Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ELECTIVE INTRA-AORTIC BALLOON PUMP IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT

Introduction:Preoperative electiveintra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)prompts improve result in helpless left ventricular function patients going throughcoronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump treatment on postoperative cardiac performance, morbidity and mortality. Method:a prospective, cohort study was conducted on 40 patients with preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction< 40%, who went throughcoronary artery bypass graft. These patients were divided preoperatively into two groups:Group I (N.=20) received intraaortic balloon pump insertion 1-2 hours prior to aortic cross clamp.Group II (N.= 20) control group who did not receive intra-aortic balloon pump preoperatively. Results:Both group were matched regarding age, sex distribution and body surface area,mean cardiac index in group I wassignificantly higher(2.5± 0.21 vs. 2±0.32) (P<0.0001). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time in group I was significantly less (72.56± 21.62 vs. 86.68±20.57) (P=0.04). The ventilation time (hours) and total intensive care unit stay (days) were significantly less in group I (p<0.0001). Conclusion: poor left ventricular function patients going through coronary artery bypass grafting possibly need perioperative intra-aortic balloon pump support to diminish morbidity and mortality.
Coplanar Electrode Polymer Modulators Incorporating Fluorinated Polyimide Backbone Electro-Optic Polymer

High-speed coherent optical communication has been expanding to handle the ever-increasing data traffic, and the large modulation bandwidth of electro-optic (EO) polymer modulators has been especially appreciated. However, to be useful in optical communication, the EO polymer device should address several issues, such as thermal stability, photo-oxidation, and bias drift. In this work, as a part of the experiments to address these challenges, an EO polymer with a fluorinated polyimide backbone is utilized to create EO polymer modulators with improved thermal stability. A coplanar electrode structure is introduced to enhance the poling efficiency and reduce the bias drift.
Comparative Studies on the Chemo and Biosynthesized Nanomaterials for the Remediation of Pharmaceutical Residues in Wastewater

In the present study, comparison was made on the wastewater remediation efficiencies of chemically and biologically synthesized magnetite and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Starchytarpheta indica (snake weed) leaf extract was used as a reducing and capping agent in the green synthesis of magnetite and zinc oxide. The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). These synthesized nanoparticles were further applied in the treatment of industrial pharmaceutical effluent basically comprising amoxicillin, acetaminophen and ascorbic acid. The NPs all performed differently in the removal of these pharmaceutical active compounds. Results showed that the NPs had significant removal efficiencies for acetaminophen, ranging from 67.07 % - 93.59 %, with bio-ZnO having the highest removal efficiency and magnetite giving the least. The range of removal efficiency for ascorbic acid was 54.35 % - 100 %, Magnetite and bio-magnetite showed the highest removal efficiencies whereas bio-ZnO had the least removal rate. Wastewater treatment for the removal of amoxicillin residues with the synthesized nanoparticles was not quite significant, negative removal patterns were observed for wastewater treatment with bio-ZnO and magnetite, a removal rate of 16.82 % was obtained for treatment with bio-magnetite, ZnO NPs had the highest removal efficiency of 49.73 %. Generally, ZnO and bio-magnetite NPs displayed better removal capacities than the other NPs, with overall removal rates of 64.71 % and 48.92 % for ZnO and bio-magnetite NPs respectively.
Understanding the management practices of animal manure and associated risks of transference of bacterial pathogens to crop vegetables

Manure is commonly used in agricultural production in Mauritius,but little is documented on the local management practices. Animal manure, in particular,is a livestock waste that harbors enteric microorganisms which are potentially pathogenic to humans. The objectives of the study were therefore (i) to shed light on the management practices of manure among cattle and poultry farmers (manure producers)and carrot and lettuce growers (manure end-users)and any associated health risks and (ii) to determine the prevalence of human pathogens (diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium perfringens)in manure collected from farmers, vegetable crops fertilized with manure as well as manure-amended soil(MAS) used in crop cultivation.A survey was conducted through in-depth interviews with16 producers and 36 end-users to gather data on their MMP and their perception of the health risks associated with manure handling. Samples of manure, MAS and vegetables were also microbiologically analyzed to enumerate and/or detect pathogens.Findings revealed that cattle and poultry manure was an important resource for many small-holder vegetable farmers in Mauritius. The manure distributors or end users had no negative perception of the use of untreated manure for vegetable cultivation and were generally unaware of any biosecurity risks arising from the improper handling or subsequent use of untreated manure. Microbiological analyses however showed that 100% of manure samples collected from cattle farms and 58% of the poultry litter samples tested positive for pathogenic E. coli with population ranging from 3.3 to 6.5 Log CFU/g. Manure-borne pathogens were generally undetectable in the analyzed vegetables hence indicating a low risk of food borne infections. However, the systematic presence of pathogenic E. coli in cattle manure and frequent occurrence in poultry litter clearly point to a need for creating greater awareness amongst farmers on the occupational health risks associated with handling of raw or inadequately decomposed manure.This study therefore points to the health risks associated with enteric pathogens present in raw or untreated raw manure in Mauritius.
Pendeteksian Sarkasme pada Proses Analisis Sentimen Menggunakan Random Forest Classifier

Kalimat sindiran atau sarkasme masih sering digunakan oleh kalangan publik untuk mengungkapkan maksud isi hati dan pikiran baik itu yang disampaikan secara langsng maupun tidak langsung. Sarkasme dilakukan untuk menyindir dan menyakiti hati seseorang dengan menggunakan bahasa atau kata yang didalamnya mengandung kata positif tetapi maknanya negatif sehingga sering sekali terjadi opini salah diklasifikasikan. Penelitian ini melakukan kombinasi antara proses sentimen analisis dengan deteksi sarkasme untuk pengklasifikasian opini yang terdapat pada Twitter . Proses analisis sentimen dilakukan dengan tahapan preprocessing dan ekstraksi fitur dan diklasifikan dengan menggunakan metode Support Vector Machine dilanjutkan dengan proses pendeteksian sarkasme yang dilakukan tahapan ekstraksi fitur dengan 4 set fitur yaitu sentiment related , punctuation-relate , lexical and syntactic , dan pattern-relate dan diklasifikasikan dengan menggunakan metode Random Forest Classifier . Hasil penelitian ini didapatkan peningkatan nilai rata-rata akurasi sebesar 16,61 %, nilai presisi sebesar 5,45 %, nilai recall sebesar 9,64% dan kenaikan nilai F1score sebesar 11,27% dengan jumlah data sebanyak 2.027 dengan rincian data dengan label positif berjumlah 1023, data dengan label negatif berjumlah 587 dan data dengan label netral berjumlah 462. Data sarkasme didapatkan dari tweet dengan label positif yang kemudian diberikan label sarkasme atau tidak sarkasme dan didapat hasil label dengan jumlah keseluruhan berlabel sarkasme berjumlah 354 dan tidak sarkasme berjumlah 669.
Photophysical studies of neutral aromatic species confined in zeolite L: Comparison with cationic dyes

The photophysical properties of a few aromatic molecules incorporated into the straight channels of zeolite L were investigated, mainly by luminescence spectroscopy. Two significant observations were made. (1) Intense room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) was observed for 9-ethylcarbazole and other aromatics included in the dehydrated K+-form of the zeolite L (KL) whereas RTP was very weak in 47 atom % Na+-exchanged KL (NaKL) and the K+- and Na+-forms of zeolite Y (KY and NaY). Previously, observation of RTP was only made in zeolites exchanged with heavy atom cations such as Rb+ and Cs+. For 9-ethylcarbazole, the tight fit into the KL channels and resultant increased structural rigidity are largely responsible for the remarkable reduction in the rate of nonradiative intersystem crossing from T1 to S0 , leading to the enhanced phosphorescence lifetime even at room temperature. (2) Anthracene, intercalated in the channels, formed dimers that can be detected by the excimer emission. It was found that the dimer formed in NaKL has less overlap than that formed in KL. Moreover, the dimer must have a remarkably short separation between the two rings, comparable to that of anthracenophane, judging from its distorted absorption spectrum. Formation of naphthalene dimers with partial overlap in KL was identified from the characteristic fluorescence spectrum of the second excimer. No naphthalene dimer was formed in NaKL even at high loadings. Thus the photophysics of anthracene and naphthalene in zeolite L is remarkably different from that in solutions and large-pore faujasite zeolites where the framework exerts only weak conformational control over the guest molecules. Additionally, the charge compensating cations in zeolite L were found to have the ability to control the distribution and conformation of the guest species within the channels. The present findings show that the zeolite L is a better host matrix than the large pore faujasite zeolites for manipulating the photophysics of neutral guest species.
Electronic absorption and vibrational spectroscopies of conjugated conducting polymers

Conjugated conducting polymers constitute a subject of research lying at the interface between solid-state physics and molecular science. Electronic absorption and vibrational spectroscopies of doped conjugated polymers, whose ground states are nondegenerate, are reviewed from a viewpoint of molecular spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying the structures of polarons and bipolarons, which are associated with electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of the polymers. Electronic absorption and Raman spectra of doped polymers have been analyzed on the basis of those of model compounds. These analyses have led us to the conclusion that polarons are the major species generated by doping in most nondegenerate conjugated polymers such as polythiophene, poly(p-phenylene), and poly(p-phenylenevinylene), in contrast with the previous view that bipolarons are the major species. The theoretical and experimental bases of these two contradictory views are discussed.
Aggregation Phenomena in Aqueous Solutions of Hydrophobically Modified Polyelectrolytes. A Probe Solubilization Study

Aggregation in the solutions of a hydrophobically modified polyelectrolyte, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-g-poly(acrylic acid) (Pluronic-PAA), has been studied as a function of temperature, pH, and molecular weight. Pluronic-PAA undergoes temperature- and pH-responsive aggregation in aqueous solutions, as shown by solubilization of fluorescent dyes and spin-labeled probes. Stable gel structures cross-linked by aggregates are formed above the critical micellization temperature (cmt). The aggregates provide a nonpolar microenvironment to pyrene that is insensitive to the ionization. The microenvironment of pyrene below the cmt at low pH is nonpolar, suggesting the presence of hydrophobic microdomains unrelated to the temperature-induced micellization. Full ionization of PAA leads to weakening of hydrophobic microdomains below the cmt. Above the cmt, 12-doxylstearic acid and spin-labeled steroid hormone can be solubilized into Pluronic-PAA aggregates. Solubilization resu.
Prevalence of nodular goiter in patients with breast diseases

Introduction. Various studies have reported conflicting results regarding the relationship between breast and thyroid diseases. The exact pathogenesis behind this association is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid disease in patients presenting with breast diseases and to examine whether thyroid screening is required in patients with breast diseases. Methodology. All patients attending the department of General Surgery in our institution with breast diseases during the period from December 2015 to September 2017 were enrolled for the study. A thorough clinical examination which included an examination of the neck was done. Thyroid profile and ultrasonography neck were performed in all patients and the pathology in all radiologically diagnosed cases of nodular goiter was confirmed by cytology. Results. We had 128 patients with breast diseases enrolled in the study of which 62 (48%) patients had malignant breast disease and 66 (52%) patients had benign breast disease. None of the patients in our study had a palpable thyroid nodule or a diffuse goiter. Of the 61 patients having malignant breast diseases, 26 (42.6%) patients had a radiologically detected thyroid disease and among the 64 patients with benign breast diseases, 10 (15.6%) had radiologically detected thyroid diseases. Conclusions. In our study the prevalence of nodular goiter was higher in patients with malignant breast diseases than patients with benign breast diseases. However, this prevalence or clinical relevance is not significant enough to warrant screening for thyroid disease in patients with breast diseases.
The Nutrient Status of Plant Roots Reveals Competition Intensities in Rubber Agroforestry Systems

Controversial competition theories may confuse the current understanding of belowground plant competition and thus result in incorrect diagnoses and mitigation strategies for nutrient competition. As such, the management of nutrient competition is a major challenge in the application and development of rubber agroforestry systems (AFSs). To explore the effects of plant competition on the nutrient status of rubber AFSs, this study measured the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations of the litter and soil and in plant leaves, stems, and roots from five rubber plantations (i.e., rubber monocultures and rubber mixed with cocoa, coffee, tea, and Flemingia macrophylla (Willd.) Merr. , 1910)). The relative competition intensity indexes were calculated to evaluate the competition intensity of each mixed-species system, and Bayesian networks were established to investigate the linkage effects of interspecific competition for nutrients. This study demonstrated that rubber trees had weak competition with cocoa trees, moderate competition with F. macrophylla and tea trees, and intense competition with coffee trees. With the increase in competition intensity, the negative effects of interspecific competition on soil gradually offset the improvement in soil nutrients achieved with intercropping. Nitrogen and phosphorous translocation from the stems to the roots was enhanced by competition. However, enhanced nutrient allocation to roots may have led to insufficient nitrogen and phosphorous supplies in plant leaves. The quality of the litter therefore decreased because the nutrient status of fallen leaves determines the initial litter conditions. Such consequences may reduce the release of nutrients from the litter to the soil and thus increase soil nutrient depletion. This study revealed that competition effects were most obvious for the root nutrient status, followed by the stem and leaf nutrient statuses. Moreover, this study further demonstrated that the nutrient concentration of plant roots can better indicate the intensity of nutrient competition than the nutrient concentration of other plant organs.
The Physical Manifestation of Side Reactions in the Electrolyte of Lithium-Ion Batteries and Its Impact on the Terminal Voltage Response

Batteries as a multi-disciplinary field have been analyzed from the electrical, material science and electrochemical engineering perspectives. The first principle-based four-dimensional degradation model (4DM) of the battery is used in the article to connect the interdisciplinary sciences that deal with batteries. The 4DM is utilized to identify the physical manifestation that electrolyte degradation has on the battery and the response observed in the terminal voltage. This paper relates the different kinds of side reactions in the electrolyte and the material properties affected due to these side reactions. It goes on to explain the impact the material property changes has on the electrochemical reactions in the battery. This paper discusses how these electrochemical reactions affect the voltage across the terminals of the battery. We determine the relationship the change in the terminal voltage has due to the change in the design properties of the electrolyte. We also determine the impact the changes in the electrolyte material property have on the terminal voltage. In this paper, the lithium ion concentration and the transference number of the electrolyte are analyzed and the impact of their degradation is studied.
An Event-Based Digital Time Difference Encoder Model Implementation for Neuromorphic Systems

Neuromorphic systems are a viable alternative to conventional systems for real-time tasks with constrained resources. Their low power consumption, compact hardware realization, and low-latency response characteristics are the key ingredients of such systems. Furthermore, the event-based signal processing approach can be exploited for reducing the computational load and avoiding data loss due to its inherently sparse representation of sensed data and adaptive sampling time. In event-based systems, the information is commonly coded by the number of spikes within a specific temporal window. However, the temporal information of event-based signals can be difficult to extract when using rate coding. In this work, we present a novel digital implementation of the model, called time difference encoder (TDE), for temporal encoding on event-based signals, which translates the time difference between two consecutive input events into a burst of output events. The number of output events along with the time between them encodes the temporal information. The proposed model has been implemented as a digital circuit with a configurable time constant, allowing it to be used in a wide range of sensing tasks that require the encoding of the time difference between events, such as optical flow-based obstacle avoidance, sound source localization, and gas source localization. This proposed bioinspired model offers an alternative to the Jeffress model for the interaural time difference estimation, which is validated in this work with a sound source lateralization proof-of-concept system. The model was simulated and implemented on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), requiring 122 slice registers of hardware resources and less than 1 mW of power consumption.
Development of an Exact Method for Zero-One Linear Programming Model

The paper presents a new method for solving the 0–1 linear programming problems (LPs). The general 0–1 LPs are believed to be NP-hard and a consistent, efficient general-purpose algorithm for these models has not been found so far. Cutting planes and branch and bound approaches were the earliest exact methods for the 0–1 LP. Unfortunately, these methods on their own failed to solve the 0–1 LP model consistently and efficiently. The hybrids that are a combination of heuristics, cuts, branch and bound and pricing have been used successfully for some 0–1 models. The main challenge with these hybrids is that these hybrids cannot completely eliminate the threat of combinatorial explosion for very large practical 0–1 LPs. In this paper, a technique to reduce the complexity of 0–1 LPs is proposed. The given problem is used to generate a simpler version of the problem, which is then solved in stages in such a way that the solution obtained is tested for feasibility and improved at every stage until an optimal solution is found. The new problem generated has a coefficient matrix of 0 s and 1 s only. From this study, it can be concluded that for every 0–1 LP with a feasible optimal solution, there exists another 0–1 LP (called a double in this paper) with exactly the same optimal solution but different constraints. The constraints of the double are made up of only 0 s and 1 s. It is not easy to determine this double 0–1 LP by mere inspection but can be obtained in stages as given in the numerical illustration presented in this paper. The 0–1 integer programming models have applications in so many areas of business. These include large economic/financial models, marketing strategy models, production scheduling and labor force planning models, computer design and networking models, military operations, agriculture, wild fire fighting, vehicle routing and health care and medical models
Jute Stick Powder: A new approach to efficient biosorbent for the simultaneous removal of Pb, Cr and Cd from waste water

This research was aimed to evaluate the potential of biosorption technique in more realistic conditions that appeal to the industry by exploiting locally available biosorbents such as jute stick powder (JSP), an agricultural product, for the removal of toxic Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cd(II) ions from wastewater. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) analysis proved that the surface of biosorbent was porous, with heterogeneous structures that contained high internal spaces. The removal efficiencies of the mixture of the target metals by JSP were optimized with respect to pH, initial metal concentration, shaking time and biomass dose. Biosorption performance of JSP in multiple metal systems was above 90 percent adsorption for tested metal ions. Biomass regeneration efficiencies up to 98% were achieved using acid as eluent. Sorption performance of the JSP as biosorbent was examined by classical adsorption equilibrium isotherms, kinetics in batch systems, and dynamic continuous flow studies. Batch sorption studies revealed that pseudo-first, pseudosecond-order, and Langmuir isotherm models were suitable to describe the metals sorption kinetics and equilibrium, respectively.
Study of the patterns of change in absorption current over time and its use for measuring insulation resistance

The article presents a computer simulation of absorption currents in dielectrics. The results of the study of changes in the absorption currents in time, as well as accelerated measurement of the insulation resistance taking into account the absorption current, are considered. When measuring the insulation resistance of electric power facilities, the absorption current which flows through the insulation and drops to zero in a very long time may initially exceed the leakage current. The article analyzes various patterns of representing the absorption current and proposes a new formula containing exponential and power functions. An approach is proposed for accelerated measurement of insulation resistance using extrapolation of absorption currents, that is, the calculation of the value (forecast) of the steady-state current in the measuring circuit, without waiting for the end of the absorption current flow and transients.