Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Swelling stress effects on shear strength resistance of subgrades

ABSTRACT Pavements across Free State in South Africa deteriorate as a result of swelling and shear failure of the subgrade materials, and cyclic loads associated with moving vehicles. This study investigated the causes of distresses and cracks identified on the pavements across the province. Material samples were collected from three representative sites by core drilling. Series of consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial tests, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests, free swell index (FSI) tests, zero swelling tests (ZSTs) and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were performed to determine shear strength resistance and swelling index of the subgrade material, respectively. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) tests were employed to identify the minerals responsible for swelling activities in the subgrades. The results revealed that the investigated pavements deteriorate by swelling of the subgrades and were significantly affected by traffic loads that triggered resistance failure to moisture from the asphalt layer. The asphalt thickness layer failed to provide enough surcharge pressure to confine swelling stress from the subgrades. In comparison, swelling stress values from the CBR mould were 1.6% lower than that of the swelling stress values obtained from oedometer ring cell on the average. The result further revealed that swelling stress was the major cause of the pavements' failure. Thus, as swelling stress increased with an increase in moisture; this consequently led to a considerable decrease in shear resistance of the subgrades.
Some problems with S, SKS and ScS observations and implications for the structure of the base of the mantle and the outer core

Complicated radially symmetric models of the seismic velocity structure at the base of the mantle (Bullen's D" region) and the uppermost outer core have been inferred from analyses of the waveforms and relative amplitudes of S, SKS and ScS phases. Using radially symmetric structure, it has been difficult to construct physically realizable models of the rheology of D" that simultaneously satisfy P and S amplitudes and slownesses in the core shadow. These data are reviewed in the light of an increasing body of evidence that the structure of D" is characterized by heterogeneities having a broad spectrum of scale lengths. Depending on the region and range interval of D" sampled, S waveforms can be found that support either a radially simple or complex model of D". The complex models have one or more first-order discontinuities in velocity. The particle motion measured by three-component recordings of some S + ScS waveforms is consistent with a discontinuous increase in S velocity 250--300 km above the coremantle boundary. The observed particle motion in these examples cannot readily or alternatively be explained by either general anisotropy or by strong lateral velocity gradients in D". Sufficient variability in S waveforms and travel times exists, however, that any radially symmetric model having a strong degree of complexity should be accepted with caution until all of the competing effects of lateral heterogeneity and possible anisotropy in D" are fully investigated. The distribution and scale lengths of heterogeneities in D" may account for regional differences in the properties of D" inferred from waveform data, including features that mimic intrinsic attenuation and anisotropy
Comparison Of The Direct Costs, Length Of Recovery, And Incidence Of Post Operative Anti Emetic Use After Anesthesia Induction With Propofol Or A 1:1 Mixture Of Thiopental And Propofol

Abstract : The modern anesthesia provider must consider drug costs as important as benefits and risks when choosing which drug to use in an anesthetic. Thiopental has been the gold standard for an IV induction drug although propofol shows a better recovery profile with less post-operative nausea and vomiting, but at a higher cost. We attempted to determine if a 1:1 volume mixture of thiopental and propofol would show a similar recovery profile compared to propofol alone, but at a lower cost. This study examined the records of 212 surgery patients receiving propofol (n=82) or a 1:1 mixture (n=130) for demographic, peri-operative, PACU recovery, anti-emetic use, and cost data. We found that the propofol group had significantly more females, postoperative anti-emetic use, and induction drug costs, while the 1:1 mixture group had significantly longer surgery and anesthesia times. Mean post-operative anti-emetic drug costs were statistically significant (P<0.05) at $3.15 for the propofol group and $1.08 for the 1:1 mixture group. The mean cost of induction for the propofol group was $27.31 and $14.31 for the 1:1 mixture group, a statistically significant (P<0.05) difference of $13.09. The average recovery time for the propofol group was 134 minutes and cost $1205.37, and for the 1:1 mixture group 147 minutes and cost $1320.03. Thus, the difference in PACU charges was $114.66. This research suggests that the 1:1 mixture of thiopental and propofol produced a similar recovery profile to propofol alone, but at a lower direct cost. This study supported previous work, and recommends that further research be done to confirm its findings.
IMPACT OF EXPOSURE TO OCCUPATIONAL NOISE ON HEARING AND BLOOD PRESSURE: A REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to identify the effects of occupational noise exposure on hearing and blood pressure and to determine its implications for dental personnel. Although results differ among the studies reviewed, researches have demonstrated that exposure to high levels of noise can unchain similar cardiovascular answers to that they occur in acute stress, releasing stress hormones (corticotropin hormone; adrenocorticotropic hormone) and causing a significant increase in blood presure pressure. The dental office is a noise polluted environment which can cause hearing loss. None study evaluated the relationship between noise-induced hearing loss and blood pressure levels among dental personnel. The majority and the most recent papers indicate high levels of noise (above of 80 dB(A), and with frequencies ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 Hz) appear to affect heart rate and blood pressure. The highspeed dental air turbines emit frequencies which can cause hearing loss.
The New Bosnian Mosaic: Identities, Memories and Moral Claims in a Post-War Society

Contents: Introduction. Part 1 Beyond 'Ethnicity': 'Imitation of life': negotiating normality in Sarajevo under siege, Ivana Macek Urban exile: locals, newcomers and the cultural transformation of Sarajevo, Anders Stefansson Sarajevo no more? Identity and the sense of place among Bosnian Serb Sarajevans in Republika Srpska, Ioannis Armakolas The power of 'armchair politicians': ethnic loyalty and political factionalism among Herzegovinian Croats, Hannes Grandits In search of 'decent people': resistance to the ethnicization of everyday life among the Muslims of Stolac, Torsten Kolind. Part 2 Beyond 'Ancient Hatred': Commemorating Srebrenica: histories of violence and the politics of memory in Eastern Bosnia, Ger Duijzings Death and the nationalist: martyrdom, war memory and veteran identity among Bosnian Muslims, Xavier Bougarel Remembering with a difference: clashing memories of Bosnian conflict in everyday life, Stef Jansen. Part3 Beyond 'Protectorate': In the midst of injustice: the ICTY from the perspective of some victim associations, Isabelle Delpla 'Politics is a whore': women, morality and victimhood in post-war Bosnia-Herzegovina, Elissa Helms Ambivalent builders: Europeanization, the production of difference and internationals in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kimberley Coles Everyday work: subsistence economy, social belonging and moralities of exchange at a Bosnian (black) market, Larisa JaA! arevic Bibliography Index.
Vertical and lateral distribution of Foraminifera and Ostracoda in the East Frisian Wadden Sea – developing a transfer function for relative sea-level change

In light of rising sea levels and increased storm surge hazards, detailed information on relative sea-level (RSL) histories and local controlling mechanisms is required to support future projections and to better prepare for future coastal-protection challenges. This study contributes to deciphering Holocene RSL changes at the German North Sea coast in high resolution by developing a transfer function for RSL change. Recent associations of Foraminifera and Ostracoda from low intertidal to supratidal settings of the barrier island of Spiekeroog in combination with environmental parameters (granulometry, C/N, TOC, salinity) were investigated and quantified in elevation steps of 15 cm in order to generate a first transfer function (TF) of Holocene RSL change. In a future step, the TF can be applied to the stratigraphic record. Our data show a clear vertical zonation of foraminifer and ostracod taxa between the middle salt marsh and the tidal flat with very few individuals in the sand flat area, suggesting removal by the tidal current or poor preservation. Multivariate statistics identify the elevation, i.e. the inundation frequency, as main driving factor. The smallest vertical error (49 cm) is associated with an entirely new approach of combining Foraminifera and Ostracoda for a TF. Advantages of the TF over classical RSL indicators such as basal and intercalated peat – beside the relatively narrow indicative meaning – include the possible application to a wide range of intertidal facies and that it does not depend on compaction-prone peat.
Perception, Awareness and Treatment Experiences about Onchocerciasis in a Rural Community in Cross River State, Nigeria: Implications for Control

Background: Onchocerciasis a disease of poverty continues to place huge health, economic and social burden on communities at risk. Understanding critical factors that impact on access to treatment, acceptance and overall control measures are pivotal to the march towards its elimination. Objective: To assess Onchocerciasis perception and treatment experiences in a rural community in Cross River State, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study using mixed method was undertaken. Data were collected using pretested questionnaire and in-depth interview guide. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS while the in-depth interviews were audio taped, transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis done. Findings were presented in frequencies, charts, percentages, tables and quotes. Tests of significance were determined using Chi-square (ꭕ2) at significance level of 5%. Results: Ignorance, myths and negative perception about the cause of Onchocerciasisas pervade in 64 (31.2%) of the respondents that did not know that the bite of infected Blackfly is the cause. Some attributed the disease to curse from the gods (45.3%) and witchcraft (23.4%). This poor knowledge is associated with lower highest attained level of education (p =0.01). Non-availability of drugs (23.9%) and lack of knowledge on where to access ivermectin (9.8%) were the major challenges to ivermectin uptake. Inequity in treatment access was identified from the thematic analysis. Conclusion: Poor knowledge of the cause of the disease, non-availability of ivermectin and misconceptions about cause of onchocerciasis had negative influence on health- seeking behaviors, discriminatory practices and treatment coverage. By integrating contextual knowledge awareness creation about Onchocerciasis into the design of control strategies will facilitate the vantage march towards achieving elimination target.
The mid‐summer drought over Mexico and Central America in the 21st century

The southern Mexico and Central America (SMCA) region shows a dominant well‐defined precipitation annual cycle. The rainy season usually begins in May and ends in October, with a relatively dry period in July and August known as the mid‐summer drought (MSD); notable exceptions are the Caribbean coast of Honduras and Costa Rica. This MSD phenomenon is expected to be affected as the SMCA experiences an enhanced differential warming between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans (PO‐AO) towards the end of the 21st century. Previous studies have suggested that this differential warming will induce a strengthening of the westward Caribbean low‐level jet (CLLJ) and that this heightened CLLJ will shift precipitation westwards, falling on the PO instead that within the SMCA region causing a severe drought. In this work we examine this scenario with a new model, the Rossby Center Regional Climate Model (RCA4), for the COordinated Regional climate Downscaling EXperiment (CORDEX) Central America domain, forced with different general circulation models (GCMs) and for different representative concentration paths (RCPs). We consider 25‐year periods as “present conditions” (1981–2005) and “future scenario” (2071–2095), focusing on the “extended summer” season (May–October). Results suggest that in the future the spatial extension of the MSD will decrease and that in certain areas the MSD will be more intense but less frequent compared to present conditions. Also, the oceanic differential warming, the intensification of the CLLJ, and the reduction in regional precipitation in the future scenario, suggested by previous works, were verified in this study.
Burnout among psychiatry residents

Summary Aim: To evaluate burnout syndrome and related factors among psychiatry residents in 24 countries worldwide. We report data from Croatia and France, the first two to complete the study. Methods: The BoSS online questionnaire collects data on demographics, education, work circumstances, The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-GS), The Areas of Worklife Survey, The Patient Health Questionnaire and The Suicide Ideation and Behaviour Questionnaire. Results: Study sample consists of 224 residents – 54 from Croatia (54% response rate) and 136 from France (34.1%). They both showed moderate level of burnout syndrome, while the Croats had significantly stronger feelings of professional efficacy. Being single, fewer weekly working hours and vacation days, and higher workload significantly predicted higher emotional exhaustion and higher cynicism. Conclusion: Our findings indicate moderate level of burnout among psychiatry residents and its strong association with inadequate working conditions. Zusammenfassung Ziel: Ziel der Studie ist, Auftretenshäufigkeit und Schweregrad von Burnout bei psychiatrischen Assistenzärzten in 24 Ländern weltweit zu evaluieren. Wir berichten Ergebnisse aus Kroatien und Frankreich, den ersten Ländern, in denen die Studie abgeschlossen wurde. Methoden: Der BoSS Online-Fragebogen erhebt Daten zur Demografie, Ausbildung, Arbeitssituation und Freizeit und enthält vier Instrumente zur Messung arbeitsbezogener Gesundheit: Das Maslach Burnout Inventar (MBI-GS), den Fragebogen zu Aspekten des Berufslebens (AWLS), den Patient Health Questionnaire sowie den Suicide Ideation and Behaviour Questionnaire. Ergebnisse: 224 psychiatrische Assistenzärzte nahmen an der Befragung teil – 54 aus Kroatien (Rücklaufquote 54%) und 136 aus Frankreich (Rücklaufquote 34,l%). Beide Gruppen wiesen ein mittleres Burnout-Niveau auf und sie unterschieden sich bezüglich der dritten Burnout-Dimension, berufliche Effektivität. Hier wiesen die kroatischen Assistenten höhere Werte, d.h. weniger Burnout, auf. Höhere Werte in emotionaler Erschöpfung stehen in Zusammenhang mit dem Familienstand (alleinstehend), einer niedrigeren Gesamtwochenarbeitszeit, weniger Urlaubstagen und einer höheren Arbeitsbelastung. Höhere Werte im Bereich Zynismus werden zusätzlich durch fehlende Anerkennung und Wertekonflikte am Arbeitsplatz prädiziert. Schlussfolgerung: Unsere Ergebnisse verweisen auf ein mittleres Burnout-Niveau bei psychiatrischen Assistenzärzten und zeigen, dass dieses in wesentlichem Ausmaß mit inadäquaten Arbeitsbedingungen in Zusammenhang steht.
Eddies in the Western Arctic Ocean From Spaceborne SAR Observations Over Open Ocean and Marginal Ice Zones

The Western Arctic Ocean is a host to major ocean circulation systems, many of which generate eddies that can transport water masses and corresponding tracers over long distances from their formation sites. However, comprehensive observations of critical eddy characteristics are currently not available and are limited to spatially and temporally sparse in situ observations. Here we use high‐resolution spaceborne synthetic aperture radar measurements to detect eddies from their surface imprints in ice‐free sea surface roughness, and in sea ice patterns throughout marginal ice zones. We provide the first estimate of eddy characteristics extending over the seasonally ice‐free and marginal ice zone regions of the Western Arctic Ocean, including their locations, diameters, and monthly distribution. Using available synthetic aperture radar data, we identified over 4,000 open ocean eddies, as well as over 3,500 eddies in marginal ice zones from June to October in 2007, 2011, and 2016. Eddies range in size between 0.5 and 100 km and are frequently found over the shelf and near continental slopes but also present in the deep Canada Basin and over the Chukchi Plateau. We find that cyclonic eddies are twice more frequent compared to anticyclonic eddies at the surface, distinct from the dominating anticyclonic eddies observed at depth by in situ moorings and ice‐tethered profilers. Our study supports the notion that eddies are ubiquitous in the Western Arctic Ocean even in the presence of sea ice and emphasizes the need for improved ocean observations and modeling at eddy scales.
Reusing Treated Waste-Water from a Circular Economy Perspective—The Case of the Real Acequia de Moncada in Valencia (Spain)

One of the most important challenges that agriculture faces is sustainable water management and its adaptation to climate change. This adaptation is more important in regions where recurrent draughts and overexploitation of water resources happen. However, historical irrigation systems, such as the Real Acequia de Moncada (RAM) in Valencia, have found innovative approaches to deal with this phenomenon. This paper analyzes the case of Massamagrell and Puçol, which reused the treated waste-water of the closest waste-water treatment plant (WWTP). The study focused from a circular economy perspective on the technological, agronomical, and social implications of this decision. Results show that there are clear benefits for both farmers and WWTP managers. On the one hand, additional nutrients and regularity in their water supply benefit farmers. On the other, WWTP managers can reuse the treated effluent in the system, contributing to the closure of the water cycle and avoiding pumping the treated water into the sea. However, more detailed information and coordination is needed among the different stakeholders. Questions regarding the illegal connection of waste pipes with the traditional irrigation or the payment of pumping costs for reuse have gone unanswered, and there is a need for better reflection from all stakeholders.
EXAMINEE BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS AND GRE GENERAL TEST PERFORMANCE

The relationships between examinee background characteristics and performance on the GRE General Test were appraised by a structural equation modeling analysis. The examinees' initial characteristics (sex, ethnicity, parental education, geographic region, and age) had modest relationships with their test performance. Of these, parental education had the most consistent and strongest association. Sex also had an appreciable association, but it was limited to the quantitative score. College-related characteristics (college major and the institution's public vs. private control, Carnegie classification, selectivity, and Ph.D. productivity) and undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) generally had stronger and more pervasive relationships with test performance than did the examinees' initial characteristics, not only mediating the associations of the examinees' initial characteristics with test performance but also making independent contributions in their own right. The associations were especially strong for school quality (a composite of public vs. private control, selectivity, and Ph.D. productivity), college major, and undergraduate GPA.
Family Dysfunction, Parental Attachment, and Career Search Self-Efficacy among Community College Students.

The relationship between family dysfunction, parental attachment, and career search self-efficacy was examined using a sample of 220 community college students. For the total sample, attachment to mother and father, and degree of family dysfunction combined to account for 14% of the variance in career search self-efficacy. Data were analyzed separately for men and women, which yielded results consistent with the literature. For women, attachment to mother and degree of family dysfunction combined to account for 17% of the variance in career search self-efficacy. For men, attachment to mother was the only significant predictor and accounted for 9% of the variance in career search self-efficacy. Implications for research and practice are described.
Spatial Variability of Available Soil Nutrients in the Shekhawati Region of Thar Desert, India

Based on soil samples collected from 814 geo-coded sites in the rainfed croplands, irrigated croplands, rangelands and protected forests within the Shekhawati region of Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India, a spatial analysis of the distribution pattern of organic carbon (OC) and macronutrients i.e., available phosphorus (P) and available potassium (K) and micronutrients viz., DTPA extractable zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) was carried out in GIS environment. It revealed that OC is deficient almost throughout the region, while P is deficient in large parts of the dune-covered west. Among others, K, Cu and Mn are adequately supplied in most areas, but Zn and Fe are inadequate in large parts. Irrigated croplands are better endowed than other land uses in respect of OC, P, Zn and Cu; forests in respect of K and Fe, and rainfed croplands in respect of Mn. The distribution pattern of the organic C and nutrients appears to be controlled by both natural and anthropogenic processes. Among the natural processes, fluvial processes appear to control the distribution in the hills and plains in the wetter east, while aeolian processes appear to control the distribution in the drier dune-covered west. Anthropogenic processes, especially through land use decisions and fertilizers input in irrigated tracts, have also influenced the sufficiency or otherwise of the soil nutrients.