Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Evolving Epidemiologic and Clinical Picture of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Disease in Children and Young People

The initial impression that pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection is uncommon and generally mild has been replaced by a more nuanced understanding of infectious manifestations in children and adolescents across low-, middle-, and high-income countries and by demographic structure, with recognition of a widening disease spectrum. Critical knowledge gaps, especially in low- and middle-income countries remain, that have significant public policy and programme implications. Insufficient data dis-aggregated by age, geography and race/ethnicity are hindering efforts to fully assess prevalence of infection and disease in children and adolescents and their role in transmission. Potential biologic differences in susceptibility to infection and transmissibility between children and adults need to be assessed. Determination of mother-to-child SARS-CoV-2 transmission during pregnancy or peripartum requires appropriate samples obtained with proper timing, lacking in most studies. Finally, predictors of disease progression, morbidity and mortality in children need to be determined particularly as the pandemic moves to low- and middle-income countries, where poor nutritional and health conditions and other vulnerabilities are more frequent among children than in higher-income settings. Countries, UN agencies, public health communities, donors and academia need to coordinate the efforts and work collectively to close the data and knowledge gaps in all countries (high, middle and low income) for better evidence to guide policy and programme decision-making for children and COVID-19 (coronavirus) disease.
An Asymmetric Lyapunov–Krasovskii Functional Method on Stability and Stabilization for T-S Fuzzy Systems With Time Delay

This article presents a new asymmetric Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional method on the stability and stabilization of Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems with time delay. For the reduction of conservativeness, combining the method with the membership-function-dependent approach, we propose a novel delay-dependent stability condition in the form of linear matrix inequalities. Based on the condition, we further obtain a novel condition of stabilization. At the end, we provide two numerical examples to verify the advantage of the stability and stabilization approaches, respectively.
The Effect of Social Behavior on Residential Water Consumption

We analyze how residential water consumption is influenced by the consumption of households belonging to the same social group (peer effect). Analyses are based on household-level data provided by the Brazilian Household Budget Survey and use an innovative strategy that estimates the spatial dependence of water consumption while simultaneously controlling for potential sources of sample selectivity and endogeneity. The estimates of our quantile regression models highlight that, conditional on household characteristics, the greater the household water consumption, the greater the peer effect. In other words, the overconsumption of residential water seems to be influenced mainly by the behavior of social peers.
Evaluation of visual function and vision-related quality of life in patients with senile cataract

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between quality of life and decreased visual acuity in elders with senile cataract. Methods: A transversal and quantitative study involving 53 elderly patients with senile cataracts and candidates for cataract surgery in a private ophthalmology clinic in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. For sociodemographic investigation, a questionnaire elaborated by the authors was used. Research on visual-related quality of life was done through the National Eye Institute - Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI-VFQ 25) questionnaire. For statistical analysis, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and hypothesis testing were applied, in which the test statistic follows a Student’s t distribution, with 5% significance level (p < 0,05). Results: The majority of the interviewed patients’ ages were comprehended between 70 and 79 years old (n.29 / 54,7%) and were female (n.30 / 56,6%). The correlation between the mean score of the “Visual Capacity” domain and of the “Quality of Life” domain had Pearson’s correlation coefficient equal to 0,664, statistically significant in Student’s t-test (p < 0,001). Therefore, there are evidences that the quality of life and the visual function are correlated so that the better the visual capacity, the better the quality of life. Conclusion: The correlation between ocular health and functional capacity of the elderly can be obtained by the application the National Eye Institute - Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI-VFQ 25), generating data that reveals the necessity of guaranteed access to ocular health by the elderly population.
Effect of Heat Stress on pH,Oxidative Status,Tenderness and Color in Broiler Breast Meat

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of heat stress on pH,oxidation,tenderness and color in breast meat of broilers.The relationships among pH,oxidation and tenderness,color were assessed.The results showed that,in comparison with the control group,the pH of meat decreased significantly in above 2h treatment groups(P0.05),the activities of GSH-Px increased,the content of GSH showed a decreasing tendency.Heat stress significantly enhanced the content of MDA in 3h and 5h treatments(P0.01),significantly increased the levels of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar protein carbonyl groups in 2h,3h and 5h treatments,high shear force and low myofibrillar protein fragment indexes were found in heat stress treatments.L* value of breast meat was higher than that in the control group,but a* value was lower(P0.01). These results indicated that low pH and more oxidation of breast meat resulted from heat stress effected the degradation of the myofibrillar protein and the color of the breast meat.
Relationship between transformational leadership and nurses' job performance: The mediating effect of psychological safety

Rapid changes in the healthcare environment necessitate improvements in employee performance. We examined the relationship between nurse managers' transformational leadership and nurses' job performance, and the key mediating role of psychological safety in this relationship. Personnel at six private regional teaching hospitals in Central Taiwan participated in this study, comprising 73 nurse managers and 719 nurses. The results show that when the intergroup heterogeneity of job performance was statistically significant, a positive correlation existed between transformational leadership and job performance at the group level. Next, we performed an analysis using psychological safety as a mediating variable. The results show there was a significant correlation between transformational leadership and perception of psychological safety. This model exhibited lower variance and a better fit than the other examined models. Thus, emphasizing transformational leadership and psychological safety in operations and management could effectively improve nurses' job performance; this recommendation could serve as a standard for nurse managers in their duties.
Purification of cobalt solutions in several solvent extraction steps: Using MEXTRAL and 
D2EHPA as extractants

A sulphate solution of cobalt (18.93 g/L Co2+) containing major impurities such as copper (1.35 g/L Cu2+), iron (0.28 g/L Fetot), zinc (0.70 g/L Zn2+) and manganese (4.83 g/L Mn2+) was purified through the solvent extraction method using two extractants; MEXTRAL and D2EHPA for the removal of copper and for the removal in two stages of a zinc-iron-manganese complex respectively. The effects of the solution’s pH, O/A ratio, extraction time and stirring intensity were investigated. The purification extent was enhanced by optimizing these four parameters through Taguchi’s L16 (4^4) experimental. The final solution obtained through sequential extractions showed a reduction in Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn content of 98.7, 97.5, 98.2, and 80.5% respectively. This study showcased the possibility of obtaining high purity cobalt as a precursor for Lithium ion battery applications, representing 49% of its current global use. The coextraction value of cobalt was estimated at 6.2%. Key words: Purification, MEXTRAL 984N, D2EHPA, cobalt, SX.
Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using magnetic nanocomposites: Analysis of the experimental conditions

ABSTRACT This contribution provides insight on the elimination of heavy metals from water resources using magnetic separation. Nanocomposites based on magnetite and chitosan were prepared. An exhaustive characterization of the magnetic adsorbents was developed. Adsorption assays were performed in batch using Cu, Zn, Cd, and Cr as model heavy metals. The efficiency of magnetic adsorbents followed the order: Cu > Cd > Zn > Cr, with maximum values of 188, 159, 72, and 46 mg of Me/g of nanocomposite, respectively. Kinetics and mechanistic issues were studied. The magnetic materials were efficient for five to eight cycles using Cu(II),Cd(II), and Cr(VI).
Cooperation and Information Sharing Increase Supply Chain Performance Broiler Egg Traders in Regency of Pandeglang Banten

This study aimed to analyze the cooperation and sharing of information to improve supply chain performance. This research examine the influence cooperation the performance of the supply chain, the impact of information sharing on the performance of the supply chain. Object of this research is Broiler egg traders in Regency of Pandeglang Banten. This study uses a quantitative method using descriptive research and causal research. Data from all three variables was analyzed using the program Structural Equation Model (SEM) in the Software Smart PLS 3.0. m3 version. The data will be used in this research is primary data, by sending questionnaires to 100 respondents Broiler eggs. Based on the results of data analysis can be concluded that the influence of cooperation and information sharing relationships influence a positive and significant influence on supply chain performance.
Patient-Physician Communication During Medical Visits: Senior Adults’ Perspectives, Expectations, and Experiences

Background: Patient-physician communication is among the most important aspects of health care. Studies have shown the impact of such a communication on patient safety, patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and malpractice lawsuits. Patient-physician communication is even more important where the patient is an elderly adult. The age-related physical and cognitive issues as well as some other factors impact elderly patient-physician communication in a negative manner. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate senior adults’ perspectives, expectations, and experiences regarding communication with their physicians during medical visits. Methods: The study used a mixed-method approach, including quantitative and qualitative methods. 73 senior adults, age 65 and over, participated in this study. In the quantitative method, a survey was conducted, and the qualitative method included several face-to-face, semi-structured, and open-ended interviews to obtain the participants’ viewpoints and experiences in a more explanatory manner. The study was conducted in Los Angeles County in the United States. Results: All the subjects believed that senior patients have particular needs and expectations during medical visits that should be taken into consideration by physicians. Moreover, the findings of the study revealed the subjects’ particular needs and expectations as well as their specific experiences regarding their communication and interactions with their physicians during medical visits. Conclusion & Implication: The findings of this study can help physicians to better understand their senior patients’ attitudes and expectations. This will enable them to communicate and interact with this group of patients in a more effective way.
Selective Ionization and Separation in Ion Mobility Spectrometry

By Kristyn Marie Roscioli, Ph.D. Washington State University December 2012 Chair: Herbert H. Hill Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) provides reliable and fast detection in a multitude of worldwide environments including security and pharmaceutical applications where the ability to rapidly detect explosives and narcotics provides an invaluable tool. However; drawbacks such as low resolving power and high false positive rates hinder the full capability of the IMS system for detection of harmful chemicals. The work described herein demonstrates modifications of the IMS experimental techniques leading to novel methods for use of IMS in both homeland security and pharmaceutical applications. Several ionization source techniques, including 63 Ni, corona, electrospray and desorption electrospray, were utilized in both homeland security and pharmaceutical applications to modify IMS instrumentation for selective ionization capabilities. An IMS system was designed and built with the goal to achieve a lightweight modular design offering high performance for the detection of trace explosives using corona ionization, a safer option to 63 Ni ionization sources. The potential of electrospray ion mobility-mass spectrometry (ESI-IMMS) as a method for monitoring pharmaceutical reactions in real
Analysis of Mobile Commerce in the SMEs of the European Union

This paper examines the situation of e-commerce and m-commerce in SMEs in the European Union and analyses if their behaviour in this field is determined by a series of factors, such as the size of the company, the type of business, turnover, etc. which may also influence their needs of specific training for their employees. This study is based on an online survey responded by 674 SMEs from eight different countries in Europe, aimed at providing training assistance to SMEs to support their efforts towards m-commerce. The objective is the analysis of the skills and knowledge to be recommended to employees of SMEs for a better preparation to implement the companies' strategy of m-commerce. Although analysis of results from survey has supported the initial goal of developing training courses for m-commerce which include different economic, legal and technical topics, it has mainly provided very relevant conclusions on the factors which impact the adoption of e-commerce and m-commerce by SMEs.
Application of Flow and Ion Data to Estimate Ungaged Inflows and Losses in Urban and Agricultural Sub-Reaches of the Logan River Observatory

Application of Flow and Ion Data to Estimate Ungaged Inflows and Losses in Urban and Agricultural Sub-Reaches of the Logan River Observatory by Hyrum Tennant, Master of Science Utah State University, 2021 Major Professor: Dr. Bethany T. Neilson Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering Streams in semi-arid urban and agricultural environments are often heavily diverted for anthropogenic purposes. However, they simultaneously receive substantial inflows from a variety of ungaged sources including stormwater returns, tile drainage, and irrigation runoff that help sustain flow during dry periods. Due to the inability to identify sources or directly gage many of these inflows, there is a clear need for methods to understand source origination while quantifying potential gains and losses over highly impacted reaches. In the context of the Logan River Observatory, historical gage data illustrate the importance of ungaged and unidentified inflows on maintaining or enhancing flows in both urban and agricultural reaches containing large diversions. To understand the various inflows in this portion of the Logan River, we first analyzed water samples for ions collected from a subset of representative inflow sources, then applied clustering analyses to establish inflow source classifications and associated ion concentration ranges. These representative concentration ranges, combined with mainstem flow and river ion samples taken at sub-reach scales, allow for the application iv of flow and mass balances to quantify inflow rates from different sources as well as any losses. These calculations demonstrate significant gains and losses occurring in many sub-reaches during three sampling events. The dominant land use (urban or agriculture) and flow regime at the time of sampling were the primary drivers of exchanges. These exchanges were most important below large diversions during low flow conditions. This highlights the need to classify inflow sources (urban or agriculture, surface or groundwater) and estimate their contributions to anticipate instream consequences of land use and water management decisions. As irrigation and water conveyance practices become more efficient, a portion of these ungaged inflows could be diminished or eliminated, thus further depleting streamflow during dry periods. (72 pages)
Association Between Appropriate Complementary Feeding and Anthropometric Measures Among Infants and Young Children in Malawi using Cross-Sectional Data: A Propensity Score Matching Approach

Background: Inappropriate feeding practices among infants and young children are adversely associated with their growth and development. This study aimed to investigate the causal association between appropriate complementary feeding and child growth among children aged 6 to 23 months in Malawi using propensity score matching.Methods: Data on 4722 children aged 6 to 23 months from the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) were analysed. Distribution of confounder variables on children who were not on appropriate complementary feeding were made similar to those who were on appropriate complementary feeding using a 1:1 nearest neighbour matching within a calliper region of 0.1. Matching was evaluated based on the average standardised absolute mean diﬀerences and covariate speciﬁc p-values after matching. The eﬀect of appropriate complementary feeding was estimated based on the matched sample. A sensitivity analysis was done to assess the eﬀect of unmeasured confounders on the estimates.Results: The prevalence of stunting was at 28% (95% CI:27%,29%), wasting was at 3.3%(95% CI:2.5%,4.1%) and underweight was at 13.6%(95% CI:12.1%,15%). Of the 4772 children, 16.7% (95% CI:15.6, 17.8) were given appropriate complementary feeding. A majority (81.8%) of the children were initiated to complementary feeding after 6 months of age. Appropriate complementary feeding was associated with reduced stunting (OR=0.5, 95% CI:0.3,0.9) among the children but did not have an eﬀect on wasting and underweight.Conclusion: The study has found that appropriate complementary feeding led to less stunting among children aged 6-23 months in Malawi. The use of statistical techniques such as propensity score matching to balance confounder variables could be useful to reduce bias in the estimation of exposure comparative eﬀectiveness from observational studies. We recommend optimal feeding for young children, especially in resource-limited settings.
Stiffness Sensing by Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells: Continuum Mechanics Modeling of the Acto-Myosin Role

Smooth Muscle Cells (SMCs) play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis in the aorta by sensing and responding to mechanical stimuli. However, the mechanisms that underlie the ability of SMCs to sense and respond to stiffness change in their environment are still partially unclear. In this study, we focus on the role of acto-myosin contractility in stiffness sensing and introduce a novel continuum mechanics approach based on the principles of thermal strains. Each stress fiber satisfies a universal stress-strain relationship driven by a Young’s modulus, a contraction coefficient scaling the fictitious thermal strain, a maximum contraction stress and a softening parameter describing slipping effects at the weakest links. To account for the inherent variability of cellular responses, large populations of SMCs are modeled with the finite-element method, each cell having a random number and a random arrangement of stress fibers. Moreover, the level of myosin activation in each stress fiber satisfies a Weibull probability density function. Model predictions are compared to traction force measurements on different SMC lineages. It is demonstrated that the model not only predicts well the effects of substrate stiffness on cellular traction, but it can also successfully approximate the statistical variations of cellular tractions induced by intercellular variability. Finally, stresses in the nuclear envelope and in the nucleus are computed with the model, showing that the variations of cytoskeletal forces induced by substrate stiffness directly induce deformations of the nuclear envelope and of the nucleus, which can potentially alter gene expression. The predictability of the model combined to its relative simplicity are promising assets for further investigation of stiffness sensing in multicellular 3D environments. Eventually, this could contribute to decipher the effects of mechanosensitivity impairment, which are known to be at the root of aortic aneurysms.
Influence of Surface Orientation on the Catalytic Activities of La0.8Sr0.2CoO3 Crystal Electrodes for Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions

We investigated the influence of the surface orientation of La0.8Sr0. 2CoO3 (LSCO) on the catalytic activities for oxygen evolution and reduction reactions in alkaline solutions when using single crystals of LSCO. When LSCO single-crystal rods are sliced along the (001), (110), and (111) planes of a high-temperature cubic structure, we obtain crystal electrodes that can be denoted (001)C, (110)C, and (111)C, respectively. The catalytic activities for oxygen evolution occur in the order (110)C> (001)C≈(111)C. Although the currents for oxygen reduction on LSCO single crystals are hardly observed, their activities are enhanced when carbon is placed on the crystal surfaces. These results clearly show that the oxygen evolution activities of LSCO electrodes are dependent on their crystal planes, whereas their oxygen reduction activities rely on the interplay between carbon and LSCO. These findings may contribute toward the development of an effective electrocatalyst for rechargeable air electrodes.
An aeromagnetic survey carried out using a rotary-wing UAV equipped with a low-cost magneto-inductive sensor

ABSTRACT Recently, the aeromagnetic survey with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for mineral exploration has become ubiquitous. They can fly at a lower speed, lower altitude, need fewer crew members, and are cost-effective compared to traditional manned aeromagnetic. With the development of drones, magnetometers were also developed, which reduced the cost, weight, size, and energy consumption of these sensors. One of these sensors is the magneto-inductive magnetometer. This study investigates the integration of the UAV with a magneto-inductive sensor. We have performed an aeromagnetic survey along with six profiles and compared them with the terrestrial magnetic survey using a proton precision magnetometer. We show that the magneto-inductive sensor can sense Earth’s magnetic field’s change up to less than 60 nT. These results show the promising potential of using the UAV equipped with the magneto-inductive sensor to prospect the magnetic ore deposits.