Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CONCENTRATION OF SERUM AMYLOID A IN SERUM AND SYNOVIAL FLUID FROM DOGS WITH CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE

Cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture in the stifle joint is common cause for hind limb lameness and pain in dogs. It often causes subsequently osteoarthritis, which is a destructive disease of joints. Early diagnosis of osteoarthritis has remained challenging in veterinary medicine. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute phase protein in dogs. Hepatocytes in the liver are the main source of SAA, but extrahepatic synthesis has been demonstrated as well in previous studies. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between SAA levels in serum and synovial fluid from dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture and the relation between SAA level in synovial fluid and the duration (acute or chronic) of the CrCL rupture. Total of 26 synovial fluid and 12 serum samples from dogs with CrCL rupture were analyzed by using ELISA-method. Results demonstrated the presence of SAA in serum and synovial fluid from dogs with CrCL rupture. According to the statistical analysis there seemed to be negative correlation between the concentrations, but it was not statistically significant. There was no evidence found between the concentration of SAA in synovial fluid and the duration of the rupture. In conclusion, the obtained results suggest that SAA in synovial fluid is not useful biomarker for evaluating the local inflammation grade in the joint during CrCL rupture. Results might also indicate, that local and systemic response to inflammation is appearing differently during CrCL rupture, though further studies with bigger sample size would be recommended.
“Searching for the team-dream: to whom the palms of victory?”

In the last few years novel ablative technologies featuring several devices incorporating diﬀerent energy sources and catheter design for ensuring an eﬀective PVI have been proposed. In particular, two prominent technologies, such as the non-thermal ablation modality based on pulsed ﬁeld ablation (also deﬁned as “electroporation”) and radio frequency balloon-based catheter has been introduced in the clinical practice. The adoption of such technologies aims at simplifying PVI procedures, improving eﬃcacy, and increasing safety. Furthermore, the evaluation of the extension of area of lesion promoted by the two technologies might aﬀect the clinical outcome
Global Agricultural Value Chains and Food Prices*

We study the relationship between global agricultural value chains (GAVCs) and food prices. Using longitudinal data on a sample of 138 countries for the period 2000 to 2015 and a Bartik shift-share instrumental-variable design, we study how participation in GAVCs at the country level relates to consumer food price levels and volatility. We find that participation in GAVCs is associated with a decrease in consumer food price levels and an increase in food price volatility, suggesting that participation in GAVCs involves a mean-variance trade-off. This trade-off is more pronounced among low-income countries, especially sub-Saharan African countries. We show that association between participation in GAVCs and food price volatility is likely due to a lack of diversification among suppliers, which can be expressed as an externality from the profit-maximization behavior of individual firms. Decomposing participation in GAVCs into upstream and downstream linkages, we find that food price volatility is associated more strongly with downstream participation than with upstream participation. We explore some policy options aimed at increasing the resilience of GAVCs.
Work Family Conflict and Career Progression of Female School Teachers: A Pilot Study

Maintaining a balance between aspects of family and work is pivotal considering the globalization and fast pace trends evolution. For a society to be successful and an individual growth it is vital to have harmony between the dual roles. Individual’s growth and career progression is determined by the factors of family and work. If any conflict between two roles leads to conflict between work and family leading to an ultimate impact on the career progression. The aim of this paper is to validate the research instrument of the relationship of family characteristics, work characteristics, individual related factors, conflict between work and family and career progression of female schoolteachers. Preliminary (pilot) study was conducted to draw the conclusions and have basis for an in-depth analysis of the studied variables. A sample of 60 female schoolteachers was gathered by conducting a questionnaire survey. Childcare, elder care, housework, inflexible working schedule, job-spouse, job-parent were the factors analysed. This preliminary study not only tested the feasibility of the research design but also illuminated areas of potential ambiguity or sensitivity in the questions. The respondents were selected from schools of Karachi, Pakistan. Data analysis was conducted using Smart PLS 4 (SEM) software, based on quantitative analysis of the gathered responses. The results revealed there is a noteworthy association amongst characteristics of family, work family conflict and career progression of female schoolteachers.
BALANCING SERVICE PROVIDER AND END-USER REQUEST INTEREST IN AN SDN-ORIENTED DATA CENTRE NETWORK

The problem of network flow interference within a data centre network has been addressed by several scholars in the literature with a number of solutions provided. However, many of such solutions does not take into cognisance the relative cost effect of the proposals on the service providers and end-users. The solutions are either on the benefit of the service providers at the expense of the end-users and vice versa. We proposed a Multi-Criteria Optimization Crosspoint Queue which was able to address the traffic flow interference that results into both network instability and unbalanced provider-user relationship. The experimental results showed that the proposed approach is able to maintain a stable specified QoS metric as a single-parameter amidst several QoS and likewise balanced the cost effects on either side of the stakeholders. The solution is relevant to the network organization in prioritizing network quality to adapt to changing business requirements and market demands.
The Role of Global and Local Landmarks in Virtual Environment Navigation

In visual navigation, landmarks can be used in a number of different ways. In this paper, we investigate the role of global and local landmarks in virtual environment navigation. We performed an experiment in a virtual environment called ‘‘Hexatown,’’ consisting of a regular hexagonal grid of streets and junctions. Each junction was identied by the presence of distinct local landmarks (buildings, phone box, and so on). Additionally, compass information or a global frame of reference was provided by global landmarks (hilltop, television tower, and city skyline). According to participants’ movement decisions, egomotion was simulated, and displayed on a 180 deg. projection screen. Participants learned the route back and forth between two local landmarks. In the test phase, individual junctions were approached and the participant’s movement decision was recorded. We performed two experiments involving landmark changes after learning. In the rst, we used conicting cues by transposing landmarks. In the second experiment, we reduced either local or global landmark information. Results show that both local and global landmarks are used in waynding decisions. However, different participants rely on different strategies. In the rst experiment (cue conict) for example, some of the participants used only local landmarks while others relied exclusively on global landmarks. Other participants used local landmarks at one location and global landmarks at the other. When removing one landmark type in the second experiment, the other type could be used by almost all participants, indicating that information about the neglected landmark type was present in memory.
The E ect of Field of View and Surface Texture on Driver Steering Performance

In the present study we investigated steering accuracy in terms of our ability to keep to the middle of a lane in a xed-base driving simulator. In particular, we studied the dependence of steering accuracy on the visibility o f diierent road sections, on the assumption that performance reeects the importance of diierent road sections in guiding steering. Other innuences on steering accuracy-including the presence of textural cues, in the form of a textured road surface, and the horizontal eld of view-were also investigated. We found that textural cues can improve accuracy in lateral lane control, presumably by providing strong optical ow, and that driving accuracy is little aected by increasing the horizontal eld of view from 40 to a full eld of 180 .
COARSE-GRAINED DEBRIS-FLOWS: HYSTERESIS AND TIME-DEPENDENT RHEOLOGY. TECHNICAL NOTE

Rheometer tests of coarse-grained debris-flow material show hysteresis of yield stress, the degree of which depends on maximum grain size, solids concentration, and normal stress. Coarse-grained debris-flow material did not exhibit well-defined flow curves based on instantaneous data; shear stresses at a given shear rate varied between +/- 50-100% of the mean value. Over periods of seconds to minutes this variability is accompanied by more gradual variation of shear stress at constant shear rate. The rheometry of coarse-grained debris-flows resembles that of dense suspensions in its poor precision and reproducibility of viscometric data.
Stifling My Fire: The Impact of Abusive Supervision on Employees’ Motivation and Ensuing Outcomes at Work

Although the effect of abusive leadership on individual performance is well-documented, the mechanisms that explains this effect are not fully understood. Drawing on self-determination theory, we suggest that the negative effect of abusive leadership on employees’ workplace outcomes results from followers’ thwarted autonomous motivation. Results of time lagged data collected from 306 full-time employees indicate that abusive supervision leads to lower autonomous motivation, higher controlled motivation, and more lack of motivation (amotivation). These motivational states in turn are found to positively affect counterproductive work behaviors and intentions to quit the job and negatively affect employees’ job-satisfaction and innovative behaviors. Our findings support the role of motivation as an explanatory mechanism by which abusive supervision negatively affects important employee work outcomes. Practical implications and future research directions are discussed.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON MESH-FREE DEEP NEURAL NETWORK APPROACH VERSUS FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR SOLVING COUPLED NONLINEAR HYPERBOLIC/WAVE EQUATIONS

In this paper, both the (cid:12)nite element method (FEM) and the mesh-free deep neural network (DNN) approach are studied in a comparative fashion for solving two types of coupled nonlinear hyperbolic/wave partial di(cid:11)erential equations (PDEs) in a space of high dimension R d ( d > 1), where the (cid:12)rst PDE system to be studied is the coupled nonlinear Korteweg-De Vries (KdV) equations modeling the solitary wave and waves on shallow water surfaces, and the second PDE system is the coupled nonlinear Klein-Gordon (KG) equations modeling solitons as well as solitary waves. A fully connected, feedforward, multi-layer, mesh-free DNN approach is developed for both coupled nonlinear PDEs by reformulating each PDE model as a least-squares (LS) problem based upon DNN-approximated solutions and then optimizing the LS problem using a ( d +1)-dimensional space-time sample point (training) set. Mathematically, both coupled nonlinear hyperbolic problems own signi(cid:12)cant di(cid:11)erences in their respective PDE theories; numerically, they are approximated by virtue of a fully connected, feedforward DNN structure in a uniform fashion. As a contrast, a distinct and sophisticated FEM is developed for each coupled nonlinear hyperbolic system, respectively, by means of the Galerkin approximation in space and the (cid:12)nite di(cid:11)erence scheme in time to account for di(cid:11)erent characteristics of each hyperbolic PDE system. Overall, comparing with the subtly developed, problem-dependent FEM, the proposed mesh-free DNN method can be uniformly developed for both coupled nonlinear hyperbolic systems with ease and without a need of mesh generation, though, the FEM can produce a concrete convergence order with respect to the mesh size and the time step size, and can even preserve the total energy for KG equations, whereas the DNN approach cannot show a de(cid:12)nite convergence pattern in terms of parameters of the adopted DNN structure but only a universal approximation property indicated by a relatively small error that rarely changes in magnitude, let alone the dissipation of DNN-approximated energy for KG equations. Both approaches have their respective pros and cons, which are also validated in numerical experiments by comparing convergent accuracies of the developed FEMs and approximation performances of the proposed mesh-free DNN method for both hyperbolic/wave equations based upon di(cid:11)erent types of discretization parameters changing in doubling, and speci(cid:12)cally, comparing discrete energies obtained from both approaches for KG equations.
Measurement of Suspended Sediment Transport Processes off the Holderness Coast - Southern North Sea, England

A field campaign was set up as part of the LOIS-RACS coastal program (1994-1996), to identify the near-bed physical processes responsible for suspended sediment movement in shallow water (10-20m depth) off the Holdemess coast, NE England. A new benthic tripod system Boundary Layer Intelligent Sensor System (BLISS) has been developed and deployed along a transect at three sites, normal to the coastline at Tunstall. Measurements of current velocity, suspended sediment concentration (SSC), pressure and CTD were recorded at 5 Hz for 17 minutes every hour, on the same data acquisition system. Results are presented for the summer, July 1995 and winter, February, 1996 deployments over two weeks. Results show that variation in the SSC signal is due to the advection of spatial gradients of SSC by the tidal flows and to the resuspension of sediment from the seabed. Alongshore advection is identified through a strong negative correlation between SSC and salinity, associated with the movement of low salinity, high turbidity water associated with the Humber plume to the south. Resuspension occurs predominantly during storms, when the influence of waves increases the friction velocity at the seabed (determined from measured turbulence spectra) above a threshold value. The threshold friction velocity in February 1996 was found to be approximately 0.023ms'', consistent with a partially consolidated fine sediment seabed. In July 1995, a much lower threshold velocity of 0.008 ms ' was measured and suggests that an unconsolidated layer of fine sediment can be deposited between the mild summer storms. After a winter storm, the decay time of the elevated SSC is consistent with a sediment settling velocity in the range (1.8-2.8) x 10"* ms"', a value which is associated with fine silt or flocculated clay particles. Sediment transport during the summer storms in July 1995 was onshore and is due to skewed shoaling waves suspending sediment during the shore-ward phase of the wave, as the wave crest passes. Offshore sediment transport dominated the February 1996 storms, and was due to a steady nearbed offshore flow explained by Stokes theory whereby a net flow in the direction of the wave advance near the surface will be balanced by a net flow in the opposite direction at depth. Sediment flux transport from waves along accounted for -10% of the total flux transported offshore. The storms are in fact, effective stirring mechanisms which increase the amount of sediment available for transport rather than actual transporters of suspended sediment.
PENGARUH LIKUIDITAS, PROFITABILITAS, DAN LEVERAGE TERHADAP RETURN SAHAM

ABSTRACT This research is aimed to examine 1) the influence of current ratio to the stock return; 2) the influence of net profit margin to the stock return; 3) the influence of return on equity to the stock return; 4) the influence of debt to equity ratio to return stock of pharmaceutical companieswhich are listed in the IDXin 2009-2014 periods. This research is categorized as causal correlational research. The population is the pharmaceutical sector companies which are listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2009-2014 periods. 9 sample companies have been obtained by using purposive sampling and determined criteria, so 54 samples have been applied in this research. The data analysis has been carried out by using classic assumption test, multiple regression, and hypothesis test. The results of the research show that: 1) current ratio does not have any influence to the stock return because this ratio only shows the capability of the company to cover their current liability by using cash so this ratio is not calculated by the investors; 2) Net profit margin has an influence to the stock return because when the net profit margin is getting high, the stock return will be high as well and vice versa; 3) return on equity has an influence to the stock return because when the return on equity is getting high, the stock return will be high as well and vice versa; 4) debt to equity ratio does not have any influence to the stock return because the investors more notice the capability of the company to generate high profit than the debt level. Keywords: Current ratio, net profit margin, return on equity, debt to equity ratio, stock return
Body Balance in Patients of Vestibular Migraine with and without Visual Vertigo: A study on Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)

Objectives : To evaluate the body balance of vestibular migraine (VM) patients with and without visual vertigo on a computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). Methods : The subjects included two main groups: a control group of 20 healthy subjects, and the study group included 20 VM subjects with normal caloric test. The study group was further subdivided into two subgroups [vestibular migraine with visual vertigo (VM-VV) and those without visual vertigo (VM Ø VV)]. Comparisons as regards [stability index (SI), speed, surface area (SA), index of postural instability (IIP), and power indices of various frequency ranges] of the center of pressure at all six conditions were applied between control and vestibular migraineurs subgroups. Results : One-way ANOVA revealed statistically signi ﬁ cant differences between groups ( P < 0.05). The post hoc test revealed signi ﬁ cant differences as regards SA and speed between control healthy and VM-VV in all six conditions, in ﬁ ve of the six conditions as regards IIP and SI, as well as in four of the six conditions as regards power indices of different frequency ranges. Statistically signi ﬁ cant differences were found between vestibular migraine subgroups in conditions with a moving atmosphere at some parameters. Conclusion : Vestibular migraineurs with visual vertigo express signi ﬁ cant abnormalities in body balance control. These patients have some sort of reliance on their vision to maintain balance. The presence of visually busy surroundings, like a moving atmosphere, creates an overload on the exhausted vestibular system of such patients. CDP contributes to ﬁ lling in gaps in the diagnosis of VM, giving insight into the underlying pathology of VM.
Microbiological Quality of Smoked Mackerel ( Trachurus trachurus ), Sold in Abomey-Calavi Township Markets, Benin

Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) is a highly perishable but important source of animal protein in west African countries in general and particularly in Benin. To avoid its deterioration after capture, women use various processes to preserve this fish before selling it in local markets. Smoking is one of the most widely used preservation processes used in Benin. To assess the microbiological quality of smoked T. trachurus sold to consumers, sampling was done in the southern part of Benin. The samples were collected aseptically at the point of sale and transported to the laboratory for analysis. A total of 30 smoked T. trachurus samples were collected from 6 randomly selected vendors in three major markets in Abomey-Calavi township where most of the students of the University of Abomey-Calavi go to buy fish. The ISO and International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods standard methods were used for laboratory analysis and interpretation of results. A survey was also undertaken in 4 major Abomey-Calavi township markets to assess the processing and selling conditions for T. trachurus. The results of the survey showed a total lack of hygienic practices for the smoking, storage and sale of T. trachurus. The total viable counts of the majority (60 to 83.5%) of the samples were high: 5.9 x 10 6
Exploring Small-Scale Broiler Farming Practices and Vaccine Adherence: A Study in Aguata, Nigeria

The study ascertained the production practices of small-scale broiler farmers in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was adopted for the random selection of 80 farmers using a structured interview schedule. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The result reveals that 87.5% of the farmers adopted a deep litter housing system, and 98.75% ensured their poultry houses were sited in well-drained soil and properly ventilated pens. About 93% and 98% of the farmers had brooding and finishing houses separately on their farms and ensured adequate lighting and heat in their brooding houses, respectively. The result shows that 100% and 93.75% of the respondents administered antibiotics and multivitamins at the early stage of day-old chicks and adhered to the Gumboro and Lasota vaccine schedules, respectively, while only 1.25% of the farmers provided a footbath at the entry of their poultry house. All the farmers used broiler starters and finishers in feeding their birds, and the mean weekly duration of broiler starter and finisher feeding was 4.09 and 4.28 weeks, respectively, while 98.75% ensured to always provide water for their birds. The study concluded that the use of recommended production practices was high to some extent among farmers. Hence, the level of information on broiler production practices should be increased by the government extension service unit to enable farmers to keep abreast of current and necessary information on broiler production. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2023-05-01-03 Full Text: PDF
The Impact of Orthographic Transparency and Typology on L2 Learner Perceptions

While there is substantial research on literacy in the L1, factors impacting literacy in the L2 remain understudied. Preliminary research indicates that orthographic accuracy and typology influence literacy acquisition, indicating these aspects of linguistic representation need further exploration within the context of second-language acquisition (SLA). Additionally, SLA research on individual learner differences highlights emotional factors such as attitude and motivation, which are widely considered critical indicators of L2 success. Motivation is closely linked to perceptions towards the L2, which indicates learner perceptions of L2 literacy could impact success in learning to read and write. As such, this paper presents a cross-lingual, mixed-methods study that compares the orthographic transparency and typologies of 26 languages against learners’ (n = 217) perceptions of L2 literacy acquisition, such as perceived difficulty of the orthography and a self-assessment of literacy skills. Results indicated that orthographic transparency has a greater impact on learners’ perceptions compared to typology alone.