Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Concrete Shear Wall Structures by Smart Materials

Smart materials have found numerous applications in many areas in civil engineering recently. One class of these materials is shape memory alloy (SMA) which exhibits several unique characteristics such as superelasticity and shape memory effect. Due to these characteristics, research efforts have been extended to use SMA in controlling civil structures. This paper investigates the effectiveness of SMA reinforcements in enhancing the behavior of shear walls, especially when subjected to seismic excitations. Two ordinary and coupled shear walls were introduced as reference structures and were modeled by ABAQUS software. For improving the seismic response of the shear walls, vertical SMA reinforcing bars were proposed to be implemented like conventional steel reinforcements, throughout the height of the structures and in every connecting beam in the coupled shear wall system. The one dimensional superelastic model of SMA material was implemented in the computer software using FORTRAN code. The dynamic response of the shear walls subjected to seismic loading was investigated through time history analyses under El-centro and Koyna records. The results showed that using superelastic SMA material instead of steel bars caused remarkable reduction in residual displacement for both ordinary and coupled shear walls. In addition, SMA reinforcements could significantly decrease the maximum deflection of the coupled shear wall system.
Students' Readiness towards M-Learning: A Case Study of Pre-Service Teachers in Palestine

This study examines pre-service teachers’ (PST) attitudes towards, readiness to use and the nature of usage of mobile technologies. The main objective of the study is to explore the different aspects of M-devices in terms of the actual use, attitudes of use and willingness to use in learning context of PST in College of Education and Teacher Preparation (CETP) at An Najah National University (NNU) in Palestine. The results of the study could inform NNU administrators and faculty members about the possibilities of integrating M-devices in the teaching/learning process. Data was obtained from a sample of 71 PSTs enrolled in “Computers in Education” course in the second semester of 2013/2014 academic year. The results revealed that many PSTs owned one or more mobile devices. For most students, the use of mobile devices is a routine part of their own lives with limited placement in their educational environment. Data suggest that NNU administration and PSTs teachers need to consider the availability of M-devices in the hands of students and to explore these emerging technologies for teaching. The results of this study can be used to inform NNU and other institutions the capabilities and willingness of students to use mobile devices in their learning. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014. v4n6p19
Motion Sickness, Console Video Games, and Head-Mounted Displays

Objective: We evaluated the nauseogenic properties of commercial console video games (i.e., games that are sold to the public) when presented through a head-mounted display. Background: Anecdotal reports suggest that motion sickness may occur among players of contemporary commercial console video games. Methods: Participants played standard console video games using an Xbox game system. We varied the participants' posture (standing vs. sitting) and the game (two Xbox games). Participants played for up to 50 min and were asked to discontinue if they experienced any symptoms of motion sickness. Results: Sickness occurred in all conditions, but it was more common during standing. During seated play there were significant differences in head motion between sick and well participants before the onset of motion sickness. Conclusion: The results indicate that commercial console video game systems can induce motion sickness when presented via a head-mounted display and support the hypothesis that motion sickness is preceded by instability in the control of seated posture. Application: Potential applications of this research include changes in the design of console video games and recommendations for how such systems should be used.
AGGLUTINATION OF MOTILE SALMONELLAS BY ACRIDINES

Genetic studies of the determination of Salmonella flagella have suggested that the alternative antigenic phases correspond to two distinct homology groups, i.e., to factors at two distinct genetic loci, one for phase 1 ("specific phase"), and one for phase 2 ("group phase") (Lederberg and Edwards, 1953). It has, however, been generally understood that the two phases were equivalent to one another in all respects save their detailed antigenic structure and thus would give no hint of such a dual determination (Stocker, 1949). Sertic and Boulgakov (1936a, b) had, however, reported slide agglutination of smooth phase 2 cultures by acriflavine, while phase 1 did not react. We have sought, therefore, to confirm this generally overlooked observation and to look for any further clues that might bear on the reversible differentiation of the two loci which control flagellar phase variation (Lederberg, 1954).
Prescription Drug Monitoring and Dispensing of Prescription Opioids

Objective. In the United States, per-capita opioid dispensing has increased concurrently with analgesic-related mortality and morbidity since the 1990s. To deter diversion and abuse of controlled substances, most states have implemented electronic prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). We evaluated the impact of state PDMPs on opioid dispensing. Methods. We acquired data on opioids dispensed in a given quarter of the year for each state and the District of Columbia from 1999 to 2008 from the Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System and converted them to morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs). We used multivariable linear regression modeling with generalized estimating equations to assess the effect of state PDMPs on per-capita dispensing of MMEs. Results. The annual MMEs dispensed per capita increased progressively until 2007 before stabilizing. Adjusting for temporal trends and demographic characteristics, implementation of state PDMPs was associated with a 3% decrease in MMEs dispensed per capita (p=0.68). The impact of PDMPs on MMEs dispensed per capita varied markedly by state, from a 66% decrease in Colorado to a 61% increase in Connecticut. Conclusions. Implementation of state PDMPs up to 2008 did not show a significant impact on per-capita opioids dispensed. To control the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs, state PDMPs may need to improve their usability, implement requirements for committee oversight of the PDMP, and increase data sharing with neighboring states.
Coach to cope: feasibility of a life coaching program for young adults with cystic fibrosis

Background Over the last two decades, lifespan has increased significantly for people living with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, several studies have demonstrated that many young adults with CF report mental health problems and poor adherence to their prescribed treatments, challenging their long-term physical health. Treatment guidelines recommend interventions to improve adherence and self-management. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of a life coaching intervention for young adults with CF. Methods A randomized, controlled feasibility study was conducted at the CF Center at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet. Participants were young adults with CF, aged 18–30 years without severe intellectual impairments. Participants were randomized to either life coaching or standard care. The intervention consisted of up to 10 individual, face-to-face or telephone coaching sessions over a period of 1 year. Primary outcomes were recruitment success, acceptability, adherence to the intervention, and retention rates. Secondary outcome measures included health-related quality of life, adherence to treatment, self-efficacy, pulmonary function, body mass index, and blood glucose values. Results Among the 85 eligible patients approached, 40 (47%) were enrolled and randomized to the intervention or control group; two patients subsequently withdrew consent. Retention rates after 5 and 10 coaching sessions were 67% and 50%, respectively. Reasons for stopping the intervention included lack of time, poor health, perceiving coaching as not helpful, lack of motivation, and no need for further coaching. Coaching was primarily face-to-face (68%). No significant differences were found between the groups on any of the secondary outcomes. Conclusion Both telephone and face-to-face coaching were convenient for participants, with 50% receiving the maximum offered coaching sessions. However, the dropout rate early in the intervention was a concern. In future studies, eligible participants should be screened for their interest and perceived need for support and life coaching before enrollment.
FNAC in tuberculous lymphadenitis: experience from a tertiary level referral centre.

BACKGROUND In developing countries like India, tuberculous lymphadenitis is one of the most common causes of lymphadenopathy. However, anti-tubercular treatment cannot be given only on clinical suspicion. Cytomorphology with acid fast staining proves to be a valuable tool in diagnosing these cases. AIMS To study the utility, limitations of fine needle aspiration cytology and various cytomorphological presentations in reference to Ziehl-Neelsen staining in tuberculous lymphadenitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS In a study period of July to October 2010, three hundred and eighteen consecutive superficial lymph nodes, clinically suspected to be tuberculous were subjected to cytological evaluation with Hematoxylin & Eosin, Giemsa and Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears. In addition, demographic profile of these patients with clinical presentation was also studied. RESULTS Incidence of tuberculous lymphadenitis was 55%. Overall AFB positivity was 71.0%. Only Necrosis without epithelioid cell granulomas was the most common cytological picture and that showed highest AFB positivity also. Three-fourth of the patients presented in second to fourth decade of life. Cervical region was the most common site of involvement with solitary lymphadenopathy as the most common presentation in contrast to matted lymph nodes as reported by others. CONCLUSIONS Fine needle aspiration cytology is a safe, cheap procedure requiring minimal instrumentation and is highly sensitive to diagnose tuberculous lymphadenitis. The sensitivity can be further increased by complementing cytomorphology with acid fast staining. In acid fast staining negative cases, yield of acid fast bacilli positivity can be increased by doing Ziehl-Neelsen staining on second smear or decolourized smear revealing necrosis or by repeat aspiration. Microbiological assessment should also be done in such cases.
Work Environment Perceptions as Determinants of Affective Commitment and Participation in Firm-Internal Innovation Contests

Cross-divisional innovation efforts in large corporations became increasingly important during the last decade. Therewith, the knowledge-intense innovation process requires ICT support for organising organisational knowledge and facilitating collaboration. Firms are responding to these complex challenges by increasing efforts for implementation of modern innovation mechanisms. Among these mechanisms, innovation contests as the most frequently realised practical approach are assessed to have high potentials for companies. Here, important business challenges are broadcasted to a large group of potential volunteers within the firm. Afterwards, the community starts collaborating by interactively posting, discussing, and evaluating novel ideas. Taking a behavioural perspective, engagement and participation of contributors are critical. Theory highlights that perceptions of individual’s work environment positively influence their behaviour, which might be mirrored in participation intention. Supplementary, employees’ affective commitment is included as driver of participation. We surveyed employees of a specific subsidiary of a large German company in the telecommunications industry that is responsible for the management of the group’s entire product portfolio. The empirical analysis used structured equation modelling for testing the relationships between work environment perceptions, affective commitment, and participation intention. The results indicated especially that a strong organisational encouragement, supervisory encouragement, and affective commitment positively influence individuals’ participation intention.
Ambient Backscatter Communications: A Contemporary Survey

Recently, ambient backscatter communication has been introduced as a cutting-edge technology which enables smart devices to communicate by utilizing ambient radio frequency (RF) signals without requiring active RF transmission. This technology is especially effective in addressing communication and energy efficiency problems for low-power communications systems such as sensor networks, and thus it is expected to realize numerous Internet-of-Things applications. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a contemporary and comprehensive literature review on fundamentals, applications, challenges, and research efforts/progress of ambient backscatter communications. In particular, we first present fundamentals of backscatter communications and briefly review bistatic backscatter communications systems. Then, the general architecture, advantages, and solutions to address existing issues and limitations of ambient backscatter communications systems are discussed. Additionally, emerging applications of ambient backscatter communications are highlighted. Finally, we outline some open issues and future research directions.
Matrix metalloproteinases in repair

During repair, many different matrix metalloproteinases are produced by multiple cell types residing in various compartments within the wound environment. This diversity of enzymes, coupled with discreet cellular expression, implies that different matrix metalloproteinases serve different functions, acting on a variety of substrates, during wound healing. With few exceptions, however, the actual function and spectrum of functions of matrix metalloproteinases in vivo is not known. Even with the advent of genetically defined animal models, few studies have rigorously addressed the substrates and role of matrix metalloproteinases in wound repair. Before we can understand the role of matrix metalloproteinases in ulceration and disease, we need to determine the function these enzymes serve in normal tissues and repair.
A Network Analysis of Foreign Direct Investments

The fragmentation of production is a major feature of modern economies and it is completely changing how multinationals produce. We reconstruct and discuss the network of European (EU28) investing abroad firms, exploiting information from complex network analysis. The study is based on the fDi Markets database provided by the Financial Times, reporting global greenfield foreign direct investments. Keeping in due consideration both sectors and countries of destination, and without ex-ante prior, we single out the linkages among investors. We focus on three relevant sectors (Textile, Machinery and Coal), highlighting the evolution of network’s structure. In order to do this, we use network indexes and we examine the internationalization activities both in terms of country of destination and characteristics of the main leaders.
The use of intravascular ultrasound and spot stenting for the treatment of long lesions and small vessels.

angiographic reference diameter > 3.0 mm with coronary stenting may reduce restenosis when compared to balloon angioplasty. – 3 Improvements in stent implantation technique and post-procedural pharmacological treatment reduced stent thrombosis and bleeding complications – 6 leading to broader application of coronary stenting to more complex lesions, such as long lesions and lesions located in small vessels. These lesion subsets have been shown to have poor immediate and long-term outcome when treated with traditional balloon angioplasty. In addition, initial reports using coronary stenting (in a manner that the lesion is covered from a proximal normal segment to a distal normal segment) indicate improved immediate outcome in terms of low incidence of acute and subacute occlusion, but still have high restenosis rates. – 1 2 Apart from the intrinsic lesion characteristics that predispose to restenosis, stent length and/or the number of stents implanted have been implicated as contributing factors in this process. 3 , 1 4 The purpose of this study was to test a new approach for treatment of long lesions and lesions located in small vessels utilizing intravascular ultrasound, balloon angioplasty, and stenting as synergistic devices, rather than competitive modalities. This approach is based on the premise that the use of intravascular ultrasound guidance for coronary intervention will allow the following: 1) to maximize the probability of achieving pre-specified criteria of lumen enlargement with balloon angioplasty alone, therefore removing the need for stenting; and 2) to identify the segment or segments where the lumen is not optimal and to focally implant a stent at that site.
Compartmentalization and Clonal Amplification of HIV-1 Variants in the Cerebrospinal Fluid during Primary Infection

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-associated dementia (HAD) is a severe neurological disease that affects a subset of HIV-1-infected individuals. Increased compartmentalization has been reported between blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HIV-1 populations in subjects with HAD, but it is still not known when compartmentalization arises during the course of infection. To assess HIV-1 genetic compartmentalization early during infection, we compared HIV-1 populations in the peripheral blood and CSF in 11 primary infection subjects, with analysis of longitudinal samples over the first 18 months for a subset of subjects. We used heteroduplex tracking assays targeting the variable regions of env and single-genome amplification and sequence analysis of the full-length env gene to identify CSF-compartmentalized variants and to examine viral genotypes within the compartmentalized populations. For most subjects, HIV-1 populations were equilibrated between the blood and CSF compartments. However, compartmentalized HIV-1 populations were detected in the CSF of three primary infection subjects, and longitudinal analysis of one subject revealed that compartmentalization during primary HIV-1 infection was resolved. Clonal amplification of specific HIV-1 variants was identified in the CSF population of one primary infection subject. Our data show that compartmentalization can occur in the central nervous system (CNS) of subjects in primary HIV-1 infection in part through persistence of the putative transmitted parental variant or via viral genetic adaptation to the CNS environment. The presence of distinct HIV-1 populations in the CSF indicates that independent HIV-1 replication can occur in the CNS, even early after HIV-1 transmission.
Long-term effects of clinical diseases postpartum on performance and herd survival of dairy cows and on developmental programming of dairy heifers

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF CLINICAL DISEASES POSTPARTUM ON PERFORMANCE AND HERD SURVIVAL OF DAIRY COWS AND ON DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMING OF DAIRY HEIFERS Murilo Romulo Carvalho University of Guelph, 2018 Advisor(s): Eduardo de Souza Ribeiro This thesis investigated whether clinical diseases postpartum have long-term consequences for production, reproduction, and culling of dairy cows, and whether the potential long-term effects on reproduction extend to postnatal life in pregnancies that survive to term. In addition, it also investigated potential developmental programming in heifers associated with the metabolic status of the dam during gestation (nonlactating heifer vs lactating cow). The results showed that clinical diseases postpartum reduce lactation and reproductive performances for a long period after clinical resolution of the disease, and increase culling. In addition, daughters of cows that had disease in the lactation preceding their birth had reduced morbidity up to first lactation but were more likely to leave the herd compared with daughters of cows that did not have disease. Potential developmental programming caused by metabolic status of the dam was also characterized and further contribute to the general understanding of developmental programming in cattle.
Biological effects and clinical significance of lenalidomide‐induced tumour flare reaction in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: in vivo evidence of immune activation and antitumour response

Lenalidomide has demonstrated impressive antileukaemic effects in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The mechanism(s) by which it mediates these effects remain unclear. Clinically, CLL patients treated with lenalidomide demonstrate an acute inflammatory reaction, the tumour flare reaction that is suggestive of an immune activation phenomenon. Samples from CLL patients treated with lenalidomide were used to evaluate its effect on the tumour cell and components of its microenvironment (immune cellular and cytokine). Lenalidomide was unable to directly induce apoptosis in CLL cells in vitro, however it modulated costimulatory (CD80, CD83, CD86) surface molecules on CLL cells in vitro and in vivo. Concurrently, we demonstrated that NK cell proliferation was induced by lenalidomide treatment in patients and correlated with clinical response. Cytokine analysis showed increase in levels of TNF‐α post‐lenalidomide treatment, consistent with acute inflammatory reaction. Furthermore, the basal cytokine profile (high IL‐8, MIG, IP‐10 and IL‐4 levels and low IL‐5, MIP1a, MIP1b, IL12/p70) was predictive of clinical response to lenalidomide. Collectively, our correlative studies provide further evidence that the antileukaemic effect of lenalidomide in CLL is mediated not only through modulation of the leukaemic clone but also through elements of the tumour microenvironment.
Prognosis for psychiatric illness in the aged.

The review and analysis of 100 patients aged 60 and older, examined and treated in private psychiatric practice, has served to clarify a number of important questions regarding geriatric patients. An impoverished social life and retirement from the job often set the stage for the development of illness. Forty-six percent presented a special emotional vulnerability. The reaction to separation threats or realities, retirement, personal illness and family conflicts emerged as critical environmental stresses. Fifty percent presented physical diseases, primarily cardiovascular or degenerative in nature. Cerebral organic contaminants were present in 39%. Although these factors tended to reduce the recovery rate, they did not prevent recovery in many patients. The predominant psychiatric diagnosis was the depressive group of reactions. In the consideration of this particular group, the possibilities for improvement are excellent, especially when the pretreatment illness period is not protracted. Many complicatin.