Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AN INVESTIGATION INTO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS' ATTITUDE AND ANXIETY TOWARDS RESEARCH AND THEIR RESEARCH SELF-EFFICACY AT A LOCAL UNIVERSITY IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN, PAKISTAN

This study aimed to explore relationship between students' attitudes and anxiety towards research, and their research self-efficacy at a local university in Gilgit city. A sample of 102 students of a teacher education department responded to a 30-items written questionnaire. Results indicated more than 50% students showed positive attitudes and high research self-efficacy towards research. Whereas less than 50% students showed anxiety towards research. It was found that in the programs where research is mandatory students showed higher positive attitude towards research, higher self-efficacy towards research and higher anxiety towards research than the programs in which doing research is optional. Results further indicated a positive strong correlation between students’ attitudes towards research and their research self-efficacy. A positive weak correlation was found between attitudes towards research and anxiety towards research. On the contrary an inverse weak correlation was found between students' anxiety towards research and their research self-efficacy. Future researchers can conduct similar studies taking a reasonable large sample on anxiety towards research and research self-efficacy. Keywords: self-efficacy, attitude towards research, anxiety towards research, university, relationship
Autonomic Nervous System Activity During Positive Emotions: A Meta-Analytic Review

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is a fundamental component of emotional responding. It is not clear, however, whether positive emotional states are associated with differential ANS reactivity. To address this issue, we conducted a meta-analytic review of 120 articles (686 effect sizes, total N = 6,546), measuring ANS activity during 11 elicited positive emotions, namely amusement, attachment love, awe, contentment, craving, excitement, gratitude, joy, nurturant love, pride, and sexual desire. We identified a widely dispersed collection of studies. Univariate results indicated that positive emotions produce no or weak and highly variable increases in ANS reactivity. However, the limitations of work to date – which we discuss – mean that our conclusions should be treated as empirically grounded hypotheses that future research should validate.
Epidemiologi Karakteristik Pasien COVID-19 di Kutai Kartanegara pada Bulan Juli-Desember 2020

Pada awal tahun 2020, dunia dihebohkan dengan ditemukannya COVID-19. Sejak kasus COVID-19 di Indonesia pertama kali diumumkan, kasus tersebut masih mengalami peningkatan hingga sekarang. Kutai Kartanegara merupakan salah satu kabupaten dengan kasus COVID-19 terbanyak di Kalimantan Timur. Hal tersebut merupakan dampak dari banyaknya perusahaan pertambangan di Kutai Kartanegara yang menyebabkan terjadinya peningkatan mobilitas masyarakat di daerah tersebut. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui epidemiologi karakteristik pasien COVID-19 di Kutai Kartanegara. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif dengan pendekatan retrospektif. Sampel penelitian ini adalah pasien COVID-19 di Kutai Kartanegara selama periode Juli-Desember 2020 dengan total 4787 sampel yang telah memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Hasil pada penelitian ini didapatkan kelompok usia terbanyak adalah 21-30 tahun yaitu sebanyak 1063 pasien (22,2%) dan rata-rata usia adalah 33.79 ± 16.23 tahun dengan rentang usia pasien yang terinfeksi adalah 0-93 tahun. Sebanyak 54,5% merupakan laki-laki dan 73,3% kasus merupakan asimptomatik. Kasus perjalanan berjumlah 320 kasus (6,7%) dengan riwayat perjalanan terbanyak berasal dari Jawa Tengah (26,3%). Jumlah kasus kematian sebanyak 94 pasien (1,96 %) dengan rata-rata usia adalah 54.99 ± 11.374 tahun dan mayoitas merupakan laki-laki (60,8%) serta memiliki penyakit penyerta (94,7%).
Computed tomography scan in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose Computed tomography (CT) scan is a commonly used tool for the diagnosis of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), similarly to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Because of the limitations of RT-PCR, there is growing interest in the usability of the CT scan. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarize the available data on the CT scan features of COVID-19. Material and methods We conducted a systematic search in electronic databases to find eligible studies published between 1 December 2019 and 4 April 2020, which investigated the computed tomographic features of patients with COVID-19. All preprint and peer-reviewed articles were included. No language limitation was applied. For proportional data, pooled prevalence was calculated using a Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation, with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Eighty-six studies were eligible to be included in the meta-analysis. For 7956 patients, the most common CT findings were bilateral pattern of involvement (78%; 95% CI: 0.73-0.82; p < 0.001), involvement of more than 1 lobe (75%; 95% CI: 0.68-0.82; p < 0.001), ground-glass opacities (GGO) (73%; 95% CI: 0.67-0.78; p < 0.001), and peripheral distribution of signs (69%; 95% CI: 0.61-0.76; p < 0.001). Only 5% of patients had a normal CT scan (95% CI:0.03-0.07; p < 0.001). The proportion of paediatric patients (age < 18 years) with unremarkable CT findings was higher (40%; 95% CI: 0.27-0.55; p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with the severe or critical type of COVID-19 were more likely to have pleural effusion (RR 7.77; 95% CI: 3.97-15.18; p < 0.001) and consolidation (RR 3.13; 95% CI: 1.57-6.23; p < 0.001). CT results in patients with COVID-19 were comparable with those of people having pneumonia from other causes, except for the lower incidence of consolidation (RR 0.81; 95% CI: 0.71-0.91; p < 0.001) and higher risk of showing GGO (RR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.13-1.86; p < 0.001). The mortality rate was slightly higher in patients with bilateral involvement (RR 3.19; 95% CI: 1.07-9.49; p = 0.04). Conclusions Our study results show that COVID-19 shares some features with other viral types of pneumonia, despite some differences. They commonly present as GGO along with vascular thickening, air bronchogram and consolidations. Normal CT images, lymphadenopathies, and pleural effusions are not common. Consolidations and pleural effusions correlate with more severe disease. CT features are different between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pneumonia. Also, they differ by age, disease severity, and outcomes within COVID-19 patients.
Splicing inactivation generates hybrid mRNA-snoRNA transcripts targeted by cytoplasmic RNA decay

Many small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNA)s are processed from introns of host genes, but the importance of splicing for proper biogenesis and the fate of the snoRNAs is not well understood. Here we show that inactivation of splicing factors or mutation of splicing signals leads to the accumulation of partially processed hybrid mRNA-snoRNA transcripts (hmsnoRNA). HmsnoRNAs are processed to the mature 3′-ends of the snoRNAs by the nuclear exosome and bound by snoRNP proteins. HmsnoRNAs are unaffected by translation-coupled RNA quality control pathways, but they are degraded by the major cytoplasmic exonuclease Xrn1p due to their mRNA-like 5′-extensions. These results show that completion of splicing is required to promote complete and accurate processing of intron-encoded snoRNAs and that splicing defects lead to degradation of hybrid mRNA-snoRNA species by cytoplasmic decay, underscoring the importance of splicing for the biogenesis of intron encoded snoRNAs. Significance Statement Small nucleolar RNAs mediate modifications of nucleosides within ribosomal RNAs, which are necessary for proper ribosomal function and translation. Many snoRNAs are encoded within introns of host genes and accurate biogenesis of these small RNAs is required to produce functional snoRNAs. The work presented here shows that when the splicing reactions are inactivated, snoRNAs undergo a distinct biogenesis pathway which leads to the production of aberrant hybrid RNAs that contain both mRNAs and small RNAs components of the host genes. While snoRNAs are primarily found in the nucleolus, these hybrid RNAs are degraded by the cytoplasmic mRNA degradation pathway. These results demonstrate the importance of splicing to promote accurate snoRNA processing and prevent the production of aberrant mRNA-snoRNA hybrids.
Switching and Combining Device-Aided Therapies in Advanced Parkinson’s Disease: A Double Centre Retrospective Study

Background: Device-aided therapies (DAT), such as continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (CSAI), levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel infusion (LCIG), and deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS), have markedly changed the treatment landscape of advanced Parkinson’s disease (aPD). In some patients, it is necessary to switch or combine DATs for various reasons. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the frequency and reasons for switching between or combining DATs in two movement disorders centres in Slovenia and Israel. Methods: We collected and analysed demographic and clinical data from aPD patients who switched between or combined DATs. Motor and non-motor reasons, adverse events for switching/combining, and their frequency were examined, as was the effect of DAT using the Global Improvement subscale of the Clinical Global Impression Scale, Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III, Mini Mental State Examination, and Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire 39. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used to analyse the data. Results: Of 505 aPD patients treated with DATs at both centres between January 2009 and June 2021, we identified in a total of 30 patients (6%) who either switched DAT (n = 24: 7 LCIG-to-STN−DBS, 1 LCIG-to-CSAI, 5 CSAI-to STN−DBS, 8 CSAI-to-LCIG, 1 STN−DBS-to-LCIG, 1 LCIG-to-CSAI-to-STN−DBS, and 1 STN−DBS-to-CSAI-to-LCIG) or combined DATs (n = 6:5 STN−DBS+LCIG and 1 STN−DBS+CSAI-to-STN−DBS+LCIG). In most of these patients, an inadequate control of motor symptoms was the main reason for switching or combining DATs, but non-motor reasons (related to the disease and/or DAT) were also identified. Conclusions: Switching between and combining DATs is uncommon, but in some patients brings substantial clinical improvement and should be considered in those who have either inadequate symptom control on DAT treatment or have developed DAT-related complications.
Effects of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Zebrafish

Metal oxide nanoparticles (MO NPs) are increasingly employed in many fields with a wide range of applications from industries to drug delivery. Due to their semiconducting properties, metal oxide nanoparticles are commonly used in the manufacturing of several commercial products available in the market, including cosmetics, food additives, textile, paint, and antibacterial ointments. The use of metallic oxide nanoparticles for medical and cosmetic purposes leads to unavoidable human exposure, requiring a proper knowledge of their potentially harmful effects. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the possible toxicity of metallic oxide nanoparticles in zebrafish during both adulthood and growth stages, with an emphasis on the role of oxidative stress.
Low-energy elastic electron scattering cross sections of acrylic acid and its methylated derivatives

In the present work we report elastic cross sections for electron scattering from acrylic acid (CH2 = CH-COOH) and its methylated derivatives, crotonic acid (CH3-CH = CH-COOH), methacrylic acid (H2C = C(CH3)COOH) and methyl acrylate (CH2 = CHCOOCH3). The calculations were performed with the Schwinger multichannel method for impact energies up to 15 eV. Two π* shape resonances were found in the component of the integral cross sections (ICSs) for the A″ symmetry of all molecules. The resonance positions obtained for the acrylic acid are compared with existing experimental results for dissociative electron attachment. We investigated the influence of methylation through the comparison of the positions and widths of the shape resonances in the component of the ICS of the A″, and the oscillation patterns in the differential cross sections of all molecules. We also present the momentum transfer cross section for electron scattering from all molecules studied.
Beta-caryophyllene as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and re-epithelialization activities in a rat skin wound excision model

The skin is a critical organ for the maintenance of the integrity and protection of the organism. When a wound occurs, a sequence of healing mechanisms is triggered to reconstruct the wounded area. β-caryophyllene is a sesquiterpene in Copaifera langsdorffii oleoresin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. On the basis of previous studies with C. langsdorffii, β-caryophyllene was selected to evaluate its wound healing potential and pharmacological mechanisms. The excision wound model was used with male Wistar rats and macroscopic, histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses were performed with skin samples, comparing the β-caryophyllene-treated group with reference drugs. The results showed macroscopic retraction of the wounds treated with β-caryophyllene. Biochemical assays revealed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the β-caryophyllene-treated group with increasing levels of IL-10 and GPx and decreasing levels of pro-inflammatory molecules, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-6. After β-caryophyllene treatment, immunohistochemical assays showed enhanced re-epithelialization, through the increase in laminin-γ2 and desmoglein-3 immunolabeling. β-caryophyllene also act in the remodeling mechanism, increasing the collagen content in the Masson's trichrome staining. These findings indicated the wound-healing potential of β-caryophyllene topical formulation in rat skin wounds, mediated by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and re-epithelialization mechanisms.
The impact of high-tech industry development on energy efficiency and its influencing mechanisms

In responding to climate change, energy efficiency is one of the key factors for sustainable development, where the high-tech industry can play an important role. However, whether the development of high-tech industry impacts energy efficiency as well as the mechanisms behind still remain unclear. Thus, based on the dynamic spatial Durbin model, this study aims to investigate: 1) the impact of high-tech industry development on energy efficiency from three perspectives of high-tech industry development, i.e., scale, productivity, and agglomeration, and 2) the mechanisms behind such impact especially through technological innovation and industrial structure. The results confirm the influence of high-tech industry development on energy efficiency both directly and indirectly. On the one hand, our analysis contributes on the existing body of scientific knowledge by expounding the relationship between scale, productivity, and agglomeration of high-tech industry development and energy efficiency. On the other hand, it further deepens the understanding on such relationship by revealing two underlying mechanisms behind, i.e., through promoting technological innovation, the productivity and agglomeration of high-tech industries can either completely or partially improve energy efficiency, while the scale and agglomeration of high-tech industries can hinder energy efficiency to a certain level through the industrial restructuring. Based on these findings, this paper provides some policy implications, which are believed to facilitate the practices of energy conservation and emission reduction in China.
Physiological Effects of 2-Bromoethanesulfonate on Hydrogenotrophic Pure and Mixed Cultures

Mixed or pure cultures can be used for biomethanation of hydrogen. Sodium 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) is an inhibitor of methanogenesis used to investigate competing reactions like homoacetogenesis in mixed cultures. To understand the effect of BES on the hydrogenotrophic metabolism in a biomethanation process, anaerobic granules from a wastewater treatment plant, a hydrogenotrophic enrichment culture, and pure cultures of Methanococcus maripaludis and Methanobacterium formicicum were incubated under H2/CO2 headspace in the presence or absence of BES, and the turnover of H2, CO2, CH4, formate and acetate was analyzed. Anaerobic granules produced the highest amount of formate after 24 h of incubation in the presence of BES. Treating the enrichment culture with BES led to the accumulation of formate. M. maripaludis produced more formate than M. formicicum when treated with BES. The non-inhibited methanogenic communities produced small amounts of formate whereas the pure cultures did not. The highest amount of acetate was produced by the anaerobic granules concomitantly with formate consumption. These results indicate that formate is an important intermediate of hydrogenotrophic metabolism accumulating upon methanogenesis inhibition.
Development and Analysis of a Hydroxyapatite Supplemented Calcium Silicate Cement for Endodontic Treatment

Aim: To develop an endodontic cement using bovine bone-derived hydroxyapatite (BHA), Portland cement (PC), and a radiopacifier. Methods: BHA was manufactured from waste bovine bone and milled to form a powder. The cements were developed by the addition of BHA (10%/20%/30%/40% wt), 35% wt, zirconium oxide (radiopacifier) to Portland cement (PC). A 10% nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) cement containing PC and a radiopacifier, and a cement containing PC (PC65) and a radiopacifier were also manufactured as controls. The cements were characterised to evaluate their compressive strength, setting time, radiopacity, solubility, and pH. The biocompatibility was assessed using Saos-2 cells where ProRoot MTA acted as the control. Compressive strength, solubility and pH were evaluated over a 4-week curing period. Results: The compressive strength (CS) of all cements increased with the extended curing times, with a significant CS increase in all groups from day 1 to day 28. The BHA 10% exhibited significantly higher CS compared with the other cements at all time points investigated. The BHA 10% and 20% groups exhibited significantly longer setting times than BHA 30%, 40% and PC65. The addition of ZrO2 in concentrations above 20% wt and Ta2O5 at 30% wt resulted in a radiopacity equal to, or exceeding that of, ProRoot MTA. The experimental cements exhibited relatively low cytotoxicity, solubility and an alkaline pH. Conclusions: The addition of 10% and 20% BHA to an experimental PC-based cement containing 35% ZrO2 improved the material’s mechanical strength while enabling similar radiopacity and biocompatibility to ProRoot MTA. Although BHA is a cost-effective, biomimetic additive that can improve the properties of calcium silicate endodontic cements, further studies are now warranted to determine its clinical potential.
Investigating the Role of Economic Impediments in the Extent of Dropout of Females from Secondary Schools in District Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - Pakistan

The titled study is concerned with the dropout of females from secondary schools in District Bajaur due to the economic impediments of the study population. A sample size of 169 respondents was taken possessively by using Sekaran criteria. A cross-sectional study design was developed for the collection of data according to the conceptual framework showing the dependent variable (Nature of Drop out) and independent variable (Economic Impediments). Furthermore,Uni variate and Bi-variate analysis was conducted through the use of SPSS software. After the analysis of data at the Bi-variate level, a highly significant association (P=0.000) was found between the Nature of Drop out and economic indicators(statements) namely the most dominant cause of high drop out ratio was financial problems, money was considered a wastage when it’s spent on female education, money was well spent if sons are getting the education and parents prioritize boy’s education more as compared to their girl child, along with the cultural norms and beliefs constraining females education, as well as parents, believed that religious education is more important than formal education.
Wellbeing in Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Personal Resources and Exhaustion

Italy was the second country to be affected by COVID-19 in early 2020, after China. The confrontation with the pandemic led to great changes in the world of work and, consequently, to the personal world of workers. In such a challenging situation, it is essential to be able to rely on resources that facilitate individual coping. The aim of this study was to understand the association between personal resources (optimism and humor) and exhaustion, and the role of self-compassion in this relationship. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses on a heterogeneous sample of 422 Italian workers during the first lockdown in April–May 2020. The results revealed that optimism and humor were positively associated with self-compassion; optimism and humor also had a negative association with exhaustion; and self-compassion had a mediating role between the two personal resources and exhaustion. These results confirmed the importance of personal resources in maintaining workers’ wellbeing during a challenging period such as the pandemic. The present study also contributes to the body of knowledge on self-compassion, a relatively new construct that has been little studied in the organizational field.
Assessment of nutritional risk in elderly adults of a senior residence – a case study

Elderly adults have reduced appetite and energy expenditure, and possible malnutrition is related to the decline in biological and physiological functions, as well as its consequences. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and malnutrition risk in elderly adults living in a senior residence. A cross-sectional observational analysis was carried out between February and March 2019 in a private senior residence in which the complete Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was applied. It was observed that of the total of 45 participants, 5 individuals had a normal nutritional status, 18 had malnutrition and 22 were at risk. Malnutrition was related to a decrease in intake in the last 3 months (p=0.015) or to the fact that they experienced some type of psychological stress or acute illness in the same period (p=0.023). A higher incidence of malnutrition was also found in bedridden individuals or those in wheelchairs (p<0.001), as well as in patients with severe dementia (p=0.010), with the presence of skin lesions or bedsores (p=0.006), weight loss in the previous 3 months (p=0.003), and decreased fluid consumption (p=0.017). In conclusion, in this residence we verified that the malnutrition and malnutrition risk values are high, highlighting the need for nutritional intervention. Keywords: Elderly adults, Malnutrition, Nutrition assessment, Nutritional status