Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Symbiotics and Aloe vera and Symphytum officinale extracts in broiler feed

This study aimed to test the effects of dietary Aloe vera and Symphytum officinale extracts added separately or in combination with symbiotics on the performance, nutrient utilization, serum biochemical parameters, biometrics, and intestinal histomorfometry of broilers. The experiment had a randomized block design with five treatments and six replicates of ten broilers each. Treatments were as follows: negative control and positive control (diet without and with antibiotic, respectively); 0.2% Aloe vera (AV); 0.2% Symphytum officinale (S); 0.2% functional supplement, composed of symbiotics fermented in Aloe vera and comfrey plant extracts (S+PE). At seven days of age, FI of birds fed the Aloe vera extracts diets were lower than that observed for birds consuming the diet with Symphytum officinale extract and S+PE. Broiler performance remained unaffected by treatments at others ages evaluated. At 10 to 14 days of age the lowest ADCDM ADCCP was shown in group feed NC. The highest ADCCP was observed in PC control group and in diets supplemented with Aloe vera and S+PE. Serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phosphorus were affected by addition of extracts at seven, 21, and 35 days of age. The longest duodenal villi were observed in broilers fed S+PE diets at seven days of age. Aloe vera and Symphytum officinale extracts and symbiotics can be used in broiler diets as an alternative to growth-promoting antibiotics.
Detection Strategies and Intercept Metrics for Intra-Pulse Radar-Embedded Communications

This thesis presents various detection strategies and intercept metrics to evaluate and design an intra-pulse radar-embedded communication system. This system embeds covert communication symbols in masking interference provided by the reflections of a pulsed radar emission. This thesis considers the case where the communicating device is a transponder or tag present in an area that is illuminated by a radar. The radar is considered to be the communication receiver. As with any communication system, performance (as measured by reliability and data rate) should be maximized between the tag and radar. However, unlike conventional communication systems, the symbols here should also have a low-probability of intercept (LPI). This thesis examines the trade-offs associated with the design of a practical radar-embedded communication system. A diagonally-loaded decorrelating receiver is developed and enhanced with a second stage based on the Neyman-Pearson criterion. For a practical system, the communication symbols will likely encounter multipath. The tag may then use a pre-distortion strategy known as time-reversal to improve the signal-to-noise ratio at the radar receiver thereby enhancing communication performance. The development of several intercept metrics are shown and the logic behind the design evolutions are explained. A formal analysis of the processing gain by the desired receiver relative to the intercept receivers is given. Finally, simulations are shown for all cases, to validate the design metrics.
Serum ÃÂ²2-Microglobulin Levels in Patients with Various Solid Cancer

Background: The level of β2-M has become one of the most important prognostic factors and predictors of survival in patients with certain caner. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of β2-M in patients with various solid cancers, to find the prognostic and predictive value of serum β2-M level elevating in patients with solid cancer. Methods: A total of 1158 serum from 774 patients with various solid cancer and 384 patients with various solid benign tumor patients were analyzed by β2-microglobulin ELISA kit, the data were analyzed by using statistical 36 packages for sciences (spss11.0) software. Results: In patients with thyroid cancer, patients with breast cancer and that with liver cancer the mean β2-microglobulin levels and positive rate were significantly higher than that in controls (p 0.05), and the positive rats were not significantly different compared with that in controls (p>0.05) except the patients with esophagus cancer in which the positive rate was significantly different compared with that in controls (p < 0.01). In female breast cancer patients the mean β2- microglobulin levels and the positive rate were significantly higher than that in breast benign tumor patients (p<0.05: p<0.05), no significant difference stages and clinical stages. In thyroid cancer patients the mean β2-microglobulin levels and the positive rate were significantly higher than that in thyroid benign tumor patients (p< 0.05, p< 0.01), no significant difference in sex, ages, clinical stages, but the mean β2-microglobulin levels and the positive rate were significantly higher in patients with follicular thyroid cancer than that in patients with mamillary thyroid 54 cancer patients. Conclusion: β2-M is an important tumor marker in breast, thyroid and liver cancer that would be one of assistantly diagnostic factors in patients with these cancers.
The Frustrated XY Model

In this thesis I study the Frustrated XY Model on a square lattice A direct physical realization of such a model can be found in arrays of Josephson junctions In Chapter I examine the Frustrated XY Model on a ladder via a transfer matrix formalism The eigenvalues of the transfer matrix are found numerically giving a determination of the di erent phases of the ladder The spatial periodicity of the ground state exhibits a devil s staircase as a function of the magnetic ux ning factor f If the transverse Josephson coupling is varied a continuous superconducting normal transition in the transverse direction is observed analogous to the breakdown of the Kolomogorov Arnold Moser trajectories in dynamical systems The remainder of the thesis examines the Frustrated XY Model in two dimensions Chapter examines the ground states and low energy excitations of the model In Chapter I compare the critical properties of the model with lling factors f and To obtain a comparison with recent experiments I investigate the e ect of weak quenched bond disorder for f A nite size scaling analysis of extensive Monte Carlo simulations strongly suggests that the critical exponents of the phase transition for f and for f with disorder are those of the pure D Ising model Studying the possible domain walls in the system provides some explanations for these results In order to examine the properties of the model at an incommensurate eld I
Public infrastructure, private capital and the performance of manufactures: short and long run effects

Despite the general idea among economists that public capital is a necessary but not sufficient condition for regional economic development, there is not consensus on the quantification of its effect. It is our belief that the variety of results on infrastructure impact in the economic literature is due to the fact that it depends on a series of factors. Among them we can think of a different sectoral effect, the level of economic development in the area, so as the amount of the existing public capital stocks and their interaction with infrastructures in other regions. In this paper we focus on this latter condition, having into account that the evidence on public capital spillovers obtained in other studies is not homogeneous. This way, whereas in Holtz-Eakin and Schwartz (1995) the stock of highways in a state does not suppose benefits in productivity further its borders, Mas et al. (1997) obtain that the infrastructural endowment in the neighbours can be important. Using different functional forms, the first purpose of this paper is to shed light into the existence of public capital spillovers considering not only the physical interaction among regions but also other forms of relationship such as trade linkages. In a second step, we follow a discusion on the existence of other economic externalities that in case of not being considered could be the reason why we obtain biased estimations for regional returns to scale. Both purposes are treated through the use of spatial econometrics techniques in the Spanish regional case. Keywords: Public capital, Infrastructure Spillovers, External Effects, Spatial Econometrics
How has the Louisiana Scholarship Program Affected students? A Comprehensive Summary of Effects After Three Years

One of the central debates about school reform is whether or not school choice improves student outcomes. School choice reforms, which comprise a broad category of policies aimed at improving public education through the introduction of market forces that may stimulate customer choice and competition between schools, have grown particularly popular since the 1990s. Private school vouchers, which provide public funds for students to attend K-12 private schools, are one example of an education reform that introduces choice and competition. This evaluation focuses on the impacts of the voucher program known as the Louisiana Scholarship Program, addressing four research questions to determine its direct and indirect effects on Louisiana’s students.
Significance of serum thymidine kinase determination in patients with gastric carcinoma

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of serum thymidine kinase 1(sTK1) in gastric cancer.Methods The levels of sTK1 in 102 patients with gastric cancer,35 with benign disease and 38 normal controls were determined by enhanced chemi-luminescence assay.Results The levels of sTK1 in patients with gastric carcinoma(2.35[1.28~3.75] pm/L)were much higher than those in patients with benign disease(1.21[0.75~1.43] pm/L)and normal controls(1.14 [0.72~1.39] pm/L)(P0.01),but there was no significant difference between patients with benign disease and normal controls(P0.05). The level of sTK1 declined significantly one month after operation.The positive rate of sTK1 in patients with gastric cancer(57.8%) was much higher than other digestive tumour marker(carcinoembryonic antigen,carbohydrate antigen 199,CA50). Conclusions The detection of sTK1 may have value in the diagnosis,monitoring and prognosis of gastric cancer.
DO JETS PRECESS… OR EVEN MOVE AT ALL?

Observations of accreting black holes often provoke suggestions that their jets precess. The precession is usually supposed to result from a combination of the Lense–Thirring effect and accretion disk viscosity. We show that this is unlikely for any type of black hole system, as the disk generally has too little angular momentum compared with a spinning hole to cause any significant movement of the jet direction across the sky on short timescales. Uncorrelated accretion events, as in the chaotic accretion picture of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), change AGN jet directions only on timescales ≳ 107 yr. In this picture AGN jet directions are stable on shorter timescales, but uncorrelated with any structure of the host galaxy, as observed. We argue that observations of black hole jets precessing on timescales short compared to the accretion time would be a strong indication that the accretion disk, and not the standard Blandford–Znajek mechanism, is responsible for driving the jet. This would be particularly convincing in a tidal disruption event. We suggest that additional disk physics is needed to explain any jet precession on timescales short compared with the accretion time. Possibilities include the radiation warping instability, or disk tearing.
Translation and validation of Attitudes Toward Sex Education (ATSES) at Portuguese Adolescents

Objetivo: traduzir a escala Attitudes Toward Sexual Education, adaptar culturalmente para adolescentes Portugueses e descrever as propriedades psicometricas. Metodo: Estudo metodologico de traducao/retro-traducao, validacao e analise psicometrica. Observou-se a validade de conteudo, constructo, concomitante, consistencia interna, estabilidade temporal e sensibilidade entre populacoes. Participaram 186 sujeitos, entre os 12-18 anos. No reteste participaram 60 dos sujeitos iniciais. Resultados: Analise fatorial com dois fatores, contrastando com os tres originais. O Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin e esfericidade de Bartlett’s evidenciam adequacao da amostra. A estrutura dos componentes explicou 44,09% da variância; α Cronbach entre . 929 e . 665. A validade convergente situava-se entre . 581 e . 455 e no teste-reteste . 624 e . 580. Conclusoes: Revela-se um instrumento de 27 itens, consistindo numa Escala de Atitudes Globais, com as dimensoes de Confianca e Disponibilidade. Conclui-se que e uma medida adequada para avaliar, em adolescentes portugueses as Atitudes face a Educacao Sexual em Meio Escolar. Descritores: Educacao sexual; adolescente; estudos de validacao; sexualidade. Abstract Objective: to translate ATSES, to culturally adapt it to portuguese adolescents and to assess psychometric properties. Method: Methodological study of translation/back-translation, validation and psychometric analysis. It was observed the validity of the content, construct, concurrent, internal consistency, temporal stability and sensitivity among populations. Firstly, 186 subjects between 12-18 years participated. At the retest, 60 of the initial subjects participated. Results: Factor analysis with two factors, as opposed to the three original ones. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett’s sphericity demonstrate adequacy of the sample. The structure of the components explained 44.09% of the variance; Cronbach α between . 929 and . 665. Convergent validity was between . 581 and . 455 and, in the test-retest, . 624 and . 580. Conclusions: It is revealed an instrument of 27 items, consisting of a Global Attitude Scale, with the dimensions of Confident and Available. It is concluded that it is an appropriate measure to evaluate Portuguese adolescents’ Attitudes regarding Sexual Education at School Descriptors: Sex education; adolescent; validation studies; sexuality.
The copositive cone, the completely positive cone and their generalisations

In het leven streven we vaak naar het beste, of het er nu om gaat het snelste te zijn, het sterkste, het meest efficient of het meest precies. Wiskundige optimalisatie is hierbij een belangrijk hulpmiddel dat ons in staat stelt de beste keuzes te maken. Om wiskundige optimalisatie toe te passen hebben we een model nodig. Tot voor kort waren dit lineaire modellen. Tijdens de laatste eeuw zijn grote successen behaald met deze aanpak. Voor veel toepassingen is een lineair model echter niet toereikend en hebben we in plaats daarvan een kwadratisch model nodig. Helaas is optimaliseren voor kwadratische modellen een stuk moeilijker in verband met niet-convexiteit waardoor locale optima ontstaan. Copositieve optimalisatie biedt een nieuwe mogelijkheid aan om exacte herformuleringen te verkrijgen voor een grote klasse van dergelijke problemen. Bij de copositieve optimalisatie is de copositieve kegel van essentieel belang, de moeilijkheid van het oorspronkelijke probleem komt in feite in de copositieve kegel terecht. Gedurende mijn PhD heb ik onderzoek gedaan naar fundamentele eigenschappen van de copositieve kegel en zijn generalisaties. Dat heeft geresulteerd in een proefschrift getiteld “The Copositive Cone, the Completely Positive Cone and their Generalisations”. Dit onderzoek is onderverdeeld in drie onderwerpen: 1. Toepassingen voor generalisaties van copositieve optimalisatie, alsmede gerelateerde resultaten met betrekking tot complexiteit; 2. Geometrische eigenschappen van de copositieve kegel en een daaraan gerelateerde kegel genaamd de compleet positieve kegel; 3. Benaderingen van de copositieve kegels en haar generalisaties. Dit onderzoek heeft bijgedragen aan een significante verbetering van ons begrip van copositieve optimalisatie.
Human Development Traps and Economic Growth DIVISIÓN DE Economía CIDE

Human capabilities play an important part in the emergence from stagnation to modern economic growth. Historical and macroeconomic studies show substantial effects for nutrition and heaíth on income levéis and on rates of growth, impiying long-term divergence of Incomes. Cross-country examination of the joint dynamics of the Ufe expectancy and income shows that emergence from stagnation continúes to this day, marked by barriers to basic human development and to productivity. These observations are explained by a model in which human development interacts with technological change and is characterized by a sequence of market failures. These dynamic, intergenerational, human development traps make economic evidence for an economy-wide, intergenerational, low human capital trap consistent with this model. The effects found for early child development on the acquisitlon of education, and therefore on adult income, are commensurate with the historical and macroeconomic magnitudes mentioned above.
REAÇÕES TRANSFUSIONAIS EM UM HOSPITAL CEARENSE ACREDITADO: UMA ABORDAGEM EM HEMOVIGILÂNCIA

ObjeCtive: To study the signs and symptoms presented in blood products reactions registered in the Hospital Geral Dr. Waldemar de Alcântara (HGWA). MethOd: The study shows the analysis of signs and symptoms of reaction reports and evaluation of data obtained from the notification forms hemovigilance in a secon dary public hospital and accredited level 2, according to ONA. Results: The mean age of patients who had reactions was 48.31 ±27.2 years, ranging from 2 months to 94 years, 52.5% were female. Were analyzed the signs and symptoms presented by patients admitted to HGWA that were affected by transfusion reactions, in the period January to December 2010. From a total of 4899 bags of transfused blood products accounted for 48.6% of packed red blood cells, 34.4% fresh frozen plasma, platelet concentrates 13.3% and 3.8% cryoprecipitate. Among the indications, the reasons for use were 65.5% anemia, 12.2% hemorrhage, 12.2% clotting times changed and 9.8% thrombocytopenia. A total of 70.7% of the reactions were caused by red blood cells, 17.1% for fresh frozen plasma and 12.2% for platelet concentrate. Immediate reactions accounted for 92.7% of the total. The main symp toms in the reactions were fever (55.6%), dyspnea, urticaria (8.9% each). COnClusiOn: The packed red blood cells was the blood product more transfused. The I cU was the sector where these products are most consumed. regarding indications for blood transfusion stood out anemia, followed by hemorrhage. The main signs and symptoms found were easily observed as fever, dyspnea and urticaria.
Distributed Model-Predictive Control Driven by Simultaneous Derivation of Prices and Resources

Abstract A novel distributed model predictive control method for linear discrete-time systems is considered. The method can handle coupled constraints as well as coupled objective functions. For the decomposed optimal control problems embedded in the distributed controller additional linear information on the full optimal control problem is added. On each horizon, the resulting coordinated optimal control problem is solved iteratively. Prices and resources are calculated simultaneously. A convergence analysis is presented as well as a case study for an unstable process. There, an almost optimal control sequence is achieved after only one iteration.
Does a Firm’s Life Cycle Explain Its Propensity to Engage in Corporate Tax Avoidance?

Abstract This study examines whether a firm’s life cycle explains its propensity to engage in corporate tax avoidance. Based on the Dickinson (2011) model of firm life cycle stages and a large dataset of US publicly listed firms over the 1987–2013 period, we find that tax avoidance is significantly positively associated with the introduction and decline stages and significantly negatively associated with the growth and mature stages using the shake-out stage as a benchmark. We observe a U-shaped pattern in tax avoidance outcomes across the various life cycle stages in line with the predictions of dynamic resource-based theory. Our findings are consistent using several robustness checks. Overall, our results show that a firm’s life cycle stage is a significant determinant of tax avoidance.
Should all patients on insulin be using continuous glucose monitoring?

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is being used increasingly both in patients on insulin pumps (CSII) and more recently in those on multiple injection regimens (MIR). This review lists the CGM devices available in South Africa and explores the literature supporting the use of CGM as a primary modality for monitoring blood glucose in those with diabetes on MIR. In particular, the role of CGM as a modality for improving glycaemic control and reducing hypoglycaemia is explored. The identification of appropriate patients, the possible barriers to the institution of CGM and the role of CGM in the future of diabetes care is discussed.
Bank risk aversion and the risk-taking channel of monetary policy in the euro area

The financial crisis has provoked economic policy interest and academic research on the functioning and empirical verification of the risktaking channel of monetary policy. The results of this paper demonstrate how the European Central Bank’s Bank lending survey responses can be used to construct a “pure” risk aversion indicator of banks’ business lending. Using panel vector autoregression econometric methodology, we find evidence that the monetary policy affects the “pure” risk aversion of banks and later affects business loans and inflation in the euro area. The results suggest that the risktaking channel in the euro area is operational.
Formal design and verification methods for shared memory systems

Many modern hardware and software systems axe designed as a collection of components that run concurrently in order to achieve higher performance. These components employ sophisticated protocols for coordinating their actions. The correctness of these protocols is critical for the overall correctness of the system. Traditional debugging techniques such as simulation are increasingly unable to cover all aspects of the protocols. As a result, formal methods, especially model checkers that examine all possible scheduling of the events in the protocol, have gained considerable attention both from academia and industry. This dissertation shows how formal methods can be tailored to a particular domain to address concerns specific to the domain, and in doing so obtain algorithms that perform better on the protocols that occur in the narrower domain. The domain chosen is shared memory system design and verification. The contributions of the dissertation are: (1) a partial order reduction algorithm, called two phase, to improve the effectiveness of the model checkers, (2) a refinement procedure that synthesizes detailed distributed shared memory protocols from high-level specifications, and (3) a testing based approach, called test model checking , that can be used to verify if a given shared memory system correctly implements a given formal memory model. The two phase algorithm is more effective than the current partial order reduction algorithms on a number of protocols, including the protocols that occur in shared memory design. The refinement technique shows how formal methods can exploit domain specific knowledge to support a high-level specification and validation of protocols followed by an automatic synthesis of a detailed implementation. The test model checking approach shows how limitations of model checking can be overcome by combining model checking with traditional testing methods.