Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factor Effecting Learner’s Satisfaction Towards E-Learning: A Conceptual Framework

The technology has embraced the innovative learning methodologies. New interactive media is in use now for delivering educational information. E-Learning has taken the place of traditional face-to-face educational environment. E-Learning is the learning style empowered by digital technology. Though, this new learning paradigm is very attractive approach for both learners and instructor; the growth of web-based learning media is very low. The main beneficiary of any educational environment is the learner. The satisfaction of the learner is inevitable for successful implementation of web-based educational environment. This paper is showing the factors which are playing influential role towards student web-base learning satisfaction. The student and instructor attitude towards technology, their computer efficacy, and instructor response, friendly interface of the online learning environment and proper facilitation of technical matters are the factors that influence student satisfaction towards online education. Administration is suggested to consider these factors for successful virtual education implementation.
On the perils of vertical control by a partial owner of a downstream enterprise

[eng] The paper examines the various cases which can exist in the vertical relation between an upstream enterprise, owner of a bottleneck facility, and a downstream enterprise, obliged to use this facility. It shows that (only) in the case in which the downstream firm is a partial owner to the upstream firm, the possibility exists for a diversion of business, away from the most efficient solution. [fre] Cet article examine les divers cas de figure que peut revetir la relation verticale entre une entreprise detenant les actifs a titre exclusif et une entreprise de produits finals obligee de faire appel a cette entreprise amont. Il montre que dans le cas (et uniquement dans ce cas) ou l'entreprise aval controle partiellement l'entreprise amont elle peut detourner une partie de l'activite, au detriment de la solution optimale.
Microstrip Spiral Directional Coupler

A new microwave directional coupler with a spiral-shaped construction is described. This coupler is named the spiral coupler and is formed by coiling two edge-coupled lines. Therefore, the size of the coupler can be greatly miniaturized. Furthermore, this coupler can achieve tight coupling much easier than the conventional coupler with edge-coupled lines on account of the multiconductor structure. The spiral couplers with a total length of a quarter-wave were fabricated on alumina ceramic substrates and resulted in 3.5-dB maximum conpling for a 40-mu m strip spacing. The size of the coupler was about one-sixth of the conventional one. The spiral coupler with a total length of three quarter-waves theoretically showed 2.5-dB coupling for a 95-mu m strip spacing on an alumina substrate. The achieved coupling is due to the skillful construction of the spiral. An experimental coupler fabricated on a Teflon substrate confirmed the usefulness of this approach.
Prognostic Matrisomal Gene Panel and Its Association with Immune Cell Infiltration in Head and Neck Carcinomas

Simple Summary Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is a heterogeneous group of tumors arising from squamous cells lining different anatomic sites. This type of malignancy has been mainly investigated by focusing primarily on tumor cells, but recent evidence highlighted the importance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in cancer growth, progression and metastasis. Hence, we hypothesized that dysregulated matrisomal components could have a common association with patient survival, irrespective of the subsite of origin of the SCCHN. Using bioinformatic methods and public datasets, we successfully identified a gene panel with prognostic value in HPV-negative and non-metastatic node-negative tumors and demonstrated its association with immune cell infiltration. Abstract Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is common worldwide and related to several risk factors including smoking, alcohol consumption, poor dentition and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Different etiological factors may influence the tumor microenvironment and play a role in dictating response to therapeutics. Here, we sought to investigate whether an early-stage SCCHN-specific prognostic matrisome-derived gene signature could be identified for HPV-negative SCCHN patients (n = 168), by applying a bioinformatics pipeline to the publicly available SCCHN-TCGA dataset. We identified six matrisome-derived genes with high association with prognostic outcomes in SCCHN. A six-gene risk score, the SCCHN TMI (SCCHN-tumor matrisome index: composed of MASP1, EGFL6, SFRP5, SPP1, MMP8 and P4HA1) was constructed and used to stratify patients into risk groups. Using machine learning-based deconvolution methods, we found that the risk groups were characterized by a differing abundance of infiltrating immune cells. This work highlights the key role of immune infiltration cells in the overall survival of patients affected by HPV-negative SCCHN. The identified SCCHN TMI represents a genomic tool that could potentially aid patient stratification and selection for therapy in these patients.
Experimental Study on the Role of Entropy Waves in Low-Frequency Oscillations in a RQL Combustor

"Rumble'' is a self-excited combustion instability, usually occurring at the start-up of aero-engines with fuel-spray atomizers at sub-idle and idle conditions, and exhibiting low limit frequencies in the range of 50 H z to 150 Hz. Entropy waves at the (nearly) choked combustor outlet are supposed to be the key feedback mechanism for the observed self-excited pressure oscillations. The experimental study presented here aims at clarifying the role of entropy waves in the occurrence of rumble. A generic air-blast atomizer with a design prone to self-excitation has been incorporated into a thermoacoustic combustor test rig with variable outlet conditions. The thermoacoustic response of the flame was characterized by recording the OH* chemiluminescence, the dynamic pressures. the dynamic temperatures, and by applying PIN. The measurements have shown the occurrence of periodic hot spots traveling with the mean flow with considerable dispersion. Measurements have been conducted with an open-ended resonance tube in order to eliminate the impact of entropy waves on the mechanism of self-excitation. The oscillation obtained, comparable in amplitude and frequency, proved that self-excitation primarily depends on convective time delays of the droplets in the primary zone and thus on the atomization characteristics of the nozzle.
Layout techniques for VLSI yield enhancement

Advances in semiconductor technology allow the manufacture of VLSI circuits with millions of transistors. With the increase in chip size and the decrease in layout feature size, yield loss due to manufacturing defects has become a serious problem. To overcome this problem, various defect-tolerant techniques have been developed to reduce the design sensitivity to manufacturing defects. This paper reviews techniques for yield enhancement in compaction, routing, and floorplanning stages of layout design.
Emergency lighting and wayfinding provision systems for visually impaired people: Phase II of a study

This paper complements the data presented in phase I of this study. This paper looks at three new escape lighting systems, and compares them with three systems tested previously. In addition to testing their suitability for 30 people with different visual impairments, results are presented for 12 normally sighted people. Using the facilities at the Building Research Establishment, it has been possible to examine the performance of ceiling-mounted emergency luminaires providing two levels of illuminance, LED strips in two configurations, LED strips with overhead luminaires and miniature incandescent wayfinding strips. Speeds of movement are presented here, along with subjective responses. Comparisons are made with findings from normally sighted people. There are no significant differences in the walking speeds under the lighting systems, but the visually impaired subjects had significantly different opinions on the ease with which they could see where to go.
Cost Reduction of PV-Inverters with SiC-DMOSFETs

Energy will become more and more expensive in future. Thus to counteract this trend and keep energy affordable, there either must be opened up new resources or the available resources must be used more efficient. This can be achieved by reduced energy consumption and low-loss generation. A crucial point in providing electrical power with grid-feeding PV-Systems is the efficiency of the PV-Inverter. Its fixed costs are approximately 8 % of a PV-Plant (up to 10 kW). This percentage can be neglected, if it is compared with the financial gain that can be made during the lifetime of the PV-Inverter. Thus investing in a high-value PV-Inverter is worthwhile. The switching and conduction losses of the transistors and diodes in an inverter are decisive for its efficiency. Here, one can profit from the properties of MOSFETs based on Silicon Carbide.
Correlation of Asphalt Concrete Layer Moduli Determined from Laboratory and Nondestructive Field Tests

The falling weight deflectometer (FWD) is widely used for in situ nondestructive assessment of pavement layer moduli. For this purpose, FWD deflections are used with a number of back-calculation methodologies to come up with layer moduli. Back-calculating layer moduli from FWD deflections collected on thin asphalt concrete (AC) pavements is a challenge because the predicted deflection basin is not sensitive to the AC modulus. This study utilizes the portable seismic pavement analyzer (PSPA) to improve the reliability of back-calculated thin AC layer moduli. Compared with the FWD, the PSPA provides a direct measurement of seismic modulus at a higher load frequency level relative to the frequencies associated with typical truck traffic. Thus, the seismic modulus determined from PSPA tests needs to be corrected with the load frequencies typically used for pavement design. This paper compares AC moduli determined from laboratory dynamic modulus tests with corresponding values determined from FWD and PSPA measurements. The results exhibited favorable correlation between the AC moduli determined from laboratory and field tests at corresponding load frequencies and temperatures. The paper also proposes a meth- odology to obtain a composite modulus from mixture properties determined from laboratory tests of individual AC lifts for the purpose of comparing the composite modulus with corresponding values determined from field tests. The authors generated master curves of individual AC lifts on the basis of corresponding binder temperature-viscosity relationships and volumetric properties obtained from laboratory tests. A procedure was proposed for correcting PSPA AC seismic modulus at corresponding load frequencies and temperatures by using the master curves with Odemark's assumption. This evaluation showed a promising correlation between the corrected PSPA modulus and FWD back- calculated AC modulus. From this, the authors provide a simple equation as an alternative method for correcting PSPA modulus when the material properties of individual layer are not readily available to employ the proposed methodology. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436 . 0000316. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Asphalts; Concrete; Laboratory tests; Nondestructive tests; Field tests. Author keywords: FWD; PSPA; Modulus; Back-calculation; M-E PDG.
The Estimation of Chemical Availability (Exergy) Values for Various Types of Coals in Geographical Regions of Turkey

Anxiety concerning the problems of energy and resources has led to a rapid increase in the interest in describing and understanding the conversion processes of energy and other resources in society. To be able to understand the procedure of these conversion processes, it is important that useful concepts, such as the chemical availability, are available. Exergy was introduced in Turkey long ago but not enough attention has been given to it until recently. The objective of this article is to present a calculation of the chemical availability of coal-based fuels in geographical regions of Turkey. In this regard, it has based the necessity of this study on solid and valid arguments on the advantages of second-law analyses compared to first-law analyses and has presented a correct chemical availability calculation.
National E-learning Strategy to Enhance and Enrich the Iraqi Universities

Nowadays, the HE (higher education) sector of Iraq has suffered severe disruption and mass destruction due to the war and, in general, only 10% of its remaining operational sectors are in the acceptable conditions. This research is an attempt to plan a PS (proposed strategy) for the Iraqi HE sector that can be executed easily in Iraq as a part of the rebuilding of the country and critical sectors, especially education. Before designing the PS, a specially formulated questionnaire using six-point Likert scale was distributed to 350 Iraqi professors and universities academic staff, and the results obtained showed that the problems faced in establishing such an e-learning network in the HE sector included missing infrastructure, well-trained staff, outside world help and the relevant budgets. A comprehensive e-learning strategy has been designed with models that were found through discovering the using of e-learning in one of the pioneers of distance education universities in Asia: the USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia) which has a complete e-learning system with a state of the art video conferencing delivery system and an electronic portal. This was complemented by the Badrul Huda Khan octagonal eight-dimension e-learning model. The educational activities were taken as a yardstick in the design of e-learning systems and educational activities for Iraq. The PS plays a major role in fixing an e-learning policy to the government and the ministry of HE in Iraq.
Impact of Oral Health Educational Interventions on Oral Hygiene Status of Children with Hearing Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction Oral health is considered as one of the essential components of the overall health of every individual. Maintaining oral health is a gradual process that requires commitment. Children who require special care such as hearing impairment experience difficulty in maintaining oral health primarily due to communication difficulties. This study is aimed at using different interventions to evaluate the improvement of oral hygiene in hearing impaired children. Materials and Methods Fifty-nine children were recruited in this study that were allocated randomly into each group with twenty children as follows: group 1: pictorial, group 2: video, and group 3: control. Mean plaque and gingival scores were noted before and after the use of different interventions. Oral hygiene was categorized as “excellent,” “good,” and “fair. ” Gingival health was categorized as “healthy,” “mild gingivitis,” and “moderate gingivitis. ” Results Thirty-four children (57.6%) were from 12-13 years of age bracket, and 25 (42.4%) belonged to 14-16 years of age. Regarding gender, there were 37 (62.7%) males and 22 (37.3%) females. About comparison of mean gingival and plaque scores before and after interventions in each group, a significant difference was found in group 1 (p < 0.001) and group 2 (p < 0.001), as compared to group 3 where the difference in scores was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion Maintaining oral health requires the compliance of individuals to perform different methods of preventive dentistry, such as tooth brushing and use of dental floss. The use of different oral hygiene educational interventions such as pictorial and video methods have been proven and useful for hearing impaired children in improving oral health.
‘Getting stuck’ in analogue electronics: threshold concepts as an explanatory model

Could the challenge of mastering threshold concepts be a potential factor that influences a student's decision to continue in electronics engineering? This was the question that led to a collaborative research project between educational researchers and the Faculty of Engineering in a New Zealand university. This paper deals exclusively with the qualitative data from this project, which was designed to investigate the high attrition rate of students taking introductory electronics in a New Zealand university. The affordances of the various teaching opportunities and the barriers that students perceived are examined in the light of recent international research in the area of threshold concepts and transformational learning. Suggestions are made to help students move forward in their thinking, without compromising the need for maintaining the element of intellectual uncertainty that is crucial for tertiary teaching. The issue of the timing of assessments as a measure of conceptual development or the crossing of thresholds is raised.
Biomechanical Properties of the Skin on the Dorsal Trunk in Young Men

The skin is the largest organ in the body; the area of the adult skin is approximately 1.6‒1.9 m [1]. The skin is located in the outermost of the body, and it serves as the boundary between the lateral side and inside. Therefore, the skin protects and helps keep humans healthy by guarding the whole body against external mechanical stress, maintaining body fluid balance, regulating body temperature, and sensing organs and immune functions. Protection against external mechanical stress is done by the reversible deformation mechanism in response to mechanical stimuli such as stretching and compression stress [2]. This mechanism is performed by skin elasticity. The skin can be stretched way above its original size. It can return to its original size, maintaining its original physical properties after being stretched [3‒5]. The elasticity of the skin is an important factor in normal joint movement. Therefore, reduced elasticity and extensibility of the skin under pathological conditions is likely to result in limited range of motion. Keloid 【Transaction】
Design an Optimizing Cooperative Particle Swarm Application

study seeks to solve the optimization problem of different engineering designs by using nonlinear mixed integer programming mode. In the past, this type of engineering design optimization problem has been widely studied and discussed. They are usually solved through mathematical programming method or heuristics. However, there are more constraints and more constraints that cannot be satisfied. In solving this type of problems, we used a penalty guided cooperative particle swarm optimization to avoid the disadvantage of decreased efficiency from the increase of search spatial dimension and to raise the efficiency. In resolving the problems of five engineering design problems, including system reliability design and machine parts design problem, the data from the study indicate that the solutions from cooperative particle swarm optimization are equal or better than the best-known solutions from past literature. Thus, the results of this study show that cooperative particle swarm optimization is another effective method to find solutions to optimization problems.
Multi-year robotic observations reveal the seasonality of downward carbon export pathways in the Southern Ocean

At high latitudes, the export of organic matter from the surface to the ocean interior, the biological carbon pump, has conventionally been attributed to the gravitational sinking of particulate organic carbon (POC). Conspicuous deficits in ocean carbon budgets have recently challenged this long-lived paradigm of a sole pathway. Multiple strands of evidence have demonstrated the importance of additional export pathways, including the particle injection pumps (PIPs). Recent model estimates revealed that PIPs have a comparable downward POC flux to the biological gravitational pump (BGP), but with potentially different seasonal signatures. To date, logistical constraints have prevented concomitant and extensive observations of these pumps, and little is known about the seasonality of their fluxes. Here, using year-round robotic observations and recent advances in optical signal analysis, we concurrently investigated the functioning of two PIPs - the mixed layer and eddy subduction pumps - and the BGP in Southern Ocean waters. By comparing three phytoplankton bloom cycles in contrasting environments, we show how physical forcing and phytoplankton phenology influence the magnitude and seasonality of these pumps, with implications for carbon sequestration efficiency.
Dealing with Digital Collections: Interviews with the National Library and Selected State Libraries of Australia

Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff at the National Library of Australia and four state libraries to gain a clearer understanding of their approach to handling digital collections. While digitisation activity was high in all of the libraries, acquisition of born-digital material was low. All libraries reported holding material on obsolete formats that would be difficult to access. Concerns were expressed about resourcing digital preservation activities and strategies to manage technical issues. There was strong support for PANDORA and faith in its longer-term effectiveness. A closer relationship is called for among all institutions involved with acquiring and preserving digital objects so that better use is made of limited resources.
Impact of Floods on Groundwater—A Case Study of Chaj Doab in Indus Basin of Pakistan

Groundwater is the most valuable natural resource and playing globally a vital role in agri-based economy of the nations. Uncertainty and scarcity of surface water, tremendous increase in population, and urbanization have shifted the pressure towards the groundwater. Pakistan has become 4 th largest user of groundwater after India, USA and China. Groundwater has helped in increasing cropping intensity from 67% in 1947 to 150% or even more in some irrigated areas in Indus River Basin (IRB) of Pakistan at present. In Punjab province, more than one million private tubewells are extracting groundwater to meet about 40-50% crop water requirements. On the other hands, devastating floods cause huge damage to the agricultural production, physical infrastructures and human lives. Very less research has been done on the impacts of floods on aquifer recharge. To evaluate the impacts of flood 2014 on aquifer storage a quantitative analysis of groundwater levels data from about 200 piezometers has been carried in Chaj Doab (area between two rivers—Chenab and Jhelum) in Indus River Basin (IRB) of Pakistan. Results have indicated that groundwater levels in Chaj Doab are rising at an average annual rate of 0.4 ft. It has been found that during 2014 maximum area (44%) lies under depth to watertable range of 5-10 ft. It has been observed that flood 2014 recharged 1.319 MAF of water to groundwater reservoir. Over-exploitation, deterioration of quality of groundwater, secondary salinization, lack of regulatory framework, scarcity and uncertainty of surface water, lack of education and awareness among the stakeholders, gaps in monitoring and mapping of aquifer extent, lack of coordination and institutional setup have been identified as potential challenges for groundwater management in the study area. Flood water contributes significantly to aquifer recharge and the depleted aquifer can act as a storage for flood water to lessen the flood-intensity.
Isolator-free 10 Gbit/s singlemode fibre data transmission using 1.1 /spl mu/m GaInAs/GaAs vertical cavity surface emitting laser

Isolator-free 10 Gbit/s singlemode fibre data transmission using an uncooled 1.12 µm GaInAs/GaAs QW VCSEL with optical feedback is demonstrated for the first time. The relative intensity noise is below 130 dB/Hz even with an optical feedback of −22 dB.