Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deaf Children Need Rich Language Input from the Start: Support in Advising Parents

Bilingual bimodalism is a great benefit to deaf children at home and in schooling. Deaf signing children perform better overall than non-signing deaf children, regardless of whether they use a cochlear implant. Raising a deaf child in a speech-only environment can carry cognitive and psycho-social risks that may have lifelong adverse effects. For children born deaf, or who become deaf in early childhood, we recommend comprehensible multimodal language exposure and engagement in joint activity with parents and friends to assure age-appropriate first-language acquisition. Accessible visual language input should begin as close to birth as possible. Hearing parents will need timely and extensive support; thus, we propose that, upon the birth of a deaf child and through the preschool years, among other things, the family needs an adult deaf presence in the home for several hours every day to be a linguistic model, to guide the family in taking sign language lessons, to show the family how to make spoken language accessible to their deaf child, and to be an encouraging liaison to deaf communities. While such a support program will be complicated and challenging to implement, it is far less costly than the harm of linguistic deprivation.
Pesticide Safety Awareness among Rural Farmers in Dadinkowa, Gombe State, Nigeria

Introduction: Because of the longer growing season and warmer climate, weeds and insect pests spread are on the rise, thereby increasing the demand for pesticide use and consequently harmful emissions that further exacerbate climate change. Unsafe occupational exposure to pesticide residue is associated with a lack of product knowledge and safety awareness among farmers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was adopted for this study in which a face-to-face administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 285 respondents who were selected using convenient snowball sampling technique. Knowledge, awareness, and practices related to pesticide storage, handling, application, and containers disposal among the farmers were measured. Categorical variables were analysed and presented using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency count and percentage, while numeric items were summarized using mean and standard deviation. Results: Dichlorvos and Perfekthion 2.5 EC listed in the WHO Group I pesticide classification were among the most frequently used pesticides. Symptoms of pesticide intoxication reported include headaches (56.1%), dizziness (56.5%), skin irritation (53.3%), and fatigue (45.6%), respectively. Farmers’ behaviour during pesticide application include blowing clogged nozzle with mouth (42.7%), talking while spraying (59.8%), and mixing pesticide with bare hands (31.1%). Furthermore, 38.5% of them use pesticide containers for other domestic purposes. Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors, i.e., educational level, age, and years of farm practice, influenced farmers safety behaviour. Based on these findings, an approach that will help strengthen capacity building programmes and the enhancement of knowledge-based initiatives around the adoption of non-synthetic pest-control methods should be encouraged.
IFLNET: Image Forgery Localization Using Dual Attention Network

: The fake images and visuals can easily spread among social media users and they largely impact decision-making in society. Image forgery has become increasingly common as more non-professionals have access to image manipulation tools. These fake images are so sneaky that an ordinary person cannot guess them. Through social media, such photos are utilized to promote erroneous information in society. Image forgery detection is about segmenting the forged part from the images, primarily a region of interest. This paper suggests a unique method that depends on a dual attention network to detect forged segments. This network contains self-attention modules that contribute to extracting and matching features in the channel and spatial domains. These features help locate and identify the forged portions of digital images at various scales and channels. This experimental study uses typical datasets such as CASIA V1.0, CASIA V2.0, and Columbia. Proposed IFLNet technique outperforms other advanced techniques with a precision of 96 %, recall rate of 95 %, accuracy rate of 98 %, F1-score of 96 % and IoU score of 92 % for Columbia dataset and correspondingly other two datasets also.
Predicting PM2.5 in the Northeast China Heavy Industrial Zone: A Semi-Supervised Learning with Spatiotemporal Features

Particulate matter PM2.5 pollution affects the Chinese population, particularly in cities such as Shenyang in northeastern China, which occupies a number of traditional heavy industries. This paper proposes a semi-supervised learning model used for predicting PM2.5 concentrations. The model incorporates rich data from the real world, including 11 air quality monitoring stations in Shenyang and nearby cities. There are three types of data: air monitoring, meteorological data, and spatiotemporal information (such as the spatiotemporal effects of PM2.5 emissions and diffusion across different geographical regions). The model consists of two classifiers: genetic programming (GP) to forecast PM2.5 concentrations and support vector classification (SVC) to predict trends. The experimental results show that the proposed model performs better than baseline models in accuracy, including 3% to 18% over a classic multivariate linear regression (MLR), 1% to 11% over a multi-layer perceptron neural network (MLP-ANN), and 21% to 68% over a support vector regression (SVR). Furthermore, the proposed GP approach provides an intuitive contribution analysis of factors for PM2.5 concentrations. The data of backtracking points adjacent to other monitoring stations are critical in forecasting shorter time intervals (1 h). Wind speeds are more important in longer intervals (6 and 24 h).
BOARD POWERS AND UNETHICAL ACCOUNTING OF PUBLIC QUOTED CORPORATIONS IN NIGERIA

Numerous scandals have been committed globally due to excessive use of unethical accounting. Various research has been conducted on board activities and unethical accounting and their discoveries were assorted. None to the researchers’ awareness examined such association in an entire population of the registered public non-financial corporations in Nigeria for a period of 10 years (2010-2019). Secondary data was extracted from the annual reports and accounts, companies, and directors’ profile of the firms. The data was analyzed using Ordinary Least Square regression. The study found among other things that board power and its proxies except board capability have significant impact on the unethical accounting of listed firms in Nigeria. It is therefore, recommended that, the quoted firms in Nigeria should ensure the composition of all-encompassing and robust audit committees. They should also guarantee the presence of assorted gender, varied ethnic groups, directors with national honor and oversea directors on the boards. The organizations should ensure the formation of risk management committee in the entire corporations. The management should guarantee the existence of vastly skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable directors on the boards as these will aid in curbing the unethical accounting. The implication of the outcomes of this research to literature is that the discoveries of the research are to be utilized by researchers in confirming tokenism/critical mass theory, social capital theory. Also, to validate upper echelon theory, efficient contracting theory, resource dependency theory, signaling theory, human capital theory, behavioral theory of corporate boards and governance and agency theory. The discovery of the study is only applicable to listed organizations in Nigeria. The research utilized only six proxies of board power which is a limiting factor, and the result of the study might vary if other substitutions of board power are utilized. Moreover, the research did not capture the financial sector of Nigerian economy for the reason that the unethical accounting model utilized of Collins et al (2017) has elements which are only relevant to non-financial corporations. If other models of unethical accounting that can capture the financial industry are applied, the outcome of research may had been changed.
Psychological Effects of COVID-19 on Generation Y in Turkey: A Qualitative Research Study

COVID-19 pandemic had various psychological effects on people because of uncertainty, social distance, restrictions, quarantine periods, etc. This study focuses on the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on generation Y, who mainly prioritize individualism, freedom, and career advancement. Phenomenology, a qualitative research pattern, was used as the research method. The data regarding this research were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants from generation Y, who were selected through purposeful sampling. The data obtained in this research were defined, analysed, and reported through the thematic analysis method. This study reveals the overall situation by describing the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as direct (emotional state, social isolation, maintaining physical and mental health, expectation) and indirect (social interaction, habits, personal development, and change) effects on generation Y in Turkey. The results of the research showed that the perceptions of generation Y in Turkey on daily life practices have changed, and they developed strategies to cope with the COVID-19 process, change, and stress and to maintain their physical and mental health. In this sense, this study contains significant points to be considered for developing strategies for generation Y. It draws attention to the psychological effects of the pandemic on generations. Key words: COVID-19, pandemic, mental health, psychological effects, generation Y. JEL code: I 12, I 31
Gold-Nanoparticle Hybrid Nanostructures for Multimodal Cancer Therapy

With the urgent need for bio-nanomaterials to improve the currently available cancer treatments, gold nanoparticle (GNP) hybrid nanostructures are rapidly rising as promising multimodal candidates for cancer therapy. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been hybridized with several nanocarriers, including liposomes and polymers, to achieve chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, radiotherapy, and imaging using a single composite. The GNP nanohybrids used for targeted chemotherapy can be designed to respond to external stimuli such as heat or internal stimuli such as intratumoral pH. Despite their promise for multimodal cancer therapy, there are currently no reviews summarizing the current status of GNP nanohybrid use for cancer theragnostics. Therefore, this review fulfills this gap in the literature by providing a critical analysis of the data available on the use of GNP nanohybrids for cancer treatment with a specific focus on synergistic approaches (i.e., triggered drug release, photothermal therapy, and radiotherapy). It also highlights some of the challenges that hinder the clinical translation of GNP hybrid nanostructures from bench to bedside. Future studies that could expedite the clinical progress of GNPs, as well as the future possibility of improving GNP nanohybrids for cancer theragnostics, are also summarized.
The Insecticide Imidacloprid Decreases Nannotrigona Stingless Bee Survival and Food Consumption and Modulates the Expression of Detoxification and Immune-Related Genes

Simple Summary Stingless bees are the most diverse group of highly social bees, and they are ecologically and economically important species in the tropics and subtropics. Stingless bees provide important ecological services, such as the pollination of native plants and crops. However, agrochemical treatment is a common practice in the management of pest arthropods in many crops. Regrettably, little research has been conducted on the characterization of detoxification systems and immune responses in stingless bees, which is critical for understanding their responses to and defenses against a variety of environmental stresses, including agrochemicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exposing the stingless bee Nannotrigona perilampoides to the commonly used neonicotinoid, imidacloprid. Abstract Stingless bees are ecologically and economically important species in the tropics and subtropics, but there has been little research on the characterization of detoxification systems and immune responses within them. This is critical for understanding their responses to, and defenses against, a variety of environmental stresses, including agrochemicals. Therefore, we studied the detoxification and immune responses of a stingless bee, Nanotrigona perilampoides, which is an important stingless bee that is widely distributed throughout Mexico, including urban areas, and has the potential to be used in commercial pollination. We first determined the LC50 of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid for foragers of N. perilampoides, then chronically exposed bees for 10 days to imidacloprid at two field-realistic concentrations, LC10 (0.45 ng/µL) or LC20 (0.74 ng/µL), which are respectively 2.7 and 1.3-fold lower than the residues of imidacloprid that have been found in honey (6 ng/g) in central Mexico. We found that exposing N. perilampoides stingless bees to imidacloprid at these concentrations markedly reduced bee survival and food consumption, revealing the great sensitivity of this stingless bee to the insecticide in comparison to honey bees. The expression of detoxification (GSTD1) and immune-related genes (abaecin, defensin1, and hymenopteacin) in N. perilampoides also changed over time in response to imidacloprid. Gene expression was always lower in bees after 8 days of exposure to imidacloprid (LC10 or LC20) than it was after 4 days. Our results demonstrate that N. perilampoides stingless bees are extremely sensitive to imidacloprid, even at low concentrations, and provide greater insight into how stingless bees respond to pesticide toxicity. This is the first study of its kind to look at detoxification systems and immune responses in Mexican stingless bees, an ecologically and economically important taxon.
Breastfeeding Practices and Associated Factors in Shanghai: A Cross-Sectional Study

The status of breastfeeding practices remains unsatisfactory across China, but regional differences persist. However, disaggregated data for specific provinces are limited. This representative survey determined the status of breastfeeding and factors associated with breastfeeding practices in Shanghai. The questionnaire was designed in compliance with indicators for assessing infant and young child-feeding practices defined by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). A total of 2665 children aged two years and younger (0–730 days) were investigated, among whom 1677 were aged under six months. The early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) rate was 60.3%. Among children aged under six months, 43.4% were exclusively breastfed (EBF). The univariate regression analysis showed that the EBF rate was influenced by multiple factors, including individual, socioeconomic, workplace and employment, and health system. The subsequent multivariate analysis suggested that mothers with a higher rate of EBF shared the following characteristics: intention to breastfeed during pregnancy, breastfeeding knowledge, and higher satisfaction with support through the healthcare system after delivery. The rate of EBF in Shanghai is over 40%, and supporting breastfeeding requires measures at multiple levels, including individual attributes, women’s work and employment conditions, breastfeeding knowledge, and health services.
Searching for the Lowest Metallicity Galaxies

We report a method of identifying candidate low-metallicity blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDs) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) imaging data and present 3-m Lick Observatory and 10-m W.M. Keck Observatory optical spectroscopic observations of 94 new systems that have been discovered with this method. The candidate BCDs are selected from Data Release 12 (DR12) of SDSS based on their photometric colors and morphologies. Using the Kast spectrometer on the 3-m telescope, we confirm that the candidate low-metallicity BCDs are emission-line galaxies and we make metallicity estimates using the empirical R and S calibration methods. Follow-up observations on a subset of the lowest-metallicity systems are made at Keck using the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS), which allow for a direct measurement of the oxygen abundance. We determine that 45 of the reported BCDs are low-metallicity candidates with 12 + log(O/H) <= 7.65, including six systems which are either confirmed or projected to be among the lowest-metallicity galaxies known, at 1/30 of the solar oxygen abundance, or 12 + log(O/H) ~ 7.20.
Impact of Eating Context on Dietary Choices of College Students: Evidence from the HEALTHY-UNICT Project

While personal characteristics have been evaluated as determinants of dietary choices over the years, only recently studies have looked at the impact of eating context. Examining eating context, however, can be challenging. Here, we propose the use of a web-app for the Ecological Momentary Assessment of dietary habits among 138 college students from Catania (Italy) and therefore for examining the impact of eating context on dietary choices. Eating away from home was associated with lower odds of consuming vegetables, fruits, and legumes and higher odds of consuming processed meat, salty snacks, and alcoholic drinks compared with eating at home. Eating in the company of other people was associated with higher odds of consuming vegetables, red meat, fish, legumes, milk, and sugar-sweetened beverages and lower odds of consuming nuts than eating alone. This study proposed a new way to capture and assess how eating environment might affect dietary habits. Based on our results, meal location and social context have significant effects on the dietary choices of college students, pointing to the need to incorporate these aspects into further epidemiological studies.
Time-to-Treatment of Oral Cancer and Potentially Malignant Oral Disorders: Findings in Malaysian Public Healthcare

This study aims to evaluate the time-to-treatment of oral cancer and potentially malignant oral disorders (PMOD) in a Malaysian public healthcare setting while exploring its contributing factors. It consists of (1) a cross-sectional patient survey to quantify time to seek care and barriers faced, and (2) a retrospective medical record abstraction to determine treatment and management intervals. Time intervals were aggregated and analyzed by their primary contributor—patient, professional, or healthcare system. The average total time-to-treatment of the 104 patients investigated was 167 days (SD = 158). This was predominantly contributed by the patient interval of 120 days (SD = 152). In total, 67.0% of patients delayed their visit to primary healthcare centers because they assumed the lesions were not dangerous or of concern. Additionally, there was a significant difference between patients ‘facing’ and ‘not facing’ difficulties to seek care, at 157 vs. 103 days (p = 0.028). System and professional delays were comparably shorter, at 33 days (SD = 20) and 10 days (SD = 15) respectively. Both demonstrated a significant difference between oral cancer and PMOD, at 43 vs. 29 days (p < 0.001) and 5 vs. 17 days (p < 0.001). The findings reiterate the need to reform current initiatives to better promote early lesion recognition by patients and implement strategies for the elimination of their access barriers.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES THE DYNAMICS OF LARGE INFLATION SURGES

We empirically characterize episodes of large inflation surges that have been observed worldwide in the last three decades. We document four facts. (1) Inflation following surges tends to be persistent, with the duration of disinflation exceeding that of the initial inflation increase. (2) Surges are initially unexpected but followed by a gradual catch-up of average short-term expectations with realized inflation. (3) Long-term inflation expectations tend to exhibit mild increases that persist throughout disinflation. (4) Policy responses are characterized by hikes in nominal interest rates but no tightening of real rates or fiscal balances. Our findings highlight the challenges monetary authorities face in avoiding persistent inflation dynamics and anchoring expectations following large inflation surges. Andrés Blanco Department of Economics University of Michigan 611 Tappan Street 308 Lorch Hall Ann Arbor, MI 48109 jablanco@umich.edu Pablo Ottonello Department of Economics University of Michigan 611 Tappan Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 and NBER pottonel@umich.edu Tereza Ranosova University of Michigan Department of Economics tranosov@umich.edu
Infinite symmetric nuclear matter phase diagram from low energy compound nucleus data.

The inherent mesoscopic nature of nuclei and the Coulomb int erac ion make it difficult to cast systems interacting through the strong force into thermody namic terms. Our task is to extract the phase diagram of the theoretical infinite symmetrical uncha rged nuclear matter from experiments of nuclear collisions where the systems are neither infinite , symmetrical, nor uncharged. A framework of how to relate isotopic yields of such experiments to c oexistence densities and pressures is set in place by use of Fisher’s droplet model. The theory is applied to the model systems of the Ising model and a system of particles interacting via the Len nard-Jones potential. The specific details inherent to nuclear reactions are considered. Thes e include finite size effects, the Coulomb repulsion, and the lack of a physical vapor in contact with a d ecaying system. Experimental data of compound nucleus experiments are studied within the theo ry presented, which is also shown to extend to higher energy reactions. With all these conside rations, the phase diagram of nuclear matter is extracted.
General quadrupolar statistical anisotropy: Planck limits

Several early Universe scenarios predict a direction-dependent spectrum of primordial curvature perturbations. This translates into the violation of the statistical isotropy of cosmic microwave background radiation. Previous searches for statistical anisotropy mainly focussed on a quadrupolar direction-dependence characterised by a single multipole vector and an overall amplitude g*. Generically, however, the quadrupole has a more complicated geometry described by two multipole vectors and g*. This is the subject of the present work. In particular, we limit the amplitude g* for different shapes of the quadrupole by making use of Planck 2015 maps. We also constrain certain inflationary scenarios which predict this kind of more general quadrupolar statistical anisotropy.