Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Creating a Smart City for People with Disabilities A Qualitative study on how to make Smart Mobility Solutions following an Inclusive Design approach

This report describes a study that examines which factors that should be considered in a Smart City project, when designing smart mobility solutions, for it to be more adequate for people with disabilities. The main focus was on autonomous mobility solutions in relation to public transportation and taxi services. Participants from both Sweden and Germany suffering from mobility impairment, hearing impairment, cognitive disability, visual impairment and deaf-blindness answered a survey, were interviewed and observed, in order to understand their needs, wishes and habits. This showed that the participants have different needs regarding how they can retrieve information and interact with technology depending on their different disabilities. To show these diverse requirements, personas and scenarios were created. The personas were placed in the different scenarios to further examine these users’ needs, but also what problems that can occur during their travels and the effect of their attitudes towards autonomous mobility solutions. Through an iterative process, these personas and scenarios worked as a foundation to form guidelines on how to create Smart Mobility Solutions for people with disabilities. The study resulted in eight guidelines with references to literature, research and the personas and scenarios. The main goal for the participants is that the solutions should facilitate independence, giving them the same conditions to travel as people not suffering from a disability. The personas, scenarios and guidelines could also in the future work as a design tool to use in Smart City projects to include these user groups early in the design process.
Resveratrol decreases inflammation and oxidative stress in the mdx mouse model of duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease characterized by muscle damage, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis. Resveratrol (RES) is an antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory. We have shown that RES improves muscle function in the mdx mouse model of DMD, and others have shown resveratrol decreases fibrosis and oxidative stress in older mdx mice. However, its effect on pathology in young mdx mice is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on muscle pathology in young mdx mice. RES (100 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered to 4–5 week old mdx mice everyday for 10 days or every other day for 8 weeks. Muscle fiber integrity, inflammation, and oxidative stress were assessed by H&E staining and 4‐HNE content. Total inflammation was reduced 21 ± 6% (p < 0.05) after 10 days of treatment with no change in oxidative stress. After 8 weeks of RES treatment, centrally located nuclei were reduced 12 ± 4% (p < 0.05), oxidative stress measured through 4‐HNE content decreased 2 ± 0.13 fold (p < 0.05), and total inflammation and fibrosis did not change. We conclude that RES enhances muscle membrane integrity by reducing inflammation during the peak pathological period and long term oxidative stress. Therefore, resveratrol could be a treatment for boys with DMD. This project was funded by The Center for Alternative Medicine at The University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
Determinants of Sugarcane Profitability: The Case of Smallholder Cane Growers in Swaziland

The sugar industry is the backbone of Swaziland's economy, with annual revenue exceeding E1440 million (US$ 160 million). As part of the agricultural as well as the manufacturing sector, industry, it a accounts for 18% of the country's GDP. Therefore, the economy of Swaziland is to a great extent based on the sugar industry. This study presents empirical findings on the determinants of the profitability of sugarcane growers in the Swaziland sugar supply chain. The study is based on data collected in 2001 from 124 smallholder cane growers who supply sugarcane to the three sugar mills in Swaziland (Simunye, Ubombo (Bigbend) and Mhlume). The study used purposive sampling, which is most desirable when certain important segments of the target population are intentionally represented in the sample. The results of the study revealed that the performance of these farmers is affected by farming experience, change in sucrose quota, yield per ha, sucrose content and the distance from the farm to the mill. The implications of this study suggests, that smallholder farmers need to be trained and motivated in order to be commercially oriented. The Swaziland Government should play a role in providing smallholder cane growers with some training in business management skills and in addressing issues of concern to farmers as they develop in order to improve their yields. This should be done through the government extension agents, provided specifically to assist smallholder sugarcane farmers, and the various government departments involved in providing training in business and management skills. There is also a need to limit the production of sugarcane to areas, which are closer to the mills in order to reduce transaction costs.
Role of Caveolin‐1 S‐Nitrosylation, Ubiquitination, and Degradation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Cav1−/− mice develop pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to eNOS hyperactivation since inhibition or deletion of eNOS abrogates the PAH phenotype. Here, we tested the hypothesis that oxidative stress upon inflammatory stimuli can induce Cav1 degradation & that this is associated with PAH. We observed TNFα‐induced NO production and S‐nitrosylation (SNO) at Cav1 C156 increased Src activity and destabilized Cav1 oligomeric chains in human pulmonary endothelial cells (PECs), and that this could be blocked by eNOS & Src inhibitors. Cav1 SNO at C156 was associated with reduced Cav1 expression following prolonged (72 hr) stimulation with TNFα or the NO donor, DetaNONOate. Mass spectrometry revealed Cav‐1 ubiquitination (Ub) on K86, supporting the hypothesis that Cav1 SNO at C156 induces Src‐dependent Cav1 Y14 phosphorylation, destabilization of Cav1 oligomers, & Ub of K86 leading to Cav1 degradation. In transduced HEK cells, we observed decreased Cav1 oligomerization with the Cav1 C156S‐mutant, preservation of oligomers with Y14F, and abrogation of Ub & degradation with a K86R mutant compared to WT‐Cav1. We also observed decreased oligomerized & total Cav1 expression as well as eNOS hyperactivation in PECs from 2 patients with IPAH compared to control PECs. Thus, we show oxidative stress‐induced Cav1 SNO, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, & degradation is associated with idiopathic lung vascular disease.
A Novel Murine Model of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Associated Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive cholestatic liver disease characterized by biliary inflammation, fibrosis, and stricturing of the intra and extra‐hepatic bile ducts. Progressive disease leads to recurrent cholangitis, biliary cirrhosis, and increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma. PSC carries a strong association with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurring in approximately 80% of patients. PSC associated IBD (PSC‐IBD) displays a unique phenotype characterized by pan‐colonic distribution, right side predominant inflammation, and increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to non‐PSC IBD. The frequent association and unique phenotype of PSC‐IBD suggests distinctive underlying disease mechanisms from other models of chronic liver disease or IBD alone. Multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mdr2) knockout mice develop spontaneous cholestatic liver injury and fibrosis mirroring human PSC, however there are currently no established PSC‐IBD models of combined cholestatic liver injury and IBD. Though Mdr2−/− mice do not display overt evidence of colonic inflammation at baseline, PCR analysis of whole colon tissue reveals elevated levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (KC, TNFα, IL‐1β, and IL‐6). We subjected Mdr2−/− mice to DSS colitis as a novel combined model of PSC‐IBD. In this model, Mdr2−/−/DSS mice display increased disease susceptibility characterized by worsened weight‐loss, decreased colon length, and increased histologic damage in the colon. Additionally, colonic and portal serum levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (KC, IL‐6, IL‐1β, and IL‐12p70) were significantly increased as compared to C57BL/6 colitis controls. Baseline elevations in colonic levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in Mdr2−/− mice along with increased colitis susceptibility in the Mdr2−/−/DSS model suggests an important role for interdependent signaling pathways originating from liver‐intestine crosstalk mechanisms in mediating intestinal injury in this novel murine model of PSC‐IBD.
Systematic Identification of DO-BOD Model Structure

The Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) provides a logical statistically based extension to those existing approaches to model fitting based on deterministic model response error (surface) minimization. Its crucial feature as a basis for identification, however, is the recursive nature of the algorithm which permits the estimation of possible variations in the model parameters. Depending upon whether such estimated variations are realistic or not, bearing in mind the physical nature of the dynamic system, it is possible to formulate criteria for model adequacy. This approach to model identification was applied to the problem of modeling DO-BOD interaction in a freshwater river system based on daily field data. It was found that the basic model structure, as defined by a dynamic version of the Streeter-Phelps equations, was inadequate and, in the case of the river considered, it was necessary to introduce additional sustained sunlight terms to account for the effects of floating algal populations.
Interactive robot Robot acting on human intentions

As the world’s population ages, demands for health services continues to increase and robotics can be part of the solutions to this problem. One particular area of medicine, ultrasound, can be helped by robotics, especially for doctors who would otherwise suffer long term health implications. The primary purpose of this study is to construct a system designed to be useful and low cost in the context of an ultrasound procedure. An equally important goal is to determine if the proposed solution, which is based on what the patient feels, works compared to a more traditional HumanComputer Interaction (HCI) approach. In general, the functions introduced here can be used at the start of, during and after an ultrasound diagnosis procedure. As for the approach itself, the system developed provides a simulation of the ultrasound robot and the patient, collision detection between them and emotion detection of the patient’s facial expression. The system consist of different computer vision-based methods performing in real-time. The experiments performed investigated the different components, communication, collision and emotion detection, before finally putting them all together and compare this solution to the HCI approach. In the end, because of robot limitations, no verification of the system as a whole was completed.
Generic and complete vehicle dynamic models for open-source platforms

Vehicle dynamics models are important tools for research and development within the automotive industry. The need for such models is steadily rising due to the rapid development of automated driving, as these models allow efficient design and development of the control algorithms and functions. Chalmers Revere Lab supplements research in the field of automated driving and collision avoidance. The lab maintains two test vehicles, a passenger car (Volvo XC90) and a heavy duty truck (6x4 Volvo FH16). The models provided by Volvo are confidential, complicated for implementation as reference models and do not share the same control interface as the test vehicles. The objective of this work is to develop well documented generic and complete open-source models that represent Revere's test vehicles. The thesis aims to develop three model units per test vehicle. The three model units are a control interface model, a quick simulation model for online prediction and an advanced model for offline simulation prior to track testing. In addition to model development, an investigation has been made on the level of modelling details suitable for automated driving for non-critical highway and city driving on dry asphalt. For instance, a clutch model was implemented to capture the behaviour of starting from a standstill for the test vehicle equipped with an automated manual transmission. The models were developed using Modelica, an object-oriented modelling tool, and Matlab/Simulink. Furthermore, a suitable model architecture was proposed for simulation of automated driving functions. To assess the validity of the models, the simulation results were compared against experimental data. Data was collected using open-loop test maneuvers and manual driving tests. The simulation results highlight the differences between the simple and advanced model and their accuracy with respect to experimental data. As a use-case, the XC90 advanced model was simulated with a GPS-based autonomous navigation controller. Validation with experimental data showed that the vehicle model is suitable for the development of control algorithms. The simple model is faster than real-time making it suitable for online prediction and the advanced model is real-time capable which was verified with real-time toolbox on Simulink. As a suggestion for future work, the tire model can be improved to handle low-speed parking scenario and a trailer-dolly combination can be added to the tractor model for studies on combination vehicles.
A 50 Year Review and Meta‐analysis of Anatomy Laboratory Pedagogies

The debate regarding effective anatomy teaching methods is ongoing and highly controversial. Previously, Winkelmann(2007) attempted to address this discussion through a literature review that compared the efficacy of new anatomy laboratory pedagogies to traditional dissection approaches. This review, however, had considerable methodological weaknesses that undermined the significance and generalizability of its findings and raised further questions about the influence of educational interventions on student performance. One question left unanswered was “What impact, if any, does dissection have on learning anatomy within formal, informal, and hidden curricula? ” To address this question, a meta‐analysis was undertaken to objectively, and more conclusively, summarize the effectiveness of instructional laboratory approaches used in anatomy education.
The 70 pS Inward Rectifying K Channel Is Identified as Renal Outer Medullary K Channels (ROMK) on Rough, but not Smooth, Thick Ascending Limb Cells (TAL)

Previous studies revealed that ROMK was represented by two inward rectifying K‐selective channels (Kir) in the TAL, with single channel conductances of approximately 30 pS and 70 pS (inward currents). However, the mouse TAL contains two types of cells; rough TAL (R‐TAL), with abundant apical microvilli and smooth TAL (S‐TAL), which are absent of microvilli. We performed patch clamping, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy with immunogold in attempt to determine whether the 30 pS and/or 70 pS channels were associated with R‐TAL or S‐TAL. Cell‐attached patches with 140 mM KCl in the pipette, applied to the split‐open TAL from WT or ROMK knock‐out mice (KO) (one tubule/mouse and 4 to 9 patches per tubule), revealed the 30 pS Kir (31.1 ± 1.2 pS) with an open probability of 0.60 ± 0.09 (at −Vp = −40 mV) and a density of 20 channels out of 73 patches. The 70 pS Kir (74.0 ± 3.4 pS) was observed with Po of 0.35 ± 0.13, and with a density of 12 channels out of 73 patches. We found no patches that contained both channels despite a mathematical probability that 5 patches would contain both the 30 pS and 70 pS channels. We found no 70 pS channels in 42 patches of TAL from ROMK−/−. However, 17 channels were identified as the 30 pS Kir (34.2 ± 1.0) with a Po of 0.56 ± 0.06 (−Vp = −40 mV). Co‐immunohistochemical staining with anti‐ROMK (from Dr. Paul Welling) and anti‐Tamm‐Horsfall protein (TAL marker) revealed ROMK on the luminal membrane of only 40 to 60% of the TAL cells. Using immunogold‐labeled anti‐ROMK and transmission electron microscopy, we found that ROMK was associated with the R‐TAL but not S‐TAL. We conclude that the 70 pS, but not the 30 pS Kir, represents ROMK and the 70 pS Kir is predominantly localized on R‐TAL
Kesan Pendekatan Pembelajaran Berasaskan Projek Berteraskan Teknologi Terhadap Pencapaian Dan Penerimaan Pelajar

This research aims to compare learning using Project-Based Learning Approach with Technology (PBL+T) and learning using the conventional approach, by looking at the effects of both approaches on students’ achievement in learning Information and Communication Technology Literacy. The study will also look into the influence of students’ gender and the level of students’ acceptance on the PBL+T approach. The study, which was in the form of quasi experimental was conducted in the two phases. Data of the study was collected through a pre & post formative questionnaire, pre-test & post-test to see the level of students’ achievement in learning, while the summative questionnaire was used to see the acceptance level of a student. The study showed that; (i) the effects of PBL+T on students’ achievement were positive, where the data showed significant differences between mean scores for pre-test and mean scores for post-test for both phases of the study, (ii) the effectiveness of learningLTMK through PBL+T approach was not affected by gender, and (iii) the students’ acceptance on the learning using PBL+T approach was at a positive level.
Stabilization of Hypoxia Inducible Factor by Cobalt Chloride Can Alter Renal Epithelial Transport

Around 600,000 people in the United States alone have polycystic kidney disease (PKD) which is characterized by the formation of fluid‐filled pouch‐like structures, called cysts. These cysts tend to expand over the years, finally leading to kidney failure. Previously, kidney cysts were reported to be hypoxic [1]. Cyst expansion, stagnant fluid accumulation, and insufficient vascular supply can result in localized chronic ischemia‐hypoxia in cysts and as well as in normal epithelia adjacent to a cyst. We hypothesize that in normal epithelia near a cyst, the stabilization of Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1α (HIF1α), a major regulator of cellular response to hypoxia, can cause altered paracellular and transcellular transport in normal renal epithelia, transforming the normal absorptive epithelia to a secretory and leaky phenotype, leading to cyst expansion.
Calculation of the Normal-Stress Distribution in a Curved Wall Jet

In many applications of boundary-layer control by tangential blowing the surface downstream of the blowing slot is likely to be strongly curved. For example, this is the case when blowing around a bluff trailing edge is used to control the circulation around an aerofoil as described in ref. 1. The flow involved in such cases is that of a curved wall jet in an adverse pressure gradient. A knowledge of the radial and tangential pressure distributions in the curved wall jet is required if development of the flow and separation are to be predicted.
Project and evaluation EMG/EOG human-computer interface

In this paper we present Electromyography/Electrooculography (EMG/EOG) speller. It allows users to write sentences or phrases using blinking exclusively. Eye blinks are detected through simple threshold method. Moreover, the speller is comfortable to use. We based it on Open Source software available for free, as well as low-cost OpenBCI hardware. We measured the performance of the interface in an experiment. The results showed that: (1) symbols were recognised at 90% accuracy rate; (2) 100% of eye blinks was detected; (3) Information Transfer Rate (ITR) we achieved equaled 43,3 bit/min. Streszczenie. W artykule zaprezentowano interfejs człowiek-komputer wykorzystujący Elektromiografię i Elektrookulografię. Interfejs umożliwia pisanie jedynie za pomocą wykrywanych mrugnięć. Do ich wykrywania zastosowano prostą detekcję progową. Ponadto, interfejs jest wygodny w użyciu. Bazuje on na darmowym oprogramowaniu Open Source i tanim urządzeniu OpenBCI. Przeprowadzono eksperyment testujący możliwośći interfejsu. Uzyskano następujące rezultaty: (1) 90% skuteczności w rozpoznawaniu znaków; (2) 100% skuteczność w detekcji mrugnięcia; (3) Współczynnik Information Transfer Rate (ITR) wyniósł 43,3 bit/min(Projekt i ewaluacja interfejsu człowiek komputer wykorzystującego EMG/EOG)
ANALISIS KINERJA KEUANGAN PEMERINTAH DAERAH KABUPATEN SUKOHARJO TAHUN ANGGARAN 2011-2013

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze the financial performance of local governments Sukoharjo regency ratio analysis independence, effectiveness ratio, efficiency ratio, the ratio of harmony, growth ratio and the ratio DCSR. This type of research in this study was a descriptive quantitative research. The data used in this research is secondary data in the form of Local Government Finance Report Sukoharjo district in 2011-2013 were obtained using the documentation techniques. Methods of data analysis using financial ratio analysis. The results of this study showed that the financial performance of the Government of Sukoharjo is still not optimal. Although the Local Revenue management is effective and efficient, but the degree of independence of the region is still very low. This is evident from the amount of assistance from the central and provincial revenue than the original local Sukoharjo district. In addition, the use of funds are still not balanced because most of the funds used for operating expenditures rather than capital expenditure. Keywords : Independence Ratio, Ratio Effectiveness, Efficiency Ratio, Ratio Harmony, DSCR ratio ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kinerja keuangan pemerintah daerah kabupaten Sukoharjo dengan menggunakan analisis rasio kemandirian, rasio efektivitas, rasio efisiensi, rasio keserasian, rasio pertumbuhan dan rasio DCSR. Jenis penelitian dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian berbentuk deskriptif kuantitatif. Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah data sekunder berupa Laporan Keuangan Pemerintah Daerah Kabupaten Sukoharjo tahun 2011-2013 yang diperoleh dengan menggunakan teknik dokumentasi. Metode analisis data menggunakan analisis rasio keuangan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kinerja keuangan Pemerintah Kabupaten Sukoharjo masih belum optimal. Walaupun dalam pengelolaan Pendapatan Asli Daerah sudah efektif dan efisien, tetapi tingkat kemandirian daerah masih sangat rendah. Hal ini dapat dibuktikan dari besarnya bantuan dari pusat dan provinsi dibandingkan dengan pendapatan asli daerah Kabupaten Sukoharjo. Selain itu, dalam penggunaan dananya masih belum berimbang karena sebagian besar dana digunakan untuk belanja operasi daripada belanja modal. Kata kunci : Rasio Kemandirian, Rasio Efektivitas, Rasio Efisiensi, Rasio Keserasian, Rasio DSCR.