Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Whole-genome resequencing identified QTLs, candidate genes and Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR markers associated with the large fruit of Atlantic Giant (Cucurbita maxima)

Atlantic Giant (AG) pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) produces the world’s largest fruit. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of AG fruit formation is of scientific and practical importance. In this research, genome-wide resequencing of an F2 population produced by a cross between AG and its small-fruit ancestor Hubbard was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes. Transgressive segregation of fruit size-related traits was observed in the F2 population, suggesting that fruit size was a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. A genetic map with an average physical distance of 154 kb per marker was constructed, and 13 QTLs related to fruit size were identified using bin-map construction. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that pathways associated with assimilate accumulation into the fruit, including carbohydrate metabolism, were significantly enriched in differentially expressed genes. According to the predicted impact of mutation on the biological function of certain proteins, 13 genes were selected as candidate genes associated with fruit size, among which two phytohormone-related genes, CmaCh17G011340 (a flavin-containing monooxygenase) and CmaCh04G029660 (a leucine-rich repeat protein kinase) were chosen for further investigation. Finally, one insertion-deletion (inDel) and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were successfully transformed to Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers. The novel QTLs and candidate genes identified provide insights into the genetic mechanism of large fruit formation of AG, and the genetic map and tightly linked KASP markers developed in this study can be employed for marker-assisted breeding to alter fruit size of C. maxima.
Effect of vitamin D on endothelial and ventricular function in chronic heart failure patients: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels are common in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and are associated with increased mortality risk. This study aimed to establish the safety and efficacy of oral vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation and its effect on endothelial and ventricular function in patients with stable HF. Methods: This study was an investigator-initiated, multicenter, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Seventy-three HF patients with 25OHD levels < 75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL) were randomized to receive 4000 IU vitamin D daily or a placebo for 6 months. The primary endpoint was a change in endothelial function between the baseline and after 6 months as assessed using EndoPAT. Secondary endpoints included changes in echocardiographic parameters and differences in quality of life (6-min walking test and New York Heart Association functional status) at 6 months. Results: There were no adverse events in either group during the study period. Vitamin D supplementation did not improve endothelial dysfunction (EndoPAT: baseline, 1.19 ± 0.4 vs 6 months later, 1.22 ± 0.3, P = .65). However, patients’ blood pressure, 6-min walking distance, and EQ-5D questionnaire scores improved after vitamin D treatment. In addition, a significant reduction in the left atrial diameter was observed. Conclusion: A daily vitamin D dose of 4000 IU for chronic HF appears to be safe. This dosage did not improve endothelial function but did improve the 6-min walk distance, symptoms, and left atrial diameter at 6 months.
Optimized optical devices for edge-coupling-enabled silicon photonics platform

We present a library of high-performance passive and active silicon photonic devices at the C-band that is specifically designed and optimized for edge-coupling-enabled silicon photonics platform. These devices meet the broadband (100 nm), low-loss (< 2dB per device), high speed (≥ 25 Gb/s), and polarization diversity requirements (TE and TM polarization extinction ratio ≤ 25 dB) for optical communication applications. Ultra-low loss edge couplers, broadband directional couplers, high-extinction ratio polarization beam splitters (PBSs), and high-speed modulators are some of the devices within our library. In particular, we have designed and fabricated inverse taper fiber-to-waveguide edge couplers of tip widths ranging from 120 nm to 200 nm, and we obtained a low coupling loss of 1.80±0.28 dB for 160 nm tip width. To achieve polarization diversity operation for inverse tapers, we have experimentally realized different designs of polarization beam splitters (PBS). Our optimized PBS has a measured extinction ratio of ≤ 25 dB for both the quasiTE modes, and quasi-TM modes. Additionally, a broadband (100 nm) directional coupler with a 50/50 power splitting ratio was experimentally realized on a small footprint of 20×3 μm2 . Last but not least, high-speed silicon modulators with a range of carrier doping concentrations and offset of the PN junction can be used to optimise the modulation efficiency, and insertion losses for operation at 25 GHz.
Vulnerable road user groups: a review of younger drivers, motorcyclists and older drivers

Scientific efforts to understand and reduce the occurrence of road crashes continue to expand, particularly in the areas of vulnerable road user groups. Three groups that are receiving increasing attention within the literature are younger drivers, motorcyclists and older drivers. These three groups are at an elevated risk of being in a crash or seriously injured, and research continues to focus on the origins of this risk as well as the development of appropriate countermeasures to improve driving outcomes for these cohorts. However, it currently remains unclear what factors produce the largest contribution to crash risk or what countermeasures are likely to produce the greatest long term positive effects on road safety. This paper reviews research that has focused on the personal and environmental factors that increase crash risk for these groups as well as considers direction for future research in the respective areas. A major theme to emerge from this review is that while there is a plethora of individual and situational factors that influence the likelihood of crashes, these factors often combine in an additive manner to exacerbate the risk of both injury and fatality. Additionally, there are a number of risk factors that are pertinent for all three road user groups, particularly age and the level of driving experience. As a result, targeted interventions that address these factors are likely to maximise the flow-on benefits to a wider range of road users. Finally, there is a need for further research that aims to bridge the research-to-practice gap, in order to develop appropriate pathways to ensure that evidenced-based research is directly transferred to effective policies that improve safety outcomes.
Experimental study of L‐shaped precast RC shear walls with middle cast‐in‐situ joint

Precast shear walls, as an environmentally friendly building system, have been vigorously developed in China. There are many vertical and horizontal joints on precast reinforced concrete shear wall system, which certainly have a significant effect on seismic performance of structures. In this paper, 3 L‐shaped precast reinforced concrete shear walls that were assembled by 2 precast parts through a middle cast‐in‐situ joint and a compared 1 completely cast‐in‐situ were tested under low frequency cyclic loading to investigate their seismic behaviors. The vertical distributed reinforcements in the three precast specimens were equivalently spliced by grouting sleeves arranged along the center line of the wall, and the horizontal reinforcements were directly anchored in cast‐in‐situ joints. The experimental results, including failure mode, yielding load and displacement, skeleton curve, energy dissipation, stiffness degradation, ductility, and so forth were presented in the paper. The results show that the precast specimens have similar bearing capacity whereas much better deformation capacity and ductility compared to the cast‐in‐situ specimen. Additionally, the experimental results of ultimate shear capacity of specimens were also compared with that of the calculation results. These results indicate that the tested precast shear walls have good and reliable seismic performance and can be used as a structural member in engineering projects.
Model Predictive Control of a Modular 7-Level Converter Based on SiC-MOSFET Devices—An Experimental Assessment

Power converter technology has expanded into a wide range of low, medium, and high power applications due to the ability to manage electrical energy efficiently. In this regard, the modular multilevel converter has become a viable alternative to ensure an optimal harmonic profile with a sinusoidal voltage at the load side. Model predictive control (MPC) is a state-of-the-art technique that has been successfully used to control power electronic converters due to its ability to handle multiple control objectives. Nevertheless, in the classical MPC approach, the optimal vector is applied during the whole sampling period producing an output voltage. This solution causes an unbalanced switching frequency of the power semiconductor, which then causes unbalanced stress on the power devices. Modulation strategies have been combined with MPC to overcome these shortcomings. This paper introduces the experimental assessment of a 7-level converter combining a simple phase shift multicarrier pulse-width modulation approach with the MPC technique. A custom test-bed based on SiC-MOSFETs switches is used to validate the proposal.
The Impact of the “Belt and Road” Initiative on Accounting Conservatism of Energy-Intensive Enterprises under the Low-Carbon Background

In recent years, the “Belt and Road” Initiative (BRI) has paid more and more attention to practicing the concept of green development. The concept of green development in the BRI will help promote the active response to climate change in the regions along the route and maintain global ecological security and is of great significance to the green transformation and development of energy-intensive enterprises. Using company-level data from China over the 2011–2020 period, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the BRI on energy-intensive enterprise accounting conservatism. We find that BRI has decreased the energy-intensive enterprise accounting conservatism, and this result continues to hold after a series of robustness tests. We also examine the effect of the RBI on accounting conservatism across company types and ages and find that the BRI is beneficial to energy-intensive state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and young companies. Furthermore, analysis reveals that BRI changes the accounting conservatism of energy-intensive enterprises mainly through debt financing, tax burden, and legal environment channels.
Optimal Jamming Strategy Against Periodically Switched Linear Discrete-Time System

In recent years, state estimation of the switched linear discrete-time system has attracted wide attention, especially in the presence of external disturbances. We consider the secure state estimation of a periodically switched linear discrete-time system. We first analyze the stability of the periodically switched linear discrete-time system. Then, we consider the existence of a jamming attacker against remote state estimation. From the perspective of the attacker, we aim to find the optimal attack strategy to maximize the average estimation error. We transform the optimal attack strategy problem into Markov Decision Process (MDP) problem and propose an algorithm to reduce the computational complexity. Finally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate the obtained results.
Multiobjective Optimization Designs in Downlink NOMA Transmission Systems

To further balance the high-capacity transmission requirement and the scarce spectrum resources status quo, we investigate the joint optimization of energy efficiency (EE) and spectral efficiency (SE) in a downlink multiuser NOMA system. While ensuring the user quality of service (QoS), a power allocation algorithm based on two-layer optimization is proposed by transforming the original multiobjective optimization problem into a univariate problem through the linear weighted sum method. Based on the optimal user power allocation coefficient solution obtained from the inner layer, the outer layer applies the bisection principle to search for the optimal system transmit power according to the uniqueness of the maximum value of pseudo-concave functions. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm always converges within fewer iterations and can achieve the flexible tradeoff between EE and SE. This is of great significance for improving the energy utilization of actual scenarios with time-varying communication demands.
Maximum Co-Location Patterns of Mining Based on Count-Ordered Citations-Analysis of Spatial Databases

Searching for the spatial co-area that shows up as often as possible in neighboring space is generally utilized in numerous areas, including cell phone administrations and traffic the board. To accomplish this objective, the SGCT calculation further develops different calculations which use tables to find applicant sets. It utilizes an undirected chart to mine up-and-comers of the maximal co-area designs first, then, at that point, utilizes a dense tree design to store example clubs of competitors. In any case, as how much information develops, the SGCT calculation might store enormous number of hubs during the time spent producing the tree. In this paper, we propose another system which will think about the quantity of occasions of every occasion. We propose a Count-Ordered Instances-tree to record competitors of connection sets. From our trial results, we show that our methodology needs more limited time and costs less extra room than the SGCT calculation.
The Innovation and Development Path of Cultural and Creative Industries in Anhui Province, China: Nvivo12-Based Policy Text Analysis

The policy planning of cultural and creative industries is the leading factor affecting the development of cultural and creative industries and is also an important factor in driving China's economic transformation. How to combine the policy with the actual industrial development and how to scientifically assess the construction effect of cultural and creative industries and build the corresponding planning system are the key points of the current development of cultural and creative industries in Anhui Province, China. The study first analyzes the regional cultural characteristics and development status of Anhui Province, then uses Nvivo12 qualitative software to conduct grounded research and qualitative text analysis on 20 Chinese cultural and creative industry development policy texts, and summarizes three core elements that promote the development of China's cultural and creative industry: “development task,” “development goal,” and “development guarantee. ” Then, according to the three core elements of the text, we propose policy recommendations for the innovation and development of Anhui's cultural and creative industries: focus on “cultural heritage and sustainable development” policy formulation, explore Anhui's regional characteristics and culture; strengthen the development of urban-rural cultural integration and mechanism innovation; optimize and adjust the structure and supply of cultural industries; top-level design to clarify the strategic direction of culture, and coordinate the research tasks to empower industrial innovation. Relying on new media means, it integrates three major development strategies to build a new mechanism for internationalized communication of cultural and creative industries in Anhui Province, develop regional advantageous industries, form advantageous cultural industry clusters, effectively spread local culture, and promote sustainable development of local economy.
Throughput Improvement by Transmit 3D Beamforming and MCS Incorporating 1024-QAM

Three-dimensional beamforming (3D-BF) is a promising technique to improve user throughput and/or extend cell coverage in fifth-generation mobile systems. One of key technology for increasing data rates is the use of higher-order modulation such as 1024-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). In this paper, we evaluate the transmission performance of mobile networks that use a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) incorporating 1024-QAM and transmit 3D-BF. The average and 5-percentile user throughput are clarified as a function of the number of transmit (Tx) beams up to 24, using system-level computer simulations. From these results, we confirm that 3D-BF with 24 Tx beams can improve the average user throughput by 2.2 times compared with those of non-BF, however, the improvement effect exhibited a smaller increase in user throughput than the use of 16 Tx beams. We also confirm that 3D-BF with 24 Tx beams can increase the use rate of 1024-QAM in MCS by 17% when compared with non-BF. This work provides an effective solution for designing mobile systems using 1024-QAM and 3D-BF.
Recasting Low Intensity Conflicts in Laikipia County, Kenya, through Protracted Social Conflicts Paradigm: Causes, Socioeconomic, Political and Security Implications

Protracted Social Conflicts (PSC) in Kenya have occurred in several counties more so in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) with conflict management mechanisms being incapable or unwilling to find lasting resolutions. The PSCs often manifest as Low Intensity Conflicts (LIC) as experienced in many parts of the world, mutatis mutandis. In Kenya, LIC is present in form of insurgencies, banditry and ethnic conflicts. The LICs lead to untold human suffering and loss of property. Several solutions and mitigation measures have been attempted with short-term successes. Therefore there is a need to find long-lasting solutions to intractable Low Intensity Conflicts in Laikipia in order to mitigate the recurrent disruptive effects on socioeconomic development. To set the expositions in perspective, this article utilizes Protracted Social Conflict Theory postulated by Edward Azar. Through analysis of secondary data, the study found out that the root causes of conflicts in Laikipia County, included; inequality in resource distribution and marginalization, proliferation of small arms, land ownership and tenure, political incitements among others. Implications of conflicts in Laikipia County included; diminished food production, destruction of property, death of young energetic men, clo-sure of schools, disrupted medical support provision, proliferation of small arms and light weapons among others. The study recommended that stakeholders need to develop a comprehensive conflict resolution policy framework, comprising a mixture of formal and traditional approaches, to address land
Brain Waves Signal Modeling for Object Classification Using Random Forest Method

In this research, the connection between human vision information and simultaneous brain signal is studied; to this end, an experiment has been made. Clearly, brain wave signals are captured in the situation that the participants are looking at the specific object. More precisely, the brain signals of 9 shapes are recorded for each participant. Also, 9 participants voluntarily have been involved in the experiment. Then, the collected signals are organised into training and testing groups. After that Random Forest classifier is used to classify the signals. The accuracy results demonstrate a connection between human vision information and simultaneous brain signal. Overall accuracy for all shapes as separated as per cases is 20.48%, and for shapes, numbers 6 and 8 are 55.34% 36.57%, respectively. It can be concluded that human brain signals can be categorised based on human vision inputs.
A Hierarchical Deep Reinforcement Learning Framework With High Efficiency and Generalization for Fast and Safe Navigation

We present a hierarchical deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework with prominent sampling efficiency and sim-to-real transfer ability for fast and safe navigation: the low-level DRL policy enables the robot to move toward the target position and keep a safe distance to obstacles simultaneously; the high-level DRL policy is supplemented to further enhance the navigation safety. We select a waypoint located on the path from the robot to the ultimate goal as the subgoal to reduce the state space and avoid sparse reward. Moreover, the path is generated based on either a local or a global map, which can significantly improve the sampling efficiency, safety, and generalization ability of the proposed DRL framework. Additionally, a target-directed representation for the action space can be derived based on the subgoal to improve the motion efficiency and reduce the action space. In order to demonstrate the eminent sampling efficiency, motion performance, obstacle avoidance, and generalization ability of the proposed framework, we implement sufficient comparisons with the nonlearning navigation methods and DRL-based baselines, with videos, data, code, and other supplemental material shown on our website.
A Logistic Regression Model to Assess Factors Influencing Schizophrenia Symptoms in Namibia

Schizophrenia is a common mental disorder in Namibia and affects about 20 million people worldwide. Risk factors for schizophrenia in Namibia have not been extensively investigated. The objective of the study was to establish prevalence and factors influencing schizophrenia symptoms based on secondary data from the 2013 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Descriptive statistics were computed to profile the background characteristics of the sample. Chi-square tests were conducted to assess association between socio-demographic variables and schizophrenia symptoms. Binary logistic regression was performed to establish determinants of schizophrenia symptoms. The prevalence of schizophrenia symptoms was 12.4% (13.6% among females and 11.0% among males). Regression results indicated that females (OR=1.159, 95% CI: 1.022-1.314, p=0.021) were more likely to have schizophrenia symptoms compared to their male counterparts. Those who resided in urban areas (OR=0.699, 95% CI: 0.609-0.803, p<0.001) were less likely to have schizophrenia symptoms compared to those who resided in rural areas. Those with no formal education (OR=0.378, 95% 0.273-0.523, p<0.001); those with primary education (OR=0.646, 95% CI: 0.501-0.834, p<0.001) and those with secondary education (OR=0.619, 95% CI: 0.495-0.775, p<0.001) were less likely to have schizophrenia symptoms compared to those with higher education. Results also showed that those who had never married (OR=0.275, 95% CI: 0.225-0.335, p<0.001); the married (OR=0.229, 95% CI: 0.184-0.284, p<0.001); and those living with a partner (OR=0.283, 95% CI: 0.225-0.355, p<0.001) were less likely to have schizophrenia symptoms compared to those who were on separation. Respondents who did not consume alcoholic drinks (OR=0.597, 95% CI: 0.526-0.677, p<0.001) were less likely to have schizophrenia symptoms compared to those who consumed alcoholic drinks. Schizophrenia symptoms were not significantly influenced by wealth index (p>0.05). There is need to step up gender-specific mental health programs especially in rural areas. Efforts to stabilize marital relationships at national level should be strengthened. Mental health could also be improved through drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation programs.