Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research and scholarly methods: Pragmatic clinical trials

Pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) have received increased attention within health services and pharmacy practice research due to their ability to test interventions in the real world, with emphasis on implementation and scalability in diverse practice environments. The purpose of this article is to introduce the PCT research design to health service and pharmacy practice researchers, followed by considerations and recommendations for conducting successful PCT research. It is organized into three parts, including a definition of PCTs, the process of selecting a PCT design, and general considerations and recommendations of PCTs. We conclude with the applications and trends in the use of PCTs in pharmacy research.
Complementary body driving - a low voltage analog circuit technique for SOI

This paper describes several analog circuit primitives that utilize the body terminal as a signal port. A cascode current mirror that can operate with an input and output voltage of 200 mV, and a rail-to-rail constant transconductance gain block capable of 1 V operation are presented. These circuits have been implemented in a standard 0.35 /spl mu/m partially-depleted silicon-on-insulator (PDSOI) CMOS process and should find wide application in next-generation analog circuit designs.
Four beam interferometer manual: Operating instructions for the INEL diffraction Moire interferometer

Moire interferometry is an interferometric method for measuring changes of in-plane geometry. It is essentially insensitive to out-of-plane topography or changes in that topography. Changes in geometry are referenced to a particular moment in time when the moire` sensor, a diffraction grating, was attached to the specimen. Distortions experienced by the specimen prior to that time are not directly detectable, although they may be inferred from specimen behavior or condition. In its most common form, moire interferometry is not well suited to large (> 50 mm square), curved ( 200 C) regions. However, various efforts have been made to handle each of these conditions. In general, the moire` process is most straightforward for flat, 25 mm diameter regions of coverage and room temperature. Much smaller or larger regions require more specialized optics, which can become very expensive. This report will discuss various aspects of moire interferometry. In particular, a new four beam (bi-axial) interferometer is described in detail. Issues involved in safety, assembly, calibration and use are fully explained.
Is Laparoscopic Technique Suitable for Initial Experience in Live Donor Nephrectomy? Results of The First 51 Cases

Is Laparoscopic Technique Suitable for Initial Experience in Live Donor Nephrectomy? Results of The First 51 Cases. ABSTRACT Objective: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is included in advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures and is the most preferred method for live donor nephrectomy. It is discussed that teams who do not have experience with live donor nephrectomy prefer the laparoscopic method for the first experience in kidney transplantation. The present manuscript is aimed to present the results of laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy who’s the first 51 cases of a surgical team without any experience of open donor nephrectomy. Method: The medical records of donor nephrectomy which laparoscopic surgery was performed between April 2019-August 2020 reviewed retrospectively. Demographic features, routine transplantation preoperative data, donor nephrectomy side and reasons, surgical technique details, operation time, warm ischemia time, postoperative laboratory parameters, hospitalization time, early morbidity results were evaluated in detail. Result: Results of 51 donors between the specified dates were evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 44.6 ± 11.6 (22-69) years. The patients’ K / E ratio was 25/26. The number of patients with BMI ⩾ 30 was 14 (27.4%). Right nephrectomy was performed on ten donors (19.6%). The mean operative time of the patients was 130 min. (120- 160), and the mean warm ischemia time was 149 sec. (113-180). Postoperative complications were in 4 patients (7.8%). Conclusion: The laparoscopic method for live donor nephrectomy may be applied in safe from the initial stage by teams with advanced minimally invasive surgery experience.
Dynamic characteristics of woodframe buildings

A database of dynamic characteristics of woodframe buildings was developed through analysis of recorded earthquake response and by forced vibration and shake-table testing. Modal identification was performed on eight sets of strong-motion records obtained from five buildings, and forced vibration tests were performed on five other buildings. The periods identified were sensitive to the amplitude of shaking, due to the reduction in lateral stiffness at stronger shaking levels. The equivalent viscous damping ratios were usually more than 10% of critical during earthquake shaking. A regression analysis was performed on the earthquake and forced vibration test data to obtain a simple, but reasonably accurate, period formula for woodframe buildings at low drift levels (less than 0.1%). Data obtained from the UC San Diego and UC Berkeley full-scale shake-table tests illustrate the shift in periods due to increasing shaking amplitude. Forced vibration tests of the UC Berkeley 3-story building before and after the shake-table tests showed how the periods and modeshapes shift due to damage. A simple analytical model of masses and springs was used to model the UC Berkeley test structure. The effects of diaphragm stiffness and mass distribution assumptions were evaluated and found to have a significant effect on the model torsional response. This model was used to find the equivalent wall stiffnesses giving frequency-response curves that best-fit the experimental data. These spring values were used to quantify the stiffness loss resulting from severe shaking of the structure, and the observed damage corresponded to stiffness losses of over 75%. The correlation between stiffness loss and damage to woodframe buildings has potential structural health monitoring implications.
Evaluation of thermally conductive adhesives for bonding heat sinks to electronic packages

Two thermally conductive adhesives have been evaluated and found suitable to cover a wide spectrum of heat sink bonding applications. The first adhesive was selected to enhance thermal performance of plastic quad flat packs. In an evolutionary manner, its use was extended to metal, ceramic and low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) plastic packages. An empirical fatigue model was developed and coupled with thermal measurements to support bonding to ceramic. The first adhesive offers a lower cost manufacturing process. A second adhesive, that is low in modulus of elasticity was selected to accommodate the severe CTE mismatch between silicon and aluminum. It provides a stable mechanical bond and thermal path in applications where the CTE mismatch is large. Thus, both adhesives and associated processes are used to cover a wide spectrum of heat sink bonding to electronic components. <<ETX>>
Clustering based Contact Tracing Analysis and Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 Infections

INTRODUCTION: Contact tracing is a method to track the victims, which have been infected from the host with any particular disease. Therefore, clustering based machine learning techniques can be employed for contact tracing. Contact tracing can be automated by using technology and thus helps us in producing much more accurate and efficient results. OBJECTIVES: This work aims at finding usefulness of clustering techniques for contact tracing. Two different clustering techniques namely density-based clustering and partitioning-based clustering have been used to analyse corresponding results for COVID-19 infected cases. The dataset is generated from a mock data generator with certain assumptions. RESULTS: The paper compares DBSCAN and K-means for contact tracing for COVID-19 Pandemic. The comparative analysis of two algorithms is presented. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of certain clustering algorithms in COVID-19 contact tracing is analysed. DBSCAN performs well for clustering tasks. This work only focuses on possible techniques useful for contact tracing and does not claim any medical accuracy © 2021. Meenu Gupta et al., licensed to EAI. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license, which permits unlimited use, distribution and reproduction in any medium so long as the original work is properly cited
Evolution of the Sustainable Tourism Concepts

Analytical study presents the evolution and change in content over time and the emergence of different sustainable tourism (ST) concepts in tourism and hospitality. For this purpose, a Comparative Automated Content Analysis (ACA) analyses scientific articles published between 1990, when the first article in this field was published in the Web of Science (WOS), and the end of 2020. With the ACA for analysis papers research, this research helps explain why and how changing business models cross the time, organizational processes, importance of information and communication technologies in sustainable tourism strategies, green investments, sustainable standards in tourism and hospitality, and sustainable reporting.
Research priorities for accelerating the achievement of three 95 HIV goals in Cameroon: a consensus statement from the Cameroon HIV Research Forum (CAM-HERO)

Introduction the Treat-All remains the globally endorsed approach to attain the 95-95-95 targets and end the AIDS pandemic by 2030, but requires some country-level contextualization. In Cameroon, the specific research agenda to inform strategies for improving HIV policy was yet to be defined. Methods under the patronage of the Cameroon Ministry of health, researchers, policy makers, implementing partners, and clinicians from 13 institutions, used the Delphi method to arrive at a consensus of HIV research priorities. The process had five steps: 1) independent literature scan by 5 working groups; 2) review of the initial priority list; 3) appraisal of priorities list in a larger group; 4) refinement and consolidation by a consensus group; 5) rating of top research priorities. Results five research priorities and corresponding research approaches, resulted from the process. These include: 1) effectiveness, safety and active toxicity monitoring of new and old antiretrovirals; 2) outcomes of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) with focus in children and adolescents; 3) impact of HIV and ART on aging and major chronic diseases; 4) ART dispensation models and impact on adherence and retention; 5) evaluations of HIV treatment and prevention programs. Conclusion the research priorities resulted from a consensus amongst a multidisciplinary team and were based on current data about the pandemic and science to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure HIV. These priorities highlighted critical areas of investigation with potential relevance for the country, funders, and regulatory bodies.
Average-value modeling of hysteresis current control in power electronics

OF DISSERTATION AVERAGE-VALUE MODELING OF HYSTERESIS CURRENT CONTROL IN POWER ELECTRONICS Hysteresis current control has been widely used in power electronics with the advantages of fast dynamic response under parameter, line and load variation and ensured stability. However, a main disadvantage of hysteresis current control is the uncertain and varying switching frequency which makes it difficult to form an average-value model. The changing switching frequency and unspecified switching duty cycle make conventional average-value models based on PWM control difficult to apply directly to converters that are controlled by hysteresis current control. In this work, a new method for average-value modeling of hysteresis current control in boost converters, three-phase inverters, and brushless dc motor drives is proposed. It incorporates a slew-rate limitation on the inductor current that occurs naturally in the circuit during large system transients. This new method is compared with existing methods in terms of simulation run time and rms error. The performance is evaluated based on a variety of scenarios, and the simulation results are compared with the results of detailed models. The simulation results show that the proposed model represents the detailed model well and is faster and more accurate than existing methods. The slew-rate limitation model of hysteresis current control accurately captures the salient detail of converter performance while maintaining the computational efficiency of average-value models. Validations in hardware are also presented.
Capability charts for combined cycle power plants

Thermal power plants, based on combined gas and steam turbine cycles, are now worldwide. In a competitive generation market, power plants are required not only to inject active power but also to support secure operation of the transmission system, providing adequate ancillary services. To determine power plant capability for supporting voltage/reactive power regulation of the power system, the active and reactive powers that a combined cycle power plant can inject into the power system must be evaluated. The concept of capability charts is therefore extended from synchronous generators to the whole combined cycle power plant, including the effects of the operating conditions of the thermal and electrical components of the power plant, as well as of the plant connection to the electrical power system. Steady-state mathematical models are presented and a modular algorithm is proposed to evaluate the power plant capability charts numerically. Some numerical results are presented to show the effective synthetic information that can be obtained by adopting the proposed approach in practical cases.
Use of carbon dioxide stripping for struvite crystallization to save caustic dosage: performance at pilotscale operationPaper submitted to the Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science.

The feasibility of stripping CO2 from anaerobic digester centrate (generated in a sludge dewatering process) to raise pH, and therefore reduce the cost of caustic chemical(s) dosage for similar operation in a struvite-recovery system, was investigated. A cascade CO2 stripper was installed in a pilot-scale, struvite-recovery reactor system at the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, as a replacement of part of (about 1/3) the reactor downpipe. Centrate was used as the process feed. Both the influent and the effluent from the struvite reactor were analyzed for pH, temperature (°C), and concentrations of Mg, NH4-N, and PO4-P. Results indicated that, by adding the CO2 stripper, caustic chemical savings was as much as 46%–65%. Moreover, because of the capability of the stripper in providing a more gradual pH increase, fewer fine solids were produced in the reactor than when caustic solution was used to raise the pH of the reactor.
Kinetics of the Release of Nicotinamide Absorbed on Partially Neutralized Poly(acrylic-co-methacrylic acid) Xerogel under the Conditions of Simultaneous Microwave Heating and Cooling

The kinetics of release of nicotinamide (NIAM) that was absorbed on partially neutralized poly(acrylic-co-methacrylic) (PAM) xerogel/hydrogel, under the conditions of simultaneous microwave heating and cooling (SMHC) were examined. The kinetics curves of NIAM release into an aqueous solution at temperatures of 308–323 K were recorded. By applying the model-fitting method (MFM), it was found that the kinetics of NIAM release can be modeled by a kinetic model of a first-order chemical reaction. The values of the release rate constants (kM) at different temperatures were calculated, and their values were found to be within the range 8.4 10−3 s −1−15.7 10−3 s−1. It has been established that the Arrhenius equation was valid even in the conditions of SMHC. The values of the kinetic parameters (activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (A) of the NIAM release process adsorbed on PAM xerogel/hydrogel were calculated as follows: Ea = 25.6 kJ/mol and ln (A/s−1) = 5.21. It has been proven that the higher value of the rate constant at SMHC in relation to CH is not a consequence of the overheating of the reaction system or the appearance of “hot-points”. The values of change of the enthalpy of activation (ΔH*) and the change of entropy of activation (ΔS*) were calculated as follows: ΔH* = +23.82 kJ/mol and ΔS* = −201.4 J/mol K. The calculated higher values of the kinetic parameters and thermodynamic parameters of activation are explained by the formation of a specific activated complex under SMHC, whose structure and degree of order are different than in the one formed under CH.
Advances in Non-Coding RNA Sequencing

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise a set of abundant and functionally diverse RNA molecules. Since the discovery of the first ncRNA in the 1960s, ncRNAs have been shown to be involved in nearly all steps of the central dogma of molecular biology. In recent years, the pace of discovery of novel ncRNAs and their cellular roles has been greatly accelerated by high-throughput sequencing. Advances in sequencing technology, library preparation protocols as well as computational biology helped to greatly expand our knowledge of which ncRNAs exist throughout the kingdoms of life. Moreover, RNA sequencing revealed crucial roles of many ncRNAs in human health and disease. In this review, we discuss the most recent methodological advancements in the rapidly evolving field of high-throughput sequencing and how it has greatly expanded our understanding of ncRNA biology across a large number of different organisms.
Dietary protein defines stress resistance, oxidative damages and antioxidant defense system in Drosophila melanogaster

Dietary interventions have been previously shown to influence lifespan in diverse model organisms. Manipulations with macronutrients content including protein and amino acids have a significant impact on various fitness and behavioral traits in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Therefore, we asked if yeast amount of the diet could influence stress resistance and antioxidant defense system in Drosophila. We ex amined the effects of four diets differing in the relative level of yeast, as a source of protein, on resistance to cold, heat, starvation and oxidative stress induced by menadione as well as activities of antioxidant enzymes and levels of oxidative stress markers. Protein restriction as well protein-enriched diet led to a reduction of survival under starvation and oxidative stress conditions. However, enhanced resistance to heat shock was affected by high yeast concentration in the diet. Also, protein-rich diets resulted in higher activity of antioxi dant enzymes. Increased levels of protein thiols, low-molecule mass thiols, dry yeast, 1.2% agar and 0.18% nipagin as an anti-fungal agent. Flies were reared at 25°C and relative humidity of 60-70% on a 12 h day/night cycle. Flies aged four days were
Making the Environmental Humanities Consequential in “The Age of Consequences”

This article suggests that global environmental assessments (GEAs) may be a potent means for making the environmental humanities more consequential outside universities. So far most GEAs have been led by geoscientists, with mainstream social science in support. However, there is no reason why the concept of assessment cannot be elasticated to include the concerns of interpretive social science and the humanities. Building on the forty-year history and authority of GEAs as a means to bridging the gap between the research world and the wider world, this article identifies the potential that reformatted assessments hold for more impactful work by environmental humanists. It suggests some next steps for rethinking the means and ends of assessment toward a new paradigm that bridges geoscience, mainstream social science, and humanistic thinking about the nonhuman world. This paradigm would explore the human dimensions of environmental change fully. The timing is propitious: independently GEAs are undergoing change at the very moment that the “What next? ” question is being asked by many environmental humanists. This article is intended to inspire debate and, ultimately, action. It both makes the case for more humanistic GEAs and offers examples of potential work packages.
The research on the key technologies for improving efficiency of parking guidance system

An important part of today's traffic is parking and most especially in the congested urban areas. This often leads to additional traffic. As part of ITS deployment in China, parking guidance system is drawing attention for alleviating congestion. Considering the existing traffic management measures, the schematic of integrating advanced parking guidance and information system into urban traffic flow guidance system is put forward in the first part of this paper. The rest of this paper deals with the key technologies for improving the efficiency of parking guidance system such as information, routing, toll collection by using dedicated short range communications, communication technology in the mobile environment, prediction method of available parking spaces, etc. The last section provides some suggestions that future study needs.
Environmental Assessment: The Ecological Dimension

An ecology-systems approach based on a three-point philosophy to questions of development, rather than the traditional approach of economic and political expediency and the technological fix, will dominate decision-making in the future. In developing an environmental assessment, an organizational model, methodology, time, and sufficient money are needed. In this article the philosophy and process of environmental assessment are explored.
Recent advances in functionalized upconversion nanoparticles for light-activated tumor therapy

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are a class of optical nanocrystals doped with lanthanide ions that offer great promise for applications in controllable tumor therapy. In recent years, UCNPs have become an important tool for studying the treatment of various malignant and nonmalignant cutaneous diseases. UCNPs convert near-infrared (NIR) radiation into shorter-wavelength visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is much better than conventional UV activated tumor therapy as strong UV-light can be damaging to healthy surrounding tissue. Moreover, UV light generally does not penetrate deeply into the skin, an issue that UCNPs can now address. However, the current studies are still in the early stage of research, with a long way to go before clinical implementation. In this paper, we systematically analysed recent advances in light-activated tumor therapy using functionalized UCNPs. We summarized the purpose and mechanism of UCNP-based photodynamic therapy (PDT), gene therapy, immunotherapy, chemo-therapy and integrated therapy. We believe the creation of functional materials based on UCNPs will offer superior performance and enable innovative applications, increasing the scope and opportunities for cancer therapy in the future.