Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of Low back pain in Saudi Arabia healthcare system. A Qualitative Study

Background Patients with chronic low back pain can contribute to a global socioeconomic burden. Current international recommendations emphasize that low back pain management should occur at the primary-care level. However, there is a lack of essential services for low back pain management at the primary-care level in Saudi Arabia. We explored the current state of low back pain management in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of spine surgeons and physiotherapists. Methods A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted on spine surgeons and physiotherapists. A total of 17 healthcare workers, 8 spine surgeons (age range 28–49 years) and 9 physiotherapists (age range 30–49 years) participated in the study. Data were recorded and analyzed thematically. Results Three main themes were identified from the interview data that outlined current low back pain management in Saudi Arabia: clinical guideline availability and pathways of care, utilization of primary care services, and overutilization of secondary care resources. Conclusions This study suggests underutilization of primary care services and overutilization of secondary care services in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the implementation of local clinical guidelines could improve patient care as well as reduce the cost of low back pain management.
The Mechanisms of Cloudiness Evolution Responsible for Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity in Climate Model INM‐CM4‐8

Current climate models demonstrate large discrepancy in equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS). The effects of cloudiness parameterization changes on the ECS of the INM‐CM4‐8 climate model were investigated. This model shows the lowest ECS among CMIP6 models. Reasonable changes in the parameterization of the degree of cloudiness yielded ECS variability of 1.8–4.1 K in INM‐CM4‐8, which was more than half of the interval for the CMIP6 models. The three principal mechanisms responsible for the increased ECS were increased cloudiness dissipation in warmer climates due to the increased water vapor deficit in the non‐cloud fraction of a cell, decreased cloudiness generation in the atmospheric boundary layer in warm climates, and the instantaneous cloud response to CO2 increases due to stratification changes.
Multiobjective Risk Impact Analysis Method

This paper integrates two methodologies of risk and impact analysis - the partitioned multiobjective risk method (PMRM) and the multiobjective, multistage impact analysis method (MMIAM). The PMRM, in an effort to overcome the difficulties created by commensurating extreme events that have catastrophic impacts with those that have more frequent but less harmful consequences, introduces the use of conditional expectations for different regimes of probabilities and damages. The MMIAM is a multiobjective decision-making method for impact analysis which explicitly develops trade-offs among different objectives at different stages or periods. Decision makers who must act under conditions of extreme risk and uncertainty often find that they are more interested in knowing what not to do than they are in optimizing their current objectives (the more traditional aim of decision-making methodologies). This paper focuses on a way to answer their needs, in which major elements of both the PMRM and the MMIAM are combined in a new, integrated methodology, termed here the multiobjective risk-impact analysis method (MRIAM). The new methodology incorporates risk and impact analysis within a dynamic multiobjective decision-making framework. To demonstrate the usefulness of the integrated methodology, an example problem concerning the environmental effects of pollutant emissions over a number ofmore » years is formulated, solved, and analyzed. « less
Influence of surface roughness on the charging of insulating spacers in vacuum

This paper describes the charging phenomena of cylindrical insulators made of PMMA, PTFE, or Al2O3 under ramped and stepped dc voltage. It is primarily concerned with the influence of surface roughness on the formation of charging for various insulating spacers. By using an electrostatic probe located on the cathode, we conducted real‐time observations of the electric field induced by the surface charge. It was found that the surface roughness positively affects the charging, which becomes more pronounced in insulators polished to a higher degree. Furthermore, polished insulators are characterized by a shorter time lag. These results show the importance of surface treatment for insulating spacers in vacuum. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 135(3): 16–25, 2001
Association of Sleep paralysis with Insomnia and Sleep Quality

Background: Sleep paralysis, accompanied by hypnopompic and hypnogagic hallucinations is commonly occurring phenomenon affecting number of individuals and it is found to be usually associated with sleeplessness and poor sleeping habits and quality. Aims: To obtain an association between sleep paralysis and insomnia and sleep quality. Methods: This was a cross sectional examination led on medical undergraduates in a local medical college of Pakistan. A survey containing segment data, a sleep paralysis related questionnaire, a scale for insomnia; Insomnia Severity Index and a scale for sleep quality; Pittsberg Sleep Quality Index was completed by 100 participants. Results: Positive association was found between sleep paralysis and Insomnia and sleep quality with p=-0.11 and d=0.247, p<0.001 and=- 0.417 respectively. Medical undergraduates have high prevalence (52.8%) of sleep paralysis. Also, the high rate of occurrence among the females than males and higher rates in adolescents are particularly of concern. Conclusion: There is a positive association between frequency of occurrence of sleep paralysis and insomnia and sleep quality. Better sleep schedules, enhancement of sleep quality with possible eradication of insomnia should be done in order to prevent terrible experience of sleep paralysis.
An output-based controller with two operational modes for a robot with uncertain parameters in set-point regulation tasks

This paper presents a control approach for the set-point regulation task of a rigid robot with uncertain parameters. The controller strategy is based on two operational modes. During the first mode, the controller drives the robot toward a small neighborhood of the equilibrium point, while in the second mode, the robot converges exponentially to the final target. The proposed control scheme is associated with simple linear controllers, it applies position measurements only, and accounts for the system uncertainties and the unknown payload. Friction is included in the model. Simulation and experimental results are demonstrated.
Analysing the trade-off between efficiency and flexibility in cellular manufacturing systems

A limitation of Group Technology (GT)-based cellular manufacturing systems is that their limited routing flexibility offsets the setup and material handling efficiencies they offer. Virtual Cellular Manufacturing (VCM) systems do not encounter the problem of limited routing flexibility, but do not yield the same efficiencies as GT-based cellular systems. This study compares the performance of a GT-based cellular manufacturing system that utilizes operations overlapping to further improve material flow efficiency with that of a virtual cellular manufacturing system. Results suggest that while the use of operations overlapping in a GT-based cellular manufacturing system can to some extent compensate for the system's low routing flexibility, it cannot fully overcome the high flow time variance that results from the permanent dedication of machine resources. As a result, GT-based cellular manufacturing performs comparably to VCM only under a limited set of conditions.
Unconventional secretion of unglycosylated ORF8 is critical for the cytokine storm during SARS-CoV-2 infection

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a respiratory infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Evidence on the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 is accumulating rapidly. In addition to structural proteins such as Spike and Envelope, the functional roles of non-structural and accessory proteins in regulating viral life cycle and host immune responses remain to be understood. Here, we show that open reading frame 8 (ORF8) acts as messenger for inter-cellular communication between alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mechanistically, ORF8 is a secretory protein that can be secreted by infected epithelial cells via both conventional and unconventional secretory pathways. The unconventionally secreted ORF8 recognizes the IL17RA receptor of macrophages and induces cytokine release. However, conventionally secreted ORF8 cannot bind to IL17RA due to N-linked glycosylation. Furthermore, we found that Yip1 interacting factor homolog B (YIF1B) is a channel protein that translocates unglycosylated ORF8 into vesicles for unconventional secretion. Blocking the unconventional secretion of ORF8 via a YIF1B knockout in hACE2 mice attenuates inflammation and yields delayed mortality following SARS-CoV-2 challenge.
Prediction formulas for a notched frequency response of a printed ultra-wideband antenna loaded with notching resonators

This Letter presents closed-form formulas for fast approximate determination of frequency band notches of ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas loaded with nearly quarter-/half- or even full-wavelength notches resonators. The formulas are derived using the curve-fitting technique. They describe the influences of the physical length of these notches resonators on the corresponding frequency notches in the UWB of 3.1–10.6 GHz. The calculated results obtained using these new formulas show good correlation with the reported electromagnetic simulation results elsewhere.
Transport, Physical Activity and Health: Present knowledge and the way ahead

The objective of this report is to consider the available evidence on the role of transport in increasing levels of physical activity, and so contribute to addressing the nation’s health problems caused by low levels of physical activity. Evidence on the links between transport and physical activity is examined, followed by examination of the effects of individual behaviour on physical activity. Whilst research on this topic has had some impact, there are a number on concerns about the approach, in particular the lack of evidence on long-term effects. Modifications to the built environment to increase physical activity are discussed: these need to be supported by other measures to be fully effective. The key relationship is between car use and physical activity. In order to increase levels of physical activity, it is necessary to reduce use of the car. Because so many households have adopted lifestyles that revolve around the use of the car, it is important to recognise that any policies to reduce car use must provide as much, or close to as much, accessibility as the car does. One way to do this is to shift the method of accessing cars from individual household ownership to a more flexible system of hiring or sharing cars. There would need to be a variety of supporting policy actions affecting transport and land use. It would be very useful to have a wide debate about transport modelling to ensure that the models represent travel and locational behaviour effectively, including factors that represent physical activity; the discussion should include the cost effectiveness of making changes to the existing modelling system. The implementation of the approach presented in the report could lead to significant improvements in the health of the nation and cost savings to the National Health Service.
Use of Long-Term Pavement Performance Data for Calibration of Pavement Design Models

The benefits of long-term pavement performance data for calibration of the AASHTO flexible pavement design model for Ontario conditions are documented. To ensure that the AASHTO-Ontario pavement design model reflects Ontario pavement design practice and matches the observed pavement performance, long-term pavement performance data for 65 flexible pavement sections were used. Thirty-nine sections had original construction, and 26 sections received one rehabilitation treatment (overlay). The data for each section included the type and thickness of paving materials, subgrade type, pavement performance, and traffic loads. The results of the calibration and verification process indicate that for new flexible pavement design the AASHTO-Ontario model yields results that are in good agreement with the observed pavement performance. For overlays, there was a large difference between the predicted and observed performance. This indicates that considerably more observations (pavement sections) are required for assessment of rehabilitation designs than for the original construction because the overlays are not always built for structural reasons only. Possible avenues for using long-term pavement performance data to establish the values of input parameters such as structural layer coefficients and modulus of subgrade are also described. Even relatively limited long-term pavement performance data provide valuable information for the calibration and verification of pavement design methods.
Examining the Clogging Potential of Underdrain Material for Stormwater Biofilter

The drainage rates in biofiltration devices are usually controlled using an underdrain that is restricted with a small orifice or other flow-moderating component. These frequently fail, as effective orifices that are used for flow control are usually very small (< 10 mm) and are prone to clogging over time. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the performance of a foundation drain material (SmartDrain TM ) under a variety of challenging conditions. SmartDrains TM work by capillary action, requiring very little head to initiate flow through the use of a siphon. This paper will present the results from a series of tests conducted to determine the flow capacity and clogging potential of the SmartDrain TM material during biofouling experiments under controlled pilot-scale biofilter conditions. A pilot-scale biofilter that consists of a tall Formica-lined plywood box, 0.90 m by 0.85 m in cross sectional area and 1.20 m tall was used for the tests. The tests were conducted using two different species of green algal that were encouraged to grow in the biofilter device for several weeks before draining. The results indicated that the biofouling had only a small effect on the discharge rates, even though the algal growth was extensive. Prior tests evaluated the SmartDrain TM performance after excessive loadings by fine ground silica particulates (Sileshi et al., 2010b) and also for a range of length and slopes using clean water
Large-signal stability-oriented design of boost regulators based on a Lyapunov criterion with nonlinear integral

Exact nonlinear differential equations of boost pulsewidth modulation converters (either with hard-switching or soft-switching, in continuous and discontinuous conduction mode) are obtained, without using average approximations. An extended system of equations also contains the differential equation of the integrated error between the reference and the output voltage. A positive-definite Lyapunov function is defined, including in its expression a nonlinear integral of type Lurie. Sufficient conditions for the Lyapunov stability of the system are determined. Consequently, constraints on the feedback circuit parameters that assure the large-signal stability of the system are formulated. These constraints relate the parameters of the feedback circuit with the values of the power stage elements, load, switching frequency, steady-state duty-cycle. For different values of the steady-state duty-cycle, graphical boundaries which assure the large-signal stability for all the variation of the load are designed. Simulations and experiments confirm the stability of the design.
Modeling and experimental study of the effect of pressure on pyrolysis of wet wood

Studies are reported using experiments and numerical simulation, quantifying ignition characteristics of wet wood exposed to radiation at different altitudes. Experiments were conducted separately at an altitude of 3650 m in Lhasa and an altitude of 30 m in Hefei. The comparative experiments indicate that ignition is more likely to occur in the low-pressure environment in Lhasa than in a normal atmospheric pressure environment. A numerical model has been established to simulate the pyrolysis of wet wood at different ambient pressures. In the model, moisture evaporation, the flowing of combustible gas, and pressure work are involved. The pressure effect on the kinetic reaction of pyrolysis is also analyzed and concluded to be insignificant for the pyrolysis process of a whole wood slab.
Performance of North American Bioreactor Landfills. I: Leachate Hydrology and Waste Settlement

An assessment of state-of-the-practice at five full-scale North American landfills operating as bioreactors is presented in this two-paper set. This paper focuses on effectiveness of liners and leachate collection systems, leachate generation rates, leachate recirculation practices and rates, effectiveness in moistening the waste, and settlement of the waste over time. Except in one case, the liner and leachate collection systems at the bioreactor landfills were similar to those used for landfills operated conventionally. Leachate generation rates increased approximately linearly with recirculation rate, but in all cases, the leachate generation rate was <300 L/ m2 year . Leachate depths generally were maintained within regulatory requirements, even with the highest recirculation rates. Leakage rates from liners at bioreactor landfills, including alternative liner designs employing geosynthetic clay liners, are comparable to leakage rates from conventional landfills. Thus, based on the information gather.
An AC-bridge for low-frequency measurements of the quantized Hall resistance

A simple circuit which makes possible the use of a resistance-ratio bridge based on a cryogenic current comparator (CCC) with both AC and DC is described. The different sources of uncertainty associated with the use of AC in a CCC bridge are discussed. It is shown that they should have an effect which does not exceed a few parts in 10/sup 9/ of the resistance-ratio being measured, if the frequency is limited to a few hertz. This analysis is confirmed by experimental results of resistance-ratio measurements between the quantized Hall resistance (QHR) and a 100 Omega resistance standard carried out at DC, 1, 2, and 4 Hz. These measurements are, to the author's knowledge, the first accurate DC measurements of the QHR. They demonstrate that the quantization of the Hall resistance, observed with AC and for the frequency range studied here, remains complete to within a few parts in 10/sup 9/ or better. >
Hydrodynamics of flow through a degraded channel bed

This article presents experimental results of turbulent flow measured in a bimodal degraded channel bed consisting of sand-gravel mixture. Sand and gravel of uniform sizes 0.25 and 3.5 mm were mixed in the same proportions (by weight) to create a bimodal sedimentary bed. A three-dimensional Vectrino velocimeter was employed to collect three-dimensional velocities over bimodal degraded bed under equilibrium condition. The streamwise velocity, Reynolds stresses, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and TKE fluxes profiles were compared with the literature. However, the advancement of the existing knowledge was done by exploring the laws of turbulence. To this end, the velocity structure function method was applied. Second and third-order streamwise velocity structure functions followed by mixed third-order velocity structure functions revealed the existence of inertial subrange. The TKE dissipation rate was estimated using Kolmogorov’s and Monin–Yaglom’s scaling laws of turbulence. The anisotropy analysis indicated anisotropic turbulence in the near-bed, whereas above the initial bed-level, the anisotropy tends to follow three-dimensional isotropy. The present study notably enhances the understanding of turbulent flow through a degraded bed by demonstrating the legitimacy of laws of turbulence at different locations over the bed and providing a comprehensible acquaintance in TKE budget and Reynolds stress anisotropy.
Development of 60 GHz front End circuits for high data rate communication system at Chalmers University

Abstract Front‐end circuits such as mixers, amplifiers, frequency multipliers, IF‐amplifiers with gain‐control, and VCOs are presented. Promising results on VCOs based on a coupled Colpitt VCO topology, designed in both HEMT and HBT technologies, have been achieved. A novel balanced 7 ‐ 28 GHz MMIC frequency quadrupler is described and compared with a single ended quadrupler at the same input frequencies. A 3‐stage MHEMT wideband amplifier covering 43–64 GHz with a gain of 24 dB, a minimum noise figure of 2.5 dB and ripple of 2 dB is also described. In order to reduce the manufacturing cost for future 60 GHz products, a higher integration level is necessary. Recently, a multifunctional receiver/transmitter utilizing 60 GHz amplifier, frequency converter, and x8 frequency multiplier was demonstrated based on a commercial pHEMT‐process.
Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of LASIK, Trans-PRK and SMILE for Correction of Myopia.

Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK), laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) are three mainstay refractive surgeries worldwide. The applicability, efficacy, safety, and predictability of these different techniques are quite similar. Trans-PRK has the strongest biostability, earliest return to normal corneal sensitivity but the longest recovery time, most uncomfortable postoperative experience, and possibility of corneal haze. LASIK possesses the fastest visual rehabilitation but the slowest corneal nerve reinnervation, and flap displacement is possibly lifelong. SMILE incurs no flap-related complications and has intermediate vision recovery time and biomechanics compared with Trans-PRK and LASIK. However, it lacks the cyclotorsion compensation system, eye tracking system, and customized treatment profile for high astigmatism or irregular corneal surface. This review aims to introduce the mechanisms, pros, and cons of these three types of refractive surgery. With full understanding, practitioners could advise patients on the most suitable treatment of choice.
War or peace tweets? The case of Pakistan

This study explores the application of social media in a violent conflict and examines the role that Twitter can play in communicative processes in light of peacebuilding practices. It bridges a gap in communication research by conducting a war/peace framing analysis on Twitter regarding the second deadliest terrorist attack in Pakistan. Our results challenge the idealistic perspectives of peace communication scholars, who predicted that digital platforms would lead to a strong peace framing approach. Similar to traditional media, the tweets were dominated by war frames. Results also showed the amount of war and peace indicators varied over time. Further, findings suggest the narrative that ultimately failed to highlight a peace framework, was largely shaped by local events and the power of traditional stakeholders.