Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teachers knowledge of the effects of mouth breathing before and after an orientation program

Purpose: To ascertain primary and secondary school teachers knowledge of mouth breathing, as well as to gauge teachers improvements in knowledge of the subject area after the speech therapy guidance program. Methods: 150 teachers from both public and private schools participated in the program. The promotion of information about mouth breathing was carried out as part of the Speech Therapy Program, which addressed areas such as the physiology of breathing, causes and consequences of mouth breathing and the professionals involved in the treatment. Before and after the program semi-structured questionnaires were given out, the questionnaires contained objective and discursive questions about the causes and consequences of mouth breathing. The McNemar test was used for statistical analysis of the pre and post program questionnaires. The comparison between the general average of correct answers was ascertained by using the t-Student test. All differences were considered statistically significant at a significance level of 5%. Results: Statistical differences (p<0.05) were found in all questions in the pre and post-orientation program questionnaires. Conclusion: The teachers showed they had some previous knowledge about mouth breathing, however the Speech Therapy Orientation Program proved to be effective and resulted in the teachers showing a greatly increased knowledge about the subject.
GUIDELINES FOR INTERNET-BASED TEACHING

This paper presents clear pedagogical guidelines for using the Internet in TESOL by drawing on the key findings of a case study carried out in 2004-5 at Intercollege (http://www.intercollege.ac.cy/) Nicosia, Cyprus. The case study described how ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teachers endeavoured to utilize the Internet in their language classes in an ICT (Information and Communications Technology) language laboratory.
3D printed concrete components and structures: an overview

: This paper aims to present an overview and explore components or structures suitable for 3D printed concrete. Most traditional structural forms are not well suitable for 3D printed concrete. To be more specific, it cannot fully consider the characteristics and advantages of 3D printing such as individualization and digitalization. Several 3D-printing-specific structure forms (including hollow form, tree form, arch form, and structure-functional form) are classified and the relevant successful cases are demonstrated. Moreover, the application potential of 3D printed concrete structures is illustrated and the limitations as well as the solutions for the application of 3D printed concrete in practical projects are also summarized. Based on the classification of different reinforcement materials, several reinforcement methods are intensively discussed for 3D printed concrete including steel bars, fibers and other reinforcement materials. The comparison of economic and environmental benefits between 3D concrete printing technology and traditional construction method is discussed respectively. Finally, the expected evolution of 3D printed structures is put forward and recommended.
CMAR_A_312161 4899..4909

1Department of Radiation Oncology, Huizhou Central People’s Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Medical Oncology, Huizhou Central People’s Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Centre; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
Antecedents of students’ e-learning continuance intention during COVID-19: An empirical study

This study aims at exploring the underlying determinants influencing students' continuance intention to use an e-Learning platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the technology acceptance model and expectation-confirmation model, the study investigated the role of contextual (i.e., social isolation), psychological (academic year loss and cyberchondria), and student support-related (government and institutional supports) determinants on students' continuance intention to use an e-Learning platform during the pandemic. The study collected data from 440 respondents and analyzed those with Structural Equation Modeling. The findings showed that an e-Learning continuance intention during the pandemic is affected by usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, and intention to use the e-Learning platform; while the behavioral intention is influenced by usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants; and attitudes are impacted by usefulness and ease of use. Moreover, usefulness is predicted by confirmation of expectation; e-satisfaction is forecasted by usefulness and confirmation of expectation; whereas, cyberchondria is influenced by social isolation; fear of academic year loss is influenced by cyberchondria. Finally, intention to use mediated the impact of usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants on continuance intention. The study contributes to e-Learning literature incorporating contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants into the technology acceptance model and expectation-confirmation model, which guide policymakers to understand how all levels of students can be brought into the e-Learning platforms that eventually help to eliminate digital discrimination barrier in the academia during any emergency. The policymakers must be careful in designing eLearning platforms since students' e-learning continuance intention may vary due to unprecedented crises, such as COVID-19.
Fusion of Large Continuously Collected Data Sources: Understanding Travel Demand Trends and Measuring Transport Project Impacts

This research combines several large, continuously collected data sets to understand recent travel demand trends in San Francisco, and it develops a tool for measuring transport project impacts. Because they are continuously collected, these data provide an opportunity to measure change in a way that is not available in traditional, cross-sectional travel surveys. The data used are from San Francisco and cover performance of the transit system and associated factors expected to drive transit demand. This study employs a two stage methodology to derive insight from these data. First, a performance monitoring tool is developed to process the raw data and report meaningful performance indicators. This tool encapsulates the necessary data cleaning functionality, and manages a multi-stage data expansion process to ensure that data are representative of the system as a whole. Second, time series models of transit ridership are estimated from the outputs of the performance monitoring tool. These time series models provide a means of quantifying the portion of the ridership changes due to service changes versus background factors, such as employment growth. The estimated models are applied to understand the drivers of recent ridership trends in the San Francisco, where ridership on the San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) bus system remains flat in spite of population and employment growth, while ridership on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system grows faster than employment. In addition, the models are applied to several planning case studies, including both ex-post ridership evaluations and short-term forecasting applications. The outcome of this research is to establish and test a tool to facilitate the use of passively collected data for retrospective travel demand analyses. It provides insight into the effects of transport projects, and lays the groundwork for a future studies that further our ability to observe and understand travel behaviour.
Disease-Specific Vs Non-Specific Questionnaires on Septoplasty Outcomes

Introduction: Validated questionnaires are a valuable tool in medical practice. The role of septoplasty in improving patients’ non-nasal symptoms and their quality of life is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in outcome after septoplasty measured by a disease-specific questionnaire vs a general QoL questionnaire. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients underwent septoplasty and completed the SNOT-22 and the SF-36v2 questionnaires preoperatively and at 6 months post-op. Pre-op, post-op and variation for each domain in both questionnaires were calculated and compared with a measure of self-reported health transition (Question 2 of SF-36v2) and with the Minimal important difference (MID) for our sample. Results: SNOT-22 scores significantly improved for each specific question and for the total score. SF-36v2 showed a significant improvement in scores for mental domains (Mental Health, Role Emotional, and Vitality) but less so for the physical domains. MID for our sample was 4.2 points. Patients with variations greater than 4.2 in SNOT-22 total score (74%) revealed significantly better variations in Physical Function, General Health, Social Function and Vitality. Conclusions: Validated questionnaires are a fundamental tool for assessing outcomes of commonly performed surgeries in ENT. Disease-specific questionnaire showed improvement in scores for the majority of patients. The general QoL showed improvement only in Mental Domains. This may suggest that the impact of septoplasty in patient’s general health might not be significant.
The pentacyclic triterpenoid phytosterol lupeol promotes antioxidant response in the nematode C. elegans

Plants of the Mimosa genus are studied and used for their bioactive properties. Among bioactive phytochemicals are quercetin and myricetin, which have been demonstrated to act as antioxidants in many contexts (Taheri et al. 2020; Xu et al. 2019), including in C. elegans (Buchter et al. 2013; Grünz et al. 2012; Sugawara and Sakamoto 2020). Other phytochemicals from these plants, such as the triterpenoid phytosterol lupeol, have been shown to have antioxidant properties but have not been as extensively characterized in model organisms (Liu et al. 2021; Shai et al. 2009). Here we employed the nematode C. elegans to assess whether lupeol elicits antioxidant response in vivo . Using reporter assays for oxidative stress, we find that treatment of animals with lupeol rescues some of the effects resulting from treatment with the prooxidant paraquat. Our results demonstrate that lupeol displays antioxidant properties in vivo in C. elegans .
Isolation and Identification of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria from Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu, Rottb.)

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are strains of naturally occurring soil bacteria that live in close vicinity to the plant’s rhizosphere region which possess the capability to augment host growth. This study was conducted to isolate and identify potential PGPR isolates indigenous to Metroxylon sagu, Rottb. rhizosphere. These potential isolates were characterised based on their beneficial plant growth promoting (PGP) properties and identified by molecular analysis via 16S rDNA sequencing. A total of 18 isolates were successfully isolated, out of which five isolates were tested, and designated as (S1A, S2B, S3A, S3C and S42). Among the five isolates, two isolates (S2B and S3C) were found to produce high levels of indole-3-acetic acid (2.96 μg/mL and 10.31 μg/mL), able to fix nitrogen and show significant activity in phosphate solubilisation. The analysis of their sequences via National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) suggested their close identity towards Lysinibacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis. It can be concluded that the isolated PGPR possesses beneficial PGP attributes. It can be implied that the isolated PGPR are potential to be used as inoculant biofertilisers, beneficial for Metroxylon sagu, Rottb. growth. Hence, further studies need to be done to evaluate the effectiveness of the beneficial microbes towards sago seedlings growth, under pot experiment.
Clinical importance of the informed consent process in breast surgery

Breast reconstruction operations have been on the rise over the last two decades; with recent advances in medical practice, different options of breast reconstruction have been readily available. However, it is challenging for patients to grasp the knowledge and digest differences, advantages, and disadvantages of each and every procedure to be able to choose the best procedure for them. Following the Thefaut and Montgomery cases, clinicians are obliged to make sure that all the required information is presented to the patients in a structured manner and suitable environment to aid them in deciding the best procedure for them and guiding them through the informed consent process.
AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE TESTICULAR AND EPIDIDYMAL SPERM PARAMETERS IN THE AFRICAN GREATER CANE RAT (THRYONOMYS

This study investigated age-related changes in the testicular and epididymal sperm characteristics and spermiogram profiles in fifteen African greater cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) of different age-groups; pubertal: 5 – 11 months, adult: 12 – 30 months and aged: > 30 months, obtained from commercial cane rat farm, Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria. Following a ventral abdominal incision of anaesthetisized cane rats, testes and epididymides were exteriorized for the determination of spermatozoa morphology, motility, concentration, live-dead ratio and morphometry. Spermatozoa head from pubertal cane rat onwards were ovoid in shape and lack visible acrosomal hook. From pubertal to aged cane rat, percentage abnormal sperm cell was not significantly different (p>0.05). Sperm morphometric parameters (sperm length and width or diameter, midpiece length, tail length and complete spermatozoa length) were not significantly (p>0.05) different with age. There was consistent remarkable increased epididymal sperm motility in the adult cane rat relative to other groups. Testicular and epididymal sperm counts were markedly elevated in the adult relative to other age groups. However, both the testicular and epididymal spermatozoa live-dead ratio were not significantly different (p>0.05) from pubertal to aged cane rat. This study has demonstrated that sperm motility and concentration were remarkably elevated in adult cane rat. Therefore, cane rat breeders are advised to utilize adult rat in breeding.
Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of metastatic spinal cord compression in prostate cancer patients in two tertiary hospitals in Cameroon

Introduction prostate cancer represents the 3rd primary neoplasia responsible for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). MSCC is an extreme oncological emergency, because it involves both functional and vital prognosis. The present study aimed to establish a pattern of MSCC in prostate cancer patients in Douala and Yaoundé general hospitals (Cameroon). Methods this was a descriptive and retrospective study in the Radiotherapy and Medical Oncology services at both Douala and Yaoundé General Hospitals. The explored variables were general characteristics of the study population, clinical and paraclinical features, management and outcomes. Furthermore 5-year survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Logistic regression by determining the odd ratios and their 95% confidence was done using “Statistical Package for Social Sciences” (SPSS 23) software. The difference was considered significant at p < 0.05. Results our series consisted of 151 patients out of which the mean age was 66.88 (SD: 8.71) years (95% CI: 44-88). Pain was the most common clinical symptom (53.33%; n= 80) and fracture-settlement accounted for majority (60%; n= 90.61) of the pain. Thoracic spine damage was encountered by 47.02% (n= 71). Patients received a total doses of irradiation between 20 and 30 gray (Gy). The main toxicity due to radiotherapy were asthenia (45.70%; n= 69.11). The overall survival at 5 years was 90.11%. Factors associated with fracture-settlement were smoking (aOR 10.04, 95% CI: 2.09-48.12; p = 0.004) and the localization of MSCC occurred (aOR 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05-0.77; p = 0.02). Conclusion in summary the average age for developing the condition is 66.88 years and factors associated with fracture-settlement were smoking and the localization of MSCC. Back pain was the most common clinical sign and fracture-settlement was the first type of injury on medical magnetic resonance imaging. Therefore, we recommend that emphasis should be placed on increasing awareness of the population on the importance of early diagnosis.
Pareto-OptimalReinsuranceRevisited : ATwo-StageOptimisation Procedure Approach

In this paper, based on the Tail-Value-at-Risk (TVaR) measure, we revisit the Pareto-optimal reinsurance policies for the insurer and the reinsurer via a two-stage optimisation procedure. To reduce ex-post moral hazard, we assume that reinsurance contracts satisfy the principle of indemnity and the incentive compatible constraint which have been advocated by Huberman et al. (1983). We show that the Pareto-optimal reinsurance policy exists if the reinsurance premiums can be expressed as an integral form. )e proposed class of premium principles encompasses the net premium principle, expected value premium principle, TVaR premium principle, generalized percentile premium principle, and so on. We further use the TVaR premium principle and the expected value premium principle as examples to illustrate the two-stage optimisation procedure by deriving explicitly the Paretooptimal reinsurance policies. We extend the results by Cai et al. (2017) when the expected value premium principle is replaced by the TVaR premium principle.
Leaching Behavior of Paniculate Plutonium Oxide

Different size cuts of Pu02 particles were mixed with deionized water at two temperatures in a shaker bath. The gross plutonium concentration in the water w»s measured, as well as that portion of tluplutonium retained on a 0.1-um pore filter. The concentration of the plutonium released was primarily a function of the surface area of the particles. The release rate of plutonium into the water for the size cut with particles having diameters between 30 and 20 urn was 3 ng/m/s; this rate is within the range observed in past experiments involving aquatic environments. The amount of material retained by the 0.1-um filters decreased with increasing time, suggesting that size reduction or removal processes occurred.
A Family of Rab27-binding Proteins MELANOPHILIN LINKS Rab27a AND MYOSIN Va FUNCTION IN MELANOSOME TRANSPORT*

The Rab27a GTPase regulates diverse processes involving lysosome-related organelles, including melanosome motility in melanocytes, and lytic granule release in cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Toward an understanding of Rab27a function, we searched for proteins that interact with Rab27a(GTP) using the yeast two-hybrid system and identified JFC1/Slp1, a protein of unknown function. JFC1/Slp1 and related proteins, including melanophilin, contain a conserved amino-terminal domain similar to the Rab3a-binding domain of Rabphilin-3. We used several methods to demonstrate that this conserved amino-terminal domain is a Rab27-binding domain. We show that this domain interacts directly, and in a GTP-dependent manner with Rab27a. Furthermore, overexpression of this domain in melanocytes results in perinuclear clustering of melanosomes, suggesting that this region is sufficient for interaction with, and perturbation of function of, Rab27a in a physiological context. Thus, we identified a novel family of Rab27-binding proteins. We also show that melanophilin associates with Rab27a and myosin Va on melanosomes in melanocytes, and present evidence that a domain within the carboxylterminal region of melanophilin interacts with the carboxyl-terminal tail of the melanocyte-specific splice isoform of myosin Va. Thus, melanophilin can associate simultaneously with activated Rab27a and myosin Va via distinct regions, and serve as a linker between these proteins.
Role of loop diuretics in the treatment of acute heart failure

Loop diuretics are used as first-line medications in patients with heart failure as they result in symptomatic improvement related to relieving organ congestion. The recommendations regarding the use of loop diuretics are mostly based on expert opinion, without preference of specific drugs. Thus, the choice of optimal diuretic treatment strategy in acute heart failure requires knowledge about differences in the characteristics of loop diuretics available in Poland, furosemide and torasemide. Non-renal pleiotropic effects of torasemide should be also borne in mind. Clinically significant differences in the pharmacokinetics and biological effects of furosemide and torasemide have been reflected in multiple research studies and meta-analyses published in the recent several years. These studies provided consistent evidence for the good safety profile of torasemide, and its superior efficacy in regard to the improvement of exercise tolerance and reduced readmissions due to heart failure compared to furosemide. The effect of torasemide on mortality reduction in patients with heart failure, seen in some studies, requires further evaluation.
Partial Di ¤ erential Equations — Spectral gaps and non-Bragg resonances in a water channel , by Valeria

— In this paper the essential spectrum of the linear problem of water-waves on a 3d-channel with gently periodic bottom will be studied. We show that under a certain geometric condition on the bottom proﬁle the essential spectrum has spectral gaps. In classical analysis of waveguides it is known that the Bragg resonances at the edges of the Brillouin zones create band gaps in the spectrum. Here we demonstrate that the band gaps can be opened also in the frequency range far from the Bragg resonances. The position and the length of the gaps are found out by applying an asymptotic analysis to the model problem in the periodicity cell.
Effects of Organic Amendment on Potassium Quantity and Intensity Parameters of Some Soils in Ogun State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of three animal wastes namely: poultry, cattle and goat manure on the quantity and intensity of Potassium uptake as it relates to maize cultivation in some soils of Ogun State, Nigeria. The investigation was carried out at the screen house of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic’s research and teaching farm. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design. The animal wastes were applied in the following rates; 50 and 100 g animal waste/5 kg soil equivalent to 0.94 and 1.88 t ha. Results indicated that the studied soils were predominantly sandy and slightly acidic. A large portion of K in the studied soils was found in Non-exchangeable form. The quantity and intensity parameters in the studied soils were low before manure application but higher values were observed after manuring, reduction in energy of K-exchange (∆G) was observed in all treatments these increased the K supplying power of the studied soils. Leaf area, dry matter yield and K uptake by maize increased with an increase in rates of manure. Hence, a higher concentration of organic manure can be employed where considerable quantities of K are required and high crop yields are needed.