Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Normal Variance-Mean Mixtures and z Distributions

A survey is given of general properties of normal variance-mean mixtures, including various new results. In particular, it is shown that the class of self-reciprocal normal variance mixtures is rather wide, and some Tauberian results are established from which relations between the tail behaviour of a normal variance-mean mixture and its mixing distribution may be deduced. The generalized hyperbolic distributions and the modulated normal distributions provide examples of normal variance-mean mixtures whose densities can be given in terms of well-known functions, and it is proved that also the z distributions, i.e. the class of distributions generated from the beta distribution through logistic transformation followed by introduction of location and scale parameters, are normal variance-mean mixtures. (The z distributions include the hyperbolic cosine distribution and the logistic distribution.) Some properties of the associated mixing distributions are derived, and the z distributions are shown to be self-decomposable.
A Preliminary Study on Sympathetic Skin Response in Acute Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease

Purpose The study aims to identify the characteristics of SSR in patients with AICVD and their correlation with clinical presentations. Methods SSR of the upper limbs, the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), the Barthel index (BI), the Essen stroke risk score (ESRS), and imaging examinations, was evaluated in 30 healthy subjects and 66 patients with AICVD. All results were recorded and analyzed via Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 22.0) software. t-test and Spearman rank correlation were used. Results Compared to the control group, SSR of upper limbs in patients with AICVD showed prolonged latency, reduced amplitude, and disappeared waveform (p=0.000, p=0.015, p=0.004), No statistically significant difference was observed between the affected side and the healthy side (p=0.068, p=0.661). In the case group, the higher the abnormal rate of SSR, the more severe the neurological impairment (NIHSS and ADL scores) and the worse the long-term prognosis. Specific results are as follows: Firstly, the total abnormality rate of SSR, prolonged SSR latency were positively related to the NIHSS, also the ESRS (r=0.347, p=0.004; r=0.437, p<0.001), (r=0.371, p=0.005; r=0.433, p=0.001), the reduced amplitude was positively related to the NIHSS (r=0.341, p=0.012) while the disappeared waveform was positively related to the ESRS (r=0.299, p=0.015); Secondly, the total abnormality rate of SSR, prolonged SSR latency and reduced amplitude were negatively related to the BI (r=−0.346, p=0.004) (r=−0.426, p=0.001) (r=−0.316, p=0.020). Conclusion There may be inhibition of sympathetic reflex activity in patients with AICVD, SSR abnormality rate in patients with AICVD may be correlated with the degree of neurological impairment and long-term prognosis.
Prevalence of Respiratory Infections during the 2018–2020 Period in the Paediatric Population of Primary Care Centres in Central Catalonia

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, policies such as social distancing, hand washing, and the use of masks were implemented, which could play an important role in the reduction of infectious diseases. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted to observe the prevalence of respiratory infections in children under 15 years of age during the 2018–2020 period in Primary Care centres in Central Catalonia. In 2020, there was a 44.3% decrease in total consultations for respiratory infections compared to 2019. All respiratory infections exhibited a significant decrease except flu-like syndrome; children between the ages of 6 and 12 had the highest prevalence of flu-like syndrome (87.6%), and the SARS-CoV-2-19 infection was most frequent (4%) among those between the ages of 12 and 15. Compared to urban centres, rural centres presented a higher prevalence of all infections except flu-like syndrome and SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in the number of consultations for respiratory infections in the paediatric population, except for flu-like syndrome, which increased in cases in January, February, and March 2020. No differences were found between sexes, although differences were found in the distribution of the different age groups.
Assessment of Construction Risk Management Maturity Using Hybrid Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Synthetic Approach: Iraq as Case Study

Knowing and developing the construction organizations' maturity level in risk management is critical to ensure they achieve their strategic objectives. This paper aims to design a new construction organizations' risk-management maturity model (C.ORM3) using new hybrid techniques and a distinct validation strategy based on global and local experience, to assess risk management maturity level in developing countries. A multi-steps methodology was adopted in this research. The study adopted an excessive systematic literature reviews of 22 previous articles on RM maturity and four standards and guidelines for eliciting model components. These components include five attributes with 26 capabilities;24 capabilities identified from literature review and 2 from experts. These capabilities are evaluated against five levels: immature, ad-hoc, standard, managed, and optimized. The authors adopted a new strategy for validating the model by three groups of global and local experts and verifying the proposed model in a realistic-world case study. This study is the first to use a hybrid method based on the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) techniques in evaluating RM maturity (RMM). Iraqi construction organizations validate the practicality of the model. The results showed that the overall RMM level of the Iraqi construction sector is 1.52, between immature and ad-hoc. The model has been converted into a computer template for ease of use by organizations. This study concluded that the suggested C.ORM3 helpful for construction organisations to evaluate their current state of RM and plan for future development © 2023, Mathematical Modelling of Engineering Problems.All Rights Reserved.
Effect of Continuous Use of Fertilizers, Lime and Micronutrients on Soil Properties at Mokwa, Nigeria

In a long-term fertility study at Mokwc, Nigeria, it was observed that use of fertilizers alone maintained optimum levels of soil pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon, C/N ratio, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cation. Lime application increased the exchangeable calcium content significantly in the soil whereas Mg content remained almost unchanged. Exchangeable K content was significantly higher under continuous use of potassic fertilizer. Maize, cotton and sorghum responded significantly to nitrogen application. Potassium response was significant with maize and cotton only. Cotton responded very well to boron application.
Is the creative class a shock absorber against an economic recession? Spatial labour market resilience in Romania

ABSTRACT The creative class has been argued to both hamper and support economic resilience. As such, we propose a new framework on the significance of the creative class for local economic resilience, namely: the creativity and resilience analysis approach (CREA). The study contributes to the literature (1) by evaluating resilience through an index that includes multiple dimensions of creativity-based economic development; and (2) by identifying preliminary findings that link economic resilience with spatial shifts in local labour markets.
Pattern of Injuries in fall from Height

The cases of fall from height are now becoming more common due to multi-storeyed culture in urban population. In this study of fatal cases of fall from heights majority of falls are of males, in age group 21–50 years, from terrace and balcony due to lack of appropriate fencing. Most of the deaths are accidental and consumption of alcohol is a major predisposing factor. In majority cases body was found within 2 meters from the base of the building. In one unique case the body was found 8 meters away from the building in which the person jumped from the terrace while running to escape from the police. As in such case, if a person jumps after a pre-running there will be an associated initial velocity at the moment of take-off, which can be calculated from vertical height and horizontal distance by using the formula, vo = (gx2/2(x.sinθ -y cosθ) cosθ)1/2. Though such cases are not very common but when a pre-running before a jump is present, determination of initial velocity is definitive of an intentional act of the person.
DISCUSS OF SILT CRITICAL HYDRAULIC GRADIENT IN MODERN HUANGHE SUBAQUEOUS DELTA

By laboratory test, this paper shows the critical hydraulic gradient of silt with different degree of compaction. From the results it can be found that . silt′s critical hydraulic gradient differs greatly with sandy soil′s. In common the critical hydraulic gradient of sand is icr=(ρ-ρw)/ ρw,,and it can change from 0.8 to 1.5. However the critical hydraulic gradient of silt is 9.5～16.5. Meanwhile this paper analyses the forces acting on soil mass and considers the cohesion within grains, then analyses the cause of the results above, and finds the relation between critical hydraulic gradient and silt's physical property index.
Nurses’ Assessments Versus Patients’ Self-Assessments of Postoperative Pain: Knowledge and Skills of Nurses for Effective Pain Management

Postoperative pain is the most common form of acute pain. Nurses contribute to effective pain management with their knowledge and skills. The aims of this research were to examine differences between nurses’ assessments and patients’ self-assessments of postoperative pain, differences in the mentioned (self) assessments with respect to characteristics of both groups of respondents, and the correlation between the NRS and the VRS scale. The study included 103 nurses employed at a hospital and 103 patients treated in the surgical departments after the surgical procedures. Data were collected using the standardized Numerical rating scale (NRS) and Verbal rating score (VRS). The median of patients’ self-assessments of pain intensity on the NRS scale was 4, while the nursing assessment of patients’ pain was 3, with no significant difference (p = 0.083). No significant differences were found on the VRS scale between nurse assessments and patient self-assessments of current pain intensity. The pain was described as moderate by 35% of participants, including 35.9% nurses and 35% patients. Significant positive correlations were recorded between values on the VRS and NRS scales for nurses (Rho = 0.812; p < 0.001) and patients (Rho = 0.830; p < 0.001). The results of this study may have implications for the improvement of postoperative pain management protocols, with regular use of pain assessment scales and individualization of analgesic prescriptions.
Calabi-Yau Caps and Uniruled Caps

We introduce symplectic Calabi-Yau caps to obtain new obstructions to exact fillings. In particular, it implies that any exact filling of the standard unit cotangent bundle of a hyperbolic surface has vanishing first Chern class and has the same integral homology and intersection form as its disk cotangent bundle. This gives evidence to a conjecture that all of its exact fillings are diffeomorphic to the disk cotangent bundle. As a result, we also obtain the first infinitely family of Stein fillable contact 3-manifolds with uniform bounds on the Betti numbers of its exact fillings but admitting minimal strong fillings of arbitrarily large $b_2$. Moreover, we introduce the notion of symplectic uniruled/adjunction caps and uniruled/adjunction contact structures to present a unified picture to the existing finiteness results on the topological invariants of exact/strong fillings of a contact 3-manifold. As a byproduct, we find new classes of contact 3-manifolds with the finiteness property and extend Wand's obstruction of planar contact 3-manifolds to uniruled/adjunction contact structures with complexity zero. structures with complexity zero.
Loch Linear Fitting Under Near Epoch Dependence: Uniform Consistency with Convergence Rate

Local linear fitting is a popular nonparametric method in nonlinear statistical and econometric modelling. Lu and Linton (2007) established the point wise asymptotic distribution (central limit theorem) for the local linear estimator of nonparametric regression function under the condition of near epoch dependence. We further investigate the uniform consistency of this estimator. The uniformly strong and weak consistencies with convergence rates for the local linear fitting are established under mild conditions. Furthermore, general results of uniform convergence rates for nonparametric kernel-based estimators are provided. Applications of our results to conditional variance function estimation and some economic time series models are also discussed. The results of this paper will be of widely potential interest in time series semiparametric modelling.
Promoting Physical Activity in a Primary Care Practice in People Living with Dementia and Their Family Caregivers

People living with dementia (PLWD) and their family caregivers report higher rates of having a sedentary lifestyle than their non-disabled peers do. This study analyzed the effectiveness of an intervention designed to increase physical activity among PLWD and their family caregivers in primary health care settings. A cluster-randomized multicenter clinical trial was conducted. Participants from four health centers were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG) in a 1:1 ratio using Epidat software. After a seven-day period with a digital pedometer (Omron Hj-321 lay-UPS), participants were asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). PLWD and caregivers allocated to the IG were given brief advice, educational materials and an additional 15 min appointment to prescribe an individualized physical activity plan. Seventy PLWD and 80 caregivers were assigned to the CG and 70 PLWD and 96 caregivers were assigned to the IG. Results of the pedometer assessment show that in PLWD, the IG’s activity increased by 52.89 aerobic steps at 6 months and the CG’s activity decreased by 615.93 aerobic steps, showing a net increase in the IG of 668.82 (95% CI: −444.27 to 1781.91; p = 0.227). For caregivers in the IG, activity increased by 356.91 aerobic steps and in the CG it decreased by 12.95 aerobic steps, showing a net increase in favor of the IG of 369.86 (95%CI: −659.33 to 1399.05; p = 0.476). The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity in this group of people with dementia and their caregivers did not achieved positive results overall but may have provided suggestions for family physicians and physical therapists to improve physical activity among people with dementia and their families.
Optimization of Characteristics Polymer Composite Reinforced Kenaf and Jute Fiber Using Taguchi-Response Surface Methodology Approach

ABSTRACT The use of composite materials with natural fiber reinforcement (CMNFR) has experienced rapid development in the automotive industry to apply synthetic materials that are expensive and not environmentally friendly. Biocomposite is a composite consisting of a polymer matrix and natural fiber reinforcement. Natural fiber materials are used as a substitute for conventional non-renewable reinforcing materials. This study uses the vacuum-assisted resin infusion (VARI) process to fabricate composites using woven kenaf and jute from natural fiber. The Taguchi experimental design method with L273 as an orthogonal array matrix was used in this research to obtain the optimum CMNFR fabrication parameters. Response Surface Methodology is used to obtain the optimal response value based on microstructural analysis. The factors used were NaOH treatment (4, 6, 8 wt%), water absorption test (6, 12, 24 hours), and fiber type (KF, JF, KF-JF). The study’s results found a combination of optimization of CMNFR manufacturing parameters using RSM, namely, A1B1C2 with a mean material strength of 0.241 J/mm2 (impact strength) and a combination of A1B3C1 parameters with a mean material strength of 94.8650 MPa (flexural strength). It was also found that the presence of contaminants and voids harmed the mechanical properties.
Optimal complexity and fractal limits of self-similar tensegrities

We study the optimal (minimum mass) problem for a prototypical self-similar tensegrity column. By considering both global and local instability, we obtain that mass minimization corresponds to the contemporary attainment of instability at all scales. The optimal tensegrity depends on a dimensionless main physical parameter χ0 that decreases as the tensegrity span increases or as the carried load decreases. As we show, the optimal complexity (number of self-similar replication tensegrities) grows as χ0 decreases with a fractal-like tensegrity limit. Interestingly, we analytically determine a power law dependence of the optimal mass and complexity on the main parameter χ0.
On statistical theory of radar measurements

Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto www.aalto. fi Author Juha Vierinen Name of the doctoral dissertation On statistical theory of radar measurements Publisher School of Science Unit Department of Information and Computer Science Series Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 115/2012 Field of research Computer and Information Science Manuscript submitted 26 April 2012 Date of the defence 1 October 2012 Permission to publish granted (date) 22 August 2012 Language English Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles) Abstract Statistical treatment of radar measurements is important as most radar measurements are corrupted by random receiver noise. In addition to this, many radar targets themselves have to be modeled as random processes. It is therefore not a coincidence that this thesis uses the framework of statistical inverse problems for modeling radar measurements.Statistical treatment of radar measurements is important as most radar measurements are corrupted by random receiver noise. In addition to this, many radar targets themselves have to be modeled as random processes. It is therefore not a coincidence that this thesis uses the framework of statistical inverse problems for modeling radar measurements. The introductory part of this thesis first goes through some important mathematical and numerical methods that can be used to model radar measurements and to apply these models in practice. We then describe several different types of radar measurements, with emphasis on high power large aperture radars. After this, we go through several useful radar measurement models. Finally, with the help of these models, we discuss optimal experiment design -which typically amounts to radar transmission waveform optimization. The publications included in this thesis contain practical applications of the topics described in the introduction, including amplitude domain estimation of incoherent scatter signals, radar transmission code optimization, inverse synthetic aperture radar, and measurements of space debris.
Technology and early mathematics skills: Effectiveness of I Love Math with Robots

Abstract Technological tools facilitate mathematical learning and make children love mathematics, thanks to their structures and ways of working. In this context, educational robots appear as a very attractive alternative. Studies show that the use of these devices provides positive cognitive outcomes. This research aimed to investigate the effect of using robotic devices on the early math skills of preschool children. Participants consisted of 24 children aged between 50-68 months. In the study, quasi-experimental model was used. Children in the experimental group attended the 8-week “I Love Math with Robots” designed by the researchers whereas those in the control group engaged in activities without technologic robots including the same objectives. Early math skills of children in both groups were assessed individually before and after the intervention. The results indicated that changes in math scores of children in the experimental group were significantly different from those in the control group.
Coffee: a global marketplace icon

ABSTRACT Coffee is far more than just a beverage. It is a product that boasts an extraordinarily rich history, and its cultural identity has shifted over time. This article explores how coffee secured its status as a global marketplace icon. We argue that coffee is a metamorphic product based on its capacity to assume multiple and different cultural meanings over time. First consumed for its energizing properties and use as a medical treatment, coffee has morphed from a symbol of spiritual significance to a beverage representing conquest, independence, intellectual conversations, conviviality, hedonism, counterculture, prosperity, cosmopolitan lifestyle, and craft. In this article, we retrace the history of coffee to demonstrate its metamorphic qualities and its history of providing social value, which is critical to explaining its enduring global iconic status.
Molecular Characterization of Influenza A/H3N2 Virus Isolated from Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims 2013 to 2014

The Hajj and Umrah are the annual mass gatherings of Muslims in Saudi Arabia and increase the transmission risk of acute respiratory infection. This study describes influenza infection among pilgrims upon arrival in Indonesia and the genetic characterization of imported influenza A/H3N2 virus. In total, 251 swab samples with influenza-like illness were tested using real-time RT-PCR for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and influenza viruses. Complete sequences of influenza A/H3N2 HA and NA genes were obtained using DNA sequencing and plotted to amino acid and antigenicity changes. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using a neighbour-joining method including the WHO vaccine strains and influenza A/H3N2 as references. The real-time RT-PCR test detected 100 (39.5%) samples positive with influenza with no positivity of MERS-CoV. Mutations in the HA gene were mainly located within the antigenic sites A, B, and D, while for the NA gene, no mutations related to oseltamivir resistance were observed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these viruses grouped together with clades 3C.2 and 3C.3; however, they were not closely grouped with the WHO-recommended vaccine (clades 3C.1). Sequences obtained from Hajj and Umrah pilgrims were also not grouped together with viruses from Middle East countries but clustered according to years of collection. This implies that the influenza A/H3N2 virus mutates continually across time.