Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meta-analysis on maternal deaths and assessing significant factors for heterogeneity between states of India during 2016

Objective of the study was to provide a more precise estimate of maternal mortality (MM), maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and to identify significant factors contributing for heterogeneity between the states in India. “Metaprop” procedure in STATA software, which are specific to binomial data was applied on state wise MM data published by sample registration system (SRS) during 2014-16. An overall MM estimate and potential sources of heterogeneity could be identified using meta-regression. Corrected estimates of MMR by states were compared. SRS published the MM data by 17 Major states. Overall reported MM was 8.8 per 100, 000 women. Estimate obtained by random effect model was 8.3 (95% CI: 5.9-11.1) per 100,000 women. Heterogeneity between states was very high (I2-statistics =91.9%), and egger regression revealed no reporting bias (p=0.672). Meta-regression analysis indicated that the percent women attending full antenatal care (ANC) visits found to be highly significant (p<0.001) for MM with inverse relationship implying that the states with a higher percentage of women with full ANC visits are likely to have lesser MM. While the estimate of MMR by SRS was 130 per 100,000 live births, corrected MMR was 123 (95% CI: 87-164) accounting for 26% reduction from previous estimate 167 obtained in 2013. This paper provided a precious estimate of both MM and MMR adjusted for sampling weight. Further, the importance of either full ANC visits or four ANC visits could be demonstrated for reduction in MMR on achieving the Millennium development goal (MDG) in the country.
Histological studies on somatic embryogenesis in rice (oryza sativa, l.)

Rice (Oryza sativa) embryogenic calli were obtained from mature zygotic embryos culture using two varieties of rice, Sakha 101 and Sakha104 on Murashige and Skoog (1962 ) medium supplemented with 1mg/l, 2mg/l and 3mg/l 2,4- dichlorophenoxy acetic acid. The results indicated that the best medium was that containing 3mg/l. Histological analysis of somatic embryogenesis revealed that after two weeks of culture of explants on the callus induction medium, somatic embryo development began with a cluster of proembryogenic cells in the peripheral region of the calli. The outer cell layer of embryogenic calli consisted of small and isodiametric cells, each with a dense cytoplasm and a prominent nucleus and nucleolus, whereas the inner cell layer is composed of large cells with small nuclei and large vacuoles. These embryogenic cells underwent a series of organized divisions and formed the proembryo with a well-defined protodermis. At 20 days after initiation of culture, these proembryos continued a series of organized divisions and gave rise to globular somatic embryos which are delimited by a well-defined layer of epidermal cells with conspicuous nuclei. These somatic embryos had no apparent vascular connection with the mother tissue and had a suspensor. After ten days of culture on regeneration medium, globular somatic embryos developed into heart-shaped somatic embryos, which consisted of cells with prominent nuclei and dense cytoplasm. After 15 days of culture on regeneration medium torpedo-shaped somatic embryos were observed. Then, after 25 to30 days, it turned into a monocotyledon form.
Environmental protection investment and enterprise innovation: evidence from Chinese listed companies

China has emerged as the world’s second-largest economy due to its rapid industrial expansion and phenomenal economic growth in recent decades. Though, this exponential economic turnaround has been fueled by widespread energy consumption, making China among the largest pollutant emitters in the world. Chinese enterprises have come under greater scrutiny and the government has mandated Chinese companies to undertake environmental protection investment. However, little is known that how these mandatory environmental investments affect Chinese firms’ ability to undertake R&D expenditures. This study employs data of China’s A-share listed firms during 2008-2016 to examine the nexus between environmental protection investment and corporate innovation. Our findings conjecture the crowding-out effects of environmental investments on enterprise innovation-related expenditures. Furthermore, additional empirical testing reveals that R&D undertakings of state-owned and politically connected firms are not affected by environmental investments. Likewise, corporate innovation activities are not negatively influenced by environmental investments in polluting industries. The study findings offer fresh insights to regulators, corporate managers, and stakeholders. Our results are robust to alternate econometric specifications and alternate variable specifications.
Telescope Array Combined Fit to Cosmic Ray Spectrum and Composition

We present the result of fits of an astrophysical model of UHECR sources to the energy spectrum measured using the Telescope Array (TA) surface detectors and the composition data measured by TA fluorescence detectors in stereo mode. The astrophysical model consists of identical sources, uniformly distributed with a density which evolves with age, where groups of nuclei with varying fractions are accelerated producing a power law source with a rigidity-dependent cutoff. The model includes the propagation effects of photo-pion production, photo-nuclear disintegration and general energy loss from universal expansion. Comparison of model data with detector data in both the energy and the -max distributions is done via a forward-folding description of detector effects. A prediction of the cosmogenic neutrino flux at Earth resulting from the cosmic rays produced in the model with these fit values is also presented. The predicted flux is considerably higher than other similar fits to Auger data have previously predicted.
The Critical Factors of Student Performance in MOOCs for Sustainable Education: A Case of Chinese Universities

COVID-19 has drastically changed human life, both in the current era and, no doubt, in the years to come. One of the hot topics during this period is whether and how COVID-19 will change education patterns in the next few years. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between massive open online courses (MOOCs) and students’ learning performance. To that end, this study combined the gamification concept with the modified information systems (IS) success model and the expectation–confirmation model (ECM) for building a research model. We surveyed 586 students through an online survey and tested the hypotheses. The research results indicated that MOOCs’ information quality (IQ), system quality (SQ), and service quality (SEQ) had positive influences on the confirmation, which then affected MOOCs’ usefulness, satisfaction, and gamification. Students’ continued usage intention and course performance were positively influenced by usefulness and gamification. Students’ continued usage intention of MOOCs also positively affected course performance. The relationship between gamification and satisfaction, however, was not proved. The research results also showed that gamification, which was composed of entertainment, challenge, and social interaction, played a critical role in improving students’ continued usage intention of MOOCs and their course performance.
Fuel Modelling Characterisation Using Low-Density LiDAR in the Mediterranean: An Application to a Natural Protected Area

Fuel structure and characteristics are important to better understand and predict wildfire behaviour. The aim of the present study was to develop a methodology for characterising fuel models using low-density and free LiDAR data that facilitate the work of managers of protected territories. Field inventories were carried out in order to understand the characteristics of the stand and the variables that fuel models must include. This information, together with the use of the intensity and structure provided by LiDAR, was used to perform statistical analyses. The linear regressions obtained to characterise the stand of the mixed Quercus spp. –Pinus ssp. -dominated stand had an R2 value ranging from 0.4393 to 0.66. While working with low-density LiDAR data (which has more difficulties crossing the canopy), in addition to the obtained results, we performed the statistical analysis of the dominant stand to obtain models with R2 values ranging from 0.8201 to 0.8677. The results of this research show that low-density LiDAR data are significant; however, in mixed stands, it is necessary to only use the dominant stratum because other components generate noise, which reduces the predictive capacity of the models. Additionally, by using the decision tree developed in combination, it is possible to update the mapping of fuel models in inaccessible areas, thereby significantly reducing costs.
Organizational demographic faultlines: their impact on collective organizational identification, firm performance, and firm innovation

In this study, we seek to understand the consequences of demographic faultlines at the organizational level. Drawing from the faultline and cross-categorization literature, we suggest that organizational demographic faultlines (based on age and gender) have the potential to either reduce or enhance employees’ collective organizational identification and, thereby, indirectly influence firm performance and innovation. Whether organizational demographic faultlines have detrimental or beneficial effects depends on the functional heterogeneity within faultline-based demographic subgroups, where heterogeneity is defined as the extent to which subgroup members belong to different functional departments. We theorize that this functional heterogeneity alters the degree of social integration between demographic subgroups. Results from a multisource field study of demographic faultlines among 5,495 employees in 82 small and medium-sized firms (< 250 employees) support our model. We demonstrate that organizational demographic faultlines have important consequences, and we show that functional heterogeneity changes whether these consequences are negative or positive.
Differential impact of liana colonization on the leaf functional traits of co-occurring deciduous and evergreen trees

The present study was carried out to analyse the leaf functional traits of co-occurring evergreen and deciduous tree species in a tropical dry scrub forest. This study also intended to check whether the species with contrasting leaf habits differ in their leaf trait plasticity, responding to the canopy-infestation by lianas. A total of 12 leaf functional traits were studied for eight tree species with contrasting leaf habits (evergreen and deciduous) and liana-colonization status (Liana+ and Liana−). In the liana-free environment (L−), evergreen trees had significantly higher specific leaf mass (LMA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) than the deciduous species. Whereas, the deciduous trees had higher specific leaf area (SLA) and mass-based leaf nitrogen concentration (Nmass). The leaf trait-pair relationship in the present study agreed to the well-established global trait-pair relationships (SLA Vs Nmass, Lth Vs SLA, Nmass Vs Lth, Nmass Vs LDMC, LDMC Vs SLA). There was no significant difference between L+ and L− individuals in any leaf functional traits studied in the deciduous species. However, evergreen species showed marked differences in the total chlorophyll content (Chlt), chlorophyll b (Chlb), SLA, and LMA between L+ and L− individuals of the same species. Deciduous species with the acquisitive strategy can have a competitive advantage over evergreen species in the exposed environment (L−) whereas, evergreen species with shade-tolerant properties were better acclimated to the shaded environments (L+). The result revealed the patterns of convergence and divergence in some of the leaf functional traits between evergreen and deciduous species. The results also showed the differential impact of liana colonization on the host trees with contrasting leaf habits. Therefore, liana colonization can significantly impact the C-fixation strategies of the host trees by altering their light environment. Further, the magnitude of such impact may vary among species of different leaf habits. The increased proliferation of lianas in the tropical forest canopies may pose a severe threat to the whole forest carbon assimilation rates.
Prevalence of Helminthiasis and Worm Load among Pre-school Children in Rural Areas of Enugu State

Background: Globally, many people suffer from parasitic infections of the intestines with up to 24% of the world population are affected. These infections are particularly prevalent in low-and middle-income countries and exist mainly among economically and socially disadvantaged populations. This study sought to establish the current prevalence of STHs among preschool children in rural areas of Enugu State. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at Obinofia Ndi-Uno and Obe, rural communities of Enugu State, Nigeria. A pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and Laboratory kits for stool analysis were used. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS statistics version 22. Results: A total of 589 preschool children (294 from Obinofia Ndi-Uno and 295 from Obe) were studied. Ova of helminths were seen in the stool of 47 preschool children giving a prevalence of 8% with ascariasis being the predominant infection. Discussion: The prevalence of worm infection in this study was low compared to some studies in Nigeria, Africa, and other parts of the world.
Incentivizing Innovation: The Causal Role of Government Subsidies on Lithium-Ion Battery Research and Development

Governments design and implement policies to achieve a variety of goals, but perhaps none are as pressing as shifting national economies away from non-renewable fuels and towards more sustainable, environmentally-friendly technologies. To incentivize such transitions, governments provide subsidies to private and public companies to innovate, i.e., to engage in research and development (R&D) to develop those technologies. However, the question of the companies is using government subsidies (GS) to perform R&D and its answer determines the effectiveness of government policies. Consequently, this paper seeks to answer this question through investigating Chinese lithium-ion battery (LiB) firms and the GS they receive through novel usage of information flow (IF). Hausman tests, fixed- and random-effects models confirmed a weak, though positive correlation between GS and R&D as determined by patent output (PO), but interestingly, observations of IF intimated that GS also affected other variables such as net profit (NP) and main business income (MBI). This suggests that firms are being awarded GS for higher PO, but a corresponding increase in R&D and its expected growth in company performance is not occurring. Thus, it is suggested that performance variables other than PO be used as firms may ab (use) this metric to apply for more GS, rather than performing R&D that leads to technological breakthroughs.
Influence of Informal Education in the Forest Stand Redevelopment Area on the Psychological Restoration of Working Adults

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, a significant part of the human population lives and works in urban agglomerations. Limited contact with nature, polluted air, stress, and a sedentary work style all contribute to problems with the physical and mental health of a considerable number of city dwellers. There are many studies indicating the positive, restorative properties of natural environments, such as forests, on human well-being. Our aim was to investigate whether suburban commercial forests in combination with informal environmental education can bring restorative properties to people, especially those who are economically active. Materials and Methods: Four psychological questionnaires were used to determine the restorative properties of a suburban commercial forest on young active people: the Profile of Mood Scale (POMS), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS), and the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS). The experiment involved 60 participants who took forest baths (the act of spending time in a forest and opening your senses to the natural surroundings to experience feelings of peace and wellbeing) in a suburban commercial forest surrounding Świdnik, a city of 40,000 inhabitants located directly next to Lublin (a provincial city with a population of 339,811). The volunteers were divided into three groups; Group A walked an educational route with educational boards (route A1). Group B walked another route with a forest educator who described various forest management activities conducted in this forest (route A2). Group C walked alone, without an educator, along route A2. All three groups arrived at the site of forest stand redevelopment as the end of their route. After a short 10-min exposure to this site, the volunteers again completed the psychological questionnaires. Results: Our study clearly indicates a positive effect from forest bathing in suburban commercial forests. Both the walk with a forest educator and the walk along the educational trail supported psychological recovery for the participants of the experiment, which shows that informal environmental education carried out in forests can be successfully combined with forest bathing, supporting the positive effects of this activity.
Applied Element Modelling of Warping Effects in Thin-Walled C-Shaped Steel Sections

The Applied Element Method (AEM) is a relatively recent numerical technique, originally conceived for simulating the large displacement nonlinear response of reinforced concrete, masonry and steel structures, and successful applications have been presented by various researchers. Recently, AEM was used to model the mechanical behaviour of steel storage pallet racks, i.e., particular cold-formed steel structures typically employed for storing goods and materials. Such systems are often subjected to peculiar displacements and stresses due to warping effects, which are inherent and often govern their behaviour, increasing the peak strength and ultimate displacement demand. This phenomenon has not been studied through AEM yet; hence, this work investigates the capabilities of AEM in simulating the warping effects in typical steel rack members, i.e., thin-walled C-shaped sections. Preliminary results and comparison against established modelling approaches indicate that AEM can accurately simulate this phenomenon, both in terms of displacements and stresses.
What the EdTech Experience in Refugee Camps Can Teach Us in Times of School Closure. Blended Learning, Modular and Mobile Programs Are Key to Keeping Disadvantaged Learners in Education

COVID-19 is reshaping education. UNESCO estimates that at the peak in April 2020 COVID-19 disrupted the education of 1.5 billion enrolled learners in schools and universities in 190 countries. This period of unparalleled educational interruption has prompted a rapid reaction, a move to explore online distance learning solutions. Simultaneously, it has exposed the challenges and complexity of distance learning utilising Educational Technology (EdTech). Despite the many technological innovations, these challenges are not new to refugee learners, their educators and remote learning technology providers. In this article, the authors sought to explore frontline practitioners’ ‘lived experience’ of providing education utilising EdTech when education is disrupted by forced displacement. A small scale, explorative, qualitative study was conducted with educators in refugee camps and urban settings, in Greece, Jordan, Kenya and Rwanda, prior to the pandemic. Expert interviews revealed that EdTech programmes cannot be a stand-alone solution. Blended learning programmes that are context-specific, modular, optimised for mobile technology and delivered by trained and supported teachers are the most effective. The article ends with a reflection on how these findings can be applied globally when learning is disrupted by whatever means and lead to an equitable and sustainable recovery for all.
Late Pleistocene‐Holocene Slip Rates in the Northwestern Zagros Mountains (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) Derived From Luminescence Dating of River Terraces and Structural Modeling

A significant amount of the ongoing shortening between the Eurasian and Arabian plates is accommodated within the Zagros Fold‐Thrust Belt. However, the spatial and temporal distribution of active shortening within the belt, especially in its NW part, is not yet well constrained. We determined depositional ages of uplifted river terraces crossing the belt along the Greater Zab River using luminescence dating. Kinematic modeling of the fault‐related fold belt was then used to calculate long‐term slip rates during the Late Pleistocene to Holocene. Our results provide new insight into the rates of active faulting and folding in the area. The Zagros Mountain Front Fault accommodates about 1.46 ± 0.60 mm a−1 of slip, while a more external basement fault further to the SW accommodates less than 0.41 ± 0.16 mm a−1. Horizontal slip rates related to detachment folding of two anticlines within the Zagros Foothills are 0.40 ± 0.10 and 1.24 ± 0.36 mm a−1. Basement thrusting and thickening of the crust are restricted to the NE part of the Zagros belt. This is also reflected in the regional topography and in the distribution of uplifted terraces. In the southwestern part, the deformation is limited mainly to folding and thrusting of the sedimentary cover above a Triassic basal detachment. In the NE, deformation is associated with slip on basement thrusts. Our study sheds light on the distribution of shortening in the Zagros Mountains and helps to understand the regional tectonic system. Our results may be the foundation for a better seismic hazard assessment of the entire area.
Added value of CMIP6 models over CMIP5 models in simulating the climatological precipitation extremes in China

Performance of six models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) and their new versions in CMIP phase 6 (CMIP6) in representing the climatological (1976–2005) precipitation extremes over China were evaluated based on five precipitation indices. Improvements are found in CMIP6 models in simulating the climatology of all five indices, in which GFDL‐CM4 and GFDL‐ESM4 show significant improvement. Dry biases over South China (SC) are reduced in five CMIP6 models (BCC‐CSM, CanESM, GFDL‐CM, GFDL‐ESM, and IPSL‐CM), with the largest decreased root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) of 59.2% in GFDL‐CM. The reduced dry biases in CMIP6 can be attributed to more moisture transported into SC from the southern boundary and dynamic processes of the atmosphere except in BCC‐CSM, where the increased evaporation dominates. Additionally, increased heavy precipitation events (>20 mm·day−1) are produced over SC in CMIP6 models. Wet biases over West China (WC) are also reduced. with the largest reduced RMSE of 46.8% in GFDL‐CM, which are related to the reduced precipitation frequency (more than 40%) and weakened precipitation intensity. In addition, the CMIP6 models show a higher skill in simulating the frequency distribution of daily precipitation intensity. More heavy precipitation over SC and Northeast China, and fewer weak precipitation (<20 mm·day−1) over WC can be reasonably reproduced. Although the CMIP6 models have obviously improved in simulating total precipitation on wet days, wet days (WD), simple daily intensity index (SDII), and extreme precipitation amount (R95T), the bias still exists in simulating consecutive dry days (CDD).