Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Cortical Plasticity in Schizophrenia by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Neural plasticity refers to the capability of the brain to modify its structure and/or function and organization in response to a changing environment. Evidence shows that disruption of neuronal plasticity and altered functional connectivity between distinct brain networks contribute significantly to the pathophysiological mechanisms of schizophrenia. Transcranial magnetic stimulation has emerged as a noninvasive brain stimulation tool that can be utilized to investigate cortical excitability with the aim of probing neural plasticity mechanisms. In particular, in pathological disorders, such as schizophrenia, cortical dysfunction, such as an aberrant excitatory-inhibitory balance in cortical networks, altered cortical connectivity, and impairment of critical period timing are very important to be studied using different TMS paradigms. Studying such neurophysiological characteristics and plastic changes would help in elucidating different aspects of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying schizophrenia. This review attempts to summarize the findings of available TMS studies with diagnostic and characterization aims, but not with therapeutic purposes, in schizophrenia. Findings provide further evidence of aberrant excitatory-inhibitory balance in cortical networks, mediated by neurotransmitter pathways such as the glutamate and GABA systems. Future studies with combining techniques, for instance, TMS with brain imaging or molecular genetic typing, would shed light on the characteristics and predictors of schizophrenia.
Late Pleistocene–Holocene climatic implications of high‐resolution stable isotope profiles of a speleothem from south‐central Anatolia, Turkey

High‐resolution 230Th ages and stable isotope (δ18O and δ13C) records from a stalagmite that grew between 39 and 2 ka in Incesu Cave located in south‐central Anatolia allow us to evaluate paleoclimate conditions for growth periods during Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS3) and the Holocene. High δ18O values and Heinrich events H3 and H4 are observed during the MIS3 interval. After a dry period in the Younger Dryas, low values between ca. 10 and 5.3 ka suggest a transition to wet mid‐ to early Holocene conditions. In the early Holocene, there are drier periods at 9.4 and 10.3 ka, coincident with cooling events recorded in the North Atlantic sediments and, after 5.3 ka a relatively dry late Holocene is seen. The IN‐01 isotope record is in phase with general trends of speleothem records in Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean but differs in detail at the millennial scale. The more depleted δ18O values of IN‐01 compared to those of Eastern Mediterranean speleothems during the Holocene indicate that central Anatolian winter rainfall was isotopically influenced by the same air mass trajectories derived from the North Atlantic and Mediterranean with an isotopic rain shadow effect.
Awareness and usage of personal protective equipment among construction workers and their hearing assessment by pure tone audiometry; A cross-sectional study in South India

Context: Occupational hazards at the building construction workplace are enormous. Good compliance to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) alongside other safety measures is critical in reducing the hazards. Occupational hearing loss is one such occupational hazard among construction workers. Aims: This study was conducted for determining the awareness of the benefits of PPE and its usage among construction workers along with hearing assessment. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among construction workers in a building project in Mangaluru city in Dakshina Kannada district in South India. Methods and Material: After obtaining informed written consent, 110 construction workers were recruited by simple random sampling method. Basic information, awareness, and use of PPE were collected using a semistructured questionnaire through personal interviews. Hearing assessment was done by pure tone audiometry. Statistical Analysis Used: Data collected was analyzed. Chi-square test and Fischer's exact probability test were used to test the association between variables. Results: Majority (85.5%) of the construction workers are working for duration of 15 years or less. Difficulty in hearing was reported by 9.6% of them. Awareness regarding benefits of using personal protective devices like helmets, masks, and earplugs/muffs were 58.2%, 56.4%, and 14.5%, respectively. The utilization of at least one PPE among them was 58.1%. The presence of sensory neural hearing loss (SNHL) in both/either ears was detected among 14.5% of the workers. There was a statistically significant association of SNHL among workers and their duration of construction work. Conclusion: The current study highlights that awareness and usage of PPE was low and a proportion of them had a hearing impairment. Occupational health and safety training along with a periodic examination of construction workers need to be focused so as to detect and manage occupational health hazards early.
Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Enhances Cognition of Neuroinflammatory Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model via Mitochondrial Biogenesis Regulation

Background: Mitochondrial biogenesis has been recently implicated to play an important role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently it has been reported that brains of AD patients show reduced expression in major genes and proteins such as PGC-1α involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. This led to the idea that enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis in AD, might represent a plausible strategy for AD treatment. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) has been recently implicated in enhancing cognitive functions during aging; however, its effect on mitochondrial biogenesis in neuroinflammatory AD mouse model was not previously examined. Objective: The aim of this project was to test the cognitive enhancement effect of PQQ in a neuroinflammatory mouse model mimicking AD, and whether PQQ is able to activate mitochondrial biogenesis in brains of our AD mouse model. Methods: Neuroinflammatory AD mouse model was developed by Lipopolysaccharide (250 g kg-1 body weight, i.p) injection for 7 days, followed by daily PQQ treatment (10 mg kg-1 body weight) on days 4-7. Cognitive functions were assessed using Y-Maze, Water-Maze and object recognition tests. Neurodegeneration was evaluated using H&E. Finally, mitochondrial proteins were measured using immunohistochemistry. Results: PQQ treatment improved spatial recognition and working memory. PQQ treated mice brains showed decreased levels of neurodegeneration. Moreover, their brains showed greater amounts of both PGC-1α and the mitochondrial-membrane-bound protein cytochrome-c, indicating enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the ability of PQQ to improve memory in neuroinflammatory AD model via enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis, which may represent an alternative mechanistic approach for treating AD.
Drillstring Vibration and Wellbore Instability

Wellbore instability can be attributed to several causes. The ones thought to be most important include: chemical interaction with the drilling fluid, high tectonic stresses, and insufficient mud weight. Drillstring vibration, although not traditionally addressed as a potential cause, might influence the stability of wellbores drilled in specific formations. Evidence of the strong correlation between severe vibration and wellbore instability has been reported in the literature. However, a more thorough understanding of the phenomenon is still lacking. This paper describes a study that has been developed by PETRO-BRAS focusing on how drillstring vibration impacts wellbore instability. Vibration has been monitored in some wells, and events related to borehole enlargement were observed. Four field cases are presented showing a strong correlation between high vibration level and wellbore enlargement in different lithologies. Other sources of wellbore enlargement have also been identified, and they can be clearly separated from vibration.
Early Onset Delinquency and Violent Delinquency in Adolescence: The Role of Abusive Parents and Delinquent Peer Associations

Early onset delinquency is a risk factor for offending over the life-course. This study aims to identify factors that modify the link between early onset of delinquency and later violence. Results show that engaging delinquency earlier, associating with deviant friends, and experiencing parental abuse have independent impacts on increased risk of violence. Also, early onset has positive interactions with peer delinquency and parental abuse. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms through which early onset of delinquency is related to later violence and imply the importance of family- and school-based early interventions. Findings also highlight the importance of considering interactions between early onset delinquency and social risk factors in refining theories used to explain violence throughout the life course.
She Asked for It: Hardcore Porn, Sexism, and Rape Myth Acceptance

The present study examined pornography viewing, rape myth acceptance, and sexist attitudes. Data came from 392 male and 903 female participants. Multigroup SEM indicated neither pornography viewing, nor hardcore pornography viewing, were related to rape myth acceptance when controlling for sexist attitudes among men. Wald tests indicated hostile sexism to be a significantly stronger predictor of all rape myths examined compared to pornography viewing or hardcore pornography viewing in men and women. Latent variable interaction analyses suggested hardcore pornography viewing as a significant exacerbating factor for the relationship between hostile sexism and “she asked for it” rape myths across genders.
Regulatory Power, Network Tools and Market Behaviour: Transforming Practices in Norwegian Urban Planning

Planning changes can be initiated formally through revisions of statutory rules; alternatively changes can arise informally through amendments to everyday planning activities. This article explains how local planning authorities in Norway introduce new planning practices relating to the management of land and planning procedures. The observed new practices have been introduced even though the formal hierarchical structure of the planning law has stayed unchanged. They are analysed as outcomes of the changing use of tools under the three models for co-ordinating behaviour: hierarchy understood as government, market and network. First, the existing planning system is analysed to explain the legal possibilities for changing planning practices informally. Two categories of practices are then discussed: the use of the detailed development plan as an implementation instrument, and the use of the regulatory power in framing interconnections and responsibilities towards stakeholders. The main conclusion is that regulatory tools have lost some strength in favour of tools under the network model, and that the observed changes in planning practices are mostly a result of mutual dependencies between these two models for co-ordinating behaviour.
Paths to the Light and Dark Sides of Human Nature: A Meta-analysis of the Prosocial Benefits of Autonomy and the Antisocial Costs of Control

Self-determination theory (SDT) posits that experiences of autonomy lead people to be more prosocial, whereas experiences of control lead to antisocial actions. In this meta-analysis, we tested the links between autonomy and prosociality, and control and antisociality, across 139 reports (167 studies) with 1,189 effect sizes (N = 75,546 participants). We used two-stage structural equation modelling including both correlational and longitudinal study designs. We found support for the hypothesized direct links between autonomy and prosociality, and between control and antisociality, with cross-paths between these constructs being weaker. In line with SDT’s claims that the salutary effects of autonomy are universal, results also showed that the hypothesized links were consistent across cultures, genders, and age categories. We also reviewed emerging experimental research on the effect of autonomy-priming interventions on prosociality. To conclude, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and lay out an agenda for future research.
Additional note on the effect of soil on structural response

The previous paper on this subject, Reference 1, is complemented here to include one additional effect of soil on structural response. This effect is the modification of the original structural damping, estimated under the assumption of rigid foundation, due to foundation flexibility. This can be of practical importance, particularly with heavily damped structures vibrating in the fundamental mode. With lightly damped structures, such as those assumed in Reference 1, this effect diminishes.
How Divergence for Feed Efficiency Traits Affects Body Measurements and Metabolites in Blood and Ruminal Parameters on Pre-Weaning Dairy Heifers

Simple Summary Improvements in dairy cattle feed efficiency have substantial effects on economic efficiency and can reduce environmental impacts through lower feeding costs and fewer emissions associated with dairy farming. The efficiency of an animal for converting feed into products is influenced by genetic, physiological, and environmental factors that result in individual variations. The utilization of feed efficiency indexes aims to identify and select animals with great economic value in a production system. Associations between morphometric indicators, hormone concentrations, and blood parameters may assist in the identification of differences in the efficiency of feed utilization and in understanding the physiological bases linked to animals’ metabolic responses, thus helping to identify more efficient animals. In our study, it is unlikely that measurements of blood, rumen, or morphometric indicators, per se, will be useful in the early identification of more efficient animals. Understanding the underlying physiological basis for improved feed efficiency in dairy heifers requires further investigation. Abstract The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate feed efficiency indexes and their relationships with body measurements and blood and ruminal metabolites in the pre-weaning period; (2) to determine if such measurements can be used as feed-efficiency markers during the pre-weaning period. Holstein–Gyr heifer calves (n = 36), enrolled between 4 and 12 weeks of age, were classified into two residual feed intake (RFI) and residual body weight gain (RG) groups: high efficiency (HE; RFI, n = 10; and RG, n = 9), and low efficiency (LE; RFI, n = 10; and RG, n = 8). Calves were fed whole milk (6 L/day) and solid feed ad libitum. Body developments were measured weekly and feed intake (milk and solid feed) daily during the whole period. Blood samples were collected at 12 weeks of age and analyzed for glucose, insulin and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Samples of ruminal content were collected on the same day and analyzed for pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Among the growth characteristics, only the initial hip width differed between the RFI groups, and withers height differed between the RG groups. Concentration of BHB was greater and glucose: insulin ratios tended to be greater in LE-RG animals. Butyric acid proportions were similar among RFI groups, but tended to be greater for HE-RG than for LE-RG. Overall, correlation coefficients between RFI or RG and blood, rumen, or morphometric markers were low. Thus, it is unlikely that measurements of metabolic indicators, per se, will be useful in the early identification of more efficient animals. Understanding the underlying physiological basis for improved feed efficiency in dairy heifers requires further investigation.
Wastewater network infrastructure in public health: Applications and learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic

Accurate estimates of COVID-19 burden of infections in communities can inform public health strategy for the current pandemic. Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) leverages sewer infrastructure to provide insights on rates of infection by measuring viral concentrations in wastewater. By accessing the sewer network at various junctures, important insights regarding COVID-19 disease activity can be gained. The analysis of sewage at the wastewater treatment plant level enables population-level surveillance of disease trends and virus mutations. At the neighborhood level, WBE can be used to describe trends in infection rates in the community thereby facilitating local efforts at targeted disease mitigation. Finally, at the building level, WBE can suggest the presence of infections and prompt individual testing. In this critical review, we describe the types of data that can be obtained through varying levels of WBE analysis, concrete plans for implementation, and public health actions that can be taken based on WBE surveillance data of infectious diseases, using recent and successful applications of WBE during the COVID-19 pandemic for illustration.
Breaking down the site hoardings: attitudes and approaches to community consultation during construction

As the general public become more empowered, informed and educated about the impact of business activities on their lives, they are demanding more involvement in construction projects which they perceive to affect their interests. The process of community consultation is traditionally seen as the responsibility of urban planners but residual community concerns often spill over into construction requiring construction professionals to also consult with communities. To investigate current attitudes and approaches towards community consultation during construction, 150 construction professionals were surveyed and 10 interviewed. The results indicate that the majority of the professionals involved during construction consider community consultation a burdensome, costly and time-consuming exercise. The community is seen as a liability rather than an asset and few construction professionals have the skills to consult effectively. There appears to be a widespread assumption that community consultation is the responsibility of town planners before work starts on site and that further interaction with the community is a nuisance, once construction starts.
Physiological and agronomic performance of common bean treated with multifunctional microorganisms

: Multifunctional microorganisms (MM) are able of colonizing root system and shoots and then, provide beneficial effects to the plants. Thus, the objective of this study was test whether multifunctional microorganisms affect gas exchange, macronutrient content, yield components and bean grain yield. A completely randomized design with twenty-six treatments and three replications was used under controlled conditions. Treatments consisted of the application of MM and its combinations in pairs, with nine rhizobacteria isolates BRM 32109, BRM 32110 and 1301 ( Bacillus sp.), BRM 32111 and BRM 32112 ( Pseudomonas sp.), BRM 32113 ( Burkholderia sp.), BRM 32114 ( Serratia sp.), 1381 ( Azospirillum sp.) and Ab-V5 ( Azospirillum brasiliense ), an edaphic fungal isolate T-26 ( Trichoderma koningiopsis ), and a control (without MM). The isolates Ab-V5 and BRM 32112, in addition to the combinations BRM 32114 + T-26, 1301 + BRM 32110 and BRM 32114 + BRM 32110 were the highlights treatments, since they provided increases in gas exchange, in the content of macronutrients and in the agronomic performance.
Analyzing the Vibration Exposure to the Safety and Health at Workplace: A Case in the Urea Granulation Unit of the Fertilizer Factory

This study aims to evaluate the vibration exposure experienced by workers in the Urea Granulation Screen Unit (UGSU) at the fertilizer factory in Aceh, Indonesia. This study involved 30 labors in charge as operators, mechanical maintenance officers, electrical maintenance officers, instrument maintenance officers, and inspectors. The measurement of vibration was carried out using a Triaxial Accelerometer with Integral Magnet and shows that the vibration exposure on the factory floor of the urea granulation screen unit occurs vertically with a minimum value of 0.298 m/s2 and a maximum of 1.630 m/s2. According to ISO 2631-1:1997, the maximum vibration values that occur are categorized as a likely health risk zone and result in uncomfortable reactions to the workers. Furthermore, this study analyzes the effect of vibrations on musculoskeletal problems using a Nordic Body Map (NBM) questionnaire. It reveals that the average score of musculoskeletal complaints is 71.6, which defines a high degree of pain. The results of the NBM questionnaire also showed that the vulnerable part of the body which experienced musculoskeletal complaints is the knee. The result of vibration exposure on this body part shows the highest value of 3.437 m/s2. To minimize occupational diseases and accidents, it is necessary to manage a working system that takes into account legal standards, ideal working time, and working shifts in the work area.
Pedestrian speed/flow relationships for underground stations

In 1989 London Underground Limited (LUL) initiated a major review of congestion problems at Underground Stations. A key element in the methodology developed to carry out the assessments was PEDROUTE, a computer package which provides estimates of pedestrian flows and delays in congested station networks. In common with urban traffic assignment procedures, PEDROUTE requires as input relationships between flow and travel time for each of the facilities comprising the network. This article reports on the results of a study commissioned by LUL to derive such relationships. It begins with a description of the analytical aspects of the model fitting and then describes the data and results achieved for each of six types of facility, comparing the preferred fits with the existing relationships derived from previous work. Language: en
Consistency among Turkish Students’ Different Worlds: A Case Study Focusing on Responses to Science

The purpose of the current study is twofold: 1) To categorize Turkish high school students’ responses to science in accordance to the degree of consistency between their worlds of family and friends and worlds of school and science 2) Present implicational suggestions based on the distribution of students. Case study approach was adapted to collect, analyze and present the results. 30 K-11 level students and 6 physics teachers from 5 different high schools were participated. Students’ responses were grouped into 4 different categories and labeled as potential scientists, other smart kids, I don’t know students and outsiders. Supporting families’ lifelong learning processes, adaptation of context based science teaching programs creating opportunities for realizing laboratory activities, and utilization of public (science) museums and communication technologies in science education were suggested to positively develop students’ attitudes toward science.