Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust capacity planning for sterilisation department of a hospital

ABSTRACT Sterile services departments are special units designed to perform sterilisation operations in an efficient way within a hospital. The delays in sterilisation services cause significant disruptions on surgery schedules and bed management. To prevent the delays, an upper time limit can be imposed on the time spent in the sterilisation services. In this paper, we propose a mathematical modelling approach for the optimum capacity planning of a sterilisation service unit considering the uncertainties in the sterilisation process. The model aims to find the optimum capacity on four tandem steps of the sterilisation whilst at the same time minimising the total cost and keeping the maximum time in the system below a limit. Assuming general distributions for service and interarrival times, an approximation structure based on robust optimisation is used to formulate the maximum time spent in the system. We analysed the structural property of the resulting model and found that the relaxed version of the model is convex. The real data from a large sterilisation services unit is used for computational experiments. The results indicated that the approximation fits well against the simulated maximum time in the system. Other experiments revealed that an upper limit of 7 hours for the sterilisation services balances the cost vs. robustness trade-off.
Circuit modelling of a vacuum gap during breakdown

In this paper several aspects of circuit modelling of a vacuum gap during breakdown are improved or introduced for the first time. More accurate perveance formulae are derived by the method of tracing electron trajectories in the self-consistent electric field calculated by finite element method. The formula for maximum anode current density is also derived by the same method. A practical model of anode heating is proposed by which transient anode temperature is calculated coupled with gap voltage and current, providing more accurate modelling of anode plasma initiation. The circuit model of a vacuum gap during breakdown incorporating all these features is implemented as a subcircuit element in the PSPICE.
A grid interconnected nested neutral point clamped inverter with voltage synchronization using synchronous reference frame controller

Nested neutral point clamped multi level inverter with inter connection to grid through the synchronous reference frame (SRF) controller for synchronization of voltage to the grid is demonstrated. The system's main feature is that voltage stress in each inverter switching device is kept to a minimum, and redundant inverter switching states are utilised for neutral point and flying capacitor voltage balancing with sinusoidal pulse-width modulation (PWM) technique, synchronisation to grid voltages, and power injection with low harmonic generation. The inverter receives its input from a photovoltaic (PV) source that is coupled to DC-DC booster converters that are regulated by the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) incremental conductance algorithm to maintain a constant dc voltage. The system is examined under various load conditions with MATLAB Simulink model.
Evaluation of Endothelial Dysfunction and Autophagy in Fibromyalgia-Related Vascular and Cerebral Cortical Changes and the Ameliorative Effect of Fisetin

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common chronic pain syndrome that affects 1% to 5% of the population. We aimed to investigate the role of endothelial dysfunction and autophagy in fibromyalgia-related vascular and cerebral cortical changes in a reserpine-induced rat model of fibromyalgia at the histological and molecular levels and to study the ameliorative effect of fisetin. Forty adult female albino rats were divided into four groups (10 each): two control groups, the reserpine-induced fibromyalgia group, and the fisetin-treated group. The carotid arteries and brains of the animals were dissected. Frozen tissue samples were used for total RNA extraction and qPCR analysis of eNOS, caspase-3, Bcl-2, LC-3, BECN-1, CHOP, and TNF-α expression. Histological, immunohistochemical (eNOS), and ultrastructure studies were conducted. The carotid arteries revealed excessive autophagy and endothelial, vascular, and apoptotic changes. The cerebral cortex showed similar findings apart from endoplasmic reticulum stress. Additionally, there was decreased gene expression of eNOS and Bcl-2 and increased expression of caspase-3, LC-3, BECN-1, CHOP, and TNF-α. In the fisetin-treated rats, improvements in the histological and molecular results were detected. In conclusion, oxidative stress, enhanced apoptosis, and excessive autophagy are fundamental pathophysiologic mechanisms of reserpine-induced fibromyalgia. Moreover, fisetin has an ameliorative effect against fibromyalgia.
Enhancing Smart System Platforms: Factors Affecting People's Intentions Toward Smart Homes in Jordan

Smart systems are going to transform the social life of modern society. Notwithstanding the benefits of these systems, its use is still low in developing world including Jordan. This study aims to construct a novel model to identify the factors that affect people’s intention to use smart systems in their homes. A survey was conducted on 650 individuals among which 550 valid questionnaires were considered in Jordan. The collected data were analyzed for descriptive analysis and further to valid the hypothesis using Structural Equation Modeling. The findings showed that there is a significant relationship between individuals’ attitudes related to PU and PEOU with their intention toward using smart systems in their lifestyle. It indicated that the research model explains 68.6% of the variance in the individual’s intention to use smart systems in their residence. Practically, it fruitful to the top management of IT companies that offers smart systems. Moreover, enhancing the current systems and organizing a strategic plan for implementation within best practice.
Radar adaptive beamforming algorithms and architectures

Adaptive beamforming algorithms and architectures for phased array radars are reviewed. In particular, the linearly constrained minimum variance (LCMV) beamformer with a normalized least mean square (LMS) weight update algorithm is examined for airborne surveillance applications. LCMV simulation results for realistic clutter, noise, and array miscalibration models are presented. The LCMV beamformer with a normalized LMS weight update algorithm is shown to offer good, performance with minimum computational complexity. <<ETX>>
Varying Effects of Organic Waste Products on Yields of Market Garden Crops in a 4-Year Field Experiment under Tropical Conditions

Controlling organic and mineral fertilisation is a major concern in tropical environments. An experiment was conducted on an arenosol in the Dakar region, the main market gardening area of Senegal, to evaluate treatments commonly used by farmers. Seven treatments were repeated three times: A mineral fertilisation (MF) treatment based on N-P2O5-K2O (10-10-20), and three organic treatments at two doses (dried sewage sludge (SS), poultry litter (PL) and a digestate from an anaerobic digestion (AD) of cow manures). Each of the organic treatments were supplemented with a normal dose (1) and a double dose (2) of mineral N and K fertiliser. A lettuce, carrot and tomato rotation was grown in four campaigns (2016–2020) on all of the plots. Yields of all three crops in all of the organic treatments were statistically similar (p > 0.05) to the MF in all four campaigns, except for the yield of the lettuce crop under treatment PL-2 in campaigns 2 and 3. The tomato yields were statistically similar under all of the organic treatments in all four campaigns. In contrast, the yields of the lettuce and carrot crops differed statistically from each other and under the different organic treatments in all four campaigns. The yields of all three crops differed in the campaigns with the fertilisation treatment. In each campaign, the yields of each crop were not correlated with the total amounts of N, P and K applied. These differences or similarities in yields are explained by the nature of the organic waste products, the accumulation of nutrients after several applications, the type of crop and interannual differences in temperature.
Extreme Precipitation Events and Infectious Disease Risk: A Scoping Review and Framework for Infectious Respiratory Viruses

Extreme precipitation events (EPE) change the natural and built environments and alter human behavior in ways that facilitate infectious disease transmission. EPEs are expected with high confidence to increase in frequency and are thus of great public health importance. This scoping review seeks to summarize the mechanisms and severity of impacts of EPEs on infectious diseases, to provide a conceptual framework for the influence of EPEs on infectious respiratory diseases, and to define areas of future study currently lacking in this field. The effects of EPEs are well-studied with respect to enteric, vector-borne, and allergic illness where they are shown to moderately increase risk of illness, but not well-understood in relation to infectious respiratory illness. We propose a framework for a similar influence of EPEs on infectious respiratory viruses through several plausible pathways: decreased UV radiation, increased ambient relative humidity, and changes to human behavior (increased time indoors and use of heating and cooling systems). However, limited work has evaluated meteorologic risk factors for infectious respiratory diseases. Future research is needed to evaluate the effects of EPEs on infectious respiratory diseases using individual-level case surveillance, fine spatial scales, and lag periods suited to the incubation periods of the disease under study, as well as a full characterization of susceptible, vulnerable, and sensitive population characteristics.
Educação em Algoritmos e Estruturas de Dados no Contexto do Ensino Baseado em Jogos Digitais

Em Ciência da Computação a disciplina de Algoritmos e Estruturas de Dados visa fornecer aos alunos a compreensão de tipos de dados abstratos, incluindo sua especificação, implementação e aplicação. Um dos maiores desafios no ensino é demonstrar a natureza dinâmica dos conceitos relacionados. Introduzir o desenvolvimento de jogos em disciplinas que envolvem lógica, algoritmos e programação como tópico para uma tarefa ou projeto é uma abordagem que permite aplicar os conceitos em problemas reais. Os requisitos e as características dos jogos possibilitam a realização de diversas atividades de programação e lógica, bem como o uso de estruturas de dados. Este artigo apresenta um jogo de lógica digital baseado em estruturas de dados. O jogo proposto visa aprimorar habilidades cognitivas de forma lúdica e foi desenvolvido no contexto da Aprendizagem Baseada em Projetos. Como resultado foi possível aplicar um importante conceito da computação em um exemplo real no contexto da gamificação.
A highly-sensitive NaCl concentration sensor based on a compact silicon-on-insulator micro-ring resonator

Silicon photonics circuit has been widely investigated in recent years, due to its advantage in the small footprint, high density integration and compatible with CMOS pilot line. In this paper, a compact, highly-sensitivity NaCl concentration sensor is experimentally demonstrated, based on the micro-ring resonators. The sensor circuit is composed of grating couplers, bus waveguide and micro-ring resonators. The width of optical waveguides is 450nm, with a thickness of 220nm. The chip was fabricated in imec through the ePIXfab multi-project wafer service supported by our group, which is compatible with the CMOS process line. The chip shows high sensitivity, as high as of more than 80nm/RIU, which corresponding to a detection limit of 1.6e-4 by using optical spectrum analyzer.
Long-term behaviour of a reinforced concrete wall under compressive stress applied to part of the wall's entire width

The purpose of this study is to suggest a method of quantitatively predicting long-term deformation of walls under an axial load concentrated on a part of the entire width of the walls. Four wall specimens were tested and three-dimensional finite element analyses were performed for these specimens. The test results verified the finite element models. On the basis of this verification, analysis parameters were selected with respect to various dimensions of the walls and the sectional area of the concentrated load, and finite element analyses for these parameters were carried out. The novel concept of the effective width coefficient was introduced as a method of predicting the long-term behaviour of walls. Furthermore, from the regression analysis, a function is suggested that can optimally fit the effective width coefficients that were calculated from the analysis results for the selected parameters. The suggested function can be conveniently used to predict the long-term behaviour under loads concentrated.
Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka: Hematological Changes and Pro-Inflammation Suggest Likely Predictors of Advance Disease, as Renal Outcomes Show Prevalent Normoalbuminuria

CKDu needs to be characterized in fundamental areas to improve etiological understanding and disease management. In a cross-sectional study, blood cell profile and plasma inflammatory cytokines were followed by automated analysis and sandwich ELISA, respectively. Disease development stages and proteinuria were ascertained by eGFR and UACR. Comparison among control and stages (ANOVA/Dunnett’s MRT) revealed time-specific changes (p < 0.05), including decreased erythrocytes (G5) and hematocrit (G5), and increased MCHC (G3b, G4), MCV (G5), and MCH (G5). CKDu decreased (p < 0.05) lymphocytes (G3b, G4, G5), monocytes (G3b), MPV (G3b, G4, G5), and plateletcrit (G3b, G4), and increased basophils (G3a, G3b, G4), N/L (G4) and PLR (G4–G5). MCHC and aforesaid leukocyte variables were in correlation (rho > ±0.03, p < 0.05, Pearson’s test) with disease development. MCP-1 and IL-6 spiked (p > 0.05) at G3b. Multivariate analyses confirmed that MCP-1, lymphocytes, and BMI were related to renal dysfunction, pointing to inflammation, compromised immunity, and muscle wasting as CKDu effects. Nonproteinuric CKDu was prevalent (23.2–35.6% of total CKDu) with (p < 0.05) elevated basophils (G3a), N/L (G4), and depleted lymphocytes (G4). In both forms, G1–G2 were unaffected, and the earliest change was G3a basophils. Results suggest that MCP-1, lymphocyte count, N/L, and PLR may verify the stage and predict impending ESRD in advance proteinuric CKDu.
The Association between Attitude and Adherence to Take Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs in Tuberculosis Patients in Kupang Health Center, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Background: Based on data from Perdaki NTT (2021), the absolute number of TB case finding in 2018-2020 in NTT in 2018 was 7,632 cases. In 2019 there were 7,575 cases and in 2020 there were 5,126 cases. This decrease in case finding could be due to the decreased number of tracing due to the impact of COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the attitudes of TB patients and adherence to taking antituberculosis drugs. Subjects and Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Tarus, Naibonat, and Camplong Health Centers, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, from July to October 2021. A number of 40 TB patients was selected purposively. The dependent variable was adherence to take anti-TB drugs. The independent variable was attitude. The data were collected by medical record and questionnaire. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation. Results: Most of TB patients had positive attitude (92.5%) and adherent to take anti-TB drugs (95.0%). Positive attitude was associated with improved adherence to take anti-TB drugs (r= 0.56; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Positive attitude is associated with improved adherence to take anti-TB drugs.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Stimulates Cardiac Fibroblast Activity through Phospholipase C-Mediated Calcium Signaling

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 induces hypertrophy and calcium (Ca2+) dysregulation in cardiomyocytes, leading to cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure. However, knowledge regarding the effects of FGF-23 on cardiac fibrogenesis remains limited. This study investigated whether FGF-23 modulates cardiac fibroblast activity and explored its underlying mechanisms. We performed MTS analysis, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine assay, and wound-healing assay in cultured human atrial fibroblasts without and with FGF-23 (1, 5 and 25 ng/mL for 48 h) to analyze cell proliferation and migration. We found that FGF-23 (25 ng/mL, but not 1 or 5 ng/mL) increased proliferative and migratory abilities of human atrial fibroblasts. Compared to control cells, FGF-23 (25 ng/mL)-treated fibroblasts had a significantly higher Ca2+ entry and intracellular inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) level (assessed by fura-2 ratiometric Ca2+ imaging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Western blot analysis showed that FGF-23 (25 ng/mL)-treated cardiac fibroblasts had higher expression levels of calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 (Orai1) and transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 1 channel, but similar expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin, collagen type IA1, collagen type Ⅲ, stromal interaction molecule 1, TRPC 3, TRPC6 and phosphorylated-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II when compared with control fibroblasts. In the presence of ethylene glycol tetra-acetic acid (a free Ca2+ chelator, 1 mM) or U73122 (an inhibitor of phospholipase C, 1 μM), control and FGF-23-treated fibroblasts exhibited similar proliferative and migratory abilities. Moreover, polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that atrial fibroblasts abundantly expressed FGF receptor 1 but lacked expressions of FGF receptors 2-4. FGF-23 significantly increased the phosphorylation of FGF receptor 1. Treatment with PD166866 (an antagonist of FGF receptor 1, 1 μM) attenuated the effects of FGF-23 on cardiac fibroblast activity. In conclusion, FGF-23 may activate FGF receptor 1 and subsequently phospholipase C/IP3 signaling pathway, leading to an upregulation of Orai1 and/or TRPC1-mediated Ca2+ entry and thus enhancing human atrial fibroblast activity.
A Three-DOF Rotational Parallel Manipulator Without Intersecting Axes

It is difficult to manufacture parallel manipulators(PMs) with multiple revolute joint axes intersecting at one point. These types include the 3-DOF spherical parallel manipulators (SPMs), the 4-DOF 3R1T and 2R2T PMs, the 5-DOF 3R2T PMs. This problem makes it hard to achieve the expected mobility of these PMs. In this paper, a 3-RPS cubic PM is studied which has three rotational freedoms and no intersecting axes. The orientation workspace of this PM is analyzed. Some discussions about the differences between the traditional SPMs and this PM are proposed. The results show that the 3-RPS cubic PM can achieve three rotational motions and has no intersecting axes.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The Tribological Adaptability for Ventral Scales of Dinodon rufozonatum in Dry/Wet/Rough Environments

The ventral scales of Dinodon rufozonatum were investigated to understand the outstanding tribological adaptability in various environments. The coefficient of friction (COF) of ventral scales was measured and changed with the contact conditions. It was discovered that the COF of scales under water-lubrication conditions (WLC) was larger than that under dry conditions (DC). More interestingly, the COF increased first and then decreased as the substrate roughness reduced. The abrasion marks on scales were then observed. The results indicated that the scales in DC wore more gently than that in WLC. Moreover, the degree of wear reduced with the decrease of substrate roughness. The frictional performance of ventral scales enabled the snakes to move more efficiently, quickly, and flexibly in multiple environments.
Coverage-aware self-scheduling in sensor networks

One important measurement of a sensor network's performance is how well the sensor network can monitor a covered area, namely network coverage. We propose a scheme to improve the network coverage of a sensor network. We assume that each sensor can probabilistically detect a nearby event, and build a probabilistic model of network coverage by considering the data correlation among neighboring sensors. We also define the sensing denomination (SD) of a sensor using the network coverage model. A sensor's SD is regarded as the measurement of its contribution to the network coverage. The more the contribution of a sensor to the network coverage, the higher the sensor's SD is. Based on the location information of neighboring sensors, each sensor can calculate its SD value in a distributed manner. We then propose coverage-aware self-scheduling, in which sensors periodically calculate their SD values and probabilistically schedule their active and hibernating states according to their SD values, so that sensors with higher SD values have more chance to stay active. With the same amount of energy consumed, better network coverage can be achieved by applying the scheme. We then demonstrate through a numerical study that the scheme improves sensor network coverage considerably.
E-Government Roadmap for Smart Governance: A Study from Banyuwangi Smart Village

Banyuwangi Smart Village as the implementation of Executive Order No. 3 of 2003 worked in several villages of Banyuwangi Regency. Kalibarukulon as one of the villages in Banyuwangi Regency has a dream to become a Smart Village. Achieving Smart Village through Smart Governance dimension can be realized with a good governance system. Creating a good governance system through the development of e-government requires strategic and systematic planning. This paper aims to translate strategic and systematic plans into e-government roadmaps. The development uses the IT-Strategic Plan framework by Richardus Eko Indrajit, adapted to current condition. This paper provides a collection of work programs approved by the Kalibarukulon Government.
Dynamic modelling of a wind turbine with doubly fed induction generator

As a result of increasing environmental concern, more and more electricity is generated from renewable sources. One way of generating electricity from renewable sources is to use wind turbines. A tendency to erect more and more wind turbines can be observed. As a result of this, in the near future wind turbines may start to influence the behaviour of electrical power systems. Therefore, adequate models to study the impact of wind turbines on electrical power system behaviour are needed. In this paper, a dynamic model of an important contemporary wind turbine concept is presented, namely a doubly fed (wound rotor) induction generator with a voltage source converter feeding the rotor. This wind turbine concept is equipped with rotor speed, pitch angle and terminal voltage controllers. After derivation of the model, the wind turbine response to two measured wind sequences is simulated.
A control strategy for general-purpose active filters based on voltage detection

A new control strategy to realize general-purpose active filters based on voltage detection is proposed as an economical solution to harmonic compensation in distribution lines. The proposed control method is based on real-time digital simulation of an LC filter accomplished by a digital signal processor. The adaptive gain control to realize the automatic on-line adjustment of the compensating characteristics is introduced. This achieves the optimum operation according to the condition of the AC lines. Thus the proposed active filter can be used as a general-purpose active filter. In this paper, the compensation characteristics of plural units of the proposed active filters connected to a distribution line are investigated. The theoretical investigation of the compensation characteristics is presented. Furthermore, to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy, some experimental results employing a test system are included.