Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CONSTRUCTION OF A PRECISE GROWTH MODEL

Stem volume is the most important variable in commercial forestry because most of the important management decisions are taken on the volume production of trees. However, it is also the most difficult variable to measure and therefore it is necessary to have accurate volume prediction methods. For the present study, a growth model was constructed to predict the stem volume of individual Tectona grandis L.f. (teak) trees of a 30 year old plantation (34.0 ha) in Mihintale Beat of the Anuradhapura Forest Division. In order to collect data, ten 0.02 ha circular sample plots were randomly laid out. Diameter at breast height (dbh), total height and crown height of the trees in all the sample plots were measured as the first step. Tree basal area, stand basal area and top height were calculated using those data. For the second step of data collection, each tree stem was divided into 3-5 m sections without felling them using a Blume-Leiss altimeter. Then the bottom, middle and top diameters of each section were measured using Spiegel relascope. The volume of each section was calculated separately using Newton’s formula and the stem volume was determined by summing the section volumes together. For this reason, the final section of the tree was considered as a cone. Then a theoretical model was developed to predict the individual tree volume using the relationship of form factor with volume, basal area and total height. It was fitted to the collected data using multiple linear regressions. Three site factors and four transformations were used to enhance the quality of the models. After fitting the possible 475 models with different forms, 13 models were selected for further analysis due to their high R 2 values which were over 85% and good distribution of standard residuals. For these selected models, average
Prise en charge initiale des états septiques graves de l’adulte et de l’enfant Early management of severe sepsis and shock in children and adults

The recent availability of the « Surviving Sepsis Campaign » guidelines provided the opportunity to gather a expert panel of emergency medicine, infectious diseases and intensive care physicians representing seven professional societies to elaborate this recommendation document. The guidelines document focuses on early identification and management of both adult and pediatric patients with severe sepsis, and the organization of health care systems for initial management of these patients. The document is expected to provide a basis for elaboration of clinical practice guidelines and clinical pathways for severe sepsis and their evaluation. © 2006 Société de réanimation de langue française. Publié par Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés. Mots clés : Infection ; Sepsis ; Choc septique ; Recommandations
La riposte à l’épidémie de fièvre hémorragique à virus Ebola en République du Congo, 2003: une nouvelle stratégie?

○ Cet article decrit la derniere epidemie de fievre hemorragique a virus Ebola (FHVE) qui a sevi dans le departement de la Cuvette Ouest en Republique du Congo de janvier a avril 2003. Les enquetes epidemiologiques ont montre que le premier cas de FHVE, retrospectivement identifie, etait tombe malade le 25 decembre 2002. A partir de cette date jusqu'au 7 mai 2003, un total de 143 cas a ete identifie, incluant 128 morts, dans les districts sanitaires de Mbomo et de Kelle. Treize des cas etaient confirmes au laboratoire et 130 etaient epidemiologiquement lies. Cinquante-trois pour cent des cas etaient de sexe masculin. Les patients etaient âges de 5 jours a 80 ans. La majorite des cas s'etait infectee au cours d'un contact inter-humain, notamment lors de transmission intra-familiale. Les enquetes epidemiologiques suggeraient l'existence de trois introductions primaires de virus Ebola dans les populations, principalement chez des chasseurs. Pour ces trois cas primaires, le contact avec des primates non-humains (Gorilles) et d'autres mammiferes (des antilopes de foret) soit tues soit trouves morts, avaient precede la maladie humaine. Trois personnes des services de sante ont ete infectees pendant l'epidemie mais la transmission nosocomiale n'a joue qu'un role secondaire. Le 5 juin, le Ministre de la Sante et de la Population du gouvernement de la Republique du Congo, a solennellement declare la fin de l'epidemie de fievre hemorragique a virus Ebola dans le Departement de la Cuvette Ouest. Le dernier deces avait ete enregistre le 22 avril dans le petit village de Ndjoukou.
Relation Between Daily Self-Weighing and Physique, Lifestyle Factors, and Glycemic Parameters in Japanese College Students

Background: The impact of self-weighing on young adults attending college has not been fully clarified. The present study aimed to examine self-weighing behavior and associated gender differences in Japanese college students and investigate the relation between habitual daily self-weighing and physique, lifestyle factors and glycemic parameters. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated data from a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) that was performed during clinical training of medical students between 2010 and 2014. Information concerning physique (e.g. body weight and waist circumference) and a lifestyle-focused questionnaire were completed before the OGTT. Participants comprised 441 fifth-grade university students (279 males and 162 females) from the Oita University Faculty of Medicine. Results: A total of 26.8% of participants were habitual self-weighers. Females were significantly more likely to engage in habitual self-weighing than males. There were no significant differences in glucose metabolism between individuals who regularly weighed themselves and those who did not in either gender. Factors related to the performance of daily self-weighing were not skipping breakfast in males and regular exercise in females. Conclusions: Although there was no meaningful relation between habitual self-weighing and glucose metabolism in this study, eating breakfast regularly and exercising regularly independently promoted self-weighing behavior in males and females, respectively. These findings suggest that these common practices may be helpful for college students as a method to encourage habitual daily self-weighing, consequently providing a healthy environment in college life to prevent potential obesity-related diseases. J Endocrinol Metab. 2020;10(1):8-15 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jem633
Prevention and control of hepatitis B virus infection in Singapore.

: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) accounted for 24% to 54% of the reported acute viral hepatitis cases in Singapore from 1982 to 1996. The prevalence of HBV infection, as indicated by the presence of markers of HBV, increased from 9.3% in children below 5 years of age to 54.6% in adults above 55 years. The overall hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence was 5.7% for males and 3.4% for females, with the highest rate among the Chinese. About 39% of the HBsAg carriers were hepatitis B 'e' antigen positive. The main mode of transmission during the first year of life was perinatal, with 43% of the babies born to HBsAg-positive mothers developing the carrier state. Horizontal transmission within the infected household was significantly associated with sharing of personal and household articles. Based on the findings of seroprevalence surveys in various population groups and clinical trials on the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of various doses and schedules with the plasma-based and yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccines in newborn babies, a national childhood hepatitis B vaccination programme was formulated and implemented in phases, starting with babies born to carrier mothers on 1 October 1985 and finally extending to all newborns on 1 September 1987. The hepatitis B prevention and control programme has been successful. During the period 1994 to 1996, more than 90% of children completed the full schedule of immunisation by below one year of age, and 85% had evidence of vaccination at school entry at age six. Follow-up of 2 cohorts of vaccinated children showed that perinatal transmission has been reduced by 80% to 100%. Horizontal transmission has also declined through other public health measures. The efficacy of the hepatitis B vaccine and the adequacy of reduced doses in the long-term protection of chronic carrier state have been shown in children and adults. The incidence of acute hepatitis B has declined from 10.4 per 100,000 in 1985 to 4.8 per 100,000 in 1996. There is a noticeable reduction in HBsAg prevalence in selected population (school children, national servicemen and antenatal women). The age-standardised incidence rate of primary liver cancer among males had also dropped from 27.8 per 100,000 per year during 1978 to 1982 to 19.0 per 100,000 per year during 1988 to 1992.
Phytochemical and In Vitro Antimicrobial Properties of Premna hispida (Verbenaceae) Linn

Premna hispida (Verbenaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant useful in folk medicine in treatment of various human diseases like buccal infections, rheumatism, asthma, dropsy, cough, fever, boils, and scrofulous diseases. The present study was carried out to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the phytochemical constituents of P. hispida using standard methods. The antimicrobial activity of P. hispida was also investigated in vitro using the agar diffusion method. The results revealed the presence of bioactive constituents, comprising saponins, tannins, flavonoids and terpenoids in varying degrees in the crude extract and in all the solvent fractions except in n-hexane fraction. Total phenolics, total flavonoids and tannins contents were highest in the methanol extract while ethyl acetate fraction had the least. The assay results revealed that the methanol extract and the solvent fractions showed activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger with significant inhibition zones diameter (IZD). The MIC of the crude extract and solvent fractions ranged from 0.44 mg / ml to 2.5 mg/ml. The methanol extract and fractions of this plant compared favourably in terms of zones of inhibition and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration with the standard drug disc (tetracycline and fluconazole) against the tested microorganisms. The antimicrobial activity of the plant leaves as reported by the present study is due to the presence of these secondary metabolites in substantial amounts in the plant. The findings suggest that the plant part has the potential for use as an effective medicine in the treatment of various diseases.
The Changing Face Of Western Botany

Science does not occur in a vacuum, and the juxtaposition of philosophies and realities that shape the face of science undergo major shifts over extended periods of time. My original title, "The New Face of Western Botany;' became "The Changing Face" when I realized that "Western Botany" has already gone through several "New Faces. " The contemporary shift that first caught my attention is only the latest in a long series. Furthermore, the develoment of "Western Botany;' intended to refer to the western United States, is rooted in the history of western civilization in general, beginning in Europe.
Tuberculosis and diabetes: association with sociodemographic characteristics and diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. Brazil, 2007-2011.

INTRODUCTION Tuberculosis and diabetes comorbidity remains a challenge for global public health. OBJECTIVE To analyze the sociodemographic profile and the diagnostic and treatment characteristics of tuberculosis cases with and without diabetes in Brazil. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study with data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System and the Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus Primary Care Clinical Management System, from 2007 to 2011. We adopted a Poisson regression model with robust variance to estimate the prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective confidence intervals. RESULTS We found the studied comorbidity in 7.2% of cases. The hierarchical model showed a higher PR among women (PR=1.31; 95% confidence interval - 95%CI 1.27-1.35); a greater association in the age groups 40-59 years and ≥ 60 years (PR=11.70; 95%CI 10.21-13.39, and PR=17.49; 95%CI 15.26-20.05), and in those with positive sputum smear microscopy results - 1st sample (PR=1.40; 95%CI 1.35-1.47). Return after treatment discontinuation and treatment discontinuation were inversely associated with comorbidity (PR=0.66; 95%CI 0.57-0.76 and PR=0.79; 95%CI 0.72-0.87). CONCLUSION The findings, such as the inverse relationship with tuberculosis treatment discontinuation in the group of people with comorbidity, reinforce the importance of integrated actions in health services to change the scenario of this challenging comorbidity.
A Review on the Status of Hypertension in Six Southeast Asian Countries

Hypertension (HTN) is the most common chronic disease in both developed and developing countries and is a major public health concern affecting adults. It is the leading cause of mortality and disability-adjusted life year all over the world, causes more cardiovascular deaths than any other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and is the second only to smoking as a preventable cause of mortality. [1-2] In the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of more than 23,000 subjects, more than 50% of deaths from chronic heart disease and stroke occurred among patients with elevated blood pressure (BP). Approximately 1 billion people were estimated to be hypertensive in 2000, and most of these identified to be hypertensive live in lower and middle-income countries. [3-4] There have been several measures done to control elevations in BP, and while in developed countries, the prevalence of HTN appears to be stabilizing, the rates in the Southeast Asian region continues to rise. Southeast Asia is a subregion in Asia consisting of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and East Timor. About a third of adults in the region have HTN and nearly 1.5 million deaths are attributed to HTN annually. [5] It represents an important public health issue, as this is partly due in part to absent or poor disease management, with rates of uncontrolled HTN as high as 70%. [6] This paper looks at the different status of HTN prevalence, awareness, and control strategy available in six countries in SEA.
Magnetism, light, structures, and rotational motion: Mixed-methods study of visitors engaging with four exhibits at a science museum

Mixed-methods research was conducted at four exhibits by four teams of graduate students and museum practitioners at MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, in southern California. These four focal exhibits were Turn Tables, Keva Planks, Magnetic Islands, and Light Patterns. All four teams were interested in identifying guest behavior at the focal exhibits. However, teams from Turn Tables and Keva Planks were additionally interested in assessing whether a modification or manipulation to the physical exhibit impacted guest stay time at the exhibit. The first project examined Turn Tables, a set of rotating tables. This team found that adding a graphic to the exhibit had a significant impact on engagement with increasing complexity (p < .05). The second project investigated Keva Planks, which are small wooden planks guests can use to make structures. Researchers assessed how the presence of a museum floor facilitator or existing structures at the exhibit influenced stay time and engagement with the Keva Planks, and found a statistically significant difference in mean stay time in the case of both facilitator and structure present compared with only a structure present (p < .05). The final two studies used mainly qualitative observations to identify guest behaviors when interacting with each exhibit. The team that studied Magnetic Islands, a small magnetic structure guests can attach washers to, documented three engagement types: basic playing, building structures, and exploring magnetism. Findings from this project indicate that when children engaged with peers rather than visiting the exhibit alone, they exhibited more complex engagement types such as building and exploring magnetism. The final study examined Light Patterns, a large color peg board that covered an entire will, focusing specifically on the behaviors of guests in early childhood to characterize the different ways young children chose to engage with the exhibit. Findings suggest that children exhibited many different behaviors at Light Patterns that demonstrated evidence of engagement with STEM practices such as asking questions, making observations, and recognizing patterns. This research contributes to topics about Research Practitioner Partnership (RPP) models, mixed-methods research, museum facilitation, learning affordances in museum spaces, and the impact of exhibit design on the museum guest experience.
IMAGE MATCHING TOWARDS MATURITY

This paper deals with the least squares matching algorithm, focused on stereo pairs, without the use of epipolar geometry. The least squares matching algorithm although widely used has still some shortcomings, which in certain cases keep it away from commercial production. The shortcomings are the low reliability of the "successful" matches and the automation/adaptation of the algorithm, which has numerous parameters. These problems will be addressed in this paper by introducing a new algorithm for dynamic adaptation of the template size and two new algorithms to enhance accuracy and reliability. Discussion and examples will be presented along with proposals for further work, based on the combination of the three algorithms and the use of epipolar geometry.
Security Aspects of the Information Centric Networks Model

With development of internet and the enormous growth of contents over networks, that motivated the researchers to proposed new paradigm model called Information Centric Networks ICN , the most features of ICN model is based on the content itself, instead, of the server located the contents over internet. This new model has a lot of challenges such as, mobility of contents, naming, replications, cashing, communications, and the security issue to secure the contents, customer, and providers. In this paper we will focus on ICN Model and propose solutions of security to protect the network elements, since the security is based on the packet itself rather than the host-centric.
Nonlinear Behavior of Emerging Market Bonds Spreads: The Asian Case

We introduce a new procedure that attempt to identify nonlinear event windows. The Hinich Bicorrelation test is complemented with two statistical techniques, scarcely used in the empirical economics and finance literature, to identify nonlinear periods free of the impact of outliers for four important Asian bond ́s spread series. The two complementary techniques are trimming and ́hard clipping ́ that jointly used would control for the presence of outliers in the data. We find that outliers are an important element to consider in the identification of the stochastic nature of financial time series. After reducing the impact of outliers, we are able to identify in a better way the underlying nonlinear structure of the spreads series. Results suggest that nonlinear serial dependencies are episodic in nature. All the spread returns series, except for Thailand, increase the number of windows with nonlinear dependence when the percentage of trimming for outliers increases, suggesting that the latter may affect the identification of nonlinear dependence. The findings support the idea that, even in these well informed and sophisticated markets, the weak-form of the efficient market hypothesis cannot be supported, and further investigation is required to better understand the nature of financial and economic time series. JEL Classification: C12, G19
INSTRUCTIONAL INTERVENTION FOR PUPIL’S WRITTEN COMPOSITION BY RELATING PHASES OF PLANNING TO REVISING

process is involved. That is, writers first make a plan about meanings to be produced, retrieve information related with such meanings, then translate them as written language, and finally revise written composition (Hayes & Flower, 1980). In their model there are further some sub-processes for each one. It was suggested that in writing writers did not necessarily proceed sequentially from planning, translating, and revising but work in consideration of these processes simultaneously (Lumbelli, Paolette, & Frausin, 1999). Although writers are engaged in very dynamic and complex processes during composing sentences, traditional teaching on written composition in Japanese schools little pay attention to this complex process. A guideline for composition in Ministry of Education of Japan, in fact, recommend to teach as following: that is, lessons should be proceeded at first deciding a topic of written composition, then retrieving materials related to the topic, sequencing them, drafting, and 101
Third Party Auditing for Cloud Data Security with AES Algorithm

The purpose of this work is to develop an auditing scheme which is at ease, efficient to apply and own the skills which include privacy preserving, public auditing, keeping the statistics integrity alongside confidentiality. Thus the new auditing scheme has been developed consisting of three entities. Data proprietor, TPA and cloud server. The data proprietor performs diverse operations consisting of splitting the document to blocks, encrypting those using AES. It verifies the integrity of records on demand of the users in cloud. The cloud server is used handiest to save the encrypted blocks of facts. This proposed auditing scheme uses AES algorithm for encryption.
Integrated Information Systems: Design-Options for Consortial Plattforms

Implementing an Integrated Information System (IIS) comprises a lot of design-decisions. We present the 6 most important questions to be answered related to IIS-design and use decision-trees to provide an overview of the possible choices for each topic to help contextualize our solution. Our goal is to describe in detail our use-case, its requirements and why our approach is optimal within the described set of options.
[FEED-IN-TARIFFS SCANDAL OF RENEWABLE GENERATION: MORAL HAZARD AND COST PADDING AUDIT]

Climate change, calls for a worldwide trend to implement appropriate measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which has raised significant concerns among policymakers. Two commonly implemented policy instruments are cap-and-trade (C&T) schemes and policies promoting renewable energy (RE) technologies. While the former directly limits GHG emissions, the latter does so indirectly by providing financial incentives in the form of subsidies or guaranteed revenue for RE producers [1]. Example of financial incentive includes feed-in-tariffs (FITs), which are being enacted by numerous countries and states across the world.
RISK AND RESILIENCE IN THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM REZILIENŢĂ ŞI RISC ÎN DEZVOLTAREA DURABILĂ A TURISMULUI

Tourism does not occur out of “nothingness”, an indefinite space, but it is an activity inserted in a particular geographical and sociocultural entity developed in a certain historical-political-geographic space and which has its own centres for potential, power and sustainable development force, interest groups, etc., with a special consistency and resiliency. The significant resilience of Romanian tourism is that ability to withstand shocks, even to adapt well to “n” challenging situations like the economic crisis, the latest attacks launched in major capitals and tourist destinations (Istanbul, Paris, flues of all kinds, either avian or swine, the war in Ukraine, which favoured the development of cruise tourism, etc.), from which the Romanian tourism has emerged victorious, transforming many of these “shocks” into opportunities, emerging ever more powerful on the regional and international tourism market, itself subject to multiple metamorphoses. Key-words: tourism, risk, resilience, sustainable development, destination Cuvinte-cheie: turism, risc, reziliență, dezvoltare durabilă, destinație