Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Software-Defined Edge Computing (SDEC): Principle, Open IoT System Architecture, Applications, and Challenges

Edge computing is a bridge for realizing the convergence between physical space and cyber space in the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm. Large numbers of physical objects produce a huge amount of data that needs to be efficiently processed in the edge side. This situation urgently requires novel ideas and framework in the design and management of edge computing to improve and enhance its performance. In this article, we propose an approach and principle of software-defined edge computing (SDEC) from the perspective of cyber-physical mapping, where the ultimate goal is to achieve a highly automatic and intelligent edge computing system. The SDEC can also help realize flexible management and intelligent collaboration among various edge hardware resources and services by way of software. To this end, we design an SDEC-based open IoT system architecture which decouples upper level IoT applications from the underlying physical edge resources and builds dynamically reconfigurable smart edge services. The software-definition mechanism of the SDEC platform is proposed to introduce the detailed processes that the underlying physical devices are defined in the form of software. We also describe an illustrative application case about smart factory to present the practical effectiveness of the proposed scheme. Finally, we outline several challenges which are worthy of in-depth study and research. The SDEC paradigm can share, reuse, recombine, and reconfigure edge resources and services so that the overall service capability of the edge side can be improved.
SFCMon: An Efficient and Scalable Monitoring System for Network Flows in SFC-enabled Domains

A comprehensive monitoring system is essential to assist solutions for most of SFC problems. Therefore, in this work, we propose SFCMon, an efficient and scalable monitoring solution to keep track network flows in SFC environments. To achieve the desired goals, SFCMon works with a pipeline of probabilistic data structures to detect and store large flows as well as perflow counters. For evaluation purposes, based on the SFC reference architecture defined by RFC 7665, we implement a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) framework, which provides a P4-based SFC switch and Python-based SFC Controller. Presented initial experiments demonstrate that SFCMon introduces a negligible performance penalty while providing significant scalability gains.
Delineating Environmental Stresses to Primary Production of U.S. Forests From Tree Rings: Effects of Climate Seasonality, Soil, and Topography

Primary production is the entry point of energy and carbon into ecosystems, but modeling responses of primary production to “environmental stress” (i.e., reductions of primary production from nonoptimal environmental conditions) remains a key challenge and source of uncertainty in our understanding of Earth's carbon cycle. Here we develop an approach for estimating annual “environmental stress” from tree rings based on the proportion of the optimal diameter growth rate (from species‐specific allometric equations) that is realized in a given year. We assessed climatic, topographic, and soil drivers of environmental stress, as well as their interactions, using both empirical model experiments and linear mixed effect models. Climate gradients and interannual climate variability dominated spatial and temporal variability of environmental stress in much of the western United States, where the tree‐ring environmental stress index was positively correlated with antecedent climatic water balance (precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration) and negatively correlated with temperature and vapor pressure deficit. Excluding topographic and soil information from empirical models reduced their ability to capture spatial gradients in environmental stress, particularly in the eastern United States, where growth was not as strongly limited by climate. Mean climate conditions and topographic characteristics had significant interaction effects with the climatic water balance, indicating an increasing importance of winter moisture for warmer and drier sites and as elevation and topographic wetness index increased. These results suggest that including effects of antecedent climate (particularly in dry regions) and site topographic and soil characteristics could improve parameterization of environmental stress effects in primary production models.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of service staffs of Kermanshah city hospitals about HIV and Hepatitis B diseases

Medical staff as a result to contact with blood and secretions of patient body are at risk of development to infectious diseases of HIV and hepatitis B. The aim of this study was investigation of knowledge, attitude, and practice of services staff of Kermanshah city hospitals about HIV and hepatitis B. This study of cross- sectional was carried out on 150 service staff of Kermanshah city hospitals with questionnaire. Questionnaire has been formed from four section of characteristics data, knowledge, attitude, and practice and analysed using SPSS software, chi–square test and exact fisher test . The results showed that 72.7% services staff good knowledge from HIV, 53.3% good knowledge from hepatitis B, 45.3% medium attitude and 76.7% good practice . There is a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude, knowledge and training at work, practice and training at work, education and knowledge. Knowledge of most individuals into transmission methods and prevention of HIV and hepatitis B was good and about HIV was more than hepatitis B. planning of authorities are need for continuing education of services staff to increase of preventive behaviors and vaccination into hepatitis B.
Acculturation of Expatriate Consumers: Conditional Effects of Mental Attachments to Home Country

Abstract In this paper authors explore insufficiently addressed acculturation behaviors of expatriates. Based on the consumer acculturation literature and congruity theory, authors explore how expatriate’s acculturation behaviors steer consumer’s propensity to buy local food brands under conditional effects of mental attachments to home country. In order to test the proposed model a survey was conducted among 212 expatriates from developed economies living in the Greater Middle East. Study shows that expatriate consumers’ acculturation will lead to higher propensity for buying local food brands when: 1) they perceive higher similarity between their home and host country retail system attributes and 2) locally produced food brand’s perceived value is equal or better than the perceived value of food brands from expatriates’ home country.
The role of IL-13 in the pathogenesis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children

Wstęp. Pomimo wielu badań patogeneza izn pozostaje nadal nie do końca wyjaśniona. wśród wielu czynników bierze się pod uwagę th2-pochodną cytokinę il-13. Cel pracy. ocena stężenia il-13 w surowicy i moczu dzieci z izn jako czynnika patogenetycznego oraz markera przebiegu choroby. Materiał i metody. zbadano 51 dzieci z izn oraz 18 dzieci zdrowych. Pacjentów podzielono na grupy w zależności od liczby nawrotów choroby, stosowanego leczenia i podłoża morfologicznego. stężenie il-13 w surowicy i w moczu oznaczano metodą elisA, jednorazowo u dzieci zdrowych, dwukrotnie u chorych – w ostrej fazie choroby i w remisji. Wyniki. stwierdzono istotny wzrost il-13 w surowicy i moczu chorych w ostrym okresie choroby, w porównaniu do dzieci zdrowych. w remisji ulegał on znaczącemu obniżeniu, ale nadal pozostawał istotnie wyższy niż w grupie kontrolnej. niezależnie od fazy choroby wydalanie il-13 z moczem pacjentów z pierwszym rzutem izn było znacząco niższe niż u dzieci z nawrotami oraz wymagających leczenia immunosupresyjnego. stężenie il-13 w surowicy nie różnicowało tych grup. we wszystkich postaciach morfologicznych izn wartości il-13 w surowicy i moczu były podobne. Wnioski. wzrost stężenia il-13 w surowicy i moczu dzieci z izn w ostrym okresie choroby oraz znaczący spadek w remisji przemawiają za jej istotną rolą patogenetyczną. wyższe stężenie il-13 w moczu pacjentów z nawrotami izn oraz wymagających leczenia immunosupresyjnego sugeruje przydatność tego parametru jako wskaźnika rokowniczego. il-13 w surowicy i moczu nie pozwala na różnicowanie podłoża morfologicznego izn. Słowa kluczowe: dzieci, interleukina 13, idiopatyczny zespół nerczycowy.
CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PERSEA AMERICANA MILL FRUIT EXTRACT IN EXPERIMENTAL MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

We aimed to investigate the protective effect of avocado fruit extract (AVOE) and elucidate its mechanisms on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats. The biochemical markers for myocardial infarction, antioxidant status on heart tissue, the histopathological examination of heart tissue and the genes expressions levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were all evaluated. Pretreatment with avocado followed by isoproterenol injection significantly prevented almost all the parameters of isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction. Results were confirmed by the histopathological examination. No significant change was observed in the baseline group. Avocado pretreatment upregulated the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, whereas expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were downregulated in isoproterenol-treated rats. This suggests that the protective effects of avocado fruit extract may be mediated through upregulation of nitric oxide production, antioxidant mechanisms, and its ability to inhibit TNF-α and NF-kB.
Electrophysiological underpinnings of performance in two-choice tasks

The study of event-related brain dynamics has been integral in recognising the contributions of ongoing neuronal oscillatory activity to poststimulus responding and cognitive processes. The impact of the brain’s intrinsic EEG, prior to task onset and in the prestimulus period, on stimulus-response efforts remains an underexplored area. This doctoral thesis examined the electrophysiological activity underpinning Go/NoGo task performance by identifying the ERP component amplitudes associated with behavioural outcomes and assessing the impacts of pretask and prestimulus intrinsic EEG. Three paradigms were used across five studies to explore these brain dynamics: an unwarned auditory equiprobable Go/NoGo task with variable (Studies 1 and 4) and fixed (Studies 2 and 3) stimulus onset asynchronies, and a visual cued Continuous Performance Test (CPT; Study 5); all studies began with a recording of pretask resting EEG with eyes-closed and eyes-open. Studies 1 and 4 found that decreased P2 and greater P3b amplitudes were associated with more efficient and consistent Go responding. Studies 2 and 3 showed that greater P3a/P3b and attenuated SW positivity were linked to optimal Go and NoGo performance. A different pattern of relationships emerged in the cued CPT (Study 5): larger P2 and SW positivity correlated with less variable response times to Go. These results highlight the evoked neuronal activity involved in response control processes and reflect the varying cognitive demands between the paradigms. Importantly, these stimulus-response efforts were uniquely affected by pretask and prestimulus EEG amplitude. Greater pretask delta predicted enhanced ERP component magnitudes (Studies 1, 2, and 5) and response speed (Study 4). However, delta increments in the task-situation were detrimental to performance, as higher prestimulus amplitudes determined less negativity/greater positivity in the N1-1, N2b (Study 5), and SW (Studies 2 and 3) and poorer behavioural outcomes (Studies 2,
A chance for change: Building an outcome monitoring feedback system for outpatient mental health care

The principal aim of this thesis was to develop an outcome monitoring feedback model for Dutch outpatient mental health care in the Netherlands and to test whether providing feedback to therapists and patients can improve treatment outcomes. Data on patient progress collected in outpatient centers in the Netherlands were used to predict the functioning of patients at the end of treatment and the rate of change. In addition, two feedback studies were conducted. In the first study the effect of therapist feedback was compared with no feedback. The results showed no significant effect of feedback for the full group, but did show an effect for therapists that actively used the feedback in therapy. Therapist factors mediated the effectiveness of feedback: in therapists with higher self-efficacy the feedback had a more positive effect. The second study had three treatment conditions, a control group, a group with feedba ck to therapists alone and a group in which both therapists and patients received feedback about the patient’s progress. The results showed that feedback to both therapists and patients was more effective than feedback to therapists alone. The feedback effect was strongest in short-term therapy, for cases that were not progressing well.
Osteoclast Generation and Cytokine Profile at Prosthetic Interfaces: A Study on Tissue of Patients with Aseptic Loosening or Implant-Associated Infections

Aseptic loosening of implants or loosening due to persistent bacterial infection remains a severe complication in orthopaedic surgery. To investigate underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, particularly with regard to bone loss, tissue samples of patients requiring surgery were examined. By histological methods and by quantitative RT-PCR, respectively, infiltration of leukocytes, expression of osteoclast-typical genes and of proinflammatory cytokines was determined. Samples were taken directly from osteolytic sites and for comparison from adjacent sites, distant sites and from muscle. At osteolytic sites, cathepsin K and the metalloproteinases MMP1 and MMP9 were found, as was expression of inflammation-related cytokines, particularly of interleukin (IL)-1β, CXCL8, S100A9 and a very moderate expression of receptor activator of NfκB ligand (RANKL) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) a. Of note, expression of these parameters gradually decreased from sites of osteolysis to adjacent tissue, to distant tissue to muscle. In patients with infection and osteolysis, expression of cytokines, notably of CXCL8, was markedly enhanced, especially in adjacent and distant tissues, where expression was 10- to 20-fold higher compared to tissue of aseptic patients. A possible source of CXCL8 could be infiltrated cells, particularly neutrophils, because they were found in infected tissue only. Histological examination of the biopsies revealed an additional CXCL8 source, namely endothelial cells of small blood vessels. In conclusion, aseptic loosening and implant-associated infection are associated with osteoclast generation and a local inflammatory response. The proinflammatory environment could promote the differentiation of precursor cells to osteoclasts, thereby linking inflammation to bone resorption. The higher expression of cytokines, particularly of CXCL8 in tissue of patients with bacterial infection, could explain the accelerated time course of bone resorption as it occurs in infection compared to aseptic loosening.
Correlation of morphological profile and receptor status in breast carcinoma: An institutional study in tertiary care hospital

Background: Receptor status assessment is not routinely carried out in patients of breast cancer in the Indian subcontinent. Limited data is available on histological and receptor status in Indian patients. In this study receptor status has been correlated with morphological prognostic parameters. Objective: To analyze receptor status and its correlation with morphological prognostic parameters in Indian females. Methods: 50 mastectomy specimens of breast carcinoma were received in the department of pathology at Geetanjali medical college and hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. All the 50 cases were subjected for ER, PR, HER 2 Neu receptor study. Result: 64% patients diagnosed with breast cancer were 50 years or younger in age. 94% patients were diagnosed as Invasive ductal carcinoma whereas 6 % patients were diagnosed with tubular and tubulobular carcinoma. Only 4% cases were ER/ PR/ HER 2 Neu positive and 16% cases were triple negative indicating poor prognosis.
ANALISIS KONTRIBUSI RETRIBUSI DAERAH DAN LABA BUMD TERHADAP PENDAPATAN ASLI DAERAH (PAD) DI PROVINSI KALIMANTAN SELATAN

This study aims determine the level of contribution and effectiveness of regional retribution and profit of regional owned enterprises to LOR as well as efforts that can be done to improve the acceptance of regional retribution and profit of regional owned enterprises in South Kalimantan Province. The research method used is descriptive quantitative method. The results of this study indicate that the contribution of regional retribution and profits of regional owned enterprises to LOR in South Kalimantan Province from 2014-2016 is still low. In the 2014-2016 period the results of the effectiveness of regional retribution and regional owned enterprises were very effective.This means that the realization of regional levies and profits of regional owned enterprises in the 2014-2015 period always reaches the target. Then efforts can be made to increase revenues as well as the contribution of regional retribution to LOR, namely through intensification and extensification.While the effort to increase the revenue of regionally owned enterprises is through rearrangement and improvement of company management, training or coaching of regional owned enterprises employees.Keywords: Contribution, Effectiveness, Regional Retribution, Profit of Regional Owned Enterprises and Local Own Revenue
Factors affecting the complications of interhospital transfer of neonates referred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Besat Hospital in 2012–2013

Background and Objective: Correct interhospital transfer of neonates is an important factor in reducing their mortality. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and factors affecting the clinical complications of infants transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Besat Hospital within a year. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included all newborns transferred from the province cities to our center from October 2012 to September 2013 for 1 year. The clinical conditions were recorded during the transfer until arrival to the ward and the collected data were analyzed to determine the factors associated with clinical complications. Results: A total of 100 infants were enrolled in the study. The mean gestational age and the mean birth weight were 37.5 ± 1.8 weeks and 2800 ± 605 g, respectively. The reasons for neonate transfer were respiratory diseases (58%), need for surgery (21%), central nervous system diseases (9%), acute kidney injury (4%), fulminant sepsis (6%), and pathologic jaundice (2%). The mean time of transfer was 84 ± 42 min, being more than 120 min in 17% of the infants. Clinical complications occurred in 32% of the newborns with hypotension (18%) and hypothermia (9%) as the most common clinical complications and acidosis and hypercapnia as the most common laboratory abnormalities caused by transfer. Univariate analysis to evaluate the risk factors associated with complications revealed that gestational age of <37 weeks (preterm), mean birth weight, and intubation before transfer had a significant association with transfer complications. Conclusion: Interhospital transfer of neonates can increase the risk of complications, and since identification of infants requiring transfer is not possible before birth in all cases, it is necessary to develop an appropriate caring strategy and the transfer should be performed by an experienced team with adequate equipment.
Effect of Storage Conditions on The Characteristics and Composition of Fresh Goat Cheese Containing Probiotics

The objective of this study was to determine the characteristics and composition of soft cheese manufactured from goat milk, which contained probiotic bacteria, and stored at different temperatures for up to 90 days. Soft cheese was manufactured from fresh Indonesian Etawah goat milk, with a mix starter culture containing Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium longum (1:1). Animal rennet was added to facilitate curding. Fresh cheese produced was wrapped in linen clothes and stored under two different temperature conditions, which were high temperature (H:13-15 o C) and low temperature (L: 8-10 o C) for up to 90 days. Results showed that goat cheese was characterized as soft with mild goaty flavor, contained no less than 10 8 CFU of probiotic lactic acid bacteria, pH of 4.6, 0.5% free fatty acid, 57% moisture, crude 15% crude protein, 22% total fat and 2.5% mineral. Cheese underwent dehydration during storage which caused an increase in the relative proportion of protein, fat and mineral. The evolution of cheese’s pH, titratable acidity and composition was partly affected by storage temperature. At the end of storage periods (90 days) goat cheese was characterized as semi hard and, on average, contained 1.3-1.5% titratable acidity, pH of 4.94-4.95, 31.22-37.06% moisture, 24.59-24.09% crude protein, 33.51-36.17% total fat, and 5.64-5.53% minerals. Cheese stored at high temperature has slight growth of mold at its surface, which was anormal condition during for cheese ripening. In conclusion, acceptable characteristics and composition of probiotic-containing cheese can be manufactured from milk of Indonesian Etawah goats and stored at temperature of 8-10 o C for 90 days.
Energy-efficient MAC protocols for wireless sensor networks: a survey

Wireless sensor network (WSN) is a network of a large number of battery-powered tiny sensor nodes wirelessly connected together to facilitate a wide range of monitoring applications. As WSN nodes are energy-constrained microelectronic devices, the primary design objective of WSNs is to minimise energy consumption to prolong the network lifetime. To achieve this goal, a range of cross-layer techniques, particularly focusing on medium access control (MAC) sublayer, is proposed targeting different WSN applications. This paper aims to survey low-power WSN MAC protocols, proposed from 2000 to the present, emphasising some general aspects including the issues addressed, the solutions proposed, design principles, strengths, drawbacks and target applications. With this aim, we mainly classify the MAC protocols into three categories: contention-based protocols, time division multiple access (TDMA)-based protocols and hybrid protocols, where the first category is further subdivided into subclasses. The development trends and potential research challenges are also discussed.