Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Climate-driven regime shifts in Arctic marine benthos

Climate warming can trigger abrupt ecosystem changes in the Arctic. Despite the considerable interest in characterizing and understanding the ecological impact of rapid climate warming in the Arctic, few long time series exist that allow addressing these research goals. During a 30-y period (1980–2010) of gradually increasing seawater temperature and decreasing sea ice cover in Svalbard, we document rapid and extensive structural changes in the rocky-bottom communities of two Arctic fjords. The most striking component of the benthic reorganization was an abrupt fivefold increase in macroalgal cover in 1995 in Kongsfjord and an eightfold increase in 2000 in Smeerenburgfjord. Simultaneous changes in the abundance of benthic invertebrates suggest that the macroalgae played a key structuring role in these communities. The abrupt, substantial, and persistent nature of the changes observed is indicative of a climate-driven ecological regime shift. The ecological processes thought to drive the observed regime shifts are likely to promote the borealization of these Arctic marine communities in the coming years.
Existence of parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions assuring robust stability via SOS

An SOS relaxation technique seeking homogeneous polynomially parameter dependent (HPPD) Lyapunov function to non-quadratic stability is proposed. We investigate non-quadratic relaxed conditions characterized by sum of squares, exploiting the algebraic property of Po´lya Theorem to construct a family of finite-dimensional SOS relaxations that releases conservatism without adding any slack matrices. Lastly, numerical experiments to illustrate the advantage of the relaxation, being simple and effective, are provided.
Towards the development of a gender-sensitive measure of women's mental health.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To develop a gender-sensitive measure of women's mental health and to evaluate the measure's psychometric properties. BACKGROUND Mental health problems are a leading global burden of disease, and gender differences in the prevalence of these problems are well documented. Improving mental health is as important as resolving mental health problems. Although many mental health scales have been developed, few measure women's positive mental health from a gender perspective. DESIGN Instrument development and psychometric evaluation were used. METHODS First, a new mental health scale (Women's Mental Health Scale) grounded in women's subjective experiences was formulated from the narratives of four female focus groups (n = 23). The new scale was evaluated using principal component analysis and internal consistency reliability in a sample of female participants (n = 106). Next, the Women's Mental Health Scale, the Chinese version of Beck Depression Inventory-II and Social Adjustment Scale Self-Report were used in a survey of female undergraduate students (n = 163) for examining the concurrent criterion-related validity. Finally, gender differences were examined by assessing the discriminated validity of the Women's Mental Health Scale in a sample of male and female undergraduate students (n = 357). All participants were recruited from communities and universities in middle and south Taiwan. RESULTS A 50-item Women's Mental Health Scale with four concepts of self, interpersonal, family and social domains was developed. It revealed that the Women's Mental Health Scale had acceptable psychometric properties. There was a significant negative correlation between scores of the Women's Mental Health Scale and the Chinese version of Beck Depression Inventory-II and a significant positive correlation between scores of the Women's Mental Health Scale and Social Adjustment Scale Self-Report. There were significant gender differences in the family domain and social domain. Women reported greater mental health in the family domain and social domain than men. CONCLUSIONS The Women's Mental Health Scale is a promising gender-sensitive tool to measure women's mental health. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The Women's Mental Health Scale appears to be a gender-sensitive measure to assess the positive mental health potentials among women population.
Accounting for heterogeneity in the measurement of hospital performance

ABSTRACT As the Corona pandemic of 2020 has shown, disposing of sufficient hospital capacity is of great importance. Ideally, this capacity should be provided by efficient units, calling for measurement of their performance. However, the standard cost frontier model yields biased efficiency scores because it ignores (often unobserved) heterogeneity between hospitals. In this paper, efficiency scores are derived from a cost function with both random intercept and random slope parameters which overcomes the problem of unobserved heterogeneity in stochastic frontier analysis. Based on an unbalanced panel covering the years 2004 to 2007 and comprising at least 100 Swiss hospitals per year, Bayesian inference points to significant heterogeneity suggesting rejection of the standard cost frontier model. When unobserved heterogeneity is fully accounted for, average estimated inefficiency decreases to 5%, below the 14% (21%, respectively) value reported for a number of European and Middle-Eastern countries (Hollingsworth, 2008; Alawi et al. 2019). Moreover, hospitals rated below 85% efficiency according to the standard model gain up to 12% points. They can provide much needed capacity that otherwise would be discarded on the grounds that they are not sufficiently efficient providers.
Mobility status after inpatient stroke rehabilitation: 1-year follow-up and prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the stability of mobility status achieved by stroke patients during hospital rehabilitation treatment over time and to identify reliable prognostic factors associated with mobility changes. DESIGN Follow-up evaluation in consecutive first-ever stroke patients 1 year after hospital discharge. Multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze increases and decreases in Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) scores (dependent variables) between discharge and follow-up. Independent variables were medical, demographic, and social factors. SETTING Rehabilitation hospital. PATIENTS A cohort of 155 patients with sequelae of first stroke, with a final sample of 141. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mobility status at 1-year follow-up, as measured by the RMI, and odds ratios (OR) for improvement and decline in mobility. RESULTS Functionally, 19.9% improved the mobility levels achieved during the inpatient rehabilitation treatment; levels of 42.6% worsened. Patients with global aphasia (OR = 5.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-21.33), unilateral neglect (OR = 3.01; 95% CI, 1.21-7.50), and age 75 years or older (OR = 5.77; 95% CI, 1.42-23.34) had a higher probability of mobility decline than the remaining patients. Postdischarge rehabilitation treatment (PDT), received by 52.5% of the final sample, was significantly and positively associated with mobility improvement (OR = 5.86; 95% CI, 2.02-17.00). Absence of PDT was associated with a decline in mobility (OR = 3.73; 95% CI, 1.73-8.04). CONCLUSIONS In most cases, mobility status had not yet stabilized at hospital discharge. PDT was useful in preventing a deterioration in mobility improvement achieved during inpatient treatment and in helping increase the likelihood of further mobility improvement.
An Evaluation of Nutritional and Sensory Qualities of Wheat - Moringa Cake

The Nutritional and sensory attributes of wheat Moringa cake were evaluated. Cakes were produced from wheat flour and different quantities of Moringa leaf (2g, 4g, 6g, 8g and 10g) respectively with cake from 100% wheat flour used as control. Nutritional analyses carried out on the cake samples include crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, total ash and moisture content. Nutrient contents and sensory attributes of samples were carried out within 24 hours of cake sample production. All parameters determined, showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in cake samples. Moisture (7.35 9.04%), crude protein (7.21 11.20%), crude fibre (3.56 5.20%) and total ash (1.50 2.75%) showed an increase in value with increase in addition of Moringa while crude fat (5.95 4.00%) and carbohydrate (74.57 67.82%) showed a decrease in value with increased addition. Sensory evaluation showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between the control (100% wheat) and other samples in colour, taste, aroma and general acceptability. The cake sample with 4g Moringa addition was the most preferred in terms of colour, taste, aroma and general acceptability. Cake, being a snack that is commonly consumed by people is made up of high calorie ingredients which when taken for too long may have a negative effect on consumer health. Wheat Moringa cake will have a positive impact of controlling the negative effects of the ingredients used in the production of cake, because of its fibre content. Keywords: Wheat, Moringa , cake, nutritionaland sensory.
Accounting for Business Combinations: Do Purchase Price Allocations Matter?

This study investigates the informativeness of purchase price allocations (PPAs) that involve fair value estimation of acquired assets and liabilities after a business combination. Using a model capturing the amount of goodwill expected after the initial announcement of an acquisition, we examine how allocation of abnormal levels of purchase price to goodwill (Abnormal Goodwill) affects stock price reaction surrounding the first disclosure of the PPA in SEC filings, and the acquirer’s future performance. From a sample of 308 economically significant U.S. business combinations completed between 2002 and 2011, we document the following results: (1) Abnormal Goodwill is negatively associated with cumulative abnormal returns surrounding the first disclosure of the PPA, (2) there is a stronger negative reaction to Abnormal Goodwill for acquisitions that were already negatively received by market participants when initially announced than for acquisitions that were initially received positively, (3) the frequency and magnitude of goodwill impairment during the three years following completion of the acquisition increases as Abnormal Goodwill increases, and (4) future performance decreases as Abnormal Goodwill increases. Overall, our findings indicate that Abnormal Goodwill is informative regarding the quality of acquisitions. This study contributes to the debate on the usefulness of PPA.
Outward FDI by Indian Manufacturing MNEs: Impacts and Implications

Outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) by Indian firms has increased significantly in recent years. Such investments by Indian firms have gone to more than 100 host countries. However, little is known about the effects of such OFDI on domestic activity of Indian multinational enterprises (MNEs). The paper investigates the home-country effects of OFDI by Indian manufacturing firms during 2008/09 to 2011/12 using a quasi-experimental technique. A priori, the relationship between firm’s OFDI and domestic activity is ambiguous as both complementary and substitution effects could be induced by such investment activities. The propensity score matching technique is used, to construct treatment and control groups, for examining the effect of engaging in OFDI on domestic activities of Indian manufacturing MNEs. The empirical evidence suggests that OFDI by Indian MNEs has positive impact on export intensity and research and development (R&D). On the other hand, no significant impact could be found on domestic investments, output, employment, import of raw materials, and import of capital goods. Overall, no significant negative (or substitution) effect of OFDI on domestic activity could be discerned in this study. Nevertheless, to derive desired complementary benefits of OFDI by the manufacturing firms, policies may be directed to enhance the country’s international supply chain connectivity for greater participation in global value chain and production network.
Essential oil composition of Eugenia langsdorffii O. Berg.: relationships between some terpenoids and toxicity against Tetranychus urticae

Leaf and fruit essential oils of Eugenia langsdorffii were analyzed by GC-FID (gas chromatography with flame ionization detection) and GC-MS (gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection), featuring a high percentage of sesquiterpenes. epi-Longipinanol (13.6 ± 0.1%) and γ-eudesmol (12.3 ± 0.2%) were the principal components of the leaf oil, whereas 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (35.7 ± 0.3%) and 1,10-di-epi-cubennol (15.6 ± 0.3%) were the major constituents of the fruit oil. A comparative study to assess fumigant and residual contact toxicities of the oils was conducted. The leaf oil (lethal concentration average, LC50 = 1.7 µL L-1 of air) was 1.7 times more toxic than the fruit oil and 1.8 times less toxic by residual contact. The positive control (eugenol) was much more toxic in the fumigation bioassay than Eugenia langsdorffii oils. Nevertheless, the residual contact effect of the fruit oil (LC50 = 12.25 µL mL-1) was just 6.7 times smaller than that of eugenol. The role of terpenoids in the acaricidal property of the E. langsdorffii essential oils was also discussed.
Synthesis of the quad-rotor flight control system

The problem of the synthesis of the advanced algorithms for quad-rotor horizontal flight control is considered. The modified procedure of the linear quadratic synthesis is applied. Two kinds of algorithms are considered here. The control goal in the 1st case is the achieving the certain point in the given navigation frame, meanwhile for the 2nd case the control goal is the stabilization of the cruise speed. Represented examples prove the efficiency of both kinds of algorithms.
Acute myocardial infarction is associated with increased susceptibility of serum lipids to copper‐induced peroxidation in vitro

Background: Low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in the arterial intima plays a pivotal role in atherogenesis. Under physiologic conditions, several mechanisms protect LDL against oxidation, including hydrolysis of oxidation products by high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐associated enzymes. Some of these protective mechanisms are less effective under acute phase conditions.
SPOUSE ABUSE & MARITAL SYSTEM BASED ON ENRICH

This study examined spouse abuse from the ecological perspective using the data from a national sample of 20,951 couples that took the ENRICH couple inventory. ENRICH assessed three ecological areas –contextual and socio-cultural factors; individual traits and behaviors; and couple interaction processes. Using the ENRICH couple typology, devitalized couples had the highest level of abuse while vitalized couples had the lowest. Using ENRICH scales, abusive individuals/couples were identified with 84% of accuracy. Abusive individuals and couples showed significantly lower levels of relational functioning in all three ecological areas assessed by ENRICH. Clinical and research implications for using ENRICH are presented. Spouse abuse has received much attention by family researchers and clinicians perhaps due to its high prevalence rate in the United States. According to a national survey conducted in 1995, about one fourth of women and one tenth of men in the United States were estimated to be raped and /or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabiting partner, or date in their life time (Tjaden & Theoennes, 1998). It was also estimated that 1.3 % of women (approximately 1.5 million women) and 0.9% of men (about 834, 000 men) over the age of 19 in the U.S. were raped and /or physically assaulted by their intimate partner during 1995 (Tjaden & Theoennes, 1998). Women have a good reason to be concerned with spouse abuse as one third of all murdered females in the U.S. were killed by their current or former partners in 1998 (National Victim Assistance Academy, 2000). Most research on spouse abuse thus far can be categorized into three areas: the profiles of the abusers and their individual characteristics (Gortner, et al., 1997; Margolin, et al., 1998; Ragg, 1999); the profiles of the victims and their individual characteristics (Briere & Runtz, 1987; Campbell, 1991); and the intergenerational effects of spouse abuse on the abusers and the victims (Giles-Sims, Straus, & Sugarman, 1995; Langhinrichsen-Rohling, et al., 1995; Straus, 1994; Straus & Yodanis, 1996). These studies have mostly examined how individual spouses were affected by spouse abuse, but they revealed only limited information about how spouse abuse was related to the couples’ relational issues. Even when the dyad was used as a unit of analysis, the previous research on spouse abuse tended to focus on only a specific area of couples interaction patterns, including demand/withdraw by Bern, Jacobson, & Gottman, (1999) or responsibility attributional processes by Byrne & Arias, (1997). However, very little attention has been paid to how the presence of spouse abuse relates to overall couple functioning. While past studies have focused on the micro-interaction patterns, there is
Dosimetry of a cone beam CT device for oral and maxillofacial radiology using Monte Carlo techniques and ICRP adult reference computational phantoms.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to calculate organ and effective doses for a range of available protocols in a particular cone beam CT (CBCT) scanner dedicated to dentistry and to derive effective dose conversion factors. METHODS Monte Carlo simulations were used to calculate organ and effective doses using the International Commission on Radiological Protection voxel adult male and female reference phantoms (AM and AF) in an i-CAT CBCT. Nine different fields of view (FOVs) were simulated considering full- and half-rotation modes, and also a high-resolution acquisition for a particular protocol. Dose-area product (DAP) was measured. RESULTS Dose to organs varied for the different FOVs, usually being higher in the AF phantom. For 360°, effective doses were in the range of 25-66 μSv, and 46 μSv for full head. Higher contributions to the effective dose corresponded to the remainder (31%; 27-36 range), salivary glands (23%; 20-29%), thyroid (13%; 8-17%), red bone marrow (10%; 9-11%) and oesophagus (7%; 4-10%). The high-resolution protocol doubled the standard resolution doses. DAP values were between 181 mGy cm(2) and 556 mGy cm(2) for 360°. For 180° protocols, dose to organs, effective dose and DAP were approximately 40% lower. A conversion factor (DAP to effective dose) of 0.130 ± 0.006 μSv mGy(-1) cm(-2) was derived for all the protocols, excluding full head. A wide variation in dose to eye lens and thyroid was found when shifting the FOV in the AF phantom. CONCLUSIONS Organ and effective doses varied according to field size, acquisition angle and positioning of the beam relative to radiosensitive organs. Good positive correlation between calculated effective dose and measured DAP was found.
Enteral tube feeding for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease.

BACKGROUND Enteral feeding (tube feeding) is offered to many people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease experiencing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and maintaining adequate nutritional intake leading to weight loss. OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement or other tube feeding placement on: (1) survival;(2) nutritional status; (3) quality of life;(4) minor and major complications of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Trials Register (24 November 2009), MEDLINE (from January 1966 to September 2009), and EMBASE (from January 1980 to September 2009) for all papers on enteral tube feeding in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease. The results were screened to identify randomised controlled trials and to identify non-randomized studies that might be worthy of review and discussion. We checked references in published articles and enlisted personal communications to identify any additional references. SELECTION CRITERIA A priori selection criteria included randomised and quasi-randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or other feeding tube placement. Since no such trials were discovered, all prospective and retrospective controlled studies were reviewed in the 'Background' or 'Discussion' sections of the review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We independently assessed study design and extracted data. We considered the following outcomes: (1) survival rate in months (of primary interest), (2) nutritional status measured by weight change, change in body mass index, or other quantitative index of nutritional status, (3) self-perceived quality of life and (4) safety of the procedure as indicated by minor and major complications of surgical or radiological guided PEG tube insertion. MAIN RESULTS We found no randomised controlled trials comparing the efficacy of enteral tube feeding with those people who continued to eat orally, without enteral feeding. We summarized the results of retrospective and prospective studies in the 'Discussion' section. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There are no randomised controlled trials to indicate whether enteral tube feeding is beneficial compared to continuation of oral feeding for any of the outcome measures. The 'best' evidence to date suggests a survival advantage for some people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease, but these conclusions are tentative. Evidence for improved nutrition is also incomplete but tentatively favorable. Quality of life has been addressed in studies and needs more attention. Based on a number of recent non-randomized studies comparing surgical and radiographic approaches to feeding tube insertion these two procedures for PEG tube insertion appear to be equivalent.
Retinal progenitor cells can produce restricted subsets of horizontal cells

Retinal progenitor cells have been shown to be multipotent throughout development. Similarly, many other structures of the developing central nervous system have been found to contain multipotent progenitor cells. Previous lineage studies did not address whether these multipotent progenitor cells were biased in their production of neuronal subtypes. This question is of interest because subtypes are the basis of distinct types of circuits. Here, lentivirus-mediated gene transfer was used to mark single retinal progenitor cells in vivo, and the different subtypes of horizontal cells (HCs) in each clone were quantified. Clones with two HCs consistently contained a single HC subtype, a pair of either H1 or H3 cells. This suggests that a multipotent progenitor cell produces a mitotic cell fated to make a terminal division that produces two HCs of only one subtype. This bias in production of one HC subtype suggests a previously undescribed mechanism of cell fate determination in at least a subset of retinal cells that involves decisions made by mitotic cells that are inherited in a symmetric manner by both neuronal daughter cells.