Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Sustainable Practice on the Indonesian Hotel’s Financial Performance: A Case Study of Cipaku Garden Hotel

The agenda of researchers and practitioners within the hospitality and tourism sector has focused on the need and demand for sustainable practice. Following this situation, the Cipaku Garden Hotel, as a small-to-medium-sized hotel operating in Indonesia, follows the trend that has taken place and conducts sustainable practice as part of its business activities. Accordingly, the objectives of this study are to examine the sustainable practice conducted by the Cipaku Garden Hotel, uncover the management’s perception concerning the benefits of the applied sustainable practice, and analyze the outcome and influence generated by the implemented sustainable practice on the hotel’s financial performance. Through a case study approach, it is found that the Cipaku Garden Hotel applies its sustainable practice within the form of waste management activities. Within those activities, the hotel recycles organic waste into catfish food and compost. As a result, the hotel’s waste management activities have improved its cost-saving capabilities, and it is marked by the reduction of cost on catfish care up to 49% and garden maintenance around 50%. Profit-wise, the hotel’s sustainable practice has also increased its gross profit margin and net profit margin by 8% and 4%, respectively, compared to its previous year. Thus, the sustainable practice conducted by the Cipaku Garden Hotel brings a positive impact to its financial performance.
Modelling the risks faced by Indian construction companies assessing international projects

There are just two Indian construction companies in the ENR ‘Top 225 Global Contractors 2006’ list and Indian construction companies have only a 0.05% market share of the $3–4 trillion global construction business. International construction experience in India is limited, but enormous scope for growth exists. This research presents the international construction risk factors from the Indian construction professionals' viewpoint, in a comprehensive format to enable practitioners to prioritize the efforts to manage the risk factors. Fourteen important risk factors have been identified through literature survey and interaction with industry experts. Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) has been used to present a hierarchical model showing the interrelationships between the risk factors. MICMAC analysis has been used to quantify and classify the risk factors based on their influence and dependence on other risk factors and to highlight counter‐intuitive risk factors. We find that poor project management is a key risk factor forming the hub of the system, while political instability has maximum influence. The findings may be useful to the practitioners in the construction industry and may also interest academicians, since the method used here can be applied in other areas of construction management as well.
Superlatives in news articles reporting non-FDA approved indications for use of cannabis and cannabis products with a focus on psychiatric disorders: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract The exaggerated language used in news articles to describe the benefits of cannabis for conditions without FDA indications may mislead the public and healthcare providers. Thus, this study's objective was to investigate the use of exaggerated language in news articles focused on cannabis and cannabis-derived products. Using a cross-sectional study design, we searched Google News from March 3, 2020, and September 3, 2019 for 11 prespecified superlative terms along with the search terms “cannabis,” “cannabidiol,” “pot,” “marijuana,” “weed,” and “CBD. ” Articles were evaluated for these exaggerative terms describing cannabis and cannabis-derived products along with additional news article characteristics. Screening and data extraction occurred in a masked, duplicate fashion. We identified 612 superlative terms in 374 different news articles focused on cannabis and cannabis-derived products from 262 news outlets. Only 26 (of 374, 7.0%) news articles provided clinical data. In total, superlative terms were used to describe cannabis and cannabis-derived products for the treatment of 91 medical conditions, of which only 2 are FDA approved. The most common psychiatric disorder indicated was anxiety disorder appearing in 88 news articles. Superlatives in news articles covering the treatment of psychiatric illnesses with cannabis and cannabis-derived products are common.
Low-power, high-speed dual modulus prescalers based on branch-merged true single-phase clocked scheme

A new design scheme intended to improve the performance of true single-phase clocked (TSPC) dual modulus prescalers is presented. Two branches of TSPC D flip-flops are merged to reduce both power and device count. An HSPICE simulation of the proposed scheme demonstrates the highest power efficiency and best power–delay product among the referenced designs.
How leadership styles reflect on lean manufacturing practices and culture

It is imperative for manufacturers to be profitable. Many researchers see lean as a general system to improve the profitability of manufacturing, but there is some discontent in implementing lean manufacturing, as reports claim a low success rate in implementing lean. Lean manufacturing has been extensively studied in the automobile industry, but some researchers attribute the lack of transportability into other industries as one of the reasons lean has not been implemented more successfully. Some researchers explain that creating a particular culture is needed to implement lean. Others discuss the importance of leadership as the missing link to successfully implementing lean. The current research investigated 11 semiconductor factories in the United States, correlating the leadership styles of factory leaders, factories’ lean practices, and their lean cultures, using three quantitative surveys. First, the study surveyed manufacturing leaders about the perceived implementation of lean practices and used the concept of the degree of leanness. Second, the study examined employee engagement as well as continuous improvement throughout entire organizations; both concepts were used as a proxy for lean culture. Third, the study used Avolio and Bass’s Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, developed in 2009, to explore the leadership type of the manufacturers’ leaders. The researcher used all three quantitative surveys to test the hypothesis that transformational leadership style is the most supportive leadership style to implement lean manufacturing.
Association of vitamin D deficiency with COVID-19 severity and mortality in Iranian people: a prospective observational study

Background As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to escalate, it is important to identify the prognostic factors related to increased mortality and disease severity. To assess the possible associations of vitamin D level with disease severity and survival, we studied 248 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a single center in a prospective observational study from October 2020 to May 2021 in Tehran, Iran. Methods Patients who had a record of their 25-hydroxyvitamin D level measured in the previous year before testing positive with COVID-19 were included. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was measured upon admission in COVID-19 patients. The associations between clinical outcomes of patients and 25-hydroxyvitamin D level were assessed by adjusting for potential confounders and estimating a multivariate logistic regression model. Results The median (interquartile range) age of patients was 60 years (44–74 years), and 53% were male. The median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level prior to admission decreased with increasing COVID-19 severity (P=0.009). Similar findings were obtained when comparing median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D on admission between moderate and severe patients (P=0.014). A univariate logistic regression model showed that vitamin D deficiency prior to COVID-19 was associated with a significant increase in the odds of mortality (odds ratio, 2.01; P=0.041). The multivariate Cox model showed that vitamin D deficiency on admission was associated with a significant increase in risk for mortality (hazard ratio, 2.35; P=0.019). Conclusions: Based on our results, it is likely that deficient vitamin D status is associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients. Thus, evaluating vitamin D level in COVID-19 patients is warranted.
Comparative pathogenicity of Malaysian variant and very virulent infectious bursal disease viruses in chickens

ABSTRACT Variant infectious bursal disease virus (vaIBDV) has been identified in various countries with significant economic losses. Recently, the first identification of a variant strain in Malaysia was reported. The pathogenicities of the Malaysian variant, UPM1432/2019, and very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV), UPM1056/2018 strains were comparatively evaluated in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens based on gross and histopathological examinations and viral load. Four-week-old SPF chickens were randomly divided into three groups; group 1 served as the control, while groups 2 and 3 birds were challenged with the vaIBDV and vvIBDV, respectively. Three birds from each group were weighed, euthanized and necropsied at 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 21 days post-challenge (dpc). Unlike UPM1056/2018 group, birds from UPM1432/2019 group did not show clinical signs or death. UPM1056/2018 strain caused 11% mortality rate in the infected chickens. The bursal body index (BBIX) for UPM1432/2019- and UPM1056/2018-infected groups was <0.7 from 2 dpc and continued to decrease to 0.49 and 0.45, respectively, at 21 dpc. UPM1432/2019 strain was more persistent in the bursa than UPM1056/2018 strain. Both strains induced similar pathological lesions in SPF chicks. These results indicate that the Malaysian vaIBDV severely damaged the immune organs of chickens and was more persistent in bursal tissue than vvIBDV. The study provides insight into the pathogenicity of the variant strain as further study may be required to evaluate the efficacy of the currently available IBD vaccines in Malaysia against the strain. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Emerging Malaysian variant IBDV caused severe bursal damage without mortality. Atypical vvIBDV induced bursal atrophy with inflammatory response and caused low mortality. Malaysian variant IBDV was more persistent in bursal tissue than vvIBDV.
Media education and regional language journalism in India

This commentary is based on my talk at a roundtable discussion hosted by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in August 2021. I write this to make a pitch for strengthening media education in regional language journalism in India. Although there has been substantial growth in demand, operations, infrastructure, and technology in regional language media, the quality of news coverage and professional practices are questionable. Reporters and editors are poorly paid in many news media organisations. Aside from building a cadre of trained professionals, I propose two ways to strengthen regional language journalism. First, there is a need for quality research on regional language media in India, especially the gendered nature of the Indian regional language journalistic field, to help address the gaps in practice. Second, there is a need to provide legitimacy to and build capacities in the community media sector to help support and strengthen the regional language journalism in India. India has seen a boom in media outlets in general and the regional language media in particular. Whether we consider print, television, broadcasting, or online platforms, there has been a mushrooming of privately-owned national and, later, regional news channels and publications. Conventionally consisting of two segments – the national news media and the regional news media – the former are predominantly English (and sometimes also in Hindi) while the latter are produced in other regional languages and dialects spoken in different parts of the country. Before independence, India seemingly had only two languages – English and the vernacular(s) (Mallikarjun, 2021). But now, the Eighth Schedule to the Indian Constitution acknowledges multilingualism and recognises twenty-two official languages besides English. These are (in alphabetical order): Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei (Manipuri), Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. However, a popular saying about India reads, kos kos par badle paani, chaar kos par bani – the water changes every mile, and the language changes every four miles. Revealing the linguistic diversity of India, the 2011 census recorded a total of 121 (22 scheduled and 99 others) languages and 270 mother tongues in the country (Media Ownership Monitor 1, n.d.).
Hubungan Antara Amalan Pengurusan Kualiti Menyeluruh(TQM) Dengan Iklim Sekolah Dalam Kalangan Sekolah-Sekolah Menengah Berprestasi Tinggi, Sederhana dan Rendah di Negeri Kelantan

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti amalan TQM terhadap iklim sekolah. Kajian ini juga berhasrat untuk mengetahui tahap amalan TQM di ketiga-tiga kategori sekolah berprestasi tinggi, sederhana dan rendah. Di samping itu, kajian ini juga berhasrat untuk mengetahui tahap iklim yang terdapat di sekolah-sekolah tersebut serta faktor-faktor yang menyokong dan menghalang pelaksanaan TQM di sekolah. Data yang diperoleh melalui soal selidik ke atas 691 orang guru dianalisis menggunakan statistik deskriptif dan inferensi menerusi program SPSS. Manakala data yang diperoleh melalui temu bual berstrata ke atas 12 orang guru dan pengurusan atasan sekolah pula dianalisis menggunakan analisis kualitatif secara tradisional. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapatnya perbezaan yang signifikan antara tahap amalan TQM di ketiga-tiga kategori sekolah tersebut iaitu sekolah berprestasi tinggi menunjukkan tahap amalan TQM yang lebih tinggi, diikuti dengan sekolah berprestasi sederhana dan rendah. Keadaan yang sama ditunjukkan bagi tahap iklim di ketiga-tiga kategori sekolah tersebut iaitu tahap iklim di sekolah berprestasi tinggi adalah lebih tinggi, diikuti sekolah berprestasi sederhana dan rendah. Seterusnya kajian menunjukkan terdapatnya hubungan positif yang signifikan antara kedua-dua pembolehubah tahap amalan TQM dengan iklim sekolah. Statistik inferensi pula menunjukkan bahawa TQM menjadi peramal kepada iklim sekolah dengan sumbangan sebanyak 40% varians terhadap iklim sekolah. Bagi dimensi amalan TQM pula, dimensi penglibatan staf, komitmen pengurusan atasan dan penambahbaikan berterusan merupakan penyumbang utama kepada iklim sekolah dengan sumbangan sebanyak 46.6%. Data temu bual yang digunakan untuk mengukuhkan andaian teori telah menunjukkan faktor komitmen pengurusan atasan, penglibatan staf dan penambahbaikan berterusan menjadi faktor utama yang menyokong pelaksanaan TQM di sekolah sementara faktor ketidakfahaman tentang konsep TQM, kekangan masa, komunikasi dan sikap negatif merupakan faktor halangan kepada pelaksanaan TQM di sekolah. Akhir sekali, dapatan kajian ini memberi sumbangan kepada tiga (3) bidang utama, iaitu bidang ilmu, teoritikal dan juga praktikal. Suatu model sekolah cemerlang juga dapat dibentuk untuk dijadikan sebagai panduan kepada semua guru dan pentadbir sekolah ke arah merealisasikan kecemerlangan pendidikan masa kini.
Media Discourse on Sustainable Consumption in Europe

ABSTRACT Given the importance of mass media in forming consumer attitudes, exploring the main trends in the media discourse on sustainability is of great interest to businesses, policymakers and researchers. This study investigates the discourse on sustainable consumption in major national newspapers in four European countries (Germany, Italy, Norway and Romania), using food consumption as the specific topic. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the issues reported in the newspapers related to the concept of sustainable food from the longitudinal and comparative perspective and identifies the dimensions of sustainability reported in the examined newspapers that are associated with sustainable food in the four different countries. This study adds to the understanding of how the sustainable food concept has developed in Europe over time and highlights the factors that have influenced the development of this concept. The information gaps in the common understanding of the sustainable food concept are pointed out through this research, therefore illustrating how to enhance consumer awareness about this issue.
A Positive Version of the Good Behavior Game in a Self-Contained Classroom for EBD: Effects on Individual Student Behavior

A within-participant withdrawal design was used to examine the effects of a positive version of the Good Behavior Game (GBG) for three students in an elementary special education classroom for students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD). Results indicated immediate improvements in disruptive behavior and academic engagement for all three students when the GBG was implemented which was generally replicated in the second intervention phase for academic engagement. Tau-U effect sizes ranged from . 76 to . 95 indicating large and very large effects for both behaviors for two students and academic engagement for the third student, but Tau-U for the third student’s disruptive behavior was . 32 (considered not effective). Two students exhibited slight decreasing trends in academic engagement behavior and increasing trends in disruptive behavior near the end of intervention phases. A preliminary within-session analysis also suggested students’ behavior was generally better in intervention phases both during and not during the GBG when compared with their baseline levels of behavior. Social validity information suggested generally positive teacher and student perceptions about the GBG initially, with less positive student perceptions 10 weeks following the conclusion of the study. The teacher reported implementing the GBG 5 times over the 10 weeks following the conclusion of the study.
Effects of beam bar anchorage on beam-column joint behaviour

Reversed cyclic-load tests are carried out on full-scale reinforced concrete (RC) exterior beam–column joints, which are fabricated to simulate those in as-built RC framed buildings designed to BS 8110. Emphasis of the study is placed on the effects of the types of beam bar anchorage and location of laps in column reinforcement on the seismic behaviour and shear strength of RC exterior joints subjected to simulated earthquake load. The behaviour is investigated with different types of anchorage in beam reinforcement and laps in column bars at the lower zone of the column. It has been shown from the experiment that all the specimens have low ductility capacity and poor energy dissipation ability. The test results are compared with two preseismic design codes (BS 8110 and EC 2) and two seismic design codes (ACI-318 and NZS 3101). It is shown that the types of reinforcement anchorage in beams have significant effects on the shear capacity and hysteretic behaviour of exterior beam–column joints. Present codes.
Autonomic control of cerebral blood flow: fundamental comparisons between peripheral and cerebrovascular circulations in humans

Understanding the contribution of the autonomic nervous system to cerebral blood flow (CBF) control is challenging, and interpretations are unclear. The identification of calcium channels and adrenoreceptors within cerebral vessels has led to common misconceptions that the function of these receptors and actions mirror those of the peripheral vasculature. This review outlines the fundamental differences and complex actions of cerebral autonomic activation compared with the peripheral circulation. Anatomical differences, including the closed nature of the cerebrovasculature, and differential adrenoreceptor subtypes, density, distribution and sensitivity, provide evidence that measures on peripheral sympathetic nerve activity cannot be extrapolated to the cerebrovasculature. Cerebral sympathetic nerve activity seems to act opposingly to the peripheral circulation, mediated at least in part by changes in intracranial pressure and cerebral blood volume. Additionally, heterogeneity in cerebral adrenoreceptor distribution highlights region‐specific autonomic regulation of CBF. Compensatory chemo‐ and autoregulatory responses throughout the cerebral circulation, and interactions with parasympathetic nerve activity are unique features to the cerebral circulation. This crosstalk between sympathetic and parasympathetic reflexes acts to ensure adequate perfusion of CBF to rising and falling perfusion pressures, optimizing delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, while attempting to maintain blood volume and intracranial pressure. Herein, we highlight the distinct similarities and differences between autonomic control of cerebral and peripheral blood flow, and the regional specificity of sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation within the cerebrovasculature. Future research directions are outlined with the goal to further our understanding of autonomic control of CBF in humans.
Comparative Safety and Efficacy of Remdesivir Versus Remdesivir Plus Convalescent Plasma Therapy (CPT) and the Effect of Timing of Initiation of Remdesivir in COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Study From North East India

Introduction As per the COVID-19 treatment guidelines of India, remdesivir and convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) are indicated in moderate and severe patients. In this study, we have evaluated the comparative safety and efficacy of remdesivir versus remdesivir CPT combination and effect of early versus late initiation of remdesivir. Materials and methods A hospital-based observational study was conducted among hospitalized moderate and severe COVID-19 patients treated with either remdesivir and/or CPT as per national guidelines. Response to therapy was evaluated in terms of mortality, mechanical ventilation requirement, ICU requirement, and safety. Results and observations A total of 95 moderate and severe COVID-19 patients on remdesivir (n=35) or remdesivir + CPT combination (n=60) were included. Both the remdesivir and remdesivir + CPT groups were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics, however, proportion of patients with baseline serum creatinine >1.5 was higher in the remdesivir group. No difference was seen between both the groups in terms of mortality, mechanical ventilation requirement, ICU requirement, and safety parameters in the overall moderate and severe COVID-19 populations and when each of these severity categories (moderate and severe) were analyzed separately. Early initiation (<9 days from symptom onset) of remdesivir was associated with better treatment outcome in terms of mortality and requirement of ICU. Post-therapy shortness of breath and LFTs (liver function tests) elevation was more in the late initiation of remdesivir group, which may be due to the lack of efficacy and subsequent disease progression or a direct effect of the drug. The beneficial effect of remdesivir was maintained even after adjustment for important prognostic factors and baseline imbalances (age, sex, disease severity, CPT use, and serum creatinine level). Conclusions Early initiation of remdesivir was associated with clinical benefit in terms of mortality and mechanical ventilation requirement. However, addition of convalescent plasma therapy as an additional therapeutic modality to remdesivir was not found to be beneficial.