Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of anxiety level and sleep quality of medical staff treating patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE Worldwide transmission of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and related morbidity and mortality has presented a global challenge for several reasons. One such underrecognized and unaddressed aspect is the emotional health problems that medical staff have developed during this pandemic. The purpose of this one-month study was to examine anxiety levels and sleep quality of 100 medical staff members who worked in medical clinics treating COVID-19 patients in Saudi hospitals and to investigate the association of both anxiety levels and sleep quality with age, sex, and distinctive demographics. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated anxiety levels and sleep quality of 100 medical staff members (age range 20-60 years) who worked in medical clinics treating COVID-19 patients in Saudi hospitals and the association of both anxiety levels and sleep quality with age, sex, and distinctive demographics. Anxiety levels and sleep quality were measured using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (SAS and PSQI, respectively). RESULTS A significant increment in anxiety and poor sleep quality was found in medical staff caring for COVID-19 patients. Anxiety levels in females were higher than males; however, poor sleep quality was somewhat higher in males vs. females but did not vary between age groups. Age was significantly negatively correlated with anxiety symptoms; individuals < 40 years old vs. ≥ 40 had more significant anxiety levels. We observed that medical staff with top-level salaries demonstrated a significant correlation (p = 0.028) between poor sleep quality and ill effects vs. those who had lower pay rates. A correlation between income and anxiety was not found. CONCLUSIONS The higher the probability and intensity of exposure to coronavirus patients, the more noteworthy the danger that medical staff will experience the ill effects of mental issues.
Social Influence in Impaired Driving: An Exploration in Alberta, Canada

Social influence is the internal and external social-psychological pressure resulting in performance of certain behavior in different context. This study explored the social influence theory in explaining alcohol-impaired driving among a representative sample of adults in Alberta, Canada. Data for the current study came from the Annual Alberta Survey 2009. Information on drinking and driving habit in the past 12 months, social influence in impaired driving, and socio-demographic factors in impaired driving behavior, was collected through computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) from 1,211 respondents across Alberta. Results indicated that in the past 12 months, 4% of the respondents had driven a vehicle while impaired, and 6.1% of the respondents had been passengers in a vehicle driven by an impaired driver. Chi-square test indicated that male, single, employed, non-religious, and younger respondents were more likely to have driven while impaired. Logistic regression analyses showed that a one-unit increase in social influence was associated with 5.78 times greater odds of engaging in impaired driving (OR = 5.78, 95% CI = 3.26–10.25, p
Quantifying random measurement errors in Voluntary Observing Ships' meteorological observations

Estimates of the random measurement error contained in surface meteorological observations from Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) have been made on a 30° area grid each month for the period 1970 to 2002. Random measurement errors are calculated for all the basic meteorological variables: surface pressure, wind speed, air temperature, humidity and sea‐surface temperature. The random errors vary with space and time, the quality assurance applied and the types of instrument used to make the observations. The estimates of random measurement error are compared with estimates of total observational error, which includes uncertainty due both to measurement errors and to observational sampling. In tropical regions the measurement error makes a significant contribution to the total observational error in a single observation, but in higher latitudes the sampling error can be much larger. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society
Kinesio Taping reduces pain and improves disability in Low Back Pain patients : a randomised controlled

4 Objectives: Investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping® (KT) on chronic nonspecific 5 low back pain (LBP) Design: Randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat 6 analysis. Setting: University laboratory. Participants: One hundred eight women with 7 chronic nonspecific LBP underwent an evaluation pre, three and ten days after 8 intervention. Interventions: After randomization, participants were assigned in four 9 groups: KT with tension group (KTT) applied Kinesio Taping® with tension in the 10 region of the erector spinae muscles; KT no tension group (KTNT) applied Kinesio 11 Taping® with no tension at the same region; Micropore® group (MP) applied 12 Micropore® tape on the erector spinae muscles; and Control group (CG) did not receive 13 any intervention. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was pain sensation, 14 measured by numerical pain rating scale. Secondary outcomes were: disability, trunk 15 range of motion, strength and electromyographic amplitude, measured by Roland 16 Morris Disability questionnaire, inclinometry, dynamometry and electromyography, 17 respectively. Results: Pain relief was observed for KTT group (mean difference=1,963; 18 CI 95%=0,501 3,425; p=0,003) and KTNT group (mean diference=1,926; CI 19 95%=0,464 3,388; p=0,004) compared to control group at 3 days after application of 20 the tape. For disability there was difference between control group and KTT group at 3 21 (mean difference=3,481; CI 95%=0,825 – 6,138; p=0,004) and 10 days (mean 22 difference=3,185; CI 95%=0,395 5,975; p=0,016). For all the others variables, there 23 was no differences between group. Conclusion: KT with or without tension reduces 24 pain 3 days after its application. Additionally, when applied with tension it improves 25 disability after 3 and 10 days in LBP patients. 26 Trial registration: NCT02550457 (clinicaltrials.gov). 27
Eolian Sand Control

Oil-field operations in desert or semi-arid areas of the world are inevitably faced with the problems of sand encroachment and accumulation. Not only is this a serious hazard to equipment, but the labor of removing sand is a constant drain on manpower and transportation resources. The cost of eliminating or stabilizing sand becomes then a frequently recurring charge against operations. Fortunately in recent years, engineering-geology studies on sand control have advanced sufficiently to prove that drifting sand can be effectively and permanently trapped and retained. Eolian sand control has four fundamental objectives: (1) the destruction or stabilization of sand accumulations, such as dunes, in order to prevent their further migration and encroachment on operational sites; (2) the diversion of wind-blown sand around buildings or areas; (3) the direct and permanent stoppage or impounding of sand before the location or object to be protected; and (4) the rendition of deliberate aid to sand movement so as to avoid deposition over a locale. In order to achieve these objectives, the following methods can be employed singly or in combination: (a) transposing, (b) planting, (c) paving, (d) panelling, (e) fencing, and (f) oiling. A theoretical treatment of the sand-control objective is presented in Part I. The practical implementation and relative evalua ion of each control method are discussed in Part II.
Recommended Values of Meteorological Factors to Be Considered in the Design of Aircraft Ice-Prevention Equipment

Meteorological conditions conducive to aircraft icing are arranged in four classifications: three are associated with cloud structure and the fourth with freezing rain. The range of possible meteorological factors for each classification is discussed and specific values recommended for consideration in the design of ice-prevention equipment for aircraft are selected and tabulated. The values selected are based upon a study of the available observational data and theoretical considerations where observations are lacking. Recommendations for future research in the field are presented.
The impact of future climate change on seasonal discharge, hydrological processes and extreme flows in the Upper Wye experimental catchment, Mid‐Wales

Analysing the impact of future climate change on hydrological regimes is hampered by the disparity of scales between general circulation model (GCM) output and the spatial resolution required by catchment‐scale hydrological simulation models. In order to overcome this, statistical relationships were established between three indices of atmospheric circulation (vorticity and the strength and direction of geostrophic windflow) and daily catchment precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (PET) to downscale from the HadCM2 GCM to the Upper Wye experimental catchment in mid‐Wales. The atmospheric circulation indices were calculated from daily grid point sea‐level pressure data for: (a) the Climatic Research Unit observed data set (1975–90); (b) the HadCM2SUL simulation representing the present climate (1980–99); and (c) the HadCM2SUL simulation representing future climate conditions (2080–99). The performance of the downscaling approach was evaluated by comparing diagnostic statistics from the three downscaled precipitation and PET scenarios with those recorded from the Upper Wye catchment. The most significant changes between the downscaled HadCM2SUL 1980–99 and 2080–99 scenarios are decreases in precipitation occurrence and amount in summer and autumn combined with a shortening of mean wet spell length, which is most pronounced in autumn. A hydrological simulation model (HYSIM) was calibrated on recorded flow data for the Upper Wye catchment and ‘forced’ with the three downscaled precipitation and PET scenarios to model changes in river flow and hillslope hydrological processes. Results indicate increased seasonality of flows, with markedly drier summers. Analysis of extreme events suggests significant increases in the frequency of both high‐ and low‐flow events. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance evaluation of mobile ad hoc networks in realistic mobility and fading environments

x Chapter One: Introduction 1 1.1 Wireless LANs 1 1.1.1 Working of WLANs 1 1.1.2 Wireless LAN Technology Options 2 1.1.3 Classification of WLANs 4 1.2 Mobile Ad hoc Networks 5 1.3 Research Challenges of MANETs 7 1.3. 1 Throughput 7 1.3. 2 Multi-path Fading 9 1.3. 3 Energy Utilization 9 1.3. 4 Mobility 10 1.3. 5 Scalability 11 1.4 Motivation 12 1.5 Research Objectives 13 1.6 Thesis Organization 13 1.7 Summary 14 Chapter Two: Literature Review and Background 15 2.1 Literature Review 15 2.2 Fading Channel 16 2.3 IEEE 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) 18
ON THE FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE MECHANISMS OF THE COLD WATER MASS OF THE YELLOW SEA

An analytical study is made on the formation of the Cold Water Mass of the Yellow Sea (CWYS) and the relevant thermally driven circulation. The temperature and velocity field, obtained by solving the coupled equations of motion and heat conduction, show that, in summer, the CWYS has a horizontal cyclonic circulation (component) with vertical upwelling in the middle and downwelling at the edges, that the vertical convection (u-w components) occurs only within a thin layer near the thermocline. and that the deeper layer remains almost motionless. This current structure represents well the mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of the thermocline or CWYS during the wanner months. Comparisons between the theoretical and observed temperatures show very good qualitative and quantitative agreements for corresponding seasons.
Impact of maternal age on perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Current evidence of the maternal, perinatal and neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies among mothers with advanced age is unclear, especially for mothers with age above 40 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic search was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Studies that were observational in design or analysed retrospective data were considered for inclusion. The included studies had to be conducted in twin pregnancies and should have documented the effect of maternal age on obstetric and/or neonatal outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software. RESULTS A total of 20 studies were considered for inclusion. All the studies were based on retrospective data. Compared to mothers aged under 40 years, those with advanced age (≥40 years) had increased risk of caesarean delivery [RR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.37], gestational hypertension [RR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.72, 4.27], gestational diabetes mellitus [RR 2.03, 95% CI: 1.28, 3.21], preterm birth [RR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.09, 5.80], neonatal admission to intensive care unit [RR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.64] and perinatal and/or neonatal mortality [RR 5.76, 95% CI: 1.11, 29.7]. The risk of gestational diabetes mellitus [RR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.90] and having caesarean delivery [RR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.28] was higher in mothers with ≥35 years of age, compared to those <35 years. There were no significant differences in the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes among the mothers with age ≥35 years. However, in these mothers, the risk of perinatal/neonatal mortality [RR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.88] was comparatively lower than in mothers under 35 years of age. There appeared no significant risk of advanced maternal age for postpartum haemorrhage, hospitalization during pregnancy and premature rupture of membranes. CONCLUSIONS The increased risk of maternal, neonatal and perinatal outcomes in mothers with advanced age highlights the need for close follow-up, early detection and management of medical complications in twin pregnancies.
Spatial variability of soil properties and soil erodibility in the Alqueva reservoir watershed

Abstract. The aim of this work is to investigate how the spatial variability of soil properties and soil erodibility ($K$ factor) were affected by the changes in land use allowed by irrigation with water from a reservoir in a semiarid area. To this end, three areas representative of different land uses (agroforestry grassland, lucerne crop and olive orchard) were studied within a 900 ha farm. The interrelationships between variables were analyzed by multivariate techniques and extrapolated using geostatistics. The results confirmed differences between land uses for all properties analyzed, which was explained mainly by the existence of diverse management practices (tillage, fertilization and irrigation), vegetation cover and local soil characteristics. Soil organic matter, clay and nitrogen content decreased significantly, while the K factor increased with intensive cultivation. The HJ-Biplot methodology was used to represent the variation of soil erodibility properties grouped in land uses. Native grassland was the least correlated with the other land uses. The K factor demonstrated high correlation mainly with very fine sand and silt. The maps produced with geostatistics were crucial to understand the current spatial variability in the Alqueva region. Facing the intensification of land-use conversion, a sustainable management is needed to introduce protective measures to control soil erosion.
Metamorphic evolution of the Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex of the East Indian Shield: current status

Abstract Geological information on the Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC) has been reviewed with a view to: (a) identifying the different metamorphic episodes; (b) developing an event stratigraphy in the high-grade blocks; and (c) correlating the different metamorphic episodes with the globally extensive orogenic processes. Integrating the existing geological information, the geological evolution of the high-grade block of the CGGC has been divided into four stages associated with four distinct metamorphic events (MI−MIV). The earliest metamorphic event (MI) that is recorded in granulite enclaves in the regionally extensive felsic gneisses culminated in ultrahigh temperatures (>900 °C at c. 5–8 kbar) at around 1.87 Ga. In the second stage, voluminous felsic magmas were intruded – the MI granulites – and were metamorphosed to form migmatitic felsic gneisses (MII) within about 1.66–1.55 Ga. The third stage witnessed intrusions of a suite of anorthosite and porphyritic granitoids (c. 1.55–1.51 Ga), followed by high-grade metamorphism (700±50 °C, 6.5±1 kbar, MIII) during approximately 1.2–0.93 Ga. The fourth stage (MIV) is marked by the intrusion of a suite of mafic dykes, followed by infiltration-driven metamorphism (600–750 °C at 7±1) during 0.87–0.78 Ga. The proposed metamorphic events have been correlated with the supercontinental cycles in the Proterozoic time.
Some phenotypic traits of mules raised in Sirnak province of Turkey.

The purpose of this research study is to determine mules raised in province of Sirnak morphologically. This study was conducted to define body dimensions by analyzing sex and age by comparing with province of Ordu, region of East Anatolian, mean of Turkish, and UK mules. Data were analyzed for ANOVA and Student’s T-Test using the Minitab 16 statistical programme. In this study a total of 38 mules, 18 males and 20 females, were used in three age groups (3-5, 6-8 and 9-18 years). Descriptive statistics of morphologic traits were for withers height 132.7±0.67, height at rump 133.7±0.73, body length 135.1±0.84, heart girth circumference 147.7±0.76, chest depth 60.6±0.34, cannon circumference 16.9±0.16, and head length 56.8±0.26 cm. In this study the distributions of coat colour were for bay colour 47.7%, black 7.9%, mouse gray 5.3%, white 31.6% and chestnut 10.5%. It was observed that growth is nearly complete at 3 years of age and then there was a small difference in body size. The present data showed that mules raised in province of Sirnak were slightly larger in body sizes than UK, East Anatolian, Turkish and Ordu mules.
Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Visual Impairment on Quality of Life of Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in South East, Nigeria

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is defined as an “individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value system in which they live and in relation to goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. ” Visual Impairment affects QoL because of the restrictions it imposes on everyday life activities. Aims: This study aims to compare the QoL of visually impaired patients attending the Eye Clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri with that of normally sighted persons. The findings will aid the formulation of policies guiding the management of visually impaired patients. Patients and Methods: This was a hospital-based case-control study which recruited all consenting new patients with visual impairment, and age, and sex-matched controls who presented at the Eye Clinic, Federal Medical Centre, Imo State, Nigeria during the period of the study. Data was collected using a semi-structured closed-ended questionnaire, and the World Health Organization QoL-BREF and analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Science version 22. Results: Four hundred and two participants were recruited. Lower scores were recorded in all the quality of life (QoL) domains for the visually impaired compared with controls. The overall QoL and health status mean score for the visually impaired (61.10 ± 19.75) was significantly lower than that for the controls (70.90 ± 21.19) at P < 0.001. Severity of visual impairment at P < 0.001 significantly affected all the QoL domains for the visually impaired with the lowest score noted among the blind (58.21 ± 11.63) compared to controls (79.33 ± 11.74). Occupation and educational level significantly affected the QoL of the study group but not the controls. Conclusion: Visual impairment significantly reduces the QOL of patients. Policies targeted at enhancing the QoL of the visually impaired through rehabilitation and societal integration is recommended.
Passive dosing of triclosan in multigeneration tests with copepods – stable exposure concentrations and effects at the low μg/L range

Ecotoxicity testing is a crucial component of chemical risk assessment. Still, due to methodological difficulties related to controlling exposure concentrations over time, data on long‐term effects of organic chemicals at low concentrations are limited. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to test the applicability of passive dosing to maintain stable concentrations of the organochlorine bacteriocide triclosan in the water phase during a 6‐wk multigeneration population development test with the harpacticoid copepod Nitocra spinipes. Triclosan was loaded into silicone (1000 mg), which was used as passive dosing phase in the exposure vials. The distribution ratio for triclosan between silicone and water (Dsilicone‐water) was 10466 ± 1927. A population development test was conducted at 3 concentration levels of triclosan that were measured to be 3 μg/L to 5 μg/L, 7 μg/L to 11 μg/L and 16 μg/L to 26 μg/L. The results demonstrate that passive dosing is applicable for long‐term ecotoxicity testing of organic chemicals, including during significant growth of the test organism population. Shifts in the demographic structure of the population during exposure suggest the most severe effects were exerted on juvenile development. Progressively lower development index values in the populations exposed to increasing triclosan concentrations suggest developmental retardation. The results further stress the need for chronic exposure during ecotoxicity testing in chemical risk assessment because even the most sensitive endpoint was not significant until after 7 d of exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1254–1260. © 2016 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
Tectonic environment of the Devonian Gramscatho basin, south Cornwall: framework mode and geochemical evidence from turbiditic sandstones

The Portscatho Formation, within the allochthonous unit of the Middle and Upper Devonian Gramscatho Group, is a thick sequence of deep-water sandstones and interbedded slates deposited by southerly-derived turbidity currents into the Gramscatho basin of south Cornwall. Throughout an approximately 3.5 km thick sequence, the Portscatho Formation is petrographically and chemically coherent, except that the upper section shows a higher proportion of metamorphic clasts, high, but variable Cr, and low, uniform Zr abundances. Complementary framework mode and bulk geochemistry indicate that the sandstones were derived from a dissected continental magmatic arc of predominantly acidic composition, similar to average upper continental crust, but with an admixture of minor intermediate/basic material. Flysch deposition took place in a fore-arc setting. The presence of an arc to the south of Cornwall during the Devonian implies that there was subduction at the margin of the Gramscatho basin, whose ultimate closure was accommodated by the northward stacking of flysch–ophiolite nappes.