Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Persuasion and Predation: The Effects of U.S. Military Aid and International Development Aid on Civilian Killings

ABSTRACT Powerful states frequently employ foreign aid to pursue international security objectives. Yet aid's effectiveness will be undermined if it exacerbates the effects of conflict on civilians within recipient states. This article investigates how international development aid and U.S. military aid influence recipient governments' incentives and ability to target civilians. U.S. military aid has a persuasion effect on state actors, which decreases a recipient state's incentives and necessity to target civilians. Development aid flows, however, trigger a predation effect in some environments, exacerbating civilian targeting. An analysis of aid flows in 135 countries on civilian killings between 1989–2011 provides support for both the persuasion and predation effects associated with aid.
Interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in perpendicularly magnetized Pt/Co/AlO x ultrathin films measured by Brillouin light spectroscopy

Spin waves in perpendicularly magnetized ${\text{Pt/Co/AlO}}_{x}/\text{Pt}$ ultrathin films with varying Co thicknesses (0.6--1.2 nm) have been studied with Brillouin light spectroscopy in the Damon-Eshbach geometry. The measurements reveal a pronounced nonreciprocal propagation, which increases with decreasing Co thickness. This nonreciprocity, attributed to an interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), is significantly stronger than asymmetries resulting from surface anisotropies for such modes. Results are consistent with an interfacial DMI constant ${D}_{\mathrm{s}}=\ensuremath{-}1.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.11\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{pJ}$/m, which favors left-handed chiral spin structures. This suggests that such films below 1 nm in thickness should support chiral states such as skyrmions at room temperature.
THE IMPACT OF METHODOLOGICAL PRACTICES IN RESEARCH AND EVALUATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING

Concerns about global warming have recently raised awareness, to an unprecedented extent, of the need to lessen human impact on the natural world. Over the past few years, terms like “sustainability” and “carbon footprint” have made it into everyday household language, and calls to do something about it are increasing daily. Education is often seen as a key ingredient in such calls. While these concerns and calls to action are certainly more prominent now than in the past, they are not new, nor is the role of education in addressing the issues. Concerns about environmental degradation in the early 1960’s and 1970’s and acknowledgement of the importance of education as one of the most influential factors on human behavior (Gigliotti, 1990; Hungerford & Volk, 1990; Newhouse, 1990), led to the development of many educational programs aimed at educating people about the natural world and the impact of human activity (Hamid & Cheng, 1995; Hungerford & Volk, 1990, Van Matre, 1974, 1991). Many environmental learning
Utilization of Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) In Teaching Grammar among Grade 10 Students

Teaching of grammar plays a vital role in language teaching. One cannot communicate effectively when grammar is poor and weak. This study aimed at examining the effectiveness of Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) as an instructional tool in improving the English grammar skills of the Grade 10 students in a certain school in the Division of Bukidnon academic year 2019-2020. The quasi-experimental design was used to determine whether or not there is a difference between the pretest and posttest scores of the students after Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) was integrated in teaching grammar. Purposive sampling was utilized with pre-selected heterogeneous classes with 78 respondents, 39 for each of the two groups – control and experimental groups. A research-made instrument was distributed to the respondents comprising a 50 multiple choice-based questions. Frequency distribution, standard deviation, t-test, double difference and ANOVA were the statistical tools used to treat the data. The overall pretest result revealed intermediate level for both the control and experimental groups. Overall post-test result for the control group remained as intermediate level, while the experimental group improved to advanced level. Hence, the result disclosed that there was a significant difference between the pretest and post-test scores of the experimental group after Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) was integrated in teaching grammar. The study also revealed no significant difference in students’ demographic profile such as age, sex and academic performance and level of English general grammar skills. Therefore, findings of this study indicate that Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) plays an important role in the present and future education of this generation and that there are other variables to consider for explaining significant differences in the level of their grammar skills.
Correlation between In Vitro Neutralization Assay and Serological Tests for Protective Antibodies Detection

Serological assays are useful in investigating the development of humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in the context of epidemiological studies focusing on the spread of protective immunity. The plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is the gold standard method to assess the titer of protective antibodies in serum samples. However, to provide a result, the PRNT requires several days, skilled operators, and biosafety level 3 laboratories. Therefore, alternative methods are being assessed to establish a relationship between their outcomes and PRNT results. In this work, four different immunoassays (Roche Elecsys® Anti SARS-CoV-2 S, Snibe MAGLUMI® SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG, Snibe MAGLUMI® 2019-nCoV IgG, and EUROIMMUN® SARS-CoV-2 NeutraLISA assays, respectively) have been performed on individuals healed after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The correlation between each assay and the reference method has been explored through linear regression modeling, as well as through the calculation of Pearson’s and Spearman’s coefficients. Furthermore, the ability of serological tests to discriminate samples with high titers of neutralizing antibodies (>160) has been assessed by ROC curve analyses, Cohen’s Kappa coefficient, and positive predictive agreement. The EUROIMMUN® NeutraLISA assay displayed the best correlation with PRNT results (Pearson and Spearman coefficients equal to 0.660 and 0.784, respectively), as well as the ROC curve with the highest accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity (0.857, 0.889, and 0.829, respectively).
Can Risk Perception Alter Son Preference? Evidence from Gender-Imbalanced Rural China

Abstract It is well established that son preference is the crucial driver for sex ratio imbalance, and that there are risks stemming from such imbalance. Whether risks associated with a gender-imbalanced society may alter son preference will be explored in this study, which has so far received scant scholarly attention. Using data from the Consequences of Gender Imbalance Survey conducted in 2018, exploiting structural equation modelling, this paper shows that risk perception of gender imbalance has a significant and negative effect on stated son preference; however, entrenched traditional norms underpinning the institution of son preference, measured as gender role attitudes and the value of sons, are reinforced by risk perception. The effect of risk perception on weakening stated son preference is suppressed by gender role attitudes and the value of sons which are still upholding stated son preference. Overall, the effects of risk perception and social norms are additive, influencing stated son preference simultaneously, but traditional norms act as counteracting forces. This study makes an important step toward shedding light on both continuity and change in son preference in gender-imbalanced rural China, and offers new perspectives for future research.
Determination of Helicobacter Pylori Infection Prevalence by Non-invasive Methods

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is identified as the most frequent agent of bacterial infections in humans which can cause various gastrointestinal diseases. This pathogen has infected approximately half of the world’s population, and its outbreak has varied across different regions. The purpose of this study was to estimate the H. pylori infection prevalence amongst patients in Fardis county, Alborz province, Iran, using noninvasive methods. Methods: A total of 5677 patients were analyzed from September 2020 to October 2021 to detect H. pylori by the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG, IgA, and IgM tests, stool antigen test (SAT), and urea breath test (UBT). Results: Of 5677 patients, 3486 (61.4%) were female and 2191 (38.6%) were male with the mean age of 38.82 ± 18.289 years old. The overall rate of H. pylori infection positive was 31.46%, and the serological tests were the most prescribed types of tests. The IgG test and then SAT detected the most positive cases. Further, the infection rate was significantly associated with age. Except for the case of IgM, which was higher in females compared to males, no significant difference was found between gender and bacteria outbreak. Conclusions: This study indicated a decline in H. pylori infection prevalence compared with the prior survey conducted at this center. However, its rate amongst the patients referring to Fardis laboratory is still high.
Influence of Foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for Intestinal Health

Food components in our diet provide not only necessary nutrients to our body but also substrates for the mutualistic microbial flora in our gastrointestinal tract, termed the gut microbiome. Undigested food components are metabolized to a diverse array of metabolites. Thus, what we eat shapes the structure, composition, and function of the gut microbiome, which interacts with the gut epithelium and mucosal immune system and maintains intestinal homeostasis in a healthy state. Alterations of the gut microbiome are implicated in many diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There is growing interest in nutritional therapy to target the gut microbiome in IBD. Investigations into dietary effects on the composition changes in the gut microbiome flourished in recent years, but few focused on gut physiology. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the impacts of major food components and their metabolites on the gut and health consequences, specifically within the GI tract. Additionally, the influence of the diet on the gut microbiome-host immune system interaction in IBD is also discussed. Understanding the influence of the diet on the interaction of the gut microbiome and the host immune system will be useful in developing nutritional strategies to maintain gut health and restore a healthy microbiome in IBD.
The impact of import substitution policy on trade and exchange rate: An empirical analysis from Ghana

This research examines the impact of import substitution policy on the trade balance and exchange rate in Ghana by employing the macroeconomic variables – inflation rate and interest rate. For a robustness check, the policy is analyzed using the augmented trade balance and magnitude of import substitution approaches. The study utilizes quarterly data from 1990Q1 to 2021Q1 and applies the Johansen cointegration test and vector error correction model to estimate the dynamics of the policy impact. The results show that the import substitution policy boosts the capacity of domestic production and improves the trade balance. Also, the study reveals that both the augmented trade balance and magnitude of import substitution and international reserves have a symmetric negative impact on the exchange rate at a statistically significant level of 1%, ceteris paribus. This implies that the implementation of the import substitution policy would ensure the appreciation or stabilization of the domestic currency value in Ghana without depleting the international reserves in the long-run.
How Mathematicians Think: Using Ambiguity, Contradiction, and Paradox to Create Mathematics

Acknowledgments vii INTRODUCTION: Turning on the Light 1 SECTION I: THE LIGHT OF AMBIGUITY 21 CHAPTER 1: Ambiguity in Mathematics 25 CHAPTER 2: The Contradictory in Mathematics 80 CHAPTER 3: Paradoxes and Mathematics: Infinity and the Real Numbers 110 CHAPTER 4: More Paradoxes of Infinity: Geometry, Cardinality, and Beyond 146 SECTION II: THE LIGHT AS IDEA 189 CHAPTER 5: The Idea as an Organizing Principle 193 CHAPTER 6: Ideas, Logic, and Paradox 253 CHAPTER 7: Great Ideas 284 SECTION III: THE LIGHT AND THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER 323 CHAPTER 8: The Truth of Mathematics 327 CHAPTER 9: Conclusion: Is Mathematics Algorithmic or Creative? 368 Notes 389 Bibliography 399 Index 407
Oral Health Status among Children between the Ages of 12 and 15 Attending Government and Private School Systems in Bareilly City

Background: Statistics on the oral health status of children from various socioeconomic backgrounds are available through assessments of children’s oral health status in public and private schools. The current study’s objective is to evaluate and compare the levels of oral hygiene, gingival health and caries experience among students attending government and private schools in Bareilly City. Subjects and Methods: The study participants were selected using a stratified random sample technique combined with cluster sampling. The oral hygiene state, gingival status and caries experience of 12 and 15-year-old students from three public and private schools were evaluated and compared. Three qualified and calibrated investigators used a mouth mirror and explorer while doing the test outside in the daytime. Results: The research observes 604 kids in all, 331 from the government and 273 from private homes. Kids attend government schools had a mean Oral Hygiene Index that was Simplified (OHIS) that was greater (2.9 [1.1]) than kids attending private schools (0.6 [0.4]). Children attending government schools had higher mean gingival scores and mean decaying, missing and filled tooth than those attending private schools. Students at government schools were far more likely to have poor oral hygiene, mild to severe gingivitis and caries encounter. Conclusion: Compared to children attending government schools, students who attend private schools had a considerably lower rate of oral illnesses. Therefore, in any statewide school oral health programs that are proposed, children from government schools should be given preference over those from private schools.
The Effect of Bigorexia Nervosa on Eating Attitudes and Physical Activity: A Study on University Students

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between physical activity, eating attitude, and bigorexia nervosa among university students. Method A questionnaire form consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, eating habits, the Eating Attitude Scale (EAT-40), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale (MASS) was conducted on undergraduate students at Üsküdar University. Results There were 1006 students who participated in this study with a mean age of 22.58 ± 2.87 years. The median “muscle appearance satisfaction” score of the obese students was statistically higher than the normal weight and underweight students. The median score for “Obesity Anxiety” was statistically higher in underweight students than in obese ones. A one-unit increase in IPAQ scores was related to an elevation of 24.9% in the MASS and a decrease of 17.9% in the EAT-40 scores, while a one-unit increase in MASS scores was related to a reduction of 12.5% in the EAT-40 scores. Conclusion Eating attitude is associated with bigorexia nervosa, and as MASS scores increase, EAT-40 scores decrease and as IPAQ scores increase, and EAT-40 scores decrease. In other words, as physical activity increases, muscle strength satisfaction elevates, and in parallel with this increase, a positive eating attitude improves.
Is Cytoreductive Nephrectomy Still Beneficial for Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Contemporary Immunotherapy Era?

Cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) has long been the standard of care for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) since 2 clinical trials revealed its role during the cytokines era. With discovery of novel and effective drugs, such as vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapies, the role of CN started to be challenged. The 2 recent prospective randomized trials Cancer du Rein Metastatique Nephrectomie et Antiangiogéniques (CARMENA) and Immediate Surgery or Surgery After Sunitinib in Treating Patients with Metastatic Kidney Cancer trial (SURTIME) have changed the therapy paradigm for patients with mRCC. The CARMENA trial was performed to reveal whether CN is required in the targeted therapy, whereas SURTIME evaluated whether initial sunitinib can aid in the selection of patients who are most likely to benefit from subsequent CN or identify patients with innate resistance to targeted therapy. These trials suggest that CN does not provide a survival benefit for patients with poor‑risk disease. Especially, current evolutions in systemic therapies have demonstrated improved oncological outcomes from immunotherapy (IO) such as immune checkpoint inhibitor, particularly in its combination or combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Accordingly, the role of CN continues to be questioned. Taken together, these findings reinforce the concept that the ultimate impact of CN on oncologic outcomes of mRCC patients in the era of IO still needs further investigation to represent a key for unmet clinical need.
Productive performance of cassava ethnovarieties in relation to planting position

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity of three cassava ethnovarieties, whose cuttings were planted in two positions: vertical and horizontal in the municipality of Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso state (MT), Brazil. The plants which originated from vertically planted cuttings gave rise to roots with a larger length and larger diameter when compared to those planted horizontally. Root yield was higher for the Cacau Roxa ethnovariety (13.79 t/ha), and produced 30.57% more than Cassava Amarela and 56.12% more when compared to Cassava for frying without being boiled first. This higher yield can also be observed for the weight of the aboveground part of the plant (10.60 t/ha). In both planting positions there was a positive correlation between root diameter and harvest index, as well as root yield and the weight of the aboveground part of the plant. The results show that the cultivation of the plant by placing the cuttings in the vertical position had superior performance in relation to planting them in the horizontal position in regards to the root length and diameter, but there was no difference in the root productivity when considering the planting positions of the roots.
Preparing students for a digital work-life using student-centred methods

Students are expected to be digital, using digital tools for staying updated on their study programmes, time schedules, and how to find and hand in assignments. The tools that the students need in their future jobs are not necessarily taught, as these tools may be specific to each company. However, in the study programme of Music Production, the use of equipment and digital software is a part of the education. This paper showcases how the students are exposed to tools and work forms that they will use in the music production business. Introductions are provided, and the students can then practice using the tools. The most intensive training is provided in five to six intensive sessions during a study year. These sessions are called “camps”. These camps have a duration of approximately 12 hours each, with the students divided into groups, the purpose of which is to develop and produce song texts and melodies, which at the end of the camp are presented in a plenary session. These intensive learning activities include the extensive use of tools for producing the songs, as well as collaborative work forms, as the students need to work together and learn together in groups. The qualitative investigations from these intensive song writing camps show how the students benefit from the group work, situated learning and collaboration, and present their view on the usefulness of these camps.
Exome-Wide Association Study Reveals Host Genetic Variants Likely Associated with the Severity of COVID-19 in Patients of European Ancestry

Host genetic variability plays a pivotal role in modulating COVID-19 clinical outcomes. Despite the functional relevance of protein-coding regions, rare variants located here are less likely to completely explain the considerable numbers of acutely affected COVID-19 patients worldwide. Using an exome-wide association approach, with individuals of European descent, we sought to identify common coding variants linked with variation in COVID-19 severity. Herein, cohort 1 compared non-hospitalized (controls) and hospitalized (cases) individuals, and in cohort 2, hospitalized subjects requiring respiratory support (cases) were compared to those not requiring it (controls). 229 and 111 variants differed significantly between cases and controls in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. This included FBXO34, CNTN2, and TMCC2 previously linked with COVID-19 severity using association studies. Overall, we report SNPs in 26 known and 12 novel candidate genes with strong molecular evidence implicating them in the pathophysiology of life-threatening COVID-19 and post-recovery sequelae. Of these few notable known genes include, HLA-DQB1, AHSG, ALOX5AP, MUC5AC, SMPD1, SPG7, SPEG, GAS6, and SERPINA12. These results enhance our understanding of the pathomechanisms underlying the COVID-19 clinical spectrum and may be exploited to prioritize biomarkers for predicting disease severity, as well as to improve treatment strategies in individuals of European ancestry.
Face coverings in post-COVID society to help prevent the transmission of respiratory illnesses on public transit

During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of influenza drastically decreased in numerous countries around the world. Several non-pharmaceutical health measures were put in place to help mitigate the spread of the virus, including a mask mandate for public spaces. On public transit, there is potential for respiratory virus spread through droplet transmission and common contact fomites between riders. This study investigated how current residents of Metro Vancouver who use transit at least once per week would support optional guidelines for mask-use during annual flu seasons to help continue to mitigate the transmission of respiratory illnesses after COVID-19 mandates have ended.