Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional education and wealth-related inequalities in malnutrition among women in Bangladesh

Abstract Objectives: This paper examines the associations of socio-economic and demographic correlates with malnutrition among women and investigates education and wealth-related inequalities in malnutrition among women by region. Design: We utilise a two-level mixed-effects logistic regression model to evaluate the associations and employ the concentration, Wagstaff and Erreygers’s correction indices to measure socio-economic inequalities in malnutrition among women. Setting: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data. Participants: Non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years. Results: We find evidence of a significant cluster effect in the data. Women’s age, marital status, total children ever born, education level, husband’s/partner’s education level, residence and wealth index appear to be significantly associated with women underweight and overweight/obesity status. Underweight status is higher among less-educated women and women from poor households, whereas overweight/obesity is more concentrated among higher educated women and women from wealthy households. The southwestern region of the country demonstrates lower education and wealth-related inequalities in malnutrition among women. In contrast, the central and the northeastern areas apparently experience the highest education and wealth-related inequalities in malnutrition among women. The regional differences in predicted probabilities of being underweight shrink at higher education level and the richest quintile, whereas the differences in overweight/obese diminish at the primary education level and lower quintile households. Conclusions: Our findings strengthen the evidence base for effective regional policy interventions to mitigate education and wealth-related inequalities in malnutrition among women. There is a need for developing regional awareness programmes and establishing regional monitoring cells to ensure proper health and nutrition facilities in underprivileged regions.
Quercetin modulates the gut microbiota as well as the metabolome in a rat model of osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT Although the mechanism of osteoarthritis (OA) has been widely studied and the use of quercetin for OA therapy is well documented, the relevant characteristics of the microbiome and metabolism remain unclear. This study reports changes in the gut microbiota and metabolism during quercetin therapy for OA in a rat model and provides an integrative analysis of the biomechanism. In this study, the rats were categorized into 3 different groups: the OA model, quercetin treatment, and control groups. The OA rats was conducted using a monoiodoacetate (MIA) injection protocol. The rats in the quercetin group received daily intragastric administration of quercetin from day 1 to day 28. Stool samples were collected, and DNA was extracted. We used an integrated approach that combined the sequencing of whole 16S rRNA, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) measurements and metabolomics analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) to characterize the functional impact of quercetin on the gut microbiota and metabolism in a rat model of OA. The use of quercetin partially abrogated intestinal flora disorder and reversed fecal metabolite abnormalities. Compared with the control rats, the OA rats showed differences at both the class level (Clostridia, Bacteroidia, and Bacilli) and the genus level (Lactobacillus and unidentified Ruminococcaceae). Acetic acid, propionic acid and 24 metabolites were significantly altered among the three groups. However, the changes were significantly abrogated in quercetin-treated OA rats. Consequently, this study provided important evidence regarding perturbations of the gut microbiome and the function of these changes in a potential new mechanism of quercetin treatment. Graphical ABSTRACT
Biowaste-Derived Hydroxyapatite for Effective Removal of Reactive Yellow 4 Dye: Equilibrium, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies

This study examines the application of poultry eggshell (PES) as a source of calcium for the synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HA) via annealation. The synthesized powder (poultry eggshell hydroxyapatite (PESHA)) was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDAX, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analytical techniques. This powder was used for adsorptive removal of the Reactive Yellow 4 (RY4) dye in a batch process. Results from morphological analysis by SEM and TEM revealed that the microstructure of the apatite is made up of needle–rod-like particles with the length of 15–60 nm, breadth of 4–6 nm, and crystallite size of 86.32 nm. EDAX revealed that HA has Ca/P ratio of 1.63, indicating a nonstoichiometric apatite, whereas XRD analysis presented it as a pure monophasic hydroxyapatite powder. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that the adsorption is due to the electrostatic interaction between the functional groups of the dye and those on the apatite surface. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) of 127.9 mg g–1 was obtained for the adsorption process, whereas the pseudo-first-order model with R2 > 0.99 best described the adsorption mechanism. Furthermore, the thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous in nature with ΔH and ΔS values of 120.79 kJ mol–1 and 0.395 kJ mol–1 K–1, respectively. Thus, hydroxyapatite fabricated from the poultry waste of eggshell can be effectively utilized as an excellent nontoxic and cheap adsorbent for the removal of RY4 dye from aqueous medium.
Negative symptom configuration in patients with first episode affective psychosis: findings from the 1-year follow-up of the “Parma Early Psychosis” program

Background and aim: Evidence on discrete dimensions underlining negative symptoms in First Episode Affective Psychosis (FEAP) may be useful for their treatment strategy, but is still relatively scarce. Aim of this study was to examine the negative symptom configuration in patients with FEAP using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods on the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Methods: Seventy-eight participants, aged 13-35 years, completed the PANSS within the “Parma Early Psychosis” (Pr-EP) program, a specialized protocol of early detection and intervention in psychosis implemented since January 2013 in all public adolescent and adult mental health services of the Parma Department of Mental Health (Northern Italy). Results: A 3-factor model (i.e. “Alogia”, “Social Withdrawal” and “Motor/Affective Expression Poverty” domains) was identified. As an alternative, a 2-factor solution previously proposed in patients with first episode schizophrenia (always within the Pr-EP program) also showed good fit indices in our FEAP sample. Conclusions: Our results suggest the crucial importance of identifying discrete negative symptom domains already at the onset of affective psychosis in order to implement specific early intervention strategies aiming to improve prognosis and long-term outcomes also in this young FEAP help-seeking population.
Effects of dapagliflozin in combination with insulin on cytochrome P450 activities in a diabetes type 1 rat model

Previous studies reported that diabetes alters the activities of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which, in turn, affects the disposition of some drugs. We herein examined and compared the effects of the combination of dapagliflozin with a low insulin dose, a full dose of insulin alone, and dapagliflozin alone for 3 and 8 weeks on CYP activities in a diabetes type 1 rat model. We induced type 1 diabetes in rats using a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Daily treatment with the full dose of insulin alone, dapagliflozin alone, or dapagliflozin in combination with a low dose of insulin was then initiated. STZ-induced rats developed marked hyperglycemia and altered CYP2E activities. Dapagliflozin in combination with a low dose of insulin stabilized hyperglycemia and CYP1A, 2D, 2E and 3A activities. However, dapagliflozin alone did not improve blood glucose levels or CYP activities. These results suggest that the effects of dapagliflozin in combination with a low dose of insulin are similar to those of a full dose of insulin, and stabilize CYP activities in type 1 diabetes.
Local Phasor-Based Control on Three-phase Radial Distribution Networks

Phasor-Based Control (PBC) is new control paradigm termed to coordinate Distributed Energy Resources (DER) for improved voltage regulation and other objectives. It comprises a multi-layer control framework where the state of the distribution grid is represented by voltage phasors, and Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) measure the state at critical points in the distribution grid. In the PBC paradigm, a supervisory controller (S-PBC) sets phasor targets which feedback controllers track. In this paper, we propose a Proportional Integral (PI) implementation for the local control layer (L-PBC), to regulate real and reactive power output of distributed inverters to track a voltage phasor target computed by the supervisory layer. We tune the PI controller gains oﬄine with a genetic algorithm that yields better performance than the Ziegler–Nichols method. We benchmark the proposed L-PBC controller against droop volt-var control (DVVC) and observe improved voltage regulation in simulation on the IEEE 13 node unbalanced test feeder (IEEE 13NF). By means of numerical simulation we observe the response of the L-PBC controllers to small and large grid disturbances. Simulations on larger feeders, IEEE 123-node and 344-node, demonstrate challenges with tuning controllers in setups with diﬀerent amounts of power-voltage coupling. Abstract We present a method for evaluating the placement of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) on distribution circuits in order to control voltages and power ﬂows. Our previous work described Phasor-Based Control (PBC), a novel control framework where DERs inject real and reactive power to track voltage magnitude and phase angle targets. Here, we employ linearized power ﬂow equations and integral controllers to develop a linear state space model for PBC acting on a three-phase unbalanced network. We use this model to evaluate whether a given inverter-based DER conﬁguration admits a stable set of controller gains, which cannot be done by analyzing controllability nor by using the Lyapunov equation. Instead, we sample over a parameter space to identify a stable set of controller gains. Our stability analysis requires only a line impedance model and does not entail simulating the system or solving an optimization problem. We incorporate this assessment into a publicly available visualization tool and demonstrate three processes for evaluating many control conﬁgurations on the IEEE 123-node test feeder (123NF).
Oceanic moisture sources contributing to wintertime Euro-Atlantic blocking

Abstract. Although conventionally attributed to dry dynamics, increasing evidence points to a key role of moist dynamics in the formation and maintenance of blocking events. The source of moisture crucial for these processes, however, remains elusive. In this study, we identify the moisture sources responsible for latent heating associated with the wintertime Euro-Atlantic blocking events detected over 31 years (1979–2010). To this end, we track atmospheric particles backward in time from the blocking centres for a period of 10 d using an offline Lagrangian dispersion model applied to atmospheric reanalysis data. The analysis reveals that 28 %–55 % of particles gain heat and moisture from the ocean over the course of 10 d, with higher percentages for the lower altitudes from which particles are released. Via large-scale ascent, these moist particles transport low-potential-vorticity (PV) air of low-altitude, low-latitude origins into the upper troposphere, where the amplitude of blocking is the most prominent, in agreement with previous studies. The PV of these moist particles remains significantly lower compared to their dry counterparts throughout the course of 10 d, preferentially constituting blocking cores. Further analysis reveals that approximately two-thirds of the moist particles source their moisture locally from the Atlantic, while the remaining one-third of moist particles source it from the Pacific. There is also a small fraction of moist particles that take up moisture from both the Pacific and Atlantic basins, which undergo a large-scale uplift over the Atlantic using moisture picked up over both basins. The Gulf Stream and Kuroshio and their extensions as well as the eastern Pacific northeast of Hawaii not only provide heat and moisture to moist particles but also act as “springboards” for their large-scale, cross-isentropic ascent, where its extent strongly depends on the humidity content at the time of the ascent. While the particles of Atlantic origin swiftly ascend just before their arrival at blocking, those of Pacific origin begin their ascent a few days earlier, after which they carry low-PV air in the upper troposphere while undergoing radiative cooling just as dry particles. A previous study identified a blocking maintenance mechanism, whereby low-PV air is selectively absorbed into blocking systems to prolong blocking lifetime. As they used an isentropic trajectory analysis, this mechanism was regarded as a dry process. We found that these moist particles that are fuelled over the Pacific can also act to maintain blocks in the same manner, revealing that what appears to be a blocking maintenance mechanism governed by dry dynamics alone can, in fact, be of moist origin.
Mediterranean cyclones: Current knowledge and open questions on dynamics, prediction, climatology and impacts

Abstract. A large number of intense cyclones occur every year in the Mediterranean basin, one of the climate change hotspots. Producing a broad range of severe socio-economic and environmental impacts in such a densely populated region, Mediterranean cyclones call for coordinated and interdisciplinary research efforts. This article aims at supporting these efforts by reviewing the status of knowledge in the broad field of Mediterranean cyclones. First, we focus on the dynamics and atmospheric processes that govern the genesis and development of Mediterranean cyclones. Then, we review the state of the art in forecasting cyclones and relevant high-impact weather. Particular attention is given to Mediterranean cyclone tracks and their physical characteristics in current and future climate. Finally, we focus on the impacts produced by cyclones and we outline the future directions of research that would advance the broader field of Mediterranean cyclones as a whole.
Polyclonal on- and off-target resistance mutations in an EML4-ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer patient under ALK inhibition

Treatment of advanced stage anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has been shown to be superior to standard platinum-based chemotherapy. However, secondary progress of disease frequently occurs under ALK inhibitor treatment. The clinical impact of re-biopsies for treatment decisions beyond secondary progress is, however, still under debate. Here, we report on two novel subsequent polyclonal on- and off-target resistance mutations in a patient with ALK-fused NSCLC under ALK inhibitor treatment. A 63-year-old male patient with an advanced stage EML4-ALK fused pulmonary adenocarcinoma was initially successfully treated with the second-generation ALK inhibitor alectinib and upon progressions subsequently with brigatinib, lorlatinib and chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). Progress to alectinib was associated with a so far undescribed ALK mutation (p.A1200_G1201delinsW) which was, however, tractable by brigatinib. An off-target KRAS-mutation (p.Q61K) occurred in association with subsequent progression under second-line TKI treatment. Third-line lorlatinib showed limited efficacy but chemoimmunotherapy resulted in disappearance of the KRAS mutant clone and clinical tumor control for another eight months. In conclusion, we suggest molecular profiling of progressive tumor disease also for ALK-positive NSCLC to personalize treatment in a subgroup of ALK-positive patients.
RC walls in Australia: displacement-based seismic design in accordance with AS 1170.4 and AS 3600

ABSTRACT Displacement-based methods, such as a non-linear static pushover analysis (e.g. the capacity spectrum method), have many advantages compared to traditional force-based design methods. However, implementing a non-linear analysis and design method in accordance with the Australian Standard for concrete structures (AS 3600) introduces many difficult technical issues into the design, of which the standard provides little guidance. The aim of this study is to provide a framework and general guidance for designers who wish to perform non-linear displacement-based analysis methods for RC wall buildings. The paper will present how these methods can be used in accordance with the Australian Standard for earthquake actions (AS 1170.4) to assess seismic compliance and then provide recommendations for the requirements stipulated by AS 3600, which includes an experimentally validated tension stiffening model, nonlinear stress-strain material curves, mean material properties and material strain limits. The paper is concluded with a case study example of how a displacement-based seismic assessment can be performed using a typical case study building.
Corporate governance in Japan in the 1930s and its impact on financial reporting practice

ABSTRACT Japan’s financial reporting system during the 1930s is an essential analytical subject as it provides an indispensable opportunity for scholars to identify the determinants of financial reporting practice adopted in an unregulated disclosure setting. This study examines the claim that the number of items disclosed in the income statement produced by Japanese heavy chemical companies during this period was materially affected by the period’s national economic policy put in place to rationalise the sector through business combinations. To test this proposition, we conduct an ordered logit analysis using 1651 panel data sets consisting of income statements issued by 104 industrial companies available from the Integrated Database of Corporate Historical Materials provided by the Japan Digital Archives Center (J-DAC). Our evidence suggests the possibility that an inherent motivation existed on the part of the owner-managers in the heavy chemical industry to withhold performance information from the public as a consequence of the business combination movement promoted by the National Industrial Rationalization initiative. One possible explanation is the desire of the corporate managers to protect their dominant position from hostile takeovers by providing less-transparent information and thus amplifying the uncertainty associated with acquisitions.
Cyclometallated ruthenium(ii) complexes with 3-acetyl-2[H]-chromene-2-one derived CNS chelating ligand systems: synthesis, X-ray characterization and biological evaluation

Four new bivalent organoruthenium complexes incorporated with 3-acetylcoumarin-4(N)-substituted thiosemicarbazones were synthesized. Comprehensive spectral and analytical techniques such as elemental analyses, IR, UV-vis, 1H NMR and 13C NMR provided proof of the formation of the complexes (1–4). Single crystals obtained for two ligands and the four complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallographic studies, which indicated CNS tridentate coordination of the ligands through C–H activation at the C(4) carbon of the pyrone ring of coumarin. The ligands and complexes intercalated with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA), supported by EB displacement studies and DNA viscosity measurements. The compounds bound well with two serum albumins (bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA)) and the quenching mechanism was found to be static. Antioxidant studies revealed the radical scavenging proficiency of the compounds. The compounds showed better antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonie), two Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella paratyphi) and five fungi (Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigates and Candida tropicalis). The in vitro cytotoxic abilities of the compounds were analysed using the MTT assay on MCF-7 (human breast cancer) and A549 (human lung carcinoma) cell lines and compared with standard cisplatin. Activities greater than cisplatin were observed for the ligands as well as the complexes. Assays on the human normal keratinocyte cell line HaCaT showed that the compounds were non-toxic to those cells. In all the biological studies done, the complexes displayed better activity than the ligands and among them, complex 3 stood out as the best, owing to the greater electron donating ability of the N-terminal ethyl group on the thiosemicarbazone. The results implied that N-terminal substitution played a significant role in bringing out the bioactivity of the complexes.
How to create tourists’ enjoyment? critical factors and strategic configurations for cultural and creative tourists’ enjoyment

ABSTRACT Although scholars have fully explored the factors influencing tourists’ positive emotions, there is still a research gap on the joint effect of multiple factors. Based on 509 samples of cultural and creative tourists, this paper constructs the causal configurations of enjoyment from two aspects: environment and individual. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) confirmed that there are four solutions, which present two types: “environmental aesthetics and individual acculturation” and “environmental creative performance and individual cultural intelligence”. There is an alternative relationship between creative performance and cultural intelligence. Additionally, authenticity only plays a complementary role in tourists’ enjoyment.
SARS-CoV-2 Circulation in the School Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. The contribution of children to viral spread in schools is still under debate. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to investigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the school setting. Methods: Literature searches from April, 2021 and repeated on May, 15th 2021 yielded a total of 1088 publications: screening, contact tracing and seroprevalence studies. MOOSE guidelines were followed and data analyzed using random-effects models. Results: From screening studies involving more than 120,000 subjects, we estimated 0.31% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.05-0.81%) SARS-CoV-2 point prevalence in schools. Contact tracing studies, involving a total of 112,622 contacts of children and adults, showed that onward viral transmission was limited (2.54%; 95%CI 0.76-5.31). Young index cases were found to be 74% significantly less likely than adults to favor viral spread (Odds Ratio [OR]=0.26; 95%CI 0.11-0.63) and were less susceptible to infection (OR=0.60; 95% CI 0.25-1.47). Finally, from seroprevalence studies, with a total of 17,879 subjects involved, we estimated that children are 43% significantly less likely than adults to test positive for antibodies (OR=0.57; 95%CI: 0.49-0.68). In conclusion, testing all subjects in schools, independently of symptoms, students less likely than adults favor viral spread and SARS-CoV-2 circulation in schools was found to be limited.