Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association between perception of patients and their actual ability to do floor activities after mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: A prospective, cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the association between patientsʼ perception and their ability to perform floor activities after mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (MB-UKA). Patients and methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included a total of 63 knees of 63 patients (7 males, 56 females; mean age: 65.6±6.2 years; range, 51 to 79 years) with anteromedial osteoarthritis knee who had MB-UKA with a follow-up period of at least one year postoperatively. Each participant was asked to rate their perception of their ability to perform six floor activities. Their actual abilities were measured by using a five-category anchored scale. The primary outcome was the association between participants’ perception and their actual ability. The secondary outcome was to evaluate factors affecting patients’ actual ability. Results: More than 60% of the patients could achieve good actual ability scores in performing chair kneeling, floor kneeling, and sitting side-legged regardless of their perception. Chair kneeling at 90 degrees had the most patients (69.8%) with good actual ability scores. Standing up from the floor was the activity with the highest positive perception rate of 84.1%. However, relatively lower actual activity scores were observed in floor squatting, cross-legged sitting, and standing up from the floor. Floor squatting yielded the lowest rate of positive perception and actual ability scores (39.1% and 20.6%, respectively). The Oxford Knee Score and knee flexion angle had moderate positive correlations with the actual ability scores (r=0.44 and 0.40, respectively). Conclusion: Patients’ perception and their actual ability may differ for each floor activity after MB-UKA. An appropriate sequence of activities based on their difficulties along with positive reinforcement and appropriate patient education may yield favorable functional outcomes following MB-UKA.
Adiponectin and leptin levels of patients after sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and single anastomosis sleeve ileal bypass surgeries

Background: Bariatric surgery is an appropriate treatment for obese patients with metabolic syndrome. Adipose tissue is an active endocrine tissue secreting leptin and adiponectin that affect body metabolism. Nowadays, a high incidence of metabolic syndrome with an increased risk of serious diseases has been detected in Shiraz. This study aimed to assess the levels of leptin and adiponectin as well as the adiponectin-to-leptin ratio in three different bariatric surgeries among obese patients in Shiraz. The results will play an important role in physicians' choice of surgery by distinguishing the effects of these three bariatric surgeries. Materials and Methods: The serum adiponectin and leptin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood glucose, lipid profile, weight, and liver enzyme level were measured before and 7 months after surgery. Results: This clinical trial was conducted on 81 obese patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and single anastomosis sleeve ileal (SASI) bypass surgeries. The results revealed a decrease in fasting blood sugar and triglyceride (TG) levels 7 months after the surgeries. In addition, decrease of body mass index (BMI) was more significantly in the SASI group (12.8 ± 3 4.95) compared to the Roux-en-Y gastric group (8.56 ± 4.61) (P = 0.026). Besides, a more significant improvement in liver function was observed in SG (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the results revealed a significant difference among the three groups regarding the increase in the adiponectin level (P = 0.039). Decrease in the leptin level and increase in the adiponectin level were more significant after the RYGB surgery compared to the SG group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The three bariatric surgeries were effective in increasing the adiponectin level and decreasing the leptin levels. The surgeries also changed the metabolic risk factors including TGs, high-density lipoprotein, fasting blood glucose, and BMI.
Ball lightning with the nonrelativistic electrons of the core

The lifetimes, volume densities of energy, electron and ion densities and other parameters of ball lightning cores with the nonrelativistic electrons are estimated. The model according to which the motion of the electrons of the ball lightning core is the superposition of the oscillatory motion and the thermal motion in the directions perpendicular to those of the oscillations is proposed. Some problems related to isolation of the ball lightning core from the atmosphere and the transfer of the atmospheric pressure on it are considered.
Toward a Finite-Time Energy-Saving Robust Control Method for Active Suspension Systems: Exploiting Beneficial State-Coupling, Disturbance, and Nonlinearities

A novel control method of addressing coupling and disturbance influences for finite-time energy-saving robust control of active suspension systems (ASSs) is investigated. By elaborately constructing coupling and disturbance effect indicators, the pros and cons of coupling and disturbance influences on ASSs are discussed, and then a finite-time coupling and disturbance effects-triggered control method is designed via a second-order sliding mode control technique. Importantly, the good/bad coupling effects are assessed through a well-designed nonlinear function. By means of determining if the sign of disturbances conforms to the expected motion or not, the addition of beneficial disturbance effects or removal of detrimental disturbance effects is implemented. Noticeably, by employing a bioinspired nonlinear reference model, beneficial nonlinear stiffness and damping effects are thus utilized, leading to the possibility of energy-saving performance. As a result, the proposed control method exhibits a unique feature, i.e., fully employing potential contribution from the coupling and disturbance effects, and presents a totally new coupling and disturbance effects-triggered control framework, leading to obvious performance improvement. Benchmark experimental conclusions are devoted to distinguishing the advantages and effectiveness of the designed tracking method.
Developing a Parametric Downconversion Apparatus for Single-Photon Experiments in Quantum Optics

DIIORIO, STEPHEN Developing a Parametric Downconversion Apparatus for Single-Photon Experiments in Quantum Optics. Department of Physics and Astronomy, June 2015. ADVISOR: Orzel, Chad We report our progress toward developing a parametric downconversion apparatus for studying singlephoton quantum optics in undergraduate laboratory classes, following the model of Galvez et al. [1]. We pump a beta barium borate (BBO) crystal with a 405 nm diode laser to produce correlated pairs of singlephotons that we detect using avalanche photodiodes (APD). We can conduct coincidence and anticoincidence counts and a measurement of the degree of second-order coherence with the apparatus, and we report a g < 1. We also discuss the headway towards developing a single-photon interferometer.
Proton pump inhibitors and dementia: what association?

ABSTRACT. Several recent studies have suggested an association between proton pump inhibitors and the development of cognitive changes. Objective: To assess the existence of this association. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted including guidelines, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, observational and experimental studies published between February 2011 and February 2021. Results: The initial research identified 393 articles, 28 of which were included: 8 systematic reviews, 1 clinical trial, 15 observational studies, 3 case-control studies, and 1 cross-sectional observational study. Conclusions: Most studies classified with the highest level of evidence found no statistically significant association between the use of proton pump inhibitors and the development of cognitive impairment or dementia.
Reimagining the Needs of Rural Schools: Teachers’ and Parents’ Experiences of Parental Involvement in School Activities

Abstract The nature of the relationship between parents, teachers, and the school are continuously important because of teachers’ changing social expectations. While formal education is traditionally viewed as the job of teachers, they cannot be expected to address all educational issues that are influenced by multifaceted social issues. We explore parents’ and teachers’ understanding and experiences of parental involvement, and the nature of parental involvement in rural schools. We used the phenomenological approach; semi-structured interviews were administered to comprehend teachers’ and parents’ experiences of parental involvement in school activities. Complex parental views of schooling shaped the manner of involvement in school activities, and the nature of partnerships that were imbalanced. Teachers’ discourses of parental involvement were unsurprisingly influenced by associating classroom spaces with professional qualifications and curriculum pressure, resulting in the exclusion of parents from classroom activities. The dominant nature of parental involvement that teachers mentioned was that parents’ participation was limited to helping outside the classroom to ensure the upkeep of the schools. The findings also revealed that parents’ dominant experiences relate to viewing schools as inaccessible spaces without invitation or permission, as they view themselves as outsiders, and questioned the nature of communication channels.
Mineral Nutrient Uptake, Accumulation, and Distribution in Cunninghamia lanceolata in Response to Drought Stress

Mineral accumulation in plants under drought stress is essential for drought tolerance. The distribution, survival, and growth of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. ), an evergreen conifer, can be affected by climate change, particularly seasonal precipitation and drought. Hence, we designed a drought pot experiment, using 1-year-old Chinese fir plantlets, to evaluate drought effects under simulated mild drought, moderate drought, and severe drought, which corresponds to 60%, 50%, and 40% of soil field maximum moisture capacity, respectively. A treatment of 80% of soil field maximum moisture capacity was used as control. Effects of drought stress on mineral uptake, accumulation, and distribution in Chinese fir organs were determined under different drought stress regimes for 0–45 days. Severe drought stress significantly increased phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) uptake at 15, 30 and 45 days, respectively, within fine (diameter < 2 mm), moderate (diameter 2–5 mm), and large (diameter 5–10 mm) roots. Drought stress decreased magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) uptake by fine roots and increased iron (Fe) uptake in fine and moderate roots but decreased Fe uptake in large roots. Severe drought stress increased P, K, calcium (Ca), Fe, sodium (Na), and aluminum (Al) accumulation in leaves after 45 days and increased Mg and Mn accumulation after 15 days. In stems, severe drought stress increased P, K, Ca, Fe, and Al in the phloem, and P, K, Mg, Na, and Al in the xylem. In branches, P, K, Ca, Fe, and Al concentrations increased in the phloem, and P, Mg, and Mn concentrations increased in the xylem under severe drought stress. Taken together, plants develop strategies to alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress, such as promoting the accumulation of P and K in most organs, regulating minerals concentration in the phloem and xylem, to prevent the occurrence of xylem embolism. The important roles of minerals in response to drought stress should be further evaluated.
Kinematic Characterization of Risky Riding Behavior of On-Demand Food-Delivery Motorcyclists in Taiwan

The rising on-demand food-delivery (ODFD) industry has raised road safety concerns because of the often aggressive and risky driving behavior among ODFD drivers, especially those on motorcycles. This study aims to characterize their aggressive and risky driving behavior with respect to microscopic kinematic characteristics and vehicular interactions. We employed traffic videos collected by unmanned aerial vehicles at two intersections in Taipei, Taiwan, with a 0.1 s time resolution. We extracted vehicular trajectory data using artificial intelligence-based video recognition algorithms to obtain microscopic kinematic variables. We compared microscopic traffic flow characteristics (i.e., speed, lateral velocity, and acceleration) and microscopic interactions (i.e., weaving maneuver frequency, safety gap, and time-to-collision) presented by ODFD and non-ODFD drivers. In addition, we compared the difference in their driving behaviors between non-meal-peak hours and meal-peak hours, hypothetically caused by the platform-employed incentive program. We found that, compared to non-ODFD drivers, ODFD drivers could be more likely to perform aggressive and risky driving, indicated by their faster longitudinal and lateral speed, harsher acceleration/deceleration, more frequent weaving maneuvers, shorter safety gaps, and shorter time-to-collision. Also, their aggressive and risky driving behavior could more likely occur during meal-peak hours. To our knowledge, this research is the first study using naturalistic traffic data to investigate the revealed driving behavior of ODFD drivers, contributing to kinematic/quantitative understandings of ODFD drivers’ aggressive and risky driving. Based on these findings, policymakers and platform companies can prescribe countermeasures and devise training programs to improve public road safety and the occupational safety of ODFD drivers, a vulnerable occupational group emerging worldwide.
Elementary School First Graders’ Acquisition of Productive L2 French Grammar in Regular and CLIL Programs

This study presents productive L2 French grammar data obtained at the end of grade 1 from 186 elementary school children learning French in bilingual (CLIL) or in regular school programs in Germany. The children completed a picture description task to assess their productive oral L2 French grammar skills and two standardized cognitive tests on nonverbal intelligence and sustained attention. The results did not indicate any significant effects of the cognitive tests or of child-internal variables (in this case gender, language background and educational background). However, children in the regular French program unexpectedly outperformed their peers in the bilingual French program. Classroom observations and information provided by teachers suggest that this finding may, at least in part, be due to the fact that in grade 1 there were only minor differences between the two programs in terms of L2 exposure time and teaching methodology.
Mathematical and Numerical Analysis of Elastoplastic Material with Multi-Surface Stress-Strain Relation

Acknowledgments It is my pleasure to express my thanks to my supervisors Professor Dr. C. Carstensen for suggesting this topic to me, for many valuable discussions, and for their supervision during my stays in Kiel and Munich. I wish to thank all of my colleagues at the Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen and Dr. G. Grammel for scientific advice. I am grateful to Dr. J. Alberty and R. Klose for constructive discussions on plasticity and PD Dr. A. Prohl and S. Bartels for their useful advice concerning numerical analysis. Summary The aim of this thesis is the mathematical and numerical analysis of a multi-yield (surface) model in elastoplasticity. The presented Prandtl-Ishlinskii model of play type generalizes the linear kinematic hardening model and leads to a more realistic description of the elastoplastic transition of a material during a deformation process. The unknowns in the quasi-static formulation are displacement and (several) plastic strains which satisfy a time-dependent variational inequality. As for the linear kinematic hardening model, the variational inequality consists of a bounded and elliptic bilinear form, a linear functional, and a positive homogeneous, Lipschitz continuous functional; hence existence and uniqueness of a weak solution is then concluded from a general theory. Our time and space discretization consists of the implicit Euler method and the lowest order finite element method. For any one-time step discrete problem, the vector of plastic strains (considered on one element) depends on the (unknown) displacement only. In contrast to the linear kinematic hardening model, the dependence can not be stated explicitly, but has to be calculated by an iterative algorithm. An a priori error estimate is established and shows linear convergence with respect to time and space under the assumption of sufficient regularity of the solution. A MATLAB solver, which includes the nested iteration technique combined with an (ZZ-) adaptive mesh-refinement strategy and the Newton-Raphson method, is employed for solving the two-yield material model. Various numerical experiments support our theoretical results and give more insight to complex dynamics in elastoplasticity problems. Lösung des " two-yield " Problems herangezogen. Zahlreiche numerische Experimente bele-gen die theoretischen Resultate dieser Arbeit und führen zu einem besseren Verständnis des Materialmodells.
Quality of life among geriatric population residing in Bhavnagar city, Gujarat, Western India

Background: All of the health status, lifestyle, satisfaction, mental state, or well-being, all facets of health status together reflect the multidimensional nature of quality of life (QOL) in an individual. Our objective is to assess quality of life and factors affecting quality of life. Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among 260 subjects (aged ≥ 60 years) residing in 13 wards of Bhavnagar city during September 2019–2020 after taking permission from ethics committee (no. 892) using the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF-25 (WHO QOL BREF-25) scale. We assessed psychiatric morbidity using General Health Questionnaire-12 scale. Independent t-test was performed to find out factors associated with quality of life. Result: Among 260 subjects, 36% were males. Study found highest score in psychological domain and lowest score in physical domain of WHO QOL BREF-25 scale. Physical health was better among Muslims, geriatrics <75 year of age, not addicted abusive substance and no co-morbid condition, whereas geriatrics belonged to upper socio-economic status and normal as per General Health Questionnaire-12 scale had better social relationship. Environmental domain score was significantly better among males and geriatric without co-morbidity. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of active ageing interventions in order to improve the quality of life.
Expanding the applicability of Tikhonov's regularization and iterative approximation for ill-posed problems

Abstract Recently, Vasin [J. Inverse Ill-Posed Probl. 21 (2013), 109–123] considered a new iterative method for approximately solving nonlinear ill-posed operator equation in Hilbert spaces. In this paper we introduce a modified form of the method considered by Vasin. This paper weakens the conditions needed in the existing results. We use a center-type Lipschitz condition in our convergence analysis instead of a Lipschitz-type condition used in [J. Inverse Ill-Posed Probl. 21 (2013), 109–123]. This way a tighter convergence analysis is obtained and under less computational cost, since the more precise and easier to compute center-Lipschitz instead of the Lipschitz constant is used in the convergence analysis. Order optimal error bounds are given in case the regularization parameter is chosen a priori and by the adaptive method of Pereverzev and Schock [SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 43 (2005), 2060–2076]. A numerical example of a nonlinear integral equation proves the efficiency of the proposed method.
Effects of Electronic Cigarette E-Liquids on the Adhesion and Growth of Osteoblast Cells

: Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) were designed to replace traditional cigarettes to decrease the harmful effects of smoking. The liquid in e-cigarettes contains different chemicals, such as Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG), and may contain nicotine. To be more attractive, e-liquids are supplemented with flavorings. Because vaped e-liquids are shown to be damaging to oral tissues, similar effects could occur in the oral cavity with non-vaped e-liquids. We evaluated the effects of non-vaped e-liquid constituents on osteoblast behavior. For this purpose, human osteoblast cells (MG-63) were exposed to e-liquid containing 70% PG -30% VG with and without tobacco flavor and with or without nicotine at 12, 18 mg/mL, or no nicotine content. The e-liquids were used at various concentrations (0, 1, and 5%). To evaluate the effect of the e-liquids on osteoblast morphology and adhesion, optical microscope observations and viable cell counting using trypan blue exclusion were used. Cell growth was also analyzed using the Methyl Thiazol Tetrazolium (MTT) assay, while cytotoxicity was tested by measuring Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) levels after cell exposure for 24 h to the e-liquids. Our results show that e-liquids induced significant morphological changes evidenced by round cell forms, with no contact between cells. Adhesion was significantly reduced, particularly in the presence of nicotine. E-liquids at a concentration of 5% significantly reduced osteoblast growth. This effect was observed with both flavored and non-flavored e-liquid with or without nicotine. The decreased osteoblast adhesion and growth after exposure to e-liquid was confirmed by increased levels of LDH. Overall results indicate the potentially harmful effects of e-liquid non-vaped chemicals on bone cells, which could lead to the impairment of bone regeneration and tissue remodeling processes .
Elastography of the Liver in Wilson’s Disease

Staging of liver fibrosis is of special significance in Wilson’s disease as it determines the patient’s prognosis and treatment. Histopathological examination is a standard method for fibrosis assessment; however, non-invasive methods like transient elastography and share wave elastography are believed to be reliable and repetitive and are expected to replace liver biopsy in Wilson’s disease. This article presents a short description of available elastography techniques and the results of the most recent studies on elastography of the liver in patients with Wilson’s disease.
Serum Concentration of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and Atherosclerosis among General Older Japanese Individuals with Normal Weight

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), which modulates cellular energy balance, is reported to be positively associated with cardiovascular disease. However, there have been no reports about the association between serum GDF-15 concentration and atherosclerosis as evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) among the general population. A cross-sectional study of 536 Japanese individuals aged 60 to 69 years was conducted. To avoid the influence of abnormal cellular energy balance, this study only included participants who had a normal body mass index (BMI) and normal thyroid hormone (free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine) levels. A significant positive association between serum GDF-15 concentration and atherosclerosis was observed. In the sex- and age-adjusted model (Model 1), the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for the logarithmic value of GDF-15 and atherosclerosis was 2.62 (1.67, 5.87). This association remained after adjusting for thyroid function and renal function (Model 2) and further adjusting for known cardiovascular risk factors (Model 3). The corresponding values were 2.61 (1.15, 5.93) for Model 2 and 2.49 (1.08, 5.71) for Model 3, respectively. Serum GDF-15 concentrations could help us to estimate the risk of atherosclerosis by indicating the status of cellular energy balance, which is related to mitochondrial activity among comparative healthy older individuals.