Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Burden of Pulmonary Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis in Kajiado, Kenya: An Observational Study

Background: Rifampicin resistance (RR) is a major challenge in the clinical management of tuberculosis (TB), but data on its prevalence are still sparse in many countries. Our study aimed at estimating the prevalence of RR-TB in Kajiado County, Kenya. Secondary objectives were to estimate the incidence of pulmonary TB in adults and the rate of HIV-TB coinfection. Methods: We conducted an observational study in the context of the ATI-TB Project, carried out in Kajiado. The project was based on an active-case-finding campaign implemented with the aid of village chiefs, traditional healers and community health volunteers. Diagnosis relied on Xpert MTB/RIF, including a mobile machine that could be used to cover areas where testing would otherwise be difficult. Results: In sum, 3840 adults were screened for active TB during the campaign. RR cases among all TB diagnoses were 4.6%. The annual incidence of pulmonary TB among adults was 521 cases per 100,000 population. The rate of HIV coinfection was 22.2% among pulmonary TB diagnoses. Conclusion: The prevalence of RR-TB was four times that what could be inferred from official notifications in Kajiado, and higher than overall prevalence in Kenya. In addition, our estimate of incidence of pulmonary TB in adults in Kajiado significantly differed from cases notified in the same area. In contrast, the rate of HIV coinfection was in line with national and regional data. TB diagnostic capability must be strengthened in Kajiado to improve patients’ management and public health interventions.
Some Stability Theorems for Some Iteration Processes

In this paper, we obtain some stability results for Picard and Mann iteration processes in metric space and normed linear space respectively, using two different contractive definitions which are more general than those of Harder and Hicks [4], Rhoades [10, 11], Osilike [8], Osilike and Udomene [9], Berinde [1, 2], Imoru and Olatinwo [5] and Imoru et al [6]. Our results are generalizations of some results of Harder and Hicks [4], Rhoades [10, 11], Osilike [8], Osilike and Udomene [9], Berinde [1, 2], Imoru and Olatinwo [5] and Imoru et al [6].
Low-flow Critical heat flux in heated microchannels

Critical heat flux (CHF) associated with the flow of subcooled water in heated microchannels is experimentally investigated. Four different channels, all 16 cm in length, are used: two are circular and uniformly heated and have 1.17- and 1.45-mm diameters, and the other two represent flow channels in a microrod bundle with a triangular array and 1.131-mm hydraulic diameter, with one uniformly heated over its entire surface and the other heated only over the surfaces of the surrounding rods. The test section parameter ranges are as follows: 250 to 1000 kg/m 2 . S mass flux, 344- to 1043-kPa exit pressure, 407- to 1204-kPa inlet pressure, and 49 to 72.5°C inlet temperature. The effect of noncondensables (air) on CHF is also examined by repeating some of the experiments with degassed water and with water saturated with air at test section inlet pressure and temperature. Critical heat flux occurs at very high flow qualities (0.36 and higher) in all the tests and indicates the occurrence of dryout. Furthermore, the CHF appears to monotonically increase with increasing mass flux or pressure. The CHF depends on channel cross-section geometry, and unlike high mass flux data, it increases with increasing channel diameter, The dissolved air slightly increases the CHF for the smaller circular channel and reduces the CHF for the other test sections. The experimental data are compared with the predictions of three widely used empirical correlations. The Bowring-1972 correlation could predict the data with reasonable accuracy.
Plasma Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Potential Role of Lectin and Alternative Complement Pathways in IgA Vasculitis Pathogenesis

Background: IgA vasculitis (IgAV) is the most common form of childhood vasculitis. A better understanding of its pathophysiology is required to identify new potential biomarkers and treatment targets. Objective: to assess the underlying molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of IgAV using an untargeted proteomics approach. Methods: Thirty-seven IgAV patients and five healthy controls were enrolled. Plasma samples were collected on the day of diagnosis before any treatment was initiated. We used nano-liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (nLC–MS/MS) to investigate the alterations in plasma proteomic profiles. For the bioinformatics analyses, databases including Uniprot, PANTHER, KEGG, Reactome, Cytoscape, and IntAct were used. Results: Among the 418 proteins identified in the nLC–MS/MS analysis, 20 had significantly different expressions in IgAV patients. Among them, 15 were upregulated and 5 were downregulated. According to the KEGG pathway and function classification analysis, complement and coagulation cascades were the most enriched pathways. GO analyses showed that the differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in defense/immunity proteins and the metabolite interconversion enzyme family. We also investigated molecular interactions in the identified 20 proteins of IgAV patients. We extracted 493 interactions from the IntAct database for the 20 proteins and used Cytoscape for the network analyses. Conclusion: Our results clearly suggest the role of the lectin and alternate complement pathways in IgAV. The proteins defined in the pathways of cell adhesion may serve as biomarkers. Further functional studies may lead the way to better understanding of the disease and new therapeutic options for IgAV treatment.
VUCA environment on project success: The effect of project management methods

Due to the ever-changing work environment in the age of digital transformation, project managers need to adapt to an environment which is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). Many organizations adopt management methods based on strict project management planning, assuming that they are the best way to succeed in any situation. However, projects may depend on flexibility to achieve success. This study aims to analyze the impact of adverse project environments on project success and the effect of the management method choice. A PLS-SEM model is tested on a survey of 332 project professionals. Findings showed that choosing a method that best fits the project’s environment can help catch up on project success only when it undergoes frequent changes throughout its life cycle.
Moisture Sources and Rainfall δ18O Variability over the Central Andes of Peru—A Case Study from the Mantaro River Basin

The Mantaro River Basin is one of the most important regions in the central Peruvian Andes in terms of hydropower generation and agricultural production. Contributions to better understanding of the climate and hydrological dynamics are vital for this region and constitute key information to support regional water security and socioeconomic resilience. This study presents eight years of monthly isotopic precipitation information (δ18O, Dxs) collected in the Mantaro River Basin. The isotopic signals were evaluated in terms of moisture sources, including local and regional climatic parameters, to interpret their variability at monthly and interannual timescales. It is proposed that the degree of rainout upstream and the transport history of air masses, also related to regional atmospheric features, are the main factors influencing the δ18O variability. Moreover, significant correlations with precipitation amount and relative humidity imply that local processes in this region of the Andes also exert important control over isotopic variability. Two extreme regional climate events (the 2010 drought and the 2017 coastal El Niño) were evaluated to determine how regional atmospheric circulation affects the rainfall isotope variability. Based on these results, recommendations for hydroclimate studies and paleoclimate reconstructions are proposed in the context of the Mantaro River Basin. This study intends to encourage new applications considering geochemical evidence for hydrological studies over the central Andean region.
Effect of a Magnetic Field on Natural Convection of an Electrically Conducting Fluid in a Tilted Cavity

specified, while the floor and ceiling are adiabatic. The coupled momentum and energy equations associated with the electromagnetic retarding force, as well as the buoyancy force terms, are solved by an iterative procedure using the SIMPLER algorithm based on the control volume approach. The changes in the buoyant flow patterns and temperature distributions due to the tilting of a cavity are mainly addressed. The eects of various controlling parameters on fluid flow and associated heat transfer are examined.
Reconstruction of Star Formation and AGNs Activities in Galaxies Classified with the Balmer Break, 1.6 μm Bump and PAH Features up to z ≃2

Abstract We have studied the star-forming and AGN activity of massive galaxies in the redshift range z = 0.4−2, which are detected in a deep survey field using the AKARI and Subaru telescopes toward the North Ecliptic Pole (NEP). The multi-wavelength survey allows us to select Mid-InfraRed (MIR) bright populations as Luminous InfraRed Galaxies (LIRGs) with L(IR) ≃ 1010–11 L⊙, which can be also sub-classified into Balmer Break Galaxies (BBGs) and Infra-Red (IR) Bump Galaxies (IRBGs). AKARI/IRC multiband photometry can distinguish their star-forming/AGN activity for LIRGs with/without the Polycyclic-Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) emission bands at 6.2, 7.7 and 11.3 μm, and estimate the Star Formation Rate (SFR) from their total emitting InfraRed (IR) luminosities for star-formings and the emissions from dusty torus for AGNs. The results are summarised as below: 1) The rest-frame 7.7 μm luminosity is still a good tracer of the total IR (tIR) luminosity, as the PAH emission dominates for star-forming galaxies even up to z ≃ 2, 2) Rest-frame 5μm Luminosities may trace emissions from dusty torus of AGN in the LIRGs, 3) SFR of Starburst-AGN LIRGs (s/a-LIRGs) tends to quench at z < 0.8 more rapidly than that of Starburst dominated LIRGs (sb-LIRGs), 4) Intrinsic Stellar populations in the s/a-LIRGs show redder colours than those in the sb-LIRGs. These results suggest that Super Massive Black Holes (SMBH) could already have grown to ≃ 3 × 108M⊙ in the agn-LIRGs, with ≃ 1011L⊙ at z > 1.2, and the growth of SMBH tends to follow the star-forming activities around z = 1–2.
Effects of local high-frequency perturbation on a turbulent boundary layer by synthetic jet injection

An experimental study is performed to investigate the local high-frequency perturbation effects of a synthetic jet injection on a flat-plate turbulent boundary layer. Parameters of the synthetic jet are designed to force a high-frequency perturbation from a thin spanwise slot in the wall. In the test locations downstream of the slot, it is found that skin-friction is reduced by the perturbation, which is languishingly evolved downstream of the slot with corresponding influence on the near-wall regeneration mechanism of turbulent structures. The downstream slot region is divided into two regions due to the influence strength of the movement of spanwise vortices generated by the high-frequency perturbation. Interestingly, the variable interval time average technique is found to be disturbed by the existence of the spanwise vortices’ motion, especially in the region close to the slot. Similar results are obtained from the analysis of the probability density functions of the velocity fluctuation time derivatives, which is another indirect technique for detecting the enhancement or attenuation of streamwise vortices. However, both methods have shown consistent results with the skin-friction reduction mechanism in the far-away slot region. The main purpose of this paper is to remind researchers to be aware of the probable influence of spanwise vortices’ motion in wall-bounded turbulence control.
A Case Study on Teaching English with Differentiated Instructions at a Junior High School in Taiwan

The article aims to explore a case of teaching with differentiated instructions approach at a Junior High School, Eastern County, Taiwan. The author used case study as the interpretivism paradigm in the methodology of exploring the contexts. The participants were twenty-five 12 graders. They were assigned by the school academic director to participate in the classroom demonstration on differentiated instruction with one of the senior teacher trainers from Taipei City. Pre-observation interview, observation, and post-observation interview were utilized to collect the data. The study indicated that a well-planned lesson for differentiated instruction would be able to help mixed-ability students get most of the lessons. Furthermore, it can also enhance the student’s engagement during the lesson in the classroom. Some suggestions for further research are proposed.
Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles/Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers as Impervious Barrier against Viral Infections

Background: Using face masks is one of the protective measures to reduce the transmission rate of coronavirus. Its massive spread necessitates developing safe and effective antiviral masks (filters) applying nanotechnology. Methods: Novel electrospun composites were fabricated by incorporating cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospun nanofibers that can be used in the future in face masks. The effects of the polymer concentration, applied voltage, and feeding rate during the electrospinning were studied. The electrospun nanofibers were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, and tensile strength testing. The cytotoxic effect of the nanofibers was evaluated in the Vero cell line using the MTT colorimetric assay, and the antiviral activity of the proposed nanofibers was evaluated against the human adenovirus type 5 (ADV-5) respiratory virus. Results: The optimum formulation was fabricated with a PAN concentration of 8%, w/v loaded with 0.25%, w/v CeO2 NPs with a feeding rate of 26 KV and an applied voltage of 0.5 mL/h. They showed a particle size of 15.8 ± 1.91 nm and a zeta potential of −14 ± 0.141 mV. SEM imaging demonstrated the nanoscale features of the nanofibers even after incorporating CeO2 NPs. The cellular viability study showed the safety of the PAN nanofibers. Incorporating CeO2 NPs into these fibers further increased their cellular viability. Moreover, the assembled filter could prevent viral entry into the host cells as well as prevent their replication inside the cells via adsorption and virucidal antiviral mechanisms. Conclusions: The developed cerium oxide nanoparticles/polyacrylonitrile nanofibers can be considered a promising antiviral filter that can be used to halt virus spread.
Teaching Mammalogy online: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and their application to the future

Educators of natural history have long resisted incorporating digital technology into their pedagogy for several reasons, including a perceived loss of biophilia tied to the near-ubiquitous use of digital tools. Simultaneously, a push to embrace educational technology exists for several reasons, including expanding access to educational opportunities, increasing resource availability, addressing diverse learning modalities, and approaching ‘digital natives’ in a familiar space. While the debate continues, the COVID-19 pandemic forced nearly all educators, including mammalogists, to transition rapidly to digital education and to use technology to teach students effectively. While exceedingly difficult in some respects, this pivot to remote learning provided the opportunity to identify and to use online resources to enhance student learning. I propose that this integration of technology into Mammalogy courses resulted in the development of pedagogical tools that introduced students to skills and resources that they may not have accessed in traditional learning environments and that may have enhanced the educational experience of these same students. I present the results of a survey of online mammalogy education during the pandemic, provide examples of pedagogical tools developed during the pandemic, and propose that these tools should be integrated into Mammalogy courses in the future, but not supplant traditional lab and field experiences. These online resources are particularly useful for programs with limited resources and budgets or with limited geographic access to field experiences with live mammals.
Effectiveness of mixture of aspirin and ethanol regimen in the management of geographic tongue: a prospective study

Background: Geographic tongue is usually an asymptomatic inflammatory disorder of the tongue; however, symptomatic cases do occur and require treatment. Several management strategies have been reported yet they are neither specific nor curative. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of an aspirin-ethanol mixture in the management of geographic tongue. Methods: In this prospective study, an analysis of medical reports of symptomatic cases of geographic tongue managed using an aspirin-ethanol mixture was done. The treatment regimen involved dissolving 3 mg of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) into 1 ml of 70% v/v ethanol. Then a sterile gauze is soaked in the prepared mixture and is topically used to clean the tongue with gentle pressure for 2–3 min. Results: The records of 23 patients were analyzed. There were more females (19, 82.6%), and the age range of patients was 15–43 years (mean age of 23.4 years). The symptoms that the patient described included: oral discomfort, burning sensations of the tongue, pain, and loss of taste. Only 21 (91.3%) patients were asymptomatic at 3 months of follow-up. Conclusions: Short-term topical application of the aspirin-ethanol mixture was shown to be effective in treating symptomatic geographic tongue.
Effect of Reinforcement Ratio and Bond Characteristic on Flexural Behavior of Carbon Textile-Reinforced Concrete Panels

Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) is highly anticipated as an alternative to reinforced concrete due to its ability to enable lightweight design, free formability, and improved ductility. In this study, TRC panel test specimens were fabricated and four-point loading flexural tests were performed to examine the flexural characteristics of TRC panels reinforced with carbon fabric, and to investigate the effect of the fabric reinforcement ratio, anchorage length, and surface treatment of fabric. Furthermore, the flexural behavior of the test specimens was numerically analyzed using the general section analysis concept of reinforced concrete and compared with the experimental results. Due to bond failure between the carbon fabric and the concrete matrix, the TRC panel showed a large decrease in flexural performance in terms of flexural stiffness, flexural strength, cracking behavior, and deflection. This low performance was improved by increasing the fabric reinforcement ratio, anchoring length, and sand–epoxy surface treatment of the anchorage. Comparing the numerical calculation results with the experimental results, the deflection of the experimental results was approximately 50% larger than the numerical calculation results. This is because the perfect bond between the carbon fabric and the concrete matrix failed, and slip occurred.
A Study on the Application of TensorFlow Compression Techniques to Human Activity Recognition

In the human activity recognition (HAR) application domain, the use of deep learning (DL) algorithms for feature extractions and training purposes delivers significant performance improvements with respect to the use of traditional machine learning (ML) algorithms. However, this comes at the expense of more complex and demanding models, making harder their deployment on constrained devices traditionally involved in the HAR process. The efficiency of DL deployment is thus yet to be explored. We thoroughly investigated the application of TensorFlow Lite simple conversion, dynamic, and full integer quantization compression techniques. We applied those techniques not only to convolutional neural networks (CNNs), but also to long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, and a combined version of CNN and LSTM. We also considered two use case scenarios, namely cascading compression and stand-alone compression mode. This paper reports the feasibility of deploying deep networks onto an ESP32 device, and how TensorFlow compression techniques impact classification accuracy, energy consumption, and inference latency. Results show that in the cascading case, it is not possible to carry out the performance characterization. Whereas in the stand-alone case, dynamic quantization is recommended because yields a negligible loss of accuracy. In terms of power efficiency, both dynamic and full integer quantization provide high energy saving with respect to the uncompressed models: between 31% and 37% for CNN networks, and up to 45% for LSTM networks. In terms of inference latency, dynamic and full integer quantization provide comparable performance.
Macroscopic Freeway Modelling and Control.

This PhD thesis deals with the issue of modelling and controlling freeway systems. The macroscopic approach is adopted and gives rise to distributed models represented by nonlinear partial differential equations. We provide several improvements in the analysis of these models (entropy inequality, simplied numerical schemes) and propose an hybrid formulation for the inhomogeneities (boundary conditions, on and off ramps and abrupt parameter changes) that suits controller design tasks. Based on these models, two computational control methodologies are introduced to conceive new dynamic ramp metering strategies. The first one follows an optimal control formulation and requires some extensions of the classical adjoint method due to the solution irregularity. The second one relies on a discretization scheme that leads to a piecewise affine system and uses dissipativity theory along with linear matrix inequalities to compute feedback controllers.
Supply chain risk and its impact on performance: A structured literature review

Purpose: In the supply chain risk management literature, many reviews have been conducted to provide a full understanding of various aspects such as role of simulation and optimization methods in risk management, classification of risks, classification of risk mitigation strategies, and supply chain risk definitions. However, a structured review of risk impact on performance in supply chains is still lacking. Such a review is useful since the literature implies that maintaining and improving performance in risk environments are critically important to the business survival of firms in supply chains.Design/methodology/approach: This review synthesizes and analyses 48 papers published in journals from 2006 to 2020 based on the following criteria: risk type, impact mechanisms of risk (i.e., direct and indirect), performance, research method, research setting, and risk mitigation strategy.Findings: The findings conclude that the impact of risk on performance is complicated and influenced by many factors namely antecedents, mediators, and moderators.Originality/value: This review contributes to the theoretical development of SCRM research through the analysis of SCR impact mechanisms, and indicate gaps of knowledge and future research opportunities. Moreover, it helps managers to devise appropriate risk mitigation strategies thanks to a full understanding of risk impact mechanisms.