Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progress in Simulation Studies of Insulin Structure and Function

Insulin is a peptide hormone known for chiefly regulating glucose level in blood among several other metabolic processes. Insulin remains the most effective drug for treating diabetes mellitus. Insulin is synthesized in the pancreatic β-cells where it exists in a compact hexameric architecture although its biologically active form is monomeric. Insulin exhibits a sequence of conformational variations during the transition from the hexamer state to its biologically-active monomer state. The structural transitions and the mechanism of action of insulin have been investigated using several experimental and computational methods. This review primarily highlights the contributions of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in elucidating the atomic-level details of conformational dynamics in insulin, where the structure of the hormone has been probed as a monomer, dimer, and hexamer. The effect of solvent, pH, temperature, and pressure have been probed at the microscopic scale. Given the focus of this review on the structure of the hormone, simulation studies involving interactions between the hormone and its receptor are only briefly highlighted, and studies on other related peptides (e.g., insulin-like growth factors) are not discussed. However, the review highlights conformational dynamics underlying the activities of reported insulin analogs and mimetics. The future prospects for computational methods in developing promising synthetic insulin analogs are also briefly highlighted.
How Travel Vlogs on YouTube Influence Consumer Behavior: A Use and Gratification Perspective and Customer Engagement

YouTube is one of the emerging technologies that impact consumer behavior. In the tourism sector, travel video blogs (travel vlogs) have become increasingly popular since they are highly influential in influencing travel behavior. Similarly, YouTube travel vlogs are highly engaging and provide consumers with destination experiences. This study determines how consumer behavior expressed through emerging technologies, such as travel vlogs on YouTube, can influence travel intention and electronic-Word of Mouth (e-WOM) behavior. By incorporating the use and gratification (U&G) perspective, this study examines the role of information seeking and entertainment as motivational factors for watching travel vlogs as a source of satisfaction. It will, in turn, lead to a greater degree of engagement. The current study investigated the emotional and presence aspects of travel videos to determine engagement. To evaluate the research hypothesis, we collected data from 300 respondents who had traveled to a destination after watching a travel vlog. We tested the hypothesis by utilizing structural equation modeling, a feature of the Smart-PLS 3.0 software. The results indicate that consumer motivations for watching travel vlogs, including the desire for information and entertainment, significantly impact customer engagement, both emotion and presence. Customers who are emotionally engaged and perceive travel vlogs as having a high presence will significantly affect their travel intention behavior and influence them to share e-WOM. In addition, the current study provides insight into tourism managers and academics on how travel vlogs as emerging technologies influence consumer behavior.
A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on the Effectiveness of Exercise Intervention in Preventing Sports Injuries

Athletes risk injury every day during practice sessions and actual games, with the majority of the affected population being young males. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011-2014 report on sport and recreation-related injuries in the United States has consistently shown the average annual estimate of the millions of dollars spent on sport and recreation injuries. These injuries translate to a significant financial implication for the athlete, the team, the health system, and the public health. We composed a review protocol. We enumerated our inclusion and exclusion criteria, injury definition, and search strategy. We searched PubMed and SPORTDiscus. Then we used Forrest plots for the meta-analysis of the relevant selected studies. We used various keywords in our search strategy. These included “injury,” “sports,” “exercise,” “prevention,” “techniques,” and every possible combination of them. Search results showed 2516 hits with our keywords, and we included 20 of those results. Twenty trials, including 19712 individuals with 2855 injuries, were analyzed. Eccentric Training relative risk (RR) of 0.54 (95% CI 0.395 to 0.739 with X2 of p < 0.05) showed that the risk of the injury was decreased by 54% in the intervention group compared to the control group. In the neuromuscular training group, a RR of 0.682 (95% CI 0.621 to 0.749 with X2 of p < 0.001) showed that the risk of the injury was decreased by 68.2% in its intervention group subgroup compared to its control group. Also, the “11” International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) program had a RR of 0.771, indicating that there was a 77.1% decrease in injury by this set of exercises (95% CI 0.728 to 0.816 with X2 of p < 0.05), and this “11” FIFA program also had the most preventative effects. Warm-up had a RR of 0.843 (95% CI 0.749 to 0.949 with X2 of p < 0.05) and showed small prevention. Strength Training RR of 0.97 (95% CI 0.57 to 1.63 with X2 of p > 0.05) had no preventive effect. Our analysis showed that different exercises have preventive roles in sports injuries. The warm-up FIFA, neuromuscular training, and eccentric training reduced the risk of injury in the intervention group compared to the control group by a high percentage. At the same time, neuromuscular warm-up and FIFA 11 dynamic warm-up also decreased the relative risk of injury in the intervention group. These effects varied among exercise type, injury type, and sport.
Maximizing h-hop Independently Submodular Functions Under Connectivity Constraint

This study is motivated by the maximum connected coverage problem (MCCP), which is to deploy a connected UAV network with given K UAVs in the top of a disaster area such that the number of users served by the UAVs is maximized. The deployed UAV network must be connected, since the received data by a UAV from its served users need to be sent to the Internet through relays of other UAVs. Motivated by this application, in this paper we study a more generalized problem – the h-hop independently submodular maximization problem, where the MCCP problem is one of its special cases with h = 4. We propose a $\frac{{1 - 1/e}}{{2h + 3}}$-approximation algorithm for the h-hop independently submodular maximization problem, where e is the base of the natural logarithm. Then, one direct result is a $\frac{{1 - 1/e}}{{11}}$-approximate solution to the MCCP problem with h = 4, which significantly improves its currently best $\frac{{1 - 1/e}}{{32}}$-approximate solution. We finally evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm for the MCCP problem in the application of deploying UAV networks, and experimental results show that the number of users served by deployed UAVs delivered by the proposed algorithm is up to 12.5% larger than those by existing algorithms.
Effect of Epidural Ketamine on Pain after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Double- Blind Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial

Background and Aims: Managing the intense pain after a Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is essential for early mobilization and physiotherapy which plays a crucial role for better clinical outcomes. Epidural infusion of local anesthetic and opioids provides good pain relief but can lead to side effects such as hypotension, motor weakness and respiratory depression. The objective of this study was to evaluate if epidurally administered ketamine could provide postoperative analgesia and therefore reduce the dose of the epidural infusion. Methods: Thirty patients undergoing TKA under epidural anesthesia were randomized to receive 0.5% bupivacaine (Group I) or 0.5% bupivacaine + ketamine (0.5mg/kg) (Group II) as their primary anesthetic. At the end of the surgery, an infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine + fentanyl (1μg/ml) was started through the epidural catheter at 5ml/h. The rate was adjusted every 2 hours, depending on the pain experienced by the patient. If despite rate adjustment, the patient graded the pain as 5 or more, morphine 5mg intramuscularly could be administered as the rescue analgesic. Results: The demographic characteristics of the two groups were comparable. The dose of epidural infusion in the postoperative period was also comparable. Rescue analgesia was needed in 5 (35%) Group I and 8 (53%) Group II patients, which was not statistically significant. However, an analysis of the subset of patients who needed rescue analgesia using the Kaplan-Meier curves, showed that most of the patients from Group I needed the rescue dose at the 6th hour and although few of the Group II patients also needed rescue analgesia at the 6th hour, their rate of needing rescue analgesic was gradual, lasting up to 18 hours. Conclusion: Although, this study failed to show that the addition of a single dose of ketamine (0.5mg/kg) improved postoperative analgesia after TKA, it may have some benefit in a select subset of patients. It would need a larger sample size to identify those patients.
Intraoperative protective lung ventilation strategies in patients with morbid obesity

ABSTRACT Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) occur frequently and are associated with a prolonged hospital stay, increased mortality, and high costs. Patients with morbid obesity are at higher risk of perioperative complications, in particular associated with those related to respiratory function. One of the most prominent concerns of the anesthesiologists while taking care of the patient with obesity in the perioperative setting should be the status of the lung and delivery of mechanical ventilation as its strategy affects clinical outcomes. Negative effects of mechanical ventilation on the respiratory system known as ventilator-induced lung injury include barotrauma, volutrauma, and atelectrauma. However, the optimal regimen of mechanical ventilation still remains a matter of debate. While low tidal volume (VT) strategy has become a widely accepted standard of care, the protective role of PEEP and recruitment maneuvers is less clear. This review focuses on the pathophysiology of respiratory function in patients with morbid obesity, the effects of mechanical ventilation on the lungs, and optimal intraoperative strategy based on the current state of knowledge.
An Interleaved Bi-Directional AC–DC Converter With Reduced Switches and Reactive Power Control

In this brief, a new interleaved ac–dc converter with a reduced number of semiconductor components for high power energy storage applications is proposed. The interleaved structure reduces the ac side current ripple as well as increases the overall current rating. Moreover, the proposed switching pattern reduces switching and the developed controller provides reactive power control during both power flow directions. The proposed structure is simulated and analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink software, and a 3.5 kW prototype of the system has been implemented in the lab. The results confirm the performance of the proposed topology. There is a seamless transition between operation with different power factors and the current ripple is significantly reduced.
EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY OF VISCOUS FLOW FIELD AROUND AN ADVANCING VERTICAL CIRCULAR CYLINDER PIERCING A FREE-SURFACE

The characteristics of free-surface turbulence are investigated by experimental and numerical analysis of the viscous flow field around an advancing vertical circular cylinder piercing the free- surface. The wave height and flow velocity are measured with a servo type wave height meter and a hot-film anemometer respectively. The three-dimensional finite volume method is used to solve the incompressible viscous flow with the free-surface using the free-surface fitted coordinate system. The results reveal the strong interaction of the nonlinear water wave with the separated vortical flow behind the circular cylinder. Some features of the viscous flow field change in the vertical direction by the deformation of free- surface waves. The vertical variation depends on the Froude number as well as the Reynolds number. At deep level the vortex shedding occurs periodically, while at shallow level this periodic phenomenon is not clear under the effect of steep waves with turbulence. The free-surface turbulence starts to appear at the points where the wave gradient vanishes. This result suggests it is attributable to the inherent instability of free-surface.
Eğitim Kurumlarında Öğrencilerin Öğrenim Stratejilerinin Geliştirilmesine İlişkin Çalışmaların İncelenmesi

When developing countries and developed countries in the world were examined in terms of educational perspectives, it was seen that the importance given by developed countries to the development of learning strategies and the expectation of educators who put forth this effort was quite high compared to others. Since there are students in the educational center, the functioning of educational institutions must also be organized for students. The importance given to educators requires taking care of them and getting the highest efficiency from them, as well as the importance given to students requires taking care of them and getting the highest efficiency from them. This spiral of education reveals how important it is to develop the learning strategies of educational institutions. For this reason, the approaches adopted in today's understanding of education, especially in the development of student-centered learning strategies, are concentrated on this axis. Key Words: Educational Institutions, Learning Strategies, Educational Planning
Influence of land-use systems on hydraulic properties of soils in Yenagoa and Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This research aimed to determine the effect of different land-use systems on the matric potential, and hydraulic conductivity of the soils of Yenagoa and Amassoma communities. Soil samples were collected from four respective land-use types namely: Fallow land, Oil Palm Plantation, Plantain Plantation, and Virgin land. A total of 12 samples were bulked from three replicates at each land use type and were collected at depths of 0-15cm, 15-30cm, and 30-45cm respectively. The samples were taken to the laboratory to analyze their physical, chemical, and hydrological properties. The result showed that the different land use had a significant effect (P<0.05) on some soil physical, chemical, and hydraulic characteristics. The different land-use systems had a significant effect on the soil hydraulic conductivity with the highest in virgin (13.6 cm/hr) and lowest in the plantain plantation (7.6 cm/hr). The virgin land recorded the highest Soil Water Holding Capacity (SWHC) of 2.85 cm with a range of 1.55 – 2.85cm and Plant Available Water Capacity (PAWC) of 0.19 cm3cm-3, with a range of 0.10 - 0.19 cm3cm-3, while the plantain plantation recorded the lowest (1.55 cm and 0.10 cm3cm3). Based on the study, it is recommended that soils with high Plant Available Water Capacity (PAWC) and Soil Water Holding Capacity (SWHC) be used to cultivate crops that are non-tolerant to water stress while organic amendments are used on soils with low fertility.
Explorations into middle class urbanites, social movements and political dynamics: impressions from Namibia’s capital, Windhoek

ABSTRACT Namibia’s National Assembly and Presidential Elections in November 2019 documented for the first time a decline in the hegemonic status of the former liberation movement, SWAPO. This culminated since then in an unforeseen loss of support in the Regional and Local Authorities Elections of November 2020. Most municipalities and towns are now under the control of new political alliances. These include agencies with social movement elements. The urban middle class deserves in this context some special attention: Has it influenced voting patterns? Can an urban middle class be of sufficient political influence to play a significant role in changes of political governance? The dramatic political shifts in Windhoek are explored: if and to what extent might a focus on urban middle-class political behaviours help to analyse current political dynamics unfolding?
Consistent Extended Kalman Filter-Based Cooperative Localization of Multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

In order to solve the problem of inconsistent state estimation when multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are co-located, this paper proposes a method of multi-AUV co-location based on the consistent extended Kalman filter (EKF). Firstly, the dynamic model of cooperative positioning system follower AUV under two leaders alternately transmitting navigation information is established. Secondly, the observability of the standard linearization estimator based on the lead-follower multi-AUV cooperative positioning system is analyzed by comparing the subspace of the observable matrix of state estimation with that of an ideal observable matrix, it can be concluded that the estimation of state by standard EKF is inconsistent. Finally, aiming at the problem of inconsistent state estimation, a consistent EKF multi-AUV cooperative localization algorithm is designed. The algorithm corrects the linearized measurement values in the Jacobian matrix for cooperative positioning, ensuring that the linearized estimator can obtain accurate measurement values. The positioning results of the follower AUV under dead reckoning, standard EKF, and consistent EKF algorithms are simulated, analyzed, and compared with the real trajectory of the following AUV. The simulation results show that the follower AUV with a consistent EKF algorithm can keep synchronization with the leader AUV more stably.
Accurate and Efficient Estimation of Lithium-Ion Battery State of Charge with Alternate Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter and Ampere-Hour Counting Methods

State of charge (SOC) estimation is a key issue in battery management systems. The challenge lies in balancing the trade-off between accuracy and computation cost. To this end, we propose an alternate method by combining the ampere-hour integral (AHI) method which has low computation cost, and the adaptive extended Kalman filter (AEKF) method, which has high accuracy. The technical viability of this alternate method is verified on a LiMnO2-LiNiO2 battery module with a nominal capacity of 130 Ah under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) condition. Drifts in current and voltage measurement are considered. The experimental results show that the absolute SOC error using the AHI method monotonously increases from 0% to 7.2% with the computation time of 10 s while the calculation time is obtained on a ThinkPad E450 PC with an Intel Core i7-5500U CPU @2.40 GHz and 16.0 GB RAM. The absolute SOC error of the AEKF method maintains within 3.5% with the computation time of 49 s. Therefore, the alternate method almost maintains the same SOC accuracy compared to the AEKF method which reduces the maximum absolute SOC error by 50% compared to the AHI method. Therefore, the alternate method almost has the same computation time compared with the AHI method which reduces the computation time by nearly 75% compared to the AEKF method.
Effects of Adaptive Servo-Ventilation on Nocturnal Ventricular Arrhythmia in Heart Failure Patients With Reduced Ejection Fraction and Central Sleep Apnea–An Analysis From the SERVE-HF Major Substudy

Background The SERVE-HF trial investigated the effect of treating central sleep apnoea (CSA) with adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Objective The aim of the present ancillary analysis of the SERVE-HF major substudy (NCT01164592) was to assess the effects of ASV on the burden of nocturnal ventricular arrhythmias as one possible mechanism for sudden cardiac death in ASV-treated patients with HFrEF and CSA. Methods Three hundred twelve patients were randomized in the SERVE-HF major substudy [no treatment of CSA (control) vs. ASV]. Polysomnography including nocturnal ECG fulfilling technical requirements was performed at baseline, and at 3 and 12 months. Premature ventricular complexes (events/h of total recording time) and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia were assessed. Linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models were used to analyse differences between the control and ASV groups, and changes over time. Results From baseline to 3- and 12-month follow-up, respectively, the number of premature ventricular complexes (control: median 19.7, 19.0 and 19.0; ASV: 29.1, 29.0 and 26.0 events/h; p = 0.800) and the occurrence of ≥1 non-sustained ventricular tachycardia/night (control: 18, 25, and 18% of patients; ASV: 24, 16, and 24% of patients; p = 0.095) were similar in the control and ASV groups. Conclusion Addition of ASV to guideline-based medical management had no significant effect on nocturnal ventricular ectopy or tachyarrhythmia over a period of 12 months in alive patients with HFrEF and CSA. Findings do not further support the hypothesis that ASV may lead to sudden cardiac death by triggering ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
Effect of an Educational Program for Nurses regarding Errors in Medications Administration for Children

Background: Medication errors can cause significant morbidity and mortality for children who admitted to pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. So, the nurses need to have a broad knowledge about prevention of medication errors in children. Aim of study: Was to evaluate the effect of an educational program for nurses regarding errors in medications administration for children. Research design: A quasi–experimental design was utilized to conduct the study. Setting: This study was conducted at inpatient pediatric department, pediatric intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit and outpatient pediatric clinic at Benha University Hospital. Sample: Convenient sample of all nurses (60 nurses) who are responsible for medication administration to children and a convenient sample of all available children (60 children) through the study period for data gathering. Tools of data collection: Three tool were used: I: A structured interview questionnaire to assess nurses‟ knowledge, II: Likert typerating scale to assess nurses‟ attitude and III: Observation checklists to assess nurses‟ practice regarding errors in medication administration for children. Results: The majority of the studied nurses had satisfactory knowledge and majority of them had positive attitude post program implementation and three quarters of the studied nurses had competent practice post program implementation regarding errors in medication administration for children. Conclusion: The educational program for nurses was effective in improving knowledge, attitude and practice regarding errors in medication administration for children. Recommendations: Conduct educational programs about errors in medication administration for children based on actual need assessment of the nurses.