Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Population Based Mean Vitamin-D Levels In 19 European Countries & COVID-19 Mortality

Background: Reports early in the epidemic linking low mean national Vitamin D level with increased COVID-19 death, and until recently little research on the impact of Vitamin-D deficiency on severity of COVID-19, led to this update of the initial report studying mortality up to the end of January 2021. Methods: Coronavirus pandemic data for 19 European countries were downloaded from Our World in Data, which was last updated on January 24, 2021. Data from March 21, 2020 to January 22, 2021 were included in the statistical analysis. Vitamin-D (25)-HD mean data were collected by literature review. Poisson mixed-effect model was used to model the data. Results: European countries with Vitamin-D (25)-HD mean less than or equal to 50 have higher COVID-19 death rates as compared with European countries with Vitamin-D (25)-HD mean greater than 50, relative risk of 2.155 (95% CI: 1.068 - 4.347, p-value = 0.032). A statistically significant negative moderate Spearman rank correlation was observed between Vitamin-D (25)-HD mean and the number of COVID-19 deaths for each 14-day period during the COVID-19 pandemic time period. Conclusions: The observation of the significantly lower COVID-19 mortality rates in countries with lowest annual sun exposure but highest mean Vitamin-D (25)-HD levels provides support for the use of food fortification. The need to consider re-configuring vaccine strategy due to emergence of large number of COVID-19 variants provides an opportunity to undertake such therapeutic randomized control trials.
Association between Geriatric Nutrition Risk Index and The Presence of Sarcopenia in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and the prevalence of sarcopenia in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Having both low handgrip strength (<28 kg for men and <18 kg for women) and low skeletal muscle mass index (<7.0 kg/m2 for men and <5.7 kg/m2 for women) was diagnosed as sarcopenia. GNRI was estimated by the formula as below: GNRI = (1.489 × serum albumin level [g/L]) + (41.7 × [current body weight (kg)/ideal body weight (kg)]). Participants were dichotomized on the basis of their GNRI scores (GNRI < 98, low; or GNRI ≥ 98, high). Among 526 people (301 men and 225 women) with T2DM, the proportions of participants with sarcopenia and low GNRI were 12.7% (n = 67/526) and 5.1% (n = 27/526), respectively. The proportion of sarcopenia in participants with low-GNRI was higher than that with high GNRI (44.4% [n = 12/27] vs. 11.0% [n = 55/499], p < 0.001). The GNRI showed positive correlations with handgrip strength (r = 0.232, p < 0.001) and skeletal muscle mass index (r = 0.514, p < 0.001). Moreover, low GNRI was related to the prevalence of sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio, 4.88 [95% confidence interval: 1.88–12.7], p = 0.001). The GNRI, as a continuous variable, was also related to the prevalence of sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio, 0.89 [95% confidence interval: 0.86–0.93], p < 0.001). The present study revealed that low GNRI was related to the prevalence of sarcopenia.
Unveiling the mural painting art of Almada Negreiros at the Maritime Stations of Alcântara (Lisbon): diagnosis research of paint layers as a guide for its future conservation

This paper reports the diagnostic research of deteriorated paint layers from three mural panels made by Almada Negreiros found in the Alcântara Maritime Station in Lisbon. The aim was to understand the main decay phenomena to aid future conservation works. The methodology comprised in-situ analyses by technical photography in Vis, Vis-RaK and UVF, p-OM and h-EDXRF; micro sampling; OM, SEM-EDS, μ-XRD, μ-Raman, µ-FT-IR and Py-GC/MS. Preliminary results show that all the paint layers analyzed are affected by salts (alkali sulphates) that over time have caused flacking, lack of cohesion, erosion, and lacunae. The light greenish/greenish bluish paint layers in all three panels are the most affected. No organic binders were identified, only the presence of vinyl polymer in glossy paint surfaces.
Instrumented Nanoindentation Tests Applied to Bulk Metallic Materials: From Calibration Issue to Pile-Up Phenomena

Instrumented nanoindentation tests have reached an effective level of theoretical and practical knowledge to become an interesting and useful tool for determining hardness, H, and local elasticity (reduced Young’s modulus), Er, of a variety of materials, from coatings and thin films to bulk metallic materials. Nanoindentation instruments are equipped with analysis software for raw data for hardness and reduced Young’s modulus evaluation, generally based on the Oliver and Pharr analysis method. On the other hand, it is widely known and recognized that prior data acquisition, a tip-dependent calibration procedure of compliance, and area function are needed. With this in view, an accurate and sound calibration protocol is here reported. Hardness and local elastic modulus is measured on different bulk metallic materials, showing the distinctive strengths of using nanoindentation. Finally, a local elastic-plastic phenomenon mostly induced by the nanoindentation tip on ductile metallic material (i.e., pile-up) is also reported and modelled. This manuscript is thus intended to favor and account for the importance of using the instrumented nanoindentation tests for H and Er measurements of metallic materials.
Iatrogenic Acute Aortic Dissection in the Era of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery - Experience of a Center and Review of Literature

Introduction Iatrogenic acute aortic dissection (IAAD) type A is a rare but potentially fatal complication of cardiac surgery. Methods The purpose of this article is to review the literature since the first reports of IAAD in 1978, examining its clinical characteristics and describing operative details and surgical outcomes. Moreover, we reviewed the recent literature to identify current trends and risk factors for IAAD in minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures, often related to femoral artery cannulation for retrograde perfusion. Results We found that IAAD ranges from 0.04 to 0.29% of cardiac patients in overall trials and ranged from 0.12 to 0.16% between 1978-1990, before the minimally invasive surgical era. And we concluded that since the first cases to the recent reports, the incidence of IAAD has not significantly changed. As minimally invasive procedures are on the rise, some authors think that the incidence of IAAD could increase in the future; we think that using all the precaution - such a strict monitoring of perfusion pressure throughout the intervention, avoiding extremely high jet pressures using vasodilators, repositioning of arterial cannula, or splitting perfusion in both femoral arteries -, this complication can be extremely reduced. Finally, we describe a very singular case occurring during mitral valve replacement followed by spontaneous dissection of left anterior descending artery one month later. Conclusion The present article adds to the literature a more detailed clinical picture of this entity, including patients' characteristics, the mechanism, timing, and localization of the tear, and mortality details.
Protein Aggregation of NPAS3, Implicated in Mental Illness, Is Not Limited to the V304I Mutation

An emerging phenomenon in our understanding of the pathophysiology of mental illness is the idea that specific proteins may form insoluble aggregates in the brains of patients, in partial analogy to similar proteinopathies in neurodegenerative diseases. Several proteins have now been detected as forming such aggregates in the brains of patients, including DISC1, dysbindin-1 and TRIOBP-1. Recently, neuronal PAS domain protein 3 (NPAS3), a known genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, was implicated through a V304I point mutation in a family with major mental illness. Investigation of the mutation revealed that it may lead to aggregation of NPAS3. Here we investigated NPAS3 aggregation in insular cortex samples from 40 individuals, by purifying the insoluble fraction of these samples and testing them by Western blotting. Strikingly, full-length NPAS3 was found in the insoluble fraction of 70% of these samples, implying that aggregation is far more widely spread than can be accounted for by this rare mutation. We investigated the possible mechanism of aggregation further in neuroblastoma cells, finding that oxidative stress plays a larger role than the V304I mutation. Finally, we tested to see if NPAS3 aggregation could also be seen in blood serum, as a more accessible tissue than the human brain for future diagnosis. While no indication of NPAS3 aggregation was seen in the serum, soluble NPAS3 was detected, and was more prevalent in patients with schizophrenia than in those with major depressive disorder or controls. Aggregation of NPAS3 therefore appears to be a widespread and multifactorial phenomenon. Further research is now needed to determine whether it is specifically enhanced in schizophrenia or other mental illnesses.
An Optimal Transport Based Transferable System for Detection of Erroneous Somato-Sensory Feedback from Neural Signals

This study is aimed at the detection of single-trial feedback, perceived as erroneous by the user, using a transferable classification system while conducting a motor imagery brain–computer interfacing (BCI) task. The feedback received by the users are relayed from a functional electrical stimulation (FES) device and hence are somato-sensory in nature. The BCI system designed for this study activates an electrical stimulator placed on the left hand, right hand, left foot, and right foot of the user. Trials containing erroneous feedback can be detected from the neural signals in form of the error related potential (ErrP). The inclusion of neuro-feedback during the experiments indicated the possibility that ErrP signals can be evoked when the participant perceives an error from the feedback. Hence, to detect such feedback using ErrP, a transferable (offline) decoder based on optimal transport theory is introduced herein. The offline system detects single-trial erroneous trials from the feedback period of an online neuro-feedback BCI system. The results of the FES-based feedback BCI system were compared to a similar visual-based (VIS) feedback system. Using our framework, the error detector systems for both the FES and VIS feedback paradigms achieved an F1-score of 92.66% and 83.10%, respectively, and are significantly superior to a comparative system where an optimal transport was not used. It is expected that this form of transferable and automated error detection system compounded with a motor imagery system will augment the performance of a BCI and provide a better BCI-based neuro-rehabilitation protocol that has an error control mechanism embedded into it.
Investigation of a Mechanical Contact Type RF-MEMS Switch for VHF Band Applications

This paper presents an investigation of a mechanical contact type RF-MEMS switch for VHF band applications. Different contact electrostatically actuated switches were analytically studied and simulated using CoventorWare FEM software. The switches were optimized for different parameters depending on the design geometry and the number of the actuator comb fingers. This work is an extension to the development of tuneable piezoelectric BAW resonators with the aim of achieving cost-effective tuneability over a wide frequency range based on a switchable array of these resonators. Thus, the switches were fabricated on the same PiezoMUMPs process as the resonators. Both two-state and three-state switches were investigated. In the case of the two-state switch, the simulated and experimental values of the actuation (pull-in) voltage were found to be 14 V and 17 V respectively.
Economic Evaluation of Optical Fiber Composite Low-Voltage Cable Technology Application in China: An Input-Output Analysis

OPLC (optical fiber composite low-voltage cable) technology is a common field of communication and power electronics technology, and it is an important means to realizing the energy Internet and the integration of four networks. As an infrastructure sharing technology, OPLC technology will fundamentally and substantially promote the sustainable development of China’s economy and environment. Taking typical OPLC projects in China as an example, the direct energy consumption of these projects is calculated by the life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis method and then compared with traditional projects that use only power technology or optical fiber. Based on the direct consumption of the project, the interaction between the intermediate sector and the total output variable under the traditional technology and OPLC technology was explored and compared by using the input-output (I-O) model and the structural decomposition model (SDA). The results showed that in 2015, technology substitution weakened the influence of 86% of industries on the upstream industry and weakened the demand sensitivity of 90% of industries to the downstream industry. In 2017, technology substitution reduced the industry’s influence over 86% of upstream industries. Short-term technology replacement will not increase the positive influence of each industry on the upstream industry, thus resulting in a negative impact of technology substitution cost. However, that negative impact will gradually weaken over time. After technology replacement, the total added value of 20 industries increased from 2015 to 2017.
Discrete Convolution-Based Energy Spectrum Configuring Method for the Analysis of the Intrinsic Radiation of 176Lu

There has been considerable interest in inorganic scintillators based on lutetium due to their favorable physical properties. Despite their advantages, lutetium-based scintillators could face issues because of the natural occurring radioisotope of 176Lu that is contained in natural lutetium. In order to mitigate its potential shortcomings, previous works have studied to understand the energy spectrum of the intrinsic radiation of 176Lu (IRL). However, few studies have focused on the various principal types of photon interactions with matter; in other words, only the full-energy peak according to the photoelectric effect or internal conversion have been considered for understanding the energy spectrum of IRL. Thus, the approach we have used in this study considers other principal types of photon interactions by convoluting each energy spectrum with combinations for generating the spectrum of the intrinsic radiation of 176Lu. From the results, we confirm that the method provides good agreement with the experiment. A significant contribution of this study is the provision of a new approach to process energy spectra induced by mutually independent radiation interactions as a single spectrum.
Binary stars simulation using smartphones – A Doppler effect experiment

We present a simple experiment to simulate a binary star system to study the Doppler eﬀect using two smartphones and a PC. The smartphones mounted on a rotating bar are used as monochromatic sound sources. A microphone connected to a PC records these signals in the lab frame of reference. The Doppler eﬀect is readily observed, and the experimental results can quantitatively be compared to the expectation of a theoretical model. This experiment can simulate the Doppler Spectroscopy technique used to measure radial velocities and masses in rotating binary stars and the exploration of exoplanets. The set-up is low-cost and simple to construct and understand. The experiment can be carried out at home or in a regular laboratory setting.
Efficient Prediction of Region-wide Traffic States in Public Bus Networks using LSTMs

Public bus systems are impacted by many factors, such as varying traffic conditions, passenger demand, and weather changes. One can combine all those factors that affect bus travel times into a single factor called link state, where a link represents part of a bus route. Several works exist that predict single link states using different statistical and machine learning approaches. More recently, deep learning techniques, such as LSTMs, started to be used to predict the state of entire bus routes. The main problem with this approach is that it uses extensive computational resources. In this work, we evaluate the use of LSTMs to predict the state of entire city regions instead of single routes. It has two advantages: (i) the state of each link is evaluated only once for all the bus routes that cross it, and (ii) information from buses from all routes can be used to determine future link states. Using a shallow bidirectional LSTM architecture produced accurate state predictions with an average MAPE of 12.5. Moreover, we show that it can be trained daily and used to predict link states in real-time for a large metropolis, like São Paulo.
Contrôle de l'interaction polymère/particules dans les membranes à matrice mixte

In recent decades, membrane technology has shown its great performance in liquid phase separations such as production of drinking water from seawater. It has now attracted much scientific attention to expand its application to gas separations. Separation of air components, H2 from refinery industrial gases, separation and recovery of CO2 from biogas and natural gas are some examples in which the membrane technology is potentially applied at industrial level. The membrane based separation was either partially substituted or integrated with conventional methods like cryogenic distillation to product oxygen-enriched air (mole fraction ≥ 30% ) that is injected into industrial burners to obtain higher temperature with less gas consumption. It is also possible to use membrane technology to capture and recycle CO2 emitted from flue gas streams of power plants and steel mills in solving the greenhouse effect. The membranes for gas separation can be classified in two main categories, based on material, polymeric and inorganic, in which polymeric membranes are more popular. Compared to the inorganic, the polymer membranes show better processability, mechanical strength and higher packing density, hence, being suitable for large-scale applications. They cannot, however, withstand high temperatures or aggressive chemical agents. Their separation properties (permeability and selectivity) may be severely affected by condensable hydrocarbons (C2+) when they are applied in petrochemical plants, refineries and natural gas treatment. To enhance the performance of polymer membranes, a new concept, mixed matrix membrane (MMM), has been proposed by dispersing nanoor micro-sized particles of inorganic materials into a polymer matrix. In this work, we have prepared novel MMMs using polymers and metal organic framework (MOF) as the continuous and dispersed phases, respectively. We have developed several techniques to overcome the weak interfacial adhesion between the two phases that typically decreases the separation efficiency of MMMs. To do so, in the first part of this thesis (Chapter 3), we have synthesized a −NH2 included MOF particle and a series of −OH decorated polymers for MMM preparation. The physical bonding between the two functional groups was found to clearly improve the polymer/filler adhesion of the obtained MMMs as well as their gas separation performance. Then, in the following part (Chapter 4), we have in-
Everyday negotiations in managing presence: young people and social media in India

ABSTRACT Young people’s lives are inextricably tied in with the digital, whether it is for education, engagement, leisure, or work. Studies from the Global North have examined children and social media from several perspectives, with discourse now veering towards a rights-based approach to foreground young people’s voices in a digital and social media world, something that is missing in countries like India. This paper drew on deep interactions with young people from a large Indian city to gain preliminary insights into social media practices and modes of engagement with particular reference to management of access, privacy, safety, and negotiating challenges or problem solving. Our study suggests that conversations about digital platforms, particularly social media spaces, in relation to children’s everyday life practices need to begin early, at the point when children begin interacting with these technologies. Critical digital literacy must recognize the agency of young people, their naturalized interactions with the digital world, as well as the complexities of family and school life that moderate such interactions. These contextual nuances become significant when framing regulatory policies, parental advisories and critical digital literacy and media education programs. This article adds to the slowly growing literature from the Global South that enhances and diversifies our understanding of how the ‘born digital’ generation lives with/in social media.
The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy on Children’s Self-Esteem

(1) Background: Self-esteem plays an important role in developing emotional resilience and wellbeing in children. Yet, there has been little related research on Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy on this topic. Our aims were to assess the effect of the Child Self-Esteem CBT (CSE-CBT) protocol on children’s self-esteem in grades five and six; to assess the effect of the CSE-CBT protocol on the therapeutic process; and to explore the feasibility of delivering the CSE-CBT protocol in a school setting. (2) Methods: Eighty elementary school children in grades five and six, divided into four intervention and four control groups, attended 12 structured sessions using the CSE-CBT protocol, led by specially trained teachers. The children completed questionnaires to assess their self-esteem at the beginning and at the end of the study, and answered weekly questionnaires that assessed therapeutic process. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze the data. (3) Results: The CSE-CBT protocol had a significant effect on improving children’s self-esteem over the course of the study, regardless of the children’s working alliance with the teacher leading the group. (4) Conclusions: The findings suggest that the CSE-CBT protocol has the potential to benefit children’s self-esteem and indicate that school teachers can be trained to administer the CBT-protocol.
What Is the Nature of Women’s Tenure Security in Sub-Saharan Africa Rural Land Markets? Some Evidence from Nigeria

As parts of rural transformation and consequent evolution of land tenure in sub-Saharan Africa, land markets now provide another channel through which women access land. Little remains known about women’s experiences in the markets however, and on the nature of their tenure security in particular. This article provides one of the first empirical examinations of women’s tenure security on market-accessed plots. I do this by analysing tenure security variations across both market and non-market tenure arrangements among a group of Nigerian women farmers. From seemingly unrelated regressions, I find tenure insecurity to be more likely if a woman is cultivating rented plots, less likely if she is cultivating purchased or husband-allocated plots while irrelevant if she is cultivating family-allocated plots. These results highlight the need for greater research and policy interest in rural land markets, and in improving women’s tenancy contracts in rental markets.