Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
German and US Investment Professionals’ Use of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures in Their Personal Investment Decisions and Recommendations to Clients

We conduct an experiment to examine investment professionals’ use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures when making personal investment decisions or investment recommendations to clients. We predict and find that investment professionals are more willing to personally invest and recommend investment to a client when a firm discloses positive CSR performance than when it makes no CSR disclosures. Investment professionals’ decisions and recommendations are influenced by CSR disclosures both because, on average, they believe that better CSR performance results in better current and longer-term financial performance and because they value the societal benefits of CSR activities. We also find that investment professionals’ general beliefs regarding whether CSR activities benefit society affect how they assess firms’ CSR performance and their view of the relation between CSR performance and financial performance. Finally, investment professionals’ experience appears to protect them from the potential biasing effect of appealing pictures that accompany many CSR disclosures.
Monitoring Institutional Ownership and Corporate Innovation

In this study, we examine the role of monitoring institutional investors in firm innovation. Following Fich, Harford and Tran (2015), we define monitoring institutions as those whose holding value in a firm is among the top 10% of holdings in the institution’s portfolio. We document a positive effect of monitoring institutional ownership on firm innovation after controlling for traditional measures of institutional ownership. The positive effect is more pronounced when monitoring institutions are more diversified. We further find that monitoring institutions enhance firm innovation by: (1) increasing failure tolerance and CEO risk-taking incentives, and (2) reducing intense board monitoring, managerial career concerns, and diversion of corporate resources. Overall, the evidence shows that monitoring institutions are instrumental in promoting firm innovation.
Loss of 908 Second Molars in Chinese adults: Consequences of the Presence of Their Neighboring Third Molars?

Background Many studies have reported that the presence of third molars (M3s) can increase the risk of pathology in neighboring second molars (M2s). However, whether the presence of M3s can effect the mortality of M2s remains unknown. The main aim of this study was to reveal the reasons for M2 loss and how the M2 loss were related to their neighboring M3s. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A review of the medical records and radiographic imagines of patients who had their M2(s) removed was undertaken to analyze the reasons for tooth extraction and how those reasons were related to the presence of M3s situated adjacent to the removed M2s. Results Clinical material (from January to March 2019) of 800 patients met the inclusion criteria were involved into this study. M2s in 908 quadrants (i.e. 908 M2s) were removed from these enrolled patients, wherein 382 quadrants were with the absence of M3s and the other 526 quadrants were with the presence of M3s. The average age of patients whose missing M2s had or had no neighboring M3s was 52.4 ± 14.8 years and 56.7 ± 14.9 years respectively (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.001). When the reasons for the 908 extracted M2s were traced, it was found that 433 teeth (47.7%) were removed due to caries and sequelae, while 300 teeth (33.0%) were lost for periodontal diseases. In addition, substantial evidence confirmed that 14.4% of the M2s with adjacent M3s were removed due to diseases mainly in the distal surface which were closely related to their neighboring M3s, and it was much higher than that was identified from removed M2s without adjacent M3s (1.8%). Except for residual roots, 42.2% M3s were removed along with neighboring M2s simultaneously. Conclusions The presence of M3s, no matter impacted or erupted M3s, was associated with an earlier loss of their neighboring M2s.
Effectiveness of Self-instructional Module on Knowledge and Remedial Practices Regarding Selected Minor Ailments Among Primigravida

Context: Most pregnant women com­plain some degree of minor ailments that are not serious in themselves, but their presence decreases the mother's feeling of comfort and wellbeing, particularly among the primigravida. Aim: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of self-instructional module on knowledge and remedial practices regarding selected minor ailments among primigravida. Methods: A quasi-experimental design (one group pre-test/post-test) was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. A purposive sample of 120 primigravida women. The study was carried out at the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic in Benha university hospital. Data were collected through four main tools: A self-administered questionnaire to assess women's characteristics and obstetrical history; maternal knowledge assessment questionnaire; maternal health practices assessment questionnaire, and women's satisfaction questionnaire. Results: showed that the mean age of studied sample 23.02±7.57years. An improvement with highly statistically significant differences observed in women's knowledge and remedial practices regarding minor ailments at the post-intervention phase compared to the pre-intervention phase at (p<0.001). The majority of pregnant women were satisfied after the implementation of the self-instructional module. There was a non-significant positive correlation between total knowledge and total healthy practices regarding minor ailments at the pre-intervention phase (P>0.05). While there was a highly positive statistical correlation between total knowledge and total healthy practices regarding minor ailments at the post-intervention phase (P≤ 0.001). Conclusion: The research hypotheses were supported, and the self-instructional module had a positive effect on the improvement of pregnant women's knowledge and, in turn, remedial practices after its implementation. Also, there was a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of minor ailments at the post-intervention phase compared to the pre-intervention phase in favor of post-intervention. The antenatal self-instructional module regarding minor ailments should be restructured and reviewed to meet up with the health needs of pregnant women particularly primigravida.
Survey on the Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension among Tibetans at High-altitude in China Ngawa

Background: The prevalence of hypertension in China increased recent years. There are some surveys reported the hypertension status in different regions in China. However, little data revealed the epidemic status of hypertension among Tibetans at high altitude area in Ngawa. In this study, we explored the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in this special population. Methods: The cross-sectional analysis data was collected from 2228 Tibetan residents in seven high-altitude areas of Ngawa from September 2018 to June 2019, using a stage cluster sampling method. All participants were measured their blood pressure by trained physicians and have completed the questionnaire in the local hospital and health clinics. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and /or diastolic blood pressure(DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg according to standards in China. Results: The prevalence rate of hypertension was 24.6% in this area, which was similar to previous survey results the general population in China (23.2%). The awareness rate (32.3%), treatment rate (21.7%), and control rate (6.2%) of hypertension in high altitudes were lower than in the plain area in China. Compared to the 2015 Sichuan rural survey, the awareness rate increased (32.3% vs 24.6%), but the treatment rate (21.7% vs 24.7%) and the control rate (6.2% vs 14.7%) remained low. Conclusions: From the results, we can come to a conclusion that the rates of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension remain unexpected low in Tibetans, especially in female Tibetan at high altitude area of Ngawa. The related factors may include poor medical conditions, economic underdevelopment and traditional Tibetan customs. We hope to add some Tibetan data to the clinical epidemiology database of hypertension and hope the study can be used for future research.
Symmetry and rigidity results for composite membranes and plates

The composite membrane problem is an eigenvalue optimization problem deeply studied from the beginning of the '00's. In this note we survey most of the results proved by several authors over the last twenty years, up to the recent paper [14] written in collaboration with Giovanni Cupini.We finally introduce an eigenvalue optimization problem for a fourth order operator, called composite plate problem and we present the symmetry and rigidity results obtained in this framework. These last mentioned results are part of the papers [12,13], written in collaboration with Francesca Colasuonno.
Impact of Credit Risk on Momentum & Contrarian Strategies: Evidence from South Asian Markets

We examine the profitability of the momentum and contrarian strategies in three South Asian markets i.e. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. We also analyze, whether credit risk influences momentum and contrarian return for these markets from 2008 to 2014. We use Distance-to-default (DD) of Kealhofer, McQuown and Vasicek (KMV) model as a measure of credit risk. We calculate the credit risk and form the momentum and contrarian strategies of the firms on the basis of high, medium and low risk. We find that in all three markets, the momentum and contrarian returns are significant for medium and high credit risk portfolios and no momentum and contrarian returns for low credit risk portfolios.
Efficient gasification of wet biomass residue to produce middle caloric gas

Various process residues represent a kind of biomass resource already concentrated but containing water as much as 60 wt. %. These materials are generally treated as waste or simply combusted directly to generate heat.Recently,we attempted to convert them into middle caloric gas to substitute for natural gas,as a chemical or a high-rank gaseous fuel for advanced combustion utilities.Such conversion is implemented through dual fluidized bed gasification(DFBG). Concerning the high water content of the fuels,DFBG was suggested to accomplish either with high-efficiency fuel drying in advance or direct decoupling of fuel drying/pyrolysis from char gasification and tar/hydrocarbon reforming.Along with fuel drying, calcium-based catalyst can be impregnated into the fuel,without much additional cost,to increase the fuel’s gasification reactivity and to reduce tar formation.This article reports the Ca impregnation method and its resulting effects on gasification reactivity and tar suppression ability.Meanwhile, the principle of directly gasifying wet fuel with decoupled dual fluidized bed gasification(D-DFBG)is also highlighted.
Supramolecular aggregation patterns in mononuclear organomercury carboxylates

Abstract The crystal and molecular structures of three organomercury carboxylate derivatives are described, viz. PhHg[O2CC6H4{N=N(C6H3—4-OH—5-CHO)}-o] (1), (p-xylol)Hg[O2CC6H4{N=N(C6H3—4-OH—5-CHO)}-o] (2), characterised as a hemi-toluene solvate, and (p-xylol)Hg[O2CC6H4NH2-o] (3). In each case, the crystallographic data indicate that the Hg atom is linearly coordinated by an aryl-C and a carboxylate-O atom. In 1, supramolecular aggregation occurs via Hg…O and Hg…N interactions and lead to the formation of a supramolecular chain along the a-axis. The Hg…O interactions persist in the crystal structure of the p-xylol derivative 2 and the resulting supramolecular chains are connected into a two-dimensional array in the ab-plane via O–H…O hydrogen bonding. Similarly, in the crystal structure of 3, Hg…O and N–H…O hydrogen bonding combine to lead to the formation of supramolecular arrays in the ac-plane. Crystal data for (1): triclinic, P-1, a = 6.1386(7), b = 10.9066(12), c = 26.808(3) Å, α = 82.655(2), β = 86.736(2), γ = 82.484(2)°, V = 1763.3(3) Å3, Z = 4, R = 0.042. Crystal data for (2): triclinic, P-1, a = 7.2322(11), b = 11.080(2), c = 15.372(3) Å, α = 95.230(19), β = 98.545(16), γ = 107.972(17)°, V = 1146.3(4) Å3, Z = 1, R = 0.029. Crystal data for (3): monoclinic, P21/c, a = 7.0450(8), b = 29.109(3), c = 7.2476(8) Å, β = 117.520(2)°, V = 1318.1(3) Å3, Z = 4, R = 0.034.
A Retrospective Review to Evaluate the Demographics and Management Profile of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Attending a Multidisciplinary Clinic

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with heterogeneous age of onset, symptoms, topography, and progression. A multidisciplinary clinic (MDC) is the optimal form of healthcare delivery. We aimed to assess the demographic characteristics of, and the healthcare delivery to, patients with ALS attending an ALS MDC. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 82 patients attending our MDC was conducted. Results: Sixty percent of patients were male. Spinal-onset ALS was most common, had earlier onset, and occurred more in males. Median time from symptom onset to initial MDC visit was 18 months. More prevalent was the use of riluzole than edaravone. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) improved patient weight change (p=0.026). Conclusions: Our patient cohort further confirms observed demographic trends. More should be done to identify barriers that delay referral to specialist services. Multidisciplinary care helps capture disease characteristics and progression. PEG placement reduces weight loss and should be pursued earlier. MDCs should characterize their patient populations to evaluate, and further optimize, healthcare delivery.
Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020: Ergebnisse für Deutschland

Die deutschen Ergebnisse des internationalen "Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020" zur Nachrichtennutzung zeigen: Die deutliche Mehrheit der erwachsenen Onliner in Deutschland ist der Ansicht, dass ein unabhängiger Journalismus für das Funktionieren einer Gesellschaft wichtig ist (79 %). Auffällig sind die Meinungsunterschiede in den Altersgruppen. Während fast 90 Prozent der über 55-Jährigen einen unabhängigen Journalismus für wichtig hält (88 %), sind es in der Altersgruppe der 18- bis 24-Jährigen lediglich 56 Prozent. Insgesamt betrachtet fast jeder Neunte dieser Altersgruppe unabhängigen Journalismus als unwichtig (11 %) und 15 Prozent haben keine Meinung dazu. Dies sind Ergebnisse des Reuters Institute Digital News Reports, dessen deutsche Teilstudie vom Leibniz-Institut für Medienforschung in Hamburg erarbeitet wurde. Insgesamt basiert die Studie auf 80.155 Befragten aus 40 Ländern auf sechs Kontinenten.
Internet Addiction among University Students during Covid-19 Lockdown: Case Study of Institutions in Nigeria

The impact of the recent global pandemic is multifaceted, affecting every aspect of human existence. Many studies conducted during this period have focused on the direct implications of the pandemic on human health and the economy, with only a few focusing on other possible implications. This survey aimed to elucidate the possible impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on internet addiction (IA) among university students in Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey, 202 students were randomly selected to fill the standardized internet addiction test (IAT) online. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. The respondents had an average age of 20.9±2.3 years and an average IAT score of 32.6±14.4, with the highest score being 79 out of 100. The majority of the students were categorized as normal internet users (45%), 42% as mildly addicted, and 13% as moderately addicted. None of the students were severely addicted. There were statistically significant associations derived between IA and income status (p=0.000), boredom (p=0.000), and Faculty of study (p=0.011). The results indicated that boredom was a key factor that had an impact on IA. The closure of schools, restriction of movement, reduced engagements, and seizures of allowances/stipends made the students vulnerable to IA.
Prevalence and Genotypic Characterization of Hbv In Hiv- Infected Patients From Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Introduction: The co-infection of HIV with HBV is very common due to shared mode of transmission. HBV/HIV co-infection impact on low HBeAg expression, high HBV replication, causes progressive liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and high mortality. Co-infection may lead to cross-resistance of HBV and HIV drugs due to drug-related immune therapeutic pressure or hepatotoxicity. These challenges necessitate continuous surveillance for HBV among HIV infected individuals to aid patient treatment management. Hence we conducted this study to characterise HBV among HIV infected patients in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal of South Africa. Methods: Serum was screened for HBsAg using ELISA, followed by DNA extraction from all samples. Genotyping of HBV was done through PCR amplification, Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Of the 50 samples in this study 100% (n = 50/50) were HBsAg positive. HBV/HIV co-infection was 82% (n = 41/50) based on PCR amplification of the HBV partial surface gene and 63% (n = 26/41) of the amplicons were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic and sequence analyses identified patients nucleotide sequence as genotype A. Mutations prevalence in the HBsAg region was 43% (n = 18/26); including mutations associated with diagnostic failure (K122R and T143S) and 7 vaccines escape mutations (P127T, G145R, S207N, Y200T, E164D, Y206H and L209V). Mutations were determined within the polymerase region of HBV and the amino acid substitutions were identified at 54% (14/26) in different positions within the reverse transcriptase (RT) region The prevalence of mutations associated with drug resistance was 43% (n = 6/14) within the RT region. Drug resistance mutations was 67% (n = 4/6) for both lamivudine (LMV) and telbivudine (LdT) resistance, 17% (n = 1/6) for entecavir (ETV) and 33% (n = 2/6) for adefovir (ADV) resistance. Mutations causing resistance to lamivudine and telbivudine were M204V, L180M, V163I, and S202K; with S202K also causing resistance to entecavir and adefovir resistance mutation were I253Y and M250I. Multiple drug resistance mutations within a single sample contained L180M, M204V, S202K and M250I mutations. Conclusion: This study shows the predominance of HBV genotype A in HIV-infected patients and the HBV mutations present in HBV/HIV co-infected individuals. HBV mutations associated with drug resistance suggest the need for continuous HBV screening and use of tenofovir ART regimen among HBV/HIV co-infected individuals.
Growth Pathway and Precursor States in Single Lamellar Crystallization: MD Simulations

Large-scale and long-time molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are carried out to study the growth pathway of a single polymer crystal from an entangled dense melt via self-seeding. Using the concept of lifetime of individual stems, we can identify two stages of crystallization. The stem length increases linearly with its lifetime at the first stage (precursor stage) while it increases logarithmically at the following stage (thickening stage). Folds are created at the precursor stage, and refolding events are statistically irrelevant. This analysis concurs with the direct observation of a precursor zone around the growth front as defined by orientational order of segments. Precursor states can be identified as bundles of short stems which do not cover the growth front densely.
Phytochemical screening of two Thai tropical rainforest Dipterocarps : Hopea odorata Roxb. and Dipterocarpus costatus Gaertn.f.

Preliminary study of the extracts from Hopea odorata leaves and Dipterocarpus costatus wood showed that the hexane extracts of both plants exhibited cytotoxicity against breast cancer (MCF-7) and small cell lung cancer (NCI-H187), in conjunction with potent antimalarial (against Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain) activity of D.costatus wood hexane extract. Phytochemical studies of H. odorata leaves hexane extract led to the isolation of 16 terpenoids in the series lupane (n = 8), (3,4-seco) cycloartane (n = 4), friedelane (n = 2) and oleanane (n = 2). Among lupanes, 3,30-dioxolup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid was isolated for the first time from a natural source. Cytotoxicity of lupanes triterpenes against four human cancer cell lines (PC3, MDA-MB-231, HT-29 and HCT116) was evaluated and showed the structure activity relationship related to the oxidation degree at position 3, 28 and 30. Among cycloartanes two new 3,4-seco-cycloartanes were identified. They are saturated fatty acid esters of (24S,25S,26)-trihydroxy-3,4-seco-cycloart-4(29)-en-3-oic acid. Isolation of D. costatus wood hexane extract discovered 31 terpenoids of which 12 triterpenes are new, including 5 norlupanes, 3 dammaranes, 2 nordammaranes and 2 secodammaranes. The biological activities of all isolated compounds were evaluated through cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines mentioned above and rat myoblast-derived cells L-6, as well as antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain. Interestingly, the norlupane 36, possessing an endoperoxide group, showed a strong antiplasmodial activity associated with low cytotoxicity.
Factors influencing adoption of crossbred cattle in different agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh

Crossbred cattle farming by small farm holders are one of the promising agricultural activities to enhance financial and nutritional status of the rural people of Bangladesh. Several factors influence the rural farmers to raise the crossbred cattle farming. Thus, the research investigates the demographic, socioeconomic and agro-ecological factors and farming assets and facilities of the small farm holders that influence the adoption of crossbreds. Multistage random sampling technique was used to random selection of 300 cattle households in four agro-ecological zones. Chi-square tests were carried out to assess the association between cattle breeds and levels of variables. Also, the binary logistic regression model was used to determine the effects of the factors. Age group, level of education, occupation, household income, farming experience and reception of extension services were significantly (p<0.01) associated with the adoption of crossbred cattle. Extension services (OR=128.82, 95%CI=27.74-598.2) and higher income group (OR=6.138, 95%CI=1.352-27.87) were significant and more likely to adopt crossbred cattle compared to no extension services and low-income group respectively. Secondary educated farmers were 3.64 times more likely (OR=3.642, 95%CI=1.24-10.67) and higher than secondary educated farmers were 7.58 times more likely (OR=7.579, 95%CI=2.45-23.40) to adopt crossbred cattle compared to illiterate or primary educated farmers. Industrial zone was more likely and other two zones were less likely to adoption of crossbred cattle compare to river basin zone. Youths should be trained and educated and also extension services should be provided to the farmers to raise crossbred cattle for increased milk production and household poverty alleviation.