Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of Dendrimers in Anticancer Diagnostics and Therapy

The application of dendrimeric constructs in medical diagnostics and therapeutics is increasing. Dendrimers have attracted attention due to their compact, spherical three-dimensional structures with surfaces that can be modified by the attachment of various drugs, hydrophilic or hydrophobic groups, or reporter molecules. In the literature, many modified dendrimer systems with various applications have been reported, including drug and gene delivery systems, biosensors, bioimaging contrast agents, tissue engineering, and therapeutic agents. Dendrimers are used for the delivery of macromolecules, miRNAs, siRNAs, and many other various biomedical applications, and they are ideal carriers for bioactive molecules. In addition, the conjugation of dendrimers with antibodies, proteins, and peptides allows for the design of vaccines with highly specific and predictable properties, and the role of dendrimers as carrier systems for vaccine antigens is increasing. In this work, we will focus on a review of the use of dendrimers in cancer diagnostics and therapy. Dendrimer-based nanosystems for drug delivery are commonly based on polyamidoamine dendrimers (PAMAM) that can be modified with drugs and contrast agents. Moreover, dendrimers can be successfully used as conjugates that deliver several substances simultaneously. The potential to develop dendrimers with multifunctional abilities has served as an impetus for the design of new molecular platforms for medical diagnostics and therapeutics.
Tackling the Electro-Topography of the Selves Through the Sphere Model of Consciousness

In the current hypothesis paper, we propose a novel examination of consciousness and self-awareness through the neuro-phenomenological theoretical model known as the Sphere Model of Consciousness (SMC). Our aim is to create a practical instrument to address several methodological issues in consciousness research. We present a preliminary attempt to validate the SMC via a simplified electrophysiological topographic map of the Self. This map depicts the gradual shift from faster to slower frequency bands that appears to mirror the dynamic between the various SMC states of Self. In order to explore our hypothesis that the SMC’s different states of Self correspond to specific frequency bands, we present a mini-review of studies examining the electrophysiological activity that occurs within the different states of Self and in the context of specific meditation types. The theoretical argument presented here is that the SMC’s hierarchical organization of three states of the Self mirrors the hierarchical organization of Focused Attention, Open Monitoring, and Non-Dual meditation types. This is followed by testable predictions and potential applications of the SMC and the hypotheses derived from it. To our knowledge, this is the first integrated electrophysiological account that combines types of Self and meditation practices. We suggest this electro-topographic framework of the Selves enables easier, clearer conceptualization of the connections between meditation types as well as increased understanding of wakefulness states and altered states of consciousness.
Pandemic responses at the subnational level: Exploring politics, administration, and politicization in Swedish municipalities

Abstract The Swedish response to the pandemic at the national level has attracted considerable international attention, but little focus has been placed on the way municipalities dealt with the crisis. Using Hay's dimensions of politicization, namely the capacity for human agency, deliberation in the public domain, and social context, we analyze the politicization of the municipal response to the pandemic in Sweden. We do this based on the analysis of the decision making process to activate (or not) an extraordinary crisis management committee. We find inter alia, that (i) only a quarter of the municipalities activated the committee while a majority of them had an alternate special organization in place; (ii) support to the existing organizational structure was more salient than creating an extraordinary organization, and (iii) a robust municipal structure was deemed to be one able to withstand shocks without resorting to extraordinary governance arrangements. We find a ‘conditioned politicization’ of the response, privileging administration over politics.
Resource Allocation and Risk Analysis of Dialysis Centres

Resource allocation and Risk Analysis of Dialysis Centres Mahsa Shateri Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Toronto 2015 The number of hemodialysis patients is growing every year. The majority of these patients visit centres at least three times a week for their treatment. Two types of nurses perform general dialysis procedures on the patients. These are registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs). Hemodialysis patients may experience complications during their treatment. When complications occur, patients need the assistance of RNs. The time RNs spend with patients increases the duration of their treatment. It is essential for all centres to hire enough nurses to maintain the quality of service for the growing number of patients while minimizing nursing cost. However, facilities have different nurse-to-patient ratio because they are unique in terms of the combination of patients and the workload policies regulating their nurses. Moreover, since there are no generally accepted guidelines, the staffing decisions at each centre are highly subjective. As a result, it is very difficult for the decision makers to create consistent guidelines to determine the number of nurses required in each centre. In this research, we assume that the centre has a given list of specific patients, each of which is defined by patient type. Two approaches are used to help dialysis units schedule their patients and minimize nursing cost while having enough nurses to maintain quality of service. In the first approach, an MIP model and a heuristic algorithm are developed separately to minimize the number of nurses (RPNs or RNs) to set up, monitor, and disconnect patients from dialysis machines. The methods find the start time of the dialysis session for each patient. An M/M/s queuing equation is then used to find the number of RNs needed to attend to any potential complications of scheduled patients. ii In the second approach, the methodologies are merged into a non-linear model to find patient schedules that minimize the number of RNs and RPNs. Tabu Search is used to solve the non-linear model. Further, the models and results presented in this study can be treated as benchmarks for decision makers to find the approximate number of nurses needed for each unit as well as a forecasting tool to estimate the average number of nurses needed for any patient size population based on their historical data.
Elliptical kinematics of the accretive surface growth

Version: 11.03. 2022 Abstract: The stresses within the soft tissue are not constant for some shell surfaces. They vary with position along the mantle edge. In this paper, we show that elliptical geometry is more convenient to describe this type of surface. Thus, we introduce the elliptical kinematics along an initial curve and construct some accretive surfaces with an elliptical cross-section. In fact, these surfaces are not only curves with an elliptical cross-sectional curve, but also the material points of the surface follow an elliptical trajectory during their formation. This situation can be easily explained through elliptical motion and elliptical quaternion algebra. Then, we investigate the relationship between velocity and eccentricity of the surfaces and compare it to the case of circular motion. Furthermore, we visualize some examples to support the theoretical results through the
Trends in BMI Percentile and Body Fat Percentage in Children 12 to 17 Years of Age

This study evaluates the cross-sectional trends in body fat percentage (BF%) and body mass index (BMI) percentile rank, and the relationship between the two in 332 (177 boys, 155 girls) 12- to 17-year-old children. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using measured height and body mass, and sex-specific BMI for age percentile rank was determined using CDC growth charts. Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured with DEXA. Fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were calculated by normalizing the fat mass and fat-free mass for height. Compared to boys of the same age, girls had significantly higher BF% and FMI values and lower FFMI values. Compared to boys, at a given BMI percentile rank, females had a higher BF% and FMI, and a lower FFMI. In both boys and girls, there was an exponential increase in adiposity above the 70th percentile rank. BMI percentile rank is not an equivalent indicator of body fatness in boys and girls. Other measures of body composition can further inform the practitioner of a child’s adiposity.
Detection of hierarchical crowd activity structures in geographic point data

The pervasive adoption of GPS-enabled sensors has lead to an explosion on the amount of geolocated data that captures a wide range of social interactions. Part of this data can be conceptualized as event data, characterized by a single point signal at a given location and time. Event data has been used for several purposes such as anomaly detection and land use extraction, among others. To unlock the potential offered by the granularity of this new sources of data it is necessary to develop new analytical tools stemming from the intersection of computational science and geographical analysis. Our approach is to link the geographical concept of hierarchical scale structures with density based clustering in databases with noise to establish a common framework for the detection of crowd activity hierarchical structures in geographic point data. Our contribution is threefold: first, we develop a tool to generate synthetic data according to a distribution commonly found on geographic event data sets; second, we propose an improvement of the available methods for automatic parameter selection in density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm that allows its iterative application to uncover hierarchical scale structures on event databases and, lastly, we propose a framework for the evaluation of different algorithms to extract hierarchical scale structures. Our results show that our approach is successful both as a general framework for the comparison of crowd activity detection algorithms and, in the case of our automatic DBSCAN parameter selection algorithm, as a novel approach to uncover hierarchical structures in geographic point data sets.
Rediscovery of the critically endangered Hill's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophushilli) and other new records of bat species in Rwanda

Abstract Background For forty years, there has been growing uncertainty about whether Hill's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophushilli) still persists in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. Only known from one small area within the National Park, R.hilli is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), based on its extremely small geographic range and presumed low number of mature individuals. Here, we present and describe bat species occurrence data contributed to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) that we collected as part of a long-term collaborative project to rediscover this lost species. This data paper describes the survey methods and findings resulting from cave roost surveys, capture surveys, and acoustic sampling of bat echolocation activity in Nyungwe National Park and surrounding areas in south-western Rwanda from 2013-2020 and their conservation relevance. New information We report the discovery of an extant population of Hill's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophushilli) in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, 40 years since the last reported observation of the species in 1981. We also report the first record of Lander's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophuslanderi) in Nyungwe National Park and the first record of the Damara woolly bat (Kerivoulaargentata) in Rwanda. The dataset contributed to GBIF and described in this paper includes 278 occurrence records from 10 bat species of five families detected at 71 locations in or near Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. We include a description of the morphological descriptions of R.hilli and present the first acoustic echolocation signatures and phylogenetic information for this species.
A self-aligned LDD/channel implanted ITLDD process with selectively-deposited poly gates for CMOS VLSI

A novel inverse-T LDD (ITLDD) CMOS process has been developed as part of a submicron CMOS technology that features self-aligned LDD/channel implantation for improved hot-carrier protection. The resulting ITLDD device structures can be designed with very light n- and p-LDD (lightly doped drain) implantations. This leads to lower substrate current due to reduced compensation effects of the lightly doped LDD regions by the heavy channel doping profile. The use of selective polysilicon deposition rather than an incomplete polysilicon etchback process to define the inverse-T gate results in a simpler, more manufacturable process for the ITLDD structure. <<ETX>>
Comparison of multimode LD pump beam shaping in step-index and graded-index fibers and its influence on Raman lasing

It is known that graded-index fibers (GIF) provide efficient Raman conversion of multimode radiation into a Stokes beam with improved beam quality known as Raman beam cleanup effect, whereas in step-index fibers (SIF) this effect is weak. Here we study propagation of low-coherent (~5 nm wide) highly-multimode (M2~30) pump radiation of high power 940-nm laser diodes (LDs) in GIF and SIF of ~100 µm core diameter. We measured pump beam shapes at the output of fibers with different length. It has been shown that the output beam shape is almost independent of the input pump beam shape approaching to rectangular or parabolic profile after propagation in only ten meters of SIF or GIF, respectively. The output beam shape mimics the refractive-index profile in the multimode fiber core due to random mode coupling. This means that Raman gain is nearly the same for all transverse modes in SIF and has maximum gain for the fundamental mode in GIF that is the main reason of strong Raman beam cleanup effect in GIF. We tested Raman lasing in 1-km GIF/SIF with 940-nm LD pumping of up to ~200 W power with a cavity formed by fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The output FBG fs-inscribed in GIF/SIF improves the output beam quality due to spatial filtering property, but in GIF the effect is much stronger.
FIESTA: Federated Interoperable Semantic IoT/cloud Testbeds and Applications

Partners: National University of Ireland NUIG / Coordinator (Ireland), University of Southampton IT Innovation ITINNOV (United Kingdom), Institut National Recherche en Informatique & Automatique INRIA, (France), University of Surrey UNIS (United Kingdom), Unparallel Innovation, Lda UNINNOVA (Portugal), Easy Global Market EGM (France), NEC Europe Ltd. NEC (United Kingdom), University of Cantabria UNICAN (Spain), Association Plate-forme Telecom Com4innov (France), Research and Education Laboratory in Information Technologies Athens Information Technology AIT (Greece), Sociedad para el desarrollo de Cantabria – SODERCAN (Spain), Ayuntamiento de Santander – SDR (Spain), Korea Electronics Technology Institute KETI, (Korea)
Neural-Network-Based Adaptive Model Predictive Control for a Flexure-Based Roll-to-Roll Contact Printing System

High-precision contact force control is essential for continuous roll-to-roll contact printing via mechanical contact on flexible web substrates using stamps. Nonuniformly controlled stamp contact force will cause failures during printing, especially for large-area printing processes. Due to their high precision in positioning and force control, flexure mechanisms have been applied in roll-to-roll contact printing systems; however, conventional physical model-based control systems cannot manage the nonlinear effects that exist in flexure-based roll-to-roll contact printing systems. To achieve precise contact force control, we propose a neural-network-based adaptive model predictive control for a flexure-based roll-to-roll contact printing system. The nonlinearity of the flexure mechanism is learned and modeled by an artificial neural network. To eliminate the steady-state error caused by model mismatches and external disturbances, an online adaptive mechanism is designed via updating the biases of the output layer of the neural network model. Experimental results show that the root-mean-square error of the contact force can be controlled in the range of 0–0.075 N with balances on two ends of the print roller, outperforming a proportional–integral–derivative controller, a neural-network-based standard model predictive control (MPC) controller, and a neural-network-based robust MPC controller. The proposed control algorithm is implemented in a microcontact printing process that prints 45-μm width gold patterns and achieves a variation of 0.3 μm in the average gold line width at different locations on an 88.9-mm width flexible substrate. The uniform microscale printing results have shown the effectiveness of the proposed neural-network-based adaptive model predictive control in the applied printing process.
Statistical based Piecewise Linear Calibration of Nonlinearity in SAR-ADC

Author(s): Mirhaj, Seyed Arash | Advisor(s): CHANG, MAU-CHUNG FRANK | Abstract: In recent years, Successive Approximation Register Analog-to-Digital Converter (SAR-ADC) has received significant attention due to its well-known energy and hardware efficiency, which also benefits even more from technology scaling. Traditionally, designers have to pay extra attention to matching of the elements in the Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), commonly capacitors, as the heart of the ADC. In many cases this leads to overdesigning the DAC hence, directly and indirectly, wasting precious area and power efficiency. In this research we have been seeking for a robust, hardware/energy efficient, non-invasive, and non-interrupting calibration scheme for SAR-ADC. Unlike current state of the art, proposed calibration does not require stringent assumption on layout considerations and it does not affect the throughput of the data. The prototype of the calibration has been implemented on a 12-bit SAR-ADC fabricated in 65 nm CMOS. Measurement results show more than 9 dB improvement in SNDR (from 58 dB without calibration to 67.2 with calibration) and about 19 dB enhancement in SFDR of the ADC (from 62.6 dB without calibration to 81.2 with calibration). In order to demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed calibration in a practical scenario with wide bandwidth input signals, the performance of the ADC is also tested for quantizing the samples of a 256-QAM signal. Measurement results show improvement of EVM of the output from about 42 dB without calibration to 50 dB with calibration.
The strategies for widening processing windows for perovskite solar cells: a mini review on the role of solvent/antisolvent

Perovskite solar cells are promising candidates for next-generation photovoltaic devices with certified power-conversion efficiency for single-junction perovskite-based devices exceeded 25%. However, it remains challenging to fabricate a large-area and dense perovskite film using solution-based deposition methods. This is due to perovskite wet films being highly sensitive and unstable, and thus having only a narrow processing window. There is therefore a demand for ways to expand the processing window in the fabrication of perovskite films. Herein, we systematically review research on the role of precursor solutions and antisolvents during the perovskite formation process, and reveal the fundamental factors governing the width of the perovskite film-processing window. Then, we give an overview of current strategies for enlarging the processing window, which includes solvent and antisolvent engineering strategies. We conclude by summarizing current challenges in the development of perovskite solar modules with a wide processing window and provide perspectives for future development.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Allium cepa var. Aggregatum Natural Extract: Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties

The chemical content of plant excerpts can be efficiently employed to reduce the metal ions to nanoparticles in the one-pot green production method. Here, green production of silver nanoparticles (AC-AgNPs) is performed by means of Allium cepa var. Aggregatum (shallot) extract as a stabilizer and reducer. The shape, size, and morphology of resultant AC-AgNPs are examined by optical spectroscopy analysis such as UV for nucleation and coalescence processes of the AC-AgNPs. Through FTIR functional group is determined and through DLS size is defined, it was confirmed that metallic AgNPs were successfully synthesized through the green synthesis route, and these results agreed well with the results obtained in the XRD pattern along with TEM spectroscopy, where the TEM images confirm the formation of sphere-like nanostructures along with SAED analysis. The chemical characterization is performed with XPS; the obtained molecular species in the materials are determined from the energy profile. Antioxidant activity of AC-AgNPs versus DPPH substrate is carried out. Antibacterial activity is well established against Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Cell viability is accomplished, followed by an MTT assay, and a cytotoxicity assay of AC-AgNPs on MCF—7 cell lines is also carried out. Highlights: (1). This study highlights the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Allium cepa var. Aggregatum Natural Extract. (2). The synthesized AC-AgNPs were characterized by UV-VIS, FT-IR, XRD, TEM, and XPS. (3). The synthesized nanoparticles were well dispersed in nature and the size range of 35 ± 8 nm. (4). The anti-candidal activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was evaluated against the following Gram-Negative organisms: Escherichia coli (E. coli), and the following Gram-positive organisms: Staphylococcus aureus strains. The biosynthesized AC-AgNPs showed enhanced antiseptic features anti both Gram-positive and negative organisms. (5). Besides, the in vitro cytotoxic outcomes of AC-AgNPs were assessed versus MCF-7 cancerous cells, and the reduction in the feasibility of cancer cells was established via MTT assay, which suggests potential biomedical applications.
Police custody delivery in the twenty-first century in England and Wales

Since the 1980s, police custody in England and Wales has experienced civilianization and privatization of roles once performed by the police. The purposes of this paper are to explore these organisational arrangements and to reflect on what they reveal about patterns of policing in the 21st century. These matters are examined using a unique 2014 survey of custody managers who provided data on 213 suites across 41 police forces in England and Wales, and the Isle of Man. Findings are presented on the extent of civilianization and privatization of custody suites, the conditions of the suites in terms of their busyness and whether they were seen as ‘fit for purpose’ by staff, as well as on the most common types of custody suites and their features. These findings show that whilst civilianization was common-place, privatization was not; over two-thirds of custody suites were owned, managed and staffed by police officers or civilian detention officers employed by the police. As such, the research does not support the idea that there has been a transformation of policing, at least not with respect to who owns manages and/or staffs custody suites in England and Wales, where the police still have a monopoly.