Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigate Risk Factors and Predict Neonatal and Infant Mortality Based on Maternal Determinants using Homogenous Ensemble Methods

Ethiopia, one of the Sub-Saharan countries, has been affected by preventable and treatable causes of childhood mortality. According to the Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS) 2019, the child mortality rate, which measures under-five child deaths per one thousand children, was 43 during the 5 years preceding the survey. This study, hence, aims to investigate risk factors and predict neonatal and infant mortality based on maternal data. To this end, data was collected from the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) and several experiments were conducted using homogenous ensemble methods to develop a model that best identifies risk factors and predicts neonatal and infant mortality in Ethiopia. A decision tree with bagging and AdaBoost achieved an accuracy of 94.34% and 94.79% and area under ROC of 86% and 87% respectively. Naïve Bayes achieved 87.60% and 89.5% with bagging and AdaBoost. A decision tree with AdaBoost ensemble method performed better with 97.19% and 99.92% F-measure and recall, respectively. A maximum increase of 4 % accuracy for weak classifiers was achieved with the ensemble classification. As the finding suggest the interventions towards neonatal and infant mortality may need to take the factors related to maternal determinants into account. The application of heterogeneous ensemble methods is similar challenges may enhance the performance of the prediction model.
Companionship and Worries in Uncertain Times: Australian Parents’ Experiences of Children and Pets During COVID-19

ABSTRACT Companion animals (pets), especially cats and dogs, have featured regularly in the media and public discourse during the global COVID-19 pandemic, including increased demand for pet adoption and more time spent with existing pets. This qualitative study aimed to describe the experiences of Australian parents with a child under 18 years and a cat or dog. Within a broader survey, parents were asked open-ended questions about the benefits and challenges for their family of living with a cat or dog during COVID-19, and where relevant, about reasons for adopting a new pet. Data were collected between July and October 2020, during Australia’s “second wave” of COVID-19, when some Australians were subject to strict physical distancing or “stay at home” orders. A total of 611 parents provided at least one free-text response. Inductive template analysis was conducted on all responses; 33 unique codes were identified and mapped onto a biopsychosocial model under 3 themes: (i) “Trying to Stay Healthy and Well” (biological), (ii) “Comfort, Coping and Worries” (psychological), and “Spending More Time Together” (social). Findings highlight the therapeutic role of pets for families during times of change and uncertainty, as well as the significant social impact of pandemic-related restrictions on family units. Benefits included support for the family’s physical and mental health, maintenance of family routines, distraction, comfort, and pets as an opportunity to connect with others. Challenges were numerous and diverse, such as cost and access to pet care, behavioral concerns, worries about pet and child wellbeing, and reflections about the pet’s mortality. These findings demonstrate the complex and varied impacts of the pandemic on families with children and pets; some families are likely to require ongoing psychological, financial, and veterinary supports.
Bacterial Communities in Lanna Phak-Gard-Dong (Pickled Mustard Green) from Three Different Ethnolinguistic Groups in Northern Thailand

Simple Summary Phak-gard-dong (PGD), or pickled mustard green, is one of the most popular ethnic foods in Northern Thailand. Many bacteria are involved in its fermentation process. In this study, we explore the bacterial communities in PGD of three different ethnolinguistic groups of northern Thailand, including Karen, Lawa, and Shan. Moreover, we evaluate the potential of PGD as a functional food. The result of this study demonstrated two major bacteria that have been reported to be beneficial to human health. Bacterial compositions in PGD of the Lawa were distinctive from the other ethnic groups. This warrants the necessity of conservation of PGD and the development of this indigenous fermented food into a variety of health food products. Abstract The Lanna region, the main part of northern Thailand, is a place of ethnic diversity. In this study, we investigated phak-gard-dong (PGD), or pickled mustard green (Brassica juncea L. Czern.), for its beneficial bacteria content and to analyse the variations in bacterial compositions among the PGD of three different ethnolinguistic groups, the Karen, Lawa, and Shan. DNA was extracted from the PGD pickled brine, and 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing was performed. Metagenomic data were analysed and the results demonstrated that the dominant bacterial species were Weissella (54.2%, 65.0%, and 10.0%) and Lactobacillus (17.5%, 5.6%, and 79.1%) in the PGD of the Karen, Lawa, and Shan, respectively. Pediococcus was found only in the PGD of the Karen and Shan. Bacterial communities in PGD of the Lawa were distinctive from the other ethnic groups, both in the alpha and beta diversity, as well as the predicted functions of the bacterial communities. In addition, overall network analysis results were correlated to bacterial proportions in every ethnic PGD. We suggest that all ethnic PGDs have the potential to be a good source of beneficial bacteria, warranting its conservation and further development into health food products.
Power Quality Monitoring Strategy Based on an Optimized Multi-Domain Feature Selection for the Detection and Classification of Disturbances in Wind Generators

Wind generation has recently become an essential renewable power supply option. Wind generators are integrated with electrical machines that require correct functionality. However, the increasing use of non-linear loads introduces undesired disturbances that may compromise the integrity of the electrical machines inside the wind generator. Therefore, this work proposes a five-step methodology for power quality disturbance detection in grids with injection of wind farm energy. First, a database with synthetic signals is generated, to be used in the training process. Then, a multi-domain feature estimation is carried out. To reduce the problematic dimensionality, the features that provide redundant information are eliminated through an optimized feature selection performed by means of a genetic algorithm and the principal component analysis. Additionally, each one of the characteristic feature matrices of every considered condition are modeled through a specific self-organizing map neuron grid so they can be shown in a 2-D representation. Since the SOM model provides a pattern of the behavior of every disturbance, they are used as inputs of the classifier, based in a softmax layer neural network that performs the power quality disturbance detection of six different conditions: healthy or normal, sag or swell voltages, transients, voltage fluctuations and harmonic distortion. Thus, the proposed method is validated using a set of synthetic signals and is then tested using two different sets of real signals from an IEEE workgroup and from a wind park located in Spain.
Relationship between Peer Influence and Gamer’s Satisfaction in Purchasing Virtual Items for Online Mobile Games: Mediating Role of Hedonic Value

Gaming has long been an interest of studies in the behaviour of youngsters. In particular, game players are spending increasing amount of expenses in purchasing gaming related items. Why mobile game players would purchase virtual items for their games? The aim of this study is to examine the mediating effect of hedonic value to the relationship between peer influence and gamer’s satisfaction. Anonymous questionnaire was used to collect data through a survey website. A total of 126 valid responses were collected in the survey. Data collected were first analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, and the conceptual framework was then examined by using the structural equation modelling. Results revealed that there exists a mediating effect of hedonic value on the relationship between peer influence and gamer’s satisfaction. They provide valuable insights to game developers and marketers on how to enhance gamer’s satisfaction by peer influence through enhancement of hedonic value.
Enhanced photocatalytic activity of nZnO/n+Al:ZnO homojunction with an overlayer of Al2O3 nanoballs

This paper reports improvement in the degradation efficiency of ZnO for the organic dye methylene blue by constructing a homojunction of nZnO and n+Al doped ZnO with an overlayer of alumina nanoballs. The thin film junction is fabricated by the simple, cost-effective two stage electrochemical method of anodization followed by electrochemical doping at room temperature. Structural, optical, morphological and electrical analyses are done to elucidate the corresponding properties of each layer as well as of the junction. The compositional depth profile is obtained by the Rutherford backscattering technique. Valence band x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with optical data is used for designing the schematic of the junction formation. The rectification ratio of the thin film junction is determined to be ∼102 from voltage–current data.
Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Objective The present systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) aimed to investigate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods The RCTs of pulmonary rehabilitation programs published between 1999 and 2021 were retrieved from electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase). Two reviewers independently assessed the topical relevance and trial quality and extracted data for meta-analysis using the Stata software version 14.0. Results A total of 39 trials involving 2,397 participants with COPD were evaluated. We found that patients who received pulmonary rehabilitation program had significant improvement in the 6-min walk test (6MWT), St. George Respiratory Questionnaire score, and the modified British Medical Research Council score as compared to those who received usual care. Yoga and Tai Chi showed significant improvement in the forced expiratory volume (FEV1)% in 1 s predicted value. However, no significant difference was detected in the modified Borg score, forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC predicted value between the pulmonary rehabilitation and usual care groups. Conclusion Yoga and Tai Chi showed a significant improvement in the FEV1% predicted value. Also, pulmonary rehabilitation program improved the exercise capacity, the quality of life, and dyspnoea in patients with COPD. Key messages A total of 39 trials involving 2,397 participants with COPD were evaluated. We found that patients who received pulmonary rehabilitation program had significant improvement in the 6MWT, St. George Respiratory Questionnaire score, and the modified British Medical Research Council score as compared to those who received usual care. Yoga and Tai Chi showed significant improvement in the FEV1% predicted value. No significant difference was detected in the modified Borg score, FVC, and FEV1/FVC predicted value between the pulmonary rehabilitation and usual care groups.
The Effect of the Crowd on Home Bias: Evidence from NBA Games During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The present study examines a specific type of referee biases, home bias, and analyzes how the presence of fans affects home bias by using NBA games played in empty arenas during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020–2021 season and matches played before the pandemic from 2017 to 2020. This research also uses a unique data set from NBA Last Two Minute Reports to assess referees’ performance at the play level. The findings show crowd support does not cause referees to treat home and away teams differently in crucial situations during the NBA regular season, contrary to the results in most prior studies.
Models for Predicting Early Death in Patients With Stage IV Esophageal Cancer: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Based Cohort Study

Background Despite enormous progress in the stage IV esophageal cancer (EC) treatment, some patients experience early death after diagnosis. This study aimed to identify the early death risk factors and construct models for predicting early death in stage IV EC patients. Methods Stage IV EC patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were selected. Early death was defined as death within 3 months of diagnosis, with or without therapy. Early death risk factors were identified using logistic regression analyses and further used to construct predictive models. The concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCA) were used to assess model performance. Results Out of 4411 patients enrolled, 1779 died within 3 months. Histologic grade, therapy, the status of the bone, liver, brain and lung metastasis, marriage, and insurance were independent factors for early death in stage IV EC patients. Histologic grade and the status of the bone and liver metastases were independent factors for early death in both chemoradiotherapy and untreated groups. Based on these variables, predictive models were constructed. The C-index was . 613 (95% confidence interval (CI), [. 573–. 653]) and . 635 (95% CI, [.596–.674]) in the chemoradiotherapy and untreated groups, respectively, while calibration curves and DCA showed moderate performance. Conclusions More than 40% of stage IV EC patients suffered from an early death. The models could help clinicians discriminate between low and high risks of early death and strategize individually-tailed therapeutic interventions in stage IV EC patients.
Regional epidemiology and associated risk factors of PPR in Asia-A Review

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a world organization for animal health (OIE) notiﬁable and economically important transboundary, highly contagious and acute viral disease of small ruminants. The disease is caused by the PPR Virus (PPRV). PPRV belongs to the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae. The recent epidemiological and molecular characterization of PPR virus isolates subdivides them into four genetically distinct lineages (I, II, III and IV). The disease is endemic across Asia, the Middle East and African regions and is considered to be a major obstacle to the development of sustainable agriculture across the developing world due to a huge burden on the economy and development of the affected countries and has recently been targeted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the OIE for global eradication by 2030. PPR-endemic countries should join the regional force, and implement regional roadmaps for the progressive and successful control and elimination of PPRV. In this review, the regional epidemiology of PPR outbreaks and overall regional associated risk factors including animal factors (age, species, sex), environmental factors (season, spatial distribution of disease in various locations) and trade associated factors with special reference to the PPR-affected countries in South, Central and East Asia is comprehensively discussed.
Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Biscuit Made from Purple Sweet Potato Flour, Starch, and Fiber Rich Flour on Rats

The solid residue from purple sweet potato (PSP) starch has a high enough dietary fiber and can be processed into fiber rich flour. In this study, biscuits were made from flour, starch and fiber rich flour from PSP in a ratio of 75: 5: 20. The resulting biscuits were then tested for their hypocholesterolemic effect in rats. 30 male rats were randomly subdivided into 6 (six) groups. Group 1, 2, 3 (healthy rats) were given a basal diet, and basal diets containing 25% and 50% of PSP biscuit respectively. Group 4, 5, and 6 (hypercholesterolemic rats) were given basal diets containing 25% and 50% of PSP biscuits, and gemfibrozil 21.6 mg/200 g rat body weight respectively. After 14 days, the total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) of blood serum were recorded. The results showed that the administration of 50% PSP biscuits of the basal diet for 14 days had a hypocholesterolemic effect both on healthy and hypercholesterolemic rats. In the healthy rats, the difference in the dose of PSP biscuits had no effect (p>0.05) on HDL, but in hypercholesterolemia rats, the dose of biscuits had a different effect (p<0.05) on total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL.
Drivers for adopting reverse logistics in the construction industry: a qualitative study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate and analyse the perceptions of South Australian construction practitioners on drivers affecting the implementation of reverse logistics (RL). In this context, RL is defined as the process of moving goods from their typical final destination for the purpose of capturing value or ensuring proper disposal. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight practitioners to collect data and the interview transcripts were analysed using the NVivo (version 10) package. Cluster analysis was used to cross-validate the findings and provide an in-depth insight into the findings. Findings – The findings indicate that most of the drivers identified in earlier research are relevant for the construction industry. In addition, the study identified some new drivers that are categorised as “targeted demands by an exclusive clientele”. These drivers were found to be complementary to the economic, environmental and social drivers as previously conceptualised. In addition, a set of factors affecting the strength of drivers that had been overlooked in previous studies emanated from the interview analysis. These include the type of project and the attributes of clients, both of which strongly affect the drivers of RL implementation in construction. Research limitations/implications – The major limitations are the relatively small size of the sample of interviewees and having interviewees from one geographic area with specific socio-economic characteristics. Practical implications – The identified drivers and the clustering of RL themes could be used by practitioners as a “road map” for the development of appropriate solutions to successfully promote RL within the construction industry. Organisational energies could thus be channelled towards the drivers that need the most improvement. Originality/value – The study contributes to this research sphere by employing cluster analysis to customise and contextualise the drivers that were previously identified. The study goes beyond the extant literature by discovering the prominent effects of these drivers on the impact of targeted demands by an exclusive clientele. This could be of great value in terms of creating avenues for future investigations on the topic.
A Phase Noise Resistant Constellation Rotation Method and Its Experimental Validation for NOMA Wi-Fi

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is a well-accepted technology for future Wi-Fi systems to improve spectral efficiency. NOMA allows an access point (AP) to simultaneously serve multiple devices by splitting the transmit power between them. Using the superposition coding the AP combines signals of different frames with predefined power weights. However, as it is already known, the phase noise caused by hardware imperfections limits the performance of NOMA transmissions. The paper proposes a practical, easy-to-implement, and backward-compatible method to rotate the constellation of the low power signal in order to make it more robust to the phase noise. A mathematical model is developed to find such a rotation angle that minimizes the bit error rate (BER) of the low power frame. A new NOMA Wi-Fi prototype testbed is developed with the new feature of constellation rotation ability, which is used to validate the performance of our proposed method. Many experimental results show the proposed constellation rotation approach significantly decreases the BER in high signal-to-noise scenarios.
Sternbergia lutea, a new host of Narcissus late season yellows virus

In autumn 2017, autumn daffodil plants with yellow-green stripes on the leaves were observed at a botanical garden in Budapest, Hungary. Indicator plants were inoculated, but symptoms did not develop. RT-PCR tests of the indicator plants were also negative for the viruses. Potyvirus specific ACP-ELISA and RT-PCR were carried out on the symptomatic S. lutea leaf samples. RT-PCR with universal potyvirus primers resulted in one, approx. 1700 base pair PCR product. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the coat protein demonstrated 98.78-99.51% identity with three Japanese isolates of Narcissus late season yellows virus. While unidentified potyvirus infection of autumn daffodil has been previously reported, sequence data have not been published. Therefore, this is the first report of Sternbergia lutea as a host of Narcissus late season yellows virus.
A Review of Key Technologies Development of Super High-Rise Building Construction in China

Super high-rise building is a typical architectural form of urban modernization, and it is also the trend of urban architectural development. This paper reviews the development history of super high-rise buildings in China combined with the engineering practice of representative super high-rise buildings since the 1980s, such as the Shanghai Center, Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Canton Tower, and Shanghai Tower. The development process of the key technologies of super high-rise projects from the aspects of several technologies, such as soft soil pile foundation and foundation pit technology, concrete structure construction technology, integral formwork equipment technology, and steel structure comprehensive installation technology, is also elaborated. At the same time, the Shanghai Tower is selected as a typical case to share the innovative technology of China’s tallest building. Finally, prospects for development of super high-rise construction technology are presented.
Activation of Human Dendritic Cells by Nanoparticles Carrying CTL Epitopes of Non-Structural Proteins of Hepatitis C Virus

Activation of human dendritic cells by nanoparticles carrying CTL epitopes of non-structural proteins of hepatitis C virus. Archives of Microbiology and Immunology 6 (2022): 39-50. Abstract The aim of this study was to produce immunogenic nanoparticles carrying cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes of hepatitis C virus non-structural proteins. We have obtained recombinant proteins forming virus-like particles and containing the sequences of self-assembling peptides (SAP), PADRE, and CTL epitopes. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), the size of thus obtained nanoparticles was shown to be dependent on number of CTL epitopes proliferative activity and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production by the stimulated T lymphocytes were evaluated by their secondary stimulation with commercially available mixture of peptides from non-structural proteins of hepatitis C virus. The greatest stimulating effect on T lymphocytes was exerted by DCs activated by nanoparticles, consisting of the recombinant mosaic protein with SAP at the N terminus and CTL epitopes of NS3, NS4a, and NS4b proteins at the C terminus. The presence of SAP in recombinant proteins’ sequences increased their immunogenicity. glycine linker at the BamH1-Sac1 to improve the interaction of the hexahistidine site with the Ni sorbent during purification. Nucleotide sequences optimized for E. coli encoded the recombinant proteins.