Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teaching and testing of English listening and speaking in secondary schools in Nepal: Pretend for praxis?

Secondary English course requires testing of four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing independently. Secondary Education Examination (SEE) board conducts a written examination, which includes reading and writing skills, through different centres and English teachers are responsible to test students’ listening and speaking testsin their own schools and submit grades to District Education Office. Semi-structured interviews with secondary English teachers in private schools and school graduates investigated how the teacherspractise listening and speaking skills in the classrooms and administeraural-oral tests. Findings indicate that private schools in the capital city have mandated Englishonly for communication in school premises with an expectation to develop students’ English language proficiency. Teachers focused on centre-based written examination and less emphasised the teaching and testing of listening andspeaking skills. Teachers’ random assessment of students’ aural-oral skills without formal tests supported in declining the teaching of these skills. This article suggests that for realising the examination effective, sustainable system needs to be developed for teachers to teach all language skills equitably.
Five-Year Data of Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Findings of Hospitalized Hemophilic Patients in Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital

Background : Hemophilia A has the highest incidence, more than 80% of 172.323 cases worldwide in 2012. It is stated that clinical characteristics of hemophilia A is worse than others, so it is required to prove and to know further about the clinical characteristics and severity likelihood in all hemophilic patients in order to prevent re-bleeding and re-injury and also for a better medical response. Methods : A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out to 43 medical records of hospitalized hemophilic patients from 2009 to 2013 in Dr Hasan Sadikin General Hospital. The inclusion criteria were a complete patient identity (name, age, sex), written chief complaint, complete physical examination (bleeding, edema, hematoma, hemarthrosis, anemic symptoms) and laboratory test results (factor level, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time). The data was collected from August‒October 2014, analyzed and presented using frequency distribution. Results : Most of the patients were 5-10 years old, male and had hemophilia A. The most common complaint was external bleeding, followed by edema. From 43 patients, 38 (88%) cases were classified as severe factor deficiency, had mild to severe anemia, however the platelet count in most of the cases was in normal value. About 91% cases had prolonged Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time in moderate to severe level. Conclusions : Similar with other studies worldwide, most of the hospitalized hemophilic patients have hemophilia A. Most of the patents has moderate to severe bleeding with laboratory test result between moderate to severe level as well. [AMJ.2016;3(4):605–9]
Perceived Age Discrimination: A Precipitator or a Consequence of Depressive Symptoms?

Objectives: The main purpose of the study was to examine a bidirectional temporal relationship between perceived age discrimination and depressive symptoms. A secondary goal was to examine whether the negative effects of perceived age discrimination on one’s depressive symptoms are stronger among respondents older than 70 years old, compared with respondents between the ages of 51 and 70. Methods: The Health and Retirement Study is a U.S. nationally representative sample of individuals over the age of 50 and their spouse of any age. A cross-lagged model was estimated to examine the reciprocal associations of depressive symptoms and perceived age discrimination, controlling for age, gender, education, ethnicity, marital status, employment status, satisfaction with financial status, number of medical conditions, mobility, strength and fine motor skills, and memory functioning. Results: The baseline model for the overall sample resulted in adequate fit indices: CFI = . 945, TLI = . 940, RMSEA = . 024 (90% CI = .023, .025). The cross-lagged effect of perceived age discrimination on depressive symptoms was nonsignificant (B [SE] = −.01 [.04], p = .82), whereas the cross-lagged effect of depressive symptoms on perceived age discrimination was small, but significant (B [SE] = .04 [.02], p = .03). This implies that higher levels of depressive symptoms precede a greater likelihood of perceived age discrimination, net of sociodemographic and clinical variables. The cross-lagged effects did not vary according to age group (51–70 vs >70 years old). Discussion: The subjective nature of perceived age discrimination is discussed.
Electronic Gambling Machines Outside Casinos: An Environmental Study of Risk Factors in Gambling Venues

Electronic gambling machine (EGM) licenses are meant to be a complementary revenue source for liquor establishments. Considering this, retailers with more than one license to operate EGMs may benefit from promoting their gambling offer, which may in turn facilitate excessive gambling behaviours. This study compares establishments that possess a single license to operate EGMs with those that are multi-licensed regarding four environmental risk factors: advertisements, automated teller machines, isolated gambling area, and EGM operating hours. A field observation was carried out by seven pairs of observers in 166 establishments in Capitale-Nationale de Quebec (QC), Canada. In each establishment, observers had to complete an observational grid on an iPod touch to gather environmental data related to the identified variables. Results from the stepwise logistic regression show that being a multi-licensed establishment increases the chance of having longer operating hours and displaying non-regulated advertisements that promote gambling. Multi-licensed establishments tend to offer a more attractive gambling environment, which may increase the risk of excessive gambling. Reinforcement of regulations for responsible gambling is discussed. RésuméPour les établissements ayant un permis d’alcool, posséder une licence d’exploitation d’appareils de jeux électroniques (AJE) se traduit par un revenu complémentaire. De ce fait, les détaillants ayant plus d’une licence d’exploitation d’AJE peuvent tirer parti de la promotion de leur offre de jeu, ce qui, en retour, peut encourager des comportements de jeu excessifs. Cette étude compare les établissements qui détiennent une seule licence d’exploitation d’AJE avec ceux qui en détiennent plusieurs en tenant compte de quatre facteurs de risque environnementaux : la publicité, les guichets automatiques, la zone de jeu isolée et les heures d’exploitation des AJE. Une observation sur le terrain a été effectuée par sept paires d’observateurs dans 166 établissements de Capitale-Nationale de Québec (QC), Canada. Dans chaque établissement, ils ont recueilli des données environnementales liées aux variables identifiées qu’ils ont compilées dans une grille d’observation sur un iPod touch. Les résultats du modèle logistique utilisant la régression séquentielle montrent que le fait, pour un établissement, d’avoir plusieurs licences augmente la possibilité de prolonger les heures d’exploitation et d’afficher des publicités non réglementées qui font la promotion du jeu. Les établissements ayant plusieurs licences ont tendance à offrir un environnement de jeu plus attrayant, ce qui peut accroître le risque de jeu excessif. Un resserrement des règles pour une réglementation responsable du jeu est à l’étude.
LiDAR derived terrain wetness indices to infer soil moisture above underground pipelines

Abstract Corrosion of external cast-iron pipe surfaces, a major contributor to pipe failure, has been attributed to the free water in the soil surrounding the pipe. Because observation at pipe depth is difficult, a potential proxy is the soil surface moisture. Herein highly accurate elevation data derived from airborne light detection and ranging is used to model the distribution of soil water in urban catchments containing pipe infrastructure. The results are compared with local soil moisture Theta Probe measurements along the pipe. The results show potential to identify wetter spots above underground infrastructure, which may inform its corrosion potential, without digging up the asset.
Estimation of Creatinine Clearance from Serum Creatinine Concentration — A Review

FOR PATIENTS WITH RENAL IMPAIRMENT, creatinine clearance (Ccr) may be used to adjust the dosage regimen of drugs excreted partially or completely by the kidney. However, accurate measurement of Ccr is inconvenient and is not routinely done for dosage regimen adjustment. Furthermore, the time that is required for Ccr determination is too long to permit the use of measured Ccr values for immediate dosage regimen design. A number of methods have been proposed for the estimation of Ccr from the concentration of creatinine in blood serum (Scr). Measurement of Scr is made relatively quickly; it may be available from an SMA 12/60 or other multiple analysis instrument profile. Thus, the use of Ccr estimated from Scr is a clinically attractive approach for the adjustment of dosage regimens for renally impaired patients. In addition, it is possible to monitor Scr and adjust dosage promptly in response to changes in renal function. This paper reviews the pharmacokinetics of creatinine and several methods for the estimation of Ccr from Scr. The limitations and advantages of each method are discussed and the use of Ccr for adjustment of dosage regimen for patients with impaired renal function is considered.
Removal of Nutrients from Fertilizer Plant Wastewater Using Scenedesmus sp.: Formation of Bioflocculation and Enhancement of Removal Efficiency

Eutrophication of surface water has become an environmental concern in recent decades. High concentrations of nutrients, especially nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich species, have contributed to the process of eutrophication, highlighting a demand for effective and economical methods of removing nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. This study aimed to investigate the ability of a green microalga species, Scenedesmus sp. , to remove nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), from fertilizer plant wastewater. Different microalgae concentrations from 10 mg/L to 60 mg/L were used to assess the growth rate, biomass production, and removal ability. The results indicated that Scenedesmus sp. grew well in the wastewater (with a growth rate from 0.3 to 0.38/day) and produced up to 70.2 mg/L of dry biomass. The algal species was able to remove ammonium ( ), nitrate ( ), phosphate ( ), total phosphorus (TP), COD, and BOD5 with removal rates up to 93%, 84%, 97%, 96%, 93%, and 84%, respectively. Autobioflocculation (AFL) was observed in all cultures with flocculation activity of up to 88.3% in the highest algal biomass treatment. The formation of bioflocculation enhanced the removal of nutrients, COD, and BOD5 from wastewater effluent. The results indicated that wastewater from a fertilizer plant could be used as a cost-effective growth medium for algal biomass. The autoflocculation of microalgae could be used as a more practical approach for wastewater treatment using microalgae to eliminate eutrophication.
The Location-Identity Split No Longer Considered Harmful

Unified interposable algorithms have led to many intuitive advances, including Markov models and scatter/gather I/O. even though such a claim might seem counterintuitive, it has ample historical precedence. After years of unfortunate research into Scheme, we validate the study of write-back caches, which embodies the unfortunate principles of programming languages. In order to achieve this mission, we understand how replication can be applied to the exploration of information retrieval systems.
Cannabis use and symptom severity in individuals at ultra high risk for psychosis: a metaanalysis

Objective: We aimed to assess whether individuals at ultra high risk (UHR) for psychosis have higher rates of cannabis use and cannabis use disorders (CUDs) than non-UHR individuals and determine whether UHR cannabis users have more severe psychotic experiences than nonusers. Method: We conducted a meta-analysis of studies reporting cannabis use in the UHR group and/or positive or negative symptoms among UHR cannabis users and non-users. Logit event rates were calculated for cannabis use, in addition to odds ratios to assess the difference between UHR and controls. Severity of clinical symptoms in UHR cannabis users and non-users was compared using Hedges’ g. Results: Thirty unique studies were included (UHR n = 4205, controls n = 667) containing data from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, and randomised control trials. UHR individuals have high rates of current (26.7%) and lifetime (52.8%) cannabis use, and CUDs (12.8%). Lifetime use and CUDs were significantly higher than controls (lifetime OR: 2.09; CUD OR: 5.49). UHR cannabis users had higher rates of unusual thought content and suspiciousness than non-users. Conclusion: Ultra high risk individuals have high rates of cannabis use and CUDs, and cannabis users had more severe positive symptoms. Targeting substance use during the UHR phase may have significant benefits to an individual’s long-term outcome. R. Carney , J. Cotter , J. Firth, T. Bradshaw, A. R. Yung Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester and Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
The Neutrophil Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio Is Associated with All-Cause Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury

Background There is no evidence to suggest the predictive power of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). We hypothesized that NPAR would correlate with all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AKI. Methods From the MIMIC-III V1.4 database, we extracted demographics, vital signs, comorbidities, laboratory tests, and other clinical data. The clinical endpoints were 30-, 90- and 365-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AKI. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the prognostic values of NPAR, and subgroup analyses were performed to measure mortality across various subgroups. Results A total of 7,481 eligible subjects were enrolled. In multivariate analysis, after adjustments for age, ethnicity, gender, and other confounding factors, higher NPARs were associated with an increased risk of 30-, 90- and 365-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AKI (tertile 3 versus tertile 1: adjusted HR, 95% CI: 1.48, 1.30–1.69; 1.47, 1.31–1.66; 1.46, 1.32–1.62, respectively; P trend <0.01). A similar trend was observed in the NPAR group division by quintiles. Subgroup analysis revealed no significant interactions in most strata. Conclusions Increased NPAR correlates with increased risk of all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AKI.
Motivation to Transfer Training and Individual Performance: the Influence of Transformative Learning and Supervisor Support

This article discusses the mediating role of motivation to training transfer as mediation in the relationship between supervisor support and transformative learning on lecturer performance. Survey methods and purposive non random sampling techniques were used with the help of a questionnaire based on a 7-point Likert scale. The number of fit samples was 199 to test the hypothesis. Amos and structural models are used to test the statistical significance of the path coefficients. The findings of the study explain that supervisor support and transformative learning can encourage lecturers to make intense efforts in utilizing the skills and knowledge learned during the training process. The study also highlighted the motivation of training transfer as the key to successfully improving lecturer performance. Training plays an important role in the HRM strategy in an effort to renew the HRM competencies needed by the organization today. Therefore, motivation for training transfer is an important problem faced by professionals in developing HRM. This means that positive transfer training motivation requires that trainees can effectively apply what has been learned to the job, which leads to meaningful changes in performance.
Thyroid Status in Exercising Horses and Laminitic Ponies

Methods of measuring thyroid status were validated and evaluated, including the validation of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the measurement of total (T) and free (F) thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in equine plasma, and the development and evaluation of a thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) response test protocol. Enzyme immunoassays for TT4, FT4, TT3, and FT3 were validated for specificity, accuracy, and precision. The TRH response tests were performed by administration of 1.0 mg TRH intravenously, with blood samples collected immediately before, 2.5, 5.0, and 24 h after administration. Eleven horses received TRH injections and two control horses received saline injections for each of three TRH response tests. The magnitude of the hormone response was approximated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the increments above the baseline concentrations plotted against time. The change in thyroid hormone concentration (∆TH), baseline concentrations, percent of baseline (POB) values, and peak concentrations were compared to AUC using linear regression. During EIA validation, concentrations measurably increased after TRH administration, peaking at 171% to 225% of baseline, confirming biological specificity. Measurements of RIA and EIA concentrations were systematically different (P < 0.001), but correlated for TT4 (r = 0.85), FT4 (r = 0.90), TT3 (r = 0.98), and FT3 (r = 0.94), allowing calibration to establish accuracy. Interand intra-assay coefficients of variation varied between hormones, ranging from 0.77% to 17% and 3.5% to 33%, respectively. Data from the TRH response tests revealed that was the best predictor of the magnitude of hormone response was ∆TH, with AUC and ∆TH correlated for TT4 (r = 0.92), FT4 (r = 0.96), TT3 (r = 0.80), and FT3 (r = 0.58). The magnitude of hormone response, measured as either AUC or ∆TH, was not correlated to baseline measurements, indicating that baseline measurements do not accurately assess pituitary-thyroid axis responsiveness. Measuring thyroid hormone concentrations in equine plasma using EIA is a viable method; however results cannot be compared to RIA measurements. The use of TRH response tests to assess thyroid function should include the calculation of AUC
Investigation of the Status of Using Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices in Patients Hospitalized in a Palliative Care Center

Objective: In parallel with the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases in the world, there is an increase in cancer cases. When the patients admitted to the oncology polyclinics were examined; these patients were found to be receiving support from traditional and alternative medicine methods. In this study, we aimed to analyse the factors, results, cost, and especially the status of informing physicians before using traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) in the palliative care clinic in cancer patients hospitalized in our clinic and using TCM practices. Method: The study was cross-sectional and monocenter. The questionnaire was applied to the cancer patients who were between the ages of 18-80, who were hospitalized in the Palliative Care Center of Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, who gave verbal and written consent to participate in the study, who were hospitalized for more than three days, and who were conscious and not currently receiving curative treatment. Results: Of the patients, 29.7% stated that they applied TCM (n: 22). There was no correlation between the status of using TCM practice and age, gender, educational status and cancer stage. The most common method of TCM is phytotherapy. Of the patients, 50% used TCM method for the treatment of fatigue. Of the patients, 63.6% consulted their doctors before applying TCM method. Conclusion: The fact that patients have prejudices that they will be evaluated negatively when they inform the health personnel about the TCM method they use makes it difficult to reach the real prevalence of TCM method use. In our study, the rate of patients telling TCM use to their doctors was found to be higher than the literature. We think that the biopsychosocial patient approach in palliative care increases the incidence of patients and their complaints in the treatment process.
Low Vitamin B12 Levels: An Underestimated Cause Of Minimal Cognitive Impairment And Dementia

Background Vitamin B12 deficiency is linked to impaired cognition and memory along with a sensation of tingling and numbness, an outcome of poor myelination. Elevated methylmalonic acid and serum homocysteine levels are markers of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Elevated homocysteine levels are also often associated with Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. We conducted this study to determine the effect of vitamin B12 replacement therapy on vitamin B12-deficient patients with noted cognitive impairment. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, multicenter study of patients with minimal cognitive impairment (MCI) to assess for Vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels. All patients found to be deficient in vitamin B12 underwent replacement therapy and were assessed again after three months via the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a review of symptoms. Results A total of 202 patients were included in the study. Of those, 171 (84%) patients reported marked symptomatic improvement after vitamin B12 replacement while MMSE scores improved in 158 (78%) patients. Of the remaining 44 patients who reported no symptomatic improvement, MMSE scores improved in 26 while 18 patients showed no MMSE score improvements. Conclusions Vitamin B12 deficiency is linked to cognition, and replacement therapy may be an option to improve patient cognition outcomes. Further studies are needed to confirm and refine the observed associations over a larger scale and to determine whether these findings will translate to a reduction in cognitive decline.
Evaluation of resistance to Spodoptera frugiperda in sweet and field corn genotypes.

Maize can be affected by different pest damages throughout the crop cycle. Some insects are harmful, among which the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is considered the most deleterious pest, for attacking plants of both fields and sweet corn plants in all stages. Thus, the use of resistant genotypes has become an important strategy in integrated pest management and highly valued in plant breeding programs. However, information regarding the impact of pests on sweet corn is scarce, requiring studies on possible resistant genotypes. The objective of this study was a laboratory evaluation of the resistance of 10 sweet corn genotypes and two controls of field corn (BRS 1030 and Zapalote Chico), as well as the damage caused by Spodoptera frugiperda, by means of multivariate analysis. A completely randomized experimental design with 27 replications was used. Eighteen traits were evaluated during the whole caterpillar cycle, including biological traits and indices of consumption and food use. After the multicollinearity diagnosis, only six traits were maintained for the canonical analysis and factor analysis as well as UPGMA clustering, which differentiated the 12 genotypes in three groups. The canonical analysis explained 89% of the total variation among the six traits and factor analysis divided the traits into two factors. The results showed that the sweet corn genotypes, Teea Dulce, MG 161, Doce Flor da Serra, Doce Cubano and Tropical Plus, tend to have antibiosis as a resistance mechanism to fall armyworm due to the low consumed leaf area and impaired insect development.