Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The health and educational impact of removing financial constraints for school sport

Financial barriers often restrict sport participation among children from low-income families. Schools are thought to offer equitable access to programming, including school sport participation. However, pay-to-play school sport models can inhibit participation among students from low-income households. Recognizing the potential benefits of school sport and realizing the financial barriers to participation, the purpose of this study was to understand the extent to which school sport promotes educational experiences and holistic well-being of Canadian youth from low-income families. A case study was conducted with stakeholders who were supported by funding from a non-profit organization to help cover the costs of school sport registration fees. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with low-income students and their parents, teacher-coaches and school administrators. Three overarching themes were representative of the experiences of school sport participation among low-income students: (1) healthy student-athletes, (2) developing student-athletes in school, for life, and (3) supporting student-athletes as a community. The participants perceived that school sport participation offered holistic health benefits, and developed skills and behaviours that support positive educational experiences and foster life skills. Further, our results highlighted the importance of the school community in supporting low-income students to participate in school sport teams and the need to reframe school sport to better support low-income families.
Instabilities of the sidewall boundary layer in a differentially driven rotating cylinder

We report experiments on the instability of the sidewall Stewartson layer that arises in the fluid next to the vertical boundary of a cylinder that is rotating about its axis at rate Ω, and is driven by slow differential rotation of a contact lid. There are three primary instabilities that come in sequentially as the driving is increased: vertically traveling axisymmetric rolls, quasistationary diagonal rolls inclined backward (retrograde, or opposite to the direction of the basic rotation Ω) with height, and prograde‐traveling waves that tilt forward with height. These instabilities are markedly different from those observed in laboratory studies or computational simulations of pressure‐driven flow down a rotating channel. The instability mechanisms appear to be related to our particular method of driving these flows.
Analysing the Coruña Corpus: Subjectivity and Intersubjectivity Markers

Abstract This paper aims to analyse the concepts of subjectivity and intersubjectivity in scientific writing through the use of stance adverbs perhaps and possibly. These adverbs act as markers of the authors’ presence expressing their views, and a covert relationship between these authors and their corresponding readership. The material used for this study includes four sub-corpora of the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing: CETA (Corpus of English Texts on Astronomy), CEPhiT (Corpus of English Philosophy Texts), CHET (Corpus of English History Texts), and CELiST (Corpus of English Life Sciences Texts). Two of these represent the so-called soft sciences, and the other two the hard sciences, which will allow for comparison. The results might argue against the generally-assumed tendency in the history of scientific writing that this discourse has moved from being author-centred to object-centred. Perhaps it is simply impossible for writers of science to disappear completely from their texts.
Influence of thermal annealing on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Pt/Co/AlOx trilayers

The influence of thermal annealing on Pt/Co/AlOx trilayers has been investigated up to $450\text{ }\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\text{C}$ as a function of the plasma oxidation time of the AlOx layer. Both magnetic properties of the Co layer and transport properties are strongly modified upon annealing. The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy reaches very large values, while the Hall angle increases with annealing temperature. This study reveals that this trilayer system possesses tunable magnetic anisotropy properties, which can be controlled by varying either oxidation time or annealing temperature. These results are compared with those obtained on standard Pt/Co/Pt trilayers which show, on the contrary, a continuous degradation of their magnetic properties upon annealing.
Large time behavior and quasineutral limit of solutions to a bipolar hydrodynamic modelwith large data and vacuum

In this paper, a one-dimensional bipolar hydrodynamic model is considered. This system takes the form of Euler-Poisson with electric field and frictional damping added to the momentum equations. The large time behavior of L ∞ entropy solutions of the bipolar hydrodynamic model is firstly studied. Previous works on this topic are mainly concerned with the smooth solution in which no vacuum occurs and the initial data is small. It is proved in this paper that any bounded entropy solution strongly converges to the similarity solution of the porous media equation or the heat equation in L 2(R) with time decay rate. The initial data can contain vacuum and can be arbitrarily large. The method is also applied to improve the convergence rate of [F.Huang, R.Pan, Arch. Rational Mech. Anal. ,166(2003),359-376] for compressible Euler equations with damping. As a by product, it is shown that the bounded L ∞ entropy solution of the bipolar hydrodynamic model converges to the entropy solution of Euler equations with damping as $t\rightarrow\infty$.
A simple proof for optimality of (s, S) policies in infinite-horizon inventory systems

The classical proofs for the existence of a stationary (s, S) inventory policy that minimizes the total discounted or average cost over an infinite horizon are lengthy because they depend heavily on the optimality results for corresponding finite-horizon models. This note presents a simpler alternative. Since optimal stationary (s, S) policies are relatively simple to characterize, it is easy to construct a solution to the optimality equation which is satisfied by an (s, S) policy or an equivalent variant thereof. For the discounted model, the proof characterizes an (s, S) policy that is optimal for all initial inventory positions. This policy can be generated by a simple existing algorithm. For the average-cost model, the optimality proof is completed with some additional arguments, which are simple but novel, to overcome the normal difficulties encountered in models with unbounded one-step expected costs.
The Impact of Intelligent Pedagogical Agents’ Interventions on Student Behavior and Performance in Open-Ended Game Design Environments

Research has shown that free-form Game-Design (GD) environments can be very effective in fostering Computational Thinking (CT) skills at a young age. However, some students can still need some guidance during the learning process due to the highly open-ended nature of these environments. Intelligent Pedagogical Agents (IPAs) can be used to provide personalized assistance in real-time to alleviate this challenge. This paper presents our results in evaluating such an agent deployed in a real-word free-form GD learning environment to foster CT in the early K-12 education, Unity-CT. We focus on the effect of repetition by comparing student behaviors between no intervention, 1-shot, and repeated intervention groups for two different errors that are known to be challenging in the online lessons of Unity-CT. Our findings showed that the agent was perceived very positively by the students and the repeated intervention showed promising results in terms of helping students make fewer errors and more correct behaviors, albeit only for one of the two target errors. Building from these results, we provide insights on how to provide IPA interventions in free-form GD environments.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF ROTATIONAL PRESSURE LOSS IN ROTOR DUCTS

This study investigates the pressure loss of flow through straight circular ducts rotating about an axis parallel to the duct axis. The experimental measurements found that the flow passing through the rotating ducts is affected by an additional pressure loss when compared with stationary condition. For stationary condition, the experimental results agreed with the values of pressure loss estimated using theoretical/empirical correlations. For the rotational pressure loss, it is mainly caused by rotor ducts entrance loss and additional friction loss due to the effect of rotation. These losses have been isolated in the present study. The coefficient of entrance loss has been correlated with a dimensionless parameter, rotation ratio. Correlations for entrance loss coefficient of rotor ducts of different proximity to the rotor periphery were proposed. The correlations are useful for predicting flow distribution and thermal-fluid modelling of rotating machines.
MFFNet: Multi-Receptive Field Fusion Net for Microscope Steel Grain Grading

The grain size is an important steel grading parameter. For metallographic steel images with various grain sizes and complex textures, it is not possible for a human expert to determine the grain size efficiently. Meanwhile, conventional computer vision models are designed based on general images and they are not capable of achieving high performance in metallographic steel grain size recognition. To solve these problems, a method based on multiple receptive field fusion is proposed. A multi-scale convolutional net is used to extract information of microstructures in various scales. In addition, to augment the extracted features, a self-attention module is used to improve the robustness of feature representation with complex metallographic textures. At last, via a multiple feature fusion module, the data capacity is extended by projecting features into multiple hidden spaces. A comprehensive experiment was conducted on the Huawei Cloud Dataset and the classification accuracy was improved by 27% compared with other SOTA models, while our computation cost was only 0.06 GFLOPs.
Prophylaxis and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection by an ACE2 Receptor Decoy

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with highly mutated spike proteins has presented an obstacle to the use of monoclonal antibodies for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We show that a high affinity receptor decoy protein in which a modified ACE2 ectodomain is fused to a single domain of an immunoglobulin heavy chain Fc region dramatically suppressed virus loads in mice upon challenge with a high dose of parental SARS-CoV-2 or Omicron variants. The decoy also potently suppressed virus replication when administered shortly post-infection. The decoy approach offers protection against the current viral variants and, potentially, against SARS-CoV-2 variants that may emerge with the continued evolution of the spike protein or novel viruses that use ACE2 for virus entry.
The bacterial genetic determinants of Escherichia coli capacity to cause bloodstream infections in humans

Escherichia coli is both a highly prevalent commensal and a major opportunistic pathogen causing bloodstream infections (BSI). A systematic analysis characterizing the genomic determinants of extra-intestinal pathogenic vs. commensal isolates in human populations, which could inform mechanisms of pathogenesis, diagnostics, prevention and treatment is still lacking. We used a collection of 1282 BSI and commensal E. coli isolates collected in France over a 17-year period (2000-2017) and we compared their pangenomes, genetic backgrounds (phylogroups, STs, O groups), presence of virulence-associated genes (VAGs) and antimicrobial resistance genes, finding significant differences in all comparisons between commensal and BSI isolates. A machine learning linear model trained on all the genetic variants derived from the pangenome and controlling for population structure reveals similar differences in VAGs, discovers new variants associated with pathogenicity (capacity to cause BSI), and accurately classifies BSI vs. commensal strains. Pathogenicity is a highly heritable trait, with up to 69% of the variance explained by bacterial genetic variants. Lastly, complementing our commensal collection with an older collection from 1980, we predict that pathogenicity increased steadily from 23% in 1980 to 46% in 2010. Together our findings imply that E. coli exhibit substantial genetic variation contributing to the transition between commensalism and pathogenicity and that this species evolved towards higher pathogenicity.
S0021859622000417jra 317..324

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of chitosan instead of microbial inoculants on fermentation profile, losses, chemical composition, in vitro degradation, and aerobic stability of sugarcane silage (SS). Forty experimental silos (PVC tubes with 28 cm i.d., 25 cm height) were used in a randomized block design to evaluate the following treatments: (I) Control (CON): SS with no additive; (II) LB: SS ensiled with 5.0 × 10 colony forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus buchneri (NCIM 40788)/g as-fed; (III) LPPA: SS ensiled with 1.6 × 10 CFU of L. plantarum and 1.6 × 10 CFU of Pediococcus acidilactici/g as-fed; and (IV) Chitosan (CHI): SS ensiled with 6 g/kg dry matter (DM) of chitosan. Microbial inoculation of SS reduced (P≤ 0.05) silage pH relative to CON and CHI treatment. The LPPA decreased ammonia-nitrogen and LB decreased (P≤ 0.05) ethanol content and increased acetic acid content relative to other treatments. The LPPA-silos had higher (P≤ 0.05) gas losses and lower (P≤ 0.05) DM recovery than other treatment silos. Consequently, LPPA reduced (P≤ 0.05) DM and non-fibre carbohydrates and increased (P≤ 0.05) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) silage content compared to other treatments. Treatments did not affect (P≥ 0.212) DM and NDF in vitro degradation and silage pH after aerobic exposure. However, LB reduced silage temperature after aerobic exposure. Thus, LB reduces alcoholic fermentation and improves SS aerobic stability. Inoculation of LPPA reduces DM recovery and negatively affects SS chemical composition. Although CHI positively affects SS conservation relative to CON, it shows higher gas losses and decreased SS temperature after aerobic exposure compared to LB.
S0033291721001057jra 4094..4105

Background. Bipolar disorder (BD) represents one of the most therapeutically complex psychiatric disorders. The development of a feasible comprehensive psychological approach to complement pharmacotherapy to improve its clinical management is required. The main objective of the present randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to test the efficacy of a novel adjunctive treatment entitled integrative approach in patients with BD, including: psychoeducation, mindfulness training, and functional remediation. Methods. This is a parallel two-armed, rater-blind RCT of an integrative approach plus treatment as usual (TAU), v. TAU alone. Participants were recruited at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and randomized to one of the two conditions. They were assessed at baseline and after finishing the intervention. The main outcome variable included changes in psychosocial functioning assessed through the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST). Results. After finishing the treatment, the repeated-measures analyses revealed a significant group × time interaction in favor of the patients who received the integrative approach (n = 28) compared to the TAU group (n = 37) (Pillai’s trace = 0.10; F(1,57) = 6.9; p = 0.01), improving the functional outcome. Significant effects were also found in two out of the six domains of the FAST, including the cognitive domain (Pillai’s trace = 0.25; F(1,57) = 19.1; p < 0.001) and leisure time (Pillai’s trace = 0.11; F(1,57) = 7.15; p = 0.01). Regarding the secondary outcomes, a significant group × time interaction in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale changes was detected (Pillai’s trace = 0.08; F(1,62) = 5.6; p = 0.02). Conclusion. This preliminary study suggests that the integrative approach represents a promising cost-effective therapy to improve psychosocial functioning and residual depressive symptoms in patients suffering from BD.
Scarcity , Market Power , and Prices at Slot-constrained Airports Evidence from Mexico City

Many of the world’s major airports are both slot-constrained, meaning that demand for take-offs and landings exceeds airport capacity at certain time periods, and concentrated, meaning that a single airline operates a large share of take-offs and landings. Slot constraints and slot concentration can each lead to higher average fares, but for different reasons that may require different policy prescriptions. In this article, we demonstrate how policy makers can differentiate between the effects of scarcity and concentration on prices, and we apply our methodology to a recent investigation into the allocation of take-off and landing slots at Mexico City’s airport. Final version: January 2019 119 Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, Volume 53, Part 2, April 2019, pp. 119–134
Analysis of AVPR1A, thermal and pressure pain thresholds, and stress in sickle cell disease

Aim In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), negative physical and emotional experiences result from intense chronic and acute pain episodes, but factors underlying these, and their interactions, are not well understood. The arginine vasopressin receptor 1a gene (AVPR1A) single nucleotide polymorphism rs10877969 has been previously associated with aspects of acute pain and stress related pain. In this study, we tested for associations between this SNP, thermal and pressure pain thresholds, clinical pain, and stress in people with SCD. Methods 150 adults enrolled with SCD completed pain intensity measures (Average Pain Intensity, API) and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). Thermal and pressure pain threshold data were available from quantitative sensory testing (QST), and rs10877969 genotypes were obtained. Results In models adjusted for age and gender, between rs10877969 genotypes, we observed no significant differences in thermal (cold, p = 0.66; heat, p = 0.91) and mechanical (pressure, p = 0.33) pain thresholds. The association of rs10877969 with API (p = 0.09) was borderline, but non-significant with PSQ (p = 0.51). The correlation between clinical pain and environmental stress was significant, r = 0.18, p = 0.024, however, the interaction of genotype and PSQ was not significant (p = 0.63). Conclusion Clinical and experimental pain were not significantly associated with the rs10877969 genotype. The rs10877969 genotype did not moderate the correlation between environmental stress and clinical pain in this population. However, a trend toward a protective T allele effect on average pain rating in SCD warrants future exploration of this SNP/gene in SCD.
Sleep quality was associated with adverse reactions after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination among healthcare workers: A longitudinal paired study

Background Many countries have currently relied on various types of vaccines for the public to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The adverse reactions (ARs) after vaccination may affect vaccination coverage and confidence. However, whether sleep quality was associated with ARs after vaccination remains unclear. Methods We designed a longitudinal paired study within a hospital setting. We collected data about the side effects within 7 days after two doses of scheduled vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs). All HCWs were asked to complete a sleep survey indexed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before vaccination and after a 1-month follow-up. Then, we explored the relationship between sleep quality before or after vaccination and the occurrence of ARs. Results A total of 345 HCWs were recruited to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The sleep quality became worse after vaccination. All local and systemic reactions were mild or moderate in severity (32.46%), and no serious adverse event was reported. Binary logistic regression showed participants with poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) than good sleep quality (PSQI ≤ 5) before the two doses of vaccination, respectively, exhibited 1.515 and 1.107 times risk of ARs after each vaccination (both p < 0.001). Conclusion There is an apparently complex bidirectional relationship between sleep quality and COVID-19 vaccination adverse effects. Poor sleep quality significantly increases the risk of mild ARs after vaccination, while vaccination may cause a temporary decline in sleep quality.
Factor structure and measurement invariance of the psychosocial risk factors inventory of NOM-035-STPS-2018

The primary objective of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Inventory for the Identification and Analysis of Psychosocial Risk Factors (IIA-PRF) of Reference Guide III proposed in NOM-035-STPS-2018. A total of 2,149 workers in Baja California, Mexico’s industrial and education-government sectors, were administered an online inventory version. Preliminary analyses were performed, as well as a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) based on two models proposed by the standard itself: an eight-factor model (8-FM) and a four-factor model (4-FM). Likewise, based on the results and with the recommendations of the specialists, a threefactor model (3-FM) was proposed. In addition, nested model sequencing methods were subsequently applied to validate the invariance between the origin of the activity. The dimensionality of 3-FM was found to have adequate fit values according to a-priori established criteria. It is concluded that the IIAPRF does not have the reliability and validity parameters necessary to support interpretations, uses and consequences based on the theoretical structure established by NOM-035-STPS-2018 and that, although the 3-FM presents better reliability and validity indices, it is not invariant in terms of the origin of the activity. Finally, we discuss the implications and recommend reviewing and adjusting the design of the IIAPRF items to extend the measurement of invariance to other groups of relevance for decision making in the improvement of the work environment.
Role of short interpregnancy interval, birth mode, birth practices, and the postpartum vaginal microbiome in preterm birth

There have been widely documented beneficial role of vaginal Lactobacillus species as an important biomarker for vaginal health and healthy pregnancy progression. When translating this to clinical settings, pregnant women with low proportions of Lactobacillus and commensurately high proportion of rich and highly diverse abnormal microbiota are most likely to encounter negative pregnancy outcome such as preterm birth and postpartum complications. However, multiple literatures have also addressed this notion that the absence of a Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota does not appear to directly imply to a diseased condition and may not be a major determinant of negative obstetric outcome. Caesarian delivery is notably a risk factor for preterm birth and postpartum endometritis, yet recent data shows a trend in the overuse of CS across several populations. Growing evidence suggest the potential role of vaginal/uterine cleaning practice during CS procedures in influencing postpartum infections, however there is a controversy that this practice is associated with increased rates of postpartum endometritis. The preponderance of bacterial vaginosis associated bacteria vagitype at postpartum which persist for a long period of time even after lochia regression in some women may suggest why short interpregnancy interval may pose a potential risk for preterm birth, especially multigravidas. While specifically linking a community of microbes in the female reproductive tract or an exact causative infectious agent to preterm birth and postpartum pathologies remains elusive, clinical attention should also be drawn to the potential contribution of other factors such as short interpregnancy interval, birth mode, birth practices and the postpartum vaginal microbiome in preterm birth which is explicitly described in this narrative review.