Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting Shipping Freight Rate Movements Using Recurrent Neural Networks and AIS Data - On the tanker route between the Arabian Gulf and Singapore

The purpose of this thesis is twofold. Firstly, we want to predict shipping freight rates in the liquid crude oil tanker market, applying a machine learning technique suitable for processing time-series (sequential) data, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Networks (NN). Secondly, an important objective of this thesis is to investigate the predictive ability of satellite Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. AIS potentially provides real-time data on for example the current position, past routing and headed destination of ships world-wide. We examine whether this type of data adds valuable information, on top of other fundamental and financial data, with respect to the prediction of freight rate movements in the tanker shipping market. A total of 17 explanatory variables are included in the study, selected based on a thorough literature review of tanker freight rate determinants; eleven of the variables are derived from AIS data, and the other six are fundamental and financial variables gathered from Thomson Reuters Eikon. The applied data set contains time series of these 17 variables in the sample period 4 January 2012 to 24 December 2015. Specifically, a type of recurrent neural networks, an LSTM NN model developed based on TensorFlow, is utilised to predict future price fluctuations on the major tanker route between the Arabian Gulf (AG) and Singapore, over the following short-term horizons: one day-, five daysand ten days ahead. This route is defined as TD2 by the Baltic Exchange. Furthermore, this model is applied to determine whether it achieves better prediction (or classification) accuracy by adding AIS data as input variables. A three-dimensional solution space is examined: Numerous experiments are performed, investigating the use of various subsets of explanatory variables (combinations of the 17 selected variables), over three different forecasting horizons, using two degrees of model complexity. Moreover, a multivariate linear regression model is utilised to provide benchmark results. The findings of this thesis indicate that the LSTM NN model provides promising results when forecasting ten days ahead; the LSTM NN model outperforms the benchmark model in all six experiments carried out. However, on the shorter forecasting horizons (one dayand five days ahead), the benchmark model competes well with the LSTM NN model. The results further indicate that the LSTM NN model does not achieve significantly better prediction (or classification) accuracy by adding AIS data as model input. However, the quality of the applied AIS data is questionable. Thus, by sampling new and more recent AIS data, the forecasting results could be improved. Moreover, certain measures and techniques can be applied to attempt to enhance the LSTM NN model performance.
Effects of the Boy Scouts of America Personal Fitness Merit Badge on Cardio-Metabolic Risk, Health Related Fitness and Physical Activity in Adolescent Boys

A growing number of adolescents are more sedentary and have fewer formal opportunities to participate in physical activity. With the mounting evidence that sedentary time has a negative impact on cardiometabolic profiles, health related fitness and physical activity, there is a pressing need to find an affordable adolescent physical activity intervention. One possible intervention that has been overlooked in the past is Boy Scouts of America. There are nearly 900,000 adolescent boys who participate in Boy Scouts in the United States. The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the effect of the Personal Fitness merit badge system on physical activity, health-related fitness, and cardio-metabolic blood profiles in Boy Scouts 11–17 years of age. Participants were fourteen (N = 14) Boy Scouts from the Great Salt Lake Council of the Boy Scouts of America who earned their Personal Fitness merit badge. Classes were held in the Spring of 2016 where boys received the information needed to obtain the merit badge and data were collected. Results from the related-samples Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that the median of differences between VO2 peak pre-test and post-test scores were statistically significant (p = 0.004). However, it also showed that the differences between the Pre-MetS (metabolic syndrome) and Post-MetS scores (p = 0.917), average steps taken per day (p = 0.317), and BMI (p = 0.419) were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the merit badge program had a positive impact on cardiovascular endurance, suggesting this program has potential to improve cardiovascular fitness and should be considered for boys participating in Boy Scouts.
Values in management: cultural restructure for an effective performance appraisal

The world of business has changed significantly. Human resources management (HRM) now has become part of the organization’s strategic decision making process, where human capital is becoming the core of a firm’s ability to achieve superior performance. The competitive edge of an organization exists within the quality of its people. Since literatures have proven that values affect human behaviour, enriching organizational environment and an alignment of individual values with organizational values is important in order to have a long term organization’s sustainability. The existing system of beliefs and values that shaped the model for management now is seems to be not effective enough for the current management environment. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to clarify the concept of values in management from the perspective of human resources. This paper discusses the need to primarily shift from an existing system of employees to value based management. This new approach of leadership tool will be discussed from HRM perspective and will be proposed to be improved in the area of performance appraisal. A survey of literatures from relevant fields is carried out to justify the main issue related to the relationship between values and the effective performance appraisal. This paper proposed an integrated conceptual framework of effective performance appraisal by testing values as the mediating effect of values in management in the context of HRM perspective for further empirical work.
Diabetic foot infections: recent literature and cornerstones of management

Purpose of review Diabetes mellitus has reached pandemic levels and will continue to increase worldwide. Physicians and surgeons should know to manage one of its most prevalent complications, the diabetic foot infection (DFI), in a scientifically based and resource-sparing way. We performed a nonsystematic review of recent scientific literature to provide guidance on management of DFIs. Recent findings Studies in the past couple of years provide data on which recommendations for diagnosing and treating DFI are based, especially with validated guidelines and reviews of the microbiology and selected aspects of the complex DFI problem. Recent literature provides approaches to prevention and studies support more conservative surgical treatment. Unfortunately, there have been virtually no new therapeutic molecules, antibiotic regimens, randomized trials, or surgical techniques introduced in the recent past; we briefly discuss how this may change in the future. Summary Recent scientific evidence on DFI strongly supports the value of multidisciplinary and some new care models, guideline-based management, more preventive approaches, and confirms several established therapeutic concepts. In contrast, there has been almost no new substantial information regarding the optimal antibiotic or surgical management in recent literature.
Pengaruh literasi keuangan, experienced regret, risk tolerance, dan motivasi pada keputusan investasi keluarga dalam perspektif masyarakat Bali

This study aims to determine the effect of financial literacy, experienced regret, risk tolerance, and motivation on family investment decisions by taking samples of 105 Balinese residents. The investment decision investigated in this study is dealt with the decision to invest the money in capital market instruments and bank accounts. The analytical method used is a quantitative method using multiple linear regressions. The data were collected using a survey of questionnaire to the respondent. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling method and then continued using convenience sampling. The results of this study indicate that risk tolerance has positive influence on investment decisions of Balinese family. Meanwhile, financial literacy, experienced regret, and motivation do not affect significantly investment decisions of Balinese family. These results imply that Balinese people consider their risk tolerance as the main factor considered in making decision whether to put the money in bank accounts or capital market instruments.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: An overview

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by amyloid deposition in cortical and leptomeningeal vessels. Several cerebrovascular amyloid proteins (amyloid β‐protein (Aβ), cystatin C (ACys), prion protein (AScr), transthyretin (ATTR), gelsolin (AGel), and ABri (or A‐WD)) have been identified, leading to the classification of several types of CAA. Sporadic CAA of Aβ type is commonly found in elderly individuals and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is an important cause of cerebrovascular disorders including lobar cerebral hemorrhage, leukoencephalopathy, and small cortical hemorrhage and infarction. We review the clinicopathological and molecular aspects of CAA and discuss the pathogenesis of CAA with future perspectives.
Parallel retinal folds; their significance in orbital space-taking lesions.

Retinal folds have been reported in the past in association with orbital tumors 1-3,5,8 and in exophthalmos due to thyroid disease. 3,7 It is our purpose to present two patients from our private and clinic service who demonstrated this clinical finding. One had exophthalmos due to fibrous dysplasia and the other metastatic hypernephroma of the orbit. The parallel folds described are produced by deformation of the globe where the expanding retrobulbar mass indents the sclera. The appearance of such folds may precede the proptosis 6 and give rise to hyperopia and astigmatism of varying degrees which may or may not be correctible with lenses. 1,3,5 Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals horizontally parallel dark lines or folds in the posterior pole of the fundus usually running above and below the macula toward the disc. Birch-Hirschfield 1 first described these folds in a patient with sarcoma of the orbit where the wrinkling of the
Credit Default Swaps, Financial Distress and Corporate Acquisitions

This study shows that credit default swap (CDS) reference firms are more likely to conduct acquisitions. In economic terms, CDS reference firms have a 5% higher acquisition propensity than non-CDS firms. Additionally, CDS reference acquirers experience higher announcement returns. This is driven by CDS reference acquirers with high credit risk, who are also associated with a lower probability of default. The positive effect of CDS on acquisition outcomes is attributable to the empty creditor threat posed by CDS-protected creditors. Finally, consistent with CDS increasing debt capacity, cash is more likely to be used as the payment method.
The stoichiometry of protein phosphorylation in adipocyte lipid droplets: Analysis by N‐terminal isotope tagging and enzymatic dephosphorylation

Most phosphoproteomic studies to date have been limited to the identification of phosphoproteins and their phosphorylation sites, and have not assessed the stoichiometry of protein phosphorylation, a critical parameter reflecting the dynamic equilibrium between phosphorylated and non‐phosphorylated pools of proteins. Here, we used a method for measuring phosphorylation stoichiometry through isotope tagging and enzymatic dephosphorylation of tryptic peptides. Using this method, protein digests are divided into two equal aliquots that are modified with either light or heavy isotope tags. One aliquot is dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase. Finally, the peptide mixtures are recombined and LC‐MS/MS analysis is performed. With this method, we studied adipocytes of mice stimulated with CL316,243, a β‐3 adrenergic agonist known to induce lipolysis and marked phosphorylation changes in proteins of the lipid droplet surface. In lipid droplet preparations, CL316,243 administration increased phosphorylation of proteins related to regulation of signaling, metabolism and intracellular trafficking in white adipose tissue, including hormone‐sensitive lipase which was 80% phosphorylated at the previously reported site, Ser‐559, and the lipid surface protein perilipin, which was phosphorylated by ∼60 and ∼40% at previously unreported sites, Ser‐410 and Ser‐460.
Genomic and morphoproteomic correlates implicate the IGF-1/mTOR/Akt pathway in the pathogenesis of diffuse congenital hyperinsulinism

Purpose: Patients with diffuse congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), unresponsive to medical therapy require near total pancreatectomy. Morphoproteomic analysis of the pancreases in diffuse CHI has revealed constitutive activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Treatment of infants with diffuse CHI with sirolimus (mTOR inhibitor) has recently been shown to be effective in avoiding pancreatectomy. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the biology of insulin production in diffuse CHI patients using genomic and morphoproteomic techniques. Methods: Gene expression microarray and immunohistochemical probes focusing on the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)/mTOR/Akt pathway were applied to pancreases of diffuse CHI and compared with non-CHI controls. Results: Genomic overexpression of MTOR, IGF1, IGF2 and IGF2BP3 and downregulation of TSC2 was noted in diffuse CHI. Correspondingly, morphoproteomics revealed: (a) strong plasmalemmal expression of phosphorylated (p)-mTOR (Ser 2448) in the exocrine pancreas; (b) p-Akt (Ser473) in the nuclear compartment and cytoplasm of the insulin-producing islet cells with variable expression of p-mTOR (Ser 2448); and (c) insulin and IGF-1R expression in the expanded islet cells in the context of minimal progression into the mitotic phase. Conclusion: Genomic and morphoproteomic findings indicate that the IGF-1R/mTORC2/Akt pathway is overexpressed in the expanded beta cell population in the absence of significant progression into the mitotic phase and a mass effect. These suggest that the observed efficacy of sirolimus in diffuse CHI could be the result of mTORC1 inhibition thereby reducing exocrine transdifferentiation to beta cells, and contributing to the disassembly of the mTORC2/Akt pathway, resulting in reduced insulin secretion and a propensity for increased apoptosis of insulin-producing beta cells.
Dual-Component Intramedullary Implant Versus Kirschner Wire for Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Fusion: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

We undertook a multicenter, parallel treatment arm, randomized controlled trial to compare the outcomes after surgery for the treatment of lesser digital hammertoe using either a Kirschner wire or a 2-piece intramedullary, stainless steel implant for fixation of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Our primary aim was to compare the incidence of arthrodesis and complications, and our secondary aim was to compare the subjective foot-related outcomes measured using the Bristol Foot Score and the Foot Function Index, stratified by fixation group. We hypothesized that the use of the dual-component implant would result in greater patient satisfaction, a greater incidence of radiographic arthrodesis, and fewer complications after hammertoe repair. The overall mean age of the participants was 58.72 ± 13.48 (range 18 to 84) years, their mean body mass index was 30.14 ± 6.55 (range 20.7 to 46.98) kg/m(2), and no statistically significant differences in the demographic variables were present between the treatment groups at baseline or during the follow-up period. Of the 91 participants, 46 (50.55%) were randomly allocated to the Kirschner wire group and 45 (49.45%) to the intramedullary implant group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the 2 fixation groups in the incidence of complications; however, the 2-piece intramedullary implant group was associated with a greater mean Bristol Foot Score and Foot Function Index score and a greater incidence of fusion.
An Empirical Study on Lean Management and HRM Practices in Relation towards Operational Performance

In recent years, the matter of lean management (LM) and human resource management (HRM) practices have been commonly used to observe operational performance (OP). One of the distinctive features of LM and HRM practices is that better performance is achieved through the people in the organization. Many researchers have demonstrated that investments in human capital can significantly influence organizational objectives and outcomes. The resource-based view (RBV) theory perspective has been extensively utilized to empirically test and predict these organizational objectives and outcomes. This study investigates from RBV theory perspective, the mediating effect of HRM practices on the relationship between LM and OP within public sector in Malaysia. The main research question addressed by this study is whether LM enhances OP directly or indirectly through the support of the HRM practices. A survey research method is adopted to collect data from Malaysia local authorities. The analysis of the research model uses Partial Least Square (PLS) based software SmartPLS 3. The results will provide practitioners with guidelines in implementing LM more efficiently and effectively for enhancing OP of their organizations.
Quinolones versus macrolides in the treatment of legionellosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Legionellosis is a life-threatening disease. The clinical superiority of quinolones or macrolides for treating patients with legionellosis has not been established. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting data that allowed the comparison of quinolones versus macrolides in the treatment of proven legionellosis published from 1 January 1985 to 31 January 2013. We collected baseline aggregate patient characteristics. Studied outcomes included mortality, clinical cure, time to apyrexia, length of hospital stay and occurrence of complications in each treatment group. Treatment effect was assessed using a Mantel-Haenszel random effects model. RESULTS Among 1005 abstracts reviewed, 12 studies were selected (n=879 patients). No randomized controlled trial was performed directly comparing quinolone and macrolide efficacy in legionellosis. Mean age was 58.3 years, 27.7% were women and Fine score was ≥ 4 in 35.8%. Among 253 patients who received quinolone monotherapy, 10 died (4.0%). Among 211 patients who received macrolide monotherapy, 23 died (10.9%). The pooled OR of death for treatment with a quinolone versus a macrolide was 0.5 (95% CI 0.2-1.3, n=8 studies, 464 patients). Length of stay was significantly shorter in the quinolone monotherapy group. The difference was 3.0 days (95% CI 0.7-5.3, P=0.001, n=3 studies, 263 patients). Neither of two tests for heterogeneity was significant (I (2)=0% for both, P=1). Other studied outcomes were not significantly different among treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Few clinical data on legionellosis treatment are available. This first meta-analysis showed a trend toward a lower mortality rate and a significant decrease in length of hospital stay among patients receiving quinolones. These results must be confirmed by a randomized controlled trial.
Refined global Gan–Gross–Prasad conjecture for Fourier–Jacobi periods on symplectic groups

In this paper, we propose a conjectural identity between the Fourier–Jacobi periods on symplectic groups and the central value of certain Rankin–Selberg $L$ -functions. This identity can be viewed as a refinement to the global Gan–Gross–Prasad conjecture for $\text{Sp}(2n)\times \text{Mp}(2m)$ . To support this conjectural identity, we show that when $n=m$ and $n=m\pm 1$ , it can be deduced from the Ichino–Ikeda conjecture in some cases via theta correspondences. As a corollary, the conjectural identity holds when $n=m=1$ or when $n=2$ , $m=1$ and the automorphic representation on the bigger group is endoscopic.
The Oxytocin‐induced Inward Current in Vagal Neurons of the Rat is Mediated by G Protein Activation but not by an Increase in the lntracellular Calcium Concentration

The neuropeptide oxytocin can depolarize parasympathetic preganglionic neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve of the rat by generating a sustained inward current, which is sodium‐dependent and tetrodotoxin‐insensitive. The second messenger activated by oxytocin receptor binding is, however, not yet known. In the present study, we attempted to characterize it by using the whole‐cell recording technique and brainstem slices. When loaded with GTP‐γ‐S, a non‐hydrolysable analogue of GTP, vagal neurons generated a persistent inward current in the absence of agonist and the oxytocin effect was suppressed, suggesting that the peptide‐evoked current was mediated by G‐protein activation. Loading vagal neurons with the calcium chelator 1,2–bis(2–aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N′,N′,‐tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) suppressed a calcium‐dependent, slowly decaying potassium aftercurrent but did not affect the oxytocin response, suggesting that the latter was not mediated by an agonist‐induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation was probably not involved, since the peptide‐evoked current was not modified by loading neurons with the PKC inhibitor H7. Thus, the oxytocin‐evoked current in vagal neurons was probably not mediated by phospholipase C‐β (PLC‐β) activation. Loading neurons with 8–Br‐CAMP or with an adenylyl cyclase activator (forskolin) reduced the oxytocin‐evoked current by about half. SQ 22536, an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor, reduced this current by a similar amount. However, the peptide‐evoked current was unaffected by Rp‐CAMPS and Sp‐CAMPS, an inhibitor and an activator, respectively, of CAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA). We suggest that oxytocin activates two distinct signalling pathways in vagal neurons: one which is CAMP‐dependent, but PKA‐independent, and one, unidentified, which is PLC‐β‐and CAMP‐independent. Each pathway accounts for about half of the peptide effect and both appear to involve G‐protein activation.
Gerontologic nursing.

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