Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Níveis de estresse e engagement laboral dos Assistentes Sociais em Portugal

Levels of stress and engagement work of Social Workers in Portugal. This article intended to know stress and engagement work levels that social workers in Portugal were exposed to. A survey was answered by 1369 professionals. Perceived Stress Scale and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale were used in the construction of the questionnaire. The results point to a median level of work stress and engagement, which may be a sign of satisfactory levels of well-being. We also found that as perceived stress increases the engagement of these professionals decrease. Significant connections between these variables and the earned salary emerged.
Engine Performance and Emissions Analysis in a Cold, Intermediate and Hot Start Diesel Engine

Presented in this paper is an in-depth analysis of the impact of engine start during various stages of engine warm up (cold, intermediate, and hot start stages) on the performance and emissions of a heavy-duty diesel engine. The experiments were performed at constant engine speeds of 1500 and 2000 rpm on a custom designed drive cycle. The intermediate start stage was found to be longer than the cold start stage. The oil warm up lagged the coolant warm up by approximately 10 °C. During the cold start stage, as the coolant temperature increased from ~25 to 60 °C, the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) decreased by approximately 2% to 10%. In the intermediate start stage, as the coolant temperature reached 70 °C and the injection retarded, the indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) and the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) decreased by approximately 2% to 3%, while the friction mean effective pressure (FMEP) decreased by approximately 60%. In this stage, the NOx emissions decreased by approximately 25% to 45%, while the HC emissions increased by approximately 12% to 18%. The normalised FMEP showed that higher energy losses at lower loads were most likely contributing to the heating of the lubricating oil.
An Objective Technology-based Assessment of Arm and Hand Sensorimotor Disability in Neurological Disorders

Background Detailed assessments of upper limb disability are essential to understand and monitor sensorimotor recovery. Usually, multiple timeconsuming assessments are required to define a holistic sensorimotor profile of proximal (shoulder-elbow) and distal (wrist-hand) impairments and their impact on the capacity to perform activities. We propose and evaluate a novel physiologically-motivated computational framework for objectively assessing sensorimotor profiles in neurological patients using a single, rapid technology-based assessment involving goal-directed arm and hand movements. Methods The Virtual Peg Insertion Test (VPIT) was administered to 121 healthy and 80 neurological subjects. The framework provides 25 kinematic and kinetic metrics expected to describe 12 sensorimotor components representative of ataxia and paresis and their influence on task performance, as well as one overall disability measure. The feasibility (protocol duration), structural validity (factor analysis and correlations ρ between sensorimotor components), concurrent validity (correlation with Action Research Arm Test; ARAT), and discriminant validity (comparing healthy controls and patients, and patients with different disability levels) were evaluated. Results The median VPIT protocol duration was 16.5min in neurological patients. The sensor-based metrics could unambiguously be grouped into 12 mostly independent (median |ρ|=0.14) components. Ten components showed significant differences between healthy and impaired subjects and nine components indicated clear trends across disability levels, without any ceiling effects. The VPIT overall disability measure and ARAT were moderately correlated (ρ=−0.53, p<0.001). Conclusions This work demonstrates the possibility to rapidly, holistically, and objectively assess proximal and distal sensorimotor impairments and their influence on the capacity to perform activities with a single assessment.
Evaluation of Prophylactic and Therapeutic Effects of Silymarin on Phenobar- bital-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Cats

BACKGROUND: Phenobarbital is one of the most commonly used drugs to treat epilepsy and other seizure disorders in dogs and cats. Hepatotoxicity following phenobarbital administration is dose-dependent. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the protective action of silymarin on phenobarbital-in- duced hepatotoxicity in cats. METHODS: For this purpose, twenty-four healthy adult cats were randomly allotted to four equal groups. Cats in group A were given phenobarbital with dosage 16 mg/kg orally for 28 days; group B received silymarin (30 mg/kg/day for twenty-eight days) orally concurrent with phenobarbital; groups C and D were treated like group B, but silymarin was administered 3 and 48 h after administration of phenobarbital, respectively, and continued up to twenty-eight days. The serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate amino- transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, total and direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were measured before administration of phenobarbital and after 24 h, 72 h and 28 days. RESULTS:Phenobarbital elevated significantly serum concentrations of liver enzymes (in all cases), and total and direct bilirubin in two cats of group A, after 24 h (P 0.05), while in group D, levels of serum enzyme activities (in 4 cases) were higher than the normal values (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that silymarin can protect liver tissue against oxidative stress in cats with phenobarbital intoxication especially in the first 3 h post-exposure.
SCREENING OF SUGARCANE CULTIVARS AGAINST COLLETOTRICHUM FALCATUM CAUSING RED ROT DISEASE AND ITS CONTROL WITH DIFFERENT FUNGICIDES UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Ten sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.) cultivars were screened against red rot disease caused by Colletotrichum falcatum under laboratory conditions by artificial inoculation technique. These cultivars were graded under various levels of resistance as well as susceptibility using a standard disease rating scale. Two cultivars i.e. NSG-59 and SPF-244 showed resistant reaction to red rot of sugarcane. Three cultivars i.e. CPF-246, CPF-247 and BF-138 showed moderately resistant (MR) reaction against red rot. Remaining five cultivars showed moderate, susceptible to highly susceptible reaction. The results of in vitro evaluation of seven fungicides at four concentrations (10 ppm, 15 ppm, 20 ppm and 25 ppm) showed that all tested fungicides with all concentrations significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogen as compared with control. However, the inhibition percentage was increased by increasing the concentrations of tested fungicides. Among fungicides Tilt proved the most effective fungicide by inhibiting linear mycelial growth at all concentrations against of C. falcatum followed Nativo while Metaxyl&Mencozeb was the least effective in terms of retarding fungal growth. The findings of the present study suggested that resistant cultivars may be utilized as a source of resistance and may be more useful as donors in breeding programme aimed at red rot disease resistance and the growth of the pathogen is effected by different concentrations of fungicides may play an important role to manage this disease.
Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator‐mediated food web dynamics

1 Assessing the effectiveness of conservation actions to halt population declines is challenging when confounded by other factors. We assessed whether culling of red fox, a predator currently increasing in number in the sub-Arctic, contributed to recent recovery of the critically endangered Fennoscandian population of Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus , while controlling for potentially confounding food web dynamics. 2 Using 19 years of data, 10 before and 9 after the implementation of annual red fox culling, we estimated the effect of this action on annual performance of the goose population. We corrected for the potentially confounding effects of cyclic rodent dynamics and semi-domestic reindeer carrion abundance, both of which are expected to trigger predator functional and numerical responses, as well as for annual variation in spring phenology. 3 Goose reproductive success fluctuated in synchrony with the rodent cycle and was negatively related to abundant carrion. When accounting for these aspects of food
Rural-urban disparities in Oral Health-related Quality of Life for middle-aged and older adults with diabetes in Taiwan

Background Public health faces a significant challenge in reducing rural–urban disparities in diabetes. Since dietary control is part of the medical regimen for diabetes management, how diabetic patients perceive the impact of oral health on their quality of life is critical. The present study aimed to compare the Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) between rural and urban diabetic patients. Methods The study design was cross-sectional. The study sample included 831 self-reported diabetic patients, extracted from the first wave of the new-cohort Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging survey (NC_TLSA) that comprised a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults aged 50 and above in Taiwan. The composite score generated from the Oral Health Impact Profile-7 (OHIP-7), which has seven questions, was used to construct two OHRQoL measures, the severity of perceived poor OHRQoL and the prevalence of poor OHRQoL. These two OHRQoL measures were treated as dichotomous variables. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied for analysis. Results Rural diabetic patients had a higher likelihood of experiencing the severity of perceived poor OHRQoL than those in urban areas (OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.30–4.40). Although rural diabetic patients also had a higher prevalence of poor OHRQoL than urban diabetic patients, the difference was not significant (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 0.95–2.28). Social determinants, such as education, are essential factors attributed to both OHRQoL measures. Conclusion Overall, rural diabetes community-dwelling patients had a poorer OHRQoL than those in urban areas. Given a bidirectional relationship between oral health and diabetes, improving oral health in rural areas may be a critical avenue to improve the quality of diabetes care in rural areas.
Stomoxys calcitrans: feno de alfafa como substrato larval e atividade adulticida do óleo de Melaleuca alternifolia com alto teor de 1,8-cineole

Stomoxys calcitrans: USE OF ALFALFA HAY AS A LARVAL SUBSTRATE FOR REARING IN LABORATORY AND ADULTICIDAL ACTIVITY OF Melaleuca alternifolia ESSENTIAL OIL WITH HIGH 1,8-CINEOLE AUTHOR: Janaína Brand Dillmann ADVISOR: Silvia Gonzalez Monteiro Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus, 1758), know as stable fly, belonging to Muscidae family, genus Stomoxys, is a hematophagous dipteran responsible for causing performance and productive losses in horses and cattle, as well as causing health impacts through the dissemination of pathogenic microorganisms. Currently, the control of this fly make use of synthetic insecticides, sanitary management, biological control and traps, but none of these methods alone is effective. The frequent outbreaks in Brazil, related mainly to the expansion of sugarcane plants, demonstrate the need to seek alternatives to conventional control and a promising option are the essential oils, which have been widely studied in relation to their insecticidal activities. The first study aimed at the effects of alfalfa hay as a substrate for the development and survival of larval stages up to adult stage of the stable fly, in order to maintain colonies in laboratory and further conduct bioassays for the control of this insect. For this, 65 eggs were collected from a colony established in laboratory and placed on a larval substrate containing alfalfa hay (100g) and distilled water (200ml), replicated six times. The mean number of days for egg hatching was 1.4 (± 0.5), the larval period was 11.33 days (± 1.75) and the pupal period was 5.83 days (± 0.51). The complete cycle from egg to adult was 18.66 days (± 2.06). The mean larval viability was 91.03% (± 3.14), pupation 88.71% (± 3.17) and the percentage of emergence (pupae to adults) was 91.13% (± 3.0). The results obtained in the present work indicated that the use of larval substrate with alfalfa hay allowed the development of immature stages of S. calcitrans in laboratory, demonstrating good percentages of larval development, pupation and emergence of adults. The second study aimed to investigate the insecticidal activity of the oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, with a high content of 1,8cineole, to the S. calcitrans specie. By the method of impregnated paper, it was possible to observe that the treatments of 25 and 50 μg/cm (p> 0.05) showed fumigant action. The mortality rate in relation to the time of exposure to oil after treatments was better compared to Diazinon between treatments of 25 and 50 μg/cm (96.6 ± 3.3% and 100 %, respectively) in the first 15 minutes. In superficial application test, the only treatment that demonstrated adulticidal action was 5% (p> 0.05). The lethal concentration, LC50 (%; w/v) was 1.06 ± 0.02 and 3.82 ± 0.65 for the impregnated paper and surface application methods, respectively. Thus, M. alternifolia essential oil has a potential for adulticidal action against S. calcitrans.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IMPACT AND INCIDENCE OF PARASITISM OF PSYLLAEPHAGUS BLITEUS RIEK (HYMENOPTERA ENCYRTIDAE) ON POPULATIONS OF GLYCASPIS BRIMBLECOMBEI MOORE (HEMIPTERA APHALARIDAE) IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATIC AREAS

The red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombeiMoore (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae), is an Australian native sap-sucking insect pest of eucalypts that has been first reported for the West Palaearctic Region in 2008 and, in 2010, it hasbeen found also in Italy. Subsequently its primary parasitoid, Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae),was also detected within the main European and North African infested areas, where no release of the parasitoid was everperformed. This study, carried out in 30 Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantations located along the coast, on the hills andthe mountains in Mediterranean climatic areas of Sicily (Italy), aimed to determine the influence of environmentalparameters on the incidence of both, the psyllid infestation level and the parasitization activity. P. bliteusreached high-est average levels in summer samplings and resulted widespread in Sicily at all detected altitudes without statisticallysignificant differences. P. bliteus parasitization is the main factor lowering G. brimblecombei infestation; this result,together with the accidental and contemporaneous arrival of the host and its parasitoid, could explain the absence of highdamage level on eucalypts in Sicily. The most significant metric factors positively influencing G. brimblecombei infes-tation are the percentage of daily hours above 80% of relative humidity and the average maximum temperature, obvi-ously related to other, but less significant climatic factors. The altitude affects both infestation and parasitization, but sin-gle sites could explain significantly more, so that the local conditions where the samplings were carried out have to beconsidered as the main responsibles for the variability in the obtained results. In any sampled Sicilian site, from sea levelto 540 m a.s. l. , both the psyllid and its parasitoids show a good adaptation to climatic conditions, confirming that areasfitting for E. camaldulensisgrowth fit also for P. bliteus activity, and proving that Mediterranean climate, differently fromsome inland areas of California, does not obstacle its parasitic activity.
The use of past assessments as a deductive learning tool? Perceptions of students at a South African university

Promoting critical thinking skills in the higher education setting is noted as a key skill required by students. Using a questionnaire approach, this study examined whether first-year students perceived the use of past assessments in preparation for upcoming assessments as a deductive learning tool and used them solely as a study aid and predictor at a South African university, with the focus on the deductive and conductive learnings styles, with specific reference to whether students perceive the past assessments to be used as tools to indicate specifically what will be assessed in terms of historical frequency. The findings suggest that students utilise past assessments as a deductive tool in order to predict future areas that will be assessed, as well as certain characteristics, such as the level of difficulty of question papers. The authors argue that when past assessments are used as a deductive “predictor” of future assessment, this then potentially acts as an inhibitor of developing critical thinking skills. The findings therefore, although acknowledging the value added in terms of higher education students of the revision and practising of past assessments, highlight that assessors in higher education need to be conscious that the use of past assessments as a “predictor” through the repetitive nature of the items being assessed may result in students who are able to pass assessments but who are unable to necessarily demonstrate critical thinking skills as required by module outcomes. The findings of this study therefore present various streams of areas for future research into the better understanding of how past assessments can be used in order to promote critical thinking within higher education modules.
Transdiagnostic association between subjective insomnia and depressive symptoms in major psychiatric disorders

In psychiatric disorders, comorbid depressive symptoms are associated with clinically important issues such as reduced quality of life, a poor prognosis, and increased suicide risk. Previous studies have found a close relationship between insomnia and depressive symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD), and that actively improving insomnia heightens the improvement of depressive symptoms. This study aimed to investigate whether the association between insomnia and depressive symptoms is also found in other psychiatric disorders besides MDD. The subjects were 144 patients with MDD (n = 71), schizophrenia (n = 25), bipolar disorder (n = 22), or anxiety disorders (n = 26). Sleep status was assessed subjectively and objectively using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and sleep electroencephalography (EEG), respectively. Sleep EEG was performed using a portable EEG device. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory. Subjective insomnia, as defined by the AIS, was associated with depressive symptoms in all disorders. Moreover, in schizophrenia, a relation between depressive symptoms and insomnia was also found by objective sleep assessment methods using sleep EEG. Our findings suggest that the association between subjective insomnia and depressive symptoms is a transdiagnostic feature in major psychiatric disorders. Further studies are needed to clarify whether therapeutic interventions for comorbid insomnia can improve depressive symptoms in major psychiatric disorders, similar to MDD.
Influence of Bioregulator Gibberellic Acid on Some Technological Characteristics of Cluster and Berry from Some Seedless Grape Varieties

Solutions of gibberellic acid prepared at three concentration levels including 5, 10 and 20 mg/L, were applied at two seedless grape varieties, Thompson and Belgrade, by spraying, during the three different periods of the vine growing: before blooming, after blooming and before veraison, in order to study their influence on some cultural technological characteristics. Dimension and shape of the cluster and berry, mechanical characteristics of the berries and chemical content of the must (sugar and total acids) has been also investigated. It was noticed that the concentration of gibberellic acid had influence on the technological characteristics of the berries in all grape growing periods tested. The addition of gibberellic acid at concentration of 20 mg/L increased the weight of the cluster and berry, and increased the transportability of the berries belonging to the two seedless varieties.
Optogenetic stimulation of the brainstem dorsal motor nucleus ameliorates acute pancreatitis

Introduction Inflammation is an inherently self-amplifying process, resulting in progressive tissue damage when unresolved. A brake on this positive feedback system is provided by the nervous system which has evolved to detect inflammatory signals and respond by activating anti-inflammatory processes, including the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway mediated by the vagus nerve. Acute pancreatitis, a common and serious condition without effective therapy, develops when acinar cell injury activates intrapancreatic inflammation. Prior study has shown that electrical stimulation of the carotid sheath, which contains the vagus nerve, boosts the endogenous anti-inflammatory response and ameliorates acute pancreatitis, but it remains unknown whether these anti-inflammatory signals originate in the brain. Methods Here, we used optogenetics to selectively activate efferent vagus nerve fibers originating in the brainstem dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMN) and evaluated the effects on caerulein-induced pancreatitis. Results Stimulation of the cholinergic neurons in the DMN significantly attenuates the severity of pancreatitis as indicated by reduced serum amylase, pancreatic cytokines, tissue damage, and edema. Either vagotomy or silencing cholinergic nicotinic receptor signaling by pre-administration of the antagonist mecamylamine abolishes the beneficial effects. Discussion These results provide the first evidence that efferent vagus cholinergic neurons residing in the brainstem DMN can inhibit pancreatic inflammation and implicate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway as a potential therapeutic target for acute pancreatitis.
Epstein Barr virus induces HERV-K and HERV-W expression in pediatrics liver transplant recipients?

BACKGROUND Human endogenous retrovirus (HER Vs) constitute approximately 8% of the human genome. Induction of HER V transcription is possible under certain circumstances, and may have a possible role in some pathological conditions. Aim of the present study was to verify whether HER V-W and K activation by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) might occur also in vivo, during EBV infection, in pediatric liver transplant recipients. METHODS A total of 35 pediatric liver transplant (LT) patients who received LT at the University Hospital City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital were included. The samples were grouped in EBV negative and positive. RESULTS We found that HER V-K, and HER V-W expression levels showed no differences between the two groups (P=0.533 HERV-W and P=0.6017 HERV-K). There was not was a significant difference P=0.1894 and 0.1705 for HERV-W and -K respectively when we compared transplant recipients' group with high EBV viral load vs. others transplant recipients. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that EBV does not facilitate in-vivo HERV activation.