Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Business Cycles and the Impact of Macroeconomic Surprises on Interest Rate Swap Spreads: Australian Evidence

This study examines the response of Australian interest rate swap spreads to the arrival of macroeconomic news information during the economic expansion and contraction periods. We find that the impact of news announcements on swap spread change differs and largely depends on the state of the economy. The unexpected inflation rate is the only news released that has significant impact on swap spreads across all maturities during contractions and remains the important news announcement throughout the business cycles, while the unanticipated unemployment rate tends to be more relevant to 10-year swap and the unanticipated change in money supply tends to be more relevant to 4- and 7-year swaps during expansions. We also find shocks from these news surprises appear to have significant impact on the conditional volatility of the swap spread change during both economic phases. The macroeconomic shocks in general are negatively related to the conditional volatility of the swap spread change, suggesting that the newsworthy announcements tend to reduce uncertainty on the news announcement days in the swap market during expansion and contraction periods.
Chapter 11 Using an emotion regulation framework to predict the outcomes of emotional labor

Because our emotions are crucial determinants of how well we function in our personal and professional lives, researchers from different perspectives have sought to understand how emotions can be best managed for optimal functioning. In this chapter, we focus on two research traditions that have examined this issue, the emotion regulation (ER) tradition and the emotional labor (EL) tradition. This effort is predicated on the belief that a more fundamental research tradition such as ER can inform and complement a more applied research tradition such as EL, first by extending our understanding of the various processes by which employees deal with their emotions, and second, by permitting a more accurate prediction of the consequences of these emotions. A case is presented that discriminating more finely between the various emotion management strategies may help to resolve some of the paradoxical findings observed in the EL literature.
Factors associated with early childhood caries among 3 to 6 year old children in India: A case control study.

BACKGROUND Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease as it is associated with biological, social and behavioral risk factors. However, not much research studied the influence of perinatal factors like birth weight, mode of delivery and gestational age with ECC. Aim of this study is to assess the association between ECC and risk factors, such as Socio-economic status (SES), Body mass index (BMI), Gestation age, birth weight and mode of delivery among Indian children aged 3 to 6 years. METHODS In this cross sectional study 690 school children aged 3-6 years were included from five government and primary schools among them 345 were suffering from ECC. Data acquisition involved an oral clinical exam, anthropometric measures and a questionnaire administered in interview form to acquire information on socio-demographic data and Gestational age; mode of delivery; birth weight and socio-economic status. Chi-squared test was used to test the association between categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis used to assess strength of association between risk factors and ECC while controlling known confounders. RESULTS Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that male children, increasing age, preterm birth and cesarean section are associated with increased risk of developing ECC. CONCLUSIONS Perinatal factors play a vital role in determination ECC burden. Early life interventions and precautions can be useful strategy to control and prevent ECC.
Neuroforecasting Aggregate Choice

Advances in brain-imaging design and analysis have allowed investigators to use neural activity to predict individual choice, while emerging Internet markets have opened up new opportunities for forecasting aggregate choice. Here, we review emerging research that bridges these levels of analysis by attempting to use group neural activity to forecast aggregate choice. A survey of initial findings suggests that components of group neural activity might forecast aggregate choice, in some cases even beyond traditional behavioral measures. In addition to demonstrating the plausibility of neuroforecasting, these findings raise the possibility that not all neural processes that predict individual choice forecast aggregate choice to the same degree. We propose that although integrative choice components may confer more consistency within individuals, affective choice components may generalize more broadly across individuals to forecast aggregate choice.
Evaluation of Knees in Asymptomatic Amateur Ice Hockey Players Using 3.0-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Case-Control Study

Background: Research on the changes to knee structures in asymptomatic amateur ice hockey players (AAIHPs) has been limited. We aimed to assess the performance of the knees in AAIHPs using 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 71 asymptomatic knees (32 AAIHPs and 39 age- and sex-matched controls) were imaged using a 3.0-T MRI scanner at the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University in April 2017. Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists were blinded to assess all MRI findings, including bursae around the knee, bone marrow edema (BME), meniscal signal changes, and articular cartilage and ligament damage. Any disagreements were resolved by a third professor of musculoskeletal radiology. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test and continuous variables using the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: The most common finding was fluid-filled bursae surrounding the knee. In the AAIHP group, which totaled 32 knees and 416 bursae, 155 (37%) fluid-filled bursae were present. In the control group, there were a total of 39 knees and 507 bursae, and 91 (18%) fluid-filled bursae were present. There was a significant difference in the number of fluid-filled bursae between the two groups (P < 0.05). However, in AAIHPs, the prevalence of meniscal signal changes (16 knees, 50%) was higher than in the control group (2 knees, 5%; P < 0.001). Importantly, 15 of the 19 were grade II signals. Other changes were only found in AAIHPs. Articular cartilage lesions were detected in 47% of their knees, predominantly at the patellofemoral joint, and BME was found in 34% of their knees. Conclusion: The MRI findings of knees in AAIHPs mainly manifested as self-protection reaction, and proper ice hockey exercise could be advocated.
Myosin-IIA and ICAM-1 Regulate the Interchange between Two Distinct Modes of T Cell Migration1

How T cells achieve rapid chemotactic motility under certain circumstances and efficient cell surface surveillance in others is not fully understood. We show that T lymphocytes are motile in two distinct modes: a fast “amoeboid-like” mode, which uses sequential discontinuous contacts to the substrate; and a slower mode using a single continuously translating adhesion, similar to mesenchymal motility. Myosin-IIA is necessary for fast amoeboid motility, and our data suggests that this occurs via cyclical rear-mediated compressions that eliminate existing adhesions while licensing subsequent ones at the front of the cell. Regulation of Myosin-IIA function in T cells is thus a key mechanism to regulate surface contact area and crawling velocity within different environments. This can provide T lymphocytes with motile and adhesive properties that are uniquely suited toward alternative requirements for immune surveillance and response.
Polypropylene/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

We report a novel synthesis method for the preparation of polypropylene/layered double hydroxide (PP/LDH) nanocomposites, in which LDH nanosheets, [Mg2Al(OH)6](DDS)·2H2O (Mg–Al–DDS), were prepared using a one-step reverse microemulsion method. PP/LDH nanocomposites were prepared by direct mixing of the obtained LDH nanosheets with PP in xylene at 140 °C. Loadings of the LDH in PP of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 wt% were investigated. The results indicate that the LDH nanosheets were highly dispersed in PP and this dramatically improves the performance of the nanocomposites at very low LDH loadings (e.g. 1.0 wt%). In particular, the thermal stability, melting transition, recrystallisation behavior, and rheological properties of the PP/LDH nanocomposites were evaluated. The thermal stability (T0.5) of the pure PP was increased from 336 to 384 °C by 1.0 wt% addition of the Mg–Al–DDS nanosheets. At 1.0 wt% loading the melting temperature (Tm) and the recrystallisation temperature (Tc) of PP were also increased by 2.5 and 6.7 °C respectively. The nanocomposites showed decreased G′ and G′′ when the LDH nanoplatetet loading is low (<2.0 wt%). With 0–2.0 wt% of LDHs, both G′ and G′′ decreased with the increase of LDH loading. While on increasing the LDH loading from 2.0 wt% to 16.0 wt% both the storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G′′) gradually increased. At a 16.0 wt% LDH loading, the rheological response changes and the elastic solid-like behavior is observed, with only a limited reduction in G′ at low frequency. For the PP/LDH nanocomposites containing 0.5–4.0 wt% LDH, tan δ decreases monotonously with increasing frequency (w). Above 8.0 wt% LDH loading, tan δ starts to show three different stages: rubbery, viscoelastic and a glassy state. These results demonstrate that the reverse microemulsion method is a simple and efficient approach for the one-step synthesis of LDH nanosheets for use in the synthesis of polymer/LDH nanocomposites with enhanced thermal, rheological and mechanical properties.
Kinetics of Thermal Denaturation of Protein in Cured Pork Meat

A lot of operating conditions in the food manufacturing process have been decided based on the experience. Recently, however, the acquisition of the scientific data needed to verify the validity of various processes is being requested by a food manufacture and a food machinery company. It is guessed to the background of such a request to assume the reducing of the energy consumption or the CO2 emissions will be imposed on the food industry in the near future. In addition, in order to sustain and provide the food safety, showing the information about the history of various treatments during processing and describing the change of the quality are needed. Especially, the ability to predict unsteady-state changes during heat treatment is very important for optimum thermal processing in the food industry. In meat processing, thermal denaturation of muscle proteins such as myosin, sarcoplasmic proteins and collagen, and actin, occurs at dif ferent temperatures. To describe those reactions during thermal processing, temperature dependency of the reaction rate constant is necessary. Moreover, it is important to specify the factor that causes it for the temperature dependency. A lot of detailed studies have already been reported for the muscle protein such as myosin and actin, etc. [1-4]. The kinetic of F-actin denaturation has been also studied [5]. However, these researches showed the behavior not of the meat block directly but of the isolated protein, because the experiment in the solution of the isolated myosin, actin etc., and it is based on the aspect of polymer gel formation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is appropriate technique for obtaining thermal denaturation phenomena of meat block directly. Many research projects have investigated the thermal properties of various meat proteins, such as for beef, pork, and fish, using DSC [6-8]. However, there is little information available about the kinetics of protein denaturation. Wagner et al. 1985; Findlay et al. 1986 obtained the kinetic constant for thermal denaturation of a meat muscular protein using the DSC dynamic method [9,10]. Unfortunately, they only performed a limited investigation with respect to beef samples. Traditional smoked ham is manufactured through a series process; curing (soaking in a pickle), drying (50~ 65°C), smoking (60~75°C), and heat sterilization (75~ Kinetics of Thermal Denaturation of Protein in Cured Pork Meat
Sample and population exponents of generalized Taylor’s law

Significance Taylor’s law (TL) has been verified very widely in the natural sciences, information technology, and finance. The widespread observation of TL suggests that a context-independent mechanism may be at work and stimulated the search for processes affecting the scaling of population fluctuations with population abundance. We show that limited sampling may explain why TL is often observed to have exponent b=2. Abrupt transitions in the TL exponent associated with smooth changes in the environment were recently discovered theoretically and comparable real-world transitions could harm fish populations, forests, and public health. Our study shows that limited sampling hinders the anticipation of such transitions and provides estimates for the number of samples required to reveal early warning signals of abrupt biotic change. Taylor’s law (TL) states that the variance V of a nonnegative random variable is a power function of its mean M; i.e., V=aMb. TL has been verified extensively in ecology, where it applies to population abundance, physics, and other natural sciences. Its ubiquitous empirical verification suggests a context-independent mechanism. Sample exponents b measured empirically via the scaling of sample mean and variance typically cluster around the value b=2. Some theoretical models of population growth, however, predict a broad range of values for the population exponent b pertaining to the mean and variance of population density, depending on details of the growth process. Is the widely reported sample exponent b≃2 the result of ecological processes or could it be a statistical artifact? Here, we apply large deviations theory and finite-sample arguments to show exactly that in a broad class of growth models the sample exponent is b≃2 regardless of the underlying population exponent. We derive a generalized TL in terms of sample and population exponents bjk for the scaling of the kth vs. the jth cumulants. The sample exponent bjk depends predictably on the number of samples and for finite samples we obtain bjk≃k/j asymptotically in time, a prediction that we verify in two empirical examples. Thus, the sample exponent b≃2 may indeed be a statistical artifact and not dependent on population dynamics under conditions that we specify exactly. Given the broad class of models investigated, our results apply to many fields where TL is used although inadequately understood.
Efficacy and safety of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy compared with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer in first-line and second-line therapies: a meta-analysis

Aim This study aimed to compare anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) therapy and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy as first-line and second-line therapies in patients with KRAS exon 2 codon 12/13 wild-type (KRAS-WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Methods Major databases were systematically searched. The hazard ratio (HR), odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to estimate the effect measures. Review Manager software version 5.3 was used for statistical analysis. Results Seven trials including ten articles were eligible in the meta-analysis. The patients treated with anti-EGFR as first-line therapy showed a longer overall survival (OS) for KRAS-WT and all RAS wild-type (RAS-WT) mCRC (HR =0.81, 95% CI: 0.72–0.92, P<0.01, n=5; HR =0.78, 95% CI: 0.66–0.93, P<0.01, n=3, respectively). The objective response rate (ORR) was better with the anti-EGFR therapy for KRAS-WT and all RAS-WT mCRC (OR =1.32, 95% CI: 1.11–1.56, P<0.01, n=5; OR =1.55, 95% CI: 1.21–2.00, P<0.01, n=3, respectively). There was no difference in progression-free survival (PFS) for KRAS-WT mCRC and all RAS-WT mCRC between the two groups (HR =1.00; 95% CI: 0.92–1.09, P=0.99, n=4; HR =0.92, 95% CI: 0.71–1.19, P=0.52, n=3, respectively). In addition, two trials provided data on the second-line therapy; there was no significant difference in OS and PFS for the second-line therapy, but a significant improvement in ORR was found in the anti-EGFR group (OR =1.91, 95% CI: 1.16–3.16, P=0.01, n=2). No difference in the conversion therapy (OR =1.34; 95% CI: 0.91–1.99; P=0.14, n=4) was observed between the two therapies. Conclusion Our results indicate that anti-EGFR therapy is superior to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for OS and ORR as a first-line therapy for KRAS-WT mCRC. In the second-line therapy, there was no significant difference in the survival outcomes on the basis of OS and PFS between the two groups. However, ORR improved significantly in the anti-EGFR group.
What are the long-term effects of treatment on survivors of childhood leukaemia? A review of the literature

Abstract Purpose Key advances in cancer treatment have led to an increasing number of long-term cancer survivors. Knowledge of the long-term effects of cancer treatment on leukaemia survivors is to some degree limited. This article investigates the effects of the treatment of childhood leukaemia on the quality of life (QOL), the physical and the psychological wellbeing and general development of survivors. This article reviews current literature to examine existing gaps in knowledge and identify a potential focus of future research and clinical practice. Materials and methods Online systematic searching, along with historical searching took place in order to retrieve relevant primary research papers for the review. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to the literature, to create a manageable amount of research papers. Results The extent of intellectual impairment among radiotherapy patients was significantly greater than those treated with chemotherapy only. Body composition, including endocrine function, is readily affected by cancer treatment. Early identification and interventions can greatly improve the QOL of survivors. Conclusion Further research into the effect of treatment modality on the extent of chronic effects, along with investigations into the needs of the whole family unit, is required. Future practice must take into account long-term implications while ensuring effective holistic care.
The Ability to Perceive and Comprehend Intonation in Linguistic and Affective Contexts by Brain-Damaged Adults

Receptive tasks of linguistic and affective prosody were administered to 9 right-hemisphere-damaged (RHD), 10 left-hemisphere-damaged (LHD), and 10 age-matched control (NC) subjects. Two tasks measured subjects' ability to discriminate utterances based solely on prosodic cues, and six tasks required subjects to identify linguistic or affective intonational meanings. Identification tasks manipulated the degree to which the auditory stimuli were structured linguistically, presenting speech-filtered, nonsensical, and semantically well-formed utterances in different tasks. Neither patient group was impaired relative to normals in discriminating prosodic patterns or recognizing affective tone conveyed suprasegmentally, suggesting that neither the LHD nor the RHD patients displayed a receptive disturbance for emotional prosody. The LHD group, however, was differentially impaired on linguistic rather than emotional tasks and performed significantly worse than the NC group on linguistic tasks even when semantic information biased the target response.
Endovascular Treatment of Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms for 120 Nonselected Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple technologies have developed the endovascular approach to MCA aneurysms. We assess the safety and the efficacy of a systematic endovascular approach in nonselected patients with MCA aneurysms and determine predictors of treatment outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data collected between January 2007 and January 2012 in a prospective clinical registry. All patients with MCA aneurysms treated by means of the endovascular approach were included. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify predictors of complications, recanalization, and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients with 131 MCA aneurysms were included. Seventy-nine patients (65.8%) were treated electively and 41 (34.2%) in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Thirty-three of 131 aneurysms (25.2%) were treated with simple coiling, 79 aneurysms (60.3%) with balloon-assisted coiling, and 19 aneurysms (14.5%) with stent-assisted coiling. Complications occurred in 13.7% of patients. Stent-assisted coiling was significantly associated with more complications (P = .002; OR: 4.86; 95% CI, 1.60–14.72). At 1 month after treatment, both the permanent morbidity (mRS ≤2) and mortality rates were 3.3%, without any significant difference according to the endovascular techniques. Mean angiographic follow-up was 16.3 months. The rate of recanalization was 15.6% without a statistical difference, according to the technique. Larger aneurysms were a predictor of recanalization (P = .016; OR: 1.183; 95% CI, 1.02–1.36). Retreatment was performed in 10 of 131 aneurysms (7.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Even though stent-assisted coiling significantly increases the risk of procedural complications, endovascular treatment of MCA aneurysms is safe, effective, and provides durable aneurysm closure in nonselected patients.
Soundscape perception analysis using soundscape simulator

Soundscape perception based on soundscape dimensions was investigated using a soundscape simulator. A soundscape simulator is a system to design a soundscape by controlling the parameters of sound objects (both background and event sound), allowing the participants to compose a soundscape according to their expectation. In this study, the participants were requested to compose several soundscapes based on the dimensions of relaxation and dynamic. In addition, they also were asked to rate their compositions based on the dimensions of relaxation, dynamic, and communication. Analysis using logistic regression shows a significant relationship between the sound objects and the soundscape dimensions. The sound of bird chirping in the background, string music in the background, the event sound of footsteps, the sound of pop music in the background, traffic in the background, and the construction in the background seems to correlate with the dimension of relaxation. The sound objects that significantly influence the scale of dynamic only make the soundscape feel varied, not simple. The dimension of communication is affected mainly by the sound of people talking. In conclusion, soundscape simulators could be used to analyze the relationship between soundscape dimensions and sound objects based on the participant expectation of space and perception.