Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing the unit root hypothesis against the logistic smooth transition autoregressive model

In this paper two simple tests to distinguish between unit root processes and stationary nonlinear processes are proposed. New limit distribution results are provided, together with two F type test statistics for the joint unit root and linearity hypothesis against a specific nonlinear alternative. Nonlinearity is defined through the smooth transition autoregressive model. Due to occasional size distortion in small samples, a simple bootstrap method is proposed for estimating the p-values of the tests. Power simulations show that the two proposed tests have at least the same or higher power than the corresponding Dickey-Fuller tests. Finally, as an example, the tests are applied on the seasonally adjusted U.S. monthly unemployment rate. The linear unit root hypothesis is strongly rejected, showing considerable evidence that the series is better described by a stationary smooth transition autoregressive process than a random walk.
Population decline and changes in food store access

ABSTRACT I examine how neighbourhood-level food store access, proxied by distance to the nearest food store, changed in Sweden between 2000 and 2013, and how this change is correlated with changes in potential market size, proxied by population density. I find that distance has increased in rural and more affluent neighbourhoods. Furthermore, an increase in distance is negatively correlated with an increase in population density and is most pronounced in rural areas. The results are driven by the growing, rather than the declining, regions. Since the latter have often been a target for subsidies over the years, this could suggest that the aid may have had an impact.
Decision Theory Under Ambiguity

We review recent advances in the field of decision making under uncertainty or ambiguity. We start with a presentation of the general approach to a decision problem under uncertainty, as well as the 'standard' Bayesian treatment and issues with this treatment. We present more general approaches (Choquet expected utility, maximin expected utility, smooth ambiguity and so forth) that have been developed in the literature under the name of models of ambiguity sensitive preferences. We draw a distinction between fully subjective models and models incorporating explicitly some information. We review definitions and characterizations of ambiguity aversion in these models. We mention the challenges posed by some of the models presented. We end with a review of part of the experimental literature and applications of these models to economic settings.
The emergence of interior vowels and heterosyllabic vowel sequences in Ngwi (Bantu B861, DRC)

In this article, we offer a historical account of the development of two phonemic ‘interior’ vowels, [ə] and [ɤ], and heterosyllabic vowel sequences in Ngwi, a virtually undescribed West-Coastal Bantu language spoken in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While interior vowels phonologized due to the loss of their conditioning environment, most heterosyllabic vowel sequences come from the fission of an erstwhile palatal on-glide diphthong, itself originating in a long [–high] vowel. This origin is exactly the opposite of what has been reported for other language families such as Romance, where certain heterosyllabic vowel sequences of the *iV type evolved into diphthongs. The Ngwi data also show that phonemic interior vowels exist in languages of the Niger-Congo phylum where they had not been reported before. The historical development of heterosyllabic vowel sequences in Ngwi might have parallels in several other Bantu languages from the wider Congo rainforest area, where phonetic and phonological documentation is still embryonic.
Preliminary Effectiveness of a Strategy to Promote Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Schoolchildren

Purpose: To measure the preliminary effectiveness of a strategy to promote healthy lifestyle habits in schoolchildren, aged 6 to 12 years, living in the Andean region of Colombia, 2018–2021. Design and Methods: This is a Nursing Methodological Research, developed in phases: (1) Context and schoolchildren characterization; (2) Strategy design guided by the Whittemore and Grey criteria and the Bronfenbrenner ecological conceptual model; (3) Strategy validation with 11 experts; (4) Trial to evaluate preliminary effectiveness. We applied the strategy in seven different schools with the educational community including 955 schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years of age, 551 parents, 130 teachers and 7 members of the food staff. Results: Our health promotion strategy “Prosalud” has five components: citizenship feeding and nutrition, physical activity, and rest; environment protection, and directing one’s own life. It includes all the participants of the educational community. Conclusions: According to experts, the health promotion strategy “Prosalud” is valid to help promoting healthy lifestyle habits among schoolchildren. This strategy demonstrates its preliminary effectiveness in a group of school children from 6 to 12 years of age, their parents, teachers, and school food staff, in the Andean region of Colombia.
Hall Effect in CoO, NiO, and α-Fe 2 O 3

The Hall coefficient ${R}_{H}$ and resistivity $\ensuremath{\rho}$ have been measured on ceramic samples of $p$-type CoO and NiO between 200 and 1500\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and of $n$-type $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ between 960 and 1500\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Results obtained on single-crystal $p$-type NiO are also reported. Seebeck-effect data are considered in the discussion of the results. For the paramagnetic phase of NiO and $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, the behavior of ${R}_{H}$ deviates drastically from that found in the case of a normal-band semiconductor. The sign of ${R}_{H}$ is opposite to that normally expected. The corresponding Seebeck effect has the normal sign. ${R}_{H}$ remains inversely proportional to the charge-carrier concentration. Furthermore, the Hall mobility (${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{H}=\frac{|{R}_{H}|}{\ensuremath{\rho}}$) has a value which is smaller than that for the corresponding drift mobility (${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{D}$). The difference amounts to two orders of magnitude in the case of NiO and to about a factor of 4 in the case of $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. Below the N\'eel temperature, ${R}_{H}$ has the normal sign. The anomalous behavior of the Hall effect in the cases of NiO and $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ is thought to be due to an interaction between the charge carriers and the magnetization induced in the material by the applied magnetic field. In the case of CoO the behavior of ${R}_{H}$ does not seem to be influenced appreciably by the magnetic transition at the N\'eel temperature. The value of ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{H}$ at high temperatures in the paramagnetic phase is about a factor of 4 lower than that of ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{D}$. A discussion of the Hall-effect data with regard to the mechanism of electrical conduction in the materials under consideration is also presented.
Interfacial Forces in Free-Standing Layers of Melted Polyethylene, from Critical to Nanoscopic Thicknesses

Molecular dynamics simulations of ultrathin free-standing layers made of melted (373.15–673.15 K) polyethylene chains, which exhibit a lower melting temperature (compared to the bulk value), were carried out to investigate the dominant pressure forces that shape the conformation of chains at the interfacial and bulk liquid regions. We investigated layer thicknesses, tL, from the critical limit of mechanical stability up to lengths of tens of nm and found a normal distribution of bonds dominated by slightly stretched chains across the entire layer, even at large temperatures. In the bulk region, the contribution of bond vibrations to pressure was one order of magnitude larger than the contributions from interchain interactions, which changed from cohesive to noncohesive at larger temperatures just at a transition temperature that was found to be close to the experimentally derived onset temperature for thermal stability. The interchain interactions produced noncohesive interfacial regions at all temperatures in both directions (normal and lateral to the surface layer). Predictions for the value of the surface tension, γ, were consistent with experimental results and were independent of tL. However, the real interfacial thickness—measured from the outermost part of the interface up to the point where γ reached its maximum value—was found to be dependent on tL, located at a distance of 62 Å from the Gibbs dividing surface in the largest layer studied (1568 chains or 313,600 bins); this was ~4 times the length of the interfacial thickness measured in the density profiles.
Analyzing the spatial determinants of dockless e-scooter & e-bike trips across four U.S. cities

Abstract In this study, we examine micromobility usage across four U.S. metropolitan areas, comprising over 3 million people. As micromobility increases in popularity and becomes incorporated in policies and city planning, it is important to understand how disadvantaged and underserved communities utilize shared micromobility options. Underserved communities typically have the lowest access to transportation options and thus, opportunities to jobs, health care, and food. While micromobility has the potential to increase opportunities in low-income areas, it is unclear how people in low-income and high minority areas use these options. Using publicly available API data, we analyze how e-scooters and e-bikes are employed in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Detroit, and Louisville. We find that the built environment had a strong impact on both the number of trips within a census block group (CBG) and the duration of those trips. Specifically, pedestrian-friendly intersections (e.g. low-speed roads, bicycle and pedestrian trails) generated more trips than automobile oriented facilities. Presence of fixed transportation and percentage of households with one or less cars had a strong and positive impact on the number of trips. The proportion of minorities and percentage of low-wage employment in a CBG are both negatively associated with trips in all four cities. The results suggest that existing efforts to promote shared micromobility usage in minority and low-income communities may not be sufficient. Designing pedestrian and bicycle-oriented streets, increasing public outreach and promoting access, and enforcing equity zones could increase shared micromobility usage in low-income and minority areas.
Sulfation and Its Effect on the Bioactivity of Magnolol, the Main Active Ingredient of Magnolia Officinalis

Magnolol, the main active ingredient of Magnolia officinalis, has been reported to display anti-inflammatory activity. Sulfation plays an important role in the metabolism of magnolol. The magnolol sulfated metabolite was identified by the ultra-performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The magnolol sulfation activity of seven major recombinant sulfotransferases (SULTs) isoforms (SULT1A1*1, SULT1A1*2, SULT1A2, SULT1A3, SULT1B1, SULT1E1, and SULT2A1) was analyzed. The metabolic profile of magnolol was investigated in liver S9 fractions from human (HLS9), rat (RLS9), and mouse (MLS9). The anti-inflammatory effects of magnolol and its sulfated metabolite were evaluated in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Magnolol was metabolized into a mono-sulfated metabolite by SULTs. Of the seven recombinant SULT isoforms examined, SULT1B1 exhibited the highest magnolol sulfation activity. In liver S9 fractions from different species, the CLint value of magnolol sulfation in HLS9 (0.96 µL/min/mg) was similar to that in RLS9 (0.99 µL/min/mg) but significantly higher than that in MLS9 (0.30 µL/min/mg). Magnolol and its sulfated metabolite both significantly downregulated the production of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) stimulated by LPS (p < 0.001). These results indicated that SULT1B1 was the major enzyme responsible for the sulfation of magnolol and that the magnolol sulfated metabolite exhibited potential anti-inflammatory effects.
Survival and Growth Performance of Planted Kandelia candel (L.) Druce Stand in the Philippines

The mangrove species Kandelia candel (L.) Druce is distributed in tropical Southeast and East Asia but limited to one locality in the Philippines. Hence, conservation attempt was carried out through plantation in Gimaloto, Sorsogon, the Philippines. We planted 300 K. candel seedlings on riverbanks 1 m apart along the tidal distance – or the planting distance from seaward to landward direction from the river’s mouth. We monitored seedlings monthly during the first year and then quarterly for 2 yr more for a total of 3 yr. We were interested in determining the survival probability and growth performance of K. candel seedlings along the tidal distance (1–300 m distance) and during different monitoring intervals (i.e. monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual). Thirty-four (34) seedlings survived by the end of the three-year experiment, where most of the seedlings died during the first year after outplanting. Survival probability and growth increased with tidal distance, indicating that planted K. candel seedlings prefer the inland zone of at least 200 m from the sea line in the experimental area. Changes in growth parameters were observed between succeeding monitoring periods conducted during quarterly, bi-annual, and annual monitoring intervals but not during short-term monthly monitoring intervals, indicating growth responses due to seasonal and interannual variability. Our result suggests a possible introduction of K. candel outside its native population with consideration of tidal distance. We suggest mangrove rehabilitation and reforestation programs need to first conduct a zonation experiment similar to the method used in this study to identify the ecological distance where a certain mangrove species can grow better before extensive restoration and rehabilitation programs are implemented
Reading ability of young school-age children

Introduction. Reading is a complex linguistic and cognitive ability, acquired through learning. Children of typical development in the first four years of school completely master the reading skill. However, some children may have difficulty learning to read despite their preserved intellectual abilities and adequate training. The aim of this paper is to determine the reading ability and to identify reading disorder in children of younger school age. Methods. The sample consisted of 123 students of third, fourth and fifth grade of elementary school. The three-dimensional reading test - the text "One Snowy Day" was used. Reading speed, reading accuracy and reading comprehension were assessed. Results. Slow reading was identified in 35.3% of third graders and 22.2% of fourth graders. Deficits in reading accuracy were observed in 8.8% of third grade students. Delays in the development of reading comprehension were identified in most of the examined students. On the whole, our results showed that there is no statistically significant difference in reading ability between boys and girls. Conclusion. A significant number of children is late in mastering reading skills. Given that reading speed increases significantly with age, and the number of errors decreases, we expect that many slow readers will reach an appropriate reading speed, and that most of the children who showed unexpected number of errors will master accurate word decoding. Since comprehension deficits were identified in the majority of respondents, we conclude that a significant number of children did not reach the developmental stage in which reading becomes a means of learning.
VIRAL DETECTION IN TICKS AND THE LEVEL OF TICKS’ INFESTATIONS AMONGST SMALL RUMINANTS IN MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE

Ticks were the first arthropods to be established as vectors of pathogens and are currently recognized, along with mosquitoes, as the main arthropod vectors of disease agents to humans and domestic animals globally due to increased incidences of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) the world over. They are responsible for the transmission of many viral diseases to humans and domestic animals. Therefore, ticks infection and infestation results in great economic losses to resource-poor farming communities, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, including Nigeria, where approximately 80% of the world’s cattle population is raised. The current study is aimed to study the distribution, composition and abundance of ticks in Maiduguri, Borno State. Adult ticks were collected from 350 freshly butchered small ruminants (sheep and goats) from three locations within Maiduguri metropolis namely:Kasuwa shanu, Bulumkutu, and Maiduguri Central Abattoir. These were identified using taxonomy identification keys in to three species, Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma and Hyalomma, using stereomicroscope for each of the locations. They were crushed using bullet blender after the addition of glass beads and centrifuged. The supernatant from the crushed samples was used for viral detection by inoculating it on to two cell lines, Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) and African Monkey Kidney (Vero E6), and were observed for cytopathic effects daily for a period of ten (10) days. The results showed a high level of ticks’ infestation amongst small ruminants in the study locations. Kasuwan Shanu has the highest distribution of ticks amongst sheep, followed by Maiduguri Central Abattoir while Bulumkutu has the least. More also, Kasuwan Shanu has the highest distribution of ticks amongst goats, followed by Bulumkutu while Maiduguri Central Abbatoir has the least. The three species of ticks investigated were found to comprise of either male or female or both in the different locations, and either of the two sexes is involved in the infestation. The results also showed the presence of virus in some of the tick samples isolated from the small ruminants andinoculated on to the cell lines due to the observed cytopathic effects. It is concluded that there is high level of ticks’ infestation among small ruminants in Maiduguri metropolis and a threat of viral disease transmission to humans and other animals.
PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION UNDER NONLINEAR UTILITY

This paper studies the utility maximization problem of an agent with nontrivial endowment, and whose preferences are modeled by the maximal subsolution of a backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE). We prove existence of an optimal trading strategy and relate our existence result to the existence of a maximal subsolution to a controlled decoupled forward–BSDE (FBSDE). Using BSDE duality, we show that the utility maximization problem can be seen as a robust control problem admitting a saddle point if the generator of the BSDE additionally satisfies a specific growth condition. We show by convex duality that any saddle point of the robust control problem agrees with a primal and a dual optimizer of the utility maximization problem, and can be characterized in terms of a BSDE solution.
On the convergence of an iterative process for enriched Suzuki nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces

We study the existence and approximation of fixed points for the recently introduced class of mappings called enriched Suzuki nonexpansive mappings in the setting of Banach spaces. We use the modified $ K $-iteration process to establish the main results of the paper. The class of enriched Suzuki nonexpansive operators is an important class of nonlinear operators that includes properly the class of Suzuki nonexpansive operators as well as enriched nonexpansive operators. Various assumptions are imposed on the domain or on the operator to establish the main convergence theorems. Eventually, a numerical example of enriched Suzuki nonexpansive operators is used to show the effectiveness of the studied iteration scheme. The main outcome of the paper is new and essentially suggests a new direction for researchers who are working on fixed point problems in a Banach space setting. Our results improve and extend some main results due to Hussain et al. (J. Nonlinear Convex Anal. 2018, 19, 1383–1393.), Ullah et al. (Axioms 2022, 1.) and others.
A Review of the Association of Blue Food Coloring With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed in children. The exact cause of ADHD is not known, but, along with genetic factors, it is possible that environmental factors including toxins and diet may affect symptom severity. Of these dietary components, artificial food coloring (AFC), while approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been suspected to be associated with ADHD symptoms. Of the nine FDA-certified food colors, two are used for artificial blue coloring: Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2. There is limited literature describing the possible role of blue AFC in causing symptoms of ADHD in children. This paper provides a review of the literature surrounding artificial food coloring and its ability to affect the neurodevelopment of children in a way that could increase the behavioral indicators of ADHD. To do this, search criteria were established using a combination of MeSH terms about blue AFCs and ADHD and were entered into PubMed, along with limits on article types and publication dates from January 2000 to June 2022. There was a total of 20 articles that met this search criterion. These articles were reviewed by authors, and the ones not relevant to the topic were excluded. In total, four studies were chosen to be included in this article. After reviewing the literature, it was found that restriction diets, specifically those excluding AFCs, may affect symptom severity. The source of these changes is not known, but possible mechanisms include AFCs causing nutritional deficiencies and allergic reactions or altering neurotransmitter levels. More research is necessary to describe the neurotoxicity of artificial blue dyes in humans.
No-Scale Supergravity in the Light of LHC and Planck

We review the No-Scale F-SU(5) model with extra TeV-scale vector-like flippon multiplets and associated collider phenomenology relating to the search for supersymmetry at the LHC. The model framework possesses the rather unique capacity to provide a light CP-even Higgs boson mass in the favored 124-126 GeV window while simultaneously retaining a testably light Supersymmetry (SUSY) spectrum. We further elucidate the emerging empirical connection between recent Planck satellite data and No-Scale Supergravity cosmological models that mimic the Starobinsky model of inflation, drawing upon work conducted by the conference presenter (DVN) with John Ellis (King's College London/CERN) and Keith Olive (Minnesota).
Channel geometry, development, and variation, south Canadian River, eastern New Mexico and west Texas

Every fall since 1950, the New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) has held an annual Fall Field Conference that explores some region of New Mexico (or surrounding states). Always well attended, these conferences provide a guidebook to participants. Besides detailed road logs, the guidebooks contain many well written, edited, and peer-reviewed geoscience papers. These books have set the national standard for geologic guidebooks and are an essential geologic reference for anyone working in or around New Mexico.