Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Care and outcome of Finnish diabetic pregnancy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment, course and outcome of pregnancy in Finland using two cohorts of diabetic women. The clinical cohort consisted of data from all 210 women with Type 1 diabetes and their 296 pregnancies managed between 1986 and 1995 in the two northernmost provinces of Finland. The register-based study population included all 1442 mothers with a singleton birth who had insulin treatment during pregnancy in 1991-1995 according to the Medical Birth Register. Of these mothers, 954 (66%) had pre-existing diabetes. Insulin-treated diabetes complicated 4.5/1000 births in Finland in 1991-1995, the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes being 2.9/1000 in the whole country and 3.3/1000 in Northern Finland. In the 1990's the care of these women shifted from tertiary level only to include the secondary level hospitals as well, and was more often carried out on an out-patient basis. This care policy in association with the self-monitoring of blood glucose levels contributed to an obvious improvement in glycaemic control during pregnancy. Despite that, the high proportion (73%) of women entering pregnancy with unsatisfactory glycaemic control did not decrease during the study period. Retinopathy complicated 134 (45.3%) diabetic pregnancies, while clinical nephropathy was found in 23 (7.8%) cases. Although retinopathy was more often aggravated during the first pregnancy, the occurrence of retinopathy or its severe form was not increased at the beginning of consecutive pregnancies. Of the mothers, 50 (16.9%) had pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and in 28% of these cases it was classified as superimposed. It was found more often among primiparous than multiparous (25.6% vs. 11.0%, respectively), and its occurrence rose with the severity of diabetes. In both cohorts, the rates of preterm deliveries, Caesarean sections and large for gestational age (LGA) infants were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in Type 1 diabetic pregnancies than in the background population. The rates of congenital anomalies (CA) were 540-629/10000 in two study populations, both being 2-3-fold as compared to the background population. Cardiac malformations were most common, with anomalies in the genitourinary tract and the musculoskeletal organs being next in frequency. Sixty-three percent of malformed infants were boys. Though pregnancy itself was not found to worsen the prognosis of diabetes, at least in the short term, pregnancy in diabetic women still remains a high risk state with an increased rate of prematurity, operative deliveries, CAs and periand neonatal mortality. In order to decrease the mortality rate in diabetic births, attention should be directed at both the prevention of CA and at identifying the foetuses at risk for intrauterine death. The postneonatal mortality rate is also high, reflecting a shift in the deaths from the early neonatal period to a later age. Therefore, a combined mortality, including induced abortions, stillborns and infant deaths, would give a more realistic idea of the outcomes in diabetic pregnancies.
Application of Image Processing for Investigating the Effect of Nanozeolite and Nanosponge on Flesh Firmness of Cold Stored Cantaloupe

Digital image processing is an emerging tool to predict fruit quality; therefore present study was carried out to develop an image processing technique for investigating the storage life of cantaloupe. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) impregnated materials were used to prolong the postharvest life of cantaloupe fruit and the effects of these treatments were evaluated by 3 image textural features parameters and flesh firmness. The treatments were divided into seven groups containing untreated, conventional paper impregnated with 7% KMnO4, nanozeolite impregnated with 7% KMnO4 and nanosponge impregnated with 0, 4, 7 and 10% KMnO4 respectively in packages. Findings of the investigations showed that the nanosponges impregnated by 7 or 10% KMnO4 could preserve the quality of cantaloupe over time by maintaining its color and flesh firmness which could be a result of ethylene absorption. Nanozeolite covered with 7% KMnO4 was also a good compound to preserve the fruit firmness. Image processing features including Entropy was increased and Homogeneity was decreased during cold storage whereas, fruits that are treated with nanosponge impregnated with 10% KMnO4 showed less Entropy and more Homogeneity than other treatments. Moreover, all KMnO4 treated fruits had better values of flesh firmness and image textural parameters than control. A significant correlation was observed between flesh firmness and image parameters. In total, nano-materials showed acceptable performance in extending the postharvest life of cantaloupes based on the fruit firmness and our findings illustrated that the image processing technique can be used to assess the quality of cantaloupe fruits during storage.
Toxicological profile of hydro-ethanolic extract of the leaf of Solenostemon monostachyus (P. Beauv.) (Lamiaceae) in rats

The rapid increase in consumption of herbal remedies worldwide has been stimulated by several factors, including the notion that all herbal products are safe and effective. However, over the past decade, several news-catching episodes in developed communities indicated adverse effects, sometimes life-threatening, allegedly arising as a consequence to taking herbal products or traditional medicines from various ethnic groups. Therefore, this present study aimed to carry out extensive toxicological evaluation of hydro-ethanolic extract of the leaf of Solenostemon monostachyus (P. Beauv.) Lamiaceae. In an acute toxicity tests of five groups of mice (n = 5/group), male albino mice were orally treated with aqueous extract of S. monostachyus up to 25000 mg/kg and general behavioral activity, adverse effects, and mortality were recorded for up to 14 days. A sub-chronic toxicity test was performed by daily administration with the extract at 75, 112.5 and 225 mg/kg orally (n = 6/group) for 49 days, while control rats received distilled water. Haematological and biochemical (liver enzymes, proteins and bilirubin) parameters were determined and histopathological examination was carried out. The LD50 was estimated to be 22,500 mg/kg, with acute behavioural manifestations of reduced locomotion and calmness. The extract showed statistical significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in haematological and biochemical parameters in the treated rats compared to the control in subchronic treatment. While, subchronic administration of the extract affected some vital organs evident by slight distortion in histo-architecture, degeneration and fat deposits. Results obtained in this study suggest hydro-ethanolic extract of the leaf of S. monostachyus is relatively safe when administered orally in traditional medicine.
Cross-Country Differentials in Economic Growth and Inequality in South Asia

This paper intends to investigate the proximate explanatory factors behind the crosscountry differentials in the growth rates and the various dimensions of inequalities in the south Asian (S.A.) region since 1965 by using both the cross-country regression technique and the panel data approach . We find that in spite of the inheritance of some structural constraints as an outcome of the imperialistic exploitation and also the presence of some country specific constraining factors, most of the countries in the S.A. region have been able to achieve high rates of growth of both the real GDP and PCI especially in the 90s with slightly declining tendency in the cross-country inequalities but increasing tendency of intra-country inequalities. The cross-country and cross-time variations in the country specific factors and the cross-time variations in the effect of the investment, health and education capital are more important for the differentials in the level and the inter-temporal growth rates of per-capita income in this region. Since in most of the cases of our panel regression results it is found that the effect of the human capital more than offsets that of physical capital and further since the growth accounting exercise reveals that the contribution of Solow residual to the productivity growth has declined and that of education capital has increased in the 90s, one can plausibly conclude that the individual nation states of this region must play a crucial role through massive public investment in boosting the social sector development even under the on-going process of globalization. JEL Classification No: O 41, O 47, O 57.
Modelling Different Volatility Components

This paper considers simultaneous modelling of seasonality, slowly changing unconditional variance and conditional heteroskedasticity in high-frequency nancial returns. A new approach, called a seasonal SEMIGARCH model, is proposed to perform this by introducing multiplicative seasonal and trend components into the GARCH model. A data-driven semiparametric algorithm is developed for estimating the model. Asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are investigated brie y. An approximate signi cance test of seasonality and the use of Monte Carlo con dence bounds for the trend are proposed. Practical performance of the proposal is investigated in detail using some German stock price returns. The approach proposed here provides a useful semiparametric extension of the GARCH model.
Onion Market Integration: The Case Of Harar, Dire Dawa And Central Markets

The objective of this study was to analyze the integration of onion market among the spatially separated secondary market to onion producers and the central market. Pearson correlation coefficient, unit root test, Co-integration test and Error correction model were employed to know linear relationship among these markets, non stationary or stationary series, OLS estimation for the long run relationship and short run relationship between these markets respectively. Monthly price series for a period of five years from September 2006 – August 2011 was used for the study. Accordingly, the result portrayed that, there is a strong relationship between the two secondary markets like Harar and Dire Dawa than central market. After conducting the DF/ADF test the residual from OLS estimation obey stationary and known that co-integration between the two regional markets to each other than the central market. From the ECM model, it was concluded that there is a slower adjustment of the system towards the equilibrium after a shock. Keywords : Onion, market integration, stationary, spatial price transmission, unit root test, error correction model
Scientific understanding of the anisotropic universe in the warped products spacetime for aerospace power

We study the GMGHS spacetime to analyze anisotropic cosmology model which represents homogeneous but anisotropically expanding(contracting)cosmology. In this paper we investigate the solution of GMGHS spacetime in form of doubly warped products possessing warping functions and find the Ricci curvature associated with three phases in the evolution of the universe.
Flexoelectric studies on mixtures of compounds made of rodlike and bent-core molecules

We report measurements of the temperature variations of the flexoelastic ratio (e1−e3)/K of octadecyl cyanobiphenyl and a mixture of this compound with another one with bent-core (BC) molecules, using hybrid aligned nematic cells. Addition of 5 mol % of the BC compound doubles the flexoelastic ratio, implying that the BC compound has ∼20 times larger value compared to that of the compound with calamitic molecules. Mixtures with >11 mol % of the BC compound exhibit only a homeotropic alignment. We develop a simple model to account for this result which arises because of a large positive self-energy due to flexoelectric polarization.
Combining satellite data and appropriate objective functions for improved spatial pattern performance of a distributed hydrologic model

Abstract. Satellite-based earth observations offer great opportunities to improve spatial model predictions by means of spatial-pattern-oriented model evaluations. In this study, observed spatial patterns of actual evapotranspiration (AET) are utilised for spatial model calibration tailored to target the pattern performance of the model. The proposed calibration framework combines temporally aggregated observed spatial patterns with a new spatial performance metric and a flexible spatial parameterisation scheme. The mesoscale hydrologic model (mHM) is used to simulate streamflow and AET and has been selected due to its soil parameter distribution approach based on pedo-transfer functions and the build in multi-scale parameter regionalisation. In addition two new spatial parameter distribution options have been incorporated in the model in order to increase the flexibility of root fraction coefficient and potential evapotranspiration correction parameterisations, based on soil type and vegetation density. These parameterisations are utilised as they are most relevant for simulated AET patterns from the hydrologic model. Due to the fundamental challenges encountered when evaluating spatial pattern performance using standard metrics, we developed a simple but highly discriminative spatial metric, i.e. one comprised of three easily interpretable components measuring co-location, variation and distribution of the spatial data. The study shows that with flexible spatial model parameterisation used in combination with the appropriate objective functions, the simulated spatial patterns of actual evapotranspiration become substantially more similar to the satellite-based estimates. Overall 26 parameters are identified for calibration through a sequential screening approach based on a combination of streamflow and spatial pattern metrics. The robustness of the calibrations is tested using an ensemble of nine calibrations based on different seed numbers using the shuffled complex evolution optimiser. The calibration results reveal a limited trade-off between streamflow dynamics and spatial patterns illustrating the benefit of combining separate observation types and objective functions. At the same time, the simulated spatial patterns of AET significantly improved when an objective function based on observed AET patterns and a novel spatial performance metric compared to traditional streamflow-only calibration were included. Since the overall water balance is usually a crucial goal in hydrologic modelling, spatial-pattern-oriented optimisation should always be accompanied by traditional discharge measurements. In such a multi-objective framework, the current study promotes the use of a novel bias-insensitive spatial pattern metric, which exploits the key information contained in the observed patterns while allowing the water balance to be informed by discharge observations.
State Diagnosis of Transformer Windings Based on Time-frequency Analysis

The power transformers are the key equipments in the power system. To keep the stable operation of the transformers, it’s necessary to get their state information on a real-time basis. Therefore, the efficient online monitoring system is developed which obtain the state of the transformers by the accelerometers attached on the tank. The locations of these accelerometers can be determined by the method of varying current with constant frequency. The vibration intensity change is used to initially detect the windings' state by online monitoring the vibration signal of the shocks. Then the time-frequency analysis further processes these signals in order to detect the fault information contained. The short-circuit experiments have been done on the large power transformer of 50000KVA, which finds that the time-frequency analysis can be used to more precisely detect the fault characteristics of windings. Compared with traditional off line short circuit reactance method, the time-frequency analysis is more effective. Key-Words: Transformer winding, time-frequency analysis, Vibration intensity,Short-circuit reactance, Condition monitoring
The Bilingual Brain

This literature review explores the neurocognitive effects of the bilingual brain. Many areas of bilingualism are examined such as age of acquisition, which is when the second language is attained, and memory. The three types of bilingual memory are implicit memory, which is procedural memory, explicit memory, which is declarative memory, and episodic memory, which is autobiographical memory. In relation to the bilingual brain, cognition, control, and /lateralization are also reviewed. Finally, second language (L2) learning strategies are considered. The objective of this study is to obtain an understanding on how two or more languages are acquired and processed in the brain from a biological and psychological perspective by examining age of acquisition, memory, cognition, and lateralization.
Atomic layer deposition enhanced rapid dry fabrication of micromechanical devices with cryogenic deep reactive ion etching

A fast, dry microfabrication process combining atomic layer deposition, electron beam lithography and cryogenic deep reactive ion etching is presented. The process exploits the extremely high selectivity of atomic layer deposited amorphous Al2O3 (alumina) to silicon in cryogenic etching by using an ultra-thin (t ⩽ 5nm) Al2O3 film as a mask. The process rules and limitations are carefully analyzed and a thorough understanding of the limiting factors is reached, and the effect of the limitations on the critical output current of a dc-biased clamped–clamped beam is studied. To test the process, multiresonant tuning fork resonators are fabricated and found to exhibit Q ≈ 8000 at fr ≈ 11.4 MHz. Both values are the highest reported for resonators fabricated with the dry process and comparable with values achieved with existing silicon micromachining processes.
The responses of the earth’s magnetopause and bow shock to the IMF Bz and the solar wind dynamic pressure: a parametric study using the AMR-CESE-MHD model

We have used the AMR-CESE-MHD model to investigate the influences of the IMF B z and the upstream solar wind dynamic pressure (D p ) on Earth’s magnetopause and bow shock. Our results present that the earthward displacement of the magnetopause increases with the intensity of the IMF B z . The increase of the northward IMF B z also brings the magnetopause closer to the Earth even though with a small distance. Our simulation results show that the subsolar bow shock during the southward IMF is much closer to the Earth than during the northward IMF. As the intensity of IMF B z increases (also the total field strength), the subsolar bow shock moves sunward as the solar wind magnetosonic Mach number decreases. The sunward movement of the subsolar bow shock during southward IMF are much smaller than that during northward IMF, which indicates that the decrease of solar wind magnetosonic Mach number hardly changes the subsolar bow shock location during southward IMF. Our simulations also show that the effects of upstream solar wind dynamic pressure (D p ) changes on both the subsolar magnetopause and bow shock locations are much more significant than those due to the IMF changes, which is consistent with previous studies. However, in our simulations the earthward displacement of the subsolar magnetopause during high solar wind D p is greater than that predicted by the empirical models.
Spatial variation of the longitudinal dispersion coefficient in an estuary

Abstract. The effective longitudinal dispersion is a primary tool for determining property distributions in estuaries. Most previous studies have examined the longitudinal dispersion coefficient for the average tidal condition. However, information on spatial and temporal variations of this coefficient at low and high tides is scarce. Three years of hydrographic data taken at low and high tide along the main axis of the Sumjin River Estuary (SRE), Korea are used to estimate the spatial and temporal variation of the effective longitudinal dispersion coefficient. The range of the dispersion coefficient is rather broad at high water slack (HWS) and narrower at low water slack (LWS) because of the different tidal amplitudes. The spatially varying dispersion coefficient has maximal values (>300 m2 s−1) near the mouth at high water and decreases gradually upstream, with fluctuations. The temporally varying dispersion coefficient appears to be positively correlated with river discharges at both low and high tide. The dispersion varies with the square root of river discharges at HWS and LWS. The dispersive salt fluxes increases with increasing river discharges and decreases with decreasing river discharges at HWS and LWS. Estimation of the numerical values of the effective longitudinal dispersion coefficient in the SRE can be useful for better understanding of the distributions of other tracers in the SRE as well as for developing and testing hypotheses about various mixing mechanisms.
PORTABLE MULTIPLEXED OPTICAL DETECTION FOR POINT-OF-CARE

In this dissertation, a low-cost, portable and user-friendly optical detection system was developed for microfluidic based lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices. The conventional analytical methods of measuring these devices require expensive benchtop instruments that are not suitable for point-of-care (POC) applications. The optical detection system developed in this work consists of three major components: a broadband emission white LED to excite multiple fluorephores, a wavelength-independent cross-polarization signal isolation scheme, and a CMOS image sensor for signal detection. The combination of the setup enables simultaneous detection of multiple fluorescent samples. As a proof of concept, the system was applied for optical oxygen detection. The oxygen concentration was indicated by the red luminescence emission intensity of platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP). The sensitivity of the oxygen sensor reached ~41, comparable to the ~50 values reported by others using an external spectrometer. To achieve multi-color analysis, CIE 1931 color space based signal conversion technique was developed, being intuitive and user-friendly. This technique was used for analyzing images of pH and urine glucose colorimetric test strips taken by a camera phone. The linear response ranges are 1-12 and 0-60mM for pH and urine glucose, respectively. Finally, the optical detection system was applied for fluorescent micro-particle detection, achieving ~3μm special resolution. In the particle counting test, 98% and 85% accuracy were achieved in static and dynamic conditions, respectively. With further development and optimization, the optical detection system can be integrated into microfluidic LOC systems for POC applications.