Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feasability, accuracy and reproducibility of transient elastography

Background: Transient elastography (TE) is a non-invasive method for the evaluation of liver diseases which is increasingly being accepted by patients and hepatologists. Aim: To evaluate the capacity of the TE (FibroScan) in estimating liver fi brosis in clinical practice. Material and methods: During 2 years 3459 examinations were performed. The time required for examination, the rate of valid determinations and the rate of uninterpetable results, taking into account the interquartilic range (IQR) and the success rate (SR), were evaluated. The TE reproducibility (intra- and inter-observer reproducibility analyzed by 3 independent examiners) in 287 cases was evaluated using the intra-class correlation coeffi cient (ICC). A group of 167 healthy volunteers were examined to establish the average value of the liver stiffness. Results: The average time required for one examination was 4 min 15 s. In 94.7% of cases the determinations were valid. In 446 cases IQR was > 30% and SR <60% resulting in 13.6% of cases without TE valid results, and 86.4% TE useful results for the evaluation of the chronic liver disease. Intra-observer reproducibility for the three operators were: 0.985, 0.949, and respectively 0.874 and the inter-observe reproducibility was analyzed with overall ICC 0982. The average value of the liver stiffness in the control group was 4.8 - 1.9 kPa. Conclusions: TE is an easy and quick way to evaluate liver stiffness, user- and patient-friendly. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility is excellent, TE being an operator-independent method.
Composite Concrete Slabs with Profiled Steel Decking: Comparison Between Experimental and Simulation Study

The research work is to study the behavior of the composite concrete slabs with CRIL DECKSPAN type profiled steel decking by experimental and simulation study. The slab is created by composite interaction between concrete and steel deck with rolled embossments to improve their shear-bond characteristics. However, it fails under longitudinal shear-bond due to the complex phenomenon of shear behavior. Therefore, an experimental full-size tests has been carried out to investigate the shear-bond strength under flexural test in accordance with Eurocode 4: Part 1.1. Eighteen specimens are split into six sets of three specimens each in which all sets are tested for different shear span lengths under static and cyclic loading on simply supported slabs. The full-size finite element (FE) modeling and analysis of the composite slabs is presented, in which the shear-bond interaction between the concreteand steel deck is simulated by the use of interface contact elements. The FE analysis is verified and validated by comparing the experimental results. Comparisons of the experimental and simulation results indicate that the FE analysis agrees well with the test results, and is capable of predicting the behavior and the load carrying capacity of composite slabs.
Temporal variability in macroalgae recruitment and succession on sandstone reefs at Piedade Beach – PE, Brazil

Two sites, in which Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta were the dominant algae, were selected in the intertidal zone of a sandstone reef at Piedade Beach to evaluate macroalgal recruitment and succession from March 2007 through January 2008. At each site, 2 meter transects were sampled using 20 x 20 cm quadrats in the midlittoral zone of the reefflat. The initial position of the quadrats was randomly chosen. Green algae (filamentousand foliose) showed a bloom at the end of the rainy season (approximately 250 grams of dry weight/m2 on October 2007), as indicated by the differences between the monthly average biomass values observed in the recruitment plots. The biomass measurements of control quadrats and in the succession treatments did not differ statistically during the rainy season for either Chlorophyta or Rhodophyta at Site 1 or during the dry season at Site 2. Green and red algae (filamentous and corticated) exhibited a pattern of alternating oscillations, as shown by the principal component analysis of recruitment, rainfall and air temperature. These results suggested a negative relationship between temperature and the recruitment of red algal biomass. Key words: Macroalgal Biomass, Benthic Ecology, Sandstone Reefs, Ecological Succession, Algal Recruitment.
Perception about teething among the nursing mothers of Mysore

Parents consider tooth eruption to be an important milestone in the child’s development. Process of tooth eruption generally referred to as teething is a natural process and may create some discomfort in infants. Parents’ false beliefs about signs and symptoms associated with teething may interfere with the prompt diagnosis and management of serious illnesses. Thus, there is a need to distinguish between false beliefs and facts associated with teething. The aims of this study were to assess the nursing mothers’ knowledge and belief about teething and to investigate the practices used to manage teething problems. A cross-sectional survey involved 205 mothers presented at pediatric OPD in JSS Hospital, using a validated structured questionnaire. More than 95% of the respondents thought that babies can experience medical problems as a result of teething. The commonest medical problems perceived to be associated with teething were diarrhoea (80.3%), fever (86.6%), loss of appetite (75%) and drooling of saliva (96%). This study showed a common misconception and myths about teething among mothers. Mothers should be better educated about the teething process and the proper management of teething troubles by the dental health care providers.
PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FINANCE

This paper studies the relation between bank size and bank valuation. We use Tobin’s Q and market-tobook ratio as measures of bank valuation, and another two variables—natural logarithm of total assets and natural logarithm of total operating income—as measures of bank size. Using a sample of publiclytraded U.S. bank holding companies from 2002 to 2014, we find a quadric relation between bank size and bank valuations. Bank valuations will rise and then fall as bank size increases. This finding holds in different sample periods: before, during, and after the financial crisis of 2007-2009.
EFFECT OF VIBRATING BUILDINGS ON “ FREE-FIELD ” GROUND MOTION : THE BONEFRO ( ITALY ) CASE HISTORY

During the 2002 Molise sequence, a damaging shock was recorded inside a building (Mucciarelli et al., 2004). The availability of such data, plus others that were acquired in the following, lead to an international workshop of structural engineers that tried to reproduce the observed evolution of damage (Goretti & Mucciarelli, 2006). The aim of the present work is to model the damaged building, the adjacent and undamaged one, and a large section of the subsoil to gain insight on two possible phenomena: 1) the city-soil effect, i.e. the modification induced by vibrating buildings to the free-field ground motion and 2) the possible interaction between the two buildings. The model was performed using the SPEM technique for a 2-d section. The model, that includes topography, comprises the bedrock (limestone) with the overlaying layer of about 30m of clay. The velocity of shear waves in the buildings has been derived from their well known mechanical properties. We first verified that the model was able to reproduce the motions recorded inside and outside the building. Then we selectively removed one or both the buildings to study their effect. The influence of the presence of buildings on the free-field motion is about 30-40% on spectral values up to a distance approximately twice the height of the structure. The presence of resonance between buildings was also reproduced by the model.
EFFECTS OF A LIPOPHILIC ISONIAZID DERIVATIVE ON THE GROWTH AND CELLULAR MORPHOGENESIS OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS H37Rv

Objectives: We analyzed the effects of a chemically synthesized hydrophobic isoniazid (INH) derivative, 1-isonicotinoyl-2-hexadecanoyl hydrazine (INH-C16) at its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv with respect to cell viability, cellular morphology, and acid-fastness properties. The observations were compared to that of INH. Methods: The effects of INH and INH-C16 at concentration of 0.0781 μg/mL and 0.0391 μg/mL respectively on the growth characteristics and cellular morphology of M. tuberculosis H37Rv were studied using colony count assay, light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: INH-C16 exhibited similar strength of cidal effects as INH on the mycobacterial cells, even though the MIC value of INH-C16 was lower than INH. Observations under LM indicated that the INH and INH-C16 affected the growth and cellular morphology as well as the acid-fastness properties of the treated cells. Subsequent electron microscopic observations revealed the rupture in the envelope of the treated cells resulting in the extrusion of cellular materials. This caused the cells to shrink and eventually die. Conclusion: Increasing the hydrophobicity of INH by augmentation of hydrophobic side chain would enhance the anti-TB activity of the drug. It could also be assumed that the added hydrophobic side chain in INH-C16 metabolized in such a way that liberated the active form of INH inside the mycobacteria and inhibited the mycolic acid synthesis.
SPACE CHARGE EFFECTS ON THE THIRD ORDER ... PHYS . REV . ACCEL . BEAMS

The effect of space charge on bunched beams has been the subject of numerous numerical and experimental studies in the first decade of 2000. Experimental campaigns performed at the CERN Proton Synchrotron in 2002 and at the GSI SIS18 in 2008 confirmed the existence of an underlying mechanism in the beam dynamics of periodic resonance crossing induced by the synchrotron motion and space charge. In this article we present an extension of the previous studies to describe the effect of space charge on a controlled coupled (2D) third order resonance. The experimental and simulation results of this latest campaign shed a new light on the difficulties of the 2D particle dynamics. We find striking experimental evidence that space charge and the coupled resonance create an unusual coupling in the phase space, leading to the formation of an asymmetric halo. Moreover, this study demonstrates a clear link between halo formation and fixed-lines.
Cultural and Morphological Variability Sclerotium rolfsii Isolates Infecting Groundnut and Its Reaction to Some Fungicidal

Morphological and cultural variability of eight isolates of Sclerotium rolfsii were studied based on their growth rate, colony colour, mycelial dispersion and appearance and sclerotium formation, colour, weight and number of sclerotia, arrangement and maturity days of sclerotia using two solid media viz; PDA and CDA. Significant variability with reference to mycelial and sclerotial characters across isolates of S.rolfsii, isolated from different locations of Southern zone of Andhra Pradesh was observed. In vitro evaluation of new fungicide mixtures revealed that, carbendazim + Mancozeb and Hexaconazole + Zineb could control the test pathogen even at 250 ppm.
SPRAY DRIED LACTOSE BASED PRONIOSOMES AS STABLE PROVESICULAR DRUG DELIVERY CARRIERS: SCREENING, FORMULATION, AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION

Objective: In the present investigation efforts were considered to optimize the different conditions for the preparation of spray dried lactose based proniosomes. The aim of this research was to investigate the feasibility of proniosomes as stable precursors for the development of niosomes as oral drug delivery system for poorly water-soluble drugs.Methods: A total of twenty-eight plain proniosomal formulae were prepared with various surfactant-cholesterol loading ratios in each formula using spray dried lactose as a carrier. Span 20, 40, 60 and 80 were used in various molar ratios with cholesterol. Different evaluation techniques were performed to study the performance of the prepared proniosomes. The micromeritic properties of the prepared proniosomes were analyzed. The reconstituted niosomes were further evaluated for morphological characterization using transmission electron microscope (TEM), particle size analysis, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI). Finally, selected proniosomal formulae were tested for stability study.Results: The proniosomal formulae prepared using span 40 and span 60 exhibited excellent flowability while those prepared with span 20 and span 80 showed poor flow properties. TEM photographs revealed that the vesicles were discrete, spherical without aggregation. The mean vesicle size of reconstituted niosomes was found to be in the range between (252.9±0.43–624.3±0.23 nm) with perfect PDI values (0.387±0.05–0.835±0.03). The negative values of zeta potential indicated that all prepared formulae were stabilized by electrostatic repulsion forces. Stability studies confirmed that proniosomes give a more stable system that could overcome the problems of standard niosomes. Formulae with the smallest particle size, higher surface charge values and best flow properties were selected to be loaded with poorly soluble drugs for further study.Conclusion: The obtained results offered evidence that spray-dried lactose based proniosomes are promising stable drug delivery carriers and ready to incorporate various poorly water-soluble drugs in order to improve their limited oral bioavailability.
Analysis and design of an inverted-F antenna printed on a PCMCIA card for the 2.4 GHz ISM band

The development of small integrated antennas plays a significant role in the progress of rapidly expanding commercial communication applications. This paper addresses the analysis and design of an inverted-F antenna (IFA) printed on a PCMCIA card. The antenna is compact, easy to manufacture, and efficient, with an omni-directional pattern and a bandwidth of 250 MHz. The performance of the integrated IFA/PCMCIA system was simulated using two commercial method of moments codes, and validated with measurements on a fabricated prototype.
RESIDUAL INCOME, REVERSIBILITY AND THE VALUATION OF EQUITY

Abstract Using a continuous time reformulation of the Garman & Ohlson (1980) equity valuation model, we show that the linear pricing technologies, which characterize this area of accounting research, are special cases of a more general non-linear pricing relationship. These non-linearities arise from the fact that firms have the option of terminating their production and investment plans, especially if they turn out to be ‘significant’ loss-making ventures. We demonstrate the potential significance of these non-linearities for a parsimonious interpretation of the Ohlson (1995) model based on the assumption that the firm’s residual income stream is generated by the Student distributions of Praetz (1972) and Blattberg & Gonedes (1974). These processes are based on the assumption that the residual income variable is generated by an elastic (or mean reverting) random walk whose increments have a variance that depends on its current instantaneous value. Since several other well-known processes are nested within the Student distributions (e.g. random walk, Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process), they are a very useful set of distributions through which to demonstrate the potential impact of non-linearities on the pricing relationships of this area.
The effect of distiller's dried grains with solubles on carcass composition, fatty acid composition, skin and fillet coloration of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as an alternative protein source on carcass composition, fatty acid composition, skin, and fillet coloration of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Four isoproteic (45.5% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.42 MJ/kg) diets were formulated using DDGS (0, 10, 20 and 30%) for a feeding trial of 84 days. Fish (mean initial weight of 19.88 g) were distributed into triplicate treatments at a rate of 25 fish per 200 L tanks and fed to satiation with the experimental diets three times a day. The results of the present study show that the coloration of experimental fish was not modified negatively by the use of DDGS protein sources in diets. Carcass composition values were also not affected by increased DDGS, although some fatty acids were affected. Total saturated fatty acids, total monounsaturated fatty acids, total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (∑n-3 PUFA) and ∑n-3 PUFA/total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (∑n-6 PUFA) values of the fish in the experimental groups were found to be statistically similar. On the other hand, palmiteloic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and ∑n-3 PUFA decreased, while linoleic acid, ∑n6 PUFA and ∑PUFA increased significantly. In conclusion, the fatty acid composition of fish muscle was affected by the use of DDGS up to a rate of 30% in rainbow trout diet, while no negative effect on the skin and fillet coloration could be found. The IJA appears exclusively as a peer-reviewed on-line open-access journal at http://www.siamb. org.il. To read papers free of charge, please register online at registration form. Sale of IJA papers is strictly forbidden.
In Vivo Pharmacological and Anti-inflammatory Evaluation of Xerophyte Plantago sempervirens Crantz

Known for centuries throughout the world, Plantago species have long been used as traditional herbal remedies for many diseases related to inflammatory conditions of the skin, respiratory and digestive tract, or even malignancy. This study is aimed first at investigating the in vitro antioxidant and regenerative effects of Plantago sempervirens Crantz hydroalcoholic extract followed by an in vivo experiment using a turpentine oil-induced inflammation model. The in vitro evaluation for antioxidant activity was performed using classical assays such as DPPH and TEAC scavenging assays but also EPR, and the total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The wound healing assay was performed on human cells (Human EA.hy926). Besides, the prooxidant activity was determined using a method which involves in situ free radical generation by laccase and the oxidation of haemoglobin. On turpentine oil-induced inflammation in rats, the in vivo effects of three doses of P. sempervirens extracts (100%, 50%, and 25%) were assessed by measuring oxidative stress (MDA, TOS, OSI, NO, CAT, and SOD) and inflammatory (CRP, WBC, and NEU) parameters. Having a rich polyphenolic content, the xerophyte P. sempervirens exhibited a strong in vitro antioxidant activity by scavenging radicals, enhancing cell regeneration, and reducing oxidative stress markers. Diluted P. sempervirens extract (25%) exhibited the best antioxidant, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory activity.
Ethanol production from tropical sugar beet juice

Starch and sugar resources have been extensively researched to find a suitable renewable source of energy to supplement the world’s ever increasing demand for energy while also abating global warming by stemming the addition of earthbound carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Sugar beet has been used as a source for sugar production for some time, but its development as a large scale agricultural crop in South Africa has been limited by the large production of sugarcane in tropical areas. Recent trials in the Eastern Cape region have shown some promise for cultivating sugar beets on a large scale. In this study, the influence of process variables such as initial sugar concentration (dilution), pH, yeast concentration and nitrogen source addition were investigated to assess the influence of these variables on the bioethanol production potential of tropical sugar beet. High ethanol yields were obtained without dilution (approximately 0.47 g.g sugar -1 ) while a pH of 4 and a concentration of 5 g.L -1 yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) produced the largest amount of ethanol in the shortest fermentation time. The addition of a nitrogen source such as ammonium sulphate significantly increased the ethanol yield. It was concluded from the results of this research that bioethanol can be produced economically from tropical sugar beet cultivars grown in South Africa. Key words : Tropical sugar beet, fermentation, dilution, pH, bioethanol yield.
Transient and chronic poverty in turbulent times: Argentina 1995-2002

Using panel data, poverty in Argentina is decomposed into transient and chronic components. Overall poverty has increased in large part due to higher chronic poverty. While many household characteristics have similar impacts on both chronic and transient poverty, there are differences. Households with self-employed workers and business owners have higher levels of transient but not chronic poverty. The reverse is observed for households with public sector workers.
Improvement in the modelling of geomagnetically induced currents in southern Africa

One of the consequences of the geomagnetic storms resulting from adverse space weather is the induction of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in power lines. The GICs that flow in a power transmission network are driven by the induced electric field at the Earth's surface. The electric field, in turn, is affected by the changing magnetic field during a magnetic storm. These GICs can cause extensive and expensive damage to transformers in the power transmission system. Understanding the behaviour of the magnetic field during a magnetic storm is a crucial step in modelling and predicting the electric field and ultimately the GICs in a power transmission network. We present a brief overview of the present status of GIC modelling in southern Africa and then discuss whether it is sufficient to use geomagnetic data from a single magnetic observatory alone to model GICs over the subcontinent. A geomagnetic interpolation method is proposed to improve the modelling of GICs in southern Africa. This improved model is one step closer to our being able to predict GICs accurately in the subcontinent, which will enable power distribution companies to take the necessary precautions to minimize possible transformer damage.
Weed management in sugarcane ratoon crop

A field experiment was conducted on ratoon crop of sugarcane to develop suitable weed management practices during spring seasons of 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2010–11 at Sugarcane Experimental Area, (Ladhowal), Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. A total of fourteen treatments including weedy check was tested in randomized block design with three replication. Herbicidal treatments were applied to ratoon crop immediately after harvesting of plant crop in the Ist week of February every year under moist conditions. The highest weed dryweight of 182.7 g/m2was recorded in weedycheck. All the weed control treatments recorded significantly less weed dry weight as compared to the weedy check. The highest pooled cane yield of 74.3 t/ha was obtained with pre-emergence application of metribuzin 1.4 kg/ha fb 2,4-D 1.6 kg/ha at 45 days after ratoon initiation (DARI). The weed dry weight was significantly reduced to less than one third (54.3 g/m2) with preemergence application of metribuzin 1.4 kg/ha fb 2,4-D 1.6 kg/ha at 45 DARI compared to weedy check. Atrazine applied as pre-emergence at 2 kg/ha fb 2,4-D 1.0 kg/ha at 45 DARI proved equally effective as preemergence metribuzin 1.4 kg/ha fb 2,4-D 1.6 kg/ha at 45 DARI. In sugarcane ratoon crop, pre-emergence application of metribuzin 1.4 kg/ha fb 2,4-D 1.6 kg/ha at 45 DARI or atrazine 2 kg/ha fb 2,4-D 1.0 kg at 45 DARI gave net returns of ‘ 84,820/-and ‘ 84,497/-which was 61.7% and 61.1% higher over control, respectively.