Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation on Iroko wood used in shipbuilding

The paper deals with investigations about mechanical properties of Iroko, a hardwood species used for structures in shipbuilding as glued laminated timber. Experimental tests have been carried out to assess strength, stiffness and density of Iroko in accordance with current EN Standards. All the results obtained by tensile and three-point bending tests, along with the statistical analyses performed to define the characteristics values of some mechanical properties, are reported in the paper. These values allowed to assign the strength class, reported in EN 338 Standard, to the investigated Iroko wood population. The experiments have taken into account both solid timber strips and scarf-jointed strips, in order to evaluate the influence of such a type of joint, which is widely used in wooden shipbuilding on strength and stiffness. Eventually, peculiar investigations have been carried out to analyse the failure mode of some test pieces through special experimental techniques: three-dimensional computed tomography and infrared thermography.
Caffeine Consumption among Various University Students in the UAE, Exploring the Frequencies, Different Sources and Reporting Adverse Effects and Withdrawal Symptoms

Background Caffeine is widely consumed among students due to its cognitive and physical enhancing effects. However, little is known about the consumption pattern of different caffeinated products among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Aim To investigate the frequency of caffeine consumption among the young population of students, assess types of caffeinated products consumed, and document adverse effects and withdrawal symptoms experienced by university students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the UAE from December 2019 to March 2020. A random sample of 500 university students from different universities in the UAE were approached and asked to complete a self-administered online-based questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Results Of (n = 500) surveyed students, (n = 467) completed the survey 93.4%. The average level of caffeine consumption was significantly higher in females compared to male students (p < 0.005). Coffee was the highest favored source of caffeine (67.7%) followed by tea (47.3%). The average daily intake of caffeine was found to be 264 mg/day. Surprisingly, almost a third of students reported a high level of daily consumption (>400 mg/day) and more than half of them consumed less than 199 mg/day. Large proportions of students 91.1% have their caffeinated beverage after or while eating meals and 42.8% considered that this habit helped in avoiding acid reflux. Interestingly, around one third of participants have poor knowledge of caffeine-containing medical products, which seemed to affect the level of consumption in the student population (p < 0.05). The highest reported reason for caffeine intake was for studying purposes (59.4%). Conclusion Caffeine consumption is highly prevalent among university students in the UAE. Yet, there is insufficiency in the current knowledge of safe caffeine consumption patterns reflecting the importance of health awareness programs and nutritional lectures to decrease the long-term health issues and unintentional overdose of caffeine.
CORRELATION STUDY COVERAGE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AND RISK FACTORS IN INDONESIA

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding decreases the possibility of death in newborns to achieve the 3rd SDGs goal. However, some provinces have not yet extended the quarry to include infants receiving exclusive breastfeeding. The research purposed to analyze the relationship in the middle of the inclusion of the fourth antenatal care, delivery in healthcare facilities, early commencement of breastfeeding, smoking mothers, and the inclusion of infants receiving exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: The study design was conducted using the correlation study from the 2019 Indonesian Health Profile and the 2020 Maternal and Child Health Profile. The unit of analysis was 34 provinces in Indonesia which were analyzed using scatter plot and Pearson correlation test. Result: The outcome of the scatter plot and correlation test manifested that the factors that correlated with the coverage of infants receiving exclusive breastfeeding were coverage of the fourth antenatal care (r=0.370), delivery in health care facilities (r=0.466), early initiation of breastfeeding (r=0.592), mother smoking (r=-0.608). Conclusion: It was concluded that the 4th antenatal care visit and parturition at a healthcare facility had a moderate and positive relationship. Early commencement of breastfeeding had a strong and positive relationship, while smoking mothers had a strong relationship with a negative direction. It was recommended that the government formulate special policies for regional targets with coverage of the fourth antenatal care, delivery in health care facilities, low early commencement of breastfeeding, and areas with a high percentage of smoking mothers. Keywords: exclusive breastfeeding, prenatal care, delivery obstetric, smoking, sustainable development
Collective regulation and the future of work in the digital economy: Insights from comparative employment relations

The impact of technological change on employment, inequality and job quality has attracted considerable analysis from both scholars and practitioners. However, less attention has been paid to how digital technologies are changing contemporary workplaces and how workers are responding to these changes. This article reviews recent research from the multidisciplinary comparative employment relations field, with a focus on institutional resilience or change associated with digitalization; and the strategic responses of unions and other worker representatives to these trends. We find that the insights of economists, sociologists and employment relations scholars are complementary, as each addresses a different dimension of technological change and associated worker outcomes. Comparative employment relations researchers are more likely to influence current debates where they both articulate the unique contribution of their multi-method and comparative research methods and aggregate findings beyond single or paired industry and national case studies.
The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on sickness absenteeism among hospital workers

Abstract Introduction: Worker illness and, more recently, infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can manifest as sickness absence, considerably increasing absenteeism rates, which were already rising. Objectives: To determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on sickness absence rates among hospital workers and on the costs associated with them. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1,229 workers at a University Hospital in the South of Brazil. Data were collected from absenteeism records for the period from September 2014 to December 2020 held in the Occupational Health Service database. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean sickness absenteeism rate was 3.25% and a significant increase was observed during the pandemic (5.10%) when compared to the pre-pandemic period (2.97%) (p = 0.02). During the pandemic, the mean number of sickness absence days was 2.03 times greater and the mean daily cost increased 2.49 times. Administrative assistants had the lowest relative risk (RR) of infection (RR: 0.5120; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.2628-0.9974). In turn, the nursing team (RR: 1.37; 95%CI 1.052-1.787), physiotherapists (RR: 1.7148; 95%CI 1.0434-2.8183), and speech therapists (RR: 2.7090; 95%CI 1.5550-4.7195) were at greatest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to an increase in sickness absence among workers in a hospital setting. The nursing team, physiotherapists, and speech therapists were at greatest risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A review of normalization and differential abundance methods for microbiome counts data

The recent development of cost‐effective high‐throughput DNA sequencing technologies has tremendously increased microbiome research. However, it has been well documented that the observed microbiome data suffers from compositionality, sparsity, and high variability. All of which pose serious challenges when analyzing microbiome data. Over the last decade, there has been considerable amount of interest into statistical and computational methods to tackle these challenges. The choice of inference aids in the selection of the appropriate statistical methods since only a few methods allow inferences for absolute abundance while most methods allow inferences for relative abundances. An overview of recent methods for differential abundance analysis and normalization of microbiome data is presented, focusing on methods that are accessible but have not been widely covered in previous literature. In detailed descriptions of each method, we discuss assumptions and if and how these methods address the challenges of microbiome data. These methods are compared based on accuracy metrics in real and simulated settings. The goal is to provide a comprehensive but non‐exhaustive set of potential and easily‐accessible tools for differential abundance and normalization of microbiome data.
Key indicators of student success at a tertiary institution : a case study of CTI education group's accounting programmes

Linking access with success in South African higher education has become vital. There is a clear necessity to identify and rigorously research factors contributing to student success that are within the institutions sphere of influence so that institutional policies and practices can be intentionally aligned and designed to create conducive conditions for student success This study documents the key indicators of student success based on a sample of BComm Accounting students enrolled at CTI Education group (MGI)/Durban Campus from 2009 to 2011. Using data collected from 54 students enrolled in the three groups, this study investigates whether or not matriculation aggregate scores as well as selected individual matric subject scores (including Mathematics proficiency, English language proficiency and Accounting) and demographic information (such as gender, race, socio-economic status, and first-generational status) are key indicators of success for students enrolled in BComm Accounting at CTI Education group/Durban Campus from 2009 to 2011. Qualitative and quantitative data have been collected and incorporated into the econometric model. Qualitative data such as gender, ethnicity and parent level of education have been used as dummy variables and were analysed using either Pearson or Spearman’s correlation tests. Due to the disparity in performance of students, the researcher sought to use the descriptive econometric model. The data (qualitative and quantitative) have been analysed using mostly descriptive methods and to a less extent the Ordinary Least Squares through Stata software. The findings of this study show that: • In all three samples average matric score proved to be a significant indicator of student academic success at the end of the first-year; • In all three samples, the first step of the model (Gender, ethnicity and first generational of students) did not explain a significant amount of the percentage of student academic success at the end of the first-year for the three cohorts; • From 2009 to 2011, the overall results suggested a significant difference between students who lived close to campus and those who travelled a long distance to campus; • In all three samples the Age variable did not explain a significant correlation between the variable Age and student academic success at the end of the first-year.
Effects of Wheat Bran Micronization on the Quality of Reconstituted Whole-Wheat Flour and Its Cooked Noodles

The particle size of wheat bran plays an important role in the quality of reconstituted whole-wheat flour and its products. The effects of wheat bran particle size on the quality of reconstituted whole-wheat flour and its cooked noodles were analyzed; the mean particle size (D50) of wheat bran ranged from 26.05 to 46.08 μm. Results show that the decreases in D50 of wheat bran induced the changes in the quality of whole-wheat flour and its noodles. Specifically, the damaged starch content, water absorption, and the solvent retention capacity of sodium carbonate and sucrose of whole-wheat flour increased at various degrees, while pasting viscosity decreased, and the gluten index and SDS-sedimentation volume increased first and then decreased. The cooking yield, cooking loss, and break rate of fresh noodles decreased first and reached a trough at D50 of 26.05 μm, and then increased. The adhesiveness of cooked noodles increased, the score of smoothness, taste, appearance, and color increased to a stable value, but the hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, resilience, firmness score, and elasticity score increased first and then decreased. These turning points of changing trends of indexes mostly occurred when the D50 of wheat bran was 26.51 μm. In conclusion, whole-wheat noodles with wheat bran of D50 of 26.51 μm addition exhibit better cooking, textural, and sensory properties than those with smaller or larger wheat bran. Excessive crushing of wheat bran not only costs highly in terms of energy, but also has a negative impact on the quality of the noodles.
Is prolonged period of prone position effective and safe in mechanically ventilated patients with SARS-CoV-2? A randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT Background The novel coronavirus has been recently spreading throughout the world, causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) that necessitates mechanical ventilation. Prone position ventilation is an established method to improve oxygenation in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Different protocols were suggested and evaluated for prone position (PP) cycles duration. We performed a randomized controlled study to compare the standard 16 h prone ventilation against extended 24 h prone ventilation in terms of safety and efficacy. Methods A total of 52 patients were divided into two groups. Group (A) proning cycles that lasted for 16 h every 24 h, Group (B): prolonged proning cycles that lasted for continuous 24 h followed by 6 h supine position. Both groups received lung-protective ventilation, arterial blood gases were sampled, static lung compliance was measured before proning and one hour after return to supine position. After three successive cycles, the mean value was measured and recorded. Results We found that extending the duration of prone position (PP) sessions from 16 h to 24 h was associated with a significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2, significant elevation in static lung compliance and non-significant changes in the rate of extubation. 24 h PP was proven to be safe, with no significant elevation in the rate of complications, and nearly the same impact on survival and length of hospital stay. Conclusion Extending PP ventilation to 24 h for COVID-19 ARDS patients is safe and effective. Trial registration: the trial w registered on November 2021 in ClinicalTrials.gov (CT05109624).
Clinical and radiographic outcomes of regenerative endodontic treatment performed by endodontic postgraduate students: a retrospective study

Objectives Regenerative endodontic treatment is a clinical procedure aimed at biologically regenerating damaged root canal tissue of immature permanent teeth. This study aimed to report the outcomes of regenerative endodontic treatment performed by endodontic postgraduate students. Materials and Methods Clinical and radiographic data of 27 patients, aged 10–22 years, who underwent regenerative treatment of immature permanent teeth from 2015 to 2019 were followed up, wherein clinical and radiographic examinations were performed for each patient. Postoperative success rate and tooth survival were analyzed, and the postoperative radiographic root area changes were quantified. Results A total of 23 patients attended the dental appointments, showing that all teeth survived and were asymptomatic. Specifically, 7 periapical pathosis cases were completely healed, 12 were incompletely healed, and 4 cases failed. Moreover, significant differences were found between discolored and non-discolored teeth, and between the presence or absence of periapical radiolucency. Additionally, 3 anterior teeth showed complete closure of the apical foramen, while the apical foramen width was reduced in 17 teeth and failed in 3 teeth. Root length was also found to have been increased in 7 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, and the average length ranged from 4.00–0.63 mm in the anterior teeth, 2.85–1.48 mm of the mesial root, and 2.73–2.16 mm of the molar teeth distal root. Furthermore, calcified tissue deposition was observed in 7 teeth. Conclusions A favorable outcome of regenerative endodontic treatment of immature permanent teeth with necrotic pulp was achieved with a high survival rate.
Effect of Phase Change Materials on the Performance of Natural Convection Indirect Type Solar Dryer during Drying Ivy Gourd

Abstract The effect of integrating thermal energy storage (TES) unit with a natural convection indirect type solar dryer was investigated by drying ivy gourd in the dryer without TES (setup I) and with TES (setup II) provisions. Paraffin wax was filled in the concentric tubes of polycarbonate and finned aluminum to make setup II by updating setup I. The experimental data from both setups were used to estimate the drying parameters. The average collector's efficiencies were 62.6% and 63.3%. Drying efficiencies were 6.6% and 13.1% for the setup I and II, respectively. The average moisture diffusivity, mass transfer and heat transfer coefficients were 7.1 × 10−9 and 8.1 × 10−9 m2/s, 0.0033 and 0.0041 m/s and 3.9 and 4.7 W/m2K for the setup I and II, respectively. The enhancements of drying efficiency, effective diffusivity, mass and heat transfer coefficients were 98.3%, 14.2%, 24.2% and 22.1%, respectively, in setup II compared to setup I. The activation energy, average specific energy consumption, and specific moisture extraction rate were evaluated. The drying kinetics were correlated with time and moisture variations. It took 18 and 16 h to reduce the moisture content of the sample from 15.32 (db) to 0.144 (db) for the setup I and II, respectively.
Potential Role of Astragaloside IV in the Treatment of Fungal Keratitis

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a worldwide visual impairment disease. The pathogenesis of fungal keratitis involves fungi, corneal cells, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen degradation, inflammatory cytokines and their interactions. Accumulated evidence indicated that Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) possesses a broad range of pharmacological properties, such as efficacy in anti-inflam-mation, alleviating fibrosis, and immunomodulatory effects. This paper sum-marizes new findings regarding AS-IV in immune and inflammatory diseases and analyzes the perspective application of Astragaloside IV in fungal keratitis.
Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Japanese Immigrants and Descendants: The Need to Strengthen Preventive and Control Measures

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis B virus infection among Japanese immigrants and their descendants from São Paulo (SP), and to verify the occurrence of occult hepatitis B and coinfection with HCV, Delta, and HTLV. All samples (n = 2.127) were tested for HBV serological markers by electrochemiluminescence. HBsAg and/or total anti-HBc positive samples were tested for HBV DNA by real-time PCR, and genotyped by sequencing using the Sanger methodology. The prevalence rate of HBV exposure was 13.4% (CI 95%: 11.9–14.9%), and 22 (1.1%) were HBsAg positive. A high rate of susceptibility to HBV infection was found (67.4%; CI 95%: 65.4–69.4%). In contrast, only 19.2% (CI 95%: 17.6–20.9%) presented a serological profile analogous to that elicited by Hepatitis B vaccination. HBV isolates (n = 8) were classified as genotypes HBV/B1 (62.5%), HBV/C2 (12.5%), HBV/F1b (12.5%), and HBV/A1 (12.5%). Hepatitis B vaccination strategies and educational measures to control this infection should be considered.
Can Health Improvements from a Community-Based Exercise and Lifestyle Program for Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Be Maintained? A Follow up Study

Background: Older people consistently report a desire to remain at home. Beat It is a community-based exercise and lifestyle intervention that uses evidence-based strategies to assist older people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to improve physical and functional fitness, which are crucial to maintain independence. This follow up, real-world study assessed the efficacy of Beat It and whether older adults with T2DM were able to maintain improvements in physical activity, waist circumference and fitness one year post completion. Methods: We have previously reported methods and results of short-term outcomes of Beat It. This paper reports anthropometric measurements and physical fitness outcomes of Beat it at 12-months post program completion and compares them to validated standards of fitness required to retain physical independence. Results: Improvements that were observed post program were maintained at 12 months (n = 43). While the number of participants who met fitness standards increased post program, not all increases were maintained at 12 months. Conclusions: This study provides promising early evidence that an eight-week, twenty-hour community-based clinician-led exercise and lifestyle program can improve health outcomes in older adults with T2DM which were retained for at least a year after program completion.
Investigating differences of medications in hospitalized schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients: impact of substance use

ABSTRACT Background Substance use is a clinical comorbidity resulting in poor prognosis, non-adherence and increased admissions in schizophrenia and related disorders. This study investigated differences in treatment preferences in hospitalized schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients with or without substance use. Method Retrospective recordings regarding patients hospitalized between July 2017 and July 2018 were obtained from a mental health hospital database. Results Younger people and males were prevalent in those reporting substance use. Total and involuntary hospitalization numbers were similar across groups. Admission to a psychiatry unit due to forensic issues was higher in substance users. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), long-acting injection antipsychotics (LAI APs) and clozapine use were more frequent in substance non-users. Total and involuntary hospitalization numbers predicted LAI AP use, while younger age, total hospitalization and illness duration predicted clozapine use. Substance use was predictive for clozapine use. Conclusions Substance use should be monitored in young, male cases with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. LAI AP, clozapine, and ECT use should be investigated more comprehensively in this group.