Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of filler size on complex permittivity and thermal conductivity of epoxy-based composites filled with BN particles

Epoxy resin is one of the most widely used thermosetting polymers and commonly applied in electrical power engineering. The intrinsic properties of epoxy can be improved by the introduction of inorganic filler, thus fabricating a composite material. In this study we investigate the influence of the filler size and its concentration on the complex permittivity and thermal conductivity of epoxy. The filler material that has been used is boron nitride. Boron nitride is a ceramic dielectric material with high electric breakdown strength and high thermal conductivity, while exhibiting a low relative permittivity. Four types of composites were prepared with an average particle size of 70 nm, 0.5 µm, 1.5 µm and 5 µm and a filler concentration of 10 and 20 percent by weight. The surface of the particles was functionalized with a coupling agent in order to see the effect of the modification on the specific properties. Two different techniques were applied to get the particles well dispersed in the matrix: high shear mechanical mixing and ultrasonication. The results of dielectric spectroscopy show, that the relative permittivity of the composite material increases more when introducing particles which have a larger average size. The highest value of thermal conductivity was obtained for the composite containing 20 wt. % inorganic particles with average particle size of 0.5 µm. Explanations are given for the observed behaviour.
Delineation of Raw Plethysmograph using Wavelets for Mobile based Pulse Oximeters

The non-invasive pulse-oximeter is a crucial parameter in continuous monitoring systems. It plays a vital role from admission of the patient to surgeries with general anaesthesia. The paper proposes the application of wavelet transform to delineate the raw plethysmograph signals obtained from basic portable and mobile-powered electronic hardware. The paper primarily focuses on finding peaks and baseline from noisy infrared and red waveforms which are responsible for calculating heart-rate and oxygen saturation percentages.
Effect of Age, Educational Status, Parity and BMI on Development of Urinary Incontinence - a Cross Sectional Study in Saudi Population

Background: The research article looks at the background of women with urinary incontinence and exposed to different demographic factors. Women who had urinary incontinence and women without urinary incontinence were compared with regards to their demographic features and risk of development of urinary problems. These risk factors can either cause short term or temporary urinary incontinence or they can cause long term or permanent urinary incontinence. This article explores the association of age, educational status, body mass index (BMI) and parity on the development of urinary incontinence. Aim of Study: This study aimed at conducting an analysis into the risk factors that are related to urinary incontinence. Results and Analysis: Z-tests were conducted for every demographic factor and the results are then discussed comprehensively citing various studies that have been conducted before. Analysis shows that age and BMI increase chances of urinary infection and consequently urinary incontinence. Women of lower educational levels record more cases of urinary incontinence due to lack of general information about the condition. Women with higher parity levels also record more cases of urinary infections and subsequently urinary incontinence. Conclusion: From the analysis above, it can be seen that these factors usually play great roles in the existence and absence of urinary incontinence especially in women in Saudi Arabia. Most important is that, its prevention is mostly by use of the risk factors mentioned here in the research. This will usually involve observing a given risk factor to a state that makes it unfavorable for urinary incontinence to occur.
Applications of X-ray computed tomography for examining soil structure: a review.

In this paper we present a review of the application of X-ray computed tomography in soil science, a modern technique for structural analysis. The quantification of internal soil structure is the key in understanding the processes that lead to its development. The current analytical and traditional methods for exploring soil structure do not fully cover the needs of the researchers, in order to characterize the soil system and its properties. In the last decades, X-ray computed tomography has provided a non-destructive means in order to observe and quantify soils in 3D. It has been used in researches regarding the spatial distribution of soil pores, bulk density, macropore network structure, layer detection, permeability, calculated fractal properties, solute breakthrough, root system development etc. Compared to other analysis methods, the short time requiered for a CT scan (within the order of minutes) and the accuracy of the data provided, recommend this technique for the characterization of soil systems.
Serological and molecular epidemiology of measles virus outbreaks reported in Ethiopia during 2000–2004

Twenty‐eight outbreaks in six regions and two major cities in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2004 were investigated, with the collection of 207 venous blood and/or oral fluid samples. Measles diagnosis was confirmed by detection of measles‐specific IgM and/or detection of measles virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of 176 suspected cases tested for specific measles IgM, 142 (81%) were IgM positive. Suspected cases in vaccinated children were much less likely to be laboratory confirmed than in unvaccinated children (42% vs. 83%, P < 0.0001). Of 197 samples analyzed by RT‐PCR measles virus genome was detected in 84 (43%). A total of 58 wild‐type measles viruses were characterized by nucleic acid sequence analysis of the nucleoprotein (N) and hemagglutinin (H) genes. Two recognized genotypes (D4 and B3) were identified. Each outbreak comprised only a single genotype and outbreaks of each genotype tended to occur in distinct geographical locations. B3 was first observed in 2002, and has now been the cause of three documented outbreaks near to the border of Sudan. D4 genotype was previously observed in an outbreak in 1999 and occurs in more diverse locations throughout the country. These data yield insights into geographical and age‐related sources of continued transmission. Refinement of measles control measures might include targeting older age groups (5–14 years) and strengthening routine immunization particularly where importation of cases is a concern. J. Med. Virol. 78:1648–1655, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determinants of musculoskeletal flexibility: viscoelastic properties, cross‐sectional area, EMG and stretch tolerance

Cross‐sectional area, stiffness, viscoelastic stress relaxation, stretch tolerance and EMG activity of the human hamstring muscle group were examined in endurance‐trained athletes with varying flexibility. Subjects were defined as tight (n=10) or normal (n=8) based on a clinical toe‐touch test. Cross‐sectional area was computed from magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) images. Torque (Nm) offered by the hamstring muscle group, electromyographic (EMG) activity, knee joint angle and velocity were continuously monitored during two standardized stretch protocols. Protocol 1 consisted of a slow stretch at 0.087 rad/s (dynamic phase) to a pre‐determined final angle followed by a 90‐s static phase. In the dynamic phase final angle and stiffness was lower in tight (28.0±2.9 Nm/rad) than normal subjects (54.9±6.5 Nm/rad), P<0.01. In the static phase tight subjects had lower peak (15.4±1.8 Nm) and final torque (10.8±1.6 Nm) than normal subjects (31.6±4.1 Nm, 24.1±3.7 Nm, respectively)(P<0.01), but torque decline was similar. Protocol 2 consisted of a slow stretch to the point of pain and here tight subjects reached a lower maximal angle, torque, stiffness and energy than normal subjects (P<0.01). On the other hand, stiffness was greater in tight subjects in the common range (P<0.01). Cross‐sectional area of the hamstring muscles and EMG activity during the stretch did not differ between the groups. However, lateral hamstring cross‐sectional area was positively related to mid‐range stiffness (P<0.05), but inversely related to final stiffness, peak torque and the toe‐touch test (P<0.01). Final angle and peak torque in protocol 1 combined to improve the predictability of the toe‐touch test (R2=0.77, P<0.001). These data show that the toe‐touch test (R2=0.77, P<0.001). These data show that the toe‐touch test is largely a measure of hamstring flexibility. Further, subjects with a restricted joint range of movement on a clinical toe‐touch test have stiffer hamstring muscles and a lower stretch tolerance.
Expression of MMP‐7(pump‐1) mRNA in human colorectal cancers

The expression of MMP‐7 (pump‐1) gene was examined in 10 cases of colorectal cancer by utilizing RT‐PCR. In 9 out of 10 cases, MMP‐7 mRNA was detected in cancerous tissue, whereas none was detected in adjacent normal colon tissue. However, this message was detected in only I out of 6 colon‐cancer cell lines. In colonic mucosa from 3 patients with ulcerative colitis it was not detected. The expression of MMP‐2 (72‐kDa type‐IV collagenase) mRNA was also investigated in the same tissue samples, and was detected in all samples, including cancerous and non‐cancerous tissue. Our data suggest that MMP‐7 is expressed in a tumor‐associated manner in colorectal cancers and may play a role in tumor progression.
System-on-a-chip test-data compression and decompressionarchitectures based on Golomb codes

We present a new test-data compression method and decompression architecture based on variable-to-variable-length Golomb codes. The proposed method is especially suitable for encoding precomputed test sets for embedded cores in a system-on-a-chip (SoC). The major advantages of Golomb coding of test data include very high compression, analytically predictable compression results, and a low-cost and scalable on-chip decoder. In addition, the novel interleaving decompression architecture allows multiple cores in an SoC to be tested concurrently using a single automatic test equipment input-output channel. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach by applying it to the International Symposium on Circuits and Systems' benchmark circuits and to two industrial production circuits. We also use analytical and experimental means to highlight the superiority of Golomb codes over run-length codes.
Performance of Optical Space Shift Keying Over Gamma–Gamma Fading With Pointing Error

Optical space shift keying (OSSK) is a multiple transmit aperture based scheme which attains improved spectral efficiency in optical wireless communication (OWC). In addition to atmospheric turbulence (AT), pointing error (PE), which originates due to vibrations or building sway, has potential to deteriorate the performance of OWC link. This paper discusses the effect of AT and PE jointly on the performance of OSSK scheme. An analytical framework is proposed for evaluating average bit error rate (ABER), coding gain, and diversity order of OSSK scheme. It is found by analysis that for low PE, error performance of OSSK in weak AT condition is poorer than that in strong and moderate AT conditions. However, for high PE, the trend is the reverse. ABER, coding gain, and diversity order for pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) over AT and PE are also derived in order to compare its performance with the same rate OSSK scheme. The analysis shows that OSSK is less sensitive to PE severity as compared to PAM. Also, the diversity order of OSSK is independent of AT and PE, whereas the diversity order of PAM depends on both AT and PE, which makes OSSK a suitable modulation scheme for the practical scenario.
Preparation of ZnO:Zr Thin Films by Sputtering Zn:Zr Targets

Transparent conductive ZnO:Zr thin films with different thicknesses were fabricated on glass slides by DC reactive magnetron sputtering from Zn:Zr targets consisting of Zn disk and Zr metallic chips in Ar+O2 mixture gas. X-ray diffraction, four-point probe measurements, UV–vis spectrophotometers and thin film thickness tester were employed to characterize the structure, electrical and optical properties of ZnO:Zr films, respectively. The experimental investigations indicate that film thickness has an important effect on the crystal structure, optical and electrical properties of the deposited films.
Descriptive Analysis of Toothbrushing Used as an Aid for Primary Prevention: A Population-Based Study in Sebha, Libya

This study aimed to assess toothbrushing behavior and descriptively analyze the effect of age and gender. Two thousand and six people from the city of Sebha, Libya, aged 1 to 64 years (mean age 26.9 ± 11.6 years, 1,463 females and 543 males) constituted the study sample. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Overall, 85.3% were using a toothbrush and toothpaste as a cleaning aid, whereas 6.3% never brushed their teeth. Only 36.1% brushed twice daily. Age and gender were significantly associated with use of a toothbrush and frequency of toothbrushing. This data serves as a baseline to implement a “preventive self-care instruction program. ”
Dying to remember, remembering to survive: Mortality salience and survival processing

Processing items for their relevance to survival improves recall for those items relative to numerous other deep processing encoding techniques. Perhaps related, placing individuals in a mortality salient state has also been shown to enhance retention of items encoded after the morality salience manipulation (e.g., in a pleasantness rating task), a phenomenon we dubbed the “dying-to-remember” (DTR) effect. The experiments reported here further explored the effect and tested the possibility that the DTR effect is related to survival processing. Experiment 1 replicated the effect using different encoding tasks, demonstrating that the effect is not dependent on the pleasantness task. In Experiment 2 the DTR effect was associated with increases in item-specific processing, not relational processing, according to several indices. Experiment 3 replicated the main results of Experiment 2, and tested the effects of mortality salience and survival processing within the same experiment. The DTR effect and its associated difference in item-specific processing were completely eliminated when the encoding task required survival processing. These results are consistent with the interpretation that the mechanisms responsible for survival processing and DTR effects are overlapping.
The Indoor Level of House Dust Mite Allergen Is Associated with Severity of Atopic Dermatitis in Children

We attempted to investigate the correlation between the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children and the indoor level of house dust mite (HDM) allergens. Ninety-five patients (31.1 ± 19.5 months of age) with AD were enrolled in this study, and serum specific IgE against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae was measured. The severity of AD was assessed using the visual analogue scale on the same day of house dust collection. Living rooms and mattresses where the child usually slept were vacuumed for 2 minutes and concentrations of Der f 1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The skin symptoms were more severe in patients with Der f 1 concentrations in living room > 2 µg/g dust than ≤ 2 µg/g dust (P = 0.018). This difference was noted in AD patients without sensitization to HDM (P = 0.004), but not in patients with sensitization. There was no difference in symptom severity according to Der f 1 concentrations in mattresses (P = 0.062). The severity of skin symptoms is associated with indoor concentrations of HDM in children with AD, and it is likely to act as nonspecific irritants as well as allergens in AD skin lesions.
Evaluation of the Platelet Mapping™ Assay on rotational thromboelastometry ROTEM®

Rotational thromboelastometry ROTEM® is available as point-of-care coagulation monitoring in an increasing number of European operating theatres and emergency rooms. The Platelet Mapping™ Assay has been described as a platelet aggregation assay for thromboelastography TEG®. The aim of this experimental trial was to evaluate feasibility of the Platelet Mapping™ Assay on the ROTEM® test system. Whole blood was drawn from 22 adult volunteers and patients with and without antiplatelet medication. Platelet aggregability was determined in three whole blood assays: the Platelet Mapping™ Assay using both activators arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) on TEG®, its adapted version on ROTEM®, and the multiple electrode impedance aggregometer Multiplate®. Percent aggregation inhibition results were plotted in a linear regression analysis and correlation was estimated. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting antiplatelet medication were determined. Overall correlations were statistically significant with an r2 = 0.83 in AA-activated and an r2 = 0.82 in ADP-activated Platelet Mapping™ Assay. AA-activated tests and the Multiplate® analysis identified aspirin-inhibition in 86% and 100%, respectively. ADP-activated tests and the Multiplate® analysis identified clopidogrel-inhibition in 67% and 89%, respectively. Specificity was low both in ROTEM® and TEG®. Differences in frequency distribution between the results obtained in ROTEM® and TEG® were not statistically significant. The Platelet Mapping™ Assay can be performed on the ROTEM®. For the perioperative scenario, however, longer test duration and higher costs have to be considered compared to Multiplate® analyses.
Allergic rhinitis management: what’s next?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by the presence of congestion, postnasal drainage, sneezing and rhinorrhea. AR contributes to reduced productivity and significant morbidity worldwide. Areas covered: We review data emphasizing that the most effective therapy to alter the course of AR is allergen-specific immunotherapy, either subcutaneous or sublingual. However, significant advancements in developing alternative forms of therapies have opened the door for potential novel avenues of treating patients with AR. We discuss novel therapies currently under investigation or recently approved, which may provide a more effective and safer treatment option. Expert commentary: Novel therapies for this common disorder which causes significant impaired quality of life are under investigation and will hopefully lead to better therapeutic options.
Acute inhibition of pituitary LH release in the male rat by the glucocorticoid agonist decadron phosphate.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of acute administration of the soluble glucocorticoid receptor agonist, decadron phosphate (DEC, dexamethasone sodium phosphate), on pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) release in intact adult male rats. DEC was administered intravenously to individual groups of animals at a dose of either 0.05 or 0.5 mg DEC/kg, and the magnitude and time course of drug-induced alterations in plasma LH concentrations were evaluated. DEC was observed to elicit a dose-proportionate decrease in plasma LH within hours after systemic injection. Both doses of DEC significantly reduced the magnitude of exogenous LH-releasing hormone (RH; 10 ng/100 g b.w.)-induced increases in plasma LH at time points coincident with drug-induced decreases in basal LH release. During in vitro perifusion of isolated anterior pituitary tissue fragments, the administration of DEC, via the perifusate, at a concentration of 1.0 microgram/ml had no impact upon basal LH release, but did effectively diminish LHRH-stimulated hormone release from perifused tissues. Intracerebroventricular injection of DEC also resulted in a decline in circulating LH. While intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of 10 ng of DEC had no impact upon circulating LH, higher doses of 100 ng and 1.0 micrograms significantly depressed circulating LH levels in a dose-related manner. Both of these ICV doses were also found to diminish pituitary responsiveness to LHRH. Lastly, DEC was intravenously administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg to groups of orchidectomized and orchidectomized, testosterone (T)-treated male rats. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
User feedback on physical marker interfaces for protecting visual privacy from mobile robots

We present a study that examines the efficiency and usability of three different interfaces for specifying which objects should be kept private (i.e., not visible) in an office environment. Our study context is a robot “janitor” system that has the ability to blur out specified objects from its video feed. One interface is a traditional point-and-click GUI on a computer monitor, while the other two operate in the real, physical space: users either place markers on the objects to indicate privacy or use a wand tool to point at them. This late-breaking report presents qualitative feedback from users for improving the interfaces.
Leading Data Use in Schools: Organizational Conditions and Practices at the School and District Levels

This study examined data use and conditions influencing data use by typical principals and teachers, as well as the relationship between data use and student performance. The analysis drew upon a multi-method investigation of leadership at the school, district, and state levels. The findings emphasize the leadership of principals in establishing data use purposes and expectations, opportunities, training, access to expertise, and follow-up actions. Principal and teacher use of data is strongly shaped by district leaders in the context of state accountability systems. Statistical evidence linking patterns of data use to achievement test results was weak, and limited to elementary schools.
Randomized Trial of Intraarterial Infusion of Urokinase Within 6 Hours of Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke: The Middle Cerebral Artery Embolism Local Fibrinolytic Intervention Trial (MELT) Japan

Background and Purpose— The Middle Cerebral Artery Embolism Local Fibrinolytic Intervention Trial (MELT) Japan was organized to determine the safety and clinical efficacy of intraarterial infusion of urokinase (UK) in patients with stroke within 6 hours of onset. Methods— Patients with ischemic stroke presenting within 6 hours of onset and displaying occlusions of the M1 or M2 portion of the middle cerebral artery on carotid angiography were randomized to the UK or control groups. Clinical outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and Barthel Index. Results— The Independent Monitoring Committee recommended stopping the trial after approval of intravenous infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in Japan. A total of 114 patients underwent randomization, 57 patients in each group. Background characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. The primary end point of favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0 to 2) at 90 days was somewhat more frequent in the UK group than in the control group (49.1% and 38.6%, OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 0.73 to 3.23) but did not reach a significant level (P=0.345). However, excellent functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0 to 1) at 90 days, a preplanned secondary end point, was more frequent in the UK group than in the control group (42.1% and 22.8%, P=0.045, OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.09 to 5.54). There were significantly more patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 0 or 1 at 90 days in the UK group than the control group (P=0.017). The 90-day cumulative mortality was 5.3% in the UK group and 3.5% in the control group (P=1.000), and intracerebral hemorrhage within 24 hours of treatment occurred in 9% and 2%, respectively (P=0.206). Conclusions— The trial was aborted prematurely and the primary end point did not reach statistical significance. Nevertheless, the secondary analyses suggested that intraarterial fibrinolysis has the potential to increase the likelihood of excellent functional outcome.