Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Association of Omentin Levels in Non-Diabetic Postmenopausal Women with Bone Mineral Density and Total Body Composition

Objectives: Positive relation between body mass and bone mineral density (BMD) is thought to be due to weight bearing effect. However, adipose tissue derived adipokines may have important effects on bone. Obese women have decreased levels of omentin in circulation which is related with adverse metabolic events. The hypothesis was that performed in this study, we aimed to study the association of omentin levels with body composition and BMD in non-diabetic postmenopausal women. Methods: Postmenopausal women aged 40 to 70 years, scheduled for BMD testing were prospectively evaluated. Patients with known diabetes, chronic renal failure, chronic liver disease, malabsorption, inflammatory bowel disease, 70 years of age were excluded. BMD and body composition were measured by DXA (GE-Lunar DPX pro). Fasting blood samples were obtained for analysis of complete blood count, glucose, creatinine, lipid profile and omentin. Statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS version 18 for windows. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age of the patients in the osteoporosis group was higher than that of the control group (59.1±7.6 vs 53.3±5.7, p<0.05). Mean omentin level was higher in osteoporosis group than in osteopenia and control groups (479.7±141.6 vs 342.3±173.6 and 346.8±127.2, p<0.05). Total body fat mass, muscle mass and the T score of lumbar spine had a negative correlation with omentin levels (r=-0.252, -0.276, -0.344, p<0.05). Conclusions: Body composition does not seem to effect omentin levels. Women with a lower BMI have increased omentin levels. Higher omentin levels are associated with lower T scores at the lumbar spine.
The empirical mass distribution of hot B subdwarfs: implications for stellar evolution theory

Subdwarf B (sdB) stars are hot, compact, and evolved objects that form the very hot end of the horizontal branch, the so-called Extreme Horizontal Branch (EHB). Understanding the formation of sdB stars is one of the remaining challenges of stellar evolution theory. Several scenarios have been proposed to account for the existence of such objects, made of He-burning core surrounded by very thin H-rich envelope. They give quite different theoretical mass distributions for the resulting sdB stars. Detailed asteroseismic analyses, including mass estimates, of 15 pulsating hot B subdwarfs have been published since a decade. The masses have also been reliably determined by light curve modeling and spectroscopy for 7 sdB components of eclipsing and/or reflection effect binaries. These empirical mass distributions, although based on small-number statistics, can be compared with the expectations of stellar evolution theory. In particular, the two He white dwarfs merger scenario does not seem to be the dominant channel to form isolated sdB stars, while the post-red giant branch scenario is reinforced. This opens new questions on extreme mass loss of red giants to form EHB stars, possibly in connection with the recently discovered close substellar companions and planets orbiting sdB stars.
Facilitation in an unproductive boreal forest understorey community

Questions: We tested the hypothesis that if competition had a significant influence in structuring this boreal plant community, removal of neighbours, addition of fertilizer and addition of water would all benefit the transplanted seedlings. Alternatively, if facilitation had a greater influence, then removal of neighbours would be detrimental to the transplants but fertilization and watering would still be beneficial. Location: Understorey of the boreal forest in southwestern Yukon Territory, Canada (138122 0 W; 61102 0 N). Methods: Ten of the most common species were transplanted as seedlings into transects from which all neighbours had been removed, and also into transects with intact vegetation. We used a factorial design with two levels of watering and two levels of fertilization; this allowed us to test effects at both species and community level. Results: The summed survival and total biomass of all transplants was significantly higher in the presence of neighbours than without neighbours, indicating a facilitative effect of neighbouring plants, but there were significant increases in only six of the ten species. The combined survival and biomass of all species increased with watering, survival decreased and biomass increased with fertilization, but only two species had significant responses to fertilization: Anenome parviflora decreased and Mertensia paniculata increased in biomass. Watering increased the biomass of Achillea millefolium, Festuca altaica and Solidago multiradiata; there were also some interaction effects. Conclusions: (1) The presence of neighbours was generally facilitative. (2) Fertilization had negligible effects, and watering had minor beneficial effects. (3) This study demonstrates the importance of facilitation in structuring this boreal understorey community.
Laser-Induced Point Defects in Fused Silica Irradiated by UV Laser in Vacuum

High-purity fused silica irradiated by third harmonic of the Nd:YAG laser in vacuum with different laser pulse parameters was studied experimentally. Laser-induced defects are investigated by UV spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectra and correlated to the structural modifications in the glass matrix through Raman spectroscopy. Results show that, for laser fluence below laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT), the absorbance and intensity of fluorescence bands increase with laser energies and/or number of laser pulses, which indicates that laser-induced defects are enhanced by laser energies and/or number of laser pulses in vacuum. The optical properties of these point defects were discussed in detail.
Title: Reliability, validity, and minimal detectable change of computerised respiratory sounds in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Short title: Measurement properties of respiratory sounds Authors:

Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Portugal Lab 3R – Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory, School of Health Sciences (ESSUA), University of Aveiro, Portugal Institute for Research in Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Portugal 4 Rehabilitation Sciences Program, School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (EEFFTO), Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Institute of Electronics and Informatics Engineering of Aveiro (IEETA), University of Aveiro 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
The Barreiras Group in the Northeastern coast of the State of Bahia, Brazil: depositional mechanisms and processes

The Barreiras Group is a Miocene to Lower Pleistocene continental terrigenous sedimentary deposit exhibiting a large occurrence along the Brazilian coast. In the Conde region, located in the northeastern part of the State of Bahia, the sedimentological characteristics of these sediments are indicative of a deposition as gravelly and sandy bed load in braided fluvial systems, related to alluvial fans, under an arid to semi-arid climate. The basal portion of the group is dominated by a gravelly-sandy lithofacies deposited by debris flows and pseudoplastic debris flows, with lesser occurrences of subaqueous deposits, characterizing a proximal fluvial system deposition. The upper portion is made up of gravelly-sandy sediments that include subaqueous, debris flows and pseudoplastic debris flows deposits. They suggest deposition in a more distal zone as indicated by the larger occurrence of subaqueous deposits and the presence, though rare, of downstream-accretion macroforms. Besides the climate control, deposition of the Barreiras Group was strongly influenced by the intraplate tectonism, which has been affecting the South America Platform since the Middle Miocene, when neotectonism began in Brazil.
Validation Experiences and Persistence among Community College Students

The purpose of this correlational research was to examine the extent to which community college students' experiences with validation by faculty (Rendon, 1994, 2002) predicted: (a) their sense of integration, and (b) their intent to persist. The research was designed as an elaboration of constructs within Tinto's (1993) Longitudinal Model of Institutional Departure. Four sub-constructs of faculty validation emerged: students known and valued, caring instruction, appreciation for diversity, and mentoring. Students who experienced higher levels of faculty validation were more likely to feel a sense of integration in the college; faculty validation modestly predicted students' intent to persist.
Who Trades with Whom? Individuals, Institutions, and Returns

Using all trading in Finland over a 15-year period, I study the relation between price changes and the trading of individuals and financial institutions. On average, prices increase when institutions buy from individuals, and decrease when institutions sell to individuals. No such consistent pattern is observed when individuals trade with other individuals, or when institutions trade with other institutions. If prices do move while individuals trade among themselves, they quickly revert. These reversals occur as institutions trade with individuals in a direction that pushes prices toward previous levels.
Explicit representation of subgrid variability in cloud microphysics yields weaker aerosol indirect effect in the ECHAM5-HAM2 climate model

Abstract. The impacts of representing cloud microphysical processes in a stochastic subcolumn framework are investigated, with emphasis on estimating the aerosol indirect effect. It is shown that subgrid treatment of cloud activation and autoconversion of cloud water to rain reduce the impact of anthropogenic aerosols on cloud properties and thus reduce the global mean aerosol indirect effect by 19%, from −1.59 to −1.28 W m−2. This difference is partly related to differences in the model basic state; in particular, the liquid water path (LWP) is smaller and the shortwave cloud radiative forcing weaker when autoconversion is computed separately for each subcolumn. However, when the model is retuned so that the differences in the basic state LWP and radiation balance are largely eliminated, the global-mean aerosol indirect effect is still 14% smaller (i.e. −1.37 W m−2) than for the model version without subgrid treatment of cloud activation and autoconversion. The results show the importance of considering subgrid variability in the treatment of autoconversion. Representation of several processes in a self-consistent subgrid framework is emphasized. This paper provides evidence that omitting subgrid variability in cloud microphysics contributes to the apparently chronic overestimation of the aerosol indirect effect by climate models, as compared to satellite-based estimates.
INTEGRAL and Swift/XRT observations of the source PKS 0208-512

Aims. The active galaxy PKS 0208-512, detected at lower energies by COMPTEL, has been claimed to be a MeV blazar from EGRET. We report on the most recent INTEGRAL observations of the blazar PKS 0208-512, which are supplemented by Swift ToO observations. Methods. The high energy X-ray and gamma-ray emission of PKS 0208-512 during August-December 2008 has been studied using 682 ks of INTEGRAL guest observer time and similar to 56 ks of Swift/XRT observations. These data were collected during the decay of a gamma-ray flare observed by Fermi/LAT. Results. At X-ray energies (0.2-10 keV) PKS 0208-512 is significantly detected by Swift/XRT, showing a power-law spectrum with a photon index of similar to 1.64. Its X-ray luminosity varied by roughly 30% during one month. At hard X-/soft gamma-ray energies PKS 0208-512 shows a marginally significant (similar to 3.2 sigma) emission in the 0.5-1 MeV band when combining all INTEGRAL/SPI data. Non-detections at energies below and above this band by INTEGRAL/SPI may indicate intrinsic excess emission. If this possible excess is produced by the blazar, one possible explanation could be that its jet consists of an abundant electron-positron plasma, which may lead to the emission of an annihilation radiation feature. Assuming this scenario, we estimate physical parameters of the jet of PKS 0208-512.
A model for electric field enhancement in lightning leader tips to levels allowing X‐ray and γ ray emissions

A model is proposed capable of accounting for the local electric field increase in front of the lightning stepped leader up to magnitudes allowing front electrons to overcome the runaway energy threshold and thus to initiate relativistic runaway electron avalanches capable of generating X‐ray and γ ray bursts observed in negative lightning leader. The model is based on an idea that an ionization wave, propagating in a preionized channel, is being focused, such that its front remains narrow and the front electric field is being enhanced. It is proposed that when a space leader segment, formed ahead of a negative lightning leader, connects to the leader, the electric potential of the leader is transferred through the space leader in an ionizing wave that continues into the partly ionized channels of preexisting streamers of the space leader. It is shown with numerical simulations that the ionization channels of streamers limit the lateral expansion of the ionization wave, thereby enhancing the peak electric field to values allowing an acceleration of low‐energy electrons into the runaway regime where electrons efficiently generate bremsstrahlung. The results suggest that the inhomogeneous ionization environment at the new leader tip amplifies the production rate of energetic electrons relative to a homogeneous environment considered in the past studies.
Properties of the Photometric Components of Lenticular Galaxies

After almost one century since their definition, the origin of lenticular galaxies is still a matter of debate. Several formation processes have been proposed in order to explain the wide variety of their observational properties. These properties could indicate that the class of lenticulars is a family formed by galaxies with different formations and evolutions. Here I review the main observational properties of the photometric components of lenticular galaxies reported in recent decades. I revise the main processes proposed in order to explain their origin and evolution. I also explain the different properties of the lenticular galaxies that have evolved through each of these formation processes. A unique opportunity for understanding the origin of S0 galaxies will shortly be forthcoming. This is due to the morphological classifications of large galaxy samples that have recently been published. These classifications have given us our first ever opportunity to study large samples of lenticulars within a wide range of masses and located in a great variety of environments. These large samples will provide us with a real census of nearby lenticular galaxies and could be crucial in finally helping us to understand the origin and evolution of these galaxies.
Supply Tightening or Lack of Demand? An Analysis of Credit Developments During the Lehman Brothers and the Sovereign Debt Crises

We estimate a structural econometric model for the credit market in Italy, using bank-level information and the responses of Italian banks to the euro-area Bank Lending Survey to identify demand and supply, focusing on the recent financial crisis. The main results are the following. First, while in normal circumstances the functioning of the Italian credit market is consistent with a standard imperfect-competition model, during phases of high tension there are credit-rationing phenomena. Second, supply restrictions have a relevant impact on lending, both when they are due to banks’ balance-sheet constraints and when they are the effect of greater perceived borrower riskiness. Third, to a large extent the tightening during the sovereign debt crisis reflected the common shock of the widening sovereign spread, not idiosyncratic bank funding problems. Fourth, the role of supply was stronger during the sovereign than the global financial crisis, mainly due to greater banks’ funding difficulties. In a counterfactual exercise we estimate that in the second quarter of 2012 interest rates were more than 2 percentage points higher and the stock of loans more than 8 percent lower than would have been the case without the tightening of lending standards in the course of the entire crisis.
Near Field Screech Noise Computation for an Underexpanded Supersonic Jet by the CE/SE Method

The space-time conservation element and solution element (CE/SE) method is employed to numerically study the near-field axisymmetric screech-tone noise of a typical underexpanded circular jet issuing from a sonic nozzle. For the computed cases, corresponding to fully expanded Mach numbers of 1.10, 1.15 and 1.19, the self-sustained feedback loop is automatically established. The computed shock-cell structure, acoustic wave length, screech tone frequencies, and sound pressure levels are in good agreement with experimental results.
Investigating Service Quality Initiatives of Pakistani Commercial Banks

The study investigated the service quality initiatives taken by Pakistani commercial banks in Lahore based on the perceptions of 447 respondents, selected by using multistage random sampling technique, through SERVQUAL scale which was found reliable at 0.866 Cronbach’s alpha. Mean scores, alphas, and correlations were calculated. One-Sample t-test, Independent Samples t-test, and One-way ANOVA were employed for significance and variance analysis. The study concluded that customers, employees, and managers respectively were not satisfied with the overall service quality provided by the Pakistani banks in terms of five sub-scales of service quality. However, tangibles were relatively at top whereas assurance was at the lowest position. Reliability and empathy were at almost similar level and banks failed in their responsiveness. Pakistani banks need to revisit their quality initiatives and focus on responsiveness, assurance, reliability, empathy, and tangibles in order of priority to ensure the set standards of service quality.
Instructional Supervision in Three Asian Countries-What Do Teachers & Principals Say?

1 Abstract . This study indicates the nature of instructional supervision carried out in schools in three Asian countries India, Malaysia and Thailand. This study followed the qualitative method involving questionnaire and interview. About hundred teachers and twenty five principals and other heads from three countries participated in this study. The questionnaire was sent trough post or email while interview was conducted either face to face or online using msn or Skype. The responding rate of participants was hundred percent. The discussion was focused on four themes that are related to the research questions namely supervision as a continuous, developmental and corporate process; supervision as a specialists’ area and the role of principals in instructional supervision. Evidences of findings accounted for instructional supervision being just eye wash, a paper completion and punitive process. The participants stressed for involving teachers, principals, subject teachers and subject specialist to make instructional supervision practices more meaningful. The findings advocated for supervision to be continuous development and corporate process.
How Accurate is the Statement that 'The Dividend Policy of a Firm is Irrelevant'

Various studies suggest that the question of whether dividend policy affects the value of the firm has puzzled researchers and corporate managers for many years. It is evidence that dividend policy is one of the most widely researched topics in finance. Yet, researchers have different views about whether the percentage of earnings that a firm pays out in dividends materially affects its long-term share price, Dempsey et al, (1993). This essay tried to identify the various studies on the dividend puzzle. It is outlined in this essay that dividend payment by corporate organisations is influenced by various factors. Some of the factors discussed here include legal restrains, shareholders’ expectations, taxation and the cash-flow uncertainty effect. This essay established the fact that these factors play a very vital role in corporate managers’ decision to pay dividend.On the relevance of the dividend policy, the discussion focused on the Miller and Modigliani’s hypothesis of 1961, which was supported by several other researchers like Miller and Scholes (1978), Jose and Stevens (1989). There were, however some criticisms to Miller and Modigliani’s hypothesis from other researchers like Sterk and Vandenberg (1990), Farrelly, Baker, and Edelman (1986), who believed that there exist some correlation between firm’s dividend policy and its share value.Finally, the essay discussed the relevance of the clientele effect on dividend policy. The study by Elton and Gruber (1970) was discussed and various criticisms on their findings was also discussed. The essay identified the work of other researchers such as Kalay (1982) and Barclay (1987), who criticised Elton and Gruber (1970). It was however agreed by the researchers that the clientele effect has a relevant correlation on corporate dividend policy.
Health literacy and health-promoting behaviors status among employees in Hamadan

Introduction: Health literacy is considered one of the main determinants of health-promoting behaviors. The aim of this study was to determine the health literacy of employees of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences and its relation with health promotion behaviors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016. By stratified sampling, the study recruited 188 employees of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences from seven colleges. Ttwo self-administered questionnaires, namely, the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II.) were used for data gathering the data were analyzed through descriptive statistics for describing data and to assess the relationship between variables multivariate linear regressions was used. In all the tests, P-value<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The employees had a mean age of 36.84 years (SD = 6.32). The majority of the participants were female (71), and most acquire information related to health via the Internet (74.5). Moreover, results showed a significant relationship between health literacy and health-promoting behaviors (F=7.22, P<0.001). Health literacy also exerted a significant effect on interpersonal communication (P<0.1), nutrition (P<0.05), and responsibility toward health (P<0.001). Conclusion: Based on results, health literacy and health-promoting behaviors among the employees were undesirable and inadequate levels. Also, health literacy had the positive relationship on nutritional behavior, interpersonal communication, and responsibility toward health. It seems that it is necessary to pay special attention to these issues in the training programs for health promotion of employees in order to increase the efficiency in their performance. n
Reduction in repeated references in gesture and sign language

Previous research has shown that predictable information in speech is often reduced, with regard to its quantity but also with regard to its quality. The present study aims to find out whether reduction also occurs in speech- accompanying gestures and in signs. To this end, a director-matcher task was set up in which speakers of Dutch and speakers of Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT) took part. In this task the director had to refer to the same object several times. The repeated references thus obtained were analysed for their reduction using a novel methodology. Gesture results suggest that gestures can be reduced in the same way as speech, namely both in their quantity and in their quality. Results for NGT show reduction in the quality of the signs being produced.