Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonspecific ST-T changes associated with unsatisfactory blood pressure control among adults with hypertension in China

Abstract Nonspecific ST-segment and T-wave (ST-T) changes represent one of the most prevalent electrocardiographic abnormalities in hypertensive patients. However, a limited number of studies have investigated the association between nonspecific ST-T changes and unsatisfactory blood pressure (BP) control in adults with hypertension. The study population comprised 15,038 hypertensive patients, who were selected from 20,702 participants in the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial. The subjects were examined with electrocardiogram test at the initial visit in order to monitor baseline heart activity. According to the results of the electrocardiogram (defined by Minnesota coding), the subjects were divided into 2 groups: ST-T abnormal and ST-T normal. Unsatisfactory BP control was defined as systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg following antihypertensive treatment during the 4.5-year follow-up period. Multivariate analysis was used to analyze the association between nonspecific ST-T abnormalities and unsatisfactory BP control. Nonspecific ST-T changes were common in hypertensive adults (approximately 8.5% in the study), and more prevalent in women (10.3%) and diabetic patients (13.9%). The unsatisfactory BP control rate was high in the total population (47.0%), notably in the ST-T abnormal group (55.5%). The nonspecific ST-T abnormal group exhibited a significantly greater rate of unsatisfactory BP control (odds ratio [OR] 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.06, 1.36], P = 0.005]), independent of traditional risk factors, as demonstrated by multivariate regression analysis. Notable differences were further observed in male subjects (OR 1.51, 95% CI [1.17, 1.94], P = 0.002) and in patients with comorbid diabetes (OR 1.47, 95% CI [1.04, 2.07], P = 0.029). Greater rates of unsatisfactory BP control in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic nonspecific ST-T abnormalities were observed, notably in the subcategories of the male subjects and the diabetic patients.
Professional HRM Practices in Family Owned‐Managed Enterprises

This study examines determinants of professional human resource management (HRM) practices within a sample of approximately 700 small to medium‐sized firms. Predictions from the agency theory and the resource‐based view of organizations lead to alternate hypotheses regarding the direct and indirect negative effects of family ownership and management on the usage of professional HRM practices. Results support predictions for both direct and indirect effects. These indirect effects occur through intermediary variables that reflect organizational complexity, such as firm size, (the presence of a) formal business plan, and HRM specialization. The findings lend partial support to both theories.
Disabled or Deaf? Investigating mental health clinicians’ knowledge of and attitude towards Deafness as a culture*

ABSTRACT Past research has shown people who predominately use British Sign Language to communicate have their own cultural identity. The current research used an online questionnaire and opportunity sampling to assess clinician awareness of Deaf culture and their knowledge of D/deafness. The UK Department of Health previously published recommendations aimed at making mental health services more accessible for D/deaf individuals and so the current accessibility of services for D/deaf individuals is also considered. The study found mixed attitudes towards Deafness and limited knowledge of Deafness by clinicians working within a mental health context. There appears to be limited implementation of the recommendations given by the Department of Health. Suggestions are given for improving services for D/deaf clients.
Effect of Ga content on defect states in CuIn 1¿x Ga x Se 2 photovoltaic devices

Defects in the band gap of CuIn1−xGaxSe2 have been characterized using transient photocapacitance spectroscopy. The measured spectra clearly show response from a band of defects centered around 0.8 eV from the valence band edge as well as an exponential distribution of band tail states. Despite Ga contents ranging from Ga/(In+Ga)=0.0 to 0.8, the defect bandwidth and its position relative to the valence band remain constant. This defect band may act as an important recombination center, contributing to the decrease in device efficiency with increasing Ga content.
Sources, seasonality, and trends of southeast US aerosol: an integrated analysis of surface, aircraft, and satellite observations with the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model

Abstract. We use an ensemble of surface (EPA CSN, IMPROVE, SEARCH, AERONET), aircraft (SEAC4RS), and satellite (MODIS, MISR) observations over the southeast US during the summer–fall of 2013 to better understand aerosol sources in the region and the relationship between surface particulate matter (PM) and aerosol optical depth (AOD). The GEOS-Chem global chemical transport model (CTM) with 25 × 25 km2 resolution over North America is used as a common platform to interpret measurements of different aerosol variables made at different times and locations. Sulfate and organic aerosol (OA) are the main contributors to surface PM2.5 (mass concentration of PM finer than 2.5 μm aerodynamic diameter) and AOD over the southeast US. OA is simulated successfully with a simple parameterization, assuming irreversible uptake of low-volatility products of hydrocarbon oxidation. Biogenic isoprene and monoterpenes account for 60 % of OA, anthropogenic sources for 30 %, and open fires for 10 %. 60 % of total aerosol mass is in the mixed layer below 1.5 km, 25 % in the cloud convective layer at 1.5–3 km, and 15 % in the free troposphere above 3 km. This vertical profile is well captured by GEOS-Chem, arguing against a high-altitude source of OA. The extent of sulfate neutralization (f = [NH4+]/(2[SO42−] + [NO3−]) is only 0.5–0.7 mol mol−1 in the observations, despite an excess of ammonia present, which could reflect suppression of ammonia uptake by OA. This would explain the long-term decline of ammonium aerosol in the southeast US, paralleling that of sulfate. The vertical profile of aerosol extinction over the southeast US follows closely that of aerosol mass. GEOS-Chem reproduces observed total column aerosol mass over the southeast US within 6 %, column aerosol extinction within 16 %, and space-based AOD within 8–28 % (consistently biased low). The large AOD decline observed from summer to winter is driven by sharp declines in both sulfate and OA from August to October. These declines are due to shutdowns in both biogenic emissions and UV-driven photochemistry. Surface PM2.5 shows far less summer-to-winter decrease than AOD and we attribute this in part to the offsetting effect of weaker boundary layer ventilation. The SEAC4RS aircraft data demonstrate that AODs measured from space are consistent with surface PM2.5. This implies that satellites can be used reliably to infer surface PM2.5 over monthly timescales if a good CTM representation of the aerosol vertical profile is available.
Utilization of ICT in Knowledge Management at the Ghana Volta River Authority

This study investigates the use of ICT tools in Knowledge Management in the Ghanaian state organization, Volta River Authority (VRA), in achieving set goals. Knowledge Management seeks to develop a strategy for capturing, sharing, distributing, using and transferring knowledge across an organization in order for it to improve efficiency and increase competitive edge. A Knowledge Management system creates an enabling environment to foster better knowledge and experience sharing, so that the organization can leverage its collective knowledge. The adoption and use of ICT has raised the need for organizations to come out with new methods, policies, tools and techniques to develop frameworks, processes and technologies so as to promote effective management of knowledge. Our research uses the SECI model for knowledge creation and sharing as its conceptual framework. Our findings show that the concept of ICT in Knowledge Management is still a relatively new at VRA, even though ICT tools are widely used. VRA management would, therefore, have to adopt a Knowledge Management policy, framework and governance and integrate the concept into its strategic plan in order to enhance meeting the organization's goals of competitive advantage.
The Causes of Stock Market Volatility in Australia

The paper examines the extent to which the conditional volatility of stock market returns in a small, internationally integrated stock market are related to the conditional volatility of financial and business cycle variables. It employs a low frequency monthly dataset for Australia including stock market returns, interest rates, inflation, the money supply, industrial production and the current account deficit over the period from July 1972 to January 1994. A novel feature of the analysis is the estimation strategy employed to overcome the generated regressors problem which pervades some recent related research. Specifically, the procedure of employing a two-stage estimation process to first estimate conditional volatilities and then model their interrelationships yields inefficient estimates, introduces bias into a number of diagnostic test statistics and generates potentially invalid inferences. This problem is overcome in the current paper by jointly estimating the equation for the conditional volatility of stock market returns together with the equations determining the conditional volatilities of all variables included in the model using the generalized least squares (GLS) estimation procedure together with the Hendry general-to-specific modelling strategy. Among the most important determinants of the conditional volatility of the Australian stock market are found to be the conditional volatilities of inflation and interest rates which are directly associated with stock market volatility, and the conditional volatilities of industrial production, the current account deficit and the money supply which are indirectly associated with stock market conditional volatility. Among these variables, the strongest effect is found to be from the conditional volatility of the money supply to the conditional volatility of the stock market. By contrast, no evidence is found of volatility spillover from the foreign exchange market to the stock market in Australia.
Factors contributing toward vulnerability to relapse for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia

Forty people who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia were followed up over a six month period. During this period they were assessed for relapse in four ways: (1) direct assessment with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) every two months, (2) increases in psyhcotropic medication, (3) psychiatric hospitalisation, and (4) case manager’s perception of relapse occurrence. The predictor variables were ratings on the Level of Expressed Emotion Scale, ratings on the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire, length of time between first psychiatric hospitalisation and the present (chronicity), age at first psychiatric hospitalisation, medication compliance and family structure. Predictor variables could discriminate groups defined as relapsed only with the BPRS ratings. The only variable to be significantly different between groups was chronicity (i.e., the greater the chronicity, the less likelihood there was of relapse. The discussion focusses on the need to (a) further develop consistent and reliable definitions of relapse and (b) utilise more insider-subjective measurements in relapse studies.
Population Synthesis of Radio and γ-Ray Millisecond Pulsars from the Galactic Disk

We present results of a population synthesis of millisecond pulsars from the Galactic disk. Excluding globular clusters, we model the spatial distribution of millisecond pulsars by assuming their birth in the Galactic disk with a random kick velocity and evolve them to the present within the Galactic potential. We assume that normal and millisecond pulsars are standard candles described with a common radio luminosity model that invokes a new relationship between radio core and cone emission suggested by recent studies. In modeling the radio emission beams, we explore the relativistic effects of time delay, aberration, and sweep-back of the open field lines. While these effects are essential to understanding pulse profiles, the phase-averaged flux is adequately described without a relativistic model. We use a polar cap acceleration model for the γ-ray emission. We present the preliminary results of our recent study and the implications for observing millisecond pulsars with GLAST and AGILE.
Analysing Student Performance using Sparse Data of Core Bachelor Courses

Curricula for Computer Science degrees are characterized by the strong occupational orientation of the discipline. In the BSc degree structure, with clearly separated CS core studies, learning skills between these and other required studies may vary a lot, showing in student’s overall performance. To analyze such a situation, we apply nonstandard educational data mining techniques on a preprocessed log file of the passed courses. The joint variation of the course grades are studied through correlation analysis while the intrinsic groups of students are created and analyzed using a special clustering technique. Since not all students have attended all the courses, there is a nonstructured sparsity pattern to cope with. Finally, multilayer perceptron neural network with cross-validation based generalization assurance is trained and analyzed using analytic mean sensitivity to explain the nonlinear regression model constructed. Local (within-methods) and global (between-methods) triangulation of different analysis methods is argued to improve the technical soundness of the presented approaches, giving more confidence on our final conclusion that general learning capabilities predict the success of students better than specific IT skills obtained as part of the core studies.
The role of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in visual change awareness

Recently, the neural correlates of change detection vs change blindness have been investigated using fMRI. Results revealed that conscious perception of change is associated with enhanced activity in a neural network comprising the parietal (bilateral) and right dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPF) cortex. Here, by means of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), we unveil the causal role of the right DLPF cortex in perceiving changes. When rTMS was applied to this area, change perception was impaired as compared to left DLPF rTMS and sham stimulation. This result is important as it shows, for the first time, that conscious change perception is associated with normal activity in the right DLPF cortex. Our findings are in agreement with a recent view emphasizing the role of frontal areas, in addition to classical ventral and dorsal pathways, in visual awareness.
Endoscopically Visualized Lesions, Histologic Findings, and Bacterial Invasion in the Gastrointestinal Mucosa of Dogs with Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome

Background Etiology of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) syndrome in dogs is unknown and histopathologic and microbial investigations have only been performed post mortem. Objective To identify characteristic intra vitam endoscopic and histologic mucosal lesions, as well as bacterial species, within the mucosa of dogs with HGE. Animals Ten dogs diagnosed with HGE were included. Eleven dogs with gastroduodenoscopy and different intestinal diseases were used as controls for microbial changes. Dogs pretreated with antibiotics or diagnosed with any disease known to cause bloody diarrhea were excluded from the study. Methods In this prospective study, gastrointestinal biopsies were collected from 10 dogs with HGE. Endoscopic and histologic changes were assessed according to WSAVA guidelines. Biopsies from the stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon were investigated by histology and by immunohistochemistry for the presence of Clostridium spp. and parvovirus. The first duodenal biopsy taken with a sterile forceps was submitted for bacterial culture. Results Acute mucosal lesions were only found in the intestines, not in the stomach. Clostridium spp. , identified as Clostridium perfringens in 6/9 cases, were detected on the small intestinal mucosa in all dogs with HGE, either by culture or immunohistopathology. In the control group, C. perfringens could only be cultured in one of 11 dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The results of this study demonstrate an apparent association between C. perfringens and the occurrence of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea. The term “HGE,” which implies the involvement of the stomach, should be renamed as “acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome. ”
Life-cycle assessment of bioethanol from pine residues via indirect biomass gasification to mixed alcohols.

Abstract The goal of this study was to estimate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil energy requirements from the production and use (cradle-to-grave) of bioethanol produced from the indirect gasification thermochemical conversion of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) residues. Additional impact categories (acidification and eutrophication) were also analyzed. Of the life-cycle stages, the thermochemical fuel production and biomass growth stages resulted in the greatest environmental impact for the bioethanol product life cycle. The GHG emissions from fuel transportation and process chemicals used in the thermochemical conversion process were minor (less than 1 percent of conversion emissions). The net GHG emissions over the bioethanol life cycle, cradle-to-grave, was 74 percent less than gasoline of an equal energy content, meeting the 60 percent minimum reduction requirement of the Renewable Fuels Standard to qualify as an advanced (second generation) biofuel. Also, bioethanol had a 72 percent lower a.
The Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Decoction in Type 2 Diabetes: A 5-Year Retrospective Study

Background. The study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal decoction in treating outpatients with T2DM. Methods. All patients enrolled received decoction for at least 6 months. The primary outcome was the control rate of HbA1c and the change in HbA1c. FPG, 2hPG, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-β were also collected and evaluated. Results. The control rates after treatment at months 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 60 were 45.07%, 52.78%, 47.22%, 45.83%, 50.00%, 57.14%, and 40.00%. Multiple linear regression showed the change of HbA1c has a significant relationship with the baseline HbA1c and duration of DM and BMI (p < 0.05). Both FPG and 2hPG levels significantly decreased compared to the baseline (p < 0.05). Chinese herbal decoction also improved islet cell function with decreased HOMA-IR and increased HOMA-β (p < 0.05). 19 and 4 subjects deactivated the antidiabetes drugs or insulin, respectively, after taking decoction. One subject developed DKD and one developed DPN, and another subject showed abnormal liver function which was irrelevant to decoction treatment. Conclusions. Chinese herbal decoction significantly enhanced the hypoglycemic action and had certain effect on protecting islet cell function. As a candidate diabetes therapy, it may reduce the use of antidiabetes drugs and slow the progression to diabetes complications.
Ectopic Granule Cells of the Rat Dentate Gyrus

Granule cells of the mammalian dentate gyrus normally form a discrete layer, and virtually all granule cells migrate to this location. Exceptional granule cells that are positioned incorrectly, in ‘ectopic’ locations, are rare. Although the characteristics of such ectopic granule cells appear similar in many respects to granule cells located in the granule cell layer, their rare occurrence has limited a full evaluation of their structure and function. More information about ectopic granule cells has been obtained by studying those that develop after experimental manipulations that increase their number. For example, after severe seizures, the number of ectopic granule cells located in the hilus increases dramatically. These experimentally-induced ectopic granule cells may not be equivalent to normal ectopic granule cells necessarily, but the vastly increased numbers have allowed much more information to be obtained. Remarkably, the granule cells that are positioned ectopically develop intrinsic properties and an axonal projection that are similar to granule cells that are located normally, i.e., in the granule cell layer. However, dendritic structure and synaptic structure/function appear to differ. These studies have provided new insight into a rare type of granule cell in the dentate gyrus, and the plastic characteristics of dentate granule cells that appear to depend on the location of the cell body.
Microlensing Optical Depth toward the Galactic Bulge Using Clump Giants from the MACHO Survey

Using 7 yr of MACHO survey data, we present a new determination of the optical depth to microlensing toward the Galactic bulge. We select the sample of 62 microlensing events (60 unique) on clump giant sources and perform a detailed efficiency analysis. We use only the clump giant sources because these are bright bulge stars and are not as strongly affected by blending as other events. Using a subsample of 42 clump events concentrated in an area of 4.5 deg2 with 739,000 clump giant stars, we find τ = 2.17 × 10-6 at (l,b) = (1.°50, - 2.°68), somewhat smaller than found in most previous MACHO studies but in excellent agreement with recent theoretical predictions. We also present the optical depth in each of the 19 fields in which we detected events and find limits on optical depth for fields with no events. The errors in optical depth in individual fields are dominated by Poisson noise. We measure optical depth gradients of (1.06 ± 0.71) × 10-6 deg-1 and (0.29 ± 0.43) × 10-6 deg-1 in the Galactic latitude b and longitude l directions, respectively. Finally, we discuss the possibility of anomalous duration distribution of events in the field 104 centered on (l,b) = (3.°11, - 3.°01), as well as investigate spatial clustering of events in all fields.
Leveraging Their Family Capital: How Latino Males Successfully Navigate the Community College

Objective: The purpose of this study is to apply Yosso’s community cultural wealth framework to the experiences of Latino male community college students to understand how they balance family obligations, work, and academics while also navigating their educational pathways. Method: The research team conducted 23 semistructured focus groups with 130 Latino male students enrolled full- and part-time at seven distinct community colleges in Texas. Results: Findings reveal the important role family members play in the educational pathway of Latino males who relied heavily on familismo and familial capital as a source of support as they matriculated through the community college environment. Despite entering the community college with multiple sources of community cultural wealth, Latino males had a difficult time navigating their educational experiences due to their first in family, first-generation status, and their apprehension around help-seeking . Contributions: Despite the multiple roles and responsibilities Latino males hold within their family units, they do not pose limitations on their educational pathways; rather, these family relationships motivate Latino males and provide them with support that strengthens their aspirations to persist onto graduation.