Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
eCommons@AKU eCommons@AKU

Objective: To report the development and validity assessment of a comprehensive model of assessment method comprising written test and multiple mini interviews for selection in a medical internship programme. Method: The psychometric validation study was conducted at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, and comprised anonymised scores of written admission test, multiple mini interviews and exit written exams for all the interns who completed their internships in 2018 and 2019. Correlation between admission and exit tests, and predictions were assessed. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Results: There were 160 interns; 80(50%) each in 2018 and 2019. Mean scores were 68.8±4.40% for written tests and 76.7±4.66% for multiple mini interviews. The mean score for exit examination was 68.1±6.84%. The Cronbach's alpha of scores on the written admission test was 0.82 and 0.88 for the two years, respectively, while for the multiple mini interviews, the corresponding values were 0.81 and 0.94. The written admission and exit tests were moderately correlated (0.44) while the correlations of multiple mini interviews scores with written admissions and exit tests were -0.28 and 0.04, respectively. Conclusion: The selection process should comprise multiple measures of assessment to ensure the selection of the best candidates.
Expression of Pfkfb isoenzymes during in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into insulin-producing cells

Background/aim Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is caused by the autoimmune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing cells (IPCs) and still has no effective cure. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into IPCs may help us improve the therapeutic strategies for treating T1DM. 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatases (Pfkfb1–4) are key regulators of glucose metabolism. Although Pfkfb3 has been shown to be required for the growth of early differentiated mouse ESCs (mESCs), more studies are needed to further assess the roles of Pfkfb isoenzymes in embryonic development and differentiation, particularly into specific cell types. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the changes in the expression of Pfkfb isoenzymes on the differentiation of mESCs into IPCs. Materials and methods A 3-step protocol was used to differentiate R1 and J1 mESCs into IPCs. The changes in the gene expression of MafA, MafB, Ins2, and Nkx6.1 (IPC specific markers) and Pfkfb1–4 were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Insulin expression and secretion were determined by immunofluorescence (IF) staining and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Results Upon differentiation, the IPC specific markers in differentiated cells were upregulated. Continued differentiation was confirmed by the development of insulin-positive islet-like clusters that secreted insulin in response to glucose uptake. Expressions of the Pfkfb2 and Pfkfb3 isoenzymes were markedly increased in various stages of differentiation. Conclusion These findings suggest that Pfkfb2 and Pfkfb3 may impact the differentiation of mESCs into IPCs and the regulation of the insulin response to glucose levels. This study also lays a foundation for researchers to further probe the roles of Pfkfb isoenzymes on the differentiation of mESCs into IPCs and may open new avenues for regenerative medicine.
MicroRNA172 controls inﬂorescence meristem size through regulation of APETALA2 in Arabidopsis

regulated by AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 3 (ARF3). However, genetic analyses indicated that ARF3 also inﬂuences SAM size and ﬂower production rate independently of AP2. (cid:1) The study identiﬁes miR172/AP2 as a regulatory module controlling inﬂorescence meristem size and suggests that transcriptional regulation of AP2 by ARF3 ﬁne-tunes SAM size determination.
Investigating the Impact of Business Development Fund Ltd's Credit Guarantee on Small and Medium Enterprises in Rwanda: A Comprehensive Analysis

In Rwanda, the Business Development Fund Ltd aims to support the initiation, growth, and success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by providing credit guarantees, facilitating their access to bank financing. This study explores the efficacy of the credit guarantee fund in stimulating SME growth in Rwanda, particularly within Kigali City. It delves into the accessibility of the BDF Ltd credit guarantee fund for SMEs, assesses its correlation with employment generation, evaluates its influence on SMEs' sales turnover, and analyzes its responsiveness to borrower demands from 2011 to 2013. Employing an explanatory research approach, this study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies for data collection. A sample of 98 units was selected, utilizing interviews for primary data and document analysis for secondary data. Statistical analysis, including SPSS and tools like Kendall's tau correlation and regression analyses, was employed to scrutinize the relationship between various variables. The findings indicate significant hurdles faced by SMEs in Kigali in accessing the fund, with 95.2% of respondents citing challenges such as prolonged application processes, increased collateral requirements, low bank utilization of the fund, additional bank prerequisites, and perceived inequities. The research reveals a noteworthy positive relationship (r = .37, p <.05, one-tailed) between the guaranteed amount for SMEs in Kigali and employment creation, where an estimated 3,333,333 RWF guaranteed amount predicts the creation of an additional job. Moreover, the study underscores that credit guarantees contribute positively to the beneficiaries' sales turnover and notes that the BDF Ltd has effectively met borrower demands during the 2011-2013 period. This research presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of credit guarantee funds on SME growth in Rwanda, shedding light on challenges faced by SMEs in accessing these funds and highlighting the fund's substantial role in fostering employment and bolstering sales turnover within the SME sector. Keywords: Business Development Fund Ltd, SMEs, Credit guarantee fund, Kendall's tau correlation, Banks.
Treatment Method of Radioactive Waste Liquid Containing U and Cs

Radioactive waste liquid will not only cause heavy metal and radiation pollution in the environment, but also enter the human body from a variety of ways, threatening human life and health. Among them, uranium and cesium, due to their high fission yield, long half-life and high solubility of salt compounds in water, need to be treated urgently. The treatment methods of radioactive u and C waste liquid, such as ion exchange method, solvent extraction method, adsorption method, membrane separation method, chemical precipitation method, biological treatment method, adsorption method and combined process, are combed. The principle, characteristics and application of the method are reviewed, and the research direction and development trend are prospected. It has a certain reference value for the selection of radioactive waste treatment methods in different situations.
Interactive comment on "The climatology of dust aerosol over the arabian peninsula" by A. Shalaby et al.

First, the references provided in this section (Abdou et al. 2005; Remer et al. 2005) deal with the MODIS Dark Target land and ocean data sets, not the Deep Blue data set. These three data sets are created from independent algorithms, so these references are incorrect. I expect that the authors mean to reference the Deep Blue papers, because the Dark Target data set does not provide coverage over bright land
Optimizing SSVEP-based BCI training through Adversarial Generative Neural Networks

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) based on steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) use brain activity to control external devices, with applications ranging from assistive technologies to gaming. Typically, BCI systems are developed using supervised learning techniques that require labelled brain signals. However, acquiring these labelled signals can be tiring and time-consuming, especially for subjects with disabilities. In this study, we evaluated the performance impact of using synthetic brain signals to train and calibrate an SSVEP-based BCI system. Specifically, we used generative adversarial networks (GANs) to synthesize brain signals with SSVEP information, considering cases with two and four visual stimuli. Four scenarios with different proportions of real vs. synthetic brain signals were evaluated: Scenario 1 (baseline) using only real data and Scenarios 2-4 with 10%, 20% and 30% of real data replaced by synthetic data, respectively. Our results reveal that synthetic data can be used to train the BCI without a performance loss across the tested scenarios when two visual stimuli are used and with an average performance reduction compared to baseline of 7% (Scenario 2), 10,3% (Scenario 3) and 9,3% (Scenario 4) for four stimuli. Furthermore, considering each recording has duration of 2 seconds, by replacing 30% of real data with synthetic data, there is an immediate time-saving of 48 s and 96 s in the cases with two and four visual stimuli, respectively. This trade-off between accuracy and efficiency has significant implications for improving the usability and accessibility of SSVEP-based BCI, especially for assistive applications.
Chronotype: Its effect on cognitive flexibility among medical students with Internet Gaming Disorder: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: The role of technology is intended to aid rather than distract. Gaming Addiction has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a disorder in the ICD11, diagnosed when behavior significantly impairs crucial aspects of life for at least 12 months. Notably, the use of technological devices, particularly smartphones and computer screens, affects the endogenous circadian clock or chronotype. Chronotype classifies individuals into three groups: early, intermediate, and late types, each with distinct sleep patterns and preferences. Cognitive flexibility involves suppressing interference from automated tasks, a skill evaluated through the Stroop effect in task-switching designs. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted over a 2-month duration on undergraduate students in a southern Indian medical college. Using convenient sampling, 600 Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) Short Form questionnaires were distributed, achieving an 81.5% response rate across all three student phases. Google play store-based app ‘App Usage Tracker (AUT)’ was used to assess the amount of time spent by the individual on each application. Chronotype of medical students was assessed using, Morningness and Eveningness questionnaire (MEQ). Cognitive flexibility was measured using a) Stroop Colour and Word Test and b) Trail Making Test (TMT). Results: Among 489 participants, the prevalence of IGD was 4.9%, with 24 individuals meeting the IGD9-SF endorsement criterion. Subsequent assessments for chronotype and cognitive flexibility in IGD students showed no significant association with Chronotypes. Higher IGD scores correlated with elevated TMT (B-A) scores, indicating reduced task-switching ability. More hours spent on gaming correlated with higher IGD scores, while productive online hours exhibited a negative correlation.
Short-term Wind Power Prediction based on CEEMDAN-TCN

In order to improve the accuracy of wind power prediction, a wind power prediction method based on time series decomposition and error correction is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the maximum information coefficient (MIC) method is used to select the features with strong correlation with wind power, so as to reduce the complexity of the original data; Then, according to the non-stationary characteristics of wind power, the wind power is decomposed into several stationary subsequences by using adaptive noise complete set empirical mode decomposition (CEEMDAN); Finally, the time convolution network (TCN) is used to dynamically model the multivariable time series of wind power; In order to further improve the prediction accuracy, a light quantization hoist (LightGBM) is introduced to correct the error of the prediction value. The simulation results show that the proposed method has higher short-term wind power prediction accuracy than other prediction models.
Towards the Achievement of Papua’s Independence in the Framework of Statehood

Since Indonesia gained independence in 1945, security dynamics have been intricately linked with conflict. The emergence of separatist movements, such as the Free Papua Movement or Free Papua Organization (Organisasi Papua Merdeka or OPM), has significantly disrupted Indonesia’s stability. This study aims to analyze the actions undertaken by OPM in their quest for independence, utilizing the perspective of the Montevideo Convention of 1933. Employing a qualitative descriptive research methodology, this research relies on secondary data from a literature review focused on the Papua region. The study reveals several key findings: The size and stability of a population are critical factors for the existence of a state. West Papua, with a population of 1.15 million, plays a pivotal role. The establishment of well-defined territories is crucial for distinguishing and representing nations. The proposed establishment of the Republic of West Papua has garnered support and recognition from nations like Vanuatu. Moreover, the Republic of West Papua actively engages in international organizations such as UNPO. Establishing and exercising effective government control over a nation’s territory is essential for asserting sovereignty and maintaining independence. This is exemplified by the Papua National Manifesto and the declaration of Papua’s independence in 1961. Building and maintaining relationships with other countries necessitate active participation in the global community. International recognition and support play pivotal roles in achieving long-term political goals. Challenges related to democracy, human rights, and environmental issues pose significant hurdles to Indonesia’s diplomatic relations. The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle offers a framework for preventing mass atrocities and holding state actors accountable for crimes against humanity. International cooperation and dialogue are imperative in addressing these complex issues and safeguarding the well-being of affected populations.
Practical aspects of `0-sampling algorithms

The `0-sampling problem plays an important role in streaming graph algorithms. In this paper, we revisit a near-optimal `0-sampling algorithm, proposing a variant that allows proving a tighter upper bound for the probability of failure. We compare experimental results of both variants, providing empirical evidence of their applicability in real-case scenarios. The `0-sampling problem consists in sampling a nonzero coordinate from a dynamic vector a = (a1, . . . , an) with uniform probability. This vector is defined in a turnstile model, which consists of a stream of updates S = hs1, s2, . , sti on a (initially 0), where si = (ui, i) 2 { 1, . , n} ⇥ R for all 1  i  t, meaning an increment of i units to aui . It is desirable that such sample be produced in a single pass through the stream with sublinear space complexity. The challenge arises from the fact that, since i can be negative and hence some updates in the stream may cancel others, directly sampling the stream may lead to incorrect results.
Intermittent or Sequential Topical Tacrolimus in Atopic Dermatitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) and topical corticosteroids (TCS) are the mainstays of flare management for atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis (AD). Tacrolimus (an immunomodulator), belongs to the class of calcineurin inhibitors, with promising efficacy in AD. We performed this systematic review to obtain an up-to-date coverage map of controlled clinical trials of sequential or intermittent treatments with TCI as a therapeutic intervention for AD. Articles of interest were retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE published between between January 2000 and March 2023. Key words were “calcineurin inhibitors,” "corticosteroids,” "atopic dermatitis,” "pruritus,” "sequential,” "intermittent" and "consecutive" while fixed language search consisted of "Intermittent topical calcineurin inhibitors AND topical corticosteroids AND atopic dermatitis OR eczema" AD patients who were administered sequential and/or intermittent applications of TCI for management of atopic eczema were included. Outcome measures included but were not limited to Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) and the Eczema Area Severity Score (EASI). Four clinical trials were considered for the purpose of review. A total of 101 patients with AD were analysed. The risk of bias was low in two studies, while the other two had an unclear risk of bias. Overall, pooled data from two trials revealed that sequential therapy with TCS/TCI was comparable to monotherapy or emollients, as the test for overall effect determined was non-significant with a p-value of 0.33. The two studies were highly heterogeneous, as indicated by a very high I2 of 92% and an extremely significant p-value (p=0.0005). Sequential therapy with TCS and TCIs was effective and well tolerated in the management of AD and it may be considered an important treatment approach during the initial period.
Imaging the lithospheric structure beneath the Indian continent

We present a high‐resolution 3‐D lithospheric model of the Indian plate region down to 300 km depth, obtained by inverting a new massive database of surface wave observations, using classical tomographic methods. Data are collected from more than 550 seismic broadband stations spanning the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions. The Rayleigh wave dispersion measurements along ~14,000 paths are made in a broad frequency range (16–250 s). Our regionalized surface wave (group and phase) dispersion data are inverted at depth in two steps: first an isotropic inversion and next an anisotropic inversion of the phase velocity including the SV wave velocity and azimuthal anisotropy, based on the perturbation theory. We are able to recover most of the known geological structures in the region, such as the slow velocities associated with the thick crust in the Himalaya and Tibetan plateau and the fast velocities associated with the Indian Precambrian shield. Our estimates of the depth to the Lithosphere‐Asthenosphere boundary (LAB) derived from seismic velocity Vsv reductions at depth reveal large variations (120–250 km) beneath the different cratonic blocks. The lithospheric thickness is ~120 km in the eastern Dharwar, ~160 km in the western Dharwar, ~140–200 km in Bastar, and ~160–200 km in the Singhbhum Craton. The thickest (200–250 km) cratonic roots are present beneath central India. A low velocity layer associated with the midlithospheric discontinuity is present when the root of the lithosphere is deep.
Trabecular Bone Score Improves Early After Successful Kidney Transplantation Irrespective of Antiresorptive Therapy and Changes in Bone Mineral Density

Background. Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a new tool to assess trabecular bone microarchitecture based on standard dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of lumbar spine images. TBS may be important to assess bone quality and fracture susceptibility in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). This study aimed to investigate the effect of different bone therapies on TBS in KTRs. Methods. We reanalyzed DXA scans to assess TBS in 121 de novo KTRs at baseline, 10 wk, and 1 y. This cohort, between 2007 and 2009, participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effect of ibandronate versus placebo in addition to vitamin D and calcium. Results. Although bone mineral density (BMD) Z scores showed a subtle decrease in the first weeks, TBS Z scores increased from baseline to 10 wk for both treatment groups, followed by a slight decline at 12 mo. When comparing treatment groups and adjusting for baseline TBS, there were no differences found in TBS at 12 mo (P = 0.419). Correlation between TBS and BMD at baseline was weak (Spearman’s ρ = 0.234, P = 0.010), and change in TBS was not correlated with changes in lumbar spine BMD in either of the groups (ρ = 0.003, P = 0.973). Conclusions. Treatment with ibandronate or vitamin D and calcium did not affect bone quality as measured by TBS in de novo KTRs, but TBS increased early, irrespective of intervention. Changes in TBS and BMD during the study period were not correlated, indicating that these measurements reflect different aspects of bone integrity. TBS may complement BMD assessment in identifying KTRs with a high fracture risk.
Comparative Analysis for Radio Channel Propagation Models in the City of Tripoli/ Libya for 4G/LTE Networks

The accurate prediction of radio channel propagation is one of the most important factors for the design and optimization of wireless communication systems. Path loss is the key element to design appropriate propagation model. There are different propagation models used to predict path loss, however, inaccurate propagation model may result in unsatisfactory services for the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network. These include low data rates, high co-channel interference, and wasted received power.This paper presents a comparative analysis of radio channel propagation models specifically for urban environment. The aim is to evaluate and compare the performance of various models and accurately predict path loss and signal behavior in urban settings. The research focuses on adapting the Okumura-Hata model which is used by the Libya Telecom and Technology Company (LTT) for Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in the GSM Band. This study is based on real time measurements collected in downtown Tripoli in Libya. It suggests considering other models, such as Standard Propagation Model (SPM), Cost-231, and Ericsson. Using MATLAB for simulation, the findings indicate that SPM model is the best fit especially when distance is over ~22 Km.
The rise and erosion of the south eastern Canadian Cordillera : Cenozoic cooling, exhumation and elevation of the Columbia Mountains and Southern Rocky Mountains in Western Canada from low-temperature thermochronology

2 Acknowledgements . 4 Table of Figures . 10 Table of Tables . 13 List of Abbreviations . 14 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Project Background and Research Questions . 15 1.2 Geology of the Canadian Cordillera . 17 1.2.1 Physiographic Location and Division of the Study Area . 17 1.2.1.1 Overview of the Geological History and Geological Units . 19 1.2.1.2 Recent Extrusive Volcanic Rocks . 27 1.2.1.3 Cenozoic Plate Tectonics and Heat Flow . 30 1.3 Paleo-elevation Evidence and Existing Thermochronology . 36 1.3. 1 General Physiography, Paleoclimate and Paleoecology . 36 1.3. 2 Erosional Remnants of Flood Basalts . 37 1.3. 3 Existing Thermochronology Data . 38 1.3. 4 Sedimentary Basins . 43 Chapter 2: Methods of Thermochronology 2.1 Underlying Principles . 47 2.1.1 Closure Temperature and Annealing Behaviour . 48 2.1.2 Combining Methods and Sampling Vertical Transects . 53 2.2 General Sample preparation . 54 2.3 (U-Th)/Helium Dating . 55 2.3. 1 Age Calculation and Temperature Sensitivity . 55