Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do oil consumption and economic growth intensify environmental degradation? Evidence from developing economies

The purpose of this article is to empirically investigate the impact of economic growth, oil consumption, financial development, industrialization and trade openness on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, particularly in relation to major oil-consuming developing economies. This study utilizes annual data from 1980 to 2012 on a panel of 18 developing countries. Our empirical analysis employs robust panel cointegration tests and a vector error correction model (VECM) framework. The empirical results of three panel cointegration models suggest that there is a significant long-run equilibrium relationship among economic growth, oil consumption, financial development, industrialization, trade openness and CO2 emissions. Similarly, results from VECMs show that economic growth, oil consumption and industrialization have a short-run dynamic bidirectional feedback relationship with CO2 emissions. Long-run (error-correction term) bidirectional causalities are found among CO2 emissions, economic growth, oil consumption, financial development and trade openness. Our results confirm that economic growth and oil consumption have a significant impact on the CO2 emissions in developing economies. Hence, the findings of this study have important policy implications for mitigating CO2 emissions and offering sustainable economic development.
Retinal and Macular Ganglion Cell Count Estimated With Optical Coherence Tomography RTVUE-100 as a Candidate Biomarker for Glaucoma.

Purpose To evaluate the ability of total and macular estimated retinal ganglion cell (RGC) counts to discriminate between healthy and glaucomatous eyes. To determine threshold markers of the estimated RGCs taking into account age dependence. Methods This was a cross-sectional, observational study. The study group consisted of 176 eyes subdivided in three groups: 32 healthy, 91 preperimetric (PPG), and 53 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes. The estimate of total and macular number of RGCs was obtained using a model described later. To account for the inverse correlation of RGC count with age, we considered two age subgroups (≤55 and >55 years) for both total and macular estimated RGC counts. We computed frequency distributions and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to measure the discriminating ability and derive the cut-offs between two different conditions with their relative diagnostic parameters. Results The total and macular estimated RGC counts showed highly significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.0001). The estimated RGC counts performed fairly well in distinguishing healthy from glaucomatous (PPG+POAG) eyes (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.79-0.92) with no statistically significant difference between total and macular RGCs. The approach allowed a good discrimination also between PPG and POAG eyes (AUC = 0.86-0.92). Cutoffs for the older age bracket were found to be lower in all cases. Conclusions Retinal ganglion cell counts estimated with empirical formulas with RTVue-100 could be used as a valid surrogate for neural losses in glaucoma.
Redirection concept of autonomous mobile robot HY-SRF05 sensor to reduce the number of sensors

The autonomous mobile robot can move around and avoid obstacles in front by itself. The data generated by the sensors is processed using an algorithm and specific methods to determine the movement of the robot. Ultrasonic sensor installed on the Mobile robot with a straight forward position. Ultrasonic sensor can detect the obstacle 30 degrees in front, which creates the blank area of the sensor between two ultrasonic sensors. Ultrasonic sensors installed at many points to reduce that blank area. This paper offers the concept of two ultrasonic sensor redirection by mounting it tilted so when it is drawn will form a right triangle that the concept of trigonometry applied. The results of the approximate distance between the obstacle sensor becomes the hypotenuse, while the distance between the two sensors already obtained so that the distance between the mobile robot with the real obstacle can be calculated. The mechanism of mobile robot movement mimics the movement of agricultural tractors. The test results showed that the optimum angle between the two ultrasonic sensors is 35 to 55 degree. Redirection ultrasonic sensors will reduce approximately 42% of the number of sensors that are installed straight ahead.
A Meta-Model to Support the Integration of Dependability Concerns Into Systems Engineering Processes: An Example From Power Production

Systems engineering (SE) is a very promising approach to facilitate the development of complex systems. This explains why several SE processes have been already proposed. However, these proposals focus mainly on systems with faultless components. Integration of dependability concerns into SE processes must be supported by a suitable organization of the data which are dealt with during the system life-cycle. A meta-model which defines the concepts used during this cycle as well as the relations between these concepts is a way to rigorously describe this organization. This article proposes such a meta-model developed for power production systems. These systems are phased mission systems composed of repairable and multi-state components; moreover, several redundancy policies shall be defined for each phase. This proposal is illustrated on a small example from a power plant. Last, the merit of this contribution to support the integration of dependability concerns is shown by proposing a method to build systematically, from the instance diagrams derived from the proposed meta-model, the Markov Chains which represent the dysfunctional dynamic behavior of a system.
TLR , NLR and other modulators as infectious disease vaccine adjuvants

Vaccines based on attenuated or killed viruses and bacteria are highly effective in preventing infection with a range of pathogens, but can have safety issues. Therefore, there is a move towards subunit vaccines based on recombinant proteins or naked DNA. However, protein subunit vaccines are typically poorly immunogenic when administered alone and therefore require co-administration with adjuvants to boost the immune response. For many decades there was very little progress in understanding the mechanism of action of adjuvants, but recently there have been a number of significant breakthroughs in this area. The binding of pathogen-derived molecules to different immune sensors, including Toll-like receptors (TLR) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLR) and retinoic acidinducible protein-1-like receptors (RLR), activate important innate immune pathways and provide us with not only an understanding of how current vaccines and adjuvants work, but also provide potential targets for novel adjuvant development. Introduction Vaccination has been an extremely powerful tool for preventing infectious diseases. Eradication of smallpox and the dramatic reduction in polio and measles throughout the world represent the most significant successes of vaccination to date. However, infectious diseases remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Traditional vaccines have mainly consisted of live attenuated pathogens, whole inactivated organisms or inactivated bacterial toxins. The development of more advanced and effective vaccines to combat infectious diseases, such as influenza, HIV, tuberculosis and malaria is a major goal of modern medical research. However, these new generation vaccines are usually based on recombinant proteins, and although safer, they are often less immunogenic than traditional attenuated or
Silver nanoparticles induce apoptotic cell death in Candida albicans through the increase of hydroxyl radicals

Silver nanoparticles have been shown to be detrimental to fungal cells although the mechanism(s) of action have not been clearly established. In this study, we used Candida albicans cells to show that silver nanoparticles exert their antifungal effect through apoptosis. Many studies have shown that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species induces and regulates the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, hydroxyl radicals are considered an important component of cell death. Therefore, we assumed that hydroxyl radicals were related to apoptosis and the effect of thiourea as a hydroxyl radical scavenger was investigated. We measured the production of reactive oxygen species and investigated whether silver nanoparticles induced the accumulation of hydroxyl radicals. A reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential shown by flow cytometry analysis and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria were also verified. In addition, the apoptotic effects of silver nanoparticles were detected by fluorescence microscopy using other confirmed diagnostic markers of yeast apoptosis including phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA and nuclear fragmentation, and the activation of metacaspases. Cells exposed to silver nanoparticles showed increased reactive oxygen species and hydroxyl radical production. All other phenomena of mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic features also appeared. The results indicate that silver nanoparticles possess antifungal effects with apoptotic features and we suggest that the hydroxyl radicals generated by silver nanoparticles have a significant role in mitochondrial dysfunctional apoptosis.
The Predictive Validity of the MCAT Exam in Relation to Academic Performance Through Medical School: A National Cohort Study of 2001–2004 Matriculants

Purpose Most research examining the predictive validity of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) has focused on the relationship between MCAT scores and scores on the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step exams. This study examined whether MCAT scores predict students’ unimpeded progress toward graduation (UP), which the authors defined as not withdrawing or being dismissed for academic reasons, graduating within five years of matriculation, and passing the Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge, and Step 2 Clinical Skills exams on the first attempt. Method Students who matriculated during 2001–2004 at 119 U.S. medical schools were included in the analyses. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the relationships between UP and MCAT total scores alone, undergraduate grade point averages (UGPAs) alone, and UGPAs and MCAT total scores together. All analyses were conducted at the school level and were considered together to evaluate relationships across schools. Results The majority of matriculants experienced UP. Together, UGPAs and MCAT total scores predicted UP well. MCAT total scores alone were a better predictor than UGPAs alone. Relationships were similar across schools; however, there was more variability across schools in the relationship between UP and UGPAs than between UP and MCAT total scores. Conclusions The combination of UGPAs and MCAT total scores performs well as a predictor of UP. Both UGPAs and MCAT total scores are strong predictors of academic performance in medical school through graduation, not just the first two years. Further, these relationships generalize across medical schools.
Site-controlled QDs: A route for dense arrays of integrated entangled photon emitters

Quantum computing is one of future challenges [1]. One of the technologies baring significant potentialities is based on quantum dots (QD), usually referred to as “artificial atoms”. The analogy refers to their discrete energy levels, which allows atomic concepts to be exported to a system which is, on the other hand, embedded in a semiconductor matrix and can be technologically exploited. A good example of this is the capability to emit single and polarization-entangled photons [2], which are attractive sources of qubits. However, many challenges still have to be overcome. The main problem of most of QD systems is the asymmetry induced fine-structure splitting (FSS) - the degeneracy lifting of the exciton (e+h) level. It compromises entanglement detection which, in general, resides in the polarization of photons emitted in biexciton (2e+2h)-exciton recombination cascade (note: the entanglement resides in the electronic levels, not in the cascaded process). Particular tuning strategies (magnetic field, electric field, strain), indeed, can rectify this issue, however they complicate the set-up and typically can be applied to a single QD at a time, while an array of symmetrical QDs is needed for complicated quantum computational tasks.
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling for predicting irinotecan exposure in human body

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Treatment of colorectal cancer remains a challenge to clinicians as well as drug developers. Irinotecan, a Camptothecin derivative, is successfully used for the treatment of this rapidly progressing malignancy and finds its place in the first line of therapeutic agents. Irinotecan is also effective in treating SCLC, malignant glioma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, its adverse effects limit its clinical application. Mainly metabolized by hepatic route, and excreted through biliary tract, this dug has been found to possess high variation in patients in its pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models using compartmental approach have attained their position to foresee the possible PK behavior of different drugs before their administration to patients and such models have been proposed for several anticancer agents. In this work, we used WB-PBPK technology to develop a model in a population of tumor patients who used IV irinotecan therapy. This model depicted the concentration of drug and its pharmacologically active metabolite in human body over a specific period of time. Knowledge about pharmacokinetic parameters is extracted from this profile and the model is evaluated by the observed results of clinical study presented in literature. The predicted behavior of the drug by this approach is in good agreement with the observed results and can aid in further exploration of PK of irinotecan in cancer patients, especially in those concomitantly suffer from other morbidity.
Diagnosis of Finger Flexor Pulley Injury in Rock Climbers: A Systematic Review

Background Closed injury to the finger flexor pulley system is found frequently in rock climbers. There are no evidence-based published guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries. Objectives The present systematic review was undertaken to answer the following questions: what are the most commonly recommended diagnostic criteria for finger flexor pulley injury in rock climbers; and, based on the available evidence, what is the best diagnostic test for these injuries? Methods Four electronic databases were searched using specific key terms, with limits set for language and date. Two reviewers independently identified potentially relevant titles based on inclusion criteria. Inter-reviewer variability was assessed using the Kappa statistic. The scientific quality of articles was assessed using validated scales. Results Of the 93 articles identified, 29 were included in the present analysis. The inter-rater agreement for selection of potentially relevant titles was 88% (kappa=0.74). The most commonly cited diagnostic criterion for closed finger pulley injury was clinical bowstringing of the flexor tendons over the volar aspect of the proximal interphalangeal joint. However, the best study of diagnostic accuracy for these injuries supports the use of dynamic ultrasound. Conclusions Dynamic ultrasound is recommended for the diagnosis of closed finger pulley injuries in rock climbers. The prevailing notion that these injuries can be diagnosed by testing for clinical bowstringing is not supported by evidence.
Interface of a single ZnO-nanowire assembled onto custom-fabricated nanogap device for UV sensing applications

This work proposes a low-cost and easy-to-fabricate sensor based on single ZnO nanowire (ZnO-NW) assembled by dielectrophoresis (DEP) onto gold nanogap electrodes. Thanks to the widespread sensing properties of ZnO-NWs, the fabricated device can be used to monitor in real-time the UV-light. DC measurements have shown a Schottky-like I-V characteristic which varies depending on the UV light intensity. The AC analysis of the ZnO-NW electrical properties has also shown impedance variations proportional to the UV irradiance. In particular, the reported measurements show high sensitivity to low UV irradiance (below 1mW/cm2) translated to both resistive and capacitive variations. Thanks to the low-cost assembly process, the proposed nanowire-on-nanogap-based sensor can be considered a preliminary step to characterize nanomaterials before assembling them onto CMOS technology, opening the field to the Micro-for-Nano approach, i.e. an electronic circuit platform to integrate nanostructured materials and read-out their sensing parameters.
A critique of research on the use of activities with persons with Alzheimer's disease: a systematic literature review.

TOPIC The topic of this paper concerns the use of therapeutic activities with persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). PURPOSE The purpose is to present a critique of the research on these activities, with an emphasis on methodology. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT AND SCOPE: Nursing literature identifies a number of purposes for activities for persons with AD. Activities should be therapeutic, enhance quality of life, arrest mental decline, and generate and maintain self-esteem. Other purposes of activities for this population are to create immediate pleasure, re-establish dignity, provide meaningful tasks, restore roles, and enable friendships. Activities may be more important to the psychological state of well-being of persons with dementia than the general physical and social environments in which they live. SOURCES The literature reviewed was identified with the use of computer data bases (Medline - 1991-March 2001; Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) - 1991-March 2001; and PsychLit - 1988-March 1999). In addition, data bases of Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Indexes as they appear in the computer base, Web of Science, were searched for 1992-2001. The time period for each search was determined by the manner in which the literature was grouped for inclusion in the particular database. Hand searches of 11 selected journals included the years 1993-2001. The search dates were selected to reflect the time period when the largest number of studies on activities and AD have appeared in the professional literature. We critique a total of 33 studies. CONCLUSIONS While researchers have demonstrated interest in the use of activities with persons with AD, theoretical and methodological difficulties, unclear findings and gaps exist, including a lack of emphasis on gender, ethnic, racial or cultural differences. Sampling issues involving diagnosis and staging complicate the research on individuals with AD. Case studies, single subject experimental designs, and tightly controlled quasi-experimental and experimental designs are needed to advance knowledge in this important area.
The visual homing problem : An example of robotics / biology cross fertilization

In this paper, we describe how a mobile robot under simple visual control can retrieve a particular goal location in an open environment. Our model neither needs a precise map nor to learn all the possible positions in the environment. The system is a neural architecture inspired by neurobiological analysis of how visual patterns named landmarks are recognized. The robot merges these visual informations and their azimuth to build a plastic representation of its location. This representation is used to learn the best movement to reach the goal. A simple and fast on-line learning of a few places located near the goal allows this goal to be reached from anywhere in its neighborhood. The system uses only a very rough representation of the robot environment and presents very high generalization capabilities. We describe an efficient implementation of autonomous and motivated navigation tested on our robot in real indoor environments. We show the limitations of the model and its possible extensions. ©2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A modelling framework to support the selection and implementation of new tuberculosis diagnostic tools [State of the art series. Operational research. Number 8 in the series].

Efforts to stimulate technological innovation in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) have resulted in the recent introduction of several novel diagnostic tools. As these products come to market, policy makers must make difficult decisions about which of the available tools to implement. This choice should depend not only on the test characteristics (e.g., sensitivity and specificity) of the tools, but also on how they will be used within the existing health care infrastructure. Accordingly, policy makers choosing between diagnostic strategies must decide: 1) What is the best combination of tools to select? 2)Who should be tested with the new tools? and 3)Will these tools complement or replace existing diagnostics? The best choice of diagnostic strategy will likely vary between settings with different epidemiology (e.g., levels of TB incidence, human immunodeficiency virus co-infection and drug-resistant TB) and structural and resource constraints (e.g., existing diagnostic pathways, human resources and laboratory capacity). We propose a joint modelling framework that includes a tuberculosis (TB) transmission component (a dynamic epidemiological model) and a health system component (an operational systems model) to support diagnostic strategy decisions. This modelling approach captures the complex feedback loops in this system: new diagnostic strategies alter the demands on and performance of health systems that impact TB transmission dynamics which, in turn, result in further changes to demands on the health system. We demonstrate the use of a simplified model to support the rational choice of a diagnostic strategy based on health systems requirements, patient outcomes and population-level TB impact.
Social audit of provincial health services: Building the community voice into planning in South Africa

Social audits of health services in three South African provinces (Limpopo 2001, Gauteng 2003 and Eastern Cape 2001) demonstrated a fusion of participatory research, qualitative data collection, epidemiological surveys and analysis, and socialising of evidence for action. The social audit in each province involved the community in covering eight principles of service delivery. In the particular case of Gauteng province, householders answered a questionnaire on public perceptions of government health services. In each sentinel community, the results were returned for discussion in focus groups, made up of a sample that had answered the household questionnaire. Institutional reviews of health facilities and interviews with health workers in those facilities gave the government side of the story. Five actions came from the community-based focus groups, all accepted by the provincial government. Firstly, redesigned communication strategies will aim to reach those with lower levels of education. The second set of actions involves rebuilding the culture of care. Thirdly, the public knowledge of ways to complain was closely related to levels of public satisfaction. Leadership in the health services turned out to be a fourth area for development. And finally, related to this, is the longer-term challenge of establishing and reinforcing community consultation mechanisms.