Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organizational Structure and the Performance of State Corporations in Kenya

: In the recent past, many state corporations in Kenya have been facing dismal performance trends, a situation that has derailed the sustainability of most of these crucial institutions. While some state corporations have been known to consistently perform well, others have been noted to perennially underperform, over rely on the exchequer, and lose viability in equal measure. Organizational structure is an essential element of any organization. Numerous studies conducted by scholars illustrate that, it is one of the most significant organizational elements in facilitating and increasing innovation, service delivery and performance in organizations. The role of organizational structure however has not been adequately addressed as far as performance of the state corporations is concerned and this study therefore sought to fill the existing gaps by assessing the relationship between organization structure and the performance of state corporations. The study purposed to establish the influence of organizational structure on the performance of state corporations in Kenya. The study reviewed organizational structure as the independent variable and performance of the state corporations as the dependent variable. The study performed a theoretical review of Contingency theory and the New Public Management (NPM) theory. This was followed by an empirical review in tandem with the purpose of this study. It provided a review of scholarly works done in the past identifying the studies, authors, areas of investigation and the findings reported. The study adopted a descriptive research design with an exploratory approach to collect data from 189 state corporations in Kenya. The unit of analysis was all the state corporations in Kenya while the unit of observation was the Heads of Human Resources in each corporation. The study used a sample of 96 state corporations and collected primary data using a self-administered questionnaire. Documentary review was also used to compliment the data collected. To get the most efficient representation of the population the study adopted stratified sampling and Cochran’s (1977) formula was applied to calculate the sample size of 95 Heads of Human Resources departments. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. SPSS Version 26 was used. The study concluded that organizational structure had a significant and positive influence on the performance of state corporations in Kenya and recommended that most state corporations should consider leveraging and optimizing key aspects of organizational structure such as concentration of authority degree of bureaucracy and the span of management ratio.
Response Control of Structures Subjected to Multi-Hazards of Earthquake and Wind Using Base Isolators and Absorbers

Short structures when they are designed using base isolation, dynamic wind effects may be more, and it may govern the design. This issue is taken care to some extent using Lead plug bearings. This puts the limits on effective seismic performance only for design basis or beyond. At lower seismic excitation levels, it may not be that effective. In view of this a suitable passive control system using the knowledge of isolators and absorbers is developed and analysed. Five storey shear building models with fixed base, base isolated separately supported on laminated rubber bearing (LRB), lead plug bearing (LPB) and isolated with LRB and install with tuned mass damper (TMD) are developed. These structures are numerically analysed considering six Indian earthquakes and dynamic wind load. TMD used in LRB supported building is provided in LPB supported building and responses of building models also observed under wind load which is more than design basis. Results of all cases are compared. Combined passive isolation along with absorber found suitable for multi-hazards like earthquakes where peak displacement increases by 0.76 times to 38 times, peak acceleration decreases by 73% to 99%, maximum inter-storey drift decreases by 71% to 99% when comparing with fixed base structure and for wind, values of peak displacement, peak acceleration, maximum inter-storey drift decreases by 45%, 46%, 44% when comparing with LRB provided structure.
Non-Existence of Global Solutions for a Fractional Wave-Diffusion Equation

We considered the Cauchy problem for the fractional wave-diffusion equa- tion D a u−D|u| m−1 u+(−D) b/2 D g |u| l−1 u=h(x,t)|u| p + f(x,t) with given initial data and where p>1, 1< a<2, 0< b<2, 0< g<1. Nonexistence results and necessary conditions for global existence are established by means of the test function method. This results extend previous works.
Small fiber neuropathy as a complication of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations

Generally, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccinations are not free of side effects. A rarely reported adverse reaction to SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations is small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Here, we present three patients with SFN after the second dose of messenger ribonucleic acid-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Data for this study were collected via the self-made platform “Pubbly” for reporting side effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. Three patients with post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination SFN were identified: a 40 yo Caucasian female (patient 1), a 52 yo Caucasian female (patient 2), and a 32 yo Caucasian female (patient 3). Patient 1 complained about fatigue, dizziness, flushing, palpitations, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and gait disturbance 10 days after the second Pfizer jab. Patient 2 reported dizziness, balance problems, brain fog, palpitations, dysphagia, and sleep problems. Patient 3 complained about profound fatigue, brain fog, vertigo, pre-syncopal sensations, hair loss, chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, paresthesias, irregular menstrual cycles, muscle weakness, and hives 1 day after the second Moderna dose. All three patients underwent skin biopsy upon which SFN was diagnosed. Patient 1 profited from immunoglobulins, but patient 2 did not require any treatment. Symptoms in patient 3 resolved upon symptomatic treatment. Despite treatment, patient 1 did not completely recover. SFN can be a rare side effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. Post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination SFN can be mild or severe and may or may not require treatment. Post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination SFN is most likely immune-mediated as it responds to intravenous immunoglobulins.
Aluminum Detoxification by Humic Substance Extracted from Compost of Organic Wastes

Aluminum Detoxification by Humic Substance Extracted from Compost of Organic Wastes ( S Winarso, E Handayanto and A Taufiq): Humic substance could control the activity of metal as well as exchangeable aluminum (Al exch ) on acid soil. The humic substance extracted from compost of agricultural waste is rarely conducted. The objective of research was to evaluate the effect of humic substance concentration and sources to pH and Al suspension. The research had been conducted in the Soil Laboratory of Agricultural Faculty of Jember University from April to July 2009. The humic substance used in these researches was extracted from compost of rice straw (RS), soybean straw (SS), cassava starch solid waste (CSSW), and empty bunch of oil palm tree (EBOPT). The humic substance concentration treatments were 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 ppm. Result of the analysis showed that characteristic of humic substance was difference depending on the source material used. The humic substance extracted from SS contain total base cations (K, Na, Ca, Mg) higher (1.17%) compared with CSSW (1.07%), OPT (0.87%), and RS (0.69%). While the humic substances extracted from RS contain total organic acid (Acetic, Fumeric, cetoglutamic, Sucsinic, Propionic, Butiric, Ocsalic, and sitric acid) higher (157 ppm) compared with EBOPT (129 ppm), SS (115%), and CSSW (108%). Among these organic acids, acetic acid was highest concentration (> 34.51% of total acid). The addition of humic substance increased pH and decreased aluminum concentration of the suspension. The higher pH increment and Al concentration reduction took placed in the suspension treated with humic substance from SS compost. The correlation between decreasing Al concentration with humic substance concentration which explained chelation was higher (r = 0.97) than decreasing Al concentration with increasing pH which explained precipitation (r = 0.93). Based on these research results, it can be concluded that humic substance extracted from agricultural waste have a good prospect as a soil ameliorant to increase soil pH, detoxify soil aluminum, and increase soil P availability on acid soil.
Metagenomics Approach to the Intestinal Microbiome Structure and Abundance in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rat Fed with (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Nanoparticles

The effects of nanoparticles (NPs) on microbiota homeostasis and their physiological relevance are still unclear. Herein, we compared the modulation and consequent pharmacological effects of oral administration of (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-loaded β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) NPs (EGCG@β-CD NPs) and EGCG on gut microbiota. EGCG@β-CD NPs were prepared using self-assembly and their influence on the intestinal microbiome structure was analyzed using a metagenomics approach. The “Encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential” of EGCG@β-CD NPs were recorded as 98.27 ± 0.36%, 124.6 nm, 0.313 and –24.3 mV, respectively. Surface morphology of EGCG@β-CD NPs was observed as spherical. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and molecular docking studies confirmed that EGCG could be well encapsulated in β-CD and formed as EGCG@β-CD NPs. After being continuously administered EGCG@β-CD NPs for 8 weeks, the serum cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the rats were significantly decreased, while the levels of catalase (CAT) and apolipoprotein-A1 (apo-A1) in the liver increased significantly in the hyperlipidemia model of rats, when compared to the high-fat-diet group. Furthermore, metagenomic analysis revealed that the ratio of Verrucomicrobia/Bacteroidetes was altered and Bacteroidetes decreased in the high-fat diet +200 mg/kg·bw EGCG@β-CD NPs group, while the abundance of Verrucomicrobia was significantly increased, especially Akkermansia muciniphila in rat feces. EGCG@β-CD NPs could be a promising EGCG delivery strategy to modulate the gut microbiota, enhancing its employment in the prevention of hyperlipidemia.
Development and pilot-testing of a skill-based intervention to prevent psychoactive substance use among college students: A study from Bangalore, India

Background: Psychoactive substance use among college youth is increasing in low- and middle-income countries like India. However, there are few systematically developed interventions for this vulnerable group. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a skill-based intervention to prevent substance use among college students (or enable them to quit, if already initiated use). Method: The skill-based intervention was informed by focus group discussions with college students regarding the kind of help they perceived would be useful. The intervention was pilot-tested for its appropriateness and acceptability in this population, and revised based on their inputs. Results: The feedback received from the students was incorporated and the intervention was suitably revised. The final intervention adopted a disease prevention and health promotion approach, by addressing psychoactive substance use as a risk factor for several major illnesses, and providing practical guidance on how to overcome use. The intervention consisted of four sections: (i) Health effects of substances, with realistic depictions through computer graphics (e.g., to illustrate arterial blockage, brain shrinkage, lung damage, erosion of gastric mucosa, impaired sexual performance, premature aging); Clarification of Myths, Providing Medical Facts, (ii) How to Overcome Substance Use, with practical strategies for quitting, (iii) Quitting Substance Use as part of a Healthy Lifestyle, (iv) Conclusion, portraying life after quitting substances, with motivational messages. Conclusion: The skill-based intervention received positive feedback regarding its applicability and acceptance among college students. An experimental trial can be planned to examine the efficacy of the intervention in bringing about improvement in specific outcomes.
Dietary Intake of Vegan and Non-Vegan Endurance Runners—Results from the NURMI Study (Step 2)

Nowadays, the growing popularity of distance running has been accompanied by the increasing prevalence of vegan and vegetarian diets, especially among endurance athletes. The present study aimed to examine the association between diet type and dietary intake of distance runners competing at distances longer than 10 km. From a total of 317 participants, 211 endurance runners (57% females) were considered the final sample after applying the exclusion criteria. Runners were assigned to three groups based on the self-reported diet types: 95 omnivores, 40 vegetarians, and 76 vegans. Data collection was conducted using an online survey with questions about sociodemographic information, dietary intake, and dietary-associated motives. A comprehensive food frequency questionnaire with 53 food groups (categorized in 14 basic—plus three umbrella—food clusters) was used to assess dietary intake. Vegan runners had a higher intake of “beans and seeds”, “fruit and vegetables”, and “dairy alternatives”, as well as lower intakes of “oils” than other two groups. Vegetarian runners had a lower intake of “dairy products” and “eggs” than omnivores. A greater intake of “alcohol” and a lower intake of “meat alternatives” was observed in omnivorous runners compared to vegans and vegetarians. Despite the existence of a tendency toward the consumption of health-related food clusters by vegan runners, further investigations are needed to verify the predominance of vegans in health-oriented dietary patterns.
Routine hematology parameters in COVID-19: A predictor of disease severity and mortality

Background: Our understanding of the pathophysiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is still evolving and is limited for prognostication. The study was performed to predict severity and mortality based on hematology parameters in coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Material and Methods: The study was a single-center retrospective analysis of 240 patients with COVID-19. The hematological parameters were compared between different grades of severity. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve along with the Classification and Regression Trees (CART) methods were used for the analysis. Result: The total leukocyte count, absolute neutrophil count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and neutrophil-monocyte ratio (NMR) were increasing along with an increase in severity; while the absolute lymphocyte count and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) were decreasing (P < 0.001). For prediction of severity and mortality on admission, the NLR, NMR, and LMR were significant (P < 0.001). The NLR, NMR, and LMR had an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) of 0.86 (95% CI of 0.80–0.91), 0.822 (95% CI of 0.76–0.88), and 0.69 (95% CI of 0.60–0.79), respectively, for severity. While the NLR, NMR, and LMR had an AUROC value of 0.85 (95% CI of 0.79–0.92), 0.83 (95% CI of 0.77–0.89), and 0.67 (95% CI of 0.57–0.78), respectively, for mortality. Conclusion: With the increase in severity there was an increase in the total leukocyte count and absolute neutrophil count while the absolute lymphocyte count decreased. On admission, the cut-off value of NLR >5.2, NMR >12.1, while LMR <2.4 may predict severity and mortality in COVID-19.
Students’ experiences in relation to the use of online learning and collaborative technologies during COVID-19 outbreak in South African Universities

Student’s experiences on the use of online collaborative technology continues to attract attention of researchers in education and social sciences. Of particular interest is the reliance on technological and digital platforms, using web-based strategies during the outbreak of COVID-19 in institutions of learning. This study used an unlinked, anonymous survey to explicate experiences of students on the use of online technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Consenting participants constituted a study population that was made up of first year accounting students in a public university in South Africa, drawing a sample of 190 from a population of 371. Using a theory of connectivism, the study found that students were eager and confident that collaborative technology could lead them to pass their examinations even if face-to-face intervention was missing. Collaborative technology consisting of tools such as WhatsApp, Blackboard and Zoom made it easy for them to relate with instructors and faculty who were making efforts to deliver content in a simplified manner. The study further concluded that efforts have to be made to study the benefits of collaborative technology both to learners and faculty at institutions of higher learning.
Assessing Macro Disease Index of Wheat Stripe Rust Based on Segformer with Complex Background in the Field

Wheat stripe rust (WSR) is a foliar disease that causes destructive damage in the wheat production context. Accurately estimating the severity of WSR in the autumn growing stage can help to objectively monitor the disease incidence level of WSR and predict the nationwide disease incidence in the following year, which have great significance for controlling its nationwide spread and ensuring the safety of grain production. In this study, to address the low accuracy and the efficiency of disease index estimation by traditional methods, WSR-diseased areas are segmented based on Segformer, and the macro disease index (MDI) is automatically calculated for the measurement of canopy-scale disease incidence. The results obtained with different semantic segmentation algorithms, loss functions, and data sets are compared for the segmentation effect, in order to address the severe class imbalance in disease region segmentation. We find that: (1) The results of the various models differed significantly, with Segformer being the best algorithm for WSR segmentation (rust class F1 score = 72.60%), based on the original data set; (2) the imbalanced nature of the data has a significant impact on the identification of the minority class (i.e., the rust class), for which solutions based on loss functions and re-weighting of the minority class are ineffective; (3) data augmentation of the minority class or under-sampling of the original data set to increase the proportion of the rust class greatly improved the F1-score of the model (rust class F1 score = 86.6%), revealing that re-sampling is a simple and effective approach to alleviating the class imbalance problem. Finally, the MDI was used to evaluate the models based on the different data sets, where the model based on the augmented data set presented the best performance (R2 = 0.992, RMSE = 0.008). In conclusion, the deep-learning-based semantic segmentation method, and the corresponding optimization measures, applied in this study allow us to achieve pixel-level accurate segmentation of WSR regions on wheat leaves, thus enabling accurate assessment of the degree of WSR disease under complex backgrounds in the field, consequently providing technical support for field surveys and calculation of the disease level.
Inhibiting Metastasis and Improving Chemosensitivity via Chitosan-Coated Selenium Nanoparticles for Brain Cancer Therapy

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were synthesized to overcome the limitations of selenium, such as its narrow safe range and low water solubility. SeNPs reduce the toxicity and improve the bioavailability of selenium. Chitosan-coated SeNPs (Cs-SeNPs) were developed to further stabilize SeNPs and to test their effects against glioma cells. The effects of Cs-SeNPs on cell growth were evaluated in monolayer and 3D-tumor spheroid culture. Cell migration and cell invasion were determined using a trans-well assay. The effect of Cs-SeNPs on chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) sensitivity of glioma cells was determined in tumor spheroids. An in vitro blood–brain barrier (BBB) model was established to test the permeability of Cs-SeNPs. SeNPs and Cs-SeNPs can reduce the cell viability of glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with SeNPs, Cs-SeNPs more strongly inhibited 3D-tumor spheroid growth. Cs-SeNPs exhibited stronger effects in inhibiting cell migration and cell invasion than SeNPs. Improved 5-FU sensitivity was observed in Cs-SeNP-treated cells. Cellular uptake in glioma cells indicated a higher uptake rate of coumarin-6-labeled Cs-SeNPs than SeNPs. The capability of coumarin-6 associated Cs-SeNPs to pass through the BBB was confirmed. Taken together, Cs-SeNPs provide exceptional performance and are a potential alternative therapeutic strategy for future glioma treatment.
New Insights into the Molecular Interplay between Human Herpesviruses and Alzheimer’s Disease—A Narrative Review

Human herpesviruses (HHVs) have been implicated as possible risk factors in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Persistent lifelong HHVs infections may directly or indirectly contribute to the generation of AD hallmarks: amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, and synaptic loss. The present review focuses on summarizing current knowledge on the molecular mechanistic links between HHVs and AD that include processes involved in Aβ accumulation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, autophagy, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. A PubMed search was performed to collect all the available research data regarding the above mentioned mechanistic links between HHVs and AD pathology. The vast majority of research articles referred to the different pathways exploited by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 that could lead to AD pathology, while a few studies highlighted the emerging role of HHV 6, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein–Barr Virus. The elucidation of such potential links may guide the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics to counter this devastating neurological disorder that until now remains incurable.