Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-specific trends in cardiovascular mortality rates in Australia between 1980 and 2005

Aim: Recent analyses suggest the decline in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates is slowing in younger age groups in countries such as the UK and US. We aimed to assess recent mortality rate trends in all circulatory disease and its subtypes in Australia. Methods: Annual all circulatory, CHD, and cerebrovascular disease mortality rates between 1980 and 2005 for Australia were analysed. Data were stratified by sex and ten-year age group (age 35 to 85+). The annual rate of change and significant changes in trends were identified using joinpoint Poisson regression. Results: Age standardised all circulatory disease mortality rates continue to decline in Australia, falling from 441 per 100,000 in 1980 to 145 per 100,000 in 2005 for males and from 264 per 100,000 to 96 per 100,000 for females. The rate of decline from both CHD and cerebrovascular disease appears to be stable or accelerating for individuals aged 55 years and over. However, the decline in young men and women aged 35-54 years is slowing for CHD and cerebrovascular disease mortality alike (except cerebrovascular disease mortality in males aged 35-44). For females aged 35-44 and 45-54 there has been no change in the cerebrovascular mortality rate since 1993 and 1999, respectively. Conclusions: In Australia, whilst in older adults the decline in cardiovascular mortality rates is generally accelerating, in younger adults it appears to be slowing. It will be important to identify the causes of these trends.
A Study of the Parameters Concerning Load Balancing Algorithms

Summary Computer system performance depends on load balancing which should concern communication delay, grid topology, workload and the negotiation protocol. The interactions and interdependences between these factors and their correlation with the selected load balancing algorithms are studied in the current paper. Vital issues are considered and extensively examined through the systematic introspection and the comparison of two load balancing algorithms, a static and a dynamic one. The former is the well-known deterministic Round-Robin, whereas the latter has been developed for the needs of our research. In addition, a flexible simulation framework is implemented where the experiments take place. Appropriate metrics are formulated so that their joint examination reveals the behaviour of the system in terms of performance. Performance degradation might result when high information policy complexity is combined with important communication overheads. However, system efficiency can be improved when intense workload is adequately combined with increased delay. Precision of the system’s state information is always compensated by the simplicity of the negotiation protocol. Moreover, the grid’s topology is examined. Equations, which reveal the dependency of performance and topology, are derived, through the methodical analysis of potential load balancing scenarios and they are confirmed by the experimental results.
Corporate identity management practices, organizational characteristics, corporate image and brand performance of Kenyan Universities

The highly competitive arena of the higher education sector implies the need for a goodcorporate image. Corporate image is recognized in the literature to have a positiveimpact on customer loyalty and is also a great way of differentiating an organizationfrom its competitors as well stimulating consumers purchase. The higher educationsectors’ products and services are increasingly similar today hence the need for theinstitutions to devise strategies to differentiate their products. Literature acknowledgesthe role of corporate image as an asset which could give an organization a chance todifferentiate itself with hope of maximizing its market share, acquiring new customersretaining existing ones, as well as counteracting the competitors’ actions in order toensure success and improved performance. Organizations in the service industry are in business of creating outstanding service experiences for their customers. The management of corporate image however, is not an easy one especially in the serviceindustry given the intangibility nature of services. An organization’s propermanagement of its corporate image, can add value to a firm in a variety ways.Conversely, a negative image can destroy an organization’s reputation and isolate theircustomers. Empirical study results on corporate image and brand performancerelationship however report mixed findings hence the need for the current study. Thisstudy investigated the relationship between corporate image and brand performance ofKenyan Universities. Data for the study were collected using a semi structuredquestionnaire. The study focused on key informants mainly universities’ corporateaffairs or public relations managers or their equivalent. The study findings indicate thatthe relationship between corporate image and brand performance is statistically significant. It explained 45.1% of variation (=.451). The standardized regressioncoefficient (β) value of the computed (composite index) scores of corporate image was.672 with a t-test value of 5.290 and a significance level of p-value=. 000. The findings ofthe study support the notion that corporate image impacts brand performance. Thistherefore implies that an organization that invests in brand marketing activities relating to corporate image should experience enhanced brand performance. The study’scontribution to the higher education sector is in terms of addition to the body ofknowledge. It also provides policy and managerial implications. The study only coveredKenyan universities. A similar study could also be carried out in the future focusing on
The Quality of Life and Related Factors in Men with Andropause

Article type: Original Article Received: Jan. 2016 Accepted: Mar. 2016 Corresponding author: Minoo Pakgohar e-mail: Mpakgohar@razi.tums . ac.ir Background & Aim: Male andropause begins with hormonal, physiological and chemical changes, and usually occurs in men between the ages of 40 to 55 years. These changes affect their quality of life. Hence, the current study investigated the quality of life of men with andropause and its related factors. Methods & Materials: This preliminary cross-sectional study was conducted through the census method on 80 males aged 40 to 60 years, employed at the schools of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected in 2014 using a demographic questionnaire, the Short-Form 36 (QOL) questionnaire, and the Persian version of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software v.22 through descriptive and inferential statistics (Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient and Stepwise multivariate Regression). The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The mean age of the andropausal men was 47.6±4.79 years and the majority (38.8%) of the samples were in the 45-49 age group. The mean quality of life score was 61.75±13.52. Stepwise regression showed a significant relationship between age and the scores of overall quality of life, physical and psychological health dimensions. Moreover, significant associations were observed between the overall quality of life score and the andropause severity, and between physical health dimension and sleep hours per day. Conclusion: This study indicates that andropause lowers the quality of life, and age, andropause severity and sleep hours affect the quality of life in the andropausal men.
Value-creating mechanisms within the market orientation–performance relationship: a meta-analysis

The authors use meta-analysis to identify organizational mechanisms within the market orientation-performance relationship and to assess the implications of correlations between market orientation and complementary organizational orientations for that relationship. The meta-analysis is based on an integration of extant research of the relationships between market orientation and value-creating marketing capabilities as well as between organizational performance and market orientation, complementary organizational orientations, and value-creating marketing capabilities. The meta-analysis identifies the unique contribution of market orientation to organizational performance. Relationships between market orientation and specific organizational orientations detract from the necessity of market orientation as a precursor to organizational performance. Consistent with expectations, market orientation was found to relate differentially but still more strongly to specific types of firm-level value-creating marketing capabilities than to organizational performance. Results indicate that market orientation may affect performance primarily through its relationships with value-creating marketing capabilities.
Higher-order interference and single-system postulates characterizing quantum theory

We present a new characterization of quantum theory in terms of simple physical principles that is different from previous ones in two important respects: first, it only refers to properties of single systems without any assumptions on the composition of many systems; and second, it is closer to experiment by having absence of higher-order interference as a postulate, which is currently the subject of experimental investigation. We give three postulates—no higher-order interference, classical decomposability of states, and strong symmetry—and prove that the only non-classical operational probabilistic theories satisfying them are real, complex, and quaternionic quantum theory, together with three-level octonionic quantum theory and ball state spaces of arbitrary dimension. Then we show that adding observability of energy as a fourth postulate yields complex quantum theory as the unique solution, relating the emergence of the complex numbers to the possibility of Hamiltonian dynamics. We also show that there may be interesting non-quantum theories satisfying only the first two of our postulates, which would allow for higher-order interference in experiments while still respecting the contextuality analogue of the local orthogonality principle.
Pilates Exercise and Functional Balance in Parkinson's Disease

Article type: Original Article Background: Parkinson's disease as a progressive disorder of the nervous system leads to the disability of postural control system. Objectives: In the present study the effects of Pilates exercises on functional balance in patients with Parkinson's was investigated. Materials and Methods: This control trial included 30 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who were selected as subjects randomly and assigned into either exercise groups or control group. Participants in exercise and control groups attended an 8-week Pilates program or walking program respectively. Functional balance, core stability and lower limb strength were evaluated by Fullerton Balance Scale (FAB), valid functional core stability and strength tests respectively, before and after interventions. In order to analyze the data paired samples t-test and independent samples t-test and SPSS version 22 were used. Results: Attending an eight-week Pilates exercise was associated with a significant improvement in functional balance, core stability indicators and lower limb strength (p=0.000), while the difference of the variables in control group was not significant. Also the difference between the results of functional balance, core stability and lower limb strength of two groups in post-test was significant (p=0.000). Conclusion: Given that Pilates exercises involve both musculoskeletal system and nervous system, can be an effective intervention to improving balance in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Transition Cow Management and Outcomes in Northeast Herds

Many management factors contribute to cow success during the transition period through means of minimizing stressors, ration formulation and implementation, monitoring and treatment of health disorders, and cow comfort. Limited data exist that investigate the success of different management strategies that contribute to cow success in a commercial dairy setting and therefore, recommendations are often driven by field experience from concepts established through controlled research with comparatively small numbers of cows. Describing non-nutritional factors, such as pen movement, and nutritional factors, such as consumption of different nutrients, with outcome factors such as health and culling events, energy metabolism and inflammation blood biomarkers, milk production, and reproductive performance on wellmanaged farms, may provide an understanding of which factors contribute to transition cow success.
Detection and Confirmation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections in Genital and Extragenital Samples using Aptima Assays on the Panther™ Instrument

The objective of this study was to review the diagnostic accuracy of the Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) assay on the Panther TM system for reporting Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) detection from routine clinical samples. Results for samples routinely submitted for the diagnosis of NG infection from two laboratories in Australia were retrospectively reviewed from September 2011 to May 2013. Each sample was initially tested on a Panther instrument with the AC2 assay. Samples positive or equivocal for NG in AC2 were retested with the Aptima Neisseria gonorrhoeae assay (AGC) on the Panther instrument. AC2-NG positive results were considered false positive if the AGC result was negative. AC2 results were available for 91,217 samples, 1,434 of which were initially AC2 non-negative for NG and included an AGC result. The overall prevalence of NG was 1.5% (2.8% in males and 0.7% in females). Overall, 16% of all samples were from extragenital specimens. Overall, 0.02% of all samples (14/91,217) were false positives (0.05% of extragenital samples and 0.01% of urogenital samples). Without supplementary testing with the AGC assay, 14/91,217 false positive results would have been reported as positive, representing 0.02% of all samples tested and 1.0% of initially non-negative samples. This study demonstrates that the initial AC2 results from all sampling sites (urogenital and extragenital) can be accepted with high confidence.
Widespread, rapid grounding line retreat of Pine Island, Thwaites, Smith, and Kohler glaciers, West Antarctica, from 1992 to 2011

We measure the grounding line retreat of glaciers draining the Amundsen Sea sector of West Antarctica using Earth Remote Sensing (ERS‐1/2) satellite radar interferometry from 1992 to 2011. Pine Island Glacier retreated 31 km at its center, with most retreat in 2005–2009 when the glacier ungrounded from its ice plain. Thwaites Glacier retreated 14 km along its fast flow core and 1 to 9 km along the sides. Haynes Glacier retreated 10 km along its flanks. Smith/Kohler glaciers retreated the most, 35 km along its ice plain, and its ice shelf pinning points are vanishing. These rapid retreats proceed along regions of retrograde bed elevation mapped at a high spatial resolution using a mass conservation technique that removes residual ambiguities from prior mappings. Upstream of the 2011 grounding line positions, we find no major bed obstacle that would prevent the glaciers from further retreat and draw down the entire basin.
An Empirical Evaluation of CAPM's validity in the British Stock Exchange

Abstract- The CAPM under the means of the two step regression procedure indicated that the cross section of average excess security return is positively related to beta. Under a frame of Computational Econometrics the two step regression procedure is implemented into CAPM, concluding that the strict CAPM test rejects the second H 0 hypothesis on the market risk premium, hence the slope of the Security Market Line (SML) is different from the slope of SML indicated by CAPM. Consequently the CAPM has not a statistical significance in Portfolio Selection. Keywords- Capital Asset Pricing Model, Two Step Regressions Procedure, Financial Management I. I NTRODUCTION MPIRICAL tests of the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) performed by means of the two step regression procedure concluded that the cross section of average excess security return is positively related to beta, although Fama & French (1992) noticed that CAPM suffers from endogenous inabilities. The validity of CAPM on the British Stock Exchange is investigated as well as the relation of the model to the beta -systematic risk. The Capital Asset Pricing Model has been widely employed by researchers and professionals in portfolio selection supporting investment decisions. Although CAPM has been standing for almost 40 years, it is the subject of opposite remarks since many researchers accept partial validity on CAPM hypotheses regarding the beta. On the contrary, many other surveys that find lack in the model and a statistically insignificant beta, concluding that CAPM is not an effective investment method and beta is not important. This research investigates empirically the model for the UK stock market. Implementing a frame of Computational Econometrics, the two step regression procedure, tests the CAPM hypotheses in the formed portfolio. Results indicated that CAPM is not valid, although beta is compatible to the model. Also beta still remains a respectable coefficient to investment analysis. In Section II an analysis of CAPM is given, in Section III are presented the data and the methodology, in Section IV the results are discussed, finally in Section V are the conclusions and future proposals. II. T
Main barriers and possible enablers of Google apps for education adoption among university staff members

Understanding users’ acceptance is a key factor for the development and success of Educational Technologies (ETs), as access to these technologies alone does not guarantee use, nor does it determine the benefit for the intended user. This study aimed to investigate the issue with acceptance and use of Google Apps for Education (GAFE) and examine factors that influence and predict acceptance and use among University of Benin Staff Members. A sample of 200 University staff members took part in the research. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed to describe the adoption process. The result revealed that GAFE facilitating condition was the most important construct, followed by performance expectancy in explicating the causal process in the model to assess the acceptance and use of Google Apps for Education. http://dx.doi. org/10.4314/njt.v37i2. 18
Educational Research and Curriculum Development: The Case for Synergy

E du ca ti o n a l re sea r c h h as b ee n c riti c i sed fo r b e in g in access ibl e to pr a c t icin g teac h e r s a nd b o th re m ove d fro m a nd ir re l eva nt t o th e i r n ee d s . Se ld o m d oes t h e r e s ea r c h in fo rm c ur r iculum d eve l o pm e nt , th e pr o du ct i o n o f l ear n i n g m a t er i a l s , or th e i r e ff e cti ve u se i n th e cl ass r oom . Thi s p a p e r d e s cr i b es h ow m a t e ri a l s d e v e l o p e d b y th e Nu f field C urriculum proj ect s f o r de s i g n a nd t ec hn o l og y h ave ma d e u se of researc h findin gs f r o m b o th l arge - sca l e a n d s m a l l - sca l e resea r c h s tudi e s . T h e p ap e r con ti n u es w i t h a d esc ripti o n o f h ow th e r esu l ts of thi s re s e a r c h inf o rm e d b y c ur ric ulum d e v e l o pm e nt ca n in turn inf o rm su b seq u e n t r e s earc h s u c h th a t a s y n e r gy i s e s t a bli s h e d t h at i s be n ef i c i a l to b ot h e nd ea v o ur s . T h e paper co n c lud es w i t h t
Community Succession in an Urban Novel Forest after Four Decades of Regeneration

This study aimed to analyse the tree community of an urban forest with 40 years of natural regeneration after abandonment of the degraded land. We hypothesized that after four decades of forest succession, the diversity, structure and functional aspects of the community would be similar to other secondary surrounding forests. We established ten plots (20x 20m), where all trees with DBH ≥ 5 cm were sampled. The inventory included 605 trees (1513 ind.ha-1) distributed across 25 species. The diversity index (H’ = 0.92) and basal area (10.43 m2.ha-1) were lower than in surrounding forests. The results showed a great dominance of Eremanthus erythropappus with consequent delay in successional advance, and low potential of attraction of fauna, which suggests the need for management to control its population. Understanding the functioning of novel urban forests and discussing these neglected ecosystems is fundamental to guide management actions for both human and ecosystem prosperity.
QUANTIFYING NITRATE LEACHING IN IRRIGATED WHEAT WITH DIFFERENT NITROGEN FERTILIZATION STRATEGIES IN AN ALFISOL

Consumption of water contaminated with nitrates is associated with important health effects such as methemoglobinemia and gastric cancer. Intensive agriculture, which uses large quantities of N fertilizer, is the main source of nitrates in water systems. There are several strategies to reduce leaching and increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE). An experiment was conducted with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under sprinkler irrigation (center pivot) to determine if adjusted N applications using precision agriculture tools and plant demand resulted in a lower groundwater nitrate load. Evaluated treatments were: producer fertilization (Pr), precision agriculture (Pa), chlorophyll meter (Sm), and control without N (W/N). The ceramic capsule methodology was used to evaluate N leaching losses that were sampled after each irrigation (six) and drainage water was also estimated. Differences among treatments in terms of N loss and grain yield were not significant (p > 0.05). However, N balance showed significant differences (p < 0.01) in soil residual N among treatments. A regression between applied and residual soil N after harvest showed that N, applied as fertilizer, explained 98% of residual soil N variation, which would probably be leached in the following winter since the soil would be bare. It was concluded that NUE can be improved to result in a lower environmental load by using precision agriculture tools and considering plant N demand.
Approximation of Marginal Abatement Cost Curve

Top-down models usually include piecewise-smooth functions to describe marginal cost curves, while bottom-up models describe those curves with a step function. When a bottom-up cost curve is available, we can explicitly represent this curve with a top-down model in order to replicate its shape instead of arbitrary assumptions. We propose methods to approximate a piecewise function from a step function using constant elasticity of substitution technologies. Specifically, we consider a pollution abatement sector and calibrate the parameters of the abatement function in order to be able properly to assess the economic effects of an environmental policy. Our methodology can be applied to any sector characterized by decreasing returns to scale technologies. We conclude that the elasticities of substitution need not be estimated only on the basis of historical data, but can be precisely calibrated on the basis of engineering estimates of technology potential.