Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical investigation of surface roughness effect on pool boiling heat transfer of Al2O3/water nanofluid

This study examined the effect of surface roughness on the pool boiling heat transfer coefficient of pure water and water-alumina nanofluid with 0.1% and 0.01% volume concentration using computational fluid dynamics on the surface of a stainless-steel cylinder. The effect of nanoparticles was checked by averaging the thermophysical properties in the equations of the flow field with boiling. Simulations were performed for initial surface roughnesses from 0.1 to 0.8 µm. Furthermore, the presence of nanoparticles would make their deposition on the heated surface and change the surface properties. Thus, once again simulations were performed for roughness with the same values but because of the deposition of nanoparticles. In doing so, two separate equations were used for the nucleation site density parameter. Ultimately, the results obtained from both types of roughness were compared. The results indicated that with an increase in the roughness, the boiling heat transfer coefficient increased. Further, at the same roughness, the boiling heat transfer rate of the deposited surface decreased for nanofluid of 0.01% vol and increased for nanofluid of 0.1% vol compared to the non-deposited surface. For pure water at 0.8 µm roughness, the sediment improved heat transfer but it reduced heat transfer for 0.4 µm and lower roughness.
Physical and psychological correlates of self and body compassion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

This international cross-sectional study examined the level and potential correlates of self and body compassion in women (n = 227) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Participants completed an online survey examining quality of life, psychological health, body image and self and body compassion. Low levels of self and body compassion were found, with depression and body image concern identified as negative correlates of self and body compassion. Physical health was identified as a positive correlate of body compassion. The findings identify the important relationship between body image, psychological health and self and body compassion in women with PCOS.
Energy requirements in communication

The accepted view maintains that at least kT loge2 must be dissipated per transmitted bit. This is the result of prevalent assumptions that communication is done by waves, in linear systems, and that the energy in the message must be dissipated. It is shown, through counterexamples, that there is no minimal dissipation per transmitted bit. The simplest counterexample is physical transport of bistable systems. As in computation and measurement, unavoidable minimal dissipation occurs only when information is discarded.
Prevalence of HIV infection among female sex workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region countries: a systematic review

Introduction: Female sex workers (FSWs) are one of the groups most affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In Eastern Mediterranean (EM) countries, HIV prevalence among FSWs is often extremely high. However, no review has been conducted on FSWs in EM countries. The purpose of this systematic review was to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection among FSWs in EM countries. Material and methods: Articles published on the prevalence of HIV infection among FSWs in EM countries were searched until September 10, 2020. Appropriate keywords were used in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, Ovid, and IMEMER databases. References of each paper and conference abstracts were additionally searched. Papers were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: In total, 21 studies were selected, which were performed in 8 EM countries. The reported prevalence of HIV infection ranged from 0 to 16% among FSWs. The average time women worked as FSWs ranged from 2 to 6 years, and in some papers, FSWs never or rarely used condoms during sexual contact. However, the consistency of using condoms among FSWs was reported as high as 65% in Pakistan, 64% in Lebanon, and 62% In Iran. The prevalence of drug use was high among FSWs, and it ranged from 5% in Pakistan and Sudan, to 91% in Iran and 96.2 % in Egypt. Heterogeneity among the studies and sub-groups was very high, and meta-analysis was not done due to high heterogeneity. Conclusions: The reported prevalence of HIV infection varied differently among female sex workers’ populations in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. More studies are needed from different EM countries.
Niclosamide as a Prospective Therapeutic in L-Arginine Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Rats; Concerning Autophagic p62/ NF-kB signaling pathway

Autophagic flux impairment is recently reported as a cardinal factor in acute pancreatitis (AP) pathogenesis. Niclosamide, an anthelmintic drug, has been lately proved to be a potent autophagy enhancer . The diminution of the various inflammatory factors unrestrained release via autophagy improvement may be helpful to improve the prognosis of AP. This study spots on investigating the potential ameliorative effect of niclosamide on autophagic flux and its consequent curative outcome on L-arginine-induced AP in rats. Thirty male wistar rats were divided into three groups. The first one is the control one, the second is L-arginine induced AP group, the third group is niclosamide treated L-arginine induced AP. Serum lipase, amylase, pancreatic tissue homogenate IL6, IL1β, TNFα, NF-kB, oxidative stress biomarkers; glutathione peroxidase activity, Hydroxy-2’-Deoxy-Guanosine and total antioxidant capacity levels were evaluated. Besides, the DNA-binding activity of nuclear erythroid related factor 2 (Nrf-2) was assessed using a pancreatic tissue nuclear extract. Both LC3-II subunit & P62 mRNA were quantified using PCR technique. Morphometric analysis of histopathological changes was done. The obtained data showed that niclosamide improved L-arginine induced AP as evidenced by significantly reduced serum lipase and amylase levels, which could be related to improvement of autophagy flux impairment as evidenced by decreased levels of LC3-II and p62 expression in pancreatic cells, in addition to anti-inflammatory effect as evidenced by decreased NF-kB and proinflammatory cytokines levels, along with improving the antioxidant capacity of the pancreatic tissue. As manifested by elevation of Nrf-2- DNA binding activity and normalization of oxidative stress biomarkers levels. These results could pave the way for niclosamide as a potential therapeutic role in acute pancreatitis.
Audiological features in Serbian patients with hearing impairment identified with c.35delG in the GJB2 gene

Introduction/Objective. Hearing impairment (HI) is the most common sensorineural disorder with an incidence of 1/700-1000 newborns. Variants in the GJB2 gene are the major cause of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss (ARNSHL). The degree of HI in patients with detected mutations in GJB2 gene ranges from mild to profound. The aim of this study was to determine possible genotype-phenotype association between audiometric characteristics and detected genotypes in ARNSHL patients from Serbia. Methods. Ninety-two patients with ARNSHL underwent genetic analysis with PCR-ARMS and sequencing of the GJB2 gene. Audiological analyses were obtained in all patients using a combination of several methods to estimate the degree of hearing loss. Results. Audiological analysis performed in the 92 probands showed moderate to profound range of hearing loss. All identified pathogenic variants accounted for 42.39% of the mutant alleles (78/184 alleles), with the c.35delG mutation being the most frequent (30.43%). Genotype-phenotype correlation in an isolated group of 37 patients bearing c.35delG in the homozygous, compound heterozygous or heterozygous state. In this group the majority of patients (30/37, 81.08%) exhibited severe to profound hearing deficit. Conclusion. Association between genotype and the degree of hearing impairment in patients analyzed in this study demonstrated that patients with bi-allelic truncating mutations i.e. c.35delG, associate with the more severe hearing loss when compared with those identified with only one affected allele. The various degrees of hearing impairment observed in heterozygous patients could be explained by the presence of an undetected second mutation or other modifier genes or environmental causes.
An Application of Safety Management for Tunnel Construction Using RTLS Technology

Recently, construction site scale has been growing larger along with the growth of national economy. As construction market requires time reduction, cost saving, and improving quality, a cutting-edge technology applied research has been gradually studied for more efficient project management. In particular, the Real Time Location System (RTLS) technology, a real-time location tracking system of construction resources, can be effectively used in safety management. This technology has been studied and applied in various industries including architectural, marine, urban, and other industries. However, although tunnel construction in civil engineering has a narrow space and many safety risks, there are not researched about this content. Therefore, this study proposes an advanced safety management model for tunnel construction using the RTLS technology and a measurement method of the feasibility of this model in the construction site.
Design and Implementation of a Single-Source 17-Level Inverter for a Single-Phase Transformer-Less Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems

Transformer-less multilevel inverters (MLIs) based on switched capacitors are gaining importance due to the voltage boosting ability from a single-input DC source and inherent capacitor voltage balancing capability. Most of the grid-connected transformer-less inverters are five-level and are commonly grounded so that their leakage current is zero. However, some major challenges like higher total standing voltage (TSV), more losses due to capacitor voltage ripples, higher charging current, and peak VA rating of the switches are comparatively higher. The motivation of the proposed work is to reduce the voltage ripple across the capacitors, minimum TSV, higher efficiency close to 98% at 1 kW, and lower cost. By using a modified sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) technique for the proposed single-phase 17-level inverter, a transformer-less grid-interfacing can be realized as the leakage current is (≈22 mA) well within the acceptable value (<300 mA) and is independent of the switching frequency. To validate the performance of the proposed structure, its performances are compared with the recently developed transformer-less inverters. The experimental prototype of a 1-kW single-phase 17-level inverter is designed and tested for grid-connected and standalone mode, and the corresponding results are verified.
The localized low-velocity impact response of aluminium honeycombs and sandwich panels for occupant head protection: experimental characterization and analytical modelling

Abstract This paper describes an investigation into the localized impact response of aluminium honeycombs and sandwich panels from the perspective of their use in occupant head protection applications. A programme of quasi-static and dynamic low-velocity impact testing using a hemispheric ‘head form’ impactor is described. From this, design data is presented in terms of acceleration histories and head injury criterion values. Furthermore, a simple analytical model is described for predicting acceleration histories for preliminary design purposes.
Quick-response dynamic focusing lens using multilayered piezoelectric bimorph actuator

We present a new micro optical devices, dynamic focusing lens (DFL) using a multi-layered piezoelectric bimorph micro actuator. DFL is structured to directly deform the lens shape as a crystalline lens of the human eye. The deformable lens is comprised of two thin glass diaphragms with a transparent working fluid sealed between them. The curvature of the lens shape is changed according to the applied voltage of the actuator. DFL shows quick response up to 150 Hz for focal plane shift because the mass movement can be minimized compared with the conventional focusing method of moving a lens position. We also propose digital all-in-focus microscope system as an application of DFL. This system realizes real-time observation for micro parts assembling with a deep depth of field, as well as three-dimensional shape measurement using only one image sensor. In this paper, a newly developed real-time algorithm called one pixel method for generating clear image having a deep depth of field is described. This method is able to process one original picture (640 x 480 pixels per frame) in approximately 1.0ms. Results of three-dimensional shape measurement in high accuracy using the contrast of brightness method are also discussed.
Family Resilience, Media Exposure, and Children's Mental Health in China During COVID-19

This study aims to describe children's mental health conditions in the time of COVID-19 and its associations with the risk factor (media exposure) and the protective factor (family resilience) during COVID-19. The study took place from February 13th to February 29th, 2020, at the peak of the outbreak all across China. In total 441 children (M = 11.83 years old, SD = 0.79) from Jiangxi province, China, filled out online surveys. The results showed that children's rates of depression were relatively high and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates were low. Based on the results of multiple linear regression analyses, family resilience was negatively associated with children's mental health issues including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and poor sleep quality counting the effects of children's age, gender, and media exposure. Children's media exposure to COVID-related news reports did not significantly contribute to the total variance of children's mental health symptoms. The findings guide the development of prevention and interventions to mobilize families’ strengths and resilience for reducing children's maladjustment during the occurrence of pandemics.
Integrated Pedal System for Data Driven Rehabilitation

We present a system capable of providing visual feedback for ergometer training, allowing detailed analysis and gamification. The presented solution can easily upgrade any existing ergometer device. The system consists of a set of pedals with embedded sensors, readout electronics and wireless communication modules and a tablet device for interaction with the users, which can be mounted on any ergometer, transforming it into a full analytical assessment tool with interactive training capabilities. The methods to capture the forces and moments applied to the pedal, as well as the pedal’s angular position, were validated using reference sensors and high-speed video capture systems. The mean-absolute error (MAE) for load is found to be 18.82 N, 25.35 N, 0.153 Nm for Fx, Fz and Mx respectively and the MAE for the pedal angle is 13.2°. A fully gamified experience of ergometer training has been demonstrated with the presented system to enhance the rehabilitation experience with audio visual feedback, based on measured cycling parameters.
Surface‐Dependent Properties and Tunable Photodetection of CsPbBr3 Microcrystals Grown on Functional Substrates

All‐inorganic metal halide perovskites are highly attractive materials for optoelectronics and are typically implemented as thin films, nanocrystals, and single crystals with macroscopic and millimeter‐size dimensions. Single crystals with regular shapes in the micrometer range are less explored and present an interesting alternative when a well‐defined and spatially localized response is desired. Here, CsPbBr3 microcrystals are fabricated by simple and fast drop‐casting of a precursor solution on several substrates that for the growth process are heated to temperatures in the range from 80 to 150 °C. The microcrystals have a cubic shape and feature a pyramidal cavity on their top surface that forms due to faster growth at the edges once the growing crystal is attached to the substrate. Distinct heterogeneity in the photoluminescence (PL) and conductivity of the different facets are measured by µ‐PL and conductive atomic force microscopy experiments. Toward device applications, the authors contact single microcrystals on conductive substrates mechanically with a micromanipulator tip. They observe diode‐like current–voltage curves and good photodetector functionality, obtaining a high responsivity of 150–300 A W−1 in the blue–green spectral region under forward bias, and a sharp detection band centered around 540 nm with peak responsivity close to 0.7 A W−1 under reverse bias.
Weakened Interannual Variability in the Tropical Atlantic

Climate variability in the Tropical Atlantic is complex with strong ocean-atmosphere coupling, where the sea surface temperature (SST) variability impacts the hydroclimate of the surrounding continents. We observe a decrease in the variability of the Tropical Atlantic after 1970 in both CMIP6 models and observations. Most of the Tropical Atlantic interannual variability is explained by its equatorial (Atlantic Zonal Mode, AZM) and meridional (Atlantic Meridional Mode, AMM) modes of variability. The observed wind relaxation after 1970 in both the equatorial and Tropical North Atlantic (TNA) plays a role in the decreased variability. Concerning the AZM, a widespread warming trend is observed in the equatorial Atlantic accompanied by a weakening trend of the trade winds. This drives a weakening in the Bjerknes Feedback by deepening the thermocline in the eastern equatorial Atlantic and increasing the thermal damping. Even though individually the TNA and Tropical South Atlantic (TSA) show increased variability, the observed asymmetric warming in the Tropical Atlantic and relaxed northeast trade winds after the 70s play a role in decreasing the AMM variability. This configuration leads to positive Wind-Evaporation-SST (WES) feedback, increasing further the TNA SST, preventing AMM from changing phases as before 1970. Associated with it, the African Sahel shows a positive precipitation trend and the Intertropical Convergence Zone tends to shift northward, which acts on maintaining the increased precipitation.
A Review of Laser Doppler Vibrometry for Structural Health Monitoring Applications

Non-contact optical/laser measuring techniques are very attractive in many engineering applications. The paper demonstrates examples related to structural health monitoring. Various methods based on strain, vibration and ultrasound measurements are presented together with relevant references. Applications examples utilise in-plane and out-of-plane measurements taken by 1-D and 3-D laser Doppler vibrometers.
The utility of university fitness facilities: Environmental vs. psychological determinants of their use

Abstract Objective It is important for college students to engage regularly in physical activity. While psychological factors, such as motivation, are likely to increase attendance at fitness facilities, positive perceptions of the fitness facility (e.g., the type of classes offered) might also influence use of a fitness facility. Participants Data were collected from 462 college students. Methods Participants completed a survey that included an assessment of commitment and motivation to exercise, life satisfaction, and perceptions of the environment of the fitness facility they use. They also answered questions about fitness facility preferences. Results Commitment and motivation to exercise were associated with use of a fitness facility. Perceptions of the environmental context of the fitness facility did not influence attendance. Conclusions Even though college students shared some preferences (e.g., workout space and lighting), psychological factors were more influential than the environment of a fitness facility with regard to attendance.
In Vitro Activities of Ceftazidime–Avibactam and Aztreonam–Avibactam at Different Inoculum Sizes of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactam-Resistant Enterobacterales Blood Isolates

β-lactam–avibactam combinations have been proposed as carbapenem-sparing therapies, but little data exist on their in vitro activities in infections with high bacterial inocula. We investigated the in vitro efficacies and the inoculum effects of ceftazidime–avibactam and aztreonam–avibactam against extended-spectrum β-lactam-resistant Enterobacterales blood isolates. A total of 228 non-repetitive extended-spectrum β-lactam-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae blood isolates were prospectively collected in a tertiary center. In vitro susceptibilities to ceftazidime, aztreonam, meropenem, ceftazidime–avibactam, and aztreonam–avibactam were evaluated by broth microdilution method using standard and high inocula. An inoculum effect was defined as an eightfold or greater increase in MIC when tested with the high inoculum. Of the 228 isolates, 99% were susceptible to ceftazidime–avibactam and 99% had low aztreonam–avibactam MICs (≤8 mg/L). Ceftazidime–avibactam and aztreonam–avibactam exhibited good in vitro activities; MIC50/MIC90 values were 0.5/2 mg/L, 0.125/0.5 mg/L, and ≤0.03/0.25 mg/L, respectively, and aztreonam–avibactam was more active than ceftazidime–avibactam. The frequencies of the inoculum effect with ceftazidime–avibactam and aztreonam–avibactam were lower than with meropenem (14% vs. 38%, p < 0.001 and 30% vs. 38%, p = 0.03, respectively). The β-lactam-avibactam combinations could be useful as carbapenem-sparing strategies, and aztreonam–avibactam has the better in vitro activity but is more subject to the inoculum effect than ceftazidime–avibactam.
Pain-related toxins in scorpion and spider venoms: a face to face with ion channels

Abstract Pain is a common symptom induced during envenomation by spiders and scorpions. Toxins isolated from their venom have become essential tools for studying the functioning and physiopathological role of ion channels, as they modulate their activity. In particular, toxins that induce pain relief effects can serve as a molecular basis for the development of future analgesics in humans. This review provides a summary of the different scorpion and spider toxins that directly interact with pain-related ion channels, with inhibitory or stimulatory effects. Some of these toxins were shown to affect pain modalities in different animal models providing information on the role played by these channels in the pain process. The close interaction of certain gating-modifier toxins with membrane phospholipids close to ion channels is examined along with molecular approaches to improve selectivity, affinity or bioavailability in vivo for therapeutic purposes.
Towards Motion Recognition on Smartphone

With the advent of digital convergence trends, the current smartphone equipped with more powerful hardware and complex software to satisfy the increased user requirements. Additionally, similar to video game console, the pioneers of smartphone manufacturers consider adopting the motion recognition to extend their functionality. In this paper, we modify a commodity smartphone system to recognize the motion of users using an on-board camera and the OpenCV library. Additionally, we also implement a performance monitoring system which consists of a kernel monitoring module and a user-level logger. Based on the system, we analyze the performance impact and bottleneck of motion recognition with representative smartphone workloads, and propose the points for improvement in term of system architecture.