Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Illuminate the unknown: evaluation of imputation procedures based on the SAVE survey

Questions about monetary variables (such as income, wealth or savings) are key components of questionnaires on household finances. However, missing information on such sensitive topics is a well-known phenomenon which can seriously bias any inference based only on complete-case analysis. Many imputation techniques have been developed and implemented in several surveys. Using the German SAVE data, a new estimation technique is necessary to overcome the upward bias of monetary variables caused by the initially implemented imputation procedure. The upward bias is the result of adding random draws to the implausible negative values predicted by OLS regressions until all values are positive. To overcome this problem the logarithm of the dependent variable is taken and the predicted values are retransformed to the original scale by Duan’s smearing estimate. This paper evaluates the two different techniques for the imputation of monetary variables implementing a simulation study, where a random pattern of missingness is imposed on the observed values of the variables of interest. A Monte-Carlo simulation based on the observed data shows the superiority of the newly implemented smearing estimate to construct the missing data structure. All waves are consistently imputed using the new method.
USING CFD TO MODEL THE INTERACTION OF A HORIZONTAL FEED JET ON FLUIDIZED BED HYDRODYNAMICS

Fluidized beds are used in the North Albertan petroleum industry for processing the rich oil sands reserves. These very large fluidized bed cokers represent a major capital investment and modifications are costly. Advanced design tools and predictive methods such as CFD are desired to test case designs before implementation. At the University of Alberta, we are using CFX 4.2 from AEA Technologies to model the interaction of a horizontal gas feed jet with the fluidized bed hydrodynamics. Preliminary results of gas jet penetration into the bed compare favorably with correlations by Merry (1971). Model validation is being conducted against a smaller experimental fluidized bed to study the effect of discretization scheme (lower order schemes versus TVD schemes), grid refinement and model assumptions. Simulation results will be used to predict the optimal feed nozzle placement within the industrial fluidized beds. With this study we hope to be able to make quantitative comparisons between simulation results and experimental data.
Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Sonographers during Abdominal and Pelvic Sonography

Introduction: Identification of scan specific risk factors is crucial for controlling the increasing incidence ofwork-related musculoskeletal disorders in sonographers. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to conduct a physical ergonomic assessment of sonographers during abdominal and pelvic sonographies by RULA method and to study if any correlation exists between symptoms and RULA. Settings and Design: Cross sectional study design; Multicentric, tertiary health care centers. Methodology: 50 sonographers performing procedures for at least one year and consenting to participate were included in the study. Information of demographic and workload data along with past and present history of musculoskeletal symptoms which they attributed to work-related practices was obtained via questionnaires. RULA assessment was conducted while the sonologist was performing an abdominal/obstetric sonography scan, as it encompasses the major workload of sonologist. Statistical Analysis: Analysis of symptom prevalence and mean RULA scores was done and further statistical analysis was performed by Pearson’s correlation statistics to check if any relationship exists between the RULA and symptoms. Result:58% sonographers reported neck pain, 32% low back and 13% upper back pain, 40% wrist and hand, 14% shoulder pain in the last week. The average total right RULA score and total left RULA score were 6.3 and 5.6 respectively. Statistical correlation represents mildpositivecorrelation (r=0.42, p<0.002*) between neck, trunk and leg RULA score and upper limb symptoms and weak (r=0.47,p<0.000*) relationship between right upper limb RULA scoreand spine symptoms. Conclusion: The one-week prevalence of work-related symptoms were 84% andone-year prevalencewas 58% in the sonographers participating in this study.The high RULA scores(>5)recorded in this study demand urgent attention and need to implement ergonomic changes in the working postures of sonographers.
Effects of soot deposition on particle dynamics and microbial processes in marine surface waters

Large amounts of soot are continuously deposited on the global ocean. Even though significant concentrations of soot particles are found in marine waters, the effects of these aerosols on ocean ecosystems are currently unknown. Using a combination of in situ and experimental data, and results from an atmospheric transport model, we show that the deposition of soot particles from an oil‐fired power plant impacted biogeochemical properties and the functioning of the pelagic ecosystem in tropical oligotrophic oceanic waters off New Caledonia. Deposition was followed by a major increase in the volume concentration of suspended particles, a change in the particle size spectra that resulted from a stimulation of aggregation processes, a 5% decrease in the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), a decreases of 33 and 23% in viral and free bacterial abundances, respectively, and a factor ~2 increase in the activity of particle‐attached bacteria suggesting that soot introduced in the system favored bacterial growth. These patterns were confirmed by experiments with natural seawater conducted with both soot aerosols collected in the study area and standard diesel soot. The data suggest a strong impact of soot deposition on ocean surface particles, DOC, and microbial processes, at least near emission hot spots.
TRUST FACTORS AFFECTING B2C E-COMMERCE

Today e-services are shortening the duration of business transactions and reducing their costs. They can, therefore, be described as a real revolution. E-Services need a single computer and a modern communication tool to do the job. In e-commerce, business-to-customer (B2C) defined as achieving attention, market orientation, perceived security, technological trust and excellence in relationships between vendor and clients. However, trust in the fulfilment of these services is highly significant. Therefore, to ensure the safety of these companies, fulfilment of commercial and legal regulations and the determination of consumer commitments are critical. In earlier studies, some factors affecting trust in B2C e-commerce environments have proposed. However, insufficient studies are showing a conceptual model and the relationships among those factors. In this study, based on the analysis of the results of earlier studies, a conceptual model is developed showing the factors affecting trust in B2C ecommerce and the relationships among these factors.
Stability of Experimental Results: Forecasts and Evidence

How robust are experimental results to changes in design? And can researchers anticipate which changes matter most? We consider a real-effort task with multiple behavioral treatments and examine the stability along six dimensions: (i) pure replication, (ii) demographics, (iii) geography and culture, (iv) the task, (v) the output measure, and (vi) the presence of a consent form. We find near-perfect replication of the experimental results and full stability of the results across demographics, significantly higher than a group of experts expected. The results differ instead across task and output change, mostly because the task change adds noise to the findings. (JEL C90, D82, D91)
Generating opportunities for SMEs to develop partnerships and improve performance

This research aimed to generate opportunities for UK construction companies, particularly contractors and consultancies with 50 to 150 employees to improve relationships with clients and to increase effectiveness through the exploitation of communication procedures and technologies. The research team used an action learning approach to work with managers from construction companies and housing associations to design and deliver support mechanisms, such as industry workshops, specific to the needs of SMEs. Analysis of the results showed how, as a result of interacting with other groups within a non-adversarial environment and benefiting from the process, partnering and performance improvement came to be seen as both desirable and possible. The trust and confidence generated from working together successfully also led construction SMEs to share good practice with others from the industry, including local competitors. The authors propose that SMEs should be treated as ‘leaders’ and ‘full partners’ within the programme for UK industry improvement being championed by Sir John Egan (1998), rather than simply recipients. It is also suggested that governments provide further support to ensure participation from small and micro firms. Cette étude a pour objectif de geénérer des opportunités pour les entreprises britanniques du bâtiment, notamment pour les entrepreneurs et les bureaux d'ingénieurs conseil employant de 50 à 150 personnes, afin d'améliorer les relations avec la clientè le et accroîitre l'efficacité grâce à l'exploitation des procédures et des technologies de communication. Lors de ses travaux avec les responsables de la construction et de l'habitat, l'équipe de recherche a adopté une approche basée sur l'apprentissage des processus afin de concevoir et de fournir des mécanismes de support, tels que des ateliers industriels, spécifiques aux besoins des PME. L'analyse des résultats a révelé la fąon dont, suite à l'interaction avec d'autres groupes au sein d'un environnement non concurrentiel et tirant avantage du processes, l'amélioration du partenariat et des performances pouvait s'avérer à la fois souhaitable et possible. La confiance générée par la réussite de la collaboration a également conduit les PME du bâtiment à partager leurs bonnes pratiques avec d'autres acteurs de l'industrie, concurrents locaux inclus. Les auteurs proposent de traiter les PME en tant que ‘leaders’ et ‘partenaires à part entière’ dans le cadre du programme pour l'amélioration de l'industrie britannique défendu par Sir John Egan (1998), et non comme de simples récipiendaires. Il est également suggéré que les gouvernements fournissent d'autres subventions pour garantir la participation des petites et des micro-entreprises.
Studies in optimal configuration of the LTP

Brightness preservation requirements for ever brighter synchrotron radiation and free electron laser beamlines require surface slope tolerances of x-ray optics on the order of 0.2 μrad, or better. Hence, the accuracy of dedicated surface slope metrology must be 0.1 μrad, or even less. Achieving this level of measurement accuracy with the flagship instrument at synchrotron radiation metrology laboratories, the Long Trace Profiler (LTP), requires all significant sources of systematic, random, and instrumental drift errors to be identified, and reduced or eliminated. In this respect, the performance of certain components of the Advanced Light Source LTP-II design [Kirschman, et al., Proc. SPIE, 7077, 70770A-12 (2008)] is analyzed, considering the principal justification for inclusion of each component, possible systematic error due to the quality of its optical material, and drift effects due to generated heat, etc. We investigate the effects of replacement of the existing diode laser with a fiber-coupled laser light source, and demonstrate that reducing the number of components by using a single beam on the surface under test (SUT), rather than an original double beam maintains, or even improves the accuracy of measurement with our LTP. Based on the performance of the upgraded LTP, we trace the further steps for improving of the LTP optical system.
The role of protest scenario in the neural response to the supportive communication

People are capable of understanding the suffering of distant others and of their personal responsibility in this suffering. The communication of harm and self-responsibility in the suffering of others leads to greater moral sensitivity. Two studies were carried out to test our hypotheses. In study 1, we analysed the emotional response to the scripts by using a correlational study. In study 2, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate brain activation associated with the communication of harm and self-responsibility in a moral scenario on supportive communication. Direct comparison between donor and protest scenarios yielded a significant activation in the left amygdala usually associated with moral emotions. Responses in supportive communication scenarios show that donors can feel personally involved in a moral issue if they perceive the harm and their self-responsibility. Our results suggest that the creation of a communications structure on the basis of social condemnation increases moral sensitivity to poverty. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of monsoon on the distribution of organic carbon in inner continental shelf core sediments, South China Sea, Malaysia

Three short sediment cores (12-32 cm) from South China Sea off Southern Terengganu were collected during May (post-Northeast monsoon) and September (pre-Northeast monsoon) 2007. The concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) obtained ranged from 0.41-2.23 and 0.38-2.31% during post and pre-monsoon, respectively. TOC concentration was found to decrease with depth and distance from the coast and river mouth. In particular, station with close proximity to the coast exhibits most pronounced variation of TOC with depth. Besides spatial variation, it is noted that the seasonal variations also considerably affect the distribution and concentrations of TOC, where both near and offshore sampling stations showed significant variations in TOC content during May and September sampling. These findings suggest the importance of terrestrial organic carbon flux, physical mixing and seasonal variations in regulating the concentration and distribution of the organic carbon in the study area.
The Effect of Interest Rate Fluctuation on the Economic Growth of Nigeria, 1970-2010

The main thrust of this study was to investigate the effect of interest rate fluctuation on the economic growth of Nigeria. Two research hypotheses were formulated to investigate the relationship between interest rate and economic growth and the difference in economic growth before and after interest rate deregulation regime in Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for this study. Data for the study were obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin. Data collected were analyzed and tested using the ordinary least square multiple regression analytical technique. The result of the findings revealed that: there existed an inverse relationship between interest rate and economic growth in Nigeria, meaning that increase in interest rate will decrease GDP of the country, thus retarding growth of the real sector. It was recommended that a strong monetary policy for Nigeria should be evolved that would enhance lending to the real sector economy for productive economic activities.
Enhancing resilience in urban water systems for future cities

In future cities, urban water systems (UWSs) should be designed not only for safe provision of services but should also be resilient to emerging or unexpected threats that lead to catastrophic system failure impacts and consequences. Resilience can potentially be built into UWSs by implementing a range of strategies, for example by embedding redundancy and flexibility in system design, or by rehabilitation to increase their ability to maintain acceptable customer service levels during unexpected system failures. In this work, a new resilience analysis is carried out to investigate the performance of a water distribution system (WDS) and an urban drainage system (UDS) during pipe failure scenarios. Using simplified synthetic networks, the effect of implementing adaptation (resilient design) strategies on minimising the loss of system functionality and cost of UWSs is investigated. Study results for the WDS case study show that the design strategy in which flexibility is enhanced ensures that all customers are served during single pipe failure scenarios. The results of the UDS case study indicate that the design strategy incorporating upstream distributed storage tanks minimises flood volume and mean duration of nodal flooding by 50.1% and 46.7%, respectively, even when system functionality is significantly degraded. When costs associated with failure are considered, resilient design strategies could prove to be more cost-effective over the design life of UWSs.
Standardization and 'in vivo'-like enzyme activity measurements in yeast

The aim of this study was to standardize the cultivation conditions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the in-vitro enzyme activity assays between different laboratories. Furthermore, the conditions under which the enzyme activity measurements were carried out were adapted such that they would be as close as possible to in vivo conditions, thus yielding results which are relevant for Systems Biology. This approach is different from the classical enzymologists’ approach which is to optimize for the highest catalytic activity. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain CEN.PK113–7D was cultured in aerobic, glucoselimited chemostats under standardized conditions. It was shown that, in accordance with earlier interlab comparisons, the main culture characteristics, including biomass, dry weight, glucose flux, and mRNA levels of glycolytic enzymes were comparable between five different laboratories. As could be expected, the Vmax values of the glycolytic enzymes were lower when measured under in vivo-like conditions than in optimized assays, but still sufficient to account for the glycolytic capacity of the cells. The addition of a crowding agent (polyethylene glycol) hardly affected the measured enzyme activities.
Factors Contributing to Record-Breaking Heat Waves over the Great Plains during the 1930s Dust Bowl

AbstractRecord-breaking summer heat waves were experienced across the contiguous United States during the decade-long “Dust Bowl” drought in the 1930s. Using high-quality daily temperature observations, the Dust Bowl heat wave characteristics are assessed with metrics that describe variations in heat wave activity and intensity. Despite the sparser station coverage in the early record, there is robust evidence for the emergence of exceptional heat waves across the central Great Plains, the most extreme of which were preconditioned by anomalously dry springs. This is consistent with the entire twentieth-century record: summer heat waves over the Great Plains develop on average ~15–20 days earlier after anomalously dry springs, compared to summers following wet springs. Heat waves following dry springs are also significantly longer and hotter, indicative of the importance of land surface feedbacks in heat wave intensification. A distinctive anomalous continental-wide circulation pattern accompanied exceptio.
The Frequency of Virulence Factor Production in Clinical Isolates of Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia

J Babol Univ Med Sci; 18(10); Oct 2016; PP: 53-9 Received: Apr 14 2016, Revised: Jun 1 2016, Accepted: Sep 26 2016. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is known as an emerging bacterium in the world, associated with a wide range of diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the virulence factors of these bacteria including extracellular enzymes, ability to form biofilm and rpfF gene involved in quorum sensing. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using urine samples, blood and sputum samples, swab samples of oxygen manometer system and tap-water of hospitals as well as dental suction. Bacteria identification was done using culture methods and biochemical tests and to confirm the existence of bacteria, presence of 23S rRNA gene was assessed using real-time PCR method. Isolates were studied in terms of gelatinase, hemolysin, hyaluronidase, lecithinase, lipase and protease enzymes using phenotypic method and biofilm formation using microplate method. Moreover, existence of rpfF gene in isolates was investigated using PCR method. FINDINGS: 100% of isolates contained rpfF gene. Most isolates contained gelatinase (90%), hemolysin (85%), protease (75%), lecithinase (90%), lipase (75%) and hyaluronidase (100%) enzymes. Biofilm formation was not observed in 15% of isolates; 45% of isolates had weak power of biofilm formation; 40% of isolates had moderate power of biofilm formation and none of the isolates had strong power of biofilm formation. Correlation between hemolysin and lipase, hemolysin and lecithinase, and lecithinase and lipase variables was significant. CONCLUSION: Results of the study demonstrated that bacteria isolates contained various virulence factors including rpfF gene that produce diffusion signal factor which is essential for quorum sensing and were highly capable of producing extracellular enzymes and forming biofilm.
Flexural properties of alkaline treated sugar palm fibre reinforced epoxy composites

A study of the effect of alkaline treatment on the flexural properties of sugar palm fibre reinforced epoxy composites is presented in this paper. The composites were reinforced with 10% weight fraction of the fibres. The fibres were treated using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with 0.25 M and 0.5 M concentration solution for 1 hour, 4 hours and 8 hours soaking time. The purpose of treating fibres with alkali was to enhance the interfacial bonding between matrix and fibre surfaces. The maximum flexural strength occurred at 0.25 M NaOH solution with 1 hour of soaking time, i.e 96.71 MPa, improving by 24.41% from untreated fibre composite. But, the maximum flexural modulus took place at 0.5 M NaOH solution with 4 hours soaking time, i.e. 6948 MPa, improving by 148% from untreated composite.
Seasonal changes in clinical parameters of Bos indicus , Bos taurus and Bos indicus x taurus bulls raised on Zambian commercial farms

Tel. :+260977421363 The primary objective of the study was to assess the relationships of age, Scrotal circumference (SC), month and Body condition score (BCS) of Bos indicus, Bos taurus and Bos indicus x taurus bulls raised on Zambian commercial farms. This was a retrospective study involving 1007 bull breeding soundness data from January 2014 to November 2015. The bull population comprised of 314 Bos indicus, 139 Bos indicus x taurus and 554 Bos taurus bulls. There was a positive correlation between age and SC (r = 0.704, p<0.01). Breed had a weak positive correlation with SC and BCS (r = 0.230 and r= 0.113, respectively, p<0.01). The Bos taurus bulls had the largest SC compared to the Bos indicus and their crosses. There was a weak positive correlation between BCS and SC (p = 0.328, p<0.01), and negative correlations between month and SC, month and BCS (p =-0.214, and p =0.448, respectively, p<0.01). About 50% of the variation in SC was explained by the change in age of the bull. In conclusion, it is important to consider the relationships of age, BCS, SC of different Zambian commercial breeds of bulls when selecting bulls for breeding programmes throughout the year.