Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Boundary layer receptivity analysis via the algebraic Lyapunov equation

We use the algebraic Lyapunov equation to study the receptivity of pre-transitional boundary layers to persistent sources of stochastic excitation. The effect of exogenous disturbances is modeled using an additive stochastic forcing that enters at various wall-normal locations and the fluctuation dynamics are studied via linearized models that arise from locally parallel and global perspectives. Even though locally parallel analysis does not account for the effect of the spatially evolving base flow, we demonstrate that it captures the essential mechanisms and the prevailing length-scales. On the other hand, global analysis, which accounts for the spatially evolving nature of the boundary layer flow, predicts the amplification of a cascade of streamwise scales throughout the streamwise domain. We show that the flow structures that are extracted from a modal decomposition of the resulting velocity covariance matrix, can be closely captured by conducting locally parallel analysis at various streamwise locations and over different wall-parallel wavenumber pairs. Our approach does not rely on costly stochastic simulations and it provides insight into mechanisms for perturbation growth, including the interaction of the slowly varying base flow with streaks and Tollmien-Schlichting waves.
Comparing the Topical Ivermectin Versus Tenutex Emulsion for the Treatment of Scabies

ObjectiveScabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei. There are different medications for the treatment of scabies. This study aimed at comparing the efficacy of topical ivermectin versus Tenutex emulsion for the treatment of scabies. MethodsIn total, 360 patients with scabies were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups: the first group received 1% ivermectin applied topically to the affected skin. The dose used was 400 &mgr;g/kg, repeated once the following week, and the second group received Tenutex emulsion and was told to apply this once whole-body application. Treatment was evaluated at intervals of 2 and 4 weeks, and if there was treatment failure at the 2-week follow-up, treatment was repeated. ResultsTwo application of topical ivermectin provided a cure rate of 66.6% at the 2-week follow-up, which increased to 83.3% at the 4-week follow-up after repeating the treatment. Treatment with single applications of Tenutex emulsion was effective in 47.2% of patients at the 2-week follow-up, which increased to 66.6% at the 4-week follow-up after this treatment was repeated. ConclusionsTwo application of ivermectin was as effective as single applications of Tenutex emulsion at the 2-week follow-up. After repeating the treatment, ivermectin was superior to Tenutex emulsion lotion at the 4-week follow-up.
Diagnosis of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis in Respiratory Specimens from Immuno Compromised Iraqi Patients

Background: Cryptococcus neoformans , the causative agent of cryptococcosis, is a common encapsulated fungus that can cause a scope of sicknesses. Inhalation of organisms is the standard course of the disease that may stay spread to the lungs or experience hematogenous disseminations and reach to any organ through the body. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the pulmonary Cryptococcosis in a specimen of immune compromised patients by utilizing traditional and molecular strategies. Methods: This study included a total of two hundred (n=200) clinical samples from 100 immuno compromised patients and control group included 100 samples from immune competent individuals were enrolled in this study during the period from the January2015 to February 2016. Result: Among those 100 immune compromised patients 43 (43%) were males and 57 (57%) were females , their mean ages was 54.56 ±16.46 years which ranged from 16 to 90 years, compared with 100 samples from apparently healthy individuals used as a control group. Out of 20 patients were PCR positive for pulmonary Cryptococcus’s 12(60%) were females and 8 (40%) were males. Five (5%) samples out of 100 immuno compromised patients were nigrosine stain positive; Three out of 100 samples were culture positive for C. neoformans. Conclusion: diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis are as yet difficult. In any case, with early diagnosis and appropriate management, most non-AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis have a good prognosis Keywords: Pulmonary cryptococcosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Bronichoalveolar lavage (BAL), Pleural effusion (PE), Nigrosin stain.
Evaluation of Microbial Contamination of Mobile Phone among Dentists in College of Dentistry in Baghdad University

Background: Mobiles have become one of the most indispensable accessories of profession and social life. The mobiles make life easier, but they pose a number of new hazards also. Objectives: The principle aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial contamination of mobile phones belonging to dentists in College of Dentistry in Baghdad University. Materials and Methods: 35 dentists (20 female and 15 male) were enrolled in this study. Sampling was taken from each participant’s mobile by using moist sterile swab impregnated by normal saline for microbial analyses. Results: The findings of this study revealed that the growth of microorganisms has found in all samples taken from the mobile phones of dentists. The most common microorganisms detected were Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus spp. , Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. On the other hand, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the microorganisms isolated and their percentage frequency of occurrence between mobile phones for male and female. Concussions: The current results indicated that mobile phones can serve as a vector for crosstransmission of community-acquired pathogenic organisms for human.
Solving Selected Problems on American Option Pricing with the Method of Lines

The American option pricing problem lies on the inability to obtain closed form representation of the early exercise boundary and thus of the American option price. Numerous approaches have been developed to provide approximate solution or numerical schemes that derive American prices at a sufficient level of pricing accuracy and computational effort. Jump-diffusion models have been used in literature with stochastic volatility models to better explain shorter maturity smiles. They are also able to capture the skewness and kurtosis features of return distributions often observed in a number of assets in the market. By including jumps in volatility to the model dynamics, a rapidly moving but persistent component driving the conditional volatility of returns is incorporated (Eraker, Johannes & Polson (2003)). This thesis considers the pricing of American options using the Heston (1993) stochastic volatility model with asset and volatility jumps and the Hull & White (1987) short rate model. Since the early exercise boundary depends on the term structure of interest rates, stochastic interest rates are important. The American option prices are numerically evaluated by using the Method of Lines (MoL) (Meyer (2015)). This method is fast and efficient, with the ability to provide the early exercise boundary and the Greeks2 at the same computational effort as the option price. The main contributions of the thesis are: Pricing American Options with Jumps in Asset and Volatility - Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. In the first chapter, a MoL algorithm is developed to numerically evaluate American options under the Heston-Hull-White (HHW) model with asset and volatility jumps. A sensitivity analysis is then conducted to gauge the impact of jumps and stochastic interest rates on prices and their free boundaries. The second chapter assesses the importance of asset and volatility jumps in American option pricing models by calibrating the Heston (1993) stochastic volatility model with asset and volatility jumps to S&P 100 American options data. In general, jumps improve the model’s ability to fit market data. Further the inclusion of asset jumps increases the free boundary, whilst volatility jumps marginally drops the free boundary, a result that is more pronounced during periods of high volatility. Evaluation of Equity Linked Pension Schemes With Guarantees. - Chapter 4. In the third chapter American Asian option are priced with application to two types of equity linked pension schemes, namely, the investment guarantee and the contribution guarantee schemes. This extends work by Nielsen, Sandmann & Schlo¨gl (2011), where the American feature is introduced and allows for early termination of the policy. The investment fraction of the investors contributed amount that is required to achieve a certain level of investment return guarantee is analysed. A sensitivity analysis shows that asset volatility and interest rate volatility have a positive impact on the free boundary.
Exploiting Asymmetry in eDRAM Errors for Redundancy-Free Error-Tolerant Design

For some applications, errors have a different impact on data and memory systems depending on whether they change a zero to a one or the other way around; for an unsigned integer, a one to zero (or zero to one) error reduces (or increases) the value. For some memories, errors are also asymmetric; for example, in a DRAM, retention failures discharge the storage cell. The tolerance of such asymmetric errors can result in a robust and efficient system design. Error Control Codes (ECCs) are one common technique for memory protection against these errors by introducing some redundancy in memory cells. In this paper, the asymmetry in the errors in Embedded DRAMs (eDRAMs) is exploited for error-tolerant designs without using any ECC or parity, which are redundancy-free in terms of memory cells. A model for the impact of retention errors and refresh time of eDRAMs on the False Positive rate or False Negative rate of some eDRAM applications is proposed and analyzed. Bloom Filters (BFs) and read-only or write-through caches implemented in eDRAMs are considered as the first case studies for this model. For BFs, their tolerance to some zero to one errors (but not one to zero errors) is combined with the asymmetry of retention errors in eDRAMs to show that no ECC or parity is needed to protect the filter; moreover, the eDRAM refresh time can significantly be increased, thus reducing its power consumption. For caches, this paper shows that asymmetry in errors can be exploited also by using a redundancy-free error-tolerant scheme, which only introduces false negatives, but no false positives, therefore causing no data corruption. The proposed redundancy-free implementations have been compared with existing schemes for BFs and caches to show the benefits in terms of different figures of merit such as memory size, area, decoder/encoder complexity and delay. Finally, in the last case study, we show that the asymmetry of retention errors can be used to develop additional error correction capabilities in Modular Redundancy Schemes.
Optimization of β-galactosidase Production by Batch Cultures of Lactobacillus leichmannii 313 (ATCC 7830™)

The endoenzyme β-galactosidase (β-d-galactoside galactohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.23) has been used at industrial scales for the preparation of lactose-free milk and for the conversion of lactose to galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) prebiotics. In this study, using Plackett–Burman (PB) design and the response surface methodology (RSM), the batch growth conditions for the production of β-galactosidase in DeMan-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) media have been studied and optimized for Lactobacillus leichmannii 313 (ATCC 7830™) for the first time. The incubation temperature (30 < T < 55 °C), starting pH (5.5 < pH < 7.5), and carbon source (glucose, lactose, galactose, fructose, and sucrose) were selected as the significant variables for optimization. The maximum crude β-galactosidase production (measured by specific activity) was 4.5 U/mg proteins and was obtained after 12 h of fermentation. The results of the PB design and further optimization by RSM showed that the initial pH of 7.0 and 15.29 g/L of lactose were the levels that gave the optimum observed and predicted β-galactosidase activities of 23.13 U/mg and 23.40 U/mg, respectively. Through RSM optimization, β-galactosidase production increased significantly (over five-fold) in optimized medium (23.13 U/mg), compared with unoptimized medium (4.5 U/mg). Moreover, the crude enzyme obtained was able to hydrolyze lactose and also produce galacto-oligosaccharides. Because its ability to produce β-galactosidase was significantly improved through optimization by RSM, L. leichmannii 313 can serve as a potential source of β-galactosidase for food applications at an industrial scale.
Investigating determinants of obesity in 5- to 6-year-old Maltese children

Childhood obesity is increasing in most countries worldwide and Malta is no exception. However, local data regarding determinants of obesity is lacking. The aim of this preliminary study was to link some possible determinants of childhood obesity, namely, dietary intake and activity levels with anthropometric data in a sample of 5to 6-year-old Maltese children and to investigate possible associations with parental body mass index (BMI). Stratified sampling which ensured good gender, geographical and socioeconomic representation and adequate representation from the three school-types (state, church, independent), provided a sample of 66 participants. Anthropometric measurements of children and parents were collected in 2015 and diet and lifestyle factors were assessed through food and activity diaries. The diaries were coded to retrieve energy and macronutrient intake and activity levels of the children. Multiple regression related BMI and waist circumference (WC) with dietary intake, activity levels and parental BMI. Children’s BMI and WC were positively and significantly (rs = 0.71, p < 0.001) correlated. Consumption of Non-Milk Extrinsic Sugars (NMES) were significantly higher for girls than boys (U = 366.0, p = 0.031). Multiple regression analysis yielded a significant positive relationship between NMES with both BMI (t (56) = 3.095, p = 0.003) and WC (t (56) = 3.365, p = 0.002). Paternal and child BMI were positively significantly correlated (rs = 0.372, p = 0.005). NMES intake was one possible contributing factor to obesity and central adiposity with physical activity having a protective effect, whilst sedentary behaviour and fat intake did not appear to be risk factors at this age. Further studies are recommended on larger sample sizes to extensively investigate the effect of different determinants on obesity in this age group and work towards developing nutritional recommendations on a national basis.
Patient Absconding and Its Predictors: A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis in a General Teaching Hospital in Tehran, Iran

Background and Purpose: Patient absconding from a hospital or leaving without permission is a major challenge with economic and social consequences for patients, healthcare staff, and society. Identification of the characteristics of absconding patients is essential to the prediction and prevention of such behaviors. Methods: This cross sectional study was performed in a large general teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. Data of 460 absconding patients and 460 nonabsconding patients, admitted during March 2010 - March 2016, were extracted from the hospital information system. Backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to describe the importance and effect of each predictor. Results: The findings showed that 0.4% of the patients had left the hospital without permission or notice to the staff. Addiction (OR, 27.15), lack of insurance coverage (OR, 12.39), male gender (OR, 2.14), age ≤ 40 years (OR, 1.89), and emergency admission (OR, 1.77) were predictors of absconding. Hospital financial loss amounted to 3,818,788,624 IRR ($126,283) due to this problem, with an average cost of 7,178,174 IRR ($237) per patient. Conclusions: Identification of high-risk individuals, including young men, uninsured patients, and drug addicts with emergency admission warrants preventive measures. Moreover, assessment of patients by physicians or nurses upon admission, staff training and raising awareness, and use of technologies such as radiofrequency identification can be other strategies for preventing or reducing this problem.
Effects of an Intrinsic Magnetic Field on Ion Loss From Ancient Mars Based on Multispecies MHD Simulations

Ion loss to space has played an important role in atmospheric escape and climate change on Mars because of intense solar activity during a younger, more active phase of the Sun. Although the existence of an intrinsic magnetic field on ancient Mars is also a key factor in ion loss, its effect remains unclear. Based on multispecies magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations, we investigated processes and rates of ion loss from Mars under extreme solar conditions and the existence of a dipole field with different strengths. The effects of a dipole field on ion loss depend on whether the dipolar magnetic pressure is strong enough to sustain the solar wind dynamic pressure. When the dipole field is existent but weak, it facilitates the cusp outflow and increases the loss rates of molecular ions (O2+ and CO2+) by a factor of 6 through the high‐latitude magnetotail. When the dipole field is strong enough, the loss rates of molecular ions are decreased by 2 orders of magnitude, and peaks of the escape flux are located near the equatorial plane due to the magnetic reconnection in the northern‐dusk or southern‐dawn lobe regions. The pickup process on the extended oxygen corona created by the strong EUV flux contributes to the total O+ loss. Therefore, the effects of the dipole field are less pronounced for O+. Under more moderate solar EUV conditions, the effects on O+ loss can be stronger and thus contribute to climate change.
Pathophysiological basis for utility of zoledronic acid in patients with prostate cancer

a very important malignant disease in Western societies. It can be said that prostate cancer morbidity rises with age in old men. The natural history of prostate cancer is rather simple. The majority of patients who are diagnosed with localized prostate cancer are treated with curative intent with either radiation or surgery. Patients in whom treatment with curative intent is unsuccessful and those who present with metastasis are candidates for androgen suppression. Skeletal-related events are defined by the existence of changes in antineoplastic therapy to treat bone pain, pathological bone fractures, radiation therapy to bone, spinal cord compression, and surgery to bone. Bone pathology correlates with cancer course and has been shown to influence survival. Pathobiology provides new insights into mechanisms responsible for bone metastases related to prostate cancer. Several studies have evaluated risk factors for bone loss and fractures in prostate cancer patients receiving androgen-deprivation therapy. The three risk factors that have been reliably identified in patients with locally advanced disease are older age, low body mass index and a long duration of androgen-deprivation therapy. In metastatic prostate cancer, the sole reliable risk factor is elevated levels of deoxypyridinoline. Zoledronic acid has a crucial impact on combined therapy with hormones, then with chemotherapy, and additionally can be used in the prevention of osteoporosis/osteopenia related to cancer treatment.
A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Using Language Games In Teaching Vocabulary” In Secondary School

Teaching students to understand vocabulary in the English language is important, and yet challenging. Students are not eager to learn vocabulary due to its complexity and would perceive that vocabulary lessons as dull and unexciting. With the purpose of injecting the element of play and learning in a vocabulary classroom, this study investigated the effectiveness of using language games in teaching vocabulary in a secondary school in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Language games were chosen as they could expose students to a more fun and interactive way of learning vocabulary as element of fun in a learning environment would be appealing to students regardless of their varying learning styles and language proficiency. This study was conducted in a government secondary school in Shah Alam, Malaysia involving 33 Form 1 ESL students from a mixedproficiency class where data was collected quantitatively using Pre-test and Post-test questions and open ended and close ended questionnaires. Results from the pre and post-tests significantly showed that language games in English language lessons, specifically focusing on vocabulary acquisition, helped to increase the students‘ motivation to learn vocabulary while improving their ability to memorize the new words learned. The study‘s findings highlighted that use of language games was effective during lessons as the games attracted them to the learning process and simultaneously heightened their interest to learn the language. ————————————————————
A study on the impact of economic freedom on economic growth in ASEAN countries

We examine the impact of economic freedom on economic growth using data of ASEAN countries over the period of 2000-2017. To capture the characteristics of ASEAN liberalization purposes, we use different proxies documented in prior literature such as trade freedom, labor freedom and financial freedom as proxies of economic freedom. We document that higher economic freedom and higher labor freedom lead to higher economic growth. However, more trade freedom appears to inhibit economic growth in ASEAN countries. We find no significant relationship between financial freedom and economic growth. These findings survive robustness tests
Risk of brain metastases in T1–3N0 NSCLC: a population-based analysis

Aim: Several consensus guidelines recommend against routine brain imaging at diagnosis of T1-3N0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: From the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry, patients with pathologically confirmed T1-3N0 NSCLC were identified. Risks of brain metastases at time of initial diagnosis were analyzed. Results: Patients selected to not undergo primary NSCLC resection had approximately tenfold greater incidence of brain metastases versus those who did. Younger age, adenocarcinoma histology, higher tumor stage and higher histologic grade were all significantly (p < 0.0001) associated with greater likelihood of presenting with brain metastases. Conclusion: Given the morbidity and mortality of brain metastases, routine brain screening after NSCLC diagnosis (particularly adenocarcinoma) may be justifiable, though more refined cost-benefit analyses are warranted.
Mind the Gap – Analyzing the Divergence Between Constitutional Text and Constitutional Reality

Constitutional Economics – the analysis of constitutions drawing on the economic approach – has made important progress over the last two decades. The factors determining whether a constitution is complied with, however, have received only little attention. This is surprising, as a huge gap between constitutional text and constitutional reality seems to exist in many countries. In this paper, this gap is referred as the de jure/de facto gap. The paper discusses ways in which the gap can be researched systematically and surveys the scant available literature that has tried to do so thus far.