Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The development and validation of strength and empowerment scale for caregivers of persons with psychiatric disability

ABSTRACT Most recently, the strength perspective and empowerment has been viewed as an important social work approach. The purpose of the study is to investigate the contexts of strengths perspective and its implication on the care of psychiatric disabilities. This study intended to develop a caregiving scale applied to the Taiwanese population by utilising the Taiwanese participants. The scale would provide practitioners with an instrument to evaluate the attitude of caregivers, the family positively, family relationship, resources and sense of empowerment. There were 209 caregivers participated in the study. This study utilised EFA (Exploratory Factor Analysis) to find the factor structure and CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analysis) to test the internal reliability and validity. The scale has a good model of fit and good internal reliability.96. Four domains of the scale were family positively, family relationship and support, formal resources availability and empowerment. The scale could be applied to evaluate the effectiveness of empowerment intervention.
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Indian health care workers

Introduction: In the fight against the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), medical workers in India have been facing enormous pressure. Facing this critical situation, health care workers on the front line are likely to undergo psychological distress both, short term and long-term. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the overall impact of COVID-19 outbreak on health care workers in terms of Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, and Psychological Distress along with identifying how Perceived social support contributed to an individual’s overall Psychological Distress. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the mental health burden of Indian health care workers. Methodology: The study is a hospital-based survey conducted at Sir H.N. Reliance Hospital and Research Centre. A convenience sample of 200 (100 Patient Facing and 100 non-patients facing) participants from the hospital was selected for the study. Participants were both males and females. The age range of the participants is between 20 to 60 years. The degree of symptoms was assessed by The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support respectively. A multifactorial Analysis of variance (ANOVA) along with Correlational analysis. Results: There was higher prevalence of distress among nurses than in doctors. Statistical analysis indicated that there was a significant difference in the depression scores of health care workers who were seeing patient’s vs health care workers who were not seeing any patients. Higher levels of perceived social support among health care workers was negatively correlated with depression. However, the reverse could be true where people with lower depressive features show high perceived social support as the two were reciprocally related.
Mediterranean diet, sociodemographic factors and ultra-processed food consumption in Portugal

Mediterranean diet has been shown to promote beneficial effects on health, while ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been associated with lower diet quality and higher risk for non-communicable diseases. Our aims were to explore the adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) in Portugal and its association with sociodemographic factors and UPF consumption. Participants were from the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2015-2016, aged 18-84y (n = 3,852). CAPI face-to-face interviews were used including 2 dietary 24-h recalls. UPF were identified using NOVA classification. Adherence to MDP was defined by the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), which may vary from 0 to 9. MDS≥6 was considered as high adherence. Weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore associations of high adherence to MDP with sex, age, region, educational level, family income and dietary share of UPF groups. High adherence to MDP was observed for 19.6% of participants and was inversely associated with higher consumption of UPF, namely, sugar-sweetened beverages (OR = 0.924; 95%CI 0.883-0.966), confectionery (OR = 0.893; 95%CI 0.816-0.977), sweet snacks (OR = 0.953; 95%CI 0.923-0.985), cakes/desserts (OR = 0.956; 95%CI 0.934-0.978) and meat products (OR = 0.922; 95%CI 0.874-0.972). Being female (OR = 0.629; 95%CI 0.471-0.841) and not from the North or Alentejo regions were inversely associated with high adherence to MDP. There was no relation between income and adherence to MDP. The higher the level of education or age, the higher the odds of high adherence to MDP (OR = 2.573; 95%CI 1.741-3.803 and OR = 1.028; 95%CI 1.020-1.037, respectively). Actions to improve adherence to MDP in Portugal should consider discouraging UPF consumption and be addressed to specific subgroups. POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032090 (FCT/FEDER); FAPESP 2018/07391-9, 2019/05972-7 (MCR), 2016/14302-7 (FR). High adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern was observed for near 20% of Potuguese over 18 years old. The higher the level of education or age, the higher the odds of high adherence to MDP. High adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern was inversely associated with higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, confectionery, sweet snacks, cakes/desserts and meat products.
The hidden cost of group living for aggregating juveniles in a sexually dimorphic species

The number of conspecifics present during the juvenile stages can have profound consequences on development rates and adult body size, traits often closely related to fitness. Conspecifics can have direct negative effects on each other due to resource competition, and also direct positive effects due to benefits like improved thermoregulation. We investigated morphological and developmental consequences of juvenile group size in the leaf-footed cactus bug Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae). These insects are ideal to test the consequences of social environment during development because nymphs naturally aggregate in groups of varying size. Furthermore, the sexual dimorphism of this species allowed us to test for sex-specific effects of developmental density. Males possess enlarged hind legs used as weapons in male-male contests, yet females are physically larger. We found insects from smaller groups had 43% higher mortality than those from the larger groups. On average, adult body and hind leg sizes did not differ across densities for either sex. Interestingly, we found that those first to mature into adults within a sibling group became the largest adults. The largest, fastest males to adulthood also wielded the biggest weapons due to the positive allometry of this trait.
Biological Control Potential of Native Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) against Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The largest group of cabbage plant pests are the species in the owlet moth family (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the most dangerous species of which is the cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae L.). In cases of heavy infestation by this insect, the surface of plants may be reduced to 30%, with a main yield loss of 10–15%. The aim of the present study was to assess the susceptibility of M. brassicae larvae to nine native nematode isolates of the species Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) and Heterorhabditis megidis Poinar, Jackson and Klein under laboratory conditions. The most pathogenic strains were S. feltiae K11, S. feltiae K13, S. feltiae ZAG11, and S. feltiae ZWO21, which resulted in 100% mortality at a temperature of 22 °C and a dosage of 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/larva. The least effective was H. megidis Wispowo, which did not exceed 35% mortality under any experimental condition. For most strains, there were significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in the mortality for dosages between 25 IJs and 50 IJs, and between 25 IJs and 100 IJs, at a temperature of 22 °C. Statistical analysis of the effect of temperature on mortality showed that only strain H. megidis Wipsowo exhibited significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) when applied at dosages of 50 IJs and 100 IJs.
Wheel track loosening can reduce the risk of pesticide leaching to surface waters

Wheel tracks can lower topsoil infiltrability and increase water ponding in agricultural fields. A seedbed harrow mounted with two goosefeet tine points, the eradicators, was used to investigate track loosening at different depths on a sandy loam soil as a way of mitigating compaction effects and reducing the risk of pesticide transport to surface waters. Loosening strongly affected air permeability and steady‐state infiltration. The agro‐ecological system model Daisy was used to simulate the effects of soil structural and hydraulic changes on pesticide leaching to subsurface drain lines over a 332‐year period. Measured properties of the topsoil were combined with a representative subsoil and weather series and with realistic management scenarios. The loads of pesticide in the drains for 3 months after loosening were calculated for each year, and the risk was defined as the 90th percentile of the load. We focused on three different herbicides used in sugar beet cultivation in spring: glyphosate, metamitron and phenmedipham. Our simulations showed that for all pesticides loosening could lower the risk by 10% on average for a 3‐m working width, and the tracks contribution to the risk by 34%, for all drain spacing and working width settings. Wheeling did not affect the risk but this result was sensitive to the parameterization of the hydraulic conductivity in the compacted soil layer, showing potentially higher risk under certain conditions. These results showed that wheel track loosening is an effective strategy for reducing the risk of surface water contamination from pesticides used in agriculture.
Yield potential: its definition, measurement, and significance

Yield potential is a commonly used term but its definition and measurement are quite vague. The absence of agreement in its definition and measurement can lead to misunderstanding and to misleading claims. Considering concepts in literature, this paper has adopted a clear definition and distinction between yield potential and potential yield. Yield potential is the yield of a cultivar when grown in environments to which it is adapted; with nutrients and water nonlimiting and with pests, diseases, weeds, lodging, and other stresses effectively controlled. Potential yield is the maximum yield that could be reached by a crop in given environments such as those determined by simulation models with reasonable physiological and agronomic assumptions. Direct and indirect measurements of progress in yield potential among crops have been discussed in this paper with care for complications arising from cultivar by environment interaction.
High‐power UHF Doherty amplifier output combiner network optimization by 3‐port sub‐circuit X‐parameters characterization

This letter presents the optimization of the output combining network for a high‐power broadband Doherty power amplifier (DPA), based on the adoption of X‐parameters. The technique relies on the large‐signal vector network characterization of the prospective 3‐port DPA subcircuit. The characterization stage was carried out implementing the devices termination by the multisection artificial transmission line technique, thus allowing to terminate the devices with more accurate impedance value across the frequency band. This was validated by the development of the output combiner of a DPA prototype based on a pair of silicon laterally diffused MOSFETs (Si‐LDMOS). It was optimized in the band from 640 to 920 MHz, while the experimental characterization has been compared with a previous similar design. The DPA prototype exhibited a peak power of 54.4 dBm at centre frequency, with a peak drain efficiency (DE) up to 62% and 56% respectively at peak power and at 8‐dB input power back‐off. The data show a significant improvement with respect to the previous implementation of the same device technology and input network. This is due to the accuracy of the X‐parameter model based simulations, which is estimated to be 5.6 E‐3 in terms of normalized mean error.
Triggering effect of CLIL practice on English as a lingua franca awareness

The present study explores whether/how CLIL practice at primary English language classrooms raises English language teachers’ awareness towards their language use from an English as a lingua franca (ELF)-aware perspective. English language teachers in a CLIL program completed a survey about their classroom practice and their opinions about their English language use in the classroom. They also shared their lesson plans to showcase their everyday teaching. The findings revealed that although CLIL practice presented challenges for language teachers, their experience enabled participants to conceptualize themselves as ‘competent English language users’ instead of non-native English language teachers. Moreover, the findings suggested that teachers’ CLIL experience enabled them to become aware of the three major components of ELF awareness; namely, awareness of language and language use, awareness of instructional practice, and awareness of learning.
Perception of Medical Students and Staff towards Community Medicine Educational Process in Traditional and Integrated Medical Schools

Abstract Background: Community medicine teaching has a vital role in graduation of community oriented primary health care physicians, who can identify and solve health problems in their community. However, the majority of undergraduate medical students perceived it as irrelevant to their role as physicians and not prefer it as a future career. Integration in medical curricula makes the learning and teaching to occur in a holistic way that reflects the real world, so it may be perceived better by students and staff members.Objectives: To investigate the perception of undergraduate medical students towards community medicine teaching process and their future career preference, to identify the perception of teaching staff about the community medicine educational process in traditional and integrated medical schools.Participants and Methods: a cross sectional study, conducted on 600 randomly chosen undergraduate students (300 from each system), and 110 community medicine teaching staff members at some faculties of medicine in Egypt (68 from traditional system and 42 from integrated system). Data were collected by self-administered pre-tested questionnaires using Likert-scale.Results: The mean age of participant students was 21.8 year±0.8, while the mean age of participant staff members was >40 years, and the majorities of both were females. The median of total scores was low in both groups, while it was significantly higher among the participants from integrated versus traditional schools (students score was 58.5 versus 51) and (staff score was 79.5 versus 74) respectively. Only 12% among studied students preferred community medicine as a future career, 53.5% among them were highly satisfied by community medicine course.Conclusions: Perceptions regarding the community medicine educational process was better among the integrated system participants than traditional ones. The majorities of students in both systems didn’t prefer community medicine as a future career.
Investigating and characterizing phoenixin and tachykinin receptor-3 in the reproductive axis of the chicken, Gallus gallus

INVESTIGATING AND CHARACTERIZING PHOENIXIN AND TACHYKININ RECEPTOR-3 IN THE REPRODUCTIVE AXIS OF THE CHICKEN, GALLUS GALLUS Brandi Sparling Advisor: Grégoy Y. Bédécarrats University of Guelph, 2016 This thesis identifies two new players, phoenixin and tackykinin receptor-3, in the reproductive axis of the chicken. Phoenixin is known to upregulate pituitary gonadotropinreleasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R) messenger RNA (mRNA) and tachykinin receptor-3 to generate GnRH pulsatility in mammals. Through database search, we confirm that these neuroproteins are encoded in the chicken genome. The full-length mRNA sequences were identified by 5’ and 3’ rapid-amplification of complementary DNA ends and annotated. Phoenixin mRNA was detected and quantified in various tissues via conventional and semi-quantitative PCR, respectively (in diencephalon, pituitary, ovary, gut and heart). In the diencephalon and pituitary of different strain, phoenixin was differentially expressed with age. Tackykinin receptor-3 mRNA is differentially expressed across tissues (diencephalon>pituitary>ovary) and in an age-dependent manner in the pituitary. The function of phoenixin was explored through treatment of sexually immature primary chicken pituitary cells and, unlike rodents no independent modulation of GnRH-R-III/I was detected.
Changes in Global and Regional Characteristics of Heat Stress Waves in the 21st Century

Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a combined measure of temperature and humidity effects on thermal comfort, is used to define heat stress waves (HSWs). While emerging research has raised concerns on future changes in heat stress, for the first time, this study examines spatiotemporal changes in multiple HSW characteristics (intensity, duration, frequency, and cumulative mean intensity) in the 21st century under three emissions scenarios. It is the sustained nature of HSWs that impose more adverse impacts than extreme heat on a single day. HSWs are expected to be more intense, persistent, frequent, and influential due to anthropogenic influence. Models project the largest increases in multiple HSW characteristics will occur over the tropics and subtropics. The exception is maximum intensity, which displays a relative uniform increase over most global land areas. Analysis of regional population exposure to HSWs under different climate and socioeconomic scenarios emphasizes the importance of aggressive mitigation to minimize the potential impacts of HSWs. We further investigate how different regional HSW characteristics are projected to change relative to increasing global mean surface temperature (GMST). Our results confirm the varying rates and different trajectories at which regional HSWs change, independent of forcing pathway, strongly related to GMST. On both globally aggregated and regional scales, the maximum intensity and GMST are highly linearly associated, with an approximately 1:1 increase. However, the other three HSW characteristics are projected to change at a nonlinear rate per degree of GMST increase in general and display large regional variation in the rates of their changes.
Phenotypic plasticity in Bromelia serra Griseb.: morphological variations due to plant size and habitats with contrasting light availability

In the understory of the Schinopsis balansae Engl. forests of the Wet Chaco there are dense populationsof Bromelia serra. The individuals of this strictly terrestrial bromeliad grow in the sun as well as in the shade of the understory.Studies carried out with a facultative epiphytic bromeliad, Aechmea distichantha Lem. , which also lives in the understory of theseforests and whose foliar bases form a tank (phytotelmata), showed the existence of differences in plant architecture and biomassallocation due to plant size (apparent phenotypic plasticity) and to environmental conditions (true phenotypic plasticity). Thus,to evaluate whether the architecture and biomass allocation of a strictly terrestrial bromeliad are also affected by habitat and byplant size, we selected 22 plants of B. serra from open areas and 22 from the understory. The selected plants covered the wholerange of plant size. For each plant, we characterized its rosette (height, diameter and number of leaves) and measured the lengthand width of the longest leaf. The plants were split into stem and leaves (sheaths and blades), weighed, and then several biomassallocation indexes were derived. At a similar biomass, plants growing in the sun had shorter leaves, with a lower length: widthratio than those from the understory, but there were no differences between habitats with regard to plant height, diameter ordifferent biomass fractions. These results suggest that B. serra (a strictly terrestrial bromeliad) shows a high apparent plasticityin most variables, but low true phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental differences.
Different phylogenetic and environmental controls of first‐order root morphological and nutrient traits: Evidence of multidimensional root traits

Summary 1.Although fine roots are essential for the water and nutrient uptake of plants, there is limited understanding of root trait variation and the underlying mechanism. 2.Here, six first-order root morphological and chemical traits were measured for 181 species from eight subtropical and boreal forests to test the hypothesis of different phylogenetic and environmental regulations of root morphological and nutrient traits result in the multidimensions of root traits. 3.Two independent root trait dimensions between root thickness and nutrient traits were detected at both species and community levels. At the species level, diameter-related traits were mainly restricted by phylogenetic structure and showed little plasticity to the changing environments, whereas the variation in woody root nutrient was influenced significantly by soil variables. For community-level traits, the diameter-related axis scores of principal component analysis (PCA) were mainly driven by mean annual temperature (MAT) through shifting species composition, whereas the root nutrient-related axis scores were strongly influenced by soil P availability. 4.From both species and community levels, our study confirms, that the root-thickness-related dimension and root nutrient dimension represent new support for the multidimensionality of root traits which are driven by different selection pressure. This study also underlines that the community-aggregated traits might serve as a promising avenue to improve our understanding of community assemblage processes, allowing us to predict changes of vegetation distributions in a changing climate. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Calculation model for the earth potential of HVDC ground electrode based on image recognition of surface-layer soil moisture

Changes in soil electrical parameters can affect the distribution of earth potential in high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) ground electrodes when climatic conditions changes. This paper proposes a model to describe the relationship between surface-layer soil moisture and surface-layer soil resistivity under short-term climatic influence, by using image recognition technology. Based on the relatively stable resistivity of lower soil layers, a soil model more reflective of the actual operating conditions is established for soils near the ground electrode, and a finite element method is adopted to calculate the earth-surface potential (ESP). The experimental results indicate the following: (1) Compared with other measurement methods, image recognition of surface soil resistivity is a low-cost, real-time, online, and accurate method; and (2) changes in surface-layer soil moisture affect both ESP and step voltage. These effects are large in the case of high resistivity for the soil layer where the ground electrode is buried. This large fluctuation in step voltage particularly results in a potential safety hazards during ground electrode operation. Therefore, in order to ensure personal safety and obtain more accurate electrical parameters, it is necessary to consider the effect of natural climate on the soil surface resistivity. Finally, the value of the step voltage can be observed using image recognition, this also provides a new method for the safety monitoring of the DC ground electrode.