Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-objective structural optimization of a cyclone for an aggregate drying pulverised coal combustion device

ABSTRACT The focus of this work is on the problem of the low efficiency and high pollution caused by the poor quality of coal, unstable loads and other factors in the pulverised coal combustion process. For this reason, a cyclone is installed at the second outlet of pulverised coal combustion devices. Multi-parameter and multi-objective optimizations were involved in the design of the cyclone. The influences of the structural parameters on the evaluation index have been rigorously analysed through the evaluation index of the internal flow field of the burner. Further, the genetic algorithm NSGA-II was applied to optimise the structural parameters of the cyclone based on Response Surface Model. The results showed that the outer diameter of the cyclone, the installation angle of the swirl vanes, and the number of swirl vanes had a significant impact on the combustion, as well as the NOX emission characteristics of pulverised coal. When the outer diameter of the cyclone was 500 mm, the number of swirl vanes was 12, and the installation angle of the swirl vanes was 48 degrees, the combustion efficiency of the pulverised coal burner was increased by 47.3%, and the NOX emissions were decreased by 19.1%.
Self-reported Morbidity as a Sensitive Indicator of Variation in Anthropometry and Body Composition among Urban Slum Dwelling Adult Males in West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT Self-reported morbidity (SRM) was positively associated with social cultural backwardness and with mortality in demographic studies. Its usefulness in assessing health status was criticized to be biased by subjectivity. This study assessed its association with anthropometric profile, an objective marker of health status. This cross-sectional study included 474 slum dwelling adult men. Height, weight and skin folds were measured. Body mass index, percent body fat, fat mass, fat mass index, fat-free mass, fat free mass index were computed. Morbidity was recorded as self-reported incidence of illness during the last month and in the previous year excluding the last month. All anthropometric measures, except height, and all body composition variables, except fat-free mass, showed the lowest values in repeated illness group and the highest values in the group reporting no illness. To conclude, SRM was strongly associated with anthropometry and body composition and thus with the health status.
Results of the phase Ib study of ipilimumab and gemcitabine for advanced pancreas cancer.

e15281 Background: Agents with durable responses are needed for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC). T regulatory cells (Treg) create a protective microenviroment around pancreatic tumor cells that allows for immune evasion and limits the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks CTLA-4, downregulates Tregs and activates tumor specific T cells. Ipilimumab produced durable responses and overall survival benefit in metastatic melanoma patients. We report the final results of a dose finding study of gemcitabine and ipilimumab for APC. Methods: Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was assessed during a 12 week induction cycle consisting of gemcitabine (750-1000 mg/m2) weekly for 7 weeks followed by one week off, then weekly for 3 weeks and ipilimumab (3-10 mg/kg) on weeks 1, 4, 7, and 10. Response was evaluated at 12 weeks by RECIST, mWHO criteria and immune-related response criteria (irRC). If deriving clinical benefit at 12 weeks, subjects continued gemcitabine 3 weeks .
Methods of comparison of surface texture based on fractal dimension and Hotelling’s T2 test

Comparative analysis of the surface texture of machine parts can be successfully carried out using statistical tests. The paper presents a methodology of method used to compare the surface texture by applying Hotelling’s T2 test as well as a method used to evaluate surface topography by applying fractal dimension. The tests were carried out on samples produced with the use of face milling process for four types of materials. The following types of steel were used: 40HM, C45, NC6 and WCL. For each type of material, four areas were machined with the same machining parameters. Based on these results a decision was made whether the surfaces, despite the same machining conditions, were significantly different from each other. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that the fractal dimension enabled to characterise signal irregularities in quantitative and qualitative way.
A Case of Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma with Multifocal Pyomyositis Following Chemotherapy

Abstract Pyomyositis is extremely rare after chemotherapy for nonhematological malignancies. We report a patient of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, who developed multifocal pyomyositis in bilateral lower limbs after the first cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with vincristine, ifosfamide, mesna, and etoposide. The diagnosis of pyomyositis was reached after ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of bilateral lower limbs. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus were isolated from pus. This patient was treated with 4 weeks of antibiotics, besides ultrasound-guided pus aspiration and open surgical debridement. To the best of our knowledge, no case of rhabdomyosarcoma with pyomyositis following chemotherapy has been reported so far.
Individual tree crown segmentation based on aerial image using superpixel and topological features

Abstract. The individual tree crown (ITC) segmentation algorithm based on aerial images is a prerequisite for understanding tree growth, tree species competition, and biomass assessment. We combine superpixel segmentation and topological graph methods to separate the ITC effectively from aerial images. First, the aerial images of forest plots captured by drones was segmented by simple linear iterative clustering of superpixel algorithm, and the crown boundaries of aerial images were obtained by deep learning concept of holistically nested edge detection (HED) network. Second, the similarity weights of neighboring superpixels were measured by three indices, i.e., the difference in color value, the number of intersecting pixels, and the number of boundary pixels defined by HED network in the intersecting area. Finally, the minimum spanning tree topological method was adopted to generate the connected trees of aerial images at the superpixel scale, and the superpixels were merged to realize ITC segmentation depending on the calculated similarity weights. This method was tested on the aerial images of three forest plots with different stand structural features, and the accuracies of the algorithm were evaluated by comparing the results of our algorithm with field measurements. Mixed growth of the withered trees and healthy trees is in the forest plot 1, which complicates the ITC segmentation process and only achieves 86% accuracy. The forest plot 2 with same tree species and approximately sized tree crowns obtains the highest ITC accuracy of 92%. The forest plot 3 has various sizes of tree crowns and is influenced by the upper-right solar illumination, which increases the difficulty of ITC segmentation using our algorithm and obtains 87% accuracy. Overall, the method proposed has promising potential for ITC segmentation from forest aerial images, which provides a new concept based on image processing technique suitable for various types of forests.
OSSE Assessment of Underwater Glider Arrays to Improve Ocean Model Initialization for Tropical Cyclone Prediction

Credible tropical cyclone (TC) intensity prediction by coupled models requires accurate forecasts of enthalpy flux from ocean to atmosphere, which in turn requires accurate forecasts of sea surface temperature cooling beneath storms. Initial ocean fields must accurately represent ocean mesoscale features and the associated thermal and density structure. Observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) are performed to quantitatively assess the impact of assimilating profiles collected from multiple underwater gliders deployed over the western North Atlantic Ocean TC region, emphasizing advantages gained by profiling from moving versus stationary platforms. Assimilating ocean profiles collected repeatedly at fixed locations produces large root-mean-square error reduction only within ~50 km of each profiler for two primary reasons. First, corrections performed during individual update cycles tend to introduce unphysical eddy structure resulting from smoothing properties of the background error covariance matrix and the tapering of innovations by a localization radius function. Second, advection produces rapid nonlinear error growth at larger distances from profiler locations. The ability of each individual moving glider to cross gradients and map mesoscale structure in its vicinity substantially reduces this nonlinear error growth. Glider arrays can be deployed with horizontal separation distances that are 50%–100% larger than those of fixed-location profilers to achieve similar mesoscale error reduction. By contrast, substantial larger-scale bias reduction in upper-ocean heat content can be achieved by deploying profiler arrays with separation distances up to several hundred kilometers, with moving gliders providing only modest additional improvement. Expected sensitivity of results to study region and data assimilation method is discussed.
Mechanisms of peptide and phosphoester hydrolysis catalyzed by two promiscuous metalloenzymes (insulin degrading enzyme and glycerophosphodiesterase) and their synthetic analogues

The hydrolysis of extremely stable peptide and phosphoester bonds by metalloenzymes is of great interest in biotechnology and industry. However, due to various shortcomings only a handful of these enzymes have been used for industrial applications. Therefore, in the last two decades intensive scientific efforts have been made in rational development of small molecules to imitate the activities of natural enzymes. Despite these efforts, their currently available synthetic analogues are inferior in terms of selectivity, catalytic rate, and turnover and the designing of efficient artificial metalloenzymes remains a distant goal. This is a challenging area of research that necessitates a rigorous integration between experiments and theory. The realization of this goal requires knowledge of the catalytic activities of both enzymes and their existing analogues and an effective fusion of that knowledge. This article reviews several studies in which a plethora of computational techniques have been successfully employed to investigate the functioning of two chemically promiscuous mono‐ and binuclear metalloenzymes (insulin degrading enzyme and glycerophosphodiesterase) and two synthetic analogues. These studies will help us derive fundamental principles of peptide and phosphoester hydrolysis and pave the way to design efficient small molecule catalysts for these reactions.
Permeable pavement systems with low carbon and recycled materials for Caribbean Small Island Developing States

This PhD research project targets the utilisation of permeable pavement systems (PPS) as a long-term, sustainable urban drainage option for flood risk mitigation and improvement in stormwater runoff quality in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across the Caribbean. Additionally, the research assesses the performance of PPS comprising of recycled and/or waste materials in the sub-base layer. These innovative pavements are being considered to reduce the overall carbon footprint on the construction phase of pavements and to reduce the volume of natural material used in the construction industry. The recycled materials considered are Crushed Concrete Aggregates (CCA), Carbon-Negative Aggregates (CNA) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads. The research methods explored combine experimental and modelling through a quantitative research design approach.
Glycosylation is involved in malignant properties of cancer cells

Cancer cells express unique carbohydrate structures in glycoproteins and glycolipids, and their structures have been considered to be cancer-associated antigens. However, the involvement of their antigens in the malignant properties has not been well understood. The functional studies of glycosyltransferase genes revealed important regulatory roles of glycosylation in the malignant properties of cancer cells. In particular, we have characterized the molecular signaling pathways that are activated or inactivated by gangliosides in various cancer cells. Our results indicated that disialyl gangliosides GD3 and GD2 enhance malignant properties of human melanoma, osteosarcoma, and small cell lung cancer cells. However, monosialyl ganglioside GM1 attenuates these properties in melanoma and lung cancer cells. In addition to glycolipids, glycoproteins are also reported to be involved in regulating malignant properties and maintenance of cancer stem cells.
PROTOTIPE INTEGRASI KEAMANAN DAN SISTEM PEMANTAU RUMAH BERBASIS INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)

Artikel ini membahas tentang sistem pemantau dan keamanan rumah berbasis Internet of Things (IoT). Saat ini sistem pemantau sekaligus keamanan rumah yang ada, menggunakan kamera canggih dan kunci pintu ganda dengan retina mata. Namun umumnya untuk sebuah sistem kamera yang dapat mendeteksi objek cukup mahal dan tidak include dengan sistem keamanan pintu dll, seperti identifikasi retina mata contohnya. Semua sistem tersebut menjadi sebuah sistem yang terpisah. Oleh karena itu, Prototipe Integrasi Keamanan dan Sistem Pemantau Rumah Berbasis Internet of Things (IoT) menggabungkan antara sistem keamanan, pemantau, dan kontrol yaitu, pendeteksi penyusup yang akan membuat smartphone berdering dan kunci pintu RFID ketika di-tap mengirimkan notifikasi e-mail bahwa pengguna tiba di rumah, pemantau suhu ruangan, hujan, api kompor dan mengontrol valve gas serta lampu yang juga mengirimkan feedback aktif. Metode penelitiannya dengan menambahkan sensor PIR, sebagai pendeteksi penyusup, DHT-22 untuk mengukur suhu, KY-026 untuk deteksi api kompor, dan modul RFID untuk kunci dan pengidentifikasi. NodeMCU dan Arduino Nano sebagai kontrolernya. Tujuan penelitian adalah menggabungkan sistem keamanan, pemantau, dan kontrol jarak jauh dengan smartphone dalam satu device (standalone) secara nirkabel.
mtor Haploinsufficiency Ameliorates Renal Cyst Formation in Adult Zebrafish tmem67 Mutants

Although zebrafish embryos have been utilized to study ciliogenesis and to model polycystic kidney disease (PKD), adult zebrafish remain unexplored. Here, we report the generation and characterization of a zebrafish mutant of tmem67, a homologue of the mammalian causative gene for Meckel syndrome type 3 (MKS3). Although a small population of homozygous embryos exhibited pronephric cysts, all mutants were able to survive to adulthood and developed progressive mesonephric cysts with full penetrance. The cysts in the adult zebrafish kidneys manifested features of mammalian PKD, including switching of cyst origin from the proximal tubules to the collecting ducts, increased proliferation of cyst-lining epithelial cells, and hyperactive mTOR signaling. Consistent ciliary abnormalities were observed in both the embryonic and adult zebrafish mutants compared with the wild-type fish, including shorter and fewer single cilia in the distal pronephros and all segments of the mesonephros and greater numbers of multiciliated cells (MCCs). Lack of single cilium preceded cystogenesis, suggestive of a primary defect. Expansion of MCCs occurred after pronephric cyst formation and was inversely correlated with the severity of cystogenesis in young adult zebrafish, suggesting an adaptive action. Interestingly, mTOR inhibition ameliorated renal cysts in both the embryonic and adult zebrafish models; however, it only rescued ciliary abnormalities in the adult mutants. In summary, we have established a tmem67 mutant as the first adult zebrafish PKD model, revealed a novel aspect of cilium regulation, and identified sustained mTOR inhibition as a candidate therapeutic strategy for tmem67-based PKD. Significance Statement While zebrafish embryos are well recognized for their value in studying ciliogenesis and polycystic kidney disease (PKD), adult zebrafish have not commonly been used. Here, we report the establishment of the first adult zebrafish model for PKD, which exhibits characteristics of mammalian PKD and shows kidney ciliary abnormalities consistent with those observed in an embryonic model. We also provide evidence for mTOR inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for this particular type of cystogenesis. Compared to the embryonic model, the adult fish model exhibits a spectrum of progressive pathogeneses and enables ciliary abnormalities to be discerned as either primary or secondary to cystogenesis. We believe that this novel adult fish model will facilitate mechanistic studies and therapeutic development for PKD.
Cambios en la tasa social de descuento y su impacto en la tasa de aprobación de proyectos de Agua Potable Rural recomendados para su ejecución

Este trabajo revisa los aspectos teoricos asociados a los enfoques y metodologias existentes para determinar el valor de la Tasa Social de Descuento y las implicancias en el cambio de su valor en los proyectos de Agua Potable Rural en Chile. Se estiman los niveles de Elasticidad en la Tasa de Aprobacion de Proyectos y se evaluan en un contexto de tasa de descuento en disminucion, tal como se han registrado estas dos ultimas decadas. Los resultados sugieren la no presencia de niveles de elasticidad significativos en la Tasa de Aprobacion de los Proyectos. El analisis es realizado considerando el uso del factor de descuento exponencial, tradicionalmente utilizado por la teoria economica para la evaluacion de proyectos, como asi tambien el uso de factores de descuentos basados en tasas de descuentos decrecientes (hiperbolicas). Se utilizo en el estudio una muestra de 42 proyectos de Agua Potable Rural pertenecientes a las provincias de la Region del Bio Bio.
Clinical treatment outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: protocol for a registry ambispective cohort study

Background and objectives: Many types of neuroprotective agents and traditional Chinese medicines are commonly used for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke in China. However, there is no high-quality randomized controlled trial assessing efficacy and safety, and these medicines have not been recommended in the guidelines. Therefore, in this study, we will analyze the treatment outcomes of acute ischemic stroke in the clinic. Design: This is a registry, single-center, ambispective cohort study. Methods: The study will be conducted at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, China. Data for 600 cases of acute ischemic stroke from October 2016 to November 2017 were retrospectively collected for trend analysis in January 2018. Furthermore, data for 1400 cases of acute ischemic stroke have been prospectively collected since February 2018. Stroke patients will be visited five times: on admission (baseline assessment, visit 1), during medication and treatment in the hospital (visit 2), at discharge (visit 3), 90 ± 14 days after treatment (outpatient clinic or telephone follow-up, visit 4), and 360 ± 28 days after treatment (telephone follow-up, visit 5). Outcome measures: Outcome measures will include vital signs, electrocardiogram, laboratory findings and imaging findings, Glasgow Coma Scale, Essen Stroke Risk Score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, modified Rankin Scale, and adverse events. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at discharge (visit 3) will be the primary outcome measure; the remainder will be secondary outcome measures. Discussion: This study of the clinical treatment and outcomes of acute ischemic stroke should help in optimizing clinical diagnosis and treatment. Ethics and dissemination: This trial was designed in October 2017. This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University of China in December 2017 (approval number: 2017PS40K). This trial was registered in December 2017. Subjects with acute ischemic stroke from October 2016 to November 2017 were retrospectively recruited for trend analysis in January 2018. Other subjects began to be prospectively recruited from February 2018, and prospective collection will be finished within 36 months. Each subject will be followed up for 360 days. The follow-up will be completed in November 2021. Data analysis will be finished in November 2022. The results of the trial will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal. Trial registration: This trial had been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-17013773). Protocol version (1.0).
Extreme downside risk co-movement in commodity markets during distress periods: a multidimensional scaling approach

ABSTRACT We analyze the co-movement of a number of commodity markets in extreme financial episodes worldwide. More specifically, we provide extreme downside risk co-movement maps of these markets during six recent distress periods. We follow an expected shortfall-multidimensional scaling approach, which allows for an easy classification of markets according to their dynamics in risky episodes. No clear risk co-movement patterns are observed, nor spillover effects are detected. Financialization and speculation might have played some role in the dynamics of price and risk only in food commodity markets during the oil price increase 2007–2008.
Pulmonary hantavirus syndrome: case report and brief review

A 31-year-old white man presented to the emergency department complaining of fever, headache, mild confusion, and muscle aches. Approximately three days earlier he had developed non-quantified fever and diffuse muscle aches and pains. He was employed as a feedlot worker. He had visited an urgent care center one day earlier and had been advised to increase his oral fluid intake and to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents as needed. Upon arrival to the emergency department he was found to have a temperature of 103.6o Fahrenheit, blood pressure of 125/72 mm Hg, respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute, and room-air oxygen saturation of 84% by pulse oximetry. Auscultation of the chest disclosed diffuse rales. Heart sounds were rapid and regular. Abdominal exam was benign. There was no skin rash. Central nervous exam demonstrated agitation and confusion, but was otherwise non-focal. Laboratory examination revealed a white blood count of 11.7 K/uL, hemoglobin of 21.5 g/DL, hematocrit of 66.8%, platelet count of 73 K/uL, partial thromboplastin time of 36 seconds, lactic acid of 2.4 mm/L, and procalcitonin of 43 ng/mL. Chest radiograph disclosed extensive bilateral infiltrates (Figure 1).
Smoking cessation interventions for college students. A meta-analysis

Tobacco use and the exposure to tobacco smoke are associated with premature death from chronic disease, economic losses to society, and substantial burden on the healthcare system (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). In young adults, the more immediate health effects include increased respiratory symptoms, as shortness of breath, persistent cough, wheezing and increased breathlessness after exercise (Oliveira-Vianna et al., 2008), and cardiovascular diseases (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). While people start using tobacco in early adolescence (before age 18), the college years are a critical time in the development of smoking behavior and tobacco use (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007). In fact some undergraduates start smoking at university and the consumption of smoking is consolidated at this age (Brown, 2013). However, most tobacco programs, for this group of age, are based around prevention and not in cessation of tobacco use.