Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A positive Selection Escherichia Coli Recombinant Protein Expression Vector for One-Step Cloning

We introduce OLIVAR ( O rientation se L ection of I nsert in V ector through A ntisense R eporter) as a novel selection strategy for the insertion of protein-coding genes into vector backbones. As a proof-of-concept, we have engineered a plasmid vector, pGRASS ( G reen fluorescent protein R eporter from A ntisense promoter-based S creening S ystem), for gene cloning in E. coli. With pGRASS, positive clones can be effortlessly distinguished from negative clones after blunt-end cloning. The vector not only screens clones with an insert but also for its correct orientation. The design further allows for the expression of recombinant protein from the T7 promoter in an appropriate host bacterium. With this vector, we are able to reduce the entire cloning workflow into a single step involving a 2-h reaction at room temperature. We believe that our cloning-cum-screening system presented here is extremely cost-effective and straightforward and can be applied to other vector systems and domains such as phage display and library construction.
Effect of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapies in Rodent Models of Sepsis: A Meta-Analysis

Background Multiple preclinical studies have demonstrated that bone‐marrow derived mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells [MSC(M)] positively influence the severity of sepsis symptoms and mortality in rodent models. However, this remains an inconclusive finding. Objective To review the effect of naïve MSC(M) in rodent models of sepsis. Methods The PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched up to August 31, 2021. Inclusion criteria according to PICOS criteria were as follows: (1) population: rodents; (2) intervention: unmodified MSC(M); (3) comparison: not specified; (4) primary outcome: the effects of MSC(M) cell therapy on the mortality of rodent models of sepsis and endotoxemia; (5) study: experimental studies. Multiple prespecified subgroup and meta-regression analysis were conducted. Following quality assessment, random effects models were used for this meta-analysis.The inverse variance method of the fixed effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results twenty-four animal studies met the inclusion criteria. Our results revealed an overall OR difference between animals treated with naïve MSC(M) and controls for mortality rate was 0.34(95% confidence interval: 0.27-0.44; P < 0.0001). Significant heterogeneity among studies was observed. Conclusions The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that naïve MSC(M) therapy decreased mortality in rodent models of sepsis. Additionally, we identified several key knowledge gaps, including the lack of large animal studies and uncertainty regarding the optimal dose of MSC(M) transplantation in sepsis. Before MSC(M) treatment can advance to clinical trials, these knowledge gaps must be addressed.
Real-World Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy (REACH-MN): Protocol of a Registry-Based Cohort Study

Introduction: Some encouraging findings of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in management of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) obtained in the setting of clinical trials are hard to validate in the daily clinical practice due to a complicated treatment scenario of CHM in practice. The primary objective of this registry is to provide a description of treatment patterns used in management of IMN and assess clinical remission in daily practice in a Chinese population sample with IMN. Methods and analysis: This is a prospective, multicenter cohort which will comprise 2000 adults with IMN regardless of urinary protein levels that will be recruited from 11 nephrology centers across China. The participants will be followed for up to at least 2 years. Primary outcome is composite remission (either complete remission or partial remission) 24 months after enrolment. The secondary outcomes are complete remission, partial remission, time to remission, no response, relapse, proteinuria, annual change of glomerular filtration rate, antibodies against PLA2R, and composite endpoint of 40% reduction of glomerular filtration rate, doubling of serum creatinine, end-stage renal disease, and death. Propensity score analysis will be used for matching and adjustment. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (BF2020-094-01). Results of the study will be published in both national and international peer-reviewed journals, and presented at scientific conferences. Investigators will inform the participants as well as other IMN patients of the findings via health education. Study registration: ChiCTR2000033680 (prospectively registered).
Systematic synthesis of CCCCTA-based T-T filters using NAM expansion method

ABSTRACT In the light of nullor-mirror models for current-controlled current conveyor trans-conductance amplifier (CCCCTA), initiating the admittance matrices of the Tow-Thomas (T-T) filter, three different types of the T-T filter are synthesised by means of the nodal admittance matrix (NAM) expansion method. The type A filter, which employ one CCCCTA, one grounded resistor and two grounded capacitors, has eight different forms, the type B filter, which employ one CCCCTA, two grounded capacitors and a second-generation current-controlled conveyor (CCCII) or an second-generation inverting current-controlled conveyor (ICCCII) or an operational trans-conductance amplifier (OTA), has 64 different forms and the type C filter employing one CCCCTA and two grounded capacitors has eight different forms. In all, 80 voltage-mode/current-mode T-T filter circuits are obtained. Because of using canonic number components, the circuits are highly desirable from the viewpoint of IC fabrication and their parameters can be electronically tuned through tuning bias currents of CCCCTAs. The hand analysis and computer simulation results have been provided to support the synthesis method.
Clinical Research on Cinnamomi Cortex: A Scoping Review

There are over 250 species of cinnamon. Each has its distinct morphology and phytochemical composition, which may result in varied therapeutic effects. However, clinical studies have rarely put emphasis on the species of cinnamon being investigated. This scoping review summarized the clinical evidence of Cinnamomum cassia (also known as Cinnamomum aromaticum), which is the species of cinnamon used in traditional Chinese medicine. Electronic searches were conducted on PubMed from its inception till August 2021. Clinical studies that were published in English, stating monotherapy with Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum aromaticum, or “Rou Gui” were included. The 15 included clinical studies investigated the effects of Cinnamomum cassia on type-2 diabetes patients (n=7), and healthy adults (n=8). In the type 2 diabetes population, Cinnamomum cassia supplementation of as low as 1 g/d seemed to improve HbA1c in only poorly controlled diabetes. In the healthy population, Cinnamomum cassia supplementation appeared to influence blood glucose response in a dose-dependent manner, with current studies indicating a minimum of 5 g/dto achieve significant improvement. Studies also showed potential improvement in insulin sensitivity with prolonged Cinnamomum cassia supplementation. However, there were apparent heterogeneity among studies and uncertainties regarding the accuracy of reported cinnamon species. Therefore, the therapeutic effects of Cinnamomum cassia remain inconclusive. Future larger scale and more rigorous clinical studies, with clear identification of Cinnamomum species used, are needed for more conclusive evidence of the clinical effects of Cinnamomum cassia.
Evaluation of Annual Staff Doses and Radiation Shielding Efficiencies of Thyroid Shield and Lead Apron during Preparation and Administration of 131I, 81Kr, and 99mTc-Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals

Nuclear medicine technicians would receive unavoidable exposures during the preparation and administration of radiopharmaceuticals. Based on the staff dose monitoring, the dose reduction efficiencies of the radiation protection shields and the need to implement additional strategies to reduce the staff doses could be evaluated. In this study, medical staff doses during the preparation and administration of Tc-99 m, I-131, and Kr-81 radiopharmaceuticals were evaluated. The dose reduction efficiencies of the lead apron and thyroid shield were also investigated. GR-207 thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips were used for quantifying the medical staff doses. The occupational dose magnitudes were determined in five organs at risk including eye lens, thyroid, fingers, chest, and gonads. TLDs were located under and over the protective shields for evaluating the dose reduction efficiencies of the lead apron and thyroid shield. The occupational doses were normalized to the activities used in the working shifts. During preparation and injection of Tc-99 m radiopharmaceutical, the average annual doses were higher in the chest (4.49 mGy) and eye lenses (4 mGy). For I-131 radiopharmaceutical, the average annual doses of the point-finger (15.8 mGy) and eye lenses (1.23 mGy) were significantly higher than other organs. During the preparation and administration of Kr-81, the average annual doses of the point-finger (0.65 mGy) and chest (0.44 mGy) were higher. The significant dose reductions were achieved using the lead apron and thyroid shield. The radiation protection shields and minimum contact with the radioactive sources, including patients, are recommended to reduce the staff doses.
Low-dose Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Reconstruction through a fast Three-Dimensional Compressed Sensing Method Based on the Three-Dimensional Pseudo-polar Fourier Transform

Background: Reconstruction of high quality two dimensional images from fan beam computed tomography (CT) with a limited number of projections is already feasible through Fourier based iterative reconstruction method. However, this article is focused on a more complicated reconstruction of three dimensional (3D) images in a sparse view cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) by utilizing Compressive Sensing (CS) based on 3D pseudo polar Fourier transform (PPFT). Method: In comparison with the prevalent Cartesian grid, PPFT re gridding is potent to remove rebinning and interpolation errors. Furthermore, using PPFT based radon transform as the measurement matrix, reduced the computational complexity. Results: In order to show the computational efficiency of the proposed method, we compare it with an algebraic reconstruction technique and a CS type algorithm. We observed convergence in <20 iterations in our algorithm while others would need at least 50 iterations for reconstructing a qualified phantom image. Furthermore, using a fast composite splitting algorithm solver in each iteration makes it a fast CBCT reconstruction algorithm. The algorithm will minimize a linear combination of three terms corresponding to a least square data fitting, Hessian (HS) Penalty and l1 norm wavelet regularization. We named it PP-based compressed sensing-HS-W. In the reconstruction range of 120 projections around the 360° rotation, the image quality is visually similar to reconstructed images by Feldkamp-Davis-Kress algorithm using 720 projections. This represents a high dose reduction. Conclusion: The main achievements of this work are to reduce the radiation dose without degrading the image quality. Its ability in removing the staircase effect, preserving edges and regions with smooth intensity transition, and producing high-resolution, low-noise reconstruction results in low-dose level are also shown.
Squarefree Extensions of Words

A word is squarefree if it does not contain nonempty factors of the form XX. In 1906 Thue proved that there exist arbitrarily long squarefree words over a 3-letter alphabet. It was proved recently that among these words there are infinitely many extremal ones, that is, having a square in every single-letter extension. We study diverse problems concerning extensions of words preserving the property of avoiding squares. Our main motivation is the conjecture stating that there are no extremal words over a 4-letter alphabet. We also investigate a natural recursive procedure of generating squarefree words by a single-letter rightmost extension. We present the results of computer experiments supporting a supposition that this procedure gives an infinite squarefree word over any alphabet of size at least three.
Determinants of drinking water treatment and hygiene habits in provincial towns in Yemen

Development projects focusing mainly on the supply side of infrastructure repeatedly turn out to yield poor impact when being rigorously evaluated. This is also the case for an intervention connecting urban households in Yemen to piped water and improved sewerage networks. This study investigates the determinants of drinking water handling and hygiene behaviour. It aims at helping to improve retroactively outcomes, and to avoid pitfalls in the design of future projects. I use multivariate regression to identify the drivers of drinking water treatment and four hygiene habit measures. Connection of households is one of those drivers; however not the most influential one. Conducive water handling and hygiene behaviour appear to be responsive especially to training, access to information and communication technology (ICT), and school education. This paper contributes to the literature by a case study showing the importance of demand side aspects of infrastructure provision. Pipe and sewer grid construction must be flanked with enhancing point-of-use maintenance or restoration of drinking water safety. Future impact evaluations of programmes promoting good water handling and hygiene practices will be particularly useful when intervention assignments can be randomized, and baseline surveys provided for.
An efficient hybrid technique for the solution of fractional-order partial differential equations

In this paper, a hybrid technique called the homotopy analysis Sumudu transform method has been implemented solve fractional-order partial differential equations. This technique is the amalgamation of Sumudu transform method and the homotopy analysis method. Three examples are considered to validate and demonstrate the efficacy and accuracy of the present technique. It is also demonstrated that the results obtained from the suggested technique are in excellent agreement with the exact solution which shows that the proposed method is efficient, reliable and easy to implement for various related problems of science and engineering.
Massive MIMO Channel Modeling

Massive MIMO has attracted many researchers’ attention as it is a promising technology for future 5G communication systems. To characterize the propagation channels of the massive MIMO and to evaluate system performance, it is important to develop an accurate channel model for it. In this thesis, two correlative models, i.e., the Kronecker model and the Weichselberger model, and a cluster-based model, i.e., the Random Cluster Model (RCM), have been validated based on real-life data from four measurement campaigns. These measurements were performed at Lund University using two types of base station (BS) antenna arrays, a practical and compact uniform cylindrical array (UCA) and a physically-large virtual uniform linear array (ULA), both at 2.6 GHz. For correlative models, performance metrics such as channel capacity, sum-rate and singular value spread are examined to validate the model. The random cluster model, which is constructed and evaluated on a cluster level, has been parameterized and validated using the measured channel data. The correlative models are relatively simple and are suitable for analytical study. Validation results show that correlative models can reflect massive MIMO channel capacity and singular value spread, when the compact UCA is used at the base station and when users are closely located. However, for the physically-large ULA, correlative models tend to underestimate channel capacity. The RCM is relatively complex and is usually used for simulation purpose. Validation results show that the RCM is a promising model for massive MIMO channels, however, improvements are needed.
A theoretical and experimental study of the deformation of the piston-cylinder unit of a metrological pressure balance

Pressure balance is a measuring system widely used in metrology as a reference standard. The common procedure is to estimate the pressure from an analytical formula involving a set of phenomenological parameters. These parameters are determined experimentally by calibration tests of the balance. In particular, the piston-cylinder deformation is taking into account by the use of a global distortion coefficient and by the use of an effective area of the piston. In order to analyze the possible influence of local deformation on the pressure estimation, a Finite Element (FE) model has been developed using OpenCavok FE code. For a given position of the piston in the cylinder chamber, for a given initial gap between of the cylinder and the chamber, a coupled fluid-structure calculation is carried out. From the local fields, mean values are calculated from which the effective area of the piston-cylinder unit. The analysis is conducted for several engagement lengths of the piston in the chamber and for several loads. The first results obtained show that the local deformation play a role and that FE models could help for precise calculation of the measured pressure.
Low Cost Arc Fault Detection and Protection for PV Systems: January 30, 2012 - September 30, 2013

Final report for Tigo Energy Incubator project. The specific objective of this 18-month research effort was to develop an off-the-shelf arc-fault detector. The starting point of the project was a prototype detector that was constructed using discrete components and laboratory equipment. An intermediate objective was to build a technically viable detector using programmable components in the detector circuitry. The final objective was to build a commercially viable detector by reducing the cost of the circuitry through the use of more sophisticated programmable components and higher levels of integration.
Evaluation of Maternal Preferences for Neonatal Male Circumcision in Enugu Nigeria

Background: Although circumcision in male neonates is one of the most common procedures performed in neonatal surgery, mothers' preferences concerning the aspects of circumcision are not well-known. Since mother is the likely parent to present child for circumcision, her preferences should be given adequate consideration. Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate maternal preferences for neonatal male circumcision in Enugu. Methodology: A cross-sectional study where questionnaire was distributed by the researchers to consenting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in two teaching hospitals in Enugu. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS. The results presented as means, percentages and tables. Test for significance was done using the Chi-square test. Results: Four hundred and sixty-one pregnant women participated in the study. Ninety-five percent (438/461) wanted circumcision and 83.5% (385/461) wanted it on or before the 8th day of life. The reasons were cultural/religious in 69% (302/447). Fifty-four percent (250/461) had no preferences as to methods, but for those who had, Plastibell was most preferred method in 28% (129/461) while 76% (235/309) preferred circumcision to be done in hospital. In 49.2% (227/461) preferred personnel were nurses but 79.6% (367/461) wanted doctors to attend to post-circumcision complications. In 79.2% (365/461), mothers will not insist on the use of anaesthesia for circumcision. Mothers with circumcised husbands were significantly more willing to circumcise a male child (P = 0.0018). Higher educational status of mother was significantly related to willingness to insist on the use of anaesthesia (P = 0.046) and use of analgesics after circumcision (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Most mothers prefer neonatal male circumcision by nurses, while preferring doctors for post-circumcision complications. These choices are not affected by parents' educational status. Mothers with circumcised husbands accepted circumcision more than those with uncircumcised husbands. Higher maternal education encourages anaesthesia during circumcision and post-circumcision analgesia.
Complex Filters Implementation using Charge-sharing Switched Capacitor Circuit

This paper proposes a complex band-pass filter based on charge-sharing switched-capacitor filters. The proposed filter topology applies a charge bleeder switched-capacitor to independently control the center frequency and bandwidth of the complex band-pass filter. Although there is a restriction on the design, the proposed circuit topology offers a relatively easy bandwidth control by changing the value of bleeding capacitors. Simulation results using Spectre show the validity of the proposed design.
MOLECULAR METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HELMINTH PARASITES OF FRESHWATER FISHES IN NIGERIA: A REVIEW

Molecular techniques are potentially faster and more sensitive than culture, serology, and histology methods that are traditionally used to identify fish parasites. Parasitic disease reduces fish production by affecting the normal physiology of the fish and if left uncontrolled, could result to mass mortalities or in some cases could serve as a source of infection for human and other vertebrates that consume it. These parasites could be Ecto-parasites or Endo-parasites. The protozoans and helminthes are reported to be the major group of parasites of fish involved in parasitism in Nigeria. These techniques include polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiplex PCR, restriction enzyme digestion, DNA micro-arrays, Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and Nested PCR. Helminth parasites can be detected from asymptomatic fish by molecular diagnosis techniques, so disease outbreak could be prevented. In this paper, molecular techniques for the detection of fish parasites are reviewed and the potentials for its application are as well discussed. Thus, the application of new techniques as a routine tool in a diagnostic laboratory in areas where relevant literatures are scarce, will contribute to the reticence of adoption of these methods. It is hoped that knowing more about the genome of helminthes could provide useful insight into their biology. Knowing how they function and cause disease is expected to lead to new, more effective ways of treating these infections.