Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validating Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) in a Bangladeshi Population: Using Classical Test Theory and Rasch Analysis

The COVID-19 outbreak is associated with sleep problems and mental health issues among individuals. Therefore, there is a need to assess sleep efficiency during this tough period. Unfortunately, the commonly used instrument on insomnia severity—the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)—has never been translated and validated among Bangladeshis. Additionally, the ISI has never been validated during a major protracted disaster (such as the COVID-19 outbreak) when individuals encounter mental health problems. The present study aimed to translate the ISI into Bangla language (ISI-Bangla) and validate its psychometric properties. First, the linguistic validity of the ISI-Bangla was established. Then, 9790 Bangladeshis (mean age = 26.7 years; SD = 8.5; 5489 [56.1%] males) completed the Bangla versions of the following questionnaires: ISI, Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). All the participants also answered an item on suicidal ideation. Classical test theory and Rasch analyses were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the ISI-Bangla. Both classical test theory and Rasch analyses support a one-factor structure for the ISI-Bangla. Moreover, no substantial differential item functioning was observed across different subgroups (gender, depression status (determined using PHQ-9), and suicidal ideation). Additionally, concurrent validity of the ISI-Bangla was supported by significant and moderate correlations with FCV-19S and PHQ-9; known-group validity was established by the significant difference of the ISI-Bangla scores between participants who experienced suicidal ideation and those without. The present psychometric validation conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak suggests that the ISI-Bangla is a promising and operationally adequate instrument to assess insomnia in Bangladeshis.
Isatin‐3‐acylhydrazones with Enhanced Lipophilicity: Synthesis, Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation and the Influence on Hemostasis System

Water‐soluble trialkylammonium isatin‐3‐hydrazone derivatives bearing phenolic substituent were easily synthesized with high yields. XRD studies confirmed the presence of these compounds as trans‐(Z)‐isomers in a crystal. It was shown that an increase in the lipophilicity of the cationic center leads to an increase in activity against Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, including methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The MIC values of all compounds turned out to be 2–100 times higher than the MIC of norfloxacin against the MRSA strains in the absence of hemo‐ and cytotoxicity. Antiaggregation and anticoagulation properties were in vitro better than for acetylsalicylic acid and sodium heparin drugs. It has been shown by UV spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy that the mechanism of antimicrobial action of new acylhydrazones is associated with their ability to destroy the bacterial cell membrane.
Evaluation of oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients in Hiwa Hospital in Sulaymaniyah city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Background and objective: Oral mucositis is caused by the destruction of the oral mucosal epithelium and suppression of its growth secondary to antineoplastic treatment in the form of chemotherapeutic drugs, substances, or radiotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients because it is one of the common side effects of cancer therapy that influences the outcome. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 100 pediatric patients with both hematological and non-hematological cancer. The age of the patients ranged from 1-18 years, involving both genders. Cases admitted to Hiwa hospital were clinically evaluated for oral mucositis, and ethical permission was taken from parents. Risk factors were assessed, including age, sex, cancer type, type of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, number of cycles, complete blood count, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and tumor necrosis factor-beta. Results: Baseline serum cytokines levels showed significant correlation between Interleukin-6 and intensity of the oral mucositis (P = 0.003, rho = 0.314) and no correlation between severity of oral mucositis with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, tumor necrosis factor-beta nor interleukin-1 beta (P = 0.140 and rho = 0.258, P = 0.463 and rho = -0.079, and P = 0.706 and rho = -0.041, respectively). There was significant relationship between Hemoglobin level, neutropenia and type of non-hematological cancer with the intensity of oral mucositis respectively (P ≤0.001 and rho = -0.352, P = 0.027 and rho = -0.221, and P = 0.035 and rho = 0.095, respectively). Correlation between age, gender, white blood cell count, platelet count, type of hematological malignancy and past history with the intensity of the oral mucositis did not show significant result. Conclusion: Intensity of oral mucositis increased with anemia, neutropenia, high interleukin-6 level, and the type of non-hematological cancer. It is recommended to treat anemic, neutropenic patients as soon as possible before exacerbating the mucositis. Methotrexate is the most aggressive drug alone and in combined chemotherapy agents, which may cause mucositis and needs prophylaxis like topical nystatin suspension or other methods. Keywords: Oral mucositis; Pediatric cancer; Non-hematological; Hematological; Sulaymaniyah.
Similarities and Differences in the Underlying Factors Influencing Male and Female Students of Technical Universities in the Choice of Banks: Evidence from Takoradi Technical University, Ghana

Background: This paper is a follow up to an earlier one on a study that sought to determine the factors that, in general, influence Takoradi Technical University students’ selection of banks, given the keen competition in the banking sector in Ghana. Having found the said factors in the first study, and in the face of evidence of a difference in the factors that influence bank choice elsewhere with respect to sex, the study whose findings is the subject of this paper sought to establish whether there is any such dichotomy amongst Takoradi Technical University students. Objectives: The study sought to 1) determine the factors that influence the selection of banks by males, 2) determine the factors that influence the selection of banks by females, and 3) determine whether there are any differences and similarities between male and female students with respect to the factors that influence bank selection. Methods: Data was obtained from 545 students, comprising 364 male students and 181 female students through a cross-sectional survey and was analysed using the statistical method of factor analysis, having initially established through the chi-square test of independence that bank choice and sex are not independent. Results: Four (4) factors were identified as influencing bank selection amongst the female students as against six (6) in the case of the male students. The factors identified for the female students are Customer Experience, Third Party Influence, E-banking, Strategy, Intelligent Responsiveness, Access to ATMs and Third Party Influence. Conclusion: Male and female students of Takoradi Technical University differ with respect to some of factors that influence bank choice. Even for the factors that are common, the importance female students attach to them is not the same as that of male students. The factors male students consider when making bank choices appear to be more strategic and wide-ranging than the females, with the latter tending to place premium on customer experience more than the former.
Mission Report on The Solar Power Sail Deployment Demonstration of IKAROS

Hirokata Sawada Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, 252-5210, JAPAN Osamu Mori 2 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, 252-5210, JAPAN Nobukatsu Okuizumi Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, 252-5210, JAPAN Yoji Shirasawa University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JAPAN Yasuyuki Miyazaki Nihon University, Chiba, 274-8501, JAPAN Michihiro Natori Waseda University, Tokyo, 169-8555, JAPAN Saburo Matunaga Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8552, JAPAN Hiroshi Furuya Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8552, JAPAN Hiraku Sakamoto Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8552, JAPAN
Virulence Structure of the Wheat Powdery Mildew Population in Serbia

Powdery mildew is a common, economically important disease in the wheat growing area of Serbia. A large-scale virulence survey of its causal agent Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici population was performed in the period 1995–2013. A total of 1013 isolates were recovered from the collected chasmothecial samples. Among them, 862 unique pathotypes were identified using a differential set of 20 wheat lines with known powdery mildew (Pm) resistant genes. The pathogen was highly diverse. Number of virulence genes (virulence complexity) per isolate was large, supporting a constant need to extend the differential set of wheat with newly identified Pm genes. Virulence frequencies to Pm6, Pm7, and Pm5+8 were high throughout the 19-year period, in contrast with that to Pm5+6, which was consistently at a low level. The most significant change in the population was observed for virulence to the Pm2+4b+6 gene combination, with an increasing frequency of virulence to this gene combination over the years. High virulence complexity and genetic diversity of the population are the most influential factors for the damaging epidemics that this pathogen can cause.
Comparison of the Effects of the Choice Theory and Behavioral Activation Therapies with and without Guided Imagery Rescripting on the Adversity Quotient and Cognitive Emotion Regulation of MS Patients in Ahvaz, Iran

Background: Complications of multiple sclerosis (MS) severely impact self-image and have debilitative effects on the adversity quotient. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the choice theory and behavioral activation therapies with and without guided imagery rescripting on the adversity quotient and cognitive emotion regulation of MS patients in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The sample population included the male and female MS patients visiting the Caspian Physiotherapy Center of Ahvaz, Iran in 2019. In total, 60 MS patients were selected via convenience sampling and randomly divided into three experimental groups and one control group (15 per each). Data were collected using the Adversity Response Profile Questionnaire (ARPQ) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Data analysis was performed using the multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: A significant difference was observed between the effects of the choice theory (CT) and behavioral activation (BA) therapies with and without guided imagery rescripting (ImRs) on the improvement of the adversity quotient (AQ) and positive cognitive emotion regulation (CER) of the MS patients, as well as the reduction of negative CER (P < 0.001). Compared to the CT and BA therapies without guided ImRs, the BA therapy with guided ImRs more effectively enhanced the AQ and positive CER of the MS patients and decreased their negative CER (P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to the results, BA with ImRs is a more effective method for enhancing the AQ and positive CER of MS patients and mitigating their negative CER compared to other approaches.
A Review on the Application of Isotopic Techniques to Trace Groundwater Pollution Sources within Developing Countries

Owing to a lack of efficient solid waste management (SWM) systems, groundwater in most developing countries is found to be contaminated and tends to pose significant environmental health risks. This review paper proffers guidelines on the application of isotopic techniques to trace groundwater pollution sources from data spanning from 2010 to 2020 within developing countries. Earlier groundwater studies in those countries were mainly focused on using hydrochemical and geophysical techniques. The limitation of these techniques is that they can only monitor the concentration of pollutants in the water bodies and possible leachate infiltration but cannot determine the specific sources of the pollution. Stable isotopes of δ18O, δ2H and δ13C can confirm leachate migration to water bodies due to methanogenesis. The high tritium in landfill leachates is useful to identify leachate percolation in groundwater. The δ15N technique has been used to distinguish between synthetic and organic nitrogen sources but its application is limited to differentiating between atmospheric vs. inorganic nitrogen sources. The use of a dual isotope of δ15N–NO3− and δ18O–NO3− is beneficial in terms of identifying various sources of nitrogen such as atmospheric and inorganic fertilizers but is yet to be used to differentiate between nitrogen pollution sources from dumpsites, sewage and animal manure. The coupling of the 11B isotope with δ15N–NO3− and δ18O–NO3− and other hydrochemical parameters has proven to be effective in distinguishing between nitrate fertilizer, animal manure, seawater contamination and sewage. Therefore, in areas affected by agricultural activities, landfill leachates, domestic or sewage effluent and seawater intrusion, it is incumbent to couple hydrochemical (Cl−, NO3−, B, DO) and isotope techniques (δ18O, 2H, δ13C, δ18O–NO3−, δ15N–NO3−, δ11B and 3H) to effectively determine pollution sources of groundwater in developing countries. The foregoing review will provide guidelines for studies that may aim to critically distinguish between seawater intrusion, dumpsites, sewage and septic leachates.
Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Bacteria Prevalent during COVID-19 Pandemic

Owing to disparities in the intensity of the breakouts, state and federal regulations, accessible means, cultural elements, and social consciousness, the global reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic has been varied. The COVID-19 pandemic, on the other hand, has had an impact on all parts of society, notably efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The pandemic has highlighted that a greater burden on medical infrastructure can contribute to higher, often unnecessary antibiotic usage and a de-prioritization of antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance (AMS). The focus of this research is to see if there is a growth in antibiotic resistance during the covid-19 pandemic in the King Salman Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to investigate the subcomponent that leads to antibiotic resistance. This is a comprehensive review of patients hospitalized at the King Salman Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic, which occurred between March and August 2020. An analysis of the case dataset was performed to determine the rise in antibiotic resistance and relate it to resistant cases before the pandemic (September 2019 to February 2020). Before and throughout the pandemic, fifteen kinds of bacteria were found, with K. pneumonia being the most prevalent bacteria (49; 30.6%), and Ac. Baum/haem being the most removable bacteria during the pandemic (74; 37.3%). Cephalosporin antibiotics, in notably cefotaxime and ceftazidime (100%), cefazolin (96.3%), ceftriaxone (96%), cefuroxime and ceftazidime (95%), cefotaxime ((94.7%). These antibiotics also had the same amount of resistance during the pandemic. In pre-covid-19 and during covid-19, these findings were congruent with the penicillin antibiotics class, ampicillin, and piperacillin (96.3% and 92.1%), accordingly. It is presently uncertain if COVID-19 patients would develop new or growing antibiotic resistance in locations with low historical prevalence, but this should be investigated in retrospective and future clinical and microbiology research.
Implementing Complementary Approaches to Shape the Mechanism of α-Synuclein Oligomerization as a Model of Amyloid Aggregation

The aggregation of proteins into amyloid fibers is linked to more than forty still incurable cellular and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes, among others. The process of amyloid formation is a main feature of cell degeneration and disease pathogenesis. Despite being methodologically challenging, a complete understanding of the molecular mechanism of aggregation, especially in the early stages, is essential to find new biological targets for innovative therapies. Here, we reviewed selected examples on α-syn showing how complementary approaches, which employ different biophysical techniques and models, can better deal with a comprehensive study of amyloid aggregation. In addition to the monomer aggregation and conformational transition hypothesis, we reported new emerging theories regarding the self-aggregation of α-syn, such as the alpha-helix rich tetramer hypothesis, whose destabilization induce monomer aggregation; and the liquid-liquid phase separation hypothesis, which considers a phase separation of α-syn into liquid droplets as a primary event towards the evolution to aggregates. The final aim of this review is to show how multimodal methodologies provide a complete portrait of α-syn oligomerization and can be successfully extended to other protein aggregation diseases.
Social Media Adoption Intention among Undergraduate Business Schools Students in Kathmandu Valley: A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Approach

Background: Social Media has become a prevalent platform for students to receive information content such as admission notices, holiday notices from business schools. Students are communicating, collaborating, and resource sharing by several social media in the names of support groups. Objective: The purpose of the research paper is to examine social media adoption intention among undergraduate students of business schools in Kathmandu Valley in 2020. Method: The data were collected with the self-administered questionnaires from 200 undergraduate students. Partial Least Square (PLS) - SEM was applied to test the direct and mediated effect of the proposed hypotheses. Result: The results revealed that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, collaboration, resource sharing, communication and intention of social mediation adoption. Perceived ease of use partially mediates the relationship between communications, resource sharing on the intention of social media adoption. Conclusion: The study concludes that undergraduate level students of business schools could intent to social media when they find the social media useful, easy to use, collaborative, communication, and resource sharing among students. Moreover, students could intend to use social media when they perceived ease of social media use over communication, resource sharing for educational purposes. The conclusion could provide information for business schools in creating an atmosphere of collaboration, communication, and resource sharing to increase engagement in social media. Originality: Social media adoption in the Nepali context is a relatively less explored phenomenon. This research established that social media adoption is impacted by collaborative learning, resource sharing, perceived usefulness, and communication.
Foliar Application of Protein Hydrolysates on Baby-Leaf Spinach Grown at Different N Levels

Surpluses of N are associated with environmental and health problems. To optimise N use and reduce nitrate accumulation in leafy species like spinach, the application of biostimulants is suggested. An experiment in controlled conditions (growth chamber/soilless) evaluated baby-spinach responses to two protein hydrolysates (PHs) from plant (legume, Trainer®) and animal (meat, Isabion®) sources, combined with three N rates: 2 (N2, deficient), 8 (N8, sub-optimal), and 14 (N14, optimal) mM of N. Biometrical and morphological traits of shoots and roots as well as the physio-metabolic (gas exchange, N assimilation, and NUtE), physical, mineral, and antioxidant profiles of leaves were assessed. The legume-PH boosts growth and yield only at the highest N conditions, while there was no effect at lower N rates. The legume-PH modulates root architecture and chlorophylls has positive responses only at optimal N availability, such as an increase in N uptake, leaf expansion, and photosynthetic activity at the canopy level. The PHs do not improve NUtE, leaf colour, consistency, cations, or antioxidants. Neither do PHs have any effect on reducing nitrate accumulation. Legume-PH improves N assimilation only at optimal N availability, while meat-PH does not, reaching the highest nitrate value at the highest N rate (2677 mg kg−1 fw), even if this value is under the EC limits for fresh spinach.
Combined foliar-applied L-glutamic acid, nitrogen, and potassium improve plant growth, physio-chemical attributes, minerals, and longevity of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii)

Abstract Foliar application of amino acids and nutrients is an effective practice to improve plant yield in agriculture and horticulture. The hydroponic experiment was carried out to find the changes in physiological attributes, antioxidant enzymes activity, minerals, and flower number and longevity of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) plants under foliar application of L-glutamic acid (GA), potassium (K), and nitrogen (N). Plant fresh weight under 4 and 8 g L−1 GA was higher than other experimental treatments. The main improvement of flower number was related to 5 g L−1 K. Lignification in plants treated with non-GA/N and 5 g L−1 K was higher compared to other experimental treatments. Relative water content (RWC) and total soluble sugar (TSS) in plants sprayed with 8 g L−1 GA and 5 g L−1 N and K were greater than other experiment plans. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased by progressing GA, N, and K application. The highest leaf P was observed in 4 g L−1 GA with no foliar-applied K and N. Leaf N increased with enhancing GA and N, in which its highest amount was found in plants experiencing 8 g L−1, 4 g L−1 N, and 5 g L−1. Besides, the concentration of K increased by advancing the foliar-applied GA, N, and K, particularly K levels. The maximum flower longevity, as an important trait, increased with 8 g L−1, 10 g L−1 N, and 5 g L−1 K. The present study suggests high concentration of GA in combination with high N and medium K to achieve the optimum plant quantity and quality in gerbera. Heat map analysis showed two distinguished clusters by GA and N through an effective role of SOD, TSS, PAL, and CAT in distinguishing the GA-based clusters and TSS, flower number, and P for N-based clusters.
Condition-based maintenance: tools and decision making

The primary objective of equipment maintenance programmes is to preserve system functions in a cost‐effective manner. Surveys a wide variety of techniques commonly used to monitor the condition of mechanical systems. Reviews some of the decision models designed to address this type of inspection problem; concludes with some suggestions for future research directions in this type of decision problem.