Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hong Kong Performance Yardsticks For Concrete Placing During Building Construction

For any construction operalion. industry wide peifonnance standards are of interest and ought to be of importance and practical use. The paper reports the productivity results of 137 concrete pours observed on new building sites in Hong Kong between 1991 and 1993. The pours were divided between pumped pours, those placed by crane and skip and those employing the hoist and barrow method. The work is part of a wider study of the Hong Kong concreting industry and is rooted in an earlier study (Anson et al, 1989) of concrete pumping productivity in the UK and West Germany. Many factors influence how long a particular pour will take and even for pours of a particular size placed by the same method, considenible variability is evident. Neverlheless for each of the three methods, yardsticks representing current Hong Kong placing performance are derived which are useful for making international comparisons. The results are also potentially helpful to site managers. if used cautiously, to provide a Hong Kong bench.
Triglyceride/High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio is Associated with the Mortality of COVID-19: A Retrospective Study in China

Background Triglyceride to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-c) is crucial when researching metabolic and vascular diseases, and its involvement in COVID-19 was sparsely elaborated on. The purpose of the study was to explore the inflammatory associations between the TG/HDL-c ratio and COVID-19 prognosis. Methods A total of 262 COVID-19 patients consisting of 244 survivors and 18 non-survivors were retrospectively investigated. The clinical features and baseline hematological parameters were recorded and analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to explore the role of TG/HDL-c in predicting the mortality of COVID-19, the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were used to measure the correlation between TG/HDL-c and inflammatory indicators, and the Kaplan–Meier (KM) curve was used to estimate the survival of COVID-19 patients with high and low TG/HDL-c ratio. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the role of TG/HDL-c ratio on mortality of COVID-19 with no underlying diseases. Results Compared with the survivors, the non-survivors of COVID-19 had significantly higher levels of white blood cells (4.7 vs 13.0 × 109/L; P < 0.001), neutrophils (3.0 vs 11.6 × 109/L; P < 0.001), C-reactive proteins (15.7 vs 76.7 mg/L; P < 0.001) and TG/HDL-c ratio (1.4 vs 2.5; P = 0.001). The ROC curve [area under the curve (AUC), 0.731; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.609–0.853; P = 0.001] suggested that the TG/HDL-c ratio could predict the mortality of COVID-19. The TG/HDL-c ratio was positively correlated with white blood cells (r = 0.255, P < 0.001), neutrophils (r = 0.243, P < 0.001) and C-reactive proteins (r = 0.170, P < 0.006). Patients with high TG/HDL-c ratio showed a worse survival compared with those with low TG/HDL-c ratio (Log rank P = 0.003). Moreover, TG/HDL-c ratio was an independent factor in predicting the mortality of COVID-19 patients with no underlying diseases. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that TG/HDL-c ratio might potentially be a predictive marker for mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Ethnic Cleavages and Vote Choice in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract Trinidad and Tobago is mostly split between two main ethnic groups of African and Indian origins, yet there is little empirical research on the importance of these social cleavages in voting behaviour in the country. One branch of scholarly work on ethnic voting suggests that individuals use social identities as heuristics to evaluate candidates. However, another line of research has found that the role of ethnicity in elections is declining in specific contexts. This manuscript explores the importance of ethnic cleavages in voting patterns in Trinidad and Tobago. We use the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) surveys and conduct a series of probit models to test which factors influence voting the most in the twin-islands. We find that ethnicity is the main factor associated with voters’ choice, but other factors that are associated with voting decisions, such as voters’ political ideology, education, and place of residence. These findings inform the ongoing debate on the importance of ethnicity in voting behaviour.
Reply on EC1: Community comment response

Discussion comment: I write . to provide a few short comments on the paper by Amoo et al. on Late Eocene to Early Oligocene vegetation of the Tasmanian Gateway Region in the hope that it may improve their paper, but also set some ground rules for future authors from the Northern Hemisphere who wish to work on pollen records from this paret of the Southern Hemishpere. My name is Ian Sluiter, and I am happy for you to provide the comments to the authors with my name known. I have been working on, and will publish very soon, a terrestrial pollen record from Gippsland (Victoria) which lies ~730km to the NNW of ODP1172. That is ~5.5degrees latitude north. The general thrust of a warming episode at our site mirrors the changes recorded by Amoo et al., but I am not exactly sure how this has come about.
Never let a serious crisis go to waste: the introduction of supplemental carbon taxes in Europe

Abstract The literature on carbon pricing offers competing explanations for the introduction of carbon taxation. This article contributes to the field by highlighting the interaction of dynamic political factors and external pressures in explaining the timing of the adoption of carbon taxes. Focusing on the second wave of European countries, the study combines the multiple streams framework with qualitative comparative analysis to identify conditions favourable to the introduction of carbon taxes. Additional case studies on Ireland and Portugal serve to illuminate the reform process, especially the role of policy entrepreneurs. This approach yields three insights. First, fiscal crises provide political actors with an opportunity to raise environmental taxes. Second, the introduction of carbon taxation is most likely when push and pull factors come together, i.e. when high problem pressure coincides with governments receptive to environmental issues. Finally, the prospects of “green” policy entrepreneurs are strongly determined by their standing within the government.
The Mediating Role of Affective Commitment between Creative Self-Efficacy, Authentic Leadership and Innovative Behaviour among Academic Employees of Higher Education Sector of Punjab, Pakistan

The higher education sector in developing counties has undergone through dynamic changes in recent era due to highly innovative and competitive environment. The phenomenon of innovation behaviour has gained intensive importance due to its long-lasting impact on performance of industry. The growth of knowledge-based economy is linked with innovative initiatives of employees of higher education sector. The proposed research contributes to the body of knowledge by explaining the relationship between exogenous constructs and innovative behaviour based on the theories of social exchange and social cognition as both theories explains the innovative behaviour of employees. The proposed research intends to bridge the research gap and inconclusive results between constructs to explain the innovative behaviour of academic employees of higher education sector. Moreover, the mediation role of affective commitment is incorporated for deeper insight of innovative behaviour. The data was obtained from academic employees of the public sector universities of Punjab, Pakistan through simple random sampling and was analysed on Smart-PLS. The authentic leadership considered as one of the crucially important factors at workplace that influence the affective commitment and innovative behaviour. The study reported significant results for hypothesis H1 that affective commitment influences the innovative behaviour, the hypothesis H2 reported that creative self-efficacy influences the innovative behaviour, they hypothesis H3 reports that authentic leadership influence the innovative behaviour. The hypothesis H4 depicts that creative self-efficacy influences the affective commitment, the hypothesis H5 found that authentic leadership influences the affective commitment. Similarly, the mediation role of affective commitment reported as significant between authentic leadership and innovative behaviour, however no mediation role of affective commitment was reported between creative self-efficacy and innovative behaviour. The findings of the study assist universities management to ensure the appropriate and supportive workplace initiatives for inclined innovative behaviours among employees. The future study may be conducted on comparison of highly innovative universities and less innovative educational institutes.
Harvest maturity highly affects fruit quality attributes of ethylene-treated ‘autumn sense’ hardy kiwifruit

Abstract Optimal harvest date is an important quality parameter for hardy kiwifruit. We, therefore, examined the ideal harvest date to obtain high-quality ripe “Autumn sense” hardy kiwifruit. The fruit was harvested at four different harvest maturity stages [6.2%, 7.1%, 8.1%, and 9.1% average soluble solids content (SSC); H1, H2, H3, and H4, respectively], then treated with exogenous ethylene at ambient temperature, to examine the quality of the ripening fruit. The four harvest maturity stages differed significantly in firmness, SSC, titratable acidity (TA), and SSC/TA ratio, both in freshly harvested and ripe hardy kiwifruit (p < 0.001). Fruit firmness at harvest gradually decreased from 32.1 to 25.1 N, while SSC increased steadily as harvest maturity increased. TA increased steadily from 0.8 in H1 to 1.1% in H3, and was lower in H4. After ethylene treatment, the range of firmness was much lower, at 2.7–3.1 N, while SSC increased significantly from 15.1% in H1 to 16.4% in H4. TA decreased significantly from 1.0% at harvest to 0.7% after ethylene treatment, regardless of harvest maturity stage. For H3 fruit, TA was 56% lower after ethylene treatment than before treatment. After treatment, H3 had the highest SSC/TA (p < 0.001). Consumer preference was higher for H3 and H4 than H1 and H2, and was highly correlated with the SSC/TA ratio at harvest and after ethylene treatment, and with SSC at harvest. These results suggest that TA, SSC, and SSC/TA should be considered for determining the optimal harvest maturity for hardy kiwifruit. This study reveals that the quality of ripened hardy kiwifruit can be maximized by controlling harvest maturity.
C-Reactive Protein as a Biomarker for Major Depressive Disorder?

The etiopathogenesis of depression is not entirely understood. Several studies have investigated the role of inflammation in major depressive disorder. The present work aims to review the literature on the association between C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and depression. A systematic review was performed for the topics of ‘CRP’ and ‘depression’ using the PubMed database from inception to December 2021. Fifty-six studies were identified and included in the review. Evidence suggested the presence of dysregulation in the inflammation system in individuals with depression. In most studies, higher blood CRP levels were associated with greater symptom severity, a specific pattern of depressive symptoms, and a worse response to treatment. Moreover, about one-third of depressed patients showed a low-grade inflammatory state, suggesting the presence of a different major depressive disorder (MDD) subgroup with a distinct etiopathogenesis, clinical course, treatment response, and prognosis, which could benefit from monitoring of CRP levels and might potentially respond to anti-inflammatory treatments. This work provides robust evidence about the potential role of CRP and its blood levels in depressive disorders. These findings can be relevant to developing new therapeutic strategies and better understanding if CRP may be considered a valuable biomarker for depression.
Evaluation of Anti-Diabetic and Anti-Hyperlipidemic Activities of Hydro-Alcoholic Crude Extract of the Shoot Tips of Crinum abyssinicum Hochst. ex A. Rich (Amaryllidaceae) in Mice

Background Despite the availability of synthetic antihyperglycaemic medications on the market, diabetes is on the rise. Though not scientifically proven, the Crinum abyssinicum Hochst. ex A. Rich. (Amaryllidaceae) has been used traditionally to treat diabetes. Crinum abyssinicum was tested in mice to see if it had anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. Methods The hydro-alcoholic extract of Crinum abyssinicum shoot tips doses (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg) were administered to normoglycemic, oral glucose-loaded mice, and single and repeated dose-treated streptozotocin-induced diabetic model. Then, the blood glucose levels were measured for normoglycemic, oral glucose loaded and single dose treated streptozotocin model. Whereas in repeated dose-treated streptozotocin induced diabetic model, blood glucose level, body weight, and lipid profiles were measured. Results After oral administration, all extract doses (100 mg/kg (p < 0.01), 200 mg/kg (p < 0.001), and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001)) significantly reduced blood glucose level of normal mice as compared to the control group. Significant reduction of post-prandial glucose was achieved with crude extract at a tested dose of 100 mg/kg (p < 0.05) both at 1st and 2nd hours; 200 mg/kg (p < 0.01) at the 1st hour and (p < 0.001) 2nd hours, and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.001) at the 1st and 2nd hours as compared to the negative control. In diabetic mice, the crude extract 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg; and glibenclamide 5 mg/kg significantly reduced (p < 0.001) blood glucose level on the 14th day as compared to the negative control. All doses of crude extract significantly improved the lipid profiles and the bodyweight of diabetic mice. Conclusion These findings revealed that the hydro-alcoholic extract of Crinum abyssinicum shoot tips possess significant antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and body weight improvements in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Besides, it showed hypoglycaemic and anti-hyperglycaemic activities on normoglycemic and oral glucose loaded mice, respectively. These justify the claimed use of the plant in ameliorating diabetes mellitus in Ethiopian folk medicine.
A retrospective evaluation of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction test directly applied to blood for the management of sepsis in the critically ill

Background Blood culture (BC) is the established gold standard for microbiological diagnosis of bloodstream infection (BSI); however, its sensitivity is poor. Objectives The primary objective was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Magicplex Sepsis Real-time Test, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction test (mPCR), and BC to detect BSIs. Secondary outcomes included determining the prevalence of BSIs. Methods A retrospective review of a technical evaluation of the mPCR. Patients requiring BC had a blood sample collected for mPCR Results The respective sensitivity and specificity of mPCR for the detection of BSI were 50% (n=7/14) and 58% (n=18/31), while the sensitivity and specificity using BC were 36% (n=5/14) and 68% (n=21/31), respectively. The addition of mPCR to BC increased BSI detection during sepsis from 36% to 64%. Conclusion The use of mPCR directly applied to blood may increase the detection of micro-organisms associated with BSIs in critically ill patients requiring BC investigation. Contributions of the study Our data add to a growing body of evidence indicating that mPCR applied directly to blood prior to incubation increases the detection of pathogenic bacteria among hospitalised patients for whom blood cultures are performed for suspected infection. Our study was performed in a low-to-middle income country with a higher sepsis prevalence, a greater burden of multidrug-resistant organisms and clinically defined sepsis. This strengthens the robustness and generalisability of this body of evidence.
Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated From Urinary Tract Infections in Qal’at Saleh Hospital, Iraq

Background: Antibiotic resistance emerged in the pathogens causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) and became widespread. Moreover, increasing drug resistance has highlighted the need to evaluate the antibiotic resistance pattern to improve experimental treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bacteria causing UTIs and their susceptibility patterns based on the geographical area. Methods: The present study was conducted on outpatients referred to Qal’at Saleh Hospital in Iraq from January 2018 to January 2019. The pathogenic bacteria were detected using API 20E kit. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using the disk diffusion method according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: Of 216 isolates, 87.9% contained gram-negative bacteria and 12.03% contained gram-positive bacteria. In this study, Escherichia coli was identified as the main cause of UTIs. Of all the isolates, 73.61% were resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics. The antibiotic susceptibility and resistance patterns of all isolates showed that amikacin and ciprofloxacin had the highest activity against gram-negative bacteria and vancomycin, amikacin, and levofloxacin had the highest activity against gram-positive bacteria. Conclusions: Due to the widespread resistance to drugs used in the treatment of UTIs, it is difficult to select the appropriate drugs for treating UTIs. UTI affects different age groups; therefore, sufficient knowledge should be transferred to the community to prevent these infections. If urine culture is unavailable, or it is impossible to wait for antibiotic susceptibility testing, Amikacin and Vancomycin might be the best candidates for UTI treatment.
Clinico-Biochemical Profile and Identification of Independent Risk Factors of Frequent Relapse in Childhood-Onset Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome

Background and aim Nephrotic syndrome is one of the commonest glomerular diseases in children, and the majority of them have minimal change lesions in histology with a favorable outcome. Most children with minimal change disease (MCD) are steroid-sensitive, but half of them have a frequent relapse and a prolonged course. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical manifestations and biochemical profile and to determine independent risk factors of frequent relapse in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). Methods This was a tertiary care hospital-based observational study conducted at the pediatric department of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, India, from October 2017 to September 2019. Fifty-three children from age one to 15 years admitted with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome diagnosed as per the International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC) criteria were enrolled in the study. On admission, history-taking, physical examination, and routine hematological and biochemical tests were carried out. Children who had no infection were started oral prednisolone at the dose of 2 mg/kg/day for six weeks, followed by 1.5 mg/kg/day on alternate days for six weeks with daily follow-up for evidence of proteinuria till remission. The parameters evaluated were age at presentation, sex, type of presentation, precipitating factors, laboratory findings, and rapidity of steroid response. All children were followed up for one year, and those with no relapse over a period of one year after remission served as the control group to determine the risk factors for relapse. Data were analyzed using standard statistical software (Stata version 13.1, StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas, USA). Results Of the 53 cases, 47% of the children had a relapse. In the relapse category, 88% were male, and 67% were between one and 5.5 years. The clinical manifestations during the first episode in the relapse group were similar to the no relapse group. Investigations revealed that 64% of the children with relapse had serum total protein ≤ 4.2 g/dL (p = 0) and that 59% had serum albumin ≤ 1.8 g/dL (p = 0.004). In the relapse group, 41% of the children went into remission within two weeks of initiation of therapy as compared with 80% in the no relapse group. Conclusion The risk factors determined for relapse in SSNS are male sex, younger age, low serum albumin, low serum total protein, and delayed response to steroid therapy.
Modelling of Hazards

Abstract Probabilistic models are discussed with respect to various types of normal and extreme exposures, including unforeseen actions, human errors and deliberate malicious human actions. For most hazardous types of loads, including human errors, the models are built on the basis of the following ingredients: a triggering event, the associated magnitude or intensity, the effect on the structure and the expected consequences. With these models, the various rules with respect to robustness in design standards such as the Eurocode can be checked with respect to their degree of effectiveness on the basis of cost–benefit criteria. It is believed that a rough estimate of the occurrence rate of internal explosion and the magnitude may be helpful. The paper should be regarded as a beginning for further discussions and a stimulant for further research in the direction indicated.
Objection, your Honour: examining the questioning practices of Canadian judges

ABSTRACT Judges are the gatekeepers of evidence in the justice system. Granted that witness testimony is pivotal to the truth-seeking function of the criminal justice system, and that judges sometimes intervene and ask questions in the courtroom to help ensure the testimony is accurate, little is known about judges’ questioning practices. In the current study, we examine the questioning practices of a sample of Canadian judges. A total of 3,140 utterances spoken by 15 different judges across 22 criminal cases (169 witness examinations) were classified as one of 13 utterance types, and assessed as a function of examination type; utterance and response lengths were also calculated. Results showed that, when talking to witnesses directly, most of the questions asked were clarification (37%), followed by facilitators (17%), and closed yes/no (10%); less than 1% of all question types were open-ended. The longest answers were provided in response to open-ended questions. We also found that closed yes/no questions were the most frequently used question types during judge-led lines of questioning (i.e. examinations per curium), as opposed to lawyer-led lines of questioning (i.e. during direct and cross examinations). Implications for the truth-seeking function of the justice system are discussed.