Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generalizing smooth transition autoregressions

We introduce a variant of the smooth transition autoregression - the GSTAR model - capable to parametrize the asymmetry in the tails of the transition equation by using a particular generalization of the logistic function. A General-to-Specific modelling strategy is discussed in detail, with particular emphasis on two different LM-type tests for the null of symmetric adjustment towards a new regime and three diagnostic tests, whose power properties are explored via Monte Carlo experiments. Four classical real datasets illustrate the empirical properties of the GSTAR, jointly to a rolling forecasting experiment to evaluate its point and density forecasting performances. In all the cases, the dynamic asymmetry in the cycle is efficiently captured by the new model. The GSTAR beats AR and STAR competitors in point forecasting, while this superiority becomes less evident in density forecasting, specially if robust measures are considered.
Treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia with piperacillin-tazobactum and amikacin vs cefepime and levofloxacin: A randomized prospective study

Study Objectives: To compare the survival benefits and cost effectiveness of cefepime-levofloxacin (C-L) as an alternative empirical antibiotic therapy for ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) with the most widely recommended combination of piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin (P-T-A). Design: Prospective, observational, cohort study. Materials and Methods: A total number of 879 patients were admitted in the ICU during 1st April 2004 to 31 st March 2005 and were screened for the study. Ninety-three patients were clinically suspected to develop early onset VAP. The patients were randomly divided into two groups receiving Cefepime-Levofloxacin (C-L) or Piperacillin-Tazobactam-Amikacin (P-T-A) as empirical antibiotic therapy. Treatment outcome was compared between the groups, which included ICU mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU stay and total cost incurred on antibiotics. Results: The epidemiological characteristics including mean age and APACHE II score were comparable between the two groups. The mortality rates in the two groups were similar. The duration of mechanical ventilation was shorter in C-L group (5-8 days) as compared to P-T-A group (6-11 days). Also, the mean duration of ICU stay was reduced in C-L group (16±2.1 days) as compared to P-T-A group (19±3.4 days). Further, the overall cost of antibiotics in C-L group was 1/3 rd of the cost in P-T-A group. Eleven patients were found to be receiving inappropriate antibiotics and seven patients developed ARF during the course of antibiotic therapy. These patients were excluded from the study. Conclusion: Cefepime-Levofloxacin combination is an effective alternative to piperacillin-tazobactam-amikacin for empirical treatment of VAP. It reduces the duration of mechanical ventilation, number of days of ICU stay and overall cost of antibiotics
Diatom assemblages of non-living substrates in petrifying Cratoneurion springs from lower Belgium

Diatom assemblages were examined from non-living substrates in thirteen springs supporting the Natura 2000 habitat type 'Petryfing springs with tufa formation' in the southern part of Flanders. More than 300 taxa were recorded, including some which appear to be particularly associated with this kind of environment. Even though a number of characteristic taxa and diatoms characterizing fast-flowing springs of more elevated terrain remained absent, local species richness was higher than reported from carbonate springs elsewhere in Europe. Relative abundance of 'Red List' taxa was, however, substantially lower. Taxon richness was not related to measured nutrients but increased with diatom-inferred trophic status. Assemblages consisted mainly of motile, small-celled species of Achnanthidium, Amphora, Caloneis, Planothidium and Stauroneis. Hygropetric rheocrenes presented a somewhat more distinct assemblage than helocrene and rheohelocrene settings, but overall, compositional metrics were similar among spring types. Assemblages were structured mainly along gradients of pH, major ions (in particular magnesium and potassium) and nitrate relating to calcite precipitation, aquifer and nitrogen supply. Besides substantiating broad similarities among Cratoneurion springs, the results provide arguments for a regionalized approach towards assessment of their diversity, community structure and conservation status.
Gender Disparity in HIV Prevalence: A National-Level Analysis of the Association between Gender Inequality and the Feminisation of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa

The HIV pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa is often described as undergoing a ‘feminisation’ in which female HIV prevalence exceeds that of male in most age groups and countries. However much of the variation between countries in the female-to-male (FTM) ratio of HIV prevalence remains unexplained. This paper uses information from DHS, World Bank, UNDP and UNAIDS to identify correlates of the FTM ratio at the country level, with a focus on gender inequality. The FTM ratio is investigated overall and for two age groups. Divergent results by age suggest that the influence of particular mechanisms depend on the age group in question, with epidemiological and demographic variables in particular demonstrating strong associations with the FTM ratio for 25-49 year olds. The mechanisms influencing gender disparity in HIV prevalence between younger adults remain unclear, with few significant correlates observed for the 15-24 age group.
The perception of language-specific phonetic categories does not guarantee accurate phonological representations in the lexicon of early bilinguals

ABSTRACT This study examines the perception and processing of the Catalan /e/–/ɛ/ and /o/–/ɔ/ vowel contrasts by 60 Spanish–Catalan bilinguals in Majorca (Spain). Results from binary forced-choice identification, AX discrimination, and lexical decision tasks show that even though these early and highly proficient bilinguals demonstrate a high accuracy in perceptual identification and discrimination tasks, they have difficulties distinguishing between words and nonwords in a lexical decision task. Spanish dominants also exhibited higher error rates than Catalan dominants in the lexical decision task. These findings provide evidence that making explicit judgments regarding whether a certain sound belongs to a phonemic category (i.e., as accomplished via identification and discrimination tasks) does not entail that listeners have an appropriate representation at the lexical level.
NON-DESTRUCTIVE MEASUREMENT OF SSC, PH, FIRMNESS AND DENSITY OF 'DANGSHAN' PEAR USING FT-NIR SPECTROMETRY

This research aims to investigate the feasibility to rapidly determine the quality characteristics of Chinese 'Dangshan' pear by using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. A total of 151 'Dangshan' pears with various ripen stages were used in this study. The NIR spectrum from each fresh intact sample was calibrated against four major physiological properties: soluble solid content (SSC), pH, firmness and density. The calibration models for these parameters were developed using the partial least square (PLS) based on the original and the four preprocessed spectra, respectively. The optimum spectral regions, the best pretreatment method and the fewest number of regression factors in the PLS-models were decided according to the minimum standard error in cross-validation (SECV). Finally, the proposed calibration models were validated using an independent sample set to evaluate their predicting ability. The best models for SSC, pH and firmness showed good predictability with the lowest standard error of prediction (SEP) of 0.349 0 Brix, 0.081 and 0.310N, and corresponding correlation coefficients of 0.985, 0.910 and 0.905, respectively, indicating that it is possible to measure SSC, pH and firmness of Chinese 'Dangshan' pear by using NIR spectroscopy. However, validation results also showed that no satisfactory NIR calibration equation for the density could be obtained.
Integrating indigenous ecological knowledge and customary sea tenure with marine and social science for conservation of bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) in the Roviana Lagoon, Solomon Islands

Indigenous ecological knowledge and customary sea tenure may be integrated with marine and social science to conserve the bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) in the Roviana Lagoon, Western Solomon Islands. Three aspects of indigenous ecological knowledge in Roviana were identified as most relevant for the management and conservation of bumphead parrotfish, and studied through a combination of marine science and anthropological methods. These were (1) local claims that fishing pressure has had a significant impact on bumphead parrotfish populations in the Roviana Lagoon; (2) the claim that only small bumphead parrotfish were ever seen or captured in the inner lagoon and that very small fish were restricted to specific shallow inner-lagoon nursery regions; and (3) assertions made by local divers that bumphead parrotfish predominantly aggregated at night around the new moon period and that catches were highest at that time. The research supported claims (1) and (2), but did not support proposition (3). Although the people of the Roviana Lagoon had similar conceptions about their entitlement rights to sea space, there were marked differences among regional villages in their opinions regarding governance and actual operational rules of management in the Lagoon. Contemporary differences in management strategies resulted from people's historical and spatial patterns of settlement across the landscape and adjoining seascapes, and the attendant impact of these patterns on property relations. This was crucial in distinguishing between those villages that held secure tenure over their contiguous sea estates from those that did not. Indigenous ecological knowledge served to (1) verify that the bumphead parrotfish was a species in urgent need of protection; (2) explain how different habitats structured the size distribution of bumphead parrotfish; (3) identify sensitive locations and habitats in need of protection; and (4) explain the effect of lunar periodicity on bumphead parrotfish behaviour and catch rates. Secure customary sea tenure identified locations best suited to bumphead parrotfish management programmes, with a greater likelihood for local participation and programme success. The information was used to establish two marine protected areas in the region for bumphead parrotfish conservation.
Wholetheme Constructivism and Whole-Brain Education: Educational Implications of the Research on Left and Right Brain Hemispheres.

The left side of the brain has been said to process speech along with logical, rational, convergent, objective, and sequential tasks. The right side of the brain is thought to process nonverbal, spatial, musical, and analogical information. This paper discusses the research on brain hemisphericity from the perspectives of traditional and wholetheme constructivism. Hemisphericity refers to the re' Itive dominance of the left or right cerebral hemisphere in an individual's functioning, irrespective of the cognitive nature of the task, and is thought to be reflected in the individual's cognitive style. One of the controversies that surrounds brain hemispheric dominance is the origin or cause of the phenomena. While some scientists contend that cerebral dominance is genetic in origin, others argue that it is the result of cultural and educational practices. A biofunctional theory allows for the roles of genes and culture. It is argued that cultural and educational biases for verbal and analytical abilities resulted in the traditional piecemeal approaches that break the content of new information into parts and offer it in a sequential style. This has resulted in consistent use of the left hemisphere, and consequently in cerebral dominance. (Contains 1 table and 47 references.) (Author/SLD) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. * * *********************************************************************** 1 U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Re Search nd improvement EDUC TIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER ! ERIC) his document has been reproduced as rece.vecl from the person or Organiuttion onginalidg o la.nor changes have been made to improve reproduclion duality Po.nts Owe*, or opinions staled . n this docu rnent do not necessarOy represent official OE RI position or pol.cy -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Atin724 5/3z-cH TO fHE EDLICAIIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION t,ENTER ERIC) c. co WHOLETHEME CONSTRUCTIVISM AND WHOLE-BRAIN EDUCATION: cn EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH ON LEFT AND RIGHT BRAIN HEMISPHERES Amany Saleh Asghar Iran-Nejad University of Alabama
APPRAISING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF POLICE OFFICERS ON THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

There are fewer studies linking emotional intelligence to job performance therefore, findings still reveal a mixture of inconsistent results. However, to add to the growing interest in the subject matter, this study examines the effect of emotional intelligence on performance of Nigerian Police Officers in Ilorin, Nigeria. Using cluster sampling technique, sample size of Four hundred (400) police officers was chosen from the seven (7) area divisions of the police in Ilorin metropolis of Kwara State, Nigeria. Data was collected through structured questionnaire and descriptive comparative analysis while the Spearman Rank Correlation was used in testing the hypotheses. Results indicate that a negative relationship exists between occupational stress and job performance, whereas a positive relationship was found between emotional intelligence and job performance. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the Nigerian Police Force High Command should focus not only on identifying the occupational stress factors affecting their personnel but also try to manage their emotional competences through the provision of conducive working environment for them. In this way they can deal with the problem of occupational stress and boost their job performance. Also, this could be done by employing the service of social workers, psychologist and counsellors to train the police officer in the area of public relations with the civil society.
Isolation and identification of oleaginous endophytic fungi

Endophytic fungi are a rich source of novel organic compounds with interesting biological activities and a high level of biodiversity. A total of 76 endophytic fungus strains were isolated from 13 species of plants. Through a preliminary screening and fermentation assay, a fungi named ML-GEN.1 isolated from Strobilanthes cusia was found and the lipid content reached 59%. This is the first report of oleaginous microorganism which is isolated from S. cusia. ML-GEN.1 was identified as Fusarium sp.ML-GEN.1 through morphological and molecular methods. Similar to vegetable oils, the fatty acid composition of lipid from Fusarium sp. ML-GEN.1 contained oleic acid (41.66%), palmitic acid (23.26%), linoleic acid (19.18%), and the unsaturated fatty acids amounted to about 61%. In waste molasses fermentation, Fusarium sp. ML-GEN.1 accumulated lipid to 29% of biomass when various sugars in waste molasses were utilized as the carbon source. The biomass was 22.8 g/L, which was much higher than the original value (12.7 g/L). Key words: Oleaginous endophytic fungi, biodiesel, waste molasses.
Microbiological and Physicochemical Quality of Well Water Used as a Source of Public Supply

The sources of microbial and chemical contamination of groundwater are numerous and have severe implications for public health. The objective was to determine the microbiological and physicochemical quality of wells in the west and east of the Cuautla-Yautepec aquifer in Mexico. Wells showed bacteriological contamination in at least one sampling. Coliform values were lower than the maximum permissible limit indicated in the Mexican Ecological Criteria of Water Quality (1000 colony forming unit (CFU)/100 ml of fecal coliforms) for supply sources. The number of isolated amoebae was low, but these were present all year round. Amoebae were found in 71.7% of the samples and belonged to 13 genera. The most frequent amoeba, Hartmannella, occurring in 44% of the samples, has been associated with eye and brain infection, but its role as a cause of infection has not been confirmed. A gradient was observed for dissolved solids according to altitude; the concentrations of dissolved solids increased in wells with lower altitudes. Total hardness values were above 180 mg/L CaCO3, therefore the water is considered very hard, and both carbonate and non-carbonate hardness was detected. The average values of physicochemical parameters were below the maximum permissible limits indicated in the Mexican official norm.
Field comparison of sardine post-flexion larval growth and biochemical composition from three sites in the W Mediterranean (Ebro river coast, bays of Almería and Málaga)

Late larval stages of sardine (16-23 mm) were sampled during the 2003 spawning season in their nursery grounds located off the Ebro river mouth, on the Catalan coast, and in two bays of the Alboran Sea coasts, the Bay of Almeria and the Bay of Malaga. The daily growth analysis of each sampled population revealed faster growth in the Ebro sardine larvae than in both of the Alboran Sea larval populations. This fact is supported by their greater content with age of DNA, RNA and protein. However, the significantly higher carbohydrate content of the Bay of Almeria sardine larvae and a higher Fulton’s index, indicative of energy storage of individuals, in both of the sardine populations sampled in the Bays of Almeria and Malaga show evident differences in the daily growth of the Alboran Sea larvae from those originating in the Ebro region. Late larval growth in the Alboran Sea sardine tends to favour an increase in body mass rather than in body length. This study hypothesises that the productivity pulses off the Alboran Sea coasts induced by the north and northwestern wind regimes may be responsible for the growth pulses observed in the otolith microstructure.
The Saharan Air Layer and the Fate of African Easterly Waves—NASA's AMMA Field Study of Tropical Cyclogenesis

Abstract In 2006, NASA led a field campaign to investigate the factors that control the fate of African easterly waves (AEWs) moving westward into the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Aircraft and surface-based equipment were based on Cape Verde's islands, helping to fill some of the data void between Africa and the Caribbean. Taking advantage of the international African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) program over the continent, the NASA–AMMA (NAMMA) program used enhanced upstream data, whereas NOAA aircraft farther west in the Atlantic studied several of the storms downstream. Seven AEWs were studied during AMMA, with at least two becoming tropical cyclones. Some of the waves that did not develop while being sampled near Cape Verde likely intensified in the central Atlantic instead. NAMMA observations were able to distinguish between the large-scale wave structure and the smaller-scale vorticity maxima that often form within the waves. A special complication of the east Atlantic environment is the Sa.
Produção de mudas de meloeiro com efluente de piscicultura em diferentes tipos de substratos e bandejas.

O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho de mudas de meloeiro em funcao do tipo de substrato, do tipo de bandeja e da irrigacao com efluente de piscicultura. Utilizou-se um fatorial 3 x 2 x 2 em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repeticoes. Os tratamentos foram constituidos pelas combinacoes de tipos de substrato (composto orgânico, areia lavada e Plantmax®), tipos de bandeja de poliestireno (128 e 200 celulas) e fontes de agua de irrigacao (efluente de piscicultura e agua de poco). O substrato Plantmax® mostrou-se superior em relacao aos demais, para as caracteristicas massa seca da parte aerea e percentagem de germinacao. O tipo de bandeja nao influenciou em nenhuma das caracteristicas avaliadas. As mudas irrigadas com efluente de piscicultura apresentaram maior numero de folhas e raiz principal mais comprida.
Evaluation of cell phone induced driver behavior at a type II dilemma zone

Abstract Cell phone usage may impair a driver’s decision-making at a dilemma zone. This research seeks to identify the impact of cell phone usage on different dilemma zone driver behaviors. Participants were exposed to different driving situations in a simulator where they had a phone call while driving through signalized intersections. A combination of variables was collected; therefore, this research estimates Classification and Regression Tree (CART) and stepwise logistic regression models to describe the factors influencing dilemma zone driver behavior. While the logistic regression models focus on the overall impact of the variables, the CART model develops subpopulations based on the variables’ impact. Cell phone usage, especially incoming calls on a handheld device, and the overall experiment appear to encourage conservative behavior where the drivers opt to stop even when they are “expected” to go. Unfortunately, when the drivers decide to go, they tend to make the wrong choice and run the red light. Using hands-free devices on outgoing calls appears to reduce the likelihood of performing an illegal maneuver. This represents a potential opportunity for future policy and technological advancements to improve intersection safety by only permitting outgoing hands-free calls on arterials.
The effect of forward speed on nonlinear ship motion responses

Time-domain nonlinear vertical motion response of the S-175 containership advancing in head sea condition in large amplitude waves are analysed and compared with the experimental results provided in the literature. The boundary value problem is solved by linear 3D Rankine source panel method with sources distributed on the ship surface, free surface and control surfaces. Nonlinear fluid forces, which arise from nonlinear restoring and Froude-Kylov forces, are calculated over the instantaneous wetted portion of the ship hull. Radiation forces are kept as linear and presented in terms of impulse response functions using convolution integrals. In large amplitude waves, nonlinear motion responses are identified and presented in terms of transfer functions. The numerical results are well agreed with the experimental results and show a significant increase in non-dimensional amplitudes with the increase in the ship speed. Validation of the in-house developed code is performed and showed good agreement with the experimental results in the large amplitude waves.