Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of Guillain−Barré syndrome spectrum associated with COVID- 19: A systematic review and meta- analysis

Background and purpose: Mounting evidence supports an association between Guillain− Barré syndrome spectrum (GBSs) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV- 2) infection. However, GBSs in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) remains poorly characterized, whilst GBSs prevalence amongst COVID- 19 patients has not been previously systematically evaluated using a meta- analytical approach. Methods: A systematic review and meta- analysis of observational cohort and case series studies reporting on the occurrence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID- 19- associated GBSs was performed. A random- effects model was used to calculate pooled estimates and odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), compared to non- COVID- 19, contemporary or historical GBSs patients. Results: Eighteen eligible studies (11 cohorts, seven case series) were identified including a total of 136,746 COVID- 19 patients. Amongst COVID- 19 patients, including hospitalized and non- hospitalized cases, the pooled GBSs prevalence was 0.15‰ (95% CI 0%– 0.49‰; I 2 = 96%). Compared with non- infected contemporary or historical controls, patients with SARS- CoV- 2 infection had increased odds for demyelinating GBSs subtypes (OR 3.27,
Mesoscopic thermodynamics

We show that a probabilistic interpretation of nonequilibrium thermodynamics which uses the concept of local equilibrium at the mesoscale sets the basis of a theory able to analyze irreversible processes in the presence of fluctuations. The theory obtains the Fokker–Planck equation as a diffusion equation for the probability and the nonlinear relationships between activation rates and proper affinities of activated processes. The situations that can be studied with this formalism include, among others, barrier crossing dynamics, chemical reactions, entropic driving and nonlinear transport.
Latent Variables in a Travel Mode Choice Model: Attitudinal and Behavioural Indicator Variables

In a travel mode choice context, we use survey data to construct and test the significance of five individual specific latent variables – environmental preferences, safety, comfort, convenience and flexibility - postulated to be important for modal choice. Whereas the construction of the safety and environmental preference variables is based on behavioural indicator variables, the construction of the comfort, convenience and flexibility variables is based on attitudinal indicator variables. Our main findings are that the latent variables enriched discrete choice model outperforms the traditional discrete choice model and that the construct reliability of the “attitudinal” latent variables is higher than that of the “behavioural” latent variables. Important for the choice of travel mode are modal travel time and cost and the individual’s preferences for flexibility and comfort as well as her environmental preferences.
Impact of Technical Progress on the Relationship Between Competition and Investment

This paper investigates the impact of technical progress on the relationship between competition and investment. Using a model of oligopolistic competition with differentiated products in which firms invest to reduce their marginal cost of production (or to improve quality), I find that technical progress, by increasing the size of innovation, defined as the drop in marginal costs (or the increase in quality) obtained for a given investment amount, increases total investment and decreases the level of competition that maximizes investment in the industry. This feature also holds for consumer surplus and welfare. This means that innovative industries maximize consumer surplus and welfare at a lower level of competitive pressure than do less innovative industries. In the model, competition is measured either by the number of competitors or by the degree of horizontal substitutability between offers. The results hold for both measures, subject to a relatively steady industry specific rate of technological change.
Radium Isotopes and 228-Thorium on GP 16

This report provides evidence in support of the data quality for radium isotopes and 228thorium collected by our laboratories during the U.S. Pacific GEOTRACES GP16 cruise (Oct.Dec. 2013). Since there are no crossover stations available to date, we will outline the results of our participation in a Proficiency Test for 223Ra, 224Ra, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 228Th in June 2008 (23 laboratories participating, Charette et al., 2012). Further, for 226Ra, we compare our results with historical data collected along the same section. There are no historical data for 228Ra and 228Th nor the two short-lived Ra isotopes 224Ra and 223Ra.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C

nanotubes (CNT) in several industries and technological applications, it is essential to perform in vivo toxicological studies with these nanomaterials to evaluate their potential ecotoxicity. Dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5HT) are key neurotransmitters for brain functions and behavioral responses. Determination of DA and 5HT were performed in brain samples from zebra ﬁ sh Danio rerio exposed i.p. to single-walled CNT (SWCNT), besides analyzing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and ectonucleotidases activity, lipid per-oxidation and total antioxidant capacity. Results showed that treatment with SWCNT increased between 3 and 6-fold the concentration of DA and 5HT ( p < 0.05). Similarly, a signi ﬁ cant reduction ( p < 0.05) in AChE activity was observed in the brains of SWCNT exposed zebra ﬁ sh when compared to the control groups. Cholinergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic systems, through AChE activity and serotonin and dopamine levels, respectively were a ﬀ ected by SWCNT in the zebra ﬁ sh brain. Alterations in these neurotransmitters can potentially a ﬀ ect several physiological and behavioral that they control.
Young people and the post-recession labour market in the context of Europe 2020

This article examines how the recent global recession, together with the general flexibilization of labour markets, is affecting young people. We examine different forms of social exclusion, including unemployment, temporary employment contracts and periods of inactivity, as well as the subjective insecurity arising from such labour market exclusion. We also examine what Member States have done to address this issue, especially as part of their response to the crisis. At both EU (through the Europe 2020 strategy) and national levels specific policy measures exist that target young people in the labour market, but these are mostly supply-driven. Thus, they do not take into account the true problems young people are facing, including problems finding first-time employment and bad-quality jobs with little prospect of moving up the employment ladder. In conclusion, a new generation with higher exposure to systematic labour market risks than previous generations is being left to fend for itself with little appropriate state support.
Climate Changes in Africa: Does Economic Growth Matter? A Semi-parametric Approach

This study attempts to further examine the impacts of income on carbon emissions in the African continent through investigation of the existence of an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). Within the stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology framework, this is the first study in Africa to explore the income-carbon emissions nexus; using panel data together with a semi-parametric panel fixed effects regression. Our data set refers to a panel of 54 countries in Africa; spanning the period 1990-2014. Our results show evidence in contrast to the EKC hypothesis. Our findings shed new light on the income - CO2 emissions nexus and supports implementation of certain policies.
Volumetric 3-Component Velocity Measurements of Vortex Rings from Inclined Exits

Vortex rings were generated by driving pistons within circular cylinders of inner diameter D = 72.8 mm at a constant velocity U0 over a distance L = D. The Reynolds number, U0L/(2ν), was 2500. The flow downstream of circular and inclined exits was examined using volumetric 3-component velocimetry (V3V). The circular exit yields a standard primary vortex ring that propagates downstream at a constant velocity, and a lingering trailing ring of opposite sign associated with the stopping of the piston. By contrast, the inclined nozzle yields a much more complicated structure. A tilted primary vortex ring develops and interacts with two trailing rings that initially have circulation of opposite sign. The first trailing ring begins forming at the upstream lip of the cylinder exit. After the primary ring has completely detached from the nozzle, a second trailing ring forms starting from the downstream nozzle lip. The trailing vortices intertwine and are stretched and drawn through the center of the primary ring. This behavior was observed for multiple inclination angles. Increased inclination was associated with stronger interactions between the primary and trailing vortices as well as earlier breakdown.
Department of Economics Working Paper Series Malaria: Disease Impacts and Long-Run Income Differences

Malaria is a parasitic disease that causes over 300 million ”acute illness” episodes and one million deaths annually. Most occur in the tropics, especially sub-Saharan Africa. Countries with high rates of malaria prevalence are generally poor, and some researchers have suggested a direct link from malaria to poverty. We explore the interactions between malaria and national income, using a dynamic general equilibrium framework with epidemiological features. We ﬁnd that without prevention or control, malaria can have a large impact on income. However, if people have any effective ways of avoiding infection, the disease has little effect on income levels.
Lake Ice Cover Deflection Induced by Moving Vehicles: Comparing Theoretical Results with Satellite Observations

Ice roads are essential to the livelihood of several communities and the operations of several industries in Canada’s North. Safe yet maximized exploitation of such roads is paramount to all stakeholders. Through a state-of-the-art remote sensing technology, ice road deformations because of transportation activities over a lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada have been recently measured. In the present paper, the dynamic response of the ice road is theoretically modelled and model results were compared with the remotely-sensed deformations. Comparisons are for two different cases of a slow truck whose motion does not create any significant waves in the ice cover, and a fast truck whose motion creates wave patterns in the ice cover. Remotely-sensed and theoretical deformations, for both cases, compare well. It is then concluded that both the theoretical model and the satellite-derived product could assist in safety and operations improvements of ice roads on lakes. Some preliminary conclusions that may help guide ice road operations are given.
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS WORKING PAPER SERIES

Wagner’s law postulates that an increase in income leads to a more than proportional increase in public expenditure. This important law of public finance which justifies the growth of expenditure or government size has been empirically tested in various environments with different degrees of success. The objective of this paper is to reexamine Wagner’s law in the context of the six countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines –in the period 1980 -2014. Using the ARDL approach à la Pesaran et al. (2001), we find that in the long run the more proportionate impact of income on public expenditure holds in Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis as well as St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition, there is some role for natural disasters in influencing Wagner’s law despite the paucity of strong
Department of Economics Working Paper Series Resurrecting the Wealth Effect on Consumption: Further Analysis and Extension

This paper investigates whether various components of wealth affect real consumption asymmetrically through a threshold adjustment model. The empirical ﬁndings for the U.S. show that only stock market assets, ﬁnancial assets including stock market assets, and household net assets exert a practical wealth effect on consumption expenditure. By contrast, ﬁnancial assets excluding stock market assets, tangible assets, total assets, and the Lettau-Ludvigson measure of net assets do not exert a practical wealth effect on consumption expenditure. In addition, the empirical ﬁndings favor the presence of an asymmetric effect on real consumption for the former cases, with negative ’news’ affecting consumption less than positive ’news’.
FUNDAÇÃO GETULIO VARGAS

The concept of noblesse oblige establishes that the differential in privileges between the rich and the poor should be balanced by a differential in duties towards those in need. However, the empirical findings regarding which are the most prosocial groups have been as controversial as this assertive. Whereas research in the so-called psychological framework has advocated a negative relationship between social class and prosocial behavior, the economic approach has claimed the opposite (i.e., positive) direction to be true. This article sought to disentangle conflicting findings from these strands of research across two different studies. In the first study, we conducted a series of focus groups in both wealthy and impoverished areas. Results suggested that research in the domain of social class has been circumscribed to an almost conventionalized few prosocial behaviors that are not representative neither of wealthy nor of poor individuals. In the second study, we conducted surveys in the same areas. Results revealed that, despite having less resources and opportunities to help others, lower social class individuals are more prosocial than their upper-class counterparts. Furthermore, prosociality differences cannot be explained by a different pattern of targets of help across the social spectrum. Implications for practice and research on prosociality are also discussed.
A continuum model ( PSUMEL 1 ) of ice mélange and its role during retreat of the Antarctic Ice Sheet

Rapidly retreating thick ice fronts can generate large amounts of mélange (floating ice debris), which may affect episodes of rapid retreat of Antarctic marine ice. In modern Greenland fjords, mélange provides substantial back pressure on calving ice faces, which slows ice-front calving rates. On the much larger scales of West Antarctica, it is unknown if 10 mélange could clog seaways and provide enough back pressure to act as a negative feedback slowing retreat. Here we describe a new mélange model, using a continuum mechanical formulation that is computationally feasible for long-term continental Antarctic applications. It is tested in an idealized rectangular channel, and calibrated very basically using observed modern conditions in Jakobshavn fjord, West Greenland. The model is then applied to drastic retreat of Antarctic ice in response to warm mid-Pliocene climate. With mélange parameter values that yield reasonable modern Jakobshavn 15 results, Antarctic marine ice still retreats drastically in the Pliocene simulations, with little slowdown despite the huge amounts of mélange generated. This holds both for the rapid early collapse of West Antarctica, and later retreat into major East Antarctic basins. If parameter values are changed to make the mélange much more resistive to flow, far outside the range for reasonable Jakobshavn results, West Antarctica still collapses and retreat is slowed or prevented only in a few East Antarctic basins. 20
International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE)

Received May 11, 2022 Revised Feb 22, 2023 Accepted Apr 3, 2023 The unsatisfactory result obtained by Malaysian secondary students in international assessment has caused the Ministry of Education to put much effort into structuring the curriculum. Variety of teaching pedagogies has been suggested but not all the approaches are applicable due to many constraints. It leads students to enroll in extra private tutoring classes after their regular school hours. This research aimed to identify the reason students attend chemistry private tutoring, to explore the teaching pedagogies used in chemistry private tutoring, and to identify the perceptions of students on the pedagogies used in chemistry private tutoring. This is an exploratory qualitative study that is conducted among six tutors and five students in Malaysia. The result was analyzed through thematic analysis. Interestingly, the study has indicated that despite improving their academic result, students attend tuition to enhance their understanding and knowledge of chemistry as they were ably exposed to a variety of teaching methods. A new insight on pedagogies used in private tutoring lessons was determined, such as deductive learning, inquiry-based teaching and contextualization. It is found that student’s learning needs are highly emphasized in tuition classes. Students experience more meaningful learning and obtain interesting learning experiences in tuition.
Teaching competency in virtual education: Systematic review

This study arises as a need to recognize teaching competencies and their integration to become professionals who respond to current challenges aimed at improving learning achievements and comprehensive training of students. The objective of the research was to analyze and recognize teaching competencies in virtual education in higher education students. The study is important due to the direct relationship with student learning. The study was qualitative research, with a systematic design, followed the methodology proposed by the PRISMA declaration. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to process the articles analyzed. A study was conducted based on 38 articles published in high impact scientific journals between 2019 and 2022. The results showed that teaching competencies in virtual education must be worked in an integrated manner: disciplinary, pedagogical, technological and research competencies that will translate into a real development of teaching-learning processes, better teaching performance and student performance. The studies determine that the disciplinary, pedagogical, technological, and investigative competence must be worked on in an interrelated manner, there is a need to integrate technology effectively, and it is important to promote research in students through experiments that allow building skills.
International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE)

Received Mar 7, 2021 Revised Nov 21, 2021 Accepted Dec 24, 2021 This study aimed at exploring factors affecting classroom participation among students in the English department of Laghman University, Afghanistan. More precisely, this research discovered factors related to teachers and class-size that hinder students’ practice of oral participation in the classroom. In collecting the data, this study employed mixed-method research with concurrent design. An adapted questionnaire and a semistructured interview have been used as the data collection instrument of this study. An online survey questionnaire was conducted with 110 respondents. In addition, a semi-structured interview was conducted with five of the respondents at the English Department of Laghman University. The data from the questionnaire was descriptively analyzed through using statistical package for social science (SPSS), and the semi-structured interview data were thematically analyzed and interpreted. The findings revealed that classsize related factor is the first influential factor in affecting oral participation among students and it is due to having large number students in a class. Teacher’s related factor is the second influential factor that affects the oral participation of students. Majority claimed that teachers’ approach, behavior, and qualification have prominent impact on their level of oral participation. Based on the finding, it can be seen that class-size related, and teachers’ factors affected oral participation of the students at the English Department of Laghman University. It is recommended that the Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan strive to decrease the number of students in each class and enforce teachers in implementing a student-centered learning approach while teaching.
International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE)

Received Jan 24, 2021 Revised Dec 6, 2021 Accepted Dec 28, 2021 Educational tourism has gained popularity worldwide due to the emergence of the knowledge economy that has increased the global demand for tertiary education. Therefore, the trend has inspired this study to examine the factors affecting international students’ destination loyalty to revisit and recommend Malaysian higher educational institutions as their educational tourism attractions. In this study, 200 international students who were currently studying in Malaysian higher educational institutions were recruited through purposive sampling technique. The statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and SmartPLS were performed for data collection analysis. The findings demonstrated that the service quality, destination image, and cost of the study were positively correlated with the students’ satisfaction wherein students’ satisfaction contributed positively and significantly to the destination loyalty of international students in recommending and revisiting Malaysia for educational tourism. This study provided all the higher educational institutions and authorities in Malaysia with a better understanding of international students’ expectations and perceptions towards studying in Malaysia. Subsequently, the relevant stakeholders could implement effective strategies to improve and assist the Malaysian government in accomplishing the aspiration of becoming one of the most excellent international education hubs in the world.
International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE)

Received Jun 18, 2021 Revised Jun 8, 2022 Accepted Jul 5, 2022 This research paper focuses on the effects of the parent autonomy factor that supports the needs of students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning and builds the interest of students in STEM careers. This was a quantitative research study that employed the parent authority questionnaire (PAQ). Based on the research objective, the questions in the PAQ were altered to evaluate the effects of parents on student interest in STEM careers and adapted to the purpose of the study. The PAQ comprises a scale of 1-10 ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Research respondents included 419 upper secondary students from national schools in Malaysia, and the research used a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The research determined parents’ autonomy towards the development of students’ STEM career interest and the data was analyzed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results found that the autonomy of parents significantly affected upper secondary students in the development of STEM careers of students. The research question was answered by proving that the autonomy of parents is directly significant (p<001). Results showed that parents explicitly offer meaningful impacts and valuable values to motivate students of the science stream at the secondary level to ensure that their STEM career interests are well nurtured. The findings from this research provide useful insight into the learners, and lead to the value of autonomy of parents in promoting a curriculum design that suits the needs of students in the future.