better in a second assessment two weeks later if they played the game using the agent. Although criticized as repetitive, the game created an understanding of basic machine learning concepts and achieved high flow values. Our results indicate that agents could be used to enhance the beneficial effects of serious games with improved knowledge retention.