Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ambivalence in activation encounters

ABSTRACT It continues to be unclear what opportunities and challenges that lie in the activation encounter as a communicative and relational situation. This study assumes that ambivalence is present in such encounters since ambivalence is common in transitions, relationships, and organisations. As a response to the limited body of knowledge about situated and relational aspects of activation work, this study examines handlings of ambivalence in authentic encounters between activation workers and young adults experiencing health and social barriers to employment. Data comprise recordings and transcripts of 23 counsellor-user encounters in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service. The findings show that ambivalence is present when possible next steps in the activation process are discussed, and subsequently influence decisions regarding next steps. While the counsellors display strong ambivalence when concrete job opportunities or disability pension are up for discussion, the users display strong ambivalence to work-oriented measures, and to some extent also to education and to employment when discussed as general and long-term goals. Findings are discussed considering theory and research on policy delivery.
Determining economic maintenance frequency of a transport fleet

Abstract A total cost model has been developed for a transport fleet consisting of groups of vehicles. The total cost model considers two types of costs: (1) operating cost and (2) maintenance cost. The operating cost is assumed to increase with elapsed time since the last maintenance on the vehicles. The maintenance cost is assumed constant for each vehicle. However, a fixed cost must be incurred at the start of a maintenance cycle. The objective is to determine the operating and maintenance policy of the vehicle that minimizes the total of the operating and maintenance cost of the transport fleet.
A global analytical molecular pharmacological study of the endocrinological pharmacotherapeutic rationale of anti-diabetic prescriptions appraisal attributes for metformin and sitagliptin, with evaluation of anti-diabetic tertiary medical healthcare patient satisfaction

Background: The inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 by anti-diabetic drugs dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors enhances hormonal activity of incretins (GLP-1, GIP, GRP), stimulates insulin release and reduces glucagon secretion, producing anti-hyperglycaemic activity among type II diabetics. The objective of this study was a global analytical molecular pharmacological study of the endocrinological rationale of anti-diabetic prescriptions appraisal attributes for metformin and sitagliptin, along with anti-diabetic tertiary medical healthcare patient satisfaction evaluation.Methods: 100 new early moderate grade type II diabetics were prescribed oral metformin 500 mg or sitagliptin 25 mg once daily for 3 months, in monotherapy, or in combination therapy, or in a mixed regimen of monotherapy and combination therapy. The patients’ endocrinological pharmacotherapeutic compliance was analysed. The number of prescriptions for metformin and sitagliptin was recorded; and prescription percentages were calculated. The completeness and molecular basis of prescription content attributes were analysed. The molecular basis of anti-diabetic pharmacotherapeutics, was analysed. The anti-diabetic tertiary medical healthcare patient satisfaction was evaluated by patient response to different attributes of anti-diabetic treatment.Results: All the patients had completed the study, with no adverse effects related drop-out, lost to follow-up or voluntarily withdrawn patients. The prescription rates of metformin was 75% (75 prescriptions), followed by sitagliptin: 25% (25 prescriptions). 100% prescriptions were complete for each prescription content attribute. The molecular pharmacotherapeutic response mechanisms were significantly efficacious. All the patients were satisfied with each anti-diabetic medical healthcare attribute. Conclusions: The patient endocrinological pharmacotherapeutic compliance was significantly high. Metformin was most commonly prescribed, followed by sitagliptin. The prescription content analyses showed 100% completeness, with significant pharmacotherapeutic molecular efficacy. There was ample anti-diabetic medical healthcare satisfaction.
Ginger extract suppresses the activations of NF-κB and Wnt pathways and protects inflammatory arthritis

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disabling inflammatory disorder. Ginger is used for food and medicine to treat arthralgia, sprains, and muscle aches. Anti-inflammatory effects of ginger have been observed. The aim of our study was to detect the effects of ginger on experimentally induced inflammatory arthritis. Methods: Female Wistar albino rats (n = 21) were randomly separated into three groups (control, arthritis, and arthritis + ginger). Arthritis was generated by an appropriate method using type 2 collagen and Freund's adjuvant (collagen-induced arthritis model). The ginger group was treated starting at the first collagen injection with ginger root extract for 32 days by oral gavage (50 mg/kg/daily). Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), sclerostin, dickkopf-related protein-1 (DKK-1), and obestatin serum levels were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Tissue TNF-α, IL-17, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) levels were detected using the Western blot method. Results: Mean arthritis score and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17 were significantly decreased in ginger group than in the arthritis group. Increased sclerostin serum level and decreased DKK-1 serum levels were detected in ginger group compared with arthritis group. The decreases of IL-17, TNF-α, COX-2, and NF-κB tissue levels were statistically significant in the ginger group compared with arthritis group. Histopathological evaluation of the ginger group showed a decrease in the inflammation score compared to arthritis group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that ginger has protective properties in the development of inflammatory arthritis. The antiarthritic acts of ginger are related to NF-κB activity and Wnt pathway. Thus, it may be suggested that ginger is a candidate to research in human RA treatment.
Geometric and Mechanical Considerations for the Design of the Magnetostrictive Thin Film Actuators

Abstract The driving field of the magnetostrictive thin film actuator should be as small as possible in order to develop miniature devices. The aim of this paper is to reduce the driving field by varying the structural and the material parameters of the substrate of the cantilever in the actuator based on the finite element calculation. The influences of the geometric and the material parameters on the reference driving field have been studied. The results show that the reference driving field is sensitive to the length of the cantilever, the thickness of both the magnetostrictive film and the substrate, and also the Young's modulus of the substrate. The length of the cantilever should be long enough. In order to achieve a small driving field, the thickness of both the magnetostrictive film and the substrate should be carefully designed according to the ratio of the Young's modulus of the substrate to that of the film.
Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma: an analysis based on operations strategy

There is a growing need for operations management models that contribute to the continuous improvement of company processes, among them we highlight lean manufacturing, Six Sigma and, more recently, Lean Six Sigma (LSS). This article aims (1) to identify and analyse the differences and complementarities in the production decision areas for each one of the three models; (2) to identify the competitive priorities that lead to the best performance as a result of policies followed in the decision areas as a result of the adopted model. First, a theoretical conceptual model was developed based on a review of the literature, followed by a exploratory research questions applied to manufacturing companies that use the lean, Six Sigma or LSS manufacturing models in southern Brazil. The main results show that there are differences in the models in relation to the importance of the decision areas and the performance achieved in the competitive priorities. Individually, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma and LSS have varying degrees of importance in the Facilities, Vertical Integration and Production Planning and Control decision areas. The performance dimensions with the best performance are speed, quality, reliability and cost.
Scalable kernel two-sample tests via empirical likelihood and jackknife

Abstract Two-sample hypothesis testing is a classical problem in statistics. Given i.i. d. samples and the two-sample testing is to test whether P is significantly different from Q or not. Among the various statistical tests, the maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) has been proven to have excellent performance compared to traditional methods. In application of MMD, we are confronted with two challenges: (I) For large data set, MMD is computationally demanding with computational cost (II) The limiting distribution under the null hypothesis usually contains infinitely many unknown parameters. In this paper, we propose two testing methods that solve (I) and (II) respectively. To address (I), the data are independently and evenly divided into k groups, calculate the MMD on each group and then combine them by empirical likelihood to yield a test statistic It converges in distribution to the chi-square distribution with degree of freedom one ( ) under the null hypothesis as k goes to infinity. To address (II), we propose to compute the two-sample jackknife pseudo-values on each group and combine them by empirical likelihood to get a new test statistic Under the null hypothesis, converges in distribution to if The simulation and real data application indicates that the proposed tests performs well.
Regulatory capital requirements and bank performance in Ghana: evidence from panel corrected standard error

Over the past fifteen years, the Bank of Ghana has revised the minimum capital requirement to stabilize the banking sector. Motivated by the unintended consequences of regulatory capital, this paper provides empirical evidence between minimum capital requirement and bank performance relationship in Ghana. We draw data on a sample of 20 universal banks spanning 2008 to 2017. The Panel Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) estimation was adopted. The results indicate that the minimum capital requirement has a significant positive impact on bank performance measured by return on assets (ROA) and equity (ROE). However, the effects turned negative after 1.7% and 1.6% performance thresholds for ROA and ROE, respectively. Given this, the study establishes the relationship between capital requirement and bank performance in Ghana to be double-edged. The capital requirement improves bank performance initially, but bank performance worsens after the threshold values. Policy implications for Ghana’s banks, regulators, and policymakers have been provided based on the findings.
The fatherland and religion in Spanish Catholicism: from turn-of-the-century decline to the Rif War (c.1898–1923)

ABSTRACT The present article analyses both the discourse as well as actions and policies through which non-Carlist Catholic movement promoted and socialised the Catholic image of Spain, from the end of the nineteenth century until the beginning of the 1920s. The anticlerical fervour of the first decade of the twentieth century served to mobilise Catholics who called for the re-Catholicisation of Spanish society for the benefit of religion and the fatherland. Recourse to the fatherland and its identity as exclusively Catholic were significantly reinforced during the insecurity unleashed by the crisis of 1917 and the threat of revolution. Finally, the present paper also analyses the repercussions of the Catalan nationalist movement in 1918–1919 and the Rif War, two events that only augmented the centrality of the fatherland for the Catholic discourse of the period.
Influence of Different Truck and Trailer Combinations on the Aerodynamic Drag

The aim with this investigation was to study the aerodynamic properties of truck-trailer combinations of varying lengths. The aerodynamic properties of the combinations were evaluated in order to study similarities and differences in the flow field between different configurations. By the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) six different types of truck-trailer combinations used for long hauling have been evaluated. The combinations have a total length varying between 10.10 m and 25.25 m and consist of either a tractor or rigid truck in combination with one or two cargo units. All of the combinations are commonly found on roads in Sweden and several other countries in Europe. The results from the simulations show that the aerodynamic properties differ significantly for the truck-trailer combinations. It was found that the longer vehicle combinations are much more sensitive to yaw conditions than the shorter combinations. What was also evident is that the gap between the first and second cargo unit plays a significant role for the aerodynamic properties. Furthermore it was established that there is potential for fuel saving by a strategic choice of truck-trailer combination. According to the simplified evaluation made in this study the 25.25 m combinations show a lower power required per loading length (LL) and are therefore shown to be more efficient than the shorter combinations.
Predictive Modeling of Poor Outcome in Severe COVID-19: A Single-Center Observational Study Based on Clinical, Cytokine and Laboratory Profiles

Pneumonia is the main cause of hospital admission in COVID-19 patients. We aimed to perform an extensive characterization of clinical, laboratory, and cytokine profiles in order to identify poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A prospective and consecutive study involving 108 COVID-19 patients was conducted between March and April 2020 at Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid (Spain). Plasma samples from each patient were collected after emergency room admission. Forty-five serum cytokines were measured in duplicate, and clinical data were analyzed using SPPS version 25.0. Results: A multivariate predictive model showed high hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plasma levels as the only cytokine related to intubation or death risk at hospital admission (OR = 7.38, 95%CI—(1.28–42.4), p = 0.025). There were no comorbidities included in the model except for the ABO blood group, in which the O blood group was associated with a 14-fold lower risk of a poor outcome. Other clinical variables were also included in the predictive model. The predictive model was internally validated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.94, a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 95%. The use of a bootstrapping method confirmed these results. Conclusions: A simple, robust, and quick predictive model, based on the ABO blood group, four common laboratory values, and one specific cytokine (HGF), could be used in order to predict poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
Cross-sectional Survey on Online Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh

The educational system across the world had drastically been affected due to the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19. In this circumstance, Teaching and learning shifted from traditional way which involves face-to-face interaction among teachers and students physically in a classroom, to online learning either synchronously or asynchronously. Therefore, the aim of this study is to monitor the level of students’ perception towards online learning during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation. The study adopted the way of quantitative approach by conducting a survey which was collected via a standardized online questionnaire. Data collected from 699 respondents were analyzed using SPSS 23 software. In spite of having been failed to get theoretical and practical experience as well as expected results, majority of the respondents had positive perceptions towards online learning and accepted this as the new method of learning with online application tools. The outcomes of the study will facilitate educational institutions and policy makers to take this online learning process to the next level in a prospective way. Keywords: Online Learning, COVID-19, Pandemic, Bangladesh.
Evaluation of the Effect of Lime Modification on the Dynamic Modulus Stiffness of Hot-Mix Asphalt: Use with the New Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide

Hydrated lime is often used as a mineral filler or antistripping additive in hot-mix asphalt (HMA). Many agencies across North America require the use of lime in all HMA mixtures being placed on high-volume roadways. Despite this wide use of lime, its effects on the HMA mixture dynamic modulus (E*) stiffness have rarely been evaluated. The new mechanistic-empirical (M-E) pavement design guide, Guide for Mechanistic-Empirical Design of New and Rehabilitated Pavement Structures, developed under NCHRP Project 1-37A uses E* as the primary material property of asphalt mixtures for the HMA characterization. A comprehensive study was completed at Arizona State University to assess the effect of lime addition on the E* stiffness of HMA mixtures. The study demonstrated that the standard test and design methodologies of the new M-E pavement design guide could be used effectively for lime-modified HMA mixes. With these methodologies, hydrated lime was found to increase the E* of HMA mixtures by 17% to 65% across the.
Dental Students’ Perceived Stress during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Mental health is an inseparable part of overall health and healthcare workers have experienced mental issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the amount of stress undergone by dental students and its affecting factors. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study included all students of Shahid Beheshti Dental School, Tehran. The data on demographic and individual-social characteristics of the participants and questions related to the perceived stress level (PSS-10 questionnaire) were collected using an online questionnaire. The results were analyzed using a T-test and the correlations in SPSS-26 (P<0.05).
Clinical placement relationships in counseling and psychotherapy: Thoughts on the unconscious processes

Introduction ‘Any psychotherapy institution will represent at once both the best attempt of a group of people to promote and provide high standards . and the worst of their efforts to defend against anxieties thus aroused’ (MacCallum Sullivan & Goldenberg, 2015, p. 109). In the discussion that follows, I will concentrate on the clinical placement in counseling and psychotherapy training, by which I mean a time-limited work experience, of a type new to the student, and obtained specifically in order to practice the skills learned in the training course. Similar patterns may, I imagine, be found in related contexts, such as placements in health, education, or social services training. After reviewing literature related to therapy training, placement contexts, and unconscious processes in organizations, I will suggest some of the potential complexities of the placement situation. This discussion draws upon my experience as a student, trainer, and placement manager. Research on the processes of counseling and psychotherapy training is relatively scarce (Galbraith, 2017; Grafanaki, 2010; Orlinsky & Rønnestad, 2005; Truell, 2001), even less so from a psychodynamic perspective (Wheeler, 2002). Counseling and psychotherapy literature has, as yet, had little to say about models of clinical practice placements, in contrast to other professions where evaluation of different approaches to placements is common (Auburn, Ley, & Arnold, 1993; Birks, Bagley, Park, Burkot, & Mills, 2017; Henderson, Twentyman, Heel, & Lloyd, 2006; Jeffers, 2006). Scholarship from other professions therefore suggests some potential directions for exploration. One of the key themes that emerges is that of differences over assessment. In nurse training, for example, deficits in communication between training institutions and clinical placement services have been identified, including differences over readiness and competence (Levett-Jones, Fahy, Parsons, & Mitchell, 2006). In social work, research has demonstrated the potential distorting influence of the quality of students’ relationships with placement supervisors on objective assessment of skill (Lazar & Mosek, 1993).
What do Drivers Fail to See When Conversing on a Cell Phone?

Our research examined the effects of hands-free cell phone conversations on simulated driving. We found that even when participants looked directly at objects in the driving environment, they were less likely to create a durable memory of those objects if they were conversing on a cell phone. Moreover, this pattern was obtained for objects of both high- and low-relevance, suggesting that very little semantic analysis of the objects occurs outside the restricted focus of attention. These data support the inattention-blindness interpretation in which the disruptive effects of cell phone conversations on driving are due in large part to the diversion of attention from driving to the phone conversation. We suggest that even when participants are directing their gaze at objects in the driving environment that they may fail to “see” them when they are on the phone because attention is directed elsewhere.
DESIGN OF STEEL COLUMNS IN UNBRACED FRAMES USING NOTIONAL LOADS

This paper summarizes for practitioners the key recommendations of a recent ASCE report for utilizing the notional load approach to design steel columns in unbraced frames. This method, which has been employed successfully outside the United States, involves the addition of a lateral load to each story and column line that is proportional to the total gravity load applied to it at that level. The main advantage of the notional load approach is that it eliminates the need to calculate effective length factors. Sway stability effects are accounted for by increasing the applied moments in the beam-column interaction equations, rather than by reducing the axial capacity.
Nanoscale Control of Electro-migration for Resistance Tuning of Metal Lines

Electromigration in metal films is a well known phenomenon in the microelectronics field and is usually regarded as a serious problem for interconnect reliability. Here, we exploit electromigration in a constructive way to devise a process for enhancing metal piezoresistivity. A recent study [Mohanasundaram et al., 2012] has shown that electromigration can be used for nanoscale manipulation of local morphology in thin metallic lines to drastically improve their piezoresistivity. This development has significant impact on strain gauge technology, especially for MEMS and NEMS devices. The key to this development, however, is a reliable control over the electromigration process. In this study, we have used electromigration to get a stable increased resistance for gold nano lines without breaking the line. We have used feedback controlled electromigration where the incremental resistance has been used as the main control parameter. Using this technique we have been able to increase the resistance of gold nanowires four fold. We present an algorithm for the closed loop control, use it successfully to increase the resistance of gold lines by four times, and show that this technique can be used to carry out rapid, stable and controlled electromigration. The intended application is significant enhancement of piezoresistive sensitivity of metal lines in MEMS and NEMS devices.