Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of in-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19 infection in a major treatment facility in Ghana.

Background: An estimated 17 –18% of hospitalisedCOVID-19 patients die. This has been attributed to varying symptomatic, prophylactic, patient management and health care factors. However, these factors have been shown to vary with population and setting dynamics. There is limited literature on the impact of these factors on COVID-19 mortality in the Ghanaian setting. This study, therefore, assessed the factors associated with mortality among COVID-19 hospitalised patients. Objective: The study aimed to assess the clinical and health-related factors associated with the mortality of COVID-19 patients admitted to a major treatment facility in Ghana. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at Ghana Infectious Disease Center, involving a review of data collected on patients admitted to the facility from January 2021 to December 2021. Using a data abstraction tool on Kobo Collect, data on patient sociodemographic characteristics, clinical presentation, underlying conditions and vaccination status were extracted from patient folders and other inpatient registers. We analysed the data and estimated Odds ratios and their respective 95%CI intervals. Results: Out of the 271 patients admitted to the hospital within the study period, 8.86% (95%CI: 5.76–12.89) died. Being diabetic (aOR = 2.62, 95%CI: 1.08-6.35), having a cardiovascular-related disease (aOR = 4.06, 95%CI: 1.03–15.91), having a kidney disease (aOR = 4.56, 95%CI: 1.40-14.92), a chronic lung disease (aOR = 4.42, 95%CI: 1.45-13.53), and longer duration of admission (aOR = 1.06, 95%CI: 1.01-1.11) were associated with increased odds of death among the patients. Being vaccinated (aOR = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.11-0.49) was associated with a reduction in the odds of death among the patients. Conclusion: This study revealed a less than 10% mortality rate among the patients. Being unvaccinated, having an underlying condition (diabetes, cardiovascular-related diseases, chronic lung diseases and kidney disease) and having a longer duration of admission in the hospital were associated with increased risk of death among the patients.
Unveiling the Influence of the Curve of Spee on Bite Force and Chewing Ability: A Comparative Study

Aim To investigate the impact of the curve of Spee (CS) accentuation on bite force, chewing ability, and additionally, other factors that influence chewing ability and bite force such as restorations, caries, gender, habits, and TMJ problems. Materials and Methods 231 participants (118 male and 113 female, mean age = ±27.96 years) were recruited for this cross-section study. Participants completed a data collection sheet in which age, gender, Angle's classification of malocclusion, overjet, overbite, TMJ problems, habits, restorations, and caries experience were recorded. Two examiners made a lower impression, chewing ability test and measured the bite force for each participant. Measurement of the CS was obtained digitally from the poured dental cast, and the categorization was as follows: flat (<1 mm), normal (1-2 mm), or deep (>2 mm). Results The mean maximum bite force (MBF) was 468.722 N for participants with flat CS, 389.822 N for normal CS, 647.08 N for deep CS, and 384.667 N for reverse CS. The average MBF was higher for participants with deep CS (p < 0.05). MBF force was higher in males. However, BMI was not significantly related to MBF values. Participants with normal and flat CS have comparable chewing capacity (p > 0.05). Also, a significant difference in bite force and chewing ability was found between the three categories of CS (p < 0.05). Conclusion Bite force variations across various CS types were linked to gender and habits. Chewing ability showed no differences concerning gender, habits, TMJ problems, caries, or restorations, emphasizing CS's significant impact on bite force while showcasing the unchanged nature of chewing ability amidst diverse factors.
Physical exercise recommendations for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia based on individual preferences identified in a large international patient survey study of the East German Study Group for Hematology and Oncology (OSHO #97)

Background Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have significantly lowered mortality of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients adjusting life expectancy to that of the standard population. However, CML and its treatment with TKIs causes a high disease burden. Physical exercise (PE) could be a non-pharmacological approach to reducing these and improving quality of life. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the individual disease burden as well as PE preferences of CML patients and to deduce thereof specific PE recommendations. Methods This multicenter survey was conducted in cooperation with the LeukaNET/Leukemia-patient network including CML patients aged ≥18 years (German Registry of Clinical Trials, DRKS00023698). The severity of selected symptoms was assessed using the adapted Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Symptom Assessment Form: 0 (absent), 1–30 (mild), 31–70 (moderate), or 71–100 (severe). Information about patients’ PE needs and preferences depending on their motivation was recorded. Results A total of 212 questionnaires were analyzed (52% female, median age 54 years). The prevalence of moderate-to-severe symptoms was 49% for fatigue, 40% for musculoskeletal pain, and 37% for concentration problems. Other commonly reported symptoms included skin reactions (42%) and weight gain (24%). The proportion of overweight/obese patients was 52%. Half of all respondents requested more information regarding PE. Patients with CML preferred individual training (82%), located outdoors (71%), at home (47%), or in an indoor swimming pool (31%). Regarding the training frequency, sports-inactive patients preferred a frequency of 1–2 training sessions per week, whereas sports-active patients preferred 3–4 sessions per week (p <0.001). Sports-inactive patients preferred a training time of 15–45 minutes, while sports-active patients preferred 30–60 minutes (p = 0.002). Subsequently, PE recommendations were developed for patients with CML. Combined resistance and endurance training (moderate intensity twice per week for 30 minutes) was recommended for beginners. Obese patients should prioritize joint-relieving sports. To reduce the risk of skin reactions, direct sunlight and possibly water sports should be avoided, and UV protection should be used. Conclusion Counseling and motivation of CML patients to be physically active should be part of the standard of care as well as support for implementation.
Engineers as Effective Team Players: Evaluating Teamwork Skills in a Flipped Project Management for Civil Engineers Course

Equipping engineering students with teamwork skills is crucial since teamwork skills are necessary to succeed as an engineer. The goal of this research is to explore if student’s teamwork skills advance when team-based projects are effectively integrated into engineering courses. To this end, a junior-level Project Management for Civil Engineers course was used due to closely aligned principles of teamwork and project management-based activities. The course was converted to a flipped format in order to make time for in-class teamwork projects. Flipped learning requires students to engage in course content before class (usually by watching a video lecture) in order to gain background knowledge and come to class prepared to participate in some form of active learning. Specifically, for this course, the active learning primarily consisted of a term project with four major components for which students work in teams over several class periods in addition to informal activities completed in pairs or small groups during class. Students were given a survey to evaluate their perception and confidence of working in teams at the beginning and end of the semester. After each team-based project was completed, the students were also asked to evaluate themselves and their team member’s teamwork skills. Preliminary analysis of the data showed that students had relatively high pre-semester teamwork confidence. Students rated themselves lower than their peers on the first evaluation, however, peer evaluation ratings decreased throughout the semester while self-evaluation ratings remained relatively constant.
A study of the implications for the health of UK passive houses : investigating indoor climate and indoor air quality and understanding occupants' practices

Policies related to the reduction of both carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption within the residential sector have contributed towards a growing number of passive houses and other highly energy-efficient dwellings being built in many countries. Since these dwellings are very well insulated and airtight, concerns have been raised over the quality of the indoor air and, consequently, the possible health effects for their occupants. Additionally, following well established evidence from the residential energy consumption literature, it has been considered vital to explore occupants’ practices when trying to understand possible contributions to the quality of the indoor environment in passive houses, and thus any potential effects to the health of occupants. Nevertheless, very little research has explored this issue. This longitudinal, mixed methods, interdisciplinary study has collected and analysed qualitative data (from house occupants’ interviews and diary) and quantitative data (from the monitoring of the indoor climate and indoor air quality) over three different seasons (winter, spring and summer) from different rooms in five passive houses and in four conventional (control) houses in the UK. Additionally, data has been compared with reviews of epidemiological, toxicological and other health related published studies to reveal the following: Passive houses can provide either a potentially healthy or unhealthy environment for their occupants, depending on the hazard being analysed. For instance, when analysing indoor temperatures, passive houses were found to be potentially healthy during cold months but potentially unhealthy during the summer. On the other hand, the analysis of relative humidity levels suggest that passive houses are potentially healthy during the summer and potentially unhealthy during the winter. Potential health risks in passive houses were caused by one or a combination of variables, including passive house design and construction and occupants’ practices.
Effect of Lentil Cover Cropping on Soil Hydraulic Properties and Subsequent Crop Productivity in Two Soil Types in Central Greece

Agricultural management practices can significantly affect soil hydraulic properties and processes in space and time. Cover crops are described as “crops grown primarily for the purpose of protecting and improving soil between periods of regular crop production”. They have long been valued for their soil conservation benefits, including reducing erosion, increasing infiltration, and improving soil health. Experiments were carried out on a clayey and on a sandy soil, following a RCB design, for two years, to examine the effects of various lentil cover cropping managements on soil hydraulic properties and subsequent corn yield. Three legume managements were tested before growing corn (rotation, incorporation as green manure, no cover crop). Soil hydraulic properties were assessed with the equation I= S*t -1/2+ Ktr*t + d. Corm productivity was determined by field samplings. Green manuring and rotation with lentil, lowered the Infiltration rate as well as the Hydraulic conductivity in the sandy soil, suggesting less irrigation water losses and higher water exploitation for the subsequent crop. On the contrary, for the clay soil, only Hydraulic conductivity of transiting zone was affected and especially during springtime. Legume rotation and green manure positively affected corn kernel yield in both soils.
Weed management in sugarcane using a combination of imazapyr followed by velvet bean as a break crop

While farmers have used glyphosate to control the growth of weeds such as Cynodon dactylon (cynodon) in sugarcane fields for many years, its use has problems which include poor persistence in the soil and the development of tolerance. Here the potential of a class of persistent herbicides with an alternative mode of action to improve weed control in sugarcane was investigated. The main aim was to determine the amount of rainfall and waiting period required to dissipate enough imazapyr to enable safe planting of a sugarcane crop under South African field conditions. Results presented here indicate that imazapyr has good persistence, and effectively controls cynodon until ∼470 mm of cumulative rainfall has occurred, corresponding to a waiting period of ∼16 weeks. While this is also the time required before safe planting of sugarcane can occur, imazapyr-tolerant break-crops, in particular Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean), can be planted after as little as 70 mm of cumulative rainfall. In glyphosate-treated fields, cynodon recovers quickly, before sufficient break-crop development has occurred, necessitating expensive and time-consuming spot-spray control. Taken together, results presented here strongly suggest that under many South African conditions imazapyr may be a superior choice to glyphosate for weed control in fallow sugarcane fields.
The multifaceted impact of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation: a sector-specific analysis in civil engineering testing and calibration laboratories

PurposeThis study aims to dissect the multifaceted impact of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, specifically within civil engineering testing and calibration laboratories. To achieve this, it intends to explore several key objectives: identifying the prominent benefits of accreditation to laboratory performance, understanding the advantages conferred through participation in proficiency testing schemes, assessing the role of accreditation in enhancing laboratory competitiveness, examining the primary challenges encountered during the accreditation process, investigating any discernible adverse effects of accreditation on laboratory performance and evaluating whether the financial cost of accreditation justifies the resultant profitability.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with 23 industry professionals—including technical managers, quality managers, external auditors and clients. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-stage paradigm, was utilized to interpret the data, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the accreditation’s impact.FindingsFindings reveal that accreditation significantly enhances operational processes, fosters quality awareness and facilitates continuous improvement, contributing to greater client satisfaction. In addition, standardized operations and rigorous quality controls further result in enhanced performance metrics, such as staff capability and measurement accuracy. However, the study also uncovers the challenges of accreditation, including high resource costs and bureaucratic hurdles that can inhibit innovation and slow routine operations. Importantly, the research underscores that the impact of accreditation on profitability is not universal, but contingent upon various factors like sector-specific regulations and market demand. The study also highlights sector-specific variations in the role of accreditation as a marketing tool and differing perceptions of its value among clients. It further emphasizes the psychological stress of high-stakes evaluations during audits.Originality/valueThis study represents the first in-depth investigation into the impact of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation on civil engineering testing and calibration laboratories, directly contributing to the enhancement of their quality and operational standards. Providing actionable insights for laboratories, it underscores the importance of weighing accreditation costs and benefits and the necessity for a tailored approach to the unique market and regulatory landscapes they operate in.
OPTIMIZATION OF GREEN ROOF INSTALLATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

Climate features of the Mediterranean area make plant survival over green roofs challenging, thus calling for research work to improve water holding capacities of green roof systems. We assessed the effects of polymer hydrogel amendment on the water holding capacity of a green roof substrate, as well as on water status and growth of Salvia officinalis. Plants were grown in green roof experimental modules containing 8 or 12 cm deep substrate (control) or substrate mixed with hydrogel at two different concentrations: 0.3 or 0.6%. Hydrogel significantly increased the substrate’s water content at saturation, as well as water available to vegetation. Plants grown in 8 cm deep substrate mixed with 0.6% of hydrogel showed the best performance in terms of water status and membrane integrity under drought stress, associated to the lowest above-ground biomass. Our results provide experimental evidence that polymer hydrogel amendments enhance water supply to vegetation at the establishment phase of a green roof. In particular, the water status of plants is most effectively improved when reduced substrate depths are used to limit the biomass accumulation during early growth stages. A significant loss of water holding capacity of substrate-hydrogel blends was observed after 5 months from establishment of the experimental modules. We suggest that cross-optimization of physical-chemical characteristics of hydrogels and green roof substrates is needed to improve long term effectiveness of polymer-hydrogel blends.
Eddy-driven transports in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system

This PhD thesis consists of three research papers. The first research paper addresses crucial issues of the present climate change debate, namely the response of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) of the Southern Ocean (SO) to decadal-scale trends in wind stress forcing, and the ability of up-to-date meso-scale eddy parameterisations to represent the corresponding changes in the eddy field in climate models. The results show that it is indispensable to incorporate the correct sensitivity of eddy field into climate models in order to reproduce the correct sensitivity of the MOC to wind stress and that up-to-date meso-scale eddy parameterisations are only partially successful. The second and third research papers are guided by a more conceptual perspective and focus on one of the most common diagnostics of the MOC: the concept of the MOC streamfunction. The second research paper clarifies the question: Is it possible to define a MOC streamfunction completely void of standing eddies? It is shown that the construction of a MOC streamfunction with an exactly vanishing standing eddy part has to be performed by zonal integration along depth-dependent horizontal isolines of time-mean density. The third research paper considers the two most common approaches to calculating MOC streamfunctions directly in Eulerian space, i.e. the series expansion of the residual-mean eddy streamfunction and the series expansion of the quasi-Stokes streamfunction, and discusses their limitations.
Investigation into Self-Organizational Tendencies of Cobalt- and Titanium-Silicide Nanostructures on Si Surfaces

Abstract : This report results from a contract tasking Tel Aviv University as follows: To achieve this goal, the work will be divided into two principle parts: (a) self-organization of stepped substrates, and (b) ordered nanocrystal growth. In the first part, the experiments will be aimed at achieving full control over the substrate step characteristics, e.g. terrace width and step-bunch height, by varying the degree of wafer miscut and high temperature flash parameters (temperature, duration, and direction of the heating current relative to step orientation). The result of this stage will be variously spaced periodic step-structures. In the second part, Co and/or Ti will be deposited onto such 'templates', reacted with Si to form silicide dots, and their tendency for 2D ordering will be studied as a function of substrate periodicity and silicide nucleation and growth parameters.
Beyond Borders: Investigating the Mysteries of Cacipacoré, a Lesser-Studied Arbovirus in Brazil

Cacipacoré virus (CPCV) was discovered in 1977 deep in the Amazon rainforest from the blood of a black-faced ant thrush (Formicarius analis). As a member of the family Flaviviridae and genus orthoflavivirus, CPCV’s intricate ecological association with vectors and hosts raises profound questions. CPCV’s transmission cycle may involve birds, rodents, equids, bovines, marsupials, non-human primates, and bats as potential vertebrate hosts, whereas Culex and Aedes spp. mosquitoes have been implicated as potential vectors of transmission. The virus’ isolation across diverse biomes, including urban settings, suggests its adaptability, as well as presents challenges for its accurate diagnosis, and thus its impact on veterinary and human health. With no specific treatment or vaccine, its prevention hinges on traditional arbovirus control measures. Here, we provide an overview of its ecology, transmission cycles, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and prevention, aiming at improving our ability to better understand this neglected arbovirus.
Vegetation Response to Rising CO2 Impacts Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures are responsible for damages to society and ecosystems. There is evidence that severe episodes of extreme heat have been occurring more frequently and more severely in recent periods. Driven primarily by oceanic and atmospheric effects as well as land‐climate feedbacks, those extreme events are expected to increase with climate change. Vegetation, which regulates the energy, water, and carbon cycles, is a key player of land‐atmosphere interactions that has been proven to be determinant in recent extreme events. Using an ensemble of Earth System Models simulations, we show that physiological effects globally increase the annual daily maximum temperature (Txx) with rising [CO2], accounting globally for around 13% of the full Txx trend. Due to physiological effects, Txx can reinforce (e.g., central Europe) or reduce (e.g., central North America) the mean temperature increase.
Observed correlation between the depth to base and top of gas hydrate occurrence from review of global drilling data

A global inventory of data from gas hydrate drilling expeditions is used to develop relationships between the base of structure I gas hydrate stability, top of gas hydrate occurrence, sulfate‐methane transition depth, pressure (water depth), and geothermal gradients. The motivation of this study is to provide first‐order estimates of the top of gas hydrate occurrence and associated thickness of the gas hydrate occurrence zone for climate‐change scenarios, global carbon budget analyses, or gas hydrate resource assessments. Results from publically available drilling campaigns (21 expeditions and 52 drill sites) off Cascadia, Blake Ridge, India, Korea, South China Sea, Japan, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Gulf of Mexico, and Borneo reveal a first‐order linear relationship between the depth to the top and base of gas hydrate occurrence. The reason for these nearly linear relationships is believed to be the strong pressure and temperature dependence of methane solubility in the absence of large difference in thermal gradients between the various sites assessed. In addition, a statistically robust relationship was defined between the thickness of the gas hydrate occurrence zone and the base of gas hydrate stability (in meters below seafloor). The relationship developed is able to predict the depth of the top of gas hydrate occurrence zone using observed depths of the base of gas hydrate stability within less than 50 m at most locations examined in this study. No clear correlation of the depth to the top and base of gas hydrate occurrences with geothermal gradient and sulfate‐methane transition depth was identified.