Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measurement of transverse and sagittal diameter of the lumbar vertebral canal in people from Western region of Nepal

INTRODUCTION: Size of the canal diameter is one among several factors responsible for lumbar canal stenosis. The study aims to measure the transverse and sagittal diameter of the lumbar vertebral canal in people from Western region of Nepal and compare with the published results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty young patients (24 males and 26 females) complaining of LBP were done X-ray of lumbar spine in Antero- Posterior (AP)/ Lateral in supine views. From the images, midsagittal (AP) dimensions, transverse (interpedicular) distances and width of vertebral body were measured at each level with the help of electronic calipers. RESULTS: The mean transverse diameter of lumbar canal ranged from 24.8 mm at L1 to 33.25 mm at L5. This gradual increase in the transverse diameter from L1 to L5 was statistically significant. Measurement of lumbar vertebral width ranged from 41.37 mm at L1 and 52.96 mm at L5. There was gradual increase in the size from L1 to L5. But the measurement of AP distance showed a gradual decrease in diameter from L 1 to L 5. The decrease in the AP diameter from L 1 to L2 and Canal body ratio was not constant at all levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our hospital based data showed that the patients from western region of Nepal have smaller canal size. Therefore, the patients from western region of Nepal may be more prone to develop spinal canal stenosis. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/ijim.v2i2. 8323 Int J Infect Microbiol 2013;2(2):55-58
Heterogeneous Consumers, Demand Regimes, Monetary Policy Efficacy and Determinacy

The aim of this paper is to investigate both the efficacy and the stability properties of monetary policy rules in presence of heterogeneous consumers. We aim to underline the link between the well- known Taylor Principle and the demand-policy regimes, defined on the basis of the monetary policy transmission mechanism. By developing an analytical analysis, we show that the transmission mechanism plays a key role on monetary efficacy and equilibrium determinacy.
Studies on Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Flora and its Contribution to Livelihood Enhancement in the Doon-Valley, Uttrakhand (India)

Uttrakhand has tremendous potential for medicinal plants cultivation and in becoming one of the important options for sustainable livelihood in the Doon valley as well as all hilly regions. Doon-valley, Uttrakhand can take advantages of increasing demand and low availability of medicinal and aromatic plants resources in the other parts of the country and start to grow highly valuable medicinal plants in high altitude areas. Medicinal and aromatic plants can play an important role in the subsistence livelihood enhancement rural people, especially women through an environmentally sustainable manner while maintaining the biodiversity of these natural products. Key-wordsEndangered plants, Medicinal flora, Indigenous use, Medicinal and aromatic plants -------------------------------------------------IJLSSR----------------------------------------------INTRODUCTION The plants have been used as a source of medicines by the man from ancient times to the present day. Initially, these were the main parts of folk or ethno medicine practiced in India and other parts of the world like China, Middle East Africa, and South America. Later a considerable part of this indigenous knowledge was formulated, documented and eventually passed into the organized systems of medicines such as Ayurveda, Yunani, Siddha or other systems. Subsequently, with the advance in the techniques of phytochemistry and pharmacology, a number of active principles of medicinal plants were isolated and introduced as valuable drugs in the modern system of medicine [1]. Demands for medicinal plants are increasing in both developing and developed countries. As per WHO estimate, about 80% of the population in developing countries depends directly on plants for medicine. Access this article online
Forecasting medium-term electricity demand in a South African electric power supply system

The paper discusses an application of generalised additive models (GAMs) in predicting medium-term hourly electricity demand using South African data for 2009 to 2013. Variable selection was done using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) via hierarchical interactions, resulting in a model called GAM-Lasso. The GAM-Lasso model was then extended by including tensor product interactions to yield a second model, called GAM- -Lasso. Comparative analyses of these two models were done with a gradient-boosting model to act as a benchmark model and the third model. The forecasts from the three models were combined using a forecast combination algorithm where the average loss suffered by the models was based on the pinball loss function. The results showed significantly improved accuracy of forecasts, making this study a useful tool for decision-makers and system operators in power utility companies, particularly in maintenance planning including medium-term risk assessment. A major contribution of this paper is the inclusion of a nonlinear trend. Another contribution is the inclusion of temperature based on two thermal regions of South Africa.
Endogenous Persistence in an Estimated DSGE Model Under Imperfect Information

A framework for estimating Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models by Bayesian methods and validation under very general information assumptions is applied to a New Keynesian model. The standard asssumption that private agents have perfect information observing all state variables including shocks, whereas the econometrician uses only observable data, is compared with both agents having the same imperfect information (II) set. We also generalise rational expectations to a behavioural composite model that allows some households and firms to form expectations adaptively. We find significant empirical support for II as an endogenous persistence mechanism, but this is dominated by that from habit and adaptive learning.
Constraining isocurvature perturbations with the 21 cm emission from minihaloes

We investigate the effects of isocurvature perturbations on the 21 cm radiation from minihaloes (MHs) at high redshifts and examine constraints on the isocurvature amplitude and power spectrum using the next generation of radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometre Array. We find that there is a realistic prospect of observing the isocurvature imprints in the 21 cm emission from MHs, but only if the isocurvature spectral index is close to 3 (i.e. the spectrum is blue). When the isocurvature fraction increases beyond ∼10 per cent of the adiabatic component, we observe an unexpected decline in the 21 cm fluctuations from small-mass MHs, which can be explained by the incorporation small MHs into larger haloes. We perform a detailed Fisher-matrix analysis and conclude that the combination of future cosmic microwave background and 21 cm experiments (such as CMBPol and the Fast Fourier Transform Telescope) is ideal in constraining the isocurvature parameters, but will stop short of distinguishing between cold dark matter and baryon types of isocurvature perturbations, unless the isocurvature fraction is large and the spectrum is blue.
Propagule dispersal of the S.E. Asian seagrasses Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii

Dispersal rates of seeds and fruits of the 2 common SE Asian seagrasses Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii were quantified under field conditions during flotation and the subsequent period of bottom dispersal. For E. acoroides, traveling speeds of buoyant seeds were timed for 70 different experimental batches of 10 to 30 propagules in seagrass beds across 9 different sites on the Bolinao reef flats, and during different seasons and tidal conditions. For T. hemprichii, only 3 experiments could be done due to the limited availability of propagules in this less frequently flowering species. Overall, fruits and seeds of E. acoroides floated at a speed of 0.26 ± 0.02 km h -1 (mean ± standard error), whereas those of T. hemprichii traveled at 0.47 ± 0.15 km h -1 . Median fruit and seed flotation times were 158 and 0.5 h, respectively, for E. acoroides, and 55 and <0.5 h, respec- tively, for T. hemprichii. Dispersal rates were similar to in situ measured flows due to tides and wind together. Neither the difference between species nor that between propagule types was significantly different, which is in agreement with their similar sinking velocities in still seawater but in contrast with a marked difference in seed volume and weight. Estimating the distance that could be covered by floating fruits led to medians of 41 and 23 km for E. acoroides and T. hemprichii, respectively, pointing to a considerable dispersal capacity of these propagules. Floating seeds traveled only a lim- ited distance (<5 km at most for E. acoroides and <13 km for T. hemprichii). In situ bottom dispersal of E. acoroides seeds stopped after 2 to 5 d, i.e. after the germinating seedlings had formed a hairy mass at the base that anchored them to the sediment. Maximum distance traveled over the sediment by observed seeds was 204 cm, and mean rates ranged between 10 and 29 cm d -1 . In 2 of the 3 exper- iments, seeds of T. hemprichii moved much faster over the sediment (around 100 cm d -1 ) than those of E. acoroides, disappearing from the experimental tracks within 2 to 3 d, probably largely due to herbivory or burial by invertebrates.
The climatology of the Brewer-Dobson circulation and the contribution of gravity waves

<p>The climatology of residual mean circulation &#8211; a main component of the Brewer&#8211;Dobson circulation &#8211; and the potential contribution of gravity waves (GWs) are examined for the annual mean state and each season in the whole stratosphere based on the transformed-Eulerian mean zonal momentum equation using four modern reanalysis datasets. Resolved and unresolved waves in the datasets are respectively designated as Rossby waves and GWs, although resolved waves may contain some GWs. First, the potential contribution of Rossby waves (RWs) to residual mean circulation is estimated from Eliassen&#8211;Palm flux divergence. The rest of residual mean circulation, from which the potential RW contribution and zonal mean zonal wind tendency are subtracted, is examined as the potential GW contribution, assuming that the assimilation process assures sufficient accuracy of the three components used for this estimation. The GWs contribute to drive not only the summer hemispheric part of the winter deep branch and low-latitude part of shallow branches, as indicated by previous studies, but they also cause a higher-latitude extension of the deep circulation in all seasons except for summer. This GW contribution is essential to determine the location of the turn-around latitude. The autumn circulation is stronger and wider than that of spring in the equinoctial seasons, regardless of almost symmetric RW and GW contributions around the Equator. This asymmetry is attributable to the existence of the spring-to-autumn pole circulation, corresponding to the angular momentum transport associated with seasonal variation due to the radiative process. The potential GW contribution is larger in September to November than in March-to-May in both hemispheres. The upward mass flux is maximized in the boreal winter in the lower stratosphere, while it exhibits semi-annual variation in the upper stratosphere. The boreal winter maximum in the lower stratosphere is attributable to stronger RW activity in both hemispheres than in the austral winter. Plausible deficiencies of current GW parameterizations are discussed by comparing the potential GW contribution and the parameterized GW forcing. </p>
Integrated Model towards Computer Assisted Language Learning Acceptance: Empirical Case Study of Saudi Universities

Maximum utilization of technology in all fields of life including language education by a country has become inevitable to survive in the competitive world. Saudi government has already invested a lot of efforts and public finance to adopt modern teaching practices using Information Communication Technology (ICT) to supplement English Language Teaching (ELT) in Saudi Arabia. The present study applies Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical model to explore the effects of different factors on the attitudes of teachers towards using Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in the language learning contexts of Saudi Arabia. The current study investigates the effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on the attitude and intended usage behavior of Saudi English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers towards using CALL. In addition to these two factors borrowed from TAM, three other variables: social influence, facilitating conditions and management support are added into the model. To test the hypothesized model, this study applied a quantitative questionnaire survey approach with participants chosen randomly from 10 different universities in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 421 valid responses received through online questionnaire from the teachers were used for the analysis to achieve research objectives and hypotheses testing. Structural Equation Modeling Analysis was employed to analyze the data. The findings of this study are found very encouraging and provide sufficient support to the proposed model of the study, which was consisting of TAM as the foundation theory. According to TAM, postulation perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use both are two significant elements that determine attitude and intended usage behavior. These hypotheses were found significant, thus provided external validity to the TAM postulations. In addition, the findings suggested that social influence, management support, and facilitating conditions are important factors that influence individuals’ intended behavior towards CALL usage.
Finding the Best Length of Video-Podcasts: Effects of Varied numbers of Video-Podcast Used on Listening Comprehension of Saudi Undergraduates

Integration of video-podcasts has effectively promoted listening comprehension but its suitable length is yet to be known. The main objective of the present study is to identify the difference between the varied number of video-podcasts used and students’ performance in listening comprehension. The study investigated the effects of video-podcasts integration on listening comprehension from the perspective of varied number of Video-Podcasts used in instructions. The twelve-week quantitative study employed a quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design. A total of 120 samples included in a control and three experimental groups. ANOVA analysis revealed an overall significant difference amongst the four groups. All the three experimental groups outperformed the control group. However, no significant difference was found between the control group and the 5 video-podcast group; and between 10 and 15 video-podcasts groups. The significant difference, however, was noted when the control group was compared to 10 and 15 video-podcast groups. Similarly, the difference between 5 and 10 video-podcast groups; and between 5 and 15 video-podcast groups was also significant. The findings imply that video-podcasts are useful resource for enhancing EFL learners’ listening comprehension. However, their appropriate length needs to be considered for the desired results.
Trend of physico-chemical properties change in recycling spent mushroom compost through vermicomposting by epigeic earthworms Eisenia foetida and E.andrei

Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-336, Tehran, Iran. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, TarbiatModares University, P.O. Box 14115-336, Tehran, Iran.
To Group or Not to Group? Evidence from Mutual Funds

The literature has conflicting reports regarding the impact of group decision making on performance. We first observe that in mutual fund studies this results from large discrepancies in reported managerial structures between CRSP and Morningstar databases reaching on average 20% per year. Then we show that with more superior Morningstar data team-managed funds exhibit higher risk-adjusted returns than single-managed funds. The performance spread is present across all fund categories, except aggressive funds, and is robust to the inclusion of fund- and manager-level controls. Across various managerial structures, the largest team-induced gains are reached among funds managed by three individuals. Furthermore, teams significantly improve fund performance when funds are located in financial centers, reflecting larger networking potential and/or better skills of people who reside in larger cities. This improvement is achieved in teams more homogeneous in age and education. In spite of higher returns however, team-managed funds are not riskier than single-managed funds in terms of market exposure or idiosyncratic volatility. Finally, team-managed funds trade less aggressively and are able to generate extra inflows for their funds. Thus, collective decision making is beneficial, but its scale depends on team size and diversity as well as its geographic location.
Turnout and fractionalization

The literature has largely shown that social fragmentation is negatively correlated with the quality of government. Surprisingly, fragmentation has been omitted in most influential cross-sectional studies of turnout, and when it has been included evidence is, at best, mixed. Using aggregated data from 22 countries and individual data from Canada and Spain, this article examines the impact of social heterogeneity on turnout. The results show that turnout is inversely related to ethnolinguistic fractionalization, even after controlling for institutional, political and socioeconomic determinants. However, social fragmentation only affects the behavior of those individuals who lack a strong internal motivation to vote.
Evaluating the Temporal and Spatial Heterogeneity of the European Convergence Process, 1980-1999

In this paper, we suggest a general framework that allows testing simultaneously for temporal heterogeneity, spatial heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation in beta-convergence models. Based on a sample of 145 European regions over the 1980-1999 period, we estimate a Seemingly Unrelated Regression model with spatial regimes and spatial autocorrelation for two sub-periods: 1980-1989 and 1989-1999. The assumption of temporal independence between the two periods is rejected and the estimation results highlight the presence of spatial error autocorrelation in both sub-periods and spatial instability in the second sub-period, indicating the formation of a convergence club between the peripheral regions of the European Union.
Acute and sub-chronic toxicity evaluations of aqueous extract from stem bark of Grewia mollis (Malvaceae) in rats

Summary Introduction: Different parts of Grewia mollis Juss. (Malvaceae) are commonly used in folk medicine to treat several ailments, including diarrhea, ulcers, rickets, cough and fever. Although several studies have proved its therapeutic effectiveness, there are very few toxicological studies on the plant. Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of the aqueous extract of G. mollis stem bark (GM) in animals. Methods: In the acute study, rats were orally administrated with GM at doses of 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800 and 9600 mg/kg to determine the oral medial lethal dose (LD50). In the chronic study, rats received three doses of GM (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) for 28 days. After the treatments, food intake, body weights, biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters were analyzed. Results: The LD50 was estimated to be >9600 mg/kg. No significant alterations in the animal’s body weight gain, relative organs weight, serum biochemical analysis, hematological or histopathological analyses of liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and spleen were observed. Conclusions: The results of this study provided evidence that oral administration of GM at dose of 600 mg/kg is relatively safe in rats and may not exert severe toxic effects.
Behavior of Steel Fiber Reinforced Self Compacting Concrete Slabs under One-way Bending

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete slabs under one way bending. Sixteen simply supported slabs of dimensions 1000mm×450mm×50 or 70mm were manufactured and tested. Twelve slabs were constructed using self compacting concrete (SCC) and four using conventional concrete (CC). Four variables were adopted to investigate slabs behavior: type of concrete (CC or SCC), longitudinal steel ratio (ρ), slab thickness (t) and steel fiber ratio (V f ). Test results showed that slab thickness (t) was the most effective factor in increasing ultimate load (P u ) of SCC slabs (up to 111%) as compared to the longitudinal steel ratio (ρ) and steel fiber ratio (V f ) with ΔP u up to 64% and 75%, respectively. Results also showed that using steel fiber in SCC up to 0.8% reduces its filling and passing abilities but it still satisfies the requirements of SCC specifications. In contrast, steel fiber increase compressive strength and modulus of rupture of SCC up to 10% and 60%, respectively.
On linking an Earth system model to the equilibrium carbon representation of an economically optimizing land use model

Abstract. Human activities are significantly altering biogeochemical cycles at the global scale, and the scope of these activities will change with both future climate and socioeconomic decisions. This poses a significant challenge for Earth system models (ESMs), which can incorporate land use change as prescribed inputs but do not actively simulate the policy or economic forces that drive land use change. One option to address this problem is to couple an ESM with an economically oriented integrated assessment model, but this is challenging because of the radically different goals and underpinnings of each type of model. This study describes the development and testing of a coupling between the terrestrial carbon cycle of an ESM (CESM) and an integrated assessment (GCAM) model, focusing on how CESM climate effects on the carbon cycle could be shared with GCAM. We examine the best proxy variables to share between the models, and we quantify how carbon flux changes driven by climate, CO2 fertilization, and land use changes (e.g., deforestation) can be distinguished from each other by GCAM. The net primary production and heterotrophic respiration outputs of the Community Land Model (CLM), the land component of CESM, were found to be the most robust proxy variables by which to recalculate GCAM's assumptions of equilibrium ecosystem steady-state carbon. Carbon cycle effects of land use change are spatially limited relative to climate effects, and thus we were able to distinguish these effects successfully in the model coupling, passing only the latter to GCAM. This paper does not present results of a fully coupled simulation but shows, using a series of offline CLM simulations and an additional idealized Monte Carlo simulation, that our CESM–GCAM proxy variables reflect the phenomena that we intend and do not contain erroneous signals due to land use change. By allowing climate effects from a full ESM to dynamically modulate the economic and policy decisions of an integrated assessment model, this work will help link these models in a robust and flexible framework capable of examining two-way interactions between human and Earth system processes.