Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Registry data for use in health technology assessments in Norway – Opportunities and challenges

Decisions on uptake of medicines and medical devices on health insurance schemes are increasingly based ona health technology assessment (HTA) process. In Norway, the process has included reimbursement of outpatientmedicines for two decades. During the past years, in-patient medicines, medical devices and morerecently vaccines are all included in the HTA system. In the present article, we outline the Norwegian HTAsystem including its central components and partners. HTA as a scientific approach puts evidence on efficacy,safety and value of interventions into a broader perspective, explicitly considering relevant factors, among theselegal, ethical and organisational aspects of the intervention. Although several combinations of aspects arepossible, the most common is an assessment of the relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of theintervention. Randomised controlled trials have long been considered the mainstay for assessment of clinicaleffectiveness pre-launch, while registry data have been used to inform safety post-lunch, by pharmacovigilance.Recently, we have seen a move towards more use of “real world evidence”, i.e. data from non-RCT sources,mainly from registries. A model-based approach is often used to assess cost-effectiveness, in this context,different types of evidence from different sources are often synthesized. In this paper we describe the centralcomponents of HTA with special emphasis on different observational data sources, such as the unique Norwegianhealth registries. We finally speculate on future directions for use of observational data in HTA, both in aglobal and Norwegian setting.
Additional support for pupils with reading difficulties – a case study

ABSTRACT The importance of reading competence has been increasingly acknowledged in the Swedish educational system, not least through the demands for higher standards in reading in all subjects stated in the national curriculum. Still, in the school year 2018/19, approximately 7% of all Swedish pupils did not achieve the learning goals related to reading competence stated for the subject Swedish in the national curriculum for compulsory school (grades 0–9) (Skolverkets statistikdatabas). In order to identify and support pupils with reading difficulties as early as possible, compulsory reading development assessments are conducted in grades 1, 3, 6 and 9 according to which all pupils displaying a delayed development are to receive additional support. The provision of this support is the responsibility of every municipality, but in what form and to what extent and duration it should be given is not prescribed. The present study aims to give insight into how Swedish policy reforms to improve reading ability among pupils in compulsory school are operationalised in one Swedish municipality during the school year 2018/2019. Further, the study seeks to exemplify how the policy guidelines are implemented at three schools and how policy and practice are related.
Experimental Evaluation of the Surface-Stabilized Combustion of a Confined Porous Inert Media Burner

ABSTRACT This paper presents an experimental study of the characteristic parameters of the surface-stabilized combustion of a confined porous media burner with premixed methane/air flames. Parameters such as the stability range, emissions, and temperature profile of the confined porous medium were evaluated using a burner with geometric features that resulted in gas recirculation due to backward-facing step flows. An analysis of the flame morphology using the OH-planar laser-induced fluorescence technique was also conducted to determine the flame height with respect to the porous medium surface. The results show that the confinement causes gas recirculation, which displaces the flame downstream. Correspondingly, the confined/unconfined condition affects the heat transfer regime, which is observed in the variation of the combustion stability range and the temperature profile within the porous medium. The experiments show that for the confined condition, the porous medium temperature profiles did not vary significantly when the specific power (W/m2) increased for a fixed equivalence ratio (ϕ = 0.70).
Ion homeostasis and transport are regulated by genes differentially expressed in porcine buccal pouch mucosal cells during long-term culture in vitro – a microarray approach

Abstract The oral mucosa is a compound tissue composed of several cells types, including fibroblasts and keratinocytes, that are characterized by different morphology, as well as biochemical and metabolomic properties. The oral mucosal cells are the most important factors mediated between transport and drugs delivery. The changes in cellular ion homeostasis may significantly affect the bioavailability of administrated drugs and their transport across the mucous membrane. Therefore we investigated the expression profile of genes involved in ion transport and homeostasis in porcine buccal pouch mucosal cells. The oral mucosa was separated surgically and isolated enzymatically. The cells were examined during long-term in vitro culture (IVC). The cultured cells were collected at 7, 15 and 30 days of IVC and subsequently transferred to RNA isolation and next, the gene expression profile was measured using Affymetrix microarray assays. In the results, we can extract genes belonging to four ontology groups: “ion homeostasis”, “ion transport”, “metal ion transport”, and “inorganic ion homeostasis”. For TGFB1 and CCL2, we observed up-regulation after 7 days of IVC, down-regulation after 15 days of IVC and upregulation again after 30 days of IVC. The ATP13A3, ATP1B1, CCL8, LYN, STEAP1, PDPN, PTGS2, and SLC5A3genes showed high activity after day 7 of IVC, and in the days 15 and 30 of IVC showed low activity. We showed an expression profile of genes associated with the effects of ion influence on the porcine normal oral mucosal cell development in IVC. These studies may be the starting point for further research into oral diseases and will allow for the comparison of the gene expression profile of normal and disease altered cells.
The Effect of Epigallocatechin-gallate on Inflammatory Protein Production of Odontoblast-like cells

Objective: To screen the effect of two compounds, chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX) and epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), on the levels of cytokines produced by odontoblast-like cells (MDPC-23). Methods: Cells were seeded at 24h and 48h with serial dilution of the compounds to determine cell metabolic activity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay (n=3). Cells with no compound treatment were used as control (Ctr). For the highest equal non-cytotoxic compound dilution tested at 48h cell treatment, total protein concentration was measured using a Pierce bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay (n=3), and expression of 23 cytokines was analyzed using the Bio-Plex cytokine assay (n=2). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α=5%). Results: The MTT assay revealed that at 24h and 48h, CHX and EGCG did not reduce cell metabolic activity at concentrations of 2.5– 20 μM (CHX) and 2.5–160 μM (EGCG), respectively (p>0.05). At 48h, total protein levels were consistent across all groups for 20 μM compound dilution (Ctr: 1.04 mg/mL; CHX: 0.98 mg/mL; and EGCG: 1.06 mg/mL). At 20 μM dilution, both CHX and EGCG significantly increased the secretion of IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12, KC, MIP-1α, IFN-ɤ and IL-6 (p<0.05). Treatment with CHX significantly increased secretion of IL-4 and RANTES (p<0.05). Treatment with EGCG significantly increased Eotaxin secretion (p<0.05). Both CHX and EGCG significantly decreased secretion of IL-17 (p<0.05). GM-CSF and TNF-α did not present significant change in secretion after treatment with either CHX or EGCG (p>0.05). Significance: Both CHX and EGCG modulate secretion of various inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators in odontoblastic cells.
Predictors of behavioral intention among tourist: the case of revisiting street food spots in Penang, Malaysia

ABSTRACT Penang is a popular destination among both local and international visitors where its street food is a major attraction. The uniqueness of Penang’s street food contributes to its reputation as a food paradise among tourists. However, studies investigating tourists’ perception of Penang street food and their behavioral intention to revisit Penang street food spots remain scarce. Thus, a case study involving 277 valid responses was designed to explore this phenomenon by identifying the main factors influencing tourist behavioral intention in revisiting Penang street food spots. Findings demonstrated that 47.4% of the variance in behavioral intention is influenced by food hygiene, food price, food quality and service quality. Furthermore, the food service quality is reported to significantly influence tourist behavioral intention in revisiting Penang street food, while hygiene and price are insignificant in this respect. The current study extends the body of knowledge concerning tourist behavioral intention in revisiting street food, thereby providing useful recommendations and important information to both food hawkers and local authorities alike.
A Review on Security of Smart Farming and Precision Agriculture: Security Aspects, Attacks, Threats and Countermeasures

In recent years, Smart Farming (SF) and Precision Agriculture (PA) have attracted attention from both the agriculture industry as well as the research community. Altogether, SF and PA aim to help farmers use inputs (such as fertilizers and pesticides) more efficiently through using Internet of Things (IoT) devices, but in doing so, they create new security threats that can defeat this purpose in the absence of adequate awareness and proper countermeasures. A survey on different security-related challenges is required to raise awareness and pave they way for further research in this area. In this paper, we first itemize the security aspects of SF and PA. Next, we review the types of cyber attacks that can violate each of these aspects. Accordingly, we present a taxonomy on cyber-threats to SF and PA on the basis of their relations to different stages of Cyber-Kill Chain (CKC). Among cyber-threats, we choose Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) for further study. Finally, we studied related risk mitigation strategies and countermeasure, and developed a future road map for further study in this area. This paper’s main contribution is a categorization of security threats within the SF/PA areas and provide a taxonomy of security threats for SF environments so that we may detect the behavior of APT attacks and any other security threat in SF and PA environments.
Coal Liquefaction Residues Based Carbon Nanofibers Film Prepared by Electrospinning: An Effective Approach to Coal Waste Management

As a major byproduct of direct coal liquefaction, coal liquefaction residue (CLR) waste is environmentally harmful but also valuable. Considering environmental and economic efficiency, exploiting these wastes as electrodes for new generation energy storage devices will increase the economic value and decrease environmental pollution synchronously. In this regard, CLRs are used to prepare carbon nanofibers film for supercapacitors via electrospinning followed by HNO3 preoxidization, air stabilization, and carbonization processes for the first time. The influences of HNO3 preoxidization over the formation of fiber morphology, textural structure, surface chemistry, and electrochemical performance are investigated. Our work demonstrates that HNO3 preoxidization can enhance the content of the heteroatom of the as-spun nanofibers and promote the polymerization of the asphaltene (CLRA) molecular during air stabilization, leading to the changes of the thermal behaviors and thus avoiding the fibers melting success.
The surface chemistry and interface engineering of lead sulphide colloidal quantum dots for photovoltaic applications

This thesis examines the effect of lead sulphide (PbS) CQDs’ surface chemistry and interfaces to their photovoltaic performance. Using PbS CQDs as the starting material, cation-exchange was utilised to form PbS/CdS core/shell CQDs, which were thoroughly characterised and the improved surface passivation was shown by increased photoluminescence yield and lifetime. The core/shell CQDs were incorporated into a ZnO/CQD heterojunction solar cell device and showed a substantial improvement of the mean open-circuit voltage (Voc), from 0.4 V to 0.6 V, over PbS reference devices. By optimising shell thickness and surface ligands, core/shell CQD devices with average device efficiency of 5.6 % were fabricated as compared to 3.0 % for unshelled PbS devices. The lower defect density due to better passivation confers lower carrier density in core/shell CQD film. To take advantage of low defect concentration and to aid charge extraction, a 3 dimensional quantum funnel concept was sought of by blending two populations of PbS/CdS CQDs of different sizes. By incorporating a blend component within a heterojunction device, even when the device thickness is beyond what is optimal for the depletion width and the diffusion length of the system, high Voc is still maintained. In a separate study, a p-i-n device strategy was examined, and with this approach, a maximum device efficiency of 6.4 % was achieved. Despite the improvements made to Voc by optimizing surface passivation, fill factors of the devices are low. By using poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) as a hole transport material (HTM), fill factor and the overall performance improved over a reference device without the HTM. Further studies showed that oxidation of the HTM material results in increased p-type characteristic, thus optimising hole transport. This beneficial oxidation process also makes the device air-stable. From this, devices of up to 8.1 % efficiency and devices with fill factor as high as 0.72 were fabricated.
RF-Characterization of HZO Thin Film Varactors

A microwave characterization at UHF band of a ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide metal-ferroelectric-metal (MFM) capacitors for varactor applications has been performed. By using an impedance reflectivity method, a complex dielectric permittivity was obtained at frequencies up to 500 MHz. Ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0. 5O2 of 10 nm thickness has demonstrated a stable permittivity switching in the whole frequency range. A constant increase of the calculated dielectric loss is observed, which is shown to be an effect of electric field distribution on highly resistive titanium nitride (TiN) thin film electrodes. The C-V characteristics of a “butterfly” shape was also extracted, where the varactors exhibited a reduction of capacitance tunability from 18.6% at 10 MHz to 15.4% at 500 MHz.
Applying the HEXACO Model of Personality to German Livestock Farmers: Item Scale Validation, Personality Structure and Influence on Participation in Livestock Certification Schemes

Decisions made by farmers have impacts beyond the farm boundary, because farmers are the first link in the food supply chain. For this reason, understanding their decision-making behaviour may be of interest to all stakeholders of food systems. Since there is considerable evidence that personality traits may affect decision-making behaviour, we investigated personality traits utilising the HEXACO model of personality in a sample of 244 German livestock farmers. Based on comparisons with data obtained from existing literature that investigated the HEXACO personality traits using community samples and with preliminary data from an own community sample, we found that the livestock farmers differed from the general population. The farmers had higher scores in Honesty-Humility and Conscientiousness and were more emotionally stable. Results of a multinomial logistic regression model showed that personality traits influenced farmers’ decisions to participate in particular livestock certification schemes. While high Conscientiousness increased the probability of participating in conventional animal welfare schemes, high Openness to Experience facilitated participation in organic schemes. However, the results of a confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the German version of the short item scale used to measure the personality traits of the farmer sample should be partially modified. Even though the results should be understood rather as first indications and as a basis for further research, our findings extend the understanding of farmers’ personality and provide information on underlying factors of farmers’ decision-making related to participation in livestock certification schemes. They could help to better align support strategies, e.g. for more environmentally and animal-friendly production, with the personality of farmers.
Advanced Breeding Strategies and Future Perspectives of Salinity Tolerance in Rice

Rice, generally classified as a typical glycophyte, often faces abiotic stresses such as excessive drought, high salinity, prolonged submergence, cold, and temperature, which significantly affects growth, development, and ultimately, grain yield. Among these negative impacts of abiotic factors in rice production, salinity stress is a major constraint, followed by drought. There is considerable research on the use of marker-assisted selection (MAS), genome editing techniques, and transgenic studies that have profoundly improved the present-day rice breeders’ toolboxes for developing salt-tolerant varieties. Salinity stresses significantly affect rice plants during seedling and reproductive stages. Hence, greater understanding and manipulation of genetic architecture in developing salt-tolerant rice varieties will significantly impact sustainable rice production. Rice plants’ susceptibility or tolerance to high salinity has been reported to be the result of coordinated actions of multiple stress-responsive quantitative trait loci (QTLs)/genes. This paper reviews recent literature, updating the effects of salinity stress on rice plants and germplasm collections and screening for salinity tolerance by different breeding techniques. Mapping and identification of QTLs salt tolerance genes are illuminated. The present review updates recent breeding for improvement in rice tolerance to salinity stress and how state-of-the-art tools such as MAS or genetic engineering and genome editing techniques, including mutagenesis and conventional breeding techniques, can assist in transferring salt-tolerant QTLs genes into elite rice genotypes, accelerating breeding of salt-resistant rice cultivars.
Optimized virtual optical waveguides enhance light throughput in scattering media

Ultrasonically-sculpted gradient-index optical waveguides enable non-invasive light confinement inside scattering media. The confinement level strongly depends on ultrasound parameters (e.g., amplitude, frequency), and medium optical properties (e.g., extinction coefficient). We develop a physically-accurate simulator, and use it to quantify these dependencies for a radially-symmetric virtual optical waveguide. Our analysis provides insights for optimizing virtual optical waveguides for given applications. We leverage these insights to configure virtual optical waveguides that improve light confinement fourfold compared to previous configurations at five mean free paths. We show that virtual optical waveguides enhance light throughput by 50% compared to an ideal external lens, in a medium with bladder-like optical properties at one transport mean free path. We corroborate these simulation findings with real experiments: we demonstrate, for the first time, that virtual optical waveguides recycle scattered light, and enhance light throughput by 15% compared to an external lens at five transport mean free paths.
Green Supply Chain Management, Environmental Degradation, and Energy: Evidence from Asian Countries

The purpose of this study is to test the relationship among green logistics, environmental degradation, and energy demand. The system generalized method of moment (system GMM) is used to study the data of Asian countries and four subregions in Asia. The estimation results show that logistics operation consumes nonrenewable energy such as fossil fuels, which has a negative impact on environmental sustainability and energy demand. The service quality and capability (LPITC) in the logistics performance index has a significant contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The logistics infrastructure (LPIIN) has significantly reduced the energy consumption in Asia, while the customs (LPIC) has significantly increased the energy demand. Other indicators of LPI also have a significant impact on the environment and energy in different subregions of Asia. Industrialization and urbanization both increase carbon emissions in Asia, while trade opening reduces carbon emissions. At the same time, these three variables have a positive impact on reducing energy consumption. The results show that logistics performance is significantly related to environmental degradation and energy, and renewable energy and green supply chain management can reduce the harmful effects of logistics activities on environment and energy. Therefore, Asian countries should give priority to environmental sustainability in supply chain management and encourage the application of green practices in logistics.
Simultaneously Tuning Band Structure and Oxygen Reduction Pathway toward High‐Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production Using Cyano‐Rich Graphitic Carbon Nitride

The demands for green production of hydrogen peroxide have triggered extensive studies in the photocatalytic synthesis, but most photocatalysts suffer from rapid charge recombination and poor 2e− oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) selectivity. Here, a novel composite photocatalyst of cyano‐rich graphitic carbon nitride g‐C3N4 is fabricated in a facile manner by sodium chloride‐assisted calcination on dicyandiamide. The obtained photocatalysts exhibit superior activity (7.01 mm h−1 under λ ≥ 420 nm, 16.05 mm h−1 under simulated sun conditions) for H2O2 production and 93% selectivity for 2e− ORR, much higher than that of the state‐of‐the‐art photocatalyst. The porous g‐C3N4 with Na dopants and cyano groups simultaneously optimize two limiting steps of the photocatalytic 2e− ORR: photoactivity, and selectivity. The cyano groups can adjust the band structure of g‐C3N4 to achieve high activity. They also serve as oxygen adsorption sites, in which local charge polarization facilitates O2 adsorption and protonation. With the aid of Na+, the O2 is reduced to produce more superoxide radicals as the intermediate products for H2O2 synthesis. This work provides a facile approach to simultaneously tune photocatalytic activity and 2e− ORR selectivity for boosting H2O2 production, and then paves the way for the practical application of g‐C3N4 in environmental remediation and energy supply.
Collaborating with parents during COVID-19 online teaching: special educator perspectives

ABSTRACT Teachers whose students had trouble independently accessing the online curriculum during COVID-19 online learning had to rely heavily on parents. This paper presents findings from interviews with elementary special educators regarding their experiences collaborating with parents while teaching online. Thematic analysis generated four themes: prioritising non-academic support; increases in mutual understanding; parents implementing educational content; and providing feedback to parents. Teachers emphasised providing socio-emotional support to families and reported opportunities for teachers and parents to learn more about each other. They also highlighted several skills that were not smoothly translating to the home. Implications regarding strong teacher–parent partnerships are discussed.