Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Rewards on Work Commitment of Nurses at Surgical and Medical Section (SMS) of National Hospital

Background: Nurses are an essential component of health workforce. Therefore rewarding nurses is important to provide better service to the clients. The main purpose was to describe the effect of rewards on the work commitment of nurses at the SMS of National hospital. Objectives: to identify intrinsic and extrinsic rewards cause to the level of work commitment of nurses at SMS of National hospital, to determine the level of work commitment of nurses at SMS of National hospital, to measure the effect of socio-demographic factors on work commitment of nurses at SMS of National hospital and to describe the effect of rewards on work commitment of nurses at SMS of National hospital. Methodology: Descriptive, hospital-based, cross-sectional study design was used. Simple random sampling used to select 384 nurses. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The mean value for composite intrinsic rewards was 3.34 (SD = 0.57). There is a moderately positive Correlation (r = 0.327, p< 0.000) between intrinsic rewards and the work commitment. The mean value for composite extrinsic rewards was 2.54 (SD = 0.71) and it shows a very weak positive Correlation (r = 0.167, p< 0.002) between extrinsic rewards and work commitment. As Socio-demographic factors, gender (0.016**), age group (0.117*), position (0.114*), working experience at current work place (0.154*), and working section (0.014**) have association with the overall work commitment of nurses. Level of work commitment of nurses was moderate (Mean = 3.13, SD = 0.35). Conclusion: Moderate correlation means, when increases intrinsic rewards, nurses’ work commitment can be increased. Extrinsic rewards also cause to increase the commitment. Socio-demographic factors have an association with overall work commitment. These results help nurse managers to improve existing intrinsic rewards for nurses to enhance work commitment. Nurse Managers should suggest and plan a good reward system for nurses. Further research wants to conduct in government and private hospitals to find out ways to make nurses more committed. Moderate work commitment may be due to inadequate rewards or actually their dedication to the service without expecting rewards. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0303-4 Full Text: PDF
Pore-spanning lipid membranes as a tool to study membrane permeabilization by antimicrobial peptides

Antimikrobielle Peptide (AMPs) haben ein hohes therapeutisches Potential bei der Bekampfung mikrobieller Krankheiten. Ihre Wirkungsweisen sind immer noch nicht vollstandig aufgeklart, und Screening-Methoden zur Identifizierung und Verbesserung von AMPs werden benotigt. Diese Arbeit untersucht porenuberspannende Membranen als potenzielles Testsystem fur die Prufung von Substanzen auf AMP-Aktivitat sowie die Erforschung der Wirkungsweise von AMPs. Verschiedene feste Tragerstoffe wurden auf ihre Eignung fur Chip-basierte Farbstoff-Translokationstests gepruft. Hierbei wurde die Fahigkeit eines AMPs, die Lipidmembran zu perforieren, mit Hilfe eines wasserloslichen Farbstoffes gezeigt. Drei Tragerstoffe wurden getestet: offenporige Siliziumdioxid-, geschlossenporige Siliziumnitrid- sowie geschlossenporige Substrate aus anodischem Aluminiumoxid (AAO). Porenuberspannende Membranen wurden durch Spreiten von farbstoffdotierten giant unilammellar vesicles erzeugt. Der Spreitprozess sowie die Eigenschaften der gebildeten planaren porenuberspannenden Membranen wurden mit Hilfe von konfokaler Laser-Scanning-Fluoreszenzmikroskopie untersucht. Die Parameter fur eine robuste Uberwachung in raumlicher als auch Zeitdimension wurden erarbeitet. Mit AAO als Tragersubstanz wurde ein Farbstoff-Einstromungstest etabliert. Mit diesem Test wurde untersucht, auf welche Weise die AMPs Melittin und Magainin-2 die Membran verandern. Erkenntnisse daruber wurden anhand der Beobachtung von Membranfluoreszenz und Durchlassigkeit fur verschieden grose wassrige Farbstoffe gewonnen. Qualitative und quantitative Untersuchungen der Veranderung der Membrandurchlassigkeit gaben Einblicke in mogliche Wirkungsweisen der untersuchten AMPs. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass Melittin, nicht aber Magainin-2,seine Wirkung zum Teil durch Entfernen von Membranmaterial entfaltet. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigte Magainin-2, nicht aber Melittin, eine konzentrationsabhangige Variabilitat in der Grose geformter Poren. Schlieslich konnte gezeigt werden dass Magainin-2 und δ-Lysin in phasenseparierten Membranen die liquid disordered Phase bevorzugen. In dieser Arbeit wurden die Forschungsgrundlagen fur die Entwicklung eines Tests zur systematischen Suche nach AMPs bezuglich Effizienz und Wirksamkeit, Spezifitat und Toxizitat gelegt. Die Untersuchungsmethode erlaubt die Erforschung der Wirkungsweisen verschiedener AMPs. Damit hat die hier etablierte Methode das Potenzial fur einen Chip-basierten Schnelltest auf die antimikrobiellen Eigenschaften von Kandidatensubstanzen.
Glacier forelands reveal fundamental plant and microbial controls on short‐term ecosystem nitrogen retention

Human activities have massively increased the amount of reactive nitrogen in the biosphere, which is leading to increased nitrogen (N) inputs in terrestrial ecosystems. The retention of N is a crucial ecosystem function of both managed and natural ecosystems, and there is a long history of experimental, observational, and conceptual studies identifying its major controls. Yet, the plant and soil microbial controls on the retention of added N remain elusive. Here, we used three ecosystem chronosequences in front of retreating glaciers in the European Alps to test our hypothesis that the retention of added reactive 15N increases as succession proceeds, and to identify the plant and microbial controls on ecosystem N retention. We found that the uptake and retention of N did not change during succession, despite consistent changes in plant, soil, and microbial properties with increasing time since deglaciation. Instead, we found that plant and microbial properties that remained constant during succession controlled 15N uptake and retention: low root and microbial C/N ratios, as well as high root biomass, increased plant and microbial uptake of added N. In addition, high soil concentrations of nitrate and ammonium reduced the uptake of N in microbes and roots, respectively. Synthesis. Our results demonstrate that plant and microbial N demand, as well as soil N availability, drive the short‐term retention of added N during succession in glacier forelands. This finding represents an advance in our understanding of the fundamental controls on ecosystem N retention and the role of plant‐microbial interactions in this process. Such understanding is crucial for predicting and mitigating the response of terrestrial ecosystems to the ever‐increasing amounts of reactive N in the biosphere.
Interactions of Salinity Stress and Flower Thinning on Tomato Growth, Yield, and Water Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity stress and flower number on growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and fruit quality of cherry tomatoes cultivated under soilless conditions. The experiment was conducted in a plastic house (5-m wide × 11-m long) located in Gifu University. The seedlings were transplanted in a randomized complete block design with six plants per treatment (NT1 and ST1 were with four plants), giving a total of 44 plants in 22 pots (two plants per pot). Two different salinity levels [no-salinity and salinity with electrical conductivity: 0.8 and 3.0 dS m−1, respectively] and four flower number treatments (8, 13, 18, and free per truss) were investigated in the experiment. The results showed that salinity stress negatively affected tomato growth, yield, and marketable yield, but improved tomato fruit quality. The number of flowers had no effect on tomato growth variables and WUE, but the yield significantly increased with increasing flower number. However, the fruit quality was decreased with increased flower number. A reasonable control for fruit load can increase marketable yield in commercial cultivation. Under salinity stress conditions, properly increasing the number of flowers can avoid yield reduction.
Tribological characterization of Al6061/alumina/graphite/redmud hybrid composite for brake rotor application

ABSTRACT Dry sliding tribological characterization of redmud particle-reinforced Al6061/alumina/graphite hybrid metal matrix composite (RM-AlHMMC) was investigated as per ASTM G99-05 using pin on disc experimental setup. Initially, hybrid composites were fabricated through stir casting process by varying the wt. % of redmud particle as 3, 7, and 11, and then the wear tests were carried out based on L27 orthogonal array. The experimental results revealed that 11 wt. % RM-AlHMMC showed maximum of 90% improved wear resistance than AlHMMC. For all the composites, the coefficient of friction (CoF) increases and saturates with the applied load and sliding distance, in which 11 wt. % RM-AlHMMC showed maximum of 48% increased CoF than AlHMMC. Metallographic investigation of worn-out AlHMMC composite showed that at maximum applied load, sliding velocity, and sliding distance, the wear mechanism changes from abrasive to adhesive, but adding of redmud particle showed combined adhesive and abrasive wear mechanisms. The optimized tribological parameters were obtained using grey relational analysis which revealed that 11 wt. % RM-AlHMMC has improved tribological properties.
Reducing prejudice by enhancing the other rather than the self

ABSTRACT Self-enhancement may exacerbate ingroup favoritism. What if, rather than self-enhancement, individuals focused on enhancing others? Could this reduce prejudice? Three studies tested the impact of self-enhancement versus ‘other-enhancement’ on prejudice. In Study 1 (N=95), a repeated measures design showed that participants demonstrated less implicit bias after reflecting on another person’s positive traits relative to their own. In Study 2 (N=169), participants who reflected on an outgroup strength showed less racism than those who reflected on an ingroup strength and those in a comparison condition. In Study 3 (N=380), other-enhancement negatively linked to racism and sexism, whereas self-enhancement did not. Additionally, Study 3 examined an antecedent of other-enhancement – humility. We discuss the importance of enhancing others in reducing prejudice.
Early childhood care and education educators’ understanding of the use of music-based pedagogies to teach communication skills

Background: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) learners have unique needs, and specific pedagogies, therefore, need to be employed to support the acquisition of their essential skills. A great deal of research has been conducted on the use of music-based pedagogies to teach mathematics, life skills, civics and literacy at various levels of education. In South Africa, where ECCE is a relatively new educational sector, very little structure has been put in place to facilitate using music-based pedagogies to teach communication skills to ECCE learners. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore ECCE educators use music-based pedagogies to positively impact children’s communication skills and language development. Setting: The qualitative case study was conducted at two Urban ECCE centers in Durban, KwaZulu Natal Province, South African. Method: The study was informed by a social constructivist paradigm underpinned by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, focussing on ECCE learners’ interaction with the more knowledgeable other (MKO). Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and classroom observations with six educators, and through document analysis. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The study confirmed that the ECCE educators have some levels of understanding of using music-based pedagogies as a strategy for teaching communication skills to children aged from three to four, but there are constraints. These limitations include insufficient training, a lack of musical resources and the non-inclusion of music-based pedagogies in both the pre-service teachers’ curriculum and the ECCE curriculum. Conclusions: The study recommended a comprehensive review of the content and implementation of the ECCE curriculum in relation to music pedagogy.
The Pacific Decadal Oscillation Modulates Tropical Cyclone Days on the Interannual Timescale in the North Pacific Ocean

The North Pacific Ocean is the most active region on our planet in terms of tropical cyclone (TC) activity. These storms are responsible for numerous fatalities and economic damages, affecting the livelihood of those living in the impacted areas. Historically the examination of TCs in the North Pacific Ocean has been performed separately for its two main sub‐basins: the West North Pacific and the East North Pacific. Here, we consider the TC activity in the North Pacific as a single basin and examine the climate processes responsible for its number of TC days. We show that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation modulates the number of TC days in the North Pacific Ocean through its connection to the sea surface temperature. The insights from this work will advance the understanding of the climate processes responsible for these storms, and will provide valuable information toward our preparation and adaptation efforts on long timescales.
Mimicking the Mad Printer: Legislating Illiberalism in Post-Soviet Eurasia

ABSTRACT Illiberal policy innovation has grown in post-Soviet Eurasia over the 2010s, especially regarding controversial moral and cultural issues. These have often been developed by illiberal entrepreneur states and then taken up elsewhere. This article reviews the case of the Russian “homosexual propaganda” law, situating the particular domestic context for its legislative development and then turning to the partial diffusion of “copycat” versions debated in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. Although Russian illiberal innovation can be understood through domestic drivers of policy development, attempts to pass illiberal laws elsewhere are better explained by the interaction of domestic political incentives and international factors.
Rituximab therapy for lupus nephritis: A meta‑analysis

The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) therapy in the treatment of lupus nephritis by performing a meta‐analysis. For this purpose, the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Information and WANFANG databases were used to identify the eligible studies from January, 2000 to February, 2020. STATA16.0 and Review Manager Version 5.3 software were applied to pool the data. From the results of this search, 37 studies (30 case series and seven controlled trials) involving 1,273 patients were included. In the case series studies, the total remission (TR) rate was 81.9% (95% CI, 73.7‐88.8%) and the complete remission (CR) rate was 46.6% (95% CI, 36.4‐57.1%). Following treatment with RTX, the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) of patients with lupus nephritis decreased signifi‐ cantly [mean difference (MD), ‐8.91; 95% CI, ‐14.10 to ‐3.72, P<0.01]. The level of proteinuria also decreased significantly [standardized mean difference (SMD), ‐1.05; 95% CI, ‐1.28 to ‐0.83, P<0.01]. On the contrary, the level of serum albumin increased significantly (MD, 6.44; 95% CI, 4.42‐8.45; P<0.01). In the controlled trials, both TR and CR were significantly higher than those of the control group (TR: OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.58‐3.89; P<0.01; and CR: OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.17‐4.49; P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the SLEDAI of patients in the RTX group decreased significantly (MD, ‐3.84; 95% CI, ‐5.99 to ‐1.69; P<0.01) and the level of proteinuria in the RTX group also decreased significantly (MD, ‐1.24; 95% CI, ‐2.39 to ‐0.09; P<0.05). At the same time, the level of serum albumin increased (MD, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.22‐0.86; P<0.01). There was no difference in the relative risks of the adverse events between the two groups (OR, 0.37; P>0.05). On the whole, the findings of the present study demonstrate that RTX exhibits favorable clinical efficacy in the treatment of lupus nephritis, which can significantly reduce the level of proteinuria and SLEDAI, and increase the level of serum albumin. Compared with traditional immunosuppressive therapy (corticosteroids + cyclophosphamide and/or myco‐ phenolate), RTX was more effective in the treatment of lupus nephritis. Additionally, rituximab exhibited good safety.
Endocrine Disorders in Autoimmune Rheumatological Diseases: A Focus on Thyroid Autoimmune Diseases and on the Effects of Chronic Glucocorticoid Treatment

Autoimmune rheumatological diseases’ incidence and prevalence have risen over the last decades and they are becoming increasingly important worldwide. Thyroid autoimmune diseases share with them an imbalance in the immune system that lead to a pro-inflammatory environment. Usually this is the result of a multi-factorial process. In fact, it includes not only a possible genetic predisposition, but also environmental causes like microbiota dysbiosis, diet rich in processed foods, exposure to toxicants and infections. However, many aspects are currently under study. This paper aims to examine the factors that participate in the developing of rheumatological and thyroid autoimmune diseases. Moreover, as glucocorticoids still represent a leading treatment for systemic autoimmune rheumatological diseases, our secondary aim is to summarize the main effects of glucocorticoids treatment focusing on iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome and glucocorticoids’ withdrawal syndrome.
Problems Faced in Distance Education during COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed to investigate the problems faced by pre-service teachers in the distance education process, which has been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was carried out as a case study of qualitative research methods. The study group comprised pre-service teachers receiving education in the faculty of education in a state university in Turkey during the spring term of the 2019-2020 academic year. In order to collect data, the researcher created an interview form. Then the form was applied to the pre-service teachers on a volunteer basis and online. The content analysis method was used in the data analysis. The data were coded by two researchers. Miles and Huberman's (1994) formula was used for a consensus between the coders. At the end of the study the problems experienced by the pre-service teachers were collected under the themes of implementation, student, impossibility, technical and instructor. The pre-service teachers stated that they mainly faced problems such as the lack of time spared for live courses regarding "implementation";failure of establishing communication with friends regarding "student";absence of internet regarding "impossibility", sound problems regarding "technical" and lack of communication regarding "instructor". Determining the problems is a step to their solutions in learning and teaching environment.
Sedimentation in Storage Tank Structures

Although storage tanks provide an effective means of reducing the magnitude and frequency of combined sewer overflow discharges, and thereby of alleviating urban watercourse pollution, poorly designed storage structures frequently suffer from maintenance problems arising from sedimentation. The development of design guidelines that optimise the self-cleansing operation of storage structures is clearly a priority for urban drainage research. This paper describes a system that has been developed to study sediment deposition in laboratory model-scale storage structures. The patterns of deposition resulting from a selection of flow regimes are described, and the need for time-varying and time series storm tests is highlighted. Sedimentation patterns are shown to predominantly depend on the flow field, and the critical bed shear stresses for deposition and erosion in the model situation are identified. Hence, the potential application of numerical models to the design problem is discussed.
Organic and inorganic passivation of p-type SnO thin-film transistors with different active layer thicknesses

Bottom gated thin-film transistors (TFTs) with various sputtered SnO active layer thicknesses ranging from 10 to 30 nm and different passivation layers have been investigated. The device with 20 nm SnO showed the highest on/off ratio of 1.7 × 104 and the smallest subthreshold swing of 8.43 V dec−1, and the mobility (0.76 cm2 V−1 s−1) was only slightly lower than in TFTs with a thicker SnO layer. However, both the mobility and the on/off ratio of the 15 nm SnO TFT dropped significantly by one order of magnitude. This indicated a strong influence of the top surface on the carrier transport, and we thus applied an organic or an inorganic encapsulation material to passivate the top surface. In the 20 nm TFT, the on/off ratio was doubled after passivation. The performance of the 15 nm TFT was improved even more dramatically with the on/off ratio increased by one order of magnitude and the mobility increased also significantly. Our experiment shows that polymethyl methacrylate passivation is more effective to reduce the shallow trap states, and Al2O3 is more effective in reducing the deep traps in the SnO channel.
Values Education Practices in Preschool: The Case of Turkey and the United States

Accepted: 05.05. 2021 In this study, the aim is to determine national and universal values that are tried to be taught to children in pre-school education institutions of different cultures and to compare programs and practices in the context of value education within the framework of teachers' views. Case study, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study. In the study, criterion and convenience sampling methods, one of the purposive sampling methods, were used in determining the study group. In this context, the study group of the research consisted of 52 pre-school teachers who participated in the study voluntarily from Turkey and the United States, Ohio. In the study, semi-structured interview form was used as the data collection tool. The data of the study was analyzed by content analysis method. The results show that values education cannot be provided only through the integration of values in the curriculum, and that value transfer is a sophisticated process involving many disciplines. It is understood from the findings that there are significant differences in value perception as well as differences in practice in both countries. For example, in both countries the priority national values were found to be different. Although there are similarities in the methods and techniques used in values education practices in both countries, it was concluded that in terms of assessment methods teachers from Ohio were able to employ more diverse methods and observe their students better. In addition, teachers from Ohio do not experience as many problems as Turkish teachers and are solution-oriented in values education practices.