Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends in the Prescription of Strong Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain in Primary Care in Catalonia: Opicat-Padris-Project

In chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), evidence of the effectiveness of strong opioids (SO) is very limited. Despite this, their use is increasingly common. To examine SO prescriptions, we designed a descriptive, longitudinal, retrospective population-based study, including patients aged ≥15 years prescribed SO for ≥3 months continuously in 2013–2017 for CNCP in primary care in Catalonia. Of the 22,691 patients included, 17,509 (77.2%) were women, 10,585 (46.6%) were aged >80 years, and most had incomes of <€18,000 per year. The most common diagnoses were musculoskeletal diseases and psychiatric disorders. There was a predominance of transdermal fentanyl in the defined daily dose (DDD) per thousand inhabitants/day, with the greatest increase for tapentadol (312% increase). There was an increase of 66.89% in total DDD per thousand inhabitants/day for SO between 2013 (0.737) and 2017 (1.230). The mean daily oral morphine equivalent dose/day dispensed for all drugs was 83.09 mg. Transdermal fentanyl and immediate transmucosal release were the largest cost components. In conclusion, there was a sustained increase in the prescription of SO for CNCP, at high doses, and in mainly elderly patients, predominantly low-income women. The new SO are displacing other drugs.
Design flood hydrographs: a regional analysis based on flood reduction functions

ABSTRACT Modern flood hazard mapping techniques and water infrastructure design require the entire flood hydrograph. However, statistical methods for flood hydrograph estimation in ungauged basins have not received the same attention as the models used to predict the peak flow value. Here the design hydrograph of an ungauged basin is reconstructed in a parsimonious way through the estimation of a non-dimensional flood reduction function (FRF). Based on data from 87 basins (763 station-years of flood hydrographs), we show that a two-parameter FRF can be efficiently estimated by multiple linear regression from the longest drainage path length and slope of the basin, the average basin elevation, the width function kurtosis and the mean value of the scaling exponent of the intensity–duration–frequency curve. Reasonable similarities between the estimated flood hydrograph and the original ones make the method suitable for extension into other areas to estimate design hydrographs in ungauged basins.
Discrete element computation: algorithms and architecture

The Discrete Element Method is a numerical technique used to model physical phenomena through the dynamic interactions of a large number of distinct bodies. The strength of the method lies in its ability to accurately model the behavior of inherently discontinuous media, such as granular, fractured, or powdered materials. The major computational obstacle in discrete element simulation is the automatic detection of contacts between bodies. For large simulations, the complexity of the contact detection process is driven by the general spatial reasoning problem of neighbor searching, in which candidate intersection pairs are selected based on their proximity. Neighbor search algorithms exist that exhibit linear scaling in the number of bodies. These algorithms rely, however, on the assumption of uniformly sized objects. Devaitions from this assuption, inherent in many common physical systems, significantly degrade performance. This thesis presents a new grid-based algorithm which accomodates objects of varying size. A new grid-based neighbor search algorithm, called CGrid, is developed to deal with objects of varying sizes. A generic formulation for any number of dimensions is presented. CGrid scales linearly in the number of bodies, and is less sensitive to object size disparity than existing linear algorithms. By combining performance and robustness, CGrid provides a reliable neighbor search solution for general simulation systems. An architecture for simulation is presented, which is designed to support rapid prototyping and extension development. The core architecture provides an infrastructure of generic components for simulation management. The simulation object heirarchy is constructed to address the issues associated with developing extension capabilities, and supporting the wide variety of objects and behaviors which can be employed within the Discrete Element Method. Thesis Supervisor: John R. Williams Title: Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Relationship between tax avoidance and institutional ownership over business cost of debt

Abstract Beginning with classical theories on finance, such as the capital structure theory, the trade-off theory of capital structure, and the pecking order theory, the literature shows a negative correlation between tax avoidance and institutional ownership with respect to the business cost of debt. However, the impact of tax avoidance and institutional ownership on corporate debt policy in Vietnam is an under-researched topic. The aim of the study is to identify the effect of those mentioned factors on business borrowing policy, using data on 207 companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE) in Vietnam from 2008 to 2016. The study employs model proposed by Lim in 2009 to achieve mentioned research object with Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) method to overcome for any defection. The study results show no conclusive empirical evidence of a relationship between business’s cost of debt and tax avoidance and institutional ownership. This result contrasts with the conclusion in previous studies and can be explained by the characteristics of the funding market in Vietnam where financial organizations often focus on business results and management efficiency in making lending decisions and this characteristic is at no sign of change soon.
Application of Flipped Classroom Teaching Mode Based on Rain Classroom App in Anesthesia Teaching

Tao Peng Department of Anesthesiology, The A liated Hospital of Southwest Medical University Xingchen Zhou Department of Anesthesiology, The A liated Hospital of Southwest Medical University Yingxu Chen Department of Anesthesiology, The A liated Hospital of Southwest Medical University Yaxian Huang Department of Anesthesiology, The A liated Hospital of Southwest Medical University Maohua Wang (  wangmaohua@swmu.edu.cn ) Department of Anesthesiology, The A liated Hospital of Southwest Medical University
Computation of Topological Indices of Double and Strong Double Graphs of Circumcoronene Series of Benzenoid 
                     
                        
                           
                              
                                 H
                              
                   

Topological indices are very useful to assume certain physiochemical properties of the chemical compound. A molecular descriptor which changes the molecular structures into certain real numbers is said to be a topological index. In chemical graph theory, to create quantitative structure activity relationships in which properties of molecule may be linked with their chemical structures relies greatly on topological indices. The benzene molecule is a common chemical shape in chemistry, physics, and nanoscience. This molecule could be very beneficial to synthesize fragrant compounds. The circumcoronene collection of benzenoid H m is one family that generates from benzene molecules. The purpose of this study is to calculate the topological indices of the double and strong double graphs of the circumcoronene series of benzenoids H m . In addition, we also present a numerical and graphical comparison of topological indices of the double and strong double graphs of the circumcoronene series of benzenoid H m .
A Collaborative Mining-Based Decision Support Model for Granting Personal Loans in the Banking Sector

One main potential objective for financial corporations is to retain long-term customers. Configuring customer knowledge is no doubt mandatory to lower the risk level. Loans and credit cards granting are two services that are offered by the banking corporations which can be categorized as high-risk services. Therefore, it is highly recommended for the corporations to have intelligent support for providing an accurate granting decision which naturally leads to minimizing the associated risk. In this research, a decision support model is proposed for loans granting. The proposed model applies a set of data mining techniques in a collaborative environment that aims at applying different techniques with considering their results according to the technique’s evaluation weight. The proposed model results present the recommendation for each customer’s loan granting a request to be either accepted or rejected. The proposed approach has been applied the on a loan granting dataset and the evaluation results revealed its superiority by 92% success in reaching high accurate decisions.
Cumulative risks from combined exposure to multiple pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables

Dit onderzoek is in opdracht van het Ministerie van LNV uitgevoerd door de Stichting Wageningen Research (WR), business unit Biometris, in het kader van beleidsondersteunend onderzoeksthema Voedselveiligheid (projectnummer TU18039, gunningscode BO-49-002-006). WR is een onderdeel van Wageningen University & Research, samenwerkingsverband tussen Wageningen University en de Stichting Wageningen Research.
The Effect of Personality, Disability, and Family Functioning on Burnout among Mothers of Children with Autism: A Path Analysis

This path analysis of mothers of children with autism aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal burnout and the mother’s subjective reporting of difficulty in childcare, family function, and personality traits. A total of 410 mothers of children with autism (mean age 39.03, SD 7.42) completed four questionnaires: Parental Burnout Measure (PBM-12), International Personality Item Pool—Big Five Markers (IPIP-BFM-20), Flexibility and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES-IV), and a survey on childcare difficulties. Path analysis using two predetermined models was used to examine the interrelations. Both models fit the empirical data equally with a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) index of 0.000 and a 90% confidence interval (model 1: 0.000–0.052; model 2: 0.000–0.059). Path analysis revealed similar fit indexes for both models: (a) burnout is a mediator between exogenous variables and family functioning, and (b) family functioning is an indirect mediator between exogenous variables and burnout. These findings suggest that increased maternal emotional instability (neuroticism) and conscientiousness can lead to increased family communication problems, which may further lead to a breakdown of the equilibrium in the family system, resulting in the mother’s dissatisfaction with family life and a consequent increased risk of maternal burnout.
Using GPS Collars and Sensors to Investigate the Grazing Behavior and Energy Balance of Goats Browsing in a Mediterranean Forest Rangeland

The Global Positioning System (GPS) and sensors technologies are increasingly used to study the grazing behavior of animals. This work was conducted to understand the grazing behavior and energy balance of goats browsing in forest rangeland using GPS and sensors technologies. Forage availability was estimated using the quadrat method during three grazing seasons. Simultaneously, eight indigenous goats were selected to explore their feeding behavior, grazing activities, and energy requirements. The experimental goats were fitted with GPS collars and leg sensors to monitor their grazing activities. At the same time, direct observation was used as a method to study their feeding behavior. Forage availability was higher during spring compared to the summer and autumn seasons. Goats recorded the highest biting rate during summer and autumn (about 22 bites/min). The highest intake rate was recorded during spring (5.6 g DM/min). During spring, goats spent most of their time on grazing (48%) in contrast to the summer and autumn (<31%; p < 0.001). They prolonged their lying down time in summer at the expense of standing duration. The time devoted exclusively to grazing (eating) was longer in spring. Walking time in summer and autumn was longer than in spring (p < 0.001). During summer and autumn, the energy balance of goats under grazing conditions was in deficit. Using GPS collars and leg sensors appears to be a useful and easily replicable method to explore and understand the seasonal changes in the grazing areas and activities of goats in a mountainous region. The results could help goat herders and managers to develop feeding and grazing systems while increasing the performance of goats in the Mediterranean forest rangeland.
Synthetic wastewater treatment of anticancer agents using synthesized hydrophilic silica aerogels

ABSTRACT In this study, the synthesis and use of highly efficient hydrophilic silica aerogels to remove cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, Daunorubicin (DAU) and Doxorubicin (DOX), from synthetic pharmaceutical wastewater are reported. DOX/DAU Adsorption studies revealed the high adsorption capacity of the hydrophilic sample. Optimal adsorbent dosage and solution pH for DAU/DOX adsorption was 0.15 g and pH = 10, respectively. Results of kinetic studies demonstrated that the equilibrium time for DAU/DOX adsorption was within 60 minutes, and the pseudo 2nd order model best fitted to the adsorption experimental data. The results of the intra-particle diffusion model showed that the DAU/DOX adsorption process occurs in two stages. The adsorption rate of the first stage is high, and in the next slower stage, the diffusion of particles is controlling stage, and the external diffusion plays an essential role in the adsorption kinetics. Langmuir isotherm best fitted to the experimental data in comparison to the Freundlich isotherm, and it could be stated that the adsorption of DAU/DOX on silica aerogels preferably follows a monolayer process. The current study revealed that adsorption using hydrophilic silica aerogel is a cost-effective process due to relatively low cost precursors and suitable alternative for removing chemotherapeutic drugs from wastewater.
Effectiveness of Cognitive Stimulation Personalized by the Preexisting Cognitive Level in Older Adults

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. This randomized clinical trial analyzed whether a personalized cognitive stimulation based on the individual's preexisting cognitive levels may be more effective in the short and long terms than a standard cognitive stimulation program. In total, 288 older adults were randomized into an intervention group and a control group, stratified according to their cognitive levels. There were significant differences between groups, with a small effect size at postintervention (10 weeks), follow-up I (26 weeks), and follow-up II (52 weeks) (P < .001, 0.2 <r < 0.4) and in the cognitive category (P < .001). The personalization of cognitive stimulation is effective to maintain normal cognitive functioning and to delay cognitive decline.
Influence of Class Participation and Coursework on Academic Performance in the Context of Blended Learning

The study aimed to investigate the impact of class participation, and coursework on academic performance in the context of blended learning. A quasi-experimental research design and a database of students’ academic achievements to get secondary data were used in the study. A random cluster sample of students from the bachelor's degree program was taken. The study found that approximately 50.9% of the variance for the experimental group and 20.9% for the control group in academic performance can be explained or accounted for by class participation differences. It is also found that approximately 72.2% of the variance for the experimental group and 87.8% for the control group in academic performance can be explained or accounted for by coursework differences.
Security-enhanced chaotic communication system based on nonlinear double-phase-perturbation encryption

Optical chaotic communication as one of the encryption communication technologies has been get a great development in recent. However, various of hacking attacks from eavesdropper are threatening security of chaotic communication system. Therefore, we propose an novel system which combined with chaotic encryption module and phase perturbation module targeting to achieve a security-enhance chaotic communication system. Simulation result demonstrate the system provide a high-security transmitting performance with on a bit rate over Gb/s and satisfactory BER is achieved.
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease: Current and Potential Therapeutics

Abnormalities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of Parkinson’s disease (PD) sufferers were first reported over 200 years ago; however, the extent and role of GI dysfunction in PD disease progression is still unknown. GI dysfunctions, including dysphagia, gastroparesis, and constipation, are amongst the most prevalent non-motor symptoms in PD. These symptoms not only impact patient quality of life, but also complicate disease management. Conventional treatment pathways for GI dysfunctions (i.e., constipation), such as increasing fibre and fluid intake, and the use of over-the-counter laxatives, are generally ineffective in PD patients, and approved compounds such as guanylate cyclase C agonists and selective 5-hyroxytryptamine 4 receptor agonists have demonstrated limited efficacy. Thus, identification of potential targets for novel therapies to alleviate PD-induced GI dysfunctions are essential to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life in people with PD. Unlike the central nervous system (CNS), where PD pathology and the mechanisms involved in CNS damage are relatively well characterised, the effect of PD at the cellular and tissue level in the enteric nervous system (ENS) remains unclear, making it difficult to alleviate or reverse GI symptoms. However, the resurgence of interest in understanding how the GI tract is involved in various disease states, such as PD, has resulted in the identification of novel therapeutic avenues. This review focuses on common PD-related GI symptoms, and summarizes the current treatments available and their limitations. We propose that by targeting the intestinal barrier, ENS, and/or the gut microbiome, may prove successful in alleviating PD-related GI symptoms, and discuss emerging therapies and potential drugs that could be repurposed to target these areas.
Astrocyte glutamate transport is modulated by motor learning and regulates neuronal correlations and movement encoding by motor cortex neurons

While motor cortex is crucial for learning precise and reliable movements, whether and how astrocytes contribute to its plasticity and function during motor learning is unknown. Here we report that primary motor cortex (M1) astrocytes in mice show in vivo plasticity during learning of a lever push task, as revealed by transcriptomic and functional modifications. In particular, we observe changes in expression of glutamate transporter genes and increased coincidence of intracellular calcium events. Astrocyte-specific manipulations of M1 are sufficient to alter motor learning and execution, and neuronal population coding, in the same task. Mice expressing decreased levels of the astrocyte glutamate transporter GLT1 show impaired and variable movement trajectories. Mice with increased astrocyte Gq signaling show decreased performance rates, delayed response times and impaired trajectories, along with abnormally high levels of GLT1. In both groups of mice, M1 neurons have altered inter-neuronal correlations and impaired population representations of task parameters, including response time and movement trajectories. Thus, astrocytes have a specific role in coordinating M1 neuronal activity during motor learning, and control learned movement execution and dexterity through mechanisms that importantly include fine regulation of glutamate transport.
ETC-1002 Attenuates Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in RAW264.7 Cells via the AMPK/NF-κB Pathway and Exerts Ameliorative Effects in Experimental Periodontitis in Mice

Background Clinically, the failure of periodontal therapy stems largely from an inability to control the inflammatory response. Resolution of inflammation is an active, energy-requiring repair process, not merely a passive termination of inflammation. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key energy sensor, has been shown to negatively regulate inflammatory signaling pathways. Thus, there is a crucial need for new therapeutic strategies to modulate AMPK and to promote enhanced resolution of inflammation. This study is aimed at investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of ETC-1002 through modulating AMPK in periodontitis. Methods RAW264.7 cells were infected with Pg-LPS in the presence or absence of ETC-1002, following which the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammation signaling-related proteins were evaluated by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. ETC-1002 was applied in a murine model of periodontitis to determine its anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. Histological changes were investigated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were detected using immunohistochemistry, and alveolar bone height was measured using micro-CT imaging. Results ETC-1002 inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines, promoted AMPK phosphorylation, and decreased IκBα and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation levels in Pg-LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophages. The inhibitory effects of ETC-1002 on the production of proinflammatory mediators were significantly abrogated by siRNA-mediated silencing of AMPKα in RAW264.7 cells. In vivo, ETC-1002 inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and the inflammation-mediated destruction of alveolar bone in mice with experimental periodontitis. The anti-inflammatory effect of ETC-1002 in the periodontium could be reversed by the administration of Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. Conclusions ETC-1002 exerts anti-inflammatory effects in Pg-LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells via the AMPK/NF-κB pathway in vitro and inhibits the progress of experimental periodontitis in mice in an AMPK signaling-dependent manner in vivo. These results provide evidence for the beneficial effects of ETC-1002 in the treatment of periodontitis.
Capacity Fading Model of Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Considering Water Molecules Migration

ABSTRACT During the long-term operation of a vanadium redox flow battery (VRB), the battery is subject to capacity fading as vanadium ions diffuse at different rates. Water molecules will migrate from one side to another resulting in an imbalance of electrolyte volume. An accurate model is needed to describe the capacity fading process. In existing models, a capacity fading factor due to vanadium ions crossover is well addressed, but the fading factor due to water molecule migration is often ignored. In this paper, a capacity fading model considering the migration of water molecule migration of VRB based on conservation of mass and charge is proposed. Based on this model, the electrolyte volume variation and capacity fading can be observed. Meanwhile, the mechanism of battery capacity fading can be analyzed from the imbalance of reactant concentrations. From the comparative simulation results, the influence of the migration of water molecules on capacity fading is explored. Simulation results show that the proposed model and in-depth analysis provide a cost-effective way to describe the mechanism of VRB capacity fading.