Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting Survival in Egyptian Patients Suffering from Urinary Bladder Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Background: Bladder cancer is the second most common malignancy among Egyptian males. Patients and methods: To investigate the factors affecting survival in Egyptian patients suffering from urinary bladder cancer, we analyzed the geographical patterns of 564 bladder cancers patients from Oncology Departments of Ain Shams University, Mansoura University, Zagazig University and Damietta oncology centerover a period of 7 years between January 2006 and September 2013. Results: Among the included 564 patients, Males represented 72.5% of the patients. While, 27.5% were female with a male to female ratio of 2.6, 227 patients presented with non-metastatic and 337 patients with metastatic urinary bladder cancer. Grade III was found in 36% of our patients and 60% of them had stage IV. Mean DFS was (9.15 ± 0.5) and (4.4 ± 0.1) while, mean OS was (13.5 ± 0.7) and (7.5 ± 0.15) months for non-metastatic, and metastatic patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, patients with no bilharzial infection, Non-SCC, responding patients had significant better DFS and OS vs. patients with bilharzial infection, SCC, non-responding patients (respectively, p=0.001 for all). In multivariate analysis, response (OS and PFS), SCC (OS and PFS) and bilharzias is (OS and PFS) where found to be highly statistically significant (Cox regression, P<0.001 for all) in the metastatic and non-metastatic group of patients. Conclusion: Non-responding, SCC type and bilharzial infected patients had significant independent poor prognostic factors for OS and PFS in the metastatic and non-metastatic group of patients.
Divergent glocalization in a multinational enterprise: Institutional‐bound strategic change in European and US subsidiaries facing the late‐2000 recession

Purpose – This paper aims to unpack the organization of an multinational enterprise (MNE) and confront its meso‐level complexity of structures and strategies. It seeks to uncover how the glocalization process unfolds, which are the mechanisms at its base and the outcomes in terms of stability, convergence or divergence in strategies and structures.Design/methodology/approach – Through a case study research design, the paper investigates strategic change in an Italian MNE from 2005 to 2011. In 2008 and 2010, extensive data on organizational configurations were also collected. Overall, the paper analyses the glocalized blending of corporate and subsidiary strategies and organizational structures. Attention is also paid to the cognitive, political and institutional mechanisms that accounted for this process before and during the late‐2000 financial crisis.Findings – Glocalization, largely interpreted as an in‐between process compromising between homogeneous global standards and heterogeneous local traditions.
Combining Data Parallelism and Task Parallelism for Efficient Performance on Hybrid CPU and GPU Systems

In earlier times, computer systems had only a single core or processor. In these computers, the number of transistors on-chip (i.e. on the processor) doubled every two years and all applications enjoyed free speedup. Subsequently, with more and more transistors being packed on-chip, power consumption became an issue, frequency scaling reached its limits and industry leaders eventually adopted the paradigm of multi-core processors. Computing platforms of today have multiple cores and are parallel. CPUs have multiple identical cores. A GPU with dozens to hundreds of simpler cores is present on many systems. In future, other multiple core accelerators may also be used. With the advent of multiple core processors, the responsibility of extracting high performance from these parallel platforms shifted from computer architects to application developers and parallel algorithmists. Tuned parallel implementations of several mathematical operations, algorithms on graphs or matrices on multi-core CPUs and on many-core accelerators like the GPU and CellBE, and their combinations were developed. Parallel algorithms developed for multi-core CPUs primarily focussed on decomposing the problem into a few independent chunks and using the cache efficiently. As an alternative to CPUs, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) were the other most cost-effective and massively parallel platforms, that were widely available. Frequently used algorithmic primitives such as sort, scan, sparse matrix vector multiplication, graph traversals, image processing operations etc. among others were efficiently implemented on GPU using CUDA. These parallel algorithms on the GPU decomposed the problem into a sequence of many independent steps operating on different data elements and used shared memory effectively. But the above operations – statistical, or on graphs, matrices and list etc. – constitute only portions of an end-to-end application and in most cases these operations also provide some inherent parallelism (task or data parallelism). The problems which lack such task or data parallelism are still difficult to map to any parallel platform, either CPU or GPU. In this thesis, we consider a few such difficult problems – like Floyd-Steinberg Dithering (FSD) and String Sorting – that do not have trivial data parallelism and exhibit strong sequential dependence or irregularity. We show that with appropriate design principles we can find data parallelism or fine-grained parallelism even for these tough problems. Our techniques to break sequentiality and addressing irregularity can be extended to solve other difficult data parallel problems in the future. On the problem of FSD, our data parallel approach achieves a speedup of 10× on high-end GPUs and a speedup of about 3− 4× on low-end GPUs, whereas previous work by Zhang et al. dismiss the same algorithm as lacking enough parallelism for GPUs. On string sorting, we achieve
YOUNG STELLAR OBJECTS IN THE GOULD BELT

We present the full catalog of Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) identified in the 18 molecular clouds surveyed by the Spitzer Space Telescope “cores to disks” (c2d) and “Gould Belt” (GB) Legacy surveys. Using standard techniques developed by the c2d project, we identify 3239 candidate YSOs in the 18 clouds, 2966 of which survive visual inspection and form our final catalog of YSOs in the GB. We compile extinction corrected spectral energy distributions for all 2966 YSOs and calculate and tabulate the infrared spectral index, bolometric luminosity, and bolometric temperature for each object. We find that 326 (11%), 210 (7%), 1248 (42%), and 1182 (40%) are classified as Class 0 + I, Flat-spectrum, Class II, and Class III, respectively, and show that the Class III sample suffers from an overall contamination rate by background Asymptotic Giant Branch stars between 25% and 90%. Adopting standard assumptions, we derive durations of 0.40–0.78 Myr for Class 0 + I YSOs and 0.26–0.50 Myr for Flat-spectrum YSOs, where the ranges encompass uncertainties in the adopted assumptions. Including information from (sub)millimeter wavelengths, one-third of the Class 0 + I sample is classified as Class 0, leading to durations of 0.13–0.26 Myr (Class 0) and 0.27–0.52 Myr (Class I). We revisit infrared color–color diagrams used in the literature to classify YSOs and propose minor revisions to classification boundaries in these diagrams. Finally, we show that the bolometric temperature is a poor discriminator between Class II and Class III YSOs.
Cloudiness and weather variation in central Svalbard in July 2013 as related to atmospheric circulation

The paper describes synoptic situations and associated weather conditions in the central part of the Svalbard Arctic archipelago (Petuniabukta, Billefjorden) during two weeks of the summer 2013. The circulation types in July 2013 were compared with the long-term average circulation pattern in the period 1961-2010. Cloudiness and weather conditions in different atmospheric circulation types were described. Atmospheric pressure, 2-m air temperature, precipitation, 6-m wind speed and wind direction data from an automatic weather station located on the coastal glacier-free zone of Petuniabukta were used for further analysis. From July 5 to 19, 2013, radiation and advection weather types, heavy precipitation, rapid change of wind speed, 2-m air temperature and high cloudiness variation were described in detail within of the five most frequent synoptic situations. Foehn and halo phenomena were also reported in the study period.
Rural Tourism Sustainable Management and Destination Marketing Efforts: Key Factors from Communities’ Perspective

Rural tourism is seen as a potential sector in promoting country to the world and at the same time generates incomes to local communities. However, due to the lucrative economic benefits, tourism destination’s sustainability and quality of services is often being ignored. Thus, this study highlights the importance of sustainable management and destination marketing efforts in rural tourism destinations with identified significant contributively factors from local communities’ perspective. A total of 168 respondents comprising of local communities from Kampung Telaga Air and Kampung Semadang, Kuching, Sarawak took part voluntarily in this study. To assess the developed model, SmartPLS 2.0 (M3) is applied based on path modelling and bootstrapping. Interestingly, the findings revealed that local communities believed factors like climate change, carrying capacity of a destination, and environmental education are significantly affect both tourism destination sustainable management and destination marketing efforts. Furthermore, community support is also found to be important too for tourism destination marketing efforts. Surprisingly, community support was found no relations with destination sustainable management from local communities’ point of view. This study further discussed on the implications of the findings, limitations, and direction for future research.
Risk of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and bipolar disorders by migrant status, region of origin, and age-at-migration: a national cohort study of 1.8 million people

Abstract Background We assessed whether the risk of various psychotic disorders and non-psychotic bipolar disorder (including mania) varied by migrant status, a region of origin, or age-at-migration, hypothesizing that risk would only be elevated for psychotic disorders. Methods We established a prospective cohort of 1 796 257 Swedish residents born between 1982 and 1996, followed from their 15th birthday, or immigration to Sweden after age 15, until diagnosis, emigration, death, or end of 2011. Cox proportional hazards models were used to model hazard ratios by migration-related factors, adjusted for covariates. Results All psychotic disorders were elevated among migrants and their children compared with Swedish-born individuals, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]migrants: 2.20, 95% CI 1.96–2.47; aHRchildren : 2.00, 95% CI 1.79–2.25), affective psychotic disorders (aHRmigrant1.42, 95% CI 1.25–1.63; aHRchildren: 1.22 95% CI 1.07–1.40), and other non-affective psychotic disorders (aHRmigrant: 1.97, 95% CI 1.81–2.14; aHRchildren: 1.68, 95% CI 1.54–1.83). For all psychotic disorders, risks were generally highest in migrants from Africa (i.e. aHRschizophrenia: 5.24, 95% CI 4.26–6.45) and elevated at most ages-of-migration. By contrast, risk of non-psychotic bipolar disorders was lower for migrants (aHR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.52–0.64) overall, and across all ages-of-migration except infancy (aHR: 1.20; 95% CI 1.01–1.42), while risk for their children was similar to the Swedish-born population (aHR: 1.00, 95% CI 0.93–1.08). Conclusions Increased risk of psychiatric disorders associated with migration and minority status may be specific to psychotic disorders, with exact risk dependent on the region of origin.
Effects of Stirring and Cooling on Methane Hydrate Formation in a High-Pressure Isochoric Cell

Higher mixing rates applied to hydrate-forming liquids in laboratory cell systems are commonly assumed to cause a more thorough dispersion of newly formed hydrate nuclei from gas-liquid interface into bulk liquid. There is, however, no simple and direct correlation between stirring rate and nucleation rate. Most experimental studies on hydrate kinetics in literature have been carried out at isobaric conditions. Studies in cooled systems at isochoric conditions (temperaturedependent pressures) are in scarcity. This paper presents an experimental study on effects of varying stirring rates (220 – 660 rpm) and varying cooling rates (0.5 – 10 o C /h) on the point of spontaneous nucleation (PSN) of structure-I methane hydrate. The experiments were conducted in an isochoric system with temperature and pressure both decreasing along with the continuous cooling process. Initial growth rates after nucleation were also monitored. The results suggest that higher stirring rates lead to reduced hydrate induction time and increased hydrate growth rate. The nucleation rate appeared to be slightly reduced at the lowest stirring rate (220 rpm). The degree of sub-cooling at PSN seemed to be of a more stochastic character at cooling rates lower than at 2 o C /h. Increased cooling rates trend to reduce induction time while the sub-cooling at PSN appeared to first oscillate at lower cooling rates then approach some constant level at higher cooling rates. For higher cooling rates, the nucleation rate decreased faster. Hydrate growth behavior in cooling rate experiments (0.5 – 10 o C/h) suggests that the total gas intake and the gas consumption rate increased with increasing cooling rate towards a constant level at 6 – 10 °C/h. A careful selection of stirring rate and cooling rate is essential to hydrate study.
Beliefs about Creativity: Views of Tertiary Students in Hong Kong.

Background: Creativity is associated with many pet beliefs, unfounded or based on limited personal experiences and observations. Aims: The intention of the present study is to take the research one step backward to look at possible antecedents of beliefs regarding creativity, as such knowledge has implications for education where creativity is concerned. The present study attempts at uncovering the beliefs regarding various aspects of creativity among tertiary students in Hong Kong. Sample: Students (N=139) from a teacher education institute (67.6%) and a university (32.4%) in Hong Kong were asked to complete a questionnaire about beliefs in creativity. Participation was voluntary and the respondents were assured of anonymity. As the respondents formed a convenient sample (as is true of many studies of similar nature), no representation is claimed. Method: A questionnaire of 30 items that included 15 aspects of beliefs in creativity was presented to the respondents in the form of a series of six-point Likert scales. To avoid possible carrying-over effect, the two items for the same aspect were separated systematically, with items for the other aspects intervening. Surveys were conducted and the general written responses received from the respondents were tabulated. Results: The respondents agreed more strongly that creativity (a) is dependent of culture, (b) is the result of consistent effort, (c) can be found in everyone, and (d) is general across many fields. On the other hand, they disagreed that creativity has to do with gender and birth order. Five aspects were dropped due to inappropriate reliability. Conclusion: In view of the complexity of the findings, efforts in developing creativity in tertiary students need to take into account their demographic backgrounds so that correct beliefs can be further strengthened and incorrect ones can be rectified early in the creativity training programmes.
Willpower and ego depletion: Useful constructs?

It is widely recognized that the ability to exert will and defy the temptation of short-term rewards in favor of long term goals has many significant implications and is predictive of increased well-being across many domains. The American Psychological Association characterizes willpower as “the psychological science of self-control”, and their recent survey regarding Americans’ perception of their own self-control, cited the lack of will-power as the primary reason they fail to follow through with making healthy life-style changes. The “strength” model of self-control conceptualizes willpower as a limited resource which cannot be sustained indefinitely. According to the model, expending effort to exert self-control results in a reduced ability for individuals to exert self-control in a subsequent task—a psychological state known as ego depletion. Numerous investigations have replicated this effect across multiple domains and have also examined the influence of variables that moderate ego depletion. However, recent regression analyses have strongly suggested that the effect size for ego depletion is substantially smaller than was originally computed. In addition, despite widespread acceptance in both the popular press and the scientific study of psychology, the strength model has come under criticism that it has evolved into an over-reaching and unfalsifiable theory that should be subsumed under a more comprehensive theory of self-control that integrates traditional influences on self-control, including motivation, learning, and self- efficacy.
Waiting for Broadband: Local Competition and the Spatial Distribution of Advanced Telecommunication Services in the United States

With the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission and all fifty U.S. states to encourage the deployment of advanced telecommunication capability in a reasonable and timely manner. Today, with the rollout of advanced data services such as digital subscriber lines (xDSL), cable modems, and fixed wireless technologies, broadband has become an important component of telecommunication service and competition. Unfortunately, the deployment of last-mile infrastructure enabling high-speed access has proceeded more slowly than anticipated and competition in many areas is relatively sparse. More importantly, there are significant differences in the availability of broadband services between urban and rural areas. This paper explores aspects of broadband access as a function of market demand and provider competition. Data collected from the Federal Communications Commission is analyzed using a geographic information system and spatial statistical techniques. Results suggest significant spatial variation in broadband Internet access as a function of provider competition in the United States. Copyright 2004 Gatton College of Business and Economics, University of Kentucky.
PRODUCTION COMPONENTS OF Vigna unguiculata (L. Walp) IRRIGATED WITH BRACKISH WATER UNDER DIFFERENT LEACHING FRACTIONS

The objective of this work was to evaluate the production components of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) subjected to irrigation with brackish water and different leaching fractions. The experiment was conducted in a lysimeter system of the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife campus. The treatments, consisting of two water salinity levels (ECw) (1.2 and 3.3 dS m-1) and five leaching fractions (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%), were evaluated using a completely randomized design in a 2x5 factorial arrangement with four replications. The variables evaluated were: number of pods per plant, 100-grain weight, number of grains per pod, grain and shoot dry weight, grain yield and harvest index. The soil salinity increased with increasing salinity of the water used for irrigation, and reduced with increasing leaching fraction. The salinity of the water used for irrigation influenced only the variables number of pods per plant and grain yield. The estimated leaching fractions of 9.1% and 9.6% inhibited the damage caused by salinity on the number of pods per plant and grain yield, respectively. Therefore, the production of V. unguiculata irrigated with brackish water, leaching salts from the plant root environment, is possible under the conditions evaluated.
Relationship Between Invertase Enzyme Activities and Sucrose Accumulation in Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.)

The sucrose content, and the activities of sugar metabolism enzymes—namely, soluble acid invertase (SAI), neutral invertase (NI) and cell wall invertase (CWI), of various developmental stages of the stem and the relationships among them were investigated in cultivated sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), line 20-2248 and wild sugarcane S. spontaneum, line S98-244. Stems of both sugarcane species 6–12 mth after planting (MAP) stems were collected and examined with samples consisting of three parts of the internode—the top, middle and bottom—representing relatively immature, maturing and mature internodes, respectively. The results showed that sucrose was the main sugar in the two species. Sugarcane stems of the two species revealed different patterns of sucrose accumulation and activities of invertase (SAI, CWI and NI). The sucrose content of line 20-2248 increased from 6 to 12 MAP and was highest in the bottom part and decreased in the middle and top parts, respectively, whereas the sucrose content of line S98-244 decreased from 6 to 12 MAP and was highest in the middle part than in the lower the bottom and top parts. The activities of SAI, CWI and NI in both sugarcane species were higher in the top part at each growth stage, lower in middle and lowest in the bottom part of the stem. These activities decreased from 6 to 12 MAP with line 20-2248, whereas the activities increased with increasing time after planting for line S98-244. There was a significantly negative correlation between the sucrose content and the activity of SAI, CWI and NI for line 20-2248. With line S98-244, the lowest concentration of sucrose was significantly negative only with SAI activity. The sucrose content correlation with CWI and with NI activity showed negative correlations but they were not significant.
Effects of Dissolved Silver and Silver Nanoparticle on Soil Microorganisms

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most commonly used man-made nanomaterial in consumer products. They are merged into a vast collection of products due to their particular broad-spectrum anti-microbial action. On the other hand, their anti-bacterial properties may pose a significant environmental risk. This study was undertaken to assess whether the risk that AgNPs and dissolved Ag pose to soil microorganisms gained from nanoor dissolved-silver forms. The antimicrobial effect of green manufactured AgNPs (46.2±23.2 nm) and Ag (as AgNO3) on soil microbes were studied using disc diffusion assay. Soil microbial growth was assessed by the measurement of inhibitory zone area (mm) as a function of different AgNPs and AgNO3 concentrations, 0.00, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mgl . The results of antimicrobial effect of AgNPs showed 10 fold of magnitude comparing with Ag at lower concentrations (250 mgl). The theoretical predicted unity of inhibition zone ratio for AgNPs/Ag ions implies that AgNPs equates to about 5 times antimicrobial effects of Ag. Although the current results confirm that Ag antimicrobial effect is a nano-specific effect, different bacteria isolated from different soils should be used to explore their physico-chemical properties in mitigating AgNPs toxicity effects.