Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The COVID-19 Treatment Landscape: A South African Perspective on a Race Against Time

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 94 million people worldwide (as of 17 January 2020). Severe disease is believed to be secondary to the cytokine release syndrome (CRS or “cytokine storm”) which causes local tissue damage as well as multi-organ dysfunction and thrombotic complications. Due to the high mortality rates in patients receiving invasive ventilation, practice has changed from “early-intubation” for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to a trial of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen. Reports indicating the benefit of NIV and HFNC have been encouraging and have led to more than 20,000 such devices being manufactured and ready for roll-out in South Africa (SA) as of July 2020. The need to identify drugs with clear clinical benefits has led to an array of clinical trials, most of which are repurposing drugs for COVID-19. The treatment landscape reflects the need to target both the virus and its effects such as the CRS and thrombotic complications. Conflicting results have the potential to confuse the implementation of coordinated treatment strategies and guidelines. The purpose of this review is to address pertinent areas in the current literature on the available medical treatment options for COVID-19. Remdesivir, tocilizumab, and dexamethasone are some of the treatment options that have shown the most promise, but further randomized trials are required to particularly address timing and dosages to confidently create standardized protocols. For the SA population, two healthcare sectors exist. In the private sector, patients with medical insurance may have greater access to a wider range of treatment options than those in the public sector. The latter serves >80% of the population, and resource constraints require the identification of drugs with the most cost-effective use for the greatest number of affected patients.
Money is not everything: experimental evidence that payments do not increase willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Rapid, large-scale uptake of new vaccines against COVID-19 will be crucial to decrease infections and end the pandemic. In a recent article in this journal, Julian Savulescu argued in favour of monetary incentives to convince more people to be vaccinated once the vaccine becomes available. To evaluate the potential of his suggestion, we conducted an experiment investigating the impact of payments and the communication of individual and prosocial benefits of high vaccination rates on vaccination intentions. Our results revealed that none of these interventions or their combinations increased willingness to be vaccinated shortly after a vaccine becomes available. Consequently, decision makers should be cautious about introducing monetary incentives and instead focus on interventions that increase confidence in vaccine safety first, as this has shown to be an especially important factor regarding the demand for the new COVID-19 vaccines.
Structure of polyelectrolytes in 3:1 salt solutions

Polyion conformation and the distribution of small ions near the polyion have been investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. The systems of interest contained one polyion and its monovalent counterions, and variable amount of a 3:1 salt. With monovalent counterions only, the polyion is strongly extended. As salt is added, the polyion folds, and the most compact and spherical-like structure appears at a three-fold excess of the trivalent counterions. The polyion exerts a strong influence on the nearest-neighbor distance among the trivalent ions, an effect being relevant for energy transfer reactions.
Sulfation of CaO Particles in a Carbonation/Calcination Loop to Capture CO2

CaO is being proposed as a regenerable sorbent of CO2 via a carbonation/calcination loop. It is well known that natural sorbents lose their capacity to capture CO2 with the number of cycles due to textural degradation. In coal combustion systems, reaction with the SO2 present in flue gases also causes sorbent deactivation. This work investigates the effect of partial sorbent sulfation on the amount of CaO used in systems where both carbonation and sulfation reactions are competing. We have found that SO2 reacts with the deactivated CaO resulting from repetitive calcination/carbonation reactions. Therefore, the deactivation of CaO as a result of the presence of SO2 is lower than one would expect if one assumes that SO2 reacts only with active CaO. This work shows that changes in the texture of the sorbent due to repetitive carbonation/calcination cycles tend to increase the sulfation capacity of the sorbents tested. This suggests that the purge of deactivated CaO obtained from a CO2 capture loop could be a.
S0033291719003192jra 279..289

Background. Psychotherapies for depression are equally effective on average, but individual responses vary widely. Outcomes can be improved by optimizing treatment selection using multivariate prediction models. A promising approach is the Personalized Advantage Index (PAI) that predicts the optimal treatment for a given individual and the magnitude of the advantage. The current study aimed to extend the PAI to long-term depression outcomes after acute-phase psychotherapy. Methods. Data come from a randomized trial comparing cognitive therapy (CT, n = 76) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT, n = 75) for major depressive disorder (MDD). Primary outcome was depression severity, as assessed by the BDI-II, during 17-month follow-up. First, predictors and moderators were selected from 38 pre-treatment variables using a two-step machine learning approach. Second, predictors and moderators were combined into a final model, from which PAI predictions were computed with cross-validation. Long-term PAI predictions were then compared to actual follow-up outcomes and post-treatment PAI predictions. Results. One predictor (parental alcohol abuse) and two moderators (recent life events; childhood maltreatment) were identified. Individuals assigned to their PAI-indicated treatment had lower follow-up depression severity compared to those assigned to their PAI-non-indicated treatment. This difference was significant in two subsets of the overall sample: those whose PAI score was in the upper 60%, and those whose PAI indicated CT, irrespective of magnitude. Long-term predictions did not overlap substantially with predictions for acute benefit. Conclusions. If replicated, long-term PAI predictions could enhance precision medicine by selecting the optimal treatment for a given depressed individual over the long term.
Graphical Analysis of the Performance of Venturi Scrubbers for Particle Abatement. Part I: Rapid Collection Efficiency Evaluation

Based on the well-established theoretical formulations of Calvert (1970) and Yung et al. (1978), graphical tools are developed for estimating the overall collection efficiency of venturi scrubbers under the specified design and operating conditions. Both graphical solutions deliver the accuracy of the original theoretical models, subject to the assumption of a lognormal input particle size distribution. The nomographs produced can be used by environmental engineers for performing convenient analysis of venturi performance and alternative design evaluations, and as part of a wider methodology for compiling particulate matter emission inventories. Combined with the graphical models developed in Part II, the present work sets the stage for conducting size-specific emission inventories (e.g., PM 2.5 , PM 10 , TPM) for sources controlled by venturi scrubbers.
Production of Small, Monodispersed Alginate Beads for Cell Immobilization

Gel entrapment retains suspension cells in a bioreactor for high‐density operations without the difficulties of cell separation. To achieve and sustain high cell densities in animal cell culture, beads under 1 mm in diameter are desirable to minimize diffusional limitations. The challenge is to develop a controllable, scaleable process to produce small, monodispersed beads for cell immobilization. In this work, alginate bead populations were produced in the 0.5–1 mm size range with less than 10% standard deviation by destabilizing a viscous jet with a controlled disturbance. Systematic study of the drop formation with this “vibration” method demonstrated that Weber's theory for the instability of viscous jets qualitatively applies to the alginate system and provides a predictive tool for selecting the wavelength of disturbance for controlled bead formation. Nonlinear theory also provided guidance in establishing proper operating conditions to avoid satellite drop formation which decreases bead uniformity. A viscosity range 150–500 cp was found to be optimum for bead formation and served to rapidly establish the appropriate alginate concentration for the wide variety of commercial alginates. Through an understanding of the interaction of viscosity, linear velocity, nozzle diameter, and frequency of disturbance used to destabilize the jet, the predictable formation of small, uniform alginate beads was demonstrated with this method. As an example of scaleup, a 10‐nozzle manifold can process 3–50 L of alginate/h, depending on the desired bead size.
Electrical Spin Injection into Graphene through Monolayer Hexagonal Boron Nitride

We demonstrate electrical spin injection from a ferromagnet to a bilayer graphene (BLG) through a monolayer (ML) of single-crystal hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). A Ni81Fe19/ML h-BN/BLG/h-BN structure is fabricated using a micromechanical cleavage and dry transfer technique. The transport properties across the ML h-BN layer exhibit tunnel barrier characteristics. Spin injection into BLG has been detected through non local magnetoresistance measurements.
Aggregation in aqueous poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) solutions studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and light scattering

Block copolymers poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide), PNIPA-b-PEO, were synthesized by free radical polymerization using macroazoinitiators bearing PEO chains with two different chain lengths (Mw = 550 or 1900 g/mol). The molar mass of the PNIPA block varied from 0.4 × 105 to 7.3 × 105 g/mol. The cloud points of the aqueous copolymer solutions shifted to slightly higher temperatures only with the samples having the longer PEO block. Above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPA the block copolymers formed aggregates with a spherical core−shell structure sterically stabilized by a PEO shell. The formation and especially the shape of the aggregates were influenced by the length of the PNIPA block, the molar ratio of the repeating units of PNIPA and PEO, and the polymer concentration. A fluorescent probe 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(p-(dimethylamino)styryl)-4H-pyran, 4HP, was localized inside the polymer differently depending on the method of sample preparation. The mic.
Trickle‐bed reactor model for desulfurization and dearomatization of diesel

Desulfurization and hydrogenation of aromatics in diesel oil were investigated in an isothermally operated trickle-bed reactor 500 mm long and with a 19-mm ID, using commercial bifunctional NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts. The operating temperature, pressure, liquid hourly space velocity, gas/oil ratio, and the initial concentration of H2S were 300–380°C, 2–8 MPa, 1–4 h−1, 100–500 m3(NTP)/m3 and 0–8 vol %, respectively. The increase in pressure and decrease in liquid hourly space velocity lead to deeper desulfurization and hydrogenation of both aromatics. Although a higher gas-to-oil ratio and lower initial concentration of H2S enhance the desulfurization reaction, these parameters play almost no role for hydrogenation. Desulfurization increases sharply with increased temperature, but with the same change in temperature the conversion of aromatics increases only up to 360°C, above which it falls sharply. This behavior is explained by the approaching of chemical equilibria by the reversible hydrogenation reactions of the aromatics at higher temperatures. A mechanistic mathematical model was developed for a two-phase flow reactor, considering both mass transfer and chemical reaction in the reactor. The kinetic equations for desulfurization and for the hydrogenation of mono-, di- and polyaromatics were established. Simulated results are compared satisfactorily with the experimental observations.
Electrochemistry and Structural Chemistry of LiNiO2 (R3̅m) for 4 Volt Secondary Lithium Cells

The synthesis and characterization of LiNiO[sub 2] for a 4 V secondary lithium cell was done. The LiNiO[sub 2] was prepared by ten different methods and characterized by X-ray diffraction and electrochemical methods. LiNiO[sub 2] prepared from LiNO[sub 3] and NiCO[sub 3] [or Ni(OH)[sub 2]] exhibited more than 150 mAh/g of rechargeable capacity in the voltage range between 2.5 and 4.2 V in 1M LiClO[sub 4] propylene carbonate solution. The reaction mechanism was also examined and explained in terms of topotactic reaction. Lithium nickelate (III) (R3m; a[equals]2.88 [angstrom], c[equals]14.18 [angstrom] in hexagonal setting) was oxidized to nickel dioxide (R3m; a[equals]2.81 [angstrom], c[equals]13.47 [angstrom]) via Li[sub 1[minus]x]NiO[sub 2] (0.25(2) [le]x[le]0.55(2)) having a monoclinic lattice (C2/m). The nickel dioxide could be reversibly reduced to lithium nickelate(III). Factors affecting the electrochemical reactivity of LiNiO[sub 2] are given and the possibility of using LiNiO[sub 2] for 4 V secondary lithium cells is described.
Age Composition of the Demand and the Secular Stagnation

In this paper, we analyze the effect of demographic changes on labor productivity through the demand channel. We document the relevance of this channel using the change in the age composition of the demand coming from abroad. We find that aging does not have a monotonic effect on the economy as middle-aged consumers drive up prices, and drive down production and productivity growth. We show that middle-aged consumers face higher searching cost relative to young and older consumers as they have a higher opportunity cost of time relative to the elderly, and are less efficient in searching for goods relative to the young consumers. We rationalize our findings using a sequential search model in which middle-aged consumers have relatively higher search costs. An increase in the share of middle-aged consumers increases firms’ market power and reduces the incentive to invest in technologies with depressing effects on productivity. We show that the model is consistent with our empirical findings, and show that the change in the age composition of the demand has been a major driver of the slowing down of the labor productivity growth in aging economies between 1995 and 2007. JEL codes: J11, E21, E22, O47
Influence of Polymeric Suspension Characteristics on the Particle Coating in a Spouted Bed

Abstract The influence of the coating suspensions and particle properties on the coating process in a conventional spouted bed is presented. Glass beads were coated at fixed operating conditions with different formulations of aqueous polymeric coating suspensions in a spouted bed of laboratory scale. The wettability of the solids by the liquid was quantified by the contact angle and surface tension of the coating suspensions. The coating efficiency and particle growth were correlated with the adhesion of the coating suspension to the solid particle, which is a function of the solids and liquid characteristics. The physical properties of the coated particles—particle mean diameter, sphericity, bulk, absolute and apparent densities, porosity and flow velocity—were determined and compared to the properties of uncoated particles.
Online Purchase Behavior of Somali Consumers

Findings – The findings of the study indicated that 88% of the respondents have used the internet for more than 5 years. This shows that Somali consumers use the internet intensively. Results showed that clothing and accessories (41.3%), food and drink (36.0%), computer products and software (12.7%), were the commodities respondents usually bought online. Another interesting result was found when respondent were asked about the frequency of online shopping. It was found that 48.7% of the respondents indicated that “sometimes” they used the internet for shopping purpose. While 43.7% of the respondents indicated that they rarely or never used the internet for shopping purpose. About 7.6% of the respondents use ‘’often’’ the internet for shopping purpose. Among factors influencing online buying behavior of the consumers, convenience was ranked with highest mean value of (4.13), followed by reputation , Perceived ease of use, while trust ranked with lowest mean value of (Mean= 3.493).
A Minority of One against a Majority of Robots

Studies have shown that people conform their answers to match those of group members even when they believe the group’s answer to be wrong [2]. In this experiment, we test whether people conform to groups of robots and whether the robots cause informational conformity (believing the group to be correct), normative conformity (feeling peer pressure), or both. We conducted an experiment in which participants (N = 63) played a subjective game with three robots. We measured humans’ conformity to robots by how many times participants changed their preliminary answers to match the group of robots’ in their final answer. Participants in conditions that were given more information about the robots’ answers conformed significantly more than those who were given less, indicating that informational conformity is present. Participants in conditions where they were aware they were a minority in their answers conformed more than those who were unaware they were a minority. Additionally, they also report feeling more pressure to change their answers from the robots, and the amount of pressure they reported was correlated to the frequency they conformed, indicating normative conformity. Therefore, we conclude that robots can cause both informational and normative conformity in people.
Journal of Developing Economies

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in recent years has created a positive impact for ASEAN countries. FDI give spillover effects that directly contribute capital improvements, technological developments, and global market access, also skills and managerial transfers. In order to attract FDI inflow into country, ASEAN member countries need to know what factors which attractinvestment related to the needs of infrastructure types and other factors. The purpose of this study is examine the determinant of FDI in ASEAN countries. This research method used is panel data regression period 2005-2015 from 10 countries in ASEAN. The results showed simultaneously and partially telecommunication infrastructure, market size, trade openness, and labor forcevariable have significant relationship with FDI inflows in ASEAN countries.
Experimental and theoretical research of zero head innovative horizontal axis archimedean screw turbines

The first aim of this paper is to present data concerning the design, construction, installation and operation of the first in the world Horizontal Axis Archimedean Screw Turbine (H.A.A.S.T.), having a length L=1m, diameters (output and input) Do=200mm and Di=100mm, a pitch S=200mm and a number of blades n=3. This horizontal screw could rotated horizontally and change direction (∆θ = 100), forming an upstream angle of 50 o with its initial position and a downstream angle of 50 o with its initial position. The second aim of the paper is to present experimental results of the operation in a big hydraulic channel under various controlled conditions, simulating the operation of the physical conditions of rivers, open channels, etc. The third aim of the paper is to present a series of theoretical performance prediction results based on various S1/S2 algorithms and Linear Actuator Disk simulations. Copyright © 2015 International Energy and Environment Foundation All rights reserved.
Recommendation Algorithms, a Neglected Opportunity for Public Health REVUE MÉDECINE ET PHILOSOPHIE

The public discussion on artiﬁcial intelligence for public health often revolves around future applications like drug discovery or personalized medicine. But already deployed artiﬁcial intelligence for content recommendation, especially on social networks, arguably plays a far greater role. After all, such algorithms are used on a daily basis by billions of users worldwide. In this paper, we argue that, left unchecked, this enormous inﬂuence of recommendation algorithms poses serious risks for public health, e.g., in terms of misinformation and mental health. But more importantly, we argue that this enormous inﬂuence also yields a fabulous opportunity to provide quality information and to encourage healthier habits at scale. We also discuss the philosophical, technical and socio-economical challenges to seize this immense opportunity, and sketch the outlines of potential solutions. In particular, we argue that it would be extremely helpful if public and private institutions could publicly take a stand, as this may then generate the necessary social, economical and political pressure to massively invest in the research, development and deployment of the potential solutions.
Nyquist's theorem in active vibration control system of conservative and non conservative pipes conveying fluid

Fluid conveying pipes are used in all hydraulic systems and enter in all industrial fields, such as water, petroleum products and gases of all kinds. In spite of this widespread and critical importance of fluid conveying pipes, they suffer from major problems. One of these problems is the problem of vibrations that cause the collapse of the systems completely and cause significant economic losses if not avoided. For this reason, the researchers have dealt with this issue in all years, but the problem is not over. This research will highlight the problem of controlling the vibrations resulting from fluid flow inside the pipes, in addition to the study of reducing the vibrations of these pipes. Therefore, after investigation the control and stability for pipe with various methods, with previous papers, presenting in this paper investigation for active control for pipe by using Nyquist’s method. There, the research has studied the response and the natural frequency; the dynamic behavior of conservative and nonconservative pipes conveying fluid using Nyquist's Theorem in the presence with no hydraulic damping (active control); and monitoring the response and stability of each case of stabilization. This study is carried out by deriving differential equations for pipes and for different types of fixation. Where, the analytical solution included drive the general equation of motion for pipe conveying fluid and then solving its equation by using Galerkin’s technique, and then, calculating the stability by using Nyquist’s techniques. Copyright © 2020 International Energy and Environment Foundation All rights reserved.
Experimental investigation of submerged flow over piano key weir

Extensive experimental investigation has been performed to analyse the behaviour of piano key weir under submerged flow conditions. More than 2500 runs were performed on 14 physical models in an experimental rectangular flume, 15 m long and 0.3 m by 0.45 m cross-section. Effect of submergence phenomenon on the discharge capacity was studied for different discharge values. It was found that the discharge reduction factor Cs is mainly influenced by the submergence factor S. This effect starts when S is greater than the modular submergence limit which proved to be around 0.4 to 0.6. Models with different geometrical parameters were compared to each other and final conclusions about their effect on discharge capacity were achieved. However, the influence of all the geometrical parameters was small (less than 12%). Copyright © 2018 International Energy and Environment Foundation All rights reserved.