Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Quality of Health Apps and Their Potential to Promote Behavior Change in Patients With a Chronic Condition or Multimorbidity: Systematic Search in App Store and Google Play

Background Mobile apps offer an opportunity to improve the lifestyle of patients with chronic conditions or multimorbidity. However, for apps to be recommended in clinical practice, their quality and potential for promoting behavior change must be considered. Objective We aimed to investigate the quality of health apps for patients with a chronic condition or multimorbidity (defined as 2 or more chronic conditions) and their potential for promoting behavior change. Methods We followed the Cochrane Handbook guidelines to conduct and report this study. A systematic search of apps available in English or Danish on App Store (Apple Inc) and Google Play (Google LLC) for patients with 1 or more of the following common and disabling conditions was conducted: osteoarthritis, heart conditions (heart failure and ischemic heart disease), hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For the search strategy, keywords related to these conditions were combined. One author screened the titles and content of the identified apps. Subsequently, 3 authors independently downloaded the apps onto a smartphone and assessed the quality of the apps and their potential for promoting behavior change by using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS; number of items: 23; score: range 0-5 [higher is better]) and the App Behavior Change Scale (ABACUS; number of items: 21; score: range 0-21 [higher is better]), respectively. We included the five highest-rated apps and the five most downloaded apps but only assessed free content for their quality and potential for promoting behavior change. Results We screened 453 apps and ultimately included 60. Of the 60 apps, 35 (58%) were available in both App Store and Google Play. The overall average quality score of the apps was 3.48 (SD 0.28) on the MARS, and their overall average score for their potential to promote behavior change was 8.07 (SD 2.30) on the ABACUS. Apps for depression and apps for patients with multimorbidity tended to have higher overall MARS and ABACUS scores, respectively. The most common app features for supporting behavior change were the self-monitoring of physiological parameters (eg, blood pressure monitoring; apps: 38/60, 63%), weight and diet (apps: 25/60, 42%), or physical activity (apps: 22/60, 37%) and stress management (apps: 22/60, 37%). Only 8 out of the 60 apps (13%) were completely free. Conclusions Apps for patients with a chronic condition or multimorbidity appear to be of acceptable quality but have low to moderate potential for promoting behavior change. Our results provide a useful overview for patients and clinicians who would like to use apps for managing chronic conditions and indicate the need to improve health apps in terms of their quality and potential for promoting behavior change.
Big Data as Governmentality – Digital Traces, Algorithms, and the Reconfiguration of Data in International Development

This paper conceptualizes how large-scale data and algorithms condition and reshape knowledge production when addressing international development challenges. The concept of governmentality and four dimensions of an analytics of government are proposed as a theoretical framework to examine how big data is constituted as an aspiration to improve the data and knowledge underpinning development efforts. Based on this framework, we argue that big data’s impact on how relevant problems are governed is enabled by (1) new techniques of visualizing development issues, (2) linking aspects of international development agendas to algorithms that synthesize large-scale data, (3) novel ways of rationalizing knowledge claims that underlie development efforts, and (4) shifts in professional and organizational identities of those concerned with producing and processing data for development. Our discussion shows that big data problematizes selected aspects of traditional ways to collect and analyze data for development (e.g. via household surveys). We also demonstrate that using big data analyses to address development challenges raises a number of questions that can deteriorate its impact.
Systemic ablation of vitamin D receptor leads to skeletal muscle glycogen storage disorder in mice

Vitamin D deficiency leads to pathologies of multiple organ systems including skeletal muscle. Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency exhibit muscle weakness and are susceptible to frequent falls. Mice lacking a functional vitamin D receptor (VDR) develop severe skeletal muscle atrophy immediately after weaning. But the root cause of myopathies when vitamin D signalling is impaired is unknown. Because vitamin D deficiency leads to metabolic changes as well, we hypothesized that the skeletal muscle atrophy in mice lacking VDR may have a metabolic origin.
Viscosupplementation in the Therapy for Osteoarthritic Knee

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that is spreading worldwide due to an aging population. This is not simply a disease caused by worn out joints, but a complex disease accompanied by various mechanisms such as inflammatory reactions. Among various joints, knee joints show degenerative changes earlier than other joints because they carry most of the weight load, causing social-economic problems. In the case of OA of the knee that does not respond to relatively simple conservative treatments such as physical therapy or medication, intra-articular injection is preferred. However, intra-articular injection drugs have limited effectiveness and uncertainties. There are several intra-articular viscous supplement drugs such as hyaluronic acid. Tissue regeneration active materials such as polydeoxyribonucleotide and polynucleotide are also newly used. The objective of this paper was to compare effects of intra-articular supplementation drugs used for degenerative arthritis of the knee.
Head boundary conditions in pedestrian crashes with passenger cars: six-degrees-of-freedom post-mortem human subject responses

In pedestrian–vehicle crashes, head injuries cause death and long-term disability. Thus, understanding the head kinematics is vital. Head rotation data are scarce, and the influence of individual anthropometry, upper body and arm kinematics on head kinematics is poorly understood. This paper investigates the influence of anthropometry, upper body and arm kinematics on head linear and angular kinematics, providing novel six-degrees-of-freedom data from pedestrian–vehicle-crash experiments. Five similarly positioned subjects were struck by a mid-size sedan at 40 km/h. Three-dimensional translation and three-dimensional rotation of the head, spine and shoulders were compared. Head kinematics differed considerably among the subjects. Variations in anthropometry changed pelvic sliding towards the windshield. Arm responses altered head impact velocity and head rotation. The results have implications for future experiments, evaluation of human models and the design of pedestrian safety systems. Head injury risk can be moderated by reducing head rotation before head impact, and by reducing pelvic sliding.
Factors Influencing Potentially Futile Treatments at the End of Life in a Multiethnic Asian Cardiology Setting: A Qualitative Study

Background. Modern medicine enables clinicians to save lives and prolong time to death, yet some treatments have little chance of conferring meaningful benefits for patients nearing the end-of-life. What clinicians perceive as driving futile treatment in the non-Western healthcare context is poorly understood. Aim. This study aimed to explore clinicians’ perceptions of the factors that influence futile treatment at the end of life within a tertiary hospital cardiac care setting. Design. We conducted semi-structured interviews with cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and palliative care doctors from a large national cardiology center in Singapore. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Results. A total of 32 clinicians were interviewed. We identified factors that contributed to the provision of potentially futile treatment in these theme areas: patient- and family-related, clinician-related, and institutional and societal factors. Family roles and cultural influences were most commonly cited by participants as affecting end-of-life decisions and altering the likelihood of futile treatment. Specialty-specific alignments within cardiology and availability of healthcare resources were also important factors underpinning futile treatment. Conclusion. Family-related factors were a primary driver for futile treatment in a non-Western, multicultural setting. Future interventions should consider a targeted approach accounting for cultural and contextual factors to prevent and reduce futile treatment.
A computationally efficient technique for designing frequency sampling filters

In a recent paper, a technique for designing linear phase frequency sampling filters was proposed that approximates a desired frequency response by minimizing the mean square error over the stopbands subject to constraints on the filters amplitude response. This technique results in a large number of simultaneous linear equations the solution of which determines the filter's impulse response. The filter's frequency samples which are used to implement the filter are then determined by computing the discrete Fourier transform of this impulse response. In this brief, a modification of this technique is developed. This modified technique also approximates a desired frequency response by minimizing the mean square error over the stopbands subject to constraints on the filter's amplitude response. Additionally, however, it allows passbands to be approximated by a weighted mean square error. This modified technique results in a set of simultaneous linear equations, the solution of which directly determines the filter's nonzero frequency samples. Because the number of nonzero frequency samples is typically much less than the number of impulse response elements, this technique requires a significantly smaller number of simultaneous linear equations than the other technique.
Household Mobility Dynamics among Young Adults in Established Suburban Council Rental Housing Estates in South African Cities: A Case Study of Kenneth Gardens, Durban

The household mobility dynamics of young adults are widely acknowledged as some of the central indicators of residential satisfaction and the quantitative housing deficit. Regardless of this, hardly any studies have been conducted to investigate the trend in South African neighbourhoods. This study investigated the dynamics of household mobility among young adults in the Kenneth Gardens, a subsidised council rental estate in the city of Durban, South Africa. It is based on a survey focusing on household characteristics, profiles of young adults, likely household mobility behaviour of young adults and the factors that influence the mobility of young adults. Descriptive statistical tabulations, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and cross tabulations were used in the analysis. The paper notes that established suburban council rental housing estates are multi-cultural and diverse. Likewise, household formation aspirations and mobility factors among young adults are influenced by ethnic cultural factors and cross-cultural socio-economic factors. The paper argues that the residential satisfaction of young adults and household mobility factors in diverse neighbourhoods should be differentially understood within the context of ethnic and cultural geographies. Furthermore, cross-cultural socio-economic constraints that delay the wishes of young adults to form new households must also be taken into consideration.
Study of TE/sub 0/ and TM/sub 0/ modes in dielectric resonators by a finite difference time-domain method coupled with the discrete Fourier transform

An application of a numerical method of finite differences in the time domain (FDTD) coupled with the discrete Fourier transform is presented to determine the resonant frequencies of the TE/sub 0/ and TM/sub 0/ modes of axially symmetric dielectric resonators closed in a cavity. The technique is conceptually and computationally simple, and it allows access at once to information on the entire modal spectrum by means of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) applied to the time series. The cylindrical cavity dielectrically loaded at the base and the resonant frequency of the TE/sub 01 delta / mode are analyzed in two systems: a cylindrical cavity with a cylindrical dielectric resonator of variable radius, and the shielded dielectric resonator on a microstrip substrate. The results obtained are compared with the rigorous (exact) theoretical solutions and with experimental results. >
Behavior and Habitat Use Remain Diverse and Variable in Modern Zoological Exhibits over the Long-Term: Case Studies in 5 Species of Ursidae

Long-term evaluations of whether modern zoological exhibits help to maintain variation in the behavior of zoo animals are lacking despite the hope that animals avoid falling into monotonous patterns of behavior or boredom. This study evaluated changes in behavior and habitat use over multi-year periods in nine individuals of five bear species at two zoological facilities. Behavioral data gathered over months to years were analyzed graphically for trends in the direction of change. The habitat use dynamics were assessed graphically by looking for trends in the entropy values over time. We found that the activity budgets remained diverse and were dynamic over time, more so in younger compared to older bears. Changes in behavior suggesting positive welfare were observed, while changes that may reflect declining welfare seemed more likely to be due to age or seasonality. The observed behavioral changes suggest that the bears did not become bored with their habitats; there was likely one to several hours of daily variation in behavior, and stereotypy was rare. The diversity in the habitat use decreased over time as the animals settled into patterns of use reflecting preferences for certain areas of their habitats.
Electric Energy Consumption of the Full Scale Research Biogas Plant “Unterer Lindenhof”: Results of Longterm and Full Detail Measurements

This work thoroughly evaluates the electric power consumption of a full scale, 3 × 923 m 3 complete stirred tank reactor (CSTR) research biogas plant with a production capacity of 186 kW of electric power. The plant was fed with a mixture of livestock manure and renewable energy crops and was operated under mesophilic conditions. This paper will provide an insight into precise electric energy consumption measurements of a full scale biogas plant over a period of two years. The results showed that a percentage of 8.5% (in 2010) and 8.7% (in 2011) of the produced electric energy was consumed by the combined heat and power unit (CHP), which was required to operate the biogas plant. The consumer unit agitators with 4.3% (in 2010) and 4.0% (in 2011) and CHP unit with 2.5% (in 2010 and 2011) accounted for the highest electrical power demand, in relation to the electric energy produced by the CHP unit. Calculations show that 51% (in 2010) and 46% (in 2011) of the total electric energy demand was due to the agitators. The results finally showed the need for permanent measurements to identify and quantify the electric energy saving potentials of full scale biogas plants.
Development of a Diamond Microfluidics-Based Intra-Chip Cooling Technology for GaN

GaN on Diamond has been demonstrated to enable notable increases in RF power density without impacting High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) peak junction temperature. However, Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) fabricated using GaN on Diamond substrates are subject to the same packaging thermal limitations as their GaN on SiC counterparts. Therefore, efforts to exploit GaN on Diamond to achieve substantial increases in MMIC power are stymied by external packaging thermal resistances that characterize the current “remote cooling” paradigm. This paper explores an intra-chip cooling alternative to the “remote cooling” paradigm, eliminating various heat spreader, heat sink and thermal interface layers in favor of integral microfluidic cooling in close proximity to the device junction. We describe an intra-chip cooling structure comprised of GaN on Diamond with integral micro-channels fed using a Si fluid distribution manifold. This structure exploits GaN on Diamond substrate technology to support increased HEMT areal power density while employing diamond microfluidics to affect scalable, low thermal resistance die-level heat removal. Thermal-electrical-mechanical co-design of integrated circuit (IC) features is performed to optimize conjugate heat transfer performance and manage the electrical and mechanical impacts associated with the presence of fluidic cooling near the electrically active region of the device. Through this, MMICs with significantly greater RF output than typical of the current state-of-the-art (SoA), dissipating die and HEMT heat fluxes in excess of 1 kW/cm2 and 30 kW/cm2, respectively, can be operated with junction temperatures that support reliable operation. The modeling, simulation and micro-fabrication results presented here demonstrate the potential of diamond microfluidics-based intra-chip cooling as a means to alleviate thermal impediments to exploitation of the full electromagnetic potential of GaN.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
A model to determine the optimal parameters for sustainable-energy machining in a multi-pass turning operation

This study presents a model for the optimization of machining parameters for the minimum energy consumption in a multi-pass turning operation. The model takes into account finishing and roughing passes separately for the energy optimization followed by the dual optimization of the energy functions for a combination of one finishing pass and multiple roughing passes to finish a desired diameter on a cylindrical workpiece. The parametric constraints, tool-life constraints and operational constraints are enforced in the model before optimizing the energy function using non-linear programming. The model is applied to an example case for the optimization. The effects of total-depth-to-be-removed, material removal rate and tool replacement time are evaluated on the optimal parameters for sustainable machining.
Digital fault location for parallel double-circuit multi-terminal transmission lines

Two new methods are proposed for fault point location in parallel double-circuit multi-terminal transmission lines by using voltages and currents information from CCVTs and CTs at all terminal. These algorithms take advantage of the fact that the sum of currents flowing into a fault section equals the sum of the currents at all terminals. Algorithm 1 employs an impedance calculation and algorithm 2 employs the current diversion ratio method. Computer simulations are carried out and applications of the proposed methods are discussed. Both algorithms can be applied to all types of fault such as phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase faults. As one equation can be used for all types of fault, classification of fault types and selection of faulted phase are not required. Phase components of the line impedance are used directly, so compensation of unbalanced line impedance is not required.
The Residual Tensile Strength of Stitched and Unstitched Carbon/Epoxy Laminates Impacted under Tensile Load

This paper presents preliminary results of a study into the effect of stitching on the residual strength of tensile loaded panels subject to impact and their propensity to catastrophic failure when impacted. The 2 mm thick orthotropic panels were produced from ten layers ([(0,90){2},0]{s}) of Uniweave T300 carbon fabric stitched with aramid yarn and impregnated with GY260 epoxy resin using the resin transfer moulding process. The specimens were impacted with a 9 g projectile at impact velocities ranging to 70 m/sec while subject to tensile loads ranging to 72% of the specimen ultimate tensile strength. No significant difference was found between stitched and unstitched panels in their impact resistance or tolerance, indicating that Mode I fracture was not a dominant contribution to the failure modes. Boundaries of impact velocity and preload have been established above which catastrophic failure occurred on impact and a mechanism has been postulated for such failure. Results are presented for damage area and residual strength.
Abdominal Stretching as a Therapy for Dysmenorrhea

BACKGROUND: Dysmenorrhea is pain during the menstrual period caused by uterine muscle cramps. The Dysmenorrhea prevalence in Indonesia is categorized as high at 64.25%. The dysmenorrhea symptom could be very disruptive and even decrease women’s productivity. Related to this problem, abdominal stretching is one of the alternatives to reduce pain from dysmenorrhea. AIM: This research was aimed to find out the effect of abdominal stretching on the pain intensity of menstrual cramps. METHODS: It was a quasi-experimental research with a pre-test post-test control group design. The sample was 130 female adolescents that were taken by total sampling. The sample was divided into two groups, which were the intervention group and the control group. RESULTS: The research finding, with a 0.000 (p < 0.005) significance value was obtained by using the Wilcoxon test. CONCLUSION: It means abdominal stretching exercise is significantly effective to reduce pain intensity from menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) in female adolescents. It is suggested to implement abdominal stretching as nursing care for menstrual cramps.
Sustainable Convergence of Electricity and Transport Sectors in the Context of Integrated Energy Systems

Transportation is one of the sectors that directly touches the major challenges that energy utilities are faced with, namely, the significant increase in energy demand and environmental issues. In view of these concerns and the problems with the supply of oil, the pursuit of alternative fuels for meeting the future energy demand of the transport sector has gained much attention. The future of transportation is believed to be based on electric drives in fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) or plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). There are compelling reasons for this to happen: the efficiency of electric drive is at least three times greater than that of combustion processes and these vehicles produce almost zero emissions, which can help relieve many environmental concerns. The future of PEVs is even more promising because of the availability of electricity infrastructure. Furthermore, governments around the world are showing interest in this technology by investing billions of dollars in battery technology and supportive incentive programs for the customers to buy these vehicles. In view of all these considerations, power systems specialists must be prepared for the possible impacts of these new types of loads on the system and plan for the optimal transition to these new types of vehicles by considering the electricity grid constraints. Electricity infrastructure is designed to meet the highest expected demand, which only occurs a few hundred hours per year. For the remaining time, in particular during off-peak hours, the system is underutilized and could generate and deliver a substantial amount of energy to other sectors such as transport by generating hydrogen for FCVs or charging the batteries in PEVs. This thesis investigates the technical and economic feasibility of improving the utilization of electricity system during off-peak hours through alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) and develops optimization planning models for the transition to these types of vehicles. These planning models are based on decomposing the region under study into different zones, where the main power generation and electricity load centers are located, and considering the major transmission corridors among them.