Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal Timing of Single-Stage Retrograde Endoscopic Common Bile Duct Stone Removal in Mild and Moderate Acute Cholangitis: A Prospective Trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of removing a single-stage, retrograde, endoscopic common bile duct stone in patients with mild and moderate acute cholangitis associated with choledocholithiasis.Methods: We enrolled 196 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-naïve patients diagnosed with acute cholangitis and choledocholithiasis between September 2018 and February 2020 at a single hospital. For eligible patients, single-stage treatment involved stone removal at initial ERCP. Early ERCP was defined as ERCP performed ≤ 72 hours following diagnosis in the emergency room.Results: The final analysis included 138 patients. The success rate of complete stone extraction was similar in patients with mild and moderate cholangitis (88.5% vs. 91.7%; p = 0. 536). Complication rates were also comparable between the two groups. In the moderate cholangitis group, the length of hospitalization declined significantly among patients who underwent early single-stage ERCP (10.6 ± 6.1 vs. 18.7 ± 12.5 days; p = 0.001) compared with patients treated with delayed ERCP. In the multivariate analysis, early ERCP indicated shorter hospitalization times (≤ 10 days) (odds ratio (OR), 7.689; p = 0.030), while endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage, for acute cholangitis only, indicated longer hospitalization times (OR, 0.358; p = 0.030). A stone size larger than 1.5 cm was an independent risk factor for stone extraction failure (OR, 24.507; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Single-stage, retrograde, endoscopic common bile duct stone removal may be safe and effective for patients with mild and moderate cholangitis. The benefit of early single-stage ERCP (≤ 72 hours) was reflected mainly by reduced hospitalization time and costs.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03754491.
Multi-UAV Supervisory Control Interface Technology (MUSCIT)

Abstract : The tremendous success of UAVs has seen the role of unmanned systems expand well beyond the mission for which they were originally intended. One can hardly imagine a role which unmanned systems will not eventually be applied. The future use of UAVs secure, the challenge for unmanned air systems (UAS) developers has shifted from one of demonstrating their value on the battlefield to one of increasing the efficiency of their use. The Multi-UAV Supervisory Control Interface Technology (MUSCIT) program, a research initiative sponsored by the Air Force's Supervisory Control Interface Branch of the Human Effectiveness Directorate (711HPW/RHCI), was tasked to investigate operator interface control issues associated with multi-UAV control. The focus of this effort was to investigate automation and interface technologies that will reverse the status quo to move from multiple operators per vehicle to multiple vehicles per single operator.
Online Professional Development Through Virtual Learning Communities

Preface: The Evolution of a Design Acknowledgments About the Author About the Contributors 1. The Learner-Learner Model 2. Getting It Started: A Planning Guide 3. 10 Action Steps to an Online Virtual Learning Community 4. The Process: Transitioning a Face-to-Face Professional Learning Community to an Online Virtual Learning Community 5. Getting It Done: What Structures Support the Implementation of a Virtual Learning Community? 6. Building Capacity and Sustainability: School-Based Virtual Learning Cohorts 7. Pitfalls Don't Hold You Back 8. Summary: My Reflections References Index
Bismuth-based Erbium-doped fiber for mode-locking and nonlinear applications / Mohammadreza AbdolhosseiniMoghaddam

Nature of Bi-related emission centers is not yet clear. Further research must be conducted to have a broadband low noise amplification and to raise efficiencies to level exhibited by silica-EDF systems. The pulse duration in generated train of pulses is one order of magnitude lower than that of a typical EDFA.This thesis describes laser generation process based on nonlinear effects, utilizing highly nonlinear fibers or/and Bismuth-based Erbium Doped Fiber (Bi-EDF). Various configurations were demonstrated using the Bi-EDF to generate various seed signals for optical amplifiers and nonlinear applications. Nonlinear effects both through stimulated Brillouin Scattering and slicing of spectrum were used to generate ultra wide multiwavelength comb lines or tunable narrow linewidth signals. A high-power double-clad amplifier was theoretically analyzed and experimentally used for both ultra-narrow linewidth and ultra short pulsed signals to provide the highest and flattest possible gain in the 1545-1566 nm wavelength regions. A maximum output power of 400 mW with a laser linewidth of less than 1 KHz was obtained in narrow linewidth operation. The construction of a low threshold mode-locked laser with an energy fluctuation of less than 2.5%. was successfully accomplished and supercontinuum (SC) in different types of fibers, was also studied. Although Bi-EDF devices have previously been used to amplify and generate pulses of light in the picosecond domain, this is the first time ultrashort pulses have been achieved in the femtosecond domain without using any intra-cavity or extra cavity compressors. The pulse width can continuously vary from 1.2 ps to 131 fs. In addition, the variations of the spectral width, time-bandwidth products, pulse duration, amplitude and timing jitters as a function of the pump power were also investigated for various output ports at various regimes. The pulses were then amplified at different power and injected into fibers with various dispersion profiles. The results show a considerably flat spectrum covering 500 nm to about 2.2 μm in dispersion flattened highly nonlinear fiber. A temperature sensitive loop mirror (TSLM) was proposed for slicing of spectra. Compared to conventional schemes, experimental results show that by using our proposed TSLM, one can potentially achieve a substantial improvement (6.6 times more) in increasing spectral spacing variation range and a considerable increment (337.6%) in temperature sensitivity.
Strategy Through People: Adaptation and Learning in the Small-Medium Enterprise

The authors offer a new approach to the study of business which weaves together the separate disciplines of corporate strategy, small/medium business growth and human resource management. It presents a combination of new case study research with discussions of the existing literature in the field. The unifying argument of the book centres around processes of adaptation, organizational learning and networks. By using small-medium firms to illustrate clearly the key debates regarding large firms, the authors have produced a new perspective on the strategy process, making explicit the link between the strategy process and the activities of people. The use of up-to-date, critical and stimulating case studies from the author's own empirical materials, and data from 20 firms studied, gives this book an authoritative and contemporary perspective on an important area of strategic development.
THE NATURAL SELF-BURIAL OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES

In the present paper a procedure is demonstrated for the prediction of the scour near submarine pipelines due to currents or waves. The procedure is based upon scale tests, the data of which are treated as a scale series. Also additional phenomena, which are closely related to the flow disturbance by the pipe, are discussed with regard to the ultimate self burial of pipelines.
HACKING EXPOSED MALWARE AND ROOTKITS

"A harrowing guide to where the bad guys hide, and how you can find them. " --Dan Kaminsky, Director of Penetration Testing, IOActive "An amazing resource. It is timely, focused, and what we need to better understand and defend against one of the greatest cyber threats we face. " --From the Foreword by Lance Spitzner, President of the Honeynet Project Don't let another machine become a zombie in the malware army Defend against the ongoing wave of malware and rootkit assaults the failsafe Hacking Exposed way. Real-world case studies and examples reveal how today's hackers use readily available tools to infiltrate and hijack systems. Step-by-step countermeasures provide proven prevention techniques. Find out how to detect and eliminate malicious embedded code, block pop-ups and websites, prevent keylogging, and terminate rootkits. The latest intrusion detection, firewall, honeynet, antivirus, anti-rootkit, and anti-spyware technologies are covered in detail. Understand how malware infects, survives, and propagates across an enterprise Learn how hackers use archivers, encryptors, and packers to obfuscate code Implement effective intrusion detection and prevention procedures Defend against keylogging, redirect, click fraud, and identity theft threats Detect, kill, and remove virtual, user-mode, and kernel-mode rootkits Prevent malicious website, phishing, client-side, and embedded-code exploits Protect hosts using the latest antivirus, pop-up blocker, and firewall software Identify and terminate malicious processes using HIPS and NIPS Table of contents Part I Malware Case Study: Please Review This Before Our Quarterly Meeting Chapter 1 Method of Infection Chapter 2 Malware Functionality Part II Rootkits Case Study: The Invisible Rootkit That Steals Your Bank Account Data Chapter 3 User-Mode Rootkits Chapter 4 Kernel-Mode Rootkits Chapter 5 Virtual Rootkits Chapter 6 The Future of Rootkits: If You Think It's Bad Now Part III Prevention Technologies Case Study: A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing Chapter 7 Antivirus Chapter 8 Host Protection Systems Chapter 9 Host-Based Intrusion Prevention Chapter 10 Rootkit Detection Chapter 11 General Security Practices Appendix A System Integrity Analysis: Building Your Own Rootkit Detector Index
Numerical Modeling of Microfluid Dynamics in Xylem Vessels of Khaya grandifoliola

Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) can be used to quantify the internal flow variables of xylem conducting vessels. This study aims to analyze through numerical simulations the xylem water ascent of African mahogany (Khayagrandifoliola) cultivated under different irrigation regimes. We determined a geometric model, defined through the variability of the anatomical structures of the species, observing characteristics of the xylem vessels such as diameter, length, number of pits, and average surface area of the pits. Then we applied numerical simulation through an Eulerian mathematical model with the discretization of volumes via CFD. Compared to other models, we observed that numerical simulation using CFD represented the xylem microstructures in a greater level of detail, contributing to the understanding of the flow of xylem vessels and the interference of its various structures. Analyzing the micrographs, we observed the non-irrigated vessels had a higher number of pits in the secondary wall thickening when compared to the irrigated treatments. This trend influenced the variability of the radial flow of the xylem vessels, causing greater fluid movement in this region and decreasing the influence of the smooth part of the wall, resulting in a lower total resistance of these vessels.
Tweet Sentiment, Sentiment Trend, and a Comparison with Financial Trend Indicators.

Background: As Twitter has become a global microblogging site, its influ- ence in the stock market has become noticeable. This makes tweets an interest- ing medium for gathering sentiment. A sentiment that might influence trends in the stock market. Motivation: If Twitter can be used to predict future prices in the stock mar- ket the casual investor would gain an advantage over the day-trader and the modern trading algorithms. Another interesting aspect is the role of Twitter in sentiment analysis. And how Twitters role as a data source influences trends in the stock market. Data and Experiments: Twitter is used as the data source. It provides easy access, lots of data, and many possibilities to use available metadata. To find the sentiment of a tweet we use two methods, counting positive and negative words(bag of words), and classifiers (SVM and Naive Bayes). We use moving average(MA) and average directional index(ADX) as trend indicators. We cal- culate MA and ADX with data from Oslo stock exchange, and we created our own indicators, based on MA and ADX, using data from Twitter. Then we compare the graphs. Findings: We explore the usage of lists of words, dictionaries, in sentiment analysis. And we look at data retrieval from Twitter and the trend we can create from it. To a varying degree we get positive results with the dictionaries, while the trend aggregation lacks the finesse and results we hoped for. Conclusion: Sentiment classification of tweets worked with both bag of words, and trained classifiers. We also managed to aggregate a trend based on senti- ment, but we found no correlation between the financial trend indicators and the sentiment indicators.
The Significance and Performance of Listed Property Companies in Some Selected African Countries

Property is one of the major global investment asset class apart from shares and bonds due to the attractive return on investment. Individuals can invest indirectly in property through Listed Property Companies (LPCs) and enjoy income from the returns. This study presents the significance and performance of listed property companies in 10 African countries from 2006 to 2015, with 3 countries from North Africa (Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia) and 7 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe). The study analyses the risk adjusted performance of 64 LPCs in African countries using the Sharpe Ratio Index in comparison with Shares and Bonds. Correlation coefficient analysis was used to determine the potentials for diversifications among the asset classes within each respective country and across the African countries. The results revealed that only two of the countries (Botswana and Mauritius) LPCs outperformed on risk adjusted basis while the other eight countries (Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe) underperformed either shares, bonds or both on risk-adjusted basis possibly attributed to global financial crisis, Political instability, high void rates, corruption, insurgency, and harsh economic conditions. Shares is the most performing asset class outperforming in 6 countries followed by Bonds and LPCs with 2 countries each respectively. The findings further revealed that LPCs offer potentials for diversification to investors in almost all African countries due to the low correlations between the LPCs and the other asset classes (Shares and Bonds).
Distribution and Importance of Conservation Units in the Caatinga Domain

The Caatinga is a characteristic phytogeographic domain of the Brazilian semiarid, being one of the least studied areas and one of the Brazilian natural regions less protected. The Caatinga has undergone a rapid process of environmental deterioration, due to deforestation. Therefore, the present study aimed to show the current distribution and quantities of Conservation Units in the Caatinga Domain. Several books, journals, theses and periodicals were consulted for its accomplishment, regarding the conservation units and the consultations of the numbers of UCs, by states and biomes, were done through the website of the National Registry of Conservation Unit of the Ministry of the Environment. Presently, the Caatinga own 166 UCs indexed, that preserves a 63.677 km2 area, corresponding to 7,7% of domain, being 1,2% of this protected area belonging to Integral Protection group and 6,5% to Sustentable Use. The states that most own Caatinga areas, are Bahia, Piauí e Ceará, but Piauí is the only state that has little more than 10% of the destined area to conservation of this domain. Yet Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe, Paraíba e Alagoas own less than 1% of your Caatinga area for conservation, the others has between 6 and 9,5%. Until 2008 more 45% of Caatinga area was already deforested, therefore it is necessary to increase the quantities of UCs, since that the process to deforested, consequently loss of biologic diversity, in this area, is pretty fast and occur not just by antropics actions, but also by natural phenomena.
Anknytningsstilens betydelse för ungas risktagande på internet

Studien undersoker huruvida ungdomars utsatthet for risker pa internet ser olika ut beroende pa vilken anknytningsstil de tillhor. Med anknytning som grund skapar ungdomar inre arbetsmodeller av tankar och kanslor under uppvaxten som paverkar deras hantering av olika situationer i livet. Studiens deltagare var ungdomar i arskurs atta och nio (N =87) vid fyra olika hogstadieskolor i Skane. Deltagarna fick besvara Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ: Feeney, Noller & Hanrahan, 1994) som undersoker vilken anknytningsstil ungdomen har, och delar av EU-projektet EU Kids Online II enkat som mater risktagande pa internet. Sex olika sorters risker undersoktes: mobbning, exponering, problematisk/overdriven internetanvandning, webbsidor med destruktivt innehall, sexuella meddelanden och bilder samt moten i verkligheten. Resultatet visar tydliga samband mellan anknytningsstil och olika sorts risktagande hos unga. I linje med aktuell forskning visar det att unga med otrygg anknytningsstil i hogre utstrackning soker sig till, eller blir utsatta for, internetrelaterade risker. Att fa kunskap om och synliggora riskgrupper ar viktigt for att kunna rikta forebyggande insatser ratt.
The Possibility of APE1/Ref-1 as a Biomarker in the Detection of Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Coronary Artery Disease, was the leading cause of mortality globally resulting in more than 7 million deaths annually. APE1/Ref-1 is a multifunctional protein that is found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Objective: To investigate the possibility of APE1/Ref-1 as a biomarker in the detection of Coronary Artery Disease in Indian population. Subjects and Methods: 100 subjects were divided into two groups of cases and controls. The Case group had Fifty patients diagnosed of Coronary Artery Disease on the basis of Clinical findings with Electrocardiography, Biochemical Markers, Echocardiography and Angiogram(wherever possible) attending the OPD of Department of Internal Medicine of SGT Hospital. Fifty age and gender matched healthy individuals constituted the control group. The data was statistically analyzed by using Student’s t-test and P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The difference in the mean of case and control values of APE1/Ref-1 is statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that APE1/Ref-1 has a positive shows positive correlation with in patients of CAD.
The Intelligent Driver Model: Analysis and application to Adaptive Cruise Control

There are a large number of models that can be used to describe traffic flow. Although some were initially theoretically derived, there are many that were constructed with utility alone in mind. The Intelligent Driver Model (IDM) is a microscopic model that can be used to examine traffic behavior on an individual level with emphasis on the relation to an ahead vehicle. One application for this model is that it is easily molded to performing the operations for an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system. Although it is clear that the IDM holds a number of convenient properties, like easily interpreted parameters, there is yet to be any rigorous examining of this model from a mathematical standpoint. This paper will place this model into the form of a vector-valued time-autonomous ODE system and analytically examine it. Additionally, the parameter estimation problem will be formulated. Simulations will demonstrate the model in practice.
Investigation and design of future touch interfaces in trucks

The purpose of this project was mainly to develop a touch based user interface, suitable for operations in the Volvo FH series. The project was carried out in Gothenburg, at Volvo Group Truck Technologies (Volvo GTT). The driving question of the project was to investigate whether it is possible to implement touch displays in the Volvo FH series, as well as providing Volvo GTT with design guidelines regarding touch screens in trucks. In order to create a suitable interface several relevant theories as well as previous reports on the subject were summarized. Moreover, a variety of methods was used to achieve satisfactory results. Market research, benchmarking, system research and finally user studies were carried out, and the results were used as a foundation for the later concept development. The project resulted in a final interface based on the previously gathered data, which ensured that the developed interface was well-suited for in-vehicle use. The project also delivered several guidelines to take into consideration when designing touch based interfaces for trucks. The project further resulted in the recommendation that it was possible to implement touch displays in the Volvo FH series; if thoroughly considering safety aspects as well as offering both user value and usability to the drivers.
miRNA-101 Regulates Filamentogenesis During Migration and Invasion of Cervical Cancer Cells

Background: miRNAs play critical roles in cervical cancer (CC) progression. miRNA-101 is a tumour suppressor in several cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effect of miRNA-101 on the biological behaviour of CC cells by analysing the formation of filamentous pseudopodia.Methods: Quantitative reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyse miRNA-101 expression in CC cells before and after its transfection. Cell counting kit-8, transwell migration, and wound healing assays were performed to investigate the effect of miRNA-101 on the malignant behaviour of CC cells in vitro. The impact of miRNA-101 on filopodia initiation in CC cells was investigated via scanning electron microscopy and TRITC-labelled phalloidin staining evaluation. In vivo analysis was performed using a nude mouse model of CC, established via subcutaneous tumour transplantation, to validate the role of miRNA-101 on CC malignant behaviour. One-way ANOVA with Fisher’s least significant difference post hoc test and t-test were used to evaluate statistical significance of differences between groups.Results: miRNA-101 was significantly downregulated in CC cell lines. Overexpression of miRNA-101 inhibited the malignant behaviours of CC cells in vitro, while it inhibited the formation of filopodia in CC cells. Similar results were observed using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy.Conclusions: These results indicate that miRNA-101 inhibits CC migration and invasion. The present findings, combined with future research, will help provide a theoretical basis and novel insight for the clinical management of CC.
The iron precipitate in groundwater supplies

Engineers commonly describe the iron precipitate in water treat­ ment plants as ferric hydroxide, Fe(OH)^, but have also considered the possibility of ferrous carbonate, FeCO^, in certain cases. This research found that FeCOH)^ does not exist under any conditions and did not find any evidence for FeCO^ under normal situations. Rather, the precipitate seems to be very small crystals of lepidocrocite, y-FeOOH, at low silica concentrations (<7 mg/1 at pH 7 with an iron concentration of 10 mg/1), but becomes amorphous at higher silica concentrations due to the adsorption of silica onto the growing crystals.