Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of non-invasive ventilation in neuromuscular patients in KAMC

Introduction:The impact of non-invasive ventilation on neuromuscular disease (NMD) has become evident over the past two decades due to frequent use of this technique. It allows some patients with non-progressive pathology to almost live a normal life. The purpose of this study is to indicate the impact of NIV and its results in NMD patients.Objectives:The primary objectives for the study were to find the incidence and outcome of NMD patient on NIV, to determine whether NIV can avoid intubation and Mechanical ventilation and to compare vital signs and arterial blood gas parameters before and after NIV.Methodology:This retrospective study was conducted during a period from January 2010 to October 2017 in King Abdul-Aziz Medical city (KAMC). The data was collected from Medical Record Department. The collected data got statistically analyzed and results obtained by using SPSS software. A total number of 21 patients admitted in KAMC in adult ICUs, wards, and Emergency room for both males and females with neuromuscular diseases with an age above 18 years old were included. Parameters related to patients and NIV were collected and recorded in an excel sheet and there by SPSS software.Results:A total of 21 patients enrolled in this study. There were 14 males and 7 females. The minimum age 19 years old and the maximum 81 years old with a mean age of 45. Arterial Blood Gas done Pre and Post NIV and compared using paired’t’ test. The pre and post pH on NIV was significant with a P value (p: 0.029). The pre and post PaCO2 on NIV with a P value (P: 0.034) and oxygenation in pre and post NIV with a P value (P: 0.008) was also significant.Conclusion:In this study, since most of the results indicates poor prognosis, it is difficult to say that NIV improve the quality of life. This can be due to the limitations and bias in the study like the heterogeneity of the diseases and bias can be due to the hospital and its policies.
Work-Life Balance of Employees in Bulgarian Service Sector Companies

he paper presents some of the main challenges in front of the work-life balance of employees in the developing service sector in Bulgaria. The overall satisfaction is measured using regression analysis of survey data collected in 2007 from four companies – a supermarket, telecom firm, bank and hospital. Individual experiences of managing family and work life are influenced by the structural and cultural supports and constraints at the workplace and the household. Working organisations can increase employees’ satisfaction by providing more opportunities for team work and flexible schedules, developing a family friendly organisational culture and offering assistance with childcare.
The phylogeny of woody Maloideae (Rosaceae) using chloroplast trnL-trnF sequence data

In this study, the most suitable DNA extraction protocols for Maloideae subfamily species were determined. Also, it was shown that the most suitable method to analyse phylogenetic data, such as observed in this study is the maximum parsimony method. The monophyletic origin of Maloideae subfamily including Vauquelinia and Kageneckia were confirmed. Close relationships between Crataegus and Mespilus were obtained. However, no intra-specific variation within the Maloideae genera according to trnL-trnF plastid region was observed, and the hypothesis of Mespilus canescens origin still needs more data to be confirmed or rejected.
Homotopy properties of horizontal path spaces and a theorem of Serre in subriemannian geometry

We discuss homotopy properties of endpoint maps for horizontal path spaces, i.e. spaces of curves on a manifold M whose velocities are constrained to a subbundle Δ ⊂ TM in a nonholonomic way. We prove that for every 1 ≤ p < ∞ these maps are Hurewicz fibrations with respect to the W 1,p topology on the space of trajectories. We prove that the space of horizontal curves joining any two points (with the induced W 1,p topology) has the homotopy type of a CW-complex and its inclusion into the standard path space (i.e. with no nonholonomic constraints) is a homotopy equivalence. We derive topological implications on the local structure of these spaces (even near abnormal curves, whose possible existence is not excluded from our constructions). We consider indeed the more general class of affine control systems, for which the above theorems hold for all 1 ≤ p < pc (here pc > 1 depends only the step of the system). We study critical points of geometric costs for these affine control systems, proving that if the base manifold is compact and there are no abnormal trajectories, then the number of their critical points is infinite (we use Lusternik-Schnirelmann category combined with the Hurewicz property). In the special case where the control system is subriemannian this result can be read as the corresponding version of Serre’s theorem.
Low-energy quasiparticles in cuprate superconductors: A quantitative analysis

A residual linear term is observed in the thermal conductivity of optimally doped ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ at very low temperatures whose magnitude is in excellent agreement with the value expected from Fermi-liquid theory and the d-wave energy spectrum measured by photoemission spectroscopy with no adjustable parameters. This solid basis allows us to make a quantitative analysis of thermodynamic properties at low temperature and establish that thermally excited quasiparticles are a significant, perhaps even the dominant, mechanism in suppressing the superfluid density in cuprate superconductors ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ and ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}. $
Gender in Monolingual and Bilingual First Language Acquisition: Comparing Italian and French

The present paper deals with the acquisition of gender in Italian and French by monolingual and bilingual children. In our study, which is based on the data of five children, we focus on the gender marking on articles, because gender is most frequently marked on these elements. We claim that the Italian gender system is easier to acquire than the French gender system. This is because the formal properties of Italian nouns and other gender marked elements are very transparent - more transparent indeed than the formal properties of the corresponding French elements. This transparency can explain the early and correct use of articles in Italian, as compared to French. Interestingly, a difference between the two languages is not revealed in the comparison of monolingual data. Apparently, the time span within which the children master the gender systems of their target-languages is so short that it is hardly visible. It is, however, visible in the data of the bilingual children, who acquire Italian or French simultaneously with German. The analysis of gender agreement on articles shows that Italian bilinguals have only slightly lower accuracy rates than monolingual Italians, whereas a significant difference is revealed in the comparison of bilingual and monolingual French children. We assume that the bilinguals are not less proficient in mastering their gender systems but they need more time, which is why their phase of learning becomes visible. It is suggested that this delay is not directly related to the second language, but indirectly in the sense that the children have less input in each of their languages. Apparently, this has an impact on children acquiring French, but not on children acquiring Italian.
PHENAZINES PRODUCING PSEUDOMONAS ISOLATES DECREASE ALTERNARIA TENUISSIMA GROWTH, PATHOGENICITY AND DISEASE INCIDENCE ON CARDOON

Phenazines, secondary metabolites of fluorescent Pseudomonas, represent a group of heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds showing a broad spectrum of antibiotic properties. Phenazines producing fluorescent Pseudomonas species are studied extensively for their application in plant disease management. In this study, we examined the antifungal activity of different indigenous Pseudomonas isolates (Q16, B25 and PS2) against the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria tenuissima, which had infected cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L., Asteraceae). An in vitro experiment demonstrated the antifungal activity of selected indigenous isolates. In addition, an in vivo experiment under gnotobiotic conditions showed suppression of C. cardunculus disease caused by A. tenuissima. The quantification of phenazines revealed significant amounts of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and 2-hydroxy-phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (2-OH-PCA). PCR analysis confirmed the presence of PCA genes in all examined indigenous Pseudomonas isolates. Based on our results, we assume that these Pseudomonas isolates have potential in controlling plant diseases caused by A. tenuissima. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III46007 and br. TR31018]
The influence of zinc on early growth and nutrient uptake by pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F) in an ultisol

The study investigated the influence of zinc on some growth parameters of Telfairia occidentalis as well as its effect on some soil chemical properties in field experiment carried out at the experimental farm of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Four levels of treatment namely 0, 20, 40 and 80kg ZnSO4 ha-1 were used in an experiment laid out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. Results showed that the soil Zn, N, P, K, Mg, exchangeable acidity, increased inconsistently from 0.002 mgkg-1, 0.60 gkg-1, 2.70 mgkg-1, 0.09 cmolkg-1, 0.30 cmolkg-1, 2.40 cmolkg-1 to 154.18 mgkg-1, in 80 kgZnha-1, 0.63 gkg-1 in 0 kgZnha-1, 3.86 mgkg-1 in 0 kgZnha-1, 0.12 cmolkg-1 in 80 kgZnha-1, 0.41 cmolkg-1 in 0 kgZnha-1, 2.50 cmolkg-1 in 80 kgZnha-1 respectively. The free Fe oxide, free Al oxide, amorphous Fe oxide and amorphous Al oxide also increased from 5.92%, 0.74%, 0.07%, 0.03% to 6.18% in 0 kgZnha-1, 1.98% in 80 kgZnha-1, 0.74% in 80 kgZnha-1, 0.35% in 80 kgZnha-1 respectively. While the soil pH, organic carbon, Ca and Na also inconsistently decreased from 5.70, 10.70 gkg-1, 1.60 cmolkg-1, and 0.06 cmolkg-1 to 5.09 in 20 kgZnha-1, 10.30 gkg-1 in 20 kgZnha-1, 0.36 cmolkg-1 in 80 kgZnha-1 and 0.041 cmolkg-1 in 20 kgZnha-1 respectively. The K, Mg and Zn content of the root increased with increase in Zn treatment whereas the Na decreased with increase in Zn application. The root Ca and P were however not consistent. In the shoot, the Mg, N, K, Ca, Na and Zn minerals also increased with increase in Zn application. The P content of the shoot was however not consistent. With the exception of Na uptake by the root, which decreased with Zn treatment, the entire nutrients uptake, plant height, number of leaves and the dry matter yield increased with increased Zn treatments. The leaf area and stem girth were however not consistent with increase in Zn application.
Producing Little Decision Makers and Goal Setters in the Age of the Obesity Crisis

It is obviously possible to argue that education is always an arm of social policy. However, there are just as surely degrees of directness between the agendas of noneducational authorities and what happens in school and university classrooms. This article considers what appears to be a direct example of a particular public policy agenda, the so-called “war on obesity,” translated into curriculum. My intention is to rouse the field from its slumber and to ask whether we are content for others to decide what and how we will teach health and physical education in schools and universities. I do this by examining a specific example of health and physical education curriculum. However, this is not a call for resistance to the intrusion of outsiders; we always need to listen to others. My question is whether the voice of physical educators matters at all when it comes to the practice of physical education.
An Econometric Analysis of Holdup Problems in Construction Projects

AbstractThe holdup problem plays a central role in explaining governance choices in general and project delivery system selection in particular. This problem arises because of the asymmetrical distribution of quasi-rents between two trading parties. To put this theoretical proposition to a direct test, this research first uses the Nash bargaining model to derive a hypothesis that links quasi-rent differences to the excess profit margin that the contractor can achieve in ex post negotiations, and then collates a data set of 62 change-order cases to enable the hypothesis to be tested econometrically. The corroboration of the hypothesis lends empirical support to the core argument used in the analysis of construction holdup problems. This finding brings to the foreground the significance of recognizing that change orders might be attributed to the owner’s strategic choice. Ignorance of this factor would bias the coefficient estimation in the empirical analysis of change orders.
Relationship between House Prices and Inflation in South Africa: An ARDL Approach

This paper investigates the long-run impact of inflation on homeowner equity in South Africa by analysing the relationship between house prices and the prices of non-housing goods and services. Quarterly data series are collected for the luxury, large middle-segment, medium middle-segment, small middle-segment and the entire middle segment of house prices, as well as, the consumer price index excluding housing costs for the period 1970:Q1–2011:Q1. Based on autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models, the empirical results indicate long-run cointegration between the house prices of all the segments and the consumer price index excluding housing costs. Moreover, the long-run elasticity of house prices with respect to prices of non-housing goods and services, i.e., the Fisher coefficient is greater than one for the luxury segment, virtually equal to one for the small middle-segment, and less than one for the large and medium middle-segments, as well as the affordable segments. More importantly though, the estimated Fisher coefficients are not statistically different from unity – a result consistent with the proposed theoretical framework relating housing prices and consumer prices excluding housing expenditure. In general, we infer that house prices in South Africa provide a stable, but quantitatively minor, inflation hedge in the long-run.
The Relationship between Iranian EFL Learners' Emotional Intelligence and Their Performance on TOEFL/PBT

The present study elaborated the relationship between Iranian higher intermediate EFL learners’ Emotional Intelligence (EI) and their performance on TOEFL/PBT. Advancement in emotional traits and self-awareness about ones likes and dislikes might increase motivation in learners. Furthermore, most English instructors, who prepare their students for TOEFL test, may emphasize more on their students’ EI just as their capabilities in English skills. The participants in this study (104 males and females) were selected from Islamic Azad University (Tehran, Mashhad, and Bojnord Branches), Payam-e-Noor University (Bojnord Branch), Guilan University; Shahid Beheshti University; and Iran University of Science and Technology, regardless of their major, age, and gender. Participants took a TOEFL/PBT and the Bar-On EQ questionnaire. Results indicated a significant and positive relationship between EQ and scores on TOEFL/PBT.
Is Inequality Increasing in r-g? The Dynamics of Capital’s Income Share in the UK, 1210-2013

This paper provides the first very long term empirical examination of Piketty’s (2014) controversial hypothesis that inequality is increasing in r – g, (assets - real income). Using unique annual data on asset returns for a balanced portfolio and several other variables for the UK over the period 1210-2013, the study examines whether the dynamics in capital’s income share, SW, are governed by (r–g). The analysis confirms that r and g are robust and significant determinants of factor shares and that they have been the major forces behind the large inequality waves over the past eight centuries.
Non-Invasive Techniques for exact Phenotypic Assessment of Carcass Composition and Tissue growth in Domestic Animals

The present review paper deals with the advances in exact phenotyping of domestic animals regarding carcass composition and the changes in tissue proportions during growth. The development of non-invasive methods such as computer tomography (CT), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is presented, especially in relation to recent investigations of genetic aspects of growth. Supported by various bio-statistical approaches that can manage huge amount of data, such research could enable better understanding of complex phenotypic traits like changes in body composition during growth.
Effect of inclined thick fin on natural convection in a cavity heated from bottom

In this study, natural convection heat transfer in a square cavity with an adiabatic fin mounted on a vertical wall was investigated numerically. Vertical boundaries were adiabatic and horizontal boundaries were isothermal at different constant temperature. Two–dimensional equations of conservation of mass, momentum and energy were solved using finite difference method. Successive under relaxation (SUR) method was used to solve linear algebraic equations. Results were obtained for various geometrical parameters as the thermal conductivity ratio (RK = 0.1, 1.0 and 10), inclination angle of the fin (30° ≤ φ ≤ 150°), thickness of the fin (0.033 ≤ t ≤ 0.2), and Rayleigh numbers (103 ≤ Ra ≤ 106). Location and length of fin was fixed as h = w = 0.5. Results were presented with streamlines, isotherms, local and mean Nusselt numbers. It was found that Rayleigh number and the fin mounted on the wall had significant effect on natural convection heat transfer and flow field. The thick fin can be used as control parameter of heat and fluid flow.
Audiovisual Training Effects on L2 Speech perception and Production

This study investigated whether audiovisual perception training can improve learners’ auditory perception of L2speech sounds. 29 subjects (experimental group) who had difficulty in the perception of English /θ/-/s/ and /ð/-/z/were recruited to attend a 9-session audiovisual perception training programme with identification tasks on the targetcontrasts. Their perception performance was tested before, during and at the end of the training with an AXB task. Acontrol group was tested with the same AXB task and intervals as that of the experimental group. The results showedthat the experimental group’s perception accuracy improved substantially during and by the end of the trainingprogramme. The control group also showed perception improvement across the pre-test and post-test. Their degree ofimprovement, however, was significantly lower than that of the experimental group. These results therefore confirmthe value of the audiovisual modality in L2 speech perception training.
Endogenous testosterone to prostate-specific antigen relationship in men without prostatic diseases: a 10-year retrospective study

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein produced in the prostate tissue with the main function to liquefy the semen. Its serum level parallels the growth of the prostate gland and is a biomarker and screening tool for prostatic diseases inclusive prostatitis, prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer. However, it lacks the qualities of an ideal biomarker as regards the diagnosis of diseases of the prostate especially benign and malignant tumors of the prostate gland. It is an androgen-dependent protease and its plasma level correlates with the plasma level of plasma androgens, prostate volume, and prostatic diseases. Therefore, under the biological influence of androgens, PSA is a prostate tissue proliferation biomarker.
International Sport Horse Data for Genetic Evaluation

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate international sport horse data for use in genetic evaluations both within populations and between populations. An initial review showed that most sport horse producing breed organisations have created young horse testing schemes. Due to moderate to high heritabilities and highly positive genetic correlations with competition results later in life these tests are good tools for selection and suitable for use in genetic evaluations. Efficiency in testing and selection could be improved by including both sexes in young horse tests where this is not yet done, and by shortening tests, where long test periods are practised. Genetic connectedness among populations is an essential prerequisite for any kind of assessments of data between them. Genetic connectedness among the five investigated sport horse populations in this thesis is at such a level that it would be feasible to use their national breeding values based on young horse data in international genetic evaluations for estimation of genetic correlations among similar phenotypic traits. This is possible if correct and internationally unique IDs of horses can be established. Genetic correlations were estimated between phenotypically similar traits tested in Danish Warmblood (DWB) and Swedish Warmblood (SWB). They were highly positive for performance traits and reliabilities for the corresponding breeding values generally became higher when using information from both countries. Thus, mutual use of nationally calculated EBVs was considered possible when stallions are evaluated for use across countries. Moreover a joint genetic evaluation using MACE would be feasible and beneficial for both DWB and SWB. To evaluate how foreign genetic material should be handled in national genetic evaluations, the influence of foreign stallions on the SWB and its genetic evaluation was studied. Origin of stallions has had significant effects on the genetic improvement of jumping traits in SWB. Inclusion of genetic groups in the genetic evaluation resulted in hardly any re-ranking, but less reliable breeding values; hence it was not recommended as a standard procedure. Complete pedigrees of foreign stallions proved to be much more important than genetic grouping to avoid bias in their EBVs.
Geochronology of the Zambezi Supracrustal Sequence, Southern Zambia: A Record of Neoproterozoic Divergent Processes along the Southern Margin of the Congo Craton

The Zambezi supracrustal sequence (ZSC) of southern Zambia comprises a metasedimentary package of clastics and carbonates, with a thick sequence of basal volcanics and lavas. The sequence has traditionally been interpreted as a Neoproterozoic continental rift succession, but the lack of reliable age constraints hinders any tectonic interpretation. In this article, we date magmatic and detrital zircons using the U‐Pb SHRIMP method in order to better constrain the timing of rifting, volcanism, and basin deposition. The basal volcanoclastic Kafue Rhyolite and Nazingwe formations were erupted at ca. 880 Ma, and the sequence was intruded by the Lusaka Granite at ca. 820 Ma, providing lower and upper limits on the age of sedimentation. Whole‐rock Nd isotopic signatures of these volcanics indicate that they formed as a result of assimilation and recycling of basement gneisses, probably during crustal thinning and extension. We uphold the correlation between the ZSC and the Roan Group in the Zambian Copperbelt and suggest that both successions formed in discrete rift basins along the southern margin of the Congo‐Tanzania‐Bangweulu (CTB) Craton; however, extension at this time probably did not result in complete continental separation. If the CTB Craton were an integral part of Rodinia, then rifting at ca. 880 Ma would represent one of the first known records of attempted breakup of the supercontinent.