Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Urticaria: Seeking the Causes in Iranian Population

Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) is the recurrence of erythematous itching papular skin lesions for at least 6 weeks. Although it is often considered a benign condition, there are reports of the association of chronic idiopathic urticaria with infections, thyroid disease, foods, medications, autoimmunity, neoplasms, and low serum level of vitamin D. We aimed to identify the effect of lifestyle characteristics, environmental factors, family history, and specific comorbidities as potential external eliciting factors on the onset of chronic urticaria. Materials and Methods: The present research was conducted on 141 adult patients diagnosed by CU at the allergy clinics of Azad University hospitals in Tehran from January 2021 to January 2022. A questionnaire on different life events during the past 3 months before the onset of urticaria was developed to evaluate the characteristics of the patients with chronic urticaria. Meanwhile, 58 healthy individuals who were similar to the patients in terms of age range and gender were asked to participate in the study as the control group. Results: The mean age of the patients and the controls were 41.7 years and 39.8 years, respectively. The female and male patients were 105(74.47%) and 36(25.53%), respectively. Only two of the evaluated predisposing factors were meaningful including the use of new medications (23.4% versus 19%; P=0.006) and the co-existence of anxiety and depression (14.1% versus 4%; P=0.036). Conclusion: Among the different factors evaluated in this study, only two were found to be significant in relationship with CU which are anxiety/depression and medications.
State and local policy instruments for the promotion of catastrophe mitigation

The mitigation investment decisions of property owners are subject to multiple factors other than just the cost-benefit expectations. Uncertainty regarding cost savings, the financial capacity (and uncertainty) of the decision maker, insurance costs, and responsiveness of those costs to mitigation efforts are just some of the factors contributing to choices made regarding whether and to what extent to mitigate against disaster. Given the variety of factors that contribute to the mitigation decision, the authors assert a broad framework for public policy aimed at promoting mitigation aims first for accountable and empowered property owners, specific mitigation measures most likely to provide greatest value, an engaged and collaborative private sector, and smart messaging.
Tendon Disorders in Chronic Liver Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan

To investigate the relationship between chronic liver disease and tendon disorder, a retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital database. Patients >18 years with newly diagnosed liver disease and with at least a two-year follow-up in the hospital were included. An equal number of 20,479 cases were enrolled in both the liver-disease and non-liver-disease groups using a propensity score matching method. Disease was defined using ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes. The primary outcome was the development of tendon disorder. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, use of tendon-toxic drugs, and status of HBV/HCV infection were included for analysis. The results showed 348 (1.7%) and 219 (1.1%) individuals developed tendon disorder in the chronic liver disease group and non-liver-disease group. Concomitant use of glucocorticoids and statins may have further raised the risk of tendon disorder in the liver disease group. The co-existence of HBV/HCV infection did not increase the risk of tendon disorder in the patients with liver disease. Considering these findings, physicians should be more aware of tendon issues in advance, and a prophylactic strategy should be adopted in patients with chronic liver disease.
Multi‐scale description of a Sahelian synoptic weather system representative of the West African monsoon

A reference case of a Sahelian weather system observed during the Hydrological Atmospheric Pilot Experiment, HAPEX‐SAHEL, in August 1992, is described from a seasonal viewpoint as well as from synoptic and convective system viewpoints. It is shown that the case‐study is representative of the climatology at all these scales and presents many interacting scales and physical processes. At intraseasonal scale, the monsoon onset is characterized by an abrupt shift of precipitation together with a latitudinal migration of the African easterly jet (AEJ) and convection. At the month and day scales, the convective activity occurs in an apparent zonal break of the tropical easterly jet. The month of August 1992 exhibits intense synoptic activity. The vorticity field is characterized by northerly (dry) and southerly (wet) components located at 850 hPa on each side of the AEJ. Their intraseasonal modulation on a period of 20 to 40 days leads to active and break phases of the synoptic activity. Around 21 August, the 700 hPa vorticity field features the propagation of a typical easterly wave with a westward propagation of a cyclonic circulation followed by an anticyclonic circulation. Convective activity occurs mainly ahead of the 700 hPa vorticity maximum with the formation of a squall line on Aïr mountains propagating south‐westward at 15 m s−1. The convective system propagates about twice as fast as the vortex core, in contrast with the convection in the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts re‐analysis which stays in phase with the vorticity. The squall line corresponds to the largest contributor to the systems passing in August 1992 over the HAPEX‐SAHEL region; its environmental conditions and its effects on the atmosphere including the surface parameters are presented. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society
Gender Differences in Insecure Attachment Styles, Egalitarian Gender Roles, and Attitudes Toward Dating Violence Among College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model

ABSTRACT The existing literature on dating violence identifies a number of antecedents to dating violence but few studies situate attitudes toward dating violence within attachment theory and the gender role perspective while also accounting for gender differentiations in attitudes toward dating violence. This is a correlational study examining the relationships between attachment styles, egalitarian gender roles, and attitudes toward dating violence. In a sample of 574 college students, results demonstrated a significant low level correlation between avoidant attachment style, egalitarian gender roles, and attitudes toward dating violence. Mediation analysis results showed that egalitarian gender roles significantly mediate the relationship between avoidant attachment dimension and attitudes toward dating violence, while moderation analysis showed that gender is a significant moderator for avoidantly attached individuals. The conditional indirect effect and index of moderated mediation were also significant for the avoidant attachment dimension. The results are discussed in light of the literature on attachment and gender roles.
Life Satisfaction and Self-Esteem in Older Adults Engaging in Formal Volunteering: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taiwan

Previous research has reported an association between life satisfaction, self-esteem, and volunteering. However, it is unclear whether self-esteem is associated with life satisfaction in older adults who are already engaged in volunteering. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the association between life satisfaction and self-esteem in older adults who were formally volunteering at a non-governmental organization in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 186 formal volunteers aged ≥ 65 years who were recruited from the Keelung chapter of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation in Taiwan. A hierarchical stepwise linear regression was used to examine the association between scores on the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised (HEMA-R) scale. The results showed that SWLS was significantly associated with RSES score (standardized beta (std. β) = 0.199, p = 0.003), the eudaimonic subscale score of the HEMA-R (std. β = 0.353, p < 0.001), a vegetarian diet (std. β = 0.143, p = 0.027), and volunteering for five days or more a week (std. β = 0.161, p = 0.011). In conclusion, improving self-esteem and promoting eudaimonic motives in older adults who are formally volunteering could be effective strategies for enhancing their levels of life satisfaction.
In vitro Anti-Leishmanial Activities of Methanol Extract of Brucea antidysenterica J.F. Mill Seeds and Its Solvent Fractions

Introduction Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases, threatening lives of about 350 million people globally. Brucea antidysenterica seeds are used for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the traditional medicine in Ethiopia. Objective This study aimed to evaluate Brucea antidysenterica seeds’ anti-leishmanial activity in vitro. Methods The crude (80% methanol) extract of Brucea antidysenterica seeds and its fractions were evaluated for their anti-leishmanial activities against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania donovani and Leishmania aethiopica, and for their cytotoxic effects against mammalian cells. The quantitative estimations of total phenolic compounds (TPCs), flavonoids (TFCs) and alkaloids (TACs) were determined, spectrophotometrically. Median inhibitory concentration (IC50) and median cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of the extract and its solvent fractions were calculated using GraphPad Prism 9.1. 0 computer software. Data was presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Results The crude extract and its hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions showed anti-leishmanial activities, with IC50 values of 4.14–60.12 µg/mL against promastigotes, and 6.16–40.12 µg/mL against amastigotes of both Leishmania species. They showed moderate cytotoxicity against Vero cell lines and peritoneal mice macrophages, with CC50 values of 100–500 µg/mL, but >1600 µg/mL against red blood cells. Selectivity indices ranged from 7.97 to 30.97. The crude extract, and its ethyl acetate and hexane fractions possessed 54.78–127.72 mg of gallic acid equivalent TPC, 18.30–79.21 mg of quercetin equivalent TFC, and 27.62–97.22 mg of atropine equivalent TAC per gram of extracts. Conclusion The seeds of the plant possessed anti-leishmanial activities against L. aethiopica and L. donovani that might provide a scientific justification for its use in the treatment of leishmaniasis by traditional healers. Future works are recommended to isolate, purify and identify the possible secondary metabolites attributed to the anti-leishmanial activity.
Shared features of metaplasia and the development of adenocarcinoma in the stomach and esophagus

Introduction: Plasticity is an inherent property of the normal gastrointestinal tract allowing for appropriate response to injury and healing. However, the aberrancy of adaptable responses is also beginning to be recognized as a driver during cancer development and progression. Gastric and esophageal malignancies remain leading causes of cancer-related death globally as there are limited early disease diagnostic tools and paucity of new effective treatments. Gastric and esophageal adenocarcinomas share intestinal metaplasia as a key precancerous precursor lesion. Methods: Here, we utilize an upper GI tract patient-derived tissue microarray that encompasses the sequential development of cancer from normal tissues to illustrate the expression of a set of metaplastic markers. Results: We report that in contrast to gastric intestinal metaplasia, which has traits of both incomplete and complete intestinal metaplasia, Barrett's esophagus (i.e., esophageal intestinal metaplasia) demonstrates hallmarks of incomplete intestinal metaplasia. Specifically, this prevalent incomplete intestinal metaplasia seen in Barrett's esophagus manifests as concurrent development and expression of both gastric and intestinal traits. Additionally, many gastric and esophageal cancers display a loss of or a decrease in these characteristic differentiated cell properties, demonstrating the plasticity of molecular pathways associated with the development of these cancers. Discussion: Further understanding of the commonalities and differences governing the development of upper GI tract intestinal metaplasias and their progression to cancer will lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic avenues.
On the Propagation of Sound Waves in a Cylindrical Conduit

The series impedance and shunt admittance of an acoustic line is calculated from the linearized acoustic equations. Exact and limiting formulas for small and large tubes are provided for R, L, G, C, the real and imaginary parts of the characteristic impedance Z 0, as well as the phase velocity v and attenuation constant α. All results are presented in convenient form for quick computation on the basis of tables and graphs. A self‐consistent set of molecular data is presented. Accuracies of formulas and of the data are discussed in detail.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of adolescent girls towards reproductive health: a cross-sectional study in Turkistan region, Kazakhstan

Background Reproductive health of adolescent females is an important health concern. Aim To determine the impact and the knowledge, attitude and practice of female adolescents toward reproductive health. Materials & methods This is a survey based cross-sectional study conducted in Turkistan region. Results A total of 1250 participants were included with a mean age of 17.3 ± 1.4 years, and >80% of the participants have completed high school. A total of 1191 girls had the onset of menarche at approximately 13.2 years old, and 85.7% reported menstrual disorder. Conclusion There is poor knowledge and practice of reproductive health among participating adolescents. Alcohol consumption, high BMI, bad family relationships and lack of gynecological visits were found to negatively affect reproductive health.
A Programmable Magnetic Field Mass Spectrometer with On-Line Data Processing

A single focusing, 30.48 cm radius, 60° sector magnet mass spectrometer was constructed with symmetric conjugate foci calculated from fringe field data and corresponding to a beam deflection of 68°. Experimental and calculated optical characteristics agree well. A rotating coil probe and a rate coil are employed as field sensors for a nulling device and for field scanning. The magnetic field can be set to 27 values corresponding to the center of spectral lines and zero lines on both sides of each peak. The automatic scanning consists of: (1) rapid field change between adjacent field values (~500 G/sec); (2) locking in at the preset field values (~0.3 sec); (3) remaining in a channel for a preset time during which the ion beam current is integrated and the data digitized. Repeated arbitrary excursions between channels do not cause effective field variations of more than |DeltaB/B| = 2×10^–5. For 0.2 mm source and 0.64 mm collector slit settings, a typical peak at mass 88 is flat for 2.7 G to 0.01% at a 14 kV accelerating potential. Data consist of channel intensity, scale factors, and internally provided clock time; data signals drive a typewriter and tape punch. A cyclic scan of five isotopes including background requires 35 sec. A segment of data (~10 cycles) is processed by the computer and the results returned to the operator.
A model of the quasi-biennial oscillation on an equatorial beta-plane

An equatorial beta-plane model of equatorial wave-mean flow interaction in the lower stratosphere is described. Kelvin and mixed Rossby-gravity waves generated by a specified forcing on the lower boundary radiate upward through the model domain where they are subject to thermal and mechanical dissipation. The wave-mean flow feedback problem is solved on the assumption that changes in the zonal mean state occur slowly enough for the wave field to be steady, locally in time. A quasi-biennial oscillation develops in the model with a period of about 1000 days. A novel feature of this model is the incorporation of latitudinal structure and of thermal and meridional wind components of the oscillation. The influence of the meridional circulation on the structure of the zonal wind oscillation is discussed in some detail.
CMOS Widely Tunable Second-Order Gm-C Bandpass Filter for Multi-Sine Bioimpedance Analysis

A CMOS widely tunable second-order Gm-C bandpass filter (BPF), intended to be used in multi-sine bioimpedance applications, is presented. The filter incorporates a tunable transconductor in which the responses of two linearized voltage-to-current converters are subtracted. As a result, the effective transconductance can be continuously adjusted over nearly three decades, which allows a corresponding programmability of the center frequency of the BPF. The circuit was designed and fabricated in 180 nm CMOS technology to operate with a 1.8 V supply, and the experimental characterization was carried out over eight samples of the silicon prototype. The simulated transconductance of the cell can be tuned from 5.3 nA/V up to 19.60 μA/V. The measured range of the experimental transconductance varied, however, between 1.42 μA/V and 20.57 μA/V. Similarly, the center frequency of the BPF, which in the simulations ranged from 500 Hz to 342 kHz, can be programmed in the silicon prototypes from 22.4 kHz to 290 kHz. Monte Carlo and corner simulations were carried out to ascertain the origin of this deviation. Besides, the extensive simulation and experimental characterization of the standalone transconductor and the complete BPF are provided.
Evolutionary and Ecological Processes Underlying Geographic Variation in Innate Bird Songs

Ecological and evolutionary processes underlying spatial variation in signals involved in mate recognition and reproductive isolation are crucial to understanding the causes of population divergence and speciation. Here, to test hypotheses concerning the causes of song divergence, we examine how songs of two sister species of Atlantic Forest suboscine birds with innate songs, the Pyriglena fire-eye antbirds, vary across their ranges. Specifically, we evaluated the influence of isolation by distance and introgressive hybridization, as well as morphological and environmental variation, on geographic variation in male songs. Analyses based on 496 male vocalizations from 63 locations across a 2,200-km latitudinal transect revealed clinal changes in the structure of songs and showed that introgressive hybridization increases both the variability and the homogenization of songs in the contact zone between the two species. We also found that isolation by distance, morphological constraints, the environment, and genetic introgression independently predicted song variation across geographic space. Our study shows the importance of an integrative approach that investigates the roles of distinct ecological and evolutionary processes that influence acoustic signal evolution.
Theory of black hole accretion disks

Part I. Observations of Black Holes: 1. Black holes in our Galaxy: observations P. Charles 2. Black holes in Active Galactic Nuclei: observations G. M. Madejski Part II. Physics Close to a Black Hole: 3. Physics of black holes I. D. Novikov 4. Physics of black hole accretion M. A. Abramowicz Part III. Turbulence, Viscosity: 5. Disc turbulence and viscosity A. Brandenburg Part IV. Radiative Processes: 6. The role of electron-positron pairs in accretion flows G. Bjornsson 7. Accretion disc-corona models and X/Y-ray spectra of accreting black holes J. Poutanen 8. Emission lines: signatures of relativistic rotation A. C. Fabian Part V. Accretion Discs: 9. Spectral tests of models for accretion disks around black holes J. H. Krolik 10. Advection-dominated accretion around black holes R. Narayan, R. Mahadevan and E. Quataert 11. Accretion disc instabilities and advection dominated accretion flows J.-P. Lasota 12. Magnetic field and multi-phase gas in AGN A. Celotti and M. J. Rees Part V. Discs in Binary Black Holes: 13. Supermassive binary black holes in galaxies P. Artymowicz Part VI. Stability of Accretion Discs: 14. Large scale perturbation of an accretion disc by a black hole binary companion J. C. B. Papaloizou, C. Terquem and D. N. C. Lin 15. Stable oscillations of black hole accretion discs M. Nowak and D. Lehr Part VI. Coherant Structures: 16. Spotted discs A. Bracco, A. Provenzale, E. A. Spiegel and P. Yecko Self-organized critically in accretion discs P. Wiita and Y. Xiong Summary: old and new advances in black hole accretion disc theory R. Svensson.
Effective connectivity analysis of default mode network based on the Bayesian network learning approach

This work proposed to use the linear Gaussian Bayesian network (BN) to construct the effective connectivity model of the brain's default mode network (DMN), a set of regions characterized by more increased neural activity during rest-state than most goal-oriented tasks. In a complete unsupervised data-driven manner, Bayesian information criterion (BIC) based learning approach was utilized to identify a highest scored network whose nodes (brain regions) were selected based on the result from the group independent component analysis (Group ICA) examining the DMN. We put forward to adopt the statistical significance testing method for regression coefficients used in stepwise regression analysis to further refine the network identified by BIC. The final established BN, learned from the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data acquired from 12 healthy young subjects during rest-state, revealed that the hippocampus (HC) was the most influential brain region that affected activities in all other regions included in the BN. In contrast, the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) was influenced by other regions, but had no reciprocal effects on any other region. Overall, the configuration of our BN illustrated that a prominent connection from HC to PCC existed in the DMN.
Aid and Governance: Impact of Chinese Aid on the Evaluation of Government Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa

One of a government's primary responsibilities is to provide public goods and services for the benefit of citizens. A government that excels in such provision may therefore win favorable evaluations from its citizens. However, if external state and non-state actors through foreign aid issuance become providers of what citizens expect from their government, citizens may doubt their government's competence. In recent decades, China has become an important donor to Africa, providing the continent with several aid projects. Consequently, this study examines whether aid from China undermines citizens’ evaluations of government performance. Geocoded data on Chinese aid projects are matched to 4 waves of Afrobarometer survey respondents from 31 sub-Saharan African countries. Using an instrumental variable estimation, the findings indicate that Chinese aid undermines the evaluation of government performance. Testing for the mechanism through which this effect manifests, the results suggest Chinese aid engenders corruption perceptions and erodes trust.