Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validity of the Expectations Hypothesis of the Term Structure of Interest Rates: The Case of Saudi Arabia

Abstract We examine and test the validity of the expectation hypothesis of the term structure (EHTS) of interest rates in Saudi Arabia using the traditional single equation approach, Campbell and Shiller methodology, Error Correction Model, and monthly data over the period June 1983 to December 2014. The results of the single equation approach indicate that the test of validity of the expectation hypothesis cannot be rejected for all maturities. We also find that the validity of the EHTS of interest rates is supported through the stationarity of the term spreads between short- and long-term interest rates. Moreover, the cointegration test reveals the existence of a cointegration relationship between short- and long-term interest with ( 1 − 1 ) $\left(1-1\right)$ cointegrating vector, suggesting the validity EHTS of interest rates. Policy implications based on the empirical results suggest that the transparency of monetary policy in Saudi Arabia and the effective role of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) in conducting monetary policy increase the predictive power of market participants of future movements of short-term interest rates.
Epidermal growth factor receptor variants in patients from Myanmar with lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) sequence variants in patients from Myanmar have not yet been reported. Objectives To describe the molecular epidemiology of EGFR variants in patients from Myanmar with lung adenocarcinoma. Methods Histological diagnosis and categorization of biopsies collected from 66 patients (28–78 years) with lung cancer was conducted using a panel of antibodies including those to: TTF1, P40, synaptophysin, CK7, and napsin-A. Samples from patients with confirmed adenocarcinoma were tested for EGFR variants using a cobas EGFR Mutation Test kit and cobas z 480 System (Roche). We conducted a univariate analysis of categorical factors using a χ2 or Fisher exact test. Results Histological types were adenocarcinoma (61%, 40/66), squamous cell carcinoma (24%, 16/66), neuroendocrine carcinoma (9%, 6/66), undifferentiated carcinoma (2%, 1/66), adenosquamous carcinoma (2%, 1/66), small cell anaplastic carcinoma (2%, 1/66), and pleomorphic sarcoma (2%, 1/66). EGFR variants were detected in 15 of 40 (38%) cases of adenocarcinoma. Among them, 6 patients (40%) had an exon 19 deletion, another 6 (40%) had exon 21 substitutions, 1 (7%) had exon 20 insertion S768I, and 2 (13%) had compound variations (1 of exon 21 L858R and exon 18 G719X, and 1 of exon 20 S768I and exon 18 G719X). Although limited by small sample size, no significant association was found between the variants and factors including family cancer history, age group, sex, ethnicity, or occupation. However, there was a strong significant association between never-smokers and EGFR variants (P = 0.008). Conclusion Knowledge of EGFR variants in patients from Myanmar is encouraging for their effective cancer treatment.
Localization of Cellulase Components in Pseudomonas sp . Isolated from Activated Sludge

The localization of cellulase components in a Pseudornonas sp. isolated from activated sludge was studied. Endoglucanases were found in the culture media during growth on cellulose but not on cellobiose. Gel filtration and electrophoresis indicated that the extracellular enzyme contained two components, EI and EII. During growth on both substrates intracellular endoglucanases and aryl-P-glucosidases were formed. Late-exponential phase organisms from media containing cellulose or cellobiose were subjected to osmotic shock treatment or to spheroplast formation. Osmotic shock fluid contained endoglucanases and aryl-P-glucosidases. Spheroplast formation also released these enzymes. The glucosidases could be separated into aryl-p-glucosidase I and aryl-P-glucosidase I1 by ion-exchange chromatography. Endoglucanase was located differently on the cell surface depending on whether the growth substrate was cellulose or cellobiose. The cytoplasm contained another endoglucanase and aryl-P-glucosidase I. None of the enzymes hydrolysed avicel, but all except aryl-P-glucosidase I11 hydrolysed carboxymethylcellulose. All aryl-p-glucosidases, but none of the endoglucanases, hydrolysed cellobiose.
Dexmedetomidine versus midazolam / propofol sedation reduces delirium in the intensive care unit : a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Delirium is a serious complication for intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Preventing delirium by dexmedetomidine administration for sedative is still controversial. This meta-analysis aims to analyze the different occurrence of delirium between dexmedetomidine and midazolam/propofol administration for ICU patients. Methods: We searched multiple electronic databases including Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar, and The Cochrane Library and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the results were updated in December 2016. All statistical analysis utilizing Review Manager was performed, and the Cochrane Collaboration’s software was used only for preparation and maintenance of Cochrane systematic reviews. We employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement methodology for validation. Results: Eight studies, with a sample size ranged from 23 to 998, for a total number of 2182 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled subgroup analysis suggested that dexmedetomidine had an intense correlation with reducing the occurrence of delirium compared with midazolam/propofol administration for ICU patients (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26-0.84; P < 0.00001). Both the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) and Length of ICU stay statistically significant shorter was associated with dexmedetomidine for ICU patients (Weighted Mean Difference [WMD]: -2.27 D; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.59 to -0.95; P < 0.00001) and (WMD: -1.62 D; 95% CI: -1.75 to -1.50; P = 0.03). Conclusions: Current evidence demonstrates that dexmedetomidine, administered as sedative agent for ICU-MV patients, is related to conspicuously lower rates of delirium, shorter duration of MV, and length of ICU. Nevertheless, the overall outcomes of this meta-analysis can be impacted by drug interactions, neurocognitive assessment method, and clinical heterogeneity.
An Early Warning System for Oil Security in China

The oil system security in a country or region will affect its sustainable development ability. China’s oil security has risen to the national strategic level. It is urgent to construct an early warning indicator system to reflect the oil security level accurately, as well as to diagnose and assess the oil system status effectively and put forward the corresponding proposals for ensuring oil security. An early warning indicator system of China’s oil system covering 23 sub-indicators from three aspects, i.e., resource security, market security and consumption security, was constructed using the SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) factor analysis method. It shows that China’s oil system safety level has been seriously threatened and is generally declining. However, due to the strong introduction of energy policies and increasing energy utilization technology in recent years, the increasing proportion of new energy, renewable energy and oil substitutes eases the energy security threats. In response to complex oil security issues, the Chinese government needs to strengthen macroeconomic regulation and control at the policy level continuously, increase efforts to explore resource reserves, upgrade energy conservation and emission reduction technologies, develop new alternatives for oil products, and reduce the dependence on international oil imports.
Impact of Dynamic Non-Equilibrium Processes on Fracture Mechanisms of High-Strength Titanium Alloy VT23

The complex analysis of fractures of high-strength titanium alloy VT23 was performed at the macro- and microlevels, and the basic patterns of fracture under static stretching and after the realization of dynamic non-equilibrium processes caused by impact-oscillatory loading and subsequent static stretching were revealed. The morphological regularities in the formation of dimples of tearing and alloy stratification at the macro level were established with the help of 3-D profilometry. The micromechanisms of fracture were numerically characterized by the methods of optical-digital analysis, in particular, by highlighting the bound areas, which are the objects of interest—the dimples of tearing. The analysis of the surface of ductile tearing under different loading conditions at the microlevel was performed by analyzing the parameter distribution patterns of the dimples found on it.
Misspecification Tests for Log-Normal and Over-Dispersed Poisson Chain-Ladder Models

Despite the widespread use of chain-ladder models, so far no theory was available to test for model specification. The popular over-dispersed Poisson model assumes that the over-dispersion is common across the data. A further assumption is that accident year effects do not vary across development years and vice versa. The log-normal chain-ladder model makes similar assumptions. We show that these assumptions can easily be tested and that similar tests can be used in both models. The tests can be implemented in a spreadsheet. We illustrate the implementation in several empirical applications. While the results for the log-normal model are valid in finite samples, those for the over-dispersed Poisson model are derived for large cell mean asymptotics which hold the number of cells fixed. We show in a simulation study that the finite sample performance is close to the asymptotic performance.
Etiopathogenesis and Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea : A Literature Review

DOI: 10.21276/sjodr.2018. 3.3. 6 Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is increasingly being recognized as an important health issue in the last two to three decades. It is characterized by frequent episodes of upper airway collapse during sleep, causing recurrent arousals, intermittent hypoxaemia, sleep fragmentation and poor sleep quality. There is accumulating evidence that OSA is being considered as an independent risk factor for hypertension, glucose intolerance/diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, leading to increased cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality.
Non-Trivial Linkup of Both Compact-Neutron-Object and Outer-Empty-Space Metrics

In 2011, Chinese researcher Ni found the solution of the Oppenheimer-Volkoff problem for a stable configuration of stellar object with no internal source of energy. The Ni’s solution is the nonrotating hollow sphere having not only an outer, but an inner physical radius as well. The upper mass of the object is not constrained. In our paper, we contribute to the description of the solution. Specifically, we give the explicit description of metrics inside the object and attempt to link it with that in the corresponding outer Schwarzschild solution of Einstein field equations. This task appears to be non-trivial. We discuss the problem and suggest a way how to achieve the continuous linkup of both object-interior and outer-Schwarzschild metrics. Our suggestion implies an important fundamental consequence: there is no universal relativistic speed limit, but every compact object shapes the adjacent spacetime and this action results in the specific speed limit for the spacetime dominated by the object. Regardless our suggestion will definitively be proved or the successful linkup will also be achieved in else, still unknown way, the success in the linkup represents a constraint for the physical acceptability of the models of compact objects.
Agronomic Traits of Corn Fertilized with Sewage Sludge

Although research on the environmental impacts of using waste as a fertilizer is of great importance, the basic principle for using a product as fertilizer is that it should provide nutrients for plants without causing any harm to them. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic traits (number of nodes, plant height, leaf number, yield, and protein content of grains) and the nutritional status of corn treated with sewage sludge. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Jaboticabal in a Red Latosol. A randomized block design with four treatments (0, 55, 110, and 167.5 Mg ha−1 of sewage sludge) and five repetitions was used. At 30 days after emergence (DAE), the dose of 110 Mg ha−1 dry weight presented greater values for plant height, leaf number and stem diameter. At 60 DAE, the treatments did not affect the agronomic traits. No influence from the treatments tested was observed for protein content of grains and yield. The dose of 167.5 Mg ha−1 showed greater weight of 100 seeds. All treatments showed nutritional imbalances. This study confirmed the agricultural potential of sewage sludge as a source of nutrients.
Pinning Group Synchronization in Complex Dynamical Networks with Different Groups of Oscillators

This paper investigates the pinning control schemes and corresponding criteria for group synchronization in a complex dynamical network with different types of chaotic oscillators. We present the linear pinning and adaptive pinning control schemes to make different groups of oscillators synchronize to their own synchronization states, respectively. The globally asymptotically stable criteria for group synchronization are derived, which indicate that the group synchronization can be realized only by pinning a part of nodes in a general network. Finally, some numerical simulations are provided to verify the theoretical results.
Three phase voltage source inverters with grid connected industrial application

The grid-connected issue is one of the major problems in the field of Power Electronics. In this paper, the Three Phase Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) is controlled by a Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) Technique. SVPWM control technique and Park transformation, the managed inverter control system to convert input DC power into AC power, stabilize the output voltage and current, and feeds the excess power to the utility grid can be achieved by controllers. Usually, the grid source contains higher level of harmonics. To analyze the harmonics, nonlinear load is connected externally in the point of common coupling. The main aim of this paper is to modeling, simulation and experimental study of the three-phase grid connected inverter. By using the control algorithm, the grid sides Total Harmonics Distortion (THD) are controlled to the 1.54% for 800V DC as per the IEEE standard. The stimulation results such as AC output voltage and current, inverter system power flow, and grid disturbances detection signals, proves the effectiveness of the developed control algorithm. The control algorithms to makes the for this inverter outputs is pure sinusoidal.
Risk Factors for Lymphedema after Thigh Sarcoma Resection and Reconstruction

Background: Secondary lymphedema can be a lifelong and debilitating consequence of lower extremity oncologic resection and reconstruction. The goal of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of lymphedema in patients treated for thigh sarcoma. Methods: A retrospective review analyzed all patients who underwent thigh sarcoma resection and reconstruction by a plastic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic between 1997 and 2014. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical management, adjunctive therapies, and complications of patients who did and did not develop postoperative lymphedema were compared. Results: A total of 148 patients were identified. Twelve percent of patients developed lymphedema postoperatively during an average follow-up of 26 months. Risk factors for the development of lymphedema included defect location in the medial thigh (P = 0.04), arterial resection (P = 0.001), arterial reconstruction (P = 0.027), and a history of cardiac disease (P = 0.03). Twenty-two percent of patients who developed lymphedema also experienced wound dehiscence compared with 4.6% of patients without lymphedema (P = 0.02). There were no differences in age, body mass index, smoking, history of deep venous thrombosis or venous stasis, wound dimensions, or type of reconstruction performed in patients with and without lymphedema. Conclusions: Lymphedema is common following major oncologic resection. Preexisting cardiac disease, tumor location in the medial thigh, and arterial resection and reconstruction were associated with a higher risk of postoperative lymphedema. Noninfectious wound dehiscence may be secondary to lymphedema or represent an early indicator of patients who will ultimately develop lymphedema.
The Prognostic and Therapeutic Role of Lymphadenectomy as Part of the Ovarian Debulking

The incidence of ovarian cancer is increasing in recent decades locating the most lethal of all gy-necological tumors.Worldwide discuss the figure of 238719 new cases diagnosed annually and 151905 deaths (GLOBOCAN 2012). In Romania, the inci-dence is 1700 new cases and 1000 deaths annually (GLOBOCAN 2008). Maximal frequency is repre-sented by the peri and post menopausal period, 6th and 7th decades, with an average age of 59 years. In young women, tumors are the common germ cell tumors and epithelial tumors with low malignancy. Treatment of ovarian cancer, tumor reduc-tion surgery consists of chemotherapy and of course, depending on the stage of the disease as follows: • Stage IA and IB: only surgical treatment (THBA, infracolonic omentectomy, peritoneal biopsies and lymph node biopsies) • Stage IC and the rest of stages: com-prehensive surgical treatment (tumor debulking, which includes, besides THBA, infragastric omentectomy if caul shows the determination of tu-mor, pelvic lymphadenectomy, retroperitoneal review
Invigoration and Capping of a Convective Rainband ahead of a Potential Vorticity Anomaly

AbstractDeep convection frequently occurs on the eastern side of upper-level troughs, or potential vorticity (PV) anomalies. This is consistent with uplift ahead of a cyclonic PV anomaly, and consequent reduction in static stability and increase of convective available potential energy (CAPE). Nevertheless, the causal link between upper-level PV and deep convection has not been proven, and given that lift, moisture, and instability must all be present for deep convection to occur it is not clear that upper-level forcing is sufficient. In this paper a convective rainband that intensified ahead of a cyclonic PV anomaly in an environment with little CAPE (~10 J kg−1) is examined to determine the factors responsible for its intensification. The key feature was a low-level convergence line, arising from the remnants of an occluded front embedded in the low-level cyclonic flow. The rainband’s intensity and morphology was influenced by the remnants of a tropopause fold that capped convection at midlevels in the .
SOUND EVENT DETECTION WITH RESNET AND SELF-MASK MODULE FOR DCASE 2019 TASK 4 Technical

In this technical report, we propose a sound event detection system using a residual network (ResNet) with a self-mask module for a task 4 of detection and classiﬁcation of acoustic scenes and events 2019 (DCASE 2019) challenge. Our system is constructed with a convolutional neural network based on a ResNet. We introduce a self-mask module as a region proposal network in order to detect event time boundaries. The self-mask module constrains time duration of silent and sound events by proposing candidates of the sound event region. These constraints improve detection accuracy of the sound event regions. Evaluation results show that our system obtains 36.09% of event-based F1-score for a sound event detection on a validation dataset of the task 4.
Late Career Decision-Making: A Qualitative Panel Study

The aim of this longitudinal qualitative interview study (3 waves of interviews) was to examine the nature of older workers’ late career decision-making processes, including the main drivers and obstacles for prolonging working life or retiring. Late career decision-making is regarded as a process of reflecting and deciding on whether to continue in the current job, change employer, be self-employed, or quit one’s career when approaching retirement. The general results of our interviews revealed that interviewees were positive about continuing to work in their current positions. Job and learning demands were appreciated, and retirement decisions were postponed by 1 year; a consistent theme across the 3 waves of interviews. Only a few changed their opinions completely. Few reported on possibilities for job crafting. Bridge employment was regarded as an alternative to the current employer or as a smooth transition into retirement. Reasons to continue working were multi-faceted; hence, data are presented using a baseline description followed by 5 rich narratives to illustrate the width of the data. Together, these findings suggest that plans for late career and retirement decisions emerge and mature over the years prior to retirement. This study contributes to the understanding of the complex nature of older workers’ late careers, and extends our knowledge of the retirement decision process. The study informs leaders about drivers and obstacles for employees to continue working, and may have implications for future human resource planning and management.
Investigating the Long-Run and Causal Relationship between GDP and Crime in Sweden

Crime is one of the most harmful social problems throughout the world suggesting that the topic of crime is one of the most important research areas within the field of economics. This thesis attempts to shed some new light on the relationship between crime and gross domestic product (GDP) in Sweden. More specifically the aim of the paper is to look for the existence of a cointegration relationship between GDP and various categories of crime in Sweden using annual data from 1950 to 2012. It does this by means of the bounds-testing approach to cointegration and vector error correction models. It further tests for Granger causality. The results differ depending on the crime category. They do, however, show that there indeed exists a long-run equilibrium relationship between GDP and some crime categories while not with others. Furthermore, Granger causality results imply that GDP is more often than not a determinant of crime rather than a result of crime.
Agile Project Management for Knowledge-Based Projects in IT Sector

: Project management focuses on the best trends and world norms. It has been established to guarantee a higher degree of accomplishment for the programs. When automated production of applications is more responsive in the tech business, the importance of the testing investigation community remains to be facilitated. In the agile world of software production, there are many subjects involving further knowledge and study. All of them have 'Agile Project Management' which refers to software development projects administration. This is carried out to demonstrate how to use a variety of agile methodologies and techniques including lean, kanban, and Scrum. This essay discusses the concepts of agile operational action, which in the software design sector are becoming rapidly influential. The agile methodologies described in the article are valuable and beneficial.