Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation Enhancement Using a Hybrid Technique in an Eight-Element UWB MIMO Antenna Design

A high order multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna assembly is designed for Ultra-Wideband (UWB) applications. The antenna configuration is based on a peculiar arrangement of the radiating elements. A defected microstrip structure is also introduced on the feedlines. The use of a novel technique, the so-called ports-shift, is here discussed. In the proposed antenna, a protruded ground branch structure is employed in combination of three parasitic stubs so as to enhance isolation and impedance matching over the UWB frequency band. The results show that the presented antenna exhibits a good impedance matching which is about -10 dB with a high mutual coupling 15 dB, and envelope correlation coefficients (ECC) smaller than 0.15. The antenna also exhibits good diversity gain of about 9.5, and a good efficiency that varied between 56% and 91% and total active reflection coefficient of less than -20 dB. Which makes it a good candidate for UWB applications.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE BANKS' INTEREST RATE SPREAD IN WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES (1994-2017)

The objective of this study is to examine the determinants of interest rate spread of deposit money banks in a panel of West African countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leon and Togo, over the period 1994 – 2017. For this purpose, a panel data method -pooled Ordinary Least Squares Model was used for the estimation, based on the Breusch Pagan Lagrange multiplier (LM) test. The findings reveal that bank capital/asset ratio (BCAP), bank liquid liabilities and deposits as a ratio of assets (BDP) and corruption index (COR) have negative and significant effect on interest rate spread (INTRS). Furthermore, lending rate (LENDR) has a positive and significant effect on interest rate spread, while credit to private sector as a percentage of the GDP (CPSG) has a positive and insignificant effect on interest rate spread.Based on the empirical results, the study concludes that bank capitalization, bank liquid liabilities relative to total assets, as well as corruption index, have negative and significant impact on interest rate spread; while lending rate and credit to private sector as a percentage of the GDP have a positive impact on interest rate spread. Based on this, the study recommends among others, that the monetary authorities in the West African countries should monitor and control interest rate spread in order to promote robust growth in the West African region.
The Feasibility and Applicability of Grounded Theory Methodology in Translation Studies: Developing Translator Competence

The development of sociological approach to the study of translation makes it possible for the researchers to adopt different methodology to develop new theoretical formulations and concepts. These formulations are arrived at through the interaction with those being studied through the interpretation of real social world and meanings of the participants involved in the translation/social event. Grounded Theory Methodology (GTM) is ideally suited to areas of research where there should be an understanding of the social processes at work. However, the adoption of Grounded Theory (GT) approach in translation studies and translation education is rare if not inapplicable. The debates and suspicions for using GT in terms of its rigor are continuously confusing those who are relatively new to qualitative inductive research. The data collection and sampling anddata analysis in this methodology require high levels of rigor and reflection on the part of the researchers whose previous experience, assumptions, and the manner of transcription and data elicitation are very important, but are often neglected by some researchers.That is why the present paper tends to discuss some key arguable issues of undertaking and applying GT research for qualitative researchers in the area of translation. The paper provides a comprehensive review of GTM and its feasibility by demonstrating examples from a research project on constructing a model for developing translator competence. The project is part of the author’s doctoral study into conceptualizing the experience of the university students’ learning translation and their developing the translator competence. The present paper, however, intends to focus on the application and documentation of GTM in translation education. A review of literature on GT and the author’s practical experience of undertaking an empirical study into discipline form the approach to addressing the issue.
TarDict: A RandomForestClassifier based software predicts drug-target interaction using SMILES

The future of therapeutics depends on understanding the interaction between the chemical structure of the drug and the target protein that contributes to the etiology of the disease in order to improve drug discovery. Predicting the target of unknown drugs being investigated from already identified drug data is very important not only for understanding different processes of drug and molecular interactions but also for the development of new drugs. Using machine learning and published drug information we design an easy-to-use tool that predicts biological target proteins for medical drugs. TarDict is based on a chemical-simplified line-entry molecular input system called SMILES. It receives SMILES entries and returns a list of possible similar drugs as well as possible drug-targets. TarDict uses 20442 drug entries that have well-known biological targets to construct a prognostic computational model capable of predicting novel drug targets with an accuracy of 95%. We developed a machine learning approach to recommend target proteins to approved drug targets. We have shown that the proposed method is highly predictive on a testing dataset consisting of 4088 targets and 102 manually entered drugs. The proposed computational model is an efficient and cost-effective tool for drug target discovery and prioritization. Such novel tool could be used to enhance drug design, predict potential target and identify combination therapy crossroads.
Assessment of activities of daily living in patients post COVID-19: a systematic review

Background Coronavirus disease has provoked much discussion since its first appearance. Despite it being widely studied all over the world, little is known about the impact of the disease on functional ability related to performing activities of daily living (ADL) in patients post COVID-19 infection. Objectives To understand the impact of COVID-19 on ADL performance of adult patients and to describe the common scales used to assess performance of ADL on patients post-COVID-19. Methods A systematic review was conducted. We included studies that applied a physical capacity test in COVID-19 patients, post-infection. Two independent reviewers analyzed the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the evidence. Results A total of 1,228 studies were included, after removing duplicates, 1,005 abstracts were screened and of those 983 were excluded. A final number of nine studies which met the eligibility criteria were included. The findings revealed worsening of physical function and ADL performance in all patients post COVID-19 infection. Conclusion All included studies found a reduction of ADL beyond the test or scale used, revealing a vital worsening of functional ability in ADL performance and consequently loss of independence in COVID-19 patients after the acute phase of infection. Functional ability status previous to COVID-19 is crucial for predicting the severity of the disease and mortality. Barthel Index and ADL score were the most used assessment tools across subjects with different intrinsic capacity and context levels.
Epidemiological profile and lethality of visceral leishmaniasis/human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in an endemic area in Northeast Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The association of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a concern worldwide, and this co-infection is linked to increased lethality. The Northeast is the region that mostly reports cases of VL in Brazil. The knowledge of risk factors associated with VL/HIV co-infection and its impact on lethality is extremely important. METHODS: The present study analyzed the epidemiologic features of cases with VL/HIV co-infection in the state of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil, from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: There were 858 and 11,514 reported cases of VL and HIV infection, respectively. The average incidences of VL and HIV infection were 1.82 and 24.4/100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Of all reported cases of VL, 4.9% (42/858) also had HIV infection. There was an inverse spatial association between VL and HIV infection incidences. The lethality rates of VL, HIV infection, and co-infection were 9.9%, 26.1%, and 16.6%, respectively. Most of the patients were males and lived in urban areas. The cases of VL mostly occurred in children aged below 10 years, whereas the cases of HIV infection and VL/HIV co-infection were primarily observed in adults between 20 years and 39 years old. CONCLUSIONS: We defined the profile and areas with most cases of co-infection and found that the lethality of VL with co-infection increased in the current period. These findings contribute to applying efforts with a greater focus in these identified populations to prevent future deaths.
Dietary Beta-Hydroxy Beta-Methyl Butyrate Supplementation Alleviates Liver Injury in Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged Piglets

The current study was performed to investigate whether dietary β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) could regulate liver injury in a lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) challenged piglet model and to determine the mechanisms involved. Thirty piglets (21 ± 2 days old, 5.86 ± 0.18 kg body weight) were randomly divided into the control (a basal diet, saline injection), LPS (a basal diet), or LPS+HMB (a basal diet + 0.60% HMB-Ca) group. After 15 d of treatment with LPS and/or HMB, blood and liver samples were obtained. The results showed that in LPS-injected piglets, HMB supplementation ameliorated liver histomorphological abnormalities induced by LPS challenge. Compared to the control group, the activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were increased in the LPS-injected piglets (P < 0.05). The LPS challenge also downregulated the mRNA expression of L-PFK, ACO, L-CPT-1, ICDH β, and AMPKα1/2 and upregulated the mRNA expression of PCNA, caspase 3, TNF-α, TLR4, MyD88, NOD1, and NF-κB p65 (P < 0.05). However, these adverse effects of the LPS challenge were reversed by HMB supplementation (P < 0.05). These results indicate that HMB may exert protective effects against LPS-induced liver injury, and the underlying mechanisms might involve the improvement of hepatic energy metabolism via regulating AMPK signaling pathway and the reduction of liver inflammation via modulating TLR4 and NOD signaling pathways.
Petrophysics of Kerogens Based on Realistic Structures

Combining hydraulic fracturing with lateral drilling has allowed for economical hydrocarbon production from unconventional formations. Nevertheless, beyond hydraulic fracturing, our understanding of how hydrocarbons are stored and transported from the stimulated volume of a reservoir is still limited. Source rocks consist of organic materials finely dispersed within an inorganic matrix. Despite their small size, these organic pockets are capable of storing significant amounts of hydrocarbon due to their large surface area. The extent of the source rock’s storage capacity is determined by several factors, including the natural fracture abundancy, organic material content, type, and level of maturity. The petrophysical properties of organic materials, also known as kerogens, are subject to a high degree of uncertainty. Kerogens are difficult to isolate experimentally, which hinders accurate petrophysical analysis. The objective of this research was to use a molecular modeling approach to explore the petrophysical characteristics of kerogen. Kerogen macromolecules of different types and maturity levels were recreated via a computational platform. Then nanoporous structures representing these kerogens were obtained and characterized. Several elemental parameters, including porosity, density, pore size distribution, and adsorption capacity were closely delineated. The kerogen properties were found to correlate with the kerogen type and thermal maturity level. Kerogen type III showed the highest storage capacity, followed by types II and I, in a descending order. Moreover, in the same type of kerogen, a general trend of increasing storage capacity was observed as the maturity level increased. Methane adsorption capacity was modeled as a function of kerogen porosity. A transition flow regime was found to be the predominant mechanism. Such observations have significant implications for reservoir-scale modeling of unconventional resources.
Dental Age Assessment by I2M and I3M: Portuguese Legal Age Thresholds of 12 and 14 Year Olds

Objective Better understanding of dental age assessment may help in cases of age estimation in Forensic Clinics. The first aim was to provide essential information on method reliability for upcoming studies using dental age assessment by second molar index (I2M), and third molar index (I3M) for age estimation on legal ages of 12 - 14 years. The second aim was to document forensic method outcomes of the Demirjian method which has already been used in forensic clinic. Material and Methods Two samples were used for this purpose: for I2M, 633 orthopantomographs (270 females / 363 males), the age range from 7 to 17 years and for I3M, 471 orthopantomographs (253 females / 218 males), the age range from 10 to 23 years, from the database population of Lisbon North University Hospital Center, approved by the Ethic Committee. Results The I3M cut-off point (1.133) for 12- year- olds obtained better results than the cut-off point stated by the I2M (0.135). Besides, I2M cut-off point (0.001) for 14- year- olds showed better results when compared with the cut-off point (0.705) established by the I3M. Both methods are reliable for the legal age thresholds of 12 and 14 years. However, using I2M and I3M allows us to vary the cut-off value to privilege sensitivities or specificity, depending on which is more appropriate to the intended application. Conclusions The accuracy (88.94%) of I3M obtained better results for the 12- year- old cut-off point (1.133) and the accuracy (90.21%) of the I2M performed better for the 14- year- old cut-off point (0.001).
Telomere length assessment in blood leukocytes of patients with sarcoidosis

Background: Accelerated aging and telomere shortening have been studied in many chronic diseases such as interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Different studies have shown that patients with these diseases have shorter telomere lengths than controls; this can be a marker of the progression and outcome of the disease. So far, a few studies have been evaluated the telomere length in sarcoidosis. In this study we determine the telomere length in patients with sarcoidosis and compare it with control subjects. Objective: Our aim is to compare telomere length in patients with sarcoidosis and normal population. Methods: We select 58 patients with sarcoidosis who were visited in the sarcoidosis clinic of Masih Daneshvari Hospital. 58 sex and age-matched (with±2 years) healthy control subjects were selected. Telomere length was measured by quantitative real time PCR as described by Cawthon on peripheral blood sample. The telomere repeat copy number (T) to single-gene copy number(S) ratio was calculated using the comparative Ct method. Results: The mean and standard deviation of telomere length in the patient and control group was 0.65 ± 0.05 and 0.72 ± 0.07 respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups. (P = 0.031). Conclusion: Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that can involve many organs. Like other chronic diseases, aging phenomenon occurs in that; which led to decrease cellular and tissue telomere length. This article demonstrates shorter telomere length in Iranian sarcoidosis patients compared to normal population.
Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), a new species from Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in the Republic of Kosovo, with molecular and ecological notes

Abstract Background The Western Balkans are an important hotspot of caddisfly diversity in Europe, with several microscale endemics, many of which were discovered during the recent years. The genus Potamophylax Wallengren, 1891 likely originated and diversified in Europe, with the Balkan Peninsula being one of the most important diversity hotspots. New information In this paper, we describe the new species Potamophylax coronavirus sp. n. from Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park in the Republic of Kosovo. The new species belongs to the Potamophylax winneguthi species group and is morphologically most similar to Potamophylax juliani Kumanski, 1999, currently known only from Bulgaria and Potamophylax winneguthi Klapalek, 1902, known from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The male of the new species differs from its most similar congeners mainly in exhibiting: (1) elongated subrectangular superior appendages in lateral view; (2) hardly acuminate, almost rounded apex of intermediate appendages; (3) differently shaped, irregular and higher inferior appendages; (4) narrow spinate area, roughly rectangular in dorsal view, slightly wider at the base and (5) different paramere shape and/or spine pattern. The new species also differs by its considerably smaller size and association with open, high altitude eucrenal zones. The uncorrected interspecific pairwise distance between P. coronavirus and other species of the P. winneguthi species group is on par with those amongst other recognised species in the group, as well as with the yet ambiguously identified taxa from the Sharr, Rila and Bajgorë Mountains. The new species is most probably a microendemic of Bjeshkët e Nemuna, thus highlighting further this area as an important hotspot of caddisfly biodiversity in Europe.
Poor Prognostic Factors in Patients With Rotator Cuff Retear

Background: The treatment for retears after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) has long been a challenge. Purpose: This study aimed to (1) summarize the characteristics of patients with a retear after primary ARCR and (2) determine the risk factors for poor clinical outcomes after a retear. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We collected the data of patients with a retear after primary ARCR between January 2011 and December 2016. There were 45 patients with retears included (19 men [42.2%] and 26 women [57.8%]; mean ± SD age, 63.11 ± 8.87 years). Initially, the demographic and outcome data of patients with a retear were analyzed. Patients were classified into good and poor outcome groups according to their overall satisfaction at final follow-up. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors for poor clinical outcomes after a retear. Results: A total of 31 patients were classified into the good outcome group, and 14 patients were classified into the poor outcome group. Both the good and the poor outcome groups showed that clinical scores significantly improved at the time of the retear diagnosis, but the final scores were maintained or worse compared with scores at the time of the retear diagnosis. Final range of motion (ROM), except external rotation in the good outcome group, was worse or had no significant change compared with ROM at the time of the retear diagnosis. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, current smoking (odds ratio [OR], 45.580 [95% CI, 3.014-689.274]; P = .006), female sex (OR, 32.774 [95% CI, 2.433-441.575]; P = .009), and retears of the same or larger size than the initial tear (OR, 10.261 [95% CI, 1.544-68.202]; P = .016) showed a higher OR for poor clinical outcomes after a retear. Conclusion: Smoking, female sex, and retears of the same or larger size than the initial tear were independent risk factors for poor clinical outcomes after a rotator cuff retear. Final clinical scores and ROM were similar or worse compared with the scores and ROM at the time of the retear diagnosis. Therefore, revision surgery should be actively considered in female patients or those who smoke with poor clinical outcomes and a larger retear size than the preoperative tear size at the time of the retear diagnosis.
Association of Skeletal Maturity and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Soccer Players: A 4-Season Prospective Study With Survival Analysis

Background: The association between injury risk and skeletal maturity in youth soccer has received little attention. Purpose: To prospectively investigate injury patterns and incidence in relation to skeletal maturity in elite youth academy soccer players and to determine the injury risks associated with the skeletal maturity status, both overall and to the lower limb apophysis. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: All injuries that required medical attention and led to time loss were recorded prospectively during 4 consecutive seasons in 283 unique soccer players from U-13 (12 years of age) to U-19 (18 years). The skeletal age (SA) was assessed in 454 player-seasons using the Fels method, and skeletal maturity status (SA minus chronological age) was classified as follows: late, SA >1 year behind chronological age; normal, SA ±1 year of chronological age; early, SA >1 year ahead of chronological age; and mature, SA = 18 years. An adjusted Cox regression model was used to analyze the injury risk. Results: A total of 1565 injuries were recorded; 60% were time-loss injuries, resulting in 17,772 days lost. Adjusted injury-free survival analysis showed a significantly greater hazard ratio (HR) for different status of skeletal maturity: early vs normal (HR = 1.26 [95% CI, 1.11-1.42]; P < .001) and early vs mature (HR = 1.35 [95% CI, 1.17-1.56]; P < .001). Players who were skeletally mature at the wrist had a substantially decreased risk of lower extremity apophyseal injuries (by 45%-61%) compared with late (P < .05), normal (P < .05), and early (P < .001) maturers. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal injury patterns and injury risks varied depending on the players’ skeletal maturity status. Early maturers had the greatest overall adjusted injury risk. Players who were already skeletally mature at the wrist had the lowest risk of lower extremity apophyseal injuries but were still vulnerable for hip and pelvis apophyseal injuries.
The extreme capsule and aphasia: proof-of-concept of a new way relating structure to neurological symptoms

Abstract We present anatomy-based symptom-lesion mapping to assess the association between lesions of tracts in the extreme capsule and aphasia. The study cohort consisted of 123 patients with acute left-hemispheric stroke without a lesion of language-related cortical areas of the Stanford atlas of functional regions of interest. On templates generated through global fibre tractography, lesions of the extreme capsule and of the arcuate fascicle were quantified and correlated with the occurrence of aphasia (n = 18) as defined by the Token Test. More than 15% damage of the slice plane through the extreme capsule was a strong independent predictor of aphasia in stroke patients, odds ratio 16.37, 95% confidence interval: 3.11–86.16, P < 0.01. In contrast, stroke lesions of >15% in the arcuate fascicle were not associated with aphasia. Our results support the relevance of a ventral pathway in the language network running through the extreme capsule.