Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in adult sickle cell disease patients in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Patients with sickle cell disease are considered high risk groups for hepatitis viruses infections due to their need for blood transfusions, and surgical interventions resulting from complications while admission in different health service centers. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections in sickle cell anemia patients in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. This is a retrospective study was conducted at the medical department at King Fahad Hofuf hospital - AL-HASSA, and 211 adult patients (age >12 years) with sickle cell disease were finally included in the study . we collected demographic information including their age, sex and nationality. As well as data of laboratory tests for determining the levels of transaminase, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase in addition to hepatitis B and C viral markers. ALL 211patients were Saudi nationals native, and the ages of patients are ranged from (12 to 73 years) (mean 29.7 ΁ 8.9 years). There were 142 Male (67%) and 69 female ( 33%) patients. The overall ,prevalence of HCV -antibody was (5.7 %) (12/211out 211 patients), while 2of 211 (0.95%) patients were positive for HBS Ag. The prevalence of hepatitis C infection in sickle cell disease patients were significantly higher than that observed in normal individuals. The results of our study highlights the need for regular screening of HBV and HCV in sickle cell disease patients.
Improved Municipal Solid Waste Gasification Efficiency Using a Modified Downdraft Gasifier with Variations of Air Input and Preheated Air Temperature

Gasification is a potential technology to convert municipal solid waste into energy in the form of syngas. Addition of air to the pyrolysis zone and oxidation was carried out by modifying a single-stage downdraft gasifier into a multistage air inlet. The results showed an increase in the syngas heating value and decreased tar content. To determine the performance, the effects of equivalent ratio, preheated air temperature, and air ratio were studied. When the equivalent ratio is increased, the flammable gas and LHV decrease. The optimum conditions were obtained for the equivalent ratio (ER) of 0.4, where the percentage of CO and H₂ increased at an oxidation temperature of 902 °C. The variation of the air ratio has a stronger influence than the effect of the equivalent ratio because at the same equivalent ratio an increase in pyrolysis temperature of 674 °C is favorable to reforming tar from primary tar to secondary tar. The CO percentage increased significantly from 18.17% to 22.51%. Air preheating is useful to improve gasification performance, which was characterized by an increase in LHV from 5254 to 5976 kJ/kg. The optimum equivalent ratio and air ratio were 0.4 and 40:60, respectively, and effectively reduced the tar content from 50.02 to 27.82 mg/Nm³. The results of this study can be used to optimize multistage gasifier performance using air preheating and a multistage air inlet.
The Mechanisms of the Frank-Starling Law and Familial Cardiomyopathy are Different. The Function of Myosin Binding Protein-C is Retained on Myocyte Length Increase and Force Generated is Kinase controlled

I have recently reiterated that the cross-bridge is a calcium ATPase that is inhibited by magnesium and this arises because in normal hearts Myosin binding Protein-C prevents the use of MgATP as rate limiting substrate ensuring that Ca2+ replaces Mg2+ in the excitation pathway. Here I revisit the studies on [Ca2+] dependency of ATPase and tension under diastolic stretch with a different conclusion on Hill coefficients. This reveals the underlying mechanisms of the Frank-Starling Law and Hypertrophic myopathy are not the same, the former being kinase controlled.
The Study of Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Amritsar

Trend of poisoning had been constantly changing throughout the world, as the advent of new agents, has always replaced the older one due to their innumerable merits and demerits. Similarly in India, the pattern of ingested poisons has also changed. A number of chemical substances which are developed to save the agricultural product from rodents and pests are in fact themselves proving to be disastrous for mankind. Recently in the last two decades aluminium phosphide [Alphos] used as pesticide, rodenticide, fumigant for storage of food grains has created havoc with the human lives differently i.e. suicidal, accidental and very rarely homicidal poisoning agent. Alphos, a solid fumigant used for storage of food grains, freely accessible in the market is commonly used suicidal agent with high mortality rate as no antidote or specific treatment is available.
Ethylene–propylene copolymerization and their terpolymerization with dienes using ansa-Zirconocene catalysts activated by borate/alkylaluminum

Abstract Copolymerization of ethylene (E) and propylene (P) and their terpolymerizations with three kinds of diene (5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB), 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH) and 1,4-hexadiene (HD)) under 4 bar monomer pressure in n-heptane solution were studied. Two ansa-zirconocenes (rac-Me2Si(2-Me-4-Ph-Ind)2ZrCl2 (Mt-I) and rac-Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 (Mt-II)) activated by (Ph3C)B(C6F5)4/triisobutylaluminum were used as the catalyst, respectively. In general, addition of diene depressed the polymerization activity. ENB exerted the strongest deactivation effect on Mt-I, and HD caused the strongest deactivation on Mt-II. Among the two metallocenes, activity of Mt-I was more sensitive to the diene. Increasing diene concentration in the monomer feed caused lower propylene incorporation rate and shorter average length of polypropylene sequences, and the average length of polyethylene sequences was increased by adding more HD in E/P/HD terpolymerization with Mt-II. The Mt-II/borate catalyst showed high activity and diene incorporation rate for E/P/ENB terpolymerization. In contrast, Mt-I/borate catalyst showed high activity and propylene incorporation rate for E/P copolymerization, but was nearly inactive for E/P/ENB terpolymerization.
Quantitative histomorphometry of digital pathology as a companion diagnostic: Predicting outcome for ER+ breast cancers

OF THE DISSERTATION Quantitative Histomorphometry of Digital Pathology as a Companion Diagnostic: Predicting Outcome For ER+ Breast Cancers by Ajay Nagesh Basavanhally Dissertation Director: Anant Madabhushi This work involves the creation of an image-based companion diagnostic framework that employs quantitative features extracted from whole-slide, H & E stained digital pathology (DP) images to distinguish patients based on disease outcome, with a clinical application aimed at distinguishing estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BCa) patients with good and poor outcomes. Quantitative histomorphometry (QH) – the conversion of a digitized histopathology slide into a series of quantitative measurements of tumor morphology – is a rapidly growing field aimed at introducing advanced image analytics into the histopathological workflow. The thrust towards personalized medicine has led to the development of companion diagnostic tools that measure gene expression, yielding quantitative outcome predictions for improved disease stratification and customized therapies, e.g. Oncotype DX (Genomic Health, Inc.) for ER+ BCa. Yet, tumor morphology is often correlated with genomic assays, suggesting that genotypic variations in biologically distinct classes of tumors lead to distinct patterns of tumor cell morphology and tissue architecture in histopathology. The application of this work to ER+ BCa is highly relevant to current clinical needs. Current treatment guidelines recommend that the majority of women with ER+ BCa
Cracks Reinforce the Interactions among Soil Bacterial Communities in the Coal Mining Area of Loess Plateau, China

Soil microorganisms play a key role in global biogeochemical changes. To understand the interactions among soil bacterial communities and their responses to extreme environments, the soil properties and bacterial community diversity were determined in the post-mining ecosystem of the Loess Plateau, China. The results showed that the soil temperature, pH, organic matter, available phosphorus, and available potassium values were significantly reduced in the post-mining cracks area. However, the richness and uniformity of soil bacterial communities increased by about 50% in the post-mining cracks area. Soil microbial community structure and the network interactions tended to be complex and strengthened in the post-mining cracks area. Moreover, soil nutrient loss caused the differences in soil bacterial community structure compositions in the post-mining cracks area. Furthermore, the relationships between soil physicochemical properties and different modules of the soil bacterial molecular ecological network were changed in a complex manner in the post-mining cracks area. This study provides a theoretical basis for adaptive management and response to cracks in post-mining areas and under other extreme conditions.
Time Series Analysis for BWR Stability Studies

Abstract Analysis of the power time series evolution is used to investigate a stable or unstable process after the disturbance in a light water reactor of the boiling water reactor (BWR) type. Several different methodologies are currently used and the uncertainties of the various approaches are in some cases very different. In this work, the time series model known as the Autoregressive Moving Average model was used to calculate the decay ratio (DR), and the natural frequency (NF) due to power oscillations in a BWR. The method consists of locating the appropriate dominant pole of the transfer function. The autoregressive methods are quite often used to study the stability of BWR reactors. In this work the Box-Cox transformation is implemented to stabilize the variances of the power signals in order to maintain the linear assumptions that the calculation of DR and NF needs; that is, to correct biases in the distribution of errors to stabilize the variance and mainly so that the signal approaches a linear behavior. The MATLAB code was used for this purpose. This work also presents a nonlinear analysis of the power series, determining the values of the largest Lyapunov exponents with Rosenstein’s algorithm in order to analyze the stability of the system. The results of the DR and NF calculated by the used methodology are very close to the values obtained in the benchmark.
Efficiency of LHRH immunization as a male sterilization vaccine

By Jennifer A. Hernandez, Ph.D. Washington State University August 2004 Chair: Jerry J. Reeves The objective of the studies presented herein is to examine the effectiveness of immunocastration using recombinant LHRH fusion proteins compared to surgical castration. In experiment 1, reproductive and hormonal effects of recombinant fusion proteins were investigated in Nelore bulls in Brazil. This experiment was divided into two studies. In study I, animals were separated into three treatment groups: intact; surgically castrated; and LHRH immunocastrated. LHRH immunocastrated bulls were immunized against a cocktail of two recombinant LHRH-7 fusion proteins. In study II, a fourth treatment group was implement in which half of the LHRH immunocastrated bulls received an additional immunization, and this study extended and additional year. LHRH antibodies were not detectable in the castrate or intact animals in either study. In both studies, scrotal circumference decreased as LHRH antibody binding increased in immunized bulls. By d 287 serum testosterone concentrations for all castrate groups in both studies was decreased when compared to intact controls. In experiment 2, carcass characteristics were examined for the bulls in study I. Average tenderness scores were inferior for intact bulls compared to immunized and castrated animals. Additionally, both castrated and immunized animals had greater marbling and percent carcass fat than the
Decomposition of Oil Palm Frond and Leaflet Residues

Frond and leaflet residues from pruning of oil palm which are applied as mulch on oil palm plantation will decompose and can be source of organic matter and some essential nutrients. Information about how much the released nutrients from the decomposition processes of frond and leaflet of oil palm is limited. The objective of this research was to study the period (two years) patterns of nutrient release and decomposition of frond and leaflet of oil palm at different burial depth (0 to 30 cm) in peat soil. Decomposition of frond and leaflet of oil palm did not have a different pattern in mass loss, chemical content changes of C/N, N content, P content, P released, however, it has different pattern in N released. During two years of decomposition, frond and leaflet lost 88% and 86% of its initial weight and released 51% and 83% of N, also it released P 87% and 93% respectively. Frond and leaflet from pruning of oil palm should be returned to plantation area for one source of nutrients beside fertilizer.
The Effect of Co-teaching on the Academic Achievement Outcomes of Students with Disabilities: a Meta-analytic Synthesis

Co-teaching has been, and continues to be, a growing trend in American schools since the late 1990s. As the popularity of this service delivery model increases, there is an imperative need for empirical research focusing on how co-teaching affects academic outcomes of students who receive special education services. Evidence regarding the academic outcomes of co-teaching is limited, and reports mixed results. The purpose of this study is to provide a synthesis of research examining academic outcomes of co-teaching on students who receive special education services. Quantitative information from each research report was coded, an overall effect size was computed, and a moderator analysis was conducted. Results suggest a significant effect (g = .281, k = 32, p < .05) of co-teaching on the academic outcomes of students with disabilities when compared to students with disabilities who did not receive instruction in co-taught settings; though a larger effect was found among dissertation reports (g = .439, k = 25, p < .001). Additionally, a significant effect was found when examining the academic outcomes of students in co-teaching compared to the academic outcomes of students in a resource classroom setting (g = . 435, k = 27, p < . 001. Lastly, effects were stronger the longer these students were in co-teaching environments. Implications of findings and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Experiences of school counselors during and after making suspected child abuse and neglect reports

EXPERIENCES OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS DURING AND AFTER MAKING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS April Sikes Old Dominion University, 2009 Director: Dr. Theodore P. Remley The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of school counselors during or after making suspected child abuse and neglect reports. The survey population for this study consisted of all members of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) who identified themselves as working in elementary, elementary/middle, middle/junior high, middle/secondary, secondary/high school, and K-12 work settings. Email addresses were obtained from the ASCA online member directory during the summer of 2008. A total of 847 surveys were completed and returned. A total of 11,113 ASCA members were sent surveys. Of those sent, 7,021 were returned undeliverable, suggesting that the on-line directory was out of date. A total of 847 of the 4,092 surveys that were successfully delivered were completed and returned for a 21% response rate. This study investigated the following broad research question: What are the experiences of professional school counselors in reporting suspected child abuse or neglect? School counselor variables including amount of training, years of experience, and credentials were explored in relation to the experiences of school counselors in making suspected child abuse reports. In addition, this study explored school variables including school setting, school level, and socioeconomic level of school. No studies that examined the experiences of school counselors after reporting cases of suspected child abuse and neglect were found in the literature. Thus, a survey entitled the Child Abuse Post-Reporting Experiences of School Counselors Survey (CARE) was developed to gather this information. Results showed that professional school counselors are encountering some interpersonal and intrapersonal negative experiences during and after making reports of suspected child abuse. In this study, elementary school counselors reported more negative experiences in making suspected abuse or neglect reports than secondary school counselors. Results revealed that years of school counseling experience and post-master's degree training events significantly predicted the frequency of negative reporting experiences among school counselors. School counselors with more years of experience and with fewer post-master's degree training events had less negative reporting experiences than school counselors with fewer years of experience and more postmaster's degree training events. Additionally, several noteworthy findings emerged from the item analysis for Section I items of the CARE instrument.
Entrance criteria for nursing programs: Equality of opportunity or de facto discrimination

The acute nursing shortage across the nation is compounded by underrepresented minorities in health care in light of the growing diversity of America‟s citizenry. These issues are converging into a major debate in higher education regarding admission policies and practices to ensure entry of most qualified students to meet the growing demand for nurses. While nursing programs have been charged with increasing the diversity of students admitted into their programs, it has not yet come to fruition. This investigation evaluates entrance criteria for RN associate of science degree nursing programs (ASN) at two-year institutions using an ex post facto design to determine if nurse entrance criteria provide for equal opportunity for admission or results in de facto discrimination. The research examines the effect of nurse entrance criteria of overall Total Quality Points (TQP) for non-science, non-math, math, and science courses, and nurse entrance exam scores, specifically the Test of Academic Assessment Skills (TEAS) to determine how they impact the admission of minority students, specifically African American students, into the nursing program. Admissions criteria of TEAS only, TEAS plus TQP, TEAS and TQP separately, and TQP only are assessed to determine which criteria maximize the admission rate of minority students into nursing programs along with regression studies to identify which demographics or characteristics significantly impact the success of African American students‟ performance on the TEAS test or to determine if de facto discrimination is present. Identification of various iv stages of elimination of students from the applicant pool as it is narrowed down will aid in determining which levels of the admissions criteria may require intervention during the prenursing preparation phase. This study will investigate the role of standardized tests as a barrier to minority enrollment. Data analyses revealed discrimination against African American students seeking entrance into the ASN program at three community colleges. The TEAS test was a serious barrier to African American student inclusion in the final applicant pool and consideration for admission into the ASN program. Students who did not pass all TEAS subsets did not move forward for inclusion in the final applicant pool. Those African American students in the applicant pool were also negatively impacted by the TEAS test as well as TQP after controlling for first generation status, age, high school rank, and high school rigor. Thus, the admission process for the ASN program using TEAS as an admission criterion is discriminatory against African American students.
Freeman Sheldon syndrome with characteristic whistling face and windmill vane hand deformity.

Freeman-Sheldon syndrome (FSS) is an extremely rare syndrome with only about 100 cases reported [1]. It was first described by Freeman and Sheldon in 1938 [2]. It is characterized by oropharyngeal abnormalities, contractures of the hands and feet and a characteristic "whistling" facies. We report a male neonate of Freeman Sheldon Syndrome presenting with small mouth (microstomia) and pursed lips, prominent nasolabial folds and bilateral distal arthrogryposis. A brief review of literature has also been added.
Experimental control from wake induced autorotation with applications to energy harvesting

ABSTRACT This study is devoted to the investigation of optimal conditions for flow-induced autorotation of a hinged cylinder in a direction perpendicular to the flow in a water tunnel. Previous studies of hinged, immersed cylinders inflow have shown autorotation to be dependent upon the geometric aspects of the body and flow speed when the speed is beyond a critical threshold. Our experiments indicate that introducing a blockage of the appropriate width and at the right distance, upstream of the cylinder, can help induce autorotation, even at much lower flow speeds. Additionally, the percentage of the cylinder’s area blocked (i.e. the blockage ratio), is a significant control parameter, which can be used to manipulate the rotational speed of the cylinder. This phenomenon can be used to generate power which is demonstrated here by a suitable modification of our setup. Our mechanism deviates from traditional wind and hydro-power generators which use blade turbines by considering a cylinder and its modifications as a turbine. Such a design is easy to manufacture and control as is demonstrated in our experiments. Induced autorotation by the introduction of a control body upstream of the turbine is shown to increase power generation in our setup up to 400%.
Early physiological consequences of sodium azide toxicity on sphenostylis stenocarpa (hochst ex. A. Rich) harms.

The study focused primarily on evaluating the effect of sodium azide toxicity on African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst. Ex. A. Rich) Harms. A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of 0, 15, 30, 35, 45 and 60 ppm sodium azide (NaN3) on the germination and seedling growth of African yam bean. Morphological parameters measured included germination percentage, length of the radicle and plumule (cm), number of leaves and secondary roots. Results showed that sodium azide generally had a more toxic effect on seed germination and seedling development of African yam bean with increase in the concentration employed. Growth was significantly inhibited at all concentrations although its effect was only marginal at 15 ppm.