Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Monitoring of Dengue Infection in Aedes aegypti and Serological Feature of Patients with Suspected Dengue in 4 Central Provinces of Thailand

This study aimed to determine seasonal dengue infection rates in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and dengue infection in suspected patients in 4 central provinces of Thailand. Ae. aegypti mosquitoes collected during three seasons and blood specimens taken from patients with suspected dengue were detected and serotyped for dengue viruses using RT-PCR. The biting behavior of Ae. aegypti females was studied by 24-hour mosquitoes collection once a month using human bait for determination of seasonal biting rate. Dengue infection rates in Ae. aegypti females obtained from all the 4 provinces were highest in hot season and varied from place to place ranging from 64.4% to 77.5%, whereas morbidity rates of DHF appeared to be highest in rainy season. The occurrence of transovarial transmission was found in local Ae. aegypti larvae and males in all provinces investigated ranging from 18.3 % to 46.9 % and from 12.0% to 46.3%, respectively. Serotyping of dengue viruses in Ae. aegypti showed that DENV 3 and DENV 1 were the two most predominant serotypes, followed by DENV 2 and DENV 4. Similarly, DENV 1 and DENV 3 were the two most prevalent serotypes detected in the serum of suspected patients, followed by DENV 2 and DENV 4. The highest biting activity of Ae. aegypti females took place in hot season with the biting rate of 30 mosquitoes/person/hour. Data obtained from this study could be used as powerful tools for virological surveillance in Ae. aegypti populations before the occurrence of dengue outbreaks in endemic and newly dengue-introduced areas.
Cytotoxic Steroids from the Bark of Aglaia argentea (Meliaceae)

The study aimed to find a potential anticancer agent by isolating and identifying the chemical structure of compounds from Aglaia argentea and testing their cytotoxic effects against P-388 murine leukimia cells. Five steroids – stigmast-5-en-3β-ol (β-sitosterol) (1), stigmast-5-en-3β-ol-3β-oleate (β-sitosterol oleate) (2), stigmast-5-en-3β-ol-3-O-(6′-O-oleoyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (sitoindoside II) (3), stigmast-5-en-3β-ol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (β-sitosterol glucoside) (4), stigmast-5,22-dien-3β-ol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (stigmasterol glucoside) (5) – were isolated from the bark of Aglaia argentea. The chemical structures of 1-5 were identified with spectroscopic data, including IR, NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT 135°, HMQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY) and HRTOFMS, as well as by comparing with previously reported spectral data. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against P-388 murine leukemia cells. Compounds 1-5 showed cytotoxicity against P-388 murine leukemia cell with IC50 values of 12.45 ± 0.050, 85.25 ± 0.050, >100, 52.27 ± 0.031 and 62.52 ± 0.076 μg/mL, respectively.
Embedding of open riemannian manifolds by harmonic functions

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A new free-floating planet in the Upper Scorpius association

We report on a deep photometric survey covering an area of 1.17 deg$^2$ in the young Upper Scorpius stellar association using VIMOS $Iz$ and UKIDSS $ZJHK$ data taking several years apart. The search for the least massive population of Upper Scorpius ($\sim$5-10 Myr, 145 pc) is performed on the basis of various optical and infrared color-color and color-magnitude diagrams, including WISE photometry, in the magnitude interval $J$=14.5-19 mag (completeness), which corresponds to substellar masses from 0.028 through 0.004 M$_\odot$ at the age and distance of Upper Scorpius. We also present the proper motion analysis of the photometric candidates, finding that two objects successfully pass all photometric and astrometric criteria for membership in the young stellar association. One of them, UScoJ155150.2$-$213457, is a new discovery. We obtained low resolution, near-infrared spectroscopy ($R\sim$450, 0.85--2.35 $\mu$m) of this new finding using the FIRE instrument. We confirmed its low-gravity atmosphere expected for an Upper Scorpius member (weak alkaline lines, strong VO absorption, peaked $H$-band pseudocontinuum). By comparison with spectroscopic standards, we derive a spectral type of L6$\pm$1, and estimate a mass of $\approx$0.008-0.010 M$_\odot$ for UScoJ155150.2$-$213457. The colors and spectral slope of this object resemble those of other young, cool members of Upper Scorpius and $\sigma$ Orionis ($\sim$3 Myr) and field, high gravity dwarfs of related classification in contrast with the very red indices of field, low gravity, L-type dwarfs of intermediate age. UScoJ155150.2$-$213457, which does not show infrared flux excesses up to 4.5 $\mu$m, becomes one of the least massive and latest type objects known in the entire Upper Scorpius stellar association.
The Impact of the Employment Protection Legislation Reform on the Labor Market’s Flexicurity in Morocco

This paper uses the OECD’s methodology to build an Employment Protection Legislation index (EPL) for the Moroccan economy. In this framework, the main objective is to assess the impact of the new Labor Code’s provisions on the degree of flexicurity in the labor market. The paper also investigates the approximate influence of the EPL changes as regards to some employment-related variables. Our results show that after the 2004 Labor Code reform, the labor market’s flexibility level went down from 75 percent to 44 percent, as EPL became significantly stricter. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that the new legislation, although it brought relatively strict restrictions on hiring and firing, generated a significant increase in dismissals during the three first years of its implementation. And unlike the buckle of conventional literature and several empirical findings, the unemployment rate actually dropped, allegedly backed-up by a solid GDP growth during the 2000’s.
Backscatter ionogram inversion

A backscatter ionogram, BSI, is a plot showing the group path or time delay against operating frequency when using ground-based swept frequency radar. In the case of ground backscatter, the received signals are reflected from distant locations on the Earth's surface. The ionosphere is the medium through which both the transmitted and received signals traverse. A backscatter ionogram contains useful information regarding the state of the ionosphere at the time and over the range of the returned signal, which could be a few thousand kilometers from the transmitter/receiver location. Backscatter ionograms differ from the more conventional vertical incidence ionograms, where the received signals are reflected from a region of the ionosphere vertically above the sounder location. Methods of inverting backscatter ionograms to obtain ionospheric profiles offer an important means of remote sensing the distant ionosphere and regions in which land and sea scatter occur. Thus, backscatter ionograms can play an important role in the frequency management systems of over-the-horizon radar.
The Relationship between Insurance Market Activity and Economic Growth

This research examines the short- and the long-run relationship between insurance market activity and economic growth for a panel data set of 80 countries for the period 2001-2012. Insurance market is investigated as a whole and separately as life and non-life insurance sectors. The countries with different level of economic development are considered. The data is tested for stationarity and unit roots are found. Based on this conclusion cointegration and causality analysis is done. Positive cointegration relationship between the insurance sector and economic growth has been found. In addition, it has been shown that the life insurance is of greater importance to developed countries. Meanwhile, for the developing countries non-life insurance plays a more significant role. The causal relationship in most of considered cases appears to be biderictional in the long-run. In the short-run perspective the results have been found to be less univocal.
Impacts of coal burning on ambient PM 2.5 pollution in China

Abstract. High concentration of fine particles (PM2.5), the primary concern about air quality in China, is believed to closely relate to China's large consumption of coal. In order to quantitatively identify the contributions of coal combustion in different sectors to ambient PM2. 5, we developed an emission inventory for the year 2013 using up-to-date information on energy consumption and emission controls, and we conducted standard and sensitivity simulations using the chemical transport model GEOS-Chem. According to the simulation, coal combustion contributes 22 µg m−3 (40 %) to the total PM2. 5 concentration at national level (averaged in 74 major cities) and up to 37 µg m−3 (50 %) in the Sichuan Basin. Among major coal-burning sectors, industrial coal burning is the dominant contributor, with a national average contribution of 10 µg m−3 (17 %), followed by coal combustion in power plants and the domestic sector. The national average contribution due to coal combustion is estimated to be 18 µg m−3 (46 %) in summer and 28 µg m−3 (35 %) in winter. While the contribution of domestic coal burning shows an obvious reduction from winter to summer, contributions of coal combustion in power plants and the industrial sector remain at relatively constant levels throughout the year.
The Role of the Underlying Real Asset Market in REIT Ipos

A leading explanation for IPO cycles is time-varying supply and demand for the underlying assets of the firms that are considering going public. We test this hypothesis using REIT IPOs, taking advantage of the relative transparency of the underlying real asset markets. We document links between REIT IPO activity and both the conditions of the underlying real estate market and the price of REITs. We find no significant relation between the heat of the IPO market and post-IPO operating performance, implying homogeneous firm quality across IPO cycles. Finally, we show that lagged IPO proceeds are related to future increases in investment and in capacity utilization. Copyright 2005 by the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association
Bank-specific, industry-specific and macroeconomic determinants of bank efficiency in Tanzania: A two stage analysis.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of bank specific, industry specific and macroeconomic variables of commercial banks' efficiency. Data envelopment analysis is applied to obtain efficiency estimates such as, Technical efficiency (TE), Pure Technical efficiency (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE) for the period of 2005-2008. Afterwards the efficiency estimates were obtained through Tobit regression model. The first stage of our analysis indicates inefficiency estimates are 13%, 9% and 4% for TE, PTE and SE respectively, our efficiency estimates figure indicates the decline of efficiency level during the 2008 study period, the decline in efficiency level may be caused by the international financial crisis which affected some sectors of the economy with no exception of the financial sector. Thereafter showing recovery to reach the score of 97% in 2009, operating under increasing returns to scale. Using Tobit Regression model our findings reveal bank efficiency is influenced by both bank specific, industry specific and macroeconomic factors. More specifically with bank specific factors bank size, profitability measured by NIM, liquidity, as well as capital adequacy were found to be the main factors influencing the bank`s efficiency, while with industry specific characteristic market share and concentration were found to influence significantly bank`s efficiency. Lastly in case of macroeconomic factors only GDP was found to influence the bank`s efficiency. In similar view Non performing loans (NPL), ownership and CPI were found to be insignificant in explaining commercial bank`s efficiency. Key words: Efficiency, Data Envelopment Analysis, Financial sector.
AT-SEA HABITAT USE BY THE KITTLITZ'S MURRELET BRACHYRAMPHUS BREVIROSTRIS IN NEARSHORE WATERS OF PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA

The Kittlitz’s Murrelet Brachyramphus brevirostris is a poorly known, rare seabird of the evolutionary centre known as Beringia (that region associated with the Bering Sea and nearby areas). Concerns about the conservation of this species have led at various times to its classification as a Species of Special Concern under the US Endangered Species Act (a category that no longer exists) and its listing in the Red Book of the USSR (Flint & Golovkin 1990). Concern about this species increased when Kittlitz’s Murrelets were killed in the Exxon Valdez oil spill (van Vliet & McAllister 1994, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council 1995). So little is known about the biology of Kittlitz’s Murrelet, however, that any new information will help wildlife managers and scientists define conservation goals and research needs for this species throughout its entire range.
J Turk Acad Dermatol 2013; 7 (4): 1374a2

Background: Studies of associations between various skin diseases and the ABO blood groups have showed conflicting results. Acne vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. The pathogenesis of acne is only partially understood, but it is multifactorial and complex. So far no study has been performed to evaluate the association of acne with blood groups. Objective: We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the probable association of ABO blood groups with acne vulgaris. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in university affiliated dermatology clinics and involved 124 patients with acne and 425 healthy controls. The diagnosis of acne and severity was based on clinical criteria and dermatologic examination. For all participants blood samples were collected and tested for ABO blood groups and Rh factor. The distribution of ABO and Rh blood type for cases was compared with that of healthy controls. Results: The age (p=0.101) and gender (p=0.339) distribution of both groups was not statistically difference. Our finding showed that there was no statistically significant association between the acne vulgaris and ABO blood groups (P=0.336) or Rh factor (p=0.738). Also, there was not significant association between severity of acne and blood groups (p=0.807). Conclusion: Our study showed lack of significant association of ABO blood groups with acne vulgaris. Further studies in larger series and in other ethnic groups are recommended.
Measuring the Returns of R&D

Motivated by recent statistics that show significant growth in labor productivity, this paper seeks to analyze the relationship between domestic R&D, knowledge stock and productivity dynamics. Time series data of the German manufacturing industry is used to estimate a variable cost function with the stock of knowledge being dependent upon current and past R&D spending. The estimates indicate that 50% of the effects of R&D on the knowledge stock appear within four years. However, the rate of return on R&D are shown to be drastically declining; recent rates of return on R&D are estimated to have reached an all-time low spanning the last 45 years. Current yields of R&D are only one third compared to the sixties. In conclusion, though the productivity slowdown of the seventies seems to have been overcome, this is not attributed to R&D investments. JEL classification D24: Microeconomics: Production and Organizations L60: Industrial Organization: Industry Studies Manufacturing O31: Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth: Technological Change
THE INFLUENTIAL FACTORS ON THE PATIENTS SATISFACTION AND INTENT TO BEHAVE: A CASE STUDY IN NORTH SULAWESI PROVINCE

The research analyses the effect of service quality on the hospital’s patients satisfaction and patientsintent to behave, the effect of intent to behave, medical team behavior on patients satisfaction andpatients intent to behave, the effect of communication quality on patients satisfaction and patient intentto behave, patient’s trust on the intent to behave, and patient satisfaction on the intent to behave.The sample consists of whole patients who had been undergoing normal treatment at the hospital attheir own health insurance service or ASKES, in the North Sulawesi province. The data were collectedusing non-probability sampling that was an accidental sampling technique. The sample was of300 respondents. The analysis was done using the SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) with AMOS(Analysis of Moment Structural) software as supporting program. It can be concluded that servicequality has a significant effect on the patient’s satisfaction. Service quality, organizational citizenshipor medical team at the hospital behavior, and trust all have a significant effect on the patients’ intentto behave that is they remain loyal. Trust has also a significant effect on the patient intent to behave.However, the patients’ satisfaction has no significant effect on their intent to behave.
On the Iterated Estimation of Dynamic Discrete Choice Games

We study the first-order asymptotic properties of a class of estimators of the structural parameters in dynamic discrete choice games. We consider $K$-stage policy iteration (PI) estimators, where $K$ denotes the number of PIs employed in the estimation. This class nests several estimators proposed in the literature. By considering a “pseudo likelihood” criterion function, our estimator becomes the $K$-pseudo maximum likelihood (PML) estimator in Aguirregabiria and Mira (2002, 2007). By considering a “minimum distance” criterion function, it defines a new $K$-minimum distance (MD) estimator, which is an iterative version of the estimators in Pesendorfer and Schmidt-Dengler (2008) and Pakes et al. (2007). First, we establish that the $K$-PML estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal for any $K \in \mathbb{N}$. This complements findings in Aguirregabiria and Mira (2007), who focus on $K=1$ and $K$ large enough to induce convergence of the estimator. Furthermore, we show under certain conditions that the asymptotic variance of the $K$-PML estimator can exhibit arbitrary patterns as a function of $K$. Second, we establish that the $K$-MD estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal for any $K \in \mathbb{N}$. For a specific weight matrix, the $K$-MD estimator has the same asymptotic distribution as the $K$-PML estimator. Our main result provides an optimal sequence of weight matrices for the $K$-MD estimator and shows that the optimally weighted $K$-MD estimator has an asymptotic distribution that is invariant to $K$. The invariance result is especially unexpected given the findings in Aguirregabiria and Mira (2007) for $K$-PML estimators. Our main result implies two new corollaries about the optimal $1$-MD estimator (derived by Pesendorfer and Schmidt-Dengler (2008)). First, the optimal $1$-MD estimator is efficient in the class of $K$-MD estimators for all $K \in \mathbb{N}$. In other words, additional PIs do not provide first-order efficiency gains relative to the optimal $1$-MD estimator. Second, the optimal $1$-MD estimator is more or equally efficient than any $K$-PML estimator for all $K \in \mathbb{N}$. Finally, the Appendix provides appropriate conditions under which the optimal $1$-MD estimator is efficient among regular estimators.
A Morphometric Study of the Sella Turcica: Gender Effect.

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Ashraf M. E.A. Sakran, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Umm al Qura University, P.O. Box: 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Phone: 00966568841873 or 00249912254379 E-Mail: ashrafsakran@hotmail.com 1,2,3,5,6 Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Umm al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 4 Department of Public Health, Health Sciences College at Al.leith, Umm al Qura University, Saudi Arabia. 7,8,9,10 Medical students, Faculty of Medicine, Umm al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Background and objective: Precise anatomical knowledge of the sella turcica is important for neurologists and surgeons operating in the region of cavernous sinus or the surrounding structures. The current study was undertaken to record normal morphometric parameters for future reference and to determine if there is any significance difference in the sella turcica morphometry regarding the gender. Methodology: A Morphometric analysis of the Sella Turcica and structures in vicinity were done in thirty six adults’ formalin fixed cadaver’s skulls (22 male and 14 female). Results: The pituitary stalk positions were middle in majority of male cases (72.7%), the remaining 27.3% were posterior. Among female; 57.1% were middle and the remaining 42.9% were posterior, no anterior position was detected among both genders with no different between male and female (p = 0.494) Normal Optic chiasma position was detected in all female cases and in 63.6% of male cases with no significant differences regarding gender (p= 0.070). No significant different in diaphragma sella shape and opening regarding gender (p.value = 0.170 and 0.914 respectively) No significant difference between males and females concerning linear dimensions of sella turcica (length, depth and Anteroposterior diameters). Concerning diaphragma sella opening; no significant different regarding gender in transverse diameter (p.value= 0.316) while significant different was detected in anteroposterior diameter (p.value= 0.046) For interclinoid (anterior, posterior) diameters, which represented statistically significant different regarding gender in both right and left sides (p.value = 0.004 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Present study will providing the normal morphometric data for future reference and further studies.