Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transport Path of Cold‐Dense Plasmas in the Dusk Magnetotail Plasma Sheet: MMS Observations

The near‐Earth plasma sheet becomes cold and dense under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) condition, which suggests efficient solar wind plasma entry into the magnetosphere across the magnetopause for northward IMF and a possible contribution of ionospheric oxygen ion outflow. The cold and dense characteristics of the plasma sheet are more evident in the magnetotail flank regions that are the interface between cold solar wind plasma and hot magnetospheric plasma. Several physical mechanisms have been proposed to explain the solar wind plasma entry across the magnetopause and resultant formation of the cold‐dense plasma sheet (CDPS) in the tail flank regions. However, the transport path of the cold‐dense plasma inside the magnetotail has not been understood yet. Here, we present a case study of the CDPS in the dusk magnetotail by magnetospheric multiscale (MMS) spacecraft under strongly northward IMF and high‐density solar wind conditions. The ion distribution function consists of high‐ and low‐energy components, and the low‐energy one intermittently shows energy dispersion in the directions parallel and antiparallel to the local magnetic field. The time‐of‐flight analysis of the energy‐dispersed low‐energy ions suggests that these ions originate in the region farther down the tail, move along the magnetic field toward the ionosphere and then come back to the magnetotail by the mirror reflection. The pitch‐angle dispersion analysis gives consistent results on the traveling time and path length of the energy‐dispersed ions. Based on these observations, we discuss possible generation mechanisms of the energy‐dispersed structure of the low‐energy ions during the northward IMF.
Effects of Quercetin and Curcumin Combination on Antibacterial, Antioxidant, In Vitro Wound Healing and Migration of Human Dermal Fibroblast Cells

Wound healing impairment due to a postponed, incomplete, or uncoordinated healing process has been a challenging clinical problem. Much research has focused on wound care, particularly on discovery of new therapeutic approaches for acute and chronic wounds. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the combination of quercetin and curcuminoids at three different ratios on the antimicrobial, antioxidant, cell migration and wound healing properties. The antioxidant activities of quercetin, curcuminoids and the mixtures were tested by DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays. The disc diffusion method was performed to determine the antibacterial activities of quercetin, curcuminoids and the mixtures against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The cytotoxicity and cell migratory enhancing effects of quercetin, curcuminoids and the mixtures against human dermal fibroblasts were investigated by MTT assay, scratch assay and Transwell migration assay, respectively. The results showed the synergism of the quercetin and curcuminoid combination to inhibit the growth of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, with the inhibition zone ranging from 7.06 ± 0.25 to 8.78 ± 0.38 mm, respectively. The DPPH free radical scavenging assay demonstrated that the combination of quercetin and curcuminoids yielded lower IC50 values (15.38–23.70 µg/mL) than curcuminoids alone (25.75 µg/mL). Quercetin and a 3:1 quercetin/curcuminoid mixture at non-toxic concentrations showed the ability to stimulate the migration of fibroblasts across the matrix, whereas only quercetin alone accelerated the wound closure of fibroblasts. In conclusion, the mixture of quercetin and curcuminoids at a 3:1 ratio was the best formulations for use in wound healing due to the antimicrobial, antioxidant and cell-migration-enhancing activities.
PROJECT TEAM PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE SCOTTISH WATER MARKET BASED PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVE

This aim of this study was a comprehensive review of teams, based on the Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) consortia, bidding for Scottish Water PFI projects. NWG formed 3 separate consortia to bid for 6 of the 10 available PFI projects. The research had a number of objectives : to understand the performance of the NWG teams, to see how the NWG teams could be improved, to review the published work on all aspects of teams, to understand the differences between the NWG teams and other studies and to compare the findings from the NWG teams with current industrial practice. The study methodology used Charles Handy’s teamwork model as a framework : to collect case study data from the NWG teams using a postal questionnaire and to review literature related to teams in the round. Research study data triangulation was achieved using industry based external validation. The study culminated in a project and team management support tool, in the form of a significant issue’s checklist. The checklist contains 12 Key Success Factors (KSF) and 12 Key Barriers to Success (KBS), which when compared with the critical success factors and barriers identified in other studies showed good correlation.
‘They're not girly girls’: an exploration of quantitative and qualitative data on engineering and gender in higher education

Despite sustained efforts to promote engineering careers to young women, it remains the most male-dominated academic discipline in Europe. This paper will provide an overview of UK data and research on women in engineering higher education, within the context of Europe. Comparisons between data from European countries representing various regions of Europe will highlight key differences and similarities between these nations in terms of women in engineering. Also, drawing on qualitative research the paper will explore UK students’ experiences of gender, with a particular focus on the decision to study engineering and their experiences in higher education.
The imagined user in projects: articulating competing discourses of space and knowledge work

This paper articulates the role of the imagined user in the design choices of a higher education client with respect to a project to provide new workspaces for one of its divisions. The case study centres on the disagreements that occurred between different factions within the client organisation regarding the type of office space that was appropriate for its workforce. The paper examines the ways in which competing images of academic knowledge work and knowledge workers were conjured up in differently imagined users and deployed as persuasive user-stories in the design process. The analysis of the case uses the narratives of key project actors to identify the underlying discourses that were articulated to support particular imaginings of the user. The case shows how the successful deployment of discourses was tied up with the power wielded by particular actors at different times during the project. The paper suggests that the articulation of an imagined user implies that project actualities may be presumed as well as real and that discourse analysis provides a useful mechanism for understanding these imagined actualities.
ESTIMATING VEHICLE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS BASED ON INSTANTANEOUS SPEED AND ACCELERATION LEVELS

Several hybrid regression models that predict hot stabilized vehicle fuel consumption and emission rates for light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks are presented in this paper. Key input variables to these models are instantaneous vehicle speed and acceleration measurements. The energy and emission models described in this paper utilize data collected at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) that included fuel consumption and emission rate measurements (CO, HC, and NOx) for five light-duty vehicles and three light-duty trucks as a function of the vehicle’s instantaneous speed and acceleration levels. The fuel consumption and emission models are found to be highly accurate as compared to the ORNL data, with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.92 to 0.99. Given that the models utilize the vehicle’s instantaneous speed and acceleration levels as independent variables, these models are capable of evaluating the environmental impacts of operational-level projects including intelligent transporta.
A comprehensive study on XPM- and SRS-induced noise in cascaded IM-DD optical fiber transmission systems

A comprehensive study of XPM- and SRS-induced crosstalk noise evolution as well as their interaction along lossy, nonlinear dispersive fiber in a cascaded IM-DD system is performed analytically and numerically. XPM-induced intensity noise (XPMN) comes mainly from few adjacent channels, featuring in higher frequency and higher noise power per contributing channel; while SRS-induced intensity noise (SRSN) comes mainly from all the distant channels, featuring in lower frequency and lower noise power per contributing channel. Interaction between XPMN and SRSN depends on the relative wavelength location between pump and probe as well as dispersion management scheme, and may add either constructively or destructively. SRSN may even exceed XPMN in some cases. In a system with complete dispersion compensation in each span, XPMN, SRSN, and their interaction are all proportional to the square of span number. In dispersion-managed systems, SRSN can be enhanced significantly by resonance effect between fiber spans. On the other hand, XPMN can be markedly suppressed by dispersion management, due mainly to much weaker phase-to-intensity noise conversion through residual dispersion.
Cerclage outcomes in singleton pregnancies at risk for preterm birth following assisted reproductive treatments

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies at risk for preterm birth (PTB) following assisted reproductive treatments and underwent cervical cerclage placement. Material and methods: A total of 42 women with singleton pregnancies following ART who underwent cerclage between 2009-2021 were included in this retrospective study. Indications of the cerclage procedure, gestational age at cerclage placement and delivery, neonatal birthweight, and requirement for admission to the neonatal unit of newborns were evaluated. Results: Of those cerclage placement performed in women with a history of second-trimester loss (19%), women with suspected cervical insufficiency according to pre-pregnancy evaluation (52.4%), women with the unicornuate uterus (4.8%), women with cervical shortening/or suspicious changes on ultrasonography (11.9%), and women with detection of cervical dilatation/shortening beyond 20 weeks of gestation (11.9%). Of the total group, 7.1% resulted in late miscarriages, while the remaining 92.9% ended with a live birth with mean gestational age at delivery of 37.0±2.5 weeks. Of those live births, 92.3% (36/39) delivered at >34 weeks and %74.4 (29/39) delivered at term. Except one neonatal death due to extremely PTB at 26th weeks, all infants were discharged from the hospital with well condition. Conclusion: ART pregnancies are evaluated as a special group as having a higher PTB risk at baseline. Cerclage may be considered in broader indications for suspected cervical insufficiency in these pregnancies. There is need for further studies on the effectiveness of cerclage in these ART pregnancies with suspected cervical insufficiency based on different criterions used.
A Critical Review of Healthcare Human Resource Development: A Saudization Perspective

Saudi Arabia is currently in a transformation phase, which has resulted in a significant demand for healthcare services in the country’s healthcare system to provide better healthcare facilities for the fast-growing population and the growing elderly population. The lack of trained healthcare professionals and strong dependence on foreign labour are important aspects for policymakers to address, thus requiring Human Resource Development (HRD) initiatives to provide adequate learning and competence to a huge reserve of healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia. In this regard, this paper contributes to Saudi Arabian health care by reporting healthcare professionals’ experiences of working in the Saudi health sector under the newly proposed Vision 2030 and NTP 2020 interventions in the HRD sphere of healthcare. The Vision 2030 is a testimony to a revolutionary step taken by the Government to reform the Saudi healthcare sector and provide HRD opportunities.
Post‐Seismic to Co‐Seismic Moment Ratios for the 2016 Moderate Earthquakes Along Chaman Fault

Postseismic‐to‐coseismic moment ratios (PCMR) for strong (M > 6) earthquakes typically do not exceed ∼0.3, but there have been limited estimates for moderate‐to‐small earthquakes. Three M5‐class earthquakes and one M4.7 earthquake occurred along the Chaman fault, Pakistan, on May 13 and July 10, 2016. Using Sentinel‐1A InSAR time‐series from October 2014 to August 2018, we estimate spatial‐temporal evolution of the co‐ and post‐seismic fault slip and its velocity. Because of the long‐lasting (>1 year) afterslip, the estimated PCMRs of the M5‐class events and M4.7 event were 0.7 ± 0.2 and 8.3 ± 2.2, respectively, which are both larger than those of M > 6 earthquakes but consistent with previous events that occurred on the Chaman Fault System. Unlike in case of large earthquakes, geodetic inversions are not able to resolve spatial relationships between coseismic slip and afterslip. In case of a non‐complementary slip distribution, one explanation might be heterogeneity of friction properties on the fault surface, while other interpretations are possible.
Frequency assignment with complex co-site constraints

The adaption of meta-heuristic algorithms such as tabu search and simulated annealing to large frequency assignment problems with complex co-site constraints is described. The constraints considered include frequency separation constraints, intermodulation product constraints and spurious emission and response constraints. Requests for frequencies can also be prioritised. The importance of fast evaluation of the quality of the current assignment by updating techniques is stressed. Additionally, a useful lower bound for assessing the quality of assignments is described.
Association of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Serum 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Levels in Vitiligo – A Case-control Study

Background: Vitamin D has stimulatory and protective effects on melanocytes and acts through its nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) on target cells. Various single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in VDR genes have been described. Aims: The aim was to study and compare the association of SNP of BsmI/Apa-I/TaqI/FokI/Cdx2 in VDR gene as well as the plasma vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients and healthy controls. Methods: This was a case-control study, in which 100 patients of vitiligo and an equal number of healthy individuals were studied. The VDR polymorphisms of Bsm I, Apa-I, TaqI, fok I, and cdx2 were investigated, after extraction of genomic DNA by rapid capillary polymerase chain reaction with melting curve analysis, and 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels were measured in cases and controls. Results: The frequency of genotypes (SNP FokI and cdx2) was higher in the patient group versus controls (P = 0.002). The genotype frequency (TaqI and Apa-I) was higher in the patients than the controls for the Tt genotype, but not significantly higher (48% vs. 39%, P= 0.1431). The difference between the groups in frequency of the genotype Aa(TaqI and Apa-I) was statistically significant (P = 0.0001 and P= 0.033). Statistically significant difference was also observed in Apa-I-evaluated alleles in cases when compared to controls (P = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in serum vitamin D levels between various genotypes among cases and controls. Out of 100 cases, 10 were found to have vitamin D levels of >30 ng/ml, 15 had levels between 20 and 30 ng/ml, 52 had ≤20 ng/ml, and 23 ≤ 10 ng/ml, respectively. Limitations: Since the skin biopsies were not taken from the lesions of vitiligo, the correlation of serum levels with tissue levels of VDR gene was not possible and the role of vitamin D supplementation was not evaluated. Conclusion: The single nucleotide gene polymorphisms of various VDR genes as found in the cases might lead to vitamin D deficiency, due to VDR dysfunction, which in turn could increase the susceptibility to develop vitiligo.
The Impact of Workplace Culture on Employee Retention: An Empirical Study from Lebanon

One of the most important aspects of any firm is to motivate its employees to go the extra mile. In order to do work properly, people must be motivated. The total effectiveness and efficiency of workers, as well as a company’s performance, is directly related to the degree of motivation of those who work there. On the other hand, demotivated personnel do not put much effort and, when they get a better opportunity, leave their places of employment. For Survey, this study used online Google forms to collect data from September 2021 to October 2021. The target demographic for the research was those who worked for Lebanon’s private businesses. The poll was conducted in English, the second language of Lebanon. Furthermore, 179 workers (N = 179) were utilized for this research. The research suggests that fun events and support for fun managers enable workers to connect informally and help people know each other better, creating an environment that promotes friendship building. Based on these connected reasons, fun activities and the support of managers for fun are considerably
Electroacupuncture to Improve Endometrial Receptivity and Folliculogenesis in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder affecting folliculogenesis and endometrial receptivity. PCOS causes low fertility due to failures in folliculogenesis and ovulation. Electroacupuncture (EA) may help improve folliculogenesis and endometrial receptivity. EA can decrease tonic activity in the sympathetic vasoconstrictor pathway to the uterus. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the addition of EA therapy on folliculogenesis and endometrial receptivity in women with PCOS. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, in Jawa Tengah, Indonesia. The subjects were women with PCOS, ages 20-45, who were infertile. They were divided into a control group (17 women) and an experimental group (17 women). The control group received letrozole therapy, and the experimental group received EA + letrozole therapy. Folliculogenesis is determined by measuring the growth of follicle diameter on days 2, 6, 8, 10, and 12 of the menstrual cycle. Endometrial receptivity is determined by resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) examinations on days 19 and 21; endometrial thickness is measured on day 12. Results: There was a significant difference in folliculogenesis on days 2, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Folliculogenesis with letrozole versus EA + letrozole, respectively, were: day 2 = 5.59 ± 1.06 versus 7.01 ± 1.53, P = 0.004; day 6 = 6.71 ± 1.59 versus 9.11 ± 1.23, P < 0.001; day 8 = 9.51 ± 2.68 versus 12.44 ± 1.49, P < 0.001; day 10 = 11.30 ± 3.08 versus 15.53 ± 2.34, P < 0.001; and day 12 = 13.92 ± 3.61 versus 19.86 ± 0.75, P < 0.001. RI value with letrozole versus EA + letrozole were, respectively, day 19 = 0.91 ± 0.07 versus 0.88 ± 0.07, P = 0.150; day 21 = 0.88 ± 0.07 versus 0.79 ± 0.09, P < 0.001. PI value with letrozole versus EA + letrozole were respectively, day 19 = 3.00 ± 0.89 versus 2.30 ± 0.65, P = 0.009; and day 21 = 2.72 ± 0.88 versus 2.02 ± 0.55, P = 0.009. Endometrial thickness with letrozole versus EA + letrozole were, respectively, day 12 = 6.95 ± 1.82 versus 8.22 ± 1.76, P = 0.005. Conclusions: The addition of EA to letrozole therapy improved folliculogenesis, RI, PI, and endometrial thickness in patients with PCOS. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the dosage and timing of this therapy and its potential synergy with other current treatments.
Anonymity in giving in a natural context: an economic field experiment in thirty churches

The role of anonymity in giving is examined in a field experiment performed in thirty Dutch churches. For a period of 29 weeks, the means by which offerings are gathered is determined by chance, prescribing for each offering the use of either `closed' collection bags or open collection baskets. When using baskets, attendants' contributions can be identified by their direct neighbors, and attendants can observe the total amount given by the people who preceded them. Initially, contributions to the services' second offerings increase by 10% when baskets are used, whereas no effect is found for first offerings. The positive effect of using baskets peters out over the experimental period. Additional data on the coins collected show that in both offerings, people switch to giving larger coins when baskets are used.
The Role of Diet Quality in Mediating the Association between Ultra-Processed Food Intake, Obesity and Health-Related Outcomes: A Review of Prospective Cohort Studies

Prospective cohort studies show that higher intakes of ultra-processed food (UPF) increase the risk of obesity and obesity-related outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Whether ultra-processing itself is detrimental, or whether UPFs just have a lower nutritional quality, is debated. Higher UPF intakes are inversely associated with fruit, vegetables, legumes and seafood consumption. Therefore, the association between UPFs and poor health could simply be from excess nutrient intake or from a less healthful dietary pattern. If so, adjustment for dietary quality or pattern should explain or greatly reduce the size of the significant associations between UPFs and health-related outcomes. Here, we provide an overview of the literature and by using a novel approach, review the relative impact of adjusting for diet quality/patterns on the reported associations between UPF intake and health-related outcomes in prospective cohort studies. We find that the majority of the associations between UPFs, obesity and health-related outcomes remain significant and unchanged in magnitude after adjustment for diet quality or pattern. Our findings suggest that the adverse consequences of UPFs are independent of dietary quality or pattern, questioning the utility of reformulation to mitigate against the obesity pandemic and wider negative health outcomes of UPFs.
The Effects of Business Management Practices on Financial Performance: Evidence from Freight Forwarders in the Philippines*

The study aims to investigate the direct effects of business management practices in terms of financial, marketing, human resources, and logistics operations practices on sales revenue and profitability growth of freight forwarding businesses. A quantitative research design and partial least square–structural equation modeling were used to examine the direct effects of the exogenous and endogenous variables. The study reveals that financial, marketing, and human resources practices have a positive and significant effect on sales revenue growth. Furthermore, marketing and logistics operations have a positive and significant effect on profitability growth in the context of freight forwarding in the Philippines, particularly in its country’s capital. As the current study only examines the direct effects of business management practices, other researchers may also want to consider identifying other variables as mediation and moderation to test other indirect effects on the financial performance of the business. The findings of the study can significantly benefit the freight industry to consider addressing other challenges or make use of the paper to further develop their strategies and practices to improve their financial performance.