Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Will Households Invest in Safe Sanitation? Results from an Experimental Demand Trial in Nakuru, Kenya

Unsafe sanitation is an increasing public health concern for rapidly expanding cities in low-income countries. Understanding household demand for improved sanitation infrastructure is critical for planning effective sanitation investments. In this study, we compared the stated and revealed willingness to pay (WTP) for high-quality, pour-flush latrines among households in low-income areas in the city of Nakuru, Kenya. We found that stated WTP for high-quality, pour-flush latrines was much lower than market prices: less than 5% of households were willing to pay the full costs, which we estimated between 87,100–82,900 Kenyan Shillings (KES), or 871–829 USD. In addition, we found large discrepancies between stated and revealed WTP. For example, 90% of households stated that they would be willing to pay a discounted amount of 10,000 KES (100 USD) for a high-quality, pour-flush latrine, but only 10% of households redeemed vouchers at this price point (paid via six installment payments). Households reported that financial constraints (i.e., lack of cash, other spending priorities) were the main barriers to voucher redemption, even at highly discounted prices. Our results emphasize the importance of financial interventions that address the sizable gaps between the costs of sanitation products and customer demand among low-income populations.
Transcriptional Changes of Cell Wall Organization Genes and Soluble Carbohydrate Alteration during Leaf Blade Development of Rice Seedlings

Plant cell walls have two constituent parts with different components and developmental stages. Much of the mystery concerning the mechanisms of synthesis, decomposition, modification, and so forth, has been resolved using omics and microscopic techniques. However, it still remains to be determined how cell wall development progresses over time after leaf emergence. Our focus in the present study was to expand our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms associated with cell wall synthesis in rice leaf blade during three distinct stages (sink, sink-to-source transition, and source). The RNA-seq, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and carbohydrate concentrations were evaluated using developing fifth leaf blades harvested at different time points. The results revealed that some of the essential genes for the primary cell wall (PCW) were highly upregulated in the sink-to-source transition compared to the sink stage, whereas those essential to the secondary cell wall (SCW) displayed relatively higher levels (p < 0.05) during the source stage. The concentrations of soluble carbohydrates differed via type rather than stage; we observed higher monosaccharides during the sink stage and higher di- and oligo-saccharides during the sink-to-source transition and source stages. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the transcriptional regulation of plant cell wall biosynthesis genes are both synchronistic with and independent of, and directly and indirectly governed by, the abundance of soluble carbohydrates in the developing leaf blade, and, finally, raffinose is likely to play a transport role comparable to sucrose.
Design, Synthesis, and Antibacterial Screening of Some Novel Heteroaryl-Based Ciprofloxacin Derivatives as DNA Gyrase and Topoisomerase IV Inhibitors

A novel series of ciprofloxacin hybrids comprising various heterocycle derivatives has been synthesized and structurally elucidated using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and elementary analyses. Using ciprofloxacin as a reference, compounds 1–21 were screened in vitro against Gram-positive bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative strains such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As a result, many of the compounds examined had antibacterial activity equivalent to ciprofloxacin against test bacteria. Compounds 2–6, oxadiazole derivatives, were found to have antibacterial activity that was 88 to 120% that of ciprofloxacin against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The findings showed that none of the compounds tested had antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, but did have poor activity against Candida albicans, ranging from 23% to 33% of fluconazole, with compound 3 being the most active (33% of fluconazole). The most potent compounds, 3, 4, 5, and 6, displayed an IC50 of 86, 42, 92, and 180 nM against E. coli DNA gyrase, respectively (novobiocin, IC50 = 170 nM). Compounds 4, 5, and 6 showed IC50 values (1.47, 6.80, and 8.92 µM, respectively) against E. coli topo IV in comparison to novobiocin (IC50 = 11 µM).
The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: Split-Half Reliability Estimates for a Self-Administered Computerized Variant

Self-administered computerized assessment has the potential to increase the reach of neuropsychological assessment. The present study reports the first split-half reliability estimates for a self-administered computerized variant of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), which is considered as a gold standard for the neuropsychological assessment of executive functions. We analyzed data from a large sample of young volunteers (N = 375). Split-half reliability estimates for perseveration errors, set-loss errors, and inference errors were all above 0.90. Split-half reliability estimates for response time measures on switch and repeat trials exceeded 0.95. Our results indicated sufficient split-half reliability for a self-administered computerized WCST, paving the way for an advanced digital assessment of executive functions. We discuss potential effects of test formats, administration variants, and sample characteristics on split-half reliability.
Effect of Dexamethasone on Thermoresponsive Behavior of Poly(2-Oxazoline) Diblock Copolymers

Thermoresponsive polymers play an important role in designing drug delivery systems for biomedical applications. In this contribution, the effect of encapsulated hydrophobic drug dexamethasone on thermoresponsive behavior of diblock copolymers was studied. A small series of diblock copoly(2-oxazoline)s was prepared by combining thermoresponsive 2-n-propyl-2-oxazoline (nPrOx) and hydrophilic 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (MeOx) in two ratios and two polymer chain lengths. The addition of dexamethasone affected the thermoresponsive behavior of one of the copolymers, nPrOx20-MeOx180, in the aqueous medium by shifting the cloud point temperature to lower values. In addition, the formation of microparticles containing dexamethasone was observed during the heating of the samples. The morphology and number of microparticles were affected by the structure and concentration of copolymer, the drug concentration, and the temperature. The crystalline nature of formed microparticles was confirmed by polarized light microscopy, confocal Raman microscopy, and wide-angle X-ray scattering. The results demonstrate the importance of studying drug/polymer interactions for the future development of thermoresponsive drug carriers.
Analysis and Radiometric Calibration for Backscatter Intensity of Hyperspectral LiDAR Caused by Incident Angle Effect

Hyperspectral LiDAR (HSL) is a new remote sensing detection method with high spatial and spectral information detection ability. In the process of laser scanning, the laser echo intensity is affected by many factors. Therefore, it is necessary to calibrate the backscatter intensity data of HSL. Laser incidence angle is one of the important factors that affect the backscatter intensity of the target. This paper studied the radiometric calibration method of incidence angle effect for HSL. The reflectance of natural surfaces can be simulated as a combination of specular reflection and diffuse reflection. The linear combination of the Lambertian model and Beckmann model provides a comprehensive theory that can be applied to various surface conditions, from glossy to rough surfaces. Therefore, an adaptive threshold radiometric calibration method (Lambertian–Beckmann model) is proposed to solve the problem caused by the incident angle effect. The relationship between backscatter intensity and incident angle of HSL is studied by combining theory with experiments, and the model successfully quantifies the difference between diffuse and specular reflectance coefficients. Compared with the Lambertian model, the proposed model has higher calibration accuracy, and the average improvement rate to the samples in this study was 22.67%. Compared with the results before calibration with the incidence angle of less than 70°, the average improvement rate of the Lambertian–Beckmann model was 62.26%. Moreover, we also found that the green leaves have an obvious specular reflection effect near 650–720 nm, which might be related to the inner microstructure of chlorophyll. The Lambertian–Beckmann model was more helpful to the calibration of leaves in the visible wavelength range. This is a meaningful and a breakthrough exploration for HSL.
Design and Calibration of Robot Base Force/Torque Sensors and Their Application to Non-Collocated Admittance Control for Automated Tool Changing

Robotic manipulators physically interacting with their environment must be able to measure contact forces/torques. The standard approach to this end is attaching force/torque sensors directly at the end-effector (EE). This provides accurate measurements, but at a significant cost. Indirect measurement of the EE-loads by means of torque sensors at the actuated joint of a robot is an alternative, in particular for series-elastic actuators, but requires dedicated robot designs and significantly increases costs. In this paper, two alternative sensor concept for indirect measurement of EE-loads are presented. Both sensors are located at the robot base. The first sensor design involves three load cells on which the robot is mounted. The second concept consists of a steel plate with four spokes, at which it is suspended. At each spoke, strain gauges are attached to measure the local deformation, which is related to the load at the sensor plate (resembling the main principle of a force/torque sensor). Inferring the EE-load from the so determined base wrench necessitates a dynamic model of the robot, which accounts for the static as well as dynamic loads. A prototype implementation of both concepts is reported. Special attention is given to the model-based calibration, which is crucial for these indirect measurement concepts. Experimental results are shown when the novel sensors are employed for a tool changing task, which to some extend resembles the well-known peg-in-the-hole problem.
Influence of maternal use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or zidovudine in Vietnamese pregnant women with HIV on infant growth, renal function, and bone health

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is still widely prescribed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women, despite its renal and bone toxicity. Although TDF-exposed infants often show transient growth impairment, it is not clear whether maternal TDF causes infantile rickets via maternal/fetal renal dysfunction in Asian populations. This prospective observational study was conducted in Vietnam and involved pregnant HIV-infected women treated with TDF-based regimen (TDF group) or zidovudine-based regimen (AZT-group). At birth, 3, 12, and 18 months of age, and included body length, weight, head circumference, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, urine-β2-microglobulin (U-BMG), percentage of tubular reabsorption of phosphate (%TRP), and radiographic wrist score for rickets. Age-adjusted multivariate linear regression analysis evaluated the association of TDF/AZT use during pregnancy with fetal renal function and bone health. The study included 63 mother-infant pairs (TDF group = 53, AZT group = 10). In the mothers, detectable U-BMG (>252 μg/L) was observed more frequently in the TDF- than AZT group (89 vs 50%, p<0.001), but other renal/bone parameters were similar. In infants, maternal TDF use was not associated with growth impairment, renal dysfunction, or abnormal bone findings, but with a slightly higher ALP levels (p = 0.019). However, shorter length was associated with maternal AZT (p = 0.021), and worse radiographic scores were associated with LPV/r (p = 0.024). In Vietnamese population, TDF usage during pregnancy was not associated with infant transient rickets, growth impairment, or renal dysfunction, despite mild maternal tubular impairment. Maternal AZT and LPV/r influenced infant growth and bone health, though further studies are needed to confirm this finding.
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) Gene Polymorphisms Associated with Cardiovascular Risk Factors Involved in Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), accounting for less than 1% of stroke cases, is characterized by various causes, heterogeneous clinical presentation and different outcome. The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene polymorphisms has been found to be associated with CVST. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the potential association of PAI-1 675 4G/5G polymorphisms and homocysteine levels with cardiovascular risk factors in a group of young patients with CVST. Eighty patients with CVST and an equal number of age and sex matched controls were enrolled. The protocol included demographic and clinical baseline characteristics, neuroimagistic aspects, genetic testing (PAI-1 675 4G/5G polymorphisms), biochemical evaluation (homocysteine—tHcy, the lipid profile, blood glucose, glycohemoglobin—HbA1c, high-sensitive C-reactive protein—hsCRP) data, therapy and prognosis. The PAI-1 675 4G/5G gene polymorphisms were significantly correlated with increased homocysteine level (tHcy) (p < 0.05), higher total cholesterol (TC) (p < 0.05), low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) (p = 0.05) and high- sensitive C- reactive protein (hsCRP) (p < 0.05) in patients with CVST when compared with controls. From the PAI-1 gene polymorphisms, the PAI-1 675 4G/5G genotype presented statistically significant values regarding the comparisons of the blood lipids values between the CVST group and control group. The homocysteine (tHcy) was increased in both groups, patients versus controls, in cases with the homozygous variant 4G/4G but the level was much higher in the group with CVST (50.56 µmol/L vs. 20.22 µmol/L; p = 0.03). The most common clinical presentation was headache (91.25%), followed by seizures (43.75%) and focal motor deficits (37.5%). The superior sagittal sinus (SSS) was the most commonly involved dural sinus (56.25%), followed by the lateral sinus (LS) (28.75%). Intima—media thickness (IMT) values were higher in the patients’ group with CVST (0.95 mm vs. 0.88 mm; p < 0.05). The fatal outcome occurred 2.5% of the time. PAI-1 675 4G/5G gene polymorphisms and higher homocysteine concentrations were found to be significantly associated with CVST in young patients.
Face Recognition on a Smart Image Sensor Using Local Gradients

In this paper, we present the architecture of a smart imaging sensor (SIS) for face recognition, based on a custom-design smart pixel capable of computing local spatial gradients in the analog domain, and a digital coprocessor that performs image classification. The SIS uses spatial gradients to compute a lightweight version of local binary patterns (LBP), which we term ringed LBP (RLBP). Our face recognition method, which is based on Ahonen’s algorithm, operates in three stages: (1) it extracts local image features using RLBP, (2) it computes a feature vector using RLBP histograms, (3) it projects the vector onto a subspace that maximizes class separation and classifies the image using a nearest neighbor criterion. We designed the smart pixel using the TSMC 0.35 μm mixed-signal CMOS process, and evaluated its performance using postlayout parasitic extraction. We also designed and implemented the digital coprocessor on a Xilinx XC7Z020 field-programmable gate array. The smart pixel achieves a fill factor of 34% on the 0.35 μm process and 76% on a 0.18 μm process with 32 μm × 32 μm pixels. The pixel array operates at up to 556 frames per second. The digital coprocessor achieves 96.5% classification accuracy on a database of infrared face images, can classify a 150×80-pixel image in 94 μs, and consumes 71 mW of power.
An Adaptive Blended Learning Model for the Implementation of an Integrated Medical Neuroscience Course During the Covid‐19 Pandemic

The implementation of an integrated medical neuroscience course by technologically pivoting an in‐person neuroscience course to online using an adaptive blended method may provide a unique approach for teaching a medical neuroscience course during the Covid‐19 pandemic. An adaptive blended learning method was developed in response to the requirements necessitated by the Covid‐19 pandemic. This model combined pedagogical needs with digital technology using online learning activities to implement student learning in a medical neuroscience course for year one medical students. This approach provided medical students with an individually customized learning opportunity in medical neuroscience. The students had the complete choice to engage the learning system synchronously or asynchronously and learn neuroscience materials at different locations and times in response to the demands required to deal with the pandemic. Students' performance in summative and formative examinations of the adaptive blended learning activities were compared with the previous performance obtained the previous year when the contents of the medical neuroscience course were implemented using the conventional “face‐to‐face” learning approach. While the cohort of our students in 2019 and 2020 changed, the contents, sessions, volume of material, and assessment were constant. This enabled us to compare the results of the 2019 and 2020 classes. Overall, students' performance was not significantly different between the adaptive blended learning and the in‐person approach. More students scored between 70% and 79% during the adaptive blended learning compared with in‐class teaching, while more students scored between 80% and 89% during the in‐person learning than during the adaptive blended learning. Finally, the percentage of students that scored >90% was not significantly different for both Years 2019 and 2020. The adaptive blended learning approach was effective in enhancing academic performance for high‐performing medical students. It also permitted the early identification of underachieving students, thereby serving as an early warning sign to permit timely intervention.
Elevated and Slowed EEG Oscillations in Patients with Post-Concussive Syndrome and Chronic Pain Following a Motor Vehicle Collision

(1) Background: Mild traumatic brain injury produces significant changes in neurotransmission including brain oscillations. We investigated potential quantitative electroencephalography biomarkers in 57 patients with post-concussive syndrome and chronic pain following motor vehicle collision, and 54 healthy nearly age- and sex-matched controls. (2) Methods: Electroencephalography processing was completed in MATLAB, statistical modeling in SPSS, and machine learning modeling in Rapid Miner. Group differences were calculated using current-source density estimation, yielding whole-brain topographical distributions of absolute power, relative power and phase-locking functional connectivity. Groups were compared using independent sample Mann–Whitney U tests. Effect sizes and Pearson correlations were also computed. Machine learning analysis leveraged a post hoc supervised learning support vector non-probabilistic binary linear kernel classification to generate predictive models from the derived EEG signatures. (3) Results: Patients displayed significantly elevated and slowed power compared to controls: delta (p = 0.000000, r = 0.6) and theta power (p < 0.0001, r = 0.4), and relative delta power (p < 0.00001) and decreased relative alpha power (p < 0.001). Absolute delta and theta power together yielded the strongest machine learning classification accuracy (87.6%). Changes in absolute power were moderately correlated with duration and persistence of symptoms in the slow wave frequency spectrum (<15 Hz). (4) Conclusions: Distributed increases in slow wave oscillatory power are concurrent with post-concussive syndrome and chronic pain.
Chemical Inhibitors of Dynamin Exert Differential Effects in VEGF Signaling

VEGFR2 is the main receptor and mediator of the vasculogenic and angiogenic activity of VEGF. Activated VEGFR2 internalizes through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis. As dynamin is a key regulator of the clathrin pathway, chemical inhibitors of dynamin are commonly used to assess the role of the clathrin route in receptor signaling. However, drugs may also exert off-target effects. Here, we compare the effects of three dynamin inhibitors, dynasore, dyngo 4a and dynole, on VEGFR2 internalization and signaling. Although these drugs consistently inhibit clathrin-mediated endocytosis of both transferrin (a typical cargo of this route) and VEGFR2, surprisingly, they exert contradictory effects in receptor signaling. Thus, while dynasore has no effect on phosphorylation of VEGFR2, the other two drugs are strong inhibitors. Furthermore, although dyngo does not interfere with phosphorylation of Akt, dynasore and dynole have a strong inhibitory effect. These inconsistent effects suggest that the above dynamin blockers, besides inhibiting dynamin-dependent endocytosis of VEGFR2, exert additional inhibitory effects on signaling that are independent of endocytosis; i.e., they are due to off-target effects. Using a recently developed protocol, we comparatively validate the specificity of two endocytic inhibitors, dynasore and EIPA. Our findings highlight the importance of assessing whether the effect of an endocytic drug on signaling is specifically due to its interference with endocytosis or due to off-targets.
High-Performance Non-Volatile InGaZnO Based Flash Memory Device Embedded with a Monolayer Au Nanoparticles

Non-volatile memory (NVM) devices based on three-terminal thin-film transistors (TFTs) have gained extensive interest in memory applications due to their high retained characteristics, good scalability, and high charge storage capacity. Herein, we report a low-temperature (<100 °C) processed top-gate TFT-type NVM device using indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) semiconductor with monolayer gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a floating gate layer to obtain reliable memory operations. The proposed NVM device exhibits a high memory window (ΔVth) of 13.7 V when it sweeps from −20 V to +20 V back and forth. Additionally, the material characteristics of the monolayer AuNPs (floating gate layer) and IGZO film (semiconductor layer) are confirmed using transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The memory operations in terms of endurance and retention are obtained, revealing highly stable endurance properties of the device up to 100 P/E cycles by applying pulses (±20 V, duration of 100 ms) and reliable retention time up to 104 s. The proposed NVM device, owing to the properties of large memory window, stable endurance, and high retention time, enables an excellent approach in futuristic non-volatile memory technology.