Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilization of pain medications and its effect on quality of life, health care utilization and associated costs in individuals with chronic back pain

Purpose Pain medications are widely prescribed to treat chronic back pain (CBP). However, the effect of using pain medications on individuals with CBP has received very little attention. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of pharmacological treatment in the population with CBP and assess its impact on quality of life, health care utilization and associated costs in USA. Patients and methods Retrospective, cross-sectional data obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), from 2011 to 2015, were utilized for this study. Pharmacological treatment for CBP was categorized into three mutually exclusive categories: 1) opioids only, 2) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) only, 3) opioids and NSAIDs (combination). The effect of the use of these treatments was also evaluated. Results A total of 5,203 individuals with CBP were identified. Of these, 2,568 (49.4%) utilized opioids only, 1,448 (27.8%) utilized NSAIDs only and 1,187 (22.8%) utilized both pain medications. Lower health-related quality-of-life scores on both the Short Form Health Survey-12 version 2 (SF-12v2) components (mental component summary score: 44.42 vs 46.67, P<0.001; physical component summary score: 35.34 vs 40.11, P<0.001) were observed for the opioid-only group compared to the NSAID-only group. In addition, individuals utilizing opioids only had greater utilization of inpatient services, office-based services, outpatient services and emergency room visits along with higher related health care costs. Conclusion Future researchers need to investigate the long-term risks and benefits of opioids, and policy makers should evaluate the prescribing guidelines to aim for a more patient-centered care.
Generalized Parameter Extraction Model for High-Speed Interconnects with Arbitrary Boundary Conditions

An accurate and general interconnect model for planar transmission line interconnects with arbitrary boundary conditions is presented. Based on the unified approach, we develop new SPICE-compatible parameter extraction algorithm that can be used in performance driven computer-aided-design applications. A range of multilayered interconnects with arbitrary boundaries are analyzed. Different ground configurations with respect to the interconnect line are considered for verification of the model. Results are obtained for admittance, line parameters and delay giving physical insights on the effect of boundary conditions. Compared with industry standard fieldsolvers, our proposed model demonstrates more than 10X speedup within 2% accuracy.
Load-Balancing using HA Proxy on Multipath System with Flow Slice

: To provide switching capacity in terabit or petabit uses core routers in multipath switching systems (MPS). Without disturbing the order of intra flow packets, the load balance across multiple paths is the main issue of MPS design phase. The performance is not good through heavy tailed flow size distribution in flow based hashing algorithm. Our proposed novel scheme consist the HA Proxy very fast and reliable solution offering high availability, load balancing, and proxying for TCP and HTTP-based applications. To process Layer7 of web site or to provide persistence to the website this scheme is very well suited for heavy load web sites crawling and flow slices are generated through Flow Slice (FS) that halt each flow at every intra flow spell larger than a slicing threshold and balances the load. The study analysis on traces of Internet, our scheme is optimal in load balancing performance through FS and the slicing threshold we set to 1 to 4 ms. We neglected out of order packets limits of probability 1/10 6 on three prominent MPSs with little hardware complexity and twice of the internal speedup. The theoretical analysis proved that this and trace driven prototype simulations are validated.
Monitoring with Ganglia

Written by Ganglia designers and maintainers, this book shows you how to collect and visualize metrics from clusters, grids, and cloud infrastructures at any scale. Want to track CPU utilization from 20,000 hosts every ten seconds? Ganglia is just the tool you need, once you know how its main components work together. This hands-on book helps experienced system administrators take advantage of Ganglia 3.x. Learn how to extend the base set of metrics you collect, fetch current values, see aggregate views of metrics, and observe time-series trends in your data. Youll also examine real-world case studies of Ganglia installs that feature challenging monitoring requirements. Determine whether Ganglia is a good fit for your environment Learn how Ganglias gmond and gmetad daemons build a metric collection overlay Plan for scalability early in your Ganglia deployment, with valuable tips and advice Take data visualization to a new level with gweb, Ganglias web frontend Write plugins to extend gmonds metric-collection capability Troubleshoot issues you may encounter with a Ganglia installation Integrate Ganglia with the sFlow and Nagios monitoring systems Contributors include: Robert Alexander, Jeff Buchbinder, Frederiko Costa, Alex Dean, Dave Josephsen, Peter Phaal, and Daniel Pocock.
The Role of Organizational Strategies, Social Support, and Technological Capabilities in International Marketing Channel Performance

Information communication technologies increase the competitive intensity among organizations. The only way to get a sustainable competitive advantage is to focus on their resources, and capabilities to establish, and implement effective strategies to increase international marketing channel performance (IMCP). The target population of this study is the food industry in Pakistan, and the sample size is 400. Data has been collected through survey method based on an adapted questionnaire. Data has been analyzed through partial least square – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Results showed that validity and reliability of data, and organizational strategies (OS) focused on relationship strategies (RS) and marketing integration strategies (MIS) has positive and significant effect on IMCP. Whereas, technological capabilities (TC) has moderated and significant effect between OS and IMCP. Furthermore, social support (SS) has insignificant effect. This study has theoretical and practical significance. Because this study opens the new horizons in literature and provide guidelines to align their strategies with their capabilities to gain sustainable competitive advantage, which will improve their IMCP.
Localization of Multiple Harmonic Sources for Inverter Loads Utilizing Periodogram

This paper introduces a new technique to localize the multiple harmonic sources that caused by power inverter loads in power distribution system utilizing periodogram technique with single-point measurement approach at the point of common coupling (PCC). The periodogram technique is used to analyzed and distinguish multiple harmonic sources location in power system whether at downstream, upstream or both stream by their impedances characteristics. The proposed localization of multiple harmonic sources method is based on the correlational relationship between fundamental impedance (Z1) and harmonic impedance (Zh) in order to identify the suspected buses. The adequacy of the proposed methodology is tested and verified on distribution system for several different cases.
Cloud droplet activation of polymerized organic aerosol

High-molecular-weight organic compounds represent an important fraction in atmospheric aerosols, but their interactions with atmospheric water vapour are not well understood. Specifically, the hygroscopicity of polymerized atmospheric aerosols is larger than expected for their high molecular weights and is not a strong function of the degree of polymerization, but their cloud-nucleating activity declines as polymerization progresses.We apply a Flory–Huggins based theory for polymer–water interactions to describe water activity in aqueous solutions of atmospherically relevant oligomers and polymers, and show via experiments on particles composed of commercial polymers that it is consistent with observed particle hygroscopic growth and cloud formation behaviour.
External and Middle Ear Characteristics of Primates , With Reference to Tarsier-Anthropoid Affinities

Otic anatomy has been used to propose two different hypotheses about tarsier-anthropoid affinities: (1) Tarsius and Anthropoidea evolved independently from Paleogene omomyid tarsioids, and (2) Tarsius (or Tarsiidae) and Anthropoidea are phyletic sister groups. The arrangement of otic structures into form-function complexes of the middle and external ear is essential for phylogenetic analysis. Although the middle ear cavities in anthropoids contain mastoid cells not present in Tarsius, the two taxa share tympanic and anterior accessory cavities in a dual cavity-septum configuration. The resonant effects of the two coupled volumes are closely similar in Saimiri and Tarsius despite marked differences in the position of the septum and aditus, suggesting that their middle ear morphology is convergent. Although the intrapetrosal pathway of the intemal carotid artery has been described as "perbullar" in both anthropoids and Tarsius, the artery crosses part of the tympanic cavity (promontory) in platyrrhines but not in Tarsius. Furthermore, a branch of the tympanic nerve passes through the carotid foramen in at least some anthropoids but not the anterolaterally-shifted carotid foramen of Tarsius. The emergence of the internal carotid nerve onto the external aspect of the promontorial canal in tupaiids and probably Rooneyia viejaensis supports Szalay's (1975a) contention that a large promontorial artery links omomyids with living haplorhines. The bony external meatal tube is an adaptation designed to reduce physiological noise in species where the jaw joint borders directly on the external ear. Since the bony meatal tube is characteristic of the rounded and clinocranial skull of Tarsius, the skull ofthe earliest anthropoids probably did not closely resemble those of Tarsius or Paleogene forms currently recognized as "tarsioid. " ' Instructor, Department of Anthropology, New York University and Hunter College, City University of New
Professionalization of occupational health and safety management in Danish companies and the effects on worker participation

The development of the internal OHS management is studied in sixty Danish companies, the results indicates an increase in professionalization, where employees employed specifically with the purpose of managing OHS – are either supplementing or taking over from the mandatory OHS committees. This ‘new’ group – referred to as OHS professional – have different approaches to the task, which constitutes new directions in OHS management. In this paper we introduce three archetypes of OHS professionals – ‘the system builder’, ‘the process oriented’ and ‘the operations oriented’ OHS professional. The three archetypes have fundamentally different understandings of the institution of ‘the OHS organization’, which directly affects the role of the OHS reps. Both ‘the system building’ and ‘the operations oriented’ OHS professional has a tendency to function as a sponge absorbing all the OHS activities leaving the role of employee elected OHS rep as an empty formality without any powers or duties associated with the OHS management and removing initiative and commitment from the OHS reps.
Sphingomonas paucimobilis is capable of modifying polycyclic aromatic compounds present at sub-nanomolar concentrations in a complex medium

Sphingomonas paucimobilis was incubated in a complex medium amended with 95 pM to 950 nM fluorescein or resorufin. The samples were centrifuged and the supernatants analyzed by capillary electrophoresis utilizing laser-induced fluorescence detection. The growing cells failed to affect the fluorescein concentration but decreased the resorufin concentration by approximately 90% at all concentrations tested. The decrease in resorufin was due to conversion into a non-fluorescent product rather than adsorption to the cells.
Factors Affecting Anger and Its Effects on Mental Wellbeing Among Undergraduate Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

One of the most common emotions associated with the younger generation is anger which is also said to be an adaptive mechanism in facing with frustration and threats. It can come wrapped with many physical and mental consequences if not managed properly. The objective is to study the factors affecting anger and the effects of anger on the mental wellbeing of undergraduate medical students in Melaka-Manipal Medical College. A pre-validated questionnaire based analytical cross sectional design was used in conducting this study. The questionnaires were distributed in printed and digital format to students of MBBS programme from Batch 34, 35, 36 and 37. A total number of 223 participants responded to the survey. There were no significant association between age (P-value = 0.304), gender (P-value = 0.197), ethnicity (P-value = 0.119), academic year (P-value = 0.472), relationship status (P- value = 0.658), religion (P-value = 0.336), financial aid (P-value = 0.171), mental exercise (P- value = 0.280) including alcohol and substance use (P-value = 0.795) with anger as the P-value for each factor was more than 0.05. The main source of anger for participants was ‘self’ (36.8%) and most claimed an episode of anger lasts a minute or an hour (66%). Most participants also claimed anger rarely affects their academic performance (52%) and relationships (61%). Besides that, most were found to rarely express their anger (44.5%), often suppress their anger (34%) and rarely have anger outbursts (72.2%). The mean mental wellbeing score was 46.1 ± 8.5 with range of 14.0 to 100.0. There was also negative and weak association between anger and mental wellbeing (r = -0.2, P-value = 0.002) with P-value that was less than 0.05 signifying that the weak association is significant. In conclusion, there were no association between age, gender, ethnicity, academic year, relationship status, religion, financial aid, mental exercise including alcohol and substance use with anger. A majority was found to have self as the primary cause of anger, anger episodes last a minute or an hour and anger rarely affects studies and relationships. Most often suppress their anger and rarely express anger and have outbursts. There was weak association between anger and mental wellbeing.
Doing Well By Doing Good with Corporate Volunteering Programs

With rising pressure on firms to demonstrate social responsibility, and an increasing need to justify corporate expenditure, social marketing is one way firms can achieve more with less. Corporate volunteering programs (CVPs) are prime examples of social marketing initiatives that can be leveraged in such a way that firms can acquire a market advantage with minimal expenditure. CVPs develop the human capital of the organisation, whilst also communicating a proactive CSR image to stakeholders, providing plenty of bang for the firms’ buck. A conceptual framework is presented illustrating these benefits and demonstrating the influence of backstage CSR efforts, such as CVPs on consumer perceptions of front-stage performance.
Perception of host odours by forest pests: comparison of a wood breeding beetle (Monochamus galloprovincialis) and a bark breeding beetle (Phaenops cyanea)

Wahrnehmung von Wirtsduften durch Forstschadlinge: Vergleich zwischen einem Holzbruter und einem Rindenbruter. Die Forstschadlinge Phaenops cyanea (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) und Monochamus galloprovinci- alis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) befallen beide Kiefern (Pinus sylvestris), die geschwacht sind, z.B. durch Wasser-Stress. Die Larven von P. cyanea entwickeln sich in oder unter der Rinde, wahrend Larven von M. galloprovincialis nach einem Fras im Kambium des befallenen Baumes auch tief in das Holz eindringen. P. cyanea befallt bereits Baume, die nur einem geringen Stress ausgesetzt waren, wahrend M. galloprovincialis Baume bevorzugt, die erheblich geschwacht oder bereits tot sind. Die vorliegende Studie soll anhand elektrophysiologischer Experimente untersuchen, welchen olfaktorischen Hinweisen die beiden Insekten bei ihrer Suche nach einem geeigneten Eiablageplatz folgen. Duftstoffe von Pinus sylvestris wurden auf Aktivkohle gesammelt und mit Gaschromato- graphie, Massenspektroskopie und Elektroantennographie untersucht (GC-MS/ EAD). Die starksten Signale von P. cyanea traten im Retentionsindex-Bereich von 936 (α-Pinen) bis 1200 auf, wobei insbesondere bizyklische Terpene und Terpenoide wie α-Pinen, β-Pinen, 1,8-Cineol und trans- Verbenol detektiert wurden. M. galloprovincialis reagierte auf einen weiteren Bereich von Stoffen, ebenfalls beginnend mit α-Pinen, bis hin zu Stoffen mit einem Retentionsindex von ca. 1300. Es scheint eine spezifische Empfindlichkeit fur monozyklische und azyklische Terpene und Terpenoide vorzuliegen, insbesondere fur γ-Terpinen, Terpinolen, β-Myrcen und p-Cymen.
The Role of the Lexicon in a Semi-Direct MT System

This paper gives information about the contents and organization of the dictionary in the Czech-to-Russian machine translation system developed at Charles Univer­ sity, Prague. It is particularly concerned with the nature and also the use ofinformation contained in a dictionary item. The paper also briefly describes the overall architecture of the system, the role played in the system by the dictionary, and points out the advantages of the major redirection of linguistic information to the dictionary in this system.
Realization of a Direct Soft Switching AC/AC Converter for Wireless Power Transfer Applications

OF THE MASTER’S THESIS School of Electrical Engineering Master’s Programme in Electronics and Electrical Engineering Author: Simo Vuorsalo Title: Realization of a Direct Soft Switching AC/AC Converter for Wireless Power Transfer Applications Date: 13.11. 2015 Language: English Number of pages: 95 Professorship: Power Electronics Code: S-81 Supervisor: Professor Jorma Kyyrä Advisor: M.Sc. Ferdi Kusumah This thesis describes the design, realization and testing of a three-phase to one-phase direct AC/AC converter, also known as the matrix converter. The switching is using the soft-switching strategy which is also known in the literature as the Zero Current Switching strategy. To achieve ZCS, the circuit needs resonant behavior which is achieved by the transmitter primary side that is an LC circuit. This circuit acts as a tank circuit and the switching frequency is the resonant frequency of the LC circuit. The design of the converter was done with OrCAD capture, PSPICE and Layout. The proposed converter was designed completely during the project as well as the printed circuit boards. The wireless power transfer is achieved by using an air-cored coil pair. The receiver circuit analysis is not in the scope of this thesis. The testing of the converter was not able to perform completely while the complexity of the software prevented the project to be finished in given schedule. The partial test results are shown in the thesis.
Effect of Co-Digestion on Anaerobic Digestion of Pig Slurry with Maize Cob at Mesophilic Temperature

The 21st century faces the problem of growing energy consumption and diminishing supplies of fossil fuels, which has led to researches on the use of renewable energy sources and, consequently, the development of new technological processes of energy production . Pig slurry and maize stalk constitute nuisance to our environment and should be got rid of. Co-digestion has been found by researchers to improve the product of anaerobic digestion. This work determined the effect of co-digestion on anaerobic digestion of pig slurry with maize cob. Pig slurry and maize cobs were co-digested at ratios 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 using the percentage volatile solid of each substrate. The experiment was carried out in a laboratory scale batch experiment. The digester was fed with pig slurry-maize cob mixtures calculated for the selected ratios based on the volatile solid (VS) concentration of the selected substrates. Co-digestion of pig slurry with maize cobs at ratios 3:1, 1:1 and 3:1 at mesophilic temperature (37 o C) gave biogas yields of 0.323, 0.392 and 0.486m 3 /kgoDM respectively while the methane yields were 0.240, 0.305 and 0.358 m 3 CH 4 /kgoDM respectively. From the fresh mass of the substrate, biogas yields of 0.035, 0.057 and 0.109 m 3 /kgFM were obtained for pig slurry-maize cob ratios of 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 respectively while the methane yields from the fresh mass for the same ratios were 0.026, 0.044 and 0.080 CH 4 /kgFM respectively. Co-digestion of pig slurry with maize cob was found to have methane concentrations of 74.30, 77.90 and 73.68% at pig slurry/maize cob combinations of 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 respectively. The study revealed that co-digesting pig slurry with maize cob at ratio 1:3 is optimum for biogas production (yields). Keywords: Co-digestion, pig slurry, maize cob, batch experiment, mesophilic temperature
Synthetic files : enabling low-latency file I

Files are a tried and true operating system abstraction. They present a simple byte-stream model of I/O that has proven intuitive for application programmers and efficient for operating system builders. However, current file systems do not provide good support for adaptive continuous media (CM) applications – an increasingly important class of applications that exhibit complex access patterns and are particularly sensitive to variations in I/O performance. To address these problems we propose synthetic files. Synthetic files are specialized views of underlying regular files, and convert complex file access patterns into simple sequential synthetic file access patterns. Synthetic file construction can be viewed as a declarative meta-interface for I/O, enabling application-driven prefetching strategies that can hide device access latency even for applications with complex access patterns. Synthetic files can be realized dynamically, incrementally, or even optimistically. In this paper we outline a feedback-driven, incremental creation strategy that hides variations in device access latency for QoS-adaptive CM applications. This project was supported in part by DARPA contracts/grants N66001-97-C-8522, N66001-97-C-8523, and F19628-95-C-0193, and by Tektronix, Inc. and Intel Corporation.