Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance in China after It Becomes Available: A Cross-Sectional Study

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to numerous tragic deaths all over the world. Great efforts have been made by worldwide nations for COVID-19 targeted vaccine development since the disease outbreak. In January 2021, the Chinese government started to provide free vaccination among nationwide communities, which was optional for citizens. As no evidence has been provided so far regarding COVID-19 vaccination acceptance since the initiation of nationwide vaccination, this study aims to investigate COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among Chinese citizens as well as its associated factors as an attempt to bridge such gap embedded in the current literature. An anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted online in March and April 2021 among adults, with the survey questionnaire designed based on the framework of the health belief model (HBM). Information on socio-demographics, risk perception, past pandemic-related experience, awareness of vaccination as well as acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination were collected. Chi-squared test and multi-level regression were performed to distinguish the acceptance between different groups as well as to identify the significant predictors. A total of 3940 participants completed the survey, with 90.6% of the participants reporting strong willingness to get vaccinated. A list of factors were found to be significantly associated with individuals’ acceptance of vaccination, including the region of residence, ethnicity, annual income, whether or not they had experienced a major pandemic event in the past, risk perception of the COVID-19 as well as the awareness of receiving vaccination. Safety concerns about the vaccine (27.7%), concerns about receiving vaccination immediately after newly developed vaccines were released into the market (22.4%) as well as concerns about the potential side effects induced by vaccination (22.1%) were identified as the primary reasons of residents’ resistance against vaccination. Overall, residents demonstrated strong willingness to receive vaccination against COVID-19 in China. However, the improvement of vaccination-related knowledge among Chinese residents should be highlighted as a critical strategy to facilitate the penetration of nationwide vaccination in order to ultimately achieve the establishment of herd immunity in China.
Catheter kinematics and control to enhance cardiac ablation

Catheter ablation is the preferred minimally invasive treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. Limited maneuverability of currently available catheters undermines the success of this treatment and subjects operations to prolonged repeated attempts to pace suspicious zones and ablate the arrhythmogenic substrates under ionizing radiation of fluoroscopy. To compensate for such inefficiencies, a control system that can replace operator's hand during the procedure is desired. This system should be able to direct catheter tip toward the ablation site and maintain its contact with the substrate during ablation, accelerating the process and enhancing its precision. To realize such a system, the first step is to kinematically model the catheter and to devise a control strategy to embed the kinematics of the catheter. This paper proposes a simplified approach to model and control a general single-segment active catheter as a continuum robot. In this approach, the flexible catheter is modeled as a rigid manipulator having coupled joints. Utilizing the structural coupling of the catheter, joint-variables are reduced to actuatable parameters thus lifting some of the mathematical difficulties in formulation of a control strategy for redundant manipulators. The modeling is validated through experiments with a typical steerable ablation catheter equipped with an electromagnetic tracker in vitro.
Indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices of caregivers in Vhembe District, Limpopo province

Bac kground Caregivers are offered health information on neonatal care before they are discharged from the healthcare facilities after giving birth. However, they continue to feed and bath neonates in ways that are informed by indigenous traditions. Notably, these ways include the provision of supplementary feeds before 6 months and bathing the neonate as early as possible, which are practices that contradict the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations of neonatal care. Objectives This study aimed to explore and describe the indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices of caregivers in Vhembe District, Limpopo province. Setting This study was conducted in Limpopo province at Vhembe District, Makhado Municipality. Methodology A qualitative, explorative and descriptive enquiry was used to conduct 18 semi-structured individual interviews to explore and describe their indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select participants. Creswell’s method of data analysis was used to analyse data. Ethical principles were maintained. Results Two themes with sub-themes resulted from data analysis presenting indigenous neonatal feeding practices and indigenous neonatal bathing practices. Conclusion This study revealed that caregivers use indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices across age groups and social standing. Younger mothers receive guidance from older women in their families or community. Midwives should know the indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices of the communities they serve to offer relevant culture-sensitive health education. Contributions This study contributes to the creation of knowledge about indigenous neonatal care practices amongst mothers and caregivers.
Highly efficient maximum power point tracking using DC–DC coupled inductor single-ended primary inductance converter for photovoltaic power systems

Solar photovoltaics (PVs) have nonlinear voltage–current characteristics, with a distinct maximum power point (MPP) depending on factors such as solar irradiance and operating temperature. To extract maximum power from the PV array at any environmental condition, DC–DC converters are usually used as MPP trackers. This paper presents the performance analysis of a coupled inductor single-ended primary inductance converter for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in a PV system. A detailed model of the system has been designed and developed in MATLAB/Simulink. The performance evaluation has been conducted on the basis of stability, current ripple reduction and efficiency at different operating conditions. Simulation results show considerable ripple reduction in the input and output currents of the converter. Both the MPPT and converter efficiencies are significantly improved. The obtained simulation results validate the effectiveness and suitability of the converter model in MPPT and show reasonable agreement with the theoretical analysis.
Measuring the effects of process variations on circuit performance by means of digitally-controllable ring oscillators

We present a test chip for the direct measure of the effects of inter/intra-chip process variations on the performance of CMOS circuits. The test structure is a ring oscillator made of modified CMOS inverters that may exhibit two slightly different delays depending on the value of a digital control signal. The incremental delay of each cell is measured from the oscillation periods obtained with different configurations of the control bits. Results are reported for different lots of a 0.18 /spl mu/m process.
Verification of the Detection Performance of Drone Radio Telemetry for Tracking the Movement of Frogs

Elucidating the various behavioral and ecological uses of animal habitats is the basis for the conservation and management of animal species. Therefore, tracking the movement of animals is necessary. Biotelemetry is used for tracking the movement of animals. By mounting a radio telemetry receiver and antenna on a drone, the time and labor required for surveying animals can be reduced. In addition, it is easy to track difficult-to-reach areas such as rice paddies and forests, and the environment is not invaded by the survey. We think that this drone radio telemetry will be the best method for tracking the movement of small amphibians, such as frogs. However, in order to put the method to practical use, the accuracy of the system needs to be verified. Approximately 26 ha of area in Sogabe, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan was investigated in this study. We selected and validated the location where frogs are likely to enter farmlands. The location where the detection of movement is expected to be stable are 5 cm deep areas in the soil, gaps in masonry, and under plastic bags, whereas areas in which the detection is likely to be unstable are areas deeper than 5 cm in the soil, covered concrete channels, and grass. By calculating the geographic center, the location of the nanotag could be estimated with an accuracy of less than 16 m. We successfully showed that the drone radio telemetry system used in this study is capable of detecting and tracking the movement of animals with high spatial and temporal resolutions. However, we suggest that the detection of movement may be interrupted depending on the location of the target animal and more than three detections are needed to guarantee the accuracy of the estimation.
Quantum Mechanical-Based Stability Evaluation of Crystal Structures for HIV-Targeted Drug Cabotegravir

The long-acting parenteral formulation of the HIV integrase inhibitor cabotegravir (GSK744) is currently being developed to prevent HIV infections, benefiting from infrequent dosing and high efficacy. The crystal structure can affect the bioavailability and efficacy of cabotegravir. However, the stability determination of crystal structures of GSK744 have remained a challenge. Here, we introduced an ab initio protocol to determine the stability of the crystal structures of pharmaceutical molecules, which were obtained from crystal structure prediction process starting from the molecular diagram. Using GSK744 as a case study, the ab initio predicted that Gibbs free energy provides reliable further refinement of the predicted crystal structures and presents its capability for becoming a crystal stability determination approach in the future. The proposed work can assist in the comprehensive screening of pharmaceutical design and can provide structural predictions and stability evaluation for pharmaceutical crystals.
Civic networks for sustainable regions – Innovative practices and emergent theory

This article presents an alternative way of thinking about how regional sustainability might be accomplished. It starts from the premise that metropolitan regions can be understood as self-organizing complex systems if they have certain characteristics. When observed through this framework, sustainability shifts from being an end state to being a continuing process of adaptation that maintains the system or even improves its performance through learning and innovation. This article explores these ideas by investigating four Collaborative Regional Initiatives (CRIs), voluntary networks of civic leaders in California. We compare them across six themes: fit to region, theory of change, role of research, leadership, network structure, and activity. We use these elements as a conceptual framework to tell each CRI's unique and interesting story, while at the same time comparing them along common dimensions. Drawing on complexity science, we use the stories of these CRIs to develop theory about how such networks can be designed and operated to play useful roles in advancing the sustainability of a region.
Exploring the Terminal Pathway of Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis and Metabolism in the Silkworm

Simple Summary Insect sex pheromone biosynthesis has received widespread attention, while the terminal pathway related to aldehyde synthesis and metabolism is still poorly understood at a molecular level. Previous studies found that the silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae), has two pheromone compounds, bombykol and bombykal, with a ratio of 11:1, while its closest wild relative, B. mandarina, only uses bombykol as a pheromone. In this study, sex pheromone gland transcriptomes were compared between the domestic and wild silkworms. All the candidate gene families were identified. Then we used the differentially expressed information, tissue and developmental expression profiles, and phylogenetic analysis to identify the putative causal genes involved in the terminal pathway. Our findings provide insights into the aldehyde synthesis and metabolism pathways and evolutionary conservation in moths. Abstract Sex pheromones are vital to sexual communication and reproduction in insects. Although some key enzymes in pheromone production have been well studied, information on genes involved in the terminal pathway is limited. The domestic silkworm employs a pheromone blend containing (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienol (bombykol) and analogous (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienal (bombykal); whereas, its wild ancestor B. mandarina uses only bombykol. The two closely related moths might be a good model for exploring the genes involved in aldehyde pheromone synthesis and metabolism. By deep sequencing and analyzing the sex pheromone gland (PG) transcriptomes; we identified 116 candidate genes that may be related to pheromone biosynthesis, metabolism, and chemoreception. Spatiotemporal expression profiles and differentially expressed analysis revealed that four alcohol oxidases (BmorAO1; 2; 3; and 4); one aldehyde reductase (BmorAR1); and one aldehyde oxidase (BmorAOX5) might be involved in the terminal pathway. Phylogenetic analysis showed that, except for BmorAO3 and MsexAO3, AOs did not show a conversed orthologous relationship among moths; whereas, ARs and AOXs were phylogenetically conserved. This study provides crucial candidates for further functional elucidation, and which may be utilized as potential targets to disrupt sexual communication in other moth pests.
Applying Noncontact Sensing Technology in the Customized Product Design of Smart Clothes Based on Anthropometry

Electrocardiograms (ECGs) provide important information for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. In clinical practice, the conventional Ag/AgCl electrode is generally used; however, it is not suitable for long-term ECG measurement because of the risk of allergic reactions on the skin and the dying issue of electrolytic gels. In previous studies, several dry electrodes have been proposed to address these issues. However, most dry electrodes, which are the mode of conductive materials, have to contact the skin well and are easily affected by motion artifacts in daily life. In the smart clothes developed in this study, a noncontact electrode was used to assess the biopotential across the clothes to prevent skin irritation and discomfort. Moreover, a three-dimensional parametric model based on anthropometric data was built, and the technique of customized product design was introduced into the smart clothes development process to reduce the influence of motion artifacts. The experimental results show that the proposed smart clothes can maintain a good ECG signal quality stably under motion from different activities.
Diphenyleneiodonium Triggers Cell Death of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Cells by Blocking the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain and Synergizes with Cytarabine

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is characterized by the accumulation of undifferentiated blast cells in the bone marrow and blood. In most AMLs, relapse frequently occurs due to resistance to chemotherapy. Compelling research results indicate that drug resistance in cancer cells is highly dependent on the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Modulating ROS levels is therefore a valuable strategy to overcome the chemotherapy resistance of leukemic cells. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a well-known inhibitor of ROS production, in targeting AML cells. Results showed that although inhibiting cytoplasmic ROS production, DPI triggered an increase in the mitochondrial ROS levels caused by the disruption of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. We also demonstrated that DPI blocks the mitochondrial oxidative respiration (OxPhos) in a dose-dependent manner and that AML cells with high OxPhos status were highly sensitive to treatment with DPI, which synergizes with the chemotherapeutic agent cytarabine (Ara-C). Thus, our results suggest that targeting mitochondrial function by DPI might be exploited to target AML cells with high OxPhos status.
Application of Theory of Characteristics Modes for Bandwidth Enhancement of a Miniaturized Minkowski Fractal Antenna

This article presents a miniaturized modified Minkowski fractal antenna with enhanced linearly polarized impedance bandwidth (IBW) in the lower frequency region. Applying theory of characteristic modes (TCM) analysis on a second iterated modified Minkowski radiator without feeding structure, modal currents and their corresponding modal fields (radiation patterns) were determined to recognize symmetric dominant modes to be specifically excited to generate the required radiation pattern. It gave direction for choosing quarter-wave microwave line feeding as the feed of choice to excite the four desired modes at 2.7, 5.7, 5.9, and 8.7 GHz and providing excellent impedance matching to generate the very wide IBW. Measured results matched well with simulations done using Ansys HFSS 2020R1. Measured IBW is 9.7 GHz (160%), from 1.2 to 10.9 GHz, with center resonance frequency (frc) at 6.05 GHz, whereas simulated IBW is 9.4 GHz (162%), from 1.1 to 10.5 GHz with frc at 5.8 GHz. The antenna size is 36 × 34 × 1.6 mm3 (0.216λgL × 0.204λgL where at lower resonating frequency frL = 1.1 GHz, λgL is the guided wavelength) with 82.24% reduction in size. This antenna may be utilized for “L”, “S” band and UWB wireless communication.
Chronic sublethal pesticide exposure affects brood production, morphology and endosymbionts, but not immunity in the ant, Cardiocondyla obscurior

Insect diversity and biomass have been declining around the world. This might have severe consequences on the environment since insects provide many crucial ecosystem services. One major driver behind the decline is continuous pesticide use which also affects nontarget organisms. Even at low doses, chronic exposure to pesticides may have negative long‐term effects. Ants have not received much attention in this context, despite their importance in terrestrial ecosystems. A full factorial experimental design was used to test how ingestion of two widely used pesticides influence colonies of the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior. Colonies were exposed for 12 weeks to the herbicide glyphosate and the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid, separately and in combination. Brood production and the size of new workers and queens produced in these colonies were measured. In addition, the relative densities of two endosymbionts were quantified and immunocompetence tested by measuring survival after fungal infection. The two pesticides in combination decreased brood production, which was measured as the number of produced eggs and pupae. Workers and queens produced in pesticide‐exposed colonies differed in body size from individuals produced in control colonies. Furthermore, endosymbiont densities decreased after glyphosate exposure. Neither pesticide influenced survival after fungal infection. The results show that chronic exposure to two widely used pesticides causes apparent trade‐offs in reproduction and other physiological traits of ants, potentially decreasing fitness. Even low levels of pesticides in the environment may therefore have negative effects on ant colonies, contributing to the worldwide insect decline.
Single event upset and charge collection measurements using high energy protons and neutrons

RAMs, microcontrollers and surface barrier detectors were exposed to beams of high energy protons and neutrons to measure the induced number of upsets as well as energy deposition. The WNR facility at Los Alamos provided a neutron spectrum similar to that of the atmospheric neutrons. Its effect on devices was compared to that of protons with energies of 200, 400, 500 and 800 MeV. Measurements indicate that SEU cross sections for 400 MeV protons are similar to those induced by the atmospheric neutron spectrum. >
The Role of T Cell Immunotherapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease associated with various alterations in T cell phenotype and function leading to an abnormal cell population, ultimately leading to immune exhaustion. However, restoration of T cell function allows for the execution of cytotoxic mechanisms against leukemic cells in AML patients. Therefore, long-term disease control, which requires multiple therapeutic approaches, includes those aimed at the re-establishment of cytotoxic T cell activity. AML treatments that harness the power of T lymphocytes against tumor cells have rapidly evolved over the last 3 to 5 years through various stages of preclinical and clinical development. These include tissue-infiltrated lymphocytes (TILs), bispecific antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy, and tumor-specific T cell receptor gene-transduced T (TCR-T) cells. In this review, these T cell-based immunotherapies and the potential of TILs as a novel antileukemic therapy will be discussed.
Efficient scattering computation for arrays of long thin‐strips

We propose a fast and memory‐efficient semi‐analytical current estimate for arrays of long thin‐strips under normal plane‐wave incidence. We show the very drastic time reduction for computing the radar cross section (RCS) with little error as compared to the time‐consuming solution using the method of moments (MoM). Moreover, the adoption of this current estimate as an initial value leads the iterative search of the solution in fewer steps for those cases where the preconditioning techniques cannot be applied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 127–131, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21284