Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optofluidic Microscopy and Wavefront Microscopy: Innovations in Biological Imaging

This thesis presents two new microscopic imaging techniques: the optofluidic microscopy (OFM) and the wavefront microscopy (WM). By integrating optical functionalities onto a single semiconductor chip, these inventions could reduce the cost and improve the efficiency and quality of microscopic imaging in biological research and clinical diagnostics. First, OFM utilizes a microfluidic flow to deliver cellular samples across array(s) of micron-sized apertures defined on a metal-coated CMOS image sensor to acquire direct projection images of the samples. Although the OFM prototype is as small as a dime, it can render high resolution images (~1 µm) with comparable quality to those of a bulky standard optical microscope. OFM has great potential in revolutionizing the way we use microscopes. For example, the availability of tens or even hundreds of microscopes on a single chip will allow massively paralleled imaging of large populations of cells or microorganisms; the compactness and low cost of the OFM can enable portable and even disposable biomedical diagnostic tools for future telemedicine and personalized health care. Second, we present a new microscopy concept - WM. Wavefront image sensor (WIS) is the enabling component of WM. By monitoring the tightly confined transmitted light spots through a 2D aperture grid (spacing = 11 µm, diameter = 6 µm) fabricated on a CMOS image sensor in a high Fresnel number regime, we can accurately measure both intensity and phase front variations (a measured normalized phase gradient sensitivity of 0.1 mrad under the typical working condition - 1.0 second total signal accumulation time and 9.2 µW/cm^2 light intensity on the sensor) of a wavefront separately and quantitatively. Therefore, researchers and clinicians can incorporate pure phase imaging into their current microscope systems by simply adding the WIS in place of the conventional camera. When combined with adaptive optics strategies, this technology will facilitate deep tissue imaging using multiphoton microscopy.
Polyparasitism with Schistosoma haematobium, Plasmodium and soil-transmitted helminths in school-aged children living in the urogenital schistosomiasis endemic focus of Muyuka-Cameroon following implementation of control measures: a cross sectional study

Background: Despite the ubiquity of polyparasitism, its health impacts have been inadequately studied. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of polyparasitism with Schistosoma haematobium, Plasmodium and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) following sustained control measures, as well as evaluate the outcomes and clinical correlates of infection in school-aged children (SAC) living in the schistosomiasis endemic focus of Muyuka-Cameroon.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, urine, blood and stool samples were each collected from SAC (4-14 years) between March to June 2015. Microhaematuria in urine was detected using reagent strip and S. haematobium ova by filtration/microscopy methods. Plasmodium was detected using Giemsa stained blood films and complete blood count was obtained using an auto-haematology analyser. STH in stool was detected by the Kato-Katz method. Categorical and continuous variables were compared as required, Kappa value estimated and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) in the multivariate analysis was used to evaluate association of the risk factors with infection.Results: Out of the 638 SAC examined, single infection was prevalent in 33.4% while polyparasitism was 19.9%. Prevalence of S. haematobium + Plasmodium was 7.8%; S. haematobium + STH was 0.8%; Plasmodium + STH was 0.8% while, S. haematobium + Plasmodium + STH was 0.9%. Higher preponderance of S. haematobium + Plasmodium infection occurred in females, those from Likoko, did not use potable water, practiced bathing in stream and carried out open defecation than their equivalents. However, being female (AOR =2.38, P=0.009) was the only significant risk factor identified. Anaemia was a common morbidity (74.3%) with a slight agreement with microscopy in predicting S. haematobium and Plasmodium infections. The sensitivity and specificity of haematuria (13.0%) in predicting S. haematobium infection was 46.5% and 100% with a moderate agreement with microscopy. Co-infection with S. haematobium and malaria parasite was significantly associated with 3-fold odds of history of fever in the last three days.Conclusions: Polyparasitism is a public health problem in the Ikata-Likoko area in Muyuka with females most at risk. Anaemia prevalence is exacerbated in co- and triple-infections and together with a history of fever are of value in predicting polyparasitism.
High performance 0.25 /spl mu/m SiGe and SiGe:C HBTs using non selective epitaxy

A robust 0.25 /spl mu/m double-poly SiGe HBT structure using non selective epitaxy has been developed. The device features 70/90 GHz f/sub T//f/sub max/ with pure SiGe base in 0.25 /spl mu/m BiCMOS technology. Performances up to 120/100 GHz f/sub T//f/sub max/ are demonstrated for SiGe:C base transistors.
Time Series And Dynamic Models

In this book Christian Gourieroux and Alain Monfort provide an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of modern time series econometrics. They have succeeded in synthesising in an organised and integrated way a broad and diverse literature. While the book does not assume a deep knowledge of economics, one of its most attractive features is the close attention it pays to economic models and phenomena throughout. The coverage represents a major reference tool for graduate students, researchers and applied economists. The book is divided into four sections. Section one gives a detailed treatment of classical seasonal adjustment or smoothing methods. Section two provides a thorough coverage of various mathematical tools. Section three is the heart of the book, and is devoted to a range of important topics including causality, exogeneity shocks, multipliers, cointegration and fractionally integrated models. The final section describes the main contribution of filtering and smoothing theory to time series econometric problems.
Understanding concepts needed for semiconductor physics

Electrical engineering students were interviewed in order to reveal their understanding of important physics concepts needed for a semiconductor physics course. In particular, the concepts of diffusion, holes and doping were studied. We found that a hierarchy of understanding existed for all these concepts, where different students had grasped the concepts to different levels. Particular student conceptions are given. We think it is important for teachers in both the physics and the semiconductor physics courses to know about the existing student conceptions, in order to meet them in the education.
Comparison between Non-Destructive Evaluation Techniques and Integrated Fiber Optic Health Monitoring Systems for Composite Sandwich Structures

Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) methods have been adapted to composite sandwich structures in order to detect damage, in particular impact induced damage. Using three coupons representative of radome structures, several techniques were tested: ultrasonics, the Electromagnetic/InfraRed method (EMIR), stimulated shearography and stimulated infrared thermography. The extension of the measured damaged area was taken as a criterion, showing that stimulated shearography and ultrasound are the most sensitive methods. Moreover, two integrated Health Monitoring Systems (HMS) were tested, based on the one hand on microbending sensitive fibres and Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR), and on the other hand on Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors. The experiments demonstrated that HMS can detect damage with sensitivity comparable to that of the external NDE techniques.
Pedestrian Impact Priorities Using Real-World Crash Data and Harm

A study was undertaken to assess the crash types, behaviour and injuries associated with vehicle and pedestrian crashes and the priorities for vehicle design optimisation based on reduced societal harm. Data from the Australian fatal file and the University of Hannover were analysed for the types of pedestrian crashes with cars, pre-crash pedestrian behaviours, injuries sustained and contact sources of these injuries. The harm associated with these outcomes was then ranked to provide priorities for vehicle design aimed at increased pedestrian protection. For the covering abstract see ITRD E141807.
The Effect of Auditor Cybersecurity Expertise on Audit Fees and Cyber Incidents.

This study focuses on local audit offices’ cybersecurity expertise and examines the effect of such expertise on non-breached clients’ audit fees and future cyber incidents. Using data on cyber incidents from the Audit Analytics cybersecurity database and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse for the period from 2006 to 2017, we observe a positive and significant association between auditor’s cybersecurity experience and non-breached clients’ audit fees. This suggests that auditors with greater cybersecurity experience consider cyber risk before any cyber incident has occurred. In addition, we find evidence that the increased audit fees charged by cybersecurity-experienced auditors are negatively associated with non-breached clients’ future breaches and auditor’s IT capability strengthens the association. Collectively, this finding suggests that auditor’s cybersecurity experience is effective in helping clients preventing future cyber incidents and auditor’s IT capability strengthens the effectiveness. Our results remain robust after a battery of sensitivity tests.
Investors’ Perspectives on the Financial and Non-Financial Reports

Reporting both financial and non-financial reports is believed as a positive way to attract investors because investor decisions do not only depend on financial information factors in making their investment decisions. Many non-financial factors might increase firm value, such as disclosure of enterprise risk management, disclosure of intellectual capital, disclosure of corporate social responsibility. This paper aims to analyze whether the customer goods industry's economic and noneconomy disclosure impacts investor decision-making. Using multiple regression method in the explanatory research with quantitative approach, this study revealed that: (1) Profitability has a significant influence on Firm Value; (2) Dividend Policy does not have a significant influence on Firm Value; (3) Enterprise Risk Management Disclosures has a significant influence on Firm Value; (4) Intellectual Capital Disclosure has a significant influence on Firm Value; (5) Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure has a significant influence on Firm Value. The combination of the financial and non-financial reports has significantly attracted investors. Keywords—non-financial report, dividend policy, enterprise risk management disclosure, intellectual capital, CSR
Making waves: Contesting the lifestyle marketing and sponsorship of female surfers

The surfing industry is a multi-billion dollar a year global business (Gladdon, 2002). Professional female surfers, in particular, are drawing greater media attention than ever before and are seen by surf companies as the perfect vehicle to develop this global industry further. Because lifestyle branding has been developed as a modern marketing strategy, this thesis examines the lifestyle marketing practices of the three major surfing companies Billabong, Rip Curl and Quicksilver/Roxy through an investigation of the sponsorship experiences of fifteen sponsored female surfers. The research paradigm guiding this study is an interpretive approach that applies Doris Lessing’s (1991) concept of conformity and Michel Foucault’s (1979) notion of surveillance and the technologies of the self. An ethnographic approach was utilised to examine the main research purpose, namely to: determine the impact of lifestyle marketing by Billabong, Rip Curl and Quicksilver/Roxy on sponsored female surfers. The data collection was conducted over a four-year period and was predominantly based on interviews supported by observation, field notes and document analysis that included the analysis of visual material represented in magazines, newspapers, surf-related websites and DVDs. Interviews were conducted with fifteen female surfers who were predominantly sponsored by either Billabong, Rip Curl or Quicksilver/Roxy and included other non-surf-related companies to discuss their sponsorship experiences. Four representatives from three manufacturers of global surf wear, Billabong, Rip Curl and Quicksilver/Roxy, were also interviewed in order to determine the motivation, selection criteria and philosophy that will impact on the sponsorship of these female surfers.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION OF POULTRY MEAT PRODUCTS: KNOWLEDGE GAPS IN THE FARM TO STORE PRODUCTS

Title of Dissertation: EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION OF POULTRY MEAT PRODUCTS: KNOWLEDGE GAPS IN THE FARM TO STORE PRODUCTS Maung San Myint, Doctor of Philosophy, 2004 Dissertation directed by: Professor Yvette J. Johnson Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences The ultimate goal of controlling foodborne hazards is to reduce the risk of disease to consumers, and the economic burden related to foodborne illness. A literature review identified four areas of insufficient data on the epidemiology of Salmonella. A crosssectional study was used to estimate prevalence of enteric bacterial contamination of plant-based animal feed and milk replacer from Maryland and Northern Virginia. All samples were negative for Campylobacter; 0.6% were positive for Salmonella; 5.7 % for E.coli; and 50.6% for Enterococcus. Samples purchased in summer of 2002 were 38 times more likely to be contaminated with Enterococcus than samples purchased in winter of 2002 (p-value<0.001). Enterococcus positive samples were 8 times more likely to be E.coli positive than Enterococcus negative samples. Another cross-sectional study was used to assess the association between the pattern of airflow and the distribution of fecal coliforms and Salmonella in commercial chicken litter. At moderate relative humidity (about 50%), there was a significant association between regions of reduced airflow and increased coliform and Salmonella contamination within a poultry house. An analysis of a PCR technique to validate sensitivity and specificity relative to culture techniques for detecting Salmonella contamination in retail poultry meat was conducted. When only BPW pre-enrichment was used, the PCR test had a sensitivity of 85%. This increased to 89 100% when BPW pre-enrichment was followed by selective enrichment with RV or TT-H broth, respectively when conventional culture is the gold standard. A minimum of 12 hours pre-enrichment and 100 cfu was necessary to achieve 100% sensitivity with PCR. Random poultry meat samples from 10 retail grocery outlets in Maryland were collected in the final cross-sectional study. Overall Salmonella prevalence in poultry meat products was 23% (C.I 15.16 30.86). Integrator brand ground chicken meat had an increased Salmonella prevalence compared to non-ground meat products; however this difference was not significant (p=0.0533). Store brand non-ground chicken meat products were 18 times more likely to be contaminated with Salmonella than integrator brands (C.I. 5.41-61.26). EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION OF POULTRY MEAT PRODUCTS: KNOWLEDGE GAPS IN THE FARM TO STORE PRODUCTS
Mathematics of Analog‐to‐Digital Conversion

As the performance of digital circuits and the capacity of digital communication channels have advanced steadily over the past decades, digital signals have replaced analog signals in nearly every technological application domain, offering robustness, ever increasing quality, and speed. At the same time, many signals that we perceive audiovisually (sound and video), or measure via instrumentation (e.g., geophysical signals and medical images), are analog in their nature. Consequently, not only are the analog‐to‐digital (A/D) and digital‐to‐analog (D/A) conversion processes as crucial as ever, but also the performance of these processes must improve to meet the increasing demands at the digital processing end. Both A/D and D/A conversion is necessarily carried out via analog devices bound by physical limitations such as imprecisions and noise, which present continual technological as well as theoretical challenges to achieving this objective. This article aims to introduce some of the modern mathematical ideas, developments, and challenges in this context from the author's perspective. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Numerical simulation of thin-walled metallic circular frusta subjected to axial loading

Abstract Commercial finite element codes, e.g. the explicit code LS-DYNA, have made significant progress. They have been developed and improved to the point of being able to predict the various crash problems, as well as to successfully simulate the collapse of tubular components with a reasonable amount of computer time, allowing such structural crashworthy elements to be designed and analysed without having to build and test expensive prototypes. The present paper is dealing with the implementation of the explicit FE code LS-DYNA to the simulation of the axial crushing performance of steel and aluminium thin-walled circular frusta with a constant nominal axial length and various semi-apical angles and wall-thickness. The obtained numerical results are compared with actual experimental data from small-scale models and useful concluding remarks pertaining to the design requirements of the crushing process are drawn.
Coherent multichannel reception of binary modulated signals with independent Rician fading

A novel technique to calculate the BER of a q-branch coherent receiver is described. The assumed system consists of an antipodal binary-modulated transmitted signal, with independent Rician fading on each received branch. The method allows simplification of a (q+1)-dimensional integral down to a 1-dimensional integral (Id), which is readily amenable to numerical evaluation.
Magnitude of obesity/overweight and its associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy in Jimma University Specialized and Teaching hospital, south west Ethiopia: Hospital based Crossectional study

Background: Obesity is on the rise worldwide, not only in the general population but also in PLWHA. Being overweight and obese are themselves a risk factors for cardiovascular and other diseases. Despite this few studies have been conducted to determine the magnitude of obesity/overweight and its associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients in Ethiopia. This study aimed at determining the magnitude of obesity/overweight and its associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients on HAART at JUSTH, Ethiopia 2019. Method: hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February in 2019 at JUSTH. WHO STEP wise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) questionnaire and document review for HIV related clinical factors was applied. Weight, height and waist circumference and hip circumference were measured. BMI ≥25 kg/m2 was considered overweight, while abdominal obesity was referred to males with waist to hip ratio of greater than 0.95 and greater than 0.85 for females. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: A total of 252 participants with a response rate of 95.8% were included. The prevalence of obesity/overweight was 21%. After adjusting for these variables, age category of greater than 50 years [AOR = 0.4, 95%CI (0.2, 0.9), p = 0.03],WHO clinical stage III and above [AOR = 0.04,95% CI (0.002,0.6) ), p = 0.02], presence of mild to moderate physical activity [AOR = 1.3,95% CI,(5.5,33.3)),p=0.00), plasma CD4 count between 351-500 copies/ml [AOR=0.15,95% CI, (0.04,0.6) p=0.024], female sex [AOR = 2.6,95% CI,(1.25,10)p=0.03)] were significantly associated with obesity/overweight Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of obesity/overweight among HIV/AIDS patients. It was found that older age , female sex , early stage of the disease, lower CD4 cunt and absence of mild to moderate physical activity were significant predictor of obesity/overweight. Clinicians should be aware of the health consequence of obesity and consider instituting targeted weight management programs as part of routine HIV care. It is, therefore, vital to encourage intervention strategies that focus on promotion of physical activity among people living with HIV/AIDS.
Chloride intrusion into thermally damaged self-compacting concrete

The post-heating resistance of limestone self-compacting concrete (SCC) against chloride intrusion is investigated considering key parameters such as water-to-cement ratio (0.4, 0.45, and 0.5), relative humidity, and elevated temperature (300 °C and 400 °C). The SCC mixtures were proportioned to conform to universal specification with regard to different workability requirements. Chloride profiles were determined for post-heated and companion prismatic (100 mm × 100 mm × 250 mm) specimens, kept at room temperature. Consequently, diffusion coefficients were determined based on Fick’s steady state formula. Post-heating damage was quantified, as well, using various techniques such as ultrasonic pulse velocity waves, resonant frequency, compression test measurements. The results indicated significant reductions in compressive strength and estimated dynamic modulus ranging from 20 to 60% and 10 to 40%, respectively, with a corresponding increase in chloride diffusion coefficient reaching 80%. Both temperature .
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY OF NIGERIAN FINANCIAL SERVICE INDUSTRY

The study evaluated the effect of executive compensation on financial reporting quality in Nigerian financial service industry for the period covered. These were with a view to providing information on the effect of executive compensation and financial reporting quality in Nigeria. The study employed a secondary source of data collection. The population for the study consisted of 22 quoted deposit money banks listed and whose stocks are actively traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) market for the period 2006-2017.The sample size of 14 was determined using purposive sampling method. Secondary data were collected on variables executive compensation, non-performing loan, loan loss provision, total loan, residual term all obtained from the audited Annual reports of the selected deposit money banks, fact book published by Nigerian Stock Exchange, and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed using Robust Regression. The results showed executive compensation (coef. =-0.139, p˂0.004) has a negative significant relationship with financial reporting quality. This study concluded that executive compensation has a negative significant effect on financial reporting quality.
Modeling and simulation of piezoelectric composite diaphragms for energy harvesting

The energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a piezoelectric generator can be denoted by its effective electromechanical coupling coefficient (EECC), which depends only on the geometry parameters with a certain boundary conditions. To obtain the optimal energy-harvesting device, the Raleigh Method was utilized to establish the analysis model of circular piezoelectric composite diaphragms. Simply supported and clamped boundary conditions were considered. The relationships between the performance parameters (EECC and natural frequency) and the structural parameters (diametric ratio β and thickness ratio α) of piezoelectric composite diaphragms were figured out. Given the correlative material parameters and boundary conditions, the performance parameters with the structural parameters as variables can be worked out. The simulation results show that the optimal structural parameters of a composite diaphragm in the case of the simply supported and clamped boundary conditions are different. A simply supported diaphragm generator tends to achieve higher effective electromechanical coupling coefficient and lower natural frequency, and is more suitable for the applications of energy harvesting.