Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling the Economic Impact of the Rohingya Influx in Southern Bangladesh

In the context of the massive influx of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals to Bangladesh, this paper aims to evaluate the potential consequences on the Southern Bangladesh economy. It adopts an economywide perspective to study the impacts of increased labor supply and increased consumer demand in a general equilibrium framework, using a Local Economy-wide Impact Evaluation (LEWIE) model. The model is used to illustrate the potential effect of a large arrival of displaced populations on wages, the supply and demand of goods, and incomes of migrant and host populations. Simulations enable comparisons between possible scenarios, including two options for the size of the market being impacted (either the smaller Coxâ€™s Bazar District, or the larger Chittagong Division) and several options for aid provisions from international actors. The databases used are the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) and Host Community Household Survey carried out by IFPRI, BIDS, WFP and ACF in late 2018 and the official Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2016. We find that if the migrants enter the Cox Bazar labor markets only, their large number could potentially lead to a large drop in wage levels of around 30%. However, under similar conditions their impact in the much larger Chittagong Division would be limited to a drop of less than 4%. Cash transfers to migrants could mitigate the wage effects by stimulating local demand, but this effect is limited. Some local households may be hurt due to lower wages and higher prices. Matched transfers to local populations and investments in local industry could potentially offset some of these negative impacts.
A model predicting the health status of patients with heart failure

Objective: To test the causal relationships among the components of sociodemographics,illnesscharacteristics, and selfmanagement ability, and health status in the model of health status of patients with heart failure (HSHF). Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study Materials and methods: Four hundred heart failure patients, either hospitalized or attending out-patient clinics at six hospitals in southern Thailand, were interviewed. Questionnaires covered sociodemographics, the duration of illness, severity of illness, comorbid diseases, measured by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification (NYHA-FC) using the Charlson Comorbidity Index, self-management ability, using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI), and health status using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). The relationships among the study variables were tested and modified under the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique by using LISREL. Results: The collected data were found not to fit with the initial hypothesized model but after modification the new derived model gave an adequate fit with the data and accounted for 64% of the variance in health status. Age had a direct negative effect on health status ( β =-0.20, p β =-0.13, p β =0.12, p β =-0.05; -0.05, p β =0.09, p β =-0.31; -0.16, p β =-0.06; -0.05, p β =0.38, p Conclusions: The final model provides a guideline for explaining and predicting the health status of patients with heart failure. To improve health status continuity care programs promoting self management ability should be developed and imple-mented both in hospital-based and home-based settings.
Franchising as a path to self-employment for Australian female entrepreneurs

Abstract This paper provides a better understanding of the motivational incentives driving franchising choice from the female franchisee's perspective. A qualitative methodology was adopted in this research to gain a clearer picture of the salient issues influencing female entrepreneurs' evaluations of alternative business models when making the self-employment decision. A sample of 14 female franchisees and 12 female independent business owners was interviewed to gather data on the reasons supporting a woman's initial decision to enter self-employment. Major contrasts have been identified between female franchisees and independent business owners suggesting that franchisors need to re-design their selection strategies and communication methods to promote female participation, sustain system wide growth and add creative diversity in franchise systems that have limited growth potential due to the lack suitable franchisees.
Quality assessment of prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis: some guidelines for handling amniotic fluid and chorionic villus material

Ongeveer 1 op de 200 baby's wordt geboren met een chromosoomafwijking. De gevolgen daarvan kunnen sterk uiteenlopen, van verwaarloosbaar (het kind zal er in zijn of haar ontwikkeling geen last van ondervinden) tot aan 'niet levensvatbaar'. Veel chromosomale afwijkingen blijken gepaard te gaan met hartafwijkingen, ontwikkelingsachterstand en uiterlijke bijzonderheden. Zie: Samenvatting
An 18-year climatology of derechos in Germany

Abstract. Derechos are high-impact convective wind events that can cause fatalities and widespread losses. In this study, 40 derechos affecting Germany between 1997 and 2014 are analyzed to estimate the derecho risk. Similar to the United States, Germany is affected by two derecho types. The first, called warm-season-type derechos, form in strong southwesterly 500 hPa flow downstream of western European troughs and account for 22 of the 40 derechos. They have a peak occurrence in June and July. Warm-season-type derechos frequently start in the afternoon and move either eastward along the Alpine forelands or northeastward across southern central Germany. Associated proximity soundings indicate strong 0–6 and 0–3 km vertical wind shear and a median of mixed-layer convective available potential energy (mixed-layer CAPE) around 500 J kg−1. The second derecho type, the cold-season-type derecho, forms in strong northwesterly 500 hPa flow, frequently in association with mid-tropospheric potential vorticity (PV) intrusions, and accounts for 18 of the 40 derechos. They are associated with a secondary peak from December to February. Cold-season-type derechos start over or close to the North Sea and primarily affect northern and central Germany; their start time is not strongly related to the peak of diurnal heating. Proximity soundings indicate high-shear–low-CAPE environments. A total of 15 warm-season-type and 9 cold-season-type derechos had wind gusts reaching 33 m s−1 in at least three locations. Although warm-season derechos are more frequent, the path length of cold-season-type derechos is on average 1.4 times longer. Thus, these two types of German derechos are likely to have similar impacts.
Swell Propagation through Submesoscale Turbulence

The propagation of ocean swells from generating regions to remote coastlines is affected by submesoscale turbulence in the surface flow field. The presence of submesoscale velocity variations results in random scattering of wave rays. While the interactions with these flow fields are weak, cumulative effects over oceanic scales are significant and result in observable changes in the wave field. Using geometrical optics and statistical mechanics we derive a framework to express these scattering effects on the mean wave statistics directly in terms of the variance spectrum of the submesoscale current field. The theoretical results are presented in Lagrangian and Eulerian forms, where the latter takes the form of a radiative transport equation augmented with a diffusive term in directional space. The theoretical results are verified through Monte Carlo simulations with a geometrical optics model. We show that including submesoscale scattering on ocean wave evolution can explain observed delays in swell arrivals, accelerated wave height decay, and much larger directional spreading of the wave field than predicted by geometrical spreading alone.
A Study on Blood Glucose Level and Self Management among Community Dwelling Type II Diabetes Patients

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among blood glucose, HbA1c, and self management comparing these with general and illness characteristics of subjects with Type II Diabetes living in the community. Methods: Using a comprehensive survey developed for the study, data were collected from 82 type II diabetes patients who were registered at five community health departments. The variables of self management, blood glucose and HbA1c were assessed by nurses. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics including t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient to compare self management and level of HbA1c by subject's general and illness characteristics and to examine the relationships among variables. Results: About 73.2% of the subjects' HbA1c were 7.0% or higher and 54.9% of subjects' blood glucose were 200 mg/dL or higher. The level of self management was moderate. Most frequently perceived reasons for failure of blood glucose control were dietary failure (32.9%). There was significant relationship between self management and HbA1c(r=-.223, p=.040). The mean score of self management were higher among female (t=-2.37, p=.021), who are not on diabetes medication (t=6.70, p=.011). Conclusion: Comprehensive intervention is needed to improve dietary self management, especially for male and those who is on diabetes medication.
Circumventing drug resistance : studies exploring the expediency of a total cell kill chemoresistance assay

Cellular resistance to anti-cancer drugs is considered to be the major cause of treatment failure in clinical practice. The present studies have therefore focused on ways to circumvent resistance as evaluated by an in vitro chemoresistance assay.Based on a meta-analysis of all retrievable published studies conducted with Total Cell Kill (TCK) assays since 1983, it is concluded that individualised utilisation of presently available anti-cancer drugs guided by a TCK assay, despite numerous identified theoretical obstacles, is likely to improve treatment outcome in individual patients. The cumulated experience with licensed anticancer drugs also indicates that TCK assays are feasible tools for the rational development of new cytotoxic drugs.The expediency of TCK assays in drug development was therefore exemplified, starting with a serendipity finding as regards a licensed medicinal product, Cyclosporin A (CSA). The cytotoxicity profile of CSA in vitro was shown to be compatible with a relatively pronounced effect on tumour cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Relevant clinical anti-tumoural activity of CSA in a single patientwith CLL failing conventional therapy is possible to interpret as supportive of the assay findings. There are, however, alternative explanations of the observed in vivo activity warranting further preclinical exploration. Calcein AM, a probe used for, e.g., detection of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) meditated drug efflux, was then demonstrated to pose cytotoxic activity of clinical interest due to a low degree of cross-resistance with available anti-cancer drugs. This activity pattern in fresh tumour samples is interpreted as indicative of novel mechanisms of action, and studies are presently ongoing aiming at identification and characterisation of likely targets.A major role of Pgp for the development of clinical multi-drug resistance (MDR) has been implicated. The tentative role of the Pgp modulating substance PSC833 (PSC) was investigated in cell lines, in an in vitro phase II trial, and finally in a clinical phase I/II study in acute myelocytic leukaemia (AML). Available data indicate that PSC is an effective modulator of Pgp mediated resistance at clinically achievable concentrations. The proportion of patients likely to benefit from therapy with MDR modulating agents is not, however, known. The seemingly low clinical response rate in this phase I/II study in combination with pharmacological activity of PSC detectable in vitro in a relatively small subgroup of patients indicates that Pgp mediated drug resistance is of no major importance in patients with advanced AML.
Mapping with Pléiades - End-to-End Workflow

In this work, we introduce an end-to-end workflow for very high-resolution satellite-based mapping, building the basis for important 3D mapping products: (1) digital surface model, (2) digital terrain model, (3) normalized digital surface model and (4) ortho-rectified image mosaic. In particular, we describe all underlying principles for satellite-based 3D mapping and propose methods that extract these products from multi-view stereo satellite imagery. Our workflow is demonstrated for the Pléiades satellite constellation, however, the applied building blocks are more general and thus also applicable for different setups. Besides introducing the overall end-to-end workflow, we need also to tackle single building blocks: optimization of sensor models represented by rational polynomials, epipolar rectification, image matching, spatial point intersection, data fusion, digital terrain model derivation, ortho rectification and ortho mosaicing. For each of these steps, extensions to the state-of-the-art are proposed and discussed in detail. In addition, a novel approach for terrain model generation is introduced. The second aim of the study is a detailed assessment of the resulting output products. Thus, a variety of data sets showing different acquisition scenarios are gathered, allover comprising 24 Pléiades images. First, the accuracies of the 2D and 3D geo-location are analyzed. Second, surface and terrain models are evaluated, including a critical look on the underlying error metrics and discussing the differences of single stereo, tri-stereo and multi-view data sets. Overall, 3D accuracies in the range of 0 . 2 to 0 . 3 m in planimetry and 0 . 2 to 0 . 4 m in height are achieved w.r. t. ground control points. Retrieved surface models show normalized median absolute deviations around 0 . 9 m in comparison to reference LiDAR data. Multi-view stereo outperforms single stereo in terms of accuracy and completeness of the resulting surface models.
Amending subsoil with composted poultry litter: Effects on soil physical and chemical properties, turfgrass establishment and weed pressure

Amending Subsoil with Composted Poultry Litter: Effects on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties, Turfgrass Establishment, and Weed Pressure Mili Mandal Experiments were established in fall 2003 at West Virginia University to evaluate the effects of incorporation of composted poultry litter (CPL) on subsoil physical and chemical properties, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa Pratensis L.) establishment, root depth, and weed pressure. Twenty cm of topsoil was removed and CPL was incorporated to a depth of 12.7 cm at 10%, 20%, and 40% v/v prior to seeding or sodding. Composted plots were compared to N-fertilized (454 Kg ha) and control plots. Positive linear increases in total water content ( T θ ), organic matter, pH, and CEC were observed following compost incorporation with a decrease in available water (Av) and soil bulk density. Kentucky bluegrass yields and root depth increased linearly with compost rates. One year after seeding, all compost-treated plots exhibited 100% turf cover. Fertilized plots showed 20% less turfgrass growth than control plots and exhibited weed pressure similar to the control. Overall, compost treatments were able to maintain superior turf cover and quality with lower weed populations compared to fertilized and control plots by improving soil physical and chemical properties. To my husband, Preetanshu, for love and guidance, and my parents for their unprecedented support.
Recent ice dynamics and mass balance of Jorge Montt Glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield

Abstract The Southern Patagonia Icefield (SPI) withdrawal in recent decades shows contrasting behaviours between adjacent basins. One of the basins with highest volumetric losses is located at northernmost SPI. We refer to Jorge Montt tidewater glacier (48° 30′S/73° 30′W, 445 km2 in 2018), which retreated 2.7 km between 2011 and 2018 and thinned at rates of up to 21 m a−1 over this period. Based on the retreat record, remote-sensing imagery, field data, a mass-balance model and a calving parameterisation, we attempted to differentiate climatic-induced changes (i.e. surface mass balance) and dynamic responses (i.e. calving fluxes). The surface mass balance reached −4.15 km3 w.e. a−1 between 2012 and 2017. When frontal ablation is included, the net mass balance is −17.79 km3 w.e. a−1. This represents a change of trend compared with modelling estimations of positive surface mass balance prior to 2010. This shift is attributed to higher ablation rates given that accumulation is known to have increased between 1980 and 2015. The available evidence, therefore, indicates that frontal ablation is the main factor, supported by observed rates at Jorge Montt as high as 3.81 km3 w.e. a−1 in 2015, with ice velocities peaking at 11 km a−1.
3-D fluid channel location from noise tremors using matched field processing

Presently ongoing geodynamic processes within the intracontinental lithospheric mantle give rise to different natural phenomena in the NW Bohemia/Vogtland region (Czech Republic, Germany), amongst others: earthquake swarms, mineral springs and degassing zones of mantle-derived fluids as well as highly concentrated CO2 (mofettes). Their interaction mechanisms and relations are not yet fully understood, but fluid pathways within the crust are assumed, that allow efficient fluid transport between the main hypocentral swarm quake region and the degassing areas at the surface. Here, we focus on the location of the presumed fluid channels as well as on the investigation of their near-surface spatio-temporal variability, targeting a depth of a few hundreds of metmetres. We applied a 3-D matched field processing (MFP) approach in the frequency band of 10–20 Hz considering the fluid flow as seismic noise source. Within three campaigns in 2015/2016, we recorded continuous seismic noise data on the Hartoušov Mofette Field within the Cheb Basin (NW Bohemia, CZ), which is a key site to study fluid flow as it is characterized by strong and continuous surface degassing of CO2. We used temporary arrays varying in extent (70-600 m aperture) and in the amount of stations (25–95 units). Assuming a homogeneous velocity model and applying conventional MFP phase-matching over a 3-D grid search, we located two channel-like structures beneath the test site, which could be traced down to a common source area down to 2000 m depth. We thereby evaluated the influence of amplitude normalization of the measured noise signal on the MFP location considering water-filled or dry mofette channels. Additionally, a spatio-temporal analysis using time windows with a length of 10 min during 5 hr of noise record shows variability of fluid flow activity in space and time and hence, its migration beneath the test site on a short timescale.
Refining the ice flow chronology and subglacial dynamics across the migrating Labrador Divide of the Laurentide Ice Sheet with age constraints on deglaciation

The Laurentide Ice Sheet was characterized by a dynamic polythermal base. However, important data and knowledge gaps have led to contrasting reconstructions in areas such as the Labrador Ice Divide. In this study, detailed fieldwork was conducted at the southeastern edge of a major landform boundary to resolve the relative ice flow chronology and constrain the evolution of the subglacial dynamics, including the migration and collapse of the Labrador Ice Divide. Surficial mapping and analysis of 94 outcrop‐scale ice flow indicators were used to develop a relative ice flow chronology. 10Be exposure ages were used with optical ages to confine the timing of deglaciation within the study area. Four phases of ice flow were identified. Flow 1 was a northeasterly ice flow preserved under non‐erosive subglacial conditions associated with the development of an ice divide. Flow 2 was a northwest ice flow, which we correlate to the Ungava Bay Ice Stream and led to a westward migration of the ice divide, preserving Flow 2 features and resulting in Flow 3's eastward‐trending indicators. Flow 4 is limited to sparse fine striations within and around the regional uplands. The new optical ages and 10Be exposure ages add to the regional geochronology dataset, which further constrains the timing of ice margin retreat in the area to around 8.0 ka. Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Quaternary Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Mantle Dynamics of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East: Constraints From P‐Wave Anisotropic Tomography

High‐resolution images of P‐wave anisotropic tomography beneath the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East are determined by inverting a large number of high‐quality P‐wave arrival times. Our results clearly show along‐strike variations of subducting slabs in the Hellenic subduction zone. At least three high‐velocity anomalies are imaged beneath and behind the north Hellenides, which are associated with the subducting Hellenic slab at different stages, while in regions further south, a single slab is revealed that has subducted down to a depth of ~1,100 km. The slab feature is not prominent in the Cyprus subduction zone, but a fine‐scale high‐velocity structure is revealed beneath the central Anatolia, which may reflect the detached Cyprus slab. Trench‐parallel fast‐velocity directions occur in the forearc mantle wedge of the Hellenic subduction zone, which may reflect mantle flow induced by slab curvature. In the backarc north Aegean and westernmost Anatolia, dominant NNE‐SSW to N‐S fast‐velocity directions exist in the shallow mantle, which accord well with the extensional direction of present deformation at the surface, suggesting a vertically coherent deformation in the lithosphere. Our results reveal a large‐scale mantle flow beneath western Arabia, which is possibly related to the Zagros and Caucasus orogens and westward motion of the Anatolia lithosphere. The Arabian lithospheric plate is thinner beneath the Zagros than that under the Mesopotamian Foredeep, suggesting that a large portion of the crust was scrapped off from the subducted Arabian lithosphere during the Zagros orogen.
Sustainability of Rural Communities Drinking Water Systems and Local Development Projects in the Bole, West and Central Gonja Districts of the Savannah Region, Ghana

This study employed the post-positivist epistemology and the cross-sectional survey to examine the factors influencing the sustainability of communities drinking water and local development projects in the Bole, West and Central Gonja Districts of the Savannah Region, Ghana. Proportionate, systematic and simple random techniques were utilised to sample 450 respondents, composed of 392 household heads and 58 officials. Data was collected, utilising self-designed and semi-structured face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. Correlation and regressions were generated to determine relationships between the variables. Results showed community participation (r= 0.576, p-value = 0.019), finance (r = 0.517, p-value = 0.006), sense of ownership (r = 0.573, p-value = 0.012), labour support (r = 0.474, p-value = 0.015), education (r = 0.469, p-value = 0.021), technology (r = - 0.436, p-value = 0.018), maintenance (r = -0.503, p-value = 0.029), water pollution (r = - 0.389, p-value =0.041) and transparency (r = - 0.250, p-value = 0.015), were significantly associated with water projects sustainability. 69.7 percent of variabilities were collectively explained by the independent variables. Since p-values were < α = 0.05, the null hypothesis (Ho) was ruled out in favour of the alternative hypothesis. With strong participation, funding, local ownership, labour, and citizen empowerment, coupled with improved facility maintenance, appropriate technologies, pollution control and good eco-governance, there is almost irresistible likelihood for water and development projects to be sustainable. Depoliticising water, democratisation and eco-friendly strategies are necessary preconditions for an inclusive, self-governing and ecologically responsible citizenship needed for sustainability of water projects at the lowest level of development.