Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Partners in COPD management in the primary care setting

team of partners in COPD care can reduce a patient’s behavioural risk factors and optimise positive behaviour change. C hronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and disabling respiratory disease affecting millions of people worldwide.1 Whereas no medical treatment can reverse COPD, multiple interventions are available that can reduce symptoms and functional impairments in daily life and increase (social) wellbeing and quality of life.1 Treatment choices depend not only on how the disease progresses, the presence of symptoms, the functional impairment and the diminished quality of life, but also on comorbidities and the capability of the patient to self-manage.2 Primary care practitioners are often confronted with patients with multimorbid chronic disease, and understand that the high prevalence of comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, anxiety and depression in those with COPD demands a broader view than that of COPD alone. Primary care is the Partners in COPD management in the primary care setting
Encapsulated photonic crystals for high efficiency nanolasers

We propose and report a novel photonic crystal (PhC) encapsulation concept, where the originally exposed air holes are sealed off on top of the surface to create an enclosed air column structure in two dimensional (2D) PhC based devices and systems. The impact of encapsulation on the photonic bandgap will be discussed for different encapsulation conditions. Experimental results on encapsulation process will also be reported, with focus on the nanoparticle based self assembly encapsulation. Finally a novel photonic crystal surface emitting laser based on this encapsulation concept will be proposed and discussed. The surface state induced non-radiative recombination and different electrical injection schemes will be discussion with the benefit of encapsulation being discussed in the end.
Dynamical properties of the Pascal adic transformation

We study the dynamics of a transformation that acts on infinite paths in the graph associated with Pascal's triangle. For each ergodic invariant measure the asymptotic law of the return time to cylinders is given by a step function. We construct a representation of the system by a subshift on a two-symbol alphabet and then prove that the complexity function of this subshift is asymptotic to a cubic, the frequencies of occurrence of blocks behave in a regular manner, and the subshift is topologically weak mixing.
0.5-45GHz Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) Antenna System for Electronic Attack

A shared antenna aperture for simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) operating from 0.5 to 45GHz with isolation >50dB over the entire band is discussed. The co-located antenna aperture system is designed across 4 overlapping bands: 0.5-2.5GHz, 2-7GHz, 6-19GHz, and 18-45GHz. The lowest band utilizes a novel monostatic STAR approach based on a four-arm spiral antenna. The required isolation for other bands is achieved by physically displacing the transmitting and receiving antennas (i.e. bistatic approach) as well as implementing efficient isolation improvement techniques. Small linearly tapered slot array, TEM and quad-ridge horns are employed to achieve excellent wideband performance, single/dual polarization operation, and high-power handling capability required for electronic attack. In this work, only the individual standalone subsystems are discussed.
Acute weakness: A practical step-by-step approach to distinguishing myelopathy from neuropathy

riginating from either a peripheral or spinal source, the development of acute or insidious weakness can be as challenging to the clinician as it is frightening to the patient. Most cases of myelopathy arise as a result of trauma, although they may also be caused by intrinsic spinal cord pathologies. Whatever the cause, spinal cord injury or disease has a significant impact on the patient, his or her family, and on society. The incidence of myelopathy in the United States is approximately 32 new cases per million annually, whereas Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), the most common cause of weakness-inducing neuropathy, affects 10 to 20 individuals per million every year. The most common causes of spinal cord injury are motor vehicle accidents, accounting for nearly half of all events (44%) followed by acts of violence (24%), falls (22%), and athletic injuries (8%), with 2% occurring as a result of other miscellaneous causes. In recent years, acts of violence have superseded falls as the most common cause of injury. However, conditions ranging from infections to autoimmune conditions to vascular disorders, in addition to space-occupying lesions, all may cause myelopathy. Myelopathy and neuropathy may cause both significant morbidity and mortality, principally from respiratory complications folAcute Weakness: A Practical Step-by-Step Approach to Distinguishing Myelopathy from Neuropathy
The rates of proton uptake and electron transfer at the photosystem II in thylakoids

Al~ract Proton and electron transfer at the reducing side of photosystem II of green plants was studied under flashing light, the former at improved time resolution by using Neutral red. The rates of electron transfer within Q^FeQB were determined by pump-probe flashes through electrochromic transients. The extent of proton binding was about 1 H+/e -. The rates of proton transfer were proportional to the concentration of Neutral red (collisional transfer), whereas the rates of electron transfer out of QT~ and from Q^FoQg to the cytochrome bsfcomplex were constant. The half-rise times of electron transfer (re) and the apparent times of proton binding (rh) at 30/aM Neutral rod were: QA~FelnQ B (~'c -< 100/zs, rh = 230/zs); QAoFenQB (L = 150/as, ~h = 760/as); and Q ~ F e a Q ~ (L = 620/zs, Zh = 310/ZS).
Light bosons in the photosphere and the solar abundance problem

It is a pleasure to thank Martin Asplund, Remo Collett, Keshav Dasgupta, Anne Davis, Guy Moore Javier Redondo and Konstantin Zioutas for helpful comments and conversations. ACV was supported by NSERC, FQRNT and European contracts FP7-PEOPLE-2011-ITN, PITN-GA-2011-289442-INVISIBLES. PS was supported by the Lorne Trottier Chair in Astrophysics, an Institute for Particle Physics Theory Fellowship and a Canadian Government Tri-Agency Banting Fellowship, administered by NSERC. RT was supported by NASA grants NNX08AI57G and NNX11AJ36G.
Prospective service innovation in automotive testing: beyond distributed technology

In this paper, a Remote Technology Management (RTM) solution is presented for the purpose of elaborating on how it can bring about opportunities for new innovative services in the automotive winter testing industry. The idea is to visualise how service providers can go from a product focus to a future where they take an active role as an expertise in the testing activities. Based on the premise that technologies like RTM can become a basis for novel services, the activities at a proving ground are described from three actors' point of view and discussed in terms of service innovation.
ermeation of astilbin and taxifolin in Caco-2 cell and their ffects on the Pgp iao -

This study was designed to understand the transport profiles of astilbin and taxifolin in Caco-2 cell model and their effects on the function and expression of P-glycoprotein. The transport studies were examined using Caco-2 cells cultured on Transwell® inserts. Their effects on the function and expression of P-glycoprotein were detected using Western Blot and RT-PCR. The transport was concentration and temperature dependent. The apparent permeability (Papp) of these two compounds in the secretory direction was larger than that in the absorptive direction in the concentration range of 10–1000 M. Those compounds had no effects on the P-glycoprotein-mediated transport of Rhodamine 123. Caco-2 cells exposed to astilbin or taxifolin for 36 h exhibited higher P-glycoprotein activity through up-regulating axifolin
KIR Gene Frequencies in Women with Infertility Problems

Introduction: Natural killer (NK) cells are the predominant lymphocyte population in the decidua. Being the most abundant leucocytes, the activity of NK cells is important in different immuno-pathological conditions, such as recurrent spontaneous abortions, infertility and problems in implantation. The NK cells recognize HLA class I molecules on trophoblasts trough killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) found on their surface. The KIRs are classified as either activating or inhibitory, regarding the effect they produce on NK cells upon interaction with corresponding ligand. Since KIR genes exhibit extensive polymorphism and individuals differ in both the number and kind (activating vs. inhibitory) of KIR genes, it is hypothesized that the KIR gene content might influence the pregnancy outcome. Aim: The aim of this pilot study is to analyze the frequency of different KIR genes in women with infertility problems, and compare them to healthy women. Material and Methods: Total of 122 healthy women (Control) and 25 women with reproductive problems (MISSC) participated in this study. After signing of written consent DNA was isolated from peripheral blood using phenol/chloroform method. The genotyping of 16 KIR genes was performed using commercially available kit from Dynal Biotech, (Pel-Freez Clinical Systems, Brown Deer, WI, USA), based on SSP method. Results: We found that inhibitory KIR are present in similar observed frequency in both control and patients with MISSC, except KIR2DL5 which was found in lower frequency in patients with MISSC. There are no significant differences of all noninhibitory KIR between control and patients with MISSC. The number of inhibitory KIR genes in patients with MISSC was lover, except for seven inhibitory KIR genes which was almost doubled. The number of noninhibiotry (stimulatory) KIR genes was lower in patients with MISSC, except for those with three KIR genes which were almost four times more frequent. We found significantly bigger percentage of 0,34 – 0,60 activating/inhibitory KIR gene number ratio in the patients with MISSC. Conclusion: In conclusion, there are differences in the KIR gene distribution, gene number, and activating/inhibitory KIR gene number ratio between control and Macedonian patients with MISSC. Further analysis of frequencies of corresponding KIR genotypes or in the ratio of activating/inhibiting genes content in two groups are needed.
Formamidinium lead trihalide: a broadly tunable perovskite for efficient planar heterojunction solar cells

Perovskite-based solar cells have attracted significant recent interest, with power conversion efficiencies in excess of 15% already superceding a number of established thin-film solar cell technologies. Most work has focused on a methylammonium lead trihalide perovskites, with a bandgaps of ∼1.55 eV and greater. Here, we explore the effect of replacing the methylammonium cation in this perovskite, and show that with the slightly larger formamidinium cation, we can synthesise formamidinium lead trihalide perovskites with a bandgap tunable between 1.48 and 2.23 eV. We take the 1.48 eV-bandgap perovskite as most suited for single junction solar cells, and demonstrate long-range electron and hole diffusion lengths in this material, making it suitable for planar heterojunction solar cells. We fabricate such devices, and due to the reduced bandgap we achieve high short-circuit currents of >23 mA cm−2, resulting in power conversion efficiencies of up to 14.2%, the highest efficiency yet for solution processed planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. Formamidinium lead triiodide is hence promising as a new candidate for this class of solar cell.
Global C-Band Envisat, RADARSAT-2 and Sentinel-1 SAR measurements in copolarization and cross-polarization

Using colocated ASCAT and ECMWF winds, a careful global analysis of ENVISAT and Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements helps to refine, at medium resolution (tens of kilometers) and especially for HH configuration, a C-band geophysical model function (GMF, i.e., C-SARMOD) to analyze wind sensitivity for different incidence and azimuth angles. Results unify major findings from previous global and case studies for polarization ratio (PR, VV/HH), polarization difference (PD, VV-HH), and cross-polarization (CP). At lower level than standard two-scale predictions, PR increases with increasing incidence angle and decreases with increasing wind speed. PR further exhibits a strong azimuthal modulation, with maximum values in downwind configurations. The PD azimuth modulation is found more pronounced for VV than HH (VV being larger than HH), reaching maximum values for wind speed about 10 m/s. CP signals decrease with incidence angle but increase with wind speed, especially beyond 10 m/s, with no evidence of saturation. Remarkably, this also applies to HH crosswind measurements. This comparable high wind sensitivity for both CP and HH crosswind signals, with a clear departure from PD ones, can be related to the onset of vigorous breaking events, large enough to impact in-plane and out-of-plane local tilts. Considering that VV polarization best maximizes the polarized resonant contribution, combined CP and VV wide swath SAR observations can thus have the potential to efficiently map and contrast local directional aspects.
Fertilizer subsidies in sub-Saharan Africa

Failures in agricultural input markets are common in developing countries and are a major constraint to productivity growth. Farmers in sub-Saharan African face particularly acute constraints, with poor output price incentives, high fertilizer prices, lack of liquidity/credit and lack of knowledge. In low input/low output agricultural systems, fertilizer subsidies can play a role in raising fertilizer use and agricultural productivity. They can help demonstrate the benefits of fertilizers and/or kick-start market development by raising input demand at a large scale. However subsidies do not represent a suitable policy option on the long run, as they do not address the root causes of low fertilizer use on input or outputs markets and they involve unsustainable fiscal costs for the economy. This paper provides an analysis of the economic rationale for subsidizing agricultural inputs with public money and a literature review of recent experience with subsidies in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper reviews 14 national policies implemented since the late 1990s. Those programmes evolved over time from small-scale demonstration packages to large-scale, multiyear programmes that heavily subsidize fertilizer price to producers. They are targeted at smaller scale farmers, as in East Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia), or universal, as in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana). The new generation of input subsidies (‘smart’ subsidies) brings innovations in design (e.g. targeting; vouchers) to support both the most constrained farmers and encourage the development of input markets. Available evidence, albeit very limited, suggests that such programmes have been effective in raising fertilizer use, average yields and agricultural production but that their success is highly dependent on implementation. Economic efficiency and equity considerations have been less studied and results look less conclusive. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations on the potential contribution of fertilizer subsidies to national food security objectives and some of the entry points for improving their design and efficiency. Policy-makers should adopt clear and non-contradictory objectives that are aligned with their national food security objectives. They should develop targeted packages for a variety of agro-ecologic contexts and farming systems and combine those with complementary services to raise farmers demand (e.g. extension and research). Procurement and distribution of subsidized fertilizers should enhance and not inhibit input market development (market-friendliness). Finally complementary or alternative public expenditures should be mobilized to achieve national food security goals, e.g. cash transfer programmes to increase farm income and input use; market liberalization and infrastructure development to establish strong, private sector-led input supply markets.
Cell Image Segmentation by Integrating Multiple CNNs

Convolutional Neural Network is valid for segmentation of objects in an image. In recent years, it is beginning to be applied to the field of medicine and cell biology. In semantic segmentation, the accuracy has been improved by using single deeper neural network. However, the accuracy is saturated for difficult segmentation tasks. In this paper, we propose a semantic segmentation method by integrating multiple CNNs adaptively. This method consists of a gating network and multiple expert networks. Expert network outputs the segmentation result for an input image. Gating network automatically divides the input image into several sub-problems and assigns them to expert networks. Thus, each expert network solves only the specific problem, and our proposed method is possible to learn more efficiently than single deep neural network. We evaluate the proposed method on the segmentation problem of cell membrane and nucleus. The proposed method improved the segmentation accuracy in comparison with single deep neural network.
Optimization of Process Variables by Response Surface Methodology

In the present study optimisation of the growth medium for the production of Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was carried out using response surface methodology. Four important parameters namely starch, yeast extract, K2HPO4 and MgSO4 concentrations were selected as the independent variables and the enzyme activity (CGTase activity U/mL) was the dependent response variable. Each of these independent variables was studied at five different levels as per central composite design (CCD) in four variables with a total of 28 experimental runs. The optimal calculated values of tested variables for maximal production of CGTase were found to be comprised of: starch, 2.16 %; yeast extract, 0.6 %; K2HPO4, 0.62 %; MgSO4, 0.04 % with a predicted CGTase activity of 150 U/ml. These predicted optimal parameters were tested in the laboratory and the final CGTase activity obtained was very close to the predicted value at 148.2 U/ml. Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 3(4): 592-598
Social identities facilitate and encapsulate action-relevant constructs

Three studies explore the recently elaborated social identity model of collective action (SIMCA) and an alternative, the encapsulated model of social identity in collective action (EMSICA). These models both afford a central role to the function of social identities in promoting collective action, through affective reactions to injustice and group efficacy, but in different ways. Combined analyses of three samples (N = 305) using multigroup structural equation modelling showed that both SIMCA and EMSICA fit the data well but that the path from group efficacy to action was of small size. Results showed that social identity processes can both facilitate and encapsulate other action-relevant constructs, and highlight the importance of considering multiple causal pathways to action.
Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is one of the main causes of visual impairment in patients with diabetic retinopathy (Williams et al., 2004). The common diagnostic tools for assessing macular edema are stereo-ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography. Stereoscopic examination of the fundus at the slit-lamp or on stereoscopic color fundus photographs is the standard method, as defined by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS), for evaluating macular thickening and for starting treatment when the clinical significant macular edema level has been reached (ETDRS Report Number 10, 1991). Fluorescein angiography is a complementary method for further detecting vascular leakage. However, these methods are subjective and seem to be insensitive for small changes in retinal thickness (Hee et al., 1995; Shahidi et al., 1991). In 1991 a revolutionary device was introduced in ophthalmology – optical coherence tomography (OCT) – and it dramatically improved the diagnosis of macular pathology (Huang et al., 1991). OCT provides detailed information about retinal microstructure and measures retinal thickness with high precision and reproducibility (Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network [DRCRN], 2007; Paunescu et al., 2004; Polito et al., 2005; Puliafito et al., 1995). The recently introduced spectral-domain OCT (SD OCT) machines have numerous improvements that enhance our ability to examine retinal microstructure and obtain more reliable measurements.
The Companion Effect: Household and Local Context and the Turnout of Young People

Models of youth turnout often neglect the importance of the household and local context. Drawing on theories of socialization, contextual effects, and voting as habit, we offer an account of why some young people vote and others do not. Using evidence based on electoral returns from the 2001 British General Election, we find that young people’s participation is particularly sensitive to the presence of other voters in the household. Using survey data, we discount the possibility that the effect is simply attributable to varying levels of political interest and strength of partisan support between households.
Uma Abordagem Contextualizada para o Ensino de Programação na Educação Profissional em Informática

Brazilian vocational high school education in Computing faces problems such as course failure and droput, plus dropout from the programs, factors that directly contribute to the deficit of such professionals. This paper presents an experience report of a contextualized and spiral approach carried out with students of the technical program in Informatics. The approach aims to facilitate learning and motivate students through the tools JES and PPlay, and the Python language. Learned lessons suggest the adequacy of Python as first language, and of contextualizaed activities, context resue and challenges as factors contributing to motivation and learning. Resumo. A modalidade do Ensino Profissional na área de Informática enfrenta diversos problemas tais como reprovação e evasão em disciplinas, além de abandono dos cursos, fatores que impactam diretamente no déficit de profissionais nesta área. Este artigo apresenta um relato de experiência de uma abordagem contextualizada e em espiral realizada com estudantes do curso técnico em Informática, na modalidade Integrada. A abordagem tem como objetivo facilitar a aprendizagem e motivar os estudantes, através das ferramentas JES e PPlay e da linguagem Python. As lições aprendidas sugerem a adequação de Python como linguagem para iniciantes, de atividades contextualizadas, de reuso de contextos e desafios como fatores que contribuem para a motivação e a aprendizagem.
Query Classification using Wikipedia's Category Graph

Wikipedia's category graph is a network of 300,000 interconnected category labels, and can be a powerful resource for many classification tasks. However, its size and the lack of order can make it difficult to navigate. In this paper, we present a new algorithm to efficiently exploit this graph and accurately rank classification labels given user-specified keywords. We highlight multiple possible variations of this algorithm, and study the impact of these variations on the classification results in order to determine the optimal way to exploit the category graph. We implement our algorithm as the core of a query classification system and demonstrate its reliability using the KDD CUP 2005 and TREC 2007 competitions as benchmarks.