Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Suprasegmental Instruction and the Improvement of EFL Learners’ Listening Comprehension

Despite increasing attention to the goal of successful communication in foreign language instruction, L2 pronunciation, particularly the production of suprasegmental information, has been neglected in instructional settings at the college level. Yet accurate suprasegmental production is essential to the development of intelligible L2 speech. And while there is a scholarly consensus that accurate suprasegmental production of English is closely related with accurate perception of English (i.e., listening), little is known about the relationship between suprasegmental production and the development of EFL learners’ listening skills. This study, therefore, investigates the relationship between suprasegmental production instruction and improvement in Korean EFL learners’ listening comprehension scores, and, further, examines the relationship between accurate production of suprasegmentals and learners’ production of comprehensible L2 speech. Thirty-two EFL learners participated in a quasi-experimental study in which they received training in English suprasegmental features over one month. They also completed listening comprehension pre and post tests, a suprasegmental production test, and a timed picture description task. The results showed significant relations between accurate suprasegmental production and improvement in listening comprehension, and also accurate suprasegmental production is a good predictor of speaking performance. The main pedagogical implication of these findings is that it is important to emphasize suprasegmental in listening and speaking classes.
Development of simulation model of HPC system for Super Charm-Tau factory

The article describes the design of a digital model of an HPC system for processing data from the Super Charm-Tau factory electron-positron collider of the “megascience” class. This model is developed using the AGNES multiagent modeling platform. The model includes intelligent agents that mimic the behavior of the main subsystems of the supercomputer, such as a task scheduler, computing clusters, data storage system, etc. This model allows calculating the parameters of the computing system necessary for processing and storing the results of operation of the Super Charm-Tau factory after its commissioning.
Transmission-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems: A Systematic Literature Review

When the transmission capacity of an electrical system is insufficient to adequately serve customer demand, the transmission system is said to be experiencing congestion. More transmission lines can be built to increase capacity. However, transmission congestion typically only occurs during periods of peak demand, which occur just a few times per year; capitol-intensive investments in new transmission capacity address problems that occur infrequently. Alternative solutions to alleviated transmission congestion have been devised, including generation curtailment, demand response programs, and various remedial action schema. Though not currently a common solution, battery energy storage systems can also provide transmission congestion relief. Technological and market trends indicate the growing production capacity of battery energy storage systems and decreasing prices, which indicate the technology may soon become a viable option for providing congestion relief. Batteries can provide multiple ancillary services, and so can concurrently provide value through multiple revenue streams. In this manuscript, the authors present a systematic review of literature, technology, regulations, and projects related to the use of battery energy storage systems to provide transmission congestion relief.
Teacher Knowledge of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Classroom Management

There is limited research on teacher knowledge of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and classroom management; however, research suggests that teacher knowledge of ADHD influences teaching behaviors. This study investigates general education teachers’ and special education teachers’ knowledge of ADHD and the interaction with classroom management. In this study, 17 teachers responded to surveys about knowledge of ADHD and classroom management. Teachers scored an average of 61% on the knowledge of ADHD questionnaire. Contrary to the hypothesis, teacher knowledge of ADHD was not significantly related to classroom management. The relationship between knowledge of ADHD and classroom management needs further examination to determine if the two constructs are significantly related.
Seasonal Influenza Incidence in India: A Retrospective Study Based on Multiple Indian Hospital and Diagnostic Laboratory Centre

The objective of the study is to understand the seasonal variation in influenza incidence across multiple Indian states by using diagnostic laboratories data of influenza. Materials and Methods: Diagnostic laboratory-based data of subjects who were tested for influenza between 1st January April 2014 to December 2017 across seven Indian states were analysed. In diagnostic laboratories of Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan RT-PCR was used for detection of H1N1 and laboratories of Tamil Nadu used GeneXpert along with RT-PCR. A total sample size of 10,755 was used in the descriptive observational retrospective study. Results: In case of H1N1, sample population had almost equal male and female proportion (5172) with 36.5 years mean age. In majority of states, >3-5 years age group had the highest positivity rate. Paediatric age group (0-18 years) contributed 25% of total H1N1 burden, while older adults (>60 years) contributed 15% of the total sample. The yearly trends showed a higher incidence rate of H1N1 in 2015, followed by a decline during 2016 and a surge in 2017. Monthly trends showed consistent rise in H1N1 positivity rate during early months (January, February, and March) of 2015, 2016 and 2017. For influenza B, paediatric age group (0-18 years) showed the highest positivity rate and contributed almost 40% of total influenza ‘B’ burden. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of big data-based analytics and its use in understanding the epidemiological behaviour of diseases like influenza. Insight by leveraging laboratories data, like in the case of current research study, gives demographic patterns of influenza in terms of age, gender, seasons, and regions/states.
An investigation of novel biomarkers of gastric mucosal preneoplasia

(i) Novel biomarkers of gastric preneoplasia following infection with Helicobacter pylori Despite steady decline in incidence, gastric cancer remains a major global cause of morbidity and mortality and is responsible for over 700,000 deaths worldwide per annum. The commonest form arises following infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. For reasons which remain poorly understood, a small proportion of infected individuals develop gastric epithelial remodelling which follows a well-defined sequence of changes culminating in cancer development. Our group and others have described the role of various gastric mucosal proteins in carcinogenesis following H. pylori infection. We hypothesised that these proteins might be upregulated in gastric preneoplasia and might in turn be used as biomarkers of the same. We recruited patients attending hospital for diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Gastric biopsies were taken to determine the presence and extent of preneoplastic lesions by histology; H. pylori status; and the abundance of mRNA for putative biomarkers by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Blood was drawn to determine the serum concentrations of H. pylori IgG antibodies, fasting gastrin and pepsinogens 1 and 2. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. For each subject, we performed genotyping for nine single nucleotide polymorphisms in the MMP-7 gene to determine whether these polymorphisms might increase the expression of mucosal MMP-7 or increase the risk of developing gastric preneoplasia. In our study population, the ratio of pepsinogens 1 and 2 (PG1/2 ratio) performed well as a diagnostic test for gastric mucosal preneoplasia. In combination with fasting serum gastrin concentration and H. pylori serology, the diagnostic accuracy was improved suggesting a role for these markers in clinical practice. We have demonstrated that the gene transcript abundance of one mucosal protein – matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) – was significantly increased in the presence of gastric preneoplasia. This effect was greater for disease phenotypes associated with higher cancer risk. These novel findings confirm the increased expression of MMP-7 in gastric epithilial preneoplasia and offer insight into areas of development for the future including the use of MMP-7 as a noninvasive biomarker of gastric preneoplasia. We also found that gastric preneoplasia was significantly more common in minor allele homozygotes for SNP rs17352054 than for major allele homozygotes and that carriage of the minor allele of SNP rs11225297 is associated with gastric preneoplasia amongst H. pylori seropositive individuals. We have also shown a significant influence on mucosal MMP-7 relative mRNA abundance of SNP genotypes for six of the polymorphisms examined.
The Effect of ESG Performance on Economic Performance in the High Profile Industry in Indonesia

This study aims to examine the effects of ESG performance on economic performance. This research was conducted in 2015-2017 and produced 387 samples. The analysis technique used is multiple regression analysis with SPSS Statistics program 23. The results of the study show that ESG performance has a positive effect on economic performance. In further analysis, environmental performance and social performance shows that there is no influence on economic performance, except environmental performance which negatively affects market measurement. Conversely, governance performance has a positive effect on accounting measurements, but has a negative effect on market measurement. This condition due to the disclosure traditionof governance is longer applied in Indonesia than other sustainability aspects and the increasing value of the relevance of governance performance to stakeholders.
Hybrid control of a multi‐area multi‐machine power system with FACTS devices using non‐linear modelling

Generally, the mathematical formulation of the dynamics governing multi-area power systems with Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) is a challenging task owing to the presence of both differential and algebraic sub-systems. The proposed research work attempts to integrate the two subsystems by replacing the algebraic subsystem with a differential approximant that leads to a non-linear system of differential equations. Solution of the proposed model with a properly chosen Lyapunov function produce a nonlinear control signal which damps inter-area oscillations effectively. The non-linear control signal is realised using the backstepping method. Moreover, the new formulation enables utilisation of the law for uncertain parameters using the standard parametric feedback form, such that the advantage of such a controller is unaffected by these parameters. In addition to this major contribution, full utilisation of UPFC, by using a lone multi-variable PI controller which eliminates negative interaction between the controllers, is also achieved. Empirical verification of the proposed approach is done by simulating various scenarios with varying degrees of complexity – from dual area power networks to 39 buses New England system. The results of the experiments indicate the efficacy of the method.
Influence of blend composition and annealing temperature on optical properties of organic photovoltaic cell based on P3HT:PCBM interpenetrating blend

ABSTRACT In this paper, the influence of blend composition and annealing temperature on optical properties of organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells based on P3HT:PCBM interpenetrating blend is presented. Optical optimization of the OPV cell is first performed to determine the optimal geometry of the stack. The studied device structure is: glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/Ca/Al. Simulation results give as optimized thicknesses: dPEDOT:PSS = 27 nm and dActive layer = 91 nm. The optimized OVP cell gives a short-circuit current JSC = 12.48 mA/cm2. The influence of technological parameters on the performance of the optimized P3HT:PCBM blend OPV cell is then clearly defined. Simulation results show that among the mass ratio of P3HT:PCBM blend active layers studied (1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 2:3 and 3:2), the active layer with the higher blend mass ratio (2:1) gives the best optical properties. Also, increasing the annealing temperature of the active layer leads to increase absorption. The blend active layer annealed at 140°C presents the best optical properties of the OPV cell.
A -approximation algorithm for scheduling on two parallel machines with job delivery coordination

Abstract Integration of production and distribution operations at the scheduling level is one of the most important issues concerned in recent years in supply chain management. We investigate the scheduling problem with job delivery coordination. Concretely, we are given a set of jobs with non-identical processing times and non-identical sizes to be first processed by two parallel-identical machines and then delivered to a common customer by a single vehicle, which has a limited capacity that can carry up to a fixed total size of jobs in one batch. The objective is to minimize the makespan, ie, the time when all the jobs have reached the customer and the delivery vehicle has returned to the machine. The problem does not admit a polynomial time approximation algorithm with worst-case ratio smaller than unless P = NP. By introducing some novel ideas and new methods, including algorithms solving multiple knapsack problem as subprocedures and the rediscovery of the profound nature of the bin-packing algorithm, we propose a polynomial time approximation algorithm with worst-case ratio arbitrary close to . The algorithm, acquired after long-term research containing many earlier related works, is the first algorithm for this kind of problems and its theoretical performance is nearly best.
Targeted lapatinib anti-HER2/ErbB2 therapy resistance in breast cancer: opportunities to overcome a difficult problem

Approximately 20% of invasive breast cancers have upregulation/gene amplification of the oncogene human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2/ErbB2). Of these, some also express steroid receptors (the so-called Luminal B subtype), whereas others do not (the HER2 subtype). HER2 abnormal breast cancers are associated with a worse prognosis, chemotherapy resistance, and sensitivity to selected anti-HER2 targeted therapeutics. Transcriptional data from over 3000 invasive breast cancers suggest that this approach is overly simplistic; rather, the upregulation of HER2 expression resulting from gene amplification is a driver event that causes major transcriptional changes involving numerous genes and pathways in breast cancer cells. Most notably, this includes a shift from estrogenic dependence to regulatory controls driven by other nuclear receptors, particularly the androgen receptor. We discuss members of the HER receptor tyrosine kinase family, heterodimer formation, and downstream signaling, with a focus on HER2 associated pathology in breast carcinogenesis. The development and application of anti-HER2 drugs, including selected clinical trials, are discussed. In light of the many excellent reviews in the clinical literature, our emphasis is on recently developed and successful strategies to overcome targeted therapy resistance. These include combining anti-HER2 agents with programmed cell death-1 ligand or cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, targeting crosstalk between HER2 and other nuclear receptors, lipid/cholesterol synthesis to inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase activation, and metformin, a broadly inhibitory drug. We seek to facilitate a better understanding of new approaches to overcome anti-HER2 drug resistance and encourage exploration of two other therapeutic interventions that may be clinically useful for HER+ invasive breast cancer patients.
'Surfing the edge of chaos' : an ethnography of police joint working

Police joint working is a messy area of enquiry, which has thus far been somewhat compartmentalised in previous research. This thesis reflects the complexities of police joint working amidst an era of austerity. It advances complex adaptive systems (CAS) as a theoretical construct, through which to study and comprehend the process of joint working. The principal aim is to provide a deeper and richer understanding of joint working, by drawing primarily on observations and experiences of warranted police officers and civilian police staff. The more specific objectives are to identify the utility of police joint working as a solution to social problems; investigate how joint work is accomplished using an ethnographic approach; contribute to understanding how joint working challenges might be approach differently. Through the application of CAS, a holistic and contextualised account of joint working is provided. In this respect, the thesis differs from previous atheoretical studies and literature employing a ‘communities of practice’ (CoP) approach. Whilst acknowledging the relevance of shared cultural factors, this thesis seeks to shift attention to wider – personal and structural – contextual influences that give rise to the ‘punctuated’ progress in working together, generally overlooked in existing joint working theory. Ethnographic methods were applied as a key to unlock the intricacies and diversity of joint working experiences – both front- and back-stage – as the researcher was immersed in a large police force in England for 18-months. Fieldwork insights exposed the fragmented, unpredictable and interconnected ways in which joint working changes over time. Thus, networked policing was revealed as messy, evolving and seemingly out of control. The implications section stresses the importance of developing a formalised supervision model as a source of stability through, which employees can find ways to navigate change ‘churn’ and ‘surf the chaos’.
Pelvic floor disorders in gynecological malignancies. An overlooked problem

Cervical, endometrial, ovarian, vulvar, and vaginal cancers affect women of a broad age spectrum. Many of these women are still sexually active when their cancer is diagnosed. Treatment options for gynecological malignancies, such as gynecological surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, are proven risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction. The prevalence of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction before cancer treatment is still unclear. Hypotheses have been raised in the literature that these manifestations could represent early symptoms of pelvic cancers, but most remain overlooked even in cancer surviving patients. The primary focus of therapy is always cancer eradication, but as oncological and surgical treatment options become more successful, the number of cancer survivors increases. The quality of life of patients with gynecological cancers often remains an underrated subject. Pelvic floor disorders are not consistently reported by patients and are frequently overlooked by many clinicians. In this brief review we discuss the importance of pelvic floor dysfunction in patients with gynecological malignant tumors.
SatProbe: Low-Energy and Fast Indoor/Outdoor Detection via Satellite Existence Sensing

Indoor-outdoor (IO) detection provides very useful hints for a mobile device to perform context-aware services. To that end, GPS presents a viable solution by relating a device's IO status with its positioning performance, which depends on the device's exposure to the open sky. This approach, however, is prohibitively expensive in terms of energy consumption and response time. Recent work has thus been focused on exploiting low-energy sensors such as light, cellular, and magnetic sensors to infer the IO status indirectly, at the cost of reduced adaptability or manual labeling effort. In this article, we propose a new method to address these problems. Our method, called SatProbe, reverts to the GPS approach for its directness and robustness, but avoids its drawback by extracting only the number of visible satellites from the raw GPS data, instead of going through extensive computation to obtain a final position. This metric provides a clear indicator of the IO status, yet can be obtained with great efficiency. Experiments on 79 raw GPS traces with 2595 detection points across a variety of environments show that SatProbe produces a 14.2 percent improvement in detection accuracy, with a 98.8 percent reduction in both energy use and detection time, in comparison with the standard GPS method.
Social Determinants of Health and Disparities in Outcomes Related to Cardiovascular Health in Vulnerable Populations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the mechanism of association between social determinants of health (SDH), particularly limited health literacy, and disparate outcomes related to cardiovascular disease in vulnerable populations. Specific aims were to 1) compare quality of life (QOL), anxiety, and depressive symptoms between genders in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients; 2) examine the association between multi-morbidity burden and QOL; 3) determine whether health literacy levels independently predict CVD risk in the male prison population; 4) examine the relationship between health literacy and decisiveness regarding end of life (EOL) choices, and 5) examine SDH as predictors of perceived poor health status in ICD recipients. Specific aim one was addressed by analysis of data collected from individuals in the Swedish ICD and Pacemaker Registry. Multiple linear regression was used to determine predictors of anxiety, depression, and quality of life in men and women. A higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms in women was noted with no differences in depressive symptoms noted between the genders. The majority of the variance in the predictive models for QOL was explained by the addition of the psychosocial variables for both genders. Specific aim two was addressed by analysis of data collected from individuals in the Swedish ICD and Pacemaker Registry. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of QOL. Greater multi-morbidity burden was associated with lower QOL in ICD recipients. Specific aim three was addressed by analysis of data collected from male inmates enrolled in a bio-behavioral educational and counselling intervention program to reduce CVD risk. Nonlinear regression was used to determine whether health literacy was an independent predictor of CVD risk while controlling for social and clinical variables. Inmates with adequate levels of health literacy had lower ten year CVD risk profiles than those inmates with inadequate health literacy. Specific aim four was addressed by analysis of data collected from ICD recipients. Multinomial regression was used to determine predictors of decisiveness regarding EOL choices. Within the context of terminal illness, health literacy and race were found to be predictors of decisiveness regrading generator replacement while gender was found to be a predictor of decisiveness regarding the withdrawal of defibrillation therapy. Specific aim five was addressed by analysis of data collected from ICD recipients. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of perceived poor health status. Residential status in the Central Appalachian region of Kentucky, not working outside the home, higher levels of health literacy, and comorbid depression were predictors of perceived poor/very poor health status.