Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Single-Dose Albendazole for the Treatment of Soil-Transmitted Helminthic Infections among School Children in Rwanda—A Prospective Cohort Study

Mass drug administration (MDA) of single-dose albendazole to all at-risk populations as preventive chemotherapy (deworming) is recommended by WHO to halt transmission of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) in endemic countries. We assessed the effectiveness of single-dose albendazole against STH infection in the western province of Rwanda, where STH prevalence remains high despite the implementation of preventive chemotherapy for over a decade. Two weeks before the scheduled MDA, 4998 school children (5–15 years old) were screened for STH infections (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm), and 1526 children who tested positive for at least one type of STH parasite were enrolled and received single-dose albendazole (400 mg) through MDA. A follow-up stool exam was performed at three weeks post-treatment using Kato–Katz. Efficacy was assessed by cure rate (CR), defined as the proportion of children who became egg-free, and egg reduction rates (ERRs) at three weeks post-treatment. The CR and ERR for hookworms (CR = 96.7%, ERR = 97.4%) was above, and for Ascaris lumbricoides (CR = 95.1%, ERR = 94.6%) was borderline compared with the WHO efficacy threshold (CR and ERR ≥ 95%). However, the CR and ERR for T. trichiura (CR = 17.6% ERR = 40.3%) were below the WHO threshold for efficacy (CR and ERR ≥ 50%). Having moderate-to-heavy infection intensity and coinfection with another type of STH parasites were independent risk factors for lower CR and ERR against Trichirus trichiura (p < 0.001). Single-dose albendazole used in the MDA program is efficacious for the treatment and control for hookworms and Ascaris lumbricoides infections but not effective for Trichirus trichiura. An alternative treatment regimen is urgently needed to prevent, control, and eliminate STH as a public health problem.
Upgrading the MBBR Process to Reduce Excess Sludge Production in Activated Sludge System Treating Sewage

Excess sludge production is one of the limitations of the biological activated sludge process. Therefore, the study’s objective is to upgrade the MBBR process to an integrated fixed film-activated sludge (IFAS) process to reduce excess sludge production. Two scenarios were followed in this study to eliminate sludge production in the biological activated sludge process: first, modifying the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) system by increasing the solid retention time (SRT) from 5 to 15 days; and second, upgrading the MBBR process to the integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) process by applying return activated sludge (RAS) of 50, 100 and 150% with operating hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6, 12, 14 and 20 h. The results revealed that the first scenario reduced sludge production from 750 to 150 g/day, whereas the second scenario eliminated sludge generation. In the second scenario, operating the system as an IFAS process with complete SRT has eliminated sludge due to sludge decay and cell lysis. In part 3 of the second scenario, the results also showed that the system achieved low effluent pollutants concentrations of 3, 12, 8 and 45 mg/L for BOD, COD, TSS and NO3, respectively. Operating at complete SRT may eliminate sludge production but also result in higher NO3 effluent concentration due to the production of NH3 from sludge decay and cell lysis. To conclude, sludge elimination in an activated sludge system is possible by carefully controlling the process and applying RAS without additional treatment.
ON THE EINSTEIN PODOLSKY ROSEN PARADOX*

THE paradox of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen [1] was advanced as an argument that quantum mechanics could not be a complete theory but should be supplemented by additional variables. These additional variables were to restore to the theory causality and locality [2]. In this note that idea will be formulated mathematically and shown to be incompatible with the statistical predictions of quantum mechanics. It is the requirement of locality, or more precisely that the result of a measurement on one system be unaffected by operations on a distant system with which it has interacted in the past, that creates the essential difficulty. There have been attempts [3] to show that even without such a separability or locality requirement no “ hidden variable” interpretation of quantum mechanics is possible. These attempts have been examined elsewhere [4] and found wanting. Moreover, a hidden variable interpretation of elementary quantum theory [5] has been explicitly constructed. That particular interpretation has indeed a grossly nonlocal structure. This is characteristic, according to the result to be proved here, of any such theory which reproduces exactly the quantum mechanical predictions.
Non-Hermitian Quantum Mechanics for High-Order Harmonic Generation Spectra†

High-order harmonic generation spectra of atoms and molecules in intense laser fields show a wide plateau of odd harmonics, with photon energies high up to the soft X-ray regime. The mechanism leading to the absence of other frequencies, so-called hyper-Raman lines or sidebands, is still unclear. By the use of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics for the many-electron atomic/molecular Hamiltonian system, we derive closed-form expressions for the high-order harmonic generation spectra. The analysis of these expressions provides the (already known) conditions for which the hyper-Raman lines are missing and also the conditions for which they are observable. The new information obtained here is proof that in order to observe sidebands it is not sufficient to populate two different Floquet states. When the duration of the laser pulse is sufficiently long, the two resonance Floquet states should have similar widths (inverse lifetimes). For short pulses, the condition for observable sidebands is more complicated, and.
Factors Determining the Involvement of Women in Income Generating Activities: A Case Study in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal

Women’s participation in income-generating activities (IGAs) appears to be limited in communities of Nepal owing to a variety of socio-cultural and socio-economic variables. Despite the deliberative efforts by governmental and different developmental agencies for the empowerment of women to be participated actively in income generating activities (IGAs), it is unclear yet what factors stimulate Nepalese women’s engagement in various earning activities. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this study was to investigate the variables that stimulate the participation of Nepalese women in IGAs in the Pokhara Metropolis. For this purpose, a systematic survey form was used to gather data. A total of 130 individuals were interrogated, comprising 65 women engaged in IGAs (selected purposively) and 65 women, who are not involved in IGAs (selected conveniently and purposively) for making the study more comprehensive. A Binary logistic regression model was applied for finding the factors determining the involvement of women in IGAs. The result of the analysis revealed that literacy status, occupational status and monthly income of family affect the women’s involvement in IGAs significantly while age, marital status, caste, family type, number of a family member and age at first marriage do not have any effect on it. The study suggests that it is imperative to make women aware about the importance of involvement in IGAs as this will help them to be self-dependent. The Government of Nepal should focus on women’s education to ensure the necessary knowledge and entrepreneurial skills needed for their effective participation in income-generating activities.
Lattices and Θ-function identities. I : Theta constants

The gluing construction of lattices is used to generate and study a number of theta constant identities. It is shown, for example, that the Jacobi identity, a well‐known degree 4 identity, can be derived from a degree 2 identity. A list of all quadratic identities in θ3 derivable from this lattice method, containing over 30 algebraically independent identities, and conjectured to yield all quadratic identities in θ3 derivable by any means, is included. In contrast, only two independent quadratic identities in θ3 have been found elsewhere in the mathematical literature. The theta constants of lattices and their glue classes are investigated, and the fact that the theta constant of each glue class is a root of a polynomial whose coefficients are linear combinations of theta constants of lattices is shown.
Isolation and Identification of Limosilactobacillus reuteri PSC102 and Evaluation of Its Potential Probiotic, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Properties

We isolated and characterized Limosilactobacillus reuteri PSC102 and evaluated its probiotic, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. We preliminarily isolated 154 candidates from pig feces and analyzed their Gram nature, morphology, and lactic acid production ability. Based on the results, we selected eight isolates and tested their ability to produce digestive enzymes. Finally, we identified one isolate using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, namely, L. reuteri PSC102. We tested its probiotic properties in vitro, including extracellular enzyme activities, low pH and bile salt tolerance, autoaggregation and coaggregation abilities, adhesion to Caco-2 cells, antibiotic susceptibility, and hemolytic and gelatinase activities. Antioxidant activity was determined using 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical scavenging and reducing power assays. The antibacterial activity of this strain and its culture supernatant against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were evaluated using a time-kill assay and disk diffusion method, respectively. L. reuteri PSC102 exhibited tolerance toward low pH and bile salt and did not produce harmful enzymes or possess hemolytic and gelatinase activities. Its intact cells and cell-free extract exhibited potential antioxidant activities, and significantly inhibited the growth of enterotoxigenic E. coli. Our results demonstrate that L. reuteri PSC102 is a potential probiotic candidate for developing functional feed.
Quiescent accretion disks in black hole X-ray novae

We present detailed time-resolved spectroscopy of the Balmer emission lines from two black hole binary systems in quiescence, A0620-00 and Nova Muscae 1991. We find extraordinary similarities between the two systems. There are 30-40 km/s velocity variations of the emission lines over the orbital period, the phases of which are not aligned with the expected phase of the motion of the compact primary. Detailed modeling of both systems is complicated by variable hot spot components, regions of optical thickness, and intermittent excess emission in the blue line wings of the H-alpha lines. Both sources also display low velocities at the outer edge of the accretion disk, implying a large primary Roche lobe and extreme mass ratios. These complications suggest that although simple optically thin, Keplerian alpha-disk models provide a useful parameterization of emission lines from these systems, the straightforward physical models they imply should be treated with great caution.
Teacher-Based Courses Versus Internet-Driven Courses in EFL Milieux: A Contrastive Proposal

In a world more advanced than ever, where the digital whiteboard classroom and electronic books are replacing the chalkboard classroom and printed textbooks of yesterday, the teacher seems to remain the source of knowledge who performs the noble task which calls for boosting the best in people to bring out their greatest fortes. This research espouses this belief and its basic significance is to show that a teacher imparting knowledge to a group of learners will remain an integral ingredient in formal teaching despite the unprecedented impact of technology on the sphere of education. The major research question in this work intends to contrast two different English as foreign language (EFL) learning situations in Licence/ Master/ Doctorate (LMD) environment: one based on the internet and the other on a learning assisted by a teacher. This digest looks at the implications of both learning models and pores over the changes that teachers may encounter within their classes as digital technology penetrates every area of the nation’s life. To comprehensively examine the predicted effects of both learning cases, the data have been amassed both quantitatively and qualitatively through a triangular approach using a questionnaire administered to students, interviews conducted with learners, classroom observation procedures, and evaluation of the learners’ exams. Based on the analysis of the gathered information and answers, the results highlighted remarkable distinctness in both learning methods. Still, there are specific facets of each learning modality
A Dual−Functional Cationic Covalent Organic Frameworks Modified Separator for High Energy Lithium Metal Batteries

Separator modification is an efficient strategy to handle with the challenges of lithium metal batteries but its success is primarily subject to the modification of the materials. Herein, a cationic covalent organic framework (COF) composed of positively charged organic units and weakly bonded fluoride ions (F−) is introduced to modify the commercial polypropylene separator (COF−F@PP). It is found that the organic unit has abundant nanopores to homogenize the lithium ions (Li+) flux and can interact with electrolyte solvent molecules to form a desolvation structure of Li+. Meanwhile, the F− within the nanopores is proved to assist in building a robust LiF−riched solid electrolyte interphase to avoid the side reactions between lithium anode and electrolyte. Hence, the COF−F@PP delivers feasible practicality for the outstanding cycling stability, high Coulombic efficiency, and superior rate capability of Li//LFP coin cell at 5 C, low N/P ratio (2.19) full cell, and pouch cell at 1 C.
2-Surface twistors, embeddings and symmetries

2-Surface twistor space (Penrose, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 381, 53 (1982)) was introduced in connection with a proposal for a quasi-local definition of mass and angular momentum within general relativity. Properties of the 2-surface twistor space are related to the possibilities for embedding the 2-surface in real and complex conformally flat spaces. The additional properties of the twistor space resulting from symmetries of the 2-surface are discussed, with particular detail on axisymmetric 2-surfaces.
Scattering by an arbitrary cylinder at a plane interface: broadside incidence

The problem of the determination of the fields scattered by an infinite dielectric cylinder of arbitrary cross section located at the interface between two semi-finite dielectric media is reduced to the solution of integral equations for unknown functions defined on the boundaries. These boundary functions are chosen so as to minimize their number. The incident field is that of a plane monochromatic wave. The derivation of the integral equations is given for the transverse electric (TE) mode for a dielectric cylinder and for a perfectly conducting cylinder. The exact electromagnetic fields are obtained from the solutions of the integral equations by integration, and the radar cross section can be computed from the far-field approximation. Sample outputs of the computer programs that implement this solution are shown. >
On the exponentially slow motion of a viscous shock

Using formal asymptotic methods, we study the internal layer behavior associated with the following viscous shock problem in the limit e 0: The convex nonlinearity f(u) satisfies f(α) = f(–α). For the steady problem, we show that the method of matched asymptotic expansions fails to uniquely determine the location of the equilibrium shock layer solution. This indeterminacy, resulting from neglecting certain exponentially small effects, is eliminated by using the projection method, which exploits certain properties of the spectrum associated with the linearized operator. For the time dependent problem, we show that the viscous shock, which is formed from initial data, drifts towards the equilibrium solution on an exponentially long time interval of the order O(eC/e), for some C > 0. This exponentially slow behavior is analyzed by deriving an equation of motion for the location of the viscous shock. For Burgers equation (f(u) = u2/2), the results give an analytical characterization of the slow shock layer motion observed numerically in Kreiss and Kreiss; see [11]. We also show that the shock layer behavior is very sensitive to small changes in the boundary operator. In addition, using a WKB-type method, the slow viscous shock motion is studied numerically for small e, the results comparing favorably with corresponding analytical results. Finally, we relate the slow viscous shock motion to similar slow internal layer motion for the Allen-Cahn equation.
Transient response of ISOPHOT Si:Ga infrared photodetectors: experimental results and application of the theory of nonstationary processes

Extrinsic photodetectors with implanted low ohmic contacts are used in ISOPHOT, which is one of the four focal plane instruments of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). If operated under the low temperature and low background conditions of ISO, such detectors show a highly nonlinear transient response to step changes of infrared illumination. For the Si:Ga detector arrays in PHT-S, the spectrometer in ISOPHOT, we are able to describe accurately the nonlinear photoresponse by a simple analytical function of time. Based on the theory, fundamental detector constants characterizing the dynamic behavior of such detectors can be extracted from experimental data. This allows the prediction of the steady state signals of short time measurements that have not stabilized after an illumination change. Results are presented on the dynamic effects of step-like flux changes and on the observed nonstationary injection of carriers due to temperature variations of the detector. The optimization of the in-orbit observation strategy is discussed using theory and experimental results.
Wooden door preferences based on lifestyle theory and consumer behaviour theory

This paper analyses users with different lifestyles and consumer behaviour, and then segments wooden door users with different consumer preferences, to inspire wooden door companies in their product design and further research on wooden doors. In this paper, a wooden door user research questionnaire was created based on Lifestyle Theory and Consumer Behaviour Theory, and data collection was completed at Nanjing Forestry University. The collected data were analysed using cluster analysis, factor analysis, cross-over analysis, and other analysis methods. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to simplify the analysis model and process the data, and finally the wooden door users were divided into four categories. The categories were trendy home users, budget-conscious sensible users, basic needs users, and impulsive enjoyable users. Male users were found to be more likely to be “trendy home users” and “impulsive enjoyable users,” while female users were more likely to be “budget-conscious sensible users” and “trendy home users. ” For the number of users, the “trendy home users” were the most numerous, followed by the “budget-conscious sensible users. ” The age of wooden door users in this study was mainly distributed between 21 to 30 years old, of which “freelancers” accounted for the highest percentage.
Benthic diatom diversity in a turbid brackish lagoon of the Baltic Sea

ABSTRACT The Darß-Zingst Bodden Chain is a tide-less shallow lagoon at the Southern Baltic coast. It was and is studied in almost all hydrological, biogeochemical as well as floristic and faunistic aspects. Benthic diatoms were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in the early 1970s and one sampling site was now revisited. A total of 103 diatom taxa were recorded in sediment and on macrophyte samples collected between 2015 and 2019. In the sediment samples, epipsammic diatoms accounted for almost 90% of the total valve counts. In the 1970s, only three epipsammic species were observed, while we recorded a total of 27 epipsammic taxa, most of which were very small (<12 µm). Since those earlier studies, many of these species have been newly described or transferred from other genera. Moreover, small diatoms may have been misidentified, overlooked or counted as important. This study emphasizes, in addition, the need to combine light microscopy with electron microscopy to allow the unambiguous identification also of small entities, and to reach a comprehensive overview over the diatom flora present in different benthic habitats.
Effect of rotor eccentricity on the magnetic field in the air-gap of a non-salient-pole machine

A method of calculation is developed for the determination of the magnetic field in the air-gap of an idealized machine without salient poles and with an eccentric rotor. The basic case of a concentric rotor is considered first, simplifying assumptions being made to render the problem amenable to calculation.The magnetic potential at any point is governed by the currents flowing in the windings and also by the magnetization induced on the cylindrical surfaces of the rotor and the stator. The potential functions appropriate to the stator, rotor and air-gap are determined for several elementary conductor arrangements, and hence the complex potential function is derived at any point in the air-gap.The eccentric annulus representing the air-gap when the rotor is displaced is related to a concentric annulus by means of a conformal transformation. Hence the complex potential is known at any point in the eccentric air-gap, and expressions are thence derived for the potential and flux functions at any point in the gap due to a single current-carrying conductor placed arbitrarily in either stator or rotor.Finally, the application of the principal results of the analysis is exemplified by the calculation of the radial magnetic field at the surface of an eccentric rotor with an arbitrary stator winding.
Impact of Mephedrone on Fear Memory in Adolescent Rats: Involvement of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptor

Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is complicated by the presence of drug use disorder comorbidity. Here, we examine whether conditioned fear (PTSD model) modifies the rewarding effect of mephedrone and if repeated mephedrone injections have impact on trauma-related behaviors (fear sensitization, extinction, and recall of the fear reaction). We also analyzed whether these trauma-induced changes were associated with exacerbation in metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and the GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor expression in such brain structures as the hippocampus and basolateral amygdala. Male adolescent rats underwent trauma exposure (1.5 mA footshock), followed 7 days later by a conditioned place preference training with mephedrone. Next, the post-conditioning test was performed. Fear sensitization, conditioned fear, anxiety-like behavior, extinction acquisition and relapse were then assessed to evaluate behavioral changes. MMP-9, GluN2A and GluN2B were subsequently measured. Trauma-exposed rats subjected to mephedrone treatment acquired a strong place preference and exhibited impairment in fear extinction and reinstatement. Mephedrone had no effect on trauma-induced MMP-9 level in the basolateral amygdala, but decreased it in the hippocampus. GluN2B expression was decreased in the hippocampus, but increased in the basolateral amygdala of mephedrone-treated stressed rats. These data suggest that the modification of the hippocampus and basolateral amygdala due to mephedrone use can induce fear memory impairment and drug seeking behavior in adolescent male rats.