Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Faculty’s Use of Social Network Tools in Libyan Higher Education via a Technology Acceptance Model

Recently, many educational institutes are expanding their education delivery methodologies to incorporate online, remote, and flexible learning, which is a strategic response to facilitate and fulfil the increasing demand for access to higher education. Unfortunately, online education requires substantial investments in different online education platforms, technologies, and infrastructure, creating obstacles for realising the online education strategy for many developing countries. In this paper, we argue that we could use social networks as one of the delivery platforms for online education, due to their easy access and popularity among young generations. Therefore, we carried out this study to measure and analyse the acceptance of faculty and educational stakeholders for social networks adoption as an educational delivery platform. Hence, we adapted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to determine and analyse the factors and variants affecting faculty’s acceptance. We used the TAM as an internal variable, and we used privacy, infrastructure, institutional support and access devices as external variables to assess the faculty needs for adopting social networks into educational settings. The study examined 14 hypotheses corresponding to these factors using data collected from 382 respondents in six different universities within Libya, performing structural equation modelling, descriptive analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Results show that privacy, institutional support, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were seen to have a significant effect on behavioural intention. Additionally, perceived ease of use and behavioural intention contributed significantly towards the actual usage of social networks. The results also show that faculty and educational stakeholders have not provided enough for institutions or encouraged the use of social networks within the context of educational institutions across Libya.
Elevated Temperature Affects Axillary Meristem Development in Dendranthema ×grandiflorum 'Improved Mefo'

Effects of heat stress on viable and nonviable axillary meristem development and subsequent lateral branching in 'Improved Mefo' chrysanthemum (Dendranthema × grandiflorum Ramat. (Kitamura)) were studied. Plants grown at 33 °C day/27 °C night produced more nonviable buds than did plants grown at 23 °C day/18 °C night. A negative linear relationship {y = 28.7 + (-0.66 (x days)), r 2 = 0.70} between timing of exposure to high temperatures and the number of nonviable buds was observed. Histological examination 28 days after exposure to 33 °C/27 °C revealed that plants showed both normal and abnormal bud development. Abnormal bud development occurred as a consequence of premature differentiation of axillary meristematic tissue into nonmeristematic paren- chyma tissue immediately after separation of axillary from apical meristems.
On the way to strict glycemic control for hemodialysis patients

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for building chronic kidney disease. With the increasing number of diagnosed diabetic patients the number of related kidney replacement therapies will increase. The insulin is small enough to be filtered out during hemodialysis, therefore it is partially removed during treatment. The aim of this paper is to give a proposal on how to create an automatic control of insulin dosage during hemodialysis treatment with specific respect on insulin clearance. Our expectation would be that such a control (thanks to the regular execution of hemodialysis treatment) would slow down the degradation in kidney functionalities thus prolonging patient life and improving life quality.
First global census of the Adélie Penguin

ABSTRACT We report on the first global census of the Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), achieved using a combination of ground counts and satellite imagery, and find a breeding population 53% larger (3.79 million breeding pairs) than the last estimate in 1993. We provide the first abundance estimates for 41 previously unsurveyed colonies, which collectively contain 420,000 breeding pairs, and report on 17 previously unknown colonies, 11 of which may be recent colonizations. These recent colonizations represent ∼5% of the increase in known breeding population and provide insight into the ability of these highly philopatric seabirds to colonize new breeding territories. Additionally, we report on 13 colonies not found in the survey, including 8 that we conclude have gone extinct. We find that Adélie Penguin declines on the Antarctic Peninsula are more than offset by increases in East Antarctica. Our global population assessment provides a robust baseline for understanding future changes in abundance and distribution. These results are a critically needed contribution to ongoing negotiations regarding the design and implementation of Marine Protected Areas for the Southern Ocean.
A tale of lost tails: pseudoautotomy in the neotropical snake genus Drymoluber (Serpentes: Colubridae)

Pseudoautotomy (no spontaneous tail breakage without regeneration) occurs in the snakes Drymoluber brazili (Gomes, 1918) and Drymoluber dichrous (Peters, 1863) throughout their geographic range. Examination of 197 specimens of D. dichrous and 60 D. brazili show, respectively, a frequency of tail breakage (FTB) in 26% and 40% of specimens, similar or higher than observed for most species with pseudoautotomy. There is no sexual difference in FTB for D. brazili, and no relationship between tail breakage and snout-vent length (SVL). For D. dicrous, tail breakage is more frequently observed in males when specimens are <710 mm SVL, but for longer specimens, the FTB is higher in females; this strange pattern may not be explained by a single hypothesis. The FTB does not vary significantly between disjunct populations of D. dichrous, suggesting that they are subject to similar predation pressures and escape rates, or minor or no effect of habitat structure on predation risk. The FTB increases with SVL in D. dichrous (but not in D. brazili, probably due to sample size), which is an indication that as the snake grows, the chance of being injured increases and partial tail loss becomes an efficient defense. The multiple tail break hypothesis is not supported for the genus Drymoluber Amaral, 1930, remaining restricted to taxa with specialized pseudoautotomy.
Experimental Validation of a 2-Bit Reconfigurable Unit-Cell for Transmitarrays at Ka-Band

This paper presents the experimental results of a 2-bit electronically reconfigurable unit-cell for transmitarrays at Ka-band. The proposed unit-cell architecture is based on a six-metal layers design and three dielectric substrates. Two patch antennas are printed respectively on the top and bottom layers of the stack-up to achieve an antenna-filter-antenna structure. To implement the desired 2-bit phase resolution, two p-i-n diodes are bonded on each patch. The unit-cell has been fabricated and characterized in a specific waveguide simulator. The measurement results are compared to the simulated ones and show minimum transmission loss in the range 1.5 – 2.3 dB. The 3-dB fractional bandwidth is in the range 10.1 – 12.1%.
ABA-mediated proline synthesis in cowpea leaves exposed to water deficiency and rehydration

Th e aim of this study was (i) to evaluate the impact of water defi cit and rehydration on nitrogen compounds and abscisic acid of Vigna unguiculata leaves, and (ii) to investigate the hypothesis that abscisic acid infl uences proline. Th e experimental design was entirely randomized in a factorial design, with 2 water conditions (control and stress) and 7 evaluation periods (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 days under water defi cit, followed by the 5th and 6th day under rehydration). Th e leaf relative water content presented signifi cant reduction, presenting a lower value on the 4th day of treatment under water defi cit. Aft er rehydration, the plants reestablished the leaf relative water content. Th e correlation analysis suggested a signifi cant relationship between the leaf relative water content and abscisic acid. Th e abscisic acid concentration of the plants under water defi ciency were of 2.4, 45.9, 42.6, 47.9, 66.9, 9.2, and 5.5 mg kg -1 DM on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Rehydration quickly decreased abscisic acid. In addition, the correlation analysis indicated a signifi cant relationship between abscisic acid and proline. Th e proline levels of the plants under stress showed signifi cant increases by 67%, 354%, 423%, and 532% on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th day, respectively, when compared with control plants. Th is study with Vigna unguiculata plants reveals negative consequence of water defi ciency over nitrogen metabolism, and fast recovery aft er rehydration. Th e nitrogen compounds and enzymes presented direct and indirect responses in the osmotic adjustment of the plant, as well as increasing abscisic acid concentration with the intent to decrease water loss in Vigna unguiculata induced by the water defi ciency. Furthermore, a positive relationship between abscisic acid and proline synthesis was confi rmed.
Evaluation of a Herbicide-resistant Trait Conferred by the Bar Gene Driven by Four Distinct Promoters in Transgenic Blueberry Plants

Four chimeric bialaphos resistance (bar) genes driven by different promoters were evaluated for production of herbicide-resistant 'Legacy' blueberry plants (73.4% Vaccinium corymbosum L. and 25% Vaccinium darrowi Camp) through Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith & Towns.) Conn. -mediated transformation. When the bars were used as selectable marker genes, different promoters yielded different transformation frequencies. Three chimeric bar genes with the promoter nopaline synthase (nos), cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S, or CaMV 34S yielded transgenic plants, whereas a synthetic (Aocs)3AmasPmas promoter did not lead to successful regeneration of transgenic plants. In addition, herbicide resistance in bar-expressing plants was influenced by the promoter strength. Under controlled environmental conditions, 3-month-old plants from six single-copy transgenic events with 35S::bar or nos::bar, as well as those nontransgenic plants, were sprayed with herbicide glufosinate ammonium (GS) at five levels (0, 750, 1500, 3000, and 6000 mgL -1 ). Evaluations on leaf damage 2 weeks after spraying indicated that all transgenic plants exhibited much higher herbicide resistance than nontransgenic plants. Additionally, the transgenic plants with the 35S::bar showed a higher herbicide resistance than those with the nos::bar. After application of 6000 mgL -1 GS, over 90% of the leaves from plants with the35S::bar and 19.5% to 51.5% of the leaves from plants with the nos::bar showed no symptom of herbicide damage, whereas only 5% of leaves from the nontransgenic had no damage. One-year-old, field-grown plants from four transgenic events with the nos::bar were evaluated for herbicide resistance after spraying with 750 mgL -1 GS. Transgenic plants survived with variations in the level of foliar damage; in contrast, all nontransgenic plants died. This study is the first investigation of different promoters for engineering transgenic blueberry plants.
Psychometric Properties of the Colombian Version of the HIV Attitudes Scale for Adolescents

The HIV Attitudes Scale (HIV-AS) evaluates attitudes towards different aspects of HIV. In view of the lack of scales measuring this construct in Colombia, this study sought to validate the HIV-AS test for adolescents from Colombia. A total of 867 Colombian students, aged between 14 and 19 years (M = 15.97 years; SD = 1.37) were evaluated. Participants responded to the HIV-AS test and a set of scales used to assess external validity. Content validity analyses reflected good adequacy indices for the items. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a four-factor structure and reliability indices were satisfactory. The structural equation model showed good levels of fit. Most of the items presented a discrimination index above 0.30 and contributed to the reliability of the scale, except for item 9, which was eliminated. Concurrent validity showed significant correlations among the HIV-AS and other similar constructs. A reliable measurement of attitudes toward HIV allows for an improved assessment of the risk associated with exposure to sexually transmitted infections in adolescent populations.
Screening of immune-related differentially expressed genes from primary lymphatic organs of broilers fed with probiotic bacillus cereus PAS38 based on suppression subtractive hybridization

To explore the molecular mechanism of the effect of Bacillus cereus PAS38 on the immunity of broilers, sixty 7-day-old broilers were divided into two groups with three replicates. The control group was fed with basal diet, and the treatment group was fed with basal diet containing Bacillus cereus PAS38 1×106 CFU/g. Thymus and bursa of fabricius were taken from two groups of broilers at the age of 42 days, total RNA was extracted, differential gene library was constructed by SSH technology, and immune-related differential genes were screened. Then, we used siRNA to interfere with the expression of some differential genes in the original generation lymphocytes of broiler blood to detect the change of cytokines mRNA expression level. A total of 42 immune-related differentially expressed genes were screened, including 22 up-regulated genes and 20 down-regulated genes. When 7 differentially up-regulated genes associated with enhanced immune function were interfered with in lymphocytes, some immune-promoting cytokines were down-regulated. These results showed that Bacillus cereus PAS38 might up-regulate the expression of JCHAIN, PRDX1, CD3E, CDK6 and other genes in immune organs of broilers, thereby affecting the development of immune organs, the expression of various cytokines and the transduction of immune signals, improving the immune capacity of broilers.
Estimation of Subglottal Pressure From Neck Surface Vibration in Patients With Voice Disorders.

Purpose Given the established linear relationship between neck surface vibration magnitude and mean subglottal pressure (Ps) in vocally healthy speakers, the purpose of this study was to better understand the impact of the presence of a voice disorder on this baseline relationship. Method Data were obtained from participants with voice disorders representing a variety of glottal conditions, including phonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction, nonphonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction, and unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Participants were asked to repeat /p/-vowel syllable strings from loud-to-soft loudness levels in multiple vowel contexts (/pa/, /pi/, /pu/) and pitch levels (comfortable, higher than comfortable, lower than comfortable). Three statistical metrics were computed to analyze the regression line between neck surface accelerometer (ACC) signal magnitude and Ps within and across pitch, vowel, and voice disorder category: coefficient of determination (r 2), slope, and intercept. Three linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the impact of voice disorder category, pitch level, and vowel context on the relationship between ACC signal magnitude and Ps. Results The relationship between ACC signal magnitude and Ps was statistically different in patients with voice disorders than in vocally healthy controls; patients exhibited higher levels of Ps given similar values of ACC signal magnitude. Negligible effects were found for pitch condition within each voice disorder category, and negligible-to-small effects were found for vowel context. The mean of patient-specific r 2 values was . 63, ranging from . 13 to . 92. Conclusions The baseline, linear relationship between ACC signal magnitude and Ps is affected by the presence of a voice disorder, with the relationship being participant-specific. Further work is needed to improve ACC-based prediction of Ps, across treatment, and during naturalistic speech production.
Fibromyalgia 2016 criteria and assessments: comprehensive validation in a Norwegian population

Abstract Background and aims The ACR1990 criteria of fibromyalgia (FM) have been criticized due to poor reliability of tender points counting (TPC), inconsistent definitions of the widespread pain, and by not considering other symptoms than pain in the FM phenotype. Therefore, several newer self-report measures for FM criteria have emerged. The aim of this study was to translate the fibromyalgia survey questionnaire (FSQ) to Norwegian and validate both the 2011 and the 2016 fibromyalgia survey diagnostic criteria (FSDC) against the ACR1990 criteria. Methods One hundred and twenty chronic pain patients formerly diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to the ACR1990 criteria, and 62 controls not diagnosed or where fibromyalgia was not suspected, were enrolled in this study. All responded to a Norwegian version of the FSQ. Also, they had a clinical examination according to ACR1990 fibromyalgia criteria including a counting of significant tender points with an algometer (TPC). The FSQ with the Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Symptom Severity scale (SSS) subscales, Fibromyalgia Severity (FS) sum score, was examined for correlations with the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) and TPCs. Face-validity, internal consistence, test-retest reliability and construct validity with convergent and divergent approaches were examined and a Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed. Results The internal consistency of FS measured by Cronbach’s alfa was good (=0.904). The test-retest reliability measures using intra class correlation were respectable for the FS, including WPI and SSS subscales (0.86, 0.84 and 0.87). FS, WPI and SSS correlated significantly with FIQ (0.74, 0.59 and 0.85) and TPC indicating an adequate construct, convergent validity. The medians of FS, WPI and SSS in the fibromyalgia-group were significantly different from the non-fibromyalgia-group indicating good construct, divergent validity. Using the 2011 and 2016 FSDC vs. ACR 1990 as a reference, sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR +) and negative likelihood ratio (LR−) were identified. The accuracy rate for both 2011 and 2016 FSDC were respectable (84%). ROC analysis using FS revealed a very good Area Under the Curve (AUC) = 0.860. Conclusion The current study revealed that the Norwegian versions of FSQ is a valid tool for assessment of fibromyalgia according to the 2011 and 2016 (FSDC).
Multi-year variability of phenological phases and periods of oat (Avena sativa L.) in Poland.

The objective of the study was to determine the multi -year variability of the phenological phases and periods of oat(Avena sativaL.)in relation to the air temperature in Poland. The material for the study consisted of the results of experiments from 28 COB ORU (Cultivar Testing) stations, from the period of 1971 2010, concerning the growth, development and yields collected for model oat. The mean monthly air temperatures in the March-August period were collected from 43 meteorological stations of IMGW, distr ibuted uniformly over the territory of the whole country with the exception of the submontane regions. Analysis of regression was used for the estimation of variability and trend of the indices under consideration. Acceleration was demonstrated for 3 out o f the 5 phases: start of heading (SH), wax maturity (WM) and harvest (H), by an average of from about 3 to 13 days/10 years, as well as extension, by an average of about 10 days/10 years, of the LSH-WM (start of heading -wax maturity) period, andshortening, by an average of 2 and 13 days/10 years, respectively, of periods L SG-H (sowing-harvest)and LE-SH (emergence-start of heading). The year -to-year variation of phases SH and, to a lesser extent, emergence (E) and WM, depended in about 25 -53% on the thermal conditions of the air, varying primarily in March, April and June. The duration of the L SG-H phase of oat depended significantly on monthly air temperatures of April to July (Ta 4-7), the effect of Ta 4being positive, while that of Ta 5-7 �negative.An increase of the mean air temperature was observed throughout the period of oat vegetation (March-August), by an average of 0.44 o C/10 years. The yields of oat were positively correlated with the duration of period L SG-Hand negatively with the chang es ofTa5-7.
The relationship between effort-reward imbalance and empathy among clinical nurses: A cross-sectional, online survey.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To understand the factors that influence nurses empathy toward patients and to explore its influence on effort-reward imbalance involving empathy. BACKGROUND Empathy is highly valued in nurse-patient relationships. However, currently, little evidence currently exists on the impact of work-related stress measured by effort-reward imbalance and empathy. DESIGN An anonymous, cross-sectional, online survey using a sample of convenient was conducted. METHODS Convenient online sampling was conducted with select nurses from seven cities in Shandong province, China. The nurses worked in clinical settings in 10 different hospitals. Two questionnaires, e.g., the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Questionnaire and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE), were used. Medians, percentages, related analysis and regression analysis were used to measure the relationship of ERI and empathy levels among nurses in China. In addition, this study adhered to the EQUATOR checklist, STROBE (see Supplementary file-1). RESULTS Among 1,077 participants, 26.5% stated experiencing an ERI, with a mean empathy score among Chinese nurses was 109.78±13.98. Multiple regression analysis revealed that females and head nurses had higher levels of empathy, and that those who had no experience learning about empathy-related courses and an ERI ratio were negatively associated with empathy. CONCLUSIONS Gender, department, position, experience learning about empathy-related courses, and ERI ratio were significant elements related to nurses' empathy levels. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE As we all know, empathy can affect the relationship between nurse and patient. If nurses are in an ERI, they may have less empathy. It is advised to improve the reward level of nurses, so that the level of empathy toward patients is enhanced.
EOCENE CICHLID FISHES FROM TANZANIA, EAST AFRICA

Abstract A large collection of fishes from Tanzania, East Africa, includes representatives of four or five families of fishes. The majority of specimens are cichlids, with at least five species being represented, distinguished by osteological characters such as the shape of the opercular bones, frontals, and supraoccipital crest. These species are all named and described in the same genus based on shared scale and squamation characters. The site, at Mahenge in the Singida Region, was a crater lake about half a kilometer in diameter. It has been dated as Eocene, about 46 Ma, based on radiometric techniques. The cichlid species, being very closely related, may have constituted a species flock, which would indicate that cichlids had the ability to form flocks as early as the Eocene.