Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Distribution of Ocular Biometry in Iranian School Children

Purpose: To determine the distribution of axial length (AL), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), lens power (LP), radius of curvature (CR), and white-towhite corneal diameter (WTW) in the 14-20 year age range Methods: In a cross-sectional study, sampling was done from Aligoodarz high schools using multistage simple cluster sampling. For all students, visual acuity and non-cycloplegic refraction tests were performed. Biometric components were measured using Allegro Biograph (WaveLight AG, Erlangen, Germany). Results: In this report, data from 434 cases was used in the analysis; of these 222 (51.2%) were females. Mean and 95% confidence intervals of AL, VCD, ACD, LT, LP, CR, and WTW in the studied sample were 23.4 mm (23.32 to 23.48), 16.82 mm (16.74 to 16.9), 3.14 mm (3.12 to 3.16), 3.44 mm (3.42 to 3.46), 22.65 diopter (22.47 to 22.83), 7.74 mm (7.72 to 7.76), and 12.26 mm (12.22 to 12.3), respectively. In the multiple regression model, AL, VCD, ACD, CR, and WTW was significantly higher in boys while mean LT and LP were significantly higher in girls. The distributions of AL, ACD, LT, and CR were significantly different from normal. The distributions of AL, LT, and CR were leptokurtic, unlike ACD which had a platykurtic distribution pattern. Conclusion: In this report, we describe the normal ranges of ocular biometric components in a sample population of 14-20 year old Iranians. ACD in this study was shorter and WTW was larger than previous studies and other components were in the midrange. More studies throughout Iran are needed to verify a shorter ACD and larger WTW. All components of ocular biometry showed significant inter-gender differences.
Air Polluted Environment and Health Effects

1.1 The general problem of pollution The natural environment in which we live in is ever-increasingly threatened by human activity (Theophanides, M. et al 2002). Both the inhabited and uninhabited environment is threatened and one such indication is the changes of the climate (Theophanides, T. et al. 2002). Furthermore, as of 2006, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List contains over 15,000 species threatened with extinction (M. Theophanides et al. 2007, 2007, Touloumi et al. 1994, Katsouyanni 2003, ArribasMonzon, et al. 2001, 1998, Yang, et al. 2004; Kotzias, 2003). The assessment includes species from a broad range of taxonomic groups including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fungi. Human health is threatened with diseases and early mortality and is even more prevalent in emerging economies facing rapid industrialization. There is increasing evidence that global warming also contributes to a higher rate of disease growth and propagation. Epidemiological studies (The MACBETH project 1999: IT070, Jerrett M. et al 2004; Samoli E.et al 2003, Tunnicliffe et al. 2003; Filleul L, et al 2003, Basu R. & Samet J. M., 2002, Le Tertre A. et al. 2002, Dominici F., 2002, Sunyer & Basagana 2001) of occupational diseases on the working population are showing the ill effects of the environment on people working in a contaminated environment over a lifetime of employment. The study of occupational diseases is becoming an ever-increasing problem to be investigated (Kunzli 2001). The social and economic (Kunzli 2001) evolution inevitably produced stress situations in the environment resulting in population density increases that were difficult to handle efficiently using existing infrastructures and continuing increasing urbanization of cities. On the other hand, while we are quite aware of the sources of pollution, a great deal of research is still needed to recognize the effects on health, the climate, extinguishing species and their role in the evolutionary and food-supply chain. We must also educate individual citizens about pollution starting with even the simplest of things such as recycling, reducing their dependency on the automobile, and not littering. Exposure to pollution from gaseous pollutants diminishes the quality of atmospheric air that we breathe can induce diseases and deaths in increased numbers in the population when the values of pollutants are exceeding the recommended safe thresholds. The most vulnerable to such effects are the elderly, children and those already afflicted with health problems.
Thermo-vacuum modification of spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and fir (Abies alba Mill.) wood

The study presents results of the characterization of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and fir (Abies alba Mill.) wood thermally modified by TERMOVUOTO® technology at temperatures in the range of 160 to 220°C in vacuum conditions. Sixteen thermo-vacuum treatment tests were carried out using a pilot laboratory unit on 30-mm-thick spruce and fir boards in various combinations of the process parameters, i.e. temperature ( T ), duration ( t), and pressure ( p ). The treated material was characterized to reveal the changes of the physical-mechanical properties including color and durability. The treated wood showed an improved performance with relation to the dimensional stability and durability. The measured mechanical properties did not show any significant decrease. Analytical models, based on the existing correlations between wood properties and process parameters, were assessed, thus allowing the control of the process.
Historical reconstruction of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation from the ECMWF operational ocean reanalysis

A reconstruction of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) for the period 1959–2006 has been derived from the ECMWF operational ocean reanalysis. The reconstruction shows a wide range of time‐variability, including a downward trend. At 26N, both the MOC intensity and changes in its vertical structure are in good agreement with previous estimates based on trans‐Atlantic surveys. At 50N, the MOC and strength of the subpolar gyre are correlated at interannual time scales, but show opposite secular trends. Heat transport variability is highly correlated with the MOC but shows a smaller trend due to the warming of the upper ocean, which partially compensates for the weakening of the circulation. Results from sensitivity experiments show that although the time‐varying upper boundary forcing provides useful MOC information, the sequential assimilation of ocean data further improves the MOC estimation by increasing both the mean and the time variability.
Spatially resolved microwave pulsations of a flare loop

A microwave burst with quasi-periodic pulsations was studied with high spatial resolution using observations with the Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH). We found that the time profiles of the microwave emission at 17 and 34 GHz exhibit quasi-periodic (with two well defined periods P1 = 14-17 s and P2 = 8-11 s) variations of the intensity at different parts of an observed flaring loop. Detailed Fourier analysis shows the P1 spectral component to be dominant at the top, while the P2 one near the feet of the loop. The 14-17 s pulsations are synchronous at the top and in both legs of the loop. The 8-11 s pulsations at the legs are well correlated with each other but the correlation is not so obvious with the pulsations at the loop top. For this P2 spectral component, a definite phase shift, P2/4 ≈ 2.2 s, between pulsations in the northern leg and loop top parts of the loop have been found. The length of the flaring loop is estimated as L = 25 Mm (≈34 �� ) and its average width at half intensity at 34 GHz as about 6 Mm (≈8 �� ). Microwave diagnostics shows the loop to be filled with a dense plasma with the number density n0 ≈ 10 11 cm −3 , penetrated by the magnetic field changing from B0 ≈ 100 G near the loop top up to B0 ≈ 200 G near the north footpoint. A comparative analysis of different MHD modes of the loop demonstrates the possibility of the simultaneous existence of two modes of oscillations in the loop: the global sausage mode, with the period P1 = 14-17 s and the nodes at the footpoints, and a higher harmonics mode (possibly with the radial wave number l > 1), with P2 = 8-11 s.
N ° 402 INEQUALITY , ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE : THEORETICAL LINKS AND EVI ENCE FROM LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

This paper summarizes the theoretical literature of the connections between inequality, economic growth and structural change and presents evidence of these connections for a sample of twelve Latin American countries in period 1980-2011. This suggests that the low degree of structural change has caused a statistical impact on inequality and economic growth in only four and one countries respectively. Consequently, this result rejects the conjecture that structural change has been growth reducing in Latin America. The absence of a statistical causal relationship from structural change to economic growth may be because sectoral labor reallocation does not take into account informal activities. On the other hand, coverage of the causal effects of growth and/or inequality on structural change has been greater than the respective effects of structural change on inequality and/or economic growth. Seven Latin American countries experienced those causal effects.
Empirical Literature on Joint Ventures Success: a Review of Performance Measures and of Factors Affecting Longevity

This research attempts to identify trends as for findings of empirical studies on explanatory factors of joint venture (JV) success. The first part of the paper provides a list of performance criteria used in the literature and suggests a classification of the latter. The second part analyses determinants of JV longevity. It reveals that : (1) three categories of factors have a significant impact : the characteristics of the agreement, of the partners and of the environment ; (2) three explanations are given : these factors influence the potential for value-creation of the alliance, the risk of conflict and/or the difficulty in dissolving the relationship ; (3) available findings are not contradictory ; (4) no variable has an opposite effect on the probability of JV dissolution and JV acquisition ; (5) several research directions remain to be explored.
Bayesian analysis for the bivariate Poisson regression model: Applications to road safety countermeasures

Abstract We consider a bivariate Poisson regression model to analyze discrete count datawhen two dependent variables are present. We estimate the regression coecients as-sociated with several safety countermeasures. We use Markov chain and Monte Carlotechniques to execute some computations. A simulation and real data analysis are per-formed to demonstrate model tting performances of the proposed model.Keywords: Accident prediction model, bivariate Poisson distribution, Gibbs sampler,Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, safety countermeasure. 1. Introduction Analysis of discrete count data has been done in various elds, including applied sciences,economics, and transportation engineering. Several models have been proposed in recentdecades to analyze these count data, especially trac crash data. Modeling these data beginswith the multiple linear regression model (MLR) in conjunction with normality assumptionsand homoscedasticity on error terms. The MLR is conceptually sound and computationallyfeasible in estimating regression coecients and explaining correlations between variables.However, these conditions are not compatible with characteristics of crash data. Jovanis andChang (1986) initially propose the Poisson regression model (PRM) to circumvent theselimitations. However, because the Poisson distribution has the same mean and variance, itdoes not often reect typical characteristics such as substantial overdispersion contained incount data. A great deal of work regarding model building for crash data has been basedon the negative binomial regression model (NBRM). See Persaud (1991, 1994), Persaud andDzbik (1993), Lord and Persaud (2004) for the related work based on the NBRM.
Assessing Geography as a Barrier in Choosing to Undergo Genetic Testing in a Cohort of Young Women with Breast Cancer

ii Dedication.iv Acknowledgements.v Vita.vi List of Tables.ix Chapter 1: Background.1 Geography as a Barrier.8 Rural Location as a Barrier.8 Increased Travel Time for Care.8 Physician Shortage in Rural Areas.10 Lack of Educational Resources for Rural Physicians.12 Rural Physicians Under Refer High-Risk Patients.14 Strong Patient-Physician Relationship in Rural Communities.17 Decreased Understanding of Cancer/Cancer Genetics and Its Value in Individuals from Rural Areas.20 Discrepancies in Geographic Categorization.21 Hypothesis and Specific Aims.22 Chapter 2: Methods.25
Architectural Style and Quantification of a Submarine Channel–Levee System Located in a Structurally Complex Area: Offshore Nile Delta

Abstract A Pleistocene channel–levee system located in a structurally complex area of the offshore Nile Delta is studied using a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) seismic dataset. The seismic facies and stacking patterns are characterized and quantitative analysis of its morphology (e.g., thalweg longitudinal profile, relief, width, and levee thickness) is utilized to understand the controls on channelized-flow processes and resultant architecture. Overall a change downslope from a degradational to aggradational style is observed, which can be related to the concave-up slope profile. In comparison to other channel–levee systems the Noor has a shorter length scale and displays a steepened thalweg slope. This is interpreted to be influenced by structural movements and an associated knickpoint, which controlled a change in flow processes (e.g., velocity, turbulence, and thickness) and the associated location of the canyon to channel–levee transition zone. An unusual feature of downslope levee thickening is observed. Instead of the normal reduction in overbank sedimentation downslope, it is suggested that structural modification causing relative steepening of seabed topography resulted in increased turbidity-current velocity, fluid volume discharge, and associated sediment load, which overcame the normal downslope loss of sediment due to overbank sedimentation. This study shows that architectural style is strongly linked to slope topography, and that structural movements can influence the slope profile and flow process, resulting in modification of the morphology and dimensions of channel–levee systems.
The Pacific‐Atlantic seesaw and the Bering Strait

Paleo proxy data and previous modeling studies both indicate that the massive discharge of icebergs into the North Atlantic may have led to a (nearly) collapsed Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), resulting in a seesaw‐like climate change between the North Pacific and North Atlantic, with a warming in the former and a cooling in the latter. Here by using a fully coupled climate model, we show that this Pacific‐Atlantic seesaw associated with changes of the AMOC can only occur when the Bering Strait is closed. As this strait is closed, the oceanic communication between the North Pacific and Atlantic is cut off. When AMOC collapses, the North Atlantic becomes cooler, but the North Pacific becomes warmer due to the buildup of the Pacific meridional overturning circulation which transports more warm and salty subtropical water into the North Pacific, leading to seesaw‐like climate changes in the two ocean basins.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Contraceptive Use among Secondary School Students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The rapid increase in the proportion of sexually active adolescents is exposing large numbers of youths to the risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Promotion and strengthening of reproductive health education and services, especially among adolescents requires access to current baseline data on knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among adolescents, including secondary school students. This data is very scanty for Tanzania. The aim of this work was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraceptive use among secondary school students in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania. Ilala district of Dar es salaam has a high concentration of secondary schools enrolling a cosmopolitan population of students hailing from most regions of the country. These come from various social-economic backgrounds effectively representing the general Tanzanian population. The study was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive study. Secondary school students aged 14 to 19 years were interviewed on their knowledge, attitude and practice on contraceptive use using a structured questionnaire. A total of 200 students (126 females, 74 males) participated in the study. Knowledge on contraceptive use was found to be good to average (75%). Knowledge and prevalence of contraceptive use was found to increase with age, current use and positive attitude. Female students had better knowledge on contraception than male students. Good knowledge on contraception did not translate into increased use, the prevalence of use being only 34% as compared to 75% of students with average to good knowledge. More students reported using the male condom for contraception. Most students (69.5%) mentioned pharmacies and drug stores as their main source of contraceptives. These findings underscore the need for early education on human sexuality and the benefits of family planning. Health care providers, including pharmacists, must be trained to be able to provide adequate basic contraceptive services to adolescents and the general public. There is need to improve access to contraceptive services by adolescents. Keywords: Contraceptives knowledge, attitude to contraception, practice of contraception, secondary school students East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 13 (2010) 43-49
Management Teams’ Composition and Academic Spin-Offs’ Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Theoretical Approach

This chapter has been designed with the purpose of providing a theoretical approach regarding the influence of both the composition of academic spin-offs’ management teams and the entrepreneurial orientation exhibited by such firms on the performance of academic spin-offs. To this end, we have drawn on the main theoretical premises of the upper echelon theory, and we have specifically focused on the impact exerted by the proportion of nonacademic managers within management teams, the heterogeneity of such teams with respect to the age and main educational area of their managers, as well as the potential mediating role of the entrepreneurial orientation. From the literature review carried out and the main arguments of the chapter will be expected a further empirical development.
Anti-tumor activity of dendritic cell-cytokine induced killer cells ( DC-CIKs ) sensitized to HER 2 against HER-positive breast cancer cells

This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of cytokineinduced killer cells (CIKs) and Her2 epitope peptide-sensitized dendritic cells (DCs), when co-cultured with Her2-positive MCF-7 cells. DCs were separated from the Her epitope peptide-sensitized peripheral blood; the Her epitope combines directly with the MHC-II molecule on the DC surface. The DCs were co-cultured with autologous CIKs. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ELISA kits were used to detect cytotoxicity of CIKs against MCF-7 breast cancer cells; IL-12 and IFN-γ levels were also analyzed in the supernatant of the culture medium. CIKs activated by DCs sensitized by anchored Her polypeptide antigen have greater cytotoxicity against MCF-7 than CIKs alone or non-anchored antigen sensitized DCs-CIKs (P < 0.01); the IL-12 and IFN-γ levels in the supernatant were higher than that of the control (P < 0.01). In conclusion, DCs anchored by polypeptide antigen alone or in combination with effector cells can be used to develop therapeutic DC vaccines against breast cancer.
cytochrome P 450 1 B 1 , 1 C 2 and 1 D 1 genes in the killifish Fundulus eteroclitus : Basal expression and response of five killifish CYP 1 s to the AHR gonist PCB 126

Knowledge of the complement of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes is essential to understanding detoxification and bioactivation mechanisms for organic contaminants. We cloned three new CYP1 genes, CYP1B1, CYP1C2 and CYP1D1, from the killifish Fundulus heteroclitus, an important model in environmental toxicology. Expression of the new CYP1s along with previously known CYP1A and CYP1C1 was measured by qPCR in eight different organs. Organ distribution was similar for the two CYP1Cs, but otherwise patterns and extent of expression differed among the genes. The AHR agonist 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) (31 pmol/g fish) induced expression of CYP1A and CYP1B1 in all organs examined, while CYP1C1 was induced in all organs except testis. The largest changes in response to PCB126 were induction of CYP1A in testis (∼700-fold) and induction of CYP1C1 in liver (∼500-fold). CYP1B1 in liver and gut, CYP1A in brain and CYP1C1 in gill also were induced strongly by PCB126 (>100-fold). CYP1C1 expression lev-
Widespread spin polarization effects in photoemission from topological insulators

High-resolution spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (spin-ARPES) was performed on the three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3 using a recently developed high-efficiency spectrometer. The topological surface state's helical spin structure is observed, in agreement with theoretical prediction. Spin textures of both chiralities, at energies above and below the Dirac point, are observed, and the spin structure is found to persist at room temperature. The measurements reveal additional unexpected spin polarization effects, which also originate from the spin-orbit interaction, but are well differentiated from topological physics by contrasting momentum and photon energy and polarization dependencies. These observations demonstrate significant deviations of photoelectron and quasiparticle spin polarizations. Our findings illustrate the inherent complexity of spin-resolved ARPES and demonstrate key considerations for interpreting experimental results.
Thermal Comfort in Naturally Ventilated Classrooms

Thermal comfort study is very important because it correlates occupants comfort in built environment to the functioning of the building and energy consumption. PMV-PPD method works fairly well for conditioned buildings. However, this method does not provide expected results when applied to naturally ventilated buildings. Naturally ventilated buildings are much more dynamic compared to conditioned buildings in terms of thermal environment and occupant’s behaviour in the built environment. In this study, questionnaire based thermal comfort survey has been carried out in naturally ventilated classrooms of Tezpur University during the months of February and May 2013 i.e. at the end of the winter season and the beginning of summer. Thermal sensation and preferences of 228 students are recorded on ASHRAE thermal sensation scale. Various associated parameters like indoor and outdoor air temperature, humidity, clothing and metabolic rate are also measured. The results reveal that the subjects did not feel extreme levels of thermal discomfort during this period. It has been observed that there is a large variation in the clothing pattern (0.83 to 1.52 clo in winter and 0.43 to 0.68 clo in summer) in both the seasons which justify the behavioural, physiological and psychological adaptation of the respondent. It is also found that the other adaptive means like use of fans, closing or openings of windows etc are used quite often. This study concludes that the comfort temperature range varies from 22 to 23.5 °C in winter month and 27.3 to 30.7 °C in summer month. It also concludes that most of the objects recorded cool thermal sensation and preferred a warmer climate in winter and warm thermal sensation and preferred a cooler environment in summer.