Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent developments in metamodel based robust black-box simulation optimization: An overview

In the real world of engineering problems, in order to reduce optimization costs in physical processes, running simulation experiments in the format of computer codes have been conducted. It is desired to improve the validity of simulation-optimization results by attending the source of variability in the model’s output(s). Uncertainty can increase complexity and computational costs in Designing and Analyzing of Computer Experiments (DACE). In this state-of the art review paper, a systematic qualitative and quantitative review is implemented among Metamodel Based Robust Simulation Optimization (MBRSO) for black-box and expensive simulation models under uncertainty. This context is focused on the management of uncertainty, particularly based on the Taguchi worldview on robust design and robust optimization methods in the class of dual response methodology when simulation optimization can be handled by surrogates. At the end, while both trends and gaps in the research field are highlighted, some suggestions for future research are directed.
Review of Public Safety in Some Non Governmental Medical Radiation Facilities in Bangladesh

The use of ionizing radiations is being greatly extended especially in medical diagnostic radiological facilities in Bangladesh. Diagnostic Radiology is the use of x-rays to investigate the structure and function of the human body. The underlying aim in radiology is to obtain the best possible diagnostic image with the least radiation exposure to concerned people. In order to ensure radiation safety of the public adequate shielding is required during operation of the x-ray machine. Therefore, to find out the adequacy of shielding of an x-ray room shielding calculation is performed by the application of National Radiological Council and Measurements (NCRP 49 & 147) concepts incorporating real data at applicable points. To perform the work thirty facilities were randomly chosen in Narayanganj district of Bangladesh. A data collection checklist was utilized during investigation of the facilities in order to accumulate the shielding calculation information. In the chosen facilities, mostly lead and brick have been found as the shielding materials for the entrance door and walls of the x-ray room respectively. The average thickness of lead used in the entrance door of x-ray facilities have been calculated 1.04 and 0.51 mm respectively based on NCRP 49 and 147 approaches. In most of the facilities, the existing thicknesses of the shielding material are found higher than the calculated values. Besides, radiation dose was measured across the existing shielding thicknesses to examine the safety of the public.
The relationship between employee engagement and survey response rate with union membership as a moderator

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND SURVEY RESPOSNE RATE WITH UNION MEMBERSHIP AS A MODERATOR by Alexandra M. de la Rocha Research has examined the benefits of having an engaged workforce. One way of measuring employee engagement is through organizational surveys. Survey response rate represents voluntary participation behavior and may be an outcome of employee engagement. However, research has not examined survey participation behavior as an outcome of employee engagement or factors that might influence this relationship. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between dimensions of employee engagement (vigor, dedication, and absorption) and survey response rate at the aggregate level and to examine how this relationship varied as a function of percentage of union membership. Analyses were conducted for small and large groups because they had different work environments. The researcher found that there was a significant positive relationship between aggregate employee engagement levels and survey response rate. Moreover, this relationship was stronger for large groups than small groups, suggesting that group size influences the relationship between aggregate employee engagement and survey response rate. Regarding the moderating effect, union membership influenced the relationship between dedication and survey response rate only in small groups. These findings suggest that in small groups, the percentage of union membership in a group influenced the relationship between a strong sense of pride and personal accomplishment and survey response rate.
The EMU and German Cross-Border Portfolio Flows

The paper analyzes the effect of European financial integration, especially of the EMU, on gross portfolio flows between Germany and 47 countries from 1987 to 2002. A gravity model of bilateral asset trade is estimated. The results reveal that there is substantially more portfolio trade between Germany and countries also participating in the EMU. This effect evolves smoothly over time. In particular in 2002, cross-border portfolio flows between Germany and EMU countries are significantly larger compared to flows between Germany and Denmark, the UK, and Sweden which are part of the EU-15 but not of the Euro area. Moreover, changes in exchange rate volatility, financial market development and increased real economic integration among EMU countries have significant effects on German gross portfolio flows, but they can not account for the positive effect on German gross portfolio flows due to the formation of the EMU. Finally, the EMU effect on gross portfolio flows is revealed to be larger for countries with more developed banking and equity markets and for country pairs with more correlated business cycles.
Studies of Atherectomy Specimens in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes

The concept of plaque rupture and thrombosis has occupied a central role in our understanding of the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes. This paper reviews the evidence provided by atherectomy studies in this regard. The cellular composition of unstable plaques varies widely. In many instances smooth muscle cells predominate while in others there is an inflammatory response, including macrophages and T-lymphocytes. Thrombosis was reported in 19–83 % of atherectomy studies from patients with unstable angina pectoris, but is not a universal finding. The data presently available imply that there is more than one mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of the acute coronary syndromes, with an interplay between inflammation, smooth muscle cell proliferation and thrombosis. J Clin Basic Cardiol 2000; 3: 91–4.
Economization, part 2: a research programme for the study of markets

Abstract Presented in two parts, this article proposes a research programme devoted to examining ‘processes of economization’. In the first instalment, published in Economy and Society 38(3) (2009), we introduced the notion of ‘economization’. The term refers to the assembly and qualification of actions, devices and analytical/practical descriptions as ‘economic’ by social scientists and market actors. Through an analysis of selected works in anthropology, economics and sociology, we discussed the importance, meaning and framing of economization, unravelling its trace within a variety of disciplinary backgrounds. This second instalment of the article explores what it would mean to move this research programme forward by taking processes of economization as a topic of empirical investigation. Given the vast terrain of relationships that produce its numerous trajectories, to illustrate what such a project would entail we have limited ourselves to the examination of processes we call ‘marketization’. These processes, which constitute but one modality of economization, are discussed here from five vantage points: the things in the market, agencies, encounters, prices and market maintenance.
A Study of Academically Talented Students’ Participation in Extracurricular Activities

In this study, we surveyed the participation rates of academically talented students across 9 areas: dance, solo instrument, choral music, band, athletics, student government, academic clubs, ethnic/cultural clubs, and an “other activities” category. Participants consisted of 2 independent cohorts (Cohort 1, N = 842; Cohort 2, N = 290) attending a summer program. Results indicated that athletics was the activity in which males and females reported greatest participation across cohorts. Significant differences in rates were found for participation in athletics, choral music, and dance in the direction of gender-stereotypical expectations. Differences were also found among ethnic groups and across grade levels in certain activities. We concluded that the results contradict the nonathletic stereotype sometimes associated with students who are academically talented.
Comparing the Behaviour of Mountainous Forest Succession Models in a Changing Climate

The temporal behaviour of three forest gap models built to simulate species succession in central Europe is compared in the current as well as future climates. The first model, FORECE, represents a conventional forest gap model, the second, FORCLIM 1.1, is an ecologically simplified descendant of the first, and the third model, FORCLIM 1.3, was derived from the second by avoiding any implicit climate dependencies. The species compositions produced by the three models were studied along an altitudinal gradient in the European Alps while manipulating climatic parameters. First, the equilibrium states of the models were calculated for the present climate. Second, starting from the equilibrium states, the step responses of the models were explored by imposing an instantaneous climatic change based on regional projections, which have been statistically downscaled from transient GCM simulations for the next century. According to similarity coefficients all three models produce similar equilibrium species compositions in the present climate. In a changed climate the results suggest that central European forests at high altitudes are more susceptible to temperature changes and that lower forests are more susceptible to precipitation changes. However, some models produce a markedly differing behaviour in a changed climate. Hence, contrary to wide-held expectations, this type of models needs to be thoroughly revised before forest gap models may be applied to assess in details the impacts of climatic change impacts on forests.
Profil Kemampuan Berpikir Kreatif dan Peningkatan Hasil Belajar Kognitif Siswa SMP melalui Model Pembelajaran Kooperatif Tipe Stad

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui: 1) profil kemampuan berpikir kreatif, 2) peningkatan hasil belajar kognitif fisika setelah diterapkan pembelajaran kooperatif tipe STAD, dan 3) korelasi antara kemampuan berpikir kreatif dengan hasil belajar kognitif fisika. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian pra-eksperimen dengan one group pre-test post-test design. Populasi penelitian adalah seluruh siswa kelas VII sebuah SMP swasta di kota Bandung tahun ajaran 2010/2011. Sampel penelitian adalah 20 orang siswa kelas VII C yang dipilih dengan teknik purposive sampling. Instrumen penelitian berupa tes dan non-tes. Instrumen tes berupa tes standar kemampuan berpikir kreatif dan tes hasil belajar kognitif. Instrumen non-tes berupa lembar observasi. Dari hasil analisis data, ditemukan bahwa kemampuan berpikir kreatif siswa adalah baik. Aspek fluency (5% tinggi, 80% sedang, dan 15% rendah), flexibility (55% sangat kreatif, 15% di atas rata-rata, dan 30% rata-rata), originality (25% sangat kreatif, 35% di atas rata-rata, dan 40% rata-rata) serta elaboration (0% istimewa, 0% sangat kreatif, 15% sangat baik di atas rata-rata, 30% di atas rata-rata, dan 55% rata-rata). Sedangkan hasil tes hasil belajar kognitif menunjukkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan hasil belajar kognitif dengan nilai gain ternormalisasi adalah 0.71 (Tinggi). Terdapat korelasi positif antara aspek kemampuan berpikir kreatif dengan hasil belajar kognitif (T = 0,6). Kata kunci : profil, berpikir kreatif, hasil belajar kognitif, siswa SMP.
Assessing timber skidding efficiency in a group shelterwood system applied to a fir-beech stand

Skidders are one of the most used machines in harvesting operations, especially when dealing with large timber. Their use is still widespread around the world, a fact reflected by numerous efficiency studies. Since 95% of logging operations in Romania are done by means of skidders and farm tractors, this study aimed to assess timber skidding efficiency in a mixed fir-beech stand undergoing group shelterwood cuttings. Following a time study performed on 100 winching replications which corresponded to 31 on-trail skidding replications, it was found that a winching replication was most affected by winching distance and log volume whereas an on-trail skidding replication was affected by skidding distance. However, in case of all skidding operations, winching distance, skidding distance and number of logs forming a load were the most significant independent variables for the time consumption estimation. Delays (technical, operational and personal) accounted for 28% of the total skidding time, whereas in a delay-free skidding work cycle, winching and on-trail skidding accounted for 30 and 70% respectively of skidding time. If mean conditions are considered (winching distance of 23.02 m, on-trail skidding distance of 1037.32 m, volume of load of 7.12 m3 and 3 logs per load), the net production rate was of 12.65 m3h-1. The results of this study may be useful for an improved organization of harvesting operations in similar conditions. Key words: Skidding, efficiency, group shelterwood system, time prediction, production rates.
Detection of Methicillin and Vancomycin Resistance in Staphylococcus Strains Isolated from Bovine Milk Samples with Mastitis

Bu calismada, klinik ve subklinik mastitisli inek sut orneklerinden izole edilen stafilokok suslarinda metisilin ve vankomisin direncliliginin belirlenmesi amaclanmistir. Burdur ilindeki sut inegi ciftliklerinden toplanan 306 meme lobundan toplanan sut orneklerinden 100 stafilokok susu izole edildi. Metisilin ve vankomisine fenotipik direnclilik Agar-Disk Difuzyon Teknigi (ADDT) ile ve metisilin ve vankomisin icin Minimal Inhibitor Konsantrasyonu (MIK) degerleri Agar Dilusyon Teknigi (ADT) ile Klinik ve Laboratuvar Standartlari Enstitusu (CLSI) protokollerine gore belirlendi. Suslarda mecA ve vanA genlerinin belirlenmesi icin Polimeraz Zincir Reaksiyonu (PZR) gerceklestirildi. Hem fenotipik hem de genotipik olarak metisiline direncli ve duyarli olan suslarin sayisi sirasiyla 20 ve 25 olarak bulundu. On adet stafilokok susu vankomisine duyarliligi azalmis olarak belirlendi. Suslarin hic biri vanA genine sahip degil idi. Sonuc olarak, Burdur ilinde sigir mastitislerinden sorumlu stafilokok suslarinda metisilin direncliligi yuksektir. Vankomisin direncliligi acisindan ise, direncli sus bulunmamakta fakat vankomisine duyarliligi azalmis suslarin varligi dikkate alinmalidir.
Snakes, Ladders and Traps: Changing Lives and Livelihoods in Rural Bangladesh (1994-2001)

This paper examines national-level explanations for poverty decline in Bangladesh in micro-level detail, in order to better understand the nature of the causalities at work and why some households have gained, while others have failed to gain, in the processes of change involved. The analysis is based on empirical data on the lives and livelihoods of rural households in two locations: Chandina thana in Comilla district and Modhupur thana in Tangail district. The data is drawn from panel data on 1184 household in 1994 and 2001, and qualitative data collected by the author at various points during the period covered by the study. The paper demonstrates that the distribution of â€˜winnersâ€™ and â€˜losersâ€™ is not determined purely by chance; it also reflects differences in endowments and efforts.
Age influence on opioid consumption in terminally ill digestive cancer patients

The aim of this work was to estimate the influence of the age and gender on the opioids usage in terminally ill digestive cancer patients. A retrospective files analysis of the 344 patients who had died in two palliative units, divided into three groups ( 70 years old) was performed. Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD) on admission, within the last 3 days, last 5 days and in the last day of life were compared. The number of patients receiving coanalgesics and the number of coanalgesics used per patient were also analyzed. The amount of opioids remained stable through the last 5 days. The mean daily MEDD values in every time intervals were significantly higher in the youngest group than in older ones. The number of coanalgesics used was the highest in the youngest group. Smaller number of patients received coanalgesics in the oldest group. Women < 60 years old required a significantly higher MEDD than men in each time interval, except of the admission. Study confirms the lower amount of opioids used in the elderly digestive terminal cancer patients and also within younger males.
Rovibrational excitation of HD molecules by He atoms

We present rate coefficients for rotational transitions induced in collisions between HD and He. Rotational levels and kinetic temperatures T 1000 K are considered. The in- teraction potential surface calculated by Muchnick & Russek (1994) has been used, together with the quantal coupled-channel method for calculating the cross-sections. Very good agreement with previous calculations by Schaefer (1990) is obtained. The present work goes beyond the latter in that collision rates are cal- culated for all available rotational levels below the first excited vibrational level.
The Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database: spatially distributed datasets of soil coverage and soil carbon storage in the northern permafrost regions

Abstract. High-latitude terrestrial ecosystems are key components in the global carbon (C) cycle. Estimates of global soil organic carbon (SOC), however, do not include updated estimates of SOC storage in permafrost-affected soils or representation of the unique pedogenic processes that affect these soils. The Northern Circumpolar Soil Carbon Database (NCSCD) was developed to quantify the SOC stocks in the circumpolar permafrost region (18.7 × 106 km2). The NCSCD is a polygon-based digital database compiled from harmonized regional soil classification maps in which data on soil order coverage have been linked to pedon data (n = 1778) from the northern permafrost regions to calculate SOC content and mass. In addition, new gridded datasets at different spatial resolutions have been generated to facilitate research applications using the NCSCD (standard raster formats for use in geographic information systems and Network Common Data Form files common for applications in numerical models). This paper describes the compilation of the NCSCD spatial framework, the soil sampling and soil analytical procedures used to derive SOC content in pedons from North America and Eurasia and the formatting of the digital files that are available online. The potential applications and limitations of the NCSCD in spatial analyses are also discussed. The database has the doi:10.5879/ecds/00000001 . An open access data portal with all the described GIS-datasets is available online at: http://www.bbcc. su.se/data/ncscd/ .
An Exploratory Analysis of the Impact of Climate Change on Macedonian Agriculture

Using a mixed input–output model, this study examines potential changes in sector output and water requirements in Macedonia arising from climate change. By defining three climate change scenarios and exogenously specifying the warming shocks for five key agricultural sub-sectors, the effects on the economy were quantified. The results indicated that except for cereals and grapes, agricultural production would benefit from the low climate change scenario due to moderate changes in precipitation and temperature and longer cropping period, while there would be negligible effects on the rest of the economy. Contrary, the medium and high climate change scenarios would negatively affect agriculture due to increase in temperature and decline in precipitation, with severe losses in grape, apple and cereal production, but again with low effects on other economic sectors. As a result, water consumption by agriculture sector will increase by around 6% in the low climate change scenario, and decrease by around 8% and 16% in the medium and high climate change scenarios, respectively, relative to the current agriculture water consumption. Capital investment in irrigation equipment could mitigate the negative climate change impacts in the medium and high climate change scenarios. However, it would impose additional stresses on the existing limited water resource over time.
Endoscopic Therapy for Chronic Recurrent Pancreatitis

Chronic recurrent pancreatitis develops as a result of pancreatic outflow disturbance associated with pancreatic duct stenosis or pancreatic stones in most cases. Therefore it is rational to reduce intrapancreatic ductal pressure by removing pancreatic outflow disturbance for treatment of chronic recurrent pancreatitis. Surgical procedures and endoscopic pancreatic stenting are available for decompression of the pancreatic duct. As endoscopic pancreatic stenting is less invasive, safe and effective method, this approach has spread rapidly. Comorbid pancreatic cancer should never be overlooked before stenting for chronic recurrent pancreatitis, because chronic recurrent pancreatitis carries a high risk of progressing to pancreatic cancer. In cases with a stone in the pancreatic duct, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) should be performed in combination with endoscopic pancreatic stenting. In this review we discuss the current status of endoscopic pancreatic stenting in the treatment of chronic recurrent pancreatitis.
Biological control of aflatoxins in Africa: current status and potential challenges in the face of climate change

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF); United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Bundesministerium fur wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development); AgResults; MycoRed; CGIAR A4NH Research Program; CGIAR MAIZE Research Program; Meridian Institute on behalf of the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA); United States Department of Agriculture - Foreign Agricultural Service; Austrian Development Cooperation; Commercial Agriculture Development Program of the Government of Nigeria
Evaluation of the Effects of Reduced Personal and Corporate Tax Rates on the Growth Rates of the U.S. Economy

Using several variants of a Marshallian Macroeconomic Model (MMM), see Zellner and Israilevich (2005) and Ngoie and Zellner (2010), this paper investigates how various tax rate reductions may help stimulate the U.S. economy while not adversely affecting aggregate U.S. debt. Variants of our MMM that are shown to fit past data and to perform well in forecasting experiments are employed to evaluate the effects of alternative tax policies. Using quarterly data, our one-sector MMM has been able to predict the 2008 downturn and the 2009Q3 upturn of the U.S. economy. Among other results, this study, using transfer and impulse response functions associated with our MMM, finds that permanent 5 percentage points cut in the personal income and corporate profits tax rates will cause the U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate to rise by 3.0 percentage points with a standard error of 0.6 percentage points. Also, while this policy change leads to positive growth of the government sector, its share of total real GDP is slightly reduced. This is understandable since short run effects of tax cuts include the transfer of tax revenue from the government to the private sector. The private sector is allowed to manage a larger portion of its revenue, while government is forced to cut public spending on social programs with little growth enhancing effects. This broadens private economic activities overall. Further, these tax rate policy changes stimulate the growth of the federal tax base considerably, which helps to reduce annual budget deficits and the federal debt.