Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinico-mycological profile of onychomycosis in Assam, India

Background: Onychomycosis (OM) is a common nail disorder caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte moulds and yeasts. The increased prevalence of OM along with the wide range of associated fungi necessitates the accurate labora­tory isolation and identification of the causative fungus for optimal management strategies. The aim of the study was to evaluate clinical, epidemiological and mycological characteristics of OM in a tertiary care hospital in Assam.Methods: It was a prospective hospital-based study. Hundred consecutive patients clinically diagnosed as OM were subjected to detailed history, clinical examination and investigations. Nail clipping and subungual debris of OM patients were subjected to KOH preparation and culture. Isolates were identified by colony characters, pigment production, microscopic morphology and biochemical tests.Results: The maximum number of OM cases belonged to the age group 21-30 years with a male preponderance (M:F=1.7:1). The commonest clinical type of OM was distal lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO) (51%). Toe nails OM was the most common presentation (54%). Trauma (35%) was the most common predisposing factor. Farmers (agro industry labourers) (23%) were found to be the most commonly affected group. Non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM) accounted for 38(47.5%) of OM cases followed by yeast 27(33.8%) and dermatophytes 15(18.8%). Conclusions: Early diagnosis and treatment is important to prevent distortion of the nails which can prevent loss of working efficiency of the commonly affected population of this region.
How the Conscious and Automatic Information Processing Modes Influence Consumers' Continuance Decision in an e-Commerce Website

Conscious and automatic information processing modes represent two approaches to deal with IS continuance. Existing IS studies mostly viewed them as two independent systems and examined IS continuance through either a cognitive deliberating process or an automatic process. In this study, we attempt to clarify the complex nature of IS continuance by examining various interactions between the two information processes. Particularly, we argued that habit activates the heuristic information processing mode and facilitates consumers’ decision making through interacting with key elements of the rational decision process. We conducted a longitudinal study to empirically test the research model with 385 consumers of an e-commerce website. The results show that the two information processing modes work in parallel to explain consumers’ continuance decision. Satisfaction, perceived enjoyment, and alternative attractiveness have significant direct effects on continuance intention. Furthermore, habit exhibits a significant negative moderating effect on the relationship between alternative attractiveness and continuance intention. We believe that this study provides new insights to both IS research and practice.
Timeless Approach to Quantum Jumps

According to the usual quantum description, the time evolution of the quantum state is continuous and deterministic except when a discontinuous and indeterministic collapse of state vector occurs. The collapse has been a central topic since the origin of the theory, although there are remarkable theoretical proposals to understand its nature, such as the Ghirardi–Rimini–Weber. Another possibility could be the assimilation of collapse with the now experimentally well established phenomenon of quantum jump, postulated by Bohr already in 1913. The challenge of nonlocality offers an opportunity to reconsider the quantum jump as a fundamental element of the logic of the physical world, rather than a subsidiary accident. We propose here a simple preliminary model that considers quantum jumps as processes of entry to and exit from the usual temporal domain to a timeless vacuum, without contradicting the quantum relativistic formalism, and we present some potential connections with particle physics. Quanta 2015; 4: 10–26.
Evaluating productive and economic impacts of climate change variability on the farm sector of an irrigated Mediterranean area

Climate changes in agriculture act on various climate variables (precipitation, temperature, etc.) at different times of crop cycles. Many physical and technical relationships have to be represented even when analyzing a limited aspect of farm management. This work employs the net evapotranspiration (ETn) estimated with the EPIC model, as a synthetic index of the physical factors that the farmer considers in decisions on irrigation. The probability distribution of ETn is inserted into a territorial model of DSP that represents farm choices in conditions of uncertainty about water availability and irrigation requirements of crops. Recent trends of ETn suggest that the probability distribution of this variable may appreciably change in the near future. Also, water availability may become more variable due to changed rainfall. These modifications amplify uncertainty of management and, consequently, costs incurred by the farm typologies of the study area, which in many cases suffer an appreciable drop in income.
TO TRIM OR AOT TO TRIM: TESTS OF LOCATION EQUALITY UNDER HETROSCEDASTICITY AND NONNORMALITY

Tests of mean equality proposed by Alexander and Govern (1994) and Tsakok (1978) were compared to the well-known procedures of Brown and Forsythe (1974), James (1951), and Welch (1951) for their ability to limit the number of Type I errors in one-way designs where the underlying distributions were nonnormal, variances were nonhomogeneous, and group sizes were unequal. These tests were compared when the usual method of least squares was applied to estimate group means and variances and when adopting Yuen'ai (1974) trimmed means and winsorized variances. In the former case, the procedures can be used to test for population mean equality, while in the latter case they can be used to test for equality of The population trimmed means. Based on the variables examined in this investigation, which included numbers of treatment groups, degree of population skewness, and type of pairing of variances and group sizes, it is recommended that applied researchers utilize trimmed means and winsorized variances with Tsakok's test, since its rates of Type I error were closest to the nominal level of significance, ranging in value from 4.5% to 6.62%. However, it must be remembered that by adopting this strategy, one is testing for equality of population trimmed means, not the equality of population means. (Contains 30 references and 4 tables.) (Author/SLD) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.L. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Once at Eau ClItoOnal Research end Improvement IATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document nes been reproduced as ',Moved from In* person or orpenization ongenetino it Minor changes nave been made to improve MO/eduction °wpm, Pants Of vow Or opnion$ Stited $nihs CIOC u merit de not AOCIPSIVoly represent official mai ;Meilen of 0011cy Robust Tests for Treatment Group Equality
Numerical ModeHing of Local Scour around Offshore Pipelines

Based on an intensive review on the development of numerical models of local scour below offshore pipelines over the last two decades, a numerical model is developed for predicting the time development of scour hole below a pipeline. The present numerical model solves the flow field using a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) mode! The morphological change of the seabed is calculated via the continuity equation. The sediment deposition and entrainment rates are Iinked with the concentration of the sediment. The application of the present model to sorne laboratory tests demonstrates the robustness of the present rnodel.
A STUDY ON ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR OF COMMERCIAL SEED GROWERS OF DHARWAD DISTRICT

The present study was conducted in the year 2012-13 in Dharwad district of Karnataka state with a sample size of 180 farmers, constituting 90 seed growers and 90 other farmers. Random sampling procedure was used to select the sample. The data was collected with the help of structured interview schedule. The socio-economic profile of the respondents revealed that, majority (53.33%) of the seed growers belonged to middle age group, 36.67 per cent educated up to PUC, 42.22 per cent belonged to medium land holding category, 38.89 per cent belonged to high income category, 56.67 per cent had high level of farming experience, 77.78 per cent had low experience in seed production, whereas, majority of other farmers (62.22%) belonged to middle age group, followed by high level of farming experience (71.11%). Most of the seed growers (48.89%) and 40.00 per cent of the other farmers belonged to high and low entrepreneurial behaviour categories respectively. Further, entrepreneurial behavioural characteristics such as innovativeness was high (40.00%) in seed growers and low (44.44%) in other farmers, achievement motivation was high (41.11%) in seed growers and low (35.56%) in other farmers, 46.67 per cent of the seed growers and 50.00 per cent of the other farmers belonged to intermediate and less rational decision making ability category respectively, risk orientation was high (43.33%) in seed growers and low (42.22%) in other farmers, leadership ability was high (45.55%) in seed growers and low (41.11%) in other farmers, management orientation was high (44.44%) in seed growers and low (35.56%) in other farmers respectively. Majority of the seed growers consulted the formal sources like package of practice booklet (66.67%), informal sources like progressive farmers (86.67%) and mass media sources like television (94.45%) regularly. Major constraints faced by seed growers were shortage of labourers, high labour wages and financial problems.
Determinants of Islamic Insurance Acceptance: Empirical Evidence from Somalia

The current paper investigates the determinants toward Islamic Takaful Insurance acceptance in Somalia, the main objective was to explore knowledge, attitude, perception and awareness of Mogadishu residence toward Takaful Services. the study uses convenient sampling procedure,. The data were collected in February and March 2016 by using questionnaire. A total of 179 respondents were participated to this study. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 to answer research objectives. The study found that that attitude, perception, awareness and knowledge are influential predictors of Islamic insurance adoption and acceptance. The study provides an imminent into the understanding of determinants leading to the customers’ adoption of Islamic insurance. Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, perception, awareness , Islamic Insurance, Determinants, Somalia
Normal Aging and Dementia

Normal aging begins after 60 years of age. According to Harman, the accumulation of free radicals, which results from weakening of repair and protective mechanisms, takes place in the aging brain. It is believed that especially in the population of the most elderly there is increased incidence of both dementia and depression. The causes of these central nervous system disorders in the aging human body are changes at the molecular level, such as changes in the biochemical parameters, the accumulation of mutations in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, and epigenetic changes. Biomarkers associated with aging of the brain include accumulated deposits of β-amyloid (Aβ), disturbed cholesterol homeostasis, altered neuroimaging parameters, and impaired glucose metabolism. Genetic factors are also responsible for normal aging, for example, SIRT1, AKT1, and CDKN1A, and among them the longevity genes, such as FOXO3A and CETP. Dementia as well as cognitive decline may be modified by poly-T variants of TOMM40 and APOE alleles via influencing the level of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in the brain and in the plasma as well as by its ability of Aβ clearance. Identifying the molecular factors associated with aging and dementia may help introduce new approaches to preventing geriatric disorders, including depression and dementia.
The Influence of Organizational Democracy on Employees' Socio-moral Climate and Prosocial Behavioral Orientations

This study investigates the effects of workers' perceived participation in democratic decision-making on their prosocial behavioral orientations, democratic values, commitment to the firm, and perceptions of socio-moral climate. The sample consists of 325 German-speaking employees from 22 companies in Austria, North Italy, and Southern Germany that vary in their level of organizational democracy (social partnership enterprises, workers' co-operatives, democratic reform enterprises, and employee-owned self-governed firms). The findings suggest that the extent employees participate in democratic forms of organizational decision-making is positively related to the firm's socio-moral climate as well as to their own organizational commitment and prosocial and community-related behavioral orientations. The results also indicate that socio-moral climate is positively related to employees' organizational commitment. The effect of participation in decision-making on organizational commitment is partially mediated by socio-moral climate. Implications for promoting societal and organizational civic virtues among individuals are described. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigate the Relationship between Organizational Justice and Personality Characteristics with Counterproductive Work Behavior

This study attempts to investigate the relationship between perceived organizational justice (distributive, procedural, informational and interpersonal) and personality characteristics (conscientiousness and agreeableness) with counterproductive work behavior (CWB). The statistical population comprised of all personnel of Isfahan Power Distribution Company. The sample included 121 people, selected randomly by clustral sampling manner and response to the Colquitt’s organizational justice questionnaire, NEO personality questionnaire and Bennet and Robinsonʼs counterproductive work behaviour scale. Results indicated that there is a negative significant relationship between four facets of organizational justice and two dimensions of personality characteristics with organizational oriented CWB and interpersonal oriented CWB. Regression analysis showed that predictive variables were able to predict 34% of organizational oriented CWB and 32% of interpersonal oriented CWB and informational justice was the best predictor of two dimension of counterproductive work behaviour. The results indicated that the manners that increase personnel’s perceived justice and respect to the personality characteristic in personnel selection have an important role in decrease of counterproductive work
Bandagem ajustável do tronco pulmonar: comparação de dois métodos de hipertrofia aguda do ventrículo subpulmonar

OBJECTIVE: This study compares ventricular hypertrophy induced by continuous versus intermittent systolic overload of the pulmonary ventricle (RV) of young goats. METHODS: Three groups of seven goats were used (control, continuous, and intermittent). Systolic overload was maintained for 96 hours in the continuous group, while the intermittent group suffered four 12-hour periods of systolic overload, alternating with 12-hour resting periods. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluations were performed every day. The animals were then killed for myocardial water content and weight evaluation. RESULTS: Both study groups achieved significant increases in RV mass (p<0.05). However, significant increases of the septum mass were observed only in the Intermittent Group (p<0.05). A greater increase in the RV wall thickness was observed in the Intermittent Group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in RV diastolic volume between the two groups (p= 0.01), with a greater RV dilation in the Continuous Group after 24 hours of continuous overload (p< 0.03). In both groups, the RV ejection fraction was maintained within the normal range throughout the protocol. A smaller RV perimeter was observed in the Intermittent Group after 96 hours of systolic overload (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in RV myocardial water content between the study groups and the Control Group. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustable pulmonary artery bandages permit rapid RV hypertrophy in both groups. Nevertheless, it is more efficient in the Intermittent Group. This study suggests that preparation of the pulmonary ventricle with intermittent systolic overload might provide better results for the 2-stage arterial switch operation.
Seasonal dynamics of dissolved organic matter and microbial activity in the coastal North Sea

The dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and microbial activity were monitored in the coastal North Sea over an annual cycle. DOM accumulated during the spring bloom towards the summer, associated with high phytoplankton extracellular release. Accumulation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) occurred from April to June. During this period, based on the bacterial carbon demand (BCD) of the free-living bacteria and the photosynthetic extracellular release (PER), 85 µM C were derived from sources other than direct DOC release by phytoplankton. Thereafter, from the end of August until December, the DOM concentrations decreased by about half. During this period, at least 269 µM C was removed from the system via the utilization by the bacterial community and/or sedimentation and export. Overall, our data indicate a pronounced seasonal shift in DOM sources supporting BCD. From spring to summer, BCD is almost fully supported by PER alone while in fall and winter, BCD is supported about equally by PER and by the DOM accumulated in the spring-summer period and originating presumably from a variety of DOM production mechanisms.
Degenerate flag varieties and the median Genocchi numbers

We study the $\bG_a^M$ degenerations $\Fl^a_\la$ of the type $A$ flag varieties $\Fl_\la$. We describe these degenerations explicitly as subvarieties in the products of Grassmanians. We construct cell decompositions of $\Fl^a_\la$ and show that for complete flags the number of cells is equal to the normalized median Genocchi numbers $h_n$. This leads to a new combinatorial definition of the numbers $h_n$. We also compute the Poincar\' e polynomials of the complete degenerate flag varieties via a natural statistics on the set of Dellac's configurations, similar to the length statistics on the set of permutations. We thus obtain a natural $q$-version of the normalized median Genocchi numbers.
Production of lignin peroxidase by Ganoderma leucidum using solid state fermentation

The main objectives of this study were to optimize the culture conditions for the production of lignin peroxidase by Ganoderma leucidum, economic utilization of waste corn cobs as inducers substrate by pollution free fermentation technology and to optimize the solid state fermentation (SSF) process for lignin peroxidase (LiP) production. Growth medium employed for the culture of G. leucidum for the production of LiP was supplied with fermentation conditions that were optimized before selection like incubation period, inoculum size, temperature, pH, substrate to water ratio, nitrogen source, yeast extract and cane molasses. Culture was harvested on the fourth day and diluted five times with distilled water and filtrate was stored in Eppendoff tubes for enzyme assay using 310 nm wave lengths in the spectrophotometer. Lignin peroxidase production was enhanced and maximum LiP activity (2807 U/ml) was found in the growth medium after 96 h, inoculum size 3 ml, pH 4.5 and temperature 35°C with substrate to water ratio of 20 ml/5 g, yeast extract 4%, (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 2% and cane molasses 3%. Results indicate the excellent scope of corn cobs as solid state substrate for the production of lignin peroxidase by G. leucidum. Key words: Lignin peroxidase (LiP), Ganoderma leucidum, fermentation, corn cobs, cane molasses.
Galactic cosmic rays on extrasolar Earth-like planets - I. Cosmic ray flux

Context. Theoretical arguments indicate that close-in terrestial exoplanets may have weak magnetic fields, especially in the case of planets more massive than Earth (super-Earths). Planetary magnetic fields, however, constitute one of the shielding layers that protect the planet against cosmic-ray particles. In particular, a weak magnetic field results in a high flux of Galactic cosmic rays that extends to the top of the planetary atmosphere. Aims. We wish to quantify the flux of Galactic cosmic rays to an exoplanetary atmosphere as a function of the particle energy and of the planetary magnetic moment. Methods. We numerically analyzed the propagation of Galactic cosmic-ray particles through planetary magnetospheres. We evaluated the efficiency of magnetospheric shielding as a function of the particle energy (in the range 16 MeV ≤ E ≤ 524 GeV) and as a function of the planetary magnetic field strength (in the range 0 M ⊕ ≤ M ≤ 10 M ⊕). Combined with the flux outside the planetary magnetosphere, this gives the cosmic-ray energy spectrum at the top of the planetary atmosphere as a function of the planetary magnetic moment. Results. We find that the particle flux to the planetary atmosphere can be increased by more than three orders of magnitude in the absence of a protecting magnetic field. For a weakly magnetized planet (M = 0.05 M ⊕), only particles with energies below 512 MeV are at least partially shielded. For a planet with a magnetic moment similar to that of Earth, this limit increases to to 32 GeV, whereas for a strongly magnetized planet (M = 10.0 M ⊕), partial shielding extends up to 200 GeV. Over the parameter range we studied, strong shielding does not occur for weakly magnetized planets. For a planet with a magnetic moment similar to that of Earth, particles with energies below 512 MeV are strongly shielded, and for strongly magnetized planets, this limit increases to 10 GeV. Conclusions. We find that magnetic shielding strongly controls the number of cosmic-ray particles reaching the planetary atmosphere. The implications of this increased particle flux are discussed in a companion article.
Population Growth and Rising Dowries: The Long-Run Mechanism of a Marriage Squeeze *

India has experienced a much-documented dowry inflation since the 1950s, which has been attributed to a spurt in population growth post-World War II. Will recent declines in fertility lead to a reversal of this trend and a regime of bride price? My paper develops a dynamic general equilibrium model of marriage markets, sex-ratio choice and population growth that is used to characterize the long-run relationship between population dynamics and marriage payments in India. I show that in the absence of exogenous sex preferences for offspring, and with no asymmetries between men and women except in desired ages of marriage (of self and spouse), any long run equilibrium will be characterized by an excess supply of brides, dowry payments and a masculine sex ratio.The result holds for parameters consistent with marriage market indicators in India.