Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Review of Edge-based Image Segmentation on Electrical Tree Classification in Cross-linked Polyethylene (XLPE) Insulation

Electrical trees are the degradation events most linked with partial discharge (PD) activity in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation of high voltage (HV) cables. To investigate tree structures and forms, study of electrical tree structures for morphological analysis often carried out using optical microscopy. However, since the noise induced by the occlusion and illumination, as well as by non-uniform intensity either from optical device’s setting or the non-standard readout procedure, causes the deterioration of the original microscopy images, resulting in critically loses of information pertaining the tree structures making it difficult to obtained accurate measurement. Image segmentation is one of the potential solutions as it is well-suited for extracting information or certain features from microscopy images. This paper provides review of several segmentation techniques applied on the classification of electrical tree image acquired through lab environment. The works can be separated into three stages. The first step includes the preparation of samples and collection of treeing images by means of real-time microscopy observations. The captured data would then be pre-processed to achieve image binarization. In the next step, image segmentation process is conducted using existing edge-based segmentation methods including Prewitt, Roberts, Canny and Kirsch’s templates. Later, comparative analysis will be performed using IQA (image quality assessment) metrics of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, false-positive-rate and the Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) as the final step. Performance-wise indicates that Kirsch’s template able to segment most of the treeing pixels with accuracy of 97.63%, 63% sensitivity, 98.18% specificity and 0.46 MCC while showing low pixels misclassification. This result provides better justification for the integration of the edge-based technique in developing image segmentation algorithm well-matched for the electrical tree analysis in the future.
The potential of indigenous rhizobacteria from areca nut rhizosphere in South Konawe regency as a plant growth promoter

Sustainable agriculture focuses on the applied of biological resources in agricultural cultivation process, therefore exploration and isolation of potential microbes as biological fertilizers need to be continuously developed. The research aim was to get the potential indigenous rhizobacteria isolates from the rhizosphere of areca nut plants as plant growth promotor. The experiment consists of 4 series based on the location of isolate collection, namely Angata 7 isolates, Landono 7 isolates, Palangga 6 isolates, and 4 isolates Wolasi, using a complete randomized design with three replications. The potential of these various isolates on a laboratory scale was evaluated via seed viability and vigour tests using upland rice as indicator plant. Inoculation of seeds using rhizobacteria isolates was able to improve the viability and vigour of rice seeds as shown by increasing potential development, germination percentage, vigour index, and relative growth rate as compared to control. The research found that 19 isolates which have the potential to promote plant growth were selected, namely AG1, AG2, AG3, AG4 and AG7 (Angata), LD1, LD2, LD3, LD4, LD5 and LD7 (Landono), PL1, PL2, PL5, PL6 (Palangga) and WL1, WL2, WL3 and WL4 (Wolasi). Field-scale experiments is required to evaluate these potential isolates as biofertilizers.
Computer mediated communication, social support, cultural distance, and socio-cultural adjustment in international undergraduate students

The authors examined computer-mediated-communication technologies, perceived social support, perceived cultural distance, and socio-cultural adjustment in 80 international undergraduate students. Findings revealed that computer-mediated-communication technologies not elated to socio-cultural adjustment. Perceived social support and perceived cultural distance were positively related to socio-cultural adjustment in international students.
Cx43 deficiency confers EMT-mediated tamoxifen resistance to breast cancer via c-Src/PI3K/Akt pathway

Tamoxifen (TAM) resistance has indicated a significant challenge during endocrine therapy for hormone-sensitive breast cancer. Thus, it is significant to elucidate the molecular events endowing TAM resistance to endocrine therapy. In this study, we found that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was an important event to confer TAM resistance, and attenuating EMT by elevating connexin (Cx) 43 expression could reverse TAM resistance. Specifically, Cx43 overexpression improved TAM sensitivity, while Cx43 depletion facilitated TAM insensitivity by modulating EMT in T47D TAM-resistant and -sensitive cells, and transplanted xenografts. Importantly, we found a novel reciprocal regulation between Cx43 and c-Src/PI3K/Akt pathway contributing to EMT and TAM resistance in breast cancer. Moreover, we identified that Cx43 deficiency was significantly correlated with poor relapse-free survival in patients undergoing TAM treatment. Therefore, Cx43 represents a prognostic marker and an attractive target for breast cancer treatments. Therapeutic strategies designed to increase or maintain Cx43 function may be beneficial to overcome TAM resistance.
Nutritional Status Of The Rabha Tribal Children Of Udalguri District Of Assam, India

Tribal populations in India are considered to be socio-economically the most disadvantaged group and tribal children have very poor health indicators when compared to the rest of the population. In the present study an attempt has been made to assess the nutritional status of underfive years age group among the Rabha children of Udalguri district, Assam, India. For assessing the nutritional status of children, three anthropometric indicesheight for age, weight for height and weight for age, which are considered as good indicators of assessment of nutritional status were adopted. Among the 225 children who were assessed for malnutrition, 93 (41.33%) were stunted, 62 (27.56%) wasted and 68 (30.22%) underweight as per WHO Growth Standards. The prevalence of malnutrition was found more common in girls as compared to boys. Education of the mothers was found to have a strong inverse relationship with all three measures of nutritional status. Education among the parents to improve nutritional status in the children as well as modification in the lifestyle can help to decline this health concern.
Glutathione Peroxidases from Tetrahymena

Glutathione peroxidases (GPxs) form a broad family of antioxidant proteins essential for 15 maintaining redox homeostasis in eukaryotic cells. In this study, we used an integrative approach 16 that combines bioinformatics, molecular biology, and biochemistry to investigate the role of GPxs 17 in reactive oxygen species detoxification in the unicellular eukaryotic model organism Tetrahymena 18 thermophila. Both phylogenetic and mechanistic empirical model analyses provided indications 19 about the evolutionary relationships among the GPXs of Tetrahymena and the orthologous enzymes 20 of phylogenetically related species. In-silico gene characterization and text mining were used to 21 predict the functional relationships between GPxs and other physiologically-relevant processes. The 22 GPx genes contain conserved transcriptional regulatory elements in the promoter region, which 23 suggest that transcription is under tight control of specialized signaling pathways. The 24 bioinformatic findings were next experimentally validated by studying the time course of copper 25 (Cu)-dependent regulation of gene transcription and enzymatic activity. Results emphasize the role 26 of GPxs in the detoxification pathways that, by complex regulation of Cu-dependent GPx gene 27 expression, enables Tethraymena to survive in high Cu concentrations and the associated redox 28 environment. 29
Factors Affecting Internet Banking Adoption in Iran: An Extended TAM Model

The use of internet banking as a way for banking transactions has been dispersed around the world due to improvements in various aspects of technology. Iran has not been the exception of this advancement and consequently the number of internet banking affaires seems to be increasing dramatically recently. The aim of this study is investigating the factors affecting internet banking adoption in Iran. For this purpose, the extended TAM model is conducted as a conceptual framework. To collect the data needed to implement this exploratory research 230 people, who have bank accounts in Tehran and are of different demographical backgrounds, were selected to complete a standardized structured questionnaire. The questions of the questionnaire utilized in this study have been written in a closed-ended structure and the questionnaires were sent by mail or done through self-completion. Data are analyzed using Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) to evaluate the strength of the hypothesized relations. The results were well matched with integrated TAM and perceived risk models and confirm its robustness in predicting customers' intention of internet banking adoption in Iran. The results showed that the behavioral intention to use internet banking is positively affected mainly by digital literacy, self-efficacy and variables of TAM model and negatively affected by perceived risk.
Export-led Growth in Iranian Economy

The goal of this study is to investigate the relationship between export and economic growth for the Iranian economy over the period of 1966-2006. The study applies several econometric techniques that involve: unit root test, cointegration test, impulse response function (IRF), and Toda & Yamamoto (1995) causality test. The findings of the unit root test indicate that two variables are stationary in their levels. Result of cointegration confirms the existence of the long run relationship between export and growth in Iranian economy. Finally, the finding of Toda and Yamamoto test indicate the bidirectional causality between export and growth. © 2013 Elixir All rights reserved ARTICLE INF O Articl e h istory: Received: 10 August 2013; Received in revised form: 29 September 2013; Accepted: 7 October 2013;
You're too young to have an eye problem: Reasons for nonadherence to referrals for follow-up eye care for schoolchildren in Nigeria -- a descriptive qualitative study

Study objectives: to identify reasons for non-adherence to referrals for follow-up eye care after children fail a school vision screening test. Methods: Ten focus groups were held with parents or guardians (parents) of children who had not adhered to the referral for further care in Cross River State, Nigeria, in 2019. Data from verbatim transcripts were analysed deductively using topics from the interview guide plus OTHER to capture unanticipated results. Analysts followed procedures for Qualitative Content Analysis plus a modified Framework Method to identify overarching themes and barriers that are both highly salient (most frequently mentioned) and relevant (discussed in at least half of all groups). Results: Three themes identified in the data are 1) modifiable barriers (key among them being parental beliefs and problems with the referral letter), 2) contextual factors (parental situation, attitudes towards children and beliefs about care) and 3) participant recommendations to improve the child eye care program (educate the general public and correct parental misconceptions). Many of the findings echoed those from previous studies conducted in both low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs). Conclusion: This study went beyond identifying modifiable barriers to also identify contextual factors and what parents recommend be done to improve vision care for children in Cross River State, Nigeria. If acted on, these findings may increase acceptance and uptake of eye care services that can promote sustainability and spread of the program to other parts of Nigeria and/or Africa.
Kinematic analysis of upper body movements in adolescent with mild idiopathic scoliosis: a preliminary study

Analysis of kinematic and postural data of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients seems relevant for a better understanding of biomechanical aspects involved in AIS and its etiopathogenesis. The present project aimed at investigating kinematic differences and asymmetries in early AIS in a static task and in uniplanar trunk movements (rotations, lateral bending and forward bending). Trunk kinematics and posture were assessed using a 3D motion analysis system and a force plate. Fifteen healthy girls, fifteen AIS girls with left lumbar main curve and seventeen AIS girls with right thoracic main curve were compared. Statistical analyses were performed to investigate presumed differences between the three groups. This study showed kinematic and postural differences between mild AIS patients and controls such as static imbalance, a reduced range of motion in the frontal plane and a different kinematic strategy in lateral bending. These differences mainly occurred in the same direction whatever the type of scoliosis, and suggested that AIS patients behave similarly from a dynamic point of view.
A Macroprudential View on Portfolio Rebalancing and Compression

We analyse the consequences of post-trade risk reduction services for systemic risk in derivatives markets. Our focus is on portfolio rebalancing, which is a mechanism of injecting new trades to reduce the overall counterparty exposure, and portfolio compression, which is a mechanism to reduce the outstanding notional amount by trades termination and replacement. We first provide a mathematical characterisation of (optimal) portfolio rebalancing. Then, we explore the effects of these services on the financial system from a network perspective by considering contagion arising from only partial repayments in networks of variation margin payments. We provide sufficient conditions for portfolio rebalancing to reduce systemic risk. We also investigate the effects under a scenario where financial institutions react to stress strategically and make delayed payments.
The Power of Markets: Impact of Desert Locust Invasions on Child Health

This paper investigates the consequences of the 2004 locust plague in Mali. We argue that in agricultural economies with a single harvest per year, this type of shock can affect households through two channels: first, a speculative/anticipatory effect that kicks in during the growing season, followed by a local crop failure effect after harvest. We document a substantial impact of the plague on crop price inflation before the harvest. Regarding health setbacks, children subject only to the speculative/anticipatory effect suffered as much as those exposed to the actual crop failure effect. The latter is more severe for children born in isolated areas.
Unfolding Trade Effect in Two Margins of Informality. The Peruvian Case

This paper studies the effect of an increase in import competition on informality along two margins. I consider the extensive margin, where workers are hired by unregistered employers and the intensive margin, where even though jobs are carried out in registered firms, employees are off the books. Peru's relentless informal employment and its unprecedented trade-driven growth provides an ideal case study. Using a rich household survey, I find that exposure to trade impacts on informality through two competing and contrasting mechanisms. On the one hand, extensive-informal employment declines as unregistered employers shrink or exit due to their low productivity. On the other hand, intensive-informal employment rises as registered employers reduce costs by hiring informal workers. Furthermore, results suggest that the intensive margin drives the overall effect. Hence, I find that trade liberalisation increases informality.
Analyze the Impact of Restructuring or Right Sizing Exercise on the Organization's Financial Performance

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of operational right sizing or restructuring in an organization on the job satisfaction, motivation, attrition and trust in leadership levels of employees not impacted by the change and its relation to the financial performance of the organization. A survey of employees, 224 in number, based in United States of America (USA) was conducted and analyzed using stratified data tables to derive %age increase / decrease of the level of satisfaction, trust in leadership and attrition rates. The financial performance trend of two sample organizations; Walmart and Costco, for which responses were received was compared to gauge the impact of right sizing on the performance of financial indicators such as EBITDA, EPS (Earnings per share) and Net Income. The findings of the study proved that right sizing / restructuring has a negative impact on the employees’ satisfaction and leads to a fluctuating financial performance over a period of time
Government Shareholdings in Brokerage Firms and Analyst Research Quality

We examine how government ownership in brokerage firms influences analyst research quality in the Chinese context. When the government has strong incentives to prop up market prices, analysts from brokerages with significant government shareholdings ("government-brokerage analysts") issued relatively less pessimistic (or more optimistic) earnings forecasts and revisions and more favorable stock recommendations; they were also slower to revise. Although less accurate than those issued by other brokerages, these forecasts significantly influenced investors' beliefs. During regular times, government-brokerage analysts issued relatively less optimistic (more pessimistic) earnings forecasts and revisions and less favorable stock recommendations; they were also quicker to revise and no less accurate than those by other brokerages. Government-brokerage analysts thus balance market credibility against government incentives. In doing so, they serve both market advisory and stabilization functions. We show that their market stabilization function also operates during times of high investor sentiment.
Improving the Performance of Healthcare Institutions under COVID-19 by Using Balanced Scorecards: A Comparative Study

The study investigated balanced scorecards (BSC) in regards to the Covid-19 pandemic, and it was revealed through the analysis of the conceptual framework that balanced scorecards are deficient in providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating healthcare institutions’ performance, as they lack measuring the risks faced by healthcare institutions, whether financial risks (liquidity risks) or non-financial (hazardous waste risk). Therefore, the study suggests that the BSC dimensions should include five dimensions instead of four dimensions, which are the usual in managerial literature. This requires providing adding risk. Through utilizing a sample of 414 individual workers in Healthcare institutions in developed and developing countries, the study concluded that the extent of need, readiness and practices in favor of implementing balanced scorecards varies between Healthcare institutions in developed and developing countries during the Corona pandemic.
rTSR: Properties, Determinants, and Consequences of Benchmark Choice

We examine the properties, determinants, and consequences of peer benchmarks chosen by firms to evaluate relative total shareholder returns (rTSR) in executive relative performance contracts. Among firms that explicitly use rTSR, 60% select specific peer firms while 40% select a stock index as benchmarks. Consistent with the intent to filter out the systematic component of TSR, firms' chosen benchmarks exhibit a return-regression slope coefficient of 1 and remove a significant amount of systematic noise in TSR. However, index-based benchmarks are considerably noisier compared to those based on specific peers. Inconsistent with standard contracting models, firms using index-based benchmarks do not exhibit relatively lower pay-to-performance sensitivities, nor do they face lower gains from filtering precision. Instead, index-benchmark use is associated with weaker corporate governance and compensation consultants' preferences, which are uncorrelated with observable firm attributes. The use of index-based benchmarks is also associated with lower ROA, even after controlling for benchmarks' noisiness and companies' governance attributes. Our analyses suggest the salience of peer comparisons as an important attribute of relative performance benchmarks. <br>
Institutional-Cultural Coherence and Economic Development: The Case of the Spanish Regions

This article explores the effect of cultural traits coherent with liberal institutions on economic performance. The matching between cultural traits and institutions is what we refer to as cultural-institutional coherence. We study the role played by cultural-institutional coherence on the paths followed by Spanish regions after the country’s liberal reforms in the 19th century. We argue that liberal reforms brought important changes in Spanish institutions and contributed to induce a major rearrangement in the distribution of economic development across regions, favoring those regions with cultural traits more coherent with liberal institutions. Endogeneity issues are solved resorting to the different political paths that the regions experienced in their distant past. Political paths are assessed in terms of municipal autonomy in the Middle Ages and constraints on the executive in the early modern period which, we argue, are good instruments for culture.
Inefficient Screening in Online Rental Markets

We study a home rental market where hosts compete in prices and decide which guests to accept. Such screening results in inefficiently many rejections and can reduce welfare. In a unique symmetric equilibrium, hosts randomize over prices so that it may be unprofitable for them to accept some efficient trades. Moreover, every equilibrium is inefficient when there are few hosts. We further show that screening increases welfare when there are enough hosts or when the potential loss of surplus from inefficient trades is high. We discuss the implications of our findings to online platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway.
Effect of visual cues associated with hyper links on academic achievement of science for six-grade students

This paper is a report on the findings of a study conducted on seventh-grade science course. Experimental techniques were used to examine the resulting of utilizing visual cues in a web-based learning environment. Findings indicate that there were no statistically significant differences at the significance level (0.05) between the mean scores of the science achievement test of the first experimental group (which uses the web site with visual cues associated with hyperlinks) and the second experimental group (which uses the web site without visual cues associated with hyperlinks). However, there were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the pre and post applications of the science achievement test of the first experimental group in favor of the post application. Also, there were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the pre and the post applications of the science achievement test of the second experimental group in favor of the post application.