Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Options for Improving Transportation Project Scoping

Scoping is a process that develops the budget, schedule, and explicit rationale for a transportation infrastructure project. Detailed interviews with Virginia scoping professionals provide a unique occasion to investigate challenges and potential improvements in this field. Problems include lack of a clear purpose statement from the planning process; incongruence between planning cost estimates and scoping estimates; scoping of projects not having full construction funding; insufficient participation from outside agencies; and insufficient documentation of follow-up commitments fulfilled after the scope is established. Solutions focused on process rather than technology and include distinguishing the prescoping meeting (where questions are raised) from the scoping meeting (where questions are answered), providing an accounting mechanism allowing some scoping to be performed prior to programming, and strengthening the link between scoping and planning. This article further suggests that scoping substantially influences a project’s achievement of desired transportation outcomes.
High-Revenue Athletics Institutional Policies and Practices Aligned with Key Resources for STEM Career Development

This study sought to explore the ways in which athletics departments within high-revenue National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I universities established institutional policies and practices aligned with providing key science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career development resources. These resources were derived from an earlier study focused on Black male student-athletes in high-revenue Division I athletics. The athletics department websites of a sample of high-revenue Atlantic Coast Conference institutions were reviewed seeking evidence of such policy and practice alignment with STEM career development. The resources identified from this review included explicit programming and student-athlete experiences for career, personal, and cultural identity development; designated institutional support personnel, including academic advisers, career counselors, and learning specialists, with the potential to provide personalized social support and academic support; and tutoring and study hall as additional academic support practices. The need for equity and student-centeredness is discussed in light of the implementation of each of these resources, as well as considerations of the impact of athletics departments demonstrating leadership and accountability in administering these resources, as compared to university-wide departments of academic and student affairs.
Adherence to Guidelines for the Administration of Intraoperative Antibiotics in a Nationwide US Sample

Key Points Question What are the patterns of intraoperative antibiotic administration across US hospitals with respect to Infectious Diseases Society of America’s guidelines? Findings In this multicenter cohort study comprising 414 851 surgical encounters across 31 institutions, more than one-third of the encounters did not adhere to guidelines. With the exception of timing of antibiotics, all measures of antibiotic administration (choice, dosing, and redosing) had marked nonadherence. Meaning These findings suggest that considerable nonadherence to intraoperative antibiotic administration best practices persists, which may be a contributory factor to stagnant rates of surgical site infections.
Rural Tourism Destination: The Ligurian Farmers’ Perspective

Rural tourism is considered a high potential form of tourism, enhanced by the demand for more sustainable and nature-based solutions, and able to contribute to territory resilience. A rural area is not necessarily a tourist destination, but it might become one, if agricultural enterprises are willing to diversify their economic activities by investing in rural tourism, and local actors provide active support and co-participation. This research focuses on the development of rural tourism in hinterland, mountainous, and hilly areas of the province of Savona in Liguria (North-West of Italy) in order to gather the farmers’ perspectives about local rural tourism destination development. Liguria is known above all as a seaside tourist destination. In recent years, policy makers have initiated a debate with local actors to relaunch Ligurian tourism by trying to develop alternative forms of tourism, such as rural tourism. A sample of 32 farmers already proposing rural tourism activities such as agritourism were involved in a mixed methodological approach aimed at validating local interest toward rural tourism and collecting information for designing future local development policies. At first, a questionnaire set up by a panel of experts was carried out, followed by one-to-one semi-structured interviews, and finally the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to identify local priorities, strategies, and tools. The results highlight the willingness of farmers to invest in the rural tourism sector, the presence of heterogeneous interests, and the complexity of management of the relationship among the various stakeholders. Findings are partially explained by the early stage of development of rural tourism in the analyzed area, a phase in which starting a constructive dialogue on objective and project ideas among all stakeholders seems to be a crucial priority among the farmers taking part in the study.
Vibrational health risk assessment for truck operators in mining using artificial neural network

Operators of mining vehicles are frequently exposed to harmful levels of whole-body vibration (WBV). Long time exposure to WBV causes backache and has non-ergonomic effects on the human body. Exposure levels of the WBV have already been evaluated for different vehicles. Among these vehicles, mining trucks usually operate at the various working phases and also in different haul road conditions. This paper aims to develop a simultaneous integrated model to predict the WBV exposure for mining truck drivers. Considering the effect of the speed level, weight and geometry of load on the WBV exposure for the mining truck drivers are limited. There is not much research to predict the vibrational health risk level in conditions with no or missing data, as well. The root mean squire (RMS) of the vertical vibration of the seat and cabin floor was obtained during different operational conditions of an open pit mine in Iran. Then an artificial neural network was designed for the prediction of the vibrational health risk level. Regarding the results of this study, haul road quality, speed level, and load profile had a significant effect on vibration exposure. The average of the RMS values were 0.942 and 1.176 m/s2 for the good and poor road conditions, respectively that are in the high health risk levels. However, there was no significant relationship between the payloads, in the range of 20 to 30 tons, in the RMS values. At speeds higher than 30 km/h, the vibrational health risk was at high level for all conditions. Moreover, there were 93.83% correlation between the measured and simulated RMS values was found in the application of the neural network. This paper helps the mine managers to predict the unsafe conditions and consider the practical approach for the WBV risk reduction.
An examination of phubbing and being phubbed behaviors among turkish teachers

In this study, it was aimed to examine teachers’ level of phubbing and being phubbed in terms of various variables. The study was designed as a survey research with a target population of teachers working in the Turkish public schools during the 2020-2021 academic years. The sample was formed using a convenience sampling method and made up of 307 (141 female, 166 male) teachers whose ages ranged from 23 to 64. Research data were collected through a questionnaire including “Personal Information Form”, “Generic Scale of Phubbing (GSP)” and “Generic Scale of Being Phubbed (GSBP)”. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) tests were conducted for the analysis of the collected data. As a result of the research, participating teachers’ level of phubbing and being phubbed were determined as moderate level. There was no significant difference in terms of gender, educational status and branch variables. Regarding marital status variable, nomophobia and self-isolation levels of single teachers were found to be higher than those of married ones. Age was found to be negatively and weakly correlated with the levels of self-isolation. In addition, the levels of phubbing were found to be positively and moderately associated with the levels of being phubbed.
In Vitro Activity of Plazomicin among Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have been disseminated worldwide and became a global threat. Due to limited therapeutic drugs plazomicin - a new semisynthetic aminoglycoside - have been suggested as an alternative option owing to its stability against aminoglycosides modifying enzymes (AMEs). This study aims to assess the in vitro activity of plazomicin against CRE isolates and to detect different types of carbapenemases among these isolates. Material and Methods: In this study, 102 CRE isolates were collected from different clinical samples at Cairo University hospitals and the presence of carbapenemases was detected by modified carbapenem inhibition method (mCIM) and multiplex PCR tests. Plazomicin susceptibility testing was done using E test. Results: The most frequently detected carbapenemase genes were blaNDM in 75 (73.5%) isolates, followed by blaOXA-48 in 57 (55.9%) and blaKPC in 16 (15.5%) isolates. Plazomicin was active against 32 (31.4%) isolates. Among the isolates carrying blaNDM gene only and those carrying blaOXA-48 gene only, 21% and 41% were sensitive to plazomicin, respectively. Plazomicin showed the highest sensitivity against CRE isolates compared to the other tested antibiotics. Conclusion: Plazomicin might be a good option for treatment of infections caused by CRE. In health care settings where blaNDM gene is prevalent, plazomicin may not be a good therapeutic option for CRE infections.
An Efficient and Scalable Distributed Hypergraph Processing System

: The recent increase in the amount of graph data has drawn our attention to distributed graph processing systems scalable to large-scale inputs. Although distributed-memory processing is generally less e ﬃ cient than shared-memory processing because of the communication costs and program complexity, state-of-the-art distributed graph processing systems, such as Gemini, have achieved a comparable e ﬃ ciency by using lightweight graph partitioning and load balancing. However, the achievement of both scalability and e ﬃ ciency in hypergraph processing remains an open issue because distributed hypergraph processing systems have not been extensively studied. In this paper, we propose a distributed hypergraph processing system based on Gemini that achieves both scalability and e ﬃ ciency. Our system outperformed the state-of-the-art shared-memory hypergraph processing system Hygra from several folds to tens of folds on a single-node computer. In addition, it showed speedup in processing a large-scale dataset on a multi-node computer.
Improved 10-year cost savings for patients served by the Boston Children’s Hospital Community Asthma Initiative

Abstract Objective To provide a 10-year follow-up of asthma cost-savings for patients served by the Community Asthma Initiative (CAI) group compared to a coarsely cost-matched comparison group from similar neighborhoods (comparison group). Methods CAI provided home visits and case management services for patients identified through emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. Asthma costs for the two groups were extracted from the hospital administrative database for ED visits and hospitalizations for one year before and 10 years of follow-up. To eliminate cost differences at intake, a coarse cost-matching was implemented by randomly selecting comparison patients with similar costs to CAI patients (N = 208 pairs). The difference in cost-reduction between CAI and comparison patients was used to compute the adjusted Return on Investment (aROI). Results There were no significant differences between CAI and comparison groups, including baseline age (5.9 years [SD 2.9] v. 4.4 [SD 3.1]); Hispanic (46.2% v. 35.1%) and Black (43.9% v. 53.0%) race/ethnicity; and public insurance (71.2% v. 68.8%). The cost reduction difference for CAI was significant at one year (P = 0.0001) and two years (P = 0.03), but did not reach the level of significance for years 3-10. The CAI group had a greater cumulative cost reduction of $5,321 (P = 0.08, not significant). Average program cost per patient was $2,636. CAI broke-even after 3 years (aROI = 1.04) and yielded an adjusted ROI of 1.99 at 10 years. Conclusions The greater reduction in cumulative cost for CAI patients suggested a shift in trajectory at 10 years of follow-up, resulting in a positive aROI after three years.
Influence of parapets and recurves on wave overtopping and wave loading of complex vertical walls

Increasing sea water levels and storminess has intensified the need for structural measures to reduce wave overtopping without significantly raising the height of the wall. The use of recurves, wave return walls, and parapets on vertical walls has been shown capable of significantly reducing wave overtopping, but may increase wave loading. Many parapet and recurve solutions have been used in practice, but no general guidance on their design are yet available. In this paper a significant amount of data have been gathered together under the EC CLASH project (EU project no. EVK3-CT-2001-00058) and studied more systematically for the first time. This paper discusses problems with systematic approaches to both overtopping and wave loading. It concludes with a simple reduction factor for wave overtopping depending on geometrical dimensions of the parapets and some guidance on wave loading for these cases.
A frequency-dependent finite-difference time-domain formulation for dispersive materials

The traditional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) formulation is extended to include a discrete time-domain convolution, which is efficiently evaluated using recursion. The accuracy of the extension is demonstrated by computing the reflection coefficient at an air-water interface over a wide frequency band including the effects of the frequency-dependent permittivity of water. Extension to frequency-dependent permeability and to three dimensions is straightforward. The frequency dependent FDTD formulation allows computation of electromagnetic interaction with virtually any material and geometry (subject only to computer resource limitations) with pulse excitation. Materials that are highly dispersive, such as snow, ice, plasma, and radar-absorbing material, can be considered efficiently by using this formulation. >
Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis and Associated Risk Factors in Western Ethiopia

Background Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease, which affects domestic animals, humans, and wildlife in Ethiopia and other countries. Methods A cross-sectional study design using a simple random sampling technique was conducted in Diga, Guto, Gida, and Sibu Sire districts of East Wollega Zone, Western Oromia, from November 2019 to July 2020 to determine the prevalence of bovine brucellosis and identify associated risk factors. A lottery method was used during serum collection and risk factors identified during interview. Results A total of 1152 serum samples were collected from cattle of 6 months age and above. Serum samples were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA). An overall seroprevalence of brucellosis was 1.82% (21/1152). Statically significant variation (P<0.05) in seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis was recorded among potential risk factors such as breed [P≤0.05; OR:8.905; CI:1.568–50.573], parity [P≤0.05; OR:0.017; CI:0.042–5.195], retained fetal membrane [P≤0.001; OR:0.018; CI:0.00–2.169], and abortion history [P≤0.001; OR:0.030; CI:0.004–0.212]. Conversely, seroprevalence variations in sex, district, villages, body condition score, and age were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion The current study revealed bovine brucellosis is posing a threat to livestock with no strict control and prevention scheme in place. Therefore, public awareness creation about the zoonotic importance of the disease is crucial and the Government should establish legislation, support, control, and prevention of the disease recommended.
Complete Heart Block in Patient with Acute Coronary Syndrome due to Ticagrelor

DOI: 10.46998/IJCMCR.2021. 15.000357 Abstract Ticagrelor has been advised as a first line therapy in combination with aspirin in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Ticagrelor being the only direct acting P2Y12 inhibitor also possesses better platelet inhibition with rapid onset of action. Although reported rarely, ticagrelor causes conduction abnormality in some patients. The exact mechanism for such is unknown. Here, we present a case of a 50-year-old male who was diagnosed with total occlusion of left anterior descending artery treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention, later developed conduction abnormality while on ticagrelor therapy.
Transdiagnostic Perspective of Impulsivity and Compulsivity in Obesity: From Cognitive Profile to Self-Reported Dimensions in Clinical Samples with and without Diabetes

Impulsive and compulsive behaviors have both been observed in individuals with obesity. The co-occurrence of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more strongly associated with impulsivity, although there are no conclusive results yet. A multidimensional assessment of impulsivity and compulsivity was conducted in individuals with obesity in the absence or presence of T2D, compared with healthy, normal-weight individuals, with highly impulsive patients (gambling disorders), and with highly compulsive patients (anorexia nervosa). Decision making and novelty seeking were used to measure impulsivity, and cognitive flexibility and harm avoidance were used for compulsivity. For impulsivity, patients with obesity and T2D showed poorer decision-making ability compared with healthy individuals. For compulsivity, individuals with only obesity presented less cognitive flexibility and high harm avoidance; these dimensions were not associated with obesity with T2D. This study contributes to the knowledge of the mechanisms associated with diabetes and its association with impulsive–compulsive behaviors, confirming the hypothesis that patients with obesity and T2D would be characterized by higher levels of impulsivity.
The use and success of activity-based management practices at different organisational life cycle stages

This study examines the association between organisational life cycle (OLC) stages and the use and success of activity-based management (ABM) practices. The results reveal that maturity and revival stage business units use each level of ABM to a greater extent than those in the birth, growth and decline stages. In addition, while the level of ABM success does not differ across OLC stages, ABM success is dependent upon business units using each ABM practice to the greatest extent. The findings provide managers with an insight into the appropriateness of using ABM practices at different OLC stages.
Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the History of the Industrial Enterprise

This book studies the changing strategies and administrative structures of U.S. industrial companies after World War II. It traces the rise of the multidivisional (decentered) type of organization used by firms carrying out the most diverse economic activities. Presented in detail are case studies of du Pont, General Motors, Standard Oil of New Jersey, and Sears. Each firm developed their new structure independently; each thought they were unique in their problems and solutions. The new structures were characterized by autonomous, integrated operating divisions with managers who had authority and facilities to make day-to-day tactical decisions, and a coordinating general office whose senior officers carried on entrepreneurial activities and coordinated, planned, and appraised the work of the divisions. From study of the four firms, Chandler found that (1) analysis of the creation of the new administrative structure required knowledge of the firm's entire administrative former history; (2) changes in organization were related to the way the firm expanded; (3) the patterns of growth reflect changes in the over-all economy, and (4) reorganizations were affected by the state of administrative science at the time. In brief, structure follows strategy, where strategy is the planning and carrying out of different types of growth, and structure is the design of the organization through which the enterprise is administered. Strategy is determination of the basic long-term goals and objectives, and adoption of necessary courses of action and allocation of resources. Structure is the lines of authority and communication between offices and officers, as well as the information and data that flow through these lines. The most complex structures result from the convergence of several basic strategies. Expansion of volume or geographical distribution led to particular structures. The theoretical questions can be framed as, (1) why is there delay in developing new organizations to meet new strategies, and (2) why the new structure emerges in the first place. In summary, found that strategic growth resulted from an awareness of the needs and opportunities (created by exogenous change) to employ existing or expanding resources more profitably. The new strategy required a new structure if the enlarged firms were to be efficient. After detailed examination of the four case studies, which represent decision-making under pressure, the author summarizes by presenting four stages in the history of large U.S. industrial enterprise: initial expansion and accumulation of resources; rationalization of use of resources; expansion into new markets and lines; and development of new structures to allow continuing mobilization of resources to meet short- and long-term market demands and trends. (TNM)
Goal-Setting, Supervisory Behavior, and Employee Turnover: A Field Experiment.

Abstract : This study examines the effects of experimentally introducing a participative goal-setting program aimed at reducing employee turnover in fifty branches of a West Coast bank. One half the branches received the goal-setting treatment (focusing on employee development goals), while the matched control groups received no treatment. Results showed that, for those branches that implemented the goals, turnover was reduced significantly compared to the matched control groups. Moreover, the extent to which the goals were actually implemented was found to be influenced by the efficiency level of the individual branches. Results are discussed in the light of relevant goal-setting and turnover literature. (Author)
Simulation study on short channel double-gate junctionless field-effect transistors

We study the characteristics of short channel double-gate (DG) junctionless (JL) FETs by device simulation. Output I–V characteristic degradations such as an extremely reduced channel length induced subthreshold slope increase and the threshold voltage shift due to variations of body doping and channel length have been systematically analyzed. Distributions of electron concentration, electric field and potential in the body channel region are also analyzed. Comparisons with conventional inversion-mode (IM) FETs, which can demonstrate the advantages of JL FETs, have also been performed.