Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Size optimization of a hybrid PV/wind/diesel/battery power system for reverse osmosis desalination

This study was to find the optimal configuration for an independent renewable energy system for reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. The objective was to find the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE), with power reliability as the constraint. A genetic algorithm was used to solve the nonlinear integer programming program. A site with brackish groundwater in Arizona, USA was selected. The capacity of the RO system was 18.93 m3/d (5,000 gal/d), requiring a constant power consumption of 3.95 kW. Two scenarios were considered in terms of diesel generator (DG) allowed running time. The results showed that the optimal configuration was a hybrid photovoltaic/wind/diesel/battery system with 0.56 USD/kWh and the corresponding levelized cost of water 3.84 USD/m3, when the DG can run in any hour every day. The optimal solution was a hybrid wind/photovoltaic/battery system with 0.69 USD/kWh and 4.48 USD/m3, when the DG can run between 9 am and 9 pm every day for noise control. Both the two LCOWs were about half of the 7.9 USD/m3 currently paid by residents that live in the area. Sensitivity analyses showed the LCOE was fairly insensitive to photovoltaic panel tilt angle over a range for both the two configurations.
Effect of Carrier Oil and Co-Solvent on The Formation of Clove Oil Nanoemulsion by Phase Inversion Technique

Development of nanoemulsion is gaining considerable attention for use in delivering hydrophobic constituents such as clove oil in foods and agriculture system. The small size of the oil droplets in the nanoemulsion system offers many advantages such as high stability, optical clarity, and improved water solubility and bioactivity. This research was aimed at investigating the effect of incorporation of carrier oil and co-solvent on the formation of clove nanoemulsion. Clove oil-loaded nanoemulsions were prepared by a low energy – phase inversion technique involving a carrier oil (medium chain triglyceride/MCT), at different ratios to the clove oil (1:2, 1:1, 2:1), a co-solvent (glycerol) at ratios of 0 and 1:1 to the mixture of clove oil and MCT and a non-ionic surfactant (Tween 80)at a ratio of 1:1, with two concentration levels of mixture of clove oil and MCT (5% and 10%). The formation and characteristics of nanoemulsion were evaluated including particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and freeze-thaw stability, as well as their possible mechanisms of destabilization. Particle sizes ranged from 45.98 to 220 nm with narrow ranges of polydispersity index (0.072 – 0.286) and zeta potentials (-12.8 and - 22.6 mV). Incorporation of carrier oil at low proportions gave smaller size of oil droplets, and the presence co-solvent enhanced nanoemulsion stabilization. Creaming accompanied by oiling- off was found upon destabilization of nanoemulsion with different rate and appearance as influenced by nanoemulsion composition. This study provides important information about stabilization of nanoemulsion by incorporating carrier oil and co-solvent suitable for foods and agrochemical formulation.
The three-way health partnership between the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), the musculoskeletal physiotherapist and the client analysed through critical theory and postmodern lenses

The purpose of this paper is to employ critical theory and postmodern world views to investigate and critique aspects of physiotherapy practice. The paper initially focuses on the power balance within the three-way health partnership between the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), the musculoskeletal physiotherapist and the client. Next, it addresses the concepts of knowledge and truth within practice and identifies the epistemological hierarchy that exists between discourses. The paper finds that stakeholders in health care are stratified in a hierarchical system dominated by an established order. However, although tiered, all stakeholders are codependently linked and rely on one another to achieve health-related goals. Furthermore, as well as oppressing, power is used positively to educate members of society regarding good health practices. Currently, medical models are driven by a scientific epistemology, crowning evidence-based practice (EBP) as the gold standard approach to healthcare. But, conversely, physiotherapy’s large subjective component cannot be overlooked. Ultimately, physiotherapists need to recognize the dominance of EBP and learn to shape knowledge from a wide variety of sources above and beyond statistically significant health science.
Comment

The authors (‘QKM’) have made a significant breakthrough in data analysis problems by demonstrating the theoretical validity and utility of linear mixed effects models (LMMs) in the face of endogenous covariates. As the presence of endogenous covariates and the application of LMMs is common in micro-randomized trials (MRTs), their method also makes an important contribution to precision medicine. We study when their method is feasible to use by providing examples and diagnostic tools as well as discussing potential extensions. Feasibility of partial likelihood-based inference We first discuss when QKM’s partial likelihood-based inference is feasible. The authors claim that p(Xit|Hit−1, Ait−1, Yit) in (11) of QKM does not involve ξ ≡ (α, β, θ, σ ) and can be ignored. However, when covariates are endogenous, this term might actually involve ξ or some parameters that are not orthogonal to ξ in general. In other words, when Xit contains some relevant information newer than Yit, p(Xit|Hit−1, Ait−1, Yit) may contain information about the prognostic effects α or delayed treatment effects β. This would make (13) of QKM not the scaled full-likelihood as the authors claim, but only a partial likelihood. Wong et al. (1986) illustrated the relative efficiency bound k/(k+ l) of partial likelihood estimators for auto-regressive models of disconnected sequences, where k is the observed segment lengths and l is the missing segment lengths. Although the models proposed in QKM are distinct from the Wong et al. model since they involve treatments and are not fully auto-regressive, the efficiency bound results provide intuition about the potential efficiency loss of the LMMs. In MRT settings, the information contained in the nuisance likelihood p(Xit|Hit−1, Ait−1, Yit) can be substantial when there is a structural relationship between the treatment effects on Xit and Yit. For instance, when the treatment effects are not immediate but prolonged such as antidepressants (Artigas, Bortolozzi and Celada, 2018), are further assumed or known to be linear in time, and Yit and Xit are the outcomes measured at different time points, then the information contained in the nuisance likelihood, p(Xit|Hit−1, Ait−1, Yit), can be significant. A counterexample is the two-stage example in QKM where Xi2 = Yi2. In this case, there is no loss of information from ignoring the nuisance likelihood, and partial likelihood-based estimation is equivalent to full likelihood-based estimation regarding ξ. Checking the conditional independence assumption The authors argue that the conditional independence assumption must be verified from a domain science perspective. As the assumption may not be testable without having a further assumption, we posit a reasonable model to help with verification in practice and further discuss an ad hoc testing procedure. Consider a regression model Xit+1 = (f1(Hit), Ait, Yit+1) γ1 + b > i γ2 + ηit+1,
Greedy Algorithms for Client Assignment in Large-Scale Distributed Virtual Environments

Distributed Virtual Environments (DVEs) such as online games, military simulations or collaborative design are currently very popular. To support large-scale DVEs, an architecture with multiple, geographically distributed servers is usually employed, and the virtual world is partitioned into multiple zones for load distribution. The client assignment problem arises when assigning the participating clients to the servers. Current approaches usually assign clients to servers based on a resource-driven approach, i.e. the only concern is not to overload the servers. This approach may degrade the interactivity of DVEs if the network delay from a client to its assigned server is large. In this paper, we formulate the client assignment problem, and propose three new algorithms to assign clients to servers in a more efficient way. The proposed algorithms are based on the greedy heuristics developed for the well-known Terminal Assignment problem. From extensive simulation studies with realistic settings, we find that even under heterogeneous environments such as the Internet where accurate input data for the assignment algorithms are usually impractical to obtain, some of the proposed algorithms are still beneficial to the performances of DVEs.
Book Review: The Elderly at Risk: A Critical Review of Problems and Progress in Screening and Case-Finding

THE ELDERLY AT RISK: A CRrnCAl REVIEW OF PROBLEMS AND PROGRESS IN SCREENING AND CASEANDING. Taylor R, Ford G, Barber H. Research Perspectives on Aging 6. Age Concern Research Unit 1983. This research paper is concerned with preventive health care for old people. The authors were prompted by the lack of research for practicable solutions in an area where increasing numbers of elderly people are placing a heavy burden on limited resources.
FeP/MoS2 Enriched with Dense Catalytic Sites and High Electrical Conductivity for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Among sulfide-based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) remains at the forefront. However, the HER performance is undermined by high electrical resistance and, due to inherent stacking of MoS2 layers, low density of accessible functional sites. Herein, an effective synergy between 2D MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets and iron monophosphide (FeP) nanoparticles is demonstrated, which produces electrocatalyst (FeP/MoS2) endowed with substantially higher electrical conductivity as well as number of active sites. The as-prepared FeP/MoS2 exhibits remarkable performance for HER; requires significantly low overpotential (110 mV) as compared to MoS2 (265 mV) and FeP (210 mV) to generate benchmark 10 mA cm–2. Furthermore, the performance of as–prepared electrode is notably higher than that of FeP dispersed on carbon; FeP/C requires 138 mV to produce 10 mA cm–2. Crucial properties of the electrodes—FeP, MoS2, FeP/MoS2, and FeP/carbon—such as surface areas, intrinsic elect.
TGFβ depletion does neither modulate acute E. coli-induced inflammatory immune responses nor impair the protective effect by chronic filarial infection

TGFβ is an anti-inflammatory molecule that suppresses pro-inflammatory immune responses. Previously, we demonstrated that chronic filarial infection has a beneficial impact on Escherichia coli-induced sepsis. In the present study, we investigated whether this protective effect is dependent on TGFβ signaling and whether depletion of TGFβ before E. coli challenge alters the early course of sepsis per se. In vivo depletion of TGFβ before E. coli challenge did not alter levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and did neither increase the bacterial burden nor worsen E. coli-induced hypothermia six hours post E. coli challenge. Similarly, in the co-infection model, despite TGFβ depletion, mice infected with the filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis exhibited milder E. coli-induced hypothermia, reduced bacterial load and pro-inflammatory immune responses. Thus, we conclude that TGFβ is not essentially modulating the initial pro-inflammatory phase during sepsis and that the protective effect of a chronic filarial infection against sepsis is independent of TGFβ signaling.
Genome Sequences of Four Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus SAT 1 Topotype X Isolates from Cameroon

We report the genomes of four foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype SAT 1 topotype X isolates from Cameroon. The viruses were isolated from bovine epithelium collected during an outbreak in 2016. These novel sequences update knowledge of FMDV diversity in Central Africa and contribute to regional FMDV molecular epidemiology. ABSTRACT We report the genomes of four foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype SAT 1 topotype X isolates from Cameroon. The viruses were isolated from bovine epithelium collected during an outbreak in 2016. These novel sequences update knowledge of FMDV diversity in Central Africa and contribute to regional FMDV molecular epidemiology.
Breath ketone detector

Ketoacidosis is an extremely uncontrollable form of ketosis and a normal response to prolonged fasting. In an embodiment of the invention, the patient's ketone level is tested by measuring the ketone bodies in the breath concentrate. Some embodiments include an instrument for medical examination that includes a hollow container, the hollow container including a liquid comprising a powder mixture of sodium nitroferricyanide, ammonium sulfate and silica, and an ammonium hydroxide solution. [Selection] Figure 3
Predicting Ischemic Risk Using Blood Oxygen Level–Dependent MRI in Children with Moyamoya

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Moyamoya is a progressive steno-occlusive arteriopathy. MR imaging assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity can be performed by measuring the blood oxygen level–dependent cerebrovascular reactivity response to vasoactive stimuli. Our objective was to determine whether negative blood oxygen level–dependent cerebrovascular reactivity status is predictive of ischemic events in childhood moyamoya. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of a consecutive cohort of children with moyamoya who underwent assessment of blood oxygen level–dependent cerebrovascular reactivity. The charts of patients with written informed consent were reviewed for the occurrence of arterial ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, or silent infarcts. We used logistic regression to calculate the OR and 95% CI for ischemic events based on steal status. Hazard ratios for ischemic events based on age at blood oxygen level–dependent cerebrovascular reactivity imaging, sex, and moyamoya etiology were calculated using Cox hazards models. RESULTS: Thirty-seven children (21 female; median age, 10.7 years; interquartile range, 7.5–14.7 years) were followed for a median of 28.8 months (interquartile range, 13.7–84.1 months). Eleven (30%) had ischemic events, 82% of which were TIA without infarcts. Steal was present in 15 of 16 (93.8%) hemispheres in which ischemic events occurred versus 25 of 58 (43.1%) ischemic-free hemispheres (OR = 19.8; 95% CI, 2.5–160; P = .005). Children with idiopathic moyamoya were at significantly greater risk of ischemic events (hazard ratio, 3.71; 95% CI, 1.1–12.8; P = .037). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that idiopathic moyamoya and the presence of steal are independently associated with ischemic events. The use of blood oxygen level–dependent cerebrovascular reactivity could potentially assist in the selection of patients for revascularization surgery and the direction of therapy in children with moyamoya.
MicroRNA-618 Directly Targets Metadherin mRNA To Suppress The Malignant Phenotype Of Osteosarcoma Cells By Reducing PTEN-AKT Pathway Output

Purpose Dysregulation of microRNA-618 (miR-618) has been observed in multiple types of human cancer. However, whether miR-618 is implicated in osteosarcoma (OS) initiation and progression is still unclear. Hence, we measured the expression of miR-618 in OS tissues and cell lines. In addition, the roles of miR-618 and the mechanisms underlying its activities in OS cells were examined. Methods The expression status of miR-618 in OS was analyzed by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. The regulatory roles of miR-618 overexpression in OS were explored by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow-cytometric analysis, Transwell cell migration and invasion assays, and a tumor xenograft experiment. Results The results revealed that the expression of miR-618 was notably lower in OS tissues and cell lines, and that the low miR-618 expression significantly correlated with the clinical stage and distant metastasis among patients with OS. Exogenous miR-618 expression significantly suppressed OS cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced apoptosis in vitro as well as slowed tumor growth in vivo. Mechanism investigation indicated that metadherin (MTDH) is a direct target gene of miR-618 in OS cells. A knockdown of MTDH mimicked the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-618 upregulation on OS cells. Notably, resumption of MTDH expression attenuated the miR-618–mediated reduction in OS cell growth and metastasis in vitro. In addition, miR-618 overexpression reduced the PTEN–AKT pathway output in OS cells both in vitro and in vivo through downregulation of MTDH. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that miR-618 exerts crucial tumor-suppressive actions in OS pathogenesis by directly targeting MTDH mRNA and reducing PTEN–AKT pathway output. These results will help to elucidate the functions of miR-618 in OS and suggest that this miRNA may be investigated as a therapeutic target in this disease.
7-Keto-Cholesterol and Cholestan-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-Triol Induce Eryptosis through Distinct Pathways Leading to NADPH Oxidase and Nitric Oxide Synthase Activation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS We showed that patho-physiological concentrations of either 7-keto-cholesterol (7-KC), or cholestane-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (TRIOL) caused the eryptotic death of human red blood cells (RBC), strictly dependent on the early production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The goal of the current study was to assess the contribution of the erythrocyte ROS-generating enzymes, NADPH oxidase (RBC-NOX), nitric oxide synthase (RBC-NOS) and xanthine oxido-reductase (XOR) to the oxysterol-dependent eryptosis and pertinent activation pathways. METHODS Phosphatidylserine exposure at the cell surface was estimated from annexin-V-binding, reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) and nitric oxide formation from 2',7'-dichloro-dihydrofluorescein (DCF-DA) and 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-difluorofluorescein diacetate (DAF-FM DA) -dependent fluorescence, respectively; Akt1, phospho-NOS3 Ser1177, and PKCζ from Western blot analysis. The activity of individual 7-KC (7 μM) and TRIOL (2, μM) on ROS-generating enzymes and relevant activation pathways was assayed in the presence of Diphenylene iodonium chloride (DPI), N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), allopurinol, NSC23766 and LY294002, inhibitors in this order of RBC-NOX, RBC-NOS, XOR and upstream regulatory proteins Rac GTPase and phosphoinositide3 Kinase (PI3K); hemoglobin oxidation from spectrophotometric analysis. RESULTS RBC-NOX was the target of 7-KC, through a signaling including Rac GTPase and PKCζ, whereas TRIOL caused activation of RBC-NOS according to the pathway PI3K/Akt, with the concurrent activity of a Rac-GTPase. In concomitance with the TRIOL-induced . NO production, formation of methemoglobin with global loss of heme were observed, ascribable to nitrosative stress. XOR, activated after modification of the redox environment by either RBC-NOX or RBC-NOS activity, concurred to the overall oxidative/nitrosative stress by either oxysterols. When 7-KC and TRIOL were combined, they acted independently and their effect on ROS/RONS production and PS exposure appeared the result of the effects of the oxysterols on RBC-NOX and RBC-NOS. CONCLUSION Eryptosis of human RBCs may be caused by either 7-KC or TRIOL by oxidative/nitrosative stress through distinct signaling cascades activating RBC-NOX and RBC-NOS, respectively, with the complementary activity of XOR; when combined, the oxysterols act independently and both concur to the final eryptotic effect.
A computational fluid dynamics study pre- and post-fistula closure in a coronary artery fistula

Abstract This study numerically investigated the hemodynamics of a patient-specific coronary artery fistula (CAF) before and after the fistula closure. The results indicated that the dilated fistula result in inadequate perfusion to other healthy aortas. Disturbed blood flow, aberrant WSSs, local negative pressure gradients and sharp pressure changes are shown in both untreated and occluded fistula. Furthermore, extreme high WSS appeared at the fistula bending after the terminal closure. It was concluded that the fistula closure may effectively improve the phenomenon of stealing blood but worsen the unfavorable hemodyanmics predisposing the thrombosis formation due to its geometrical torturosity.
Basic psychological needs, exercise intention and sport commitment as predictors of recreational sport participants’ exercise adherence

Abstract Objective: This study aims to predict exercise adherence by examining from the standpoints of the exercise intention, the self-determination theory and the sport commitment model. Design and Main Outcome Measures: Data were collected from 391 Korean sports centre members (teens: 5.4%, twenties: 15.1%, thirties: 25.1%, forties: 28.1% and ≥ fifties: 26.3%). Questionnaires assessed the exercise intention and sport commitment as well as autonomy, competence and relatedness. Exercise adherence was measured by electronic attendance system. Data were analysed using reliability testing, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, logistic regression analysis and binary classifier system. Results: All variables except for cognitive commitment had significant predictive power for 3-month exercise adherence. In contrast, only basic psychological needs were found to have significant predictive power for 6-month exercise adherence. Further, autonomy (OR = 4.58) showing the strongest predictive power (classification accuracy = 86.4%). Conclusion: These findings imply that ‘basic psychological needs’ plays a more key role than ‘exercise intention’ in predicting exercise adherence. This study has implications that need to focus not only on enjoyment or competition but also on the autonomy, relatedness and competence pertaining to the basic psychological needs and to work to satisfy those needs and maintain motivation to continue regular exercise.
Complete Genome Sequence of Fish Pathogen Flavobacterium columnare Strain B185, Originating from Finland

We report a complete genome sequence of a Finnish isolate of the fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare. Using PacBio RS II sequencing technology, the complete circular genome of F. columnare strain B185 with 3,261,404 bp was obtained. ABSTRACT We report a complete genome sequence of a Finnish isolate of the fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare. Using PacBio RS II sequencing technology, the complete circular genome of F. columnare strain B185 with 3,261,404 bp was obtained.