Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Urban Areas’ Vulnerability to Flood Disaster Based on Text Data: A Case Study in Zhengzhou City

Confronting the frequent flood disasters triggered by torrential downpour, the vulnerability of urban rainstorm flood disasters was analyzed with one highly popular area of research in mind: big data. Web crawler technology was used to extract text information related to floods from Internet and popular social media platforms. Combining these text data with traditional statistical data, a flood disaster vulnerability assessment model based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was established to evaluate rainstorm and flood disaster vulnerability, and the spatial distribution characteristics of vulnerability to pluvial flooding were analyzed based on Geographic Information System (GIS). The established model was applied in Zhengzhou, a city that often suffers from heavy rainstorms. The results show that the areas located near downtown Zhengzhou were more vulnerable to rainstorm and flooding than others, and most of the city could be at moderate and high vulnerability. Finally, the waterlogging spots extracted from various sources were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed model. The results show that most of waterlogging spots were located in very-high and high risk zones, while less waterlogging spots were found in districts with low vulnerability, which demonstrates the discriminative power of the established model based on big data sources. This study overcomes limited data in flood disaster vulnerability assessment methods and provides a basis for flood control and management in cities.
City Profile: Khon Kaen, Thailand

This city profile focuses on the patterns of growth, challenges and urban renewal in Khon Kaen Metropolitan Municipality located in Thailand’s north-eastern region. It is presented in the global, Asia-Pacific regional and Southeast Asian context, where the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable urbanization are in a flux. After the Second World War, Khon Kaen emerged as a regional urban centre due to the Thai government’s anticommunist campaign and it being military base to US camps in the US-Vietnam War. As the city rapidly urbanized, it faced diverse challenges, ranging from an influx of rural migrants to environmental degradation. Today, Khon Kaen’s urban challenges are different. As the economy shifts from manufacturing to services, metropolitan government leaders and their constituents seek to transform Khon Kaen into a smart city with a transit-oriented development strategy. Climate change has also affected the city, causing devastating floods and prolonged droughts. Residents in squatter settlements are highly vulnerable to these climate-induced disasters and are under constant threat of eviction. Informed by the development trajectory outlined above, this city profile starts by laying out the global, Asia-Pacific regional and Southeast Asian context, and then discusses Khon Kaen’s rise to prominence as a regional economic and logistic hub in Thailand’s north-eastern region. The city’s current conditions, such as its geographical, historical, economic, social, environmental and administrative and governance contexts, are considered. Then, contemporary challenges of sustainable urban development are explained. This city profile culminates in a discussion of future development strategies for Khon Kaen as a bellwether secondary city in Thailand.
Mortality after lung resection: a 15-year analysis of US hospital discharge data

Summary Mortality following major surgery is affected by variables relating to the patient, surgeon and disease. We hypothesized that hospital mortality after lung resection surgery would be affected by the number of cases performed each year at a given institution, and by the teaching status of the institution in which the surgery was performed. Discharges in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 1988 and 2003 with a procedure code of 32.5 (pneumonectomy), 32.4 (lobectomy) or 32.3 (segmental resection) comprised the study population. Multi-variable regression models were constructed to identify the relationship between case volume, teaching status and risk-adjusted hospital mortality. Severity of illness adjustment was performed using risk factors and comorbidities selected according to the Elixhauser algorithm. The adjusted overall mortality for all lung resection cases decreased significantly from 5.88% in 1988 to 3.83% in 2003 (P<0.0001). There was a clear effect of institutional case volume on mortality, with an improvement in outcome when institutions performed higher numbers of procedures per year (P<0.0001). Institutional teaching status also had a significant association with inhospital mortality rate after adjusting for severity of illness: overall mortality throughout the study period was 4.41% in teaching hospitals compared to 4.96% in non-teaching hospitals (P<0.0001). This difference, however, became non-significant after adjusting for other hospital covariates (P=0.63). Hospital mortality for lung resection surgery is lower in hospitals that perform at least 40 procedures per year, and lower in hospitals designated as teaching facilities. These data may assist patients and health care providers in planning surgical treatment for lung cancer.
Comparative Effectiveness of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality commissioned this report to review the evidence for the clinical effect and safety of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common sustained arrhythmia seen in clinical practice. Its prevalence increases with age, from 0.1 percent in people under 55 years to more than 9 percent by 80 years of age.
Rethinking clusters. Towards a new research agenda for cluster research

ABSTRACT Notwithstanding the wide research on clusters and industrial districts, most of the preceding contributions tried to analyse and investigate past research and rarely tried to critique or propose any future trajectories of this stream of research. The aim of this special issue is to identify and discuss the main themes of research that populate the current scientific debate and highlight the emergent lines that may well set the future research agenda. In order to provide a scenario for better understanding the content of this special issue, in this work, we encouraged a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches. In particular, to identify the most important themes of current and future research, we present a bibliometric analysis of the papers that were presented at the international workshop ‘Rethinking Clusters’, which took place in Florence in 2018, with more than 100 participants. This exercise together with a wider literature review permits us to propose a new research agenda on cluster research according to eight main themes. These range from cluster life cycles, through creativity, innovation, knowledge networks, cluster policy issues, internationalization, sustainability, finally to cluster variety and relatedness.
Climate change impacts on asphalt road pavement construction and maintenance: An economic life cycle assessment of adaptation measures in the State of Virginia, United States

Pavement design and management practices must be adapted in response to future climate change. While many studies have attempted to identify different methods to adapt pavements to future climate conditions, the potential economic impacts of the adaptations still remain largely unquantified. This study presents the results of a comprehensive life‐cycle cost analysis (LCCA) aimed at quantifying the potential economic impacts of a climate adaptation method, in which an upgraded asphalt binder (Performance Grade PG 76‐22) is used in the construction and maintenance of flexible pavement sections in lieu of the original binder (PG 70‐22) for improved resistance against high temperatures. For each of three major Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) districts with different climates, three case studies consisting of typical interstate, primary, and secondary pavement sections were considered. The LCCA accounted for the costs incurred during the mixture's production, maintenance, and use phases of the pavement life cycle by explicitly considering future climate projections, pavement life‐cycle performance, maintenance effects, and work zone user delays. The study concludes that pavements using the upgraded binder not only perform better over time but are also economically advantageous compared to those with the original binder under the conditions of the anticipated future climate conditions (2020–2039).
The Effect of Legal System and Protection of Property Rights on the Size of the Tax Evasion: Panel Analysis

This study seeks to find the impact of legal system and protection of property rights on the size of tax evasion. For this aim, MIMIC model estimates of size of tax evasion as percentage of GDP are utilized. Based on the Swamy’s slope homogeneity test results, Group Mean Panel Dynamic OLS estimation is conducted. Long-run coefficients show that the relationship between tax evasion and impartial courts is negative in average. The relationship between tax evasion and protection of property rights is also negative in average. However, the signs of the relationship vary across economies within the sample.
Impact Of Social Security Expenditures On Income Distribution: Case Of Turkey

Gelir dagilimi bozuklugu, toplumsal refahin artmasi ve yayilmasinin onunde onemli bir engeldir. Modern toplumlar bu engeli asmak icin bircok arac kullanmaktadirlar. Bu araclarin basinda da sosyal guvenlik sistemleri gelmektedir. Sosyal guvenlik harcamalarinin her ulkede gelir dagilimini farkli derecede iyilestirmesi sosyal guvenlik yontemlerinin farkliligindan kaynaklanmaktadir. Bu calismada, Turkiye’de sosyal guvenlik harcamalarinin gelir dagilimi uzerine etkisi Johansen ve Juselius (JJ) Esbutunlesme testi ile analiz edilmistir. Birim kok testleri sonucuna gore degiskenler birinci farkta duraganlar ve koentegrasyon testi sonucuna gore degiskenler arasinda uzun donem iliski mevcuttur. Ayrica, Turkiye’de sosyal guvenlik harcamalarinin gelir dagilimini olumsuz, buyumenin ise olumlu etkiledigi tespit edilmistir.
Rebuttal to: Qian, Law, & Wei “knowledge mapping in travel website studies: a scientometric review”, vol. 19, pp 192–209

ABSTRACT In order to publish a bibliometric research result, using appropriate searching keywords and Web of Science databases correctly are significant. Qian, Law, and Wei (2019) used inappropriate searching keywords to publish bibliometric paper in Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, which may result in misleading readers of the journal. In addition, using such kind of poor method to publish papers is getting popular. This comment would like to offer results by applying appropriate searching keywords and accurate method.
Intervening Effect of Tripartite Consultation On the Performance of State Corporations in Kenya

The study sought to establish the intervening effect of tripartite consultation between the role of social partners, the tripartite consultation system, the economic change issues, the relationship between social partners and performance of state corporations in Kenya. The study was carried out in Nairobi County in Kenya and it involved 279 both unionized and non-unionized employees of state corporations in the County. A descriptive survey design was used. A structured questionnaire with Likert scale questions and an interview guide were used to collect data from the selected subjects. The study applied the Industrial Relations model envisaged by Dunlop, which was believed to reflect the existing tripartite consultation arrangements. Data was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found that tripartite consultation had intervened positively between the stated variables and performance of state corporations. Tripartite consultation had helped to; gather views and advice of employers’ and workers’ representatives, prepare labour laws, establish national bodies responsible for employment, elaborate and implement of economic and social development plans. The study recommends that the social partners should collectively strengthen and adhere to the established tripartite consultation framework in order to enhance industrial peace. The findings will help the social actors to collectively consult in good faith for industrial harmony and national development.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the Niger Delta: A Corporate Social Responsibility Pathway

Is corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice of international oil companies contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the Niger Delta? The international community prescribes a role for business in the good of society. In a similar vein, a significant segment of the literature suggests a positive role for CSR practice. However, adequate analysis of how this is unfolding remains a task yet to be accomplished. This paper examines whether CSR practice in the aforesaid region is contributing to the attainment of SDGs. It focuses on the new CSR model – Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) – initiated in 2005 and 2006 by Chevron and Shell respectively, specifically in relation to goals number one, two and three, which focus on poverty, hunger, better health, and well-being. Relying on data generated from secondary sources, the paper addresses the aforementioned question, and argues that recent oil multinational companies’ CSR practice is yet to properly respond to the development needs of local community people.
The effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on satiety in overweight individuals undergoing a weight loss intervention program

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Hard work with soft spaces (and vice versa): problematizing the transforming planning spaces

ABSTRACT This article studies spaces and spatial imageries in planning from two viewpoints. First, it discusses how contemporary planning paradigms contribute to a process that can be labelled the ‘softening of hard spaces’. This means that typically old, well-established (planning) spaces with relatively hard administrative borders become redefined and treated in planning practice as soft entities with fuzzier or more porous borders. Second, it discusses how new soft spaces – such as gateways, new cross-border supranational spaces and ad hoc regional spaces – tend to simultaneously harden through intensifying institutional practices and discourses, as well as because of the need to define what is included and excluded in such new spatial structures/networks. These two processes, the softening of hard spaces and the hardening of soft spaces, are then scrutinized in tandem, and a conceptualization of intermediary hybrid planning spaces is proposed. This conceptual opening, labelled ‘penumbral’ space/border, is then examined. The explanatory value of these arguments is demonstrated by comparing the transformation of Northern Ostrobothnia, an old, well-established region in Finland, and the mobilization of Bothnian Arc, a new soft space stretching across the Swedish-Finnish border.
A New Measure of the Local Regulatory Environment for Housing Markets: Wharton Residential Land Use Regulatory Index

A new survey of over 2000 jurisdictions across all major housing markets in the US documents how regulation of residential building varies across space. New evidence on what a `typical' degree of local regulation entails is provided. In addition, data on how the stringency of land use control varies across markets are analysed. Coastal markets tend to be more highly regulated, with communities in the Northeast region of America being the most highly regulated on average, followed by those in the West region (California especially).
Study of oxygen saturation, breathing pattern and arrhythmias in patients of interstitial lung disease during sleep.

Twenty patients of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and same number of healthy adults were selected to monitor arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2) breathing pattern and arrhythmias during sleep. The maximum fall in SaO2 during sleep was 13.1% (10-16%) in ILD patients as compared to 4.8% (3-6%) in controls and the difference was significant (p < 0.005). The ILD patients spent 16.9% of mean total sleep time (TST) below 85% SaO2 and 0.7% of mean TST below 80% SaO2 whereas none of the healthy subjects had SaO2 below 90% during sleep. These patients had more disturbed sleep than controls. Abnormally high breathing frequency demonstrated by ILD patients while awake, was not altered during sleep. Both tidal volume (VT) and minute ventilation (Vmin) decreased by 6.6% and 11.5%, respectively in ILD patients during sleep though it was not significant (p > 0.25) statistically. The respiratory drive was declined during sleep in ILD patients. The percent of tidal volume contributed by rib cage (% RC) lessened during sleep in all the subjects. The ratio of the total excursion of the rib cage and abdomen during inspiration without considering the direction of movement, divided by tidal volume (TCD/VT) revealed asynchronous breathing in ILD patients during sleep. Arrhythmias were found in 6 (30%) of ILD patients and 4 (20%) of control subjects. Observed apnea-hypopnea did not qualify for sleep apnea syndrome in any case.
GARBI IN THE STUDY OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS (NEW DIRECTION MOVEMENT OF INDONESIA), PROSPEROUS JUSTICE PARTY (PKS) CONFLICT STUDIES IN THE ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL STRAIN PARADIGMS

This study aims to analyze how the formation of GARBI and the elements that became the movement of GARBI. This study uses the theory of social movements with the paradigm of structural strain. GARBI or New Direction Movement of Indonesia is a movement born of the internal dynamics of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The emergence of GARBI became an interesting phenomenon studied because it was formed from the PKS Tarbiyah movement which had militant cadres, was solid and loyal. PKS is one of the largest Islamic da'wah parties in Indonesia. PKS itself is a party that is very clever in resolving internal party problems. Rarely do internal problems spread to external parties because PKS has an organized and neat management structure. When there are internal problems, PKS tends to resolve it through the Syuro Council. However, this is what later became the question of why the PKS was so solid that it became fragmented into two groups. From the results of the study, it was found that internal conflicts within the PKS gave rise to two major factions namely the Justice Faction and the Prosperous Faction. These two factions contradict each other. The Justice Faction tends to be ideological and much supported by a social basis which has conservative and militant characteristics, but is less flexible in expanding party penetration. While the Prosperous Faction tends to be more progressive and opportunistic. The culmination of the two factions conflict was that before the 2009 elections, the Prosperous Faction announced that PKS was an "Open Party" which could accept all segments to join PKS including providing access for non-Muslim legislative candidates to run for office (catch-all party). This then got strong resistance from the militant and conservative Justice faction or the Harakah Groups. For them, membership and nomination of non-Muslim candidates cannot be trafficked, because this is not in accordance with the party‟s principle that holds tightly to Islamic principles. The conflict finally made the Prosperous Faction or the Hizb faction represented by Anis Matta and Fahri Hamzah marginalized from the PKS. From this conflict, Fahri Hamzah and Anis Matta gathered new powers by inviting Prosperous Faction cadres who were expelled from PKS to create a new movement called GARBI. GARBI then became a movement that focused on realizing Indonesia's ideals, namely “creating Indonesian civilization” by applying pillars or elements: Islam, Nationalism, Democracy and Welfare. The four elements become a driving force for GARBI to become one of the strongest countries in the world as the goal of GARBI is to make Indonesia the "Top 5 Strongest" country in the world alongside America, China, Russia and the European Union.
The effect of sampling methods on Deep Q-Networks in robot navigation tasks

Enabling mobile robots to autonomously navigate complex environments is essential for real-world deployment in commercial, industrial, military, health care, and domestic settings. Prior methods approach this problem by having the robot maintain an internal map of the world and then use a localization and planning method to navigate through the internal map. However, these approaches often include a variety of assumptions, are computationally intensive, and do not learn from failures. Recent work in deep reinforcement learning shows that navigational abilities could emerge as the by-product of an agent learning a policy that maximizes reward. Deep Q-Networks (DQN), a reinforcement learning algorithm, uses experience replay to remember and reuse experiences from the past. A sampling technique determents how to sample the experiences that are to be replayed from the experience replay buffer. Here we studied the effect of different sampling techniques on the learning behavior of an agent using DQN in partially observable navigation tasks. In this work five sampling techniques are proposed and compared to the original random sampling technique. We found that sampling techniques focusing on surprising experiences learn faster than random sampling techniques. Secondly, we found that the final performance of all sampling techniques usually converge to the same policy. Finally, we found the correct use of importance sampling is essential when using prioritized techniques.