Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of the Dark Triad Traits on the Five Pillars of Positive Psychology: The Moderation Effect of Gender

The current study investigated the effects of the Dark Triad traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) on mental health indicators from the viewpoint of positive psychology. Additionally, the moderation effect of gender was explored in the context of these relationships. The sample consisted of Hungarian adults from Serbia (439, 54% women). The participants completed the Short Dark Triad Scale (SD3) and the Mental Health Test (MHT), which is a new measure of mental health that can identify levels of well-being, savoring, creative and executing efficiency, self-regulation, and resilience. Results showed that narcissism positively predicted all mental health indicators, while psychopathy negatively predicted all indicators, except for resilience, with which it showed no significant relationship. Machiavellianism was a positive predictor of savoring, creative and executing efficiency, but a negative predictor of self-regulation and resilience and it had no significant effect on well-being. There was no significant moderation effect of gender.
Effect of some toxic metals in drinking water on male reproductive hormones

Objective: Drinking water contaminated with toxic metals can be a leading cause of infertility in males. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of some toxic metals and trace elements in drinking water and reproductive hormone levels in males who drink water from these sources in Sabongida-Ora , Edo State, Nigeria. Material and Methods: A total of 90 subjects consisting of 30 subjects who drink borehole water, 30 subjects who drink water from hand-dug well, and 30 subjects who drink table water, aged between 18 and 45 years, were recruited for this study. Serum reproductive hormones were analyzed using ELISA method. Blood lead, cadmium, serum zinc, and copper were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: Blood Cd and Pb levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in hand-dug, borehole and treated water consumers while serum Zn level was significantly lower P<0.05) in hand-dug well and borehole water consumers than treated table water consumers. The serum Cu level was not significantly different between the groups. The reproductive hormones were significantly lower among hand-dug well and borehole water consumers than treated table water consumers (p<0.05), while PROL(P<0.05) was significantly higher among hand-dug well, borehole water consumers than treated water consumers. Serum PROL correlated positively with Pb (r=0.443; P<0.05) and negatively with serum Zn (r=-0.404; P<0.05) while T correlated positively (r=0.542; P<0.005) with Zn. Similarly, FSH correlated negatively with Pb (r=-0.398; P<0.05) and positively with Zn (r=0.422;P<0.05), while LH correlated inversely with Cd (r=-0.622;P<0.05) and positively with Zn (r=0.745; P<0.05). Expectedly, Cd and Pb were higher while Cu and Zn were lower in hand-dug well water consumers than borehole water consumers. Conclusion: Water consumption from hand-dug wells may have adverse reproductive sequelae among consumers.
Morpho-molecular Characterization of Maize Inbred Lines Accelerating Parental Selection for Hybridization

Characterization of genetic diversity is the foundation step for crop improvement, which provides a basis for analyzing combining ability and heterosis of inbred genotypes during a hybridization program. An investigation was carried out at the field laboratory of the Genetics and Plant Breeding department in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, to elucidate the genetic architecture by evaluating 12 morphological and 4 molecular (SSR) markers within 52 diverse S1 genotypes, and to assess the relationship of molecular and morphological GD. An almost equal amount of PCV and GCV coupled with high heritability and genetic advance for the traits cob weight (gm), NKPC, and NKPR lead to the selection of promising genotypes based on these characters. Correlation coefficient and scatter plot matrix established a positive and strong relationship of KL (mm), KW (mm), and KT (mm) with 100 kernel weight (gm) suggesting the importance of kernel morphology. Mahalanobis D2 statistics revealed the highest inter-cluster distance between I and II. The percentages of molecular variance within the population and among the population were 76% and 14 %, respectively. The optimum K-value was 5. Heatmap relying on molecular GD exposed MMIL-28, MMIL-54, and MMIL-96 as the most diverse lines. SHE analysis hypothesized the increase of richness and diversity over time. Less correlation between the divergence generated from morphological traits and molecular markers suggested that the morphological variation may be determined by environmental factors and also by genetic factors. A strategy for the effective selection of predicting parental lines for a future hybridization program was developed.
Taxation, government spending and economic growth: The case of Bulgaria

The objective of this article is to estimate the impact of three fiscal instruments (direct taxes, indirect taxes, and government expenditure) on Bulgaria’s economic growth. The study employs an autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) and Eurostat quarterly seasonally adjusted data for the period 1999–2020. Four control variables (the shares of gross capital formation, household consumption, and exports in GDP as well as the economic growth in the euro area) are included in the model to account for the influence of non-fiscal factors on Bulgaria’s real GDP growth rate. The empirical results indicate a long-run equilibrium relationship between Bulgaria’s economic growth and the independent variables in the ARDL. In the short term, Bulgaria’s real GDP growth rate is affected by its own past values and the previous values of the shares of direct tax revenue, exports, government consumption, and indirect tax revenue in GDP. In the long term, Bulgaria’s economic growth is influenced by its own previous values and the past values of the share of household consumption in GDP and the euro area’s real GDP growth rate. Fiscal instruments can be used to stabilize Bulgaria’s growth in the short run but they are neutral in the long run. The direct tax revenue, government consumption, and indirect tax revenue are highly effective and can be used as tools for invigorating and stabilizing Bulgaria’s economic growth in the short run. However, in the long term, the real GDP growth rate can be hastened only by encouraging domestic demand (final consumption expenditure of households) and promoting exports. This research cannot answer the question of whether flat income taxation stabilizes the economy or not, since it does not separate the impact of tax rate changes from the influence of tax base modifications.
An Intelligent Wired Capsule for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori

An endoscopic capsule is a miniaturized ingestible video camera used to acquire images of the gastrointestinal tract wirelessly. Being morphologically equivalent to any ingestible pill, they can be simply swallowed. Endoscopic capsules therefore present an inviting alternative to the traditional endoscope for the examination of the gastrointestinal tract as well for therapeutic purposes. Endoscopic capsules are considered a disruptive technology, as they have revolutionized the examination of the gastrointestinal tract in a relatively short time. The implementation of an active locomotion system can improve the performance of a capsule and, in the solution proposed in this paper, allows providing the capsule the needed power for therapeutic purposes. Alternative therapeutic solutions, based on optical solutions and capsule endoscopy can be applied to patients affected by Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium of the stomach that affects about half of the world population, mainly in developing countries. The infection can be asymptomatic or associated with slight symptomatology. In some cases, it can take to major pathologies or death. The literature reports results deriving from recent applications of photodynamic treatments to H. pylori. Specific wavelengths have been found to exhibit photo-killing capabilities toward the bacterium. Some solutions have been proposed based on the use of endoscopic devices and capsules capable of administering photodynamic therapy inside the stomach. The proposed treatments, however, are invasive and insufficient to achieve long-term eradication. In this work, the administration of photodynamic therapy is proposed, aimed at the eradication of H. pylori by means of an active endoscopic capsule with LED emission. The capsule design, in addition to the therapeutic module aimed at administering an appropriate light intensity at specific wavelengths already demonstrated in the literature, integrates an active locomotion system aimed at maximizing the efficiency of the treatment.
Measured transfer lengths of 0.5 and 0.6 in. strands in pretensioned concrete

Transfer lengths were measured for both 0.5 and 0.6 in. (12.7 and 15.2 mm) diameter strands for a wide variety of research variables that included strand spacing, debonding strand, confining reinforcement, number of strands per specimen and size and shape of the cross section. Overall, the test results indicate that the transfer bond characteristics for 0.6 in. (15.2 mm) strands are very similar to the bond behavior for 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) strands. Furthermore, average measured transfer lengths for both sizes of strand are marginally predicted by current AASHTO and ACI Code provisions. These results clearly demonstrate that 0.6 in. (15.2 mm) strands can be safely employed in pretensioned concrete members with spacings of 2 in. (50.8 mm). However, the ranges of measured transfer lengths clearly indicate that a significant proportion of actual measured transfer lengths exceed the current design recommendations of either 50d b or f se d b /3. Therefore, to incorporate a more consistent level of safety, transfer lengths should be approximated by the expression f se d b /2.
Low Power Smartdust Receiver with Novel Applications and Improvements of an RF Power Harvesting Circuit

Title of Document: LOW POWER SMARTDUST RECEIVER WITH NOVEL APPLICATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS OF AN RF POWER HARVESTING CIRCUIT. THOMAS STEVEN SALTER JR., DOCTORATE OF PHILOSOPHY, 2009 Directed By: Professor Neil Goldsman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland Smartdust is the evolution of wireless sensor networks to cubic centi meter dimensions or less. Smartdust systems have advantages in cost, flexi bility, and rapid deployment that make them ideal for many military, medical, a nd industrial applications. This work addresses the limitations of prior works of r esearch to provide sufficient lifetime and performance for Smartdust sensor net works through the design, fabrication and testing of a novel low power receiver fo r use in a Smartdust transceiver. Through the novel optimization of a multi-st age LNA design and novel application of a power matched Villard voltage doubler circuit , a 1.0 V, 1.6 mW low power On-Off Key (OOK) receiver operating at 2.2 GHz i s fabricated using 0.13 um CMOS technology. To facilitate data transfer in adverse R F propagation environments (1/r 3 loss), the chip receives a 1 Mbps data signal with a sensitivity of 90 dBm while consuming just 1.6 nJ/bit. The receiver operates without t e addition of any external passives facilitating its application in Sma rtdust scale (cm) wireless sensor networks. This represents an order of magnitude decrease in pow er consumption over receiver designs of comparable sensitivity. In an effort to further extend the lifetime of the Smartdust tr ansceiver, RF power harvesting is explored as a power source. The small scale of Smartdust sensor networks poses unique challenges in the design of RF power scavenging systems. To meet these challenges, novel design improvements to an RF power scav nging circuit integrated directly onto CMOS are presented. These improvements include a reduction in the threshold voltage of diode connected MOSFET and sources f circuit parasitics that are unique to integrated circuits. Utilizing these improvements, the voltage necessary to drive Smartdust circuitry (1 V) with a gre te than 20% RF to DC conversion efficiency was generated from RF energy levels m asured in the environment (66 uW). This represents better than double the RF to DC conver si efficiency of the conventional power matched RF energy harvesting circuit. The circuit is integrated directly onto a 130 nm CMOS process with no external passives and measures only 300 um by 600 um, meeting the strict form factor requirement of Smartdust systems. BREAK. [delete in final draft] LOW POWER SMARTDUST RECEIVER WITH NOVEL APPLICATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS OF AN RF POWER HARVESTING CIRCUIT.
Short communication: Forward and inverse models relating river long profile to monotonic step-changes in tectonic rock uplift rate history: A theoretical perspective under a nonlinear slope-erosion dependency

Abstract. The long profile of rivers is widely considered as a recorded of tectonic uplift rate. Knickpoints form in response to rate changes and faster rates produce steeper channel segments. However, when the exponent relating fluvial incision to river slope, n, is not unity, the links between tectonic rates and channel profile are complicated by channel dynamics that consume and form river segments. Here, we explore non-linear cases leading to channel segment consumption and develop a Lagrangian analytic model for knickpoint migration. We derive a criterion for knickpoint preservation and merging, and develop a forward analytic model that resolves knickpoint and long profile evolution before and after knickpoint merging. We further propose a linear inverse scheme to infer tectonic history from river profiles when all knickpoints are preserved. Our description provides a new framework to explore the links between tectonic uplift rates and river profile evolution when n is not unity.
Epidemiological trends and trajectories of MAFLD-associated hepatocellular carcinoma 2002–2033: the ITA.LI.CA database

Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) represents a new inclusive definition of the whole spectrum of liver diseases associated to metabolic disorders. The main objective of this study was to compare patients with MAFLD and non-MAFLD with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) included in a nationally representative cohort. Methods We analysed 6882 consecutive patients with HCC enrolled from 2002 to 2019 by 23 Italian Liver Cancer centres to compare epidemiological and future trends in three subgroups: pure, single aetiology MAFLD (S-MAFLD); mixed aetiology MAFLD (metabolic and others, M-MAFLD); and non-MAFLD HCC. Results MAFLD was diagnosed in the majority of patients with HCC (68.4%). The proportion of both total MAFLD and S-MAFLD HCC significantly increased over time (from 50.4% and 3.6% in 2002–2003, to 77.3% and 28.9% in 2018–2019, respectively, p<0.001). In Italy S-MAFLD HCC is expected to overcome M-MAFLD HCC in about 6 years. Patients with S-MAFLD HCC were older, more frequently men and less frequently cirrhotic with clinically relevant portal hypertension and a surveillance-related diagnosis. They had more frequently large tumours and extrahepatic metastases. After weighting, and compared with patients with non-MAFLD, S-MAFLD and M-MAFLD HCC showed a significantly lower overall (p=0.026, p=0.004) and HCC-related (p<0.001, for both) risk of death. Patients with S-MAFLD HCC showed a significantly higher risk of non-HCC-related death (p=0.006). Conclusions The prevalence of MAFLD HCC in Italy is rapidly increasing to cover the majority of patients with HCC. Despite a less favourable cancer stage at diagnosis, patients with MAFLD HCC have a lower risk of HCC-related death, suggesting reduced cancer aggressiveness.
Measuring the Performance of Guya na's Construction Industry Using a Set of Project Performance Benchmarking Metrics

A study measuring the performance of Guyana’s construction industry using a set of project performance benchmarking metrics was recently completed. The underlying premise of the study was that the aggregated performance of construction projects provides a realistic assessment of the performance of the construction industry, on the basis that construction projects are the mechanism through which the construction industry creates its tangible products. The fact that an influential government agency acted as owner of the study was critical to the data collection phase. The best approach for collecting project performance data in Guyana involves the utilisation of a researcher or team of researchers mining electronic and hard copy project documents. This study analysed approximately 270 construction projects to obtain an indication of the performance of guyana’s construction industry. It was found that sea defence projects performed the worst, whereas health facility projects performed the best. The main implication of this is that sea defence projects are likely to be the least efficient and, given their critical nature, there is an argument for urgent performance improvement interventions.
Interstitial Condensation Due to Air Leakage: A Sensitivity Analysis

This paper presents an approach to evaluate the sensitivity of a roof design to condensation problems, given the uncertainty to achieve continuity of airtightness in practice. The approach consists of a repeated number of simulations with a 2D heat, air and vapour transfer model to predict the variation in roof moisture performance due to various discontinuities in roof geometry. The set of discontinuities is calibrated by comparing measuring data of roof airtightness to simulation results. On the basis of the methodology, the paper explores the effectiveness of different measures to reduce the sensitivity of cavity insulated roofs to condensation problems. The results show that even when a roof design complies with condensation control standards, a lightweight system remains sensitive to condensation problems as a result of air leakage through the discontinuities, joints and perforations, common to most existing construction methods. The sensitivity of a roof to interstitial condensation due to air leakage essentially depends on the heat and vapour transfer properties and design of the layers outside of the thermal insulation (roofing and underlay)
Factors Associated with Congenital Heart Disease in Severely Malnourished Children under Five and Their Outcomes at an Urban Hospital, Bangladesh

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common types of birth defect with a high morbidity and mortality, particularly in severely malnourished children under five. In this study, we aim to identify the predicting factors for CHD and their outcomes. 694 malnourished children under five years of age admitted between April 2015 and December 2017 constituted the study population. Of them, 64 were cases of CHD, and by comparison 630 were without CHD. CHD was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by echocardiogram. 64% of the cases had a single defect. Cases were more likely to be present with diarrhea, cough, respiratory distress, cyanosis, hypoxemia, hypoglycemia and hypernatremia on admission. The cases also had a high proportion of severe sepsis, bacteremia, heart failure, respiratory failure and death, compared to those without CHD. Cough (95% CI = 1.09–18.92), respiratory distress (95% CI = 1.46–5.39) and hypoxemia (95% CI = 1.59–6.86) were found to be the independent predictors for CHD after regression analysis, and their early identification might be helpful to lessen ramifications, including mortality, in such populations, especially in resource-limited settings.
How small-sided games’ court dimensions affect tactical-technical behavior in beginner volleyball athletes

Purpose: To compare the tactical-technical behavior of volleyball players according to the manipulation of court size in small-sided games. Method: We analyzed the tactical-technical behaviors of 16 male players (12.2 ± 0.5 years and 1.2 ± 0.8 years of practice) using the components of the GPAI instrument (Adjustment, efficiency, decision-making and effectiveness) validated for volleyball. To this end, we examined 1614 transition actions (defense, setting and attack) from games played in four court dimensions (3.0 × 3.0m, 4.0 × 4.0m, 4.6 × 4.6m and 5.2 × 5.2m). Altogether 96 Volleyball games were analyzed. Results: The smaller area per player favored technical skills development, specifically defensive and offensive ones. On the other hand, a larger area per player promoted higher scores in decision-making and effectiveness. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the players’ behaviors in small-sided games depend on the game configurations, since modifications in the tactical-technical behavior emanate from the game ecology. Thus, the court size manipulation is a powerful pedagogical tool that deeply relates to learning outcomes. Coaches must consider such constraints in the teaching-learning process, since small-sided games manipulations should be linked with clear learning goals.
Fuzzy logic control experiments on a single-link manipulator

The results obtained from a series of test-runs performed on a single-link manipulator arm using two different types of control strategies, namely, fuzzy logic control and conventional control (e.g. PID) are presented in this paper. These are used to examine the advantages and disadvantages of using both types of control methods as applied to a single-link manipulator arm under different load conditions and input signals. The manipulator arm has been implemented using off-the-shelf industrial components. Identification methods were applied to determine the system model which is used to simulate the performance of the system and to tune the controller parameters. Emphasis is made on the method used to implement the fuzzy logic controller and on the analysis of the test-runs results. Comparisons of the advantages and disadvantages of using both controllers under different conditions are included. The ensemble has been used to introduce undergraduate control engineering students to the application of fuzzy logic-based control on a system with which they are familiar. <<ETX>>
Technique for precise measurement of large-scale silos and tanks

Geometric imperfections in thin-shell structures such as silos and tanks need to be measured to assess the buckling strength of the structures, and to develop new structure design criteria. A number of difficulties are associated with the task of imperfection measurements in such structures. This paper describes a new technique that uses conventional survey instrumentation as well as a specifically designed surface profile measurement apparatus. The profile data and survey observations are combined in a common least-squares adjustment model. The measured silo-wall imperfections are analyzed using a double Fourier series to determine dominant imperfection modes. The new silo and tank measurement technique offers many advantages over existing methods and has been successfully employed for the measurement of three large grain silos. Results from the measurement test are given as an example.