Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visuospatial Working Memory Deficits in Patient with Schizophrenia

Background: Review of Literature suggests that cognitive deficits of patients with schizophrenia can be attributed to an inherent deficit of working memory. Hence, present study was conducted to assess the spatial working memory in schizophrenic patients, to compare it with normal control and to find out clinical and sociodemographic correlates of spatial working memory deficit. Material & Method: The sample consisted of 25 schizophrenic patients (diagnosed according to DCR of ICD-10) and 25 normal participants. Psychopathology was rated on Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Normal participants were screened using General Health Questionnaire-12. The Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test was used to assess visuo-spatial working memory. Result: Result shows that schizophrenic patient performed poorly on all the trials of ROCFT than normal control. Increased severity of psychopathology was correlated with poor visuo-spatial working memory. Conclusion: Since severity of psychopathology was correlated with poor immediate recall trial and delayed recall trial, longitudinal studies will be important to know whether these deficits improve with improvement in psychopathology. Findings will help in framing cognitive rehabilitation strategies for management of the schizophrenic patients.
A Comparative Study of Customer Perceptions of Urban and Rural Bed and Breakfasts in Beijing: An Analysis of Online Reviews

The differences between urban and rural B&Bs should be emphasized, which is critical for the sustainable development of the B&B industry. This study identified and compared the topics that customers were concerned about for urban and rural B&Bs in Beijing by analyzing 13,241 online reviews obtained from the website Ctrip. The results showed that customers focused on 10 common topics: “room”, “location”, “host”, “experience”, “surroundings”, “facilities”, “service”, “design/style”, “value”, and “entertainment”. However, the importance of each topic varied between urban and rural B&Bs. Customers paid more attention to the room. Urban B&B customers were more concerned about location. The convenience of urban B&Bs was more prominent than that of rural B&Bs, especially in terms of public transportation and commercial services. While rural B&B customers were more concerned about experience, service, design/style, and entertainment. In addition, the “host” is the most crucial and influential factor in the development of B&Bs. This study made contributions to customer perceptions of B&Bs from a comparative perspective and enriched the understanding of the characteristics of urban and rural B&Bs. In the part of practice, this study might provide enlightenment for B&B operators and local governments to take measures for B&Bs sustainable development.
EFFECT OF INTRA-SPACING AND NITROGEN RATES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L.) Var. ICSV 400

Two field trials were conducted in 1999 and 2001 rainy seasons in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahamadu Bello University, Zaria( 11 0 11’ N and 7 0 38’ E) to test the effect intra- row spacing and nitrogen rates on growth and yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) var. ICSV 400. The treatments were made up of three intra-row spacing (25, 50 and 75 cm) combined with four nitrogen rates (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N/ha). Randomized complete block design was used for the trials. The results have shown that intra-row spacing had a significant influence on plant height, number of leaves per plant, dry matter, and grain yield but had no effect on stand count. Neither intra-row spacing nor nitrogen had an effect on flag leaf area or panicle length. Nitrogen application was also observed to have significant influence on all the characters mentioned earlier. The closest intra-row spacing of 25 cm gave 35.06 and 38.59% increase in yield in 1999 and 2001 respectively over the widest spacing of 75 cm. The response of sorghum yield to nitrogen was up to 60 and 90kg N/ha in 1999 and 2001 respectively. The increase in yield when these responses were compared to plots that did not receive nitrogen was 32.44 and 27.0% for 1999 and 2001, respectively.
SOIL LOSS FROM COTTON WITH WINTER COVER CRO P

ABSTRACT Soil loss was measured from no-till, no-till plant and cultivate (reduced-till), and conventional-till cotton ~ all with a winter cover crop of vetch or wheat. Soil loss ratios were computed for each crop stage of the tillage systems for use in the USLE to estimate soil loss. Soil loss from conventionally tilled cotton with winter cover averaged 20 t/ha-yr compared with previously measured losses of 74 t/ha«yr from conventional cotton without a winter cover crop. The winter cover crop used with conventional tillage was very beneficial in reducing soil loss but not sufficient for reducing erosion below accepted tolerable soil loss limits (11 t/ha-yr). No-till and reduced-till cotton did not control erosion as reported previously. The addition of vetch or winter wheat cover (in the third year of this test) reduced erosion from cotton to tolerable levels. However, vetch required three applications of paraquat or glyphosate to kill it before planting cotton. Wheat was much easier to bum down and was as effective as vetch in reducing erosion.
Deployment Simulations of Inflatable Tensegrity Structures

Tensegrity structures are attractive as deployable space structures since they are composed mainly of flexible tension members and can thus easily be folded. To automatically deploy such structures it is proposed that the tension members are replaced or enclosed by thin-film tubes, which form a continuous volume. The structure deploys when this volume is pressurised. This concept was studied by numerical simulations of the deployment process in a zero-gravity environment using the control volume method for the fluid-structure interaction. First, single z-folded and coiled tubes were analysed to determine suitable element size, number of control volumes and gas flow rate. Then one- and three-stage tensegrity masts were modelled, folded and finally deployed. The study showed that the deployment concept is feasible.
An Indicator-based Approach to Measuring Sustainable Urban Regeneration Performance: Part 1, Conceptual Foundations and Methodological Framework

This paper evaluates the use of indicators as a means of measuring the performance of regeneration against sustainability criteria. The merits of sustainability indicators are explored with a discussion of the indicator selection process and the derivation of a points scoring framework. The extent to which the sustainability performance of regeneration projects can be evaluated and subsequently benchmarked is examined. Conclusions are drawn on the robustness of the indicators selected, the versatility of the points scoring framework in capturing the sustainability performance of regeneration projects and the potential to identify 'best' practice. The application of the model and associated indicators is the subject of the subsequent paper in this journal issue.
Implementation barriers of ISO 9000 within the Malaysian local government

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the main barriers of ISO 9000 implementation in local government (LG) organizations. In addition to this, this study also determines whether these barriers are different between the various types of LG organizations or otherwise.Design/methodology/approach – Based on previous studies and research, related and relevant information had been gathered in order to develop the questionnaire form used in this research to ensure adequacy and accuracy of the survey tool content. The main content of the questionnaire focuses on statements that relate to the barriers which normally occur in implementing ISO 9000. The data that was garnered from this survey was then analysed using quantitative methods in line with answering the related research questions.Findings – Descriptive statistical analysis shows that, in total, there are five main barriers and two additional barriers that have been faced by LG organizations in implementing ISO 9000. Five of these barriers are .
Alleviation of Cadmium Phytotoxicity Using Silicon Fertilization in Wheat by Altering Antioxidant Metabolism and Osmotic Adjustment

Humans are facing very serious health threats from food contamination with cadmium (Cd), and Cd uptake by wheat is amongst the main causes of Cd entrance into the food chain. The current study examined the effect of foliar application (0, 1.50, 3.00 and 4.00 mM) of various silicate chemicals (calcium silicate and potassium silicate) on wheat growth and Cd addition by wheat under Cd stress 20 mg kg−1 of soil using CdCl2. The results revealed that under control conditions, the application of Si improved all the growth, physiological, biochemical and quality attributes by reducing malondialdehyde contents and electrolyte leakage. Under Cd stress, the supplementation of Si conferred a better growth rate, gaseous exchange for metabolic activity and maintained the tissues’ turgor and membranes’ stabilities compared to those obtained under control (without Si). The enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) also show rapid action by the application of Si supplement, which were associated with elevated osmoprotectant contents and antioxidants, having role in antioxidant defense against Cd stress. These results suggested that a 4.50 mM concentration of Si supplement (potassium silicate) works effectively against Cd stress. The given results showed that Si supplement is beneficial for the enhancement of many metabolic activities that takes places in plants during the growth period that proved a feasible approach in controlling the Cd concentration within wheat plants and, ultimately, in humans.
Killing the Comments: Why Do News Organizations Remove User Commentary Functions?

User commentary in digital journalism is commonly understood as a form of public user engagement and participation, a stance that reframes news organizations’ role as discussion curators as necessarily consequential. Yet, in recent years many news organizations have limited, or abandoned altogether, their commentary functions. This paper examines statements and policies published by such news organizations. Based on a thematic analysis of 20 comment removal statements, we found that the most common rationale for this shift was an effort to reduce incivility and misinformation among user comments. The statements analyzed also indicate that organizations are moving to outsource commentary to social media platforms. Tapping into normative discourses of (avoiding) uncivil, conspiracy-prone commentary seems to be an acceptable rationale for abandoning infrastructures established for public discussions or to move these to social media; yet, we found no reflection whatsoever about the additional power afforded to social media companies through such a shift.
Factors influencing student transition to online education in the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown: evidence from Romania

Abstract This study aims to identify factors influencing student transition to online education (STOE) during the COVID19 pandemic in Romania. Although Romania boasts high internet speed, accessibility and affordability, online education is in its infancy. Academic experience variables found in the literature were narrowed into five factors through exploratory factor analysis, and regressed together with online platform and demographic variables to measure their impact on STOE. 565 business students from all academic levels were surveyed. The study uncovered direct and inverse relationships between the five groups of factors, platform functionality, enrolment level and place of residence, and STOE. Findings are relevant to academics and university managers for improving online education.
Collaborative innovation networks and innovation performance of new ventures: the contingent roles of gender diversity and education diversity

ABSTRACT Despite increasing research interest in the influence of collaborative innovation networks on innovation performance of new ventures, existing findings are ambiguous. The study examines how collaborative innovation networks can benefit from organisational diversity at two levels: gender diversity of the founding team and employee education diversity. The results of a survey of 156 new ventures in China indicate that both of these forms of diversity as important sources of human capital positively moderate the relationship between collaborative innovation networks and innovation performance. Critically, these forms of diversity play complementary roles in leveraging collaborative innovation networks. Overall, the findings confirm that organisational diversity at different levels serves a range of functions and interacts with external networks to influence innovation performance.
Hybrid postprocessing etching for CMOS-compatible MEMS

A major limitation in the fabrication of microstructures as a postCMOS (complimentary metal oxide semiconductor) process has been overcome by the development of a hybrid processing technique, which combines both an isotropic and anisotropic etch step. Using this hybrid technique, microelectromechanical structures with sizes ranging from 0.05 to /spl sim/1 mm in width and up to 6 mm in length were fabricated in CMOS technology. The mechanical robustness of the microstructures determines the limit on their dimensions. Examples of an application of this hybrid technique to produce microwave coplanar transmission lines are presented. The performance of the micromachined microwave coplanar waveguides meets the design specifications of low loss, high phase velocity, and 50 /spl Omega/ characteristic impedance. Various commonly used etchants were investigated for topside maskless postmicromachining of silicon wafers to obtain the microstructures. The isotropic etchant used is gas-phase xenon difluoride (XeF/sub 2/), while the wet anisotropic etchants are either ethylenediamine-pyrocatechol (EDP) or tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). The advantages and disadvantages of these etchants with respect to selectivity, reproducibility, handling, and process compatibility are also described.
Dinosaurian survivorship schedules revisited: new insights from an age‐structured population model

Little is known of dinosaur population biology due to insufficient information on age‐dependent fecundities and mortalities. So far, survivorship curves (SC) of only six dinosaurs (four tyrannosaurs, one ceratopsian, one hadrosaur) have been erected from bone assemblages of aged specimens. They indicate high survival throughout most of their life with presumably higher mortalities after hatching and increasing mortalities towards its end. However, none of these studies recognized that to infer a reliable SC for a taxon, the assemblage must preserve a stationary age distribution (i.e. one which is stable, with constant population size over time as overall fecundities match mortalities, hereafter SAD population). To assess SCs of these dinosaurs, I built a simple population model with age‐dependent fecundities and survival rates. Its three input parameters are maximum longevity, age at sexual maturation and maximum annual offspring number, for which information exists on these dinosaurs. As bone histological studies and scaling relationships provide estimates on these parameters, my model is also applicable to other extinct taxa. Modelling suggests that bone assemblages did not preserve SAD populations. SCs determined for SAD populations of Albertosaurus sarcophagus, Gorgosaurus libratus, Dasplatosaurus torosus and Tyrannosaurus rex indicated that low mortalities followed high mortalities in early life or that mortality rates were rather constant throughout their life. In Psittacosaurus lujiatuensis, modelling suggests low mortalities throughout most of its life that increase towards its end. Due to its simplicity, my model was unable to render composite SCs, specifically the sigmoidal shape previously predicted for Maiasaura peeblesorum.
Optimal leader‐follower affine formation control of linear multi‐agent systems

This article studies optimal leader‐follower affine formation control for linear multi‐agent systems, which has more formation flexibility due to the usage of stress matrices. First, based on the inverse optimality strategy, an affine formation control law is designed to drive the followers to their target positions, in which a corresponding performance index is minimized. Next, to minimize a prespecified performance index, another class of optimal affine formation control law is proposed by using a cooperative estimator. The design of the cooperative estimator is based on the proportional‐integral feedback which estimates the target position of each follower. Under the proposed control law, the followers achieve the target formation and the given performance indices are guaranteed to be optimal at the same time. Finally, the corresponding simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the presented approaches.
Propagation of Flicker in Electric Power Networks Due to Wind Energy Conversions Systems

Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) produce fluctuating output power, which may cause voltage fluctuations and flicker. Flicker assessment in networks may be difficult, since its evaluation requires long computing time and special procedures to calculate the flicker severity index, Pst. A frequency domain method to study flicker propagation is presented. This method is based on propagation of frequency components from WECS output currents throughout the grid. In this way, a fast flicker analysis in a network of any size can be performed. An algorithm for flicker measurement in the frequency domain, which allows Pst calculation, is proposed. Several study cases were performed, and results are compared with time domain simulations, showing good agreement between them.
Numerical Study on Propagative Waves in a Periodically Supported Rail Using Periodic Structure Theory

This paper presents the numerical study on propagative waves in a periodically supported rail below 6000 Hz. A periodic rail model, which considers the effects of both the periodic supports and the rail cross section deformation, has been established based on the periodic structure theory and the finite element method. Two selection approaches are proposed to obtain the concerned dispersion curves from the original calculation results of dispersion relations. The differences between the dispersion curves of different support conditions are studied. The propagative waves corresponding to the dispersion curves are identified by the wave modes. The influences of periodic supports on wave modes in pass bands are revealed. Further, the stop band behaviors are investigated in terms of the bounding frequencies, the standing wave characteristics, and the cross-sectional modes. The results show that eight propagative waves with distinct modes exist in a periodically supported rail below 6000 Hz. The differences between the dispersion curves of periodically and continuously supported rails are not obvious, apart from the stop band behaviors. All the bounding-frequency modes of the stop bands are associated with the standing waves. Two bounding-frequency modes of the same stop band can be regarded as two identical standing waves with the longitudinal translation of the quarter-wavelength, one of which is the so-called pinned-pinned resonance.
Sharp and Rounded Cutouts in a Chevron Orifice and Them Impact on the Acoustic and Flow Parameters of Synthetic Jet

The application of a synthetic jet actuator in workplaces entails the necessity of noise reduction, which they generate. One of the methods to achieve this is the use of the chevron orifice or nozzle. Therefore, the impact of different numbers of chevrons and rounding of cutouts in the orifice on the actuator efficiency and the sound pressure level was tested. The chevron orifices were compared to the circular orifice. The time-mean reaction force method was used to measured efficiency and flow parameters, and the noise was measured according to the ISO 3746:2010. The rounded cutouts had an advantageous impact on the actuator efficiency at the power P >1 W, while the efficiency of the actuator with classic chevron orifice was smaller than with circular orifice. The noise generated by the actuator with the chevron orifice was smaller from 0.6 to 1.6 dB than by the actuator with the circular orifice, at the number of chevrons equal to 7 or more. The rounding of cutouts in the chevron orifice can advantageously impact the parameters of synthetic jet actuators.
Synthesis of N-protected 1-aminoalkylphosphonium salts—a new perspective

Abstract The current study presents two novel and efficient strategies for the synthesis of N-protected 1-aminoalkylphosphonium salts from readily available substrates. The first one is a one-pot methodology which is based on the three-component coupling reaction of aldehydes with amides, carbamates, lactams, imides, or urea in the presence of triarylphosphonium salt. This approach results in the production of a wide range of structurally diverse N-protected 1-aminoalkylphosphonium salts. The second one is a step-by-step procedure which results in the synthesis of N-protected 1-aminomethylphosphonium salts only, and hence has a limited scope of application. This method is performed in two steps: transformation of amide-type substrates to the corresponding hydroxymethyl derivatives and substitution of the hydroxyl group with triarylphosphine. Both protocols are promising alternatives and complement the hitherto described methodologies. Graphical Abstract
Detection of endometritis using uterine cytobrush and ultrasonography in mares

Article history: Received December 18, 2020 Accepted June 19, 2021 Available online October 13, 2021 The objective of this study was to detect the percentage of Polymorph nuclear cells (PMNs ( from the uterine smears using the local manufactured uterine cytobrush instrument, and to determine the echogenicity the intrauterine fluid by Ultrasonography. Thirty (Arabian) repeat breeder mares were used. Animals were examined through rectal palpation and ultrasound. Mares were divided into 4 groups depending on the results of: 1) the amount of intrauterine fluid using ultrasound; 2) the endometrial samples were collected during estrus cycles, 3) the numbers of uterine epithelial cells and PMNs using locally manufactured cytobrush tool, 4) the number of lymphocytes. The results showed that the incidence of endometritis had significantly related to that age of the animals. The number of PMNs were significantly different between groups. The mean number of PMNs was 1.63±0.23, 3.34±0.18, 4.78±0.26 and 5.26±0.46 in G1, G2, G3 and G4, respectively. The echogenicity of the accumulated fluid in the endometrial lumen was significantly associated with the percentage of lymphocytes. The mean number of lymphocytes was 1.02±0.42 and 1.84±0.37%, in G3 and G4 respectively. This study concluded that the cytobrush technique is rapid, cheap, safe technique and easy to obtain samples from mare's uterus in the field. Consequently, Ultrasound and cytological techniques could be recommended for diagnosis of endometritis in mares.