Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Low Intensity Exercise on Liver Enzymes (ALT & ALP)

This particular research study was basically carried out for the purpose to examine the impact of low intensity exercise on two particular liver enzymes i.e. alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphate (ALP). 20 Non sportsmen were selected as subjects of the study (n=20, age 20 to 30 years (20.95±3.79), Body Mass Index (BMI) from 18 to 30 (25.90±5.54). Similarly the subjects were divided into two groups (Experimental Group and Control Group) through the application of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and measurement of Maximum Heart Rate (MHR). 12 weeks self-made low intensity exercise protocol was applied to an experimental group. 5ml blood was collected from all subjects to measure the effect of low intensity exercise on ALT and ALP. The data of pre and post-test were processed through SPSS version 24. Based on analysis and findings, the researcher concluded that in experimental group (EXG) the level of ALT and ALP was found significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to control group (CG). Based on conclusion, it is hereby recommended by the researcher that for the purpose to promote the functional capacity of liver, low as well as moderate intensity exercise should be performed on daily basis. In addition, in this study due to lack of financial resources, two basic liver enzymes i.e.ALT and ALP were measured, therefore the other enzymes like as AST and bilirubin also need to be examined in such other research studies.
Design and operation of grid-connected photovoltaic system with power-factor control and active islanding detection

An approach to power-factor control and islanding detection of a grid-connected photovoltaic system is proposed. With the designated control circuit, deviation at the output of the inverter can be observed. Coupled with the algorithm developed, this deviation serves as a useful aid to detect islanding more effectively. The proposed method has been tested through different scenarios, including the loss of grid and operation in parallel. Simulation studies and hardware circuits were both made to validate the effectiveness of the method. With the test results they help consolidate the feasibility and practicality of the approach for the applications considered.
Automated configuration design framework for payload integration in unmanned aerial vehicles

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have became appreciably compact and lightweight over the years, imposing stricter geometric and stability constraints. The new-generation UAVs are required to carry numerous sensors and peripheral components for a variety of tasks. These components are placed in accordance with the requirements for use and stability conditions, which complicates the determination of an optimal layout configuration. This article presents the design automation framework for determining favourable sensor placement locations under specific stability constraints. The proposed methodology is a unique end-to-end framework that determines convenient locations for sensor placement, considering the finite element model of UAVs and payload-related parameters as inputs. The design automation routine proposes an integrated approach using the support vector machine and extended pattern search algorithms to identify the design space and relevant cost function. The efficacy of the proposed framework is examined by leveraging finite element solvers to optimize payload placements on a simulated UAV model.
Longitudinal changes in maternal circulating microRNAs as potential biomarkers of specific events during healthy pregnancy

BackgroundNovel high-resolution tools for pregnancy monitoring, including early detection of prenatal disorders, are needed. Changes in circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) during pregnancy could potentially inform about the functional status of the mother, the placenta and/or the fetus. However, whether c-miRNA profiles actually reflect distinct pregnancy-specific events at all stages remains unclear.MethodsLongitudinal large-scale RNAseq c-miRNA profiles at early, middle and late pregnancy, and after birth derived from eight women with healthy term pregnancies (n = 32 plasma samples) were compared against corresponding circulating profiles derived from age-matched non-pregnant women (n = 10). Data of fetal sex and growth indicators obtained during pregnancy evolution of the same women, were used to identify specific c-miRNA correlates in circulation.Results1449 c-miRNAs were detected in circulation in both pregnant and non-pregnant women with only 48 c-miRNAs differentially expressed relative to non-pregnant controls in at least one of the four studied stages (FDR < 0.05). Surprisingly, c-miRNA subpopulations with reported prominent expression in various pregnancy-associated compartments (placenta, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord plasma and breast milk) were found collectively under-expressed in maternal circulation throughout pregnancy (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we found a bias in global miRNAs expression in direct association with fetal sex right from the first trimester, in addition to a specific c-miRNA signature of fetal growth (R = 0.7, p < 0.01). ConclusionOur results demonstrate the existence of temporal changes in c-miRNAs populations associated to distinct aspects of pregnancy, including correlates of placental function and lactation, as well as fetal gender and growth, revealing a wider potential of c-miRNAs as biomarkers of specific aspects of maternal health and fetal growth.
The Quality of Footwear Fit: What we know, don't know and should know

Even though fit ranks as one of the most important considerations in the purchase of a shoe, the quality of fit has no metric and is hence poorly assessed. Manufacturers, retailers, and customers tend to use trial and error techniques to improve footwear fit. This approach is rather cumbersome and very unscientific. In this paper, we present a methodology to assess and thereby quantify footwear fit so that comfort can be predicted and consequently improved lasts and shoes can be produced that match different shapes of feet.
The Impact of the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami on Tourism in Thailand

The 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami appears to have reduced tourist visits to southern Thailand and particularly to the provinces of Phuket and Phang Nga. In Thailand, a much higher proportion of the tsunami victims were tourists than in other affected nations. Also, the tourism industry, which is a major source of foreign exchange, is very sensitive to the perception of risk created by disasters like this tsunami. Although revenues may remain depressed for some time, it is likely that tourism will rebound in this region because of the attractiveness of the physical amenity and the value it offers for European tourists. Damage to the physical infrastructure did not serve as a substantial impediment to response and recovery. Information and warning systems, together with buildings that afford vertical evacuation, will protect lives and reduce perceived risk.
Event-triggered adaptive control for upper-limb robot-assisted passive rehabilitation exercises with input delay

In this article, an adaptive tracking control strategy is designed for uncertain electrically driven end-effector type upper-limb rehabilitation robots subject to an input delay and a limited bandwidth channel. This control scheme is implemented to perform upper-limb passive rehabilitation training for different subjects. Primarily, dynamic analysis of the rehabilitation robot is carried out using the Euler–Lagrange principle, which incorporates motor dynamics to allow the voltage-based control commands as desirable in practical implementations. Thereafter, an adaptive backstepping control law with input delay compensation is designed to estimate the unknown dynamical parameters of the rehabilitation robot during the training sessions. Furthermore, a Lyapunov-based triggering mechanism is developed to deal with the limited bandwidth challenge and reduce the transmissions over the network. The experimental validation is conducted for different scenarios, and a comparison study is carried out with two time-triggered control schemes to investigate the potential of the proposed approach. From the experimental runs and the comparative analysis, the proposed control scheme is found to achieve a promising tracking performance with input delay compensation. Moreover, a significant saving in the network resources is attained during the passive rehabilitation training of the subjects.
Radiation hardness assurance categories for COTS technologies

A comparison of the radiation tolerance of three commercial and one radiation hardened SRAM is presented for total dose, dose rate, and single event effects environments. The devices are categorized according to radiation hardness within each environment and the necessity of considering all applicable environments is enforced. Burn-in effects on radiation hardness are shown for each of the environments.
High TROAP Expression Correlates With Shorter Survival in Patients With Glioma: A Study Based on Multiple Data Fusion Analysis

Trophinin-associated protein (TROAP) was originally identified to mediate the embryo transfer process and participate in the regulation of microtubules but was later found to be associated with the biological behavior of various types of cancers. However, there is limited information about the role of TROAP in glioma. In this study, thousands of glioma samples were obtained from multiple independent datasets to detect changes in TROAP mRNA and protein expression levels in glioma, we found that compared with normal brain tissues, the expression of TROAP in glioma was significantly increased at both levels. Then, the correlations between TROAP and clinical characteristics and prognosis in glioma were revealed through a series of bioinformatics analysis methods. The overexpression of TROAP was an independent risk factor for glioma and was associated with a reduced overall survival rate of glioma patients. In addition, TROAP had value for determining the prognosis of patients, especially patients with WHO grade III glioma. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the expression level of TROAP in glioma cell lines. Subsequently, GSEA identified homologous recombination, cell cycle and p53 signalling pathways as differentially enriched with the high TROAP expression phenotype. Finally, four drugs that may inhibit TROAP expression and have potential therapeutic value for glioma were screened out through CMap website: bezafibrate, clobetasol, scriptaid, and thioguanosine. In conclusion, TROAP, as a new oncogene, leads to poor prognosis of glioma patients, and as a highly specific biomarker, provides the possibility for individual clinical treatment of glioma patients.
Operations planning and flexibility in a supply chain

In dynamic competitive markets, the flexibility of manufacturing system networks such as supply chains (SCs) is particularly interesting. The SC flexibility considered in this paper takes into account two main aspects: the process flexibility of each SC firm and the logistics flexibility concerning the possible connections between suppliers, assemblers and markets. Different configurations of an SC are proposed, in correspondence to different degrees of the process and logistics flexibility. The effects of SC flexibility are then investigated on the operations planning performance of an SC subject to production capacity uncertainty and coping with demand volume and mix variability. In particular, an optimization model is defined to analyse the SC performance in every SC configuration. Managerial guidelines, supporting the management of selecting the appropriate degrees of flexibility and the corresponding SC configuration to be adopted, are finally obtained.
Near Volatile and Non-Volatile Memory Processing in 3D Systems

The cost of transferring data between the off-chip memory system and compute unit is the fundamental energy and performance bottleneck in modern computing systems. Furthermore, with the advent of emerging data-intensive applications and technology scaling, this bottleneck has continuously increased. To overcome these difficulties, Near Memory Processing (NMP) based on 3D die stacking becomes a potential technology to transform the computation-centric system towards memory-centric system. In this work, we explore the feasibility and efficacy of a NMP architecture based on an emerging Non-Volatile Memory technology (NVM) for data-intensive applications and compare it with the conventional 3D-stacked NMP architecture based on DRAM. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach with experimental results.
Learning-Based Project Reviews: Observations and Lessons Learned from the Kennedy Space Center

Abstract: This research focuses on understanding and developing best practices for effective “learning-based program/project reviews” (LBPRs). LBPRs are defined as program/project reviews that provide an opportunity to learn while sharing status for project control. These LBPRs aim to be an evolution from the traditional status and control reviews to an improvement conversation that drives both learning and improvement within the project environment. LBPRs are important because they provide the real-time, routine opportunity to create, capture, share, and apply both tacit and explicit knowledge throughout a project life-cycle—not just during “lessons learned” at project closeout. Some organizations do complete lessons learned throughout the life cycle of the project. To accomplish this research, an action research approach was implemented using NASA programs and organizations associated with the Kennedy Space Center.
Carpooling Platforms as Smart City Projects: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Literature Review

Carpooling schemes for mutual cost benefits between the driver and the passengers has a long history. However, the convenience of driving alone, the increasing level of car ownership, and the difficulties in finding travelers with matching timing and routes keep car occupancy low. Technology is a key enabler of online platforms which facilitate the ride matching process and lead to an increase in carpooling services. Smart carpooling services may be an alternative and enrichment for mobility, which can help smart cities (SCs) reduce traffic congestion and gas emissions but require the appropriate architecture to support connection with the city infrastructure such as high-occupancy vehicle lanes, parking space, tolls, and the public transportation services. To better understand the evolution of carpooling platforms in SCs, bibliometric analysis of three separate specialized literature collections, combined with a systematic literature review, is performed. It is identified that smart carpooling platforms could generate additional value for participants and SCs. To deliver this value to an SC, a multi-sided platform business model is proposed, suitable for a carpooling service provider with multiple customer segments and partners. Finally, after examining the SC structure, a carpooling platform architecture is presented, which interconnects with the applicable smart city layers.
Design Optimization of Hub for 3-Bladed Horizontal Axis Tidal Turbine

In this paper, Wind turbines knowledge, which is already matured enough, is effectively used for design of horizontal axis tidal turbine (HATT) hub. Design optimization keeping in view the shape and strength for minimum weight was done using ANSYS software. Maximum stress concentration areas are found to be the blade roots and edges of shaft connection. A novel approach is used to optimize the fillet radii along with overall thickness.
Reaction force control of a linear electrical generator for direct drive wave energy conversion

Direct drive wave energy converters have been proposed in view of the disadvantage of mechanical complexity and low conversion efficiencies in conventional wave energy converters. By directly coupling a linear generator to a reciprocating wave energy device, it is suggested that direct drive power take-off could be a viable alternative to hydraulic- and pneumatic-based systems. To further realise the benefits of a direct drive system, a control scheme based on reaction force control to maximise energy extraction is presented. It focuses predominantly on the theoretical analysis of the linear generator reaction force. The modelling, simulation and control of direct drive wave energy conversion are systematically investigated by computer-aided analysis via Matlab/Simulink
Lifetime prediction of IGBT modules for traction applications

Bond wire lift-off caused by low-cycle fatigue is one among the dominant failure mechanisms of modern high power Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors multichip modules used in traction applications. A model is proposed which is calibrated basing on data from accelerated tests and which predicts quantitatively the lifetime of devices submitted to cyclic loads as they are encountered in current converters of railway systems. It assumes linear accumulation of the thermal-cycle fatigue damage and takes into account the redundancy of the bond wires within a complex multichip module.
The Father, the Son, and the Abuser: The Portrayal of Male Victims of Intimate Partner Homicide in the News Media

Media research on intimate partner homicide (IPH) has primarily focused on male perpetrators and female victims. This study analyzed 203 English-language news articles of IPH involving male victims and female perpetrators for the year 2019. Using thematic analysis, we identified two main themes: doubting the victim (who is the victim? ) and victim recognition (“he didn’t deserve this”). The findings suggest that male victims of female perpetrated IPH tend to be blamed for their victimization and represented as non-ideal and illegitimate victims in the news media.
Developing a Framework for Embedding Useful Project Management Improvement Initiatives in Organizations

This paper describes the quantitative analysis phase of an exploratory study to identify useful project management improvement initiatives and factors contributing to their successful embedment in organizations. A preliminary framework, based on a literature review and a series of interviews with practitioners, was tested via a questionnaire, which elicited 793 responses from project management practitioners worldwide. The paper focuses on factor analyses of the questionnaire responses, addressing issues of construct validity and reliability. The resulting final framework highlights 15 key project management improvement initiatives and 26 embedding factors grouped by the factor analyses into three project management improvement initiative themes and six embedding themes.
Flexible architecture-based approach for dynamic service composition

Volatile business requirements and heterogeneous resources require virtual enterprise applications more adaptable. To enhance the application adaptability, we proposed a flexible architecture-based application design approach. With dynamic service composition architectures, the proposed approach facilitates construction and adaptation of service-oriented applications. The case study indicated that the approach improved the adaptability of service-oriented virtual enterprise applications.
The role of visual cues in detecting irony

We present four studies that aimed at investigating the contribution of purely visual cues for the detection of irony. In Study 1-3, we presented, without any preceding context, remarks (criticisms and compliments) uttered with sincere and with ironic intent, in three modalities: in the V modality participants could read the comment and see speakers’ facial expressions and bodily movements; in the A modality they could only hear the audio tracks of the uttered sentences; in the VA modality, both visual and auditory information were present. We found that purely visual cues were sufficient to discriminate the ironic intent of the speakers. In Study 4 we presented comments in the V modality, without showing the content of the remark: Accuracy in the detection of sarcasm dropped. We discuss that irony in Study 1-3 might have been recognized indirectly, by comparing the polarity of the remark with the polarity of the actors’ attitude, and we interpret Study 4 data as casting some doubts on the idea that there exist visual cues that specifically convey the speaker’s ironic intent.
Dietary Fiber for Gestating Sows During Heat Stress: Effects on Reproductive Performance and Stress Level

Background: Heat stress is an important issue in swine farms, which causes economic loss and compromises sows health. The addition of fiber to the diet is an option in modifying intestinal health. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of fiber level on reproductive performance, intestinal microbiota and integrity, and metabolism of gestating sows, and its carry-over effect on the lactation period during heat stress. Methods: A total of 36 gestating sows (90 day-pregnant) were allotted to three treatments with 12 replicates. The diets included 3% (LF), 4.5% (MF), and 6% (HF) crude fiber. All gestating sows fed 2.5 kg of diet daily and diets contained 3150 kcal/kg of ME, 14% crude protein (CP), and 0.58% standardized ileal digestibility of lysine. Results: Sows fed the HF diet showed a lower respiratory rate and hair cortisol concentration compared with the LF treatment. The HF diet increased the feed intake of sows compared with the LF diet, while it decreased the farrowing duration. The HF diet increased the constipation index compared with the MF and LF diets. Sows in the HF treatment showed a greater piglet weight and litter weight compared with the LF treatment at weaning. Sows in the LF treatment showed the highest digestibility of CP and the greatest digestibility of acid detergent fiber was observed in sows fed HF diet. The HF diet increased lying and decreased standing, and sham chewing behavior compared with the LF diet. The concentration of acetate and total short-chain fatty acid were increased in sows fed the HF diet. The gene expression of glucose transporter 3 and 4 was increased in the HF treatment. The gene expression of heat shock protein70 was decreased in the HF treatment.Conclusion: Increasing dietary fiber level decreased stress level and improved farrowing duration and reproductive performance.
Quality of Life Assessment of Children with Early Childhood Caries in a Brazilian City

Objectives: The aim of the research was to investigate the impact of ECC on children’s quality of life and find out how it affects their routine, through a questionnaire applied to parents. Methods: For this assessment, the Impact Scale on Oral Health in Early Childhood (ECOIHS) have been used. The sample consisted of 150 children aged 2 to 5 years enrolled in daycare centers and public schools in the municipality of Massape-CE-Brazil. The questionnaire was answered by parents and guardians of children diagnosed with ECC. The analysis of the questionnaire was performed using SPSS software version 17.0 and R statistics 3.2. Results: In the results, with regard to toothache and difficulty in eating and drinking, a prevalence of 85.48% was found with a statistical significance of 5%. 40.7% of family members considered themselves guilty at some level of intensity by ECC in children. Correlating family income with the financial impact of a dental problem and / or treatment, a prevalence of 96.35% was observed with a 95% confidence interval, demonstrating that the lower the family income, the greater the financial impact. Conclusion: ECC interferes with the child’s quality of life, thus negatively affecting his routine, as well as that of his family. Key words: Quality of life, Dental caries, Pre-school, Early childhood caries, Oral hygiene.