Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera flower on ccl4 -induced toxicity in rats

Liver disorders constitute part of health problems in developing countries, and available chemo-preventive drugs against liver diseases are costly and less effective. Moringa oleifera contains high concentrations of four natural dietary antioxidants: vitamins A, C, E and phenolics. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of M. oleifera flower on carbon tetrachloride (CCl )-induced 4 hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Twenty five (25) male rats were randomly distributed into five groups. Group A (control) received distilled water, while groups B-E received 1.5 ml/kg b.w. of CCl followed by 1 ml of distilled 4 water, 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg b.w of aqueous extract of M. oleifera flower (AEMOF) respectively. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of rats administered 1.5 ml/kg body weight of carbon tetrachloride, but untreated increased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with the control. There was no significant difference (p ˃ 0.05) in liver ALP activity of rats administered 125 and 250 mg/kg b.w, of aqueous extract of M. oleifera flower when compared with the control. Similarly, there were no significant differences in both serum and liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities of rats administered 125 and 250 mg/kg b.w of aqueous extract of M. oleifera flower relative to the control. This observation suggests that the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of M. oleifera flower may be due to the prevention of leakage of intracellular enzymes of the hepatocyte by stabilizing its membrane. Furthermore, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities of rats treated with 250 mg/kg b.w. of aqueous extract of M. oleifera flower were not significantly (p ˃ 0.05) different from the control. Histopathological examinations of the tissues from the experimental rats clearly supported the biochemical findings. Results from this study strongly indicate that aqueous extract of M. oleifera flower possesses remarkable hepatoprotective potential underlining its ability to prevent and reverse CCl -induced liver injury in experimental animals. Keywords : Moringa oleifera flower, Carbon tetrachloride, Hepatotoxicity, Antioxidants, Lipid peroxidation
Impact of the smoke-free workplace legislation on smoking behaviour, risk perception & stigmatisation

Background This study: establishes baseline prevalence of smoking and cigarette consumption among Cork bar workers prior to the Republic of Ireland’s (ROI) smokefree workplace legislation; compare genderand age-specific smoking rates and estimate the adjusted odds of being a smoker for Cork bar workers relative to the general population. Methods Cross-sectional random sample of bar workers in Cork city and cross-sectional random telephone survey of the general population were conducted prior to the smokefree legislation. Results Self reported smoking prevalence among Cork bar workers (n=129) was 54% (58% using cotinine-validated measures), with particularly high rates in women (70%) and 18 to 28 year olds (72%). Within the ROI (n=1240) sub-sample rates were substantially lower at 28%. Bar workers were twice as likely to be smokers as the general population sub-sample (OR = 2.15). Conclusions Cork bar workers constitute an occupational group with an extremely high smoking prevalence.
Quality of Nursing Care of Surgical Patients at the Regional Hospital of Ngaoundere Qualité des s oins infirm iers des patients chirurgi caux à l ’ Hôpital Régional de

Introduction. One way of assessing the quality of healthcare is to study the satisfaction of patients about the care which is provided by nursing personnel of surgical units. The aim of the study was to assess the healthcare quality provided to patients, and how satisfied they are with focus on the sociodemographic factors that can affect the patients’ nursing at the Regional Hospital of Ngaoundere. Patients and methods. This was a cross sectional transversal prospective study that was carried in n the surgery unit of the Regional Hospital of Ngaoundéré from September to December 2015. Our tools were a questionnaire and observational audit. Our study variables were the knowledge and attitudes of patients in relation to aesthesia and surgery, and the level of satisfaction in all its dimensions during the various stages of the perioperative interventions. Results. Within three (03) months, we have got and handled a sample if sixty (60) patients, using a questionnaire that enabled us to record 3.75 for the total amount of satisfaction and 75% for the total rate. The technical competences were the highest proportion with a total rate of 91.8%, 92.6% for the esteem (respect) and 84.4% for the staff characteristics. But supporting was less, with 47.5%. Conclusion. Our results emphasize some factors that should be improved to provide a better nursing quality care plan to patients during surgical operations.
Designing Fairly Fair Classifiers Via Economic Fairness Notions

The past decade has witnessed a rapid growth of research on fairness in machine learning. In contrast, fairness has been formally studied for almost a century in microeconomics in the context of resource allocation, during which many general-purpose notions of fairness have been proposed. This paper explore the applicability of two such notions — envy-freeness and equitability — in machine learning. We propose novel relaxations of these fairness notions which apply to groups rather than individuals, and are compelling in a broad range of settings. Our approach provides a unifying framework by incorporating several recently proposed fairness definitions as special cases. We provide generalization bounds for our approach, and theoretically and experimentally evaluate the tradeoff between loss minimization and our fairness guarantees.
Multi-Threshold based Ambulatory ECG Signal Quality Assessment

Signal quality assessment (SQA) is the key technology to reduce the false alarm rate and the risk of misdiagnosis by using useless signal. In the new generation wireless ambulatory ECG system, using SQA not only save resource and energy consumption but also improve the accuracy of diagnosis. Here, we present a multi-threshold based SQA method for front-end resource constrained node of ambulatory ECG system. By moving windows processing and noise detection, the proposed framework gives out the SQA perdition by threshold based fusion rules. Our noise detection operators include moving average ﬁlter, ﬁrst-order forward diﬀerence, zero-crossing rate and autocorrelation coeﬃcient, which can detect the noise of baseline drift, no-signal, power-line interference/muscle artefacts and high-frequency noise, etc.; The thresholds of fusion rules were optimized by a grid searching method. The performance of our method was tested with four practical 650s ECG signal. The prediction accuracy of Accepted/Rejected reaches up to 99.12%. Furthermore, the multi-threshold method was compared with other three SQA methods using the 2011 physioNet/computing in Cardiology challenge database. The experimental results indicate our SQA method has the characteristics of eﬃciency, non-adaptive signal processing and low computation complexity. It is suitable for using SQA application in resource-constrained ECG
Temporal attention and comodulation in multisensory causal inference

Perception relies on inferences about the causal structure of the world provided by multiple sensory inputs. In ecological settings, multisensory events that cohere in time and space contribute to such inferential processes: the sound of flapping wings naturally paces the crowded vision of a flock of birds, and hearing while seeing a speaker enhances speech comprehension. Psychophysical and magnetoencephalography (MEG) studies suggest that the Human brain may synthesize multisensory temporal comodulation in some abstract form, which may benefit (as top-down predictions) the feedforward analysis of incoming sensory signals. For instance, recent findings have shown the emergence of large-scale phase synchronizations in high gamma (60-120 Hz) and beta (15-30 Hz) bands following the short experiencing of temporally comodulated multisensory signals. The coordinated engagement of prefrontal, parietal, and visual cortices suggests the possibility that a short experience of temporally comodulated stimuli signaling the same distal information may functionally re-route unisensory processing.
Evaluation of integrated nutrient management practices on growth, yield and economics of chilli

For any information: ask.author@journalbinet.com Chilli is one of the most important energy rich vegetable-cumspice crops in Bangladesh. An experiment was conducted at the Multi location Testing (MLT) sites (AEZ-03) at Chakloma and Goneshpur of Shibganj upazilla under Bogura district during two consecutive rabi season of 2015-16 to 2016-17 to investigate the response of chilli (Capsicum annum ) to different nutrient management practices under farmer’s field condition. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six replications. Chilli var. Magura local variety was used as experimental crop. Five treatments viz. T1= Soil test based fertilizer dose for HYG (FRG 2012), T2= IPNS with 3 t ha-1 poultry manure, T3= IPNS with 5 t ha-1 cowdung, T4= Recommended fertilizer dose based on FRG 2012 for HYG and T5= Farmers practice. The highest chilli yield (14.44 t ha-1 at Chakloma & 14.95 t ha-1 at Goneshpur), gross return (TK. 587800 ha-1) and BCR (4.54) were found from T2 (IPNS with 3 t ha-1 poultry manure) which was statistically differed to other treatments whereas, the lowest yield (10.16 t ha-1 at Chakloma & 11.7 t ha-1 at Goneshpur, gross return (TK. 443400 ha-1) and BCR (3.93) were obtained from treatment T5 (Farmers practice). The Integrated plant nutrient management system produced better yield of chilli and showed significantly vary among the treatments. However, from results, it could be recommended that IPNS will be a promising technology for higher crop yields of chilli and profit as well as for the improvement of soil fertility & sustain soil productivity in Bogura region.
Characterization of rice landraces of Tamil Nadu by multivariate analysis

The morphological characterization of plant is the basic criteria in order to provide fundamental information for plant breeding programme. The main objective of the present work was to characterize 56 landraces of rice including high yielding varieties of Tamil Nadu, based on six quantitative agro-morphological characters. Agro-morphological characters were analyzed using Multivariate statistical analysis. Multivariate analysis involves observation and analysis of more than one statistical variable at a time. Principal component analysis was utilized to examine the variation and to estimate the relative contribution of various traits for total variability. This analysis helps to enabled pattern of variation of the germplasm of landraces of rice. PCA showed the contribution of each character to the classification of the rice landraces into different cluster groups. The first three principal components explained about 76.13 % of the total variation among the six characters. In the current study, Component 1 had the contribution from all the traits which accounted 34.66 % of the total variability. Component 2 had the contribution from plant height and panicle length which accounted 27.99 % of the total variability with the Eigen value of 1.68. The remaining variability of 13.48 %, 9.47 %, 9.0 % and 5.41 % was consolidated in component 3, component 4, component 5 and component 6 by various traits. The cumulative variance of 94.59 % of total variation among six characters was explained by the first five axes. Thus the results of principal component analysis used in the study have revealed the high level of genetic variation and the traits contributing for the variation was identified. Hence this population panel can be utilized for trait improvement in breeding programs for the traits contributing for major variation.
OMITTED LATENT BIASING FACTORS: ANALYTICAL FOUNDATIONS

This research introduces the concept of omitted latent biasing factors, defined as unobserved, unmeasured, and empirically unknown source(s) of influence based on the omission of a unidimensional latent construct across measured items and/or endogenous constructs in a hypothesized model. While the extant literature on common method bias centers on potential latent biasing effects on individual measurement items (and has primarily been limited to specification tests for same source biasing effects in survey research), this research proposes broadening the potential applications of omitted latent measurement biasing tests to other design concerns (see Campbell and Stanley 1959). Most importantly, this research lays the analytical foundations and proposes the need for specification tests for the potential presence of unidimensional latent biasing factors across endogenous constructs in simultaneous equation systems. Building on econometric and structural equation modeling foundations, the research proposes and conceptualizes the biasing effects that omitted latent biasing factors can have on both measurement and structural parameter estimates.
9. Discourse completion tasks

The present chapter examines Discourse Completion Tasks (DCTs), a data elicitation method that generates large amounts of contextually varied and comparable cross-linguistic speech act data, used predominantly in cross-cultural and interlanguage pragmatics. It discusses different features of DCT design, including the formulation of scenarios, the incorporation of social variables and format choice. The chapter then reviews studies comparing DCTs to other data elicitation methods and to naturally occurring data. It shows that while the different data collection methods generate similar speech act realisation strategies, the reported differences – mainly regarding directness, mitigation, and politeness marking – are largely inconclusive, with the results depending on the speech acts and groups of speakers under study.
Analysis of specialized Iron Age Wares at Kaman-Kalehöyük

During the Iron Age, after the collapse of the Hittite Empire, groups in central Anatolia reorganized and developed new forms of political economy (Yakar 2006). As yet, the nature of these inland political economies, their scale, and their interactions are poorly understood. The relative importance of trade vs. emulation among polities provides one means to evaluate both the nature of local political economic structures and the relationships between polities in central Anatolia. In this paper we explore the ceramic evidence for the changes in types and scale of interaction during the Iron Age at the site of Kaman-Kalehöyük (Figure 1a). Kaman is one of several sites currently being excavated that were continuously occupied through this political and economic transition; it is situated between the major Anatolian Iron Age polities (Phrygia and Urartu), providing a measure of the power of local vs. non-local political economies. Ceramics, as one of the most ubiquitous items of material culture that was both locally made and traded, provide a useful avenue for investigating how Kaman-Kalehöyük interacted with its neighbors in the Iron Age. In this paper, we analyze 342 ceramic samples and 28 local sediments to characterize the ceramic assemblage in terms of local, regional, and extra-regional ceramic production. Following a brief summary of the results for this data set, we focus on specific wares that are relatively rare at Kaman: Black Wares (including Lustrous Black Fine Ware (LBFW)), Grey Ware, and Micaceous Wares (includes Black, buff, brown and Grey wares). The presence of these wares at other sites in central Anatolia make them potentially useful both as chronological markers and for evaluating the extent to which emulation vs. exchange was important at Kaman. While both emulation and exchange reveal the geographic scope of Kaman’s interaction sphere, only exchange of (closed) ceramic vessels indicates the possibility of exchange of other goods as well.
The Utilization Premium (cid:63)

We study the interaction of ﬂexible capital utilization and depreciation for expected returns and investment of ﬁrms. Empirically, an investment strategy that buys (sells) equities with low (high) utilization rates earns 5% p.a. Utilization predicts excess returns beyond other production-based variables. We reconcile this novel utilization premium quantitatively using a production model. The model suggests that ﬂexible utilization is important for matching the cross-sectional distribution of investment and stock prices jointly. A model without ﬂexible utilization yields many counterfactuals that ﬂexible utilization addresses by making depreciation ﬂuctuate endogenously. Overall, utilization tightens the link between ﬁrms’ production and valuations.
Aggressively Non-D-Linked Wh-Phrases and Ellipsis : A Direct Interpretation Approach

This paper discusses non-d-linked whphrases in ellipsis phenomena. We first explore their grammatical properties on the basis of attested corpus data and show that such expressions can license sluicing as opposed to what previous previous studies have argued, in addition to some other ellipsis phenomena. We also demonstrate that the ellipsis phenomena involved with the non-d-linked wh-phrases are not solely syntax-based but due to tight interactions among a variety of grammatical component such as phonology, morphosyntax, semantics, and discourse/pragmatics. This paper then argues that their authentic uses overall support a Direct Interpretation (DI) approach that can evoke the meanings of the unpronounced material with no syntactic structures.
Distinct Effects of Propofol and Methohexital at Titrated Dosages on Hemodynamics , Stimulus Energy , and Seizure Durations during Electroconvulsive Therapy

Every year, general anesthesia has been given repeatedly to about one million patients for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) worldwide [1]. Several anesthetic protocols, utilizing drugs with distinct pharmacological profiles, appear to be sufficient and safe to mask the electrophysiological activity and the subsequent myoclonic movements [2]. However, it is also suggested that general anesthesia is likely to have therapeutic value by itself, rather than being just a procedure to facilitate another one. Its substantial impact on seizure threshold and energy requirement suggests that general anesthesia may significantly modify ECT therapeutic effectiveness [3,4]. For decades, anesthesia providers, psychiatrists, and other specialists ABSTRACT
An Analytical Model of Material Deformation in Rotary Friction Welding of Thin-Walled Tubes

An Analytical Model of Material Deformation in Rotary Friction Welding of Thin-Walled Tubes Caleb James Brown Department of Mechanical Engineering, BYU Master of Science A new model of the material flow in rotary friction welding of tubes is proposed. The material flow proposed is based on 3D scans of welds performed with tungsten tracers. The tracers indicate a bifurcation of flow into two deformation paths. A different analysis is performed on each path. The material in Path 1 interacts with the weld interface and exhibits large amounts of azimuthal flow. Previous analytical investigations that have analytically modelled the weld interface as a non-Newtonian fluid are used to calculate the strain rate in this zone. The material in Path 2 transitions from axial to primarily radial flow. The assumption of no azimuthal flow in Path 2 is validated through experimental results of the tracer study. The directional transition in this path is compared to orthogonal machining and equal channel angular pressing. The process to estimate the variables needed to calculate strain and strain rates using the equations from orthogonal machining and equal channel angular pressing is defined. Strain and strain rate in Path 2 are dependent upon feedrate and upset. Both decrease throughout the welding process. The strain rate is higher than previous studies in rotary friction welding because of the deformation model proposed.
VHRM_A_187656 399..408

1Department of Cardiology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands; 2Department of Cardiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 3Department of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; 4Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands; 5Anticoagulation Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands; 6Department of Cardiology, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands Abstract: Stroke prevention with oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation
Retina Toward a Specific Classification of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy : Idiopathic Disease or Subtype of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Citation: Coscas G, Lupidi M, Coscas F, et al. Toward a specific classification of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: idiopathic disease or subtype of agerelated macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015;56:3187– 3195. DOI:10.1167/iovs.14-16236 PURPOSE. To suggest a clinical distinction between idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and secondary polyps associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV-AMD).
NUMERICAL STUDY OF NATURAL CONVECTION IN HORIZONTAL ECCENTRIC ANNULUS

This paper deals with a numerical investigation of natural convection of heat transfer in a horizontal eccentric annulus between a square outer enclosure and a heated circular inner cylinder. The governing equations are expressed by the term of the stream function-vorticity with dimensionless temperature. The body fitted coordinate system (BFC) was used to stretch over the physical domain of the presented problem. The Poission's equation of stream function is solved by successive over relaxation (SOR) method, while time marching technique was the best choice to solve both vorticity and energy equation. The results are presented for the streamlines and isotherms as well as the average Nusselt number at different eccentricities and angular positions. Comparison with previous theoretical results shows good agreement.