Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of eosinophil count and neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio versus C-reactive protein levels in patients with sepsis

Background: One major problem encountered in the intensive care unit is differentiating the inflammatory response from an infective process. Clinical and standard laboratory tests are not very helpful because most critically ill patients develop some degree of inflammatory response, whether or not they have sepsis. Numerous biomarkers have been evaluated to predict mortality in critically ill patients, although none have proved entirely useful. Objective of the study was to evaluate eosinophil count and neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio with C-reactive protein levels in patients with sepsis. Methods: 71 patients >18 years of age of either sex with a diagnosis of sepsis were enrolled in this one-year observational study. Patients were classified according to the criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine into sepsis group (n=50) and no sepsis group (n=21). Sepsis group were further divided into subgroups: sepsis (n=19), severe sepsis (n=16) and septic shock (n=15). Absolute eosinophil cell, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts for first 4 consecutive days and then on alternate days up to one week were also noted down. C-reactive protein levels on day 3 were also noted down. Results: In the sepsis group, mean eosinophil count was significantly (p<0.0001) low, mean neutrophil/lymphocyte count ratio was significantly (p<0.0001) high, mean CRP count was significantly (p=0.019) more as compared to that of no sepsis group. Among 16 mortalities, significant (p<0.05) decrease was noted in mean eosinophil count from day 3 onwards in patients of sepsis and septic shock subgroups. Mean N/L ratio showed no significant difference in patients of sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock. Mean CRP count showed significant (p<0.05) increase in severe sepsis patients and mean Apache II score showed significant (p<0.05) deterioration in patients of septic shock. Conclusions: Neutrophil/lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) and absolute eosinophil count (AEC) came out as better independent biomarker of sepsis in critically ill patients with infection admitted in intensive care unit. Diagnostic performance was better in these two diagnostic markers as compared to CRP marker. NLCR presented with sensitivity of 89.58%, AEC with 82.35% and CRP with 80.77%. Outcomes of NLCR and AEC were quick, easy and economical in establishing diagnosis of sepsis.
The impact of skill acquistion on choice of occupation and destination for migrant youths in Malawi

ABSTRACT The study examines the impact of skill acquisition on choice of destination and occupation for migrant youth in Malawi. This study uses primary data collected under the Youth, Employment and Migration for East and Southern Africa (YEMESA) project. Drawing from multinomial logit and Probit models, the study finds that having technical skills before migrating has a statistical significant effect on migrating to long-established administrative cities with stable markets compared to new and expanding commercial cities. Further, technical skills do not have a statistically significant effect on being an entrepreneur but they increase the conditional probability of being employed for wage. Therefore, evidence from this study does not support the premise that in a rural developing economy like Malawi, technical ability can propel migration decision to a more pro-entrepreneurship destination due to convex returns to skills. Rather, lack of start-up capital remain key and prohibitive in entrepreneurship. The study also shows that women are more likely to be in wage employment than in entrepreneurship indicating that entrepreneurship bottlenecks are more severe among women and thus suggesting a need of women’s financial inclusion. Finally, the study also ascertains the role of information and expectations in the decision to migrate.
Strong Active Defensive Reaction of Late Instar Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Towards Cotesia vestalis (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Correlates With Its Low Suitability for Parasitism

Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), larvae wriggle violently backwards when disturbed. As they vary greatly in size from 1.3mm in length of L1 instar to 12 mm of fully grown L4 instar, the 2.1 mm long female Cotesia vestalis (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) has to gain control of each host to insert ovipositor and lay an egg. This study tested the hypotheses that parasitism rates of L2 to L4 instars correspond with 1) ability of female wasps to subdue them, and 2) their suitability for parasitism. In a choice test involving direct observations, C. vestalis gained control of L2 and L3 instars until ovipositor removal, but it was unable to subdue L4 instar, which limited ovipositor insertions. As parasitoids increasingly avoided wrestling L4 instar in subsequent encounters, it was worth investigating if limited capability to subdue these hosts deprives C. vestalis access to a high quality resource. In both choice and no-choice tests, parasitism rates of L2 and L3 instars were similar, and they were significantly higher than of L4 instar. Although parasitoid developmental time was shorter on L4 than on both L2 and L3 instars, a significantly higher proportion of parasitoids and daughters emerged from L2 and L3 instars than those parasitised at L4 instar in both choice and no-choice tests. These results imply that L4 instar is a lower quality resource for intrinsic rate of increase of C. vestalis, and its limited capability to subdue this instar leads to higher parasitism of themoresuitable L2 and L3 instars.
Multi-objective optimisation of dry sliding wear control parameters for stir casted AA7075- TiO2 composites using Taguchi-Grey relational approach

ABSTRACT The current investigation aims to predict the dry sliding wear performance of AA7075-TiO2 metal matrix composites via Taguchi based grey relational analysis. The AA7075-TiO2 composites were produced by x wt%. of TiO2 particles (X = 0, 5, 10 and 15 wt.%) through stir casting route. The SEM micrographs evident the TiO2 reinforcement particles were homogeneously distributed in to the AA7075 matrix. To measure the frictional force and the mass loss of the produced composites under dry sliding conditions of pin-on-disc instrument was utilised. The experimental works were performed to as per Taguchi’s L16 orthogonal array utilising four process parameters namely reinforcement (wt.%), applied load (N), sliding velocity (m/s) and sliding distance (m). Main effect plot and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the effect of each parameter on the wear rate and coefficient of friction (COF). From the investigations the results found that, the reinforcement weight percentage has to be more significant factor on the wear rate and COF subsequently applied load. A confirmation experiment was also conducted to confirm the prediction of the results attained by the optimum parameter combination. Finally, the SEM micrograph was used to examine the worn out surface of the composites.
Nurses’ Knowledge on Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection in a Selected Hospital of Mangaluru

Abstract Introduction Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is one of the most common health care–acquired infections encountered in clinical practice. The most important predisposing factor for CAUTI is the insertion and prolonged use of indwelling urinary catheter, which has been performed by unsterile technique, and by not taking adequate measures to maintain cleanliness of the catheter. This study aimed to assess the knowledge on prevention of CAUTI among staff nurses in a selected hospital of Mangaluru. Materials and Methods Staff nurses working in medical college hospital with National Accreditation Board of Hospitals and Healthcare Providers accreditation were included in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess nurses’ knowledge on CAUTI. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square test were used for association. Results Majority of nurses (80.85%) had average knowledge on prevention of CAUTI, whereas 11.2% nurses had low knowledge and few (7.231%) nurses had high knowledge regarding CAUTI. Association was found between knowledge and age (0.013), educational qualification (0.018), and encounter with patients with CAUTI (0.00) is <0.05, at 0.05 level of significance Conclusion Pooled results showed that majority of the nurses had average knowledge on prevention of CAUTI.
Independence of corporate governance and its relation to financial performance

Most studies in the area of corporate governance measure certain characteristics and the effects on financial performance; however, other authors only focus on profitability and do not analyze financial performance in all its dimensions; this is relevant because in some situations the government corporate governance can influence performance measured by liquidity, solvency or activity. The aim of the study is to relate the independence of corporate governance and the financial performance of non-listed companies using econometric techniques. This process was carried out by collecting primary information for the independent variable and secondary data for the dependent variable; the independence of corporate governance was measured by applying a confirmatory factor analysis to data collected through a survey, while the financial performance was measured through average Z factors created for liquidity, solvency, profitability and activity indicators. As a result, it was found that the independence of corporate governance influenced financial performance, but this relationship was statistically significant only with solvency and activity variables. As a result, it can be seen that there is a direct relationship between corporate governance independence and financial performance, in such a way that if the perception of board independence increases, financial performance can increase positively. Acknowledgments An acknowledgment to department SINDE from University Catholique Santiago of Guayaquil, who helped with the necessary resources to conduct this research.
The Impenetrable Barrier: Suppression of Chorus Wave Growth by VLF Transmitters

Rapid radiation belt recovery following storm time depletion involves local acceleration of multi‐MeV electrons in nonlinear interactions with VLF chorus waves. Previous studies of an apparent impenetrable barrier at L ~ 2.8 focused on diffusion and precipitation loss mechanisms for an explanation of the sharp reduction of multi‐MeV electron fluxes earthward of L ~ 3. Van Allen Probes observations for cases when the plasmasphere is contracted earthward of L ~ 3 indicate that strong coherent signals from VLF transmitters can play significant roles in the suppression of nonlinear chorus wave growth earthward of L ~ 3. As a result, local nonlinear acceleration of hundreds of keV electrons to MeV energies does not occur in this region. During the recovery of the outer radiation belt when the plasmasphere is significantly contracted, the suppression of chorus wave growth and local acceleration by the action of the transmitter waves at the outer edge of the VLF bubble contributes to the sharp inner edge of the new MeV electron population and the formation of the impenetrable barrier at L ~ 2.8.
Have Students Comprehended Investment?

Research aims: This study aims to examine factors that influence stock investment intention among students. Design/Methodology/Approach : The population in this study are all individual student investors registered at the Indonesia Stock Exchange Investment Gallery in the North Sulawesi and Gorontalo Regions. Sample selection is based on the purposive sampling method. Data analysis was performed with SmartPLS 3.0 M3. Research findings: The results found that student attitudes are determined by employment opportunities in the capital market. In addition, attitudes and behavioral control also have significant effect on student intention. This is different with subjective norms which does not affect student investment intention. Theoretical contribution/ Originality : This research confirm that job opportunity influences students attitude in stock investment. The attitude and perceived behavioral control support students intention to invest stock in capital market. Subjective norms does not effect to students intention, in the context of students in the North Sulawesi and Gorontalo Regions. Practitioner/Policy implication : The implication is the universities need to make policies which is friendly with stock investment, such us Seminars, Workshops, Capital Market Schools, and Securities Traders Representative Courses (WPPE). The Indonesian Stock Exchange (Representative Office) and Exchange Members also need to increase an internship quota in order to support student investment intentions. Research limitation/Implication : This study only examines the stage of student intentions because the sample is student whose main activity is studying and the additional activity is investing.
STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION ON READING COMPREHENSION PROBLEMS IN NARRATIVE TEXT

This survey study aimed to know the students’ perception on reading comprehension problems of narrative text. The sample participants were randomly selected from the tenth grade students of SMAN 2 Jember in academic year of 2019/2020. Questionnaire adopted from Xiubo & Zhang (2006) was used to collect the students’ perception and it was translated into Indonesian. The result showed that the students still experienced some problems in reading narrative text. Based on the result of the questionnaire, the most problematic aspect that hinder the students’ reading comprehension was “Motivation” (65.6%), followed by “Strategies” (63.7%), “Background Knowledge” (63.3%), “Reading Process (60%)” and “Language Knowledge (55.4%)”. The result implied that the teacher should focus on fostering students’ motivation by giving intensive course and reading assignment based on the students’ interests. In order to see further into the problem faced by the students, future reseacher could use direct assesment by using diagnostic test or other measurement.
Refining the influence of family involvement in management on firm performance: The mediating role of technological innovation efficiency

Determining what factors influence firm performance constitutes an essential issue in both the management and the family firm research fields. This article, building on the resource-based view perspective, develops a mediation model that involves a unique intervening mechanism, namely, technological innovation efficiency (TI efficiency), with the potential to explain the inconsistencies found in prior work on the ways through which family involvement in management affects performance outcomes. Regression analyses utilizing a longitudinal sample of 1,118 Spanish private firms largely support the hypothesized mediating relationship, revealing that TI efficiency leads to richer firm performance in family firms with active family involvement in management. Overall, our findings help elucidate the black box of performance outcomes within family firms and make several contributions to theory and practice. JEL CLASSIFICATION L25; M12; O32
Improved throughput of Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) processor implementation over Koblitz curve k-163 on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

يقـدم البحث دراسة عن تصميم وتنفيذ دائرة الكترونية لتوليد التوقيع الالكتروني والتاكد من صحته ,بالاعتماد على مواصفات المنحني الاهليجي الموصى بها من قبل المعهد الوطني للمعايير والتكنولوجيا(NIST) . حيث أرتكز العمل على إختيار منحني كوبلتز وتطبيقه على الحقول المنتهية أو ما تسمى بحقول غالو(2163)GF، ونظرا لأهمية تحسين الأداء في المعالجات الحديثة المبنية في بيئة البوابات المنطقية القابلة للبرمجة (FPGA)، فقد أظهرت نتائج المحاكاة والتنفيذ للتصميم المقترح على الجهاز نوع Virtex5-xc5vlx155t-3ff1738 زيادة في معدل البيانات التي يتم معالجتها اثناء عمليتي توليد التوقيع واثبات صحته الى 0.08187 Mbit/s وبنسبة تصل الى 6.95% ,بالمقارنة مع التصميمات السابقة ، كما أستغرقت مدة تنفيذ العمليتين 1.66 ملي ثانية وبتردد أقصاه 83.477 ميكاهرتز. تم الاخذ بنظرالاعتبار تصميم المنفذ التسلسلي غير المتزامن (UART) والمستخدم في عملية نقل البيانات بين الحاسبة وFPGA .
Performance of growing/finishing pigs fed untreated or micronized hulless barley-based diets with or without β-glucanase

Eighty crossbred pigs were used in a factorial design experiment to determine the effects of micronization and P-glucanase supplementation on the performance of growing-finishing pigs fed diets based on hulless barley. Micronization increased the percentage of gelatinized starch in the diets while enzyme supplementation decreased diet viscosity. Enzyme supplementation increased the digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein and gross energy while micronization had no effect. Micronization also had no effect on pig growth rate. However, feed intake was slightly reduced resulting in a significant improvement in feed conversion. Enzyme supplementation had no effect on growth rate but produced a significant improvement in feed conversion during the finishing period. Neither enzyme supplementation nor micronization had any effect on carcass traits.
Evaluation of the offline-coupled GFSv15–FV3–CMAQv5.0.2 in support of the next-generation National Air Quality Forecast Capability over the contiguous United States

As a candidate for the next-generation National Air Quality Forecast Capability (NAQFC), the meteorological forecast from the Global Forecast System with the new Finite Volume Cube-Sphere dynamical core (GFS–FV3) will be applied to drive the chemical evolution of gases and particles described by the Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system. CMAQv5.0.2, a historical version of CMAQ, has been coupled with the North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM) model in the current operational NAQFC. An experimental version of the NAQFC based on the offline-coupled GFS–FV3 version 15 with CMAQv5.0.2 modeling system (GFSv15–CMAQv5.0.2) has been developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide real-time air quality forecasts over the contiguous United States (CONUS) since 2018. In this work, comprehensive region-specific, time-specific, and categorical evaluations are conducted for meteorological and chemical forecasts from the offline-coupled GFSv15–CMAQv5.0.2 for the year 2019. The forecast system shows good overall performance in forecasting meteorological variables with the annual mean biases of −0.2 °C for temperature at 2 m, 0.4% for relative humidity at 2 m, and 0.4 m s−1 for wind speed at 10 m compared to the METeorological Aerodrome Reports (METAR) dataset. Larger biases occur in seasonal and monthly mean forecasts, particularly in spring. Although the monthly accumulated precipitation forecasts show generally consistent spatial distributions with those from the remote-sensing and ensemble datasets, moderate-to-large biases exist in hourly precipitation forecasts compared to the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) and METAR. While the forecast system performs well in forecasting ozone (O3) throughout the year and fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) for warm months (May–September), it significantly overpredicts annual mean concentrations of PM2.5. This is due mainly to the high predicted concentrations of fine fugitive and coarse-mode particle components. Underpredictions in the southeastern US and California during summer are attributed to missing sources and mechanisms of secondary organic aerosol formation from biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semivolatile or intermediate-volatility organic compounds. This work demonstrates the ability of FV3-based GFS in driving the air quality forecasting. It identifies possible underlying causes for systematic region- and time-specific model biases, which will provide a scientific basis for further development of the next-generation NAQFC.
Investigating the Role of Alternative Oxidase in Nicotiana tabacum during Light Acclimation

Photosynthetic electron transport produces ATP and NADPH which support carbon fixation by the Calvin Cycle. To avoid overr duction of the electron transport chain, plants must balance absorption and consumpti on of light energy. Mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) is a non-energy-conservin g electron sink, making it an ideal candidate to oxidize excess reductant and regulate chloroplastic redox state. Wild-type (WT) and transgenic Nicotiana tabacum lines with enhanced or suppressed AOX protein levels were grown under low light (LL) and moderate light (ML). LL-grown plants were also shifted to ML. AOX transcript and protein leve ls were enhanced in WT plants under ML. Chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange, and con tents of chlorophyll, carbohydrate, and malondialdehyde were measured. Lack of AOX prot ein decreased Photosystem II (PSII) quantum efficiency and CO 2 assimilation rates while enhancing PSII excitation pressure compared to WT. These findings suggest a r ole for AOX in mediating the chloroplast-mitochondrion relationship during accli mation to higher irradiance.
London Review of Education

Rapid reviews using abbreviated systematic review methods are of increasing importance for evidence-informed decision-making in education, although there is little guidance about the most suitable approach. Three recently completed rapid review reports are compared to inform discussions on the utility of this type of review in education and to highlight appropriate methods for producing evidence syntheses in a limited time frame. Rapid review methods need to be chosen to fit the needs of the review, which involves: thinking broadly about different kinds of team experience and expertise; estimating the size and nature of the literature to be reviewed; considering the review purpose and nature of the topic; choosing an appropriate synthesis method for the review purpose, evidence base and reviewers’ expertise; fully describing the review approach, and discussing the potential limitations of chosen methods; and understanding the anticipated audiences and tailoring outputs accordingly. Rapid reviews to address urgent and high-priority questions provide the benefits of timeliness and reduced resource requirements. However, it is crucial to understand caveats and limitations to the rapid conduct of evidence syntheses for decision-making purposes. This article offers guidance to support researchers, postgraduate students and commissioners who wish to conduct rapid reviews in a transparent and systematic way, addressing complex questions of relevance to evidence-informed decision-making in education.
The Impact of the Contextual Fit Enhancement Protocol on Behavior Support Plan Fidelity and Student Behavior

The contextual fit of a behavior support plan refers to the extent that the procedures of the plan are consistent with the knowledge, values, skills, resources, and administrative support of those who are expected to implement the plan. This study used a concurrent multiple baseline design across four participants to assess the presence of a functional relation between introduction of the Contextual Fit Enhancement Protocol, an intervention designed to improve contextual fit, and (a) an increase in fidelity of support plan implementation and (b) improved student behavior. Results indicate that following implementation of the Contextual Fit Enhancement Protocol, support plan implementation fidelity increased and student problem behavior decreased. In addition, teachers participating in the study rated the contextual fit intervention process as effective and efficient. Limitations and implications for future research, practice, and training are discussed.