Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Grade 1 and 2, vs. Neurotypical Development: A School View

Background: Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social and communication functioning. Previous studies suggest that people with autism spectrum disorders have deficits in executive functions, having found a relationship with cognitive flexibility, planning, working memory, inhibition or self-control, but it is especially with respect to cognitive flexibility where the greatest dysfunctions have been found. The objective of this research was to compare the executive functioning of a group of children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders with another with neurotypical development in an educational context. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and multicenter confirmatory study in which 121 people who participated acted as informants, with 70 of them being education professionals who work with people with autism spectrum disorders grade 1 and 2 and 51 of them being teachers who work with people of neurotypical development; these individuals were selected through non-probabilistic sampling. Results: People diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders obtained significantly higher scores on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 scale for the nine clinical scales and the four indexes that compose it compared to the group of people with neurotypical development; in addition, the average scores obtained are clinically significant, with them being elevated for the group with autism spectrum disorders. This study confirms that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders experience greater difficulties with respect to their executive functions than children with neurotypical development.
Behaviour of Adolescents

 Abstract — Computer technology has progressed quickly and personal computers and the internet have become closely linked to human life. However internet itself brings various pitfalls. Although it is understood as a crucial part of contemporary life, it also represents the space for emergence of risky behaviour. Many studies show that people can use internet with typical features of addiction and such use can have harmful effects on individual, change his/her social behaviour, habits or abilities in a negative way. The paper represents a study focusing on internet addictive behaviour of secondary school youth in the Czech Republic. The research results are presented in the context of work of foreign experts, which have been published in recent years.
Differentiated Estimates of Valuation Multipliers based on Price-to-Book Ratio for the Czech Brewing Industry

This article focuses on the differentiated estimations of industry multipliers in relation to Price-Book Value ratio (P/BV) with applying for the Czech brewing industry. Differentiation of estimates brings better approximation of these sector-wide multipliers to the defined groups companies within the given markets and thus increases the accuracy of the method of relative business valuation. Due to the absence of market data on privately held companies, the market value was assessed using the DCF method, while the book value was taken from the enterprise's accounts. The assumption of the linearity of the market-book value relationship for the subsequent calculations and differentiation of P/BV estimations was verified using regression analysis. The differentiation of P/BV ratio was made according to the size of entities, but mainly based on equality of market and book value, respectively according to the equality P/BV = 1. Then our results were supplemented by the calculation of industry P/BV ratio using P/EAT ratio and ROE decomposition. Using this additional method, the brewing industry was compared with other relevant industries in the Czech Republic.
Feeding Behaviour of a Testudo Graeca Whitei Population in Mergueb Nature Reserve, Algeria

The diet of a population of the Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca whitei), in the Mergueb Nature Reserve in the Algerian steppe, was studied by direct observation. This tortoise population was fed selectively during the month of April when out of 40 different plant species as potential food, only 11 species were consumed. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2021, 7(2): 55-60
Characterization of intrinsic molecular structure spectral profiles of feedstocks and co-products from canola bio-oil processing: impacted by source origin

Objective Feed molecular structures can affect its availability to gastrointestinal enzymes which impact its digestibility and absorption. The molecular spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared vibrational spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is an advanced technique that measures the absorbance of chemical functional groups on the infrared region so that we can identify and quantify molecules and functional groups in a feed. The program aimed to reveal the association of intrinsic molecular structure with nutrient supply to animals from canola feedstocks and co-products from bio-oil processing. The objective of this study was to characterize special intrinsic carbohydrate and protein-related molecular structure spectral profiles of feedstock and co-products (meal and pellets) from bio-oil processing from two source origins: Canada (CA) and China (CH). Methods The samples of feedstock and co-products were obtained from five different companies in each country arranged by the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). The molecular structure spectral features were analyzed using advanced vibrational molecular spectroscopy-ATR-FTIR. The spectral features that accessed included: i) protein-related spectral features (Amide I, Amide II, α-helix, β-sheet, and their spectral intensity ratios), ii) carbohydrate-related spectral features (TC1, TC2, TC3, TC4, CEC, STC1, STC2, STC3, STC4, TC, and their spectral intensity ratios). Results The results showed that significant differences were observed on all vibrationally spectral features related to total carbohydrates, structural carbohydrates, and cellulosic compounds (p<0.05), except spectral features of TC2 and STC1 (p>0.05) of co-products, where CH meals presented higher peaks of these structures than CA. Similarly, it was for the carbohydrate-related molecular structure of canola seeds where the difference between CA and CH occurred except for STC3 height, CEC and STC areas (p>0.05). The protein-related molecular structures were similar for the canola seeds from both countries. However, CH meals presented higher peaks of amide I, α-helix, and β-sheet heights, α-helix:β-sheet ratio, total amide and amide I areas (p<0.05). Conclusion The principal component analysis was able to explain over 90% of the variabilities in the carbohydrate and protein structures although it was not able to separate the samples from the two countries, indicating feedstock and coproducts interrelationship between CH and CA.
A Strength Endurance Exercise Paradigm Mitigates Deficits in Hypoglossal-Tongue Axis Function, Strength, and Structure in a Rodent Model of Hypoglossal Motor Neuron Degeneration

The tongue plays a crucial role in the swallowing process, and impairment can lead to dysphagia, particularly in motor neuron diseases (MNDs) resulting in hypoglossal-tongue axis degeneration (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and progressive bulbar palsy). This study utilized our previously established inducible rodent model of dysphagia due to targeted degeneration of the hypoglossal-tongue axis. This model was created by injecting cholera toxin B conjugated to saporin (CTB-SAP) into the genioglossus muscle of the tongue base for retrograde transport to the hypoglossal (XII) nucleus via the hypoglossal nerve, which provides the sole motor control of the tongue. Our goal was to investigate the effect of high-repetition/low-resistance tongue exercise on tongue function, strength, and structure in four groups of male rats: (1) control + sham exercise (n = 13); (2) control + exercise (n = 10); (3) CTB-SAP + sham exercise (n = 13); and (4) CTB-SAP + exercise (n = 12). For each group, a custom spout with adjustable lick force requirement for fluid access was placed in the home cage overnight on days 4 and 6 post-tongue injection. For the two sham exercise groups, the lick force requirement was negligible. For the two exercise groups, the lick force requirement was set to ∼40% greater than the maximum voluntary lick force for individual rats. Following exercise exposure, we evaluated the effect on hypoglossal-tongue axis function (via videofluoroscopy), strength (via force-lickometer), and structure [via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brainstem and tongue in a subset of rats]. Results showed that sham-exercised CTB-SAP rats had significant deficits in lick rate, swallow timing, and lick force. In exercised CTB-SAP rats, lick rate and lick force were preserved; however, swallow timing deficits persisted. MRI revealed corresponding degenerative changes in the hypoglossal-tongue axis that were mitigated by tongue exercise. These collective findings suggest that high-repetition/low-resistance tongue exercise in our model is a safe and effective treatment to prevent/diminish signs of hypoglossal-tongue axis degeneration. The next step is to leverage our rat model to optimize exercise dosing parameters and investigate corresponding treatment mechanisms of action for future translation to MND clinical trials.
Comparison of Knowledge, Attitude, Anxiety, and Behaviours in Medical and Non-medical Students Towards COVID-19 Vaccination: A Need for Concern Amidst the Pandemic

Purpose: COVID-19, a pandemic declared on March 11th, 2020, makes it crucial for the whole world to control and ensure safety measures to control such infections in the future. Fear, worry, and panic remain widespread, especially among healthcare workers. We aimed to compare the knowledge, attitude, anxiety, and behaviours of medical and non-medical students towards vaccination against COVID-19. Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study for one month on the MBBS/BDS and undergraduate nonmedical students through an online questionnaire which consisted of a multiple choice KAP questionnaire consisting of four sections (i.e., socio-demographic details, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior). Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the variables predicting knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. Results: Vaccine hesitancy was detected in 17% of Undergraduate Medical Students, while the same was noted in 45% of non-medical students. 48.7% of medical students knew about different vaccines available in India for COVID-19 viz a viz the same in non-medical students was 49.5%. The majority of the students (35.8% medical and 48.6% non-medical) considered Covishield the best currently available vaccine in India. The majority of the students (Medical 86.5% and non-medical 75.2%) thought that the COVID-19 vaccine could reduce the spread of the disease in the community. In the multiple regression model, better socioeconomic status, holding nuclear families, and having a history of essential vaccinations uptake were linked with knowledge, while attitudes were substantially associated with being female and having a previous history of vital vaccines uptake. Conclusion: The results showed that medical students had sufficient knowledge, an optimistic attitude, and moderate levels of concern towards COVID-19. Vaccine hesitancy was much less among medical when compared to non-medical students. Expanding knowledge and regulatory oversight of vaccine research and the public release of safety data may lessen vaccine reluctance among students.
Quality management practices and sustainable performance: examining the role of soft TQM as mediator

Malaysian managers are trying to implement quality management (QM) practices in their industries to be competitive. However, few empirical studies are conducted in the developing economy of Malaysia to examine the role of TQM soft dimension (STQM) as possible mediator in the relationship among QMS ISO9001:2015 and sustainable performance (SP). Using 329 primary data collected from Malaysian numerous industries, this paper aims to develop a conceptual model that links the three practices namely QMS, STQM and SP in one integrated model and to examine the mediating structure of soft TQM (STQM) aspects through techniques exploited from structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings from AMOS program show that bootstrapping technique supported that STQM is treated as mediator construct. Full mediation is detected in this paper which reflects the importance of practising STQM aspects for Malaysian manufacturers. The main contribution of this paper is through introducing bootstrapping for mediating estimation and focusing on all measured industrial sectors that Malaysia needs to be an industrialised nation in the coming few years.
A Decision-Making Model for Selection of the Suitable FDM Machine Using Fuzzy TOPSIS

Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing has been playing a very important role in the manufacturing sector in recent decades. The AM basic process is meant to produce an object layer by layer and has many advantages that include the occurrence of only minimal production waste during production and easy manufacture of even the most geometrically complex materials. However, there are many challenging decision-making situations in the production of AM for its users, for example, the build chamber, material specification, technology types, and application requirements. This includes the choice of the best AM machine (AMM) from many AMM with slightly different features that are identical on the market, especially on a real-time basis. This research explored ways that AMM is to be selected using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) on a real-time basis. This includes the use of the MCDM fussy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to help select the most suitable fusion deposition modeling (FDM) for an Indian nongovernment organization (NGO) from nine different machines based on contemporary. Practice in this research paper, an Indian NGO is considered as a decision-maker in the choice of the best FDM machine based on nine common criteria because an NGO has prescribed nine different FDM machines and the NGO needs the help for the purchase of the suitable FDM to produce different fields of prototypes. The outcome of this research is to recommend a suitable FDM machine from the nine similar to slightly different features of FDM machines by the suggestion of the field experts (AM machine users). The contribution of this research is not only to enable the purchase of the suitable AM machine but also to reveal the various contemporary FDM machines and the general criteria to be considered in choosing them.
Luteal haemodynamics during spontaneous and induced luteolysis in crossbred cattle

The haemodynamics of CL during natural and induced luteolysis was studied in crossbred cattle using colour Doppler ultrasonography. In natural cycle, penetration of Doppler signals deep into the CL was observed during Day 15 â€“ 17 coinciding with the initiation of luteolysis. When PG was administered in the early luteal phase (Day 4), there was an increase in blood flow intensity in the periphery of CL, but when PG was administered in the mid luteal phase (Day 10), the intensified Doppler signals penetrated deep into the luteal parenchyma within two hours. There were no significant differences in velocity parameters and RI values between the treatment groups. Thus it was concluded that the characteristic difference in the intensity and nature of vascular perfusion was the determining factor for the initiation of luteolytic process in cattle.
Efficient and Accurate Modeling of the Surface Deflection of Thin Layers on Composite Substrates with Applications to Piezoelectric Parameter Measurements

The electrical and mechanical response of multilayered structures involving a piezoelectric layer and bull’s eye shaped electrodes is investigated. A boundary element method is employed based on spectral domain Green’s functions. With this method, the electric field distribution is determined first, and the local mechanical displacement in a second step. As will be shown, this allows us to exploit cylindrical symmetry for the electric surface charge distribution, but not for the vertical surface displacements. The effect of substrate bending due to in plane-stress, introduced by the piezoelectric constant d31, and the benefits of using bull’s eye electrode geometries with thick metallic backplates intended to reduce this effect are studied. A rigorous analysis and a largely simplified, but accurate approximation are compared. The application of this technique is demonstrated on a practical example for highly efficient and accurate determination of selected piezoelectric coefficients from surface topography measurements on such structures.
Cooperative Prescribed Performance Tracking Control for Multiple High-Speed Trains in Moving Block Signaling System

If high-speed trains move under a moving block signaling (MBS) system, it is a quite challengeable and significant issue to cooperate the multiple high-speed trains, such that they are separated safely and governed steadily. As an intelligent, comprehensive, and advanced modern train operation control system, the MBS system will definitely, in the near future, replace the widely used fixed block signaling system due to its modern communication, multi-source positioning, and advanced control method. Due to the involvement of several subsystems and lots of track-side equipment, such as radio block center (RBC), global system for mobile communications-railway (GSM-R), and so on, it is a nontrivial task to develop a reliable MBS system under complex operational environments, particularly without a pivotally cooperative control method for the movement of multiple high-speed trains. This paper addresses the cooperative control for multiple high-speed trains to achieve prescribed performance tracking, i.e., the speed and the position of high-speed trains are guaranteed to be confined to specific speed limitations and allowed distances ratified by automatic train protection and moving authority, respectively. The proposed control requires no prior information of the empirical parameters of the operational resistances and online adjusts by proper adaptation laws. Theoretical analysis and simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control methods.
Abnormal Voxel-Based Degree Centrality in Patients With Postpartum Depression: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health concern with significant consequences for mothers, their children, and their families. However, less is known about its underlying neuropathological mechanisms. The voxel-based degree centrality (DC) analysis approach provides a new perspective for exploring the intrinsic dysconnectivity pattern of whole-brain functional networks of PPD. Twenty-nine patients with PPD and thirty healthy postpartum women were enrolled and received resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans in the fourth week after delivery. DC image, clinical symptom correlation, and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analyses were performed to reveal the abnormalities of the whole-brain functional network in PPD. Compared with healthy controls (HCs), patients with PPD exhibited significantly increased DC in the right hippocampus (HIP.R) and left inferior frontal orbital gyrus (ORBinf.L). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the above two brain regions is all over 0.7. In the seed-based FC analyses, the PPD showed significantly decreased FC between the HIP.R and right middle frontal gyrus (MFG.R), between the HIP.R and left median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG.L), and between the ORBinf.L and the left fusiform (FFG.L) compared with HCs. The PPD showed significantly increased FC between the ORBinf.L and the right superior frontal gyrus, medial (SFGmed.R) compared with HCs. Mean FC between the HIP.R and DCG.L positively correlated with EDPS scores in the PPD group. This study provided evidence of aberrant DC and FC within brain regions in patients with PPD, which was associated with the default mode network (DMN) and limbic system (LIN). Identification of these above-altered brain areas may help physicians to better understand neural circuitry dysfunction in PPD.
Novel Presentation of Parechovirus Encephalitis in Children: Two Unique Cases

Human Parechovirus encephalitis is an uncommon infection. Very few of the cases have been reported in the literature so far. These reports are mainly about neonatal encephalitis, primarily affecting preterm neonates. Parechovirus encephalitis in otherwise healthy pediatric populations is a rare entity. Here, we present two unique pediatric cases secondary to Parechovirus infection, one with hemidystonia and another with acute onset of altered mental status, confusion, and headache.
Antioxidant and hepatoprotective potentials of olive (Olea europaea L. var. Sigoise) leaves against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in rats, and investigation of its constituents by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

The present work explored the preventive potential of ethanolic extract of Olea europaea L. (EEOE) leaves against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats. The fingerprint chromatogram of EEOE was determined by HPLC-MS analysis. The antioxidative potential of EEOE was determined by adopting three approved in vitro methods. The EEOE was orally given at a dose of 400 mg/kg, once a day, for 15 days continuously, succeeded by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of CCl4 (0.2%). The hepatoprotective potential was evaluated by estimating biochemical parameters including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in the bloodstream. In vivo, the antioxidant ability against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats was assessed by estimating the levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxidation in the liver tissues. Further, histological analyses were performed to evaluate the degree of hepatic damage. Nine compounds were identified in the EEOE, principally oleuropein, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and apigenin. The EEOE exhibited strong radical scavenging activity in DPPH assay. The EEOE significantly decreased the augmentation of serum cholesterol, TG, ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin contents. It also restored hepatic SOD, CAT, GSH-Px activities, and glutathione (GSH) amount, and lowered lipid peroxidation amount comparable to the standard silymarin. The biochemical data were complemented with histological conclusions. These findings are indicative of the protective potential of the EEOE against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, which is possibly related to the potent antioxidative capacity of its phenolic compounds.