Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new model to manage vessels flow in a Port Terminal

The goal of this paper is to model, through a system dynamics approach, vessel operations to provide a support for its management.The choice of utilizing the SD paradigm derives from the fact that for complex systems, such as the port one, it is very difficult to collect real data regarding its functioning. Key-Words: -Petri Nets, Berths Allocation, Shipping,Flow management vessels, Scheduling, Simulation, System Dynamics.
A numerical study of two-phase flow with dynamic capillary pressure using an adaptive moving mesh method

Motivated by observations of saturation overshoot, this paper investigates numerical modeling of two-phase flow incorporating dynamic capillary pressure. The effects of the dynamic capillary coefficient, the infiltrating flux rate and the initial and boundary values are systematically studied using a travelling wave ansatz and efficient numerical methods. The travelling wave solutions may exhibit monotonic, non-monotonic or plateau-shaped behaviour. Special attention is paid to the non-monotonic profiles. The travelling wave results are confirmed by numerically solving the partial differential equation using an accurate adaptive moving mesh solver. Comparisons between the computed solutions using the Brooks-Corey model and the laboratory measurements of saturation overshoot verify the effectiveness of our approach.
Investigating Antecedents of Customer Loyalty for Web-Based Travel Intermediaries

Information technology has conspicuously influenced and transformed travel and tourism industry. With the advent of different technological developments such as Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) in the 1960s, Global Distribution Systems (GDS) in the 1980s and the Internet in the early 1990s, the travel and tourism industry has faced with new opportunities and challenges. These technologies have also changed customer behavior. There are few studies investigated the relationship among trust, satisfaction and loyalty of customers together in the literature in terms of web-based travel intermediaries. The main aim of this study is to investigate factors such as trust and satisfaction creating customer loyalty in web-based travel intermediaries. It was explored the degree of importance of trust, besides satisfaction, when it is associated with loyalty. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the relationship among web-based travel intermediary loyalty, satisfaction and trust. The research was conducted between February and April 2018 in Istanbul. A total of 362 data were collected by questionnaires and analyzed. The results indicated that participants’ satisfaction and trust predicted web-based travel intermediary loyalty at 68.9% level. Accordingly, satisfaction and trust seem to have a significant and positive effect on web-based travel intermediary loyalty. The results provide evidence that trust is a strong influence on customer loyalty as well as satisfaction. Contributions, recommendations and limitations are also outlined at the conclusion part of this study.
COMBINATION THERAPY FOR CHRONIC DERMAL ULCERS

(84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): THE kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, TEXAS SYSTEM [US/US]; 201 West 7th Street, Austin, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), TX 78701 (US). European (AT,BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT,LU, LV,MC, MT, NL, (72) Inventors; and NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, (75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): OLSZEWSKACI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). PAZDRAK, Barbara [PL/US]; 2635 Pueblo Court, League City, TX 77573 (US). CARNEY, Darrell, H. Published: [US/US]; 1125 Tallow Drive, Dickinson, TX 77539 (US). — with international search report
Taxonomic revision of genus Hordeum L

This study was conducted to revise the taxonomic identity and clarify interand intra-specific relationships among the studied wild and cultivated Hordeum taxa in Egypt. The studied taxa included Hordeum marinum subsp. gussoneanum, H. marinum subsp. marinum, H. Hordeum leporinum, Hordeum glaucum, Hordeum spontaneum and Hordeum vulgare. The results revealed that unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram showed a considerable degree of dissimilarity among the studied Hordeum taxa at 1.50 dissimilarity distance. It divided the studied taxa into four groups at 1.33. Group 1 included H. marinum subsp. gussoneanum and H. marinum subsp. marinum. Group 2 included H. leporinum. Group 3 included H. glaucum. Group 4 included H. spontaneum and H. vulgare which is related to the other groups (1, 2, and 3). Moreover, by using UPGMA dendrogram, H. leporinum and H. glaucum are located in transitional position between H. marinum and both of H. vulgare and H. spontaneum forming a transitional step between the taxa of Group 1 and 4. This work provided a taxonomic key and separated the two subspecies of H. murinum into different species namely H. glaucum and H. leporinum. Moreover, the morphological similarities among Hordeum taxa have been proved.
THE IMPACT OF MICROFINANCE PROGRAMME PARTICIPATION ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN MALAWI

This article empirically examines the impact of microfinance programme participation on household food security in Malawi. There has been an increase in the role of micro activities such as microfinancing that target the poor, vulnerable, and marginalised people in development agendas. This makes it essential to assess the effect of micro activities, for example, microfinance programmes on welfare indicators such as food security. The study used cross-sectional data that was collected in Malawi for the Third Integrated Household Survey in 2010-2011. It employed the Heckman Selection Model, which was deemed applicable since the selection to participate in credit programmes is typically non-random. Total real annual consumption per household was used as a proxy to capture household food security. The results of the study indicate that females contribute more to the food security state of a household than males. It also established that education level significantly and positively contributes to the state of household food security. Lastly, the study established that households that participated in microfinance programmes experience improvements in their status of food security. In light of this, it recommends that policymakers expedite the operationalisation of microfinance programmes with the intent to increase participation by improving policies such as the Microfinance Policy and Action Plan (2002). There should also be an increase in adult literacy programmes and development of microfinance institutions that target women.
Quality of Life among End Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis in the National Kidney and Transplant Institute

Background: The Philippine national health insurance’s second highest pay-out goes towards dialysis treatment. The increasing number of patients developing End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis each year will result in an increasing subsidy by the government. Considering the huge expense of the government to support dialysis treatment, it is important to show that it results in a good Quality of Life (QOL). Objectives: To determine the QOL of Hemodialysis (HD) and Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) patients using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study using the self-administered WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire evaluated randomly selected Filipino adult ESRD patients at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute’s (NKTI) Chronic Hemodialysis (HD) Center and from the Chronic Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) clinic. Results: There were185 patients on HD and 225 patients on PD with mean age of 47 and male preponderance. Majority of HD patients were privately paying, while those on PD patients were all financially-subsidized by the Institute. Primary renal disease was due to hypertension. Most were on dialysis for more than 2 years (44.6%). PD patients had higher transformed scores in 3 domains compared with HD patients. Conclusion: PD patients had a higher QOL in the psychological, social relationship and environmental domains; whereas physical domain was higher among HD patients.
Relationship between Lambl’s excrescences and embolic strokes of undetermined source

Abstract Introduction About one-fourth of ischaemic strokes are classified as embolic strokes of undetermined source. Lambl’s excrescences are commonly seen on cardiac valves, and data are limited on whether they may be a source of embolization. We examined the relationship between Lambl’s excrescences and embolic stroke of undetermined source. Patients and Methods We performed a case-control study of patients in the Cornell AcutE Stroke Academic Registry. Stroke aetiologies were adjudicated using the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment and embolic stroke of undetermined source criteria. We included patients with acute ischaemic stroke between 2011 and 2016 who underwent transthoracic or transoesophageal echocardiography within six months of hospitalisation. Cases were embolic stroke of undetermined source patients and controls were patients with an identified, non-cardioembolic stroke aetiology (i.e. small- or large-vessel strokes). Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between Lambl’s excrescences and embolic stroke of undetermined source after adjustment for demographics, comorbidities and mode of echocardiography. Results A total of 923 patients met the criteria for this analysis, including 530 with embolic stroke of undetermined source and 393 with small- or large-vessel strokes. Lambl’s excrescences were identified in 47 (8.9%) patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source and 11 (2.8%) patients with small- or large-artery strokes, but the majority (54/58) of Lambl’s excrescences were visualised on transoesophageal echocardiogram and embolic stroke of undetermined source patients were more likely to undergo transoesophageal echocardiogram. After adjustment for demographics, comorbidities and mode of echocardiography, we found no association between the presence of Lambl’s excrescences and embolic stroke of undetermined source (odds ratio 0.9; 95% confidence interval 0.4–2.3). Conclusion We found no association between Lambl’s excrescences and embolic stroke of undetermined source. These results do not support the hypothesis that Lambl’s excrescences are an occult cause of embolic stroke of undetermined source.
Impacts of Online and Offline Channel Structures on Two-Period Supply Chains with Strategic Consumers

In this paper, the effects of strategic consumer behaviors have been investigated and analyzed with regard to online retailers and offline retailers in a dual-channel supply chain. Four channel structures (i.e., no-promotion, a direct online channel, a retail offline channel, and dual channels introduced in the promotion sales period) are considered. At the beginning of the paper, the original demand functions of a dual-channel supply chain incorporating the consumers’ utility has been introduced. The results indicate that despite improved consumer patience, all promotional prices do not fall as expected. When sales channels are provided by online retailers rather than offline retailers during the promotion period, offline retailers can achieve higher profits. We also find that in most cases, a dual-channel model in a single-period is more beneficial to both online and offline retailers than a dual-channel model in two periods, which is, to a certain extent, contrary to the existing literature of single sales channel.
Removal of Cu ion from aqueous solution by citric acid modified Flax seed pod husk

Application of waste biomass for waste water treatment opens up new aspect which offers economical as well as environmental benign treatment [1]. Recently many researchers have investigated the use of various low cost adsorbent, derived from agricultural wastes, used for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Many low cost adsorbents have been reported such as Wood apple shell [2], Saccharum officinarum bagasse [3], blackgramhusk (Cicer arientinum)[4], peanut shells [5], orange peel [6] grape stalk waste [7], Rice Husk [8]. However, raw agricultural by-product has very low adsorption capacity due to clogging of its pores resulting poor porosity. Therefore, the adsorption and cation-exchange capacity of the lignocellulosic adsorbent can be considerably improved by the chemical modification of its surface.
Long-Term Barriers to the Diffusion of Innovations∗

We document an empirical relationship between the cross-country adoption of technologies and the degree of long-term historical relatedness between human populations. Historical relatedness is measured using genetic distance, a measure of the time since two populations’ last common ancestors. We find that the measure of human relatedness that is relevant to explain technology adoption is not the simple genetic distance between populations, but genetic distance relative to the world technological frontier. This evidence is consistent with long term historical relatedness acting as a barrier to technology adoption: societies that are more distant from the technological frontier tend to face higher imitation costs. The results can help explain current differences in total factor productivity and income per capita across countries.
Immune response following Newcastle disease immunization and growth performance of kuroiler, broiler and local Tanzanian chickens

Chicken is a major livestock species raised by smallholder households in rural areas in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa as a chief source of meat protein and income generation. However, Newcastle disease largely compromises the production of this precious bird under backyard production settings. The purpose of the study was to assess antibody responses and growth performance following Newcastle disease vaccination in kuroiler, broiler, and local Tanzanian chickens raised under the same tropical environmental condition. In the experiment, a total of 358 chickens comprised of 127 kuroilers, 121 broilers, and 110 local Tanzanian chickens were raised for seven weeks, and body weights were recorded weekly. Birds were vaccinated at four weeks, and blood samples were collected at days 10, and 21 post-vaccination for antibody titres quantification by ELISA test. Results demonstrated higher (P < 0.05) antibody titres in kuroilers (3.81 ± 0.06) as compared to local chicken (3.73 ± 0.07) and broilers (3.53±0.06) at day 10 post-vaccination. The growth performance of local Tanzanian chickens was comparable to that of kuroilers. The present findings contribute to on-going work in understanding chicken immune responses against NDV and inform breeding programs designed for developing chickens with increased resistance to NDV. Key words: Tanzania, local chicken, kuroilers, Newcastle disease virus, growth performance, ND vaccination, Sub-Saharan Africa, antibody responses
Chapter 3: The genome-scale interplay among xenogene silencing, stress response and chromosome architecture in E. coli

3.1 Abstract The gene expression state of exponentially-growing Escherichia coli cells is manifested by high expression of essential and growth-associated genes and low levels of stress-related and horizontally-acquired genes. An important player in maintaining this homeostasis is the H-NS-StpA gene silencing system. A Δhns-stpA deletion mutant results in high expression of otherwise-silent horizontally-acquired genes, many located in the terminus-half of the chromosome, and an indirect down-regulation of many highly expressed genes. The Δhns-stpA double mutant displays slow growth. Using laboratory evolution we address the evolutionary strategies that E. coli would adopt to redress this gene expression imbalance. We show that two global gene regulatory mutations – (a) point mutations inactivating the stress-responsive sigma factor RpoS or σ38 and (b) an amplification of ~40% of the chromosome centred around the origin of replication – converge in partially reversing the global gene expression imbalance caused by Δhns-stpA. Transcriptome data of these mutants further shows a three-way link among the global gene networks of H-NS and σ, as well as chromosome architecture. Increasing gene expression around the terminus of replication results in a decrease in the expression of genes around the origin and vice-versa; this appears to be a persistent phenomenon observed as an association across ~300 publicly-available gene expression datasets for E. coli. These global suppressor effects are transient and rapidly give way to more specific mutations, whose roles in reversing the growth defect of H-NS mutations remain to be understood.
BDNF interacts with adult-born immature cells in the dentate gyrus during consolidation of overlapping memories

Successful memory involves not only remembering information over time but also keeping memories distinct and less confusable. The computational process for making representations of similar input patterns more distinct from each other has been referred to as ‘pattern separation’. Although adult-born immature neurons have been implicated in this memory feature, the precise role of these neurons and associated molecules in the processing of overlapping memories is unknown. Recently, we found that BDNF in the dentate gyrus is required for the encoding/consolidation of overlapping memories. In this work we provide evidence that consolidation of these “pattern-separated” memories requires the action of BDNF on immature neurons specifically.
Comparison of Current–Voltage Response to Diagnostic X-rays of Five Light-Emitting Diode Strips

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have miscellaneous applications owing to their low cost, small size, flexibility, and commercial availability. Furthermore, LEDs have dual applicability as light emitters and detectors. This study explores the current–voltage (C–V) response of LED strips exposed to diagnostic x-rays. Cold white, warm white, red, green, and blue LED strip colors were tested. Each strip consisted of 12 LED chips and was connected to a multimeter. The variable diagnostic x-ray parameters evaluated were kilovoltage peak (kVp), milliampere-seconds (mAs), and source-to-image distance (SID). The radiation dose was also measured using a dosimeter simultaneously exposed to x-rays perpendicularly incident on the strips. Lastly, the consistency of C–V responses, and any possible degradation after 1–2 months was also analyzed. Each LED strip color was ranked according to its C–V response in each of the investigated parameters. The LED strip color with the best cumulative rank across all the tested parameters was then examined for reproducibility. Our findings revealed that the C–V responses of LED strips are (a) generally low but measurable, (b) inconsistent and fluctuating as a consequence of kVp variations, (c) positively correlated to mAs, (d) negatively correlated to SID, and (e) positively correlated to dose. Overall results suggested cold white LED strip as most feasible for x-ray detection—in comparison to examined colors. Additionally, the reproducibility study using the cold white LED strip found a similar trend of C–V response to all variables except kVp. Outcomes indicate that LED strips have the potential to be exploited for detecting low dose (~0–100 mGy) diagnostic x-rays. However, future studies should be carried out to increase the low C–V signal.
Overview of a Pattern Language for Engineering Software for the Cloud

Software businesses are continuously increasing their cloud presence in the cloud. While cloud computing is not a new research topic, designing software for the cloud still requires engineers to make an investment to become proficient working with it. This paper introduces a pattern language for cloud software development and briefly describes details pattern. Design patterns can help developers validate or design their cloud software. The language is composed by ten patterns novel patterns organizes in three categories: Orchestration and Supervision, Monitoring and Discovery and Communication. Finally, the paper demonstrates how to adopt the pattern language using a pattern application sequence. Categories and Subject Descriptors: D.2. 11 [ Software Architectures ] Patterns
Criteria to implement UDCs in historical cities : a Nayara

Urban Distribution Centres (UDCs) are However, implementing them poses a challenge because they incur high costs, coordinating different agents and multiple criteria. In historical cities, a UDC is an alternative to efficient urban fre (UFT) in terms of sustainability and preservation of historical heritage. This study analyses the operational, economic, social, cultural, and environmental criteria that influence the implementation of a UDC in historical cities, considerin retailers and carriers. We conducted semi survey was developed with all the find the relevant criteria for implementing a UDC according to the agents. Considering the viewpoint of all agents, the vehicle size was the most relevant common criteria when setting up a UDC to supply retailers in the historical city centre of Ouro Preto. R of view and agreed with the negative effects of UFT (air pollution level, visual intrusion level, insecurity, and congestion), while most retailers and carriers disagreed
Update on Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Complications of Carcinoid Syndrome

Carcinoid syndrome (CS) develops in patients with hormone-producing neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) when hormones reach a significant level in the systemic circulation. The classical symptoms of carcinoid syndrome are flushing, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and wheezing. Neuroendocrine neoplasms can produce multiple hormones: 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) is the most well-known one, but histamine, catecholamines, and brady/tachykinins are also released. Serotonin overproduction can lead to symptoms and also stimulates fibrosis formation which can result in development of carcinoid syndrome-associated complications such as carcinoid heart disease (CaHD) and mesenteric fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is one of the main factors in developing fibrosis, but platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF or CCN2) are also related to fibrosis development. Treatment of CS focuses on reducing serotonin levels with somatostatin analogues (SSA's). Telotristat ethyl and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) have recently become available for patients with symptoms despite being established on SSA's. Screening for CaHD is advised, and early intervention prolongs survival. Mesenteric fibrosis is often present and associated with poorer survival, but the role for prophylactic surgery of this is unclear. Depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment are frequently present symptoms in patients with CS but not always part of their care plan. The role of antidepressants, mainly SSRIs, is debatable, but recent retrospective studies show evidence for safe use in patients with CS. Carcinoid crisis is a life-threatening complication of CS which can appear spontaneously but mostly described during surgery, anaesthesia, chemotherapy, PRRT, and radiological procedures and may be prevented by octreotide administration.