Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Environmental quality guideline values and remediation targets, specific to Antarctic ecosystems, are required for the risk assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in Antarctica. Ecotoxicological testing with Antarctic soil organisms is fundamental in determining reliable contaminant effect threshold concentrations. The present study describes the development of optimal culturing techniques and aqueous toxicity test procedures for an endemic Antarctic soil nematode, Plectus murrayi, which lives within interstitial waters between soil particles. Toxicity tests were of extended duration to account for the species’ physiology and life‐history characteristics. Plectus murrayi was sensitive to aqueous copper with a 50% effective concentration for egg‐hatching success of 139 μg/L. Hatched juveniles that were first exposed to copper as eggs appeared to be less sensitive than those first exposed at the hatched J2 stage, indicating a potential protective effect of the egg. Sensitivity of juveniles to copper increased with exposure duration, with 50% lethal concentrations of 478 and 117 μg/L at 21 and 28 d, respectively. The present study describes new methods for the application of an environmentally relevant test species to the risk assessment of contaminants in Antarctic soil and provides the first estimates of sensitivity to a toxicant for an Antarctic terrestrial microinvertebrate. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:482–491. © 2019 SETAC
Factors influencing engagement in an online support group for family caregivers of individuals with advanced cancer

Abstract Objective: To explore factors that influenced engagement in an online support group (OSG) for family caregivers of hospice patients with cancer. Design: Secondary qualitative data analysis. Sample: 58 family caregivers of hospice patients with advanced cancer. Methods: Template analysis of individual family caregiver interviews. Findings: Emotional isolation and caregiving downtime positively influenced engagement, while reluctance to share personal information, a short timeframe of participation in the OSG, and caregiving commitments were negatively influential. While the group facilitation and secure privacy settings of the OSG were viewed positively, reactions to the OSG platform and group tone were mixed. Information on pain and the dying process was found to be particularly engaging. Practice implications: Providers offering OSGs for family caregivers should maximize factors that promote meaningful member engagement, responding to changes in activity and tone over time.
Should I stay or should I go? The diurnal behaviour of plant-attached zooplankton in lakes with different water transparency

The role of transparency on the diurnal distribution of plant-attached cladocerans was studied in two similar-sized lakes with contrasting water colour. The diurnal attachment behaviour of Sida crystallina (O.F. Muller, 1776) was more pronounced in the less humic lake where the animals remained fixed on plants, indicating that staying attached was a more profitable option. In the highly humic lake, the pattern was opposite, and regardless of time the highest density observed was in the free-swimming individuals, with only few animals attached to the floating-leaves for refuge, indicating that low transparency provided sufficient protection against predation. The attached S. crystallina were larger compared to free-swimming individuals in the more transparent lake, suggesting greater vulnerability of large-sized individuals to predation. The results indicate that increasing concentrations of humic substances affecting the light environment may alter the diurnal behaviour and habitat use of plant-attached zooplankton.
Dose-volume histogram prediction in volumetric modulated arc therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinomas based on uniform-intensity radiation with equal angle intervals

In this study, we developed a gated recurrent unit (GRU)-based recurrent neural network (RNN) for dose-volume histogram (DVH) prediction in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning for nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) based on uniform-intensity radiation with equal angle intervals and investigated the feasibility and usefulness of this method for treatment optimization. One hundred twenty-four NPC patients were selected from a database containing clinical VMAT plans from 2015 to 2018; of these, the data from 100 patients were used to train the GRU-RNN, and the data of the other 24 patients were used for testing. For the prescribed doses to D95 (the absorbed dose for 95% of the planning target volume) of all the plans in 30 or 31 fractions, 70 Gy were delivered to PTV70 (the gross tumour volume with circumferential margin), 60 Gy were delivered to PTV60, 54 Gy were delivered to PTV54 and 66 Gy were delivered to PTV66 (lymph node gross tumour volume with circumferential margin). For each NPC patient, an equal-field-weight conformal radiotherapy plan was generated by a treatment planning system (TPS) to offer uniform-intensity radiation. By adjusting the field weights, the dose distribution induced by individual conformal beams was acquired, and the corresponding DVH was calculated. Direction-dependent DVHs were employed to predict the DVH for VMAT with the GRU-RNN, and the regenerated VMAT experimental plans (EPs), guided by the predicted DVHs, were evaluated by comparing them with the clinical plans (CPs). For the 24 test patients, the regenerated EPs guided by the GRU-RNN predictive model achieved good consistency relative to the CPs. The EPs resulted in better dose sparing for many organs at risk (OARs) while still meeting the acceptable criteria for the PTVs. Significant differences were found in the maximum/mean doses to the optic nerves, temporal lobes, lenses, mandibles, temporomandibular joints (TMJs), larynx and inner ears, with P-values of 0.03, 0.01, 0.01, <0.01, 0.02, 0.02 and <0.01, respectively. On average, compared to the CPs, the maximum/mean doses to these OARs were altered by −1.38 Gy, −0.92 Gy, 0.53 Gy, −1.19 Gy, −1.16 Gy, 2.39 Gy and −1.71 Gy, respectively. The results showed the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed uniform-intensity radiation approach. The regenerated plans guided by the predictive method were not inferior to the manual plans, indicating their great potential for improved planning and quality control in clinical applications.
Urban Park Visitors and Their Knowledge of Animal Species

ABSTRACT Informal or incidental learning in recreational parks has been rarely assessed, although most city-dwellers enjoy and appreciate wildlife in their day-to-day lives. Incidental or informal learning is non-intentional and grows out of spontaneous situations and is mostly self-directed. Here, we focus on the informal setting of a small urban park in Ludwigsburg (Germany) as a source of incidental learning. Two hundred and forty-eight visitors were interviewed at the park using a questionnaire, and 102 other people (non-visitors) acted as a control group. Park visitors scored significantly better in their knowledge of animal species compared with our control group. Species knowledge increased with age, with number of park visits, and with educational level. Using the number of species visitors had previously seen at the park, we found a significant influence of educational level, park visiting frequency, and of park use. Ninety-seven percent of participants responded with positive attitudes towards animals, and most animals were detected by their movement, rather than by their sound or coloration.
CLIENT AND CONSULTANT ORGANISATIONS’ ASSESSMENT OF DESIGN-BID-BUILD PROCUREMENT PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

Despite criticisms, the design-bid-build (otherwise called the traditional) procurement method has been the commonest method for project delivery in both the private and public sectors of Nigeria. This study sought to investigate the assessment of client and consultant organizations on the use of the traditional method for project delivery in Nigeria. A set of 155 questionnaires were administered purposively on consulting and client organizations in Nigeria. 65 organizations responded to the questionnaire. The responses were analyzed through the use of descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Using an ordinal scale, respondents were requested to express their agreement or otherwise with twenty issues raised on traditional project procurement. The aggregation for the two groups indicates that ‘Individual participants are exploitative of loopholes in contract documents ranked first among the issues being assessed. ‘Relationships among participants breed mistrust’ ranked least among the issues. The results of the analysis further indicate that there are no significant correlations in the ranking of issues among the two groups. Some of the findings of the research do not match with some issues raised in literature about the traditional project procurement practice. It is recommended that efforts are made to engage in stakeholder management of the two groups regarding the traditional procurement process.
Effect of Clustered Coordinator Superframe Adjustment and Beacon Transmission Scheme (CC- SABTS) in IEEE802.15.4 LR-WPAN Cluster Tree Topology with Varied Network Density and Traffic Model

This paper examines and evaluates the performances of clustered coordinator superframe adjustment and beacon transmission scheme (CC-SABTS) in a cluster tree network with different network density and traffic model. A cluster tree topology network consists of a Personal Area Network Coordinator (PAN-C), a few clusters of coordinators and several end device nodes at each coordinators. Coordinators need to transmit a periodic beacon in order to synchronize and communicate with PAN-C. Transmitting beacons simultaneously causes beacon collisions while CCSABTS is designed provides method to reduce these collisions. Nonetheless, the performances of CC-SABTS in denser network has yet to be investigated and evaluated. Therefore, a simulation is carried out using NS2 simulation software to study the scheme. In the simulation, one PAN-C is used while the number of the coordinator nodes are increased between the ranges of 10 to 100. Two different traffic models are deployed: Poisson traffic and Constant Bit Rate (CBR) traffic. Results showed that CC-SABTS has 41% better throughput, 30% higher packet delivery ratio (PDR), 41% lower end-to-end delay and 27% lower of packet loss in CBR traffic model compared to conventional SABTS. In Poisson traffic model, CC-SABTS improves up to 18% higher throughput, 17% higher PDR, 44% lower of end-to-end delay and 33% lower packet loss compared to conventional SABTS. Between both traffic, CC-SABTS shows higher throughput and packet delivery ratio in CBR traffic however end-to-end delay and packet loss are better in Poisson traffic. Index Term-CC-SABTS, LR-WPAN, beacon scheduling, 802.15. 4, network density, traffic model
Structure of Diferrocenyl Thioketone: From Molecule to Crystal

Ferrocenyl-functionalized thioketones have recently been recognized as useful building blocks for sulfur-containing compounds with potential applications in materials chemistry. This work is devoted to a single representative of such thioketones, namely diferrocenyl thioketone (Fc2CS), whose structure has been determined here for the first time. Both X-ray crystallography and a wide variety of quantum-chemical methods were used to explore the structure of Fc2CS. In addition to the X-ray structure determination, intermolecular interactions occurring in the crystal structure of Fc2CS were examined in detail by quantum-chemical methods. These methods were also an invaluable tool in studying the molecular structure of Fc2CS, from the gas phase to solutions and to its crystal. Intramolecular interactions governing the conformational behavior of an isolated Fc2CS molecule were deduced from quantum-chemical analyses carried out in orbital space and real space. Our experimental and theoretical results indicate that the main structural features of an isolated Fc2CS molecule in its lowest-energy geometry are retained both upon solvation and in the crystal. The tilt of ferrocenyl groups is only slightly affected by crystal packing forces that are dominated by dispersion. Nonetheless, a network of intermolecular interactions, such as H···H, C···H and S···H, was detected in the Fc2CS crystal but each of them is fairly weak.
Students’ Perception of Using Whatsapp in Blended Learning on Reading

This research aimed to investigate students’ perception of using Whatsapp in blended learning on reading comprehension. This was a descriptive research. The participants of this study consisted of 40 students of the second semester at STMIK-AMIK Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia. The data collected through questionnaire and interview. The finding of this research showed that majority of the participants had positive perception towards the using Whatsapp in blended learning on reading comprehension. All of the means of students responses in the questionnaire in each items were at 3.5-4.5 which indicated students’ responses were positive or at high level. The result from questionnaire also revealed that students agreed that using whatsapp in blended learning on reading comprehension was useful, helpful and effective in learning English anytime and anywhere. The findings from interview results also revealed that there were positive aspects and drawbacks of using Whatsapp in blended learning on reading comprehension. Nevertheless, the positive aspects of using Whatsapp in blended learning on reading comprehension gave more benefits to the students’ learning activities and their performances. These benefits could be continued to students’ learning outcome especially on their reading comprehension ability.
EFFECT OF COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING ON THE REDUCTION OF MATHEMATICS ANXIETY AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OGUN STATE , NIGERIA

This study focused on the effect of Cognitive-Restructuring training on mathematics anxiety in Mathematics among a group of Senior Secondary School Students in Ogun State. A 2 x 2 x 3 pre-test, post-test factorial design (treatment, gender, and study habit) was used in the study. The sample was drawn from Mathematics anxious students who were randomly assigned to one experimental group and one control group. Only the experimental group were treated with Cognitive Restructuring training while the control group received a placebo treatment. The subjects comprised ninety males and ninety females of high, medium and low levels of study habit. Two validated instruments namely Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale Revised (MARS-R) by Plake and Parker (1982) and Study Habit Inventory (SHI) by Bakare (1977) were used in generating response from the students. Analysis of Covariance was used to analyse the three hypotheses formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Results of this study revealed a significant effect of treatment ( Cognitive-Restructuring training) on subjects’ level of Anxiety in Mathematics (F-ratio= 5.81, P < 0.05). Cognitive-Restructuring was found to be more effective (× = 40.80) than the control group. The study also revealed that gender affected students’ anxiety in Mathematics significantly (P< 0.05) with male students having more reduction in Mathematics anxiety than female students. It was found that study habit did not affect students’ anxiety in Mathematics significantly. Based on these findings, it was recommended that counselors could use CognitiveRestructuring treatment as a strategy to reduce anxiety in Mathematics among Secondary School Students since it has been identified as effective.
Status of Livestock Production in Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir in India

Livestock production situation in agro-pastoral production system of Gurez sub-valley of Kashmir was assessed based on field visits and interview of selected households as well as group discussion with community leaders. The survey showed that livestock was the main source of income; followed by agriculture and off-farm activities. Among the livestock, cattle were the most important livestock species followed by sheep, horse and chicken. The main feed resources of the area were highland pastures, forest lands, common property resources and cultivated fodders; the production of these are also decreasing due to lack of required scientific interventions. Productivity of animals in terms of milk production, growth rate and reproductive performance was generally low owing to primitive livestock breeding and rearing practices, scarcity of feed and fodder, migration of labour and lack of extension support services.
Measurement of the quality and maturity of the innovation process: methodology and case of a medium sized Finnish company

Continuous improvement of the effectiveness of R&D requires an adequate and comprehensive assessment and measurement system. The present method, quality and maturity method (QMM), for assessing the quality and maturity of R&D, examines R&D from six viewpoints: R&D as part of business strategy, R&D as part of product and technology strategy, strategic implementation of R&D, R&D as a business section, R&D outputs, and implementation of R&D projects. Procedures for each of the six viewpoints are assessed and scored by five maturity levels. The verifying of the preliminary QMM method in four pilot companies has shown that the viewpoints used in the assessment describe factors pertaining to the quality and maturity of R&D quite well, and indicate central development needs.
Common Mechanisms of Executive Attention Underlie Executive Function and Effortful Control in Children.

Executive Function (EF) and Effortful Control (EC) have traditionally been viewed as distinct constructs related to cognition and temperament during development. More recently, EF and EC have both been implicated in top-down self-regulation - the goal-directed control of cognition, emotion, and behavior. We propose that executive attention, a limited-capacity attentional resource subserving goal-directed cognition and behavior, is the common cognitive mechanism underlying the self-regulatory capacities captured by EF and EC. We addressed three related questions: 1) Do behavioral ratings of EF and EC represent the same self-regulation construct? 2) Is this self-regulation construct explained by a common executive attention factor as measured by performance on cognitive tasks? and 3) Does the executive attention factor explain additional variance in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) problems to behavioral ratings of self-regulation? Measures of performance on complex memory span, general intelligence, and response inhibition tasks were obtained from 136 preadolescent children (M = 11 years, 10 months, SD = 8 months), along with self- and parent-reported EC, and parent-reported EF, and ADHD problems. Results from structural equation modeling demonstrated that behavioral ratings of EF and EC measured the same self-regulation construct. Cognitive tasks measured a common executive attention factor that significantly explained 30% of the variance in behavioral ratings of self-regulation. Executive attention failed to significantly explain additional variance in ADHD problems beyond that explained by behavioral ratings of self-regulation. These findings raise questions about the utility of task-based cognitive measures in research and clinical assessment of self-regulation and psychopathology in developmental samples.
Metric Radio Observations of the Evolution of a “Halo” Coronal Mass Ejection Close to the Sun

We report direct imaging observations of the propagation of a diffuse thermal radio enhancement in close temporal and spatial association with a "halo" coronal mass ejection from the solar atmosphere, in the metric wavelength regime. The speed and acceleration of the latter in the low corona were estimated in an independent manner from the displacement of the associated radio features, and the average values are 1136 ± 73 km s-1 and 157 ± 121 m s-2, respectively. The brightness temperature and electron density of the enhancement were found to be ≈1.92 × 105 K and 2.81 × 107 cm-3 at a distance of 2.7 R☉ from the center of the Sun. We also computed the magnetic field strength of the enhancement at the above height, and the value is ≈0.86 G. The mass of the radio enhancement increased by a factor of ~2 during our observing period.
Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated With Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Patients With and Without Coronary Artery Disease.

Background and Purpose- Diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-DM patients without coronary artery disease (CAD) have a similar low risk of myocardial infarction after coronary angiography. The risk of ischemic stroke in DM patients dependent on CAD status is less explored. We examined whether DM patients without CAD have a risk of ischemic stroke similar to that in patients with neither DM nor CAD. Methods- We conducted a cohort study of patients who underwent coronary angiography between 2004 and 2012 in Western Denmark. Patients diagnosed with previous ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack were excluded. Patients were stratified according to the presence of DM and CAD. Follow-up started 30 days after coronary angiography. We computed event rates and adjusted incidence rate ratios using patients without DM or CAD as reference. We examined the trend between CAD extent and ischemic stroke in patients with DM. Results- A total of 81 909 patients were included. Median follow-up was 3.8 years. Patients with both DM and CAD were at the highest risk of ischemic stroke (1.32 events per 100 person-years; adjusted incidence rate ratio, 2.00 [95% CI, 1.72-2.32]). Patients with CAD alone (0.77 events per 100 person-years; adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.12-1.44]) or DM alone (0.95 events per 100 person-years; adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.74 [95% CI, 1.42-2.15]) were at intermediate risk, whereas patients with neither DM nor CAD (0.52 events per 100 person-years) were at the lowest risk. Among patients with DM, extent of CAD was further predictive of risk (Ptrend<0.001). Conclusions- Not only CAD but also DM are associated with the risk of ischemic stroke after coronary angiography. Their combination further increases the risk of ischemic stroke depending on the extent of CAD.
Measuring nitrogen and sulphur deposition in the Georgia Basin, British Columbia, using lichens and moss

Nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) in the lichens Platismatia glauca, Parmelia sulcata and Hypogymnia physodes and a moss, Isothecium myosuroides in southwestern British Columbia was studied in a two component program. Firstly, relationships between lichen and moss tissue chemistry and atmospheric loading were explored using data collected at four regional air and precipitation chemistry monitoring sites in an effort to develop predictive models to estimate deposition. Secondly, the regional pattern of atmospheric N and S deposition was studied in a survey of lichen and moss tissue chemistry at fifty-seven locations in the Georgia Basin area. Results of the tissue chemistry was then compared to 1) modelled N and S deposition estimates and 2) lichen community structure response thresholds for N. The calibration component of this study was not successful owing to generally weak relationships between measured deposition and tissue N and S. Additional effort will be needed to define a functional relationship between N or S loading and tissue content. Correlations between the lichen and moss N content and model predictions were generally good. Correspondence between modelled S deposition and tissue content were more variable, but quite good for the dry S component. Nitrogen levels in lichen tissues suggest that lichen communities are probably being affected in urban areas and eastward into the Fraser Valley.