Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Diagnostic and Treatment Factors on Growth Development of Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism: a Prospective Longitudinal Study

Introduction: No study has yet been conducted evaluate the factors influencing the growth of patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH), in Iran. The high prevalence of this disease in Iran, particularly in Isfahan, made it necessary to investigate biomedical diagnostic and early treatment factors potentially affecting growth status among patients with CH. Materials and Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 760 CH neonates (born 2002-2010), diagnosed and followed up (minimum 1, maximum 5 years) during the CH screening program in Isfahan were enrolled. Height, weight and head circumferences of the patients, during follow up and in subsequent periods, were measured. Diagnostic and therapeutic factors included serum T4 and TSH concentration at diagnosis and after treatment initiation, age at onset of therapy, initial dosage of levothyroxine and age at first normalization of T4 and TSH. Quantile regression for longitudinal data was used for investigating the effects of main factors determining growth development. R free software was used for analyzing data. Results: Longitudinal growth in height and weight was significantly correlated with age at onset of therapy and initial dosage of treatment (p<0.01), while head circumference was associated only with initial dosage (P<0.05). Increase in weight and head circumference were affected by serum TSH concentration at diagnosis (p<0.05), and age of T4 normalization also had significant impact, on some of the proposed quantiles, i.e. weight (p<0.05), height (p<0.01) and head circumference (p<0.001). Conclusion: Among the factors studied, initial dosage of treatment and age at onset of therapy seem to be more important factors for growth development, suggesting that more optimal outcomes are possible through earlier treatment and appropriate levothyroxine dosage.
Strengthening the Competitiveness of Thai Firms: What Needs to be Done?

This paper examines the empirical relationship between productmarket competition and firm productivity. Using a rich panel data set of Thai manufacturing firms, we estimate firm total factor productivity and measures of product-market competition such as economic capital rent, price dispersion, market concentration and market entry paperwork. We find that increased product-market competition encourages firm efficiency. Product market competition can also engender productivity growth and innovation. Young firms tend be more efficient and invest more in physical capital and research, reflecting the importance of fluid markets and creative destruction to economic growth. The challenge for policymakers will be how to harness the forces of market competition to ensure that the firm sector, as a whole, can raise its productivity and adapt to rising competition. We discuss how the appropriate competition policy can also serve to encourage innovation, which will become increasingly important to Thailand’s long-run prosperity as the Thai economy exhausts the gains from factor accumulation and imitation and moves toward becoming a knowledge-based economy.
Family planning service utilization in Mojo town, Ethiopia: A population based study

This cross-sectional study aims at identifying the demographic and socio economic barriers to family planning services utilization in Mojo town, Oromiya region of Ethiopia. The study used data collected from 551 women respondents (age 15 to 49) selected through systematic random sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using both univariate and multi-variate (logistic regression) statistical techniques. The findings of the study revealed that the level of knowledge and approval of family planning were high, 91.5 and 82.2% respectively. However, the actual practice of family planning methods was found to be low where only 38.3 were using any family planning method at the time of the survey. The most common methods for both ever and current users were injectable, pills and condom, whereas the most common source of family planning information was reported to be clinics. The logistic regression model showed that the likelihood of family planning service utilization is higher for those with higher parity, literate, approved use of family planning methods, discussed with husband/partners and those exposed to mass media. Fertility related, opposition, methods related, and access to sources/knowledge were reported reasons by non-users. Finally, based on the key findings of the study, some plausible recommendations were given which includes: educating potential users about the benefits of family planning, intensive male-targeted information, improving accessibility and availability of contraceptives and building the capacity of service providers at the institutional level. Key words: Barriers, contraceptive, service utilization, determinants, Mojo town.
The Coercive Weight of the Past: Temporal Dependence and the Conflict-Repression Nexus in the Northern Ireland “Troubles”

After 40 years, we still know very little about how state repression influences political dissent. In fact, to date, every possible relationship, including no influence, has been found. We argue that part of the problem concerns the current practice of treating every repressive event as if it were substantively equivalent, differentiated only by scope (large/small) or type (violent/nonviolent). We advance existing work by arguing that the influence of repression is contingent on when it occurs within the temporal sequences of political conflict. Using new events data on the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland from 1968 to 1974, results show that when dissent has been decreasing in the recent past, repressive action inspires an increase in dissident action. When dissent has been increasing, however, repression has the opposite effect, decreasing challenging activity. These results provide important insights into resolving a recurrent puzzle within the conflict-repression nexus as well as understanding the interaction between government and dissident behavior.
Predatory role of the commander squid Berryteuthis magister in the eastern Bering Sea: insights from stable isotopes and food habits

Squid are an important component of many marine food webs, and they can impact other species through predation and competition. However, quantifying their influence on other food web components requires knowledge of their trophic position and trophic ontogeny, which are unknown in many ecosystems. The eastern Bering Sea (EBS) is a highly productive region that sup- ports large commercial fisheries, and a modicum of knowledge exists on the ecological role of squid in this region. We combined stomach content and stable isotope analyses of muscle tissue (! 15 N and ! 13 C) to identify the feeding ecology of the commander squid Berryteuthis magister in the EBS conti- nental slope ecosystem. We also use a novel methodology to elucidate potential finer-scale variation in squid trophic ecology by reconstructing feeding chronologies of individual B. magister from con- centric eye lens layers. Our analyses indicate that the position of B. magister in the EBS food web increases by approximately 1 trophic level between juvenile and adult stages. Also, in contrast to many squid species, we found that predation by B. magister is not constrained by prey body size and that B. magister are more likely to share prey resources with commercially valuable fishes, particu- larly walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma, than to prey upon their juvenile stages. Further, the reconstructed feeding chronologies indicate substantial variability in squid feeding patterns that are not captured on the time scales of the conventional analyses. Together, the findings of this study con- tribute to a better understanding of the ecological role of B. magister and the trophic linkages and energy flow within the EBS food web.
The Impact of Feedback as Formative Assessment on Student Performance.

This article provides an evaluation of the redesign of a research methods course intended to enhance students’ learning for understanding and transfer. Drawing on principles of formative assessment from the existing academic literature, the instructor introduced a number of increasingly complex low-stakes assignments for students to complete prior to submitting their final project. Concrete, constructive feedback from either the instructor or peers or both was offered at each stage of the project so that students could have the opportunity to review their work and improve particular aspects prior to moving on to the next assignment. Student performance on each subsequent submission was assessed through the use of a scoring rubric. Although there was significant improvement from one draft of a given assignment (T1) to the next (T2), the instructor’s decision not to require a preliminary draft of the final project ultimately yielded mixed results at the end of the course (T3); this serves to highlight the importance of providing multiple active learning opportunities for students by using a progressive scaffolding approach.
Optimization of the Spatiotemporal Parameters in a Dynamical Marine Ecosystem Model Based on the Adjoint Assimilation

By utilizing spatiotemporal biological parameterizations, the adjoint variational method was applied to a 3D marine ecosystem dynamical model. The results of twin experiments demonstrated that the mean absolute error (MAE) of phytoplankton in the surface layer and the reduced cost function (RCF) could be used to evaluate both the simulation results and parameter estimation. Spatiotemporal variation of key parameters (KPs) was optimized in real experiments. The RCF and MAE in each assimilation period (72 periods per year) decreased obviously. The spatially varying KP (KPS), temporally varying KP (KPT), and constant KP (KPC) were obtained by averaging KPs of spatiotemporal variation. Another type of spatiotemporal KP (KPST) was represented by KPS, KPT, and KPC. The correlation analysis of KPs, either KPS or KPT, accorded with the real ecological mechanism. Running the model with KPS, KPT, KPC, and KPST, respectively, we found that MAE was the minimum when KPs were spatiotemporal variation (KPST), while MAE reached its maximum when KPs were constant (KPC). Using spatiotemporal KPs could improve simulation precision compared with only using spatially varying KPs, temporally varying KPs, or constant KPs (these forms are the results in a previous study). KPST, a representation of spatiotemporal variation, reduces the variable number in calculation.
Agricultural pollution control under Spanish and European environmental policies

Nonpoint pollution from agriculture is an important environmental policy issue in Spain and the European Union. Agricultural pollution in Spain is being addressed by the National Irrigation Plan and by the European Water Framework Directive. This article contributes to the ongoing policy decision process by analyzing nonpoint pollution control and presenting results on the efficiency of abatement measures. Results question the reliance of the Water Framework Directive on water pricing as a pollution instrument for reaching good status for all waters because higher water prices close to full recovery cost advocated by the directive appear to be inefficient as an emission control instrument. Another important result is that abatement measures based on input taxes and standards on nitrogen appear to be more suitable than the National Irrigation Plan subsidies designed to promote irrigation investments. The results also contribute with further evidence to the discussion on the appropriate instrument base for pollution control, proving that nonpoint pollution control instruments cannot be assessed accurately without a correct understanding of the key underlying biophysical processes. Nonpoint pollution is characterized by nonlinearities, dynamics, and spatial dependency, and neglect of the dynamic aspects may lead to serious consequences for the design of measures. Finally, a quantitative assessment has been performed to explore discriminating measures based on crop pollution potential on vulnerable soils. No significant welfare gains are found from discriminating control, although results are contingent upon the level of damage, and discrimination could be justified in areas with valuable ecosystems and severe pollution damages.
Assessment of anticlastogenic activity of cinnamic acid : Anticlastogenic index ( ACI ) and model simulation

Cinnamic acid and its derivatives are an important member of the phenolic compound used in food supplements. They usually occur in various conjugated forms, more frequently esters and glycosides. Mice (Mus musculus, 2n = 40) were employed as an experimental mammalian system to assess the anticlastogenic activity of cinnamic acid (CA) induced by Endoxan. Four doses; 1/32, 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 of the LD50 of CA (5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively) in combination with five administration times of CA were tested. Micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) and mitotic index (MI) were used as a sensitive short term genotoxic bioassays. The results obtained showed that low doses (1/32 LD50 and 1/16 LD50) decreased the percentage of PCE significantly compared with that of the positive control and closer to that of the negative control. The data of this study were used to calculate a new index called anticlastogenic index (ACI). The new index measures the anticlastogenic activity of a compound or an extract. The ACI beside the percentage of PCE can give a deeper look of the anticlastogenic activity of compounds. It also makes it easy to draw conclusions from the genotoxicity data. The maximum ACI of CA was achieved when both CA and Endoxan were given concurrently. On the other hand, the higher doses of CA (1/8 and 1/4 LD50) caused a significant increase in the percentage of PCE. This gives evidence that CA at high doses (20 and 40 mg/kg) would be considered as a positive clastogen itself. CA significantly decreased the mitotic index compared with the negative control. In addition, high doses showed sharp decrease in mitotic index. Direct significant correlation coefficient was found between the ACI and the mitotic index. The data also were used for the simulation of a model to predict the ACI of doses with different relative timing to a treatment of the clastogen that were not conducted experimentally in the limit of experiment data range.
Relationships among Prices across Alternative Marketing Arrangements for Fed Cattle and Hogs

Reduced reliance on cash market prices for fed cattle and hogs raise questions about the role of cash prices in price discovery. We use seven years of weekly data from mandatory price reports to determine whether or not cash market prices are cointegrated with other procurement prices and then test for causality among the price series. Cash prices were cointegrated with all but one procurement price series. Cash market prices Granger cause all other procurement prices. Bidirectional causality was found in some but not all cases. Thus, cash market prices remain of central importance in price discovery for fed cattle and hogs.
Relative effects of statistical preprocessing and postprocessing on a regional hydrological ensemble prediction system

Abstract. The relative roles of statistical weather preprocessing and streamflow postprocessing in hydrological ensemble forecasting at short- to medium-range forecast lead times (day 1–7) are investigated. For this purpose, a regional hydrologic ensemble prediction system (RHEPS) is developed and implemented. The RHEPS is comprised of the following components: (i) hydrometeorological observations (multisensor precipitation estimates, gridded surface temperature, and gauged streamflow); (ii) weather ensemble forecasts (precipitation and near-surface temperature) from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction 11-member Global Ensemble Forecast System Reforecast version 2 (GEFSRv2); (iii) NOAA's Hydrology Laboratory-Research Distributed Hydrologic Model (HL-RDHM); (iv) heteroscedastic censored logistic regression (HCLR) as the statistical preprocessor; (v) two statistical postprocessors, an autoregressive model with a single exogenous variable (ARX(1,1)) and quantile regression (QR); and (vi) a comprehensive verification strategy. To implement the RHEPS, 1 to 7 days weather forecasts from the GEFSRv2 are used to force HL-RDHM and generate raw ensemble streamflow forecasts. Forecasting experiments are conducted in four nested basins in the US Middle Atlantic region, ranging in size from 381 to 12 362 km 2 . Results show that the HCLR preprocessed ensemble precipitation forecasts have greater skill than the raw forecasts. These improvements are more noticeable in the warm season at the longer lead times ( > 3 days). Both postprocessors, ARX(1,1) and QR, show gains in skill relative to the raw ensemble streamflow forecasts, particularly in the cool season, but QR outperforms ARX(1,1). The scenarios that implement preprocessing and postprocessing separately tend to perform similarly, although the postprocessing-alone scenario is often more effective. The scenario involving both preprocessing and postprocessing consistently outperforms the other scenarios. In some cases, however, the differences between this scenario and the scenario with postprocessing alone are not as significant. We conclude that implementing both preprocessing and postprocessing ensures the most skill improvements, but postprocessing alone can often be a competitive alternative.
Jointly by the Association of Official Seed Analysts and the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists ee ec ology

e germination behavior of 11 medicinal plant species under different temperatures was studied. Seeds of all species were exposed to eight constant temperatures ranging from 5–40 °C. A linear model was applied to describe the germination rate-temperature relationship. Tested species showed clear differences in temperature requirements for seed germination. e highest germination percentage was observed within the ranges of 15–25 °C for Marrubium vulgare L. , 15–30 °C for Origanum majorana L. , 10–30 °C for Hyssopus officinalis L. and Silybum marianum L. , 10–25 °C for ymus daenensis Celak subsp. daenensis and Ocimum basilicum L. Germination of most species ceased or highly declined at temperatures of 35 °C. e highest germination rate was observed within temperature ranges of 15–30 °C for Nepeta racemosa Lam. , Oenothera biennis L. and H. officinalis, 10–25 °C for O. basilicum and Salvia nemorosa L. , 20–25 °C forO. majorana L. andT. daenensis and 10–30 °C for S. marianum. e lowest base temperature was observed for Salvia sclarea L. , S. nemorosa, H. officinalis and Centaurea benedicta (L.) L. All medicinal species studied in this research had a low, below 5 °C, base temperature. Optimum temperature ranged from 13–24 °C, and the lowest optimum temperature belonged toC. benedicta. ese germination requirements are insufficient tomake a general conclusion for introducing the species into cultivation, however, these data provide basic temperature requirements for further research. INTRODUCTION The global demand for herbal medicine is not only large, but growing (Srivastava, 2000). e world market for herbal remedies in 1999 was calculated to be worth 19.4 billion USD, with Europe in the lead (6.7 billion USD), followed by Asia (5.1 billion USD), North America (4.0 billion USD), Japan (2.2 billion USD), and the rest of the world (1.4 billion USD) (Larid and Pierce, 2002). Still most species of medicinal plants are collected from the wild and the total number of species of medicinal plants cultivated on any scale is small. Only 130–140 of the 1200–1300 species that are traded in and native to Europe are derived predominantly from cultivation (Lange, 1998). e wide array of medicinal plants requires many different techniques for production, harvesting and storage, yet the requirements of these species are poorly documented and oen unsuccessful (Uniyal et al., 2000). Germination is one of the most important factors in the success of an annual crop and hence plays a key role in crop production (Khajeh-Hosseini et al., 156 Farsad Nadjafi, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Tehran, Iran. Leila Tabrizi and Abdolmajid Mahdavi Damghani, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Tehran, Iran. Javad Shabahang, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. *Corresponding author (E-mail: f_najafi@sbu.ac.ir). Received 3 April 2009.
Use of different nitrogen sources in the fattening of yearling sheep

Four rations were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric and represent different nitrogen sources. These were cotton seed cake (CSC), sesame seed cake (SSC), groundnut cake (GNC) and sunflower seed cake (SFSC). The effect of the different nitrogen sources on rumen fermentation pattern, digestibility, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), BW changes and N retention was studied using 32 yearling desert rams. There were two experimental periods covering feeding trials where the BW changes were monitored over 12 weeks and digestibility trial where the animals were placed in metabolism cages for the determination of digestibility, rumen components, BUN and N retention. Average daily gain of 96.7, 87.5, 76.3, and 72.9 g per day for SFSC, SSC, CSC, and GNC, respectively, showed that SFSC had the best gain (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio was higher (P < 0.05) with CSC and GNC rations than SSC and SFSC. Ruminal VFAs and ammonia N concentrations were the highest (P < 0.05) with CSC compared to the other rations either before or post-feeding. Ruminal pH or BUN level were not affected by the different N sources imposed. Lipid digestion was reduced(P < 0.05) with the GNC ration while N retention was reduced (P < 0.05) with the SSC ration. Provision of different N sources using different oil seed cakes in the ration of yearling sheep showed that owners’ preference of CSC and GNC–SSC and SFSC cakes could be related to the better conversion ratios obtained by the two former oil cakes. © 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Crisis Communication in a New World

Abstract Crisis communication is a growing field of research and practice. A weakness in the traditional research field is the lack of theoretical development and the isolated sender and mass communication focus. In the present paper, we challenge traditional research by focusing on the contemporary cultural and ethnic diversity in society from an audience-oriented media perspective. In the paper, we review earlier research on multicultural crisis communication. The discussion is based on secondary data on multicultural media use in Sweden and an Internet analysis focused on dialogue and community building. All together, the review and secondary data show that persons of foreign origin in Sweden have high access to ICT. This is an argument for directing crisis communication not only through traditional mass media, but also through new media. This is not only because of the simple reach of these channels, but also because of the increase in the quality and dialogue potential of these “great good places” (Oldenburg, 1999).
The emerging voluntary sector in Japan: issues and prospects

This paper provides an overview of the Japanese third sector with a particular focus on organisational issues. It begins with background information on the third sector in Japan and offers reasons why the sector has remained relatively underdeveloped. It then discusses recent changes in Japan which have contributed to the development of the sector. The second part of the paper explores management and organisational issues for Japanese voluntary organisations at two levels. Management issues are analysed at the sectoral level, drawing on two quantitative surveys on the sector carried out recently. Secondly, attention will be shifted from sectoral to organisational problems drawing on the findings of the author’s exploratory small-scale research project on several large Japanese NGOs. In conclusion, a number of future implications and policy issues are addressed.