Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cutoff Values of Hemodynamic Parameters in Pediatric Refractory Septic Shock

Background: Refractory septic shock can cause severe morbidities and mortalities in children. Resuscitation based on hemodynamics is important in children with critical illness. Thus, this study aimed to identify the hemodynamics of refractory septic shock associated with poor prognosis at an early stage to allow for timely interventions. Methods: We evaluated children with refractory septic shock admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and monitored their hemodynamics using a pulse index continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) system. The serial cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and vasoactive–inotropic score (VIS) were recorded during the first 72 h after PICU admission. Results: Thirty-three children with refractory septic shock were enrolled. The SVRI and VIS were both associated with fatality from septic shock. The non-survivors had lower serial SVRI and higher VIS (both p < 0.05). Based on the area under the ROC curve, the SVRI was the predictor during the early resuscitative stage (first 36 h) in pediatric refractory septic shock. Conclusions: Both SVRI and VIS are predictors of mortality in children with refractory septic shock, and the SVRI is the powerful predictor of mortality in the early resuscitative stage. A low serial SVRI may allow for the early awareness of disease severity and strategies for adjusting vasoactive–inotropic agents to increase the SVRI.
Fault Identification, Classification, and Location on Transmission Lines Using Combined Machine Learning Methods

This study develops a hybrid method to identify, classify, and locate electrical faults on transmission lines based on Machine Learning (ML) methods. Firstly, Wavelet Transform (WT) technique is applied to extract features from the current or voltage signals. The extracted signals are decomposed into eleven coefficients. These coefficients are calculated to the energy level, and the data of teen fault types are converted to the RGB image. Secondly, GoogLeNet model is applied to classify the fault, and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) method is proposed to locate the fault. The proposed method is tested on the four-bus power system with the 220 kV transmission line via time-domain simulation using Matlab software. The conditions of the fault resistance random values and the pre-fault load changes are considered. The simulation results show that the proposed method has high accuracy and fast processing time, and is a useful tool for analyzing the system stability in the field of electricity.
An Edge Server Placement Method Based on Reinforcement Learning

In mobile edge computing systems, the edge server placement problem is mainly tackled as a multi-objective optimization problem and solved with mixed integer programming, heuristic or meta-heuristic algorithms, etc. These methods, however, have profound defect implications such as poor scalability, local optimal solutions, and parameter tuning difficulties. To overcome these defects, we propose a novel edge server placement algorithm based on deep q-network and reinforcement learning, dubbed DQN-ESPA, which can achieve optimal placements without relying on previous placement experience. In DQN-ESPA, the edge server placement problem is modeled as a Markov decision process, which is formalized with the state space, action space and reward function, and it is subsequently solved using a reinforcement learning algorithm. Experimental results using real datasets from Shanghai Telecom show that DQN-ESPA outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms such as simulated annealing placement algorithm (SAPA), Top-K placement algorithm (TKPA), K-Means placement algorithm (KMPA), and random placement algorithm (RPA). In particular, with a comprehensive consideration of access delay and workload balance, DQN-ESPA achieves up to 13.40% and 15.54% better placement performance for 100 and 300 edge servers respectively.
Is retirement associated to greater life satisfaction? Cross-sectional findings from ELSA-Brasil

This study aimed to examine whether retirement is associated with greater life satisfaction and if this association differs by sex and type of work. This is a cross-sectional analysis of 13,645 active and retired civil servants, attending to the second visit of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health cohort (ELSA-Brasil, 2012-2014). Retirees due to disability were excluded. The explanatory variables were: (1) current occupational status (not retired, retired); (2) work engagement after retirement (not retired, retired and working, retired and not working); (3) time since retirement (not retired, > 0-3, > 3-8, > 8-15, > 15 years). Life satisfaction was obtained from the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Associations were estimated by multiple linear regression. After considering sociodemographic and health indicators, life satisfaction was higher for retired individuals (β = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.32; 0.68) than not retired. Retirees who were not working (β = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.33; 0.78) seemed to be more satisfied than those working (β = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.26; 0.66). Life satisfaction was greater among those who retired: > 0-3 years (β = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.33; 0.81), > 8-15 years (β = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.34; 0.98), and > 15 years (β = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.27; 0.74) as compared to active workers. These associations were not modified by gender or type of work. In this Brazilian cohort, retired civil servants from teaching and research institutions seemed to be more satisfied with their lives than active individuals. Results suggest that life satisfaction may vary with time after retirement and whether individuals keep working afterwards, although the variations overlap.
CSF proteomic signature predicts progression to Alzheimer's disease dementia

Individuals in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum with mild cognitive impairment (prodromal AD) are at increased risk to develop dementia. Still, underlying pathophysiological processes remain unclear. We studied whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome changes are related to time to clinical progression in prodromal AD.
Investigation of Roles of TaTALE Genes during Development and Stress Response in Bread Wheat

The three amino acid loop extension (TALE) genes of the homeobox superfamily are responsible for numerous biological functions in plants. Herein, we identified a total of 72 TaTALE genes in the allohexaploid genome of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and performed a comprehensive investigation for gene and protein structural properties, phylogeny, expression patterns, and multilevel gene regulations. The identified TaTALE proteins were further classified into two groups, TaBLHs and TaKNOXs, which were tightly clustered into the phylogeny. The negative Ka/Ks ratio of duplicated genes suggested purifying selection pressure with confined functional divergence. Various signature domains and motifs were found conserved in both groups of proteins. The occurrence of diverse cis-regulatory elements and modulated expression during various developmental stages and in the presence of abiotic (heat, drought, salt) and two different fungal stresses suggested their roles in development and stress response, as well. The interaction of TaTALEs with the miRNAs and other development-related homeobox proteins also suggested their roles in growth and development and stress response. The present study revealed several important aspects of TaTALEs that will be useful in further functional validation of these genes in future studies.
Testing Method of Asphalt Mixture Poisson Ratio

The poisson ratio measurements of asphalt mixture can be divided into two kinds: the direct measurement and the indirect measurement.The direct measurement is comparatively rational.After a detailed analysis about the test result of a widely used traditional method,which is called the measurement with electric resistance strain gage,a new measurement called MTS(Material Test System) circumferential extensometer measurement is introduced,and its principles,equipment and process are introduced in detail too.The new method proves more ascendant.With the new method,the poisson ratio of AC13 asphalt mixture under 8 different temperatures is measured.The results show that the ratio of radial strain to vertical strain is greater than 0.5 when the temperature is above 30.4 ℃,so it is not the traditional poisson ratio of the elastic material.The result also indicates that the application of elastic theory to the research on the high temperature performance of asphalt pavement and to the pavement design is still arguable.
Observer-Based Backstepping Sliding Mode Control Design for Microgrids Feeding a Constant Power Load

This article deals with the problem of controller design for dc microgrids that feed constant power loads. To design the proposed controller, first by the use of the exact feedback linearization approach, the linear model of Brunovsky's canonical representation of the system has been obtained to address the nonlinearity problem of the system. Then, the desired control technique is developed by a combination of sliding mode and backstepping control approaches in which a nonlinear disturbance observer is utilized to estimate the disturbance. The overall stability of the system is analyzed based on the Lyapunov approach. A suitable and practical sliding surface is one of the controller strengths that allow the bus voltage to track the reference voltage with high accuracy and fast transient response. Finally, to prove the mentioned claims, an experimental setup has been constructed and the proposed controller is implemented. The experimental results have been analyzed and error analysis is performed. The results confirm the superiority of the proposed controller compared to state-of-the-art controllers.
Overall Survival and Prognostic Factors among Older Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis Using a Hospital Database

Simple Summary The benefits of standard treatments in metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) in terms of overall survival (OS) remain to date unclear, especially after 70 years. Alongside geriatric and oncologic parameters, we showed that the gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel regimen and anti-diabetic therapy were significantly associated with a better OS, while impaired functional status, the liver metastases and high neutrophil count were associated with a worse OS in older adults with mPC. We confirm the feasibility and efficacy of chemotherapy in older adults with mPC. Abstract Pre-therapeutic factors associated with overall survival (OS) among older patients ≥70 years with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) are not known. This was a retrospective single-centre cohort study in Paris including 159 consecutive older patients with mPC between 2000 and 2018. Alongside geriatric parameters, specific comorbidities, cancer-related data and chemotherapy regimens were retrieved. Cox multivariate models were run to assess predictors for OS. The median age was 80 years, 52% were women, 21.5% had diabetes, and 48% had pancreatic head cancer and 72% liver metastases. 62% of the patients (n = 99) received chemotherapy, among which the gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel (GnP) regimen was the most frequent (72%). Median OS [95%CI] was 7.40 [5.60–10.0] and 1.40 [0.90–2.20] months respectively for patients with and without chemotherapy. The GnP regimen (aHR [95%CI] = 0.47 [0.25–0.89], p = 0.02) and diabetes (aHR = 0.44 [0.24–0.77], p = 0.004) (or anti-diabetic therapy) were multivariate protective factors for death, while ECOG-PS, liver metastases, and the neutrophil cell count were multivariate risk factors for death. In the chemotherapy group, ECOG-PS, number of metastatic sites and the GnP remained significantly associated with OS. Our study confirms the feasibility and efficacy of chemotherapy and the protective effects of diabetes among older patients with mPC.
Effects of Mobile-Based Rehabilitation in Adolescent Football Players with Recurrent Lateral Ankle Sprains during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Football is a sport involving dynamic movements, and ankle sprains are common sports injuries experienced by football players. Ankle sprains exhibit a high recurrence rate, and rehabilitation training is effective; however, expert-supervised rehabilitation (SVR) at training centers is difficult due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the effects of mobile-based rehabilitation (MBR) performed at home by high school football players. Sixty players (SVR: 30 and MBR: 30) with recurrent ankle sprains were analyzed. The rehabilitation program consisted of strength and balance training, and the training intensity was gradually increased from week 1 to week 8. The SVR group underwent training at the center with experts, and the BMR group were provided with programs and feedback using mobile devices. Ankle muscle strength was evaluated by measuring isometric eversion, inversion, plantarflexion, and dorsiflexion contraction using a hand-held dynamometer, and dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test (YBT; anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral); the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) was used for the subjective evaluation. Measurements were conducted at weeks 1, 4, and 8. The patients visited the clinic within 1 week after the injury, and the first test was conducted after consent to participate in the research. Patients underwent the second test at an average of 3.2 weeks after the first test, and the last test at an average of 4.4 weeks after the second test. Although only the SVR group exhibited improvement in strength (eversion and dorsiflexion), YBT and subjective satisfaction at week 4, these measurements improved in both the SVR and MBR groups at week 8. Therefore, mobile–based rehabilitation could be a suitable alternative for high school athletes with ankle sprains who cannot undergo supervised rehabilitation.
Evaluation of Curcuma longa Linn. for hypolipidaemic effects

Ethanolic extracts of Curcuma longa Linn. (CLL) was evaluated for the hypolipidaemic effects in atherogenic diet fed rabbits and compared with a standard hyoplipidaemic drug lovastatin. Animals under atherogenic diet only, showed significantly raised serum cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL and LDL levels at the 4th and 16th week of study. There was significant decrease in HDL level at 16th week of study. CLL administration at doses of 1.6 mg/kg/day and 3.2 mg/kg/day along with atherogenic diet significantly decreased all the lipid parameters except HDL at 4th and 16th week. The levels were 38.8 ± 3.06, 39.3 ± 2.16, 7.86 ± 0.43 and 9.3 ± 3.76 respectively for 1.6 mg/kg/day dose and 38.5 ± 2.25, 41.6 ± 3.32, 8.33 ± 0.66 and 6.33 ± 1.58 for 3.2 mg/kg/day dose respectively at 4th week.At 16 weeks, the lipid levels were found to be 37.6 ± 2.54, 37.6 ± 2.06, 7.53 ± 0.41 and 6.46 ± 3.06 respectively at 1.6 mg/kg/day dose and 37.5 ± 1.87, 37.5 ± 1.87, 7.5 ± 0.37 and7.16 ± 2.13 respectively at 3.2 mg/kg/day dose of CLL. Lovastatin also reduced all the above lipid parameters except HDL at 4th week and 16th week. The HDL levels in all the groups of animals under CLL as well as lovastatin increased in 4th week and it was significantly increased at 16th week. The reduction in lipid parameters of both the test doses of CLL was comparable with that of lovastatin.
A REVIEW ON THE BENEFITS, BARRIERS OF THE DRONE EMPLOYMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION SITE

The use of drones in construction site surveillance increases gradually with a reasonably lower cost than hiring an additional workforce. At the same time, the construction industry was slow to adopt new technologies and reduce on-site problems such as cost overruns, poor quality, risks. This study is to review and investigate previous researches and illustrates the benefits and barriers of using drones. A questionnaire survey and an extensive literature review collected all the data needed to stand on critical points. The study revealed that the benefits of using drones permitted high effect sight in site safety, security, control on quality, cost of work, and documentation. On the other hand, privacy and security, environmental issues, public perception are the most frequent barriers to drone employment in construction sites. The authors conclude that drones in monitoring construction sites improve the fluent implementation of work on schedule and the high performance for entire project activities despite numerous addressed barriers. For future studies, the researchers suggest studying the effectiveness of using drones in the construction site during the covid-19 pandemic.
Three-Port Forward Converters With Compact Structure and Extended Duty Cycle Range

A series of three-port forward converters with a compact structure and extended duty cycle range is presented for the standalone renewable energy system. Bidirectional power-flow port embedding and switch device sharing can be used to derive these converters from conventional two-switches forward converters. In comparison to the conventional two-switch forward converter, only one switch and one diode are added to build an energy storage port with bidirectional power flow characteristics, which has the benefits of compact structure and low cost. Meanwhile, the embedding of the energy storage port provides an additional demagnetization loop for the magnetic inductor, which extends the duty cycle range of the forward converter so that the proposed converter no longer requires a duty cycle of less than 0.5 as in the case of conventional forward converters. The proposed converters also offer the advantages of fewer components, easy control, and independent control of power flow between multiple ports when compared to similar solutions. Finally, an experimental setup with a photovoltaic battery as an application is developed, and the experimental results verify the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed topology and control method.
Private School Teachers' Experiences with Distance Education: Mixed Methods Research

This study was carried out to understand and interpret the solutions produced by the teachers working in private schools by revealing the problems they faced in distance education. The research was in convergent mixed methods design with the data-transformation variant. As a sample, criterion sampling technique, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods used in qualitative and mixed methods research, was used. The population of the research was selected as a sample of 13 teachers who met the criteria and wanted to voluntarily participate in the study, among the secondary and high school teachers working at the Campus College within the borders of Antalya province in Muratpaşa District in the 2021-2022 education year.The data in the study were collected by individual interview technique. The interviews done with semi-structured interview forms for 30-45 minutes were recorded and in qualitative strand, the text data were subjected to theme, descriptive and content analysis, and the opinions were categorized under the top and sub-themes. In quantitative strand, after quatifying the qualitative findings based on themes, the frequency of the themes coded were analysed descriptively so as to determine whether it differed according to opinions of the teachers working in secondary school and high school. The results of the research included findings reflecting the views of teachers under the specified themes, and these findings provided clues about understanding the problems experienced by private school branch teachers in distance education, whether those problems differed in terms of types of schools and how to solve these problems.
Chemical Composition, Antioxidative and Anti-Hyperglycemic Activity of Combined Seed Extracts of Xylopia aethiopica and Trichilia emetica in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

The chemical composition, in vivo antioxidative and antihyperglycemic activities of aqueous and ethanol seed extracts of combined Xylopia aethiopica and Trichilia emetica in a ratio of 1:1 mixture was studied in alloxan- induced diabetic wistar rats. Twenty-five wistar rats weighing between 100-150g were used. They were divided into five (5) groups, Normal control (received 1ml of distilled water), Negative control (received 100 mg/kg body weight of alloxan only), Positive control (2.5 mg/kg body weight of glibenclamide) and extracts treated groups which received 300mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of combined Trichilia emetica and Xylopia aethiopica seeds (ATX) and ethanol extract of combined Trichilia emetica and Xylopia aethiopica seeds. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg body weight of alloxan for 21 days. The phytochemical composition conducted using a GC (Buck Scientific-GC M910, USA) of the combined seeds extracts of Xylopia aethiopica and Trichilia emetica had varying composition of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, terpenoids, tannins and steroids. Acute toxicity studies showed no sign of toxicity and death recorded of the relatively high doses of 3000mg/kg body weight of aqueous and ethanol seed extracts administered. Blood glucose concentration showed significant (p<0.05) decrease when compared to the alloxan treated group. There was significant (p<0.05) reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and significant (p<0.05) increase in enzymic (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and non-enzymic glutathione (GSH) antioxidants compared to negative control groups. From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that 300mg/kg body weight of aqueous and ethanol extracts of combined Trichilia emetica and Xylopia aethiopica seeds exhibited antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Combination of the various bioactive components found in the seed extracts may have contributed significantly to these activities and could be considered as potential therapeutic agent in the management of hyperglycemia.
Comment on Coal Seam Gas Content Measurement Methods

Coal seam gas content is coal mine gas basic parameter,and the accuracy of gas content measurement affects the design and safety of mine production management,scientific experiments.The paper makes a presentation of the study and application of domestic and international coal seam gas content measurement methods,and focuses on the application of China's coal seam gas content.It highlights that the calculation of the initial desorption gas loss amount of coal samples exposed is inaccuracy as using direct method to collect coal samples in geological survey and underground drilling to determine gas content,and points out the improvements in the collection of coal sample.