Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in pregnant women in Oman and its effect on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes

BACKGROUND: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sensorimotor disorder during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of RLS and explore the associated risk factors and outcomes in Omani women in the first and third trimester and at 2-week postpartum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 305 pregnant women visiting four health centers in Muscat between May 2018 and October 2020. A structured questionnaire was used and data were collected through review of electronic records and face-to-face interviews. The International RLS Study Group criteria were used to diagnose RLS. Participants were interviewed during their first trimester, their third trimester, and at their 2-week postpartum visit. Results were presented as means and standard deviations or percentages, as appropriate. To assess the association between RLS and various variables, unpaired t-test or McNemar's test were used, as appropriate. RESULTS: The mean age at baseline was 29.8 ± 5.28 years. The prevalence of RLS was significantly higher in the third trimester (41.0%) than in the first trimester (15.7%) and postpartum period (15.1%) (P < 0.001), although there was no significant difference in severity. Family history and personal history of RLS were the only independent correlates of RLS (P < 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). No associations were noted with pregnancy and neonatal outcomes or other comorbidities, including anemia. However, there was a significant relationship between the development of RLS and weight gain during pregnancy (P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: One in six pregnant Omani women may be at risk of RLS during the first trimester, while one in 2–3 may be at risk in the third trimester, particularly those with a personal or family history of RLS and those who gain >12 kg during pregnancy.
The Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic on Occupational Therapy Practice: A Systematic Review

Introduction: COVID-19 circumstances and related restrictions affected health care service delivery. Health care service delivery, including occupational therapy, transitioned from usual face-to-face therapy to telehealth. Purpose of the systematic review was to examine the experiences using telehealth in occupational therapy. Methods: PubMed, Science Direct, CINAHL, Cochrane, OT seeker, Web of Science, and the Sage journal databases was searched. The PRISMA protocol was followed and applied to the review. Articles not including occupational therapy, letters to editor and editorials were excluded from the review. Evidence levels for the articles were determined based on the ranking system by OCEBM Levels. Results: Articles describing the use of telehealth in occupational therapy services were included. Eleven studies rated levels V, IV, and II reached the review criteria and five themes were identified. The emerged themes were: (a) development of new skills, (b) therapist attitudes toward telehealth, (c) user satisfaction with telehealth services, (d) need for interprofessional collaboration, (e) positive and negative factors in service delivery. Conclusions: There is limited evidence on occupational therapists’ perceptions in using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only occupational therapists but also other health professionals should be more encouraged and supported by teams, management, and policies to be part of telehealth services in times of pandemics. Innovative strategies should be developed in occupational therapy to provide continuous service delivery aimed in maintaining occupational therapy goal, engagement, and participation for occupational therapy users. Providing telehealth services, not just in occupational therapy, should be administered and supported through legislation.
Technical skills, knowledge competencies and expected changes in the clothing industry

Thus the purpose of this study is to determine the competency of technical skills, knowledge and expected changes in the apparel industry within the next 10 years. Interview results found that technical competency that is most preferred are drawing, designing, sewing techniques and computer skills. The study found that knowledge of the preferred competency is the latest trends, knowledge in fashion and knowledge of business strategy. Changes in the fashion in the next ten years is also expected to be influenced by the entertainment, popular culture from foreign countries, except patterns and shapes often look the same as the trend that has existed in the 1960s or 1970s. The findings provide plenty of space and ideas to the curriculum and teaching that can be used to streamline the fashion and apparel curriculum to produce graduates who obtained competencies in line with the needs of employers, apparel industry and as a guide to starting a business in the future.
Promoting critical thinking skills of secondary school chemistry students’ through 7e-learning cycle model

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of 7E-Learning Cycle Model (7ELCM) and Lecture Method (LEM) as well as gender influence in promoting secondary school students’ critical thinking skills in chemistry. Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design with an overall sample of 146 (66 boys & 80 girls) Senior Secondary Two (SS2) chemistry students of public schools in Lagos State of Nigeria. Data were collected using Lesson Plan on 7ELCM and LEM (LP7L) and adapted Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT). Validity of LP7L and CCTT were determined by two experts in chemistry education. KR 21 was used to determine the reliability of CCTT which gave a reliability coefficient of 0.87. Mean and ANCOVA were used in data analyses. The results showed that secondary school chemistry students exposed to 7E Learning Cycle Model (7ELCM) had higher mean score than students exposed to Lecture Method (LEM) in promoting critical thinking skills. Also, male students taught with 7ELCM and LEM had the highest mean scores than the females in promoting Critical Thinking Skills in chemistry. The study equally showed a significant interactive effect of 7ELCM and LEM on secondary school chemistry students but there was no significant interactive influence of male and female (gender) in promoting critical thinking skills among the secondary school chemistry students taught using 7ELCM and LEM respectively. The paper concludes that chemistry teachers should provide learning opportunities that would make students take ownership of their learning by compelling them to learn meaningfully, think critically, and criticize constructively as a team in solving problematic tasks through the application of 7ELCM irrespective of gender roles and recommends that Ministry of Education and school administrators should organize Train-the-Trainers workshop for all the secondary school chemistry teachers on how to incorporate 7ELCM pedagogy in promoting 21st century skills and improving chemistry students learning outcomes in Lagos State of Nigeria.
More than a Muscle: How Self‐Control Motivation, Depletion, and Self‐Regulation Strategies Impact Task Performance

Summary When conceptualizing work performance as requiring self-control, scholars often employ a resource-depletion perspective. However, this perspective neglects the role of self-control motivation and self-regulation strategies. In this diary study, we examine self-control motivation (viz. motivation to control impulses) and depletion at the beginning of work and at midday as predictors of afternoon task performance. Additionally, we investigate morning aversive tasks as an antecedent of increased depletion and decreased self-control motivation. Further, we examine the role of self-regulation strategies (organizing, meaning-related strategies, and self-reward) for maintaining and improving performance when depleted or low in self-control motivation. Data from a 2-week diary study with three daily measurements ( N = 135 employees; n = 991 days) were analyzed. Multilevel path modeling showed that self-control motivation at the beginning of work and depletion at midday predicted afternoon task performance. We found that self-reward in the afternoon counteracts the negative relationship between depletion and task performance. Further, we found an indirect effect from morning aversive tasks on task performance via depletion at noon buffered by afternoon self-reward. Organizing and meaning in the afternoon were positively related to afternoon task performance. Findings suggest that self-control motivation is important for task performance, in addition to low depletion. Moreover, results highlight that self-regulation strategies are beneficial for task
Improving performance evaluation metrics to manage innovative projects

As with any process, innovation requires control and evaluation operations in order to improve management practices. This research focuses on the concept of evaluation concerning innovation project management (from idea to launch). Indeed, literature attests to numerous productions in the field of project management and there are many software packages available. A performance benchmark conducted on the most successful software confirms that the project manager has few elements in relation to the characteristics of innovation, including: newness, uncertainty and learning. Consequently, this research fills the gap in the field of project reporting and evaluation of innovation. The research results are a list of variables to be followed by innovators throughout a project (in particular during the fuzzy front end).
Heat Strain Evaluation of U.S. Navy Steam Suit Ensembles

Abstract : A manikin testing and modeling approach was used to predict the heat strain while wearing a Prototype Steam Suit Ensemble (PSSE) or the current U.S. Navy Submarine Steam Suit Ensemble (SSSE) and working in a steam-filled environment (88 deg C, 100% relative humidity) or a training environment (24 Degrees C, 65% relative humidity). Both ensembles were tested on a thermal manikin to measure thermal resistances. Metabolic rates during walking at 1.8 m/s (4 mph) and wearing the PSSE or the SSSE were estimated using an empirical equation. The six cylinder thermoregulatory model (SCTM) was used to simulate human thermal responses and determine the heat endurance times. Results showed that the PSSE performance improves, relative to the SSSE. The PSSE 1) increases thermal resistance by 70%, indicating more protection from external heat load; 2) reduces metabolic rates due to reduction in weight and possibly less hobbling; and 3) increases the predicted heat endurance times to about 33 min in a steam-filled environment. The analysis is limited to heat stress only and excludes all other possible injuries, such as burn injury.
Behavioral Outcomes of Children with Same-Sex Parents in The Netherlands

Same-sex parents face substantial stressors due to their sexual orientation, such as experiences of prejudice and prohibitive legal environments. This added stress is likely to lead to reduced physical and mental health in same-sex parents that, in turn, may translate into problematic behavioral outcomes in their children. To date, there are only a few nationally representative studies that investigate the well-being of children with same-sex parents. The current study takes a closer look at children’s behavioral outcomes, reported by a parent, using an adapted version of the emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, pro-social, and peer problems subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We take advantage of unique data from the Netherlands based on a probability sample from population registers, whereby findings can be inferred to same-sex and different-sex parent households with parents between the ages of 30 and 65, and with children between the ages of 6 and 16 years (62 children with same-sex, and 72 children with different-sex parents). The findings obtained by coarsened exact matching suggest no significant disadvantages for children with same-sex parents compared to different-sex parents. We contextualize these findings in their wider cultural context, and recommend a renewed focus in future research away from deficit-driven comparisons.
A Novel Z Profile of Pultruded Glass-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Beams for Purlins

Purlins made from galvanised steel in fertiliser warehouses have often been considered less efficient, necessitating a new purlin made using corrosion-resistant material to increase building efficiency. This study was an attempt to design a nine-metre purlin from glass-fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite material for a new fertiliser warehouse in Bontang-East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The purlin design selected in this study was the Z profile of pultruded beams from GFRP composite material that met the criteria of an efficient purlin, such as corrosion resistance, compact stacking, and ability to withstand technical loads. In particular, the Z profile becomes compact when stacked, and the GFRP material used is corrosion-resistant yet affordable. The primary materials for GFRP composites consist of long yarn glass fibre bundles for reinforcement and unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) for the matrix. Material strength modelling was based on analytical and finite element approaches. The analysis shows that the most considerable normal stress of “64.41 MPa” occurred at the two fixed end supports, while the most significant deflection of “45.9 mm” occurred at the mid-span of the purlin structure. The purlin structure was considered safe, as the strength and deflection were below the threshold. Thus, the Z profile of the pultruded purlin beams built using the GFRP composite material meets the technical criteria.
Comparison of Different Laboratory Tests to Identify “Aspirin Resistance” and Risk of Vascular Events among Ischaemic Stroke Patients: A Double-Blind Study

“Aspirin resistance” (AR) is associated with increased risk of vascular events. We aimed to compare different platelet function tests used in identifying AR and assess their implications on clinical outcome. We performed platelet aggregation studies on non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke patients taking aspirin 100 mg/day and 30 non-stroke controls. Data were collected on demographics, vascular risk factors, and concomitant medications. Cut-offs for AR were (1) light transmission aggregometry (LTA) of ≥20% using arachidonic acid (AA), ≥70% using ADP, or ≥60% using collagen; and (2) VerifyNow® assay ≥ 550 ARU. Telephone follow-ups were conducted by study staff blinded to AR status to ascertain the occurrence of vascular outcomes (stroke, myocardial infarction, amputation, death). A total of 113 patients were recruited, mean age 65 ± 8 years, 47% women, 45 ± 15 days from index stroke. 50 (44.3%, 95% CI 34.9–53.9) had AR on at least 1 test. Frequency of AR varied from 0% to 39% depending on method used and first vs. recurrent stroke. There were strong correlations between LTA AA, VerifyNow® and Multiplate® ASPItest (r = 0.7457–0.8893), but fair to poor correlation between LTA collagen and Multiplate® COLtest (r = 0.5887) and between LTA ADP and Multiplate® ADPtest (r = 0.0899). Of 103 patients with a mean follow up of 801 ± 249 days, 10 (9.7%) had vascular outcomes, of which six had AR by LTA-ADP. AR by LTA-ADP is associated with increased risk of vascular outcome (p = 0.034). Identification of AR is not consistent across different platelet function tests. LTA of ≥70% using 10 µM ADP in post-stroke patients taking aspirin is associated with increased risk of vascular outcome.
Abnormal Prefrontal Functional Connectivity Is Associated with Inflexible Information Processing in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): An fNIRS Study

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are characterized by impairments in flexibly acquiring and maintaining new information, as well as in applying learned information for problem solving. However, the neural mechanism underpinning such impairments remains unclear. This study investigated the flexibility in the acquisition and application of visual information in ASD (aged 14–21) when they performed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Behavioral data including response accuracy and latency, and prefrontal hemodynamic data measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), were collected when individuals performed WCST. Canonical general linear model and functional connectivity analyses were performed to examine the prefrontal activation and synchronization patterns, respectively. Results showed that although ASD individuals (n = 29) achieved comparable accuracy rates when compared with age- and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched typically developing (TD; n = 26) individuals (F1,53 = 3.15, p = 0.082), ASD individuals needed significantly more time to acquire and apply WCST card sorting rules (F1,53 = 17.92, p < 0.001). Moreover, ASD individuals showed significantly lower prefrontal functional connectivity than TD individuals during WCST (F1,42 = 9.99, p = 0.003). The hypoconnectivity in ASD individuals was highly significant in the right lateral PFC in the acquisition condition (p = 0.005) and in the bilateral lateral PFC in the application condition (ps = 0.006). Furthermore, slower WCST reaction time was correlated with lower bilateral lateral PFC functional connectivity only in the application condition (ps = 0.003) but not the acquisition condition. Impairment in information acquisition and application is evident in ASD individuals and is mediated by processing speed, which is associated with lower functional connectivity in the bilateral lateral PFC when these individuals apply learned rules to solve novel problems.
Treatment of Gender-Nonconforming Learners in Namibian Schools

This paper aimed at establishing the treatment of gender-nonconforming learners in Namibian schools. The provision of education in Namibia is based on the principles of non-discrimination and equal access to quality education for all as stipulated in the Namibian constitution. Even though there is growing evidence on the mistreatment of gender-nonconforming learners in schools world wide, there is a paucity of literature on the treatment of gender-nonconforming learners in the Namibian education context. This paper employed a case study design as a transformative research method informed by the social identity perspective. One hundred and eighty-two teachers were randomly sampled into the study, and one deputy Director of Special Programs and Schools, one deputy Director of Diagnostic, Assessment and Training Services, one regional school counsellor and one inclusive education officer at the National Institute for Educational Development were purposively sampled. The findings revealed that societal, religious, and cultural beliefs in schools were determinants of how gender-nonconforming learners were treated in some schools. A supplementary framework for the implementation of inclusive education policy (SFIIEP) was developed from the findings of this study. It is recommended that the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture align the SFIIEP to the inclusive education policy implementation to enable open discussion of sex education topics during life skills lessons, creation of supportive learning environments, and establishment of anti-bullying policies with specific measures on curbing homophobic bullying as well as strengthening the psychological support to learners.
Metabolite Signature in the Carriers of Pathogenic Genetic Variants for Cardiomyopathy: A Population-Based METSIM Study

Hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies are among the leading causes of sudden cardiac death. We identified 38 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant carriers for HCM in three sarcomere genes (MYH7, MYBPC3, TPMI) among 9.928 participants of the METSIM Study having whole exome sequencing data available. Eight of them had a clinical diagnosis of HCM. We also identified 20 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant carriers for DCM in the TTN gene, and six of them had a clinical diagnosis of DCM. The aim of our study was to investigate the metabolite signature in the carriers of the pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants for HCM and DCM, compared to age- and body-mass-index-matched controls. Our novel findings were that the carriers of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants for HCM had significantly increased concentrations of bradykinin (des-arg 9), vanillactate, and dimethylglycine and decreased concentrations of polysaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and lysophosphatidylcholines compared with the controls without HCM. Additionally, our novel findings were that the carriers of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants for DCM had significantly decreased concentrations of 1,5-anhydrogluticol, histidine betaine, N-acetyltryptophan, and methylsuccinate and increased concentrations of trans-4-hydroxyproline compared to the controls without DCM. Our population-based study shows that the metabolite signature of the genetic variants for HCM and DCM includes several novel metabolic pathways not previously described.
Modified Flory–Rehner Theory Describes Thermotropic Swelling Transition of Smart Copolymer Microgels

In the present article, we use an improved Flory–Rehner theory to describe the swelling behavior of copolymer microgels, where the interaction parameter is modeled by a Hill-like equation for a cooperative thermotropic transition. This description leads to very good fits of the swelling curves of the copolymer microgels at different comonomer contents (30 mol%, 50 mol% and 70 mol%) obtained by photon correlation spectroscopy. Fixed parameters, which are universally applicable for the respective monomers given in our previous work, are used to fit the swelling curves. The analysis of the swelling curves yields physically reasonable and meaningful results for the remaining adjustable parameters. The comonomer content of the statistical copolymer microgels poly(NNPAM-co-NIPAM), poly(NIPAM-co-NIPMAM) and poly(NIPMAM-co-NNPAM) is determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and is in agreement with the nominal comonomer feed used in the synthesis. To investigate the volume phase transition at a molecular level, swelling curves are also measured by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. The obtained swelling curves are also fitted using the Hill-like model. The fits provide physically reasonable parameters too, consistent with the results from photon correlation spectroscopy.
Combining High-Pressure NMR and Geometrical Sampling to Obtain a Full Topological Description of Protein Folding Landscapes: Application to the Folding of Two MAX Effectors from Magnaporthe oryzae

Despite advances in experimental and computational methods, the mechanisms by which an unstructured polypeptide chain regains its unique three-dimensional structure remains one of the main puzzling questions in biology. Single-molecule techniques, ultra-fast perturbation and detection approaches and improvement in all-atom and coarse-grained simulation methods have greatly deepened our understanding of protein folding and the effects of environmental factors on folding landscape. However, a major challenge remains the detailed characterization of the protein folding landscape. Here, we used high hydrostatic pressure 2D NMR spectroscopy to obtain high-resolution experimental structural information in a site-specific manner across the polypeptide sequence and along the folding reaction coordinate. We used this residue-specific information to constrain Cyana3 calculations, in order to obtain a topological description of the entire folding landscape. This approach was used to describe the conformers populating the folding landscape of two small globular proteins, AVR-Pia and AVR-Pib, that belong to the structurally conserved but sequence-unrelated MAX effectors superfamily. Comparing the two folding landscapes, we found that, in spite of their divergent sequences, the folding pathway of these two proteins involves a similar, inescapable, folding intermediate, even if, statistically, the routes used are different.