Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversity and Traditional Use Knowledge of Medicinal Plants among Communities in the South and South-Eastern Zones of the Tigray Region, Ethiopia

In the present study, the diversity of medicinal plants (MPs) and associated traditional knowledge of rural community herbalists to treat human and animals’ diseases were assessed in two districts in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Study participants were randomly selected for survey and focus group discussions, while key informant traditional healers were identified through snowball/chain-referral sampling. The informant consensus factor (FIC) by ailment category and fidelity level (FL) for some MPs were determined. About 97 MP species were identified. Leaves, roots, and seeds are the parts predominantly used for phytomedication preparation to treat 30 human and 5 animal diseases. Diseases, such as epilepsy, arthritis, otitis media, and fever, are treated with a combination of 2–4 MPs. The FIC value ranged from 0.29–1.00, with most human diseases showing an FIC value of above 0.7. The FL value for the MPs ranged from 53–100%, with plants used to treat more than one disease tending to have lower FL values. Higher values of FIC and FL indicate high levels of traditional knowledge used to identify and administer medicinal preparations. Despite the frequent use of MPs, the four-cell analysis showed that most of them risk extinction due anthropogenic and climate factors. We recommend botanical gardens as a solution to sustainable conservation, study, education and a source for these declining MP species.
Assessment of Quality of Household Solid Waste Collection by Private Service Providers in Bujumbura City

Public provision of municipal solid waste collection services in developing countries is characterised by poor service delivery. This paper examines if privatisation has led to better quality of households’ waste collection services in Bujumbura city, Burundi. The paper is based on 308 questionnaire survey of Bujumbura households’ living in high, middle and low class residential facilities served by private service providers; coupled with interviews and document analysis. The quality of service is based on nine service quality indicators. About 28.8% of registered households for waste collection paid and serviced by private service providers. Waste collection is varied and mostly every two weeks, yet license stipulates once per week; whereas charges are varied and higher than the set rates. Ordinal probit regression analysis shows that out of 9 service quality indicators, 6 are significant at household level and 5 on the residential class. Households’ living in high class residential expresses greater satisfaction with quality of service than those who live in middle and low class residential. The paper recommends regular monitoring and supervision of solid waste collection by private service providers for quality services delivery to households in Bujumbura city.
Biomechanical Risks Associated with Foot and Ankle Injuries in Ballet Dancers: A Systematic Review

Professional ballet dancers can be classified as dance artists and sports performers. This systematic review aims to consider the biomechanical risk factors for foot and ankle injuries in ballet dancers, as this could potentially reduce the impact that ‘cost of injury’ may have on ballet companies. An additional outcome was to examine the effects of injury on the career of ballet dancers. This study searched articles in four electronic databases for information in peer-reviewed journals. The included articles examined the relationships between biomechanical factors and the relationship between ballet shoes and foot performance. There were 9 articles included in this review. Among these articles, two focused on the peak force of the foot using two types of pointe shoes, three focused on overuse injuries of the ballet dancer’s foot, one article focused on the loading of the foot of a dancer, and three articles focused on the function and biomechanics of the foot in dancers. This review also found that the pointe shoe condition was the most important factor contributing to a foot injury; overuse injury related to high-intensity training and affected both the ankle and the foot; and metatarsophalangeal joint injury related to the function and structure of the foot. Finally, strengthening the lower extremity muscle is also a recommendation to improve muscle coordination and reduce injuries.
Development and Characterization of Eudragit® EPO-Based Solid Dispersion of Rosuvastatin Calcium to Foresee the Impact on Solubility, Dissolution and Antihyperlipidemic Activity

Poor solubility is the major challenge involved in the formulation development of new chemical entities (NCEs), as more than 40% of NCEs are practically insoluble in water. Solid dispersion (SD) is a promising technology for improving dissolution and, thereby, the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. This study investigates the influence of a pH-sensitive acrylate polymer, EPO, on the physicochemical properties of rosuvastatin calcium, an antihyperlipidemic drug. In silico docking was conducted with numerous polymers to predict drug polymer miscibility. The screened-out polymer was used to fabricate the binary SD of RoC in variable ratios using the co-grinding and solvent evaporation methods. The prepared formulations were assessed for physiochemical parameters such as saturation solubility, drug content and in vitro drug release. The optimized formulations were further ruled out using solid-state characterization (FTIR, DSC, XRD and SEM) and in vitro cytotoxicity. The results revealed that all SDs profoundly increased solubility as well as drug release. However, the formulation RSE-2, with a remarkable 71.88-fold increase in solubility, presented 92% of drug release in the initial 5 min. The molecular interaction studied using FTIR, XRD, DSC and SEM analysis evidenced the improvement of in vitro dissolution. The enhancement in solubility of RoC may be important for the modulation of the dyslipidemia response. Therefore, pharmacodynamic activity was conducted for optimized formulations. Our findings suggested an ameliorative effect of RSE-2 in dyslipidemia and its associated complications. Moreover, RSE-2 exhibited nonexistence of cytotoxicity against human liver cell lines. Convincingly, this study demonstrates that SD of RoC can be successfully fabricated by EPO, and have all the characteristics that are favourable for superior dissolution and better therapeutic response to the drug.
Allium Vegetables Intake and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Intake of allium vegetables may modify the risk of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the association between allium vegetables intake and breast cancer risk via a meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were electronically searched up to June 2021 to identify relevant studies. We used random-effect models to calculate pooled risk estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of breast cancer with allium vegetables intake. Results: A total of 17 studies were included in this meta-analysis on the association of total allium vegetables, garlic and onion intake with breast cancer risk. The combined risk estimate of breast cancer for the highest vs lowest category of total allium vegetables, garlic and onion intake was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.49–0.91, P < 0.001), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.61–0.93, P = 0.016) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.53–0.98, P < 0.001), respectively. A significant heterogeneity was found among studies for all three pooled analyses. Conclusion: High intake of allium vegetables may be protective against the development of breast cancer. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to confirm the results.
Systolic blood pressure variability within 120 hours of admission predicts the functional outcomes at discharge of patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background: Blood pressure variability (BPV) is a predictor of short- and long-term disability in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Its effect on more immediate functional outcomes has been seldom studied, and the results are inconsistent. We aimed to determine the role of BPV during the first 5 days of hospitalization in functional status at the time of discharge of patients with AIS. Methods: We enrolled 134 patients diagnosed with AIS and BPV using standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV %). These were associated with the dichotomized modified Rankin Scale at discharge using logistic regression. Results: Patients with unfavorable outcomes were significantly older ( P =0.014), had a lower body mass index ( P =0.001), were less likely to present with dyslipidemia ( P =0.001), had lower serum triglyceride levels ( P =0.012), had a longer hospitalization period ( P <0.001), and had a higher mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission ( P <0.001). After adjusting for multiple confounders, the CV % of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the first 120 hours after admission had a significant effect on functional disability at discharge. Conclusion: Variability in SBP in the first 5 days of hospitalization had a deleterious effect on the functional outcomes at discharge of patients with AIS. The role of diastolic BPV seems to be significant only in the first 24 hours of admission; however, further research is required.
Inside the mind of a hacker - FT World - World & Global Economy Video - FT.com

Understanding what motivates cyber attacks is the first line of defence against them, say Cal Leeming, a former hacker turned software engineer, and Brian Alleyne, an expert on cyber criminals. With attacks on the rise, companies would be wise to take their advice and form a strategy, says the FT’s Maija Palmer.
Time-Dependent Visiting Trip Planning With Crowd Density Prediction Based on Internet of Things Localization

This paper proposes a time-dependent visiting trip planning (TVTP) framework to find the most efficient visiting order and plan the fastest moving paths based on Internet of Things (IoT) localization. The proposed TVTP framework consists of a deep learning based crowd density prediction model and a time-dependent visiting trip planning algorithm. In the developed prediction model, densely connected convolutional networks are explored with spatiotemporal data fusion to further reduce prediction errors. In the designed planning algorithm, visitors are guided to multiple target places at feasible time points to minimize total moving time based on predicted future crowd densities. According to our review of relevant research, this is the first framework that integrates deep learning for crowd density prediction with time-dependent planning for a multi-target visiting trip, which can precisely estimate future moving times based on predicted crowd densities and efficiently plan the optimal visiting order and guiding paths with the shortest total moving time to visit all target places. The open crowd dataset of the Osaka Asia & Pacific Trade Center in Japan is adopted to evaluate the performance of existing works and TVTP. Experimental results show that our framework outperforms existing methods and can accurately predict the future crowd density of indoor people as well as significantly reduce the total moving time in the planned multi-target visiting trip.
Evaluation of antidiabetic, antioxidant and antilipidemic potential of natural dietary product prepared from Cyphostemma digitatum in rats’ model of diabetes

Introduction: Cyphostemma digitatum has a high content of antioxidant constituents and has been employed by the traditional healers and local people of Yemen for diabetes treatment. However, scientific evidence regarding its antidiabetic efficacy is largely unknown. Accordingly, the present study aimed to confirm the treatment effects of a dietary natural product prepared from Cyphostemma digitatum (PCD) in diabetic rats.Methods: Diabetes was induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (HF-STZ). PCD (1 g/kg) was given by gavage administration once a day continuously for 30 days. At the end of treatment, blood and skeletal muscle samples were collected for further analysis.Results: The antidiabetic effects of PCD were demonstrated by significant reduction (P ≤ 0.05) in the levels of serum glucose (40%), triglyceride (32%), cholesterol (53%), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (44%), malondialdehyde (MDA) (61%) in PCD treated groups compared to the diabetic control group. Additionally, PCD treatment significantly (P ≤ 0.05) restored the decreased levels of insulin (70%) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (57%) and reduced glutathione (GSH) (544%) when compared to that of diabetic control rats. We found that treatment with PCD for 30 days fully restored the plasmalemmal glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) contents, as well as the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Thus, PCD treatment can be considered a potential drug candidate for diabetes.
Understanding the adaptive use of virtual world technology capabilities and trust in virtual teams

In an environment of global competition and constant technological change, the use of virtual teams has become commonplace for many organizations. Virtual team members are geographically and temporally dispersed, experience cultural diversity, and lack shared social context and face-to-face encounters considered as irreplaceable for building and maintaining trust. Previous research has established that higher trusting teams have better cooperation and experience improved outcomes; however, trust building in a team where members are from different backgrounds, time zones and cultures is a considerable challenge. Virtual teams (VTs) rely heavily on technology to facilitate coordination, communication, and control in the team. One particular technology that has generated great interest as a viable tool in VTs is broadly referred to as metaverses. Metaverses provide unique technology capabilities that allow individuals to interact in a three-dimensional space. Unique capabilities such as visual communication among avatars, video and audio chat, and the communication of deliberate body language through gestures and other nonverbal cues may provide opportunities for VTs, particularly in relation to trust building. The broad goal of this research is to increase our understanding of the relationship between virtual team members and information technology during the development of trust. Specifically, this thesis focuses on understanding the relationship between metaverse technology capabilities and trust development between VT members by studying how technology capabilities are used and modified to shape trust in general and interpersonal trust in particular. Copyright © 2012, Dawn Owens
Clinical Significance of Ventricular Premature Contraction Provoked by the Treadmill Test

Background and Objectives: The treadmill test (TMT) is a predictive tool for myocardial ischemia. Recently, exercise-provoked ventricular premature contracture (VPC) during TMT was shown to have a relation with coronary artery disease and cardiovascular mortality. Therefore, we evaluate clinical correlates of exercise-provoked VPC and compare the predictive power for myocardial ischemia and cardiovascular events. Method: Data of 408 patients (≥18 years of age) who underwent TMT for work up of angina, palpitation, dyspnea, syncope, or arrhythmia between February 2015, and January 2016, were collected with consent at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Among total of 408 patients, 208 were excluded according to the previous history of PCI or CABG, previous MI, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction lower than 50%, arrhythmia that could affect ST-segment change on ECG. Results: Among 200 patients, 32 (16.0%) developed exercise-provoked VPC (21 patients in the exercise phase, 20 patients in the recovery phase). Of them, 20 patients (10.0%) showed positive TMT, and 4 patients (2.0%) underwent revascularization after TMT. Among 21 patients showing exercise phase VPC, 5 (23.8%) showed positive TMT results. In patients younger than 65 years, exercise phase VPC was associated with positive TMT (odds ratio 6.879, 1.458–32.453) considering demographics and previous medical history in multivariable analysis. Among the 20 patients showing recovery phase VPC, 2 (10.0%) underwent revascularization after TMT. In multivariable analysis, recovery phase VPC was associated with revascularization (odds ratio 9.381, 1.144–76.948) considering age, sex, BMI, and TMT result. Conclusion: VPC during the treadmill test was a useful predictor of myocardial ischemia in this study.
Structured Term Pruning for Computational Efficient Neural Networks Inference

The state-of-the-art convolutional neural network accelerators are showing a growing interest in exploiting the bit-level sparsity and eliminating the ineffectual computations of zero bits. However, the excessive redundancy and the irregular distribution of nonzero bits limit the real speedup in the accelerators. To address this, we propose an algorithm-architecture codesign, named structured term pruning (STP), to boost the computation efficiency of neural networks inference. Specifically, we enhance the bit sparsity by guiding the weights toward the value with fewer power-of-two terms. Then, we structure the terms with layer-wise group budgets. Retraining is adopted to recover the accuracy drop. We also design the hardware of the group processing element and the fast signed-digital encoder for efficient implementation of STP networks. The system design of STP is realized with some easy alterations on an input stationary systolic array design. Extensive evaluation results demonstrate that STP can reduce significant inference computation costs, and achieve $2.35\times $ computational energy saving for the ResNet18 network on the ImageNet dataset.
Sustainability approaches within the fashion industry: the supplier perspective

ABSTRACT This paper explores sustainability drivers and practices within the Italian fashion industry, a challenging industry with strong impacts on sustainability. More specifically, this research aims to identify the different sustainability approaches adopted by Italian fashion suppliers in terms of the internal and external sustainability practices and drivers that trigger sustainability initiatives in relation to each approach. Based on an investigation of twelve case studies, we propose a taxonomy of these approaches by adopting the supplier perspective, a novelty in the sustainability literature. We discovered four types of approaches that we labelled: under-exploited, not-interested, collaborative and developing.
Innovative approaches for AlGaN/GaN-based technology

Gallium Nitride (GaN) has been proven to be a very suitable material for advanced power electronics on account of its outstanding material properties. Today, researchers are exploring GaN-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) for conventional as well as high-end solutions in the range of 600 – 1200 V. However, thermal and power density limitations have impeded the achievement of the peak operational capability of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. GaN-on-Diamond technology has proven to be a feasible solution to reduce thermal resistance and increase power density of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs for RF applications. The work presented in this thesis is focused on the realisation of high-voltage GaN-on-Diamond power semiconductor devices. This goal was achieved through extensive numerical simulations applied to device design, fabrication, and characterisation. The fabricated devices include conventional AlGaN/GaN HEMT design in circular and linear form with and without field plate engineering. The circular GaN-on-Diamond HEMTs with gate width of ~ 430 μm, gate length of 3 μm, gate-to-drain separation of 17 μm and source field plate length of 3 μm have shown breakdown voltage of ~ 1.1 kV. In this work a new concept of normally-off optically-controlled AlGaN/GaN-based power semiconductor device is proposed. A simulation study has been carried out in order to explore the DC characteristics, switching characteristics, breakdown voltage, and current gain of these novel devices. The typical structure comprises a 20 nm of undoped Al0.23Ga0. 77N barrier layer, a 1.1 μm undoped-GaN buffer layer and a p-doped region (to locally deplete the electron channel and ensure a normally-off operation). The simulation study shows that the gain and the breakdown voltage of the device are highly dependent on the depth of the p-doped region. At a particular depth of the p-doped region of 500 nm the gain of the device is 970 (at light intensity of 7 W/cm2) and the breakdown voltage is ~ 350 V. The rise and fall times of the device is found to be 0.4 μsec and 0.3 μsec respectively. The simulation results show a significant potential of the proposed structure for high-frequency and high-power applications.
Air pollution trends in the EMEP region between 1990 and 2012. Joint Report of the EMEP Task Force on Measurements and Modelling (TFMM), Chemical Co-ordinating Centre (CCC), Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-East (MSC-E), Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-West (MSC-W).

The present report synthesises the main features of the evolution over the 1990-2012 time period of the concentration and deposition of air pollutants relevant in the context of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution: (i) ozone, (ii) sulfur and nitrogen compounds and particulate matter, (iii) heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. It is based on observations gathered in State Parties to the Convention within the EMEP monitoring network of regional background stations, as well as relevant modelling initiatives. Joint Report of: EMEP Task Force on Measurements and Modelling (TFMM), Chemical Co-ordinating Centre (CCC), Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-East (MSC-E), Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-West (MSC-W).
Work Transformed: Automation and Labor in the Computer Age by Harley Shaiken

tion or responsibility. " Kochan and BaroCCi's implicit view that hunLiman resource management/ inclustrial relations (HRM/IR) mLust be cost/ benefit-focu-secl, like all other functional areas, is refreshing and long overdue. The authols first present a framework for analyzing HRM/IR policy needs. This framework serves as all outline for the remainder of the book. The starting point is the historical, economic, technological, and sociopolitical contexts in which business organizations ftlunCtiOnl. These contexts, or constraints, determine the appropriate HRM/IR policy for anl enterlprise. Since these contexts change, successful HRM/ IR strategies cannot. be static either. The autihors illustrate the need for flexible policies by cliscussing the connection between the recent (post.1970) increase in international competition andcl the "new era" in cooperative industrial relations. They also give special attention to the rapidly changing technological context, particularly advanced information technology. In Part II, the authols focus on HRM/IR policy development andcl examine what is now recognizecl as the crucial nextus between overall firm strategy and huiman resources strategy. Management values, competitive pressures, and the strategy changes imposed by the dynamic of the organizational life cycle are cliscussecd. Part III addresses the "activities, acutmen, and skills needed by bot-h line and staff to mnanage human resources activities efficiently and equitably. " Chapters cover recruitment and selection, staffing and development, compensation, including benefits and incentives, and labor relations. The last is the largest chapt.er in the book and includes aln extensive history of the development of collective bargaining, contract negotiation processes, bargaining power, and the implact of bargaining on compensation, job security, the work environment, and ot.her previously unilaterally cletermineccl employment