Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
'Chlamydia Monday' in Sweden.

The number of reported cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infections has increased in Sweden in the last decade, as in many other European countries [1]. After a temporary fall in the number of cases reported in Sweden in 2006, due to the spread of a new variant that was not detectable with some of the test methods used at the time, 2007 showed a record high of over 47,000 reported cases [2].
Pride and Passion: Remarks on Thomas L. Saatyâ€™s Final Papers

Thomas L. Saaty, a world-renowned scholar and our beloved Advisory Editor, passed away on August 14, 2017 at the age of 91. Â He has made many fundamental contributions to operations research, analytics, business and mathematics. Despite his heavy illness for 14 months, as passionate about science, he has also enthusiastically published his research. We review his final works published in 2017 and 2018. We are also honored to reveal and publish his final statements on neural firing and synthesis in making comparisons & life satisfaction, respectively, in his final two papers; the previous one submitted by him just before his passing and the other one submitted by his co-authors after his death to European Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics (EJPAM). We just would like to remember and honor Saatyâ€™s memory by publishing his final papers at EJPAM and this humble remarks dedicated to the memory of Thomas L. Saaty on the occasion of the first anniversary of his passing, August 14, 2018.
Magnetic Actuation of Biological Systems

Central to the advancement of many biomedical and nanotechnology capabilities is the capacity to precisely control the motion of micro and nanostructures. These applications range from single molecule experiments to cell isolation and separation, to drug delivery and nanomachine manipulation. This dissertation focuses on actuation of biological microand nano-entities through the use of weak external magnetic fields, superparamagnetic beads, and ferromagnetic thin films. The magnetic platform presents an excellent method for actuation of biological systems due to its ability to directly control the motion of an array of micro and nanostructures in real-time with calibrated picoNewton forces. The energy landscape of two ferromagnetic thin film patterns (disks and zigzag wires) is experimentally explored and compared to corresponding theoretical models to quantify the applied forces and trajectories of superparamagnetic beads due to the magnetic traps. A magnetic method to directly actuate DNA nanomachines in real-time with nanometer resolution and sub-second response times using micromagnetic control was implemented through the use of stiff DNA micro-levers which bridged the large length scale mismatch between the microactuator and the nanomachine. Compared to current alternative methods which are limited in the actuation speeds and the number of reconfiguration states of DNA constructs, this magnetic approach enables fast actuation (∼ milliseconds) and reconfigurable conformations achieved through a continuous range of finely tuned steps. The system was initially tested through actuation of the stiff arm tethered to the surface, and two prototype DNA nanomachines (rotor and hinge) were successfully actuated using the stiff mechanical lever. These results open new possibilities in the development of functional robotic systems at the molecular scale. In exploiting the use of DNA stiff levers, a new technique was also
Experiencing a re-entry: second-career academics in business schools in Malaysia

In order to overcome the shortage of academics to teach business subjects, business schools turn to industry and recruit professional executives and managers as academics. These individuals are called second-career academics. However, their career transition from industry to academia is fraught with various challenges. This research looked into the experience of second-career academics in Malaysian business schools. Since it involves an inquiry into the lived experience of people, a combination of interpretive research paradigm and narrative inquiry has been adopted for this study. Thirty-one (31) second-career academics from various types of higher education institutions across Malaysia were interviewed. In addition, three focus group discussions were held with some of the participants. Additional data included artefacts (articles, documents, etc.) supplied by some of the participants. All these data were analysed thematically, leading to the emergence of five main themes: (a) self-efficacy, (b) calling, (c) accordance, (d) discordance, and (e) grievance. The research revealed that these second-career academics are motivated by self-efficacy, inspired by a sense of calling, delighted by accordance, but disenchanted by discordance, and alienated by grievance. The results represent the multi-faceted realities confronting second-career academics. Theoretically, these results suggest the transferability of self-efficacy as demonstrated in career transition from industry to academia. This appears to contribute to the social cognitive theory of human action. Besides, the study also makes a number of detailed contributions to the study of career transition. The results also suggest several strands for future research in respect of career transition and career satisfaction. The study has several practical implications for the higher education sector. Universities need to recognise second-career academics as a group of academics with special needs.
Sol-Jel Yöntemi ile Üretilen ZnO(Al)/p-Si Heteroekleminin Elektriksel Karakterizasyonu

Bu calismada, p-tipi Silisyum (p-Si) uzerine katkisiz Cinko Oksit (ZnO) ve %2 Aluminyum katkili cinko oksit (ZnOAl) kaplanarak olusturulan heteroeklemlerin elektriksel ozellikleri incelenmistir. ZnO ve ZnOAl nanoparcaciklar Sol-Jel yontemi ile sentezlenmis ve ZnO/p-Si, ZnOAl/p-Si heteroeklemleri dondurme kaplama teknigi ile olusturulmustur. Kaplama sonrasi orneklere 450 o C’de 30 dk termal tavlama islemi uygulanmistir. 10K-300K araliginda alinan Akim-Voltaj (I-V) ve Kapasite-Voltaj (C-V) olcumleri orneklerin cok dusuk sizinti akimina sahip diyot davranisi sergiledigini gostermektedir. C-V olcum sonuclarindan diyotlarin bariyer yuksekligi ( V bi ) ve tasiyici konsantrasyonlari ( N d ) hesaplandi . Derin seviye gecis spektroskopisi (DLTS) teknigi ile arinma bolgesi civarinda bulunan tuzak seviyeleri arastirilmistir. Her iki ornekte de elektron tuzaklarinin varligi tespit edilmistir.
Gestão de recursos humanos no setor segurador: as ‘práticas de trabalho de elevado desempenho’

A presente comunicacao tem como objetivo caraterizar e refletir sobre as praticas de gestao de recursos humanos no setor segurador. Desenvolvendo uma reflexao sustentada sobre as praticas organizacionais e os modelos de gestao como fontes potenciais de vantagens competitivas, adotar-se-a a abordagem das praticas de trabalho de elevado desempenho (Huselid, 1995). Em termos metodologicos foi realizado um estudo de caso numa empresa do setor segurador, tendo sido utilizadas diferentes tecnicas de recolha de informacao, nomeadamente a realizacao de entrevistas semidiretivas ao administrador e ao responsavel de recursos humanos, a aplicacao do inquerito por questionario aos trabalhadores e a realizacao de analise documental. Apresentamos aqui os resultados obtidos atraves do inquerito por questionario. A amostra e constituida por 105 profissionais. Os resultados revelam que a empresa promove a adocao de praticas de trabalho de elevado desempenho relativamente a varias dimensoes que, articuladas com a estrategia empresarial, determinam o desempenho organizacional, sendo principalmente os trabalhadores com funcoes de coordenacao que assumem o papel mais ativo na concecao e implementacao das estrategias empresariais. Como limitacoes, este estudo incide num “caso”, a um sector de actividade especifico, nao permitindo a extrapolacao dos resultados para outros contextos. Paralelamente a aplicacao do inquerito por questionario na recolha de informacao, apenas junto dos trabalhadores, podera condicionar o confronto das suas opinioes sobre o conjunto de praticas desenvolvidas pela organizacao. Em termos praticos, este estudo permite auxiliar a formulacao de sistemas de gestao de recursos humanos, coerentemente articulados com as estrategias empresariais, que contribuam para alcancar melhores desempenhos organizacionais. Ao (re)centrar a analise nas novas abordagens da gestao de recursos humanos, este estudo possibilita ainda caraterizacao do sistema de gestao de recursos humanos enquanto area central de desenvolvimento das organizacoes de um setor que tem contribuido decisivamente para a melhoria da vida das pessoas e para o desenvolvimento economico e empresarial.
Digital lutherie - crafting musical computers for new musics' performance and improvisation

Esta tesis estudia el uso del ordenador como instrumento musical, para la ejecucion e improvisacion de musica en tiempo real, Su principal objetivo es la construccion de un marco teorico que nos permita evaluar el potencial, las posibilidades y la diversidad de estos nuevos instrumentos musicales digitales. Los sistemas musicales interactivos se remontan a finales de los anos sesenta, cuando se desarrollan los primeros sintetizadores analogicos controlados por ordenador para uso en conciertos e instalaciones interactivas. Lamentablemente, casi cuatro decadas despues de los primeros pioneros, el diseno de instrumentos musicales basados en ordenador asi como, de forma mas general, la improvisacion musical empleando ordenadores, son todavia areas multidisciplinarias inmaduras en las cuales los conocimientos no parecen sedimentarse de forma incremental o acumulativa, y la rueda es reinventada permanentemente. El diseno de nuevos instrumentos musicales digitales es un campo muy amplio, que abarca areas altamente tecnologicas (e.g. electronica y tecnologias de sensores, tecnicas de sintesis y de procesado de sonido, programacion informatica, etc.) asi como disciplinas ligadas al estudio del comportamiento humano (e.g. psicologia, fisiologia, ergonomia, interaccion humano-computadora, etc.), con todas las conexiones posibles entre ellas. Mucha de la investigacion aplicada existente, intenta solucionar partes independientes del problema. Este planteamiento, que constituye un enfoque esencial para cualquier progresion verdadera en este campo, resulta ser tambien, como demostraremos mas adelante, claramente insuficiente. Estudios integrales, que tengan en cuenta no solo factores ergonomicos o tecnologicos, sino tambien psicologicos, filosoficos, conceptuales, musicologicos, historicos, y por encima de todo, musicales, aunque no puedan ser totalmente sistematicos, son absolutamente necesarios. En esta tesis
(Web) cartografia e realidade aumentada: novos caminhos para o uso das tecnologias digitais no ensino de geografia

: e use of digital technologies, especially in education, can produce more attractive classes and directly inﬂuence the cognitive development and wellbeing in school environment. Electronic equipment connected to the internet has become essential to most of the population. Smartphones, in particular, are nowadays the most popular gadget in the world. In this sense, some possible didactic interventions for teaching were outlined here, especially to geography, using digital and virtual technologies based in the context of WEB 2.0 and WEB 3.0, which can be accessed by these devices. is paper focused on (WEB) cartography, augmented reality (AR), and the (GEO) entertainment, applied to Google Earth, Google Street View, applications for RA and online games.
Oases for marine life = Oasis de vie marine

The purpose of this study on seamount and hydrothermal vent ecosystems is to review the state of knowledge on the subject matter in order to better guide decision-making processes to develop and implement conservation and sustainable management measures, as well as to discuss knowledge gaps and present recommendations. The report also focuses on the South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region and describes its specificities in terms of geology and oceanography, quality of available data and knowledge about specific diversity. Le but de cette etude sur les ecosystemes marins et hydrothermaux est de passer en revue l’etat des connaissances sur le sujet afin de mieux guider les processus decisionnels pour developper et mettre en oeuvre des mesures de conservation et de gestion durable, de discuter les lacunes dans les connaissances et donner des recommandations. Le rapport se concentre aussi sur la region du sud-ouest de l’ocean Indien et decrit ses specificites en termes de geologie et d’oceanographie, la qualite des donnees disponibles et les connaissances sur la diversite specifique.
Guía visual y dinámica del funcionamiento de un procesador didáctico sencillo

En este trabajo se presenta una aplicación gráfica cuyo objetivo es proporcionar una guía visual y dinámica del funcionamiento, a nivel de los componentes hardware, de un procesador didáctico muy sencillo. Dicha aplicación puede ser utilizada tanto por el profesor en el aula, en lecciones magistrales, como por los alumnos de manera autónoma, para profundizar en la comprensión del funcionamiento del procesador. Por ello, cuenta con una interfaz visual atrayente y su utilización es fácil e intuitiva. Dispone también de ayuda online para resolución de dudas.
Contingencies of Exogenous Reward and Task Performance: On the “Minimax” Strategy in instrumental Behavior1

Subjects performed a task in return for monetary payment. In one experimental condition, the subject's pay was contingent on his working at the task for at least the time specified, in another condition, the pay was contingent on the subject's completion of at least the specified output standard; in a third condition, the amount of pay was contingent on the quantity of output. It was found that subjects in the time-contingent condition adhered most closely to the task's time specification, subjects in the standard-contingent condition adhered most closely to the standard specification, and subjects in the output-contingent condition produced the highest quantities of output. The results are discussed in reference to the idea that extrinsically motivated workers act in accordance with a “minimax” strategy: They attempt to perform the bare minimum of work sufficient for the achievement of maximal rewards.
Mediterranean diets: science and policy implications.

Current attempts to persuade doctors and policymakers of the benefits of Mediterranean diets need to account for the pervasive and long-standing perception of nutritional issues such as nutritional deficiency. Global policies that are currently conditioning the agricultural and food industries are based on the prewar recognition of the benefits of animal protein for promoting childhood growth and the value of "balanced diets" for avoiding micronutrient deficiencies. Massive national experiments in food rationing during the war, widespread refugee problems after the war, and the threat of German and then Soviet naval blockades of imported food forced food security and animal production to the top of national priorities. Mediterranean diets can now be recognized as both limited in toxicity and abundant in nutrient and nonnutrient protective factors, but a coherent evaluation of these diets will be needed to shift the current simplified views of dietary needs in Western societies.
O estudo da ancoragem das Representações Sociais e o campo da Educação

A Teoria das Representacoes Sociais (TRS) tem aportado contribuicoes significativas no campo da educacao no Brasil. Trabalhos recentes apontam o estudo da ancoragem das representacoes como uma via de avanco do conhecimento, permitindo uma visao mais integrada das RS com seu contexto historico e cultural. Assim, o texto examina o processo de ancoragem, descrevendo as formas de seu estudo nas tres abordagens classicas da TRS: a sociogenetica, a posicional e a abordagem estrutural. O texto destaca, ainda, estudos no campo da educacao que buscaram estudar a ancoragem e o tipo de respostas ou problemas educacionais que sao tratados. Palavras-chave: Ancoragem. Praticas Educativas. Trabalho Docente. Representacoes Sociais.
A framework for semantic gossiping

Today the problem of semantic interoperability in information search on the Internet is solved mostly by means of centralization, both at a system and at a logical level. This approach has been successful to a certain extent. Peer-to-peer systems as a new brand of system architectures indicate that the principle of decentralization might offer new solutions to many problems that scale well to very large numbers of users.In this paper we outline how the peer-to-peer system architectures can be applied to tackle the problem of semantic interoperability in the large, driven in a bottom-up manner by the participating peers. Such a system can readily be used to study semantic interoperability as a global scale phenomenon taking place in a social network of information sharing peers.
Dysregulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression and Neurosecretory Function in Mecp2 Null Mice

Disruptions in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression are proposed to contribute to the molecular pathogenesis of Rett syndrome (RTT), a severe neurological disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MeCP2). Although MeCP2 is a transcriptional regulator of BDNF, it is unknown how MeCP2 mutations affect transynaptic BDNF signaling. Our findings demonstrate an early, abnormal neurosecretory phenotype in MeCP2-deficient neurons characterized by significant increases in the percentage of cellular BDNF content available for release. However, loss of MeCP2 also results in deficits in total cell BDNF content that are developmentally regulated in a cell-type-specific manner. Thus, the net effect of MeCP2 loss on absolute BDNF secretion changes with age and is determined by both the amount of BDNF available for release and progressive declines in total cellular BDNF. We propose, therefore, that loss of MeCP2 function disrupts transynaptic BDNF signaling by perturbing the normal balance between BDNF protein levels and secretion. However, mutant neurons are capable of secreting wild-type levels of BDNF in response to high-frequency electrical stimulation. In addition, we found elevated exocytic function in Mecp2 −/y adrenal chromaffin cells, indicating that the Mecp2 null mutation is associated with alterations of neurosecretion that are not restricted to BDNF. These findings are the first examples of abnormal neuropeptide and catecholamine secretion in a mouse model of RTT.
Lack of functional specialization of neurons in the mouse primary visual cortex that have expressed calretinin

Calretinin is a calcium-binding protein often used as a marker for a subset of inhibitory interneurons in the mammalian neocortex. We studied the labeled cells in offspring from a cross of a Cre-dependent reporter line with the CR-ires-Cre mice, which express Cre-recombinase in the same pattern as calretinin. We found that in the mature visual cortex, only a minority of the cells that have expressed calretinin and Cre-recombinase during their lifetime is GABAergic and only about 20% are immunoreactive for calretinin. The reason behind this is that calretinin is transiently expressed in many cortical pyramidal neurons during development. To determine whether neurons that express or have expressed calretinin share any distinct functional characteristics, we recorded their visual response properties using GCaMP6s calcium imaging. The average orientation selectivity, size tuning, and temporal and spatial frequency tuning of this group of cells, however, match the response profile of the general neuronal population, revealing the lack of functional specialization for the features studied.
Robust H8 Fault-Tolerant Control of a Class of Stochastic Markovian Jump Systems

This paper is concerned with the robust H-inf fault-tolerant control problem for a class of stochastic markovian jump systems (SMJSs) with time-varying delay. A novel criterion of robust stabilization, which is dependent on the size of the time delay and therefore less conservative, for such systems is established in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) by using Lyapunov stability theory and free-weighting matrix methods. In addition, in the robust H-inf fault-tolerant control problem, our attention is focused on the design of state feedback controller which ensures robust asymptotic stability in mean square for the corresponding closed-loop system not only when all control components are operating well, but also in the presence of some outages of actuators within a prespecified subset of actuators and a prescribed H-inf performance level, irrespective of time delay and the parameter uncertainties.
Mechanical Complications Induced by Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses

Abstract: With the introduction of silicone hydrogel (SiHy) lenses over a decade ago, clinicians have seen both improvements and challenges in contact lens (CL) wear. Regardless of lens design or material, the presence of a CL on the ocular surface induces mechanical complications. Although some of these complications have diminished in frequency and severity with newer generations of SiHy lenses, others persist at previously reported levels. The aim of this review is to provide up-to-date information on mucin balls, superior epithelial arcuate lesions, corneal erosions, CL-induced papillary conjunctivitis, conjunctival epithelial flaps, lid wiper epitheliopathy, and meibomian gland dropout. The conclusions in this review should provide a sound basis for identifying the future areas of research to help minimize mechanically driven adverse events during CL wear with SiHy lenses.
Declining financial capacity in mild cognitive impairment

Objective: To investigate 1-year change in financial capacity in relation to conversion from amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. Methods: Seventy-six cognitively healthy older controls, 25 patients with amnestic MCI who converted to Alzheimer-type dementia during the study period (MCI converters), and 62 patients with MCI who did not convert to dementia (MCI nonconverters) were administered the Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI) at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Performance on the FCI domain and global scores was compared within and between groups using multivariate repeated-measures analyses. Results: At baseline, controls performed better than MCI converters and nonconverters on almost all FCI domains and on both FCI total scores. MCI converters performed below nonconverters on domains of financial concepts, cash transactions, bank statement management, and bill payment and on both FCI total scores. At 1-year follow-up, MCI converters showed significantly greater decline than controls and MCI nonconverters for the domain of checkbook management and for both FCI total scores. The domain of bank statement management showed a strong trend. For both the checkbook and bank statement domains, MCI converters showed declines in procedural skills, such as calculating the correct balance in a checkbook register, but not in conceptual understanding of a checkbook or a bank statement. Conclusions: Declining financial skills are detectable in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the year before their conversion to Alzheimer disease. Clinicians should proactively monitor patients with MCI for declining financial skills and advise patients and families about appropriate interventions.