Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The mental health and experiences of discrimination of LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: Initial findings from the Queerantine Study

Objective: To assess mental health status and experiences of discrimination among a sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer people (LGBTQ+, the + including those who don't identify with any such label) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional web-based survey. Setting: Responses were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic between April 27th and July 13th. Participants: 398 LGBTQ+ respondents forming an analytical sample of 310 in the main models. Methods: We used a combined measure of gender identity or expression and sexual orientation as the main explanatory variable. We assessed mental health with the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), and with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D-10). We measured experiences of discrimination with a battery of questions that asked respondents whether they had experienced a set of discriminatory experiences because of their LGBTQ+ identity during the coronavirus pandemic. Experiences of discrimination was considered a mediating factor and examined both as an outcome as well as an explanatory variable. Models were adjusted for a range of demographic and socioeconomic variables. Results: The prevalence of depression and stress were both high, with the majority of the sample exhibiting significant depressive symptomology (69%). Around one-in-six respondents reported some form of discrimination since the start of the pandemic because they were LGBTQ+ (16.7%). In regression models, the average score for perceived stress increased by 1.44 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.517-2.354) for those who had experienced an instance of homophobic or transphobic harassment, compared to respondents who had not. Similarly, the odds of exhibiting significant depressive symptomology (CES-D-10 scores of 10 or more) increased three-fold among those who had experienced harassment based on their gender or sexuality compared to those who had not (OR: 3.251; 95% CI: 1.168-9.052). These marked associations remained after adjustment for a number of socioeconomic and demographic covariates. Cis-female respondents who identify as gay or lesbian had the lowest scores for perceived social or depressive symptoms; conversely transgender and gender diverse individuals had the highest scores. Conclusions: We found high levels of stress and depressive symptoms, particularly among younger and transgender and gender diverse respondents. These associations were partially explained by experiences of discrimination which had a large, consistent and pernicious impact on stress and mental health.
Characterization of neurological disorders using evolutionary algorithms

The life expectancy increasing, in the last few decades, leads to a large diffusion of neurodegenerative age-related diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Neurodegenerative diseases are part of the huge category of neurological disorders, which comprises all the disorders affecting the central nervous system. These conditions have a terrible impact on life quality of both patients and their families, but also on the costs associated to the society for their diagnosis and management. In order to reduce their impact on individuals and society, new better strategies for the diagnosis and monitoring of neurological disorders need to be considered. The main aim of this study is investigating the use of artificial intelligence techniques as a tool to help the doctors in the diagnosis and the monitoring of two specific neurological disorders (Parkinson’s disease and dystonia), for which no objective clinical assessments exist. The evolutionary algorithms are chosen as the artificial intelligence technique to evolve the best classifiers. The classifiers evolved by the chosen technique are then compared with those evolved by two popular well-known techniques: artificial neural network and support vector machine. All the evolved classifiers are not only able to distinguish among patients and healthy subjects but also among different subgroups of patients. For Parkinson’s disease: two different cognitive impairment subgroups of patients are considered, with the aim of an early diagnosis and a better monitoring. For dystonia: two kinds of dystonia patients are considered (organic and functional) to have a better insight in the division of the two groups. The results obtained for Parkinson’s disease are encouraging and evidenced some differences among the cognitive impairment subgroups. Dystonia results are not satisfactory at this stage, but the study presents some limitations that could be overcome in future work.
Laboratory Identification of Metallo-beta-lactamase Producing Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An Assessment of Different Phenotypic Methods

Background: Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an emerging superbug causing a wide spectrum of nosocomial infections. Carbapenem resistance among P. aeruginosa isolates is of grave concern and is mainly due to production of Metallobeta-lactamase (MBL) enzymes. Aim and Objectives: To find out the prevalence of MBL producing P. aeruginosa isolates from various clinical samples and to evaluate the efficacy of different phenotypic tests employed in vitro for their detection. Material and Methods: A total of 358 P. aeruginosa strains obtained from different clinical samples were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Kirby-Bauer's Disc Diffusion method. All the imipenem resistant isolates were further tested by Modified Hodge Test (MHT) to detect carbapenem resistance. MBL production was tested by screening with Combined Disc Test (CDT) and Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST). MBL production was confirmed by MBL Etest (Ab BioDisk). Results: Among 358 strains of P. aeruginosa recovered, 114 isolates showed resistance to imipenem. E test demonstrated 73 out of 114 isolates as MBL producers. Of MHT, CDT and DDST tests performed, DDST showed high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: DDST can be suggested as an economical option in place of expensive E test for routine screening of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates for MBL production in a clinical laboratory; which is crucial for planning better management protocols.
of Evaluating the effects of SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation D614G on transmissibility and pathogenicity

Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not ﬁnd any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Signiﬁcant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant. the biological sex of categorical predictors, ﬁrst case dataset as predictors. the time in days since the ﬁrst case in the dataset to control for changes in treatment practice across course of mean-centered age and time in days and modeled their nonlinearities using penalised splines with a maximum of 30 cluster home, as a random effect with each getting its own level.
Leaf internal diffusion conductance limits photosynthesis more strongly in older leaves of Mediterranean evergreen broad‐leaved species

Leaf age-dependent changes in structure, nitrogen content, internal mesophyll diffusion conductance ( g m ), the capacity for photosynthetic electron transport ( J max ) and the maximum carboxylase activity of Rubisco ( V cmax ) were investigated in mature non-senescent leaves of Laurus nobilis L. , Olea europea L. and Quercus ilex L. to test the hypothesis that the relative significance of biochemical and diffusion limitations of photosynthesis changes with leaf age. The leaf life-span was up to 3 years in L. nobilis and O. europea and 6 years in Q. ilex . Increases in leaf age resulted in enhanced leaf dry mass per unit area ( M A ), larger leaf dry to fresh mass ratio, and lower nitrogen contents per dry mass ( N M ) in all species, and lower nitrogen contents per area ( N A ) in L. nobilis and Q. ilex . Older leaves had lower g m , J max and V cmax . Due to the age-dependent increase in M A , mass-based g m , J max and V cmax declined more strongly (7- to 10-fold) with age than area-based (5- to 7-fold) characteristics. Diffusion conductance was positively associated with foliage photosynthetic potentials. However, this correlation was curvilinear, leading to lower ratio of chloroplastic to internal CO 2 concentration ( C c / C i ) and larger drawdown of CO 2 from leaf internal air space to chloroplasts ( D C ) in older leaves with lower g m . Overall the agedependent decreases in photosynthetic potentials were associated with decreases in N M and in the fraction of N in photosynthetic proteins, whereas decreases in g m were associated with increases in M A and the fraction of cell walls. These age-dependent modifications altered the functional scaling of foliage photosynthetic potentials with M A , N M , and N A . The species primarily differed in the rate of agedependent modifications in foliage structural and functional characteristics, but also in the degree of agedependent changes in various variables. Stomatal openness was weakly associated with leaf age, but due to species differences in stomatal openness, the distribution of total diffusion limitation between stomata and mesophyll varied among species. These data collectively demonstrate that in Mediterranean evergreens, structural limitations of photosynthesis strongly interact with biochemical limitations. Age-dependent changes in g m and photosynthetic capacities do not occur in a co-ordinated manner in these species such that mesophyll diffusion constraints curb photosynthesis more in older than in younger leaves.
Regulate Phospholipid Synthesis at the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Arabidopsis

Phospholipid biosynthesis is essential for the construction of most eukaryotic cell membranes, but how this process is regulated in plants remains poorly understood. Here, we show that in Arabidopsis thaiiana, two Mg2+-dependent phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolases called PAH1 and PAH2 act redundantly to repress phospholipid biosynthesis at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Leaves from pah1 pah2 double mutants contain ? 1.8-fold more phospholipid than the wild type and exhibit gross changes in ER morphology, which are consistent with massive membrane overexpansion. The net rate of incorporation of [merriy/-14C]choline into phosphatidylcholine (PC) is ? 1.8-fold greater in the double mutant, and the transcript abundance of several key genes that encode enzymes involved in phospholipid synthesis is increased. In particular, we show that PHOSPHORYLETHANOLAMINE N-METHYLTRANSFERASE1 [PEAMT1) is upregulated at the level of transcription in pah1 pah2 leaves. PEAMT catalyzes the first committed step of choline synthesis \n Arabidopsis and defines a variant pathway for PC synthesis not found in yeasts or mammals. Our data suggest that PAH 1/2 play a regulatory role in phospholipid synthesis that is analogous to that described in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, the target enzymes differ, and key components of the signal transduction pathway do not appear to be conserved.
Effect of maize (Zea mays L.) - cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) intercropping on light distribution, soil temperature and soil moisture in arid environment

Sole crops and intercrops of maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) were studied at eight planting ratios of maize: cowpea (100:100, 50:100, 100:50, 25:75, 75:25, 50:50, 0:100 and 100:0 ) and two harvest times (milky stage and doughy stage). This experiment was carried during two years (2007 and 2008) on Research Center, University of Zabol, Iran, to investigate the influence of cowpea on the microclimate of their intercrop and sole maize (SM) as control. Measurements of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), soil temperature (ST), soil moisture (SM) and crop yield were carried out to study the effects of intercropping on crop yield in a cowpea-maize intercropping system in Sistan at southeast of Iran. We found that intercropping increased the amount of absorption PAR compared to sole crop of maize. The highest amount of PAR was obtained at 100% cowpea + 100% maize with no significant difference to 100% cowpea + 50% maize. The lowest amount of PAR was obtained at 75% maize + 25% cowpea. Intercropping system had significant effects on soil temperature and soil moisture (P<0.01). The highest soil temperature was obtained at sole maize and the lowest temperature was at sole cowpea. Soil moisture was lowest at sole maize and highest at sole cowpea. LER (land equivalent ratio) values were greater in all intercropping systems with different planting ratios which indicated yield advantage of intercropping over sole cropping of maize. Results indicate that intercropping can increase light interception and increased shading in intercropping system compared to sole maize and reduce water evaporation and improve conservation of soil moisture. Based on high grain and suitable environmental condition, intercrop productivity compared to sole crop could be selected for improving the productivity of maize/cowpea mixture in the Southeast of Iran.
La signification du travail. Nouveau modèle productif et ethos du travail au Québec

Ce livre dresse un portait penetrant de la complexite des valeurs, des attitudes et des croyances relatives au travail de la population active quebecoise. Quelle importance et quelle signification revet le travail aujourd’hui ? Le travail est-il de plus en plus un lieu de realisation de soi ou n’est-il qu’une valeur en perdition, voire un simple moyen en vue de financer la vie a l’exterieur du travail ? Quel est le modele de travail ideal auquel aspirent les travailleurs et quelles sont leurs attitudes envers les nouvelles normes et pratiques de gestion mises de l’avant par les employeurs au cours des deux dernieres decennies ? Plus fondamentalement, de quelle maniere l’identite personnelle est-elle reliee ou dissociee du role professionnel ? Issu d’une vaste enquete aupres d’un millier de travailleurs quebecois, ce livre montre que le travail est toujours une valeur importante, mais que la realisation de soi et la quete d’equilibre entre la vie privee et la vie professionnelle sont des aspirations de plus en plus partagees par les individus. Les grands schemes de valeurs et d’attitudes par rapport au travail mis au jour dans l’ouvrage temoignent de changements culturels recents ainsi que de la diversite des situations de travail vecues. A des degres divers, ces schemes convergent vers les exigences du modele productif contemporain ou s’en distancient : ils contribuent a l’emergence d’un nouveau monde du travail.
Experimental Investigation of Preheated Jatropha Oil Fuelled Direct Injection Compression Ignition Engine—Part 2: Engine Durability and Effect on Lubricating Oil

Straight vegetable oil utilization as diesel engine fuel has the advantage of eliminating the energy, time, and cost involved in biodiesel production. Since straight vegetable oils have relatively higher viscosity compared to mineral diesel, they have to be modified to bring their combustion related properties closer to mineral diesel. In this study, a heat exchanger was used to utilize the waste heat of engine exhaust gas for reducing the viscosity of jatropha oil, and the performance, emission, and combustion characteristics are described in the first part of the paper. Carbon deposits, wear of vital engine parts, and the effect of jatropha oil on lubricating oil properties were analyzed in long-term endurance test for 512 h. The effect on lubricating oil of heated jatropha oil (J100) as well as 50 % blend of jatropha oil (J50) were compared with mineral diesel by comparing the lubricant’s density, viscosity, flash point, carbon residue, ash content, copper corrosion, and pentane and benzene insoluble measurements after an interval of every 128 h. Wear of the cylinder liner, diameter of piston, piston rings, gudgeon pin, and small and big-end bearings for J100 and J50 were measured vis-a-vis mineral diesel. Jatropha oil fuelled engine first undergoes lowering of lubricating oil viscosity followed by severe vegetable oil initiated oxidation of lubricating oil base-stock and thus the life of the lubricating oil gets depleted in approximately 400 h. The wear of J50 fuelled engine liner is found to be relatively lower compared to mineral diesel fuelled engine.
Aerodynamics and Pollen Grain Depositional Patterns on Cycad Megastrobili: Implications on the Reproduction of Three Cycad Genera (Cycas, Dioon, and Zamia)

Characteristic air-disturbance patterns around megastrobili of Cycas, Dioon, and two species of Zamia (Z. pumila and Z. furfuracea) influence the pattern and quantity of wind-borne pollen grain deposition on ovules and surfaces of megasporophylls. The greatest number of adhering pollen grains is found on the windward profiles of cycad cones, with the density of pollen grains generally diminishing along cone surfaces oriented parallel to airflow. Cycas megastrobili preferentially deflect airflow passing over the cone toward leeward, distal surfaces, where pollen grains accumulate. Dioon cones deflect airflow and pollen grains toward leeward, proximal surfaces, where pollen grains preferentially impact with or settle on the surfaces of sterile bracts. Zamia pumila megastrobili have a fairly uniform distal to proximal distribution of pollen grain impactions. Zamia furfuracea megastrobili split longitudinally along the contact zones of orthostichous megasporophylls. Air currents carrying pollen grains into the cone through these openings circulate within the cone, centrifugally depositing pollen on ovules and megasporophyll surfaces. Statistical analyses of pollen distribution in Cycas, Dioon, and Z. pumila indicate no significant differences between the number of pollen grains adhering to surfaces of ovules and adjacent megasporophylls. Although the general pattern of pollen grains adhering to megastrobili of Cycas and Dioon is the result of nonrandom aerodynamic processes, direct wind pollination in all four taxa appears to be stochastic. The preferential concentration of pollen on the distal portions of Cycas megastrobili may aid pollination. Water, dislodging adhering pollen grains, flows along the glabrous ovule-bearing margins of megasporophylls and accumulates on or near micropyles. Similarly, air eddies may sift pollen into the cone onto ovules. By contrast, the preferential accumulation of pollen on the proximal, sterile bracts of Dioon, in conjunction with insect foraging and semidestructive burrowing into the cone, may effect pollination. We suggest that cycad pollination may have two phases: (1) the transport of wind-borne pollen grains to megastrobili (Cycas, Dioon, and Zamia), and (2) the subsequent transport of adhering pollen to ovules by water and/or passive sifting (Cycas) or insect activity (Dioon, and possibly Zamia).
Creating collaborative groups in a MOOC: a homogeneous engagement grouping approach

ABSTRACT Collaborative learning can improve the pedagogical effectiveness of MOOCs. Group formation, an essential step in the design of collaborative learning activities, can be challenging in MOOCs given the scale and the wide variety in such contexts. We discuss the need for considering the behaviours of the students in the course to form groups in MOOC contexts, and propose a grouping approach that employs homogeneity in terms of students’ engagement in the course. Two grouping strategies with different degrees of homogeneity are derived from this approach, and their impact to form successful groups is examined in a real MOOC context. The grouping criteria were established using student activity logs (e.g. page-views). The role of the timing of grouping was also examined by carrying out the intervention once in the first and once in the second half of the course. The results indicate that in both interventions, the groups formed with a greater degree of homogeneity had higher rates of task-completion and peer interactions, Additionally, students from these groups reported higher levels of satisfaction with their group experiences. On the other hand, a consistent improvement of all indicators was observed in the second intervention, since student engagement becomes more stable later in the course.
Chromosomal Instability in Pathogenesis and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer

Background: Flat adenomas are fl at or slightly elevated dysplastic lesions of the colorectal mucosa, mostly with a tubular architecture. Compared with polypoid adenomas of similar size, fl at adenomas show a higher frequency of high-grade dysplasia and rapid submucosal invasion. The aim of this study was to survey whether fl at colorectal lesions differ in their pattern of chromosomal aberrations from their polypoid counterparts. Methods: Six fl at adenomas and 12 fl at carcinomas were analysed by comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) and the pattern of chromosomal aberrations was compared to a previously published series of 112 polypoid adenomas and 82 polypoid carcinomas. In addition, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplifi cation (MLPA) for identifying DNA copy number changes of 25 individual genes on chromosome 20 was performed on 14 fl at and 15 polypoid tumours. Results: With CGH, fl at adenomas showed on average 1.8 gains (range 1-4) and 3.2 losses (range 0-4), and the fl at carcinomas 4.5 gains (range 0-8) and 3.5 losses (range 1-6). In both adenomas and carcinomas a high frequency of 20q gain (83% and 92%, respectively) and 18q loss (83% and 92%, respectively) were found. This correlation between 20q gain and 18q loss had previously been observed in a subgroup of polypoid colorectal tumours.Both fl at and polypoid colorectal tumours with 20q gains by CGH showed similar patterns of copy number ratios for the individual genes tested. TOP1, BCL2L1 and E2F1 had median copy number ratios of 2 or higher, while ZNF217 had a ratio around 3. Conclusion: Flat adenomas and carcinomas of the large intestine show a similar pattern of chromosomal aberrations as a specifi c subgroup of polypoid lesions. The transcription factor ZNF217 is an important candidate for driving the 20q gain . routes within the chromosomal instability pathway, the major genomic pathway to colorectal cancer. The present study suggests that in fact fl at lesions follow a similar genetic pathway as a particular subgroup of polypoid tumours. This subgroup of tumours is marked by a