Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebral Infarction and Evan’s Ratio on MRI Affect the Severity and Prognosis of Tuberculosis Meningitis Patients

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and its complications. We aimed to explore the relationship between MRI features and neurological deficits and TBM patients’ prognosis. Methods: patients diagnosed with TBM were subjected to a neurological evaluation on admission and divided into groups based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. After several years of follow-up, the patients were further divided into groups according to the Modified Rankin Score (MRS). Their MR images were analyzed for meningeal enhancement, tuberculomas, infarction, hydrocephalus, and abscess, including the location and size of the lesion. Any changes in MRI features during the follow-up were recorded. MRI features between groups were compared, and the relationship between dynamic changes in images and Rankin grading was explored. Results: We found significant differences in acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and old cerebral infarctions (OCI) between the MRC groups, and the ORs of ACI and OCI were 21.818 (95% CI: 2.440–195.075) and 6.788 (95% CI: 1.516–30.392), respectively. There were significant differences in ACI, OCI, and Evan’s ratio between the MRS groups (p < 0.05), and the ORs of ACI, OCI, and hydrocephalus were 6.375 (95% CI: 1.501–27.080), 5.556 (95% CI: 1.332–23.177), and 9.139 (95% CI: 2.052–40.700), respectively. The changes of Evan’s ratio were related to the MRS grading (r = 0.335, p = 0.040). Conclusions: For patients with TBM, the presence of ACI or OCI is associated with neurological deficits, and ACI, OCI, and hydrocephalus can be regarded as poor prognostic predictors. Changes in Evan’s ratio will affect the outcome.
Factors affecting judgments of professional accountants : a comparative study of Australia and Fiji

This study extends prior cross-cultural research by examining the effects of both cultural and noncultural factors on the judgments of professional accountants. It examines the extent and the cause of differences in judgments of professional accountants in Australia and Fiji when interpreting and applying selected International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). A comparative study between these two countries, which have both adopted IFRS, provides empirical evidence that IFRS are not interpreted and applied consistently. It supports the views that: (a) both national culture and organizational culture (Big 4 and non-Big 4 firm affiliations) have a significant effect on the manner in which professional accountants in a country interpret uncertainty expressions contained in IFRS; and (b) national culture and organizational culture interact to influence the judgments of professional accountants. Further, the results of the effects of noncultural factors on the judgments of professional accountants in Australia and Fiji show that the professional accountants' perceived level of task complexity has a significant effect on their judgments. An important implication of this study is that the adoption of IFRS in different countries alone may not result in uniformity in financial reporting as IFRS may not be consistently applied by those countries because of differences in cultural as well as noncultural factors.
Widely Targeted Metabolomics Analysis of the Changes to Key Non-volatile Taste Components in Stropharia rugosoannulata Under Different Drying Methods

Stropharia rugosoannulata is an extremely perishable edible fungi product, and drying can delay its deterioration, however, drying will affect its flavor, especially the non-volatile taste substances dominated by amino acids, nucleotides, organic acids and carbohydrates. Currently, which drying method is the most suitable for the drying of S. rugosoannulata remains unknown, we need to fully consider the economic efficiency of the method and the impact on flavor. But we have limited comprehensive knowledge of the changed non-volatile taste metabolites as caused by drying processes. Here, an LC-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolome analysis was conducted to investigate the transformation mechanism of S. rugosoannulata non-volatile taste components after undergoing hot air drying (HAD), vacuum freeze drying (VFD), and microwave vacuum drying (MVD). A total of 826 metabolites were identified, 89 of which—48 amino acids, 25 nucleotides, 8 organic acids, and 8 carbohydrates—were related to non-volatile taste. The drying method used and the parts of S. rugosoannulata (stipe and pileus) influenced the differences found in these metabolites. The possible mechanisms responsible for such chemical alterations by different drying methods were also investigated by a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Amino acid metabolism (alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; arginine and proline metabolism; valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis) was the main metabolic pathway involved. Pathway enrichment analysis also identified differences in non-volatile taste components among three drying methods that may be closely related to the applied drying temperature. Altogether, the results indicated that as an economical and convenient drying method, HAD is conducive to improving the flavor of S. rugosoannulata and thus it harbors promising potential for practical applications.
Kajian Peluang Kerjasama Pemerintah Swasta (Kps) Dalam Penyediaan Infrastruktur Di Pelabuhan Tanjung Emas Semarang

Port infrastructure in the transport system is a valuable asset for the national economy in order to face the globalization of free trade. Problems of provision of port infrastructure constraints in general is a factor financing. One of the government's efforts to overcome the problems in the provision of infrastructure financing is through the Public Private Partnership (PPP). This research was conducted in order to determine the opportunities and constraints of PPP implementation in the provision of port infrastructure by Master Plan Tanjung Emas Semarang. This study used a qualitative approach with a qualitative descriptive analysis techniques conducted on the characteristics of the PPP, the perception of government and stakeholders, as well as regulatory and institutional policies related to the implementation of the PPP. From this research it is known that in the construction and development of the port of Tanjung Emas does not currently use the PPP scheme because of the ownership status of Tanjung Emas port assets that are still in data collection, and a lack of understanding of the parties implementing the PPP. But the chances of implementing a PPP scheme is still possible in the area of ownership of assets remain below the government.
Propagación de ondas de Kelvin ecuatoriales y ondas atrapadas a la costa durante El Niño 2015-16 y El Niño costero 2017 frente a Perú

El Ecosistema de Afloramiento Peruano (EAP) es frecuentemente perturbado por el arribo de las Ondas Kelvin de hundimiento en el Pacifico Ecuatorial Oriental, ocasionando efectos en el ecosistema marino y la hidrología frente al Perú. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo comparar las propagaciones de las Ondas Kelvin Ecuatoriales (OKE) durante El Niño 2015-2016 y El Niño Costero 2017 (ENC 2017) frente a Perú, usando modelos de simulación y datos observacionales. Los resultados muestran que durante El Niño 2015-2016, se propagaron siete OKEs de hundimiento (modo 1), de las cuales seis de ellas se propagaron como ondas atrapadas a la costa de hundimiento, mientras que durante la ocurrencia de ENC 2017 frente al Perú, se propagó una OKE de hundimiento (modo 1). Así, mientras que las OKEs de hundimiento jugaron un papel clave en el inicio y desarrollo del calentamiento asociado al evento EN 2015-2016 frente al Perú, para ENC 2017 su rol fue secundario, contribuyendo a extender el calentamiento, ya iniciado por otros procesos.
Design validation of a laboratory-scale wind turbine emulator

Abstract Presented in this study is an investigation of the real-time performance of a laboratory-scale model of wind turbine emulator. Developed to provide a cost-effective experimental facility for demonstrating and validating wind energy conversion systems at new wind territories, the emulator comprises a software component with a hardware interface of a motor-driven wound rotor induction generator. A real-life wind speed profile is implemented on the model to investigate its performance under a near-real-world scenario and, some operational characteristics of real wind energy conversion systems are exactly replicated by the emulator in the course of the experimentation. The emulator could therefore be considered suitable for use as a laboratory level testbed for the demonstration and validation of wind energy conversion systems in the real-time.
Lean Thinking via Business Intelligence Technologies and Innovation Process

Lean Thinking aims to eliminate non-value added activities in the system. The application of Lean Thinking allows firms, enterprises and organizations to manage quality, decrease variation, reduce costs by eliminating waste. The real time data/ information are important to understand the value of the organization. In order to maintain flow, information should be accurate, up to date and available in the shortest possible time. To reveal the continuous improvement opportunities data must be processed effectively and efficiently. In this point the importance of Business Intelligence (BI) Technologies arises. The integration of Lean Thinking and BI complement each other by BI’s providing useful information to lean decision making process improvements. In addition to IT integration with Lean Thinking, the utilized IT software needs to be designed in a way that supplies right information, on the right time and on the right way. The chapter organized in four subsections which are dealt with respectively, BI with Lean Thinking, Lean Thinking with BI, Lean BI, and Adaptation of Lean Tools in BI.
Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention on the Knowledge and Attitude of Patients Attending the DOTS Centre of Selected Hospitals in Mangaluru, Karnataka

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major cause of mortality and morbidity in India due to widespread ignorance and negligence among the public. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of an educational programme on knowledge and attitude of tuberculosis, as clarity of information among the public can further curb the devastating illness. A pre-experimental design was adopted for the study; 50 patients attending the DOTS Centre of selected hospitals and PHCs at Mangaluru were selected using purposive sampling. The data was collected from Feb till May 2016. A self-administered knowledge questionnaire consisting of 30 items and a 21-item, 5-point attitude scale were the instruments used for the study. A cut off score of > 13 was considered as having average knowledge and a cut off score of > 84 was considered as having negative attitude. An educational talk for 45 minutes was organised for the patients attending the DOTS centres. Among 50 TB patients, only 23 (46%) knew that TB is curable and 31 (62%) knew that it is a communicable disease. 28 (56%) patients didn’t know that DOTS is the main treatment for TB; 45 (90%) had negative attitude in the pre-test. No significant association was found between the demographic variables and knowledge and attitude (p>0.05). The educational programme was found to be effective in enhancing the knowledge and bringing a change in the attitude (t79=2, p<0.05). Nurses are powerful agents of change and can utilise education as one of the cost effective intervention for promoting health among tuberculosis patients.
Optimisation of the surfboard fin shape using computational fluid dynamics and genetic algorithms

During the sport of wave surfing, the fins on a surfboard play a major role in the overall performance of the surfer. This article presents the optimisation of a surfboard fin shape, using coupled genetic algorithms with the FLUENT® solver, aiming at the maximisation of the lift per drag ratio. The design-variable vector includes six components namely the chord length, the depth and the sweep angle of the fin as well as the maximum camber, the maximum camber position and the thickness of the hydrofoil (the four-digit NACA parametrization). The Latin hypercube sampling technique is utilised to explore the design space, resulting in 42 different fin designs. Fin and control volume models are created (using CATIA® V5) and meshed (unstructured using ANSYS® Workbench). Steady-state computations were performed using the FLUENT SST k−ω (shear stress transport k−ω) turbulence model at the velocity of 10 m/s and 10° angle of attack. Using the obtained lift and drag values, a response surface based model was constructed with the aim to maximise the lift-to-drag ratio. The optimisation problem was solved using the genetic algorithm provided by the MATLAB® optimisation toolbox and the response surface based model was iteratively improved. The resultant optimal fin design is compared with the experimental data for the fin demonstrating an increase in lift-to-drag ratio by approximately 62% for the given angle of attack of 10°.
Affective polarization and political engagement in the United States: what factors matter?

ABSTRACT This article examines the factors that predict affective polarization and political engagement in the United States. Using an original survey dataset (N = 1,100) of a fairly representative national sample, this study explored some factors (e.g., age, gender, political ideology, and partisan news media and social media) to see how they predict affective polarization and political engagement. The results could be helpful to further study widening affective polarization, which is reportedly affecting democracy itself, in this current political and public opinion atmosphere “Trumpfied” in the last couple of years. The insights found in this research could also help devise political and social campaign strategies that minimize polarization gaps. The results might enable corporate entities to better classify their consumers based on relevant issues associated with polarization and political engagement. Future research is encouraged to combine survey data and social media data for a more refined outcome.
Design of QoS Aware Energy Efficient Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a collection of nodes organized into a cooperative network, which are small energy constrained devices The efficient use of energy source in a sensor node is most desirable criteria for prolong the life time of wireless sensor network. In WSN, sensors near the static sink have to relay the data of the nodes away from the sink and as a result they drain their energy very quickly. It result in network partitioning and can significantly limit the network lifetime, problem is termed as hotspot problem. So designing efficient routing for reducing energy consumption is the important factor. Recently, mobile sink approach has been used to address the hotspot problem but it increase end to end delay which is not acceptable for delay sensitive application. In this paper, to solve the above problem the consumption of energy during the transmission of data from sensor nodes to the sink has been calculated. Routing protocols in WSNs along with the most energy efficient protocol named LEACH ( low energy adaptive clustering hierarchy) and AODV protocol is used. the proposed protocol incurs less end to end delay and is energy efficient. Intensive Simulations are carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed strategy.
Utility of Next-Generation Sequencing in the Reconstruction of Clonal Architecture in a Patient with an EGFR Mutated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with activating EGFR mutations. However, targeted therapies impose a strong selective pressure against the coexisting tumor populations that lead to the emergence of resistant clones. Molecular characterization of the disease is essential for the clinical management of the patient, both at diagnosis and after progression. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been established as a technique capable of providing clinically useful molecular profiling of the disease in tissue samples and in non-invasive liquid biopsy samples (LB). Here, we describe a case report of a patient with metastatic NSCLC harboring EGFR mutation who developed two independent resistance mechanisms (EGFR-T790M and TP53 + RB1 mutations) to dacomitinib. Osimertinib given as a second-line treatment eliminated the EGFR-T790M population and simultaneously consolidated the proliferation of the TP53 + RB1 clone that eventually led to the histologic transformation to small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Comprehensive NGS profiling revealed the presence of the TP53 + RB1 clone in the pretreatment biopsy, while EGFR-T790M was only detected after progression on dacomitinib. Implementation of NGS studies in routine molecular diagnosis of tissue and LB samples provides a more comprehensive view of the clonal architecture of the disease in order to guide therapeutic decision-making.
Patterns of livestock depredation by snow leopards and effects of intervention strategies: lessons from the Nepalese Himalaya

ABSTRACT Context. Large carnivores are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities, and their protection is among the main goals of biodiversity conservation. The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) inhabits high-mountain landscapes where livestock depredation drives it into conflicts with local people and poses an obstacle for its conservation. Aims. The aim of this study was to identify the livestock groups most vulnerable to depredation, target them in implementation of practical interventions, and assess the effectiveness of intervention strategies for conflict mitigation. We present a novel attempt to evaluate intervention strategies for particularly vulnerable species, age groups, time, and seasons. Methods. In 2020, we conducted questionnaire surveys in two regions of the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal (Manang, n = 146 respondents and Upper Mustang, n = 183). We applied sample comparison testing, Jacobs’ selectivity index, and generalised linear models (GLMs) to assess rates and spatio-temporal heterogeneity of depredation, reveal vulnerable livestock groups, analyse potential effects of applied intervention strategies, and identify husbandry factors relevant to depredation. Key results. Snow leopard predation was a major cause of livestock mortality in both regions (25.4–39.8%), resulting in an estimated annual loss of 3.2–3.6% of all livestock. The main intervention strategies (e.g. corrals during night-time and herding during daytime) were applied inconsistently and not associated with decreases in reported livestock losses. In contrast, we found some evidence that dogs, deterrents (light, music playing, flapping tape, and dung burning), and the use of multiple interventions were associated with a reduction in reported night-time depredation of yaks. Conclusions and implications. We suggest conducting controlled randomised experiments for quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of dogs, deterrents, and the use of multiple interventions, and widely applying the most effective ones in local communities. This would benefit the long-term co-existence of snow leopards and humans in the Annapurna region and beyond.
Embedded Index Coding With Consecutive Side Information in Vehicle to Vehicle Communication

Embedded index coding problem is a variant of index coding problems, where each user functions as both broadcast sender and receiver. Consider a set of the messages, the indices of which form an ordered set. Each user owns a subset of these messages known as side information and tries to meet the demands of one another with a minimum number of transmissions. The side information is said to be consecutive if the elements of the index set of side information at a user are consecutive. We consider a practical vehicular ad-hoc network where the embedded index coding could be applied. In the scenario considered, the receiver demands all messages it does not possess, and the side-information is consecutive. Under this setup, a lower bound on the number of transmissions is determined. We present an optimal solution to achieve the bound. The constructed codes work over any field size, including binary.
The method of identification operating states of multi-state electrical devices with complex modes of operation

This paper presents the method for detecting operating states of electrical appliances. Based on the sequence of transitions between the operating states the method allows to obtain information about the mode of operation of a particular device. The article describes the structure of the system applying the proposed method, discuss the stages of the system operation and presents the results. Streszczenie. Artykuł dotyczy opracowanej metody rozpoznawania stanów pracy odbiorników energii elektrycznej. Na podstawie sekwencji przejść między stanami metoda pozwala na uzyskanie informacji o programie pracy urządzenia. Przedstawiono strukturę systemu realizującego proponowaną metodę oraz opisano metodę działania jego części składowych, prezentując uzyskane wyniki. (Metoda rozpoznawania stanów pracy odbiorników energii elektrycznej o złożonych programach pracy).
The “End Life” of the Grape Pomace Waste Become the New Beginning: The Development of a Virtuous Cycle for the Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles and Removal of Emerging Contaminants from Water

During the last decades, the demand for processes developed according to the Circular Economy Principles has increased, searching for an alternative life for wastes. For this purpose, a one-pot green approach is exploited during this work to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by using grape pomace waste from Vitis vinifera. A raw aqueous extract of grape seeds, skin, and stems is used for AuNPs synthesis. UV-Vis, XPS, SEM, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopies demonstrate the main role of the extract’s polyphenolic components in stabilizing nanoparticles. XRD, DLS, and Zeta Potential analyses were used to characterize AuNPs. Moreover, the ionic strength, pH, and temperature role was investigated through the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) band observation to assess AuNPs’ stability and photostability. For foreseeing the as-synthesized AuNPs’ potential use in cosmetic and biomedical fields as multifunctional platforms, their antioxidant, and skin-lightening properties were tested, together with their sunscreen ability. A preliminary in-vitro evaluation is reported about the AuNPs’ cytoprotective effects against H2O2 oxidative stress-induced in normal human dermal fibroblasts. Briefly, the possibility of reusing the grape pomace waste after the AuNPs synthesis as an adsorbent for the efficient removal of emergent contaminants is preliminarily discussed in the paper, further valorizing the use of waste according to a bio circular approach.