Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reform of Communication System Simulation Course under Background of Engineering Education Accreditation

Engineering education certification is the basis for realizing mutual recognition of engineering education and engineers.In order to make our engineering education and engineer qualification recognized, international education certification is promoted vigorously China. It is necessary to reform professional courses for the purpose of meeting certification standards. Communication system simulation course is an important part of the training of Communication Major Students. In order to satisfy this requiremen, adjusted course objectives, reconstructed teaching content, improved evaluation method are introduced in the paper.
The role of vegetative cell fusions in the lifestyle of the wheat fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici

The ability of fungal cells to undergo cell fusion allows them to maximize their overall fitness. In this study, we characterized the role of the so gene orthologous in Zymoseptoria tritici and the biological contribution of vegetative cell fusions in the lifestyle of this latent necrotrophic fungus. Firstly, we show that Z. tritici undergoes self-fusion between distinct cellular structures and its mechanism is dependent on the initial cell density. Next, the deletion of ZtSo resulted in the loss of cell-to-cell communication affecting both hyphal and germlings fusion. We show that Z. tritici mutants for MAP kinase-encoding ZtSlt2 (orthologous MAK-1) and ZtFus3 (orthologous MAK-2) genes also fail to undergo self-stimulation and self-fusion, demonstrating the functional conservation of this signaling mechanism across species. Additionally, the ΔZtSo mutant was severely impaired in melanization, which leads us to identify a trade-off between fungal growth and melanization. Though it has been proposed that So is a scaffold protein for MAP kinase genes from the CWI pathway, its deletion did not affect the cell wall integrity of the fungus. Finally, we demonstrated that anastomose is dispensable for pathogenicity, but essential for the fruiting body development and its absence abolish the asexual reproduction of Z. tritici. Taken together, our data show that ZtSo is required for fungal development, while vegetative cell fusions are essential for fungal fitness.
A simple and rapid colorimetric detection of serum lncRNA biomarkers for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

A colorimetric assay is developed for detection of lncRNA HOTTIP by one-step reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) coupled with positively-charged gold nanoparticles ((+)AuNP) for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. This assay allows simple, rapid, and sensitive quantification of lncRNA down to 50 copies.
Evaluation of MALDI-ToF Mass Spectrometry for Rapid Detection of Cereulide From Bacillus cereus Cultures

Bacillus cereus plays an often unrecognized role in food borne diseases. Food poisoning caused by this pathogen is manifested by either diarrhea or emesis. While different enterotoxins have been linked to the diarrheal type of B. cereus infections, the emetic toxin cereulide is responsible for the second type. Due to the relatively high prevalence of cereulide associated food poisoning, methods for simple and reliable detection of cereulide producing strains are of utmost importance. Currently, liquid-chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is used for sensitive, specific and quantitative cereulide detection, but this technique requires specialized LC-MS equipment, which is often not available in microbiology routine diagnostic laboratories. The last decade has witnessed the advent of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS) as a simple, rapid and cost-efficient technique for identification of microbial pathogens in routine diagnostics. Just recently, two different studies reported on the application of MALDI-ToF MS for either the differentiation of emetic and non-emetic strains of B. cereus or for direct detection of cereulide from bacterial colony smears. However, no method evaluation and optimization was performed in frame of these studies. Thus, additional investigations on the selectivity and sensitivity of MALDI-TOF MS for cereulide detection are needed before implementation of this method in routine diagnostics can be considered. These aspects prompted us to investigate open or controversial issues and to systematically test sample preparation methods, commonly used for microbial identification for their suitability to detect the emetic toxin directly from bacteria. Based on our experimental findings we propose a MALDI-ToF MS workflow that allows identification of B. cereus and sensitive detection of cereulide in parallel, using standard, linear-mode MALDI-ToF MS equipment. The experimental protocol is based on the well-established ethanol/formic acid extraction method and offers, if required, possibilities for further characterization by more sophisticated LC-MS-based methods. In summary, the ease of use and the achieved level of analytical sensitivity as well as the wide-spread availability of standard MALDI-ToF MS equipment in clinical microbiological laboratories provides a promising tool to improve and to facilitate routine diagnostics of B. cereus associated food intoxications.
SIQINS : strengthening quality improvement intervention reporting in Surgery

i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . ii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iii LIST OF TABLES . ix LIST OF FIGURES . ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . x INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 The emergence of quality improvement in healthcare . 3 1.2 The case for QI in healthcare . 7 1.3 QI, research and QI research . 9 1.4 Why is perioperative care an area in which the challenges of QI reporting should be explored? 11 1.5 What is reporting? 12 2 BACKGROUND TO THE CHALLENGES OF QI REPORTING . 15 2.1 The problem of reporting in QI: a review of the literature . 15 2.2 What reporting tools exist to improve reporting in QI? 17 2.3 Why is reporting problematic? 22 2.3. 1 Challenges of reporting guidelines . 22 2.3. 2 Challenges of the writing and publication process . 24 2.4 Why is reporting QI likely to be particularly problematic? 26 2.4. 1 The evolution of QI as a scientific field – type of reporting . 26 2.4. 2 The evolution of QI as a scientific field – depth of reporting . 28 2.4. 3 Understanding how to report QI in perioperative care . 29 2.5 What are the consequences of poor reporting? 29 2.5. 1 Threats to the conduct of good systematic review . 30 2.5. 2 Threats to successful replication . 32
220 Year Diatom δ18O Reconstruction of the Guaymas Basin Thermocline Using Microfluorination

The removal of exchangeable oxygen from diatom opal prior to δ18Odiatom analysis is a crucial first step before analyzing frustule oxygen isotopes for paleoceanographic applications. We present the results of experiments that quantify the temperature‐dependent reactivity of biogenic silica with water under laboratory conditions. We demonstrate that controlled exchange between rinse water and diatom opal at room temperature results in predictable alteration of δ18Odiatom, after vacuum dehydroxylation. Diatom samples equilibrated with an 18O‐enriched δ18Oequil. water solution of +94.4‰ at ~21 °C for 70 hr prior to dehydroxylation yield δ18Odiatom data that can be directly interpreted with existing empirical δ18Odiatom versus temperature relationships. We compare sediment trap‐based δ18Odiatom temperature data with modern δ18Oforam temperatures. Finally, we present an ~220 year record of δ18Odiatom data from an eastern Pacific Guaymas Basin boxcore, analyzed using the microfluorination technique, that indicates diatom chlorophyll maximum (Chlmax) temperatures have shifted from a period during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that was 8 °C cooler during the fall bloom relative to mean annual alkenone U37k′ sea surface temperature, to the late twentieth century when we observe no difference between alkenone sea surface temperature and diatom Chlmax. These data suggest a twentieth century seasonal shift in the timing of fall upwelling and Guaymas Basin stratification breakdown that could be due to reduced upwelling efficiency and/or increased summer mixed layer thermal stratification.
SENSITIVITAS ANTIMIKROBA TERHADAP BAKTERI ESCHERICHIA COLI YANG DIISOLASI DARI UDANG DI PASAR KEPUTRAN SURABAYA

The aimed of this study was to identify antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from Shrimp. There were 20 samples taken and isolated on surface of Eosin Methilen Blue Agar. E.coli produced metalic green colonies. Samples identified as E.coli based on macroscopic features and morphology of colonies, microscopic examination with gram staining and biochemical tests. The antibiotic sensitivity was determined through a standard antimicrobial disk diffusion test. The results of this study showed that 9 samples were bacteria of the spesies E. coli. Based on the results of antibiotic sensitivity test, it was found that 100 % of E. coli isolates were resistant to Amoxycillin 20 µg and 22,2 % of isolates are resistant to ampicillin 10 µg. Antibiotics Tetracycline 30 µg and Chloramphenicol 30 µg were 100 % sensitive. Gentamicin 10 µg showed that 77,8 % sensitive and 22,2 % intermediet. The precence of antibiotic resistance of betalaktam antibiotics makes it especially important to monitor antimicrobial susceptibility and mechanisms of resistance of E.coli isolated from shrimp, because new mechanisms of resistance occurring in animals may enter the food chain and its be transferred to the human. This importance of cooperation between sectors in order to monitor antimicrobial resistance.
Quantum-classical generative models for machine learning

The combination of quantum and classical computational resources towards more effective algorithms is one of the most promising research directions in computer science. In such a hybrid framework, existing quantum computers can be used to their fullest extent and for practical applications. Generative modeling is one of the applications that could benefit the most, either by speeding up the underlying sampling methods or by unlocking more general models. In this work, we design a number of hybrid generative models and validate them on real hardware and datasets. The quantum-assisted Boltzmann machine is trained to generate realistic artificial images on quantum annealers. Several challenges in state-of-the-art annealers shall be overcome before one can assess their actual performance. We attack some of the most pressing challenges such as the sparse qubit-to-qubit connectivity, the unknown effective-temperature, and the noise on the control parameters. In order to handle datasets of realistic size and complexity, we include latent variables and obtain a more general model called the quantum-assisted Helmholtz machine. In the context of gate-based computers, the quantum circuit Born machine is trained to encode a target probability distribution in the wavefunction of a set of qubits. We implement this model on a trapped ion computer using low-depth circuits and native gates. We use the generative modeling performance on the canonical Bars-and-Stripes dataset to design a benchmark for hybrid systems. It is reasonable to expect that quantum data, i.e., datasets of wavefunctions, will become available in the future. We derive a quantum generative adversarial network that works with quantum data. Here, two circuits are optimized in tandem: one tries to generate suitable quantum states, the other tries to distinguish between target and generated states.
A High-Efficiency and Wide-Input Range RF Energy Harvester Using Multiple Rectenna and Adaptive Matching

In this paper, a Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvester (EH) system for Internet of Things (IoT)-related applications is presented. The proposed EH architecture operates at 5.2 GHz band and utilizes multiple rectenna. This approach enhances the efficiency of the whole system over a wide dynamic RF input range. In the presented circuit, configuration of the rectenna is controlled by Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with respect to the input power level of the received RF input signal. In addition, an automatic adaptive matching based on the configuration of the rectenna, level of the received signal, and load current adjusts the matching network. The rectenna is realized through the Radio Frequency-Direct Current (RF-DC) converter composed of two Schottky diodes and generates the output DC voltage. Finally, a buck-boost converter provides the flattened and fixed voltage for the IoT and wearable devices. The 5.2 GHz band reconfigurable system demonstrates 67% high efficiency and 6.1 V output DC voltage where the power level of RF input is +20 dBm. The main application of the proposed structure is for charging wearable smart devices such as a smart watch and bracelet.
Multi-Scale Thermal Analysis for Design of SiC-Based Medium Voltage Motor Drive

This paper describes a multi-scale thermal analysis approach for the design of an air-cooled 1.7-kV SiC MOSFET-based medium-voltage variable-speed motor drive. The scope of the models and required efficient and flexible thermal models to be developed. Two modeling techniques are described that significantly reduced model run time and enabled more complex models to be run faster while retaining needed accuracy. The first technique uses the effectiveness-NTU method to extract convection boundary conditions from a CFD model that can be applied to a fast-running FEA model. The second is a porous media technique that enables system-level CFD simulations that incorporate effects from heat exchangers (e.g., pin fin heat sinks) that run in a fraction of the time required for fully resolved CFD simulations. The multi-scale approach to the thermal analysis enabled fast and accurate simulation for the converter design ranging from the die level up to the full system with 36 submodules. The modeling results were validated against experimental data from system tests performed by OSU.
Sustainable development goals as a challenge for national and global development

In the article, considerations are based on the implementation of two main goals of the sustainable development strategy. The differences observed in practice in the group of countries with low and medium-low incomes in closing the poverty gap measured by income and the number of people remaining in poverty over a relatively long period can be modeled by measuring the routine intensity of tasks in a given profession. This is indirectly related to an important classical factor in the measurement of knowledge capital and may be important in the study of the relationship between the convergence strength of the analyzed group of countries and the intensity of routine work, which are always negatively correlated with each other.
Effects of Plyometric Training on Sports Performance

ABSTRACT PLYOMETRIC TRAINING IS A SERIES OF EXPLOSIVE BODY WEIGHT RESISTANCE EXERCISES USING THE STRETCH-SHORTENING CYCLE OF THE MUSCLE FIBER TO ENHANCE PHYSICAL CAPACITIES SUCH AS SPEED, STRENGTH, AND POWER. THESE PHYSIOLOGIC MEASURES TRANSLATE TO IMPROVED PERFORMANCE IN MANY SPORTS, INCLUDING COURT-BASED SPORTS, FIELD SPORTS, AND WATER SPORTS. PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS RESULTING FROM PLYOMETRIC TRAINING, INCLUDE IMPROVED SPRINT TIMES OVER DISTANCES RANGING FROM 5 TO 40 M, MAXIMAL MUSCLE STRENGTH AND POWER, AND INJURY PREVENTION MEASURES SUCH AS IMPROVED LANDING MECHANICS, DECREASED GROUND REACTION FORCES, AND IMPROVED HAMSTRING TO QUADRICEPS RATIOS. THE OPTIMAL DOSE FOR ATHLETIC ENHANCEMENTS HAS NOT BEEN CONSISTENTLY IDENTIFIED.
The Straight Talk Campaign in Uganda: Impact of mass media initiatives. Summary report.

This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the Straight Talk (ST) mass media communication programs which have been implemented in Uganda since 1993. The mass media programs largely comprise three main materials: multilingual Straight Talk Radio Shows multilingual Straight Talk newspapers and an English language Young Talk newspaper. Straight Talk also implements a wide array of school-based activities to engender a youth-friendly school environment. It has invested in many community activities such as community health fairs and has worked to support youth-friendly health care services. The evaluation described here employed several strategies including a household survey of adolescents the main subject of this report. Other components included a household survey of parents an assessment of the school environment and a cost study. The adolescent household survey was conducted with 2040 males and females between the ages of 10 and 19 years. It was conducted in six districts in Uganda: Apac Arua Ntungamo Soroti Kisoro and Kamuli. While ST has been active in all six districts it has been particularly active in the first four. This study therefore allowed an assessment of the impact of ST in four high intensity and two low intensity districts. It also allowed an assessment of dose response i.e. impact of incremental exposure to ST activities on specific outcomes. Data were gathered using face-to-face interviews after obtaining informed consent from the adolescents parent or guardian and from the adolescent himself or herself. The study was powered at 80 percent with a confidence of 95 percent. Analysis employed bivariate and multivariate methods. (excerpt)
Determination of Crop Water Requirement and Irrigation Water Requirement for Coffee Arabica (Coffea Arabica L.): Case Study of Somodo Watershed

Coffee belongs to the genus Coffea, in the Rubiacea family. It is produced in most African countries and plays a central role in the national economies of Ethiopia (ICO, 2009). It contributes over 60% of the foreign exchange earnings and 30% of the government′s direct revenue. Furthermore, the livelihood of 25% of the population depends on the coffee industry (Tesfaye and Ismail, 2008). However, the average national yield of the crop is very low primarily because of lack of improved varieties for different areas, diseases and pests, seasonal water deficits and climate change (Kirda et al., 2004; Belachew et al., 2015).
Did You Read the Customer Reviews Before Shopping?

Online customer reviews are the most trustworthy source of information of consumers while determining the value of online retail platforms. They act to convince customers and serve the purpose of formation of trust and emotional attachment with the platform. This study reports the results of an experiment investigating the effects of online customer reviews on emotional attachment, trust, and repurchase intention while taking the previous emotional attachment strength into consideration. Results revealed that, depending on the previous attachment strength, both positive and negative reviews strongly affect emotional attachment. However, trust is only influenced by positive reviews. Besides, trust is a more durable construct compared to emotional attachment and is not subject to change easily. When the repurchase intention is investigated, only strongly attached consumers are affected by customer reviews. Did You Read the Customer Reviews Before Shopping? The Effect of Customer Reviews About Online Retail Platforms on Consumer Behavioral Responses
Learning Analytics Dashboard for Teaching with Twitter

As social media takes root in our society, more University instructors are incorporating platforms like Twitter into their classroom. However, few of the current Learning Analytics (LA) systems process social media data for instructional interventions and evaluation. As a result, instructors who are using social media cannot easily assess their students’ learning progress or use the data to adjust their lessons in real time. We surveyed 54 university instructors to better understand how they use social media in the classroom; we then used these results to design and evaluate our own Twitter-centric LA dashboard. The overarching goals for this project were to 1) assist instructors in determining whether their particular use of Twitter met their teaching objectives, and 2) help system designers navigate the nuance of designing LA dashboards for social media platforms.
Deep Reinforcement Learning and Permissioned Blockchain for Content Caching in Vehicular Edge Computing and Networks

Vehicular Edge Computing (VEC) is a promising paradigm to enable huge amount of data and multimedia content to be cached in proximity to vehicles. However, high mobility of vehicles and dynamic wireless channel condition make it challenge to design an optimal content caching policy. Further, with much sensitive personal information, vehicles may be not willing to caching their contents to an untrusted caching provider. Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) is an emerging technique to solve the problem with high-dimensional and time-varying features. Permission blockchain is able to establish a secure and decentralized peer-to-peer transaction environment. In this paper, we integrate DRL and permissioned blockchain into vehicular networks for intelligent and secure content caching. We first propose a blockchain empowered distributed content caching framework where vehicles perform content caching and base stations maintain the permissioned blockchain. Then, we exploit the advanced DRL approach to design an optimal content caching scheme with taking mobility into account. Finally, we propose a new block verifier selection method, Proof-of-Utility (PoU), to accelerate block verification process. Security analysis shows that our proposed blockchain empowered content caching can achieve security and privacy protection. Numerical results based on a real dataset from Uber indicate that the DRL-inspired content caching scheme significantly outperforms two benchmark policies.
Link Scheduling Algorithms For In-Band Full-Duplex Wireless Networks

In the last two decades, wireless networks and their corresponding data traffic have grown significantly. This is because wireless networks have become an indispensable and critical communication infrastructure in a modern society. An on-going challenge in communication systems is meeting the continuous increase in traffic demands. This is driven by the proliferation of electronic devices such as smartphones with a WiFi interface along with their bandwidth intensive applications. Moreover, in the near future, sensor devices that form the Internet of Things (IoTs) ecosystem will also add to future traffic growth. One promising approach to meet growing traffic demands is to equip nodes with an In-band-Full-Duplex (IBFD) radio. This radio thus allows nodes to transmit and receive data concurrently over the same frequency band. Another approach to increase network or link capacity is to exploit the benefits of Multiple-Input-MultipleOutput (MIMO) technologies; namely, (i) spatial diversity gain, which improves Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and thus has a direct impact on the data rate used by nodes, and (ii) spatial multiplexing gain, whereby nodes are able to form concurrent links to neighbors. This thesis aims to develop novel algorithms to schedule links from nodes with IBFD or MIMO technologies. These link schedulers play a critical role in determining the network capacity of a wireless network. A short schedule means a link can