Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Petrology and ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar Geochronology of the Lawsonite-Bearing Blueschist and Eclogite from the Qingshuigou Blueschist Belt in North Qilian Mountains in NW China and Their Tectonic Implication

This study reports the discovery of lawsonite, which was for the first time identified in the Qingshuigou high-grade blueschist belt in the North Qilian Mountains and was also discovered in accompanying eclogite. It occurs as enclaves in quartz grains. There are no euhedra crystals observed, with size ranging from 9.5 to 4 μm. Using internally consistent mineral thermodynamic detabase of Holland and Powell (1998), and Domino/Theriak calculation software by de Capitani and Brown (1987), we calculated metamorphic p-T conditions of the HP/LT metamorphic belt: 2.24~2.39 GPa and 495~519℃ for the lawsonite-bearing eclogite in Qingshuigou; 1.35~2.15 GPa and 530~600℃ for the epidote blueschistin Baijingsi; 2.20~2.35 GPa and 520~545℃ for the epidote blueschist in Qingshuigou; 1.92~2.08 GPa and T=544~576℃ for the lawsonite-bearing blueschist in Arou coal mine. Results show that the Qingshuigou high-degree blueschist experienced metamorphic transformation from lawsonite blueschist to epodite blueschist, and has the similar p-T condition to that of lawsonite-bearing eclogite, indicating that they were the product of high temperature and low pressure metamorphism triggered by the northward subduction of the ancient Qilian Mountain Ocean. The high quality laser 40Ar/39Ar dating of the epidote blueschist yields the metamorphic ages of 447±1.7~447±5 Ma and 453±2~454±2 Ma. The age of 392±12~400±3 Ma can be interpreted as retrograde metamorphism age for low temperature eclogite. Combined with the lithological, geochemical and isotopic data above, Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution process of North Qilian orogeny was further discussed.
The Imperative to Shift Armenia’s Peripherality: Contradictions of Institutionalisation and Functioning in Conditions of Democratic Transition

This article offers a discussion about the possibility for Armenia’s democratisation, and shift of its peripherality. The intention is to develop a thinking around the opportunities towards creating an environment in which a democratic transformation may be possible. The article uses the centre-periphery model and a decentring research agenda to build on the argument and a possibility for the shift of Armenia’s peripherality by means of its civil society. The article argues that if the former practices have failed the country today, it may be relevant to consider the shifting of former practices, which may as well result in shifting country’s peripherality. In this context, the process of democratisation of modern Armenia, which is conditioned by a number of factors, presupposing, first of all, the active participation of its civil society, is analysed. This article concentrates on the analysis of one of the necessary conditions for democracy and democratic transition, namely country’s local agency, the civil society. The article is prepared based on the premise that public policies shall follow opinion and expertise of country’s local agency.
Exploring Drug Shortages in the United Kingdom

Drugs can become short in supply for many reasons including increased demand and reduced production. Drug shortages have the potential to impact patients and pharmacists. This study aimed to highlight the challenges pharmacists face and the constraints of how they manage drug shortages. An online survey was designed with its link distributed electronically to community pharmacists in the UK with the assistance of pharmacy organizations during the period from September to December 2021. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. A total of 83% of the respondents (n= 100) were experiencing drug shortages three or more times per week, and more than 70% of these spent 1–3 h per week dealing with them. A total of 93% of the respondents indicated that the issue of drug shortages was a problem for them, and 61% reported that it has worsened since the start of the pandemic. In addition, 65% of the respondents believed that drug shortages had had an impact on patient care. Drug shortages were shown to impact on the pharmacists’ workloads with a potential to affect the quality of patient care. There was a variation between how pharmacists dealt with drug shortages, which needs to be explored further with the reasons behind it.
Review on Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Aquaculture: Life Cycle, Growth, Aquaculture Practices and Challenges

Over the years, the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), a prominent species in Mediterranean aquaculture with an increasing production volume and aquafarming technologies, has become an important research focus. The accumulation of knowledge via several studies during the past decades on their functional and biological characteristics has significantly improved the aquacultural aspects, namely their reproductive success, survival, and growth. Despite the remarkable progress in the aquaculture industry, hatchery conditions are still far from ideal, resulting in frequent challenges at the beginning of intensive culture, entailing significant economic losses. Given its increasing importance and the persistent challenges faced in its aquacultural practices, a thorough review is essential to consolidate knowledge, and elucidate the intricate facets concerning its distribution, life cycle, growth dynamics, genetics, aquaculture methodologies, economic dimensions, and the challenges inherent to its cultivation.
Visual discomfort in stereoscopic displays: a review

Visual discomfort has been the subject of considerable research in relation to stereoscopic and autostereoscopic displays, but remains an ambiguous concept used to denote a variety of subjective symptoms potentially related to different underlying processes. In this paper we clarify the importance of various causes and aspects of visual comfort. Classical causative factors such as excessive binocular parallax and accommodation-convergence conflict appear to be of minor importance when disparity values do not surpass one degree limit of visual angle, which still provides sufficient range to allow for satisfactory depth perception in consumer applications, such as stereoscopic television. Visual discomfort, however, may still occur within this limit and we believe the following factors to be the most pertinent in contributing to this: (1) excessive demand of accommodation-convergence linkage, e.g., by fast motion in depth, viewed at short distances, (2) 3D artefacts resulting from insufficient depth information in the incoming data signal yielding spatial and temporal inconsistencies, and (3) unnatural amounts of blur. In order to adequately characterize and understand visual discomfort, multiple types of measurements, both objective and subjective, are needed.
An Interesting Case of Refractory Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in the First Trimester of a Twin Pregnancy

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare pregnancy complication characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and consumption thrombocytopenia. We herein describe the case report of a 32-year-old woman who was six weeks pregnant with twins and developed thrombotic thrombocytic purpura (TTP). The patient had a history of sickle cell trait, migraines, and preeclampsia. She presented with complaints of nausea, fatigue, sore throat, and cough and was found to be anemic with a hemoglobin of 7 g/dl and thrombocytopenic with a platelet count of 8 x 103/μL. The patient was promptly initiated on steroids and plasmapheresis with an excellent initial response. However, after three days, she developed a sudden onset headache and shortness of breath, and repeat labs showed worsening anemia (7.3 g/dl) and thrombocytopenia (8 x 103/μL). ADAMTS13 activity was significantly low at 2%. Plasmapheresis was continued, and caplacizumab and rituximab treatment was initiated. The fetal ultrasound showed no cardiac activity in the fetal poles, and the patient had a dilation and curettage (D&C) for a missed abortion. She was discharged with a prednisone taper, daily caplacizumab, and weekly rituximab. This case report underscores the criticality of the prompt identification of TTP in its early stages, and appropriate management strategies for patients with refractory TTP (rTTP), including plasmapheresis, caplacizumab, and rituximab.
MONITORING OF COVER AND WATERSHED PERFORMANCE FOR SOIL COVERS PLACED OVER SALINE-SODIC SHALE OVERBURDEN FROM OILSANDS MINING 1

The mining of oilsands near Fort McMurray, Alberta involves the stripping of saline-sodic overburden to access the underlying oilsands. The overburden is placed in mined out pits or in piles on the surface and reclaimed by means of soil covers, which must provide a sufficient rooting zone for vegetation establishment while minimizing percolation into the shale to prevent the occurrence of slope instability and salinization. A multi-year study was initiated in 1999 to observe the performance of three 1-ha peat over till layered soil covers and a 5-year-old single layer (peat/mineral mix) cover. This paper will outline the extensive instrumentation program and will present a preliminary water balance for the observed areas.
New Research on the Bacillus anthracis Genetic Diversity in Siberia

Anthrax is a particularly dangerous infection of humans and ungulates caused by the Gram-positive spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The highly monomorphic and clonal species B. anthracis is commonly divided into three main lineages, A, B, and C, which in turn are divided into several canSNP groups. We report here a phylogenetic analysis based on the whole-genome sequence (WGS) data of fifteen strains isolated predominantly in Siberia or Central and Southern Russia. We confirm the wide distribution of the cluster of strains of the B.Br. 001/002 group, endemic to the Russian Arctic, which is also present in the steppe zone of Southern Siberia. We characterize additional branches within the major A.Br. 001/002 polytomy comprising the A.Br. Ames and A.Br. Sterne lineages, one of which is identified in the Arctic.
‘It Looks Weird to Me.’: Attitudes Towards Standard Usage and Variant Use in Present-Day English

A growing body of research examines attitudes towards English varieties from an impressionistic perspective, but relatively few studies investigate attitudes towards specific standard and variant grammatical features. This study explores the language attitudes of Thai university students and teachers towards standard grammar and its variation in present-day English. The study adopted an online questionnaire which consisted of 15 pairs of sentences, with each pair containing two corresponding grammatical forms: standard and variant. Respondents chose standard and/or variant forms and provided reasons for their grammar choices. The responses and reasons were analysed using statistical and content analysis methods respectively. The analyses of acceptability responses by 182 students and 182 teachers revealed that the students were inclined to choose variant forms while the teachers were favourably disposed to both standard and variant forms. With respect to reasoning, both groups of the respondents overwhelmingly cited standard grammar rules to justify their preferences. However, they were significantly different in that while the teachers described the variations in grammatical forms, the students employed analogies with similar grammatical patterns. The overall results indicate that the respondents remain influenced by the standard language ideology. The results also suggest that the teachers tend to use their norm-providing roles to regulate standard forms while the students generalise rules of thumb to simplify and regularise prescriptive irregular usages. This article argues that grammar learning and teaching should address language variation and variant linguistic forms from a descriptive perspective.
Community Conditions as Factors of Health, Economic Outlook, and Mobility: Survey Data and Aboriginal People in Manitoba

On January 27, 2009, Canada’s Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, stood up in the House of Commons to give his budget speech to the nation. Included was a commitment that, over the following two years, the federal government would “make major, new investments in Aboriginal communities, to build and renovate schools and health services facilities, to improve wastewater treatment, and to provide safe drinking water. ” The response by the then National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, was quick yet positive: “Today’s federal budget provides a fair and helpful response in terms of First Nations infrastructure because we need to build houses and schools. ” However, he qualified this by raising concerns about poverty and the future of young Aboriginal people. This paper focuses on many of these community conditions and how they connect to the well-being of Aboriginal people in Manitoba in terms of personal health, family finances, and economic outlook. Furthermore, it provides an assessment of how specific community conditions might be linked to mobility among Aboriginal people.
Modeling Plasmonics and Electronics in Semiconducting Graphene Nanostrips

In recent decades, both academia and industry have shown noteworthy interest in investigating the semiconducting properties of graphene. Nevertheless, the lack of a suitable bandgap in graphene has restricted its practical applications in the current semiconductor industry. To overcome this limitation, graphene micro/nano-strips have been actively explored. The focus of the present study centers on modeling the electronic and plasmonic characteristics of graphene strips with varying widths: 2.7, 100, 135 nm, and 4 m. This analysis is conducted at ultralow energies (0.3 eV, or ~73 THz). We employ conventional density functional computations to estimate the Fermi velocity of graphene, refining the results via the GW approximation. Utilizing the accurate Fermi velocity, we employ a semi-analytical model to explore the ground state and plasmon properties (frequency and dispersion) of these graphene strips. Notably, this approach effectively replicates the density of states observed in narrow experimental graphene nano-strips (2.7 nm) grown on Ge(001) and, similarly, reproduces the plasmon spectrum found in synthesized graphene microstrips (4 μm) on Si/SiO2. Interestingly, our study also offers insights into the potential application of this approach in comprehending the plasmon frequency and plasmon dispersion of graphene nano-strips (~135 nm) acquired through liquid-phase exfoliation. The outcomes of this investigation present compelling evidence that the properties of graphene-based strips can be customized to fulfill specific requirements and applications. These findings hold significant promise for advancing graphene-based technologies, bridging the gap between fundamental research and tangible applications. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-05-01 Full Text: PDF
Valoración económica de los beneficios ambientales de no mercado derivados de la mejora de la calidad del agua: una estimación en aplicación de la Directiva Marco del Agua al Guadalquivir

This study contributes to the economic assessment of the benefits derived from the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). A practical definition of environmental benefits and a valuation scenario of the non-market benefits of water quality improvement is proposed. This economic assessment is needed to asses whether the WFD is disproportionately costly. The contingent valuation method is applied to the Guadalquivir River Basin (Southern Spain), using a two-stage Heckman estimation model.
A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY CONDUCTED FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG THE ADOLESCENT SCHOOL GIRLS OF MEHSANA CITY

Objectives: The ojective is to study menstrual patterns. To study the prevalence of pre-menstrual symptoms among high school girls. Methods: It is a cross-sectional, observational, and prospective study. A total of 384 adolescent girls were randomly enrolled in the study as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Girls were belonging to higher secondary standards. Confidentiality was assured, and written informed consent was obtained. A data collection form was formed to conduct the survey. Ethical approval was obtained. The data were analyzed in MS Excel 2019. A descriptive analysis was done. Results: A total of 384 high school girls with an age of 15.65±1.16 years were enrolled in the study. The calculated mean body mass index (BMI) was 18.82±2.93. 40.4% had an underweight BMI. The majority of the adolescent girls had regular menstrual cycles, and a few had irregular menstrual cycles every month. More than half (60.41%) did not know about premenstrual syndrome. Physical premenstrual symptoms were a downward dragging sensation (58.78%), lower back pain (55.53%), acne flare-ups (44.63%), diffuse headaches (37.72%), and painful periods (33.88%). Psychological symptoms in hierarchy are anger or irritability (52.16%), less interest in usual activities (44.03%), pelvic cramping (45%), cravings for sweets (42.88%), and mood swings (41.53%). Conclusion: The prevalence of premenstrual symptoms was higher for physical and psychological symptoms. Physical symptoms can affect routine activities, and psychological symptoms affect girls’ behavior and mental status.
Hybrid 3D-Printed and Electrospun Scaffolds Loaded with Dexamethasone for Soft Tissue Applications

Background: To make the regenerative process more effective and efficient, tissue engineering (TE) strategies have been implemented. Three-dimensional scaffolds (electrospun or 3D-printed), due to their suitable designed architecture, offer the proper location of the position of cells, as well as cell adhesion and the deposition of the extracellular matrix. Moreover, the possibility to guarantee a concomitant release of drugs can promote tissue regeneration. Methods: A PLA/PCL copolymer was used for the manufacturing of electrospun and hybrid scaffolds (composed of a 3D-printed support coated with electrospun fibers). Dexamethasone was loaded as an anti-inflammatory drug into the electrospun fibers, and the drug release kinetics and scaffold biological behavior were evaluated. Results: The encapsulation efficiency (EE%) was higher than 80%. DXM embedding into the electrospun fibers resulted in a slowed drug release rate, and a slower release was seen in the hybrid scaffolds. The fibers maintained their nanometric dimensions (less than 800 nm) even after deposition on the 3D-printed supports. Cell adhesion and proliferation was favored in the DXM-loading hybrid scaffolds. Conclusions: The hybrid scaffolds that were developed in this study can be optimized as a versatile platform for soft tissue regeneration.
Determinants of quality of life among people with HIV and tuberculosis in an underserved area in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

Introduction human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) remain global health problems and impose a substantial reduction in people´s quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess and compare the QoL in HIV and TB patients and factors associated with QoL between those groups. Methods a cross-sectional study was conducted at a hospital clinic in Jayapura, Indonesia, between December 2022 and March 2023. Those who were aged above 18 years, diagnosed with HIV or TB infection, have been taking HIV or TB medications for at least 3 months, and provided informed consent were eligible to participate. Patients´ QoL was measured using the Bahasa Indonesia version of a validated 26-item World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Results a total of 365 patients with HIV and 125 with TB were included. The majority of participants were Papuan (75.9%) and aged 20 - 65 years (92.9%). More than half of the participants were female (56.5%), employed (50.8%), married (65.5%), and had family support (64.9%). Education level and social support were predictors of poor physical health in the HIV group, while ethnicity was a predictor in the TB group. Patients´ age was associated with poor psychological health in HIV, whereas sex was the associated factor in TB patients. Ethnicity was the only predictor of poor social relationships in those with TB. Whereas patients´ age was a predictor of poor environmental health in the HIV group, marital status, and education were predictors in the TB group. Finally, only social support was associated with poor general QoL in TB patients. Conclusion tuberculosis (TB) patients had poorer QoL than those with HIV. There is a need for more awareness to support those receiving TB treatment. In addition, further research is needed to understand in more detail the determinants of patients with drug-resistant TB, TB with HIV, and drug-resistant TB-HIV, to ensure that interventions are designed to help them.
Specific immune responses after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination and COVID-19 infection

Although vaccines against COVID-19 are effective tools in preventing severe disease, recent studies have shown enhanced protection after vaccine boosters. The aim of our study was to examine the dynamics and duration of both humoral and cellular immune responses following a three-dose regimen of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. In a longitudinal prospective study we enrolled 86 adults who received the BNT162b2 vaccine, 35 unvaccinated individuals with a history of mild COVID-19 and a control group of 30 healthy SARS-CoV-2 seronegative persons. We assessed the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses and IgG production up to 12 months post the third BNT162b2 dose in 24 subjects. The vaccinated group had significantly higher IgG antibody levels after two doses compared to the convalescent group (p<0.001). After the third dose, IgG levels surged beyond those detected after the second dose (p<0.001). Notably, these elevated IgG levels were maintained 12 months post the third dose. After two doses, specific T cell responses were detected in 87.5% of the vaccinated group. Additionally, there was a significant decrease before the third dose. However, post the third dose, specific T cell responses surged and remained stable up to the 12-month period. Our findings indicate that the BNT162b2 vaccine induces potent and enduring humoral and cellular responses, which are notably enhanced by the third dose and remain persistant without a significant decline a year after the booster. Further research is essential to understand the potential need for subsequent boosters.