Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing carbon emissions under EKC scheme and the role of renewable energy in Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Objectives: In the face of the rising challenges of climate change, lowering emissions has become a key driver of environmental sustainability and sustainable growth. This study examines the validity’ Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) scheme for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries between 2000 and 2020 by considering different types of energy sources (total, non-renewable, renewable), urbanization, and trade openness. Methods/Approach: Therefore, we consider the issue of cross-sectional dependency within panel data by testing its presence and employing the CIPS test to inspect the unit root. The Pedroni, Kao and Westerlund panel data cointegration tests have also been used to check the presence of long-run linkages. In addition, we apply the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), and pooled mean group (PMG) techniques to explore the long-run dynamics between variables. Results: First, it is observed that the EKC hypothesis is established in the case of six countries of GCC using CO2 emissions. Second, the direct connection between economic complexity and environmental degradation is obtained. Third, energy consumption seems also to be negative and significant. Fourth, urbanization and trade openness contribute to increase CO2. Conclusions: Findings thus point to the fact that the promotion of energy contributes to reduce the harmful effect of economic complexity over dioxide carbon emissions as consequence of scale and composition effect. In this sense, the study suggests some noteworthy environmental policy implications to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions in Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Quantifying the Relationship between Parental Involvement and English Language Proficiency among EFL Learners

This study investigates the correlation between parental involvement and English language proficiency among learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in non-English speaking contexts. Despite the established significance of parental involvement in general academic success, its specific impact on EFL learning remains under-researched. Building on previous studies and theories, this research aims to fill this gap by quantifying the relationship between these two variables in a non-English speaking environment. Guided by the primary research question "Is there a significant correlation between the level of parental involvement and English language proficiency among EFL learners? ” the study hypothesizes that higher levels of parental involvement will be associated with greater English language proficiency. By exploring this potential relationship, the study hopes to provide insights beneficial for educators, policymakers, and parents in supporting EFL learners more effectively. The outcomes of this research will contribute to the literature on second language acquisition and parental involvement, broadening our understanding of the dynamics involved in EFL learning.
Evidence for Kierkegaardian anxiety in modern psychological research

The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard argued in his 1844 work ‘The Concept of Anxiety’ that anxiety is a vital aspect of the human condition, a consequence of freedom and choice. In this article I argue that this, along with other key concepts of anxiety identified by Kierkegaard including the avoidance of past negative experiences, and education in choice outcomes
A Kind of (cid:4666)𝒏, 𝒕(cid:4667) Threshold Quantum State Sharing Scheme Based on Chinese Reminder Theorem

Secret sharing is a key technology of data confidentiality, where one can distribute a secret among agents, and only the authorized agents can recover the original secret. Quantum information technology, including quantum communication, quantum computing can break through the bottlenecks of classical technology in information security and computing speed, based on quantum mechanics, such as quantum superposition, quantum uncertainty, quantum no-cloning and quantum entanglement. By combining quantum technology with classic secret sharing, the concept of quantum state sharing was presented. In this manuscript, a novel kind of (n,t) threshold quantum state sharing scheme is proposed, where the selected t agents among n agents can cooperate to reconstruct the target secret state. For implementing this scheme, the Chinese reminder theorem is introduced during the processing of the secret key distribution. In addition, to show the proposed scheme clearly, a concrete (5,3) example is given. Furthermore, the proof of the correctness of the scheme is shown. Our scheme will improve the development the quantum secret sharing and open up exploring the application of quantum information technology
Article Title: From Clicks to Security: Investigating Continuous Authentication via Mouse Dynamics

In the realm of computer security, the importance of efficient and reliable user authentication methods has become increasingly critical. This paper examines the potential of mouse movement dynamics as a consistent metric for continuous authentication. By analysing user mouse movement patterns in two contrasting gaming scenarios, "Team Fortress" and "Poly Bridge," we investigate the distinctive behavioral patterns inherent in high-intensity and low-intensity UI interactions. The study extends beyond conventional methodologies by employing a range of machine learning models. These models are carefully selected to assess their effectiveness in capturing and interpreting the subtleties of user behavior as reflected in their mouse movements. This multifaceted approach allows for a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of user interaction patterns. Our findings reveal that mouse movement dynamics can serve as a reliable indicator for continuous user authentication. The diverse machine learning models employed in this study demonstrate competent performance in user verification, marking an improvement over previous methods used in this field. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts to enhance computer security and highlights the potential of leveraging user behavior, specifically mouse dynamics, in developing robust authentication systems.
: Different Trajectories

Retirement is a major life transition that involves changes to everyday routines, roles, and habits. Previous studies suggest that retirement may influence drinking habits. Many natural inhibitors of alcohol consumption disappear with the removal of work constraints. The potential impact depends on both individual and contextual factors. Women in the cohorts undergoing retirement now have been more active on the labor market, including the occupation of higher status jobs, which indicates more financial resources as well as a larger role loss after retirement. Also, the current cohorts who retire have had more liberal drinking habits throughout their lives compared to previous cohorts. We therefore examined changes in alcohol consumption surrounding retirement in different education groups among women and men undergoing retirement using annual data from the Health, Aging and Retirement Transitions in Sweden (HEARTS) study, a longitudinal national study of 60-to 66-year-olds ( n = 5,913), from 2015 to 2018. Latent growth curve models were used to estimate trajectories of alcohol consumption. Results showed that those who retired during the follow-up increased their usual weekly alcohol consumption while those who worked or were retired throughout the period had stable drinking habits. Those who were retired reported the highest alcohol consumption. The increase surrounding retirement was driven by people with higher education. Women with tertiary education and men with intermediate or tertiary education increased their weekly alcohol intake after retirement, while those with low education had unchanged drinking habits. Mechanisms
Incoherent Diﬀractive Imaging via Intensity Correlations of hard X-rays

Established x-ray diﬀraction methods allow for high-resolution structure determination of crystals, crystallized protein structures or even single molecules. While these techniques rely on coherent scattering, incoherent processes like Compton scattering or ﬂuorescence emission—often the predominant scattering mechanisms—are generally considered detrimental for imaging applications. Here we show that intensity correlations of incoherently scattered x-ray radiation can be used to image the full 3D structure of the scattering atoms with signiﬁcantly higher resolution compared to conventional coherent diﬀraction imaging and crystallography, including additional three-dimensional information in Fourier space for a single sample orientation. We present a number of properties of incoherent diﬀractive imaging that are conceptually superior to those of coherent methods.
UI Mobility Control in XR: Switching UI Positionings between Static, Dynamic, and Self Entities

Extended reality (XR) has the potential for seamless user interface (UI) transitions across people, objects, and environments. However, the design space, applications, and common practices of 3D UI transitions remain underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted a need-finding study with 11 participants, identifying and distilling a taxonomy based on three types of UI placements — affixed to static, dynamic, or self entities. We further surveyed 113 commercial applications to understand the common practices of 3D UI mobility control, where only 6.2% of these applications allowed users to transition UI between entities. In response, we built interaction prototypes to facilitate UI transitions between entities. We report on results from a qualitative user study (N=14) on 3D UI mobility control using our FingerSwitches technique, which suggests that perceived usefulness is affected by types of entities
Auto-BPA: An Enhanced Ball-Pivoting Algorithm with Adaptive Radius using Contextual Bandits

The Ball-Pivoting Algorithm (BPA) is a notable technique for 3D surface reconstruction from point clouds, heavily reliant on the ball radius. In practical application, determining the optimal radius for BPA often necessitates iterative experimentation to achieve better reconstruction quality. BPA entails geometric computations like iterative pivoting, inherently lacking differentiability. In this paper, we tackle the dual challenges of radius selection and non-differentiability in BPA. Inspired by contextual bandits, we propose an innovative approach that learns the optimal radius based on local geometric features within point clouds. We validate our method on the ModelNet10 and ShapeNet datasets, showcasing superior surface reconstruction compared to manual tuning and other classic methods both for low and high point cloud densities. Our code is available at https://github.com/houda-pixel/Auto-BPA .
The Role of Forestry Income in Reducing Poverty and Inequality Among the Baiga Tribes in Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh

Forest Rights Act (FRA), has not been properly implemented, otherwise it is a remarkable devolution process and could have been an example for implementation of other poverty reduction policies. Particular Vulnerable Tribal groups (PVTGs), whose major income is through forest and their poverty alleviation is possible only by up-scaling the forest income, which is envisaged in FRA. The land entitlement provided in the devolution process and agriculture income can also be a major contribution. Using data by survey from Core and Buffer area of Achanakmar Tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh, we derive the counterfactual of what Baiga household’s income, poverty and inequality would be without forest and forest income. The results disparagingly show that, in the absence of forest income; poverty would have been deeper and income inequality would be more. The study indicates that land ownership, awareness, education and way of life are very pivotal in helping household gain access to their devolution gains. We also find that those who are entirely dependent on forests, have unique non-observable attributes that make them more innovative and productive NTFP collectors, implying positive selection on their attributes. Moreover, engagements in village activities have a positive spill over effect on household income.
Multi-antenna GNSS and INS Integrated Position and Attitude Determination without Base Station for Land Vehicles

Precise Point Positioning/Inertial Navigation System (PPP/INS) integrated navigation based on PPP and low-accuracy INS is often used to provide position and attitude information for vehicle-mounted or airborne mobile mapping systems. With proper processing, the position accuracy of PPP/INS is comparable to that of Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS)/INS, but the accuracy of the attitude, especially the yaw angle, cannot be guaranteed. However, the yaw angle is crucial for mobile mapping systems. To compensate for the insufficiency of PPP/INS, we have designed a Multi-Antenna GNSS (MAGNSS)/INS integrated navigation system. First, the attitude determination method using MAGNSS is presented in detail. Then, the MAGNSS attitude is combined with the PPP position and velocity as measurements for integration with the INS. Thus, PPP/INS integrated navigation was improved to MAGNSS/INS integrated navigation. Finally, a three-hour car-borne test was conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The results indicate that the attitude determined from MAGNSS is accurate and stable over time. Compared to PPP/INS, MAGNSS/INS integrated navigation can improve the attitude accuracy significantly because of the inclusion of MAGNSS attitude.
A systematic review and meta-analysis

The association between sleep duration and prostate cancer (PCa) risk is still unclear. We performed a systematic review and metaanalysis to explore if sleep duration is associated with PCa in men. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in November 2019 based on the Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. After extracting the data, the random effects model was used to calculate the pooled Risk Ratio (RR) and it’s 95% confidence interval (CI) to represent the correlation between sleep duration and PCa risk. Overall, we included 6 studies in our meta-analysis. Our pooled results showed that neither short sleep (RR=0.99; 95%CI:0.911.07, P= .74) nor long sleep (RR=0.88; 95%CI:0.75-1.04, P= .15) was associated with the risk of PCa. Sleep duration has no significant effect on PCa risk. Long sleep may have a potential protective effect on PCa incidence. Abbreviations: CI = confidence intervals, NOS = Newcastle-Ottawa score, PCa = prostate cancer, RR = risk ratio.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY: APPLIED BUSINESS AND EDUCATION RESEARCH

The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between service quality and consumer satisfaction with the intention to choose a hospital again. The hypothesis in this research is that there is a relationship between service quality and consumer satisfaction with the intention to choose a hospital again. The subjects of this research were 104 respondents who had used hospital services. Data was obtained using the intention to choose hospital return scale, service quality scale and patient satisfaction scale. The results of this study show that there is a positive relationship between service quality and consumer satisfaction with the intention to choose a hospital again (ρ < 0.05). This means that the higher the quality of service and customer satisfaction, the higher their intention to reuse the hospital's services.
Flow structure in large bedrock‐channels: The example of macroturbulent rapids, lower Mekong River, Southeast Asia

The rate of bedrock channel incision is key to the understanding of landscape evolution. Theoretical models relate channel incision to sediment transport; the latter conditioned by the bed shear stress. However, theory is deficient in an appreciation of the transverse and vertical flow structure that mediates shear stress for deep, narrow inner‐channels, which often characterize large bedrock rivers. Here we present the detail of the structure of high Reynolds number flows for bedrock‐controlled rapids of the Mekong River, SE Asia. Distinct filaments of high‐velocity flow, separated by regions of slower flow, occur across channels; the numbers of filaments scale linearly with channel width to maximum‐depth (B/hmax) ratios. Inner‐channels with low ratios (B/hmax < 20) exhibit wall‐effected flow structure. Effects include suppressed maximum velocity filaments due to: (i) significant channel‐transverse flow; (ii) strongly‐sheared vertical flow structure; and (iii) significant underflows. Such complex water column flow patterns largely defy theoretical description. Nonetheless near the bed, the vertical velocity distributions often conform to: (i) ‘law‐of‐the‐wall’ logarithmic theory; or (ii) profiles in the near‐bed region and within the transition to outer flow can be described using a log‐wake function. Consequently, for selected velocity profiles it is possible to derive hydraulic parameters suitable for input to incision models. Chezy‐C values are high, indicating low flow resistance, while bed shear stresses remain competent, even during low‐discharges, to transport cobble bedload across low roughness bedrock surfaces. Thus, as competence is high, no blanketing sediment deposits can develop within inner channels to prevent bedrock erosion. Consequently, within similar high competence systems, incision is probably progressive as long as sediment supply is sustained to abrade the bedrock. The landscape modelling implication is that abrasion in this system is supply‐limited and not limited by flow competence. In contrast, a transport‐limited system is likely to evolve to exhibit an alluvial bed. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The tensile and swelling behavior of cement-stabilized marine clay reinforced with short waste fibers

Abstract Short waste fibers are used to suppress the expansion and improve the tensile strength of cement-stabilized marine clay (CMC). The fiber-reinforced mechanism and characteristics are revealed by experimental and numerical methods. First, the curing effect of the CMC when adding a composite curing agent is observed by scanning electronic microscopy, as is the contact surface between the fiber and the matrix. Then, the expansion rate and the tensile strength of fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized marine clay (FCMC) are illustrated by an expansion experiment and a direct tensile experiment, respectively. The results show that the sample with the cement content of 0.1% and the fiber length of 10 mm is the best in terms of strength enhancement and expansion inhibition. Finally, the mechanism of fiber reinforcement is discussed following a single fiber pullout experiment and some comprehensive explanations are proposed to verify the results of the tensile experiment. A numerical simulation of a single fiber pullout from a matrix is established by using a cohesive contact model. The comparison between the numerical results and the experimental results shows that the two models can be in good agreement, indicating that the calculation model of the interaction between the fiber and the matrix is realistic.
Multichannel tDCS with Advanced Targeting for Major Depressive Disorder: A Tele-Supervised At-Home Pilot Study

Purpose: Proof-of-principle human studies suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) may improve the clinical symptoms of depression. This multicenter study (N=35) tested remotely supervised and repeated daily multichannel tDCS delivered at home designed to target the L-DLPFC in a group of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The main objectives of the study were to assess the feasibility and safety of home-based, remotely-supervised tDCS for patients with MDD. As an exploratory aim, we also aimed to evaluate the efficacy. The primary efficacy measure for this study was the median percent change from baseline to the end of the 4-week post-treatment follow-up period in the observer-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Mood Rating Scale (MADRS). Methods: For each study participant, this open-label feasibility telemedicine pilot study involved 37 at-home stimulation sessions (30 minutes each) of multichannel tDCS targeting L-DLPFC administered over eight weeks, with a follow-up period of 4 weeks following the final stimulation session. The stimulation montage (electrode positions and currents) was optimized by employing computational models using available structural data from a similar population (group optimization). Conducted entirely remotely, the study employed the MADRS for assessment at baseline, at weeks 4 and 8 during treatment, and at 4-week follow-up visits. Results: The population who completed all study visits consisted of 34 patients (85.3% women and 14.7% men) with a mean age of 59 years, a diagnosis of MDD according to DSM-V criteria, and a MADRS score [≥]20 at the time of study enrolment. At baseline, the mean time since MDD diagnosis was 24.0 (SD 19.1) months. Nearly 90% of the participants (n=29) completed the full course of 37 stimulation sessions at home, covering both the acute and taper phases. No detrimental effects were observed, and no participants had suicidal ideation and/or behavior, whether at baseline during treatment or during the four weeks post-treatment. The study observed a Median percentage MADRS score reduction of 64.5% (48.6, 72.4). Over 70% of participants (n=24) showed a [≥] 50% improvement in MADRS scores from baseline to the last visit (4 weeks post-treatment), with a response rate (RR) of 72.7%. Secondary measures, including the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QUIDS-SR) and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF), reflected similar improvements. The mean (SD) and the median difference between the final visit and baseline for the Q-LES-Q-SF score were 27.9 (13.8) and 26.8 (17.9, 35.7), respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that remotely supervised and supported home-based tDCS is safe and feasible, and antidepressant efficacy motivates further appropriately controlled clinical studies.
Thalamic stimulation induced changes in effective connectivity

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a viable treatment for a variety of neurological conditions, however, the mechanisms through which DBS modulates large-scale brain networks are unresolved. Clinical effects of DBS are observed over multiple timescales. In some conditions, such as Parkinson disease and essential tremor, clinical improvement is observed within seconds. In many other conditions, such as epilepsy, central pain, dystonia, neuropsychiatric conditions or Tourette syndrome, the DBS related effects require neuroplasticity or reorganization and often take hours to months to observe. To optimize DBS parameters, it is therefore essential to develop electrophysiological biomarkers that characterize whether DBS settings are successfully engaging and modulating the network involved in the disease of interest. In this study, 10 individuals with drug resistant epilepsy undergoing intracranial stereotactic EEG including a thalamus electrode underwent a trial of repetitive thalamic stimulation. We evaluated thalamocortical effective connectivity using single pulse electrical stimulation, both at baseline and following a 145 Hz stimulation treatment trial. We found that when high frequency stimulation was delivered for >1.5 hours, the evoked potentials measured from remote regions were significantly reduced in amplitude and the degree of modulation was proportional to the strength of baseline connectivity. When stimulation was delivered for shorter time periods, results were more variable. These findings suggest that changes in effective connectivity in the network targeted with DBS accumulate over hours of DBS. Stimulation evoked potentials provide an electrophysiological biomarker that allows for efficient data-driven characterization of neuromodulation effects, which could enable new objective approaches for individualized DBS optimization.