Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geographic and Demographic Determinants of Regional Growth and Convergence: a Network Approach

portuguesEste artigo examina a evolucao das similitudes e das disparidades espaciais na Peninsula Iberica, utilizando dados sobre o PIB por habitante de 81 regioes NUTS 3 portuguesas e espanholas, no periodo 1995-2012. Os principais fatores geograficos e demograficos que determinam o crescimento sao tidos em consideracao, dividindo as regioes em cinco categorias, a saber, “fronteiricas”; “interiores”; “litorais”; “metropolitanas” e “ultra-perifericas”. Depois de uma breve analise a performance relativa das regioes e a quantificacao da convergencia sigma e beta, usa-se uma abordagem de rede baseada num espaco metrico construido a partir dos coeficientes de correlacao entre as diferencas logaritmicas do PIB por habitante das regioes. Este espaco metrico e a topologia correspondente sao usados para construir as redes de regioes ibericas, ilustrando os principais determinantes geograficos e demograficos do crescimento e da convergencia regionais. EnglishThis paper examines the evolution of spatial similarities and disparities in the Iberian Peninsula, using data on GDP per capita of 81 NUTS 3 Portuguese and Spanish regions over the period 1995-2012. The main geographic and demographic determinants of growth are taken into account, dividing the regions in several groups, namely “(common)-border”, “interior (without border)”, “coastal”, “metropolitan” and “ultraperipheral”. After a brief analysis of the relative performance of regions and the quantification of sigma and beta-convergence trends, a network approach is applied, based on a metric space build from the correlation coefficients between the log-differences of regional GDP per capita. This metric space and the corresponding topological setting are use to develop networks of Iberian regions, uncovering the main geographic and demographic determinants of regional growth and convergence.
Luxury or normal goods? Evidence from the utilization of institutional care services for the disabled older adults in China

Background Nursing care is essential for older adults with disabilities. Income plays a crucial role in determining the utilization of institutional care services. Pension benefit, as the main source of income for the older adults in China’s cities and towns in their later years, is an important factor influencing the utilization of institutional care services. However, there have been no consistent findings on how pension benefits affect the utilization of institutional care services for the disabled older adults. Methods This paper utilizes data from the 2017–2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. We select disabled older adults aged 65 and older, living in towns and cities, and use a probit regression model to investigate the impact of pension benefits on the utilization of institutional care services by urban disabled older adults empirically. Results The study shows that a 1% increase in pension benefits raises the probability that the urban disabled older adults use institutional care services by 0.03. It also finds that for low-income urban disabled older adults, the effect is statistically significantly positive at the 1% level; but for high-income urban disabled older adults, the effect is not statistically significant. The pension benefits significantly increase the probability for the disabled older adults who are male, financially dependent, and live in townships. In addition, the pension benefits significantly reduce the probability that children will provide care and pay for care services for their older parents. Conclusion Institutional care service is a normal good for the urban disabled older adults, especially for low-income older adults. Therefore, higher pension benefit raises the probability of utilizing institutional care services for the urban older adults with disabilities, and this positive effect is especially pronounced for older adults who are male, financially dependent, and reside in townships. In addition, increase in the pension benefits for the disabled older adults in towns and cities reduces the burden on children by reducing the probability that children will provide care and pay for care services for the older adults.
Analyzing a Non-Sinusoidal Response from a Real-World Solar PV

This letter presents an analysis of a non-sinusoidal response from a transmission-level photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant triggered by a local line outage in Dominion Energy's power system. The uniqueness of this response resides in the fact that its critical component is non-sinusoidal, and unlike typical scenarios, it does not stem from conventional nonlinear power system dynamics. It is also demonstrated how careful and systematic analysis of synchrophasor measurements in the plant, through time-series analysis techniques, can help illuminate the underlying mechanism leading to the atypical response observed.
Use of the Storyboarder Tool to Reduce the Attitude Towards Machismo in High School Adolescents

Machismo is a behavior learned as a consequence of dominant cultures, it remains in force in today's society, causing discrimination towards the female gender through actions and derogatory words in relation to their weakness, physical and psychological abuse is the most characteristic relevant. Therefore, this article aims to determine to what extent the use of the Storyboarder tool reduces the attitude towards machismo in high school adolescents at the Las Delicias Educational Unit in the city of Santo Domingo. To this end, the research was framed in a quantitative approach, with a quasi-experimental design, based on real situations. The population was made up of 124 second-year high school students from the "Las Delicias" Educational Unit. The sample was 40 students (20 experimental group and 20 control group). The type of sampling is intentional non-probabilistic. A survey-type instrument was applied aimed at students from 14 years of age and older, called the Attitudes Towards Machismo Scale and includes 46 items, made up of five dimensions, under a Likert-type scaling. The instrument was subjected to expert assessment, its reliability once the pilot test was carried out was 0.93 coefficient on the Cronbach scale, it was possible to conclude that when the intervention was carried out with the Storyboarder tool, the majority of the students showed a low attitude, which indicates a positive change in their perception and disposition towards the subject of study.
Viral diversity and blood-feeding patterns of Afrotropical Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Introduction Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of arboviral pathogens that primarily affect livestock represented by Schmallenberg virus (SBV), epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV). In Kenya, studies examining the bionomic features of Culicoides including species diversity, blood-feeding habits, and association with viruses are limited. Methods Adult Culicoides were surveyed using CDC light traps in two semi-arid ecologies, Baringo and Kajiado counties, in Kenya. Blood-fed specimens were analysed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) barcoding region. Culicoides pools were screened for virus infection by generic RT-PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results Analysis of blood-fed specimens confirmed that midges had fed on cattle, goats, sheep, zebra, and birds. Cox1 barcoding of the sampled specimens revealed the presence of known vectors of BTV and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) including species in the Imicola group (Culicoides imicola) and Schultzei group (C. enderleni, C. kingi, and C. chultzei). Culicoides leucostictus and a cryptic species distantly related to the Imicola group were also identified. Screening of generated pools (11,006 individuals assigned to 333 pools) by generic RT-PCR revealed presence of seven phylogenetically distinct viruses grouping in the genera Goukovirus, Pacuvirus and Orthobunyavirus. The viruses showed an overall minimum infection rate (MIR) of 7.0% (66/333, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.5-8.9). In addition, full coding sequences of two new iflaviruses, tentatively named Oloisinyai_1 and Oloisinyai_2, were generated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) from individual homogenate of Culicoides pool. Conclusion The results indicate a high genetic diversity of viruses in Kenyan biting midges. Further insights into host-vector-virus interactions as well as investigations on the potential clinical significance of the detected viruses are warranted.
A DUF3494 ice-binding protein with a root cap domain in a streptophyte glacier ice alga

Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) of the DUF3494 type have been found in many ice-associated unicellular photoautotrophs, including chlorophytes, haptophytes, diatoms and a cyanobacterium. Unrelated IBPs have been found in many land plants (streptophytes). Here we looked for IBPs in two streptophyte algae that grow only on glaciers, a group in which IBPs have not previously been examined. The two species, Ancylonema nordenskioeldii and Ancylonema. alaskanum, belong to the class Zygnematophyceae, whose members are the closest relatives to all land plants. We found that one of them, A. nordenskioeldii, expresses a DUF3494-type IBP that is similar to those of their chlorophyte ancestors and that has not previously been found in any streptophytes. The protein is unusual in having what appears to be a perfect array of TXT motifs that have been implicated in water or ice binding. The IBP strongly binds to ice and almost certainly has a role in mitigating the daily freeze-thaw cycles that the alga is exposed to during late summer. No IBP was found in the second species, A. alaskanum, which may rely more on glycerol production for its freeze-thaw tolerance. The IBP is also unusual in having a 280-residue domain with a β sandwich structure (which we designate as the DPH domain) that is characteristic of root cap proteins of land plants, and that may have a role in forming IBP oligomers. We also examined existing transcriptome data obtained from land plants to better understand the tissue and temperature dependence of expression of this domain.
High frequency measurements of reach scale nitrogen uptake in a fourth order river with contrasting hydromorphology and variable water chemistry (Weiße Elster, Germany)

River networks exhibit a globally important capacity to retain and process nitrogen. However direct measurement of in‐stream removal in higher order streams and rivers has been extremely limited. The recent advent of automated sensors has allowed high frequency measurements, and the development of new passive methods of quantifying nitrogen uptake which are scalable across river size. Here we extend these methods to higher order streams with anthropogenically elevated nitrogen levels, substantial tributaries, complex input signals, and multiple N species. We use a combination of two station time‐series and longitudinal profiling of nitrate to assess differences in nitrogen processing dynamics in a natural versus a channelized impounded reach with WWTP effluent impacted water chemistry. Our results suggest that net mass removal rates of nitrate were markedly higher in the unmodified reach. Additionally, seasonal variations in temperature and insolation affected the relative contribution of assimilatory versus dissimilatory uptake processes, with the latter exhibiting a stronger positive dependence on temperature. From a methodological perspective, we demonstrate that a mass balance approach based on high frequency data can be useful in deriving quantitative uptake estimates, even under dynamic inputs and lateral tributary inflow. However, uncertainty in diffuse groundwater inputs and more importantly the effects of alternative nitrogen species, in this case ammonium, pose considerable challenges to this method.
The price of agave in Mexican states holding Designation of Origin of Tequila status, and its systematic depreciation over the forthcoming decade (2000-2031)

In the last two decades, the price of agave in states holding Designation of Origin of Tequila (DOT) status has been subject to uncertainty. This mixed sequential investigation identifies the variables that affect its value, verifying the cause of the problem. Using Minitab software, Pearson’s correlation analysis is applied to the most important variables and time-series predictive methods are applied to forecast them. The correlation analysis verified that the production of agave is not correlated with its price, in contrast to the production of tequila, its export and the income from its export. Since 2016, the price and production of agave systematically reduced its annual average growth until reaching negative levels in 2021, contrary to the production, export of tequila and its income (the five variables maintain this trend for the next 10 years). It is shown that the problem of the agave price at the end of the last decade is not due to imbalances in its supply, suggesting that the oligopoly of leading companies of the tequila agroindustry in Mexico controls its value.
A Critical Review of Patient Satisfaction and Value Based Health Care

Welcome to a new horizon in healthcare where patient satisfaction is not just a goal, but the cornerstone of value-based health care delivery services. In an age where every patient is a discerning customer, doesn't it make you wonder what truly drives their satisfaction? Delving into this realm, a burgeoning number of scientific research studies are zeroing in on this very question, seeking to unveil the elements that craft a patient's healthcare journey into a fulfilling experience. This systematic study stands at the vanguard, committed to dissecting those elusive drivers that assure the quality of services aligns perfectly with patient expectations and demands. With a meticulous analytics-based approach, we aim to bridge the literature gap and illuminate the pathways that lead commercial healthcare settings towards exemplary service delivery. Join us as we explore the intricacies of patient satisfaction through the lens of the latest research, professional insights, and real-world outcomes. Welcome to research paper trove of insights, where meticulous research meets the art of demystifying the complex world of patient satisfaction. Have service provider ever wondered what truly lies at the heart of patient happiness within the healthcare system? Drawing on the rigor of The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method, researcher embarked on a comprehensive review, plunging into the depths of esteemed databases like Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Researcher quest spanned studies from the evolution of care in 2010 to the innovations of 2023, all penned in articulate English and filtered through stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. From an initial wave of prospective research, we distilled our findings to an enlightened set of 50 pivotal items. With surgical precision, researcher wielded co-citation and bibliographic analysis to unearth the true gems—those factors that don't just influence patient satisfaction but redefine it, outlined by pioneering authors and monumental documents. In this blog post, we'll share our voyage through the data, classify the myriad factors impacting patient satisfaction into criterion and explanatory variables, and delve into what researchers deem essential, as well as the authentic sources of patient contentment. Join us as we unravel the most important factors that are sculpting the landscape of patient care today.
BIOREMEDIATION OF CRUDE OIL POLLUTED SOIL USING GROUND MORINGA SEED

There is a widespread recognition that the presence of contaminants resulting from crude oil spill in the soil is of great concern worldwide. The use of natural coagulants such as moringa seed for the removal of pollutants from the soil is replacing expensive imported synthetic coagulants which is particularly appropriate for agro-based developing countries such as Nigeria. This study was aimed at investigating the potential of Moringa seed in the remediation of crude oil pollutant in the soil. This remediation was by means of using reactors (plastic basins) as the cells where 5000g of soil was escavated, weighed and kept in three cells. The soil in the cells was polluted with 4ml (0.4L) of crude oil except the control and allowed undisturbed for three days before the application of treatment. The soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory together with the unpolluted soil so as to know their physicochemical parameters before and after pollution. The treatment applied was allowed for two months to know the level of remediation that has taken place. At the end of the first month, the soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory and from results obtained; it was observed that remediation has taken place in the treatment reactors. From the overall analysis carried out, it was observed that the soil in reactor C attained a very high level of remediation because of the presence of fertilizer. It was shown that treatment B, the one treated with ground moringa seed and NPK fertilizer, also had a high reduction in TPH, i.e. from 3890mg/kg to 2910mg/kg at the second month of remediation. Therefore, the results of this research work indicated that moringa seed has the potential to remediate crude soil polluted soils.
Zinc supplementation in preterm infants and growth indicators in a developing country

Background Zinc is one of the micronutrients that is found deficient in preterm infants. To date, no parenteral zinc supplements are available in Indonesia and there is no recommendation established for routine zinc supplementation in preterm infants. Objective To evaluate the impact of zinc supplementation on growth indicators and morbidity in preterm infants. Methods This double-blind, randomized controlled trial included preterm infants aged 28-32 weeks who were assigned to one of two groups: the first group received a 10 mg zinc supplementation, while the second (control) group received a placebo. At discharge or at a maximum of 40 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA, calculated from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period), the following were evaluated : growth indicators (weight, length, and head circumference), serum zinc level, zinc supplementation side effects, and morbidity rate (intraventricular hemorrhage/IVH, necrotizing enterocolitis/NEC, btonchopulmonary dysplasia/BPD). Data were analyzed with independent T-test using SPSS version 22 software. Results Seventy-eight subjects were assigned to the zinc supplementation group and 76 subjects were assigned to the placebo group. Serum zinc level and mean body weight increment were significantly higher in the zinc group compared to the placebo group (P=0.00 and P=0.02, respectively). There were no significant differences between groups in mean body length or head circumference increment, nor in morbidity rate. Conclusion Preterm infants who received zinc supplementation have higher serum zinc level and mean body weight increment compared to the placebo group. No side effects are observed to have been caused by zinc supplementation.
Development of e-worksheet based on ExPRession learning model to train critical thinking skills

Education plays an important role in a country, so in the 21st century, education requires students to have skills that support them in facing global challenges. One of these skills is critical thinking skills. However, in learning, especially physics, critical thinking skills have not been widely applied. This Research aimed to develop e-worksheets based on external physical representation (ExPRession). This development research used the Design and Development Research (DDR) approach. The data analyzed are data from validity tests, namely language and design validity tests and Material and construct validity tests. In addition, the analysis data is also on the results of the practicality test consisting of readability, teacher perception, and student responses. The results of this study indicate that the results of the validity test for the media and design tests obtained a score of 3.50 with a very valid category, and for the material and construct validation test, a score of 3.38 was obtained with a very valid category. The practicality test results obtained a score of 83.8% in the very high practical category.
Uso de modelo hidrodinâmico para determinação da vazão a partir de medições de nível

The use of hydrodynamic models to determine stream discharges has been grown in recent years due to the problems regarding the use of rating curve method for discharge estimating. This study aims to develop a method for determining discharges in open channels using multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (NSGA-II) and free surface level measurements associated with a hydrodynamic model. Data obtained from experiments on a laboratory experimental channel have been used for model calibration and validation. NSGA-II optimization algorithm presented excellent results and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients greater than 0.99 have been obtained for both calibration and validation of the hydrodynamic model. Discharges calculated by the hydrodynamic model showed variations of up to 150% for the same level when compared to the discharges estimated by the rating curve, which showed that the use of rating curve for discharge measurements during transient flows results in high errors.
Assessment of Soaked California Bearing Ratio Value Using Geotechnical Properties of Soils

California Bearing Ratio value is used for the evaluation of subgrade strengths during design of flexible pavements. To simulate worst moisture condition of the field, soaked California Bearing Ratio value is used in the design of pavements. But this test is an expansive and time consuming method. In this study, a detailed survey was carried out within a 5 km radius of Sirsa and 10 locations were identified for soil sampling. The soil samples were collected at 50 cm depth from ground surface and analysed for different geotechnical properties like specific gravity, particle size, liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, maximum dry density, optimum moisture content and soaked California Bearing Ratio. With the help of particle size distribution curves, coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of curvature were evaluated to find out the gradation of particles. Influence of the geotechnical properties on soaked California Bearing Ratio was studied. Stepwise regression procedure was carried out for the selection of most influencing variables. Incorporating selected variables, multiple regression model was developed for the prediction of soaked California Bearing Ratio. The performance of the multiple regression model was assessed in terms of correlation coefficient, F-statistics and residuals pattern. Using the developed model, soaked California Bearing Ratio can be computed for the study area.
Hyperdimensional Computing Versus Convolutional Neural Network: Architecture, Performance Analysis, and Hardware Complexity

The interest in brain-inspired computing architectures has been growing, particularly in the context of edge devices with constrained resources for executing cognitive functions. One such approach is hyperdimensional computing (HDC), a novel concept that draws inspiration from the large representation of human neuronal activity. HDC has demonstrated effectiveness in one-dimensional tasks, like text identification and activity recognition, offering advantages in power consumption and response time over convolutional neural networks (CNNs). This paper compares HDC and CNN regarding architecture, accuracy, and hardware complexity, explicitly focusing on image classification tasks. Our findings indicate that CNNs generally outperform HDC in two-dimensional tasks but require significantly more computational resources. In contrast, HDC offers adequate results using just 16% of the data needed for training. Additionally, experiments conducted using a Raspberry Pi 4 show that HDC can enhance inference speed and energy efficiency by approximately 2.5 times relative to CNNs.