Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
365 days with COVID-19 in Iran: data analysis and epidemic curves

Background: The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iran were reported on February 19, 2020. This study aimed to analyze the epidemic curves and to investigate the correlation between epidemic parameters and furthermore to analyze the impact of control measures on the spread of COVID-19 in Iran during 365 days of the epidemic. Methods: We used data from February 20, 2020, to February 18, 2021, on the number of COVID-19 cases reported by Iranian governments. Pearson correlation coefficient was applied to investigate the correlation between different epidemic parameters. The number of daily deaths per daily new cases was averaged to calculate daily death rate and the same method was used to investigate the rate of daily positive tests. Furthermore, we employed two different methods to calculate the effective reproduction number using reported data. Results: The results showed that there was a strong correlation between the number of daily deaths and the number of daily new cases (specially the admitted cases). The results also indicated that the mean of daily death rate of COVID-19 during 365 days was 4.9 percent, and averagely 13.9 percent of daily tests results were positive. Furthermore, epidemic curves showed that implementing strict social distancing measures effectively reduced the number of confirmed cases. The effective reproduction curve indicated that social distancing is still necessary to control the spread of COVID-19 in Iran. Conclusions: Analyzing the prevention and control measures indicated that the strict social distancing implemented by the government effectively reduces the number of new cases and deaths. The curve of reproduction number also showed that effective reproduction number is still above one; hence, it is necessary to continue strict social distancing and control travelling to prevent causing another wave of outbreak especially in Persian New Year.
COVID-19 Mortality in California Based on Death Certificates: Disproportionate Impacts Across Racial/Ethnic Groups and Nativity

Purpose: To examine characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) decedents in California (CA) and evaluate for disproportionate mortality across race/ethnicity and ethnicity/nativity. Methods: COVID-19 deaths were identified from death certificates. Age-adjusted mortality rate ratios (MRR) were compared across race/ethnicity. Proportionate mortality rates (PMR) were compared across race/ethnicity and by ethnicity/nativity. Results: We identified 10,200 COVID-19 deaths in CA occurring February 1 through July 31, 2020. Decedents tended to be older, male, Hispanic, foreign-born, and have lower educational attainment. MRR indicated elevated COVID-19 morality rates among Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic groups compared with the White group, with Black and Hispanic groups having the highest MRR at 2.75 (95%CI:2.54-2.97) and 4.18 (95%CI: 3.99-4.37), respectively. Disparities were larger at younger ages. Similar results were observed with PMR, which remained in analyses stratified by education. Elevated PMR were observed in all ethnicity/nativity groups, especially foreign-born Hispanic individuals, relative to U.S.-born non-Hispanic individuals, were generally larger at younger ages, and persisted after stratifying by education. Conclusions: Differential COVID-19 mortality was observed in California across racial/ethnic groups and by ethnicity/nativity groups with evidence of greater disparities among younger age groups. Identifying COVID-19 disparities is an initial step towards mitigating disease impacts in vulnerable communities.
Utility of Styrylpyrazoloformimidate in the Synthesis of Fused Heterocyclic Compounds

Refluxing of (E)-5-amino-1-phenyl-3-styryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile 2 with triethylor-thoformate in acetic anhydride afforded the corresponding formimidate 3. Treatment of 3 with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol afforded amino imino compound 4. Reaction of 4 with diethyl dicarbonate at reflux gave (E)-7-phenyl-9-styryl-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine 7. Refluxing of 4 with hydrazine hydrate afforded (E)-4-hydrazinyl-1-phenyl-3-styryl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine 8. Treatment of the latter compound 8 with aldehydes in boiling ethanol in the presence of acetic acid afforded the corresponding hydrazone 10. Oxidative cyclization of the hydrazone 10 led to the formation of pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidine 11. The latter products re-arranged to pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines 13. The structures of the new products were established on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral data.
Smoking cessation rescues tooth movement delays caused by tobacco smoke components

ABSTRACT Purpose: Smokers who receive orthodontic treatment occasionally require longer treatment periods. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether delayed tooth movement can be recovered by encouraging smoking cessation. The study was designed to examine whether tooth movement rates can be recovered by a period of smoking cessation in rats treated with a comprehensive mixture of tobacco smoke components (TSCs). Materials and methods: Nine-week-old Wistar male rats were divided into no treatment, sham, TSCs, and TSCs cessation groups. The rats in the no treatment and sham groups drank distilled water, whereas those in the TSCs group and the TSCs cessation groups received TSCs in their drinking water. A smoking cessation period of 10 days was set for rats in the TSCs cessation group before the three groups underwent tooth movement. Tooth movement distance was measured using micro-computed tomography, and osteoclast differentiation was evaluated histologically. Results: There was significantly greater tooth movement in the sham and TSCs cessation groups than in the TSCs group. However, the TSCs cessation group showed lesser osteoclast differentiation than the sham group. Conclusion: Our results indicate that delayed tooth movement caused by smoking was recovered by smoking cessation treatment; this recovery seems to be partially due to the increase in osteoclasts, although the number of osteoclasts was still less than that in the sham group.
Validation of multivariate calibration models in the determination of sugar cane quality parameters by near infrared spectroscopy

The determination of soluble solids (BRIX), polarizable sugars (POL) and reducing sugars (RS) sugar cane juice by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and multivariate calibration was developed and validated by calculation of figures of merit. Due to the heterogeneity of the samples, first it was necessary to optimize the calibration set by outlier elimination. The figures of merit such as: sensitivity, analytical sensitivity, selectivity, confidence limit, precision (mean, repeatability), accuracy and signal-to-noise ratio were calculated. Feasible results were obtained for BRIX and POL with RMSEP values of 0.28 and 0.42% of juice and precision of 0.02 and 0.08% of juice, respectively. For both BRIX and POL goodness of fit showed correlation coefficients of 0.99. These results indicate that the models developed for BRIX and POL can be used as an alternative to standard procedures in the sugar cane industry.
Same-Sex Couples’ Division of Labor from a Cross-National Perspective

Abstract This study concerns how male and female same-sex couples across countries organize their paid and household labor. Using unique data compiled from multiple national surveys in 7 western countries (N = 723), we examined same-sex couples’ paid and household task allocation and evaluate descriptively how this is associated with countries’ gender egalitarianism. For paid labor, results indicate that female same-sex couples spend less time in total on paid employment than male same-sex couples, but both male and female same-sex couples divide their hours of paid employment equally. For household labor, we find that female couples divide their household tasks more equally than male couples. Moreover, more gender egalitarian countries appear to be correlated to increasing differences between male and female same-sex couples’ total time spent on the labor market and to decreasing differences in how equal they divide their household labor. These findings suggest that larger, society-wide, gender regimes might be an important avenue for future research when studying same-sex couples paid and unpaid labor.
Ion clustering in aqueous solutions probed with vibrational energy transfer

Despite prolonged scientific efforts to unravel the hydration structures of ions in water, many open questions remain, in particular concerning the existences and structures of ion clusters in 1∶1 strong electrolyte aqueous solutions. A combined ultrafast 2D IR and pump/probe study through vibrational energy transfers directly observes ion clustering in aqueous solutions of LiSCN, NaSCN, KSCN and CsSCN. In a near saturated KSCN aqueous solution (water/KSCN molar ratio = 2.4/1), 95% of the anions form ion clusters. Diluting the solution results in fewer, smaller, and tighter clusters. Cations have significant effects on cluster formation. A small cation results in smaller and fewer clusters. The vibrational energy transfer method holds promise for studying a wide variety of other fast short-range molecular interactions.
A Little Something Goes a Long Way: Little in the Old Bailey Corpus

Even though intensifiers have received a good deal of attention over the past few decades, downtoners, comprising diminishers and minimizers, have remained by and large a neglected category (but cf. Brinton, this issue). Among downtoners, the adverb little or a little stands out as the most frequent item. It is multifunctional and serves as a diminishing and minimizing intensifier and also in non-degree uses as a quantifier, frequentative, and durative. Therefore, the present paper is devoted to the structural and functional profile of (a) little in Late Modern English speech-related data. The data source is the socio-pragmatically annotated Old Bailey Corpus (OBC, version 2.0), which allows, among other things, the investigation of the usage of the item among different speaker groups. Our research charts the semantic and formal uses of adverbial little. Downtoner uses outnumber non-degree uses in the data, and diminishing uses are more common than minimizing uses. The formal realization is predominantly a little, with very rare determinerless or modified instances, such as very little. Little modifies a wide range of “targets,” but most frequently adjectives and prepositional phrases, focusing on human states and circumstantial detail. With regard to variation and change, adverbial little declines in use over the 200 years and is used more commonly by speakers from the lower social ranks and by the lay, non-professional participants in the courtroom.
Regression methods in the comparison of accuracy

Monte Carlo simulation has been used to test the robustness of three methods of regression in the comparison of analytical accuracy. The methods used were simple linear regression, weighted linear regression and a new method based on maximum likelihood estimation. The new method is capable of unbiased estimation with different heteroscedastic variance of both the y-values and the x-values, and is the most generally useful. However, even simple linear regression can estimate linear biases accurately as long as elementary safeguards are applied. The simulations realistically covered a wide range of circumstances likely to be encountered in analytical practice.
Pleura and Peritoneum

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the incidence of morbidity and mortality related to cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and to evaluate their predictors, in patients with peritoneal metastasis of ovarian origin. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was carried out investigating results from eight Italian institutions. A total of 276 patients met inclusion criteria. Predictors of morbidity and mortality were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Overall morbidity was 71.4%, and severe complications occurred in 23.9% of the sample; 60-day mortality was 4.3%. According to univariate logistic regression models, grade 3–4 morbidity was related to Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.02–1.09; p<0.001), number of intraoperative blood transfusions (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.10–1.34; p<0.001), Completeness of Cytoreduction (CC) score (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.16–2.44; p=0.006) and number of anastomoses (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.00–1.73; p=0.046). However, at themultivariate logistic regressionanalysis, only the number of intraoperative blood transfusions (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.5–1.30; p=0.004) and PCI (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01–1.08; p=0.010) resulted as key predictors of severe morbidity. Furthermore, using multivariate logistic regression model, ECOG score (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.21–4.93; p=0.012) and the number of severe complications (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.03–4.52; p=0.042) were recorded as predictors of exitus within 60 days. Conclusions: The combination of CRS and HIPEC for treating peritoneal metastasis of ovarian origin has acceptable morbidity and mortality and, therefore, it can be considered as an option in selected patients.
Vocational teachers’ perspective toward Technological Pedagogical Vocational Knowledge

Abstract The character of current students who are technology-savvy and the fast development of educational technology raises challenges for teachers to take advantage of these conditions to make learning effective. Technological, Pedagogical, Vocational Knowledge (TPVK) come as a framework for the effective use of technology in teaching and learning in vocational fields. This research aimed to capture the Indonesian secondary vocational non-Information and communications technology (ICT) teachers’ perspective toward TPVK for 21st Century Learning (CL). Research with a mixed-method approach was conducted during the second semester in the 2019/2020 academic year. Sixty-five secondary vocational building engineering teachers from nine schools located in Central Java, Indonesia were recruited as survey respondents. The instrument used was a self-assessment questionnaire, lesson plan rubric, and observational protocol enriched with interview protocol. Results from this study show that the in-service vocational teacher shows readiness for TPVK 21st CL at the intermediate level. The TPVK component with the highest mean point is Pedagogical knowledge, while the lowest point is on the Vocational knowledge component. The lesson plan prepared by teachers and learning practiced performed by teachers showed less fitness of technology integration in learning with the strategies and objectives of the curriculum.
Tuning the semiconducting nature of bis(phthalocyaninato) holmium complexes via peripheral substituents

The semiconducting properties of the heteroleptic and homoleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) holmium complexes bearing electron-withdrawing phenoxy substituents at the phthalocyanine periphery, namely Ho(Pc)[Pc(OPh)8] (1) and Ho[Pc(OPh)8]2 (2) [Pc = unsubstituted phthalocyaninate; Pc(OPh)8 = 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octaphenoxyphthalocyaninate] have been investigated comparatively. Using a solution-based Quasi–Langmuir–Shafer (QLS) method, the thin solid films of the two compounds were fabricated. The structure and properties of the thin films were investigated by UV-vis absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Experimental results indicated that H-type molecular stacking mode with the common preferential molecular “edge-on” orientation relative to the substrate has been formed, and the intermolecular face-to-face π–π interaction and film microstructures are effectively improve by increasing the number of phenoxy substituents of the Pc periphery within the double-decker complexes. The electrical conductivity of Ho(Pc)[Pc(OPh)8] films was measured to be approximately 4 orders of magnitude larger than that of Ho[Pc(OPh)8]2 films, indicating significant effect of peripheral electron-withdrawing phenoxy groups on conducting behaviour of bis(phthalocyaninato) holmium complexes. In addition, the gas sensing behaviour of the QLS films of 1 and 2 toward electron donating gas, NH3, was investigated in the concentration range of 15–800 ppm. Surprisingly, contrary responses towards NH3 were found for the QLS films of 1 and 2. In the presence of NH3, the conductivity of the films of Ho(Pc)[Pc(OPh)8] (1) decreased while the conductivity of the films of Ho[Pc(OPh)8]2 (2) increased. This observation clearly demonstrated the p- and n-type semiconducting nature for 1 and 2, respectively. Furthermore, compared to the heteroleptic 1 having a hole mobility of 1.7 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1, homoleptic 2 exhibits an electron mobility as high as 0.54 cm2 V−1 s−1. Therefore, the inversion of the semiconducting nature of the double-deckers from p- to n-type can be successfully and easily realized just by increasing the number of peripheral phenoxy groups attached to the conjugated Pc cores.
Two manual therapy techniques for management of lumbar radiculopathy: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract Context Evidence has shown that spinal mobilization with leg movement (SMWLM) and progressive inhibition of neuromuscular structures (PINS) are individually effective in the management of lumbar radiculopathy. However, previous evidence reported data for only a short-term study period and did not investigate the effect of the combined manual therapy techniques. Objectives To compare the combined effects of two manual therapy techniques (SMWLM and PINS) with the individual techniques alone (SMWLM or PINS) in the management of individuals with lumbar radiculopathy. Methods A total of 60 patients diagnosed with unilateral lumbar radiculopathy secondary to disc herniation were randomly allocated into three groups: 20 participants each in the SMWLM, PINS, and combined SMWLM + PINS groups. Each group attended two treatments per week for 30 min each, for three months. Participants were assessed at baseline, immediately posttreatment, and then at three, six, and nine months follow-up using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Rolland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and Sciatica Bothersomeness Index (SBI). Results Between-groups analyses using a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant interactions between groups and follow-up times for all outcomes (p=0.001). Participants receiving combined SMWLM + PINS treatment experienced greater improvement in leg pain, back pain, disability, and sciatica at all timelines (immediately posttreatment, and three, six, and nine months follow-up) than the participants receiving SMWLM or PINS alone (p<0.05). However, participants receiving SMWLM alone showed better improvement than the participants receiving PINS alone at all timelines (p<0.05). Conclusions A combined SMWLM + PINS treatment protocol showed greater improvement than the individual techniques alone in the management of individuals with LR in this study.
Changes in a peri‐urban butterfly assemblage over 80 years near Melbourne, Australia

Although changes, particularly declines, in Australian terrestrial insects and other invertebrates have long been suspected and well‐documented for some species, the magnitude, rate and spatial extent of decline remain unclear. Here we use a combination of alternative, qualitative approaches (expert opinion, historical records and temporal replication of surveys) to standardised monitoring and mapping programs to investigate the extent of change of a peri‐urban butterfly assemblage. This assemblage, comprising 52 species, of which 46 are residents or seasonal immigrants, was studied at three spatial scales (local ~0.01 km2, intermediate ~9 km2 and regional ~100 km2) in the Eltham district near Melbourne based on presence/absence data over the past 40 (1981–2020) and 80 years (1941–2020). We then consider the causal factors or drivers that have led to changes, and we explore the timing and ecological patterns underpinning extirpations. Long‐term records reveal substantial changes (mostly decline) in composition and species richness of the 46 breeding species at all spatial scales and time frames analysed. Although the magnitude and rate of decline were higher at the smaller, local to intermediate scales (29–43% decline over 40 years, loss rate of 0.20–0.25 species/year) compared with the larger, regional scale (26% decline over 80 years, loss rate of 0.15 species/year), extirpations at the larger scale were more alarming because they are indicative of widespread population collapse. Declines in relative abundance and occupancy were also recorded at the intermediate and regional spatial scales. Further decline (extinction debt) is anticipated for several ecological specialists currently known from very few sites. Historical extirpations mostly involved obligate myrmecophilous lycaenids and appear to have been largely driven by a combination of urbanisation (habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation) and vegetation encroachment. More recent extirpations consist mainly of grass‐feeding and mistletoe‐feeding specialists and are more worrying because they have predominantly occurred within the past 20–30 years. An interaction of urbanisation (tree canopy death and decline of mistletoes and their host trees from ecosystem dysfunction) and climate change (water stress and heat waves) are considered to be the most likely drivers for these ecological guilds.
Fijian swallowtail butterfly Papilio schmeltzi (Papilionidae: Lepidoptera) shows clear preference–performance relationships on both native and exotic host plants

The swallowtail butterfly Papilio schmeltzi is endemic to the Fiji Islands. To date, P. schmeltzi larvae and eggs have been found exclusively on a native Fijian shrub, Micromelum minutum, even though numerous other seemingly suitable native and exotic species of Rutaceae now occur in its Fijian forest habitat. This study used outdoor cages and laboratory studies to examine oviposition preferences and larval development of P. schmeltzi on four species of Rutaceae: the native species Micromelum minutum and Euodia hortensis and the introduced species Murraya koenigii and Citrus reticulata. The female oviposition preference sequence was the same as that for larval feeding preference, which ran, from most preferred, as Micromelum minutum > C. reticulata > Murraya koenigii > E. hortensis. The survival of the first and fifth instar larvae was highest (≥80%) when maintained on leaves of M. minutum and C. reticulata and lowest when reared on Murraya koenigii (≤20%) and E. hortensis (≤4%). Of the two preferred host plants, P. schmeltzi larvae gained weight more quickly, consumed a larger area of leaf and pupated earlier when reared on the natural host Micromelum minutum compared with the exotic C. reticulata. In quantitative nutritional studies, the consumption rate of leaf material, and the relative growth rate of the P. schmeltzi larvae, was highest when reared on Micromelum minutum compared with C. reticulata, although the efficiency of converting leaf biomass into larval biomass was highest when reared on C. reticulata, especially in the later instars. Overall, the results of our study indicate the plants on which P. schmeltzi females choose to lay eggs are not restricted to native Fijian plant species but are appropriate when viewed in terms of subsequent larval preferences, survival and growth rate.