Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved Performance of Li-ion Polymer Batteries Through Improved Pulse Charging Algorithm

Pulse charging of lithium-ion polymer batteries (LiPo), when properly implemented, offers increased battery charge and energy efficiencies and improved safety for electronic device consumers. Investigations of the combined impact of pulse charge duty cycle and frequency of the pulse charge current on the performance of lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) batteries used the Taguchi orthogonal arrays (OA) to identify optimal and robust pulse charging parameters that maximize battery charge and energy efficiencies while decreasing charge time. These were confirmed by direct comparison with the commonly applied benchmark constant current-constant voltage (CC–CV) charging method. The operation of a pulse charger using identified optimal parameters resulted in charge time reduction by 49% and increased charge and energy efficiencies of 2% and 12% respectively. Furthermore, when pulse charge current factors, such as frequency and duty cycle were considered, it was found that the duty cycle of the pulse charge current had the most impact on the cycle life of the LiPo battery and that the cycle life could be increased by as much as 100 cycles. Finally, the charging temperature was found to have the most statistically significant impact on the temporarily evolving LiPo battery impedance, a measure of its degradation.
Patients or Prisoners: Implications of Overlooking Mental Health Needs of Female Offenders

Since the publication of the Corston report in 2007, there has been little implementation of the recommendations for helping women in prison with mental health needs, despite research providing a better understanding of mental health requirements and a recently developed Female Offender Strategy (Ministry of Justice, 2018a). Evidence has also been brought to light in terms of offender pathways and the complex interplay between offending, mental health and other factors. Therefore, a fresh understanding of mental health among female prisoners is required, as prevalence and need in relation to this cohort is likely to have changed in the intervening years. The short prison sentences that many women are serving can be counterproductive in reducing recidivism and often exacerbate the circumstances that result in many women reoffending. To date, the recommendation of replacing women’s prisons with smaller custodial centres has only been implemented at one establishment; therefore, its impact cannot be fully determined. Evidence supporting existing interventions, including the recent liaison and diversion programme, is inconclusive due to a lack of research and inconsistent programme implementation. Therefore, a review of the Corston report (2007) and a re-evaluation of the mental health needs of women prisoners is required to support the development of a much-needed ‘new’ model of rehabilitation.
Soil biomass and microbial activity in soybean crop area under different cover crops and different soil correction systems

The objective of this work was to evaluate soil biomass and microbial activity and soybean yield under different limestone and gypsum doses and different cover crops. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of ​​the Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa Agropecuária de Chapadão, on a Dystrophic Red Latosol, using cultivar Desafio. The experiment consisted of a randomized blocks design, in a split-plot factorial scheme (3x4x3), with three replications. Plots consisted of three gypsum doses: control (without gypsum), recommended dose (2.3 Mg ha-1), and double dose (4.6 Mg ha-1). Subplots consisted of four limestone doses (2, 4, and 6 Mg ha-1) and the control (without limestone). Each block had three different cover crops: Brachiaria, Millet, and allow. The values obtained with the test revealed that brachiaria had better basal respiration in the absence of gypsum. Conversely, millet had better basal respiration in with the gypsum dose. Basal respiration, using brachiaria as cover crop, was higher at the dose of 2700 kg ha-1 of limestone. However, for the fallow and the millet, basal respiration was higher when using the highest limestone dose of 6000 kg ha-1. The variable microbial biomass showed differences between cover crops only in the absence of gypsum. Brachiaria and fallow presented the highest mean for microbial biomass. The use of millet as a cover crop together with gypsum doses increased the microbial biomass. The variables mass of 100 grains and grain yield had higher mean at the limestone dose of 6000 kg ha-1 .
CARBON EMISSIONS, HUMAN CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

This study examined the joint effect of carbon emission and health investment on economic development in Nigeria by integrating ecological economics approach with the endogenous growth model. Through the adoption of annual time series spanning 1980-2017, the bounds testing approach of the autoregressive distributed lag framework established the existence of co-integration among the variables in the model. The long run estimates revealed that a 1% increase in government health investments enhances economic development (proxied by GDP per capita) by 0.008% while a 1% increase in the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduces GDP per capita by 0.1%. Furthermore, evidence shows that no causal link exists between fossil fuel consumption (FFC) and CO2 contrary to previous studies. However, unidirectional causality from health outcomes (proxied by life expectancy) to CO2, as well as from CO2 to electricity consumption (ELCON) is observed. Also, increased energy consumption (FFC and ELCON) directly influences GDP per capita. The study recommends that efforts to reduce CO2 should target firms manufacturing cement, asbestos and other dust-generating products as alternative contributors to CO2 accumulation. Equally, mitigating the health effect of CO2 will require effective, efficient and adequate public health investment.
Substance abuse in Children and adolescent: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Drug addiction among children and adolescents is spreading very fast. The age of initiation of substance use is falling progressively. Aims and Methods: The aim of the study was to know about the socio demographic profile of children and adolescents diagnosed with substance dependence and to assess the pattern of drug dependence. So we conducted a retrospective study in Swami Vivekananda Drug De addiction centre at Amritsar in Punjab. The diagnosis of substance dependence was made by a consultant psychiatrist after direct interview with the patient and the relatives according to International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Results: The study comprised 446 children and adolescents who reported for de addiction during the study period. Majority were in the age group 16-19(95.73%), 49.5% were from urban areas and 50.5% patients were from rural areas. Out of these 36.09% were employed, 24.43% were unemployed and 39.46% were students. Our results showed more involvement of male as compared to females. As far as education status is concerned, 47.53% studied up to matric, 23.99% up to Secondary school, 12.78% up to middle, 6.95% up to primary and 5.38% were illiterate. Opioids and polysubstance use are common among them. Conclusion: The need of the hour is to educate and counsel young children and adolescents and create awareness among the public regarding drug addiction.
Dynamic Adaptive Mixture Models with an Application to Volatility and Risk

In this paper we propose a new class of dynamic mixture models (DAMMs) being able to sequentially adapt the mixture components as well as the mixture composition using information coming from the data. The information driven nature of the proposed class of models allows to exactly compute the full likelihood and to avoid computer intensive simulation schemes. Specific models for financial data are developed starting from the general specification. These models nest many specifications already available in the literature. The properties of the new class of models are discussed through the paper and a large-scale application in quantitative risk management using US equity data is reported.
Targeted attenuation of elevated histone marks at SNCA alleviates α-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease

Epigenetic de-regulation of α-synuclein plays a key role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Analysis of the SNCA promoter using the ENCODE database revealed the presence of important histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) including transcription-promoting marks, H3K4me3 and H3K27ac, and repressive mark, H3K27me3. We investigated these histone marks in postmortem brains of controls and PD patients and observed that only H3K4me3 was significantly elevated at the SNCA promoter of the substantia nigra (SN) of PD patients both in punch biopsy as well as in NeuN positive neuronal nuclei samples. To understand the importance of H3K4me3 in regulation of α-synuclein, we developed CRISPR/dCas9-based locus-specific H3K4me3 demethylating system where the catalytic domain of JARID1A was recruited to the SNCA promoter. This CRISPR/dCas9 SunTag-JARID1A significantly reduced H3K4me3 at SNCA promoter and concomitantly decreased α-synuclein both in the neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y and idiopathic PD-iPSC derived dopaminergic neurons. In sum, this study indicates that α-synuclein expression in PD is controlled by SNCA’s histone PTMs and modulation of the histone landscape of SNCA can reduce α-synuclein expression.
Study of the weights of human heart and liver in relation with age, gender and body height

Background: Normal weight of organ is one of the most important indicators to discern between normal and abnormal in the departments of Anatomy, Pathology also as in clinical medicine. Objective of the study was to examine the normal adult internal organ weights and their relationship with age, gender, body height. Methods: The present study included 100 autopsy cases from the mortuary of Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad from May 2012 to September 2013. The subjects were selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria to avoid variations arising out of pathology. The ages ranged from 10 to 60 years and out of which 29 were females and 71 were males. The organs studied were heart and liver. Results: The weight of organs with mean+standard deviation (SD) was represented for males and females respectively; heart 294+48 / 287+44gms, liver 1404 + 191/ 1283+ 169gms. Conclusions: A positive relationship was found between organ weight with age and body height in both males and females. Organ weights in males were comparatively higher than females.
Incidence of Recurrent Nasal Polyposis After Endoscopic Polypectomy

January, 2017 Accepted 2 Abstract This a prospective study done to provide reference information about the incidence of recurrent nasal polyposis and associated risk factors among 30 patients operated on by means of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery between Jan. 2012 –Jan 2014. These patients presented in otorhinolaryngology dept. in Hilla General Teaching Hospital presented with symptoms and signs of sinonasal polyposis not responding to medical treatment, the diagnosis confirmed by history taken, clinical examination which involved: anterior and posterior rhinoscopy, flexible and rigid nasoendoscopy, with radiological examinations as plain X-ray films and CTscan of nose &paranasal sinuses (mainly coronal view) taken to all patients to see middle meatal complex. Then the patients underwent polypectomy by means of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, after that follow-up done during mean period of 12 months (range 3 months – 24 months) included: regular flexible & rigid nasoendoscopy. In our study we estimated the incidence of recurrent nasal polyposis after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery which was 30% and highlighted the risk factors affected this incidence as: age (mostly affected patients at 4& 5 decade 66.67%), gender (males more than females 3.5:1), presence of some conditions (allergic rhinitis in 33.33%,allergic fungal sinusitis in 22.22%,childhood asthma in 22.22%, eczema in 11.11%, aspirin intolerance in 11.11%, and Samter's triad in 11.11%), previous nasal surgery(simple polypectomy) in 44.44%, and polyp extension as extensive polyposis in 77.78% .
Computer Network Simulation with ns-3: A Systematic Literature Review

Complexity of current computer networks, including e.g., local networks, large structured networks, wireless sensor networks, datacenter backbones, requires a thorough study to perform analysis and support design. Simulation is a tool of paramount importance to encompass all the different aspects that contribute to design quality and network performance (including as well energy issues, security management overheads, dependability), due to the fact that such complexity produces several interactions at all network layers that is not easily modellable with analytic approaches. In this systematic literature review we aim to analyze, basing our investigation on available literature, the adoption of a popular network simulator, namely ns-3, and its use in the scientific community. More in detail, we are interested in understanding what are the impacted application domains in which authors prefer ns-3 to other similar tools and how extensible it is in practice according to the experience of authors. The results of our analysis, which has been conducted by especially focusing on 128 papers published between 2009 to 2019, reveals that 10% of the evaluated papers were discarded because they represented informal literature; most of the studies presented comparisons among different network simulators, beyond ns-3 and conceptual studies related to performance assessment and validation and routing protocols. Only about 30% of considered studies present extensions of ns-3 in terms of new modules and only about 10% present effective case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of employing network simulator in real application, except conceptual and modeling studies.
Wind-Forced Variability of the Remote Meridional Overturning Circulation

The mechanisms by which time-dependent wind stress anomalies at midlatitudes can force variability in the meridional overturning circulation at low latitudes are explored. It is shown that winds are effective at forcing remote variability in the overturning circulation when forcing periods are near the midlatitude baroclinic Rossby wave basin-crossing time. Remote overturning is required by an imbalance in the midlatitude mass storage and release resulting from the dependence of the Rossby wave phase speed on latitude. A heuristic theory is developed that predicts the strength and frequency dependence of the remote overturning well when compared to a two-layer numerical model. The theory indicates that the variable overturning strength, relative to the anomalous Ekman transport, depends primarily on the ratio of the meridional spatial scale of the anomalous wind stress curl to its latitude. For strongly forced systems, a mean deep western boundary current can also significantly enhance the overturning variability at all latitudes. For sufficiently large thermocline displacements, the deep western boundary current alternates between interior and near-boundary pathways in response to fluctuations in the wind, leading to large anomalies in the volume of North Atlantic Deep Water stored at midlatitudes and in the downstream deep western boundary current transport.
Synthesis and Characterization of Starch-Graft-Acrylamide Hydrogel for Oral Drug Delivery

In this research, starch was extracted from fresh sweet potato and was used to prepare starch-g-acrylamide hydrogel using free radical polymerization method with potassium per sulphate and N’N-Methylene bisacrylamide as initiator and cross-linker, respectively. The swelling capacity and pH sensitivity of the synthesized hydrogel were investigated in solutions of various pH (1-12). The drug loading and release experiment was also carried out using promethazine (PMZ) as the model drug at 25oC and 37oC, respectively while the release study was carried out in an enzyme-free simulated gastric intestinal fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). The result showed a 905% swelling at pH 11, suggesting increased swelling capacity at higher pH values. Drug loading result indicated 99% of the drug was entrapped by the hydrogel as confirmed by UV-visible spectrophotometry. SIF and SGF Simulation indicated a 24% and 9% drug release for the first ten hours. At the end of 48 hours the release was 96% and 89%, respectively indicating the hydrogel released more promethazine in SIF than in SGF. The results obtained in this work suggest that starch-graft-acrylamide hydrogel is a potential vehicle for oral drug delivery. Keywords: Starch, Acrylamide, Hydrogel, Drug delivery.
Distributed Continuous-Time Optimization of Second-Order Multiagent Systems With Nonconvex Input Constraints

This article discusses the distributed continuous-time optimization problem (DCTOP) of second-order multiagent systems (SOMASs). It is assumed that the inputs are required to be in some nonconvex sets, the team objective function (TOF) is a combination of general differentiable convex functions, and each agent can only obtain the information of one local objective function. Based on the neighbors’ information, a new distributed continuous-time optimization algorithm (DCTOA) is first proposed for each agent, where its gradient gains are nonuniform. By introducing a scaling factor and a model transformation, the corresponding system is changed into a time-varying nonlinear system which does not contain constraint operator in form. Then, it is proven that all agents’ states could reach an agreement and the TOF could be minimized by constructing some new Lyapunov functions. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is shown by simulation results.
Compared patterns of arm regeneration in different taxa of armed echinoderms

Regeneration is a post-embryonic developmental process common in Metazoa, although it tends to be less widespread in the more complex-bodied phyla. An exception to this rule are echinoderms, which are known for phylum-wide and extremely advanced regenerative abilities, being able to regrow all appendages, and often large parts of the central body and viscera (CANDIA CARNEVALI, 2006). Armed echinoderms (Crinoidea, Asteroidea, and Ophiuroidea) are especially practical models as their arms are easy to amputate, and their proximo-distal extension provides a useful reference point to describe the regenerative processes. Samples of four species from these taxa – the crinoid Antedon mediterranea, the asteroids Echinaster sepositus and Coscinasterias tenuispina, and the ophiuroid Amphipholis squamata – were subjected to arm amputation to study the progression of arm regeneration from a morphological point of view by means of different microscopy analyses. Particular attention was given to the “axial structures”, defined as the continuous elements running along the proximo-distal axis of each arm, namely the radial water canal, the radial nerve cord, and the arm coelom, as they are believed to be fundamental for the re-organization of the regenerating arm. The comparison highlighted commonalities and differences of arm regeneration in the different taxa. Distal structures, represented in crinoids by the apical blastema and in asteroids and ophiuroids by the terminal ossicle and tube foot, form very quickly, whereas the proximal region develops later, in proximal-to-distal direction. This is in accordance with previously published models of echinoderm regeneration (MOOI et al., 2005; BEN KHADRA et al., 2018). These similarities suggest that the mechanism of regeneration has ancient origins and is extremely conserved through echinoderm evolution. Within the proximal region, the axial structures themselves develop earlier than the nearby discrete structures (e.g. ossicles and tube feet), and seem to have a crucial role in their organization, providing material and possible signalling molecules for the growing tissue. The cellular component of the nerve grows before any other structure, including its own fibres, thus confirming a primary role of the nervous system in the whole process. Molecular analyses must be combined to morphology data to improve our understanding of similarities and differences of the regenerative process as it occurs in the different echinoderm taxa, as well as in different animal phyla, and to identify related processes in both regenerationcompetent and non-competent species.
Impact of Cord Blood Vitamin D Level on Early Childhood Caries in Infancy: A Pilot Study

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most frequent chronic diseases among infants and preschool-aged children. Objectives: Our objective was to determine an association between umbilical cord blood 25(OH)D level and early childhood caries. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Near East University (NEU) Medical hospital in Cyprus during 2013-2016. All pregnant women followed by NEU gynecology and obstetrics clinic were invited to participate in the study. Cord blood serum samples were collected after birth and analyzed for 25(OH)D levels. Infants underwent dental examinations, and questionnaire information was gathered from parents of infants between 1 and 2 years of age. Results: Among 120 deliveries, 90 mothers accepted to participate and supply cord blood. 40 of them were excluded; therefore, 50 toddlers were recruited to participate (mean age 20.2 ± 3.1 months, male/female: 23/27) and all of them attended the dental and questionnaire evaluations related to participants aged 1 - 2 years. Cord blood 25(OH)D level (mean: 25.6 ± 11.6 ng/mL) was found to be seriously low in 12%, low in 20%, deficient in 28%, and optimal in 40%. 34% of the infants had ECC. Oral hygiene habits and low cord blood level of 25(OH)D were significantly associated with the development of ECC (P = 0.039 and P = 0.002, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that lower cord blood 25(OH)D level was significantly associated with ECC (P = 0.007). Discussion: This study demonstrated the impact of low neonatal 25(OH)D level on the development of ECC. Based on these results, it can be suggested that measuring 25(OH)D levels of mothers during pregnancy can help maintain an optimal maternal and offspring vitamin D level, thereby protecting the infant’s dental health.
Toward a physiological explanation of juvenile growth curves

Juvenile growth curves are generally sigmoid in shape: Growth is initially nearly exponential, but it slows to near zero as the animal approaches maturity. The drop‐off in growth rate is puzzling because, everything else being equal, selection favors growing as fast as possible. Existing theory posits sublinear scaling of resource acquisition with juvenile body mass and linear scaling of the requirement for maintenance, so the difference, fuel for growth, decreases as the juvenile increases in size. Experimental evidence, however, suggests that maintenance metabolism increases sublinearly not linearly with size. Here, we develop a new theory consistent with the experimental evidence. Our theory is based on the plausible assumption that there is a trade‐off in the capacity of capillaries to supply growing and developed cells. As the proportion of non‐growing cells increases, they take up more macromolecules from the capillaries, leaving fewer to support growing cells. The predicted growth curves are realistic and similar to those of previous models (Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and Logistic) but have the advantage of being derived from a plausible physiological model. We hope that our focus on resource delivery in capillaries will encourage new experimental work to identify the detailed physiological basis of the trade‐off underlying juvenile growth curves.