Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prenatal Diagnosis of Microduplication of Fetal Chromosome 17 Following Noninvasive Prenatal Testing

Background Chromosome 17q12 duplication syndrome is a disease caused by the complete or partial duplication of q12 in the long arm of chromosome 17, there were no cases reported about the prenatal diagnosis of the syndrome. Most of the fetal phenotype of the syndrome may not be evident during the pregnancy, which means the syndrome was only be discovered accidentally or missed during the prenatal examination. Objective Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is widely used in the screening of common fetal chromosome aneuploidy. However, reports on chromosomal microduplication and microdeletion are rare. The aim of the study was to investigate the application value of NIPT for the detection of chromosomal microduplication. Case presentations: We found two cases of microduplication in the long arm of chromosome 17(17q12), they were first detected by NIPT and then were further diagnosed by copy number variation (CNV) analysis based on chromosome microarray analysis (CMA). The CMA results of prenatal diagnosis showed that the microduplications in 17q12 (one was 1.5Mb, the other was 1.9Mb) were consistent with the NIPT results. The amniotic fluid karyotype analysis showed no abnormalities. Finally, because it was pathogenic copy number variant, both of the parents chose to terminate the pregnancy. Conclusion In the study, two cases of microduplication fragment in the long arm of chromosome 17 were detected by NIPT and were confirmed by CMA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of prenatal diagnosis of chromosome 17q12 duplication syndrome following NIPT. This suggests that NIPT is an effective method to screen chromosome microduplications in prenatal diagnosis, especially for the chromosome 17q12 duplication syndrome.
Sustainable Product-Service Systems Customization: A Case Study Research in the Medical Equipment Sector

The paper proposes a Product-Service System (PSS) methodology for customizing solutions to different patterns of use while achieving a better environmental performance than a stand-alone product. The approach is based on combining the Quality Function Deployment for Product-Service Systems (QFDforPSS) and the Screening Life Cycle Modeling (SLCM) tools. QFDforPSS is augmented by the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to reduce service-related ambiguities and uncertainties on the one hand and better define the product and service characteristics of the solution on the other. The SLCM evaluates the possible outcomes by determining the environmental impact and comparing it with the manufacturer’s current solution. A case study at a manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment illustrates the use of the approach depicting the possible benefits that can arise: the PSS solution can be customized to fit customers who intensively use the product and consumers with a more moderate use. This offers flexibility and an optimized life cycle through easier maintenance, upgrades, and end-of-life schemes. Concretely, it shows how the PSS approach can enhance the development of sustainable solutions that can be adapted to varying and future customer needs, such as adjusting current solutions to new requirements, i.e., adapting existing products to COVID-19 detection and different levels of use.
Formation of ad hoc microgrids for prompt critical load pickup during blackouts by leveraging stochastic distributed energy resources

Extreme weather events that are increasing in frequency and impact can cause extended disruptions to power grids. To increase the resilience of power grids, focus is shifting from infrastructure hardening to quickening the restoration of distribution systems after a disaster. One method to achieve this is through the use of microgrids leveraging distributed generation in islanded mode. While much work has been done in using microgrids for system restoration, the stochastic nature of distributed energy resources (DERs) have so far been neglected. Here, a data-driven approach to leverage stochastic DERs to form ad hoc microgrids to supply local critical loads prior to wide-scale system restoration is presented. The proposed method is tested on a modiﬁed IEEE European LV Test Feeder. Results show that considering the stochastic nature of the resources during microgrid formation greatly affects their supply adequacy conﬁdence levels.
The Process Of Qualitative Interview: Practical Insights For Novice Researchers

Qualitative research offers a thorough investigation into a particular phenomenon or an issue. The nature of this approach is considered particularly useful in the study of behavioural issues, personal, and sensitive topics. Moreover, this approach gives researchers the proper tools to understand issues and problems in their natural settings. Data collection tools in qualitative research differ from one approach to another. Nevertheless, interviews remain one of the most crucial tools in extracting rich and genuine insights about the issues being studied. Additionally, it grants the researchers close access to the participants’ perspectives and experiences. However, most researchers enter this arena without any prior experience or sound knowledge about the required skills to ensure an effective and dynamic interviewing process. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative data collection tools can be puzzling especially if this was coupled with the lack of experience. Thus, this study presents practical insights pertaining some effective ways to conduct proper interviewing process. The study was conducted relying on both document analysis and field-work experience. These practical insights are geared towards novice researchers. Also, these prerequisite steps are based on fieldwork experience as well as previous academic literature works.
Focus at the syntax–discourse interface in L2 Spanish: Optionality and unaccusativity reconsidered

We examine the second language (L2) acquisition of variable Spanish word order by first language (L1) speakers of English via the acquisition of unaccusative and transitive predicates in various focus-related contexts. We employ two bimodal linguistic tasks: (1) acceptability judgment task (B-AJT) and (2) appropriateness preference task (B-APT). Both present contextualized prompts similar to previous studies, followed by response options with accompanying audio to control for intonation and pauses. Results suggest a number of key findings: (1) by the high intermediate level, L2ers acquire the relevant syntactic and syntax information structure interface competencies for both predicate types; (2) native speakers and L2 groups exhibit optionality, and only differ in nuanced ways; and (3) advanced learners show signs of acquiring syntactic and syntax–information structure competencies in numerous contexts, but display minor differences regarding optionality with corrective focus, an interface incorporating multiple interfaces (syntax–prosody pragmatics). Unlike the predictions of the Interface Hypothesis (IH), this subtle, non-native-like divergence is characterized by divergent knowledge of optionality similar to that found among native speakers. Attempting to understand more completely the development of native-speaker optionality, we also conduct a corpus study of child-directed Spanish from CHILDES and find that, although syntactic theory explains much of the data, it cannot account for all of the variability in the data. Results suggest that children are exposed to apparent optionality from the earliest stages.
Interventions to improve upper extremity reaching function in persons with stroke: a scoping review protocol

Abstract Background A majority of stroke patients have persisting upper extremity impairments, with a large number of individuals who do not regain the ability to reach and manipulate everyday objects despite receiving prolonged and intensive therapy. Varied interventions have been employed to improve reaching functions. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive and updated review of all the interventions that can be used to improve upper extremity reaching function in stroke. Objective To review the existing interventions aimed to improve upper extremity reaching function in persons with stroke. Inclusion criteria Studies with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods design which have employed interventions to improve upper extremity reaching function following stroke and have been published from database inception to 25th February 2021 in English. Methods The proposed scoping review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist and will be conducted as per the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. A database-specific search strategy will be used in four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science) and four grey literature platforms (ProQuest, MedNAR, OpenGrey, New York Academy of Medicine). The screening and extraction of data from eligible studies will be done independently by two reviewers. The extracted data will be presented with the help of tables and visual representation. Discussion Previously conducted reviews have enumerated the various types of interventions that have been used to improve upper extremity reaching function, but are incomprehensive and in need of an update. This review will provide an overview of all the therapeutic interventions which might aid in clinical decision making during stroke rehabilitation.
Examining the Invariance of a Measurement Model of Teachers’ Awareness and Exposure Levels to Nanoscience by Using the Covariance Structure Approach

Configural invariance, Factorial structure invariance, Structural covariance invariance, Measurement residual invariance, Invariance of nanotechnology scale. Abstract: The main aim of this study is to examine the measurement invariance of the structural equating model constructed on the Awareness and Exposure subscales of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Awareness Scale (NSTAS) test for three teacher branches, three school types, and two genders by using the covariance structural analysis to test configural and metric invariances. The other aim of this study is showing how to use the IBM AMOS-24 software package with examples to address the issue of measurement invariance using the covariance structural analysis approach. Study sample was 1039 complete records gathered from science teachers with convenience sampling. Research data were collected in two stages. In the first stage, data were obtained from 624 teachers who participated to the study in the 2015-16 academic year. In the second stage, data were obtained in 2019 from 415 teachers via a link to access to the scale and all the instructions for the NSTAS in 2019. The covariance structures analysis was used to examine the measurement invariance of the scale. The comparative fit index was used to compare the measurement invariance in the measurement model. The study revealed that configural, measurement weight and structural covariance invariances were ensured for branches, school types and genders. Residual invariance was ensured only for gender. As a result, it was concluded that the NSTAS scale was not biased for teacher branches, school types or gender. NSTAS scale is recommended for the purposes of comparing branch, school type and gender groups.
Chemically Modified Hydrate Swapping and Hydrate Stability during Multistage CO 2 -N 2 Injection Schemes

We systematically design composite structures using multi-material topology optimization to achieve tunable elastic responses under ﬁnite deformations. We formulate an inverse problem where the errors between the actual (numerical) and the prescribed force-displacement curves are minimized. The framework harnesses multiple hyperelastic materials with distinct constitutive relations, which enlarge the design space of programmable structures compared to the single-material setting. A stress constraint for multi-material structures is proposed to control the levels of stress and deformation in the optimized composite structures with distinct stress limits. Through several numerical design scenarios, we design multi-material structures that achieve a variety of programmed load-displacement curves, some of which are physically unattainable with single materials. The optimized structures exhibit unconventional geometries and multi-material distributions and reveal distinct mechanisms, such as converting deformation modes from ﬂexure-dominated to stretch-dominated. Multiple designs achieving the same target response are identiﬁed, demonstrating the eﬀectiveness of the proposed methodology to explore various composite structures with programmable responses.
Full scale experience with the BIOCEL process.

The BIOCEL process is a mesophilic dry anaerobic batch digestion system for solid organic wastes. In the BIOCEL process organic solid wastes, such as source separated organic fraction of MSW (biowaste) is converted into enriched compost and biogas. In the process net energy production is achieved by converting the biogas to heat and power with a heat-electric power production unit. In September 1997 the first full scale plant is started-up in Lelystad, The Netherlands. This plant is processing 50,000 tons of biowaste (organic fraction of MSW from source separation) per year. The plant has a net energy production and therefore contributes to prevention of CO 2 emissions from fossil fuels. In the BIOCEL-system the several compost fractions are produced with a “wet” separation process. During the wet separation sand and contaminants are removed. An important aspect of compost quality is the absence of several types of pathogens. It appears that anaerobic digestion with the BIOCEL- process results in complete inactivation of several important groups of plant and animal pathogens. The mechanism that causes the inactivation is not yet fully understood, but the relatively high Volatile Fatty Acids concentration during the first two weeks of the digestion process might presumably be the key factor.
Using Risk Stratification to Optimize Mammography Screening in Chinese Women

Abstract Background The cost-effectiveness of mammography screening among Chinese women remains contentious. Here, we characterized breast cancer (BC) epidemiology in Hong Kong and evaluated the cost-effectiveness of personalized risk-based screening. Methods We used the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Study (a case-control study with 3501 cases and 3610 controls) and Hong Kong Cancer Registry to develop a risk stratification model based on well-documented risk factors. We used the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study to validate the model. We considered risk-based programs with different screening age ranges and risk thresholds under which women were eligible to join if their remaining BC risk at the starting age exceeded the threshold. Results The lifetime risk (15-99 years) of BC ranged from 1.8% to 26.6% with a mean of 6.8%. Biennial screening was most cost-effective when the starting age was 44 years, and screening from age 44 to 69 years would reduce breast cancer mortality by 25.4% (95% credible interval [CrI] = 20.5%-29.4%) for all risk strata. If the risk threshold for this screening program was 8.4% (the average remaining BC risk among US women at their recommended starting age of 50 years), the coverage was 25.8%, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was US$18 151 (95% CrI = $10 408-$27 663) per quality-of-life-year (QALY) compared with no screening. The ICER of universal screening was $34 953 (95% CrI = $22 820-$50 268) and $48 303 (95% CrI = $32 210-$68 000) per QALY compared with no screening and risk-based screening with 8.4% threshold, respectively. Conclusion Organized BC screening in Chinese women should commence as risk-based programs. Outcome data (e.g., QALY loss because of false-positive mammograms) should be systemically collected for optimizing the risk threshold.
How electronic word of mouth dynamically influences product sales and supplies: an evidence from China film industry

Abstract As an important part of e-commerce, online reviews play a significant role in consumers’ purchase decisions. This study investigated the dynamic effects of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) and the number of people wishing to watch a movie on movie sales and supplies in the Chinese movie market. Using a dynamic simultaneous equation system and data of 76 films, this study analyzed the interrelationships between eWOM and movie sales and supplies. Our findings showed that both the volume and valence of eWOM affected movie sales and supplies significantly. The number of people who wanted to watch a movie had an opposite effect on movie sales and supply; eWOM volume had a positive impact on movie sales and supplies; and eWOM valence had a negative impact on movie sales and a positive impact on movie supplies. The number of people who wish to watch a movie was another important variable for movie sales and supplies, and it had a negative impact on the daily movie sales but a positive impact on the daily movie supplies. This study provided a detailed explanation of these results and thus contributed to improving the efficiency of movie suppliers' utilization of online reviews.
Impervious surface extraction based on different methods from multiple spatial resolution images: a comprehensive comparison

ABSTRACT Many efforts have been devoted to extracting impervious surfaces based on different methods from multiple spatial resolution images. Differences in extraction methods and spatial resolutions are significant and have led to discrepant performances in terms of the impervious surface extraction accuracy. However, which extraction method is more suitable for which kind of spatial resolution image in practice is poorly understood. This study systematically compared the performances of 12 methods of impervious surface extraction for four spatial resolution images (i.e. Landsat 8 [30 m], Sentinel-2A [20 m], Sentinel-2A [10 m], and Gaofen-2 [4 m]) in three testing areas. The results indicated that for the medium-spatial resolutions of 30 and 20 m, the support vector machine (SVM) method was considered as the optimal classification method with the highest accuracy of impervious surface extraction. For the high-spatial resolutions of 10 and 4 m, the object based image analysis (OBIA) method obtained the highest accuracy of the impervious surface distribution. Furthermore, the perpendicular impervious surface index (PISI) outperformed the other indices in obtaining the impervious surface distribution, with the highest accuracy for four spatial resolution images. These comprehensive assessments can provide a valuable guidance for future impervious surface extraction from different spatial resolutions.
Reversible Oxidation of Graphene Through Ultraviolet/Ozone Treatment and Its Nonthermal Reduction through Ultraviolet Irradiation

We present alternative methods to oxidize a graphene layer through ultraviolet (UV)/ozone (O3)-treatment, resulting in chemically homogeneous graphene oxide (GO), and then to reduce GO through UV-irradiation. Both UV/O3-treatment and UV-irradiation were performed at room temperature in atmospheric pressure for only several minutes and did not involve any wet chemical treatments. The quantity of doped oxygen, determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, increased after oxidation and decreased after reduction. The quantity of doped oxygen reached its maximum, which was around 20% (approximately one oxygen atom in every five or six carbon atoms) after performing UV/O3-treatment for 6 to 10 min. Conducting UV/O3-treatment for around 6 or 10 min resulted in a chemically homogeneous GO surface with only oxygen epoxide groups on the graphene surface. Performing UV/O3-treatment beyond 15 min as well as multiple turns of UV/O3-treatment could lead to the formation of defects and carbonyl groups on graphene l.
Stemming exclusionary school discipline: implementing culturally attuned positive behavior practices

ABSTRACT Over the past several decades, public schools across the United States have experienced an increasingly visible diversity rift between student enrollment and teaching faculty. The number of students from diverse backgrounds continues to grow while educator ranks continue to become more homogeneous. This diversity rift presents several challenges that affect the quality of educational experiences for students from diverse backgrounds, often to detrimental longitudinal outcomes including the disproportionate use of exclusionary school discipline. The majority of educator preparation programmes continue to train future professionals in traditional, outdated classroom management practices that invoke reactive actions often resulting in suspension or expulsion. Such practices have disproportionately affected students from diverse backgrounds, most conspicuously Black males. However, there are several recommendations school organisations can implement to better prepare their faculty ranks to meet the behavioural needs of students without immediately resorting to exclusionary school discipline. This paper will discuss professional development options that emphasise educator objectivity (i.e., addressing implicit bias, unconditional positive regard) in tandem with evidence-based practices (i.e., positive-based behaviour management, classroom-based functional behavioural assessment) that can be incorporated in the general education classroom.
Biochemical Studies on the Amelioration of Petroleum Product Intoxication with Indigenous Plants

The effect of Gongronema latifolium and Ocimum gratissimum supplemented diet on diesel petroleum induced liver damage in rats was investigated. Rats were acclimatized for two weeks and divided into three groups. Oxidative stress was induced with diesel petroleum (4 ml/kg body weight) at alternate days for seven days in group II and III rats. Group II rats were fed the supplemented diet while Group I and III fed on normal rat pellet only. After one week of feeding, the fluctuations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and concentrations of glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) indicated stress in the liver of the rats exposed to diesel. Significant increase (P 0.05) with treatment. The concentration of other liver marker compounds and lipid profile were positively affected by the treatment. The values obtained
Application of Vapor Recompression to Heterogeneous Azeotropic Dividing-Wall Distillation Columns

Although heterogeneous azeotropic dividing-wall distillation columns (HADWDCs) can achieve considerable reductions in capital investment and operating cost as compared to conventional heterogeneous azeotropic distillation systems, their steady-state performance is likely to be greatly enhanced by the application of vapor recompression heat pump (VRHP) technology owing to their unique process configuration of one top condenser and two bottom reboilers and favorable steady-state behavior of relatively small top-to-bottom temperature elevations. In the current work, the feasibility and effectiveness of reinforcing the HADWDC with the VRHP (HADWDC-VRHP) are examined. A systematic procedure is developed to effectively determine the optimum combination of the VRHP and the HADWDC in order to minimize the total annual cost. Two example systems for the separation of isopropyl alcohol and water and pyridine and water with cyclohexane and toluene as entrainers, respectively, are studied to evaluate the steady-state .