Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Anxiety Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Gastrointestinal Disease: The Mediating Role of Illness Perception

Purpose Anxiety, as an important public health issue, may frequently trouble the chronic GI patients with severe symptoms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the severity of GI symptoms and anxiety symptoms and further examine whether this relationship was mediated through illness perception. Patients and Methods A total of 295 patients with chronic GI disease from the affiliated hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. They were interviewed with self-reported questionnaires containing demographic variables, clinical variables, and several self-rating scales. Multivariable linear regression models were established to explore the relationship between the severity of GI symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Finally, we performed the mediation analysis to test the mediating effect of illness perception. Results After adjustments for key demographic and clinical covariates, the severity of GI symptoms was positively associated with anxiety symptoms (β=0.214, 95% CI: 0.009–0.028, P < 0.001). Additionally, the results of the mediation analysis suggested that illness perception partially mediated the association between the severity of GI symptoms and anxiety symptoms with a mediating ratio of 25.3%. Conclusion Our findings indicated that chronic GI patients with more severe GI symptoms were more likely to have anxiety symptoms and this effect is partially mediated by illness perception. Therefore, illness perception is recommended to be integrated into the routine assessment of chronic GI patients, and perception-based interventions may be beneficial in relieving anxiety symptoms among patients with severe chronic GI diseases.
Knowledge spillovers: On the impact of genetic distance and data revisions

This paper assesses the robustness of the empirical results in Ertur and Koch (2007), who develop a model, which accounts for technological interdependence among countries through spatial externalities. The original version models interdependence via an interaction matrix based on geographic distance. In contrast, in this paper, data on genetic distance, defined as the time since two populations have shared a common ancestor, from Spolaore and Wacziarg (2009) is used to construct the interaction matrix. It is found that, whereas in the original model indirect spillovers from capital investment were insignificant, using genetic distance, these spillovers now have a significant effect on steady-state income per worker. However, the version of the model with an interaction matrix based on genetic distance implies an implausibly large capital share of income. In addition, the model is subjected to a further series of robustness checks. The original version relies on data from Penn World Table (PWT) Version 6.1. More recent versions are currently available, and the data has been extensively revised (Johnson et al., 2013). It is shown that results are in general not robust across different versions of the PWT. Furthermore, the estimation results are highly sensitive both to the measure used to model interaction between countries (genetic or geographic distance) and to the specific functional form on which the weights in the interaction matrix are based.
Supplementary: Your Classifier can Secretly Suffice Multi-Source Domain Adaptation

SB Source Only 39.6±0.5 8.2±0.7 33.9±0.6 11.8±0.6 41.6±0.8 23.1±0.7 26.4±0.7 DAN [5] 39.1±0.5 11.4±0.8 33.3±0.6 16.2±0.3 42.1±0.7 29.7±0.9 28.6±0.6 RTN [7] 35.3±0.7 10.7±0.6 31.7±0.8 13.1±0.6 40.6±0.5 26.5±0.7 26.3±0.7 JAN [6] 35.3±0.7 9.1±0.6 32.5±0.6 14.3±0.6 43.1±0.7 25.7±0.6 26.7±0.6 ADDA [12] 39.5±0.8 14.5±0.6 29.1±0.7 14.9±0.5 41.9±0.8 30.7±0.6 28.4±0.7 MCD [11] 42.6±0.3 19.6±0.7 42.6±0.9 3.8±0.6 50.5±0.4 33.8±0.8 32.2±0.6
Turning and Repositioning Frequency to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries Among Adult Patients: Systematic Review

Turning and repositioning is considered one of the strategies to reduce the incidence of pressure injuries (PIs) among hospitalized patients, as it helps to redistribute and minimize direct pressure on the targeted skin and enhance blood perfusion in the affected areas. The frequency of turning and repositioning is generally uniform across clinical settings, with most clinical guidelines recommending a substantial change in a patient’s position according to their health status. Notably, the optimal time interval between the position changes has not yet been established. Therefore, this study aimed to review the current literature in relation to the frequency of turning and repositioning adult patients to prevent PIs. The author used a systematic review following Whittemore and Knafl’s review strategy. The author used the following databases: CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, Ovid, MedLine, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. During the search, Boolean logic operators, MeSH terms, and keywords were utilized. The researcher followed the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-based Practice Grading Scale to evaluate the quality of selected studies. The search yielded 723 articles, of which 10 were included in this review. These 10 articles revealed several frequency intervals for comparison purposes: 2-hourly, 3-hourly, 4-hourly, and 6-hourly depending on the healthcare setting, with a combination of supine, 30° tilt, or 90° tilt. This review shows that the optimal frequency of turning and repositioning to prevent PIs remains unclear and further investigation is necessary. Considering the varying nature of clinical settings, there is a lack of clarity regarding a golden standard for the same. Therefore, patients’ health conditions should be considered when choosing the proper frequency to prevent PIs.
Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning for Charging Coordination of Electric Vehicles

Virtual power plant (VPP) is a power system control center that mediates among the energy market, power grid, distributed energy resources, power storage units, controllable power loads, and electric vehicles (EV s), As energy consumers and wireless communication users, an EV is one of the key components of VPP systems that pose stringent requirements on both charging system management and communication infrastructure. On one hand, the optimal power flow (OPF) needs to minimize power system loss and voltage variance. On the other hand, communication quality of service (QoS) needs to be accounted for, in terms of data rate and latency in VPP systems. These lead long-term spatial EV charging coordination (i.e., charging station (CS) selection) a non-convex optimization problem, which is yet an open issue. In this regard, by embedding SG millimeter-wave (mm W) access point (AP) into CS, an AP-enabled CS architecture is first devised in this paper to support VPP control information flow and EV communication applications, such as autonomous driving. Based on the AP-enabled CS, an AP-enabled-CS-assisted multi-agent deep reinforcement learning algorithm (ABC-MADRL) is proposed to provide an intelligent long-term EV charging coordination solution. Experimental results illustrate that ABC-MADRL dramatically reduces the power loss and voltage variance by 24.3%, compared to the uncoordinated charging.
Análise estrutural e metamórfica da região de Sucuru (Paraíba): implicações sobre a evolução do Terreno Alto Moxotó, Província Borborema

Inserted on the Alto Moxoto Terrane of the Borborema Province, the Sucuru region (Paraiba state, Brazil) includes two dominantly pre-Ediacaran tectono-stratigraphic domains, bounded by an expressive thrust shear zone (Carmo SZ). The first domain has a metaplutonic nature, being formed by granodioritic to migmatitic orthogneisses (Floresta Complex) cut by several intrusive suites. These suites comprise a unit of mafic-ultramafic nature (Malhada Vermelha), a second one mainly of granitic-granodioritic composition (Pedra d'Agua) and a last suite whose composition ranges from syenitic to syenogranitic (Serra da Barra). On the second domain predominate migmatitic paragneisses from of the Sertânia Complex. All these units were cut by Cambrian-Ediacaran felsic dykes and A-type granites. Three tectonic events were recognized. The first Dn episode represents a thrusting with tectonic transport to NW-NNW, being important the Sucuru and Carmo shear zones. The Dn+1 episode is a transcurrent event of Ediacaran age, being important in regional context the Coxixola and Congo shear zones. The final progressive late Ediacaran-Cambrian Dn+2 episode, culminated with the emplacement of the Sucuru dyke swarm and the Prata and Serra da Engabelada A-type granites. Petrographic evidences show that the Dn episode reached its metamoprhic peak on the granulitic or eclogitic facies, whose paragenesis was after re-equilibrated to the amphibolite during the Dn+1 event. The Dn+1 episode developed mylonitic corridors on the amphibolite facies with associated migmatization, while the Dn+2, event reached a greenschist facies restrict to influence of the late and post-tectonic intrusives. The occurrence of garnet amphibolites with symplectite texture along the metamorphic path Mn-Mn+1 suggests that the thrust event represented a high pressure metamorphic episode, indicating a probable Paleoproterozoic suture.
Incident and persistent poor sleep quality and associated factors among a rural ageing population in South Africa: A longitudinal study

Poor sleep quality (PSQ) is common among ageing adults, while the correlates of poor sleep quality among older adult populations are less well understood. The study utilised data from the South African 4-year longitudinal study on Health and Ageing in Africa. We analysed a longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI) data set (N = 3 769, females = 56.1%, aged 40 years and older) to assess factors associated with incident and persistent PSQ among them. Results indicate that the proportion of incident PSQ was 11.2% and persistent PSQ 24.9% overall. For people without PSQ at baseline, those aged 70-79 years, born in South Africa, and having 12 or more years of education were associated with incident PSQ. Compared to the 40-49-year-old age cohort, the 70-79-year-old age cohort had the highest likelihood of persistent PSQ. In addition, people with PTSD symptoms at baseline had higher odds of persistent PSQ. Sociodemographic and mental health factors were associated with incident and/or persistent PSQ. Improving mental well-being may help to reduce PSQ.
Evaluation of Machine Learning Approaches for Predicting Warfarin Discharge Dose in Cardiac Surgery Patients: Retrospective Algorithm Development and Validation Study

Background Warfarin dosing in cardiac surgery patients is complicated by a heightened sensitivity to the drug, predisposing patients to adverse events. Predictive algorithms are therefore needed to guide warfarin dosing in cardiac surgery patients. Objective This study aimed to develop and validate an algorithm for predicting the warfarin dose needed to attain a therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) at the time of discharge in cardiac surgery patients. Methods We abstracted variables influencing warfarin dosage from the records of 1031 encounters initiating warfarin between April 1, 2011, and November 29, 2019, at St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We compared the performance of penalized linear regression, k-nearest neighbors, random forest regression, gradient boosting, multivariate adaptive regression splines, and an ensemble model combining the predictions of the 5 regression models. We developed and validated separate models for predicting the warfarin dose required for achieving a discharge INR of 2.0-3.0 in patients undergoing all forms of cardiac surgery except mechanical mitral valve replacement and a discharge INR of 2.5-3.5 in patients receiving a mechanical mitral valve replacement. For the former, we selected 80% of encounters (n=780) who had initiated warfarin during their hospital admission and had achieved a target INR of 2.0-3.0 at the time of discharge as the training cohort. Following 10-fold cross-validation, model accuracy was evaluated in a test cohort comprised solely of cardiac surgery patients. For patients requiring a target INR of 2.5-3.5 (n=165), we used leave-p-out cross-validation (p=3 observations) to estimate model performance. For each approach, we determined the mean absolute error (MAE) and the proportion of predictions within 20% of the true warfarin dose. We retrospectively evaluated the best-performing algorithm in clinical practice by comparing the proportion of cardiovascular surgery patients discharged with a therapeutic INR before (April 2011 and July 2019) and following (September 2021 and May 2, 2022) its implementation in routine care. Results Random forest regression was the best-performing model for patients with a target INR of 2.0-3.0, an MAE of 1.13 mg, and 39.5% of predictions of falling within 20% of the actual therapeutic discharge dose. For patients with a target INR of 2.5-3.5, the ensemble model performed best, with an MAE of 1.11 mg and 43.6% of predictions being within 20% of the actual therapeutic discharge dose. The proportion of cardiovascular surgery patients discharged with a therapeutic INR before and following implementation of these algorithms in clinical practice was 47.5% (305/641) and 61.1% (11/18), respectively. Conclusions Machine learning algorithms based on routinely available clinical data can help guide initial warfarin dosing in cardiac surgery patients and optimize the postsurgical anticoagulation of these patients.
Measurement of seabed topography by multibeam sonar using CFFT

A precise ocean bottom map for ocean surveying and dredging is desired. Especially in dredging, it is essential to know the seabed topography in real time without being affected by scatterers (for example floating sand and mud) in the seawater during work. To meet these requirements, the multi-narrow-beam sonar system (MBSS) has been developed. The MBSS forms beams with the use of the complex fast Fourier transform (CFFT) algorithm. In the MBSS, arithmetic mean processing is employed to eliminate echo from scatterers and the measurement error due to the oblique incident angle is reduced by peak value detection processing. By using these processes, an ocean bottom map can be accurately obtained. It is both theoretically and experimentally shown that the distribution of echo intensity from scatterers is approximated by the Rayleigh probability density function. The arithmetic mean of four to eight successively received echoes from scatterers reduces the variance of the echo intensity distribution by 6 to 12 dB.
Some Albian (Cretaceous) asteroids (Echinodermata) from Texas and their paleobiological implications

An asteroid fauna is described from the Albian (Cretaceous) interval of the Washita Group of central Texas. New genera and species are Alkaidia sumralli, (Benthopectinidae), Capellia mauricei (Goniasteridae), and Betelgeusia reidi (Radiasteridae). Additional new genera are Fomalhautia (Goniasteridae), and Denebia and Altairia (Ophidiasteridae). Crateraster texensis (Goniasteridae), new combination, is similar to the European type species, C. quinqueloba. An unnamed species of Crateraster and an unassigned goniasterid are also present. All Washita genera are extinct, but all belong to extant families. The fauna is largely distinct from that of the somewhat younger European Cretaceous chalk. The Radiasteridae (e.g., Betelgeusia) is inferred to hold a basal position in the Paxillosida; Betelgeusia extends the range of the family back to the Cretaceous, closer to the diversification of the living asteroid orders. Asteroids capable of burying themselves in sediment (and only self-buriers) share some form of channelization for the passage of water currents between the primary ossicles of the body surface. Channels in Betelgeusia indicate semi-infaunal habits similar to those of living Astropecten and Luidia. Betelgeusia represents the third semi-infaunal paxillosidan family now known from the Cretaceous, although none are known from older rocks, suggesting a broadening of the asteroid adaptive zone during the Cretaceous. The Goniasteridae, Radiasteridae, and Benthopectinidae are less important in shelf settings today than they appear to have been during Washita deposition, whereas the Astropectinidae, Luidiidae, and the Echinasteridae are absent from the Washita although they are common today in similar settings.
With Broadax and Firebrand: The Destruction of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Warren Dean chronicles the chaotic path to what could be one of the greatest natural disasters of modern times: the disappearance of the Atlantic Forest. A quarter the size of the Amazon Forest, and the most densely populated region in Brazil, the Atlantic Forest is now the most endangered in the world. It contains a great diversity of life forms, some of them found nowhere else, as well as the country's largest cities, plantations, mines, and industries. Continual clearing is ravaging most of the forested remnants. Dean opens his story with the hunter-gatherers of twelve thousand years ago and takes it up to the 1990s--through the invasion of Europeans in the sixteenth century; the ensuing devastation wrought by such developments as gold and diamond mining, slash-and-burn farming, coffee planting, and industrialization; and the desperate battles between conservationists and developers in the late twentieth century. Based on a great range of documentary and scientific resources,With Broadax and Firebrand is an enormously ambitious book. More than a history of a tropical forest, or of the relationship between forest and humans, it is also a history of Brazil told from an environmental perspective. Dean writes passionately and movingly, in the fierce hope that the story of the Atlantic Forest will serve as a warning of the terrible costs of destroying its great neighbor to the west, the Amazon Forest.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF PROMISING PLUM (Prunus domestica L.) GENOTYPES BRED AT FRUIT RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ČAČAK

Five plum hybrids (38/62/70, IV/63/81, 32/21/87, 34/41/87 and 22/17/87) and newly released cultivar ‘Nada’, obtained by planned hybridisation and singled out within breeding programme at Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, were assessed for the main physical (fruit and stone weight and flesh percentage), chemical (soluble solids content, total and inverted sugars content, sucrose content, total acids content, pH value of fruit juice, ratio of soluble solids and total acids content and ratio of total sugars and total acids content) and sensorial (attractiveness, taste, aroma and consistency) traits compared with the standard cultivar ʻČačanska Lepoticaʼ. Results showed that the studied plum genotypes differed significantly in all of the assessed traits. Regarding the physical features, the best results were shown by hybrid 38/62/70, which had the highest fruit weight (56.92 g) and flesh percentage (96.91%), as well as by the new cultivar ‘Nada’, for which a larger fruit was observed in comparison to the standard (45.54 g and 42.24 g, respectively). Also, ‘Nada’ had better sensorial properties such as attractiveness, taste, aroma and consistency in relation to the other promising hybrids and the standard cultivar. From the aspect of all the studied sensorial characteristics, in addition to ‘Nada’, only hybrid 38/62/70 was aligned with the standard cultivar. Out of the studied genotypes, late ripening hybrid 22/17/87 had the best values of parameters of fruit chemical composition such as the soluble solids content (17.01%), total and inverted sugars contents (12.31% and 8.96%, respectively). The highest sucrose content (3.39%), pH value of fruit juice (3.51), as well as the highest ratio between soluble solids and total acids content (43.72) and ratio between total sugars and total acids content (32.58) were found in cultivar ‘Nada’. The highest total acids content (1.42%) was recorded in hybrid 32/21/87. Compared to ʻČačanska Lepoticaʼ, the same or better results in terms of the fruit chemical composition were determined in cultivar ‘Nada’ and hybrids 34/41/87 and 22/17/87. The study revealed existence of significant correlations between individual studied parameters of the fruit physical, chemical and sensorial properties.
Study on fertilizer N leaching, accumulation, and balance in tobacco fields with 15 N tracing technique

To reveal the amount and distribution of fertilizer N, a self-made observation device was developed, and the 15 N tracing technique was adopted. Leaching of N accounted a fairly small part for the fertilizer N gross during the growth period of tobacco, while a considerable large proportion of fertilizer N remained in soil, forming a potential threat to the surrounding environment. It was also found that 26.43% of the leaching of N was brought by runoffs, 38.12% infiltrated with the seepage water and 35.46% was in the sediment brought by seepages. The amount of N leaching had significant difference (p≤0.05) among treatments, proving that there was marked interrelationship between N leaching and N application. The analysis of fertilizer N accumulation in tobacco plants confirmed the average proportion of fertilizer N in leaf, lateral bud+ blossom, stem and root: 45.37%, 22.26%, 22.19% and 10.18%, respectively. The absorption of fertilizer N among treatments was significantly different (p≤0.05). Moreover, to select a preferable fertilizer regime and ensure the practicality of the experimental results, the tobacco was treated by five different fertilizer regimes, and the projection pursuit model was built for the selection. Based on the model calculations, 90 kg hm -2 of fertilizer was appropriate, it would brought both economic and environmental benefits for the tobacco cultivation in Hunan province.
Impact of Information and Communication Technology in Nigerian Small-To Medium-Sized Enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this (qualitative, multiple-case) study is to determine how small-to medium-sized enterprise (SME) leaders in Nigeria use information and communication technology (ICT) adoption as a business strategy to increase profitability and compete globally. Design/methodology/approach The participants for this study consisted of executive-level SME leaders who had the authority to approve ICT implementation within their respective organizations. Individual interviews were undertaken with participants to gain an understanding of their experience of determining the merits of and implementing ICT. The technology acceptance model, which specifies the relationship between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward computer use and intention to use technology, was applied as a framework to explain the Nigerian SME’s ICT adoption strategies. Findings Four major themes emerged from the data analysis: ICT adoption factors, ICT roles and benefits, role of government and SME success factors. The findings of this study may help SME leaders and government leaders address many of the factors inhibiting the adoption of ICT in SMEs in Nigeria. Practical implications This study may ensure that SMEs are successful and able to create jobs, which in turn may help to promote socioeconomic development through adoption of ICT. Originality/value The findings from this study contribute to the knowledge base regarding factors that affect ICT adoption by SME leaders as a business strategy to increase profitability and compete globally, particularly within SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria. It further addressed the gap in existing literature regarding other factors such as the influence of culture on ICT adoption, cost of ICT implementation, available ICT skills, infrastructure and ICT knowledge gap as the primary impeding factors of ICT adoption in Nigerian SMEs.