Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Building a system for managing clinical pathways using digital pens

Background: A research team from Monash University and Peninsula Health, Victoria is undertaking a trial of digital pen and paper technology for clinical pathway management. Digital pen and paper allows for the capture of images of handwritten documents using an embedded camera in the pen which is matched with special patterns of dots on the paper. These digitised images can be uploaded to a database for analysis. Objectives: Clinical pathways have been adopted in most Australian hospitals to document and manage multidisciplinary care across a variety of acute care environments. Analysis of the information collected in paper-based clinical pathway documents is often time-consuming. This project seeks to streamline the collection and analysis of this data by developing a Digital Clinical Pathway Management System (DCPMS) based on digital pens and a customised database. Method: The DCPMS will be developed as part of a two year proof of concept project at Peninsula Health's Frankston Hospital. The goals are to: 1. Implement digital pen and paper technology on selected wards; 2. Analyse data collected by the DCPMS for usefulness in clinical decision-making; 3. Identify potential contributions to resource management for bed access, HR management and strategic planning; 4. Utilise clinical and managerial variance analysis from the DCPMS for resource planning in a casemix environment. Implications: This paper discusses the potential of a DCPMS in a hospital setting and the possible adoption of digital pen technology for other point of care data collection and analysis.
The Geographical Network of Bank Organizations: Issues and Evidence for Italy

The evolution of the banking industry has always been affected by recurrent waves of technological, regulatory and organizational changes. All such changes have significant effects on the spatial organization of banks, the interconnectedness of geographical credit markets and the core-periphery structure of banking industry. In this chapter, we review the literature on the effects of geographical distances between the key actors of the credit market (the borrowing firm, the lending branch, the lending bank, and rival banks) on lending relationships and interbank competition. Using the metrics and graph techniques for network analysis we then provide evidence concerning the evolving geographical network of bank organizations in Italy. JEL Classification: G2
A Moving Source Localization Method for Distributed Passive Sensor Using TDOA and FDOA Measurements

The conventional moving source localization methods are based on centralized sensors. This paper presents a moving source localization method for distributed passive sensors using TDOA and FDOA measurements. The novel method firstly uses the steepest descent algorithm to obtain a proper initial value of source position and velocity. Then, the coarse location estimation is obtained by maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). Finally, more accurate location estimation is achieved by subtracting theoretical bias, which is approximated by the actual bias using the estimated source location and noisy data measurement. Both theoretical analysis and simulations show that the theoretical bias always meets the actual bias when the noise level is small, and the proposed method can reduce the bias effectively while keeping the same root mean square error (RMSE) with the original MLE and Taylor-series method. Meanwhile, it is less sensitive to the initial guess and attains the CRLB under Gaussian TDOA and FDOA noise at a moderate noise level before the thresholding effect occurs.
Effects of neuromuscular taping on muscular strength, range of motion and pain intensity in the glenohumeral joint in professional handball athletes: blinded randomized clinical trial

Background: Recent investigations in handball athletes point to the need to carry out rehabilitation programs that aim to improve the instability of the glenohumeral joint, widely used in the various tasks of this modality. Objectives: To evaluate the immediate and short‐term effects of a neurofunctional elastic bandage (NEB) on muscular strength, range of motion and pain intensity in the glenohumeral joint in handball athletes with shoulder dysfunction. Method: This study was composed of 20 professional male handball athletes who presented shoulder pain at rest and dysfunction of the shoulder, divided into two groups; experimental (n = 10) and placebo (n = 10). Before and one hour after the application of NEB the following were evaluated: maximal isometric muscular strength during movements of the glenohumeral joint (load cell), the range of motion (ROM) of the glenohumeral joint (fleximetry), pain intensity in the shoulder at rest and during movement, and the pressure pain threshold (algometry). NEB was maintained for 72 hours in all volunteers, during which a diary of shoulder pain was recorded for the short‐term assessment. We used the ANOVA two‐way repeated measures considering the possibility of group by time interaction, adopting a 5% level for significant differences. The treatment effect size was analyzed by means of Cohen’s d values. Results: There was no group by time interaction for any of the variables (p> 0.05), however, there was a large effect of the treatment for reducing pain in the experimental group after the application of NEB in the short‐term period (d = 0.83). Conclusion: There were no significant effects on muscular strength, range of motion or pain intensity in the shoulder in handball athletes immediately after implementation of NEB.
Optimization of factors affecting protoplast preparation and transformation of smoke-tree wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium dahliae is a causal agent of vascular wilt smoke-tree Cotinus coggygrial. The genetic transformation of V. dahliae has been carried out by Agrobacterium and polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation. Due to technical simplicity and efficiency, PEG-mediated transformation is the most commonly used method for genetic transformation in filamentous fungi. However, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transformation is still deficient in V. dahliae. In this study, we studied the main factors affecting the release of protoplasts from mycelia of V. dahliae such as lytic enzymes, enzymolysis buffers and incubation time. The optimal combination for protoplast preparation from smoke-tree wilt fungus V. dahliae can release 2.8 × 106 protoplasts/ml from fresh mycelia of smoke-tree wilt fungus. The majority of spheroplast contained nuclei and well regenerated. After PEG mediated transformation, green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing V. dahliae strains were obtained. Therefore, this study provides a protocol suitable for protoplast preparation and transformation of smoke-tree wilt fungusV. dahliae. Key words: Verticillium dahliae, smoke-tree wilt, protoplast preparation, polyethylene glycol (PEG) transformation
Prediction and control of spin polarization in a Weyl semimetallic phase of BiSb

By means of first-principle calculations, we report a stoichiometric crystal structure of BiSb with broken space-inversion symmetry. This structure is insulating in bulk and has nontrivial band topology. We observe a pressure driven Weyl semimetallic electronic phase transition in this BiSb system without a crystal phase change. The obtained Weyl semimetallic phase exists in the 4.0\char21{}6.0 GPa pressure range. We find that a total of 12 pairs of Weyl points, 12 monopoles and 12 antimonopoles, exist in the Brillouin zone. Additionally, the spin texture of the bulk BiSb compound appears to be electrically controllable when the interlink between pressure and an electric field is exploited. This produces novel manipulable topological transport properties in this system.
Grazing management strategies for massaigrass-forage peanut pastures: 1. dynamics of sward condition and botanical composition

Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a dinâmica e a composicao botânica de uma pastagem consorciada de capim-massai (Panicum maximum x P. infestum, cv. Massai) e amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi Ac 01), manejada sob lotacao rotacionada em tres niveis de oferta diaria de forragem (9,0; 14,5 e 18,4% do peso vivo). A condicao da pastagem foi caracterizada em cada ciclo de pastejo, em termos de altura, massa de forragem e porcentagem de solo descoberto (pre e pos-pastejo). A composicao botânica da pastagem (graminea, leguminosa e invasoras) foi monitorada antes de cada periodo de ocupacao. Houve aumento linear da altura e da massa de forragem da pastagem com o incremento dos niveis de oferta de forragem (OF), observando-se maiores valores durante o periodo de maxima precipitacao. A porcentagem de solo descoberto, por sua vez, aumentou, principalmente no menor nivel de OF. A porcentagem de amendoim forrageiro aumentou progressivamente ao longo do periodo experimental, sobretudo nas pastagens mantidas com dossel mais baixo e mais aberto, criado com o uso de menores niveis de OF. No ultimo trimestre do periodo experimental, a leguminosa representou 23,5; 10,6 e 6,4% da massa seca da pastagem, respectivamente, do menor para o maior nivel de OF. Estes resultados sugerem que o amendoim forrageiro pode ser consorciado satisfatoriamente com o capim-massai, desde que a altura da pastagem na condicao pre-pastejo seja mantida abaixo de 65-70 cm para evitar o sombreamento excessivo da leguminosa.
Ideal hepatotoxicity model in rats using Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl 4 )

A study to produce ideal Hepatotoxicity rats’ models using varying concentrations of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) was carried out. A total of seventy five rats were divided into five (5) groups of twenty five (25) rats each; rats in group I are negative control, were not induced with lipid peroxidation. Rats in groups II, III, IV and V were induced with lipid peroxidation and liver damage using, 90, 105 and 120mg/Kg body weight CCl 4 respectively. Five (5) rats were removed from each group after 48 hours, 72 hours (3 days) and 144 hours (6 days) of inducement with CCl 4 and sacrificed for blood sample collection. Sera obtained were analyzed for alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and for Malondialdehyde (MDA), total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) concentrations. After 48hours, rats treated with various concentrations of CCl 4 had mean serum activities/ levels of AST, ALT, ALP, MDA, TP and ALB significantly higher (p 4 showed activities/level non significant (p>0.05) increase of serum AST, ALT, ALP, and MDA after 96 hours of CCl 4 treatment compared with control group. However, rats treated with 90, 105 and 120mg/kg of CCl4 showed persistently high serum AST, ALT, ALP in U/L, MDA in μM/L, TP and ALB in g/L. even at 144 hours after the treatment. Ideal hepatotoxicity rat model using CCl 4 requires a dosage that can cause massive liver damage. Key Words: carbon tetrachloride, hepatotoxicity rats modeling, natural healing.
Symbolic-Connectionist Representational Model for Optimizing Decision Making Behavior in Intelligent Systems

Modeling higher order cognitive processes like human decision making come in three representational approaches namely symbolic, connectionist and symbolic-connectionist. Many connectionist neural network models are evolved over the decades for optimizing decision making behaviors and their agents are also in place. There had been attempts to implement symbolic structures within connectionist architectures with distributed representations. Our work was aimed at proposing an enhanced connectionist approach of optimizing the decisions within the framework of a symbolic cognitive model. The action selection module of this framework is forefront in evolving intelligent agents through a variety of soft computing models. As a continous effort, a Connectionist Cognitive Model (CCN) had been evolved by bringing a traditional symbolic cognitive process model proposed by LIDA as an inspiration to a feed forward neural network model for optimizing decion making behaviours in intelligent agents. Significanct progress was observed while comparing its performance with other varients.
Evaluating the Performance of Inflation Targeting

Applying the Ordinary Least Squares method (OLS) and panel data analysis, the performance of Inflation Targeting (IT) regime is analyzed in 11 developed and developing countries. We compare the economic performance (i) between pre-IT and post-IT periods and (ii) between developing economies and developed economies that have implemented IT. The performance of IT is evaluated based on (i) inflation persistency; (ii) output growth; (iii) exchange rate volatility; (iv) deviation of inflation and (v) output gap. Besides, the disinflation cost/trade-off relationship between output gap and deviation in inflation is tested. The implementation of IT has effectively reduced the inflation rate and stimulated high output growth. The reduction of inflation rate is larger in developing economies but the gain in higher growth is larger in developed economies. On the other hand, there is strong evidence that IT has led to higher volatility in exchange rate of developing countries. Furthermore, the deviations of inflation and output gap have increased in the post-IT period in few economies. However, results failed to prove that IT has led to the trade-off relationship between inflation and output gap as the trade-off relationship between inflation and output gap is also detected in the pre-IT period. Overall results provide evidences on better economies condition under IT regime.
Impact Pressure Estimation of an Avalanche on a Structure as Deduced from Inverse Analysis and Monte Carlo Sensitivity Simulations

Avalanche impact pressure on a flat surface structure has been quantified by full scale experiments performed at the Lautaret avalanche test site (France). An inverse analysis method is developed to reconstruct the pressure applied on this macroscopic sensor from the deformations recorded during the impact. The deformation-to-pressure transfer function of the sensor is determined by analytical modelling and in-situ impact hammer tests. The transfer function is used to quantify the pressure of a 17 m/s avalanche artificially released on the structure. In order to access to the uncertainty of the reconstructed pressure, an advanced sensibility analysis is performed. Firstly, the uncertainties related to different parameters and processes involved are identified and estimated in the deformation-to- pressure transfer function through probability distributions. Then, the sensibility of the reconstructed pressure to these parameters is investigated to identify the most contributing parameters. Finally, the distribution of the uncertainty is estimated as a probability density of the total error/uncertainty in the pressure via a Monte Carlo simulation.
Audit Quality of Second-Tier Auditors: Are All Created Equally Web Appendix

Policy makers and regulators are interested in increasing auditor choice. A common problem faced by large firms is that one auditor is for external audit, a second for internal audit, a third for tax, a fourth for consulting (Cox, 2005; GAO, 2008, p. 22). A possible option for alleviating this auditor choice problem is to have the second-tier auditors as an acceptable alternative to the Big 4. The second-tier auditors include BDO, Grant Thorton, Crowe, and McGladrey. According to a 2003 U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO, 2003) survey of large public firms, the major consideration in auditor choice is audit quality. We examine audit quality 2 The BRC Academy Journal of Business Vol. 4, No. 1 of each of the second-tier auditors to determine if auditor choice is being increased while maintaining audit quality. We use two common measures of audit quality, earnings response coefficient and abnormal accrual, during the 2000 to 2010 period. We find no significant statistical difference in audit quality among the second-tier auditor especially in the period after Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The results should be comforting to policy makers and regulators, who are interested in increasing auditor choice.
Quality and Inequality of Jobs Created in MENA Region: The Case of Labor Market in Jordan

Using micro-level data sets, the current study constructs a Job Quality Index (JQI) for Jordanian wage and salary workers. Due to the unavailability of data for some years, the study covers only the period 2000–07. Factor Analysis is utilized to compile the index based on the following four dimensions: adequate earnings; underemployment and overemployment (which together represent adequate working hours); and social security. The main findings of the study are as follows: (1) The JQI appears to have improved in 2007 compared to the mid-2000s, reaching similar levels of those prevailing in 2000. (2) There exists a persistent gender gap in favor of male workers, whose jobs are characterized by a higher JQI. This finding does not change even when taking into account other intervening variables, particularly a worker’s age. Good jobs as a percentage of total jobs held by females appear to decline in 2007, unlike males, whose share of good jobs has grown in the same year. Therefore, no sign of convergence in job quality between males and females is detected. (3) JQI varies across education levels, however, less obviously. Workers with basic education and lower are found to obtain considerably poorer jobs and jobs generally characterized with lower JQIs. (4) The JQI differs across age groups. New entrants to the labor market and workers on the verge of retirement are more likely to have lower job quality in comparison with other workers belonging to age groups in the middle of their work lives. (5) The quality of jobs in agricultural activities is found to be on average lower than other activities. On the other hand, real estate activities tend to have higher job quality ratings than other sectors, especially in 2007.
Expressed Emotion and Attitudes toward Body Image and Food

In numerous studies over the years, body image and dysfunctional attitudes toward food have shown to be related to the genesis of eating disorders. Recent research has particularly focused on the influence that families have on both the development of eating disorders as well as their impact on their child's body image and eating attitudes . In general, higher levels of expressed emotion are often found in families with children who have either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. However, there is a lack of research on sub-clinical populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the influence that expressed emotion has on body image and eating attitudes, which are often markers of sub-clinical eating dysfunction. Ninety-nine female undergraduate students from Butler University completed questionnaires assessing eating attitudes, restraint, body shape, fear of becoming fat, and expressed emotion. My hypothesis is that a high level of expressed emotion in families is positively correlated with dysfunctional attitudes toward food and distorted body image. Pearson correlations showed that indeed there are significant relationships between high expressed emotion and negative eating attitudes, increased restraint in eating patterns, poor body image, and fear of becoming fat in college-aged women. Results are discussed in light of relevant theory.
ANALYSIS OF THERMO-PHYSIOLOGICAL COMFORT AND MOISTURE MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES OF FLAT KNITTED SPACER FABRICS

Bu cal i s mada duz orme sandvic kuma s lar i n i s i l konfor ve nem iletim ozelliklerine kuma s yuzeyinde kullan i lan iplik tipi, monofilament iplik cap i ve monofilament iplik yerle s im ac i s i n i n etkisi incelenmi s tir. Bu amacla farkl i iplik tipleri (multifilament polyester ve Coolmax®) kullan i larak ve monofilament iplik parametreleri (0.28, 0.38 ve 0.48 monofilament iplik cap i ve monofilament iplik yerle s im ac i s i (ask i n i n 3, 5, 7 i g ne kayd i r i lmas i )) de g i s tirilerek yedi farkl i sandvic kuma s uretilmi s tir. Kuma s lar i n hava gecirgenli g i, su buhar i gecirgenli g i ve i s i l direnc gibi termo-fizyolojik ozellikleri ile s i v i nem iletim yetenekleri test edilmi s ve istatistiksel olarak de g erlendirilmi s tir. Cal i s man i n sonucunda termo-fizyolojik konfor ve nem iletim ozelliklerine etki eden en onemli faktorun yuzeyde kullan i lan iplik tipi oldu g u tespit edilmi s tir. Kanall i yap i s i sayesinde Coolmax® iceren kuma s lar i n yuksek hava gecirgenli g i, su buhar i gecirgenli g i indeksi, i s i l direnc ve OMMC de g erleri ile daha iyi i s i l konfor ve s i v i nem iletim ozelliklerine sahip oldu g u belirlenmi s tir.
Densitometric Comparison of Autogenous Cancellous Bone Graft and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Osteotomy Healing in the Tibial Tuberosity Advancement Procedure in Dogs

Densitometric Comparison of Autogenous Cancellous Bone Graft and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Osteotomy Healing in the Tibial Tuberosity Advancement Procedure in Dogs Katherine Hirose Barnes Objectives: To compare optical values in the osteotomy gap created after a Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) treated with autogenous cancellous bone graft (ACBG), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), a combination of ACBG and ESWT, and absence of both ACBG and ESWT using densitometry. Methods: Dogs presenting for surgical repair of a cranial cruciate ligament rupture were randomly assigned to one of four groups; TTA with ACBG (TTA-G), TTA with ACBG and ESWT (TTA-GS), TTA with ESWT (TTA-S), and TTA with no additional therapy (TTA-O). Mediolateral radiographs at 0, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery were evaluated to compare healing of the osteotomy gap via densitometry. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis was used to compare the densitometric values between groups. Results: At 4 weeks after surgery, a significant difference in osteotomy gap density was noted between TTA-GS (8.4 millimeters of Aluminum equivalent [mmAleq]) and TTA-S (6.1mmAleq), and between TTA-GS (8.4 mmAleq) and TTA-O (6.4 mmAleq). There were no significant differences noted between groups at the 8 week recheck. Clinical Significance: There were no significant differences in the osteotomy gap density at 8 weeks after surgery regardless of the treatment modality used. The combination of ACBG and ESWT may lead to increased density of the osteotomy gap in the first 4 weeks after surgery. Densitometry using an aluminum step wedge is a feasible method for comparison of bone healing after TTA in dogs.