Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upholding Tuberculosis Services during the 2014 Ebola Storm: An Encouraging Experience from Conakry, Guinea

Setting Ten targeted health facilities supported by Damien Foundation (a Belgian Non Governmental Organization) and the National Tuberculosis (TB) Program in Conakry, Guinea. Objectives To uphold TB program performance during the Ebola outbreak in the presence of a package of pre-emptive additional measures geared at reinforcing the routine TB program, and ensuring Ebola infection control, health-workers safety and motivation. Design A retrospective comparative cohort study of a TB program assessing the performance before (2013) and during the (2014) Ebola outbreak. Results During the Ebola outbreak, all health facilities were maintained opened, there were no reported health-worker Ebola infections, drug stockouts or health staff absences. Of 2,475 presumptive pulmonary TB cases, 13% were diagnosed with TB in both periods (160/1203 in 2013 and 163/1272 in 2014). For new TB, treatment success improved from 84% before to 87% during the Ebola outbreak (P = 0.03). Adjusted Hazard-ratios (AHR) for an unfavorable outcome was alwo lower during the Ebola outbreak, AHR = 0.8, 95% CI:0.7–0.9, P = 0.04). Treatment success improved for HIV co-infected patients (72% to 80%, P<0.01). For retreatment patients, the proportion achieving treatment success was maintained (68% to 72%, P = 0.05). Uptake of HIV-testing and Cotrimoxazole Preventive Treatment was maintained over 85%, and Anti-Retroviral Therapy uptake increased from 77% in 2013 to 86% in 2014 (P<0.01). Conclusion Contingency planning and health system and worker support during the 2014 Ebola outbreak was associated with encouraging and sustained TB program performance. This is of relevance to future outbreaks.
The Self-Reference Effect: Demonstrating Schematic Processing in the Classroom

The self-reference effect, which occurs when individuals show superior memory for information that pertains to their self-schemas, was demonstrated in a classroom setting. Subjects first evaluated whether or not each adjective in an orally presented list was self-descriptive. After a 1-min delay, they attempted to recall all the adjectives from the list. As expected, memory for self-referent terms was superior to memory for terms that were not self-referent. The exercise offers a pedagogically effective way of demonstrating schematic processing under normal classroom conditions, and it also confirms predictions derived from depth-of-processing and schema-based memory models of social cognition.
Analysis and Prediction of Temperature using Statistical Artificial Neural Network

This paper is about producing a prediction system b y using artificial neural methods that will forecast temper atu e. This paper is based on three objectives. First, study of temperature and gathers all knowledge regarding the weather this is particularly studied in analysis part of the paper. Second, gath er all knowledge about artificial neural network methods. Implement multilayer perceptron neural network with gradient descent(back propagation), BFGS, conjugate gradient training alg orithm and will analyze the performance of all. Lastly, achie ve an objective of developing a temperature prediction system. The general finding is that with BFGS algorithm, with multilaye r perceptron model perform well with less prediction error and more accuracy than gradient descent and conjugate gradient, thus used for temperature prediction. To implement this project we make use of statistica software which provides the functiona lity called statistica artificial neural network(SANN) which is u ed here for temperature prediction and heavy weather software i s used for data gathering.
Prognostic and Warning System for Power-Electronic Modules in Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel-Cell Vehicles

Reliability of power-electronic modules is of paramount importance for the commercial success of various types of electric vehicles. In this paper, we study the technical feasibility of detecting and utilizing early symptoms and warning signs of power-module degradation due to thermomechanical stress and fatigue and develop a prognostic system that can monitor the state of health of the power modules in electric, hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles. A special degradation trace on the VCEsat of the insulated-gate bipolar-transistor modules was observed by a power-cycling accelerated test, which was not reported in literatures. A prognostic system based on utilizing the aforementioned trace is then developed. The system consists of the hardware architecture and current adaptive-algorithm-based software architecture. In addition, this prognostic system hardly increases the hardware cost on existing vehicle-driver system. An extensive simulation based on MATLAB/Simulink verifies the developed prognostic system.
Channel Estimation in CP-OQAM-OFDM Systems

Due to the insertion of cyclic prefix (CP), orthogonal-frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems with offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) (OQAM-OFDM) and CP, denoted as CP-OQAM-OFDM, systems have more robustness to combat a multi-path fading channel and simpler and better receivers than the conventional OQAM-OFDM systems. In this paper, two channel estimators, i.e., weighted least square (WLS) and pairs of pilots (POP) are presented in CP-OQAM-OFDM systems. To evaluate the proposed WLS and POP estimators, the corresponding Cramér-Rao bounds are given for comparison. In addition, the computational complexities of the proposed estimators are analyzed as well. Simulation results demonstrate that both of the proposed channel estimators can achieve good bit error rate (BER) performance.
Pericardial Fat, Visceral Abdominal Fat, Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, and Vascular Calcification in a Community-Based Sample: The Framingham Heart Study

Background— Pericardial fat may be an important mediator of metabolic risk. Correlations with cardiovascular disease risk factors and vascular calcification in a community-based sample are lacking. We sought to examine associations between pericardial fat, metabolic risk factors, and vascular calcification. Methods and Results— Participants free of cardiovascular disease from the Framingham Heart Study (n=1155, mean age 63 years, 54.8% women) who were part of a multidetector computed tomography study underwent quantification of intrathoracic fat, pericardial fat, visceral abdominal fat (VAT), coronary artery calcification, and aortic artery calcification. Intrathoracic and pericardial fat volumes were examined in relation to body mass index, waist circumference, VAT, metabolic risk factors, coronary artery calcification, and abdominal aortic calcification. Intrathoracic and pericardial fat were directly correlated with body mass index (r=0.41 to 0.51, P<0.001), waist circumference (r=0.43 to 0.53, P<0.001), and VAT (r=0.62 to 0.76, P<0.001). Both intrathoracic and pericardial fat were associated with higher triglycerides (P<0.0001), lower high-density lipoprotein (P<0.0001), hypertension (P<0.0001 to 0.01), impaired fasting glucose (P<0.0001 to 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P=0.0005 to 0.009), and metabolic syndrome (P<0.0001) after multivariable adjustment. Associations generally persisted after additional adjustment for body mass index and waist circumference but not after adjustment for VAT (all P>0.05). Pericardial fat, but not intrathoracic fat, was associated with coronary artery calcification after multivariable and VAT adjustment (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.005 to 1.46, P=0.04), whereas intrathoracic fat, but not pericardial fat, was associated with abdominal aortic calcification (odds ratio 1.32, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.67, P=0.03). Conclusions— Pericardial fat is correlated with multiple measures of adiposity and cardiovascular disease risk factors, but VAT is a stronger correlate of most metabolic risk factors. However, intrathoracic and pericardial fat are associated with vascular calcification, which suggests that these fat depots may exert local toxic effects on the vasculature.
Large-scale filament formation inhibits the activity of CTP synthetase

CTP Synthetase (CtpS) is a universally conserved and essential metabolic enzyme. While many enzymes form small oligomers, CtpS forms large-scale filamentous structures of unknown function in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. By simultaneously monitoring CtpS polymerization and enzymatic activity, we show that polymerization inhibits activity, and CtpS's product, CTP, induces assembly. To understand how assembly inhibits activity, we used electron microscopy to define the structure of CtpS polymers. This structure suggests that polymerization sterically hinders a conformational change necessary for CtpS activity. Structure-guided mutagenesis and mathematical modeling further indicate that coupling activity to polymerization promotes cooperative catalytic regulation. This previously uncharacterized regulatory mechanism is important for cellular function since a mutant that disrupts CtpS polymerization disrupts E. coli growth and metabolic regulation without reducing CTP levels. We propose that regulation by large-scale polymerization enables ultrasensitive control of enzymatic activity while storing an enzyme subpopulation in a conformationally restricted form that is readily activatable. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.03638. 001
Individual, Practice, and System Causes of Errors in Nursing: A Taxonomy

Practice errors by nurses can cause harm to patients, families, practitioners, systems, and the profession. Because the nursing errors reported to the State Boards of Nursing are typically serious, analyzing their data has great potential for developing new strategies to reduce dangerous errors. With the guiding rationale being identification of categories central to the nurse’s role and function in healthcare delivery errors, 21 case studies of nursing errors from 9 State Boards of Nursing files were analyzed to develop a taxonomy of nursing errors. Eight categories of nursing errors representing a broad range of possible errors and contributive or causative factors were identified: lack of attentiveness; lack of agency/fiduciary concern; inappropriate judgment; lack of intervention on the patient’s behalf; medication errors; lack of prevention; missed or mistaken MD/healthcare provider’s orders; and documentation errors. Causes for the error, at the system and practice responsibility levels, were identified in each case. The categories, an assessment of causes of errors, and an examination of the remediation actions taken were the first steps in devising a taxonomy of nursing error, designed with prevention in mind. The authors discuss their work and present the taxonomy.
A Versatile and Efficient GPU Data Structure for Spatial Indexing

In this paper we present a novel GPU-based data structure for spatial indexing. Based on Fenwick trees-a special type of binary indexed trees-our data structure allows construction in linear time. Updates and prefixes can be computed in logarithmic time, whereas point queries require only constant time on average. Unlike competing data structures such as summed-area tables and spatial hashing, our data structure requires a constant amount of bits for each data element, and it offers unconstrained point queries. This property makes our data structure ideally suited for applications requiring unconstrained indexing of large data, such as block-storage of large and block-sparse volumes. Finally, we provide asymptotic bounds on both run-time and memory requirements, and we show applications for which our new data structure is useful.
Regulation of fatty acid degradation in Escherichia coli: analysis by operon fusion

Fusion of the lacZ gene coding for beta-galactosidase to the fadA,B and fadE operons was accomplished by using the phage Mu d (Apr lac). In such fusion strains, beta-galactosidase was induced by long-chain fatty acids and repressed by glucose, as is the normal pattern of control for the enzymes of the fad regulon. The level of induction seen was approximately 10-fold for both the fadA and fadE operons. These results demonstrate that the previously observed regulation of both the fadA and fadE operons is at the transcriptional level. When an insertion mutation in the fadR (repressor) gene was introduced into the fusion strains, beta-galactosidase was produced constitutively. A series of fatty acids of different chain lengths were tested as inducers. Acids of chain lengths of 10 carbon atoms or less failed to induce, those of 12 carbon atoms induced partly, and those of 14 or more carbon atoms induced fully. Imidazole was found to counteract the glucose repression of the fadA operon as recently demonstrated for the ara operon.
Youth and Risky Consumption: Moving Toward a Transformative Approach

Recent statistics indicate that youth continue to engage in a wide variety of risky behaviours in spite of significant investment devoted to improving their well-being. One possible factor is a paternalistic view in understanding risk and promoting well-being. Participants in the Youth and Risk track of the Transformative Consumer Research conference challenge the paternalistic view, arguing in this paper for a more inclusive perspective that requires a re-examination of the nature of risk. The paternalistic view is discussed, and then countered with a more participatory approach that develops a role for youth in research in order to achieve socially desirable outcomes.
Maternal and Teacher Interaction and Student Engagement in Math and Reading Among Mexican American Girls From a Rural Community

In this study, 69 Mexican American elementary school girls in Grades 3 through 6 (age 8-13 years) from an agricultural community were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the frequency of communication with their mothers about education and their interaction with their teachers. The authors examined how these variables were associated with the girls’ grades in math and reading and the extent to which they liked these academic subjects. Increased communication with mothers about their grades was associated with girls reporting higher grades in math and liking math and reading. The more the students perceived their teachers to care about their education the better their grades in math. Also, girls with higher grades in reading perceived their teacher as more friendly. The results of the study suggest that elementary school Latina girls receive messages from mothers and teachers about education that positively influence their academic performance and engagement in core subjects.
Tracking unmodified smartphones using wi-fi monitors

Smartphones with Wi-Fi enabled periodically transmit Wi-Fi messages, even when not associated to a network. In one 12-hour trial on a busy road (average daily traffic count 37,000 according to the state DOT), 7,000 unique devices were detected by a single road-side monitoring station, or about 1 device for every 5 vehicles. In this paper, we describe a system for passively tracking unmodified smartphones, based on such Wi-Fi detections. This system uses only common, off-the-shelf access point hardware to both collect and deliver detections. Thus, in addition to high detection rates, it potentially offers very low equipment and installation cost. However, the long range and sparse nature of our opportunistically collected Wi-Fi transmissions presents a significant localization challenge. We propose a trajectory estimation method based on Viterbi's algorithm which takes second-by-second detections of a moving device as input, and produces the most likely spatio-temporal path taken. In addition, we present several methods that prompt passing devices to send additional messages, increasing detection rates an use signal-strength for improved accuracy. Based on our experimental evaluation from one 9-month deployment and several single-day deployments, passive Wi-Fi tracking detects a large fraction of passing smartphones, and produces high-accuracy trajectory estimates.
The Variable Domain of a Plant Calcium-dependent Protein Kinase (CDPK) Confers Subcellular Localization and Substrate Recognition for NADPH Oxidase*

Background: Substrate specificity of CDPKs involved in diverse physiological processes is largely unknown. Results: The variable domain of StCDPK5 confers plasma membrane localization and ability to phosphorylate its substrate NADPH oxidase. Conclusion: The contribution of variable domains to localization and substrate specificity of CDPKs in vivo is proposed. Significance: This is the first indication of substrate discrimination of CDPKs via proper subcellular localization. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are Ca2+ sensors that regulate diverse biological processes in plants and apicomplexans. However, how CDPKs discriminate specific substrates in vivo is still largely unknown. Previously, we found that a potato StCDPK5 is dominantly localized to the plasma membrane and activates the plasma membrane NADPH oxidase (RBOH; for respiratory burst oxidase homolog) StRBOHB by direct phosphorylation of the N-terminal region. Here, we report the contribution of the StCDPK5 N-terminal variable (V) domain to activation of StRBOHB in vivo using heterologous expression system in Nicotiana benthamiana. Mutations of N-terminal myristoylation and palmitoylation sites in the V domain eliminated the predominantly plasma membrane localization and the capacity of StCDPK5 to activate StRBOHB in vivo. A tomato SlCDPK2, which also contains myristoylation and palmitoylation sites in its N terminus, phosphorylated StRBOHB in vitro but not in vivo. Functional domains responsible for activation and phosphorylation of StRBOHB were identified by swapping regions for each domain between StCDPK5 and SlCDPK2. The substitution of the V domain of StCDPK5 with that of SlCDPK2 abolished the activation and phosphorylation abilities of StRBOHB in vivo and relocalized the chimeric CDPK to the trans-Golgi network, as observed for SlCDPK2. Conversely, SlCDPK2 substituted with the V domain of StCDPK5 localized to the plasma membrane and activated StRBOHB. These results suggest that the V domains confer substrate specificity in vivo by dictating proper subcellular localization of CDPKs.
Collaborative Data Publishing and Searching System

In this paper, we present a folksonomy-based collaborative data publishing and searching system. The system accepts data objects described with user-created metadata, called data units. The system supports flexible structure on the data units, and places no restrictions on the vocabulary used. We devise a generic table model for storing and representing the data units of various structures. We propose a framework for managing the data units and providing browsing, searching and querying services over them. We present our current approaches and discuss relevant research issues.
Chain stability in traffic flow with driver reaction delays

A deterministic microscopic car-following model considering delayed reactions of human drivers is studied from systems perspective for chain stability of a configuration of vehicles arranged on a single lane cruising at constant velocity without changing lanes. Two different driving strategies accompanied by two different delay models are incorporated in this microscopic model. Arising analytical derivations from chain stability analysis help compare the effects of these strategies to and characterization of the traffic flow in the parameter space defining the delays and the coefficients representing the aggressiveness of the drivers. Illustrative examples are provided.
Ultrastructural observations on the in vitro interaction of rat neutrophils with schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni in the presence of antibody and/or complement

SUMMARY Rat peritoneal neutrophils adhere to schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni in vitro in the presence of antibody, complement, or both. Ultrastructural studies have demonstrated that cell adherence is not intimate, and that electron-dense secretions are not liberated onto the parasite surface in the manner described for eosinophils. Cytochemical techniques confirm that peroxidase is confined within intracellularly located neutrophil secretion granules. The metabolic burst is shown to operate during Fc-mediated interactions, but since morphological damage depends upon the presence of complement in the system, toxic oxygen products would seem not to be involved in the initiation of surface perturbation. Complement-dependent, neutrophil-mediated schistosomular damage is characterized by vesiculation of the tegumental outer membrane, an increase in density of the tegumental cytoplasm and the eventual development of focal lesions. The cells migrate laterally to push aside damaged surface tissues and then adhere intimately to the exposed musculature. Damage appears earlier when both antibody and complement are present in the system, and this correlates with higher killing efficiency. The frequently observed association of contaminant eosinophils with areas of parasite damage indicates that eosinophils and neutrophils may cooperate to effect schistosomular killing. In the presence of antibody alone, attached neutrophils exhibit intense phagocytic activity towards the antigen-antibody complex formed at the parasite surface. This phenomenon may account for the eventual detachment of cells and lack of significant parasite damage recorded in this system
Common misconceptions about students from South‐East Asia studying in Australia

International students from South‐East Asia who study in Australia are often portrayed negatively compared to local students in terms of learning and study practices. This article discusses some of the misconceptions held by university teachers and administrators about South‐East Asian students studying in Australia and examines them in the light of recent research. In particular, it challenges the views that students from South‐East Asia are surface learners, passive non‐participants in class who prefer the company of other Asian students. These findings challenge university teachers to reconsider accepted beliefs and practices when teaching all students, but particularly students from South‐East Asia.
Intelligence in girls and their subsequent smoking behaviour as mothers: the 1958 National Child Development Study and the 1970 British Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Exposure to tobacco smoke either in utero or postnatally can have substantial adverse effects on child health, yet many women continue to smoke during pregnancy and after the birth. How women's intelligence in childhood affects their smoking behaviour as mothers is unclear. METHODS The participants were from two British national birth cohorts: 3325 women aged 33 years from the 1958 National Child Development Study and 1971 women aged 34 years from the 1970 British Cohort Study. We used structural equation modelling to examine the direct and indirect effects of intelligence measured at age 10-11 years, parental and current social class, educational attainment and age at first birth on smoking during pregnancy and current smoking status. RESULTS Forty per cent of women in the 1958 cohort smoked during pregnancy, compared with 28% of those from the 1970 cohort. In both cohorts, women with lower IQ in childhood were more likely as adults to smoke during pregnancy and to be a smoker currently. Structural equation modelling showed that the effects of childhood IQ on smoking behaviour were indirect, as they were statistically mediated by educational attainment and age at first birth. There was some effect of educational attainment and age at first birth on smoking behaviour over and above the effect of intelligence. CONCLUSION Childhood intelligence influenced women's smoking behaviour as mothers primarily through its contributions to educational attainment and age at first birth.