Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Periodontal disease, tooth loss, and the risk of liver cancer: A systematic review

Background A number of epidemiological studies have suggested a positive association between periodontal diseases and oro-digestive cancers, including liver cancer. The present systematic review aimed to assess the potential association between periodontitis and/or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer.Methods A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted in August 2019. The inclusion criteria comprised all observational studies that assessed the relationship between periodontitis or tooth loss and liver cancer. Case reports, animal studies, experimental studies, and reviews were excluded. Due to great heterogeneity among the included studies, no meta-analysis was conducted.Results Seven studies (five prospective cohorts, one cross-sectional, and one case-control) comprising 620,169 subjects (including 994 liver cancer cases) were included. The studies were conducted in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Four studies reported a positive association between periodontitis or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer. One case-control study found some association between liver cancer and loss of 12-23 teeth, but such association was not replicated in patients with greater number of tooth loss. Contrarily, two studies failed to report any association between periodontitis and/or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer.Conclusion The available evidence suggests a possible link between tooth loss/periodontitis and the risk of liver cancer. However, the evidence is not conclusive enough, a fact that drives to conduct more, well-designed, prospective cohort studies to further explore the potential association between periodontitis and the risk of liver cancer.
Miniature Microscope Design And Construction Based On Tilted Rotationally Asymmetric Printed Lenses

Successful treatment of many types of cancer is improved when early detection is possible. One method of early detection is microscopic inspection of the tissue at risk. Microscopic inspection can be performed by extracting a biopsy and using traditional microscopes, but biopsy is painful and inconvenient which limits its use. An alternative is in vivo microscopy using an endoscope or microendoscopy. This dissertation describes the design, construction, and evaluation of a miniature microscope or microendoscope based on new microfabrication technologies. All components typically found in a traditional bench-top microscope were designed and built on a miniature scale. The objective was comprised of one planoconvex spherical glass lens and three printed microlenses. The printed lenses were patterned using grayscale lithography in a custom engineered photosensitive hybrid sol-gel glass material. Illumination was delivered by high-brightness Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) via multimode fiber. The design incorporated a custom imaging detector and a Micro-Electrical-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) actuator for optical sectioning using structured illumination. The opto-mechanical system is designed using a new concept called “zero alignment assembly” in which the lens elements snap into place and are constrained to a precise position with tolerances tighter than the optical tolerances. This scheme requires no post-assembly alignment or adjustment and simplifies system assembly. The miniature microscope was designed to image in several modes including reflectance, fluorescence, and using structured illumination for optical sectioning. A unique optical design incorporated tilted elements to remove ghost images and internal reflections from the image plane. This design enabled microscopic imaging of extremely low reflectance samples like tissue where the “in-focus” component of the object reflects only 0.04% of the illumination. The miniature microscope was built and tested by imaging a variety of test
A methodology for assessment of nuclear power plant seismic margin: Final report

In recent years, increasing knowledge in the geoscience field has led to a better understanding that, although highly unlikely , it is possible for a nuclear power plant to be subjected to earthquake ground motion greater than that for which the plant was designed. There is a concern that there may be an upper shelf of seismic capacity, primarily for active equipment, which would render components inoperable if exceeded. For this reason, interest has developed in defining the margin above the Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE) that exists in operating plants. While defining this margin is a desirable goal, it is much more practical to select an earthquake level for which survivability is to be demonstrated for only those systems and components which are required to bring the plant to, and maintain, a safe shutdown condition following the seismic event. The earthquake level for which survivability is to be demonstrated is commonly referred to as the Seismic Margin Earthquake (SMW). This is not a new design earthquake. It is an earthquake for which existing plants may be required to demonstrate survivability. The principal objective of this research project was to define such new, practical approaches and criteria that are, for themore » most part, usable by utility staff to assess their plant for a seismic event larger than the SSE. A further objective was to develop approaches and criteria that are compatible with those being developed to resolve other generic safety issues. « less
Making Quality Work: A Leadership Guide for the Results-Driven Manager

This is a guide to applying the techniques of the concept, "total quality management". In a non-technical style, the authors show how TQM can be used in day-to-day business operation, and present practical strategies and tools - all tested and proved inside major companies, such as Federal Express, AT&T, Procter & Gamble and Olivetti. These strategies for using TQM can be applied to any business, large or small, and can help a company become more profitable and fully prepared for the challenges of an unpredictable economy. The book is filled with true-life success stories that show how to build long-term partnerships with important customers, how to motivate and prepare employees to improve quality, and how to achieve customer-satisfaction breakthroughs.
Some recent developments and experiences with Rapid Manufacturing by indirect means

Rapid Manufacturing is defined as the use of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) based automated additive manufacturing process to construct parts that are used directly as finished products and components. While material and cost constraints still remain as the main limitations, some of the rapid prototyping technologies have overcome these shortcomings, and gradually progressed towards making rapid manufacturing a reality. Alternatively, rapid manufacturing was also made possible by the use of one of the additive manufacturing processes in expediting certain stages of some traditional processing methods. While literature presents ample examples of successful implementation of both methods, the present paper focuses on the indirect means of achieving rapid manufacturing. A critical review of some of the latest developments will be presented, followed by an evaluation of some of the recent experimental investigations carried out as part of the research activities at the Centre for Rapid Product Development, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
PENGARUH KOMPENSASI DAN MOTIVASI TERHADAP KINERJA GURU DI SMA NEGERI 2 ARGAMAKMUR BENGKULU UTARA

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh kompensasi dan motivasi terhadap guru di SMA N 2 Argamakmur Bengkulu Utara. Sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh guru tetap di SMA N 2 Argamakmur Bengkulu Utara yang berjumlah 30 orang. Teknik analisa data yang digunakan adalah analisis kuantitatif dengan menggunakan regresi linier berganda. Dari hasil analisis kuantitatif diperoleh bahwa : 1) Secara simultan terdapt pengaruh yang signifikan kompensasi dan motivasi terhadap kinerja guru di SMA N 2 Argamakmur Bengkulu Utara (R2 = 45,6%); 2) Secara parsial terdapat pengaruh yang positif dan signifikan kompensasi terhadap kinerja guru di SMA N 2 Argamakmur Bengkulu Utara
Unwanted

In the late nineteenth century, Italians and Eastern European Jews joined millions of migrants around the globe who left their countries to take advantage of the demand for unskilled labor in rapidly industrializing nations, including the United States. Many Americans of northern and western European ancestry regarded these newcomers as biologically and culturally inferior--unassimilable--and by 1924, the United States had instituted national origins quotas to curtail immigration from southern and eastern Europe. Weaving together political, social, and transnational history, Maddalena Marinari examines how, from 1882 to 1965, Italian and Jewish reformers profoundly influenced the country’s immigration policy as they mobilized against the immigration laws that marked them as undesirable. Strategic alliances among restrictionist legislators in Congress, a climate of anti-immigrant hysteria, and a fickle executive branch often left these immigrants with few options except to negotiate and accept political compromises. As they tested the limits of citizenship and citizen activism, however, the actors at the heart of Marinari’s story shaped the terms of debate around immigration in the United States in ways we still reckon with today.
Investigating the molecular targets of antiphospholipid antibodies

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterised by the presence of pathogenic antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) that bind phospholipid via the N-terminal domain I (DI) of the protein cofactor beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI). This thesis aims to investigate and identify the nature of this interaction at the molecular level. In order to study DI, a system for expressing and purifying sufficient quantities of this protein was developed using Escherichia coli (E.coli) as the expression host. This was achieved primarily by synthesising a gene with all codons optimised for E.coli, tight regulation of expression and recovery of DI from the periplasm to facilitate folding. Recombinant purified DI bound clinically relevant human monoclonal and polyclonal purified IgG aPL in both solid an fluid phase assays. Hypotheses were generated that identified candidate epitopes for aPL binding as potentially involving residues D8, D9, E23, E26, E27, R39, G40, R43 and the DI-II interlinker region. In total, 15 mutants of DI targeting these areas were created and computer modelling employed to predict the likely structural effects of these mutations upon DI. Expressed DI mutants were then tested in both solid and fluid phase assays for binding to polyclonal IgG derived from patients with APS and compared to wild-type DI. Some mutations, such as those targeting R39, caused loss of binding to aPL in the fluid phase whilst others caused enhanced binding over wild-type DI. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that DI of 62GPI may be expressed using E.coli and binds clinically relevant IgG aPL. Detailed mutational studies support the concept that aPL bind discontinuous epitopes on DI involving regions D8 and D9, R39 to R43 and the DI-II interlinker which are in close proximity to each other in the tertiary structure. The ability to produce a mutant of DI with enhanced binding over wild-type holds therapeutic potential.
Two-Color Photodetector Using an Asymmetric Quantum Well Structure

Abstract : The past twenty years have seen an explosion in the realm of infrared detection technology fueled by improvements in III-V semiconductor technology and by new semiconductor growth methods. One of the fastest growing areas of this research involves the use of bandgap engineering in order to create artificial quantum wells for use in Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIPs). QWIPs have an advantage over other infrared detectors such as Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) because they have larger bandgaps and are therefore stronger and cheaper to manufacture. This thesis introduces one method of multi-color' detection through the use of an asymmetries quantum well structure in which all energy transitions are possible. The QWIP structure in this thesis was designed to detect a laser wavelength of 1.06 micrometers and a wavelength in the 8-10 micrometers atmosphere window. The relevance of a detector that is tuned to these wavelengths is that it can be used on military aircraft as a laser spot tracker and an infrared imager providing much greater accuracy and dependability than older systems.
A Theoretical Formulation For Flutter Analysis Of A Typical Subsonic Aircraft Wing (SARAS) Using Quasi-steady Aerodynamic Theory

A theoretical formulation for flutter analysis has been utilized to develop a working method for determining flutter speed of a typical subsonic aircraft wing. A Galerkin type of analysis has been used to derive the matrix form of equations from the differential equations of motion of the subsonic wing. Quasi-steady aerodynamic theory has been used to model the aerodynamic forces. A computer code in FORTRAN has been prepared for generation of matrices while the eigen value analysis is performed through MATLAB. The code is benchmarked through the flutter of a rectangular wing. The results from the code agree reasonably with those obtained from the industrial code NASTRAN.
A wireless communication system for a tactile vest

This research focuses on the development of wireless communication circuitry for a tactile display called the Tactile Vest. The display consists of a 4x4 array of vibrating motors worn around the user's torso in direct contact with the skin. It allows an operator with a notebook computer to issue navigational commands wirelessly to units in the vicinity and receive transmissions from them regarding their status. Each command is associated with a pattern of vibratory stimulation to which the user responds. The Tactile Vest system must be durable, lightweight, and consume very little power since it will be worn by mobile users for extended periods. The complete circuit design process is described, from initial prototype development to final layout and testing. A graphical user interface for the notebook computer, written in Visual Basic . NET, is also presented. Thesis Supervisor: Lynette A. Jones Title: Principal Research Scientist
Evaluation Of The Freeway Service Patrol ( F S P ) In Los Angeles

This report presents the results of a study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the freeway service patrols (FSP) on a section of I-10 in Los Angeles. An evaluation methodology was used to estimate incident delays based on loop detector data and probe vehicles, and derive estimates of savings in performance measures in the absence of data for before FSP conditions. The estimated benefit cost ratios based on delay and fuel savings for a range of typical reductions in incident durations indicate that FSP produces significant benefits at the test site. Additional benefits include reductions in air pollutant emissions, secondary accidents, highway patrol time used on non-enforcement activities, increased safety to assisted motorists, and more efficient operation of the freeway system.
Unlocking the potential of hyperspectral and LiDAR for above-ground biomass (AGB) and tree species classification in tropical forests

Abstract Tree species classification using a combination of airborne hyperspectral and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) can provide valuable and effective methods for forest management, such as planning and monitoring purposes. However, only a few studies have applied tree species classification using both combinations in the tropical forest. The research takes a comparative classification approach to examine several classifiers using airborne hyperspectral in the tropical forest. In addition, Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) method was applied on hyperspectral data to extract the crown of individual tree species for classification and estimation purposes. Minimum Noise Fraction Transform (MNF) was applied to reduce the data dimensionality and different training samples from the various species used in this study. The result shows that Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) achieved the highest overall accuracy above 50% compared to other classifiers in the tropical forest. Besides, LiDAR data was also used to estimate individual trees' height for all species in the study area. The multiple coefficients of determination (R2) test result between LiDAR and field observation data in eight years gaps is 0.754. Therefore, Above-Ground Biomass (AGB) and carbon stock will estimate using a combination of LiDAR, hyperspectral, and field observation data for individual tree species. This method has proven to provide the required information for forest planning and generation in a short time, especially in tree species identification, AGB, and carbon stock estimation in tropical forests.
Energy-Dissipation Performance of Typical Beam-Column Joints in Yingxian Wood Pagoda: Experimental Study

AbstractThis paper presents an experimental investigation on the structural performance of the beam-column joints of Yingxian Wood Pagoda. A scaled model of typical beam-column joints with dovetail tenon-mortise connection was manufactured and tested. Four failure modes of the joint were identified. These included yield of component under compression perpendicular or parallel to grain, fracture of component under tension perpendicular to grain, and tenon pullout from mortise. The structural performance of the model beam-column joint was revealed from test observations, and the stiffness and the moment-resisting capacity of the prototype beam-column joints of the pagoda were derived based on the similitude theory. An analytical model for estimating the lateral stiffness and load-carrying capacity of a bay of the column-frames using the structural performance of beam-column joints was developed and applied to evaluating the inter-story lateral performance of the pagoda. This study provides reference, from a.
Central Carolina Vehicle Particulate Emissions Study

A vehicle emission study was carried out in the Research Triangle Park area in North Carolina to determine the PM (particulate matter) emission rates and emission profiles of the fleet of in-use vehicles in North Carolina. The NERL (National Exposure Research Laboratory) transportation Dynamometer was set up in the parking lot of Home Depot in Cary, NC. Vehicles from the general area were recruited and tested for their particulate and gaseous emissions. The study was divided into two phases: a winter phase and a summer phase. In the winter phase, 121 gasoline fueled vehicles were tested in Cary and 14 gasoline fueled and three diesel fueled vehicles were tested at NERL, cold cell dynamometer located in the ERC annex at 35 F. In the summer phase, 120 gasoline fueled and five diesel fueled vehicles were tested on the transportation dynamometer in Cary. Samples were collected for all tests for PM 10, regulated gaseous emissions, and aldehydes.
Enabling the prediction of manoeuvring characteristics of a submarine operating near the free surface

Predicting the behaviour of a submarine operating close to the free surface is important in order to assess the merits of particular designs, identify the operational characteristics, and determine a safe operating envelope. To predict submarine behaviour near the free surface requires both a mathematical model that captures the dynamics of a submarine in motion, and an understanding of the additional forces and moments generated in the near surface region. In the past, submarine manoeuvring models in published literature have neglected the effect of the presence of the free surface, thus the authors are developing a coefficient based submarine manoeuvring model incorporating the effects of near surface operation. The hydrodynamic coefficients required for the model are obtained using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and validated against results from captive model experiments in the Australian Maritime College (AMC) towing tank. This paper describes hydrodynamic coefficients that can be added to existing submarine manoeuvring models to account for near surface effects in the vertical plane, for the SUBOFF geometry. Validated CFD predictions of the forces acting on a generic submarine operating near the free surface are presented along with empirically based equations to predict them.
Impact of indoor residual spraying on malaria transmission in the Moïssala health district, Chad

Backgroud Malaria is a major public health and development problem in Africa. In Chad in 2016, with 720 765 confirmed cases and 1 686 deaths, malaria is the main cause of consultations, hospitalizations and deaths in health facilities. A longitudinal entomological study was carried out from 07 to 24 December 2016 in the Moïssala health district. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of malaria transmission one year after two cycles of indoor residual spraying of 80% bendiocarb wettable powder (Ficam WP 80 W). Methods Two areas were defined for the study: the town of Dembo, located in the sprayed area, was chosen as the test town and Moïssala, located in the untreated area, was chosen as the control town. Two sampling methods were used: collection of resting endophilic fauna and direct capture of aggressive mosquitoes from human subjects. Results A total of 16 sessions of catches on human subjects totalling 32 man-nights were conducted and 160 rooms were sprayed per site. For 160 sprayed chambers per site, two anopheles were captured in Dembo compared to 547 in Moïssala. Three anophelian species have been morphologically identified. In Moïssala, An gambiae sl ( An colluzzii : 96%, An gambiae : 4%), An funestus and An rufipes were captured at rest in the rooms and on human bait. In Dembo, the two anopheles, An colluzzii and An funestus were captured at rest in the rooms. On human bait as in endophilic fauna, An gambiae sp was the most common species in Moïssala. The aggressive anophelian density was zero in Dembo while it is 9 bites per man per night in Mosesala. Only Anopheles gambiae sp was found infected in aggressive wildlife. The sporozoite index of the aggressive fauna of An gambiae sp was 7.45%. Malaria transmission was estimated at 0.67 infected bites per man per night, or 244.55 infected bites per man per year. In endophilic fauna, An gambiae sp and An rufipes were the two species found infected in Moïssala with sporozoite indices of 6.70% (23/343) and 20% (2/10) respectively. However, in Dembo, neither of the two captured individuals was found infected. Conclusions The indoor residual spraying campaign in the eastern zone of the Moïssala health district has led to the collapse of the density and aggressiveness of malaria vectors. However, its evaluation over a short period of time is not sufficient to assess the impact of malaria transmission in this stable and highly endemic malaria zone.
MANEUVERING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MARINER TYPE SHIP (USS COMPASS ISLAND) IN CALM SEAS

Abstract : The results of an analytical and full scale trial investigation of the calm sea maneuvering characteristics of a Mariner class ship, the USS Compass Island (EAG 153) are presented. The availability of an inertial navigator on the ship enabled the determination of transverse velocityAND DRIFT ANGLE IN VARIOUS MANEUVERING SITUATIONS. Maneuvering data were obtained in 540 degree turning circles over a broad range of approach speeds and rudder angles. Z-maneuvers were performed at several speeds and deceleration/acceleration characteristics were investigated. Dieudonne Spiral maneuvers performed at two speeds indicated a slight directional instability of the hull. Analysis of the data included the development of equations of motion for the ship in the maneuvering degrees of freedom (yaw, sway, and surge). A signal square-law nonlinearity introduced into the yaw equation provided excellent correlation between calculated and empirical data in steady turning and also predicted the existence and characteristics of the Dieudonne loop of instability including parametric solutions for the loop height and width. (Author)