Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leaders and markets :national leadership and stock market performance

We use random exits of heads of state to determine whether these exogenous transitions are associated to changes in stock market returns across countries. We focus on the cases in which the leader’s rule ended due to either a sudden accident or after a longstanding illness. We find that an accident does not trigger a significant change in abnormal returns or volatility. An exit after illness, however, is associated to a positive and significant change in abnormal returns, but no change in volatility. Using data on rumors about leaders’ health, we find that the start of a string of rumors is associated to a significant drop in abnormal returns, but no change in volatility. This suggests that news about a leader’s ailment generates expectations of deficient rule. Further analysis suggests that the significant drop-and-rebound effect is strongest in autocratic countries and in regimes where the leader has low levels of education.
Primates of the Valleys of the Rios Jequitinhonha and Mucuri, Brazil: Occurrence and Distribution

We report on a study of the occurrence and distribution of primates in three areas in the valleys of the rios Mucuri and Jequitinhonha in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The areas were chosen on the basis of their classification as priority areas of high biological importance for conservation (numbered 213, 217, and 221) during a regional priority-setting workshop organized by the Brazilian government in 1999. We carried out surveys using a number of methods including line-transect sampling. Seven species were recorded in priority area 217, three in priority area 213, and three in 221. We saw six species in 66 encounters along 167.2 km of line transect surveys. The encounter rate for each species varied from 0.26 encounters/10 km to 2.49 encounters/10 km. Geoffroy’s tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix geoffroyi) was the most frequently sighted and was particularly abundant in the Mucuri valley. The brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba) was also relatively common in the Mucuri valley. The northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) was seen in one of the survey sites, the most northerly register for the species. Five of the seven primates in the region are threatened. We found evidence of illegal hunting and selective logging in all the localities surveyed, and conservation measures are needed, specifically: an increase in surveillance against hunting, wood extraction and fires. Minas Gerais is one of the Brazilian states where deforestation levels are still of concern. It has been among the three states with the highest deforestation rates for the past five years, with the Jequitinhonha valley being one of the regions most impacted. The Fazenda Santana is located on the banks of the Rio Jequitinhonha and, despite the intense observed logging, it still has considerable areas of lowland deciduous forest, a rare phytophysiognomy that is now restricted almost entirely to this part of the state of Minas Gerais. The maintenance of some of the forest fragments surveyed would protect nearly 70% of the threatened primates of Minas Gerais, notably Sapajus xanthosternos, Callicebus melanochir, and Brachyteles hypoxanthus.
Analysis of factors limiting maximal exercise performance in cystic fibrosis.

1. Maximal exercise capacity in cystic fibrosis is influenced by both pulmonary and nutritional factors: lung disease by limiting maximal achievable ventilation, and malnutrition through a loss of muscle mass. The associated reduction in everyday activities may result in peripheral muscle deconditioning. 2. We studied 14 stable patients with cystic fibrosis (six males, eight females) and 14 healthy control subjects (seven males, seven females) in order to assess the influence of these factors on exercise performance. Subjects underwent anthropometry to estimate muscle mass, spirometry to assess ventilatory capacity, a 30 s sprint on an isokinetic cycle ergometer to assess maximal leg muscle performance, and progressive cycle ergometry to assess overall exercise capacity. 3. Compared with control subjects, the patients with cystic fibrosis were of similar age and height but weighed proportionately less [% ideal weight (mean +/- SD): 94.3 +/- 9.64 versus 109.5 +/- 11.82] and showed evidence of airflow limitation [forced expiratory volume in 1.0 s (FEV1.0) 72.5 +/- 24.78 versus 112.6 +/- 14.25% of predicted]. 4. The patients with cystic fibrosis did less absolute (5.1 +/- 1.89 versus 7.3 +/- 1.97 kJ) but similar relative maximal (11.5 +/- 3.41 versus 13.1 +/- 3.55 kJ/kg lean body mass) sprint work. During progressive exercise, the group with cystic fibrosis achieved lower absolute [maximal O2 consumption (VO2max.) 1.8 +/- 0.527 versus 3.0 +/- 0.655 litres/min] and relative (VO2max./kg lean body mass: 40.5 +/- 9.23 versus 53.0 +/- 11.62 ml min-1 kg-1) work levels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The small dispersion of the mid IR – hard X-ray correlation in AGN ⋆

Context. We investigate mid-infrared and X-ray properties of the du sty torus in unification scenarios for active galactic nuclei. Aims. We use the relation between mid IR and hard X-ray luminositi e to constrain AGN unification scenarios. Methods. With VISIR at the VLT, we have obtained the currently highes t angular resolution (0 . 35 FWHM) narrow-band mid infrared images of the nuclei of 8 nearby Seyfert galaxies. C ombining these observations with X-ray data from the litera ture we study the correlation between their mid IR and hard X-ray lum inosities. Results. We find that the rest frame 12 . 3μm (LMIR) and 2-10 keV ( LX) luminosities are correlated at a highly significant level. The best fit power-law to our data is log LMIR ∝ (1.60± 0.22) log LX, showing a much smaller dispersion than earlier studies. Conclusions. The similarity in the logLMIR / log LX ratio between Sy1s and Sy2s even using high angular resoluti on MIR data implies that the similarity is intrinsic to AGN and not cause d by contamination from extra-nuclear emission. This suppo rts clumpy torus models. The exponent of the correlation constr ains the inner geometry of the torus.
The prevalence of urinary incontinence 20 years after child birth : 3 a national cohort study in one-para women after vaginal or cesarean delivery

30 Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) 20 31 years after one vaginal delivery (VD) or one cesarean section (CS). 32 Design Registry-based national cohort study. 33 Setting Women who returned postal questionnaires (response rate 65.2%) in 2008. 34 Population Primipara with one, single birth in 1985-1988 and no further births (n = 5 236). 35 Methods The SWEPOP (Swedish pregnancy, obesity and pelvic floor) study linked Medical 36 Birth Register (MBR) data to a questionnaire about UI. 37 Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of UI and UI for more than 10 years (UI>10 years) 38 were assessed 20 years after childbirth. 39 Results The prevalence of UI (40.3% vs. 28.8%, OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.45-1.92) and UI>10 40 years (10.1% vs. 3.9%, OR 2.75; 95% CI 2.02-3.75) was higher in women after VD than after 41 CS. There was no difference in the prevalence of UI or UI>10 years after an acute CS or an 42 elective CS. We found an 8% increased risk of UI per current BMI unit and age at delivery 43 increased UI risk by 3% annually. 44 Conclusions Two decades after one birth, VD was associated with a 67% increased risk of UI 45 and UI>10 years increased by 275% compared to CS. Our data indicated that it is necessary to 46 perform 8-9 cesarean sections to avoid one case of UI. Weight control is an important 47 prophylactic measure to reduce UI. Current BMI was the most important BMI-determinant for 48 UI, which is important, as BMI is modifiable. 49
Autophagy Dysregulation in Alzheimer’s Disease: Plant Polyphenols as A Possible Preventive and Therapeutic Treatment.

The self-degradative process of autophagy plays a fundamental role in cellular, tissue, organismal homeostasis and in balancing sources of energy at critical times in development and in response to nutrient stress. Autophagy also plays a housekeeping role in removing misfolded or aggregated proteins, clearing dysfunctional organelles and intracellular pathogens. Autophagy is generally considered as a pro-survival mechanism although its deregulation has been linked to non-apoptotic cell death. Autophagy efficiency declines with age, with consequent accumulation of harmful protein aggregates and damaged mitochondria and increased oxidative stress. Accordingly, abnormalities in the autophagic flux may contribute to many different pathophysiological conditions, as cancer, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, liver disease, autoimmune diseases, infections and neurodegeneration, particularly to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease
Synthesis of Carboxymethyl Chitosan and its Rheological Behaviour in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Emulsions

Article history: Received on: 28/06/2017 Accepted on: 15/09/2017 Available online: 30/10/2017 The aim of the current study was synthesis and characterization of CMC and further evaluation of its emulsion stabilizing properties for preparation of pharmaceutical and cosmetic emulsions. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) with high degree of substitution (50 %) has been synthesized and further characterization of resulting product by FTIR, NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) was carried out. CMC was also characterized as water soluble polymer with ability to give solutions with high viscosity. Rheological behavior of cosmetic emulsions prepared with 0.3 and 0.5 % CMC was investigated. Thermodynamic parameters of emulsions, Gibbs free energies, enthalpies and entropies have been calculated. The current study demonstrated use of CMC as stabilizer of emulsions with potential application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic oil/water emulsions.
Variation in Glucosinolate Contents of Cruciferous Plants

Glucosinolates are secondary metabolites of almost all plants of the order Brassicales, and have been known to control nematode populations. In this study, 14 glucosinolates were identified, quantified, and compared in several varieties and cultivars of cruciferous plants including Brassica campestris ssp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage), Brassica juncea var. crispifolia L. H. Bailey (mustard), Brassica juncea L. Czern. var. juncea (leaf mustard), Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala (kale), Raphanus sativus L. (radish), and Brassica campestris L. ssp. oleifera (winter turnip rape). The most abundant glucosinolate in mustard, leaf mustard, kale, and radish was sinigrin. In leaf mustard, the sinigrin content ranged from 193.05 μmol/g to 215.52 μmol/g, and in mustard, the sinigrin contents of blue mustard and red mustard were 219.08 μmol/g and 215.73 μmol/g, respectively. Kale and radish contained 137.79 μmol/g and 120.25 μmol/g, respectively, of sinigrin. Gluconapin was the most abundant glucosinolate in winter turnip rape, at 121.17 μmol/g. Chinese cabbage contained mostly glucocochlearin (79.88 μmol/g). These results will be useful in the development of environmentally friendly plant-based pesticides by allowing for proper control of glucosinolates based on those present in the chosen plant species.
Study of spatial uniformity of sustainable development of the European Union before, during and after the economic crisis

The purpose of the paper is study of spatial uniformity in the field of sustainable development of European Union and geographical regions of Europe analyzed by the prism of EU countries located in this regions before, during and after the economic crisis from 2007–2008. Material and methods The analysis of similarities and differences between the EU Member States countries or in the case of geographic regions of Europe has been based on sustainable development indicators published by Eurostat. To the final set of diagnostic features, the 22 indicators have been selected. To study the spatial differentiation of sustainable development the taxonomic measure of development based on median vector Weber as well vector calculus were used. The impact of the economic crisis is particularly obvious in the Southern and Eastern European Union countries. The position of the Southern countries, that failed to cope with the world economic and financial crisis, deteriorated and they fell into the group at the lowest level of development. The results obtained in this study can be used in subsequent years to examine the direction of changes in sustainable development levels observed both from the point of view of the EU Member States and geographical regions.
Improving performance of cutting derived pomegranate plants using Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi

Food and Agricultural Organization has characterized Conservation Agriculture as a practice which maintains a permanent or semi-permanent organic soil cover. The soil micro-organisms and soil fauna take over the tillage function and soil nutrient balancing. Thus, soil microbes can be considered as an important functionary of conservation agriculture. To confirm the utility of microbes and to quantify the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on performance of pomegranate plants derived from hard wood cuttings (Punica granatum L.), a pot culture experiment was conducted using hard wood cuttings of pomegranate cv. ‘G-137’. Four different AMF strains were used and their effect on hardwood cuttings of pomegranate cv. ‘G-137’ was studied with respect to cutting success, growth, physiological and biochemical attributes of cutting derived plants. Amongst the AMF strains used for inoculation, Funneliformis (Glomus) mosseae, Rhizophagus (Glomus) manihotis and mixed AMF strain were found effective in improving most of the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes. Funneliformis mosseae inoculated cuttings registered the highest cutting success (82.59 % at 180 days after inoculation) and the maximum number of primary roots per cutting (13.20 and 15.80 at 90 and 180 DAI, respectively). However, cuttings inoculated with mixed AMF strain synthesized the maximum total phenols (30.53 mg Catechol equivalent /100g fresh weight at 90) and total chlorophyll (3.96 and 3.97 mg/g FW at 90 and 180 DAI, respectively). Inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi helped to improve cutting success by reducing drying of sprouted cuttings due to their certain role in increasing soil exploring capacity of roots and enhancing root biomass. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi infection had led to the improved water relations and better physiological and biochemical functioning of cutting derived plants.
Gradient-based Image Quality Assessment

An objective measure for image quality assessment based on a direct comparison of visual gradient information in the test and reference images is proposed. A perceptual model is defined to provide local estimates of gradient preservation and investigate perceptual importance pooling of such local quality estimates by using the lowest scores. The proposed perceptual pooled measure is validated using extensive subjective test results. Results indicate that the proposed measure is perceptually meaningful in that it corresponds well with the results of subjective evaluation and can outperform actual objective metrics.
Do aptitude tests predict competencies required to excel academically in law school ? An empirical investigation

Prospective students of law are required to demonstrate competence in certain disciplines to attain admission to law school. The grounding in the disciplines is expected to demonstrate competencies required to excel academically in law school. This study investigates the relevance of law school admission test to predicting the competencies. The assessment is based on administrative records of 815 students admitted at Makerere University’s law school on the basis of their performance in the test. Grades obtained in Advanced Level (A-Level) of secondary education subjects namely Literature, History, Divinity and Economics were adopted as a measure of competence in the disciplines. The outcome of the test was modeled by performance of enrollees in the subject, their characteristics (gender, nationality, entry scheme and academic qualifications at enrollment) and first year grade point average using a quantile regression. With the exception of enrollees’ characteristics, no significant variations in the outcome of the test were noted in the results between students who did not do the subjects at A-Level and those who obtained grade A (p > 0.05). Similar findings in performance were noted between students who obtained grade A and those with other grades in the disciplines. These findings confirm that the outcome of the test does not predict academic ability of prospective students of law.
The effects of various levels of water deficit stress on forage yield and physiological characteristics of four cultivars of clover (Trifolium spp) under low input condition

This paper reports a study on the role of antioxidant enzymes and physiological characteristics of clover cultivars in their resistance against water deficit stress in the field conditions. Four clover cultivars namely, Trifolium resupinatum L. , T. incarnatum L. , Trifolium pratense L. , and T. alexandrinum L. under three levels of irrigation including %35, %50, and %65 soil moisture discharge were studied as a split plot experiment based on completely randomized blocks design with three repetitions. Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of irrigation level on dry forage weight, leaf relative water content, and proline, catalase, peroxidase, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents. The effects of cultivars on dry forage weight, leaf relative water content, and proline, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents of the plants were also significant (P≤0.01). Generally, with an increase in the percentage of soil moisture, the dry forage yield showed a significant decrease. Also, water deficit resulted in increased proline content and also increased activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase antioxidants. On the other hand, no significant differences were observed between cultivars with respect to the level of antioxidant activities. In addition, the effects of soil moisture discharge on the activities of all antioxidants except for those of superoxide dismutase were significant. Moreover, increasing the percentage of moisture discharge led to the reduction in the relative water content of the leaves and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of all four cultivars of clover under study. Finally, the study concludes with recommending T. incarnatum L. as the most suitable clover cultivar for the climatic condition of the study region and under low input management (low irrigation, minimum fertilizer application, no herbicide application, and no weeding).
Effects of whole body vibration on pulmonary function, functional exercise capacity and quality of life in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review

Objective: To examine the effect of whole-body vibration in enhancing pulmonary function, functional exercise capacity and quality of life in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and examine its safety. Method: Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of whole body vibration among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were identified by two independent researchers. Articles were excluded if they were studies on people with other primary diagnosis, abstracts published in the conferences or books. PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the selected studies. We evaluated the level of evidence by using the GRADE approach. The results were extracted by two researchers and confirmed by the third researcher if disagreement existed. Data source: Sources included Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro, AMED, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, Current Controlled Trials and reference lists of all relevant articles. Result: Four studies involving 206 participants were included in this systematic review. Methodological quality was rated as good for two studies. No great benefits on pulmonary function were found in whole body vibration treatment group. Two studies showed that quality of life was improved in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Whole body vibration led to significant improvements in functional exercise capacity measured with six minutes walking test. Nearly no adverse events were observed. Conclusion: Whole body vibration may improve functional exercise capacity and quality of life in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There was insufficient evidence to prove the effects of whole body vibration on pulmonary function.
TOP CROSS ANALYSIS FOR HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY IN FORAGE PEARL MILLET ( PENNISETUM GLAUCUM L . )

A set of 15 CMS lines was top crossed to four populations as testers to obtain 60 top cross hybrids. The hybrids were evaluated for general combining ability (gca), specific combining ability (sca) and heterosis. The mean squares due to parents differed significantly for all the characters, thus indicating the presence of variability in the parent material for all the 16 traits. The variances due to gca and sca were significant. The computed variance ratio (σ2sca/σ2gca) revealed the predominance of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of quality traits. The perusal of the estimates of general and specific combining ability variances indicated the preponderance of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of all the traits. For GFY, five CMS lines 01777A (5.36), 543A (5.03), 92222A (4.70), 315A (3.03) and 111A (1.78) and two testers viz., RBC-2 (0.79) and Giant Bajra (0.64) were good general combiners with highly significant positive gca effects. The hybrids 315A × RBC-2, 543A × GFB-1, 01777A × Giant Bajra, 92222A × GFB-1 and 408A × Giant Bajra topped the list of crosses for forage yield. This high yielding ability was contributed by significant values of traits viz., plant height, number of tillers per plant and leaf area index.
Extraction of gestural Meaning from a Fabric-Based Instrument

This paper presents an approach to the analysis of gestural data and extraction of related features from a clothbased instrument. Issues surrounding the meaning of gesture and intentionality in such a performance environment are discussed, and we present a solution to analyzing and extracting information in a way that leverages the inherent quality of the cloth-as-controller. Other factors are considered in the system design, including the performance context in which the goal is to elicit improvised play from participants who do not possess an a priori model of interaction or vocabulary of acceptable gestural input.
An Extension of a Theorem of Gehring

Gehring and Pommerenke have shown that if the Schwarzian derivative Sf of an analytic function f in the unit disk D satisfies |Sf(z)| ≤ 2(1−|z|2)−2 then f(D) is a Jordan domain except when f(D) is the image under a Möbius transformation of an infinite parallel strip. The condition |Sf(z)| ≤ 2(1−|z|2)−2 is the classical sufficient condition for univalence of Nehari. In this paper we show that the same type of phenomenon established by Gehring and Pommerenke holds for a wider class of univalence criteria of the form |Sf(z)| ≤ p(|z|) also introduced by Nehari. These include |Sf(z)| ≤ π/2 and |Sf(z)| ≤ 4(1− |z|2)−1. We also obtain results on Hölder continuity and quasiconformal extensions.