Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is It Useful To Treat Blastocystis sp.? A double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial

BackgroundBlastocystis sp. is a protist with a worldwide distribution and able to colonise the gut of humans and of a great variety of animals. It is unclear whether it is just a commensal of a healthy gut microbiota or an infectious parasite that needs to be eradicated. Currently no treatment has proven its usefulness for patients complaining of gastro-intestinal symptoms and found to have Blastocystis sp.The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of metronidazole in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms harbouring only Blastocystis sp. In addition, we explored whether Blastocystis subtype or concomitant parasitic infection detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may influence treatment outcome.MethodsAdults with persistent gastrointestinal symptoms (> 14 days) visiting a primary care physician and in whom stool microscopy revealed only Blastocystis sp. were included. Eligible patients were randomised to receive ten days of metronidazole or placebo, followed by a crossover if still symptomatic. Stool samples were tested for 11 other protozoa with an in-house PCR and Blastocystis subtypes were determined by PCR and sequencing.ResultsWe screened 474 outpatients for inclusion; 50 met the eligibility criteria. In the metronidazole group, 48% (12/25) reported an improvement of symptoms compared to 44% (11/25) in the placebo group (p = 0.78). After the crossover, again no differences in improvement of symptoms were seen between groups (placebo: 53% (8/15); metronidazole: 50% (8/16)). The in-house PCR was positive for other protozoa in 25% (10/40) of the patients. The protozoa identified were Dientamoeba fragilis (5), Entamoeba dispar (3) and Cyclospora cayetanensis (2). The most frequent Blastocystis subtypes were ST4 (11/36) and ST2 (10/36). Stratified analysis according to subtype or the presence of other protozoa showed no significant difference in treatment outcome with metronidazole or placebo.Conclusion Among patients infected with Blastocystis sp. , metronidazole did not improve gastrointestinal symptoms, irrespective of subtype or microscopically undetected coinfection with other protozoa.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NTC01521403, 06-Nov-2012.
Qualitative Vignette Experiments: A Mixed Methods Design

Despite emerging interest in mixing experimental and qualitative methods, a gap exists in integrating qualitative vignettes and experimental design. We present a novel mixed methods design, the qualitative vignette experiment, defined as the use of vignettes designed to introduce experimentally controlled variation in information within qualitative semistructured interviews. We argue that this design can provide context-rich data on causal mechanisms. This article contributes to the debate on integration in mixed methods research and is useful for scholars studying human practice and the link between macro-structural conditions and micro-interpretive processes. The design builds on an integrated ontology of critical realism and a complementary epistemological foundation of postpositivism and interpretivism. This means that researchers have to adhere to multiple validity criteria.
Benefits of Movement-Integrated Learning Activities in Statistics and Research Methods Courses

Background: College students majoring in psychology often report low interest and engagement in statistics and research methods courses. Objective: The purpose of the current study was to examine potential benefits of integrating movement with learning activities in Introduction to Statistics and Research Methods courses at the college level. Method: A quasi-experimental design examined movement-based learning activities compared to traditional learning activities during class periods. Students’ perceptions of the activities were assessed using an experience sampling method. Result: Hierarchical linear models revealed that students rated the movement-integrated activities higher compared to control activities for the following subscales: physical, affect, enjoyment, concentration, and social states. Conclusion: College students may benefit from integration of the movement learning activities into statistics and research methods classes. Teaching Implications: Movement-integrated learning activities offer the potential to increase physical activity, increase positive affect, enhance concentration, and provide opportunities to socialize with classmates. We offer specific techniques for incorporating movement into the college classroom.
Historical analysis of the diagnosis and management of femoroacetabular impingement prior to the year 2000: a systematic review

Abstract This systematic review aims to assess the diagnosis, indications and treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) prior to the year 2000 and to determine if historical concepts remain applicable today. PUBMED, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for literature evaluating the diagnosis/treatment of FAI prior to 2000. Cadaver/non-human, non-English and review studies were excluded. Quality assessment was performed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies. Nine studies comprising 307 patients [315 hips; mean age of 32.6 ± 2.4 years (range, 12–58)] were included. Patients reported groin pain. Magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA; n = 76) and the anterior impingement test (AIT) (n = 88) were used to diagnose impingement. Surgical dislocation with a trochanteric flip osteotomy (n = 237) and Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (n = 40) were common treatments. Pain and range of motion improved for patients. Overall complication rate was 35% (n = 99), with heterotopic ossification (n = 79) most commonly reported. Prior to 2000, there was low quantity and quality of research on the diagnosis/management of FAI. Diagnostic evaluation was primarily through clinical examination (i.e. groin pain and AIT). MRA was occasionally used to detect labral degeneration; however, utilization of computed tomography (CT) and diagnostic injections were not reported. Surgical dislocation and osteotomies of the acetabulum yielded desirable short-term clinical outcomes with a moderate complication rate. No study reported using arthroscopy for FAI management prior to 2000. Clinicians today can learn from historical principles (i.e. clinical diagnosis of FAI, management with surgical correction of femoral head–neck offset) while applying novel techniques (i.e. CT, injections, arthroscopic surgical techniques and rehabilitation) to improve patient outcomes. Level of Evidence IV (systematic review of III and IV evidence).
Discrepancy in Fertilizer Nitrogen Equivalency Estimates of Dry Sewage Sludge Application in Soil

Fertilizer nitrogen (N) equivalency estimates of sewage sludge are essential to assess benefits from its use in agricultural fields and minimize agronomic failure and environmental risks. Using an outdoor pot experiment, where sludge was applied to the upper layer of the soil in pots, this study aimed to estimate the rate of dried sewage sludge application needed to replace a given amount of inorganic fertilizer and to investigate eventual variations of this estimate depending on whether N replacement value referred to grain yield of barley, biomass production, or overall plant N uptake. Equivalencies were obtained from the response curves of these crop characteristics in relation to the rate of sludge application. It was shown that the patterns of carbon (C) and N allocation to grain and straw were different between the inorganic fertilizer and the sewage sludge treatment, presumably due to the timing of mineral N provision. When the same grain yield was obtained at these two treatments, straw yield and grain N content were greater at the sludge fertilized crop. It was concluded that fertilizer N equivalency value of sewage sludge should inevitably refer to a single crop yield component determined by a producer.
Exploring Learning Styles in a Portuguese Engineering School: Are They Different in Different Courses?

The Kolb model is widely used to analyze the learning style of engineering students; however, there are no published studies carried out in Portugal. This study was applied to students who had just began there courses at a Portuguese engineering school. This study object is to assess whether there is a clearly majority learning style; whether there are differences in the learning style among all students and between students in the industrial management course and those in the technological engineering courses. The results allow the pedagogical practice improvement in the classroom regarding the effectiveness increase of the teaching process. This study results also allow improving the way students approach the study, overcoming difficulties in understanding the topics studied, improving the construction of their skills and increasing the quality of the learning process.
Enhancement of the thermal analysis of power cables installed in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ducts under continuous and cyclic current loading conditions

A study of the performance of power cables installed inside non-metallic ducts is presented here. Cable capacity calculations for this type of installation are done. The thermal analysis of cables inside ducts which are installed in air as riser or buried in soils is presented. According to IEC 60287 cables can be installed in ﬁbre ducts in concrete layer surrounded by the soil, in this article it is proposed to install the cables in PVC ducts directly buried in the soil. Based on IEC 60287-1-3 and IEC 60853-2 standards proposed models in steady state and dynamic cable loadings are constructed. The proposed equivalent thermal models are used in the calculations of the cable components temperature for cables installed in ducts. It is concluded that very high increase in cable conductor temperature is observed when the cable is installed in duct and used as riser or even when it is installed in duct buried in soil. Signiﬁcant decrease in the temperature of the cable conductor can be noticed when the cable is directly buried in the soil compared with that installed in ducts.
Preliminary Study of the Application of Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy to the Analysis of Degraded Archaeological Linen Textiles

A preliminary investigation of the novel application of Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy to the non-destructive analysis of archaeological fabrics is illustrated with linen samples from two sites, one a mummy-wrapping from a XIIth Dynastic Egyptian rock tomb burial (ca. 1900 BC) and the other some cloth from a mass grave at Kasr-el-Yahud, near Jericho in the Dead Sea region (AD 614). Comparison of the spectra with that of pure cotton, another cellulose-based natural fibre, was effected and a distinction between the two was demonstrated. The samples were not pretreated chemically before analysis, and were used directly from their respective storage collections.
Direct and Indirect Feedback in the L2 English Development of Writing Skills

The present study examines the role that feedback plays on the development of second language (L2) English learners‟ writing accuracy over time. Earlier formal accounts and empirical works have focused on the relevance of corrective feedback (CF) in L2 writing learning (Ellis et al., 2008; Sheen, 2007), and what kind of CF (i.e. direct or indirect) has proved to be the most effective one, especially at low L2 levels (García Mayo and Labandibar, 2017; Ismail et al., 2008). We have analyzed 3 pieces of writing produced by 8 L2 English participants (aged 11 to 12). The participants were randomly divided into two groups, one of them received direct CF on their written tasks and the other group was exposed to indirect CF. Results revealed that both groups seemed to improve their mean scores from the pre-task to the post-task, regardless of the type of CF implemented. However, the direct CF group has proven to benefit more from teacher‟s written CF, when compared to the indirect CF group. This is especially the case in the development of grammar accuracy.
Seed Retention of Grass Weeds at Wheat Harvest in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) may control problematic weeds by decreasing contributions to the weed seedbank. However, HWSC practices will not be effective if plants have shed a great part of their seeds before harvest or if a low proportion of seed production is retained at a height that enables collection during harvest. The seed-shattering pattern of several weed species was evaluated over three growing seasons to determine their potential to be controlled with HWSC in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). The studied weed species were downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.), feral rye (Secale cereale L.), Italian ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot], and rattail fescue [Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C. Gmel. ]. Seed retention at harvest, seed production, and plant height differed among species, locations, and years. Environmental conditions influenced seed-shattering patterns, particularly the time plants started to shatter seeds and the rate of the shattering. Agronomic factors such as herbicide use, interrow space, or crop height/vigor also seemed to affect shattering patterns and seed production, but more specific studies must be conducted to determine their individual effects. Bromus tectorum, L. perenne ssp. multiflorum, and V. myuros had an average seed retention at harvest of less than 50%. In addition, the low seed retention height of V. myuros makes this species a poor candidate for HWSC. Secale cereale had average seed retention at harvest greater than 50%, and seed retention height was greater than 30 cm. The variability of seed retention in different species will make the efficacy of HWSC practices species and environment dependent in PNW winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping systems. Harvesting the wheat crop as early as possible will be crucial to the success of HWSC.
Sharing the Fun? How Social Information Affects Viewers’ Video Enjoyment and Video Evaluations

Online video platforms often present videos together with social information in the form of user comments and likes. This study tested two hypotheses about how this merger of mass and interpersonal communication on online video platforms shapes viewers’ evaluations and enjoyment of online videos. Whereas the judgement effect hypothesis states that social information alters viewers’ video evaluations, the processing effect hypothesis poses that it influences viewers’ enjoyment while they are watching videos. Using real-time response measures, this experiment pitted both hypotheses against each other. The results indicate that if viewers are exposed to social information before watching a video, a processing effect emerges on their enjoyment as they are watching. If viewers are exposed to social information after watching a video, a judgement effect on their retrospective video enjoyment occurs but not on their video evaluations. These new insights advance our understanding of how social information affects video viewers.
Relationship Satisfaction Can Help to Maintain the Positive Effect of Childbirth on Parental Self-Esteem

The transition to parenthood is accompanied by declined self-esteem levels, which may be explained by parents’ relationship satisfaction. However, prior research examined self-esteem only shortly before and after childbirth and had no or only unmatched childless respondents as a control group, limiting the possibility to examine long-term adaptive processes and the causal interpretation of the associations. Thus, we used panel data (10 years, 4,075 individuals, and 16,122 observations) to compare self-esteem and relationship satisfaction trajectories of parents with matched childless respondents using propensity score matching. We found a quadratic trajectory for parents’ self-esteem, which declined and increased before birth and declined and returned to baseline levels after birth. In contrast, matched childless respondents’ self-esteem decreased linearly before childbirth and then recovered. The quadratic postpartum process in parents was significantly associated with reduced relationship satisfaction. Thus, a fulfilling relationship may help to maintain the positive effects of childbirth on self-esteem in parents.
Unmasking partnerships for agricultural innovation: the realities of a research–private sector partnership in Lombok, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Research institute–private sector partnerships are promoted as a mechanism to increase the scale and sustainability of research impact, especially where government extension services are constrained. Such partnerships are often framed as simple transactional or contractual arrangements. This paper traces the evolution of a multi-lateral partnership between a public university, agri-input supplier, finance provider and local government in North and East Lombok. The partnership aimed to increase household incomes by introducing new practices for maize and pulse production, but in order to do so, had to enable farmers to access affordable credit and inputs in a timely manner. Analysis of the partnership over three years highlights its dynamic nature and the importance of a consistent champion who aligns the competing institutional incentives and aspirations of actors. It also highlights how partners bear different types and degrees of risk across different stages of the partnership. The findings affirm the potential for research–private sector partnerships to contribute to agricultural innovation but highlight a more complex and messy process than is acknowledged in the literature. A more realistic understanding of partnership and innovation processes needs to inform how schemes and innovation support mechanisms are designed if they are to deliver on the promise of scale and sustainability.
Experimental and modeling studies on simultaneous extraction of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ from diluted acidic aqueous solutions by emulsion liquid membrane

Abstract Lead, copper, and cadmium ions were simultaneously extracted from a diluted acidic aqueous solution using Bis-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as a carrier, Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) as a surfactant, Kerosene as a diluent, and H2SO4 as a reagent. The effect of the pH of the external phase, surfactant, and carrier concentrations, speed of the homogenizer, and the volume ratio (v/v %) of the external/membrane phases on the system performance were investigated. High extraction efficiencies of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ ions were obtained; 100%, 100%, and 98%, respectively. A minimum breakage of 1.8% was also obtained at the best operating conditions. A modeling study of the system has shown no significant interaction effects of the three solutes (Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+) on each other. Therefore, the three solutes permeate from the feed phase to the stripping phase due to their chemical potential. The competitive transport of the three ions at low initial concentrations has been found to be comparable. At low concentrations, the low diffusion rates of the three ions were compensated by the increase of their distribution coefficients. This has been reflected on the enhancement of the transport rates of the three solutes through the membrane to be comparable.
The study on the mechanical properties of magnetorheological elastomers under triaxial compression

In order to design magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) based craftsmanship for metal forming, a comprehensive study on the mechanical properties of MREs under triaxial compression is required. An experimental setup integrating free compression and triaxial compression is designed to characterize isotropic MREs specimens under compression mode. The results showed that the MREs specimen in mold had successively experienced free compression stage, transition stage and triaxial compression stage during the experiment. The stress-strain curves of the MREs specimen changed when the concentration of magnetic particles increased from 0 to 44.7%, and the strain required to reach the transition stage was reduced. The effect of magnetic flux density on the stress-strain curves of the MREs specimen depended on the concentration of magnetic particles. The measured data obtained at different strain rates revealed maximum changes of 15.7% and 0.096% in volume compression modulus and Poisson ratio, respectively, which occurred under the magnetic flux density of 200 mT and CIP concentrations of v o l . % = 11 . 9 % . In this study, through a set of experiments, the stress-strain curves of the MREs specimen under different concentrations was elucidated, and their effects on the volume compression modulus and Poisson ratio were discussed.
The Most Parsimonious Ultralow‐Velocity Zone Distribution From Highly Anomalous SPdKS Waveforms

The locations of ultralow‐velocity zones (ULVZs) at the core‐mantle boundary (CMB) have been linked to a variety of features including hot spot volcanoes and large low‐velocity province (LLVP) boundaries, yet only a small portion of the CMB region has been probed for ULVZ existence. Here we present a new map of lower mantle heterogeneity locations using a global collection of highly anomalous SPdKS recordings based on a dataset of more than 58,000 radial component seismograms, which sample 56.9% of the CMB by surface area. The inference of heterogeneity location using the SPdKS seismic phase is challenging due to source‐versus receiver‐side ambiguity. Due to this ambiguity, we conducted an inversion using the principle of parsimony. The inversion is conducted using a genetic algorithm which is repeated several thousand times in order to construct heterogeneity probability maps. This analysis reveals that at probabilities ≥ 0.5, 0.25, and 0.125 up to 1.3%, 8.2%, or 19.7% of the CMB may contain ULVZ‐like heterogeneities. These heterogeneities exist in all lower mantle settings, including both high‐ and low‐velocity regions. Additionally, we present evidence that the Samoan ULVZ may be twice as large as previously estimated, and also present evidence for the existence of additional mega‐sized ULVZs, such as a newly discovered ULVZ located to the east of the Philippines. We provide new evidence for the ULVZ east of the Philippines through an analysis of ScP records.
Organisational justice and innovative behaviour: Is knowledge sharing a mediator?

Purpose Encouraging employees to exhibit innovative behaviour at the workplace is the need of the hour. Prior studies reported the impact of organisational justice on innovative behaviour; however, the majority of these studies are from the Western context. Moreover, the underlying mechanism linking these variables, namely, the role of knowledge sharing, is sparse. The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of knowledge sharing in the relationship between organisational justice and innovative behaviour through the lens of social exchange theory in the Indian context. Design/methodology/approach Mediation analysis using PROCESS macro was performed on a sample of 288 employees using three structured questionnaires. Participants were recruited from various manufacturing organisations in India. The validity of the hypothesised model was established using AMOS software. Findings Organisational justice impacted both knowledge sharing and innovative behaviour. It was also illustrated that knowledge sharing influenced employees’ innovative behaviour. The most important finding is the partial mediation of knowledge sharing in the organizational justice–innovative behaviour relationship. Originality/value This study tries to demystify the organisational justice–innovative behaviour relationship by highlighting knowledge sharing as an underlying mechanism. The existing theoretical framework that describes the effects of organisational justice is enriched.