Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Robust Image Steganography using DWT Difference Modulation (DWTDM)

Maintaining the secrecy of information is of great concern today.Steganography is the art and science that hides the information in an appropriate cover carrier like image, text, audio and video media. Considerable amount of work has been carried out by different researchers on steganography. In this work a new transform domain image stenographic technique DWTDM is presented where secret data is embedded in adjacent DWT coefficient differences. The dynamic range of the DWT difference considered while extraction of data which results an efficient and robust stenographic technique which can avoid various image attacks and works perfectly well for both uncompressed and compressed domain. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed technique in terms of security of hidden data and various image similarity metrics.
Structural restoration of thrusts at the toe of the Nankai Trough accretionary prism off Shikoku Island, Japan: Implications for dewatering processes

A three‐dimensional prestack depth‐migrated seismic reflection data volume acquired off Shikoku Island, Japan covers the seaward portion of the Nankai Trough accretionary prism. We calculate and interpret total horizontal shortening lengths along three cross‐sectional profiles through the volume, incorporating a technique addressing the significant amount of water volume sediments lose during accretion, constrained by porosity values derived from seismic interval velocities. The results reveal a total horizontal shortening of ∼40% within sediments of the first three thrust sheets in the wedge. This indicates that structural restorations applied to water‐saturated young sediments, or other domains displaying large tectonic‐induced porosity changes (e.g., accretionary prisms, subaerial and submarine fold and thrust belts), must account for the substantial amount of distributed compactive strain that affects the sediment during the initial stages of accretion. Our analysis of the porosity reduction also allows an estimate of dewatering rates across the outer accretionary wedge. We find that porosity loss and associated dewatering decrease with distance landward from the trench and correspond to a progressively decreasing contribution of diffuse compactive strain to the total shortening. We compute a dewatering rate of 10.5 km3/Ma (per km along strike) over the outer ∼7 km of the accretionary wedge. This relatively high rate of dewatering when compared to other well‐studied subduction systems probably reflects the large thickness of accreted sediment and high sediment permeability that allows efficient consolidation. These results highlight the importance of considering distributed compactive strain in structural restorations for any setting where deformation occurs in sediments.
Market Efficiency, Asset Returns, and the Size of the Risk Premium in Global Equity Markets

An important economic insight is that observed equity prices must equal the present value of the cash flows associated with the equity claim. An implication of this insight is that present values of cash flows must also quantitatively justify the observed volatility and cross-correlations of asset returns. In this paper, we show that parametric economic models for present values can indeed account for the observed high ex-post return volatility and cross-correlation observed across five major equity markets. We present evidence that cash flow growth rates contain a small predictable long-run component; this feature, in conjuction with time-varying systematic risk, can justify key empirical characteristics of observed equity prices. In many cases, our model can also capture observed equity price levels. Our evidence suggests that the ex-ante risk premium on the global market portfolio has dropped considerably - we show that this fall in the risk premium is related to a decline in the conditional variance of global real cash flow growth rates.
Phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Cephalenchus (Tylenchomorpha, Nematoda)

The phylogenetic position of Cephalenchus is enigmatic with respect to other tylench nematodes. In this study, Cephalenchus populations representing 11 nominal species were sampled worldwide for molecular and morphological characterization. Species identification was based on light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Molecular analyses were based on the genes (i.e. 18S, 28S, 5.8S) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS‐1 and ITS‐2) of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Phylogenetic analyses (i.e. full and reduced alignments) of either concatenated or single genes always supported the monophyly of Cephalenchus. A sister relationship between Cephalenchus and Eutylenchus excretorius was recovered by most analyses, although branch support varies depending on the dataset used. The position of Cephalenchus + E. excretorius within Tylenchomorpha nevertheless remains ambiguous, thus highlighting the importance of sampling additional genes as well as taxa. Placement of Cephalenchus + E. excretorius as sister of Tylenchinae or Boleodorinae could not be rejected on the basis of 18S and 28S rRNA genes. Within Cephalenchus, amphidial opening morphology shows congruence with molecular‐based phylogenetic relationships, whereas the number of lines in the lateral field is likely to be a convergent trait. Morphometric analyses clearly distinguished short tail from medium–long tail species, and SEM observations seem to suggest a relation between tail length and amphidial opening. In addition, molecular phylogenies support the non‐monophyly of Cephalenchus cephalodiscus, Cephalenchus cylindricus, Cephalenchus daisuce and Cephalenchus leptus. The known extent of Cephalenchus diversity is increased with the inclusion of two new species, and the biogeography of the genus is discussed.
Modernizing use of regression models in physics education research: A review of hierarchical linear modeling

Physics education researchers often analyze student data with single-level regression models (e.g., linear and logistic regression). However, education datasets often have hierarchical structures, such as students within courses, that single-level models fail to account for. The improper use of a single-level model to analyze hierarchical datasets can lead to biased findings. Multi-level models (e.g., hierarchical linear models) account for this hierarchical structure in the data. In this publication, we outline the theoretical differences between how single-level and multi-level models handle hierarchical datasets. We then analyze a dataset from 112 introductory physics courses using both multiple linear regression and hierarchical linear modeling to illustrate the potential impact of using an incorrect analytical method on PER findings and implications. Research can leverage multi-institutional datasets to improve the field's understanding of how to support student success in physics. There is no post hoc fix, however, if researchers use inappropriate single-level models to analyze these powerful multi-level datasets. To continue developing reliable and generalizable knowledge, PER should adopt the use of hierarchical models when analyzing hierarchical datasets. The publication includes a tutorial for creating hierarchal linear models using the HLM 7.03 application.
Reproductive Performances of Indigenous Ewes in Bangladesh

The ewes were randomly divided into controlled and supplemented group to determine the reproductive performances of indigenous ewes in Bangladesh. Ewe lambs on supplemented group was growing faster and reached puberty at significantly (p 0.05) different between the two groups. The stage of the estrous cycle was determined by observing exfoliated vaginal cells in both the groups. Average progesterone concentration was significantly different (p<0.01) among days of the oestrous cycle. Progesterone concentration was <1.0 ng/ml on day of estrus, rose steadily to peak on days 10 and followed by a rapid decline on day 15 in both group. The nutritional supplement did not improve sexual behaviors. The pregnancy rates were 83.33 and 100% in controlled and supplemented groups. The gestation length varied from 141 to 145 days. The post partum onset of estrus was significantly shorter in supplemented group than controlled group (p<0.05). The lambing rates, litter size and lamb survival rate were 75 and 100%, 1.22±0.44 and . 1.58±0.67 and 91.67 and 100%, in controlled and supplemented group, respectively. Mean birth weights of lambs were 1.00±0.30 and 1.33±0.25kg in controlled and supplemented group, respectively. The pre-weaning average daily gain of lambs were significantly different (p<0.01) between two groups. The present study indicates the influence of nutrition on reproductive performances of ewes that may increase and improve the sheep production.
Conscientiousness and performance of sales representatives: Test of the mediating effects of goal setting.

The authors used 91 sales representatives to test a process model that assessed the relationship of conscientiousness to job performance through mediating motivational (goal-setting) variables. Linear structural equation modeling showed that sales representatives high in conscientiousness are more likely to set goals and are more likely to be committed to goals, which in turn is associated with greater sales volume and higher supervisory ratings of job performance. Results also showed that conscientiousness is directly related to supervisory ratings. Consistent with previous research, results showed that ability was also related to supervisory ratings of job performance and, to a lesser extent, sales volume
Effects of Aerobic Training on Clinical Symptoms and Biochemical Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

3 Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic training on clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters in PCOS women. Twenty four PCOS women's with mean Age 22.7±3.77 years old, Body Height 159.87±5.29 Cm, Body Weight 69.88±14.12 Kg and BMI 27.53±5.02 were randomly selected and subdivided into two groups, each composed of 12 subjects. Clinical data (ovarian morphology, BF%, WC, WHR) and serum hormone levels (insulin androstenedione, testosterone, DHEA- S and SHBG) were evaluated at baseline and after 12 week. A paired t-test and other data's analyzed by sample t-test (α≤ 0.05) was used in determining statistical significance using the SPSS program for Windows, version 16.0. Results revealed that after 12 weeks training, PCOS-T showed a significant reduction in ovarian size, BF%, WC, WHR. Fasting insulin androtestenedione hormone significantly reduced in PCOS- T. Serum testosterone, DHEA- S and SHBG levels uncharged in PCOS- T. no changes were observed in PCOS- Un T. The probable mechanism for the mechanism of action of aerobic exercise on ovarian size could be included: emerging endocrine environment follow the SHBG increasing, free androgen decreasing and improvement in insulin sensitivity. The ovarian size changes in PCOS women probably result in circulating androtestenedione decreasing and this can improve clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters. We recommended that with precise and further studies, the aerobic exercises may be useful for women's with PCOS.
Large circulant graphs of fixed diameter and arbitrary degree

We consider the degree-diameter problem for undirected and directed circulant graphs. To date, attempts to generate families of large circulant graphs of arbitrary degree for a given diameter have concentrated mainly on the diameter 2 case. We present a direct product construction yielding improved bounds for small diameters and introduce a new general technique for “stitching” together circulant graphs which enables us to improve the current best known asymptotic orders for every diameter. As an application, we use our constructions in the directed case to obtain upper bounds on the minimum size of a subset A of a cyclic group of order n such that the k-fold sumset kA is equal to the whole group. We also present a revised table of largest known circulant graphs of small degree and diameter.
Local application of fidaxomicin in a patient with subtotal colectomy following recurring Clostridium difficile infection

Introduction: Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic‐associated diarrhoea and is a major burden to healthcare services worldwide. Fidaxomicin is a first‐in‐class macrocyclic antibiotic that was approved for the treatment of C. difficile infection (CDI) in 2011, demonstrating a narrow spectrum of activity and comparable efficacy to vancomycin in clinical trials. Case presentation: We present the case of a patient with recurrent CDI who was non‐responsive to standard treatment with metronidazole and vancomycin. The patient subsequently developed toxic megacolon, which had to be treated surgically by subtotal colectomy. Fidaxomicin at 200 mg twice daily was delivered in small‐volume enemas directly to the oral part of the sigmoid colon to preserve the remaining rectosigmoid colon and improve the chances of restoring gastrointestinal tract continuity. After 11 days of local fidaxomicin therapy, diagnostic tests revealed that the patient was C. difficile negative and no recurrence of CDI was observed. Restoration of the gastrointestinal tract was successfully completed 5 months after hospital discharge. Conclusion: This report describes a novel concept of local fidaxomicin delivery to the rectosigmoid colon, with an improved clinical outcome compared with metronidazole and vancomycin treatment. The study suggests that topical application of fidaxomicin may be beneficial in some CDI patients following surgical treatment for toxic megacolon.
Study on the Antioxidant Activity of Grape Stems ( Vitis vinifera ). A Preliminary Assessment of Crude Extracts

The antioxidant activity of 80% ethanol and 70% acetone extracts of stems from red and white grapes (Vitis vinifera) used in wine industry were evaluated to determine their feasibility as natural antioxidants. The results showed that all grape stem extracts were rich in total polyphenolic compounds and flavanols and had clear antioxidant activities. The free radical-scavenging capacity of the extracts was determined using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The extracts obtained from red grape stem present EC50 values of 0.14 g dm/g DPPH (acetone extract) and 0.20 g dm/g DPPH (ethanol extract) while the extracts obtained from white grape stem present EC50 values of 0.26 g dm/g DPPH (acetone extract) and 0.37 g dm/g DPPH (ethanol extract). There are significant correlations between the total content of polyphenols and the antioxidant activity (R2 = 0.9352) and between the flavanols content and the antioxidant activity (R2 = 0.9404) of the grape stem extracts obtained.
Debt issues and capital structure with soft information

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of “soft information” in firms’ debt issue and capital structure choices, and present a new model reconciling the gap between theories of capital structure and empirical findings. Design/methodology/approach - The paper develops an analytical model of debt issues under asymmetric information in a setting where, in addition to observing the amount of debt the firm issues, outside investors obtain “soft information” signals through their own information production or noisy voluntary disclosures made by the firm. This paper analyzes the benefit and cost for the firm's debt issue decisions in this setting, and specifies the effect of soft information on these decisions. Findings - If sufficiently precise soft information is available to outside investors, the firm's debt issue behavior is significantly altered relative to that in existing models. In particular, an inverted-U shape relationship is found between the intrinsic value of the firm and the amount of debt it issues. Moreover, there is a negative relationship between the amount of debt the firm issues and the precision of soft information. Further, it is found that firms about which outside investors receive more favorable soft information issue less debt. Research limitations/implications - The model predicts an inverted-U shape relationship between firms’ debt ratios and operating performance. It also predicts that firms about which outside investors receive more favorable or more precise soft information have lower debt ratios on average. A rationale is provided for the existence of firms’ investor relations departments. Originality/value - Firms’ capital structure choices remain a topic of significant importance. This paper incorporates the soft informations into firms’ debt issue decisions and proposes a new model of capital structure that generates insights into firms’ financing decisions and disclosure decisions, as well as information production by outside investors.
Geochemical and Geomechanical Effects on Wellbore Cement Fractures: Data Information for Wellbore Reduced Order Model

The primary objective of the National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) program is to develop a defensible, generalized, and science-based methodology and platform for quantifying risk profiles at CO2 injection and storage sites. The methodology must incorporate and define the scientific basis for assessing residual risks associated with long-term stewardship and help guide site operational decision-making and risk management. Development of an integrated and risk-based protocol will help minimize uncertainty in the predicted long-term behavior of the CO2 storage site and thereby increase confidence in storage integrity. The risk profile concept has proven useful in conveying the qualitative evolution of risks for CO2 injection and storage site. However, qualitative risk profiles are not sufficient for specifying long-term liability for CO2 storage sites. Because there has been no science-based defensible and robust methodology developed for quantification of risk profiles for CO2 injection and storage, NRAP has been focused on developing a science-based methodology for quantifying risk profiles for various risk proxies.
Expanding the Model of Organizational Learning: Scope, Contingencies, and Dynamics

Our paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of organizational learning by (a) integrating existing models of organizational learning into a single model and (b) expanding the model to include inter-organizational learning, adding key contingencies suggested by the growing literature on neuroleadership, and incorporating a process dimension to reflect the fact that organizational learning is continuous and dynamic. The resulting expanded model of organizational learning encompasses four levels on which learning can occur: individual, team, organizational, and inter-organizational. The overall validity of the model is illustrated by applying it to two knowledge-intensive Slovenian firms. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. DOI: 10.15458/85451.21
End-to-End Vector Dynamics of Nonentangled Polymers in Lamellar Block Copolymer Melts: The Role of Junction Point Motion

By using dielectric spectroscopy, we investigate the chain dynamics of nonentangled polyisoprene (PI) under soft confinement in lamellar domains of block copolymer melts with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The data show a dramatic difference in the end-to-end vector dynamics of the PI blocks as compared not only with that of the corresponding homopolymer PI chains but also with respect to previous results for the same blocks under soft confinement in cylindrical domains. Two contributions to the dielectric normal mode relaxation are detected. The data are analyzed by means of a model including contributions from internal chain modes (accounting for the fastest component) and a slow component attributed to the junction point dynamics. The contribution of the internal chain modes is modeled according to the analysis of the Rouse modes obtained from simulations of a generic bead–spring model for strongly segregated symmetric diblock copolymers. In this way it is shown that the internal chain modes of the block.
Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI): Portuguese version and associations with socio-demographic factors, personality and music preferences

The Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI) was recently proposed as a self-report measure of musical skills and behaviors in the general population. Although it is becoming a widely used tool, relatively little is known about its correlates, and adaptations into different languages will be crucial for cross-cultural comparisons and to allow for use beyond the original validation context. In this study, we adapted the Gold-MSI for use with Portuguese speaking individuals and evaluated it with a Portuguese sample (N = 408; age range = 17–66 years; 306 women). We demonstrate that the Portuguese version of the Gold-MSI has appropriate psychometric properties, including good internal consistency and very good test–retest reliability. This was observed for the five subscales and for the general musical sophistication index (α values ⩾ 0.82, r values ⩾ 0.84). Using confirmatory factor analysis, the expected underlying factor structure was also confirmed. In addition, we identified associations between individual differences on the Gold-MSI and socio-demographic factors (age, sex, education, socio-economic status), personality traits, and music preferences. The Portuguese Gold-MSI is freely available, and it offers a reliable and valid tool that can contribute to the refined assessment of musical sophistication in a range of research contexts.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis in Septuagenarians

Background: Although Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) has been used successfully in the treatment of biliary lithiasis in the elderly, its effectiveness in Acute Cholecystitis (AC) of high age groups is still questionable. Material and Methods: A retrospective research was performed with 410 LC patients operated by AC from January 2006 to December 2013 in the department of surgery of Hospital S. João. Two groups were considered: Group A patients with 70 years old or older (N=91) and Group B patients with less than 70 years old (N=319). The aim of the study is to compare morbidity and predictive factors for complications and conversion on these two groups. Results: There was significant higher morbidity in group A than in B in the following items: surgical mortality (2.2% vs 0%; p=0.011), overall postoperative complications (25.3% vs 8.5%; p<0.001), reoperations (7.7% vs 1.6%; p=0.007). The hospital stay ≤ 4 days was lower in group A than in B (38.5% vs 49.8%; p=0.045). The perioperative complications diagnosed during the LC (4.4% vs 3.4%; p=0.371), injuries of bile duct (1.1% vs 0.9%; p=1.000) and conversion (15.4 vs 9.4%; p=0.125), although higher in the elderly group (group A), was not statistically significant. Overall, independent predictors for post-operative complications were age, pulmonary disease and gangrenous cholecystitis. In group A the only significant factors were renal disease and gangrenous cholecystitis; and in group B the only significant factor was pulmonary disease. Conclusion: Although LC in septuagenarian is accompanied by greater morbidity than in youngers, it should be considered as a safe and efficient procedure, and the first choice in surgery of AC in the elderly. However, in complex cases, percutaneous cholecystostomy should be recommended in a first stage, followed a few days later by LC. Abbreviations: LC Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; AC Acute cholecystitis; A group A; B group B.