Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationships between understanding and solving word problems of multiplicative structure

The objective of the study was to investigate the relationships between understanding word problems of multiplicative structure and performance when solving these problems. Third, 4th and 5th grades students were asked to solve multiplication and division problems (Problem-Solving Task) and to answer questions about the statement of the problems (Problem-Understanding Task). For the three school years it was easier to understand what needed to be found in the problem (literal information) than to understand which operation and which numbers to use in the resolution of the problem (inferential information). Although performance in the three school years was limited, relationships were identified between understanding the word the problems and the ability to solve them. Understanding what needed to be found and identifying the relevant numerical information had a positive impact on solving the problems, and it was more significant than the ability to identify the appropriate operation to be applied.
A Two-Year Surveillance of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in the Trauma ICU of a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Aim The aim of the study is to identify the risk factors and mortality associated with central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and to investigate the incidence and associated etiology in trauma patients admitted to the trauma ICU (TICU) of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Northern India. Materials and methods The study was a prospective study conducted in the trauma ICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital in India from November 2020 to October 2022. Adult patients >18 years of age who were on central line for >48 hours were included in the study. The automated blood culture system BacT/ALERT 3D (bioMérieux, Durham, NC) was used for microbial detection from blood samples. We recorded patients' daily progress, and catheter-related data was collected and used as variables. All the data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY) to evaluate the risk factors associated with CLABSI. Result A total of 516 admissions occurred during the surveillance period, out of which 352 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Out of these 352 patients, a total of 74 patients developed central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Thus, the incidence of CLABSI was 16.4 per 1000 central line days and 13.2 per 1000 inpatient days with a 0.8 device utilization ratio (DUR). The most common organisms isolated from these CLABSI cases were Acinetobacter species (23%), followed by Escherichia coli (16.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (15.6%). The independent healthcare-associated risk factors for CLABSI were longer length of ICU stay and prolonged duration of central venous catheterization. The most common comorbidity associated with CLABSI was diabetes mellitus (20.3%), followed by hypertension (14.8%), and the mortality rate was 41.9%. Conclusion The healthcare-associated risk factors such as longer length of ICU stay and prolonged duration of central venous catheterization are the risk factors for developing central line-associated bloodstream infections (BSI).
The barriers to resilient reinstatement of flood damaged homes

The current debate about flood management in the UK involves the notion of making space for water, recognising the fact that it is impractical to defend large floodplains to a standard which excludes any possibility of flooding. Coupled with development controls to discourage new building in the floodplain is the desire to encourage inhabitants of the floodplain to render themselves less vulnerable to flood damage by building resilience into their homes. Advice on resilience is available via flood forums and insurers but historically take up has been low. In a bid to increase the installation of individual flood protection measures there are nascent grant schemes underway or proposed in England and Wales. A review of the international literature relating to flood proofing of homes and the attitudes of floodplain residents reveals that there are many barriers to overcome in encouraging the installation of resilient measures. Financial concerns are of course a primary factor, the presence of almost universal flood insurance cover for UK residents detracts from motivation to take individual responsibility. However it emerges from this review that other considerations should not be disregarded. Any proposed scheme must contend with the preference for community measures, informational barriers, emotional constraints, aesthetic considerations and timing issues. The provision of finance for resilient schemes could be more effective if incorporated within the reinstatement process in order to minimise cost, distress and disruption to the home owner.
Anal.of dairy cattle breeding practices in selected areas of Ethiopia

The study was carried out in Selale area and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the objective of understanding the conditions of dairy production systems, identifying existing breeding practices and organizational patterns and evaluating efficiency of bull services and artificial insemination with some hygienic considerations. A sample of 100 and 40 dairy cattle and breeding bull owners were selected randomly from the Selale area (Mulo-Sululta and Degem districts) and Addis Ababa, respectively. A detail questionnaire was prepared and data was collected with one visit interview that was supported by observation. In addition, secondary data on AI efficiency parameters were collected from the National Artificial Insemination Center. All dairy cows and breeding bulls included in this study (727 cows and 20 bulls) were tested for Brucella abortus using the Rose Bengal Plate Test. Collected data were summarized using descriptive statistics and differences between categories were tested by Chi-Square and ANOVA. Statistical softwares used for data analysis were SPSS and Statistica.
Clover microgreen incorporation in diet‐controlled diabetes and counteracted aflatoxicosis of rats

Abstract Diabetes mellitus is one of the chronic metabolic diseases whose control remains a challenge. Its increased incidence was mainly attributed to increased environmental contamination. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of feeding clover microgreen (CM) on a diabetes model with or without aflatoxin exposure. Rats were distributed into 8 groups. G1 was a control group. G2 was fed CM. G3 was administered aflatoxin orally. G4 was fed clover and administered aflatoxin. G5 was diabetic rats. G6 was diabetic rats fed CM. G7 was diabetic rats administered aflatoxin. G8 was diabetic rats administered aflatoxin and fed CM. Phytochemical analysis of the CM showed that gardenin was the most common compound. The administration of aflatoxin aggravated diabetes. The groups fed CM showed a decreased glucose concentration compared to the unfed groups. Liver and kidney function parameters were improved by CM. The histopathological alteration of the pancreas, liver, and kidneys was relieved in CM‐fed groups. The area % of insulin in islets of Langerhans was increased in CM‐fed groups. Feeding CM also enhanced the oxidative stress biomarkers. In conclusion, CM improved all evaluated parameters in diabetic rats either exposed to aflatoxin or not compared to the control.
Global warming and the acceleration of the hydrological cycle.

The climate of Earth and its global-averaged surface air temperature are the consequence of a balance between the amount of solar radiation absorbed by Earth’s surface and atmosphere, and the amount of outgoing long-wave radiation emitted at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) (Charlson et al., 2005). The buildup of greenhouse gases (GHG) during the past century has been held responsible for this global warming through an increased absorption of infrared radiation in the atmosphere. Changes in the energy balance of Earth are likely to affect other climatic factors besides temperature as well, such as precipitation (Figure 2) and evaporation. Therefore, a potential consequence of global warming is the acceleration of the hydrological cycle, which may manifest itself in the form of increased precipitation and land evaporation (Stocker and Raible, 2005). The
Overview of Botanical Therapies for Oral Conditions

Oral disease is a common concern that affects quality of life, particularly in geriatric and end-of-life patients. Treatments including dental cleaning, antibiotic therapy, and pain control are often needed to resolve conditions and to maintain comfort. Botanical therapies may also be useful in the treatment of various oral conditions including infections, inflammation, wounds, ulcerations, and in palliation of oral neoplasms. In animal patients, common administration is via herbal infusions as oral washes, either through supple- mental drinking water or syringe application. Topical gel and honey formulations have the advantage of remaining in contact with tissues longer than water-based teas. A brief overview of plants frequently used for oral care traditionally and from the current literature is presented here with the intention of comparing their benefits and translating these into options for animal treatment. Much of the available research on botanicals for oral health is conducted on human patients and laboratory animals often using the antiseptic chlorhexidine as a standard for comparison. Due to the high rate of adverse effects reported with chlorhexidine usage, herbal alternatives may need to be considered, as they may provide similar therapeutic achievements while minimizing negative side effects.
BOARD CHARACTERISTICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE OF LISTED MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN NIGERIA

The paper analysed the relationship amid board characteristics and environmental information disclosure of listed Nigerian manufacturing firms. The data used were sourced from twenty (20) Nigerian listed companies from the manufacturing sectors, which were randomly chosen from manufacturing firms listed on the Nigerian stock market between 2013 and 2017. The study made use of ordinary least squares regression. According to the research findings, there exists a positive and significant relationship linking board independence and environmental disclosure in Nigeria’s oil and gas and manufacturing sectors. In line with the results, a large board of directors comprised of foreign directors would improve firms’ environmental disclosure. Furthermore, this study’s findings would help organisations satisfy stakeholders’ needs in their corporate governance practices. This study throws light on voluntary disclosures and how firms can adjust their corporate governance practices to boost their environmental disclosures, which is a contemporary issue because stakeholders demand more information that affects their investing decisions.
Model‐Dependent Atlantic Multidecadal Variability Modulations on North Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Variability and Decadal Prediction

Previous studies suggested that Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) modulations on pan‐Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) variability and prediction are model‐dependent. These results were mainly based on SST forcing experiments in which AMV‐related Atlantic SST anomalies were prescribed. However, the AMV itself is also model‐dependent, but its influences on the Pacific remain unclear. Here, we use multi‐model fully coupled experiments from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), along with observations, to study the model‐dependent AMV trans‐basin effects. We found that AMV strength is a key factor: Stronger (Weaker) model AMV than observations overestimates (underestimates) SST response and decadal prediction skills, mainly in the North Pacific. The reason is that stronger positive phased AMV, for example, leads to higher sea level pressure anomalies over the North Pacific, which lifts sea surface height and deepens thermocline to warm SST. Our study highlights the necessity to improve simulations of AMV strength.
Bank Soundness Level Prediction: ANFIS vs Deep Learning

Financial systems depend on financial institution stability. This study used an ANFIS-ANN model to forecast bank insolvency probability. ANFIS, an adaptive network that combines fuzzy logic with ANN, is a promising bankruptcy prediction tool. This study compared the predictive performance of ANFIS against Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) using financial statements data from 42 banking issuers listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) from 2010 to 2021. This work aimed to build a robust bankruptcy prediction model, compared ANFIS to LSTM and CNN, and assessed each method's accuracy and applicability. MAPE and RMSE metrics were used for a thorough review. The study collected, preprocessed, and trained ANFIS, LSTM, and CNN models. ANFIS had 243 rules with triangular membership functions for input variables and constant output membership. Random search optimized LSTM and CNN hyperparameters. This study's novelty lies in its innovative comparison of ANFIS and deep learning for bank bankruptcy prediction used real-world financial data. ANFIS beat LSTM and CNN in MAPE, showing its predictive model capability. ANFIS has the lowest MAPE of 0.140335507 when trained and tested on 80%:20% data. In conclusion, ANFIS outperformed deep learning in bank soundness prediction. It provided vital insights into the banking sector's early warning and risk assessment. The results showed that ANFIS can help financial decision-makers to improve risk management.
When fear is a factor: consumer behavior changes during the pandemic

This paper focuses on the current topic of consumer behavior changes influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the research was to explore how the factor of fear affected consumers and analyze their response to shopping habits. Design/methodology of the research was based on a survey conducted on a sample of 252 consumers in Slovak republic. Findings in the study map the individual changes in consumer behavior that occurred during the pandemic with special focus on changes related to panic buying. Up to 82% of consumers reported an increase in amount of goods they bought in 2020, however, this form of panic buying significantly decreased in later years of the pandemic. Results show that male consumers were less likely to experience panic buying, however, they men expressed concerns about the negative impacts of the pandemic on the state's economy to a greater extent than women. The majority of consumers were concerned by health threats and related risks, but it was discovered that they feared more for others than themselves which resulted in an increased tendency to prefer unaccompanied shopping. Practical implications of this research provide guidelines for businesses that need to adjust their strategies according to the new reality in the post-pandemic era. Findings can also provide foundation for further risk management measures that companies need to consider should a similar situation arise again in the future to be better prepared and to design a flexible response. This contribution was supported by the project No. 1/0134/22, “Changes in consumer behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic with intent to predict its development”.
Sources and Biogeochemical Transformation of Mercury in Aquatic Ecosystems

Sources and Biogeochemical Transformation of Mercury in Aquatic Ecosystems by Amrika Deonarine Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Heileen Hsu-Kim Supervisor ___________________________ Mark Wiesner ___________________________ Marc Deshusses ___________________________ Heather Stapleton ___________________________ Richard Di Giulio An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Graduate School of Duke University 2011 Copyright by Amrika Deonarine 2011
Can planting trees make it rain?: the impact of trees on precipitation through land-atmosphere feedback

Land surface atmosphere feedback is the interaction between land and atmosphere through the water cycle and energy exchange. Observational studies on this topic are limited due to the constraints on data availability and uncontrolled experiments. Currently the main stream of research on this topic is the development of large numerical models. These models require high computational capacity and large number of parameter calibrations. Despite these efforts, reported results on feedback are inconclusive, partially due to the difference between models. This research therefore aims to investigate the vegetation-rainfall feedback relationship using relatively simple methods as these will allow more accurate tracking of the different relationships. The first study is to detect the signal of land cover change from rainfall data in two regions in the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) with known land surface intervention. One study region is in the south of central Queensland (QLD) and the other one is on the border of New South Wales and Victoria (NSW/VIC). The study is based on a 30-year gridded precipitation dataset. The changes in tree cover are obtained from the MODIS product Global Vegetation Continuous Field dataset. A semiparametric regression model and a regression model with non-parametric step trend test are applied to identify changes in rainfall data. The regression model shows that the climatic indices of SOI and IOD, seasonality and the land cover variable explain around 13% of rainfall variations in the QLD region and 19% in the NSW/VIC region. The step trend test compares rainfall before and after the land cover intervention, when the effects of large scale factors and seasonality have been removed by the regression model. Both methods have identified some rainfall changes in the Snowy Mountain
THE IMPACT OF THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT RELATIONSHIP ON THE LEARNING OF ENTREPRENEURS: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT WITH TUNISIAN NOVICE ENTREPRENEURS

This paper examines the impact of the entrepreneurial coaching relationship on entrepreneurs' learning. We use the structural equation method with the partial least squares technique to test our hypotheses on a set of Tunisian novice entrepreneurs. The results are generally in line with theoretical predictions and highlight the key role that the coaching relationship plays in the learning of the entrepreneur.
Interannual variability and predictability of the Indian Summer Monsoon : El Niño Southern Oscillation system

El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) are two of the most energetic and influential climatic phenomena on the planet. Although they originate in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, they can extend their reach well beyond, through atmospheric teleconnnections that can affect patterns of climate variability worldwide. This thesis takes part in a global effort to improve our understanding of the potential predictability of ISM rainfall and ENSO, by exploring the large-scale teleconnections associated with the whole monsoon-ENSO system on interannual timescales, as well as the role played by leading modes of coupled variability, particularly in tropical and extratropical parts of the Indo-Pacific region. Based on statistical diagnoses of observations before and after the 1976-77 climate shift, and numerical experiments with the SINTEX-F coupled model, our results highlight the importance of mid-latitudes in the predictability of the ISM-ENSO system. Indeed, significant and robust precursors are identified in the North Pacific and South Indian Oceans during the previous boreal winter/early spring, and have the potential to predict ISM and ENSO events with longer lead-times than their traditional tropical predictors. Besides, this predictability is stronger for the ‘late’ ISM rainfall during August-September. This second part of the ISM season is also characterized by the occurrence of ocean-atmospheric processes in the Indian Ocean, which compete with the effect of ENSO on the monsoon. The enhancement of these local feedbacks could explain the apparent weakening of the seasonal ENSO-monsoon relationship observed in recent decades.
Neurophysiological biomarkers of motor improvement from Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy and Robot-Assisted Therapy in participants with stroke

Background The mechanism of stroke recovery is related to the reorganization of cerebral activity that can be enhanced by rehabilitation therapy. Two well established treatments are Robot-Assisted Therapy (RT) and Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), however, it is unknown whether there is a difference in the neuroplastic changes induced by these therapies, and if the modifications are related to motor improvement. Therefore, this study aims to identify neurophysiological biomarkers related to motor improvement of participants with chronic stroke that received RT or CIMT, and to test whether there is a difference in neuronal changes induced by these two therapies. Methods This study included participants with chronic stroke that took part in a pilot experiment to compare CIMT vs. RT. Neurophysiological evaluations were performed with electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), pre and post rehabilitation therapy. Motor function was measured by the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Limb (FMA-UL). Results Twenty-seven participants with chronic stroke completed the present study [mean age of 58.8 years (SD ± 13.6), mean time since stroke of 18.2 months (SD ± 9.6)]. We found that changes in motor threshold (MT) and motor evoked potential (MEP) in the lesioned hemisphere have a positive and negative correlation with WMFT improvement, respectively. The absolute change in alpha peak in the unlesioned hemisphere and the absolute change of the alpha ratio (unlesioned/lesioned hemisphere) is negatively correlated with WMFT improvement. The decrease of EEG power ratio (increase in the lesioned hemisphere and decrease in the unlesioned hemisphere) for high alpha bandwidths is correlated with better improvement in WMFT. The variable “type of treatment (RT or CIMT)” was not significant in the models. Conclusion Our results suggest that distinct treatments (RT and CIMT) have similar neuroplastic mechanisms of recovery. Moreover, motor improvements in participants with chronic stroke are related to decreases of cortical excitability in the lesioned hemisphere measured with TMS. Furthermore, the balance of both EEG power and EEG alpha peak frequency in the lesioned hemisphere is related to motor improvement.