Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology and diagnosis of acute hepatitis C virus infection

In several studies presented in this thesis, epidemiological and molecular approaches were combined to gain insight into possible linkage between HCV infections. This gives an extra dimension to the outcomes measured in our studies, as the phylogenetic profile of the HCV infections could be added to the analyses. Other studies included longitudinal data from observational cohorts, in which incident HCV (re)infection and possible predictors for HCV infection could be evaluated. Blood samples collected during multiple cross-sectional studies were used to evaluate the utility of an HCV antigen test for screening purposes. The studies in this thesis were initiated with the ultimate goal to increase our understanding of primary and recurrent acute HCV infection among two risk groups in the Netherlands: PWID and HIV-infected MSM. The results of these studies in particular may contribute to improved prevention programs, and may inform clinical decision making and testing policies (e.g., whom to test, and which test(s) should be used). In part I the current state of the HCV epidemic among MSM and PWID is illustrated. Part II focuses on sexual transmission of HCV among HIV-infected MSM. Part III describes the possible use of assays for screening and diagnosis of acute HCV (re) infection in various settings. Finally, chapter 10 discusses the main findings of this thesis, relates these to recent literature, and gives recommendations for future studies.
Unbalanced sex ratio and triploidy in the genus Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Dynastidae) in the Lesser Antilles: An example of parthenogenesis on islands?

Sex ratio and chromosomes studies were performed on six of the seven species of genus Cyclocephala present in the Lesser Antilles. Most sex ratios based on light trapping are skewed, with a frequent, but not exclusive, strong excess of females. These unbal- ances vary from species to species and island to island for the same species. Comparing old (seventies) and recent captures, the imbal- ances seem to increase with time. All of the 72 karyotyped males were diploid: 20,XY. Of the 15 females studied, one (C. dominicensis) was triploid: 30,XXX, a condition that only occurs in parthenogenetic species of beetles. We conclude that parthenogenesis is progres- sively developing within different sexual populations of Cyclocephala in the Lesser Antilles, which accounts for the excess of females recorded there. We propose that preexisting recessive mutations are the cause and that island colonization, by preventing panmictic reproduction, favours the expression of these recessive mutations. This would account for the accelerated occurrence of new characters (speciation /sub-speciation process), including unusual modes of reproduction such as parthenogenesis, and that several genetically related populations express these characters independently on different islands.
Software de simulación para el modelado de energía de sistemas autónomos marinos

1 Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto Europeo FP7-SEC-01-218290 AbstractThis paper describes an energy system simulator to evaluate capacity of buoy autonomous power system under different climatic conditions and power subsystems configurations of power subsystems. Generators, accumulators and charges are taken into acount to evaluate the charge of battery or SOC ( State Of Charge). This simulator tries to give us an idea of the energy balance and therefore, the circuit viability and battery availability. The use of a graphic user interface (GUI) and different wizards have simplified the user interaction. It has been simulated the performance of photovoltaic and wind energy systems defined through mathematical models of the system components. The simulator onion-like structure where the GUI surrounds the main simulator core and its algorithms, has created a good platform for circuit test. Additionally, this structure provides facilities to create, access and load data files to characterize climate scenarios, circuits and power consumption scenarios.
Aggressive behavior and the influencing factors at five schools in Johor Bahru

The objective of the study is to identify the perception of the students on aggressive attitude in five secondary schools in Johor Bahru town. This study also attempts to identify the factor of aggressive and types of aggressive attitude in the school. About 260 questionnaires were distributed at random stage to aggressive student from form one, two and four. The instrument used was the Mooney Problem Check List which was later analysis by the SPSS11.5 (Statistical Package For Sosial Science). It contained 64 likert skill items. The reliability value (alpha croanbach) of the instrument was 0.81. Descriptive statistic in the form of mean, standard deviation and percentage was used in data analysis. As a whole, the result of the study shows the level students aggressiveness in secondary schools in Johor Bahru area were quite high. The hypothesis shows that there is no significant difference between aggressive factor and student rate. There is significant relationship between types of aggressive and family income. Students’ perception between aggressive attitude in secondary school show that environment of school is dominant (mean 4.1), less attention from family background (mean 3.8), students’ attitude (mean 3.88), psychology (mean 3.65) and their friends (mean 3.68). The most aggressiveness among student was shown that physical attitude (mean 3.57), verbal (mean 3.53) and anti social (mean 3.34). Thus this research shows that the aggressive attitude among students in Johor Bahru town is quite high. The study suggested that the school should identify aggressiveness culture among the students and should implement the peer program therefore the problems will be decrease.
Global existence and boundedness of solution of a parabolic-parabolic-ODE chemotaxis-haptotaxis model with (generalized) logistic source

In this paper, we study the following chemotaxis–haptotaxis system with (generalized) logistic source \begin{document}$ \left\{\begin{array}{ll} u_t = \Delta u-\chi\nabla\cdot(u\nabla v)- \xi\nabla\cdot(u\nabla w)+u(a-\mu u^{r-1}-w), \\ {v_t = \Delta v- v +u}, \quad \\ {w_t = - vw}, \quad\\ {\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu} = \frac{\partial v}{\partial \nu} = \frac{\partial w}{\partial \nu} = 0}, \quad x\in \partial\Omega, t>0, \\ {u(x, 0) = u_0(x)}, v(x, 0) = v_0(x), w(x, 0) = w_0(x), \quad x\in \Omega, \ \end{array}\right. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(0.1)$ \end{document} in a smooth bounded domain \begin{document}$ \mathbb{R}^N(N\geq1) $\end{document} , with parameter \begin{document}$ r>1 $\end{document} . the parameters \begin{document}$ a\in \mathbb{R}, \mu>0, \chi>0 $\end{document} . It is shown that when \begin{document}$ r>2 $\end{document} , or \begin{document}$ \begin{equation*} \mu>\mu^{*} = \begin{array}{ll} \frac{(N-2)_{+}}{N}(\chi+C_{\beta}) C^{\frac{1}{\frac{N}{2}+1}}_{\frac{N}{2}+1}, if r = 2, \ \end{array} \end{equation*} $\end{document} the considered problem possesses a global classical solution which is bounded, where \begin{document}$ C^{\frac{1}{\frac{N}{2}+1}}_{\frac{N}{2}+1} $\end{document} is a positive constant which is corresponding to the maximal sobolev regularity. Here \begin{document}$ C_{\beta} $\end{document} is a positive constant which depends on \begin{document}$ \xi $\end{document} , \begin{document}$ \|u_0\|_{C(\bar{\Omega})}, \ \|v_0\|_{W^{1, \infty}(\Omega)} $\end{document} and \begin{document}$ \|w_0\|_{L^\infty(\Omega)} $\end{document} . This result improves or extends previous results of several authors.
Dinamica dell'ablazione laser su celle fotovoltaiche a film sottile

Obbiettivo primario di di questo lavoro, e studiare la dinamica di una cella a film (CIGS) sottile, durante la lavorazione laser. L'ablazione viene effettuata con impulsi dell'ordine dei µs con un diodo laser a 808nm. Tramite programmi FEM, sono stati simulati lo sviluppo di stress meccanici, causati da gradienti termici. Infatti, il calore viene diffuso tramite conduzione termica all'interno della struttura semiconduttore-metallo (Cu(InGa)Se2-Mo). Infine, sono stati riprodotti tali impulsi in laboratorio e fotografati gli effetti tramite microscopio elettronico per identificare il sollevamento dello strato CIGS da quello del metallo, e ottenere il risultato voluto. E’ stato poi proposto lo studio di una tecnica di visione e ablazione simultanea, per verificare l'espansione termica e lo sviluppo degli stress nel materiale. Di tale tecnica, conosciuta come Strobe Photography, e stato progettato un possibile setup, che potra essere eventualmente testato, dando concreto seguito al presente lavoro.
Liberalization Process and Financial Instability: A Mediterranean Perspective

This paper revisits the debate on the financial stability implications of the liberalization process dynamics. We hold that the financial liberalization effect on exchange pressures changes beyond some threshold degrees. Therefore, we assess the ability of the threshold models to gauge financial liberalization dynamics. We provide empirical evidence from 9 MENA countries over the period of 1980 to 2008. Our results suggest that financial integration exerts nonlinear effects on speculative pressure conditionally to the dynamics of the liberalization process. Moreover, the country which maintains an optimal liberalization dynamic will be later exposed to an “exchange pressures“ effect from its financial liberalization process. Alternatively, evolving within nonoptimal dynamics have led to an increase in a country’s vulnerability to speculative pressures since the early stages of liberalization. From this view, the liberal reform dynamics may constitute an important determinant of a country’s financial stability.
Pharmacological and clinical properties of curcumin

The polyphenol natural product curcumin has been the subject of numerous studies over the past decades, which have identified and characterized the compound's pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and clinical pharmacological properties. In in vitro and in vivo model systems, curcumin displays potent pharmacological effects, by targeting many critical cellular factors, through a diverse array of mechanisms of action. Despite this tremendous molecular versatility, however, the clinical application of curcumin remains limited due to poor pharma- cokinetic characteristics in human beings. The current trend is to develop and utilize unique delivery systems, chemical derivatives, and chemical analogs to circumvent these pharmaco- logical obstacles, in order to optimize the conditions for curcumin as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory disorders. The present work seeks to review recent studies in the basic pharma-
THE VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION OF PICKUP He+ MEASURED AT 0.3 AU BY MESSENGER

During its interplanetary trajectory in 2007–2009, the MErcury Surface, Space ENvrionment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft passed through the gravitational focusing cone for interstellar helium multiple times at a heliocentric distance R ≈ 0.3 AU. Observations of He+ interstellar pickup ions made by the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer sensor on MESSENGER during these transits provide a glimpse into the structure of newly formed inner heliospheric pickup-ion distributions. This close to the Sun, these ions are picked up in a nearly radial interplanetary magnetic field. Compared with the near-Earth environment, pickup ions observed near 0.3 AU will not have had sufficient time to be energized substantially. Such an environment results in a nearly pristine velocity distribution function that should depend only on pickup-ion injection velocities (related to the interstellar gas), pitch-angle scattering, and cooling processes. From measured energy-per-charge spectra obtained during multiple spacecraft observational geometries, we have deduced the phase-space density of He+ as a function of magnetic pitch angle. Our measurements are most consistent with a distribution that decreases nearly monotonically with increasing pitch angle, rather than the more commonly modeled isotropic or hemispherically symmetric forms. These results imply that pitch-angle scattering of He+ may not be instantaneous, as is often assumed, and instead may reflect the velocity distribution of initially injected particles. In a slow solar wind stream, we find a parallel-scattering mean free path of λ‖ ∼ 0.1 AU and a He+ production rate of ∼0.05 m−3 s−1 within 0.3 AU.
Feeding rates of Calanoides carinatus: a comparison of five methods including evaluation of the gut fluorescence method

A comparison was made of ingestion rates of the copepod Calanoides cannatus estimated from the disappearance of chlorophyll (by fluorometry and HPLC), disappearance of cells, egg production, and from the gut fluorescence technique Three measures of gut turnover time were also compared. Our primary goal was to determine whether the gut fluorescence method underestimated ingestion and if so, to determine if the problem was due (i) to pigment digestion or ( U ) to incorrect estimates of gut passage time. Experiments used as food the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii at 3 concentrations. The first 4 methods ylelded the same result: grand means were 2.7 11g chl d-' at 8000 cells ml-', 1.5 ~ i g chl d-' a t 3000 cells ml-' and 0.84 pg chl d-' at 1500 cells ml-l. The gut fluorescence technique underestimated ingestion, yielding rates of 1.0, 0.92 and 0.58 pg chl d' when calculated following the traditional approach of multiplying gut pigment content by gut evacuation rate (GER). The underestimate was not due to pigment digestion because pigment budgets showed that all pigment was accounted for. 106 "/o on average. Thus we suggest that the problem was associated with using GER as a measure of gut passage time (GPT). GPT estimated from the GER was 16.7 min, but when estimated from (i) measurements of fecal pellet poduction rates and from (ii) the ratio, plgnlent egestion r a t e h e a n gut pigment content, results averaged 10.2 min. Using this value, ingestion rates were equal to the other techniques at the intermediate and low food concentrations, and 80 O/O of the other techni.ques at the high concentration
Aliphatic and Aromatic Biomarkers for Petroleum Hydrocarbon Investigation in Marine Sediment

Levels, composition profiles and sources of hydrocarbons were analyzed in surface marine sediment samples collected from Khniss Coast in Tunisia. It was found that the total Hydrocarbon (TH) concentrations ranged from 2280 µg/g to 7700 µg/g. The sedimentary non-aromatic hydrocarbon (NAH) and aromatic hydrocarbon (AH) concentrations ranged from 1020 to 2320 µg/g, and from 240 to 680 µg/g, respectively. The level of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (∑17PAHs) is equal to 14.59 ng/g. The PAH profiles showed that the ∑4–5-ring compounds were the major PAHs detected in the sampling sites. Characteristic ratios of Anth/(Anth+ Phe), and Flu/(Flu + Pyr) indicated that PAHs could originate from petrogenic and pyrolytic sources. Petroleum contamination associated with increased marine activity and high eutrophization statue in Khniss area which may have side-effects on the ecosystems and human safety; thus, it must be controlled.
An investigation into the use of cognitive ability tests in the identification of gifted students in design and technology

This study examines whether MidYIS and YELLIS cognitive ability tests (CATs) are appropriate methods for the identification of giftedness in Design and Technology. A key rationale for the study was whether CATs and able to identify those students with the aptitudes considered of importance to identifying giftedness in Design and Technology and their use in connection with target setting. Consideration is given to the use of creativity and the nonverbal element of CATs as alternative methods of identification.
Prediction of Accuracy of Temporal Sampling Applied to Non-Urban Road Traffic Noise

The legislation on road traffic noise often requires that acoustic descriptors be determined on a medium or long term. However, such a duration is not feasible for attended monitoring, and therefore, temporal samplings are often applied to save time and resources. However, the values of the noise descriptors estimated by those measured at the sampling times are affected by uncertainty, the amount of which depends on the ratio between the total measurement time and that of the estimate, as well as on the variability of the noise immission at the measurement point.This paper describes the results obtained from the statistical analysis performed on a large set of acoustic data collected at 80 sites along the non-urban road network in the Lombardia region (Italy). The aim of the analysis is to determine the accuracy of two procedures to estimate: i) the daytime (06 to 22 h) A-weighted equivalent level LAeqd and the nighttime (22 to 06 h) A-weighted equivalent level LAeqn from the hourly A-weighted equivalent level LAeqh; and ii) the LAeqh level from the LAeqt measured continuously for a shorter time interval t. The proposed procedures enable to predict the accuracy of both the above estimates; the second one, that is the LAeqh level from the LAeqt, resulted to be greater with increasing of hourly traffic flow and measurement time. Example of the applications of the two procedures is also described.
Impact of the Revised Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance on Audit Committee Attributes and Firm Performance

Using a sample of 37 finance companies listed under the finance segment of Bursa Malaysia, we examined the impact of the revision to Malaysian code on corporate governance on audit committee attributes and firm performance. Our result suggests that audit committee attributes significantly improved after the Code was revised. In addition, the coefficient for audit committee and risk committee interlock has a significant negative relationship with Tobin’s Q in the period before the revision to the Code and before the global financial crisis. The negative direction of the result is contrary to agency theory which suggests that separating directors on subcommittees will create information asymmetry between the directors and lead to poor coordination in the decisions of the committees thereby negatively affecting firm performance.
Electrosynthesized NiS2 thin films and their optical and semiconductor studies

Nickel sulfide thin films were prepared using electrodeposition on indium tin oxide-coated glass substrates. Films were characterized using X-ray diffraction for crystal- lographic analysis. The films were shown to be polycrystalline in nature with good uniformity. From scanning electron micrographs, the surface appeared to be comparatively granular with irregularly shaped grains. From optical analysis, the bandgap range was between 1.22 eV and 1.15 eV with an indirect bandgap nature. Mott-Schottky plot confirmed that the films were found to be n-type, and the semiconductor parameters of the film were derived.
Draft Atrial-selective K + channel blockers – potential antiarrhythmic drugs in atrial fibrillation ? 1

In the wake of demographic change in Western countries atrial fibrillation has reached an epidemiological scale, yet current strategies for drug treatment of the arrhythmia lack sufficient efficacy and safety. In search of novel medications, atrialselective drugs that specifically target atrial over other cardiac functions have been developed. Here, I will address drugs acting on potassium (K) channels that are either predominantly expressed in atria or possess electrophysiological properties distinct in atria from ventricles. These channels include the ultra-rapidly activating, delayed outward-rectifying Kv1.5 channel conducting IKur, the acetylcholine-activated inward-rectifying Kir3.1/Kir3.4 channel conducting IK,ACh, the Ca -activated K channels of small conductance (SK) conducting ISK, and the two pore domain K + (K2P) channels [tandem of P domains, weak inward-rectifying K channels (TWIK-1), TWIK-related acid-sensitive K channels (TASK-1 and TASK-3)] that are responsible for voltage-independent background currents ITWIK-1, ITASK-1, and ITASK-3. Direct drug effects on these channels are described and their putative value in treatment of atrial fibrillation is discussed. Although many potential drug targets have emerged in the process of unravelling details of the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for atrial fibrillation, we do not know whether novel antiarrhythmic drugs will be more successful when modulating many targets or a single specific one. The answer to this riddle can only be solved in a clinical context.
Effects of Physical Sizes of Clinoptilolite on Protein Efficiency Ratio, Intestinal Morphology and Growth Indices of Broilers

A total of 448 Ross 308 seven-day old male broiler chicks were assigned to seven treatments with four replicates, each containing 16 chicks, to determine effects of physical sizes and rate of dietary inclusion of clinoptilolite. The chicks fed diet containing clinoptilolite at 1.5% and particle size of 0.4-0.8 mm showed significantly higher body weight gain than the control group that did not receive clinoptilolite (P<0.05). Adding clinoptilolite to the dietcaused a significant improvement infeed conversion ratio during 22-42 and 7-42 days of age(P<0.05). Broilers fed diet containing clinoptilolite at 1.5% and particle size of 0.4-0.8 mm had a lower feed conversion ratio than other groups. Addition of clinoptilolite at 1.5% and particle size of 0.4-0.8 mm improved protein efficiency ratio than the control group in periods 22-42 and 7-42 days (P<0.05). Broilers fed diet containing clinoptilolite at 3% and particle size of 0.4-0.8 mm had significantly longer villus height in the duodenumand those fed clinoptilolite at 1.5% and particle size of 0.4-0.8 mm had longer villus height in the jejunumthan the control group (P<0.05). Among different dietary treatments, the groupreceiving 1.5% clinoptilolite and particle size of 0.4-0.8 mm had thegreatest ratio of villus height to crypt depth. In conclusion supplementation of diet with clinoptilolite with a particle size of 0.4-0.8 mm had positive effects on performance and intestinal morphology in broilers.
Synthesis, spectral characterization, molecular structure, HOMO-LUMO, MEP and NLO analysis of some (E)-N-(4-Fluoro-3-Phenoxybenzylidene)- substituted benzenamines

In this work, (E)-N-(4-Fluoro-3-Phenoxybenzylidene)-substituted benzenamines (1-6) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectral studies. Density functional theory (DFT) has been used to optimize geometrical parameters, atomic charges, vibrational wavenumbers and intensity of vibrational bands. The molecular properties HOMO-LUMO, MEP and atomic charges of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen were calculated using B3LYP/6-311G (d, p) basis set. The polarizability and first order hyperpolarizability of the title Compounds were calculated and interpreted.