Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing waiting times to predict no-shows and cancelations at a children’s hospital

Purpose: Since long waits in hospitals have been found to be related to high rates of no-shows and cancelations, managing waiting times should be considered as an important tool that hospitals can use to reduce missed appointments. The aim of this study is to analyze patients’ behavior in order to predict no-show and cancelation rates correlated to waiting times. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on the data from a US children’s hospital, which includes all the appointments registered during one year of observation. We used the call-appointment interval to establish the wait time to get an appointment. Four different types of appointment-keeping behavior and two types of patients were distinguished: arrival, no-show, cancelation with no reschedule, and cancelation with reschedule; and new and established patients. Findings: Results confirmed a strong impact of long waiting times on patients’ appointment-keeping behavior, and the logarithmic regression was found as the best-fit function for the correlation between variables in all cases. The correlation analysis showed that new patients tend to miss appointments more often than established patients when the waiting time increases. It was also found that, depending on the patients’ appointment distribution, it might get more complicated for hospitals to reduce missed appointments as the waiting time is reduced. Originality/value: The methodology applied in our study, which combines the use of regression analysis and patients’ appointment distribution analysis, would help health care managers to understand the initial implications of long waiting times and to address improvement related to patient satisfaction and hospital performance.
New Estimates of the Duration and Risk of Unemployment for West-Germany

This paper analyzes changes in the risk of unemployment and changes in the distribution of unemployment duration for the 26 to 41 years old working population in West-Germany during the 1980ties and 1990ties. The comprehensive IAB employment subsample 1975-1997 is used for the analysis. It contains employment and unemployment trajectories of about 500.000 individuals from West-Germany. The application of flexible nonparametric estimators yields results which are less sensitive to specification errors but they have only a descriptive nature. By conditioning on several observable variables such gender, education, marital status etc. we identify significant differences in the first three quintiles of the unemployment duration distribution. A large share of long term unemployment with only few exits to employment is observed in almost any of the segments. The analysis also considers general evolutions over time and variations along the business cycle. The paper therefore provides a collection of detailed stylized facts about the risk of becoming unemployed and the distribution of unemployment durations in West-Germany during the past two decades.
Cool-core Clusters: The Role of BCG, Star Formation, and AGN-driven Turbulence

Recent observations of cool cluster cores that include the BCG gravity claim that the observed threshold in min(tcool/tff) (cooling time to free-fall time ratio) lies at a somewhat higher value, close to 10–30, compared with the threshold seen in numerical simulations. There are only a few clusters in which this ratio falls much below 10. In this paper, we compare 3D hydrodynamic simulations of feedback active galactic nuclei (AGNs) jets interacting with the intracluster medium, with and without a BCG potential. We find that, for a fixed feedback efficiency, the presence of a BCG does not significantly affect the temperature, but increases (decreases) the core density (entropy) on average. Most importantly, min(tcool/tff) is only affected slightly by the inclusion of the BCG gravity. Also notable is that the lowest value of min(tcool/tff) in the NFW+BCG runs is about twice as large as in the NFW runs. We also look at the role of depletion of cold gas due to star formation, and show that it only affects the rotationally dominant component, while the radially dominant component remains largely unaffected. Stellar gas depletion also increases the repetition rate of AGN jets. The distribution of metals due to AGN jets in our simulations is predominantly along the jet direction, and the equatorial spread of metals is less compared with the observations. We also show that the turbulence in cool-core clusters is weak, which is consistent with recent Hitomi results on the Perseus cluster.
PERSIAN CUED SPEECH: THE EFFECT ON PHONOLOGICAL COMBINATION AND SEGMENTATION SKILLS OF CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

The aim of this paper was to study the effect of a Persian Cued Speech training program for increasing the phonological combination and segmentation skills of intellectually disabled children. This study was a quasi–experimental study. A convenience sample was selected and divided in two groups, namely an experimental group and a control group (n = 5). The study used the Phonological Awareness Questionnaire as the tool of analysis. The Cued Speech training is a forty 90-minute session program, which was implemented on the experimental group. At the end of the program, they were again assessed with the questionnaire. The findings from the study show the efficacy of our intervention on increasing the Phonological Combination and Segmentation skills (P < 0/10, P < 0/05). Using Cued Speech with the intellectually disabled children can be helpful to develop their pre reading skills such as phonological awareness.
Raman spectroscopy as a tool to study TiC formation during controlled ball milling

Titanium and carbon elemental powder mixtures with compositions of Ti100−xCx (x=50,40,30) were milled under a helium atmosphere using a magnetoball mill. For Ti50C50 and Ti60C40 powder mixtures, the combined results of external mill temperature monitoring and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that, after a specific incubation period, titanium carbide (TiC) was formed rapidly via a highly exothermic mechanically induced reaction. However, contrary to the current understanding of mechanically induced self-propagating reactions, Raman spectroscopy clearly showed the formation of nonstoichiometric TiC in Ti50C50 and Ti60C40 powders prior to the sudden exothermic event occurring inside the mill. This result has not been reported in previous studies that used only XRD analysis to characterize the as-milled powders. It is now thought that a significant component of the heat generated after the incubation period may be due to a combination of rapid grain growth and/or recrystallization of the preexisting.
A genetic linkage between subduction- and collision-related porphyry Cu deposits in continental collision zones

The genesis of continental collision-related porphyry Cu deposits (PCDs) remains controversial. The most common hypothesis links their genesis with magmas derived from subduction-modified arc lithosphere. However, it is unclear whether a genetic linkage exists between collision- and subduction-related PCDs. Here, we studied Jurassic subduction-related Cu-Au and Miocene collision-related Cu-Mo porphyry deposits in south Tibet. The Jurassic PCDs occur only in the western segment of the Jurassic arc, which has depleted mantle-like isotopic compositions [e.g., ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) i = 0.7041–0.7048; e Nd(t) as high as 7.5, and e Hf(t) as high as 18]. By contrast, no Jurassic PCDs have been found in the eastern arc segment, which is isotopically less juvenile [e.g., ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) i = 0.7041–0.7063, e Nd(t) < 4.5, and e Hf(t) ≤ 12]. These results imply that incorporation of crustal components during underplating of Jurassic magma induced copper accumulation as sulfides at the base of the eastern Jurassic arc, inhibiting PCD formation at this time. Miocene PCDs are spatially confined to the Jurassic arc, and the giant Miocene PCDs cluster in its eastern segment where no Jurassic PCDs occur. This suggests that the arc segment barren for subduction-related PCDs could be fertile for collision-related PCDs. Miocene ore-forming porphyries have young Hf model ages and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions overlapping with those of the Jurassic rocks in the eastern segment, whereas contemporaneous barren porphyries outside the Jurassic arc have abundant zircon inheritance and crustlike Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions. These data suggest that remelting of the lower crustal sulfide-bearing Cu-rich Jurassic cumulates, triggered by Cenozoic crustal thickening and/or subsequent slab break-off, led to the formation of giant Miocene PCDs. The spatial overlap and complementary metal endowment between subduction- and collision-related magmas may be used to evaluate the mineral potential for such deposits in other orogenic belts.
Comparative Pharmacognostic Study of Different Parts of Withania somnifera and its Substitute Ruellia tuberosa

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. (Solanaceae) is a therapeutically important medicinal plant widely used in Ayurveda and traditional systems of medicine in all over the world. Since this valuable plant is not commercially cultivated in Sri Lanka, traditional practitioners use Ruellia tuberosa L. (Acanthaceae) as a substitute for Withania somnifera. However, use of R. tuberosa as a substitute without scientifically proven data on important quality standards might adversely affect on the therapeutic properties of herbal drugs. Present study investigates the important pharmacognostic aspects of W. somnifera and R. tuberosa. Comparative quality parameters on morphological, anatomical, powder microscopical, phytochemical, physicochemical and brine shrimp toxicity of different parts of (leaf, bark and roots) W. somnifera and R. tuberosa by using established protocols. Results demonstrated that all major phytochemical groups tested were present in leaves, bark and roots of both plants. Physicochemical analysis exhibited the higher total ash, water soluble ash and acid insoluble ash in all parts of R. tuberosa. However, TLC profiles exhibited the higher number of spots in all 3 parts for W. somnifera over R. tuberosa. Potent of brine shrimp toxicity was increased as leaf>bark>roots for R. tuberosa and bark>root>leaf for Withania somnifera. Therefore, W. somnifer acould be differentiated from R. tuberosaby comparing polymorphic macroscopic, microscopic, phytochemical, physicochemical characters either singularly or as a whole. The presence of certain similarities in major phytochemical groups, and in brine shrimp toxicity of W. somnifera and R. tuberosa partially justifies the use of R. tuberosa as a substitute for W. somnifera in traditional systems of medicine in Sri Lanka which needs to be confirmed after further clinical trials.
THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS ON FIRM PERFORMANCE IN NATIONAL AND MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES *

The aim of this study is to research the relationship between information technology (IT) investment level , IT usage, IT perception, IT at decision making process , future orientation, technology orientation and firm performance in the comprehensive competitive environment. According to this aim, we researched the related literature and after developing a research model and hypotheses, we made numerous analyses. The data of this study were obtained from a sample of different National and Multinational Companies in Turkey. 158 firms were given the questionnaire which traded on ISE( Istanbul Stock Exchange) and 94 have answered and returned it, we narrowed our sample with 81 firms which really answered correctly and carefully. In accordance with literature, the findings of this study showed that IT investments are vital component of firm performance. If firms manage IT investments successfully, they will enhance firm performance. Moreover, the study enlightens not only the practitioners but also the academicians for the future researches.
Relationship between Return, Volume and Volatility in the Ghana Stock Market (Available on Internet)

This study investigates the relationship between return, volume and volatility by using data from the Ghana stock exchange (GSE). The data set comprise of daily closing prices and trading volume collated from 1st August 2005 to 31st December 2010. The empirical examination is conducted by fitting the simple GARCH, GJR and EGARCH models to the trading volume and thinly corrected return series over the sample period. The results of the study show that contemporaneous or lag trading volume do not significantly impact on the raw return, as well as the thinly corrected returns series. This implies that knowledge of any of the variables cannot be utilized to improve the forecast of the other. On the other hand, the study found significant impact of volume on the volatility of both the raw return and the adjusted return, using the GARCH (2,1) model. Moreover, the EGARCH model shows that trading volume has asymmetric impact on the volatility of both the raw and adjusted return; even though, this was rejected in the GJR model. However, both the GJR and the EGARCH conclusively accept the presence of asymmetry in the response to volatility of both the raw and adjusted return series. The results of the study also reject the presence of the mixture of distribution hypothesis (MDH) in the Ghana stock market, when trading volume is used as a proxy for the rate of informational arrival to the market. The study finally reveals that the devaluation of the Ghanaian currency on July 3 2007 possibly has increasing impact on the volatility of stock returns on the GSE. These empirical findings provide useful information to investors, with regards to the microstructure of the GSE.
Some Properties of Field Ion Emission from SiO 2 Grains

Probably the most abundant dust in space constitutes silicates. When the dust grain is exposed to energetic electron or ion beams it can attain a large surface potential which is limited by field ion emission. It is generally expected that the field ion emission is controlled by the surface electric field, and pressure and composition of the ambient atmosphere. In our study, we have used spherical glass dust grains with diameters around 1 micron charged to several kV. Such charging creates the electric field in the range of 109 V/m leading to observable field ion emission. A positive charge of the dust grain can be reached not only by ion bombardment but, under some circumstances, by electrons as well. Contrary to the expectations, when charged by electrons, the discharging characteristics depends on the obtained specific charge, the energy of impinging electrons and charging current density. Moreover the discharging shows an increase of the discharging current in the beginning. We show that such behavior is caused by diffusion of positive holes inside the grain through the influence of an inner electric field and enhanced temperature.
Professional Development Through MOOCs in Higher Education Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities for PhD Students Working as Mentors

The advent of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has been altering the Higher Education landscape in recent years. This kind of courses are penetrating in an increasing number of universities, the majority of which do not seem to have intentions to stop offering them in the short term. Such courses are generating new educational scenarios to which universities have to adapt, which creates a set of challenges and opportunities, most of them related to the use of technology in education. This study aims to shed light on such challenges and opportunities when a university employs postgraduate students as MOOC mentors. For this study, a set of focus group interviews were conducted in an English university to PhD students in various disciplines. In the interviews, participants share their experiences as mentors, especially regarding how they developed certain teaching and digital skills, and how they faced certain challenges related to their digital identity. The results suggest that participating in MOOCs as mentors can help early career researchers to develop certain teaching, digital, and academic skills that could be beneficial for the institutions they work for, and for themselves. However, their online exposure sometimes raises certain implications for their public image, their working conditions, and their online professional identity.
Rural Secondary School Teachers' Capacity to Respond to Hiv and Aids: The Case of Shurugwi District in Zimbabwe

Young people often turn to their teachers for information on sexuality and HIV and Aids. Consequently teachers need to be not only knowledgeable about these issues but also able to integrate them into their teaching. As part of an umbrella study to investigate and promote HIV and Aids education and support in schools, this article reports on a qualitative study conducted among a purposively selected sample of teachers in Shurugwi schools to ascertain their response to the challenges resulting from the pandemic. The findings suggest that the participating teachers held complex and contradictory views about HIV and Aids education; that they were constrained by the prevailing social and cultural background; and that their responses were inhibited by the lack of adequate social welfare support systems. These factors combined to make it difficult for them to interpret and implement policy that calls for a coherent and collaborative response. This study will hopefully inform professional development interventions to ensure that future HIV and AIDS teaching and learning is relevant and effective, given the social and educational context.
A Model of Slow Recoveries from Financial Crises

This paper documents highly persistent effects of financial crises on output, labor productivity and employment in a sample of emerging economies. To address these facts, it introduces a quantitative macroeconomic model that includes endogenous TFP growth through firm creation. Firm creators obtain funding from a financial intermediation sector which is subject to frictions. These frictions become especially severe in a financial crisis, increasing the cost of credit for firm creators and thereby lowering the growth rate of aggregate TFP. As a consequence, the model produces medium-run dynamics following crises that are in line with the data.
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among Elderly Turkish and Polish Migrants and German Natives: The Role of Age, Gender, Income, Discrimination and Social Support

Background: Migration can negatively and positively influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Yet, little is known about the HRQoL of Turkish and Polish migrants and German natives. In this study, the following hypotheses were formulated: (1) Elderly Turkish as well as Polish migrants show lower HRQoL than elderly German natives. (2) Age and gender significantly influence HRQoL; low income level and perceived discrimination decrease HRQoL; social support increases HRQoL. Methods: A questionnaire (Short form-36 (Sf-36) and other questions) was distributed among 203 migrants and 101 natives. Univariate analysis was performed for the group analysis of the Sf-36 sum scores. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the influence of the selected predictors on Sf-36 scores. Results: (1) Scores of the Turkish migrants were significantly lower for Role Emotional (RE) and Mental Health (MH) compared to the natives. Scores of the Polish migrants were significantly higher for Physical Functioning (PF) and Vitality (VT) compared to the natives. (2) Age had an effect in both migrant and native groups, but only on PF and RE. Gender was a predictor of HRQoL among the migrants in PF, VT and MH. Migrants with a low income level reported their General Health (GH) and MH as poor. Discrimination had an influence on MH in the migrant groups. Social support was found to predict MH and GH in the German group. Conclusion: Being a migrant does not necessarily entail poor HRQoL. Future research should investigate the health of migrants as well as focus on their health resources.
Coh-Metrix: Capturing Linguistic Features of Cohesion

This study addresses the need in discourse psychology for computational techniques that analyze text on multiple levels of cohesion and text difficulty. Discourse psychologists often investigate phenomena related to discourse processing using lengthy texts containing multiple paragraphs, as opposed to single word and sentence stimuli. Characterizing such texts in terms of cohesion and coherence is challenging. Some computational tools are available, but they are either fragmented over different databases or they assess single, specific features of text. Coh-Metrix is a computational linguistic tool that measures text cohesion and text difficulty on a range of word, sentence, paragraph, and discourse dimensions. This study investigated the validity of Coh-Metrix as a measure of cohesion in text using stimuli from published discourse psychology studies as a benchmark. Results showed that Coh-Metrix indexes of cohesion (individually and combined) significantly distinguished the high- versus low-cohesion versions of these texts. The results also showed that commonly used readability indexes (e.g., Flesch–Kincaid) inappropriately distinguished between low- and high-cohesion texts. These results provide a validation of Coh-Metrix, thereby paving the way for its use by researchers in cognitive science, discourse processes, and education, as well as for textbook writers, professionals in instructional design, and instructors.
Studies on the Influence of Rice Husk on Biomethanation: 1. Optimal Condition for Digestion and the Domestic Use of Stored Biogas.

Studies were carried out to determine the effect of parameters and inoculum on the anaerobic digestion of brewery spent grains. Inoculum was prepared by mixing dried rice husk with water, which was left to decay and used after one month from the time of preparation. The addition of inoculum was found to reduce the number of days the flammable gas was produced by 67days (87 th day to 20 th day). The comparative study shows that the digester with inoculum (rice husk) gave the highest total gas production of 5.863 m 3 , while spent grains alone produced cumulative volume of 3.555m 3 biogas. The gas produced after a period of 11 weeks and 18 weeks respectively were tested using special burners and were found to be combustible, burning with a blue flame. The biogas generated was stored under pressure in special cylinders using a modified compressor.
Why Doesn't Asia Have Bigger Bond Markets?

Asia's underdeveloped bond markets and dependence on bank finance have been topics of concern since the crisis of 1997-8. In this paper we document that the slow development of Asian bond markets is a phenomenon with multiple dimensions. Larger country size, stronger institutions, less volatile exchange rates, and more competitive banking sectors tend to be positively associated with bond market capitalization. Asian countries' strong fiscal balances, while admirable on other grounds, have not been conducive to the growth of government bond markets. The results suggest that the region's structural characteristics and macroeconomic and financial policies account fully for differences in bond market development between Asia and the rest of the world. Once one controls for these characteristics and policies, in other words, there is no residual Asia effect. '