Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytokine production by blood mononuclear cells from in-patients with anorexia nervosa

Although protein–energy malnutrition is a common cause of immunodeficiency, the immune function in underweight anorexia nervosa (AN) patients usually seems to be better preserved than would be expected. However, a deranged cytokine production and its consequences are currently being investigated in these patients. This study was aimed at measuring, over time, the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from AN in-patients to produce several cytokines involved in the regulation of immune responses. The in vitro production of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6 and IL-1β by phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated PBMC were assessed on forty female adolescents with AN. These measures were carried out twice, upon hospital admission and at discharge, which occurred on average after 1 month. Thirty-five control subjects were also studied. Cytokines were measured by ELISA kits. The production of TNF-α and IL-6 was lower and production of IL-1β higher in AN patients than in the control group at both time points of assessment. Refeeding for 1 month was not enough time to reverse these differences and patients still had a low body weight at discharge. IFN-γ production was lower in the patients than in control subjects only at discharge and no differences were found in IL-2 production between both groups. The results suggest that a mechanism involving modifications in the secretion pattern of proinflammatory cytokines could explain some immune function findings in underweight AN patients.
Helminth infections in Italian donkeys: Strongylus vulgaris more common than Dictyocaulus arnfieldi

Abstract Donkeys have been used as working animals for transport and farm activities worldwide. Recently, in European countries, there has been an increasing interest in donkeys due to their use as pets, onotherapy or milk production. During 2014–2016, a countrywide survey was conducted to determine prevalence and risk factors of principal helminth infections in 1775 donkeys in 77 Italian farms. A questionnaire on management and parasite control practices was filled out for each farm. Faecal samples were examined using a modified McMaster technique, a centrifugation/flotation method and a sedimentation technique. Pooled coprocultures were performed for differentiation of strongylid eggs. Strongyles were the most common parasites detected (84.9%), followed by Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (6.9%), Oxyuris equi (5.8%), Parascaris spp. (3.6%), Anoplocephala spp. (1.0%), Strongyloides westeri (0.3%). Coprocultures revealed an omnipresence of cyathostomins (100%), followed by Strongylus vulgaris (31.0%), Poteriostomum spp. (25.0%), Triodontophorus spp. (9.0%), Strongylus edentatus (7.0%), Strongylus equinus (5.0%). Logistic regression analysis identified breed, co-pasture with horses, living area, herd size and number of treatments as significantly associated with strongyles. Sex, age, living area and herd size were significantly associated with Parascaris spp. Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was significantly associated with sex, grass, co-pasture with horses, living area and herd size. Strongylus vulgaris was significantly associated with living area and herd size. The mean number of anthelmintic treatments/year was 1.4; most of the donkeys (71.8%) were dewormed using an ivermectin drug. It is important to design parasite programs to specifically address both D. arnfieldi and S. vulgaris in donkeys, and this is especially important if donkeys co-graze with horses.
An Experimental Study of Ignition in Nonpremixed Counterflowing Hydrogen versus Heated Air

ABSTRACT A variable pressure, counterflow combustion chamber has been built for the experimental investigation of ignition in a convective-diffusive system. In this paper we present our results on ignition of nonpremixed, counterflowing jets of 20% H2 in N2 versus heated air, within a wide range of pressures and flow strain rates. The system was brought to ignition by increasing gradually the temperature of the air stream. Each steady-state situation just prior to ignition was characterized by measuring detailed centerline axial flow velocity and temperature distributions, for ambient pressures between 0.1-6.0 atm and pressure-weighted strain rates between 50-400 s−1. The ignition temperature, defined as the maximum temperature of the air jet just prior to ignition, was found to increase with increasing flow strain rate at all pressures. Furthermore, its sensitivity to strain-rate variations was found to be much higher at elevated and reduced pressures (above ∼ 2 atm and below ∼ 0.5 atm) than it was at at.
The Investigation of Hot Spots in Western Anatolia by Geophysical and Mining Approaches

Abstract In the first part of this article, a short definition of geothermal energy is made and geothermal fields are classified according to their enthalpies. In the second part, general uses of geothermal energy and also the geothermal potential of Turkey and especially of western Anatolia are mentioned. Then, the general geology of the study area moving from three example geothermal fields is depicted and supported by lithological columns. The tectonic structure of our study area, western Anatolia, is profoundly explained and the presence of geothermal fields in this area is backed up by geophysical findings in detail in the final section.
Perceived High Performance Work Practices and Employee Engagement: An Empirical Study in Nigeria

Purpose of the article: Employee engagement, which has been acclaimed as one of the key determinants of the organisational performance, largely depends on employees’ dispositions. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of high performance work practices (HPWPs) on employee engagement. Methods: The study is based on a cross-sectional survey which examined a representative sample of three hundred and ninety-one employees (391). Six participating banks were selected randomly while the respondents were judgmentally selected among the banks. Structured questionnaires were provided to the sample the respondents and the data gathered were analysed using SPSS version 20. Scientific aim: This study seeks to provide scientific evidence of the efficacy of using a bundle of complementary human resource (HR) practices rather than single HR practice to engage skilled employees. Findings: The study revealed that a combination of all the four selected HPWPs as a bundle, significantly predicted employee engagement. However, only employee training and development as a single HR practice variable, significantly predicted employee engagement, while employee empowerment, performance appraisal and performance related pay were insignificant. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for human resource (HR) managers to understand and apply the most productive bundle of HR practices in nurturing employee engagement for desirable organisational outcomes. Based on the findings, a bundle of HR practices, which have complementary qualities, is imperative for employee engagement. This study has contributed to highlighting the organisational factors fostering employee engagement and ameliorating employees’ and organisational performance in Nigeria.
Immunnostimulatory activity of Holothuria atra sea cucumber

Immunostimulant is a substance that can stimulate the immune system against pathogenic microbes. Natural products produced by sea cucumbers have the potential to be developed as immunostimulants. This study was aimed to evaluate the imunostimulatory activity of Holothuria atra extract using the phagocytocyte assay of macrophage cells and the differentiation of leukocyte in rats. The samples of H. atra were taken from Halmahera waters, North Maluku, Indonesia. Extraction was carried out with 96% ethanol. Phagocytocyte activity assay was carried out using macrophage cells isolated from Balb/c mice (Mus musculus) using a series of doses 0.5; 1.0; 2.0; 4.0; 8.0; 16.0 and 32.0 mg/kg body weight. Leukocyte differentiation test in vivo was conducted using Rattus norvegicus rat treated with H. atra extract for 90 days with the following series of doses: 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight. The results showed that the highest phagocytosis activity was reached at a concentration of 4.0 μg/ml, but it was insignificantly different from the negative control group (p < 0.05). Leukocyte differentiation assay showed that the administration of H. atra extract increased the immune system response in the animals which was characterized by the increasing number of lymphocyte cells. H. atra extract also decreased the number of monocytes and neutrophils, suggesting the suppression of inflammation in the tested rats. Extract administration for 90 days did not cause a hypersensitivity reaction as indicated by the unchanged number of eosinophil and basophil cells. Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that H. atra had a potency to develop as an immunostimulant.
Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Adopted for Sustainable Livelihoods by the Pastoral Community in Narok County

Climate change is a global phenomenon that has posed complex challenges today. It is reported to impact negatively on both the economy and livelihoods of the population especially in the arid and semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Narok County in Kenya is one of the regions that has experienced extreme weather events characterised by changes in the rainfall patterns and increased frequency and intensity of droughts over the past 50 years (GOK, 2010). These immense climatic conditions have threatened pastoral livelihoods in the County despite pastoralism having a great potential in contributing to household welfare. Despite this, no comprehensive studies have been conducted in the area on how the community can be involved in adaptation measures aimed at minimizing the effects of climate related shocks. The aim of this study was to assess and document efficient and effective adaptation strategies to climate change that are used by the pastoral community in Narok County in order to sustain their livelihoods. The author used descriptive survey design to achieve this objective while employing face to face interviews to collect primary data. The sample size comprised of 415 pastoral households identified through a multistage cluster sampling and simple random sampling techniques. The collected data was analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer program and results were presented in using tables and bar graphs. Findings showed that the main adaptation strategies used by the pastoral community include; crop cultivation, livestock diversification, destocking, water harvesting, soil conservation, tree planting, and irrigation farming, among others. Consequently, policies that incorporate indigenous knowledge, promote community-led adaptation, effective and appropriate dissemination of climaterelated information at the local level and those that provide access to relevant institutions should be formulated in order to enhance the resilience of pastoral communities to impacts
Macronutrient intake, glycaemic index and glycaemic load of older Australian subjects with and without diabetes: baseline data from the Blue Mountains Eye Study

Individuals with diabetes receive more nutrition advice than other population segments yet little is known about how well they comply or differ in nutrient intake from the rest of the population. The present study determined the mean macronutrient intake, glycaemic index (GI), and glycaemic load (GL) of a cohort of 3654 older Australians, with and without diabetes. Fasting pathology tests, including plasma glucose, were obtained for 88% of the 3654 residents, and a 145-item semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was completed by 2900 residents (89%) between 1992 and 1994. In total, 6% of participants had diagnosed diabetes. Valid food-frequency data were available for 2736 without and 164 individuals with diabetes. The GI and GL were calculated from a customised database of Australian foods. Individuals with diabetes consumed significantly more protein (V=0·001) and less sugars (P≤0·001) than the general population. Only seven individuals with diabetes (4·3%) met all macronutrient recommendations and only four (2·4%) met fibre recommendations as well. Those with diabetes had a lower mean GI (55 (sd 5) V57 (sd 4); P=0·007, respectively) and GL (122 (sd 26) V 134 (sd 24); P<0·001, respectively) than the general population. In conclusion, older individuals with diabetes living in Australia in the 1990s chose a diet that had significantly more protein and less sugars than those without diabetes. This difference had little impact on the average GI, but it led to a moderate reduction in the average GL. Only a small percentage, however, was able to meet nutritional recommendations for optimal diabetes management.
Resisting the Pull of Erring Intuition Explanation Reduces Acquiescence in the Ratio Bias Paradigm

The human mind seems to have two distinct systems for making choices; simply doing what springs to mind intuitively or using a more deliberative, conscious and logical approach. This apparent division of mental processes has been researched and described in numerous ways, most notably through models based on the assumption that rational analysis corrects and overrides intuition when a fault in its conclusion is discovered. Such corrective dual-process models, as they are collectively referred to, do not take into account that people sometimes “go with their gut” even in instances in which they know it is illogical to do so. They are said to acquiesce to their intuition, a phenomenon documented and defined by Jane Risen (2016) and supported by preliminary evidence in a series of experiments (Walco and Risen, 2017). In this study we replicated and elaborated on the ratio bias experiment of Walco and Risen (2017), providing confirmatory evidence for the occurrence of acquiescence and examining whether the tendency could be reduced by providing relevant information about the bias in advance. Participants (n = 905) were recruited through an online data collection platform. They completed the ratio bias task and responded to several exploratory survey questions measuring individual differences. We found that providing a clear and concise explanation of the bias at hand generally increased rational responding to the task. Our analyses showed that the manipulation reduced the frequency with which participants were susceptible to experiencing the faulty intuition, and when intuition and reason were in conflict, resistance to the faulty intuition was increased. We conclude that the acquiescence tendency can effectively be reduced by informing people about the cognitive bias in question. We discuss the possible mechanisms that might underlie this effect, how it relates to individual differences in intuitive and rational decision-making preferences and superstitiousness, as well as implications and future directions concerning debiasing techniques and interventions, particularly in the context of dual-process theories.
THE IMPACT OF FARMER’S ATTITUDE AND PERCEIVED QUALITY TO FARMER’S SATISFACTION AND ITS EFFECT ON BRAND LOYALTY

This study aims to analyze the impact of farmer’s attitude and perceived quality to farmer’s satisfaction and its effect on brand loyalty in using Bisi-2 hybrid corn seeds in Tekasire village. This study uses causal analysis methods, thus multiple linear regression is utilized to analyze answer the research question. Before the data is analyzed, there will be some tests apply to the data, this procedure is called as classical assumption tests. The result revealed that perceived quality and customer attitude significantly and positively affect customer satisfaction of farmers toward Bisi-2 corn seed and so customer satisfaction affects brand loyalty, however direct relationship between perceived quality and brand loyalty is weak or not significant and so with relationship between customer attitude and brand loyalty. Bisi-2 corn seed sellers is suggested to pay attention on customer satisfaction as first priority since it is the only way to make their customers become loyal to their brand. Meanwhile customer satisfaction can be achieved by increasing customer positive attitude toward their product and perceived quality from customer point of view.
Effects of advanced nursing on temporary pacemaker installation during PCI treatment for acute myocardial infarction

Objective: This paper aimed to study the effects of advanced nursing on temporary pacemaker installation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Ninetytwo patients with AMI admitted to Zhucheng People’s Hospital from January 2017 to August 2018 were enrolled for a retrospective analysis. They were treated with PCI during which temporary pacemakers were installed. According to nursing methods, the patients were divided into a control group (45 cases received routine nursing interventions) and an observation group (47 cases received advanced nursing interventions). They were compared with respect to their prognostic outcomes, incidence of complications, nursing satisfaction, and negative emotions and quality of life before and after nursing. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the success rate of temporary pacemaker installation between the control and observation groups (P>0.05). The retention time of pacemakers, the number of patients undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation, the number of patients with pacemaker perception dysfunction, and the number of patients with Ron-t were significantly less in the observation group (all P<0.05). Patients in the observation group had significantly higher nursing satisfaction (all P<0.05), and significantly lower SAS and SDS scores after nursing (all P<0.05). After nursing, scores of self-care ability, physical condition, mental health and social function were significantly higher in the observation group (all P<0.001). After nursing, the incidence of complications such as infection, electrode displacement, cardiac catheter thrombosis, hypotension after reperfusion, and severe bradyarrhythmia was significantly lower in the observation group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The application of advanced nursing to temporary pacemaker installation during the PCI treatment for AMI has higher safety, and can significantly enhance the surgical effect on the patients and improve their prognosis, quality of life, and nursing satisfaction.
Dynamics of hygroscopic aqueous solution droplets undergoing evaporation or vapour absorption

Abstract Studies on the evaporation of multicomponent droplets have revealed complex and important physical mechanisms, induced by preferential phase change or mediated by external vapour sources, e.g. occurrence of density-driven flows, phase separation, transient Marangoni flow and solutal effects, etc. With the addition of hygroscopic salts, the adhesive property of the droplet can be tuned, and the direction of water vapour mass flux reversed. This paper focuses on the dynamics of hygroscopic aqueous solution droplets, and analyses the interplay between different physical processes. Specifically, a lubrication-type model is established with the assumption of a precursor film in front of the three-phase contact line, which indicates qualitative agreement with our experimental results, quantitatively with respect to the initial spreading rates and qualitatively with respect to the overall behaviour. We derive the expression of absorptive mass flux combining the balance of chemical potential across the solution–air interface and the Hertz–Knudsen equation. Depending on the droplet state and the ambient condition, evaporation or vapour absorption occurs. The evaporative/absorptive mass flux varies both spatially and temporally as the droplet approaches equilibrium. It is demonstrated that the dominating mechanisms, i.e. capillary, thermal Marangoni and solutal Marangoni, compete with each other, and lead to diverse droplet dynamics at different stages of evaporation or vapour absorption. The findings shed light on the physical processes within droplets with both positive and negative interfacial mass fluxes, and provide rational explanations for the experimental observations.
Preoperative regional scalp block versus intraoperative intravenous fentanyl for attenuating intraoperative surgical stress response to supratentorial craniotomy in adult patients under general anaesthesia

During brain tumour resection a lot of noxious stimuli are released resulting in a significant hemodynamic and stress response, its control is challenging during anaesthesia, and can be evaluated by monitoring blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) Attenuating autonomic cardiovascular responses to pain resulting from skull pinning, skin incision, and craniotomy are considered significant benefits of Regional Scalp Block (RSB) in addition to reducing postoperative analgesic requirements. This study aims to evaluate the effect of preoperative regional scalp block (RSB) versus intraoperative intravenous fentanyl for attenuating intraoperative surgical stress response to supratentorial craniotomy in adult patients under general anaesthesia. The study included 30 patients randomly distributed into two equal groups with 15 patients in each, Group A: Preoperative RSB was done after induction of general anaesthesia and before skull pinning, Group C: Control group: patients were given conventional intraoperative analgesia in the form of intravenous fentanyl with no block. This study included patients with Supratentorial brain tumours were admitted to Zagazig University Hospitals. Patients have been gathered over two years duration from march 2018 to march 2020. The results showed that there were highly significant differences between RSB group and control group. Preoperative RSB showed advantages over Standard analgesia in terms of better attenuation of stress response to pain in the form of heart rate and blood pressure intraoperatively, decrease opioid consumption, lower Visual Analogue Score (VAS), Preoperative RSB can be performed easily in a short time with very high success rate allowing better intraoperative control of haemodynamics, less postoperative pain. We recommend using preoperative RSB in supratentorial craniotomy as a gold standard in our hospital to get the advantages mentioned above.
Chemical composition of black plum (Vitex doniana): an under-utilized fruit

Samples of Vitex doniana fruit were collected from Akure metropolis. The dried edible portion was washed, ground into powder and analyzed for the proximate composition and mineral content. Thereafter, the phytin, tannin, ascorbic acid and sugar contents of the powder were also determined using standard procedures. The mean values for the proximate composition were: moisture 487.7±0.5, ash 52.7±0.1, fat 30.0±0.4, fibre 67.3±0.7, protein 72.8±0.1 and carbohydrate 289.5±0.8 g kg -1 . Phytin, phytin-phosphorus and tannin levels were 100, 28.2±0.1 and 50 mg kg -1 , respectively. The fruit contained relatively adequate quantities of nutritionally needed macro-mineral elements, and the concentration of sugars ranged between 474 and 40,000 mg kg -1 . Though it has lower vitamin C content when compared with other well known fruits, it is safe for consumption and could be a cheap source of raw material for juice production in this region.