Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NANOSECOND LASER DAMAGE OF METALLIC MIRRORS

Laser surface processing is an established method to introduce surface functionalities on solid surfaces with the required throughputs for a commercial process. Fabrication of laser induced surface structures in an effective matter is done by laser interaction studies, which reveal the best processing parameters (laser wavelength, fluence, repetition, together with the processing speed and environment). Customized solutions are providing the best yields and they are being implemented faster than ever. However, the optics manufacturers are not being to keep up the pace with the new requirements, so they turn instead on older, but safer technology. In order to get a better understanding of optics capabilities, thorough testing is required. Common laser metallic mirrors, commercially available, are being rigorously tested using a nanosecond Yb:YAG laser and the results are compared with the vendor’s information.
Factors Affecting Milk Composition and Changes in MilkComposition with Lactation Stage in Anatolian Buffaloes

The research was performed to investigate factors affecting milk composition and chaning of milk components with lactation stage in Anatolian buffaloes. The material of the research was formed by 109 milk samples belonging to 28 cows rasied at 12 units of 3 seperate village of Carsamba District of Samsun Province. Milk samples were taken at AM milkings in one month intervals. Lactation stages' effect was found significant level statistically (P
A Deep Learning Architecture for Epileptic Seizure Classification Based on Object and Action Recognition

Epilepsy affects approximately 1% of the world’s population. Semi-ology of epileptic seizures contain major clinical signs to classify epilepsy syndromes currently evaluated by epileptologists by simple visual inspection of video. There is a necessity to create automatic and semiautomatic methods for seizure detection and classification to better support patient monitoring management and diagnostic decisions. One of the current promising approaches are the marker-less computer-vision techniques. In this paper an end-to-end deep learning approach is proposed for binary classification of Frontal vs. Temporal Lobe Epilepsies based solely on seizure videos. The system utilizes infrared (IR) videos of the seizures as it is used 24/7 in hospitals’ epilepsy monitoring units. The architecture employs transfer learning from large object detection "static" and human action recognition "dynamic" datasets such as ImageNet and Kinectics-400, to extract and classify the clinically known spatiotemporal features of seizures. The developed classification architecture achieves a 5-fold cross-validation f1-score of 0.844±0.042. This architecture has the potential to support physicians with diagnostic decisions and might be applied for online applications in epilepsy monitoring units. Furthermore, it may be jointly used in the near future with synchronized scene depth 3D information and EEG from the seizures.
Various Levels Effect Of Skipjack Tuna Gill Meal (Katsuwonus Pelamis L) In Ration On Broiler Carcass And Abdominal Fat

100 Day Old Chick Arbor Acres Cp 707 Were Randomly Used In This Experiment, Using Skipjack Tuna Gill Meal; Weve Studied On Broiler Carcass And Abdominal Fat. Completely Randomized Design (Crd) With 2 X 3 Factorial Pattern, And Each Treatment Were Four Times Repeated. The First Factor Was Crumble And Mash Ration, And The Second Factor Were Three Levels Of The Skipjack Tuna Gill Meal In Ration. Results Indicated That There Is No Significantly Effect On Broiler Carcass But Has Significantly Effect On Abdominal Fat.
An Adaptation of Pseudo-Score Confidence Interval Method for Linear Mixed Models

We adapt a confidence interval method based on a generalized Chi-Square test for fixed effect parameters of linear mixed models. Under different correlation structure of a response variable of a linear mixed model, the performances of the adaptation method pseudo-score and some of the existing confidence interval methods are investigated by carrying out a Monte Carlo simulation study. The simulation study suggests that pseudo-score method provides better results for small to moderate sample size cases with dependent observations in terms of coverage probability rates and average expected lengths. A depression study is analyzed for demonstrating the adaptation method.
Climate Change Shocks Exposure Index to Drought on the Livelihoods of the Smallholder Farmers in Kinakomba Ward, Tana River County, Kenya

Being susceptible to climate change means being unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate change especially droughts and a likelihood of experiencing harm due to its occurrence. The study sought to evaluate the effects of exposure to Climate related shocks on the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers with the intent of formulating appropriate policies to enable them cope with its impacts. A descriptive survey research design was used. Stratified random sampling was employed to select 390 households. Two methods were used to analyse exposure. Firstly the fuzzy logic in assessing susceptibility to drought involving a selection of input variables, Fuzzification, inference modelling and defuzzification and secondly DrinC Model software. The results revealed that the final value of the negative consequences of drought was 0.35. The study also established a single index as 0.45 for exposure for the entire study period of 35 years for Kinakomba Ward . The study showed that exposure was statistically significant at (0.000066). The study further revealed that the periods between occurrence of extreme droughts were reducing and at the same time that droughts were moving from being severe to being extreme within shorter periods of time leaving smallholder farmers who depend on rain fed agriculture with high exposures and risks as well as experiencing longer hunger periods with severe implications on their food and nutritional security for the vast populations in the study area. The Study concluded that the exposure to drought of the smallholder farmers in Kinakomba Ward is significantly related to their farming livelihood systems. This study recommends that the County Government in partnership with the National Government and other stakeholders develop a comprehensive disaster risk management framework to address the drought hazards and undertake mitigation and adaptation measures by equipping the smallholder farmers with knowledge on how to cope with the cyclic and vicious droughts’ impacts that have led to serious irreversible harm to humans and livestock in the area. Keywords: Exposure, Drought, Mitigation, Adaptation, Food security DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/94-07 Publication date: February 29 th 2020
Readout Strategies for Biomolecular Analyses

In this letter, we demonstrate a new principle for diagnostics based on DNA sequence detection using single-stranded oligonucleotide tagged magnetic nanobeads. The target DNA is recognized and volume-amplified to large coils by circularization of linear padlock probes through probe hybridization and ligation, followed by rolling circle amplification (RCA). Upon hybridization of the nanobeads in the RCA coils, the complex magnetization spectrum of the beads changes dramatically, induced by the attached volume-amplified target molecules. We show that the magnetization spectrum of the nanobeads can be used for concentration determination of RCA coils down to the pM range, thus creating the opportunity for nonfluorescence-based cost-efficient high-sensitivity diagnostics tool. We also show that the bead incorporation in the coils is diffusion-controlled and consequently may be accelerated by incubating the sample at higher temperatures.
Fast Focusing of Ultrasound Synthetic Aperture Imaging by Using Virtual Array and Nonuniform Fast Fourier Transform

A fast synthetic aperture (SA) focusing algorithm is proposed in this article to overcome the problem of huge computational complexity in developing high-performance SA ultrasound imaging systems. The proposed method realizes the fast focusing of SA imaging by utilizing a virtual array (VA) technique in combination with nonuniform fast Fourier transform (VA-NUFFT) method. The computational performance of the VA-NUFFT algorithm is evaluated with the computational complexity under acceptable beam errors, compared with the conventional delay-and-sum (DAS) method and the frequency-domain direct method (DM), as well as a multiple NUFFT (M-NUFFT) method. Simulation results reveal that under a beam error level less than −57.4 dB, 25 and 10 reduction ratios of entire real operations can be achieved by the VA-NUFFT at larger SA scan lines of 2048, when compared with the DAS and DM, respectively. In the key SA focusing step, i.e., the “spatial process” step, the computational load of VA-NUFFT is lower than two orders of magnitude of that of the DM. SA imaging of a phantom with four cysts is also simulated and a contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) criterion is adopted for evaluation of imaging quality. CNR results reflect that SA images of using VA-NUFFT make almost no difference to that of DAS focusing under different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).
Assessing Strategic Management Accounting Practices in Public Interest Companies in Malaysia

Strategic management accounting (SMA) practices play important roles in supporting decision making and strategic plan positioning in a firm. SMA practices comprise a range of useful and relevant techniques to facilitate a firm’s value. Through these techniques, a firm would be able to achieve competitive advantage and sustain economic growth, which leads to long-term performance. Recently, the role of SMA techniques in enhancing business performance has become the focus of many studies, unfortunately, studies that accessing the adoption of SMA practices in organizations particularly in Malaysia are not widely available. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent of SMA practices in public interest companies in Malaysia called Government Linked Companies (GLCs). Through SPSS analysis of data collected from 215 questionnaires, the study shows that top management of GLCs has a better understanding of SMA practices due to extensive use of SMA techniques which discovered from the findings and believe that it can benefit their organization. This paper has enriched the literature and provided an assessment of SMA practices for researchers and practitioners which can improve competitiveness in the industry, business prosperity, and secure long-term performance.
Functional NIRS study of blood brain barrier disruption when induced by focused ultrasound and intra-arterial mannitol infusion

Enhancing brain fluid movement across blood brain barrier (BBB) has been recognized as a potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, BBB opening is of high interest also in brain drug delivery in the treatment of brain tumors/cancers. However, efficient therapies which are based on BBB opening are still limited because of insufficient understanding of mechanisms and safety issues. Currently, there are few promising methodologically diverse BBB opening approaches. In this paper, we use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for the first time for monitoring cerebral hemoglobin and water concentration changes during BBB opening in mouse brain by using two different techniques: intra-arterial mannitol infusion (IAM) and focused ultrasound (FUS). Both of these BBB opening techniques are already in clinical use but their hemo- and hydrodynamic implications have not been investigated from comparative aspect. Two fibre detectors were attached on both sides of the mouse brain and the source fibre was attached on middle of forehead. Further, by using a combination of three wavelengths 690nm, 830nm and 980nm, that have sufficient light penetration in the mouse brain, we can show average dynamics of hemoglobin and water in the whole brain, synchronized with BBB opening. To validate the level of BBB opening we used Evans blue dye and show its accumulation in the brain parenchyma tissue with the corresponding fNIRS responses.
Applied antisense oligonucleotide technology

CHEMISTRY, OLD AND NEW. Oligonucleoside Methylphosphonates: Synthesis and Properties (P. Miller). Oligo(Nucleoside Phosphorothioate)s (P. Guga, et al.). Modified Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Therapeutics (P. Seeberger & M. Caruthers). Novel Chemistry (K. Altmann, et al.). OLIGONUCLEOTIDE INTERNALIZATION, MECHANISM OF ACTION, AND NON--SEQUENCE SPECIFICITY. Cellular Uptake and Biodistribution of Oligodeoxynucleotides (B. Hanss, et al.). Use of Cationic Lipid Complexes for Antisense Oligonucleotide Delivery (C. Bennett). Nonantisense Effects of Antisense Oligonucleotides (L. Neckers & K. Iyer). Ribonuclease H--Mediated Antisense Effects of Oligonucleotides and Controls for Antisense Experiments (D. Tidd). SEQUENCE--SPECIFIC INHIBITION OF GENE EXPRESSION. The Development of C--5 Propyne Oligonucleotides as Inhibitors of Gene Function (W. Flanagan & R. Wagner). The Use of Antisense Oligonucleotides to Inhibit Expression of Isozymes of Protein Kinase C (N. Dean, et al.). BCR--ABL as a Target for Antisense Intervention (S. O'Brien & T. Smetsers). The NF--kB Transcription Factor (R. Narayanan). Disruption of the Map Kinase Signaling Pathway Using Antisense Oligonucleotide Inhibitors Targeted to RAS and RAF Kinase (B. Monia). Protein Kinase A--Directed Antisense Blockade of Cancer Growth: Single Gene--Based Therapeutic Approach (Y. Cho--Chung). Use of Antisense Oligonucleotides in the Central Nervous System: Why Such Success? (M. McCarthy). APPLIED ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE THERAPEUTICS. Perturbing Hematopoietic Cell Gene Expression with Oligodeoxynucleotides: Research and Clinical Applications (A. Gewirtz & M. Ratajczak). BCL2 (B. Jansen & B. Brown). Biological Activity of Guanosine Quartet--Forming Oligonucleotides (R. Rando & M. Hogan). OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AS ANTI--HIV AGENTS. Perspectives on Antisense Technology Against HIV (J. Gee, et al.). In Vivo Pharmacokinetics of Oligonucleotides (S. Agrawal). Early Clinical Trails with Gem 91, A Systemic Oligodeoxynucleotide (R. Martin). THERAPEUTIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDE DATA BASE: PHARMACOKINETICS, IMMUNE STIMULATION, AND USE AS ANTIRESTENOTIC AGENTS. Antisense Therapy to Inhibit Angioplasty Restenosis (L. Rabbani & W. Wang). Pharmacokinetics of Oligonucleotides: A Review of Current Knowledge and Issues for the Future (T. Wallace & P. Cossum). Leukocyte Stimulation by Oligodeoxynucleotides (A. Krieg). SELECTED OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDE DEVELOPMENTAL TOPICS: SPLICING AND TRIPLEXES. Modification of Alternative Splicing of Pre--mRNA by Antisense Oligonucleotides (R. Kole). Gene--Targeted Triple--Helix--Forming Oligonucleotides (F. Svinarchuk & C. Malvy). Triplex--Forming Oligonucleotides for Genetic Manipulation: An Alternative View (A. Faruqi & P. Glazer). A REVIEW OF RIBOZYME TECHNOLOGY. Therapeutic Ribozymes: Principles, Applications, and Problems (J. Rossi). Index.
Biología y métodos diagnósticos del virus de la hepatitis C

Biology and diagnostic methods of the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C has become the most common form of post-transfusional hepatitis, and is responsible for over 70% of the viral illnesses of the liver. The etiological agent is the virus C and its transmission occurs by parenteral via and contaminated blood products. The window-period phase ranges from 5 to 12 weeks, antibodies appear after about 20 weeks and they can persist for a lifetime. Most people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms. The phylogenetic analysis of numerous isolations of hepatitis C virus indicates the presence of different levels of genetic variability: genotypes, subtypes, and quasispecies. It is rarely diagnosed before chronic complications appear. Laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis C virus
Evolution of Genetic Information without Error Replication

Darwinian evolutionary theory has two key terms, variations and biological selection, which finally lead to survival of the fittest variant. With the rise of molecular genetics, variations were explained as results of error replications out of the genetic master templates. For more than half a century, it has been accepted that new genetic information is mostly derived from random error-based events. But the error replication narrative has problems explaining the sudden emergence of new species, new phenotypic traits, and genome innovations as a sudden single event. Meanwhile, it is recognized that errors cannot explain the evolution of genetic information, genetic novelty, and complexity. Now, empirical evidence establishes the crucial role of non-random genetic content editors, such as viruses, diversity generating retroelements, and other RNA networks, to produce new genetic information, complex regulatory control, inheritance vectors, genetic identity, immunity, new sequence space, evolution of complex organisms, and evolutionary transitions.
A Regime Perspective on the North Atlantic Eddy-Driven Jet Response to Sudden Stratospheric Warmings

Changes to the preferred states, or regime behavior, of the North Atlantic eddy-driven jet (EDJ) following a major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is examined using a large ensemble experiment from the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model in which the stratosphere is nudged toward an SSW. In the 3 months following the SSW (January–March), the North Atlantic EDJ shifts equatorward by ~3°, on average; this arises from an increased occurrence of the EDJ’s south regime and reductions in its north and central regimes. Qualitatively similar behavior is shown in a reanalysis dataset. We show that under SSW conditions the south regime becomes more persistent and that this can explain the overall increase in the EDJ latitude decorrelation time scale. A cluster analysis reveals that, following the SSW, the south EDJ regime is characterized by weaker low-level baroclinicity and eddy heat fluxes in the North Atlantic Ocean. We hypothesize, therefore, that the increased persistence of the south regime is related to the weaker baroclinicity leading to slower growth rates of the unstable modes and hence a slower buildup of eddy heat flux, which has been shown to precede EDJ transitions. In the North Atlantic sector, the surface response to the SSW projects onto a negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) pattern, with almost no change in the east Atlantic (EA) pattern. This behavior appears to be distinct from the modeled intrinsic variability in the EDJ, where the jet latitude index captures variations in both the NAO and EA patterns. The results offer new insight into the mechanisms for stratosphere–troposphere coupling following SSWs.
How can gamification contribute to achieve SDGs?

Ecogamification can make a positive impact on Tourism. With this in mind, the present study aims to examine specific stakeholders – those positioned at the upstream side of gamification process – and their perspectives concerning not only the benefits, but also the challenges of (eco)gamification. ,The study follows a qualitative-exploratory approach and bases its results on the analysis of 10 in-depth interviews conducted with buyers and providers from the emerging Portuguese tourism and tech markets. ,Results shed light on key benefits of ecogamification, including its potential to promote “green” behaviour, transmit complex information through entertainment, reward users for good practices, improve engagement and help avoiding overtourism. Simultaneously, there are important challenges to overcome, including the lack of investment, resistance to new technologies, low eco-consciousness of tourists and distraction from issues that matter. Further, findings show that ecogamification takes on different and specific roles for buyers and providers. ,The research limitations are mainly related to the sample size. ,An effective ecogamification process depends on the integration of the supply and demand sides and, at the same time, on the responsibility of different stakeholders (providers, buyers, players) across the value chain, through a broad logic of B2B2C. ,This study contributes towards a better understanding of ecogamification in tourism, through the eyes of buyers and providers and also provides insights regarding the role of these specific stakeholders and the relationship between them. ,生态游戏化对旅游业有积极影响。 本论文探究特定利益相关方--游戏化过程的上游一方—对（生态）游戏化的既得利益以及挑战。 ,本论文采用定性-探索型调研方法, 进行了10次深度访问, 对葡萄牙新兴旅游科技市场的购买方和采购商进行对话。 ,研究结果对生态游戏化的关键利益做了梳理, 包括其对潜在“绿色”行为的倡导, 通过娱乐方式传输复杂信息；奖励用户良好行为, 促进用户参与度, 以及帮助避免过度旅游现象。 同时, 研究明确了重要挑战需要克服, 包括资金投入的缺失, 新技术的抵抗, 游客的生态意识低下, 以及生态的衍生问题等。 此外, 研究结果表明生态游戏化对买房和卖方的不同特定角色。 ,研究理论限制主要集中在样本数量较小。 ,有效生态游戏化过程取决于供求双方的整合, 同时, 责任于不同利益相关者（供方、买方、游戏人）在整个价值链上, 通过B2B2C逻辑达成。 ,本论文深化了对旅游业中生态游戏化的理解, 通过买方和供方的视角, 同时针对这些特定利益相关者的角色以及其之间的关系, 提出独到见解。 ,关键词 游戏化、生态游戏化、可持续性、SDGs、旅游业
Spinal Surgery in Patients Aged 80 Years and Older: Risk Stratification Using the Modified Frailty Index

Study Design: This was an ambispective clinical quality registry study. Objective: To evaluate utility of 11-variable modified Frailty Index (mFI) in predicting postoperative outcomes among patients ≥80 years undergoing spinal surgery. Methods: Consecutive patients ≥80 years who underwent spinal surgery between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2018, were included. Primary outcome measure was rate of major complication. Secondary outcome measures were (1) overall complication rate, (2) surgical site infection, and (3) 6-month mortality. Results: A total of 121 operations were performed. Demographic metrics were (1) age (mean ± SD) = 83.1 ± 2.8 years and (2) mFI (mean ± SD) = 2.1 ± 1.4 variables. As mFI increased from 0 to ≥4 variables, risk of major complication increased from 18.2% to 40.0% (P = .014); overall complication increased from 45.5% to 70.0% (P = .032); surgical site infection increased from 0.0% to 25.0% (P = .007). There were no significant changes in risk of 6-month mortality across mFIs (P = .115). Multivariate analysis showed that a higher mFI score of ≥3 variables was associated with a significantly higher risk of (1) major complication (P = .025); (2) overall complication (P = .015); (3) surgical site infection (P = .007); and (4) mortality (P = .044). Conclusions: mFI scores of ≥3/11 variables were associated with a higher risk of postoperative morbidity in patients aged ≥80 years undergoing spinal surgery. The mFI-associated risk stratification provides a valuable adjunct in surgical decision making for this rapidly growing subpopulation of patients.