Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling and statistical analysis of catchment water balance and discharge in Finland in 1951–2099 using transient climate scenarios

In this study climate change impacts on water balance components were estimated from transient climate scenarios for 1951–2099 in Finland. The future changes in evapotranspiration and discharge in annual and seasonal scales as well as annual mean high and low flows were projected for four catchments in different parts of Finland. The assessment was carried out using temperature and precipitation series simulated by four regional climate models (RCMs) as input to a conceptual hydrological model. The daily data from RCMs was bias corrected with the quantile–quantile mapping method and statistical properties of the simulated discharges were analysed to detect trends over time. Without bias correction the simulated discharges in the control period did not match the observed discharges, but the fit was improved considerably after bias correction. The results showed that seasonal changes, most importantly increase in winter runoff, were clearly visible and consistent in different climate scenarios and catchments. Individual scenarios also produced changes in annual mean, high and low flows, but without consistency in scenarios. The use of bias corrected RCM data as input to the hydrological model enables transient simulations, but the simulation results aggregate considerable uncertainties from the climate modelling, bias correction and the hydrological model.
Is Negative Profitability-Leverage Relation the Only Support for the Pecking Order Theory in Case of Pakistani Firms?

Previous studies on capital structure in Pakistan have reported evidence in support of the pecking order theory. However, this evidence is largely based on testing one dimensional relationship between leverage ratios and firms’ profitability. The objective of this paper is to extensively test the pecking order theory in Pakistan with well-known pecking order testing models. Specifically, we use a sample of 321 firms listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange from 2000 to 2009 and test pecking order theory with models suggested by Shyam-Sunder and Myers, Frank and Goyal, Watson and Wilson, and Rajan and Zingales. Results of these models indicate that there exits only weak evidence in support of pecking order theory in Pakistan. However, strong support is found for pecking order theory when leverage ratios are regressed on profitability ratio, along with a set of control variables. This discrepancy in the results of the two sets of models needs further investigation, as well as care in interpreting the results of existing studies on capital structure in Pakistan. Our results show robustness even after controlling for possible profits understatements or weak corporate governance practices.
Sources and costs of labor market fluctuations and the role of stabilization policies

The goal of this thesis is twofold: (1) uncover the sources of labor market fluctuations and evaluate their costs, (2) understand whether monetary policy should be concerned with stabilizing these fluctuations. More precisely, it addresses a certain number of intertwined questions. First, which disturbances underlie labor market fluctuations? Do they find their origin within or outside the labor market? Second, are there key characteristics of the labor market that tend to amplify or dampen the effects of these shocks on economic activity? Third, how costly are these fluctuations, and what does this imply for stabilization policies, especially monetary policy? The first chapter addresses the first question. It identifies and quantifies the importance for economic fluctuations of two labor market shocks, a labor supply shock and a wage bargaining shock, within a Vector Auto Regressive (VAR) mode! The shocks are identified with sign restrictions. The main result that emerges from this analysis is that both shocks are important for output and unemployment fluctuations in the short run and in the long run. The second chapter is related to the literature that argues that wage rigidity is key to explaining the size of labor market fluctuations. It derives an analytical solution for the wage from an alternating-offer wage bargaining game a la Hall and Milgrom (2008) under a plausible parameter restriction. The third chapter addresses the third question. It tries to understand how the nature of unemployment fluctuations shapes the optimal design of monetary policy. It shows that, when unemployment fluctuations are asymmetric, the standard macroeconomic trade­-off between inflation and unemployment stabilization becomes a trade-off between inflation stabilization and average unemployment. In this environment, it is optimal for the central bank to adopt a dual mandate, that is, a policy that features a strong response to employment alongside inflation. The welfare gains of adopting this policy rather than a policy of price stability are found to be substantial.
High-risk behaviour in steady and in casual relationships among men who have sex with men in Israel

Objective To explore the differences in sexual risk behaviour between men who have sex with men (MSM) with steady partners versus casual partner(s) in the gay community. Methods This online cross-sectional convenience-sampling study assessed MSM practices, their knowledge and their motivation regarding safe sex. Participants not knowing their HIV status or who performed insertive or receptive unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) or with a sex partner whose HIV status was unknown or discordant were considered ‘at-risk’. Results Of all 2569 participants who completed the questionnaire, 907/2569 (35.3%) had a steady partner, and 896/2569 (34.9%) had a casual partner(s) in the past 6 months. 262/907 (28.9%) with steady partners and 248/896 (27.7%) with casual partners demonstrated at-risk sexual behaviour. Of all participants with steady partners, 108/907 (11.9%) performed UAI with their partner without undergoing mutual HIV testing. Of all participants with steady partners, 476/907 (52.5%) had a concurrent casual partner, and 144/476 (30.3%) performed UAI with both the steady and the casual partner. Of all participants with steady partners, 775/907 (85.4%) negotiated the possibility of sex outside their relationship with their main partner. The length of the steady relationship correlated with the number of concurrent casual partners. Conclusions At-risk sexual behaviour was associated with insufficient negotiation skills, difficulties in condom use and a general risk-taking profile. Health educators should encourage MSM with steady partners to perform HIV testing before practising UAI, to improve their negotiation skills during the contact and to support open discussions with regard to sexual contact besides the steady relationship, as it may not be monogamous.
Moving beyond marketing: : Generating social business value across the enterprise

This year's MIT Sloan Management Review and Deloitte global survey found clear evidence that companies across industries are creating value with social business. A key finding is that social business value is a function of what we call social business maturity the breadth and sophistication of its initiatives. In this year's report, we detail the drivers of that maturity and how companies are using social business to transform their organizations and reap greater gains from their social business efforts. This article presents the highlights of our findings
Atrazine and increased male production by Daphnia: The importance of combining field and laboratory approaches

Atrazine is one of the most commonly applied herbicides in North America and annually pulses through many midwestern stream and reservoir systems. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the ability of atrazine to stimulate male production by Daphnia, an effect hypothesized to lower population growth rates during a period of intense larval fish predation. In the present study, populations of Daphnia parvula and Daphnia ambigua exhibited high proportions of males but no ephippial females when atrazine pulsed into Acton Lake, a small midwestern reservoir. Field results thus supported the hypothesis of excess male production by Daphnia during the spring herbicide pulse. In laboratory studies, dose–response studies, and population‐level assays revealed no effect of atrazine on male production or population growth rate of multiple clones differing in reproductive strategy and exposure history. However, D. parvula increased male production in response to an endogenous crustacean hormone (methyl farnesoate). Excess male production observed in the field population was therefore not likely caused by atrazine, although we cannot rule out the possibility of interactive effects of atrazine and some other stressor. Apparent signs of endocrine disruption in the presence of high concentrations of a suspected agent should be viewed with caution in the absence of parallel laboratory studies involving individuals from the populations of interest.
Curricula and the use of ICT in education: Two worlds apart?

In many countries, information and communication technology (ICT) has a clear impact on the development of educational curricula. In Flanders, the education government has identified and defined a framework of ICT competencies for expected outcomes, related to knowledge, skills and attitudes that pupils are expected to achieve at the end of primary school. However, it has never been examined whether teachers are using ICT in accordance with the competencies proposed by the Flemish government. In order to answer this question, a survey was conducted among 570 respondents in a stratified sample of 53 primary schools. Results show that teachers mainly focus on the development of technical ICT skills, whereas the ICT curriculum centres on the integrated use of ICT within the learning and teaching process. This indicates the existence of a gap between the proposed and the implemented curriculum for ICT. The paper concludes with the potential value of a school-based ICT curriculum that ‘translates’ the national ICT-related curriculum into an ICT plan as part of the overall school policy.
Evaluation of rapid antibody tests for the diagnosis of helicobacter pylori infection

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to compare the performance characteristics of one serum and four whole blood rapid antibody tests for Helicobacter pylori infection.METHODS:A total of 97 outpatients referred for endoscopic evaluation of dyspepsia were included. Antral biopsies were obtained for histology and rapid urease test. Serum was tested with an enzyme-linked immunoassay (HM-CAP) and a rapid serology test (FlexSure HP). A commercially available 13C-urea breath test was performed. Capillary blood obtained by fingerstick was tested with FlexSure HP, QuickVue, Accustat, and StatSimple pylori tests. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each rapid test was calculated relative to a criterion standard of histological gastritis and at least two of the four following tests positive: identifiable organisms on specially stained slides, rapid urease test, urea breath test, or serum immunoassay.RESULTS:A total of 30 patients (31%) were infected. The FlexSure HP Serum, and FlexSure HP, QuickVue, Accustat, and StatSimple pylori whole blood tests had sensitivities of 90%, 87%, 83%, 76%, and 90%; specificities of 94%, 90%, 96%, 96%, and 98%, and accuracies of 93%, 88%, 92%, 87%, and 96%, respectively. Sensitivities were not statistically different. StatSimple pylori was more specific than FlexSure HP whole blood (p < 0.03), and more accurate than FlexSure whole blood (p < 0.024) and Accustat (p < 0.01). Serum immunoassay was significantly more sensitive (97%) than FlexSure whole blood, QuickVue, and Accustat (p < 0.01), but its specificity (95%) was not statistically different from the rapid tests.CONCLUSION:Rapid antibody testing provides an accurate diagnosis of H. pylori infection. In general, these tests are less sensitive than, but as specific as, standard serology.
Age-specific interval breast cancers in New South Wales and meta-analysis of studies of women aged 40–49 years

Objective: To compare interval cancers in the 40–49 year age group with other age groups in New South Wales and with published trials and service studies. Setting: New South Wales data were derived from the population-based biennial mammography screening program, which achieved state-wide coverage in 1995. Women aged 40–49 years screened during 1995–1998 were included. Methods: Bilateral two-view mammography with reading by two radiologists was employed for biennial screening examinations. Interval cancers were detected by the screening program and by linkage with the state-wide cancer registry. Incidence of interval cancer based on the date of diagnosis was estimated as a proportion of the expected underlying breast cancer incidence for first- and second-year interval cancers. Sensitivity estimates were also calculated. Comparative data for the 40–49 year age group were derived from the published literature for meta-analyses of trial and service studies. Results: Interval cancer rates for New South Wales decreased with increasing age, with the highest proportional incidence in the 40–49 year age group for first year (56%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 50–62%) and second-year (86%, 95% CI 82–90%) interval cancers. Proportional incidence for women aged 50–69 years for first- and second-year interval cancers was 31% (95%CI 29–33%) and 50% (95% CI 47–52%) respectively. Sensitivity estimates for the program increased significantly with age, with lowest sensitivity estimates evident for women 40–49 years. In women aged 40–49 years the meta-analysed proportional incidence rate for randomised trials of screening for first- and second-year interval cancers was 42% (95% CI 21–62%) and 63% (95% CI 55–71%) respectively, while for service studies it was 44% (95% CI 31–58%) and 72% (95% CI 51–92%). Proportional incidence in the New South Wales program for women aged 40–49 years was not significantly different to the meta-analysed proportional incidences for trial and service studies in the first year, or for service studies in the second year. Conclusion: Proportional incidence of interval cancer was significantly higher in women aged 40–49 years in New South Wales relative to older age groups, but did not differ significantly from service studies of women in a similar age group. The effectiveness of mammography screening for this age group needs to be examined in view of the comparatively high rate of interval cancers.
Energy-Efficient Time-Domain Vector-by-Matrix Multiplier for Neurocomputing and Beyond

We propose an extremely energy-efficient mixed-signal <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${N} \times {N}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> vector-by-matrix multiplication (VMM) in a time domain. Multi-bit inputs/outputs are represented with time-encoded digital signals, while multi-bit matrix weights are realized with adjustable current sources, e.g., transistors biased in subthreshold regime. The major advantage of the proposed approach over other types of mixed-signal implementations is very compact peripheral circuits, which would be essential for achieving high energy efficiency and speed at the system level. As a case study, we have designed a multilayer perceptron, based on two layers of 10 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ \times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 10 four-quadrant multipliers, in 55-nm process with embedded NOR flash memory technology, which allows for compact implementation of adjustable current sources. Our analysis, based on memory cell measurements, shows that >6 bit operation can be ensured for larger (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${N} >$ </tex-math></inline-formula> 50) VMMs. Post-layout estimates for 55-nm 6-bit VMM, which take into account the impact of PVT variations, noise, and overhead of I/O circuitry for converting between conventional digital and time domain representations, show ~7 fJ/Op for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${N} >$ </tex-math></inline-formula> 500. The energy efficiency can be further improved to POp/J regime for more optimal and aggressive designs.
BLOOD METABOLITES OF ONE-HUMPED CAMEL (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) VERSUS SHEEP DURING SUMMER HEAT STRESS

Background: Camel and sheep have high disperse and tolerance in tropical regions. But different results of harsh condition tolerance ability of them have been reported. ObjectiveS: The objective of this study was to determine the heat stress tolerance in camel and sheep by evaluating changes in blood serum metabolites and to report and compare the serum biochemical profile of sheep and camel during long heat stress of warm summer. Methods: In this experiment, blood metabolites of camel and sheep were taken and compared with each other in four consecutive months during warm months (high summer). Results: There was a significant difference between the values of urea, glucose, total protein, albumin, phosphors, calcium, ALT, ALP, uric acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, total bilirubin, and LDH of sheep and camels. Overall urea, glucose, total protein, albumin, phosphors, and calcium values were significantly higher in camels compared to sheep (p<0.01). Oppositely, sheep had significant higher values for uric acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, total bilirubin, and LDH (p<0.01). However AST and creatinine were not significantly different between sheep and camels. ConclusionS: Sheep sensitivity to heat stress was appeared in increasing in uric acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, total bilirubin, and LDH values compared to camel; so as it might be told sheep had more lipolysis-pattern during heat stress; their high blood LDH and total bilirubin were signs of red blood cell rupture or liver damage; and significant higher blood uric acid value in sheep makes them susceptive to a kidney problem such as gout.
The pediatric PRO-SELF©: pain control program: an effective educational program for parents caring for children at home following tonsillectomy.

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper was to provide a description of the components of the PEDIATRIC PRO-SELF©: Pain Control Program. DESIGN AND METHODS The Program, adapted from studies of this intervention in adults with cancer pain, was tested in two randomized clinical trials of acute pain management in pediatrics. RESULTS Key strategies most effective for parents in the pediatric ambulatory surgery setting included use of an educational booklet and timer to facilitate adherence to the prescribed analgesic regimen, as well as interactive nursing support. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The PEDIATRIC PRO-SELF©: Pain Control Program can be used with parents caring for children at home following tonsillectomy.
Following the beat of cardiac potentials

A means to monitor the characteristics of the action potential can help clinicians determine if the heart is in an ischemic state, a condition in which the blood supply to the heart is obstructed. The precise delineation of the ischemic border zone may be important for identifying where to best deliver a therapeutic intervention (i.e., pharmacological agent, growth factor, gene therapy, or the delivery of stem cells). It may also be possible to observe shift in the baseline measurement of the resting membrane potential (phase four) that is independent of baseline wander or other artifacts. Some of these changes can also be observed in the body surface electrogram, the EGG. For example, ischemic phenomenon may be observed with surface EGG recordings in which the S-T segment may be elevated during ischemic conditions. However, the information gathered from the action potential recording yields more information than a 12-lead EGG exercise stress test, such as the precise location of ischemic event and its border zones
Association of Vascular Access Type with Inflammatory Marker Levels in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Aggressive NIH is a common histopathological lesion found at the sites of venous stenosis in arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and arteriovenous grafts (AVG). Inflammatory mediators have been proposed to play a pathogenic role in NIH, but there is paucity of data evaluating this hypothesis in clinical studies or in animal models. Serum levels of inflammatory mediators can potentially identify patients at high risk of AVF and AVG dysfunction. In a cross‐sectional cohort study of 754 HD patients who were part of the NIED study cohort, we examined the associations between inflammatory markers including serum interleukin (IL) 1β, IL‐6, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and type of vascular access. Unadjusted and multivariate‐adjusted linear regression models were used. In addition, time‐dependent regression model was used to assess the association between inflammatory markers and mortality. We observed that in the multivariate‐adjusted model, inflammatory mediators interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin–1L‐ß (IL‐1ß), and C‐reactive protein (CRP), the predicted value in hemodialysis patients, are lowest in patients with AVF and highest in central venous catheter (CVC) and AVG even in case‐mix and malnutrition–inflammation complex syndrome (MICS)‐adjusted models. IL‐6 and CRP levels fall consistently in the same patients when AVG or CVC is changed to AVF and increase if the same patient changes access from AVF to AVG or CVC. Obesity is a risk factor for fistula failure and fistulas are associated with the lowest mortality compared with CVC and AVG. We did not find any statistically significant association between tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF‐ α) and vascular access outcomes. Higher levels of inflammatory mediators seen in CVC and AVG compared with AVF could potentially explain the higher mortality seen in patients with CVC and AVG compared with AVF.
Modelling small and medium-sized enterprises' failure in Malaysia

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are acknowledged as significant contributors to development and growth in the economy. Since failure among SMEs is common, this study intends to build an accurate model that could predict SME failure. An analysis on 132 companies in 2000 to 2010 shows that higher gearing and lower profitability are associated with higher failure risk. In addition, the incorporation of the company's age significantly improves the model's predictive accuracy. Our result indicates that young SMEs rely heavily on debt, which leads them into distressed situations. To validate the predictive accuracy of the model, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is utilised, suggesting that the inclusion of the non-financial variable significantly improves the model. The overall prediction accuracy rate ranges from 75% to 89% for the model developed with non-financial variables when applied to the one-year, two-year, three-year and four-year prior-to-default holdout samples.