Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coronary artery disease

Introduction: The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has been developed based on the calculation of N×P/L (N, P and L represent neutrophil count, platelet count and lymphocyte count, respectively), and it is widely used as a marker of inflammation and an indicator of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. We examined a possible association between SII and the presence of isolated coronary artery ectasia (CAE). Material and methods: In this retrospective case-control study, a total of 4400 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography between June 2015 and July 2020 were retrospectively screened. Following the application of exclusion criteria, our study population consisted of 139 CAE patients and 141 ageand gender-matched subjects who proved to have normal coronary angiograms. Results: The median value of SII was found to be statistically significantly higher in patients with CAE (p < 0.01). SII level ≥ 809 measured on admission had 48% sensitivity and 82% specificity in predicting isolated CAE in ROC curve analysis. In this ROC analysis, the predictive powers of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and SII in determining the presence of ectasia were compared, and the predictive power of SII was significantly stronger than N/L ratio (p = 0.003). In the multivariate analysis, hyperlipidaemia (OR = 1.978, 95% CI: 1.168–3.349, p = 0.01), smoking (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.090–3.127, p = 0.023) N/L ratio (OR = 1.192, 95% CI: (1.114– 1.997, p = 0.07) and SII (OR = 1.002, 95% CI: 1.001–1.003, p < 0.01) were independent predictors of the presence of isolated CAE. Conclusions: SII is a readily available clinical laboratory value that is associated with the presence of isolated CAE. Our findings may indicate a common pathophysiological mechanism between CAE and coronary artery disease.
Tapered walls via holes manufactured using DRIE variable isotropy process

This paper describes a method to manufacture through wafer via holes with tapered walls for RF applications. The main purpose was the need to obtain via holes with tapered walls that allow depositing seed and barrier layers by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) to enable gold electroplating. Method consists in consecutively using of the two basic process types for DRIE technique: isotropic and anisotropic etchings. Thus via holes with 20μm and 100μm diameter having tapered walls with angles between 14° and 18° were manufactured. Thin metal layers were also deposited on the walls by e-beam technique.
Born into adjustment: child health, parental education, and the International Monetary Fund

Parental education is located at the center of global efforts to improve child health. In a developing-country context, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) plays a crucial role in determining how governments allocate scarce resources to education and public health interventions. Under reforms mandated by IMF structural adjustment programs, it may become harder for parents to reap the benefits of their education due to wage contraction, welfare retrenchment and generalized social insecurity. This study assesses how the protective effect of education changes under IMF programs, and thus how parents’ ability to guard their children’s health is affected by structural adjustment. We combine crosssectional stratified data (countries=67; children=1,941,734) from the Demographic Health Surveys and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. The sample represents approximately 2.8 billion (about 50%) of the world’s population in year 2000. Based on multilevel models, our findings reveal that programs reduce the protective effect of parental education on child health, especially in rural areas. For instance, in the absence of IMF programs, living in an household with educated parents reduces the odds of child malnourishment by 38% (OR=0.62; 95% CI: 0.66 to 0.58); in the presence of programs, this drops to 21% (OR=0.79; 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.74). In other words, the presence of IMF conditionality decreases the protective effect of parents’ education on child malnourishment by no less than 17%. We observe similar adverse effects in sanitation, shelter, and health care access (including immunization); but a beneficial effect in countering water deprivation.
From Exxon to BP: Has Some Number Become Better Than No Number?

On March 23, 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska's Prince William Sound and released over 250,000 barrels of crude oil, resulting in 1300 miles of oiled shoreline. The Exxon spill ignited a debate about the appropriate compensation for damages suffered, and among economists, a debate concerning the adequacy of methods to value public goods, particularly when the good in question has limited direct use, such as the pristine natural environment of the spill region. The efficacy of stated preference methods generally, and contingent valuation in particular, is no mere academic debate. Billions of dollars are at stake. An influential symposium appearing in this journal in 1994 provided arguments for and against the credibility of these methods, and an extensive research program published in academic journals has continued to this day. This paper assesses what occurred in this academic literature between the Exxon spill and the BP disaster. We will rely on theoretical developments, neoclassical and behavioral paradigms, empirical and experimental evidence, and a clearer elucidation of validity criteria to provide a framework for readers to ponder the question of the validity of contingent valuation and, more generally, stated preference methods.
Three Essays on the Effects of Ethical Attributes on Private Label and National Brands

Ethical attributes and social responsibility initiatives have become an important focus of attention ‎among marketing researchers and practitioners. My dissertation focuses on how consumers ‎respond to introducing product-related social responsibility initiatives/ethical attributes (i.e., ‎attributes that reflect concern about social and environmental issues; Luchs et al. 2010) for ‎different tiers of retailers’ private label brands (paper 1), brand attributes (paper 2), and brand ‎concepts (paper 3). In paper one, building on research in social responsibility and evolutionary ‎psychology, we introduce a conceptual model and opposing predictions to explore how social ‎responsibility initiatives can be integrated into different quality tiers (high vs. low) of retailers’ ‎private label brands (PLBs). The results of two experiments show that social responsibility ‎initiatives enhanced consumer evaluations of high-tier PLBs but hurt consumer evaluations of ‎low-tier PLBs. These findings were more consistent with an explanation based on resource ‎synergy beliefs rather than costly signaling theory. ‎ In paper two, we focus on other brand attributes that may affect offering ethical ‎attributes to PLBs and manufacturers’ national brands (NBs). Building on cue utilization theory ‎‎(Burnkrant, 1978; Jacoby, Olson, & Haddock 1971), the findings of this paper was twofold. ‎First, ethical attributes enhance PLB evaluations only in the presence of extrinsic cues signaling ‎high quality (i.e., high price or high retailer reputation), and this effect is mediated by consumers’ ‎product quality perceptions. Second, ethical attributes do not affect NB evaluations in the ‎presence of ethical attributes regardless of the extrinsic quality cues. ‎ In paper three, we shift our attention to the type of ethical attributes (i.e., symbolic vs. ‎utilitarian) and their congruity with the brand concept of symbolic national brands and utilitarian ‎private label brands. Three experiments show that a congruity between ethical attribute type and ‎brand concept (e.g., a symbolic ethical attribute for a symbolic NB) enhances consumer brand ‎evaluations whereas an incongruity between ethical attribute type and brand concept (e.g., a ‎symbolic ethical attribute for a utilitarian PLB) mitigates brand evaluations. This effect is ‎mediated by perceived congruity. ‎
Convolutional Neural Networks for automatic image colorization

This paper deals with automatic image colorization. This is a hard issue, since it is an ill-posed problem that usually requires user intervention to achieve high quality. A fully automatic approach is proposed that is able to produce realistic colorization of an input grayscale image. Motivated by the recent success of deep learning techniques in image processing, we propose a feed-forward, two-stage architecture based on Convolutional Neural Network that predicts the U and V color channels. Unlike most of the previous works, this paper presents a fully automatic colorization which is able to produce high-quality and realistic colorization even of complex scenes. Comprehensive experiments and qualitative and quantitative evaluations were conducted on the images of SUN database and on other images. We have found that Quaternion Structural Similarity (QSSIM) gives in some degree a good base for quantitative evaluation, that is why we chose QSSIM as an index-number for the quality of colorization. 4
DETERMINANTS OF SMES’ PERFORMANCE: THE CASE OF KYAING TONG, EASTERN SHAN STATE, MYANMAR

This research aims to investigate the correlation between entrepreneurial competencies, external factors, firm characteristics, location, market orientation and the performance of SMEs in the Kyaing Tong area, Myanmar. The target population is SME owners from that area who run their firms with less than 50 workers. 331 participants returned completed and usable questionnaires. A Pearson Correlation Coefficient analysis tool was employed to test the hypotheses. In this study, the researcher has found supports for most of the research hypotheses. The results indicate that organizing competencies, strategic competencies, commitment competencies, external factors, nature of firm, firm knowledge, location, customer orientation, competitor orientation, and inter-functional orientation play have a positive impact on the performance of these SMEs. No association, however, was found between opportunity competencies, relationship competencies, conceptual competencies, and size of firm and SMEs’ performances.
Fault-Tolerant Strategy to Control a Reverse Matrix Converter for Open-Switch Faults in the Rectifier Stage

Reverse matrix converters, which can step up voltages, are suitable for applications with source voltages that are lower than load voltages, such as generator systems. Reverse matrix converter topologies are advantageous because they do not require additional components to conventional matrix converters. In this paper, a detection method and a post-fault modulation strategy to operate a converter as close as possible to its desired normal operation under the open-switch fault condition in the rectifier stage are proposed. An open-switch fault in the rectifier stage of a reverse matrix converter causes current distortions and voltage ripples in the system. Therefore, fault-tolerant control for open-switch faults is required to improve the reliability of a system. The proposed strategy determines the appropriate switching stages from among the remaining healthy switches of the converter. This is done based on reference currents or voltages. The performance of the proposed strategy is experimentally verified.
Legislative Parties in Volatile, Nonprogrammatic Party Systems: The Peruvian Case in Comparative Perspective

Abstract This article extends the analysis of political parties in electorally volatile and organizationally weak party systems by evaluating two implications centered on legislative voting behavior. First, it examines whether disunity prevails where weakness of programmatic and electoral commonalities abound. Second, it analyzes whether inchoate party systems weaken the ability of government parties to control the congressional agenda. The empirical analysis centers on Peru, a classic example of a weakly institutionalized party system, and how its legislative parties compare to those of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and the United States. The results lend support to the view that lower unity characterizes weakly institutionalized settings. The agenda-setting power of government parties, however, appears to be influenced more by the majority status of the government than by the level of party system institutionalization.
Developing a model of student learning in a studio-based teaching environment

This paper evaluates a studio based teaching model in a core first year subject of a traditionally delivered IT degree. It reports on first year students’ reactions to four aspects of the studio-based teaching and learning environment; the physical learning space, IT tools and infrastructure, teaching philosophy and portfolio assessment. Data was obtained through online Web-based surveys, issued mid-year and at the end of the year. The surveys were used to construct a model of students' satisfaction, including what influences the students’ use of the new environment and their perceptions of its value to their learning. Results revealed various factors that influence the students' satisfaction of studio-based teaching. Students found the studio precinct an inviting and comfortable place to learn; however, although students appreciated the working environment they were continuously frustrated with endless IT-related problems. Students' comments indicate the teaching environment facilitated collaboration, and by the end of the year they began to see the course as being better integrated. An unexpected finding was the evidence of students developing metacognitive skills via portfolio assessment.
Geo-environmental aspects for the development of Las Pailas deothermal field, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Las Pailas is located in a very special zone where different social-economic activities, natural conditions, and an important geothermal resource converge. All the geoscientific environmental and economic-social information available support the exploitation of this resource and the construction of a geothermal power plant of 35 MWe. It is a necessity and a possibility, with continuous and careful monitoring as well as varied necessary mitigating measures, to take advantage of the geothermal resource that is immersed within an area of special ecological context. Following the philosophy and the guidelines for sustainable development should be the door to future geothermal operations within protected zones like national parks and natural reserves. Geothermal exploitation is a very good opportunity for ICE (Costa Rican Institute of Electricity) and for the country.
Influence of Some Brown Seaweed Extracts on Germination and Cytological Responses of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the brown algae Sargassum vulgare, Colpomenia sinuosa and Padina pavonica extracts on the germination rate, cell division and protein pattern of Trigonella foenum-graecum L (fenugreek). The seaweed extracts elicited better response at lower concentrations while higher concentrations decreased the germination rate of fenugreek seeds when compared to control. With respect to protein pattern of fenugreek, 20 bands were recorded, nine monomorphic, eight polymorphic and three unique. Some bands are specific to each seaweed which may be attributed to their chemical composition. Extract of S. vulgare was more effective on germination of fenugreek seeds than the other seaweeds extracts used in this investigation. These results suggest that cytotoxic effect of high concentration of seaweeds extract may be due to accumulation of their phenolic content. The results of the present investigation also suggest that seaweeds can be exploited for stimulation the growth of economic crops instead of chemical fertilizers.
Postural Sway with Illusory Motion Induced by Static Visual Stimuli in Migraineurs and Normal Controls

Illusory motion, in which observers can perceive static images to be moving, is an important graphic design concept. Although the mechanism of illusory motion is being uncovered, it is still unclear whether illusory motion can induce postural sway. Patients with migraine headaches (migraineurs) are likely to suffer from motion sickness and are more likely to perceive illusory motion than are individuals without chronic headaches. Since one of the causes of motion sickness is the conflict between visual and vestibular inputs, we hypothesized that migraineurs have an abnormal visuo-vestibular interaction. We measured postural sway during migraineurs’ and normal controls’ viewing of static visual stimuli with and without illusory motion. We used Kitaoka’s artworks as both the illusory motion and control stimuli (Kitaoka, 2003, 2013). The participants stood on a stabilometer while they viewed one stimulus for 30 seconds. Immediately afterward (Experiment 1), or 30 seconds after viewing the stimuli (Experiment 2), the participants closed their eyes and stood on the stabilometer for 30 seconds. The results from Experiment 1 indicated that migraineurs swayed more than controls while their eyes were closed after viewing the illusory motion image. However, in Experiment 2, migraineurs swayed less than controls with their eyes closed following a 30-second interval after viewing the illusory motion. Taken together, these results suggest that static visual stimuli induce not only illusory motion but also postural sway, which may last for 30 seconds in migraineurs.
ACCELERATED PHENOL DEGRADATION BY BACTERIAL COMMUNITY IN THE RHIZOSPHERE OF SPIRODELA POLLYRHIZA

The rhizosphere effect of Spirodela polyrrhiza to accelerate the biodegradation of phenol was investigated to show the universality and to elucidate the mechanism focusing on the selective accumulation of phenol-degrading bacteria in its rhizosphere. Phenol degradation tests were perfonned using 6 environmental water samples with/without S. polyrrhiza. During the phenol degradation tests, behaviour of bacterial community was monitored qualitatively and quantitatively by DNA-mediated methods. The phenolic compounds in the root exudates of S. polyrrhiza were also determined. Accelerated biodegradation of phenol was confirmed in all the 6 environmental water samples with both non-sterile and sterile S. polyrrhiza. S. polyrrhiza selectively accumulated aromatic compounds degrading bacteria in its rhizosphere, although taxonomic bacterial compositions depended on the source of the enviromnental water samples. S. polyrrhiza released phenolic compounds into its rhizosphere fraction as root exudates at considerably high specific release rate of 1,520 mg-TOC dg-l wet root and 214 mg-phenolic compounds dI g-l wet root. Thus the rhizosphere effect of S. polyrrhiza to accelerate the biodegradation of phenol was confirmed as a universal propelty. S. polyrrhiza secreted root exudates which were rich in phenolic compounds into its rhizosphere. This ability of S. polyrrhiza could selectively recruit bacterial populations which possess catechol 1,2or 2,3dioxygenase genes and resulted in the accelerated biodegradation of phenol. S. polyrrhiza and bacteria in its rhizosphere can be very useful device for the emichment of bacteria which can degrade organic pollutants, especially phenolic compounds in the aquatic environment.
VOICE Recording - Methodological Challenges in the Compilation of a Corpus of Spoken ELF

VOICE, the Vienna-Oxford International Corpus of English, aims to provide a general basis for analyses of English as a lingua franca (ELF) talk on all linguistic levels. This paper discusses criteria that have to be fulfilled in order to achieve this aim. It illustrates that compiling a corpus of spoken ELF involves the reconciliation of different - and often conflicting - requirements: this means finding and keeping a reasonable balance between theoretical specifications, methodological considerations and practical limitations. The focus of this paper is on dilemmas encountered in the processes of data collection and selection and finding suitable ways of representing spoken ELF in written form.
Modeling Indoor Contaminant Dispersion

Modeling Indoor Contaminant Dispersion Darrell W. Pepper1 and Xiuling Wang2 Extended Abstract The study of indoor air pollution requires understanding fundamental principles of fluid mechanics, species transport, heat transfer, and systems engineering. Buildings have become complex entities with considerable electronic control features embedded within the structures. Of particular concern are issues involving contaminants that routinely enter or lie dormant within building interiors, and their affects upon human health. Articles can be commonly found in newspapers printed throughout the world describing groups of people becoming sick while staying in a hotel, cruising on a ship, or travelling in planes or buses. Efforts to define and describe pollutant transport within buildings and interiors has become complex. Modeling pollutant transport within indoor environments now requires computational methods and techniques that were utilized only in research laboratories a few years ago. Knowledge of fundamental principles of ventilation and building systems, including HVAC, must now be coupled with computational fluid dynamics techniques in order to accurately assess human health and predicting contaminant transport. Toxic fumes and airborne diseases are known to produce undesirable odors, eye and nose irritations, sickness, and occasionally death. Other products such as tobacco smoke and carbon monoxide can also have serious health effects on people exposed to a poorly ventilated environment; studies indicate that indirect or passive smoking can also lead to lung cancer. Recommendations for outdoor airflow rates to dilute indoor polluted air vary considerably. In recent years there has been extensive activity in the development and use of CFD tools and special programs for room air movement and contaminant transport applications. These investigations range from the prediction of air jet diffusion, air velocity and temperature distribution in rooms, spread of contamination in enclosures, to fire and smoke spread inside buildings. In most cases the predicted results have been promising when compared to available experimental data. However, numerical modeling of ventilation and associated interior contaminant transport is still at an early stage of development. A considerable amount of research and development work is still needed, particularly in the areas of efficient computational schemes, irregular and adaptive grids, turbulence modeling and wall functions. One of the earliest attempts to numerically simulate airflow in rooms was conducted by Nielsen (1974) using the stream function-vorticity approach for the de-