Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teacher’s Corner: Evaluating Informative Hypotheses Using the Bayes Factor in Structural Equation Models

ABSTRACT This Teacher’s Corner paper introduces Bayesian evaluation of informative hypotheses for structural equation models, using the free open-source R packages bain, for Bayesian informative hypothesis testing, and lavaan, a widely used SEM package. The introduction provides a brief non-technical explanation of informative hypotheses, the statistical underpinnings of Bayesian hypothesis evaluation, and the bain algorithm. Three tutorial examples demonstrate informative hypothesis evaluation in the context of common types of structural equation models: 1) confirmatory factor analysis, 2) latent variable regression, and 3) multiple group analysis. We discuss hypothesis formulation, the interpretation of Bayes factors and posterior model probabilities, and sensitivity analysis.
Designing and Comparing Classic Versus Quantum Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm

Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm is based on natural behavior of honey bees and has earned good success in optimization area. In this paper a new quantum inspired algorithm that is called Quantum Artificial Bee Colony (QABC) is presented. QABC is a general method and in this work it is adapted to be applied on Knapsack 0-1 problem. In the experiments QABC is compared with classic ABC and the results present robustness of QABC.
Stadium experience and word-of-mouth: a panel data analysis of national A-team men’s football matches in Denmark, 2013–17

ABSTRACT Rationale/Purpose: In this paper we utilize unique spectator level data from fifteen Danish national men’s A-team football matches in the period 2013–17. Design/methodology/approach: We test several regression models with our dependent variable being a scale measuring each individual respondent’s inclination to recommend national matches to friends and colleagues through word-of-mouth. Findings: The model output identify the players’ contribution, atmosphere, and spectators’ impression of the match stewards as the most important factors driving our word-of-mouth measure in a positive direction. Other factors such as food, drinks, and toilet facilities are positive but of less importance. Practical implications: The results indicate that among strong predictors are variables which are within the reach of management. Research Contribution: The paper adds to existing research on spectator demand by focussing on national A-team matches.
The influence of potassium dichromate on growth and survival of the vermicomposting earthworm Eisenia foetida

The present research evaluated the redox ability of Cr6+ in the earthworm Eisenia foetida, and its effects on growth and survival. An assay was conducted with an increasing doses of K2Cr2O7 (0, 200, 400, 800, 1000, and 1200 mg K2Cr2O7 kg-1 substrate) applied to a vermicomposting system which was inoculated with 30 earthworms per chamber. Earthworm growth, estimated by weight, showed a quadratic response (p = 0.03) with the lowest estimated growth at a dose of 435 mg K2Cr2O7 kg-1. Chromium (Cr) concentration increments were positively associated to mortality in adults and cocoons (p < 0.01), and total Cr accumulation in earthworms (p < 0.01). The accumulation of chromium in worms, is an indicator of the capacity of worms to resist different doses of potassium dichromate and, the effect on accumulation of Cr (VI) in vermicomposting was higher (p = 0.11). The difference of potassium dichromate in worms could indicate the oxide reduction in E. fetidae. Key words: Redox chromium, growth, survival, Eisenia foetida.
Biochemical parameters of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) of the Brazilian Cerrado

Oliveira E. , Vila L.G. , Trentin T.C. , Jubé T.O. & Martins D.B. 2018. Biochemical parameters of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) of the Brazilian Cerrado. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 38(1):189-194. Laboratório Clínico Veterinário, Hospital Veterinário, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO 74001-970, Brazil. E-mail: vetdanielimartins@yahoo.com. br The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is classified as a vulnerable species on Brazil’s list of species at risk of extinction mainly due to deforestation and forest fires. This has contributed to a considerable increase in detailed clinical case records of the treatment of wild species at veterinary institutions. However, the paucity of serum biochemical profiles of healthy giant anteaters has made it difficult to evaluate these animals, preventing diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. The objective of this work was to collect data about the biochemical profile of healthy giant anteaters from the Brazilian Cerrado raised in captivity, in order to better understand the physiological characteristics inherent to this species. Eighteen analytes from 12 healthy giant anteaters were measured. The following means and standard deviations were found in the biochemical analyses: albumin 3.29±0.33g/dL, ALT 15.49±7.98 IU/L, amylase 1037.92±149.04 IU/L, AST 21, 12±7.50 IU/L, total cholesterol 62.79±20.08mg/dL, HDL cholesterol 14.73±4.98mg/dL, LDL cholesterol 26.60±11.05mg/dL, VLDL cholesterol 2.14±1.06mg/dL, CK 111.61±70.16 IU/L, creatinine 1.05±0.37mg/dL, iron 194.64±81. 17μg/dL, GGT 65.18±54.57 IU/L, glucose 103.71±29.63mg/dL, globulins 2.76±0.36g/dL, lipase 28.80±5.11 IU/L,TSP 6.05±0.56g/ dL, triglycerides 10.71±5.29mg/dL, and urea 53.46±18.28mg/dL. The values found in this study can be used as references for the laboratory evaluation of giant anteaters living in conditions similar to those of this study. This is one of the first reports of biochemical examinations on giant anteaters of the Cerrado biome.
PATIENTS' KNOWLEDGE AND SATISFACTION WITH AESTHETIC DENTAL PROCEDURES AND RESTORATIONS DONE AT THE CONSERVATION CLINIC OF UON DENTAL HOSPITAL

Background Dental aesthetics has become just as important as function [I]. Numerous factors are related with dental aesthetics, these include: shape and shade of teeth and the shape of the dental arches [I]. Achieving an aesthetic restoration which is appealing and satisfying to the patients is fundamental in dental practice [2]. Placement of a restoration which simulates normal tooth morphology and shade is considered aesthetic [4]. Color stability [5], affordability [6] and durability [7] of these restorations are some of the factors known to influence patients' satisfaction. Patients' age [8] and gender [11] as well as their level of education [12] also playa critical role in determining their level of satisfaction. On the other hand, knowledge of the various aesthetic dental options available, influences their demand and utilization of these services [13]
A data-driven distributionally robust newsvendor model with a Wasserstein ambiguity set

Abstract In this paper, we derive a closed-form solution and an explicit characterization of the worst-case distribution for the data-driven distributionally robust newsvendor model with an ambiguity set based on the Wasserstein distance of order We also consider the risk-averse decision with the Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) objective. For the risk-averse model, we derive a closed-form solution for the p = 1 case, and propose a tractable formulation to obtain an optimal order quantity for the p > 1 case. We conduct numerical experiments to compare out-of-sample performance and convergence results of the proposed solutions against the solutions with other distributionally robust models. We also analyze the risk-averse solutions compared to the risk-neutral solutions.
Pyrolyzed agricultural wastes for improving degraded soil, nutrient use efficiency and growth performance of maize

The need for cheap and affordable alternate sources of plant nutrient inputs to boost the nutrient level of degraded arable farmlands has been a major concern for soil scientists. In 2018, a field study was carried out under rain-fed conditions to evaluate the effect of palm waste biochar (PWB), poultry litter biochar (PLB) and inorganic fertilizer on the properties of soil, N and P use efficiency on a sandy Ultisol. The treatments consisted of T 1 (control), T 2 (625 kg ha -1 NPK fertilizer), T 3 (10 t ha -1 PWB + 625 kg ha -1 NPK fertilizer), T 4 (10 t ha -1 PLB + 625 kg ha -1 NPK fertilizer), T 5 (5 t ha -1 PWB + 5 t ha -1 PLB + 625 kg ha -1 NPK fertilizer) and T 6 (10 t ha -1 PWB+10 t ha -1 PLB + 625 kg ha -1 NPK fertilizer). These treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Data were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and significant effects among treatment means were determined using Fishers Least Significant Difference (F-LSD) at a 5% probability level. Results showed that biochar application significantly ( p = 0.05 ) reduced soil bulk density by 9.9%, increased soil organic matter by 28.4%, total exchangeable bases by 34.8% and raised soil pH by 19.2%. The number of leaves, plant height and leaf area of maize were significantly higher in the amended plots than that of the control plots after six weeks of planting. Plots amended with 10 t ha -1 PLB+625kg ha -1 NPK fertilizer had the highest grain and fresh cob yield of 3.08 t ha -1 and 7.53 t ha -1 , respectively, while the least values were obtained in the control plots (2.18t ha -1 and 4.03 t ha -1 , respectively). The highest values of nitrogen uptake (70.84 kg ha -1 ), physiological efficiency of (27.47 kg ha -1 ), phosphorus uptake (78.54 kg ha -1 ), phosphorus use efficiency (80.14%), agronomic efficiency of N (9.6 kg ha -1 ), agronomic efficiencies of P(22.02 kg ha -1 ), partial factor productivity of N (32.85 kg ha -1 ) and P (75.34 kg ha -1 ) as well as N physiological efficiency (30.6 kg ha -1 ) were obtained in plots amended with 10 t/ha PLB + 625 kg ha -1 NPK fertilizer. Therefore, application of 10 t ha -1 PLB + 625 kg ha -1 NPK fertilizer is recommended for improved N and P use efficiencies, N and P uptakes, yield performance of maize and improvement in the soil properties of a degraded acidic soil.
Nongenomic Actions of Steroid Hormones in the Ovine Endometrium

approved:____________________________________________________________ Dr. Fredrick Stormshak The steroid hormone estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating certain mammalian tissues, especially female reproductive systems. Estrogen effects physiological changes in the cell by altering transcription activity for certain target genes, as a consequence of interactions between estradiol-17β (E2) and its nuclear receptor (nER). This mechanism of cellular control is referred to as classical genomic regulation. Changes take hours to manifest, since they depend on gradual changes in protein populations. However, rapid cellular changes – such as activation of MAPK pathways – have been observed within seconds of E2 exposure in vivo. These changes cannot be explained by classical mechanisms of genomic regulation, and thus are defined as nongenomic regulation. Such regulation is understood to be mediated by specific receptors localized to the plasma membrane (PM). In studies conducted in vitro and in vivo, in murine models, the specific PMlocalized E2 receptor (mER) responsible for mediating nongenomic regulation has been shown to be a specially translocated subpopulation of nER. However, these findings have yet to be corroborated in vivo in animals larger than mice. The specific purpose of the present study was to ascertain whether a correlation could established between levels of nER expression in the nucleus and expression of mER in the PM in cells of the ovine endometrium, comparing groups of ewes treated with either E2 or progesterone (P4). The hypothesis was that significant increases in levels of nER of E2 treated ewes would be reflected by significant increases in mER, as compared to P4 treated ewes. Ovariectomized ewes were treated with E2 and progesterone (P4) to condition the endometrium, a rich source of endogenous nER. The ewes were then divided into two treatment groups. Group 1 received additional E2 injections, known to elevate cellular nER levels, while group 2 received additional P4 injections, known to suppress nER levels. Results demonstrated significant increases in nER correlated with significant increases in mER in E2 treated ewes, as compared to P4 treated ewes, which supports the study’s hypothesis. These findings set the stage for further investigations into explicitly characterizing the nature of the mER in an ovine model, as well as continued exploration of nongenomic regulatory responses.
Effects of Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) Extract on 6-Hydroxy Dopamine Induced Parkinson’s Disease Model in Male Rats

Introduction: Parkinson's disease is a prevalent neuropathological disorder. Oxidative stress is regarded as the main factor of this disease which causes death of neurons. Considering the protective antioxidative property of strawberry, the aim of the present study was to investigate effects of strawberry extract (SE) on motor and cognitive disorders, and lipid peroxidation in animal model of Parkinson. Methods: 40 male wistar rats were divided into five groups: control, Parkinson and three treatment groups. To Parkinson, the rats received 6OHDA toxin with dose of 8 μg in 2 μl of normal saline solution with 0.01% of ascorbic acid inside medial forebrain bundle (MFB) on the left side of the brain. The treatment groups received strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) hydroalcoholic extract with doses of 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg for 14 days. Then passive avoidance memory and movement tests were conducted on the rats one day after the last gavage. Then the brain was isolated to extract the brain tissue and malondialdehyde (MDA) test was conducted as a marker of lipid peroxidation. Results were presented as mean ± SD, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey's post-hoc test. Results: Parkinson's disease induced significantly increased brain MDA (P<0.001) Further, treatment of Parkinson's disease with SE significantly decreased MDA in brain tissues, (P<0.001). Also, in the section on examining motor (P<0.001) and memory (P<0.05) tests doses of 25 and 50 extracts showed significant recovery effects. Conclusion: Extract of strawberry with an antioxidant effect probably has neuroprotective effects against 6-OHDA toxin.
PiLi : A Simple , Fast , and Robust Family of Blockchain Protocols ∗

In every epoch, an eligible proposer proposes a next block extending from the freshest notarized chain it has seen. Everyone votes on the first proposal heard if 1) the proposed block extends from a parent block that is not too “stale”, and 2) no conflicting notarizations have been observed in the recent past. When a block collects majority votes, it becomes notarized but not yet final. If a notarized chain ends at 13 consecutive epochs the trailing 8 blocks and the prefix is final. If a block of the present epoch collects 3/4 fraction (and not just majority) votes, a node may advance to the next epoch immediately. Otherwise a node sends a timeout message when an epoch exipres and advances to the next epoch when majority timeout messages have been heard. This very simple protocol can achieve the following properties where n denotes the total number of nodes: 1) during a period in which 3n/4 honest nodes remain online, we can confirm transactions at raw network speed (i.e., asynchronously) as soon as we rotate to an honest and online proposer; 2) if more than n/2 of honest nodes have online presence for sufficiently long (w.r.t. the protocol’s confirmation delay), transactions get confirmed in expected constant number of synchronous rounds; and 3) we guarantee consistency for all honest nodes — including those who might have unstable network connections and drop offline every now and then — as long as at any point of time the total number of offline and corrupt nodes is less than n/2. In this sense, our protocol is strictly more robust than classical, synchronous honest-majority consensus.
The relative importance of personal beliefs, meta-stereotypes and societal stereotypes of age for the wellbeing of older people

Abstract Negative images of old age can harm older individuals’ cognitive and physical functioning and health. Yet, older people may be confronted with age stereotypes that are inconsistent with their own personal beliefs. We examine the implications for older people's wellbeing of three distinct elements of age stereotypes: their personal beliefs about their age group, their perception about how others generally perceive older people (i.e. their meta-stereotypes) and the societal age stereotypes that are empirically widely shared in society. Using measures from the Stereotype Content Model and survey data of older people from the United Kingdom (UK) (Study 1, N = 171), we found only partial overlap between older people's personal beliefs and their meta-stereotypes. Personal beliefs were unrelated to wellbeing, but positive meta-stereotypes of older people's competence were linked to higher wellbeing. These findings were largely replicated with a sample of baby-boomers from Switzerland (Study 2, N = 400) controlling for socio-demographics. Study 3 used representative survey data (N = 10,803) across 29 European countries, to test and confirm that the link between positive competence meta-stereotypes and wellbeing can be generalised to different cultures, and that positive warmth meta-stereotypes were an additional predictor. At the country level, societal age stereotypes about competence were positively related to the wellbeing of older people, but only in countries that provide greater opportunities for competence attainment.
Uncertainty, Flexibility, Valuation and Design: How 21st Century Information and Knowledge Can Improve 21st Century Urban Development – Part II of II

Abstract The 21st century presents humankind with perhaps its greatest challenge since our species almost went extinct some 70,000 years ago in Africa. A big part of meeting that challenge lies in how the urbanization of three billion additional people (equal to the entire world population in 1960) will be accomplished between now and mid-century, on top of necessary renewal and renovation of the earth’s existing cities. China alone will urbanize 300 million more people between now and 2030, equal to the entire population of the U.S., the world’s third most populous country, in just 20 years. This is development on a scale and pace that is an order of magnitude greater than the past century, in a world resource and climate environment that is near the breaking point, in a context of greater technological, financial, and economic uncertainty than ever before. To meet this challenge will require that we use the best tools in our kit, including ones that have become available to us only in this new knowledge and information-based century. Technology got us here, and technology will be key to getting us through. In this paper we will review and synthesize two important methodological developments in our profession that can help infrastructure and real estate physical development (i.e., urban development) to be accomplished more effectively and efficiently in a world of uncertainty. The first methodological development is the honing of real options theory and methodology for practical application to identify and evaluate sources of flexibility in the design and operation of capital projects. The second development is the marriage of digital data compilation of property transactions records with the honing of econometric analysis methodology to allow the practical quantification of real estate and infrastructure asset price dynamics. We argue that this latter development provides the key input to the former development, enabling a much more complete and rigorous treatment of design and evaluation problems for urban development. We also argue that an engineering systems approach to option modelling is likely to find better traction in actual professional practice than the economic theoretical models that have dominated the academic literature. We provide a concrete example by applying the suggested approach to the Songdo New City development in Korea. The result can be better informed design and valuation and more efficient urban development laced with greater flexibility to avoid the worst down-side outcomes and to take advantage of the best up-side opportunities, saving vital resources of capital, land, raw materials, and energy.
An Observational Study of Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is stenosis of arteries supplying other than those in brain and heart. The prevalence of PVD is very high in general practice and it is under-diagnosed most of the times. Simple investigation tool like Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) can be used to screen patients with high risk factors and diagnose the disease in the early phase itself, so that morbidity associated with the disease can be reduced.
Effect of window shape on the detection of hyperuniformity via the local number variance

Hyperuniform many-particle systems in d-dimensional space Rd, which includes crystals, quasicrystals, and some exotic disordered systems, are characterized by an anomalous suppression of density fluctuations at large length scales such that the local number variance within a ‘spherical’ observation window grows slower than the window volume. In usual circumstances, this direct-space condition is equivalent to the Fourier-space hyperuniformity condition that the structure factor vanishes as the wavenumber goes to zero. In this paper, we comprehensively study the effect of aspherical window shapes with characteristic size L on the direct-space condition for hyperuniform systems. For lattices, we demonstrate that the variance growth rate can depend on the shape as well as the orientation of the windows, and in some cases, the growth rate can be faster than the window volume (i.e. Ld), which may lead one to falsely conclude that the system is non-hyperuniform solely according to the direct-space condition. We begin by numerically investigating the variance of two-dimensional lattices using ‘superdisk’ windows, whose convex shapes continuously interpolate between circles (p = 1) and squares (p→∞), as prescribed by a deformation parameter p, when the superdisk symmetry axis is aligned with the lattice. Subsequently, we analyze the variance for lattices as a function of the window orientation, especially for two-dimensional lattices using square windows (superdisk when p→∞). Based on this analysis, we explain the reason why the variance for d = 2 can grow faster than the window area or even slower than the window perimeter (e.g. like ln⁡(L)). We then study the generalized condition of the window orientation, under which the variance can grow as fast as or faster than Ld (window volume), to the case of Bravais lattices and parallelepiped windows in Rd. In the case of isotropic disordered hyperuniform systems, we prove that the large-L asymptotic behavior of the variance is independent of the window shape for convex windows. We conclude that the orientationally-averaged variance, instead of the conventional one using windows with a fixed orientation, can be used to resolve the window-shape dependence of the direct-space hyperuniformity condition. We suggest a new direct-space hyperuniformity condition that is valid for any convex window. The analysis on the window orientations demonstrates an example of physical systems exhibiting commensurate-incommensurate transitions and is closely related to problems in number theory (e.g. Diophantine approximation and Gauss’ circle problem) and discrepancy theory.