Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atypical bacteria and acute asthma: Is there a role for antibiotics?

Atypical bacteria ( Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae ) are thought to be inflicted in the pathogenesis and precipitation of acute asthma. Past and current infections with these organisms were found more frequently in asthmatics compared to healthy controls. It was suggested that atypical infections could precipitate acute asthma attacks in previously healthy individuals. This has raised the question of whether or not to add antibiotics to the management, especially macrolides. This review highlights the natural history of these organisms and their role in acute asthma of children. The current literature about role of antibiotics in acute asthma is summarized. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
The Impact of Real Exchange Rate Volatility on South African Exports to the United States (U.S.): A Bounds Test Approach

This research paper empirically examines the impact of real exchange rate volatility on trade in the context of South Africa’s exports to the U.S. for the South Africa’s floating period January 1995-February 2007. In measuring real exchange rate volatility, this study utilised GARCH. After establishing the existence of cointegration among the variables involved in our two-country export model, we estimated long-run coefficients by means of ARDL bounds testing procedure proposed by Pesaran, et al.(2001). Our results indicate that real exchange rate volatility exerts a significant and negative impact on South Africa’s exports to the U.S. Therefore, stable and competitive exchange rate and sound macroeconomic fundamentals are required in order to improve international competitiveness and greater penetration of South African exports to international markets.accounting and taxation, we applied the method proposed in 1998 by Lamb et al. and developed by Nobes et Schwenke (2006). Six cases are available: from disconnection (case I) to identity (case II), through the various cases of influence on accounting aver taxation or vice-versa. Despite the short period considered (20 years), our results confirm a de jure disconnection between Romanian financial accounting and tax accounting, as suggested by Petre and Lazar (2006). But, one should not to much rely on appearances: in many cases, the accounting practice in Romania (especially SMEs) in marked by a close relationship with taxation.
Assessment of Psychological Symptoms in Patients Attending A Rheumatology Clinic

This study aims to assess psychological symptoms among patients suffering from rheumatological conditions, also to determine the relationship between socio-demographic factors, social support, perceived pain and quality of life. 32 patients attending Rheumatology clinic were assessed on Dallas Pain Questionnaire, Ferran’s and Power’s Quality of Life Index and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Pain and dysfunction caused by rheumatological conditions were seen to be important determinants of quality of life, associated with psychological disturbances, occurring across ages, family types and genders related to severity of illness and support system.
Interpolation of LES Cloud Surfaces for Use in Direct Calculations of Entrainment and Detrainment

Abstract Direct calculations of the entrainment and detrainment of air into and out of clouds require knowledge of the relative velocity difference between the air and the cloud surface. However, a discrete numerical model grid forces the distance moved by a cloud surface over a time step to be either zero or the width of a model grid cell. Here a method for the subgrid interpolation of a cloud surface on a discrete numerical model grid is presented. This method is used to calculate entrainment and detrainment rates for a large-eddy simulation (LES) model, which are compared with rates calculated via the direct flux method of Romps. The comparison shows good agreement between the two methods as long as the model clouds are well resolved by the model grid spacing. This limitation of this technique is offset by the ability to resolve fluxes on much finer temporal and spatial scales, making it suitable for calculating entrainment and detrainment profiles for individual clouds.
What is the fate of Scottish Vowel Length Rule in Glasgow

This paper studies the longitudinal development of a vowel timing alternation known as the “Scottish Vowel Length Rule” in a distinctive variety of Scottish English spoken in Glasgow by working-class men and women. Combining apparent-time and real-time evidence, we show that the implementation of the Rule has changed over time, though unlike in many other varieties of Scottish English, the factors shaping its fate seem to be internal rather than external. Overall, Glaswegian English behaves like a quantity language and controls for prosodic timing effects while preserving the phonological timing alternation; and this is despite a marginal, quasi-phonemic status of the Rule.
Antarctic beaked whale echolocation signals near South Scotia Ridge

Notes MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, **(*): ***–*** (*** 2015) © 2015 Society for Marine Mammalogy DOI: 10.1111/mms.12216 Antarctic beaked whale echolocation signals near South Scotia Ridge J ENNIFER S. T RICKEY , 1 S IMONE B AUMANN -P ICKERING , and J OHN A. H ILDEBRAND , Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0205, U.S.A. ; M ARIA V ANESA R EYES R EYES and M ARIANA , Fundacion Cethus, Monteverde 3695 (B1636AEM), Olivos, Provincia de Buenos M ELC ON Aires, Argentina; M IGUEL I N ~ IGUEZ , Fundaci on Cethus, Monteverde 3695 (B1636AEM), Olivos, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina and Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Cap. Bermudez 1598 (B1636EMB), Olivos, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although beaked whales comprise the second-largest family of cetaceans, they are one of the most poorly known groups of all large mammals (Barlow et al. 2006, Jef- ferson et al. 2008). Visual sightings and species identification of beaked whales can be extremely difficult due to their highly elusive behavior and prolonged, deep forag- ing dives with short surface intervals (Tyack et al. 2006). However, beaked whales are the only cetaceans known to use frequency modulated (FM) upsweep pulses to echolocate, and these signals appear to be species-specific in their spectral and tempo- ral characteristics (e.g., Gillespie et al. 2009; McDonald et al. 2009; Baumann-Picker- ing et al. 2010; Rankin et al. 2011; Baumann-Pickering et al. 2013a, b, c). As a result, passive acoustic monitoring is a highly useful technique to investigate the behavioral ecology of these cryptic cetaceans, particularly in remote areas and over long periods of time (Baumann-Pickering et al. 2014). At least five species of beaked whales are known to occur in the Southern Ocean waters south of South America, including Arnoux’s beaked whales (Berardius arnuxii), Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), Gray’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon grayi), southern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon planifrons), and strap-toothed whales (Mesopl- odon layardii) (MacLeod et al. 2006). Of these five species, an acoustic description has only been made for the FM pulses produced by Cuvier’s beaked whales (Zimmer et al. 2005). Arnoux’s beaked whales appear to have similar frequency characteristics (Rog- ers and Brown 1999) to its sister species in the Northern Hemisphere, Baird’s beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) (Baumann-Pickering et al. 2013b), but a full description of its FM pulse cannot be made from the existing band-limited recordings. Due to the Corresponding author (e-mail: trickeyj@gmail.com).
Nurturing Is Not Enough: A Case Study on Social Justice, Caring, and Discipline

We explore the dynamics of nurturing, caring, and enabling in a social justice school and how a problematic context of educational enabling can develop when notions of nurturing are not balanced with consistent disciplinary consequences. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight school staff, teachers, and a student at a social justice urban school. Observational data and institutional documents were also analyzed, and three main themes emerged revealing the tension between nurturing and enabling: (a) sentimentalist standards, (b) perceptions of authority as oppressive, and (c) contradictions in social justice values. We discuss implications for school policy, multicultural education, and school leadership.
Musical Timber Assessment Using MFCCs and Total Harmonic Distortion in Matlab

Colour of music known as timber is a significant feature of sound which represents the character of it. If a musical instrument is perceived differently from other type while playing the same note, it is all because of their timber. The most important impact takes place when the music is recorded and the colour is changed. When someone listens to a piece of music he/she can identify whether the music is live or recorded. So if recording procedure and environment recording are set up in a way that they could produce the best timber, then it can be claimed that the timber of music is natural after recording. Timber extraction using Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) method is done in this project to show that visual extraction can do nothing with differentiations between timbers and it is not possible to comment if the music is natural enough after recording or not by only looking at the timber. Then Total Harmonic Distortion calculation is employed in MFCCs to see how timber is distorted after recording, and then a group of normal and expert musicians are asked to comment about those pieces of music to make a comparison and reach an approach for musical timber assessment. Finally an estimation of timber checking is suggested which can be used by sound engineers to check if the recording environment and the musical recording equipment would result in natural timber after recording. Keyword: ditortion, enviroment, harmonics, musical instrument, Timber
Genetic parameters and trends for daughters of imported and Thai Holstein sires for age at fi rst calving and milk yield

Age at first calving (AFC) and accumulated 305 d milk yield (MY) data from first-lactation daughters of imported Holstein (IH) and Thai Holstein (TH; purebred and crossbred Holstein-Other Breeds) sires were used to estimate genetic parameters and to compare genetic changes. The dataset included information from daughters of 3137 IH and 5686 TH sires that calved from 1991 to 2014 on 1012 dairy farms. The 2trait animal model considered herd-year-season, difference between Other Breeds and Holstein, and heterosis as fixed effects, and animal and residual as random effects. Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated using an average information restricted maximum likelihood procedure. Regressions of mean estimated breeding value (EBV) per calving year were computed to assess genetic trends. The heritability (estimate ± standard error) was 0.149 ± 0.036 for AFC, and 0.147 ± 0.035 for MY. The genetic correlation between AFC and MY was 0.083 ± 0.174. The genetic trend was 0.008 ± 0.001 mth/yr (p < .001) for AFC, and 1.529 ± 0.219 kg/yr (p < .001) for MY. The genetic trend for AFC was 0.003 ± 0.002 mth/yr (p 1⁄4 .084) for daughters of IH sires, and 0.014 ± 0.002 mth/yr (p < .001) for daughters of TH sires. The genetic trend for MY was 0.585 ± 0.326 kg/yr (p 1⁄4 .072) for daughters of IH sires, and 4.091 ± 0.294 kg/yr (p < .001) for daughters of TH sires. The near zero genetic correlation between AFC and MY indicated that selection to increase MY would not affect AFC. The genetic predictions and trends indicated that daughters of IH sires tended to have higher EBV for MY than daughters of TH sires, but daughters of both IH and TH sires tended to have similar EBV for AFC. Copyright © 2018, Kasetsart University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Phosphorus Mobility in Soil Columns Treated With Dairy Manures and Commercial Fertilizer

The concentration of animal production in some areas of the United States has led to concern about the environmental fate of manure-derived phosphorus (P) in soils. A column study was conducted to quantify P leaching in a calcareous soil treated with monoammonium phosphate (MAP), two solid dairy manures (D1S and D2S), and two liquid dairy manures (D1L and D2L). A control with no P application was also included. Treatments were applied at 166 kg P ha−1 to columns packed with 20 cm of a Warden fine sandy loam (coarse-loamy, mixed superactive, mesic Xeric Haplocalcids) in a completely randomized design with four replications and housed in a climate-controlled growth chamber. Simulated irrigation water was added to the columns at a rate of 47.4 mm (450 mL) during 13 events during a 9-week period, with leachate collected, volume recorded, and concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) and total P (TP) determined for each event. At the end of the leaching events, each soil column was divided into eight 2.5-cm segments. Then, soil was air-dried, ground, and analyzed for TP, total carbon, calcium (Ca), iron, and manganese, and water-soluble P. The masses of TP and TOC in leachate were in the order D1L = D2L > MAP = D1S = D2S = Control. There was a positive linear relationship between the cumulative mass of TOC and cumulative mass of TP lost in leachate over all manure treatments (r2 = 0.98). The masses of TP and water-soluble P for treatments in the entire soil columns were in the order MAP > D1L = D2L > D1S = D2S = Control. Masses of P and C in leachate and soil show that P mobility in soil was in the order liquid dairy manures > MAP > solid dairy manures. At the end of the study, the total C was greater in the surface 2.5 cm of the soil columns for the solid manure treatments compared with the other treatments/depth combinations. The greater leaching of P in the liquid manure treatments compared with the solid manure treatments may be caused by a combination of factors including microbial activity, organically complexed metals, coating of P adsorption sites on clay particles by organic C compounds, and P-Ca and P-aluminum reactions.
Youth Enfranchisement, Political Responsiveness and Education Expenditure: Evidence from the U.S.

We examine the link between the political participation of the young and fiscal policies in the United States. We generate exogenous variation in participation using the passage of preregistration laws, which allow the young to register before being eligible to vote. After documenting that preregistration promotes youth enfranchisement, we show that preregistration shifts state government spending toward higher education, the type of spending for which the young have the strongest preference. A 1 percent increase in youth voter turnout generates a 0.77 percent increase in higher education spending. The results collectively suggest political responsiveness to the needs of the newly enfranchised constituency. (JEL D72, E62, H52, H75, I23, I28, J13)
DISPERSION PHENOMENA IN HIGH VISCOSITY IMMISCIBLE FLUID SYSTEMS AND APPLICATION OF STATIC MIXERS AS DISPERSION DEVICES IN SUCH SYSTEMS

(i) Single drop deformation and breakup in rotational shear fields (Couette). (ii) Single drop deformation and breakup in irrotational (extensional) shear fields. (iii) Immiscible jet stream breakup upon injection into laminar flowing stream. (iv) Application of (i) – (iii) to interpretation and prediction of dispersion performance at high viscosity in static mixers, at both low and high viscosity ratios.
Learning Analytics to Assess Students' Behavior With Scratch Through Clickstream

The construction of knowledge through computational practice requires to teachers a substantial amount of time and effort to evaluate programming skills, to understand and to glimpse the evolution of the students and finally to state a quantitative judgment in learning assessment. This suposes a huge problem of time and no adecuate intime feedback to students while practicing programming activities. The field of learning analytics has been a common practice in research since last years due their great possibilities in terms of learning improvement. Such possibilities can be a strong positive contribution in the field of computational practice such as programming. In this work we attempt to use learning analytics to ensure intime and quality feedback through the analysis of students behavior in programming practice. Hence, in order to help teachers in their assessments we propose a solution to categorize and understand students’ behavior in programming activities using business technics such as web clickstream. Clickstream is a technique that consists in the collection and analysis of data generated by users. We applied it in learning programming environments to study students behavior to enhance students learning and programming skills. The results of the work supports this business technique as useful and adequate in programming practice. The main finding showns a first taxonomy of programming behaviors that can easily be used in a classroom. This will help teachers to understand how students behave in their practice and consequently enhance assessment and students’ following-up to avoid examination failures.
Radiological Assessment of Soils on the Waysides of the Road Underconstruction in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria

The ongoing road construction and rehabilitation of major highways in Ijebu-Ode involved the grading, refilling of the roads with different types of soils and the use of various materials that may be radioactive. Therefore the construction and the rehabilitation of the roads may lead to enhancement of the natural radioactivity levels in the area. Soil samples were collected from the sideways of the roads and analysed using a single crystal 0.51cm x 0.51cm NaI (Tl) detector, manufactured by Scintitech Instrument, USA, is coupled through a Hamamatsa (R1306NSV3068) photomultiplier tube to a Multichannel Analyser, MCA (2100R:01) manufactured by Price gamma Technology, USA. The activity concentrations in the entire area of study were 396.1±70.9 Bqkg -1 , 17.7±4.6 Bqkg -1 , and 33.9±6.7 Bqkg -1 for 40 K, 226 Ra and 232 Th respectively. The absorbed dose rate and the outdoor effective dose rate were 27.6±5.5 nGyh -1 and 33.9±6.7µSvy -1 respectively. The collective health detriment was 1.1 x 10 -4 . The radiological health effect on the populace in the area were insignificant as the results showed very low radioactivity levels and collective health detriment indicated that 11 out of 100,000 people were vulnerable to any type of cancer. Keywords: Impact assessment, natural radioactivity, road constructions, health detriment, Nigeria
Effectiveness of a Wearable Fitness Tracker: Practice Implications in Allied Health -- a Single Case Study

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this single case study was to examine the effectiveness of utilizing a wearable fitness tracker device in self-monitoring behavior change in complying with prescribed treatment. It was hypothesized that using a wearable self-monitoring device while involved in the treatment of multiple medical conditions will be beneficial to behavioral compliance and behavioral change in an overweight type 2 diabetic, geriatric subject being treated by a multidisciplinary health team utilizing an integrated treatment model. Methods: An exploratory single case study research design is employed to explore those situations in which the intervention, a wearable monitoring device, is employed. This observational case study model was applied to the utility of self-monitoring wearable smart technology marketed as FitBit for self-monitoring activity and exercise over a 36-week period. Results: After the 36-week intervention program, results revealed qualitative improvements in the (1) active minutes, (2) steps taken and (3) miles walked by the subject. In addition, the technology reported on calories burned, sleep hours and minutes logged and liquid consumed during each 24-hour period. The integrated allied health team was able to monitor changes made over time and noted improved time dedicated to exercise, walking and total miles walked. On miles walked per day, the results show that the subject increased miles walked from less than one mile per day to more than 4.6 miles per day which approached the recommended 5 miles per day goal. The calorie monitor aided the subject in changing calorie intake from that which exceeded 3500 per day to the recommended 2500 calories per day. Furthermore, the hours slept per night changed from less than 6.8 per night to 8.1 per day. Conclusions: It was concluded that a 36-week intervention program can be an effective intervention methodology for improved health and well-being as measured by standard healthcare and wellness markers utilizing a wearable fitness tracker device like the Fitbit. While further research is needed with a larger sample, it is therefore recommended that allied health professionals consider the utilization of wearable smart technology as an adjunct to self-monitoring and compliance with treatment planning and follow-up care with allied health care providers.
Taxation with Representation: Intergovernmental Grants in a Plebiscite Democracy

Economic theory suggests that intergovernmental grants are equivalent to private income. A large empirical literature, however, contradicts this prediction. A school finance reform in New Hampshire, where local public goods decisions are made by a form of direct democracy, provides an unusually compelling test of the theory. The results, which suggest that approximately ninety cents per grant dollar are spent on tax reduction, provide support for equivalence. The paper's findings have important policy implications for the financing of local public goods in general and for school finance reform in particular.
The Relationship between Nomophobia and Loneliness among Turkish Adolescents

This study looks into the relationship between nomophobia and loneliness, and the effects of smartphone and mobile internet use among adolescents. A total of 301 adolescents were employed for the study and the data were collected via Nomophobia (NMP-Q) and UCLA Loneliness Short-Form (ULS-8) Scales. The study was conducted in a relational survey model using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and linear regression. According to the findings the levels of nomophobic behaviors of adolescents were at a moderate level. While there was not a statistically significant correlation in terms of the duration of smartphone ownership and monthly mobile internet GSM quota, a significant difference was found in terms of the duration of mobile internet ownership, the duration of daily mobile internet use, and daily smartphone checking time. Finally, there was a statistically significant relationship between nomophobia and loneliness, and it can be ascertained that loneliness of adolescents predicts their nomophobia levels to a certain extent.