Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological Distress In Canadian Men And Women With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Exploring The Differential Role Of Social Support

Background: Individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experience significant levels of psychological distress which is often moderated by social support. PTSD prevalence and symptomology gender differences tend to exist, and this may have important implications for the potential differential impact of social support. Objectives: The primary objectives of this study were to explore levels of psychological distress and social support in a sample of 364 Canadian adults reporting a PTSD diagnosis by a health professional, and to examine the link between specific social support types and psychological distress overall, and for males and females separately. Methods: Using a cross-sectional, national data file, 117 male and 247 female Canadian adults aged 20-64 reporting PTSD were profiled using the Social Provisions Scale – Short Form (SPS-SF), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and compared to a sex, age and frequency matched control group without a PTSD diagnosis. Social support subtype scores were subsequently regressed onto psychological distress.Results: The PTSD sample had psychological distress scores that were more than double that of the matched control group, and were significantly lower in overall social support, and on each subscale. A diagnosis of PTSD was found to moderate the effect of social support on psychological distress, and while higher social integration and income predicted lower distress overall, higher reliable alliance scores, personal income, and lower age predicted lower distress for men, and higher social integration but lower guidance scores predicted lower distress for women.Conclusions: Social support subtypes were differentially associated with psychological distress experienced by those with PTSD depending on gender, and this may have important implications for clinical practice.
Multi-drug resistance and nosocomial infections of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa among patients hospitalized at Felegehiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Background:Multi-drug resistant(MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are major causes of nosocomial infections globally. They are the current World Health Organization critical priority pathogens for resistance and discovery of new antibiotics. However, there is paucity of data on nosocomial infections caused by such superbugs in Ethiopia.Therfore, this study determined the magnitude and profile of nosocomial MDR Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections among patients hospitalized at Felegehiwot referral hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted at Felegehiwot referral hospital from April 1 to July 31, 2018.A total of 238 patients presumptive for blood stream, urinary tract and surgical site nosocomial infections were enrolled using convenient sampling technique.Either blood, urine and wound swab specimens were collected and processed using standard bacteriological procedures.A.baumannii and P.aeruginosa isolates were identified using standard bacteriological techniques and confirmed by automated Vitek2 Compact.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing on isolates was performed using the disk diffusion technique.The results interpreted as per the standard zone sizes of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.Chi-square test was done to determine associations among variables.P.value< 0.05 was considered statistical significant. Results:The median age of participants was 29 years.Overall, 20(8.4%) of patients had nosocomial MDR A.baumannii and P.aeruginosa infections.The proportion of nosocomial MDR blood stream, urinary tract and surgical site infections were 13(8.9%),5(8.3%) and 2(6.3%), respectively. The mean age of patients with nosocomial infection was significantly lower (24.9 years) than their counter parts (29.6years) (P=0.035). All isolates of nosocomial infections were from patients with intravenous catheterization.The frequency of nosocomial MDR A.baumannii infection was 9(3.8%) and for P.aeruginosa nosocomial infections was 11(4.6%). A.baumannii and P.aeruginosa isolates were 100% MDR.MDR A.baumannii isolates were 100% resistant to ampicillin and piperacillin.MDR P.aeruginosa isolates was 100% resistant to ampicillin, piperacillin, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone.On the other hand, A.baumannii isolates showed 36.4% and 44.5% resistance against ciprofloxacin and meropenem while P.aeruginosa isolates revealed 33.3% and 45.5% resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Conclusions:Health care associated MDR A.baumannii and P.aeruginosa infections are critical problems in the study area.Therefore,urgent focused interventions required to contain the spreading of MDR NIs.Treatment of NIs for patients on health care should be guided by antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Beans, cabbage, and sugar beets in a chemically suppressed sod of Manhattan II perennial ryegrass

approved: "^ Garvin Crabtree Crops were planted into tilled strips in an established perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. 'Manhattan II'), sod covering various portions (55%, 66%, 77%) of the row width. Italian beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. 'Romano 11') biomass and yields showed a trend among sod strips with lower yields produced in plots with a greater proportion of the row width covered with sod. Sethoxydim and fluazifop did not suppress grass effectively when 1 cm tall grass was not growing vigorously. In a similar trial with green beans (Phaseolus vulaaris L. 'Oregon 43') there were no yield trends between sod strip width and crop yield. Biomass and pod yields in plots receiving sod suppression treatments were similar to the monoculture check. Sub-lethal rates of the two herbicides applied after grass had grown vigorously for one month suppressed grass effectively. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. 'Market Prize') head yields in sod culture plots were significantly lower than monoculture plots regardless of suppression rate and sod strip width. Mid-September chemical treatments did not suppress grass through the fall and dense sod growth over the winter interfered with sugar beet (Beta vulaaris L. 'Beta') grown as a seed crop. BEANS, CABBAGE, AND SUGAR BEETS IN A CHEMICALLY SUPPRESSED SOD OF MANHATTAN II PERENNIAL RYEGRASS
Model Assessment of Potential Risk Associated with Common Fish Species from Oguta Lake, Nigeria

Fish can bioconcentrate heavy metals which become absorbed into the human body through the food chain. In this study, four fish species from Ogutalake were analysed for metal concentration and data subjected to some chemometric assessment. 1g each of the 4 fish samples were weighed and digested in 5mL of nitric acid. The digested samples were analysed for heavy metals using GBC scientific sensAA dual Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Contamination factors were generally low ( Cf<6). However, contamination factors were significant except for manganese, zinc and copper in all fish samples. The pollution load index are in the order Okpo>Ubu>Ifuru>Egu respectively. Okpo showed highest daily dietary intake amongst all fish species with about 0.826 mg/kg/Bw/day in children, while adults EDI had 0.142 mg/kgBWday-1. Other fishes showed much lower values of EDI in the following order: Egu<Ifuru<Ubu<Okpo. All fish exhibited values lower than the recommended daily intake (12500 mg/kg/day) set by NRC. The mean EDI were in the following order: Zn>Mn>Ni>Cd>Cu. Weak positive correlations were exhibited by Ni/Mn (0.26) and Zn/Cd (0.14) while strong positive correlations were between Cd/Mn (0.81) and Zn/Cu (0.83). Significant negative correlations were exhibited between Ni/Zn (-0.96), Ni/Cu (-0.79) and Cu/Mn (-0.64) respectively. The positive and negative correlations suggest that the metals had similar and dissimilar sources of contamination. The study showed that, consumption of fish from Ogutalake could pose health hazards.
Age- and sex-transcriptome analysis provide evidences for the sex biases in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases

Age and sex were shown to affect the prevalence and the manifestation of many respiratory infectious diseases. These can be attributed to age and sex related alterations in the immune system and in the lung functions. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, epidemiological studies consistently report that age and sex are major risk factors in both morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19. Thus, understanding age and sex dependent gene expression in the lung and in the immune system can provide mechanical evidences with respects to sex related higher risk of elderly to develop severe complications in respiratory infectious diseases. In this context, sex- and age- transcriptome analysis from hundreds of lung and blood samples, revealed significant downregulation of the lung surfactant and blood innate immune genes, that occur predominantly in elderly men. Depletion in lung surfactant leads to enhanced injury of alveolar epithelium and fibrotic destruction, and recruitment of the innate immune system is essential to control infection of new pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, surfactant proteins, which protect the lung from infection, are co-produced with the SARS-CoV-2 host receptor- ACE2, by the AT2 cells. Thus, infection by SARS-CoV-2 is expected to lead to decline in AT2 cells and a loss of surfactant proteins, especially in elderly men.
Numerical Investigation into the Effects of Tip Clearance on the Performance of a Counter-Rotating Axial Flow Compressor

The impact of varying the tip clearance of each rotor on the performance of a counter-rotating axial compressor has been investigated based on numerical simulations. The main purpose was to investigate the sensitivity to the tip clearance of each of the two individual rotors and the corresponding aerodynamic mechanisms associated with the performance variation in this compressor. The results indicated that both the total pressure ratio and the efficiency decreased as the tip clearance was increased, and the sensitivity curve for peak efficiency for both rotors was found to be an approximately linear negative relationship with increasing tip clearance. The variations of peak efficiency and stability margin of Rotor 2 were more sensitive to changing tip clearance than Rotor 1. An optimum combination of tip gaps existed for this compressor, i.e. 0. 5τ for Rotor 1 and 0. 25τ for Rotor 2 (where τ represents the nominal tip clearance value). At this optimum configuration, the peak efficiency and stability margin were improved by 0.63% and 29.4%, respectively. The location of the onset of the tip leakage vortex was found to be shifted downstream when the tip clearance increased. The nature of the tip leakage flow for each rotor was found to be influenced by the variation of tip clearance in the other rotor. Rotor 2 showed a more significant impact on Rotor 1. Additionally, varying the combination of tip clearances changed which of the two rotors was the first to stall.
The Distribution of School Resources in the United States: A Comparative Analysis Across Levels of Governance, Student Subgroups, and Educational Resources

ABSTRACT Levels of governance (the nation, states, and districts), student subgroups (racially and ethnically minoritized and economically disadvantaged students), and types of resources (expenditures, class sizes, and teacher quality) intersect to represent a complex and comprehensive picture of K-12 educational resource inequality. Drawing on multiple sources of the most recent available data, we describe inequality in multiple dimensions. At the national level, racially and ethnically minoritized and economically disadvantaged students receive between $30 and $800 less in K-12 expenditures per pupil than white and economically advantaged students. At the state and district levels, per-pupil expenditures generally favor racially and ethnically minoritized and economically disadvantaged students compared to white and economically advantaged students. Looking at nonpecuniary resources, minoritized and economically disadvantaged students have smaller class sizes than their subgroup counterparts in the average district, but these students also have greater exposure to inexperienced teachers. We see no evidence that district-level spending in favor of traditionally disadvantaged subgroups is explained by district size, average district spending, teacher turnover, or expenditures on auxiliary staff, but black and Hispanic spending advantage is correlated with the relative size of the black and Hispanic special education population.
Open and networked initiatives and the digital transformation of academic publishing in China

Many aspects of China's academic publishing system differ from the systems found in liberal market based economies of the United States, Western Europe and Australia. A high level of government intervention in both the publishing industry and academia and the challenges associated with attempting to make a transition from a centrally controlled towards a more market based publishing industry are two notable differences; however, as in other countries, academic communities and publishers are being transformed by digital technologies. This research explores the complex yet dynamic digital transformation of academic publishing in China, with a specific focus of the open and networked initiatives inspired by Web 2.0 and social media. The thesis draws on two case studies: Science Paper Online, a government-operated online preprint platform and open access mandate; and New Science, a social reference management website operated by a group of young PhD students. Its analysis of the innovations, business models, operating strategies, influences, and difficulties faced by these two initiatives highlights important characteristics and trends in digital publishing experiments in China. The central argument of this thesis is that the open and collaborative possibilities of Web 2.0 inspired initiatives are emerging outside the established journal and monograph publishing system in China, introducing innovative and somewhat disruptive approaches to the certification, communication and commercial exploitation of knowledge. Moreover, emerging publishing models are enabling and encouraging a new system of practising and communicating science in China, putting into practice some elements of the Open Science ethos. There is evidence of both disruptive change to old publishing structures and the adaptive modification of emergent replacements in the Chinese practice. As such, the transformation from traditional to digital and interactive modes of publishing, involves both competition and convergence between new and old publishers, as well as dynamics of co-evolution involving new technologies, business models, social norms, and government reform agendas. One key concern driving this work is whether there are new opportunities and new models for academic publishing in the Web 2.0 age and social media environment, which might allow the basic functions of communication and certification to be achieved more effectively. This thesis enriches existing knowledge of open and networked transformations of scholarly publishing by adding a Chinese story. Although the development of open and networked publishing platforms in China remains in its infancy, the lessons provided by this research are relevant to practitioners and stakeholders interested in understanding the transformative dynamics of networked technologies for publishing and advocating open access in practice, not only in China, but also internationally.
A Novel and Simply Calculated Cardiac Load Index Correlates With Coronary Artery Disease

Background: No cardiac load index (CLI) has been established for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We propose a simple method for calculating CLI and explore the association of CLI with CAD.Methods: We enrolled 4145 consecutive inpatients with suspected stable CAD from December 2011 to June 2017 at the Chengde Medical University Affiliated Hospital. All patients were divided into the CAD (n=2914) and the NCAD groups (n=1231) according to coronary computed tomography angiography. We retrospectively collected data and calculated the CLI values of all patients. The receiver operating characteristic diagnostic test analysis was performed with CLI≥77, CLI≥125, CLI≥171, CLI≥217, and CLI≥264, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression models were established to determine the risk factors of CAD. Results: The CLI was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the NCAD group and higher in the male than in the female subgroup (both P<0.001). CLI≥171 was the diagnostic cut-off value. The predictive power of CLI≥171 for CAD improved after considering other risk factors. CLI≥171 is a new independent risk factor for CAD, and is an independent risk factor for CAD in males and females (all P<0.001). Conclusions: Increased CLI is an independent risk factor for CAD, it may be used as a predictor for the prevalence for CAD to improve diagnosis and prevention.
AN UPDATE OF THE FLORIDA WHOOPING CRANE RELEASE PROJECT THROUGHJUNE 2000

Whooping cranes (Grus americana) reared mostly at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (patuxent) or the International Crane Foundation (ICF) have been released in Florida in an effort to reestablish a nonmigratory population in the southeastern United States. From 1993 through spring of 2000, we released 208 cranes. Modifications to the release procedure instituted in 1995 have greatly reduced mortality from the initial release period. First year mortality has averaged 50%. A longterm drought that began after spring 1998 may have contnbuted to increased first year mortality in recent years. Most mortality has been from predation, mostly bobcat (Lynx rufus) and alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Molt flightlessness may have been a factor in some recent drought-related mortalities. Other health issues regard ingestion of metal and monitoring for EEE. Dispersal range has increased in recent years again perhaps due to ongoing drought conditions. Sixteen pairs of whooping cranes have formed. The first nest with eggs occurred in 1999 and in 2000 the first pair hatched young. PROCEEDINGS NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP 8:62-73
Haematological indices and serum biochemistry of broiler chicken finisher fed diets containing dried avocado pear seed (Persea americana) meal

The general acceptability of plants with proven records of medicinal values in the tropics in recent times has necessitated the use of dried avocado pear in the broiler diet and its possible effects on haematological variables and biochemical indices. The study focused on haematological and biochemical responses of broilers to varying levels of the inclusion of dried avocado pear seeds. The inclusion levels were 0% of the dried avocado pear seed meal as a control, 2.5%, 3.5%, 4.5% and 5.5%. The experiment lasted for eight weeks: four weeks for the starter phase (for the acclimatization of the birds and the maturation of their GIT) and four weeks for the test trials (the finisher phase). The result showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the haematological parameters, which implied that the inclusion of the dried avocado pear seeds in broilers? diets had a positive influence on platelets, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and heterophils. The presence of lymphocytes indicated the adequate production of antibodies, which could prevent opportunistic infections, as was observed during the experimental trials with birds without the test ingredients. The dried avocado pear seed had a positive influence on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It could be concluded from this study that avocado pear seed has significant effects on improving the haematological and serum characteristics of broiler birds, with the highest values recorded in T4 (4.5%) and T5 (5.5%), respectively.
Does China’s Low-Carbon Pilot Policy Promote Foreign Direct Investment? An Empirical Study Based on City-Level Panel Data of China

As an important driving force of China’s economic growth, foreign direct investment (FDI) may be affected by China’s low-carbon pilot policy. Therefore, this paper regards the low-carbon pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and uses the difference-in-difference (DID) model and the panel data of 189 cities in China from 2011 to 2018 to explore the actual impact and intermediary mechanism of low-carbon pilot policy on FDI. The study found that low-carbon pilot policy has a significant promotion effect on FDI, and industrial optimization and upgrading is an important way. At the same time, we construct the difference-in-difference-in-difference (DDD) model, and discuss the heterogeneity of policy effect caused by resource endowments and the individual characteristics of government officials in the process of policy implementation. The results indicate that resource-rich cities can enhance the promotion effect of low-carbon pilot policy on FDI. Similarly, when the mayor of the pilot city is a female, or obtains a master’s degree or a doctorate degree, or majored in non-economics, respectively, the policy effect will be more obvious. In addition, in order to verify the reliability of the research conclusions, this paper also uses a placebo test and data truncation to conduct a series of robustness tests.
Active control of the acoustic environment in an automobile cabin

The acoustic environment in an automobile cabin has a significant effect on the perceived quality of the vehicle. There are two components of the acoustic environment in the automobile cabin: the noise due to automotive processes and the sound produced by the car audio system. In both cases active methods can be employed to improve the acoustic environment and this thesis presents an investigation of both active control of automotive noise and active sound reproduction systems in cars. In the context of active noise control, cost-effective systems are investigated for the control of both engine noise and road noise. A model of structural-acoustic coupling is first derived and the effects of coupling on the performance of feedforward and feedback controllers is investigated. Feedforward control has been highlighted as a cost-effective method of controlling engine noise. In order to achieve low-cost active control of road noise, however, a number of multi-source, multi-sensor feedback active noise control systems are investigated. A modal feedback control system is investigated and shown to offer significant levels of control of a single dominant resonance. In general, however, a fully multi-input multi-output (MIMO) feedback controller is necessary to achieve control of the multiple resonances present in a road noise disturbance. Measurements have been conducted in a small city car to validate the proposed MIMO feedback controller and a real-time feedforward engine order control system has been implemented. Active control of sound reproduction has also been investigated with the aim of producing independent listening zones in the front and rear seats of the automobile cabin. Simulations have first been used to investigate the effect of implementing a personal audio system in a car cabin and to compare the performance of acoustic contrast and least squares optimisation strategies. In order to achieve control of the sound field over the full audio bandwidth two arrays are implemented, one employing the four standard car audio loudspeakers and one employing phase-shift loudspeakers mounted to the headrests. The performance of the system is validated using a real-time implementation in a people carrier.