Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does propofol definitely improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction?—a review of propofol-related cognitive impairment

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common brain function-related complication after surgery. In addition to old age being an independent risk factor, anesthetics are also important predisposing factors. Among them, propofol is the most commonly used intravenous anesthetic in clinical practice. It has a rapid onset, short half-life, and high recovery quality. Many studies report that propofol can attenuate surgery-induced cognitive impairment, however, some other studies reveal that propofol also induces cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, this review summarizes the effects of propofol on the cognition, and discusses possible related mechanisms, which aims to provide some evidence for the follow-up studies.
How Property Shapes Distributional Preferences

IZA DP No. 14768 OCTOBER 2021 How Property Shapes Distributional Preferences* We study how distributional preferences are affected by a major property rights reform that transformed informal use-rights over land traditionally characterizing rural Beninese villages in a system akin to private ownership. The design combines the randomized control-trial implementation of the reform across villages with lab-in-the-field experiments eliciting villagers’ distributional choices – both when luck is the source of situational inequality and when an unequal distribution is originated by merit considerations. Results show that reforming allocation rules in the direction of impersonal market-alike institutions increases participants’ acceptance of inequality determined by luck, while leaving participants’ tolerance for inequality generated by merit unaffected. JEL Classification: D31, C93, D01
Future trends for biojet fuel and biosuccinic acid production in São Paulo state, Brazil: An agent-based modelling and simulation approach to explore institutional barriers and opportunities

Within the context of growing concerns about oil supply security and greenhouse gas emissions, both the aviation and petrochemical sector are exploring alternative feedstocks for the production of jet fuel and chemicals, respectively. In that light, research into bio-based jet fuels (biojet fuel) and bio-based chemicals has been accelerating in recent years. Yet, commercialization of their production is rather difficult. Despite substantial research in production technologies for biojet fuel and biosuccinic acid, commercial production of these products is still very minimal. Therefore, a research was executed with the objective to analyze how government policies affect commercialization of biojet fuel and biosuccinic acid, within the context of sugarcane competition and international trade and to explore alternative policies. This research was operationalized in the following research question: “What set of policies can be recommended to increase the production of biojet fuel and biosuccinic acid, within the context of national and international competitition between the road transport and sugar market? The methodology used to answer the main research question is a blend of institutional analysis and agent-based modelling and simulation and was used to gain better understanding of how actors’ behaviors and interactions give rise to the emerging key variables of interest that can be observed at the macro systems level. The agent-based model that was developed was used for policy exploration in which policies were explored that might be able to increase the production of biojet fuel and biosuccinic acid in the period of 2015 until 2030. From this analysis, multiple conclusions were drawn: (1) actors’ behaviors and interactions give rise to a dynamic sugarcane market; (2) sugarcane pricing and allocation are key factors in the emergence of biojet fuel and biosuccinic acid production; (3) strong national and international competition with the sugar and ethanol market is likely to be an unstable context for biojet fuel or biosuccinic acid to be commercialized; (4) current government ethanol-support policies hinder commercialization and (5) 2G bagasse-to-biojet technology showed positive results for biojet fuel demand satisfaction.
A Prospective Evaluation of the Awareness, Knowledge, and Management of Osteoporosis in a Cohort of Medical Staff

Objective To investigate the differences in the awareness, knowledge, and management of osteoporosis from a cohort of medical staff after educational intervention. Methods A total of 653 medical workers from different departments related to the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis from 7 hospitals in Ningxia were enrolled. Information was collected using a designed questionnaire. Results After 5 years of educational intervention and follow-up, medical staff had an increased understanding of osteoporosis diagnosis, including dual-energy X-ray, ultrasound bone sonometer, fragility fracture history, biochemistry markers, and the awareness of the susceptible population. However, there was no improvement in the cognition of single/dual photo absorptiometry, symptoms and signs, and bone turnover index. Their understanding of antiosteoporosis drugs, especially the application of calcitonin, diphosphates, and vitamin D, was significantly promoted, while the perception of indicators and time in follow-up, some adverse drug reactions, and exercise therapy remained unchanged. Medical staff were remarkably less aware of the management of follow-up for osteoporosis, exercise and diet therapy, and bone turnover markers. Conclusion A great gap was identified in the perception of osteoporosis among medical staff in the Ningxia region. After the educational intervention, the knowledge regarding some aspects of osteoporosis generally improved. Much more effort should be made to strengthen the training and learning on the special detection methods of osteoporosis, medications and exercise therapy, and follow-up management.
A study of creative Taiwanese university students in industrial design

University professors in industrial design programs have been trained as designers, and have not been trained to teach highly creative students. In addition, instructors of industrial design have not been trained to recognize students’ strengths and individual needs. If industrial design programs are to be successful, educators need to better understand the creative characteristics of industrial design students and their perceptions of what contributes to classrooms that enhance creativity. To address this problem, this research study examined the following questions: (1) How do students in an industrial design program identify their creative characteristics? (2) What are the perceptions of students in an industrial design program regarding creativity and successful creative individuals? (3) What are the perceptions of students in an industrial design program regarding learning environments that enhance their creativity? This qualitative study examined the perceptions of four university students in an industrial design program in Taiwan. Through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document review, the researcher attempted to describe the cultural reality of highly creative industrial design majors. Additionally, this research revealed specific creative characteristics of the four students. Their perceptions of creativity and successful creative individuals incorporated both Western and Eastern views of creativity. In addition, open, psychologically safe and supportive classroom climates were highly valued as effective environments to enhance creativity. Furthermore, the participants’ highlighted a variety of suggestions for college professors to design learning environments and instructional approaches that enhance students’ creativity in university classrooms.
Hazardous chemical elements in cleaning cloths: A potential source of microfibres.

Although potentially hazardous chemical elements (e.g., Cu, Cr, Pb, Sb, Ti, Zn) have been studied in clothing textiles, their presence in cleaning textiles is unknown. In this study, 48 cleaning cloth products (consisting of 81 individual samples) purchased in Europe, and consisting of synthetic (petroleum-based), semi-synthetic or natural fibres or combinations of these different types, have been analysed for 16 chemical elements by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Titanium was detected in most cases (median and maximum concentrations ~3700 and 12,400 mg kg-1, respectively) and Raman microspectroscopy revealed that TiO2 was present as anatase. Barium, Br, Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn were frequently detected over a range of concentrations, reflecting the presence of various additives, and Sb was present at concentrations up to about 200 mg kg-1 in samples containing polyester as catalytic residue from the polymerisation process. Lead was detected as a contaminant in four samples and at concentrations below 10 mg kg-1. Overall, the range of the chemical element profiles and concentrations was similar to those for clothing materials published in the literature, suggesting that broadly the same additives, materials and processes are employed to manufacture cloths and clothing textiles. The mechanisms by which potentially hazardous chemical elements are released into the environment with microfibres or mobilised into soluble or nano-particulate forms remain to be explored.
Chondroblastic osteosarcoma in a feline: a case report

Osteosarcomas are noteworthy as one of the main malignant bone tumors in dogs and cats, comprising an important cause of limb amputation in these species. Literature reports for felines are, however, scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to characterize the clinical and histopathological findings of a chondroblastic osteosarcoma case in a female cat. The chondroblastic osteosarcoma diagnosis was based on radiographic, cytological, histopathological and immune-histochemical findings. Clinical, radiographic, and cytological findings suggested a presumptive osteosarcoma diagnosis, while histopathological and immune-histochemical findings confirmed a chondroblastic osteosarcoma diagnosis.
Communities and Cultures of Women: A Study of Neighbourhood Groups and Gated Communities in Assam

The aim of this paper is to tease out the factors and forces that enable women to form communities of women and the circumstances within which they act. In addition, the research aims to observe into their activities to see if there is a germination of gender consciousness even if in a nascent form. Taking off from a historical vantage point of women coming together for various kinds of social and political action, the paper tries to delve into the epistemological dilemma encountered by feminist politics, where the subject of feminist politics i.e., women, is presented as a problematic category. Gender is understood not as a sole defining category but one that exists alongside other constituents of identities intersecting with it like class, caste, race, ethnicity etc. Given such an understanding the paper is based on a micro-level qualitative study conducted in an urban set-up of Guwahati city where two different kinds of locality-based women’s communities are taken as case studies, one of which is an all-women local neighbourhood development committee and the other a women’s forum within a gated community. The interesting contrasts as well as complexities of the groups in their membership as well their cultures are analysed to raise questions on whether such groups serve patriarchal interests or whether they present themselves as potential sites through which social change towards a more gender-conscious society can be made possible.
Correspondent Banking, Systematic Risk, and the Panic of 1893

During the U.S. National Banking Period (1863-1913), a network of correspondent banking relationships left the nation vulnerable to systemic risks, bank failures, and ﬁnancial panics. We use comprehensive data on primary correspondent relationships for all national, state, savings, and private banks in the lead up to the Panic of 1893 to show that failures of both upstream and downstream correspondents increased the likelihood that a given bank would itself fail, and that these effects varied over the course of the Panic. Members of the New York Clearinghouse, despite a very low incidence of actual failure, also saw signiﬁcant weakening of their balance sheets early in the Panic when their downstream respondents failed, and falling stock prices throughout the disruption. The results demonstrate a two-way system-wide weakness of the correspondent system that the Federal Reserve Act of 1914 presumably sought to remedy.
Solar Air Heating and Ventilation in Buildings: A Key Component in the Forthcoming Renewable Energy Mix

The achievements of the last two decades in using solar energy for naturally ventilating and heating buildings of any size and scope across the world are remarkable, though comprising a niche market and being generally poorly known. Air quality, thermal and hygrometric comfort and reduced energy costs are some of the benefits enjoyed by solar ventilated space occupants. We identify the remaining hurdles to be addressed prior to forthcoming widespread diffusion of this technology in the built environment across the world, well beyond cold climate countries.
Hybrid Chick Hatched by Local Broody Hens

Local incubating hens (2) were each offered (21) broiler eggs for hatching. The incubated eggs were hatched. The growth rate, survivability and profitability of the hatched chicks were compared with a set of 21 intensively reared broiler chicks and a set of 21 local chicks hatched. They were all reared intensively. The intensively reared broiler (IRB) attained 2.03 kg live weight in 10 weeks, with no mortalities and they yielded a profit of ₦451.67/bird. The local crossbred broiler (HCB) took 20 weeks to attain 1.173 kg, all the birds survived to that age and had a profit of ₦222.88/ bird. The local chicks (LOC) weighed only 0.970 kg at 20 weeks and the birds also survived to that age and yielded a profit of ₦118.09 per chick. Results from this study demonstrate the possibility of using local cocks to cross hybrid broiler hens so as to obtain a harder resistant strain of birds that can attain a higher live weight than the local chickens and also withstand the prevailing diseases around the environment.
Changes in Platelet Function in Preterm Newborns with Prematurity Related Morbidities

Platelet indices represent useful biomarkers to express the thromboembolic status, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in preterm newborns. Our study presented platelet count and function changes in prematurity-related morbidities such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular bleeding, and anemia of prematurity in preterm newborn cases reported to healthy full-term newborns by flow cytometry and hematological methods. The platelet volume represents the average size of platelets in the blood samples, showing the significantly increased values in preterm newborns compared with healthy full-term newborns due to increasing activated platelet production. Flow cytometric analysis of immature platelet fractions (IPF) made using thiazole orange staining to detect their mRNA content and a glycoprotein (anti-GPIIIa) antibody for platelet gating. CD61-TO expression from premature newborns was significantly lower compared to healthy full-term neonates. Preterm newborn cases with respiratory distress syndrome and a need for respiratory support (RDS+) were characterized by a significantly increased platelet volume and a decreased immature platelet fraction reported in RDS− cases. Evaluating the platelet function in the newborn is difficult because the laboratory methodologies work with small quantities of newborn blood samples. The immature platelet fractions and platelet volume promise to be diagnostic biomarkers for diseases.
Tabular Monte Carlo Reinforcement Learning for Valve Position Control

The work solves the problem of valve stem position control using a tabular, off-policy Monte Carlo reinforcement learning. The work proposes a model of control valve, involving the stem friction. The control problem is seen as a finite Markov decision process. The reinforcement learning algorithm is a slight modification of the Sutton–Barto Monte Carlo policy estimation method. Such method learns value functions and optimal policies from experience in the form of learning episodes. The modification involves shortening of learning episodes, for their more economical exploitation. As the original algorithm, the method can be used to learn optimal behavior directly from interaction with the environment, with no model of the environment’s dynamics. It is easy and efficient to focus such a method on a small subset of states. Such method does not bootstrap and therefore it is less harmed by violations of the Markov property. The proposed control method has been verified by a series of computer simulations, where it is compared with a three-state bang-bang controller. The simulations show that the proposed controller performs stable and as desired. The proposed method requires very few tuning hyperparameters, which are easy to tune. The target policy learns in few minutes, when interacting with the valve model. The work provides insights on possibilities and limitations of the Monte Carlo learning method, which is still unsettled.
Maternal Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Supplementation Improves Offspring Liver Bioactive Lipid Profiles throughout the Lifespan and Protects against the Development of Adult NAFLD

Maternal obesity and consumption of a high-fat diet significantly elevate risk for pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affecting 10% of children in the US. Almost half of these children are diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a leading etiology for liver transplant. Animal models show that signs of liver injury and perturbed lipid metabolism associated with NAFLD begin in utero; however, safe dietary therapeutics to blunt developmental programming of NAFLD are unavailable. Using a mouse model of maternal Western-style diet (WD), we previously showed that pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a potent dietary antioxidant, protected offspring of WD-fed dams from development of NAFLD and NASH. Here, we used untargeted mass spectrometry-based lipidomics to delineate lipotoxic effects of WD on offspring liver and identify lipid targets of PQQ. PQQ exposure during pregnancy altered hepatic lipid profiles of WD-exposed offspring, upregulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α signaling and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation to markedly attenuate triglyceride accumulation beginning in utero. Surprisingly, the abundance of very long-chain ceramides, important in promoting gut barrier and hepatic function, was significantly elevated in PQQ-treated offspring. PQQ exposure reduced the hepatic phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine (PC/PE) ratio in WD-fed offspring and improved glucose tolerance. Notably, levels of protective n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were elevated in offspring exposed to PQQ, beginning in utero, and the increase in n − 3 PUFAs persisted into adulthood. Our findings suggest that PQQ supplementation during gestation and lactation augments pathways involved in the biosynthesis of long-chain fatty acids and plays a unique role in modifying specific bioactive lipid species critical for protection against NAFLD risk in later life.
Alternans, ephaptic coupling and their relation to ventricular arrhythmias

The heart functions as a mechanical pump that propels blood through the circulatory system. Blood flows from the body into the right atrium, and then into the right ventricle where it gets pumped into the lungs through the pulmonary artery. Blood gets oxygenated in the lungs, flows into the left atrium, and then into the left ventricle where it gets pumped through the aorta to different organs of the body. Ventricular fibrillation (VF), identified as disorganized and ineffective quiver of the ventricles, is the most serious ventricular arrhythmias. When VF occurs, the heart is unable to pump blood. Sudden cardiac arrest follows. About 220,000 deaths from heart attacks in the United States each year are thought to be caused by VF. Alternans, a periodic beat-to-beat short-long alternation in action potential duration (APD), is considered to be a precursor of VF. In extended cardiac tissue, electrical alternans can be either spatially concordant (SCA, all cells oscillate in phase) or spatially discordant (SDA, cells in different regions oscillate out of phase). SDA gives rise to an increase in the spatial dispersion of repolarization, which is thought to be proarrhythmic. In this dissertation, I use a mapping model with two beats of memory, a simple but powerful tool to study cardiac dynamics and their relation to VF at the level of single cell and a spatially coupled cell strand. Ventricular myocytes are connected electrically by gap junction channels formed mainly by connexin 43 (Cx43) and, to a smaller extent, Cx45. Decreased and heterogeneous expression of Cx43 is a common feature in animal heart failure models. Ephaptic coupling is an electric field mechanism of propagation. It relies on the presence of narrow cleft space between neighboring cells, which is resistively connected to the extracellular space. Emerging evidence suggests a more active role for ephaptic coupling in mediating intercellular electrical communication when gap junctions are reduced in a homogeneous manner. Here, I explore the effect of ephaptic coupling when Cx43 expression is reduced in a heterogeneous fashion. For this purpose, I use a physiologically detailed ionic channel model with their gating kinetics applied in a two dimensional tissue model of electrically coupled cardiac cells.
To Levy or Not? The Paradox of Revenue Generation and Sustainability of Free Public Library Services in Ghana

Abstract As the gap between decreased budgetary allocation and the need to sustain free and improved quality public library services continues to increase, librarians are expected to think more innovatively about how to bridge this gap while ensuring the notion of free public library services is not compromised. This study aimed to investigate revenue mobilization and the sustainability of free public library services in Ghana. The study adopts a multiple case study approach, exploiting the advantages of the use of a combination of varied data collection techniques using 3 Regional Public libraries in Ghana to enhance representativeness. The data was collected from some major stakeholders, including Head Librarians, library staff and patrons of public libraries using questionnaires and qualitative interview sessions. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed in selecting respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and thematic analysis were deployed as analytical tools to examine the data. Based on the findings of the study, the researchers conclude that the challenge is in tracking down the elusive mix of fee-based services that deliver more than they take away. We therefore, admonish that those who still preach against fee-based services on moral grounds accept the reality that seeking alternative funding (beyond government’s subventions) to sustain public library services has become a Hobson’s choice to most public librarians. Recommendations are also proffered in mitigating the present challenges affecting service delivery in public libraries.