Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OBSERVATION OF ESTIMATED GFR IN THE ASSESSMENT OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: APPLICATION AND PRACTICE

Staging of Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important not only for proper evaluation and treatment but also to consider the need for dialysis. This staging depends on GFR value which is measured by radio labeled substances and 24 hours urine creatinine clearance but these have their own limitations. Serum creatinine based estimated GFR (eGFR) is more convenient and cost effective. Therefore this study was undertaken to estimate GFR by using Cockcroft-Gault formula, MDRD equation and MCQE in controls and CKD patients. The study comprised of 123 healthy individuals as control group and 128 patients with evidence of CKD. In control group, MCQE provided a reasonable value of eGFR in all age groups when compared with CG and MDRD formulae. Besides this, MDRD provided a higher value of eGFR than CG in the age group of above 60 years. CG and MDRD placed in, around 50% of the control population under less than<90ml/min/1.73m2 grading them all as stage 2 mostly and only a few as stage 3. MCQE placed only 10% of healthy individuals under stage 2. Therefore, MCQE more appropriately estimates GFR in control group than CG and MDRD. There is a significant decrease of estimated GFR by three formulae in CKD group when compared with control group. In CKD group, very few cases are under stage 2 whereas stage 3 comprises of 28.2%, 26% and 23% according to CG, MDRD and MCQE respectively. The distribution of stage 4 includes 32%, 28.2% and 27% and stage 5 includes 39%, 45.3% and 48% according to CG, MDRD and MCQE respectively. This reflects the fact that the GFR is underestimated in CKD group and the same might have happened in the controls too. However, with some reservation, MCQE in control and MDRD and MCQE in cases are found to be satisfactory in staging CKD in the present study.
Forecasting tourist arrivals using origin country macroeconomics

ABSTRACT This study utilizes both disaggregated data and macroeconomic indicators in order to examine the importance of the macroeconomic environment of origin countries for analysing destinations’ tourist arrivals. In particular, it is the first study to present strong empirical evidence that both of these features in tandem provide statistically significant information of tourist arrivals in Greece. The forecasting exercises presented in our analysis show that macroeconomic indicators conducive to better forecasts are mainly origin country-specific, thus highlighting the importance of considering the apparent sharp national contrasts among origin countries when investigating domestic tourist arrivals. Given the extent of the dependency of the Greek economy on tourism income and also the perishable nature of the tourist product itself, results have important implications for policymakers in Greece.
A Convex Formulation for Binary Tomography

Binary tomography is concerned with the recovery of binary images from a few of their projections (i.e., sums of the pixel values along various directions). To reconstruct an image from noisy projection data, one can pose it as a constrained least-squares problem. As the constraints are nonconvex, many approaches for solving it rely on either relaxing the constraints or heuristics. In this paper, we propose a novel convex formulation, based on the Lagrange dual of the constrained least-squares problem. The resulting problem is a generalized <italic>least absolute shrinkage and selection operator</italic> problem, which can be solved efficiently. It is a relaxation in the sense that it can only be guaranteed to give a feasible solution, not necessarily the optimal one. In exhaustive experiments on small images (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2\times 2$</tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3\times 3$</tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\times 4$</tex-math></inline-formula>), we find, however, that if the problem has a unique solution, our dual approach finds it. In the case of multiple solutions, our approach finds the commonalities between the solutions. Further experiments on realistic numerical phantoms and an experiment on the X-ray dataset show that our method compares favorably to Total Variation and DART.
The Influence of Touchdown Parameters on the Performance of a High Jumper

In order to maximize the mass center vertical velocity at toe-off and thereby jump height the approach parameters in high jumping must be optimized. The present study aimed to determine the influence on jump height of the approach speed, the leg plant angle, and the knee angle at touchdown. Sixteen trials by an elite male high jumper were recorded in a single training session. Direct intervention was used to induce a change in technique so that a greater range in approach speed was obtained than was observed in competition. The optimum approach was shown to be fast (7.0 m · s–1) with the leg planted away from the vertical (34°) and with minimum knee flexion. A regression equation was obtained which was able to account for 79% of the observed variation in jump height. Jump height performance was shown to be most sensitive to changes in leg plant angle and knee angle at touchdown.
A New VTOL Propelled Wing for Flying Cars: Critical Bibliographic Analysis

This paper is a preliminary step in the direction of the definition of a radically new wing concept that has been conceived to maximize the lift even at low speeds. It is expected to equip new aerial vehicle concepts that aim to compete against helicopters and tilt rotors. They aim achieving very good performance at very low speed (5 to 30 m/s) by mean of an innovative concept of morphing ducted-fan propelled wing that has been designed to maximize the lift force. This paper presents an effective bibliographic analysis of the problem that is a preliminary necessary step in the direction of the preliminary design of the wing. A preliminary CFD evaluation allows demonstrating that the claimed results are in line with the initial expectations. According to the CFD, results it has been produced a preliminary energetic evaluation of the vehicle in a flying car configuration by EMIPS method. Even if the results are still preliminary, they allow evidencing a good energy efficiency of the vehicle against helicopters.
A coupled lattice boltzmann - immersed boundary method to model the behaviour of thin flexible structures in fluids

This article presents a computational model to simulate the fluid interaction with moving flexible thin structures. The model is based on a combination of three numerical approaches, (i) a Lattice-Boltzmann solver for the flow equations, (ii) a finite difference method to solve the solid equation, and (iii) an Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) to model the coupling between the fluid and the solid. The present IBM, based on a direct-forcing approach, preserves the no-slip boundary condition at the interface fluid-solid, and allows using Cartesian uniform lattice encompassing both fluid and solid domains. The flexible solid is modelled as an elastic structure. The resulting governing equation involves thus tension and bending forces as internal forces, the inertial and gravity forces and finally the action of the fluid represented by the IBM forcing. The method is first validated with reference to an academic test case dealing with numerical simulations of a flapping flag in a free stream. The model shows results in good agreement with the published academic test case. The validation extends to the free motion of rag in a water tunnel and a qualitative comparison is available against experimental data performed with Digital Image Correlation (DIC). Finally, the present method is used to simulate the behaviour of flexible rags in the presence of highly rotating flows at high Reynolds number, as it is the case in stirred tanks.
Attitudes toward education as influenced by neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics: an application of multilevel structural equation modeling

This study explains neighborhood differences in people's attitudes toward education by utilizing nationally representative data from Japan. While previous studies have shown that individuals' socioeconomic backgrounds are related to their attitudes toward education, no study in Japan has addressed whether neighborhood differences in socioeconomic characteristics influence these attitudes. Therefore, this study aims to clarify whether a neighborhood socioeconomic factor (percentage of college graduates) differentiates people's attitudes toward education by employing multilevel structural equation modeling techniques. RESULTS indicate some neighborhood differences in individuals' attitudes toward education; the percentage of college graduates in each neighborhood is associated with between-neighborhood differences. In other words, individuals living in a neighborhood with a higher percentage of college graduates have more positive attitudes toward education. Language: ja
Protein Profile and Plasmid Content of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis LL52 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris LC79 Strains under Several Stress Conditions

Differences in the protein and plasmid content of 2 Lactococcus lactis strains, L. lactis subsp. lactis LL52 and L. lactis subsp. cremoris LC79, under the stresses of high and low temperature, osmotic shock, and low pH were determined. We identified 3 new proteins with molecular masses of 16.0, 29.4, and 45.0 kDa as high temperature stress response specific in strain LL52. High temperature stress did not cause any changes in the protein content of strain LC79. Proteins that were specific for salt stress and low pH stress responses ranged between 16.0 and 40.5 kDa, and 24.8 and 107.5 kDa, respectively, in both strains. No proteins were related to low temperature stress in LL52 and LC79 strains. Plasmid analysis indicated that there was no relationship between stress responses and plasmids in these bacteria.
Firearms and Violent Crime in New South Wales

Following several tragic deaths involving firearms in New South Wales, there has been much public speculation about whether offences involving firearms and particularly handguns are increasing. This bulletin discusses evidence bearing on this issue. It shows that the number of murders involving firearms in New South Wales actually fell between 1995 and 2000, as did the incidence of robbery with a firearm between 1997 and 2000. However the number of shooting offences rose between 1995 and 2000, particularly in parts of South Western Sydney. Police data show that young adult males are especially prone to involvement in firearm offences. United States data on homicides committed by youths using handguns are used to highlight the importance of limiting the acquisition of handguns by young people. Strategies to reduce the spread of handguns are discussed.
Factors affecting the success of internationally awarded Turkish chefs

Introduction Over the past few decades restaurant business has boomed in Turkey. New styles and techniques are implemented to cuisine and chefs became more equipped in terms of skills and knowledge. However, there is a lack of a number of awarded Turkish chefs known in the international arena. Purpose: This paper tries to identify the operational and cultural factors related to the absence of Turkish chefs and restaurants in the culinary world. The importance of this research is to analyze the reasons behind the success of Turkish award-winning chefs to help the young willing Turkish chefs throughout their career success paths to International Arena. Method and material: Semi-structured interviews are conducted with the award-winning Turkish chefs. The data gathered from the interviews are analyzed through the categorization of the factors previously found from the literature. Findings are discussed in this manner. Results and Discussion: Chefs’ philosophies which shape the concepts of their restaurants is the most important factor for success, the philosophy also triggers the creativity and innovation. Selection of products and employee in terms of the availability, quality, and sustainability is another important factor. Most of the chefs are having a struggle in costs and pricing since this factor mostly relies on the cultural profile of the customers.
Market Participation among Poor Rural Households in Kenya

Kenya’s smallholder agriculture remains a major engine of rural growth and livelihood improvement, yet it is largely semi-subsistence. Therefore, any pathway that can lift large numbers of the rural poor out of poverty will require some form of transformation of smallholder agriculture into a more commercialized production system. This study used a three-year panel household data set collected in 2000, 2004 and 2007 and across nine agroecological zones of Kenya to assess the extent of market participation among poor smallholder farmers in Kenya with a view to identifying constraints to market participation among and potential market opportunities for the poor. Descriptive results reveal differences in market participation across selected commodity groups among poor and non-poor households, with poor households having generally lower market participation. Some characteristics of the poor households that could partly explain this low market participation include low literacy levels, small land sizes, low asset values, low access to credit and limited ability to produce surpluses for the market. In terms of factors that could enhance market participation for poor households, we find that land size and membership in farmer organization play significant roles. These results suggest that any hope for the poor to participate in markets and make any meaningful gains from agriculture lies in improving productivity of their land as well as improving their access to land. Increasing social capital through promotion of collective action among poor households can also be of great value in enhancing their access to markets.
Simulation as a Decision Support Tool in Maintenance Float Systems ? System Availability Versus Total Maintenance Cost

This paper is concerned with the use of simulation as a decision support tool in maintenance systems, specifically in MFS (Maintenance Float Systems). For this purpose and due to its high complexity, in this paper the authors explore and present a possible way to construct a MFS model using Arena® simulation language, where some of the most common performance measures are identified, calculated and analysed. Nevertheless this paper would concentrate on the two most important performance measures in maintenance systems: system availability and maintenance total cost. As far as these two indicators are concerned, it was then quite clear that they assumed different behavior patterns, specially when using extreme values for periodic overhauls rates. In this respect, system availability proved to be a more sensitive parameter.
Thermodynamics of Regular Accelerating Black Holes

Using the covariant phase space formalism, we compute the conserved charges for a solution, describing an accelerating and electrically charged Reissner-Nordstrom black hole. The metric is regular provided that the acceleration is driven by an external electric field, in spite of the usual string of the standard C-metric. The Smarr formula and the first law of black hole thermodynamics are fulfilled. The resulting mass has the same form of the Christodoulou-Ruffini mass formula. On the basis of these results, we can extrapolate the mass and thermodynamics of the rotating C-metric, which describes a Kerr-Newman-(A)dS black hole accelerated by a pulling string.
Some introduced vertebrate species to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

We report in this paper all the terrestrial and freshwater introduced species in Jordan. Eight species of mammals have been introduced to Jordan from other countries. One species is expanding its range of distribution (Myocastor coypus), while the others are confined to nature reserves or private farms, or released within the vicinity of nature reserves. Thirteen species of birds were introduced, either intentionally, escaped from cage or expanded their range. A total of 15 freshwater fish species were introduced into the inland of the Jordanian territories. The Common Carp, Cyprinus carpio, and Oreochromis aureus were the most introduced species from various origins. Of the introduced reptiles, the Red-eared Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, was found in Azraq pools. The impact of invasive species on the local fauna was discussed. The native fresh water fishes were the most affected; whereas three endemic species are currently critically endangered due to introduction of invasive species into their habitats.
Relationships between Psychidae communities (Lepidoptera: Tineoidea) and the ecological characteristics of old-growth forests in a beech dominated landscape

Several studies address the question of which forest attributes are most important for the conservation of biodiversity. Unfortunately, there are no unequivocal answers because the response of a biological group to changes in forest structure depends on its natural history and scale of organization. It is important to increase our knowledge of the potential relationships between under studied groups of species and forest variables in order to adopt timber harvesting strategies not detrimental to biodiversity, especially in old-growth forests. We assessed the importance of 10 forest attributes and old-growth for Psychidae (Lepidoptera) species and communities. Research was carried out in 12 forest stands in a mountainous beech dominated landscape in southern Italy, in the middle of the Mediterranean Basin. Samples were collected in 2001 and 2013 and data were merged after pairwise comparison analyses that confirmed the long term stability of communities. Correspondence Analysis, Cluster Analysis and non-parametric Spearman Rank Order Correlation were used to identify determinants of Psychidae abundance and diversity. We collected 2,732 Psychidae belonging to 8 species. Correspondence analysis identified old-growth as the main determinant of communities. Most significant attributes for individual species were beech dominance, diameter at breast height and its standard deviation. For Taleporia defoliella there were positive correlations with these forest parameters, whereas for Psyche crassiorella the correlations were negative. This study underlined the importance of forest attributes associated with old-growth forests for sustaining biodiversity. These findings indicate the need to incorporate these attributes in forest planning, especially those aspects that are easily recognizable such as the number of large trees.
Compensation Strategy to Eliminate the Effect of Current Measurement Offsets in Grid-Connected Inverters

For the digital control of systems such as grid-connected inverters, measuring inverter output currents accurately is essential. However, current measurement offsets are inevitably generated by current measurement paths and cause DC current components in real inverter output currents. Real inverter output currents with DC components cause the DC-link capacitor voltage to oscillate at the frequency of a utility voltage. For these reasons, current measurement offsets deteriorate the overall system performance. A compensation strategy to eliminate the effect of current measurement offsets in grid-connected inverters is proposed in this study. The validity of the proposed compensation strategy is verified through simulations and experiments. Results show that the proposed compensation strategy improves the performance of grid-connected inverters.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Iodine-Doped Bi 2 WO 6 Nanoplates with Enhanced Visible and Ultraviolet-Induced Photocatalytic Activities

The iodine-doped Bi2WO6 (I-BWO) photocatalyst was prepared via a hydrothermal method using potassium iodide as the source of iodine. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of I-BWO for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) was higher than that of pure BWO and I2-BWO regardless of visible light (>420 nm) or ultraviolet light (<400 nm) irradiation. The results of DRS analysis showed that the I-BWO and I2-BWO catalysts had narrower band gaps. XPS analysis proved that the multivalent iodine species including I0 and I− were coadsorbed on the defect surface of Bi2WO6 in I-BWO. The enhanced PL intensity revealed that a large number of defects of oxygen vacancies were formed by the doping of iodine. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of I-BWO for degradation of RhB was caused by the synergetic effect of a small crystalline size, a narrow band gap, and plenty of oxygen vacancies.
The Impact of Authentic Materials and Tasks on Students’ Communicative Competence at a Colombian Language School

This article reports on a study carried out in a foreign language school at a Colombian public university. Its main purpose was to analyze the extent to which the use of authentic materials and tasks contributes to the enhancement of the communicative competence on an A2 level English course. A mixed study composed of a quasi-experimental and a descriptive-qualitative research design was implemented by means of a pre-test, a post-test, observations, semi-structured interviews, surveys, and diaries. The findings showed that the use of authentic materials and tasks, within the framework of a pedagogical project, had an impact on students’ communicative competence progress and on the teaching practices of the experimental group teacher.
AGRONOMIC EVALUATION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF AFRICAN STAR GRASS (Cynodon plectostachyus) IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF THE STATE OF MEXICO

for these variables. Differences were also found in the agronomic evaluation of pastures (P<0.05) among height of pasture, net forage accumulation (NFA), live matter, dead matter, leaf and stem, both among pastures and in the monthly evaluations. African Star Grass can therefore be considered a good choice for milk production systems in the southern region of the state of Mexico, due to its nutritional and agronomic characteristics.
Predicting climate change impacts on water resources in the tropical Andes: Effects of GCM uncertainty

There is a strong demand from policy makers for predictions about the potential impacts of climate change on water resources. Integrated environmental models, combining climatic and hydrologic models, are often used for this purpose. This paper examines the impact of uncertainties related to GCMs in hydrological impact studies in the tropical Andes. A conceptual hydrological model is calibrated on data from four mesoscale, mountainous catchments in south Ecuador. The model inputs are then perturbed with anomalies projected by 20 GCMs available from the IPCC Data Distribution Centre. The results show that on average, the average monthly discharge is not expected to change dramatically. However, the simulated discharges driven by different global climate model forcing data can diverge widely, with prediction ranges often surpassing current discharge.