Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification and optimisation of evidence-based HCV prevention in Europe for young drug users at risk

s of these references, 169 papers were excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria (step 14 to 15 in the search strategy). In detail, the following number of references had been excluded:  95 articles without evaluation of effectiveness  34 epidemiological articles  18 guidelines, policies, conference procedures or opinion papers  16 articles on HIV  6 unsystematic overviews/ commentaries After this procedure 17 studies were identified and included in this evidence report. Among the 95 studies excluded due to lack of an effectiveness evaluation, some of them were considered as they provide additional information on e.g. the feasibility, acceptance or barriers for a successful implementation of HCV prevention, or as they include costeffectiveness analyses.
Imbalanced turnover of collagen type III is associated with disease progression and mortality in high-risk chronic kidney disease patients

Abstract Background Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a major pathological feature in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and collagen type III (COL3) is a major component of the renal fibrotic scar. We hypothesized that a dysregulated turnover of COL3 is an important determinant of CKD progression. We assessed the relationship between fragments reflecting active formation (PRO-C3) and degradation (C3M) of COL3 and CKD disease progression and mortality in a prospective cohort of CKD patients. Methods We measured PRO-C3 and C3M in urine (uPRO-C3 and uC3M) and serum (sPRO-C3 and sC3M) of 500 patients from the Renal Impairment in Secondary Care study. Disease progression was defined as a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate >30% or the start of renal replacement therapy within 12 and 30 months. Results Levels of uC3M/creatinine decreased, whereas levels of uPRO-C3/creatinine and sPRO-C3 increased with increasing CKD stage. uC3M/creatinine was inversely and independently associated with disease progression by 12 months {odds ratio [OR] 0.39 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18–0.83]; P = 0.01 per doubling of uC3M/creatinine} with development of end-stage renal disease [hazard ratio (HR) 0.70 (95% CI 0.50–0.97); P = 0.03 per doubling of uC3M/creatinine]. sPRO-C3 at baseline was independently associated with increased mortality [HR 1.93 (95% CI 1.21–3.1); P = 0.006 per doubling of sPRO-C3] and disease progression by 30 months [OR 2.16 (95% CI 1.21–3.84); P = 0.009 per doubling of sPRO-C3]. Conclusions Dynamic products of COL3 formation and degradation were independently associated with CKD progression and mortality and may represent an opportunity to link pathological processes with targeted treatments against fibrosis.
Panoramic Radiographic Study of Mental Foramen in Selected Kashmiri Population.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the most common accurate position of the mental foramen in selected Kashmiri population, which helps in several clinical procedure and nerve block anesthesia. Methods: The study sample included one thousand panoramic radiographs of selected population of Kashmir that presented to postgraduate department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Govt. dental college and hospital Srinagar from 2008 to 2015. Results: The most common Horizontal position of the mental foramen was below the root of second premolar tooth i.e. position 4 (44.77%). Conclusion: This may help the clinicians and anthropologists in identifying the mental foramen more accurately.
Leveraging Failure to Inform Practice: How do Students Learn about Library Events and Services?

Is it possible for librarians and librarianship to learn from research projects that do not meet expectations or fail outright? This article answers with a resounding “yes” and uses the authors’ experiences developing a “failed” research project to demonstrate how failure can inform practice in valuable ways. The failed project discussed in this article grew out of a desire to understand how students learn about library and university events and services: Are libraries’ attempts to engage with students on the platforms they use effective? To examine this question, the authors used several mechanisms to distribute a survey to students enrolled at the University of Idaho. This effort resulted in a survey response rate of only 0.45 percent of enrolled students. As disheartening as this statistically insignificant response rate was—and recognizing that it is impossible to generalize from such a poor response rate—the authors determined that they could still learn from and leverage the perspectives of a mere 53 student respondents without much risk. This article will share the arc of their research study and detail how they made the best of a failed project by incorporating the new marketing and outreach strategies suggested by students into library social media and outreach practices.
High-Switching-Frequency TCM Digital Control for Bidirectional-Interleaved Buck Converters Without Phase Error for Battery Charging

This article proposes a high-performance, high-switching-frequency triangular-conduction-mode (TCM) bidirectional-interleaved buck converter for battery charging using digital control. Accurate conditions for achieving zero-voltage switching (ZVS) without zero-crossing detection (ZCD) are derived while considering the nonlinear parasitic capacitance of the switch components. This article also optimizes the method of calculating the switching frequency to reduce the delay time of pulsewidth modulation, thereby enhancing system stability. The conventional control method has inadequate resolution in the phase shift register of the digital controller under high switching frequency, hindering perfect interleaving of the two phases at 180°, which affects the characteristics of current ripple offset. The proposed control method effectively reduces the phase error between the two phases in an interleaving structure under high-frequency operation. In this way, full-range ZVS can be achieved when the circuit operates at the correct switching frequency. ANSYS Q3D Extractor software is employed to simulate the impedances of the power loops and investigate parasitic parameters, enabling optimization of the layout and modification of the switching frequency. An experimental prototype of a bidirectional buck converter using GaN switches was implemented with an output power of 1 kW, an input voltage of 66 V, an output voltage of 35–50 V, a switching frequency of 350 kHz–1 MHz, a highest efficiency of 97.52%, and a power density of 10 W/cm3.
Robust methods in Mendelian randomization

Mendelian randomization is the use of genetic variants to make causal inferences from observational data. The field is currently undergoing a revolution fuelled by increasing numbers of genetic variants demonstrated to be associated with exposures in genomewide association studies, and the public availability of summarized data on genetic associations with exposures and outcomes from large consortia. A Mendelian randomization analysis with many genetic variants can be performed relatively simply using summarized data. However, a causal interpretation is only assured if each genetic variant satisfies the assumptions of an instrumental variable. To provide some protection against failure of these assumptions, robust methods for instrumental variable analysis have been proposed. Here, we develop three extensions to instrumental variable methods using: i) robust regression, ii) the penalization of weights from candidate instruments with heterogeneous causal estimates, and iii) L1 penalization. Results from a wide variety of robust methods, including the recently-proposed MREgger and median-based methods, are compared in an extensive simulation study. We demonstrate that two methods, robust regression in an inverse-variance weighted method and a simple median of the causal estimates from the individual variants, have considerably improved Type 1 error rates compared with conventional methods in a wide variety of scenarios when up to 30% of the genetic variants are invalid instruments. While the MR-Egger method gives unbiased estimates when its assumptions are satisfied, these estimates are less efficient than those from other methods and are highly sensitive to violations of the assumptions. Methods that make different assumptions should be used routinely to assess the robustness of findings from applied Mendelian randomization investigations with multiple genetic variants.
Evaluation of four Cochlear Implant Designs

Multichannel cochlear implant systems that provide spectral information in addition to temporal and intensity cues are consistently allowing profoundly deafened postlingual adults to recognize some words without visual cues. All four of the devices enhance speech-reading ability and provide useful information about nonspeech sounds. The multichannel implant patients are generally functioning at a higher level in this limited random series.
Antifertility Activity of Medicinal Plants on Reproductive system of Female Rat

Despite many achievements in human health care in the twenty first century, population in developing countries lack regular access to affordable essential drugs. For these people, modern medicine is never likely to be a realistic treatment option. In contrast medicinal plants are widely available and affordable, even in remote areas. The cost of modern medicine is increasing by modern health technology and in many cases is inappropriate to the immediate needs of people in developing countries. Traditional medicine is sometimes the only affordable source of health care especially for the world’s poorest patients. There is no thorough scientific investigation on most of the claims made by the traditional medicine practitioners. One of the main challenges is lack of coherent national health policies and development plans that will include traditional medicine research and development, allocation of financial and other resources of traditional medicine research. In addition there is deficiency of systematic plans for developing research capacity in traditional medicine leading to lack of a critical mass of traditional medicine researchers including traditional health practitioners.
A Real-Time Energy Management and Speed Controller for an Electric Vehicle Powered by a Hybrid Energy Storage System

A real-time unified speed control and power flow management system for an electric vehicle (EV) powered by a battery-supercapacitor hybrid energy storage system (HESS) is developed following a nonlinear control system technique. In view of the coupling between energy management and HESS sizing, a HESS sizing model is developed in this article to optimally determine the size of HESS to serve an EV using the controller designed. The objectives of the controller are to track the set speed of the vehicle with globally exponential stability and to make use of the HESS wisely to reduce battery stress. The design provides a compound controller by exploiting the physical origins of the vehicles’ power demand. The controller and HESS sizing system designed are simulated on a standard urban dynamometer driving schedule and a recorded actual city driving cycle for a full-size EV to demonstrate their effectiveness.
Naturalness level of land use in a hilly region in north-eastern Slovenia

Researchers analyse land use status and its rates of change and try to define the most appropriate structure that suits the environmental characteristics. The article focuses on an analysis of the naturalness level of land use in three hilly regions in north-eastern Slovenia (Slovenske Gorice, Haloze, and Goricko) with the help of geoinformation tools. Land use structure is one of the best indicators of human presence in the landscape. The aim was to expose those parts of catchments that can be regarded as less natural or more natural. We divided the catchments into hydrogeographical areas and analysed them by calculating the urbanity index. The least natural areas in 2018 were located in Slovenske Gorice Hills and the most natural were those in Haloze. The urbanity index diminished between 2002 and 2018 for all the areas except two. The main reason for a higher average of naturalness level is overgrowth – changing agricultural areas into areas with bushes and trees. Natural disasters, e.g. floods and intensive erosion can be mitigated with suitable land use. // Raziskovalci analizirajo stanje rabe tal in trende spreminjanja ter skusajo ugotoviti, kaksna struktura je okoljsko najbolj sprejemljiva. V prispevku smo se osredotocili na analizo rabe tal treh gricevnatih obmocij severovzhodne Slovenije (Slovenske gorice, Haloze in Goricko) z vidika stopnje naravnosti s pomocjo geoinformacijskih metod. Raba tal je namrec eden najbolj nazornih pokazateljev clovekovega delovanja v pokrajini. Dolociti smo želeli posamezna obmocja porecij, ki jih lahko oznacimo za bolj naravna, in obmocja, ki so manj naravna. Porecja smo razdelili na hidrogeografska obmocja in jih analizirali glede na indeks urbanosti. Glede na izracunane indekse so bila v povprecju leta 2018 najmanj naravna obmocja v Slovenskih goricah, najbolj pa v Halozah. Indeks urbanosti se je od leta 2002 do 2018 sicer povsod zmanjsal, razen na dveh obmocjih. Vzrok za povecanje stopnje naravnosti v povprecju gre predvsem na racun zarascanja oziroma spreminjanja nekoc kmetijskih zemljisc v zemljisca v zarascanju. Z ustrezno rabo tal lahko omilimo naravne nesrece, na primer pojav poplav in povecane erozije.
Self-perceived employability and implications for learning design: An exploratory case study

This work explores the concepts of work readiness and self-perceived employability, addressing contextually the perceptions from third-year bachelor students enrolled in the degree of Cultural Heritage and Tourism at the University of Macerata in academic year 2018-2019. The research aim was to identify perceptions of undergraduates in terms of skills and employability potential to design effective teaching interventions. Following literature review, the paper describes collected data and discusses around key research questions, related to (a) perception the world of work; (b) assessment of possessed skills; (c) estimation of employment possibilities; (d) perception of preparation to the labour market. Results show a gap between perceptions of the labour market and possessed skills, a medium-low self-perceived employability, and a low engagement in career development activities, where, to the other hand, perceived preparation provided by the university is declared as medium-high. Conclusions highlight the need of further work to better understand the implications of results for effective learning design.
Evaluation of the Users’ Continuous Intention to Use PACS Based on the Expectation Confirmation Model in Teaching Hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

I n troduction: Users’ behavioral intention to use the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is important in the systems’ success and is an indicator of the users’ satisfaction with commitment and dependence on information systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the users’ continuous intention to use PACS based on the expectation confirmation model in educational hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. M e th od: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Nemazee and Shahid Faghihi hospitals, Shiraz, Iran in 2014. The subjects were 50 general practitioners, residents and specialists selected through stratified random sampling. The study data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The content validity of the questionnaire items was confirmed by five experts in health information management. To evaluate the accuracy of relationships among the measurement models, reliability criteria, including Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability, convergent and divergent validity were used which showed acceptable reliability and validity. The data were entered into Smart PLS software, version 3.1. 9 and analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) by using Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach. Results: The results showed appropriate fitness of reliability indices (Cronbach’s alpha >0.7, composite reliability >0.7, loading >0.7), validity indices (AVE >0.5), structural model (redundancy =0.395, Q2CI=0.364, f2H5=0.524, R2CI=0.687), and the total model (GoF=0.518). Moreover, all the research hypotheses, except H1 (the relationship between expectation confirmation and perceived usefulness) with T-value of 1.96). C o n c l u s i o n : Expectation confirmation, perceived usefulness, and satisfaction were effective in continuous intention to use PACS. Thus, these factors should be considered by designers, developers, and managers while designing and implementing information systems to guarantee their success and improve the quality of health services. Keywords: Information Systems, Expectation confirmation model, PACS, Satisfactio
The Acute Coronary Syndrome Experience among Native American Adults in Northern Arizona

Diseases of the heart have been the number one cause of death in the Native American population for decades and is an adverse health disparity for this population. Heart disease mortality rates are higher in Native Americans than in the U.S. population (American Heart Association, 2015; Veazie et al., 2014). The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to describe the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) experience among Native American adults who reside in northern Arizona and diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction. A qualitative dominant mixed methods design (QUALquan) was used to describe the ACS symptom experience among this population. Data was collected from a convenience sample of nine Native American men residing on the Navajo and Hopi reservations in northern Arizona diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction. The qualitative portion of this study consisted of a semi-structured interview and the quantitative portion consisted of the completion of a demographic questionnaire and the McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey. Qualitative description were used to analyze the data and develop codes, subcategories, categories and themes. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data from the demographic questionnaire and MAPMISS results. The findings in this study revealed the average age of the first heart attack for these participants was 58 years. The average time from symptom onset to hospital presentation was 7.4 hours. A common prodromal symptom was very tired/unusual fatigue. Common acute symptoms were chest pain, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal symptoms and diaphoresis. Neck/throat, generalized chest, and top of shoulders were most frequently reported areas of acute pain or discomfort. Influences to not seeking treatment included ignoring symptoms or thinking
Relationship Between Low Back Pain And Work-Place Functioning Of Nurses At A Tertiary Hospital In North Central Nigeria

Objectives: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among nurses and the relationship between LBP and work place performance, as measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI), of nurses at a tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods : A cross-sectional, hospital based study was carried out with structured questionnaires administered to 204 randomly selected, eligible, consenting nurses between August-November 2011. The questionnaires sought sociodemographic data and the Work Ability Index (WAI). Results : Results were analysed with Epi info version 3.3. 2 statistical software. The prevalence of low back pain among nurses was 70.1%. Nurses without low back pain had better WAI score than nurses with back pain (Mean WAI score: 43.6±4.55 vs 41.2±4.65, p = 0.0007). The duration of low back pain was inversely related to the mean WAI scores (r = �0.84, p= 0.0004). The regression relationship derived showed that for every unit change in the duration of low back pain, the mean WAI changed by 6.45 units (y = 39.78 + 6.453x; R2 = 0.761). The duration of LBP accounted for 76% of variability in the mean WAI score. Conclusion : Physicians attending to hospital staff in outpatient departments need to be aware of the high prevalence of low back pain among nurses and the negative impact on their workplace performance.
Significance of Salivary miRNA 21 Determined by Real Time PCR in Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Salivary biomarkers, a non-invasive alternative method to serum and tissue based biomarkers and it is consider as an effective modality for early diagnosis. Salivary microRNA 21, a nucleotide biomarker, was reported to increase in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. This study was conducted to measure the fold change of microRNA 21 in stimulated saliva and to study its association with smoking and occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and methods: A 20 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who used to be smokers was included in addition to 40 control subjects (20 smokers and 20 non- smokers health looking subjects). Stimulated saliva was collected under standardized condition. Salivary microRNA 21 was assessed by real time PCR. Results: MicroRNA 21 fold change was significantly higher in both smoker patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and in smoker control subjects compared to non-smoker control subjects. Conclusions: Salivary micrRNA21 can serve as a non-invasive tool aid in the diagnosis and follow up of squamous cell carcinoma patients.
Vehicle state and tyre force estimation: demonstrations and guidelines

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the application of different techniques for vehicle state and tyre force estimation using the same experimental data and vehicle models, except for the tyre models. Four schemes are demonstrated: (i) an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) scheme using a linear tyre model with stochastically adapted cornering stiffness, (ii) an EKF scheme using a Neural Network (NN) data-driven linear tyre model, (iii) a tyre model-less Suboptimal-Second Order Sliding Mode (S-SOSM) scheme, and (iv) a Kinematic Model (KM) scheme integrated in an EKF. The estimation accuracy of each method is discussed. Moreover, guidelines for each method provide potential users with valuable insight into key properties and points of attention.
Conferring authority in the European Union: citizens’ policy priorities for the European Energy Union

ABSTRACT We analyse data from the 2018 Eurobarometer survey to provide a debate on EU authority in the field of energy policy beyond the member states’ preferences. More specifically, we look at why citizens are willing to confer authority to the EU in making energy policy and which policy priorities they indicate. Focusing on public opinion appears promising as the data reveals that European citizens have a more positive stance on allocating policy competences to the EU than the member states’ governments. The descriptive analysis shows that most citizens prefer the Energy Union to prioritise the promotion of renewable energy. This holds particularly true for citizens living in Western Europe that have a left-leaning ideology and who perceive climate change as an issue. For Central-East European citizens, especially those who are right-leaning and perceive energy security as a problem, the Energy Union should give priority to increasing energy security.