Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors and outcome in European cardiac surgery : analysis of the EuroSCORE multinational database of 19030 patients q

Objective: To assess risk factors for mortality in cardiac surgical adult patients as part of a study to develop a European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE). Methods: From September to November 1995, information on risk factors and mortality was collected for 19030 consecutive adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass in 128 surgical centres in eight European states. Data were collected for 68 preoperative and 29 operative risk factors proven or believed to in ̄uence hospital mortality. The relationship between risk factors and outcome was assessed by univariate and logistic regression analysis. Results: Mean age ( ^ standard deviation) was 62:5 ^ 10:7 (range 17±94 years) and 28% were female. Mean body mass index was 26:3 ^ 3:9. The incidence of common risk factors was as follows: hypertension 43.6%, diabetes 16.7%, extracardiac arteriopathy 2.9%, chronic renal failure 3.5%, chronic pulmonary disease 3.9%, previous cardiac surgery 7.3% and impaired left ventricular function 31.4%. Isolated coronary surgery accounted for 63.6% of all procedures, and 29.8% of patients had valve operations. Overall hospital mortality was 4.8%. Coronary surgery mortality was 3.4% In the absence of any identi®able risk factors, mortality was 0.4% for coronary surgery, 1% for mitral valve surgery, 1.1% for aortic valve surgery and 0% for atrial septal defect repair. The following risk factors were associated with increased mortality: age (P  0:001), female gender (P  0:001), serum creatinine (P  0:001), extracardiac arteriopathy (P  0:001), chronic airway disease (P  0:006), severe neurological dysfunction (P  0:001), previous cardiac surgery (P  0:001), recent myocardial infarction (P  0:001), left ventricular ejection fraction (P  0:001), chronic congestive cardiac failure (P  0:001), pulmonary hypertension (P  0:001), active endocarditis (P  0:001), unstable angina (P  0:001), procedure urgency (P  0:001), critical preoperative condition (P  0:001) ventricular septal rupture (P  0:002), noncoronary surgery (P  0:001), thoracic aortic surgery (P  0:001). Conclusion: A number of risk factors contribute to cardiac surgical mortality in Europe. This information can be used to develop a risk strati®cation system for the prediction of hospital mortality and the assessment of quality of care. q 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Ovary and Liver IGF-I, IGF-IR and IGFBP-II Gene Expressions and Reproduction Performance of Old Laying Hens Injected with Growth Hormone and Testosterone

This study investigated how exogenous hormones change ovary and liver IGF-I, IGF-IR and IGFBP-II gene expression and egg production performance of 160 laying hens (HyLine W-36), at 73 rd week of age when subcutaneously injected with different doses of Growth Hormone (GH) and Testosterone (Ts) as follows: Treatment 1 (Tr 1): 100 µL distilled water (control group); Treatment 2 (Tr 2): Ts 500 µg kg -1 +GH 50 µg kg -1 live weight; Treatment 3 (Tr 3): Ts 500 µg kg -1 +GH 100 µg kg -1 live weight, and Treatment 4 (Tr 4): Ts 500 µg kg -1 +GH 150 µg kg -1 live weight. The birds were randomly assigned to the four experimental groups with four replicates of 10 birds each, in a completely randomized design. Fifth-largest-yellow follicle (F5) and liver samples were taken just 8 hours after hormone injection. Production performance was measured during fourth and fifth weeks after hormone injection. Increase in liver IGF-I mRNA in Tr4 was significantly higher than that in Tr 3 and the control group. The liver IGF-IR gene expressions in all hormone-injected hens were significantly higher than that in the control group. The liver IGFBP-II mRNAs were significantly higher in Tr 2 and 4 compared with the control group and Tr 3. The expressions of IGF-I and IGF-IR mRNAs in F 5 wall of the layers in the control group, Tr 2 and 3, and F 5 IGFBP-II mRNA in Tr 3 were significantly increased compared to the other groups. Ovulation rate in Tr 3 was significantly higher than other groups. Besides, egg mass of Tr 2 and 3 was significantly more than the control group. Feed intake of Tr 3 significantly differed from the other groups. Treatment 4 had significantly higher feed conversion ratio compared with Tr 2. In conclusion, the results show the positive effects of the exogenous Ts and GH through IGF system on reproduction performance in old laying hen.
HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF PSIDIUM GUAJAVA LINN LEAVES EXTRACTS IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

Objective: The objective of present investigation was to evaluate hypolipidemic activity of Psidium guajava Linn leaves extracts in hyperlipidemic rats. Materials and Methods: Hyperlipidemia condition was induced by High Cholesterol Diet (HCD) in wistar rats and these rats were treated with aqueous and methanolic extract of Psidium guajava leaves for ten days. At the end of experiment blood serum level of TC, TG and HDL were measured and LDL and VLDL were calculated. Result: Blood serum level of TC, TG, LDL were elevated and HDL level was reduced in HCD controlled group but brought at control level in hyperlipidemic rats treated with methanolic extract 400mg/kg.body weight p.o.
Mechanical Properties of Metal Al / SiC and AlCu / SiC Metal Matrix Composites ( MMCs )

The Metal Matrix Composite (MMCs) Al/SiC and AlCu/SiC through steering hot method have been done. The SEM images show that there are microstructure differences between the Al/SiC and AlCu/SiC. Tensile test results show the value of the yield stress of AlCu /SiC higher than Al/SiC. Meanwhile, the testing of wear resistance during 50 minutes earned the mass lost on Al/SiC 4.7% while AlCu/SiC 7.32%. We believed that the addition SiC particle can improve the mechanical properties and reduces the frictional resistance.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the mental models deployed by undergraduate students in explaining thermally activated phenomena

In this contribution we describe a research aimed at pointing out the quality of mental models undergraduate engineering students deploy when asked to create explanations for phenomena/processes and/or use a given model in the same context. Student responses to a specially designed written questionnaire are initially analyzed using researcher-generated categories of reasoning, based on the Physics Education Research literature on student understanding of the relevant physics content. The inferred students’ mental models about the analyzed phenomena are categorized as practical, descriptive, or explanatory, based on an analysis of student responses to the questionnaire. A qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with students after the questionnaire administration is also used to deepen some aspects which emerged from the quantitative analysis and validate the results obtained.
ALTERNATIVE GENETIC EVALUATION MODELS UNDER PARENTAL SELECTION

3 �� ABSTRACT: Stochastic simulations were carried out to investigate empirical statistical and genetic properties of solutions from Henderson's Mixed Model Equations, for an individual animal model (HMM_a), under 3 types of parental selection (BLUP, phenotype and true breeding value (TBV)) and 2 situations of pedigree information (full and 10% missing). Empirical properties were also evaluated for 7 alternative models and compared to HMM_a. Fifty replicates of populations with 12,000 animals distributed in 600 contemporary groups and 6 generations were simulated. Considering full pedigree information, HMM_a yielded biased solutions when selection was based on TBV, while solutions from the alternative models were biased mainly under BLUP selection. Bias presented by HMM_a underestimated solutions of sires with greater proportion of progeny in generations with higher genetic merit. Bias shown by the alternative models, under BLUP selection, occurred in the opposite way. All the studied models yielded biased solutions under missing pedigree information. Biases affected the ability of each model to select animals properly. Evidences were found that alternative models could yield better results than HMM_a, and that selection, or more explicitly, genetic differences between levels of fixed (environmental) effects, should not always be ignored. �� KEYWORDS: Bias; BLUP; genetic evaluation; mixed model; selection.
Multi‐variable relations for soil effects on seismic ground motion

Soil effects on peak ground acceleration, velocity and elastic response spectra (5% damping) are expressed by simple approximate relations in terms of five key parameters: (a) the fundamental vibration period of the non‐linear soil, TS, (b) the period of a bedrock site of equal thickness, Tb, (c) the predominant excitation period, Te, (d) the peak seismic acceleration at outcropping bedrock, a maxb , and (e) the number of significant excitation cycles, n. Furthermore, another relation is proposed for the estimation of TS in terms of the soil thickness H, the average shear wave velocity of the soil V̄S,o and a maxb . The aforementioned parameters were first identified through a simplified analytical simulation of the site excitation. The multivariable approximate relations were then formulated via a statistical analysis of relevant data from more than 700 one‐dimensional equivalent‐linear seismic ground response analyses, for actual seismic excitations and natural soil conditions. Use of these relations to back‐calculate the numerical results in the database gives an estimate of their error margin, which is found to be relatively small and unbiased. The proposed relations are also independently verified through a detailed comparison with strong motion recordings from seven well‐documented case studies: (a) two sites in the San Fernando valley during the Northridge earthquake, and (b) five different seismic events recorded at the SMART‐1 accelerometer array in Taiwan. It is deduced that the accuracy of the relations is comparable to that of the equivalent‐linear method. Hence, they can be readily used as a quick alternative for routine applications, as well as for spreadsheet computations (e.g. GIS‐aided seismic microzonation studies) where numerical methods are cumbersome to implement. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stock Market Liberalization, Stock Market Performance and Economic Growth in Kenya

The study empirically examined whether stock market liberalization improves the functioning of domestic stock market and accelerates economic growth in Kenya. The study also assessed the kind of relationship between liberalization, stock market performance and economic growth in Kenya. Liberalization was assessed by stock market capitalization while turnover was used to asses stock market performance. The study used quarterly time series data collected through secondary sources and covered a period of 22 years from January, 1991 to December, 2012. The study utilized econometric techniques of Vector autoregressive and Granger Causality Tests to investigate the relationships. The results displayed a one way causality that runs from stock market development to economic growth. The results also show that stock market liberalization indirectly impacts on economic growth through investment. The study found that stock market liberalization has a significant positive impact on the economic growth in Kenya.
Hope, Humor and Quality of Life in a Low Income Sample

The following study investigated relationships between: (1) hope and quality of life in a low income sample, and (2) humor and hope in a low income sample. Additionally, the following study examined a predictive relationship with humor and hope as the predictor variables and Quality of Life scores as the criterion. Hope Scale scores and Quality of Life scores significantly, positively correlated r= . 49, p<. 01, indicating a moderate correlation. The Hope subscales also demonstrated significant relationships: the Agency subscale scores and Quality of life scores significantly, positively correlated r=. 60, p<. 01, indicating a large correlation. The Pathways subscale significantly, positively correlated with Quality of Life scores r=. 26, p<. 05, indicating a small correlation. Additionally, the relationship between humor and hope scores yielded a moderate, significant, positive relationship r=. 36, p<. 01. Finally, the relationship between humor and hope accounted for 24.9% of the variance in Quality of Life Scores.
High Frequency Analysis of the Unsteady Interactive Boundary Layer Model

The present paper is about a famous extension of the Prandtl equation, the so-called Interactive Boundary Layer model (IBL). This model has been used intensively in the numerics of steady boundary layer flows, and compares favorably to the Prandtl one, especially past separation. We consider here the unsteady version of the IBL, and study its linear well-posedness, namely the linear stability of shear flow solutions to high frequency perturbations. We show that the IBL model exhibits strong unrealistic instabilities, that are in particular distinct from the Tollmien-Schlichting waves. We also exhibit similar instabilities for a Prescribed Displacement Thickness model (PDT), which is one of the building blocks of numerical implementations of the IBL model.
MICROSYMBIONTS OF Siderastrea stellata (CNIDARIA, SCLERACTINIA) IN COASTAL REEFS OF CABO BRANCO, STATE OF PARAÍBA, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

MICROSSIMBIONTES DE Siderastrea stellata (CNIDARIA, SCLERACTINIA) NOS RECIFES COSTEIROS DE CABO BRANCO, PARAIBA, NORDESTE DO BRASIL Analises microscopicas dos organismos epibiontes (efetuadas em agua de lavagem das colonias) e endobiontes (presentes nos tecidos dos corais) foram realizadas em colonias branqueadas e sadias do coral Siderastrea stellata. Estas colonias foram coletadas em junho e julho de 2003, nos recifes costeiros do Cabo Branco, Nordeste do Brasil. Foi registrado a presenca de zooxantelas, diatomaceas, cianobacterias, protozoarios, vermes e microcrustaceos. A maior diversidade taxonomica ocorreu nas amostras resultantes da lavagem das colonias sadias. Desenhos e fotomicrografias de alguns dos representantes identificados sao apresentados. Palavras chaves: Siderastrea stellata; Endossimbiose; Corais escleractinios; Brasil
A Qualitative Analysis of Korean Students’ Awareness of Motivational Macro Strategies

Motivation remains a topic of great importance in the field of EFL. Numerous studies have highlighted the linkage between the use of motivational strategies and student achievement in foreign language acquisition. In 2017 a study carried out by Heinz and Kobylinski found significant differences between the ways in which Korean students rated the use of motivational strategies by native English-speaking English teachers and native Korean speaking English teachers. These differences were explored primarily through the use of a 47 question survey utilizing a 5-point Likert scale and some limited qualitative interviews. As the survey provided strategies for comparison, the question arose whether students recalled such differences due to prompting and how a more open-ended investigation might better explain these findings. As such open-ended interviews were carried out with 21 Korean students whose backgrounds were similar to the students in the previous study. The results not only confirmed previous findings but provided considerable context as to why strategy implementation differs between the two groups. The most significant differences described were related to creating a pleasant classroom environment and familiarizing students with L2 related values. Interviewees described a high stress environment within the Korean educational system and suggested that differences between the two groups were more pronounced when native English-speaking English teachers were teaching in an international or American setting.
Why is Self-Enhancement Low in Certain Collectivist Cultures?

The purpose of the present study is to compare two alternative explanations for the low self-enhancement that characterizes collectivist cultures: (a) lack of a self-enhancement motive arising from the perceived centrality of others, and (b) cultural restrictions imposed on the self that are manifested by modesty requirements. The validity of the two explanations was investigated in two studies. Study 1 examined how self-enhancement is related to self-esteem and subjective well-being. Results from four samples showed that self-enhancement measures were significantly and positively related to self-esteem and to indices of well-being in collectivist cultures as well as independent ones, revealing the psychological benefits of self-enhancement in all tested cultures. Study 2 found that cultural differences in modesty, not the perceived centrality of others, best explains cultural differences in self-enhancement. Taken together, the results support the notion that cultural restrictions rather than the lack of a self-enhancement motive are responsible for the low self-enhancement found in certain collectivist cultures. Implications of these results for the conceptualization of the interdependent self were discussed.
Application of intergroup contact theory to the integrated workplace: Setting the stage for inclusion

Social inclusion in community work settings remains an elusive outcome for many employees with intellectual disabilities. This study explored how the structure of work relationships with colleagues facilitates or inhibits social integration. Data were collected on 22 employees with disabilities through semi-structured interviews with six employment specialists and participant observations of six employees at their community worksites. Data were interpreted using intergroup contact theory, a longstanding theory within the intergroup relations literature that addresses the role of contact in reducing prejudice toward members of negatively stereotyped groups. As predicted by intergroup contact theory, interviews and observations revealed that coworkers were generally more accepting of an employee with a disability if (a) they had the opportunity to get to know the employee as an individual rather than as a stereotype or label, (b) they worked with the employee as an equal peer to accomplish common work goals, and (c) the employer or worksite supervisor unequivocally supported the equality and workplace inclusion of the employee with a disability. Findings suggest intervention strategies to promote inclusion in the integrated workplace.
Thermodymnamic properties of crambe fruits

This study aimed to determine and evaluate the thermodynamic properties of crambe fruit at different equilibrium moisture contents. The dynamic-gravimetric method was used to collect experimental data. Crambe fruits with an initial moisture content of approximately 26% db (dry basis) were used. The thin-layer desorption of the product was conducted at different controlled temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40, and 45°C) and at water activity levels ranging from 0.10 to 0.89 until the product reached the equilibrium moisture content at the specified air condition. In conclusion, the thermodynamic properties of crambe fruit are affected by temperature and moisture content. The isokinetic theory is valid for the desorption process, which is controlled by enthalpy, and the Gibbs free energy is positive at all of the tested temperatures, which indicates that water desorption is not a spontaneous process.
Modern diatom assemblages from Chilean tidal marshes and their application for quantifying deformation during past great earthquakes

Tidal marsh sediments from south‐central Chile provide evidence for multiple great earthquakes. Diatom transfer functions, statistical models of the relationship between species preserved in the sediment and elevation, provide quantitative estimates of coseismic vertical land‐level change associated with individual earthquakes. However, in south‐central Chile, our ability to quantify land‐level change is currently limited by a lack of understanding of the environmental variables controlling the distribution of diatoms, an essential prerequisite for converting variations in fossil diatom assemblages into quantitative estimates of past elevation changes. We present a new modern diatom dataset for the region and explore the implications of the scale of the dataset used in transfer function models on the reconstructions of land‐level change. Modern training sets containing samples from a regional scale are superior to sub‐regional and local‐scale training sets, providing closer estimates for known deformation during the great 1960 Chilean earthquake, a higher proportion of good modern analogues and uncertainty terms up to 42% smaller than previously published reconstructions. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Quaternary Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Genetic kinship and social structure in a herd of square‐lipped rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum) at the zoological center, Tel Aviv/Ramat‐Gan, Israel

Zoos and zoological parks serve as genetic and demographic reserves for strengthening endangered populations and reestablishing extinct populations in the wild. Knowing the genetic ties within captive populations is a very helpful tool for successful reproductive management. In the present study we addressed kinship relationships and behavior among rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum) raised at the Zoological Center, Tel Aviv/Ramat Gan, Israel, with the hope of identifying reasons for the declining rate of reproduction within the herd. We used the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique to reveal the paternity of the rhinos born at the park. In this way, we identified the paternity of five out of seven young born in the herd, which are currently in Ramat Gan. One male accounted for three (37.5%) births, and two other males accounted for one each. The paternity of the two other animals is unknown and may be of animals that are no longer in the Zoological Center. The genetic determinations were accompanied by behavioral observations, which enabled us to determine the social dynamics in the herd. This study suggests that there are at least three contributing factors to the reproductive decline in the herd: 1) a surplus of males, 2) exclusion of potentially reproductive males from the breeding stock, and 3) specific behavioral and physiological problems in some members of the herd. Zoo Biol 21:561–571, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An insight into Twitter: a corpus based contrastive study in English and Spanish.

The aim of this paper is to study the use of Spanish and English in the micro-blogging social network Twitter from a contrastive point of view. A quantitative research methodology is applied in order firstly, to identify specific common characteristics of language, organization and content in the medium and secondly, to find eventual differences in the use of a particular language. To carry out the experiment, two corpora were constructed using language data from Twitter, one in Spanish with a total number of 4,027,746 words and another with similar characteristics in English with a total number of 4,655,992 words. From the results obtained, the conclusion is that there are a number of very general discourse and organizational features common to the two corpora under study. It is also concluded that there are some particular characteristics which differentiate the use of English and Spanish in the medium.
The Determinants of Tax Avoidance within Corporate Groups: Evidence from Moroccan Groups

This paper examines the major tax avoidance determinants within the corporate groups, based on a hand-collected sample of 45 publicly-listed Moroccan corporate groups, over the 2011–2015 period. The literature review indicate that there are several practices of Moroccan corporate groups, used to reduce their tax liabilities, specially, we find, Group size, Intra-group transactions, Profitability, Intangible Assets, Debts, and Multinationality. Finally, our regression results show that only the multinationality, intra-group transactions and Debts are used to maximize tax avoidance opportunities, therefore to reduce the group’s tax liabilities.