Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voriconazole Treatment for Fungal Chorioretinitis After Obesity Surgery

Presently described is a case of fungal septicemia diagnosed based on a fundus examination and successfully treated with voriconazole. A 48-year-old woman who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy 20 days prior due to obesity was referred to the ophthalmology clinic for blurred vision in the right eye. The initial examination indicated visual acuity of only light perception in the right eye and 0.00 logMAR in the left eye. Anterior segment examination and light reaction results were normal in both eyes. The vitreous was clear. A central, hemorrhagic, hypopigmented lesion 1/3 optic disc diameter in size, was located in the right fovea, bulging from the retina. There were 3 or 4 small hypopigmented lesions in both peripheral retinas. The examination findings and patient history suggested fungal chorioretinitis. The patient was treated with intravenous voriconazole at a maintenance dose of 200 mg 2 times a day following a loading dose of 6 mg/kg 2 times a day for 48 hours according to the recommendation of the infectious diseases clinic. Multimodal imaging using fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography was performed throughout treatment. The patient’s daily follow-up revealed no deterioration and improvement was seen on the third day. Endogenous fungal chorioretinitis is a rare infection, but it remains important in ophthalmology due to the high potential to cause severe visual loss and the limited diagnosis and treatment options. Patients who are susceptible to fungemia and have a recurrent fever may be referred to an ophthalmologist. Many clinical tests may have negative results but a careful fundoscopic examination can determine signs of fungemia-related chorioretinitis.
How do intermittency and simultaneous processes obfuscate the Arctic influence on midlatitude winter extreme weather events?

Pronounced changes in the Arctic environment add a new potential driver of anomalous weather patterns in midlatitudes that affect billions of people. Recent studies of these Arctic/midlatitude weather linkages, however, state inconsistent conclusions. A source of uncertainty arises from the chaotic nature of the atmosphere. Thermodynamic forcing by a rapidly warming Arctic contributes to weather events through changing surface heat fluxes and large-scale temperature and pressure gradients. But internal shifts in atmospheric dynamics—the variability of the location, strength, and character of the jet stream, blocking, and stratospheric polar vortex (SPV)—obscure the direct causes and effects. It is important to understand these associated processes to differentiate Arctic-forced variability from natural variability. For example in early winter, reduced Barents/Kara Seas sea-ice coverage may reinforce existing atmospheric teleconnections between the North Atlantic/Arctic and central Asia, and affect downstream weather in East Asia. Reduced sea ice in the Chukchi Sea can amplify atmospheric ridging of high pressure near Alaska, influencing downstream weather across North America. In late winter southward displacement of the SPV, coupled to the troposphere, leads to weather extremes in Eurasia and North America. Combined tropical and sea ice conditions can modulate the variability of the SPV. Observational evidence for Arctic/midlatitude weather linkages continues to accumulate, along with understanding of connections with pre-existing climate states. Relative to natural atmospheric variability, sea-ice loss alone has played a secondary role in Arctic/midlatitude weather linkages; the full influence of Arctic amplification remains uncertain.
Political Leadership in Policy Implementation: Case Study of Rural Transport Accessibility in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia

Politics plays a major role in every aspect of the government development plan. Kelantan is an interesting case in understanding the different political leadership involved in the implementation process. This study reports how politics influenced the development of rural transport accessibility in Kuala Krai, Kelantan. In-depth interviews were conducted among 33 respondents; 13 policymakers from the federal, state and local level and 20 villagers covering all the three sub-districts in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia. The findings were presented based on the emerging themes emerged from the analysis. The findings confirmed that politics is the primary mover in formulating and implementing any transport accessibility plan in the study area. The findings also provided ultimate insights for policymakers at multiple decision-making level involved in formulating and implementing for an accessible rural transport system for the rural communities.
Assessment and Early Warning of Geo-Environmental Carrying Capacity: A Case Study of Tianjin Binhai New Area, China

The geo-environmental carrying capacity (GCC) is to provide a scientific method for government to make a reasonable strategic decision for the land use planning and distribution of industrial structures. In this paper, the assessment indicators system and the assessment model of geo-environmental carrying capacity (GCC) based on the System dynamics (SD) theory were established for a case study of Tianjin Binhai New Area, China. Then the assessment model was applied to the land use planning of the study area. The results show that about 15 percent over loading sub-areas was eliminated in the Tianjin Binhai New Area by land use re-planning and adjustment of industrial structures. The study proposed a new method for the assessment and early warning of the geo-environmental carrying capacity.
Sedating Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients with Volatile Anesthetics: Insights on the Last-Minute Potential Weapons

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread globally with the number of cases exceeding seventy million. Although trials on potential treatments of COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) are promising, the introduction of an effective therapeutic intervention seems elusive. In this review, we explored the potential therapeutic role of volatile anesthetics during mechanical ventilation in the late stages of the disease. COVID-19 is thought to hit the human body via five major mechanisms: direct viral damage, immune overactivation, capillary thrombosis, loss of alveolar capillary membrane integrity, and decreased tissue oxygenation. The overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines will eventually lead to the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the lungs, which will lead to ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation. Respiratory failure resulting from ARDS is thought to be the most common cause of death in COVID-19. The literature suggests that these effects could be directly countered by using volatile anesthetics for sedation. These agents possess multiple properties that affect viral replication, immunity, and coagulation. They also have proven benefits at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Based on the comprehensive understanding of the literature, short-term sedation with volatile anesthetics may be beneficial in severe stages of COVID-19 ARDS and trials to study their effects should be encouraged.
Akselerasi Inovasi Produk Litbang Berbasis Teknologi Nano Melalui Pendekatan Technoprenuership

Tantangan yang sering muncul dalam pemanfaatan hasil litbang pemerintah adalah kemampuan dalam pengelolaan teknologi dan produk, dimana kesenjangan kemampuan teknis dan bisnis menyebabkan hasil litbang belum mampu menembus pasar secara meluas. Technoprenuership dianggap menjadi kerangka yang efektif dalam mengintegrasikan aspek kewirausahaan untuk mengelola model bisnis dari produk litbang berbasis teknologi tinggi. Kajian ini mengeksplorasi bagaimana kemampuan komersialisasi hasil litbang yang dilakukan oleh lembaga litbang pemerintah dapat meningkatkan skala dampak ekonomi. Berbasis studi kasus tunggal (single case study) dari produk aplikasi teknologi nano LIPI, kajian ini memanfaatkan kerangka technoprenuership untuk melihat kapabilitas teknologi dan pemasaran perusahaan start-up dalam membangun model bisnis yang dijalankannya. Eksplorasi pendekatan technoprenuership diuraikan dalam konsep Knowledge Intensive Enterpreneurship (KIE) untuk menjelaskan tiga komponen yang saling melengkapi (complementary), yaitu peluang teknologi, peluang pasar dan peluang institusional. Hasil studi mengungkapkan bahwa komplementaritas dari peluang hasil riset akan menentukan keberhasilan perusahaan start-up mengkomersialisasikan produk berteknologi nano. Adanya kesenjangan kapabilitas teknologi antara periset (peneliti) dengan pengusaha (start-up company) mendorong pendekatan technoprenuership dapat diusulkan menjadi model kebijakan teknologi selanjutnya.
China’s Key Forestry Ecological Development Programs: Implementation, Environmental Impact and Challenges

Forest ecosystems are in serious trouble globally, largely due to the over-exploitation. To alleviate environmental problems caused by deforestation, China has undertaken a series of key forestry ecological development programs, including the Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP), the Conversion of Cropland into Forests Program (CCFP), the Desertification Combating Program around Beijing and Tianjing (DCBT), the Key Shelterbelt Development Programs in the Three-North Region and in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River (KSDP) and the Nature Reserve Development Program in Forestry Sector (WCNR). This article aims to make a documentation of the specific contents (duration, major aims, geographic coverage and investment), and environmental impacts of these programs from peer-reviewed literature, official reports and journals. Environmental impact is measured with land area afforested (except the WCNR) and the consequent changes in ecosystem function. Overall, with the huge investment and long-term efforts, these programs have made tremendous progress in increasing vegetative coverage, enhancing carbon sequestration, controlling soil erosion, conservation of biodiversity, etc. For proper implementation and remarkable achievement, a more balanced approach with flexible planning, suitable measures and proper management should be adopted. Meanwhile, the scientific communities need to be more actively involved in execution and assessment of these programs. The environmental impact of the DCBT, the KSDP, and the WCNR deserve more research concern.
A comparison of methods for clustering longitudinal data with slowly changing trends

Abstract Longitudinal clustering provides a detailed yet comprehensible description of time profiles among subjects. With several approaches that are commonly used for this purpose, it remains unclear under which conditions a method is preferred over another method. We investigated the performance of five methods using Monte Carlo simulations on synthetic datasets, representing various scenarios involving polynomial time profiles. The performance was evaluated on two aspects: The agreement of the group assignment to the simulated reference, as measured by the split-join distance, and the trend estimation error, as measured by a weighted minimum of the mean squared error (WMMSE). Growth mixture modeling (GMM) was found to achieve the best overall performance, followed closely by a two-step approach using growth curve modeling and k-means (GCKM). Considering the model similarities between GMM and GCKM, the latter is preferred for large datasets for its computational efficiency. Longitudinal k-means (KML) and group-based trajectory modeling were found to have practically identical solutions in the case that the group trajectory model of the latter method is correctly specified. Both methods performed less than GMM and GCKM in most settings.
Improving the noise reduction performance of gangway bellows by using multilayered structures

Excessive interior noise in railway vehicles is a major cause of fatigue and discomfort for passengers. In particular, the between-cars sections of high-speed trains experience considerable interior noise due to the poor noise reduction performance of the bellows, which are primarily made of silicone rubber and thus have a lower density than that of other components, made of extruded aluminum. Therefore, the objective of this study was to improve the noise reduction performance of such bellows. First, the material properties of silicone rubber were analyzed. Based on the results, the noise transmission of a simple model was analyzed to determine approaches required to reduce the low-frequency interior noise of the between-cars sections. It was confirmed that the low-frequency noise could be reduced by incorporating a multilayered panel of silicone rubber. Therefore, multilayered structures were considered for incorporation in the interior space of the between-cars sections of an actual high-speed train. A curved driving simulation of the between-cars sections indicated that no interference occurs when applying the proposed approach. Furthermore, a comparative test regarding the noise reduction performance was conducted considering cases involving bellows with and without multiple layers. The results of the verification test demonstrated that the noise reduction performance when using the proposed approach was improved by 4 dB compared with that in the case involving the conventional bellows, and an improvement of 8 dB or more was observed for noise with a low-frequency of 100 Hz.
Satisfaction and Loyalty of Banking Customers in Indonesia

Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty are essential metrics in increasing a company's revenue and profit in the banking industry. This research aims to determine the effect of satisfaction on loyalty among bank customers in Indonesia. The study was conducted by face to face interview method (F2F) among 1910 bank customers in eight metropolis in Indonesia (2019). The sampling method used a random sampling followed by a booster sampling approach. The analysis was conducted using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) by WarpPLS approach. The results show that satisfaction positively and very significantly affects loyalty.
Study on Friction and Wear Properties of Zr–Cu–Ni–Al Crystalline Powder Cladding and Amorphous Composite Powder Cladding by Laser

In order to improve the friction and wear performance and surface hardness of AISI 1045 steel and expand its application range, this paper carried out the research on friction and wear performance and surface hardness of Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu17. 5 crystalline powder (CP) and amorphous powder (AP) after laser cladding on AISI 1045 steel surface. The results show that both CP and amorphous powder (AP) formed a cladding layer on the surface of AISI 1045 steel under laser irradiation. The thickness of the cladding layer is about 400 μm, and the thickness of the AP cladding layer is slightly larger than that of the CP cladding layer. The results show that there are many holes in the AP cladding layer, and holes can be observed at the junction with the matrix; while the CP cladding layer is well combined with the matrix and no holes are observed. The friction performance of CP cladding layer is better than that of AP cladding layer. In the wear marks of the AP cladding layer, there are bonding areas, while the wear marks of the CP cladding layer have a furrow-like morphology, and part of the matrix is exposed. The surface microhardness and average microhardness of AP cladding layer are 49% and 94% higher than that of CP cladding layer, respectively. Hardness modification has obvious advantages. The reasons for porosity, large friction coefficient and low stability of the friction experiment of the AP cladding layer are analyzed and discussed. The ideas and methods for improving the laser irradiation to achieve both high wear resistance and high strength of the AP cladding layer are proposed.
Smartphone-based parking guidance algorithm and implementation

Abstract To alleviate parking problem and offer convenient and efficient service for drivers in parking selection, a smartphone-based parking guidance algorithm and system implementation architecture are proposed. The algorithm describes parking selection as multi-criteria decision making. Dijkstra algorithm is used to suggest the shortest path for the candidate parking lots. Travel cost criteria for the shortest path and parking cost criteria for the candidate parking lots are integrated to constitute a multi-criteria decision set. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is explored to decide criteria weights and further make decision about the most appropriate parking lot for drivers. This work also gives the smartphone-based parking guidance system architecture to implement the proposed algorithm. The system enables drivers to inquire the information such as the optimal parking lot recommended by the proposed algorithm and driving route to the suggested parking lot on smartphone. To illustrate the implementation process of the proposed algorithm, an example is presented. The proposed algorithm and system not only provide drivers with services such as intelligent parking decision, convenient inquiry, and route navigation, but also reduce cruising time, energy consumption, and traffic congestion caused by searching available parking lots.
The Spatial Distribution of Aeolian Dust and Terrigenous Fluxes in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean Since the Last Glacial Maximum

The flux of terrestrial material from the continents to the oceans links the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere through physical and biogeochemical processes, with important implications for Earth's climate. Quantitative estimates of terrigenous fluxes from sources such as rivers, aeolian dust, and resuspended shelf sediments are required to understand how the processes delivering terrigenous material respond to and are influenced by climate. We compile thorium‐230 normalized 232Th flux records in the tropical Atlantic to provide an improved understanding of aeolian fluxes since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). By identifying and isolating sites dominated by aeolian terrigenous inputs, we show that there was a persistent meridional gradient in dust fluxes in the eastern equatorial Atlantic at the LGM, arguing against a large southward shift of the intertropical convergence zone during LGM boreal winter. The ratio of LGM to late‐Holocene 232Th fluxes highlights a meridional difference in the magnitude of variations in dust deposition, with sites <10°N showing larger changes over time. This supports an interpretation of increased trade wind strength at the LGM, potentially combined with differential changes in soil moisture and reductions in higher altitude summer winds. Our results also highlight the persistent importance of continental margins as sources of high terrigenous flux to the open ocean. This is especially evident in the western tropical Atlantic, where study locations reveal the primary influence of the South American continent up to >700 km away, characterized by 232Th fluxes approximately twice as large as aeolian‐dominated sites in the east.
Acceptance and image quality of high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the metacarpophalangeal joints in rheumatoid arthritis

High‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR‐pQCT) requires longer immobilization time than conventional radiography, which challenges patient acceptance and image quality. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the acceptance of HR‐pQCT in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and secondly the effect of an inflatable hand immobilization device on motion artefacts of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints.
Impact of Attrition Ball-Mill on Characteristics and Biochemical Methane Potential of Food Waste

The impact of attrition ball-mill pretreatment on food waste particle size, soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), biochemical methane potential, and microbial community during anaerobic digestion was investigated based on milling speed and time. The uniformity of particle size improved with increasing milling speed and time. The SCOD of the pretreated samples increased to 4%, 7%, and 17% at the speeds of 150, 225, and 300 rpm, respectively, compared to the control. Milling time did not significantly change the SCOD. The cumulative methane productions of 430, 440, and 490 mL/g-VS were observed at the speeds of 150, 225, and 300 rpm, respectively, while the untreated sample exhibited the cumulative methane production of 390 mL/g-VS. Extended milling time did not improve methane production much. When the milling times of 10, 20, and 30 min were applied with the milling speed fixed at 300 rpm, the methane productions of 490, 510, and 500 mL/g-VS were observed respectively. Ball-mill pretreatment also increased the total volatile fatty acids. During the anaerobic digestion (AD) of ball-mill treated food waste, acetoclastic methanogens predominated, with a relative abundance of 48–49%. Interestingly, hydrogenotrophic methanogens were 1.6 times higher in the pretreated samples than those in the control. These results showed the potential of attrition ball milling as a food waste pretreatment for improving methane production.
Anencephaly associated with amniotic bands: A case report and review of the association

Introduction: Anencephaly is a relatively common fatal neuro-developmental disorder. Routine prenatal screening using ultrasound diagnoses the condition frequently and aid in managing the cases appropriately. Anencephaly is characterized by a severe developmental anomaly of the brain and a defective skull. Amniotic band syndrome is a condition associated with multiple congenital anomalies, which are often a consequence of fibrotic amniotic bands extending from the placenta to the fetus. It is a rare association but can be recognized by first trimester or late obstetric ultrasound. Amniotic band syndrome may be associated with anencephaly and often attributed as a causative factor. Apart from the amniotic band syndrome, many other conditions are associated with amniotic bands and the syndrome may be labeled erroneously if only the bands are taken into consideration.Case: A 27-year-old, G2P1 lady at 12 weeks and 2 days gestational age came for a routine ultrasound evaluation. The fetus was found to have a deformity of the head characteristic of anencephaly sequence. Multiple fibrotic bands were seen in the amniotic cavity extending from the placenta towards the fetus side, suspicious of amniotic band syndrome. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated on the patient’s request.Conclusion: The association of anencephaly and amniotic band syndrome is well known and the bands are often responsible for the spectrum of anencephalic anomalies. Asymmetric defects in the skull and brain are the norm in such cases along with multiple defects in the body parts. Both the anomalies are in general severe and may warrant early intervention. More benign amniotic bands like chorioamniotic separation may be encountered in pregnancy and should not be confused with more dangerous amniotic band syndrome. Recognition of amniotic bands is important, as many bands regardless of the etiology were found to be potentially harmful.