Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the effects of repeated disinfection on medical exam gloves: Part 2. Changes in mechanical properties

Abstract Many healthcare professionals have been forced, under acute shortages, to extend medical exam gloves beyond their intended single use. Despite limited available literature, the CDC proposed a set of guidelines for repeated exam gloves use, indicating a maximum number of treatments for three widely available disinfectants. This study examines how these treatments affect the mechanical properties of latex and nitrile gloves. Furthermore, an acceptability threshold is proposed for changes in tensile property, specifically elastic modulus, as an indication of degradation. This proposed criterion was also applied to similar studies available in the literature to determine applicability and aid in recommendation development. Three different latex glove brands and three nitrile brands were exposed to repeated treatments of an alcohol-based hand rub, diluted bleach, or soap and water. Tensile tests of samples cut from untreated and treated gloves were performed to assess the change in elastic modulus induced by each treatment. The findings suggest that latex gloves performed well within the CDC recommended guidelines of six repeated treatments for an ethanol-based hand rub and 10 repeated treatments of either dilute bleach or soap and water. Nitrile exam gloves, on the other hand, showed significant changes in elastic modulus, with more inconclusive results among brands. This was especially true for treatment with dilute bleach and soap and water. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of disinfection products on the mechanical integrity of nitrile exam gloves. The results support the use of five repeated treatments of ethanol-based hand rub for nitrile exam gloves, a lower threshold than currently recommended by the CDC. This research also supports that the CDC recommendation of 10 repeated treatment with soap and water is appropriate for latex exam gloves, but not for nitrile exam gloves. Occupational safety and health professionals involved in the selection of disposable exam gloves for infection control should consider the compatibility of the glove polymer type with available disinfectants, especially if extended use with repeated disinfection becomes necessary.
Experimental Study and Theoretical Analysis of Resistance of Steel-Concrete-Steel Sandwich Beams

AbstractThis paper investigates the structural performance of steel-concrete-steel (SCS) sandwich beams interconnected by channel connectors with large interval. Nine simply supported SCS beams with shear span/depth ratio between 1.0 and 5.5 were tested under static load. The contribution of the channel connectors was also studied. All the beams failed because of either tension plate failure in midspan (flexural failure) or tension plate failure in shear span (vertical shear failure). As shear span decreased, failure tended to be governed by shear, whereas for larger shear span, failure was governed by bending. The channel connectors were confirmed to directly affect the vertical shear resistance and ductile performance after critical diagonal cracking. On the basis of the observed failure mode, a mechanical model was developed to predict the ultimate shear resistance of SCS deep beams after critical diagonal cracking. The accuracy of this lower-bound approach was ascertained by comparing with the test re.
Health Indicators among Elderly People with Chronic Diseases in Beni-Suef

Background. Chronic diseases and their risk factors have a substantial impact on elderly health. Chronic disease indicators are essential for surveillance, prioritization, and evaluation of elderly health interventions. Aim of the study: To assess selected health indicators among elderly with chronic diseases in Beni Suef Design: A descriptive study design was utilized in this study. Setting: The study was conducted in two outpatient clinics (medical and chest clinics) at Beni Suef University hospital. A convenient sample of one hundred elderly patients was selected in this study. Method: two tools were used,: I:Interviewing questionnaire composed of six parts part I to assess sociodemographic characteristics, part II: to assess elderly medical history for chronic diseases, part III older people quality of life questionnaire to assess quality of life, part IV: Katz index to assess the Activities of Daily Living (ADL), part V: questionnaire to assess determinants of health as ( body mass index, risk factors and lifestyle part VI : questionnaire to assess health system indicators (e.g., health care access, cost, quality and follow up. Tool II Hamilton depression scale to assess the severity of depression Result: More than three-quarters of the studied sample had a sufficient quality of life. 77% were independent in ADL, while 23% were dependent and needed help. 89% of the elderly have depression as a result of chronic diseases. Moreover, 65% of the studied sample had insufficient levels of awareness regarding healthy lifestyle and risk factors. With regard to health system indicators, 96% experienced difficulty accessing health care services. 83% of the elderly have a body mass index in the normal range. 79% were nonsmokers. Conclusion Severity of depression, determinants of health, and lifestyle indicators were significantly impacted by chronic diseases, while quality of life and ADL indicators were less affected by chronic diseases. Recommendations Replication of the study in different settings with a large study sample to generalize the results. Create an educational programme to raise nurses' awareness of chronic diseases, their indicators, and the importance of the monitoring process in improving elderly health.
The Association with Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and Uric Acid

The relationship between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and uric acid was not well established. This study aimed to determine if subclinical thyroid dysfunction is associated with hyperuricemia risk and to evaluate the levels of uric acid in patients with different forms of subclinical thyroid dysfunction. A systematic search was conducted in 4 databases to obtain relevant studies on subclinical thyroid dysfunction (subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism) and uric acid. The standardized mean difference (SMD) or odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used for evaluation, and the sensitivity analysis was conducted. Publication bias was estimated by funnel plot, Egger's test, and Begg's test. A total of 73 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that serum levels of uric acid in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were significantly higher than those of controls and patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction had a higher prevalence of hyperuricemia compared with normal clinical thyroid function. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction was associated with the prevalence of hyperuricemia. Different types of subclinical thyroid dysfunction had varied effects on serum levels of uric acid.
Challenges to Accessing Credit Financing from Financial Institutions by the Urban Based Street Vendors: Experience from Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania

This study assessed challenges to accessing credit financing from Financial Institutions by the urban based street vendors in Dar es Salaam - Tanzania and recommends strategies for ensuring effective access to this crucial service. The study utilised mixed methods approach design and data were collected through interview, questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), review of secondary data, and observation techniques based on the purposive and random sample size of 104 respondents. The quantitative data were analysed descriptively by using Statistical Packages of Social Science (SPSS) while the Qualitative data were analysed content-wise by using MAXQDA software. Findings show that generally vendors were incapable of sufficiently accessing financial support from the financial institutions due to a number of reasons. These reasons include the vendors’ inability to comply with the established procedures for accessing financial support, lack of financial information relating to when, how and where to acquire the financial service, vendors’ inability to afford collaterals against the credit financing as well as too high loans interest rates. Another one is lack of relevant documents by the vendors required for accessing credit financing. In order to resolve the challenges, the researchers recommended equipping vendors with relevant credit financing information, prioritising provision of group loans to vendors as well as organizing the street vendors into groups. Other strategies to consider would be reduction of loan interest rates by the institutions, eliminating bureaucracy in accessing credit as well as engaging in business policy advocacy in favour of the vendors to access financial support.
A parametric study of the required seating length for bridge decks during earthquake

During the recent major earthquakes, some bridges suffered severe damage due to the pull-off-and-drop collapse of their decks. This is due to the large differential movements of the adjacent spans of bridges during strong shaking compared to the seating lengths provided. The differential movements are primarily due to the different vibration properties of adjacent spans and non-uniform ground excitations at the bridge supports. This paper analyses the effects of various bridge and ground motion parameters on the required seating lengths for bridge decks to prevent the pull-off-and-drop collapse. The random vibration method is used in the analysis. A two-span bridge model with different span lengths and vibration frequencies and subjected to various spatially varying ground excitations is analysed. Non-uniform spatial ground motions are modelled by the filtered Tajimi–Kanai power spectral density function and an empirical coherency function. Ground motions with different intensities, different cross-correlations and different site conditions are considered in the study. The required seating lengths for bridge decks are calculated. Numerical results are presented and discussed with respect to different bridge vibration and ground motion properties. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comparison of barefoot and sprint spike conditions in sprinting

The primary kinematic factors relating to sprinting performance may be influenced by the mechanical properties of the footwear worn. It was hypothesized that, compared with the barefoot condition, sprint spikes would influence sole angle to the ground, and metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) extension and flexion. High-speed video recording was used to analyse key kinematic variables of the foot segments and the MPJ in barefoot and shod running conditions. The stance phases of four sprinters (two male) were captured in the blocks, at 10 m and at 50 m into a maximal effort sprint. Angular range and angular velocity during MPJ flexion at 10 m and 50 m were reduced significantly when wearing sprint spikes. The mean angular range at 10 m was reduced by 11°, 13°, and 5° for the initial flexion phase, the extension phase, and the final phase of flexion respectively. This effect was larger during ground contact at 10 m versus 50 m. Sole angle to the ground at take-off was lower in the sprint spike shod condition than in the barefoot condition. Performance-related parameters such as degree of MPJ extension, MPJ extension velocity, and sole angle to the ground are influenced by sprint spikes when compared with the barefoot condition.
Application of Selected Biomaterials and Stem Cells in the Regeneration of Hard Dental Tissue in Paediatric Dentistry—Based on the Current Literature

Currently, the development of the use of biomaterials and their application in medicine is causing rapid changes in the fields of regenerative dentistry. Each year, new research studies allow for the discovery of additional possibilities of dental tissue restoration. The structure and functions of teeth are complex. They consist of several diverse tissues that need to act together to ensure the tooth’s function and durability. The integrity of a tooth’s enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp tissue allows for successful mastication. Biomaterials that are needed in dentistry must withstand excessive loading forces, be biocompatible with the hosts’ tissues, and stable in the oral cavity environment. Moreover, each tooth’s tissue, as well as aesthetic qualities in most cases, should closely resemble the natural dental tissues. This is why tissue regeneration in dentistry is such a challenge. This scientific research focuses on paediatric dentistry, its classification of caries, and the use of biomaterials in rebuilding hard dental tissues. There are several methods described in the study, including classical conservative methods such as caries infiltration or stainless-steel crowns. Several clinical cases are present, allowing a reader to better understand the described methods. Although the biomaterials mentioned in this work are artificial, there is currently ongoing research regarding clinical stem cell applications, which have a high potential for becoming one of the most common techniques of lost dental-tissue regeneration in the near future. The current state of stem cell development is mentioned, as well as the various methods of its possible application in dentistry.
Derivation of bolometer equations relevant to operation in fusion experiments

An overview of the bolometer diagnostic in the W7-AS stellarator is presented. Bolometers are used in plasma physics to measure radiated power losses that are mainly produced by impurity lines and neutral particles. With an array of collimated bolometers, the spatial and temporal evolution of these losses can be measured. The accuracy of the inversion of the line integrated measurements into local values necessitates a careful calibration and conversion of the measured signal into an incident power of each foil. Using transmission line theory to determine the equivalent circuit for the sensor and cable, the equations for bolometer calibration and measurement, taking into account the cable resistance and capacitance between amplifier and detector, are derived. The ability to switch the bolometer amplifiers from measurement to calibration mode between discharges allows continuous monitoring of the calibration constants of the bolometer foil. Measurements by bolometer cameras and their Abel inversion for the radial profile of radiated power in W7-AS are presented.
The roles of team identification and psychological ownership in fans’ intentions to purchase team-licensed and a sponsor’s products: the case of FC Barcelona members

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between points of attachment and participative decision-making, on the one hand, and team identification and psychological ownership, on the other. It also analyses how team identification and psychological ownership explain intentions to purchase team-licensed sports merchandise and the main sponsor’s sports-apparel products. Data were collected from members of FC Barcelona, who are also season-ticket holders, by means of an online survey (n = 1180). Partial least squares is used to test and validate the proposed theoretical model. The results indicate that players, fans and nation-attachment explain team identification and psychological ownership, whereas soccer only affects team identification. Participative decision-making strongly influences psychological ownership, which is in turn positively affected by team identification. Findings also reveal that the intentions to purchase team-licensed sports merchandise and the main sponsor’s sports-apparel products are better explained by members’ psychological ownership than by team identification. Managerial implications, such as the need to improve feelings of psychological ownership in the club’s promotional activities and to continue to strengthen the other professional sports sections are discussed. HIGHLIGHTS Psychological ownership explains purchases of the club’s official merchandise. Psychological ownership influences the purchase intentions to the sponsor’s products. Team identification predicts members’ psychological ownership toward the club. Participation in the club’s decision-making explained psychological ownership. Attachment to Catalonia influences team identification and psychological ownership.
Evaluating stiffness and strength of pavement materials

Current mechanical empirical-based pavement design requires use of the mechanical properties of pavement materials. For quantitative evaluations of the mechanical properties (i.e. stiffness and strength), field tests are emphasised. In this paper, a recently developed instrument called the soil stiffness gauge (SSG) and the dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) have been used to assess respectively the in-situ stiffness and strength of natural earthen materials, industrial byproducts, and chemically stabilised soils from ten highway construction sites around the state of Wisconsin, USA. The SSG and DCP survey data were analysed to develop a relationship between the SSG stiffness and DCP penetration index (DPI) values for individual material types and for all materials combined. A simple linear semi-logarithmic model is obtained between the SSG stiffness and DPI values, with the coefficient of determination, R2, ranging from 0·47 to 0·75 for individual material types and an R2 value of 0·72 for all materials com.
A normally-off bipolar mode static induction transistor (BSIT) with high current gains

The DC current gain of a normally-off bipolar mode static induction transistor with surface-gate structure can be improved by the reduction of the source- contact-area. To explain the current gain increase, a simple device model was introduced. It was found from this model that the DC current gains were in proportion to the inversion of the source-contact-area. The model is able to explain the experimental results well. In addition, the adequacy of the model was verified qualitatively by computer simulation. Based on the model, a high power BSIT module with high current gains has been developed.
NAVIGATING AN ERA OF CONVERGENCE: COMPETITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF ALLIANCE EXPERIENCE AND ATTENTION FOCUS

Industry Convergence is impacting multi-billion dollar markets including at least 50% of top 500 firms’ industries in the U.S. Yet, this phenomenon is underdeveloped in both theorizing and operationalization. A limited research on convergence almost exclusively focuses on macro-level structure changes, while we know little about strategic implications of firm-level entrepreneurial actions in this context. Until two or more industries converge, they can be easily differentiated; where they converge, there is neither one nor another but only a new industry. This presents a unique context for advancing the understanding of our theories as well as managerial practices. I structure my dissertation into two essays to explore two sets of firm-level actions. My first essay examines the sequential relationship between alliance experience and interindustry initial acquisitions. Building on organizational learning and resource dependence theory, this study reveals the condition that firms do not rely on alliance to make subsequent acquisition. In my second essay, I propose that firms need to develop a deep depth of field (i.e. competing with a great number of heterogeneous competitors) in order to sustain performance during an era of convergence. A deep depth of field is analogous to a picture in which the foreground and background are both in focus. Using product market competition among firms in the telecommunications equipment and computer networking industries during the 1991-2003 period, I validate this argument. With the depth of field construct, this study bridges the attention-based view and industry evolution research. I also create two empirical indicators for measuring the extent and the locus of industry convergence.
Synchronicity of Activity Engagement and Travel in Time and Space

This paper reports some main findings of a study that was conducted to understand individuals’ use of time better for travel, in particular on public transport. Based on methodological considerations, field observations were used to collect the relevant information. Results of various multivariate analyses indicate that time allocation to various activities, including sleeping, while traveling on public transport (specifically, San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transport System in California) primarily depends on sociodemographics such as gender, age, travel party, and race. However, results also indicate effects of contextual variables such as travel duration and time of day, which are particularly relevant for discriminating between different segments of activities while traveling. It is argued that a better understanding of time allocation during travel and the related concept of multitasking is crucial for better estimates of the value of time savings. These enhanced understandings should contribute to several discussions on time use in society and ultimately be used to develop dynamic activity-based travel demand models.
ANALISIS EFISIENSI EKONOMI FAKTOR-FAKTOR PRODUKSI USAHATANI PADI SAWAH DI KABUPATEN KARANGANYAR (ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF RICE FARMING PRODUCTION FACTORS IN KARANGANYAR REGENCY)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor produksi yang berpengaruh terhadap usahatani padi sawah, menganalisis alokasi penggunaan faktor produksi dalam memenuhi syarat efisiensi ekonomi dan menganalisis skala usahatani padi sawah di Kabupaten Karanganyar. Penelitian dilakukan menggunakan metode survey . Lokasi penelitian pada tingkat kecamatan dilakukan dengan memilih 3 (tiga) kecamatan yang merupakan sentra produksi padi dengan luas lahan panen terbesar secara sengaja ( purposive ) dari seluruh kecamatan yang ada di Kabupaten Karanganyar. Dari tiga kecamatan terpilih, dipilih 3 (tiga) desa dengan luas lahan terbesar secara sengaja ( purposive ). Selanjutnya pengambilan responden dilakukan dengan metode quota sampling per kecamatan dengan jumlah responden 240 petani. Alat analisis yang digunakan adalah regresi berganda dengan fungsi produksi Cobb-Douglas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa faktor produksi yang berpengaruh nyata terhadap produksi padi sawah di Kabupaten Karanganyar adalah luas lahan, tenaga kerja, benih dan pupuk urea. Petani padi sawah dalam mengkombinasikan faktor produksi luas lahan belum mencapai efisiensi ekonomi, penggunaan faktor produksi tenaga kerja dan benih tidak efisien, sedangkan faktor produksiÂ pupuk urea sudah mencapai efisiensi ekonomi tertinggi. Nilai elastisitas produksi (RTS) adalah 1,055. Ini berarti bahwa secara umum usahatani padi sawah di Kabupaten Karanganyar masih bisa beroperasi dengan skala usaha yang meningkat ( Increasing Return to Scale). Kata Kunci : efisiensi, produksi padi, faktor produksi