Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An observational study of fetomaternal outcome in euthyroid women with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies at tertiary care hospital

Background: Several changes are observed in maternal thyroid function during pregnancy and failure to adapt to these physiological changes results in thyroid dysfunction, especially if complicated by the presence of thyroid antibodies. The presence of TPO-Ab is associated with increased rate of pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, preterm delivery, placental abruption, pregnancy-induced hypertension, intrauterine death and low birth weight. Objective of this study was to study the effect of anti-TPO Ab positivity on pregnancy outcome and estimate the prevalence of anti-TPO Ab in euthyroid obstetric women.Methods: This observational study enrolled 500 euthyroid pregnant women, age 20-35 years, up to 20 weeks gestation. Venous blood samples collected and analyzed for the anti TPO Ab levels. On the basis of anti TPO Ab positivity they were divided into two groups, anti-TPO Ab positive and Ab negative group. These two groups were followed up till delivery or abortion and compared for maternal and fetal outcomes.Results: Prevalence of anti-TPO antibody positivity was 5.2% in euthyroid obstetric women. Most of anti-TPO Ab positive women were overweight. There were higher numbers of miscarriage (11.54%) in anti-TPO Ab positive euthyroid pregnancies than (2.53%) in antibody negative women. Incidence of low birth weight babies was 4-fold higher in anti-TPO Ab positive women. More than two-fold increase in incidence of placental abruption in anti-TPO Ab positive women. Parity, anaemia, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, GDM, PROM, PPH, low Apgar scores, NICU admission, IUD and neonatal death were not significantly associated with anti-TPO Ab positivity.Conclusions: Anti TPO Ab positivity significantly associated with pre-pregnancy BMI, miscarriage rates and low birth weight of newborns.
Roadmapping for Sustainability: Evidence from an Italian-based Multinational Firm

The paper analyses the process through which an Italian-based multinational company that competes in the fashion and accessories industry, developed a roadmap for its sustainability strategy. The paper discusses the use of roadmaps, as a valuable instrument for fostering change and supporting strategic thinking about sustainability. Research methodology is based on participant observation and leverages on a work conducted by the authors in tight relations with key actors in the company on a time frame of 18 months. The paper shows how the case company designed its sustainability roadmap, with the aim of posing individual behaviour at the centre of the change process. The structure of the roadmap is analysed highlighting the design choices that crucially reflect the sustainability strategy developed by the company and enabled its implementation (selection of the layers, and definition of ad hoc sub-layers). Then, examples of the actual use of the roadmap are presented and discussed, in order to pinpoint the benefits of this instrument. The results of the study highlight how firms and organisations can leverage on this type of instruments in order to collect and integrate the proposals of different individuals, aligning their actions to the corporate strategy. Furthermore, this tool can provide a basis for monitoring the results achieved through a proper set of indicators, improving a company’s overall sustainability performance.
Dissolution-precipitation growth of uniform and clean two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides

Abstract Two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted much interest and shown promise in many applications. However, it is challenging to obtain uniform TMDCs with clean surfaces, because of the difficulties in controlling the way the reactants are supplied to the reaction in the current chemical vapor deposition growth process. Here, we report a new growth approach called ‘dissolution-precipitation’ (DP) growth, where the metal sources are sealed inside glass substrates to control their feeding to the reaction. Noteworthy, the diffusion of metal source inside glass to its surface provides a uniform metal source on the glass surface, and restricts the TMDC growth to only a surface reaction while eliminating unwanted gas-phase reaction. This feature gives rise to highly uniform monolayer TMDCs with a clean surface on centimeter-scale substrates. The DP growth works well for a large variety of TMDCs and their alloys, providing a solid foundation for the controlled growth of clean TMDCs by the fine control of the metal source.
A policy to boost R&D: Does the R&D tax credit work?

In this article we address various issues raised by the evaluation of the R&D tax credit policy. We first consider the studies that estimate the direct effects of the tax credit on R&D inputs. We discuss results obtained through different approaches and methods and show that they give a contrasted picture of the policy’s effectiveness. Next we argue that a comprehensive evaluation of the R&D tax credit should include other outcomes and present studies focussing on them. We also initiate a very tentative meta-analysis to obtain a more synthetic view on the various evaluation results. We finally conclude that harmonization and increased comparability in evaluation studies would be useful to bridge the gab between evaluation and policy design and implementation.
Examining the adjustment of popular elementary-aged school children using a clinically-normed measure

by LUCIA C. DWYER (Under the Direction of A. Michele Lease) ABSTRACT The characteristics and behaviors that high status children display are of importance because of the influence they have on social, psychological, and emotional adjustment (Rubin, Bukowski, & Parker, 2006). Research has demonstrated that there are at least two types of high status children: those who are sociometrically popular and those who are perceived popular (Lease, Kennedy, & Axelrod, 2002). The current study sought to determine if perceived popular children compared to other high status children, demonstrated clinically significant or at-risk levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms as well as poor adaptive skills on a nationally normed measure (i.e., Behavior Assessment System for Children; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 1992). Results suggest that popular/well-liked children seem to experience some degree of a buffer from certain negative outcomes that may be a function of the prosocial characteristics that they display. Future studies should investigate the moderating effect prosocial characteristics might have on the adjustment of popular, aggressive children.
Aspects of maximum likelihood methods for the mapping of quantitative trait loci in line crosses

Maximum likelihood methods for the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been investigated in an F2 population using simulated data. The use of adjacent (flanking) marker pairs gave improved power for the detection of QTL over the use of single markers when markers were widely spaced and the QTL effect large. The use of flanking marker loci also always gave moreaccurate and less biassed estimates for the effect and position of the QTL and made the method less sensitive to violations of assumptions, for example non-normality of the distribution. Testing the hypothesis of a linked QTL against that of no QTL is not biassed by the presence of unlinked QTL. This test is more robust and easier to obtain than the comparison of a linked with an unlinked QTL. Fixing the recombination fraction between the markers at an incorrect value in the analyses with flanking markers does not generally bias the test for QTL or estimates of their effect. The presence of multiple linked QTL bias both tests and estimates of effect with interval mapping, leading to inflated values when QTL are in association in the lines crossed and deflated values when they are in dispersion.
Boundary spanner relational skills and inter-organizational control in supply chain relationships

Boundary spanner relational skills are considered critical in the successful management of buyer– supplier relationships and may help avoiding high costs of more formal inter-organizational controls. Yet, the influence of partners’ boundary spanners on effective supply chain collaboration has had much less inquiry than the influence of broader inter-organizational controls. We use survey data of 200 buyer–supplier relationships to examine how these individual and organizational control mechanisms influence the performance effects of interfirm collaborations that vary in scope of activities undertaken. Findings show that collaborative scope as well as boundary spanner relational skills and inter-organizational controls are positively associated with performance. The effect of collaborative scope on firm performance, however, also depends on both mechanisms but in opposite directions: while the influence of collaborative scope on performance is enhanced by interorganizational controls, a partner’s boundary spanner relational skills has a negative moderating effect, indicating that such skills contribute more to the effective management of collaborations of narrow scope than those of broader scope.
Detection of F94L mutation of the MSTN gene in four Indonesian local cattle breeds

The F94L mutation of the MSTN gene ( MSTN -F94L) is considered not to cause disrupted the function of the myostatin gene drastically. Interestingly, this mutation has a very significant effect on muscle mass, carcass, or meat yield and meat quality without any associated severe negative problems. This study aimed to confirm the MSTN -F94L mutation in four local cattle breeds in Indonesia. A total of 518 individuals (140 of Bali, 107 of Sumbawa, 168 of Pasundan, and 103 of Holstein-Friesian (H-F) cattle) were used in this study. Genotype identification was performed by PCR-RFLP method. In the present study showed that the wild-type C allele was fixed (1.000) in Bali, Sumbawa, and HF cattle. However, the wild-type C allele and the mutant A allele were found in Pasundan cattle, even though the frequency of the mutant A allele was very low (0.012). Therefore, in conclusion, the mutation of the MSTN -F94L was detected in Pasundan cattle but no in all three cattle breeds. However, the presence of the mutant A allele in Pasundan cattle allegedly derived from Limousin bulls. The further investigation in other local and exotic breeds and its crossing will answer the status of the MSTN -F94L mutation in local cattle breeds in Indonesia.
Fasting habits, sleep duration, energy availability, and chronic energy deficiency (CED) risk in female students

Fasting habits that are not followed by a healthy balanced diet along with sleep deprivation may cause low energy availability which increases the risk of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED). This study was aimed to describe and analyze the relationship between fasting habits, sleep duration, energy availability and CED risk in Female Students. This study was an observational study conducted in Kyai Galang Sewu Islamic Boarding School. The total subjects were 98 female students age18-24 that were selected by simple random sampling method. CED risk data was assessed using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Fasting habits data was obtained from a questionnaire consisting related to type and duration of fasting, total fasting days and frequency of meals during fasting. Energy availability data was obtained by subtracting energy expenditure from energy intake divided by fat-free mass. Sleep duration data were obtained using the Sleep Timing Questionnaire. Univariate analysis was used to describe each of the variables. Bivariate analysis was performed using Rank Spearman test. Subjects who had CED risk was 44.9%. Subjects that practised fasting regularly was 76.5%, in which 51% of them fast on Monday and Thursday. A total of 49.3% subject often missed early breakfast. All subjects had low sleep duration and low energy availability. There was no relationship between the duration of fasting habits, total days of fasting, and sleep duration with energy availability (p>0.05). However, there was a positive relationship between meal frequency during fasting and energy availability (r = 0.36, p<0.001) and a positive relationship between energy availability and MUAC (r = 0.39, p<0.001). Low energy availability was related to CED risk, while energy availability was influenced by the frequency of meals during fasting.
Knowledge Sourcing: Legitimacy Deficits for MNC Subsidiaries?

Multinational corporations (MNC) search increasingly for lead market knowledge and technological expertise around the globe. We investigate whether their subsidiaries gain access to these valuable sources of host country knowledge to the same degree as domestic rivals. We develop a theoretical framework for "why" and "how" a lack of embeddedness and legitimacy (liability of foreignness) may translate into additional obstacles for foreign subsidiaries. We test these hypotheses empirically using a broad dataset of more than 1,000 innovative firms in Germany. We find that MNCs can compete on an equal footing with host country competitors when it comes to generating impulses for innovations from universities. They are significantly challenged by liabilities of foreignness, though, when host country customers are involved. The disadvantages are especially pronounced when the host country industry is at the technological forefront. We suggest that the disadvantages arising from liability of foreignness in the host country are particularly relevant when promising lead customers have to be identified and their tacit and often unarticulated impulses have to be transferred, understood and prioritized.
Contingent pay, employee attitudes and work intensification

This paper explores the relationships between three dimensions of contingent pay – performance-related pay, profit-related pay and employee share-ownership – and positive employee attitudes (job satisfaction, employee commitment, and trust in management). The paper also examines a conflicting argument that contingent pay may intensify work and this can detract from its positive impact on employee attitudes. Of the three contingent pay dimensions, only performance-related pay had direct positive relationships with all three employee attitudes. Profit-related pay and employee share-ownership had a mix of negative and no significant direct relationships with employee attitudes, but profit-related pay showed U-shaped curvilinear relationships with all three employee attitudes. The results also indicated that performance-related pay is associated with work intensification, and this offsets some of its positive impact on employee attitudes.
Mineral and Citrate Concentrations in Milk Are Affected by Seasons, Stage of Lactation and Management Practices

This study was conducted to examine associations between nutrition, time of year and season of calving on milk mineral concentrations in 24 pasture-based dairy farms. There was substantial variation in the concentrations (mean with range in parentheses) of Ca 1072 (864–1310) mg/kg; citrate 1579 (880–2080) mg/kg; P 885 (640–1040) mg/kg; Mg 98 (73–122) mg/kg; Na 347 (248–554) mg/kg; K 1534 (1250–2010) mg/kg; and S 295 (155–372) mg/kg with most of the variation associated with stage of lactation, although the influence of days in milk was different for different minerals. Feeding practices were also important in determining the concentrations of some components. Milk Ca, citrate, P, and K concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) in cows receiving mineral supplements, while Ca, P and Mg were positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the amount of concentrates fed. Milk citrate and K concentrations were positively correlated (p < 0.05) with herbage allowance. Milk Se (15 (<3–37) µg/kg) and Zn (3.4 (2.2–4.9) mg/kg) also varied with time of year, with Se concentrations also greater (13.7 vs 11.6 µg/kg) in spring compared with autumn calving herds and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the amount of concentrates fed and mineral supplementation. These data indicate that calving pattern and feeding practices could be used to reduce variation in the measured milk mineral concentrations.
POWER SYSTEM STABILITY BENEFITS WITH VSC DC-TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS

The power system is dependent of a stable and reliable control of active and reactive power to keep its integrity. Loosing this control may lead to a system collapse. Voltage Source Converter transmission system technology such as HVDC Light™ has the advantage of being able to almost instantly change its working point within its capability curve. This can be used to support the grid with the best mixture of active and reactive power during stressed conditions. In many cases is a mix of active and reactive power the best solution compared to active or reactive power only. VSC transmission systems can therefore give added support to the grid. Some small 'text-book' grid examples are used to show that for asynchronous infeed, active power modulation damp ~4 times better than reactive power modulation and that local loadability can increase with ~2 times installed converter MVA size. In a parallel case where the VSC transmission system is connected in parallel with the AC system, the VSC transmission system can damp ~2-3 times better than reactive shunt compensation and increase loadability ~1.5 times installed MVA converter size. The benefits with a VSC transmission system during a grid restoration can be considerable since it can control voltage and stabilize frequency when active power is available in the remote end. The frequency control is then not limited in the same way as a conventional power plant where boiler dynamics may limit the operation during a grid restoration.
Analysis of an Optical Burst Switching Network with Code-Based Label Processing

In this paper an optical burst switching (OBS) architecture with optical orthogonal codes (OOC) label processing is analyzed. Just-enough-time (JET) signaling is considered as a higher performance option in relation to other protocols. We demonstrate that a decrease in burst loss probability and a gain in processing time are obtained when optical label processing is used as compared to conventional electronic processing. It is also demonstrated that bursts with short length that would be blocked with electronic processing will be transmitted with optical processing. These results suggest that bufferless optical processing may be used to increase network capacity and to upgrade OBS network performance, in a cost-effective solution.
Suicidal Ideation in University Students: Prevalence and Association With School and Gender

La ideacion suicida es frecuentemente un indicador de problemas mentales y uno de los principales factores de riesgo para el suicidio. Este estudio intenta presentar la prevalencia de ideacion suicida y comparar por genero y por escuelas estudiantes de una universidad portuguesa. En total, 366 alumnos de cuatro escuelas completaron el Cuestionario de Ideacion Suicida (puntuacion ≥ 41 es significativa) y cuestiones sobre la ideacion suicida durante su vida y semana anterior. Se realizaron analisis de frecuencias y la prueba ji-cuadrado. Durante su vida, en el ano y semana anterior se encontraron prevalencias de 12.6%, 10.7% y 10.7%, respectivamente. El mayor porcentaje de alumnos con ideacion suicida pertenece a las Ciencias Humanas y Sociales y el genero femenino, pero estas variables no se relacionan significativamente con la ideacion suicida. Los datos suscitan mas investigacion y refuerzan la importancia de ayudar a los estudiantes a enfrentar las contingencias personales y profesionales desafiantes.
Water relations of field-grown grapevines in the São Francisco Valley, Brazil, under different rootstocks and irrigation strategies

ABSTRACT: There is an increased demand for high quality winegrapes in the Sao Francisco Valley, anew wine producing area in Brazil. As the grape quality is closely linked to the soil water status,understanding the effects of rootstock and irrigation management on grapevine water relations isessential to optimize yield and quality. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of irrigationstrategies and rootstocks on water relations and scion vigour of field-grown grapevines in Petrolina,Pernambuco state, Brazil. The cultivars used as scions are Moscato Canelli and Syrah, both graftedonto IAC 572 and 1103 Paulsen rootstocks. The following water treatments were used: deficit irrigation,with holding water after veraison; and partial root-zone drying, supplying (100% of cropevapotranspiration) of the water loss to only one side of the root system after fruit set, alternating thesides periodically (about 24 days). In general, all treatments had values of pre-dawn leaf water potentialhigher than –0.2 MPa, suggesting absence of water stress. The vine water status was more affectedby rootstock type than irrigation strategies. Both cultivars grafted on IAC 572 had the highest valuesof midday leaf water potential and stem water potential, measured on non-transpiring leaves, whichwere bagged with both plastic sheet and aluminum foil at least 1 h before measurements. For bothcultivars, the stomatal conductance
Osseodensification Drilling vs. Standard Protocol of Implant Site Preparation: An In Vitro Study on Polyurethane Foam Sheets

(1) Background: The aim of the present in vitro investigation was to evaluate, on polyurethane sheets, two different drilling techniques for dental implant positioning using osteocondensing burs compared to a standard type protocol. (2) Methods: Three different implant designs (Implacil De Bortoli UN III 4 × 10 mm, Restore RBM 4 (HEX) × 10 mm; Implacil De Bortoli UN II 4 × 10 mm) were evaluated (test implant (osteocondensing drills) and control implant (standard drills)). The insertion torque (IT), the removal torque (RT) and the resonance frequency analysis (RFA) values of test and control implants inserted in different size and different density polyurethane foam models were compared for 120 experimental sites. Accordingly, 120 experimental holes were produced in different PCF polyurethane foams: 60 sites were produced in 10 PCF sheets and 60 sites in 10 PCF sheets with an additional 1 mm layer of 30 PCF. (3) Results: The IT, removal torque and RFA values were significantly higher for both of the evaluated implants, in the sites prepared with the osteocondenser drills when compared to sites prepared with standard drills (p < 0.05). The UNII and UN III showed significantly higher stability compared to the HEX implant; these differences increased drastically in the 10 PCF Polyurethane Block with the additional 1 mm cortical layer (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The outcome of this investigation suggested a possible clinical application of osteocondensing burs in case of reduced bone quality and quantity in the posterior maxilla.
Leader Member Exchange: An Interactive Framework to Uncover a Deceptive Insider as Revealed by Human Sensors

This study intends to provide a theoretical ground that conceptualizes the prospect of detecting insider threats based on leader-member exchange. This framework specifically corresponds to two propositions raised by Ho, Kaarst-Brown et al. [42]. Team members that are geographically co-located or dispersed are analogized as human sensors in social networks with the ability to collectively “react” to deception, even when the act of deception itself is not obvious to any one member. Close interactive relationships are the key to afford a network of human sensors an opportunity to formulate baseline knowledge of a deceptive insider. The research hypothesizes that groups unknowingly impacted by a deceptive leader are likely to use certain languageaction cues when interacting with each other after a leader violates group trust.