Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversity‐dependent productivity in semi‐natural grasslands following climate perturbations

Summary 1. The consequences of globally declining biodiversity and climate change for ecosystem functions are intensively debated topics in ecological research. However, few studies have investigated potential interactions, or the combined effects of both scenarios, for ecosystem functioning. In the work presented here we tested the hypothesis that increasing plant diversity acts as insurance for ecosystem functions during extreme weather events which are predicted by climate change scenarios. 2. We measured the effect of plant diversity on above- and below-ground productivity in semi-natural grasslands following experimentally induced early summer drought. To test the insurance hypothesis directly, we determined in each community the range of δ 13 C values of individual plant species as drought stress indicators. 3. Increasing plant diversity significantly enhanced below-ground productivity as a consequence of simulated drought, while above-ground productivity was reduced independently of plant diversity. 4. Plants shifting carbon allocation to below-ground compartments during drought maintain various aspects of ecosystem services and functions. Although we were not able to detect physiological evidence for the insurance hypothesis, we conclude from our below-ground results that plant diversity is an essential entity of ecosystems for maintaining ecosystem functions in a changing climate.
Liquidity Yield and Exchange Rate Predictability

In this paper, we extend the Taylor rule model of exchange rate determination by incorporating the liquidity yield on government bonds and investigate exchange rate predictability. We find that the liquidity yield on government bonds delivers additional predictive power to future exchange rate movements beyond the model with Taylor rule fundamentals, using both in-sample and out-of-sample tests. In particular, the model with liquidity yield exhibits superior predictive power after the currency swap market frictions are controlled.
Bioavailability of zinc from infant foods by in vitro methods (solubility, dialyzability and uptake and transport by Caco‐2 cells)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of zinc from infant foods (adapted, follow-up and toddler milk-based formulas and fruit juices containing milk and cereals, FMC) using solubility, dialyzability and a model combining simulated gastrointestinal digestion and zinc uptake and transport by Caco-2 cells. The greater solubility of zinc from infant formulas compared with fruit juices (FMC) could be due to the greater casein phosphopeptide content resulting from casein hydrolysis. The highest zinc dialysis percentage corresponded to FMC, which on the other hand had the lowest zinc contents of the analyzed samples. The presence of organic acids in samples of this kind favors the formation of soluble low molecular weight complexes with zinc, thereby increasing the solubility of the latter. Bifidobacterium addition exerted no effect upon zinc bioavailability. Transport and uptake efficiency in Caco-2 cells were significantly greater for toddler formulas, which presented the highest casein contents. The greater efficiency in zinc transport and uptake from the powdered toddler formula compared with the liquid formulation could be explained by the effect of Maillard reaction products. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Phytotoxicity of Some Common Weed Species to Certain Vegetable Crops Grown in Jordan

Thirty common weed species of 18 plant families were screened for their phytotoxic effects against certain vegetable crops grown in Jordan. Aqueous shoot extract of Amaranthus gracilis, Convolvulus arvensis, Lactuca serriola and Portulaca oleracea were highly toxic to most crops. High volume of extract in the medium inhibited seed germination or significantly reduced seedlings growth of different tested crops. The inhibitory effect depended on extract level in the medium, with low volume of some weeds extracts enhanced seedlings growth of certain crops. Roots appeared more sensitive to extracts than shoots, with cabbage; onion and tomato were most sensitive. Root exudates of L. serriola were most toxic to germination and growth of most crops with cucumber and onion were most reduced. Volatiles emanated from fresh shoots of certain weeds exhibited various inhibitory actions on different growth parameters of the tested crop species. C. arvensis and L. serriola volatiles were the most harmful to carrot, cucumber, pepper and squash, but cabbage was the most tolerant to all weeds.
Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Its Determinants among Pregnant Women in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an infectious and a global public health problem. The prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women is between 2.3% and 7.9%. HBV infection during pregnancy is associated with prenatal transmission to the fetus. HBV has an effective vaccine which reduces up to 96% of the transmission. Although different studies were conducted in Ethiopia, none of them showed the national prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the pooled prevalence of HBV and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for articles. All observational published studies were retrieved using relevant search terms in Google Scholar, African Online Journal, CINAHL, and PubMed databases. Newcastle-Ottawa assessment checklist for observational studies was used for critical appraisal of the included articles. The meta-analysis was done with STATA version 14 software. The I2 statistics were used to test heterogeneity whereas Begg's and Egger's tests were used to assess publication bias. Odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was presented using the forest plot. Results A total of twenty-three studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of HBV in Ethiopia was 4.75% (95% CI: 4.06, 5.44). The subgroup analysis showed a higher prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women in Gambella (7.9%) and the lowest in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) (2.3%). Associated factors with HBV infection include history of multiple sexual partner (OR = 6.02 (95%CI = 3.86, 9.36)), blood transfusion history (OR = 5.71 (95%CI = 3.25, 10.04)), abortion history (OR = 3.58 (95%CI = 2.10, 6.09)), and history of body tattoo (OR = 2.83 (95%CI = 1.55, 5.17)). Conclusions HBV infection among pregnant women is a common public health problem in Ethiopia. Multiple sexual partners, abortion history, blood transfusion history, and body tattoo were significantly associated with HBV infection. Policies and strategies should focus on factors identified in this study to improve the prevention of HBV among pregnant women.
Enhancing Breastfeeding – Home-Based Education on Self-Efficacy: A Preventive Strategy

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of home-based education intervention on the exclusivity and promoting the rates of self-efficacy of breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted Arak University of Medical Sciences in Takeghani Hospital in Iran between June 2015 and October 2015. A total of 130 eligible and voluntary women hospitalized in Arak University of Medical Sciences Hospital postpartum wards were randomized to receive usual care (n = 65) or education with CD and pamphlets (n = 65). Data regarding exclusive breastfeeding were collected using Denis and Fox's breastfeeding self-efficacy questionnaire. The primary outcome was collected by one assistant researcher during first postpartum visit. The secondary outcome was collected 4 weeks after birth of babies by telephone interviews. Data analysis was performed using descriptive (frequency, mean), independent samples t-test, Student's t-test, t2-test, and Chi-square test. All values of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: There was no significant differences between the intervention and control groups with regard to age (P = 0.086) and gestational age (P = 0.741). The breastfeeding self-efficacy scores were higher in the intervention group (63.66 ± 6.11) than in the control group (57.04 ± 6.18) after 1 month of childbirth (P = 0.001). The exclusive breastfeeding rate in intervention group was 89.2 (n = 58) at 1st month after education compared with 55.4% (n = 36) in control group (P = 0.001). Conclusions: In a setting, a high breastfeeding rate and self-efficacy scores were found in education group. Therefore, nurses and midwives are thus required to adopt various health education strategies, such as home education, encourage breastfeeding.
Impact of BMI on the outcome of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with everolimus: a retrospective exploratory analysis of the BALLET study

Introduction: Reliable biomarkers of response to mTOR inhibition are yet to be identified. As mTOR is heavily implicated in cell-metabolism, we investigated the relation between BMI variation and outcomes in metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients treated with everolimus. Results: we found a linear correlation between everolimus exposure duration and BMI/weight decrease. Patients exhibiting >2 kg weight loss or >3% BMI decrease from baseline at the end of treatment (EOT) had a statistically significant improvement in PFS. Interestingly, a similar BMI/weight decrease within the first 8 weeks of therapy identified patients at higher risk of progression. Patients and methods: we performed a retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in the BALLET trial who progressed during the study. Primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end-point was the identification of other predictors of response. Conclusion: A >3% weight loss at EOT is associated with better outcome in mBC patients treated with everolimus. On the contrary, a significant early weight loss represents a predictor of poor survival and could therefore be used as an early negative prognostic marker. As PI3K-inhibition also converges onto mTOR, these findings might extend to patients treated with selective PI3K inhibitors and warrant further investigation
Performance of sown species and weed ingress in new dairy pastures based on tall fescue and perennial ryegrass.

Poor performance of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and subsequent weed ingress reduces pasture productivity. Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) is more drought- tolerant than perennial ryegrass and may perform better in summer dry upper North Island environments, thus reducing weed ingress. To compare swards based on perennial ryegrass and tall fescue for performance of sown species and weed ingress, a replicated grazed plot study was established. Measurements were made every 3 months from May 2010 until May 2013. Percentage cover of sown species at the canopy surface was significantly higher in perennial ryegrass than tall fescue swards over 3 years. By the end of the third year, basal and canopy cover of unsown species in tall fescue swards reached 28% and 40% respectively compared with only 13% and 7% respectively in perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass swards performed better and may provide a better option for keeping out weeds within the first 3 years of sowing.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in telomere length-related genes are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma risk in the Chinese Han population

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in telomere-related genes are associated with a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the SNPs of telomere length-related genes and their correlation with HCC risk in the Chinese Han population. Materials and methods: A total of 473 HCC patients and 564 healthy volunteers were recruited. Overall, 42 SNPs distributed in telomere-related genes were selected and identified. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: We found rs6713088 (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.07–1.52, p = 0.007), rs843711 (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.09–1.54, p = 0.004) and rs843706 (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.09–1.55, p = 0.003) in the ACYP2 gene, rs10936599 (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.02–1.44, p = 0.032) in the TERC gene and rs7708392 (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.00–1.52, p = 0.042) in the TNIP1 gene were associated with high HCC risk (OR > 1). In contrast, rs1682111 (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.64–0.94, p = 0.008) in the ACYP2 gene, rs2320615 (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.64–0.99, p = 0.038) in the NAF1 gene, rs10069690 (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.59–0.96, p = 0.021) and rs2242652 (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.55–0.90, p = 0.004) in the TERT gene were associated with low HCC risk (OR < 1). Based on genotype frequency distributions, rs6713088, rs843645, rs843711 and rs843706 located in the ACYP2 gene as well as rs10936599 in the TERC gene were associated with a high incidence of HCC (p < 0.05). In addition, SNPs in these genes could form a linkage imbalance haplotype. Specifically, the haploid ‘GC’ formed by rs10069690 and rs2242652 within the TERT gene increased the risk of HCC (p < 0.05). Conclusion: SNPs in ACYP2, TERC, TERT and other genes were correlated with HCC risk in the Chinese Han population. These data may provide new insights into early diagnosis and screening of HCC.
IFAD Research Series 48: Rural Youth, Today and Tomorrow

What would it mean to develop a youth-inclusive agricultural and rural development agenda? Agriculture, and particularly smallholder farming, remains the single largest source of youth employment in most low- and middle-income countries but today’s young rural men and women express little interest in agricultural futures. Research on rural youth aspirations suggests that many young people are not averse to agriculture as such, but to agriculture’s current neglected condition and the near impossibility of becoming an independent farmer while still young, due to lack of access to land. A youth-inclusive agricultural and rural development agenda means approaching young people not as instruments of development, but as subjects, actors and citizens.
THE INFLUENCE OF BODY WEIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND SEASON UPON THE RATE OF OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF THE TERRESTRIAL AMPHIPOD, TALITRUS SYLVATICUS (HASWELL)

Talitrus sylvaticus, a soil-inhabiting amphipod, (Family Talitridae), is widely distributed in the coastal region of eastern Australia and is particularly abundant in the litter layer of sub-tropical rain forests in this region. The experiments described here were designed to obtain part of the data necessary to estimate the quantity of energy which would have been used during a year by a population of Talitrus sylvaticus in a tract of rain forest at Bulli Pass, N.S. W. A preliminary study was made of the relationship between the rate of oxygen consumption of T. sylvaticusand bodyweight. This was followedby a study of the effect of temperature on the rate of oxygen uptake of Talitrus in both summer and winter.
Financial Statements Timeliness: The Case of Malaysian Listed Industrial Product Companies

Timeliness of corporate annual financial reports is a crucial factor which affects the usefulness of information made available to external users especially investors. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of corporate governance towards companies’ performances which consequently affect the timeliness of any report submitted to the local authority. This study takes the industrial product sector and the annual reports of companies operating therein and a list of submission dates of annual report to Bursa Malaysia by Malaysian public listed companies for data analysis. Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between corporate governance and company’s performance using return on asset (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) which will eventually affect the timeliness submission of the annual report to Bursa Malaysia. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) duality and independent audit committee carry a significant relationship with timeliness of financial reporting whereas 8.8% of the studied companies submit early within the statutory requirement while the remaining 91.2% submit timely.
Basal tolerance but not plasticity gives invasive springtails the advantage in an assemblage setting

Abstract As global climates change, alien species are anticipated to have a growing advantage relative to their indigenous counterparts, mediated through consistent trait differences between the groups. These insights have largely been developed based on interspecific comparisons using multiple species examined from different locations. Whether such consistent physiological trait differences are present within assemblages is not well understood, especially for animals. Yet, it is at the assemblage level that interactions play out. Here, we examine whether physiological trait differences observed at the interspecific level are also applicable to assemblages. We focus on the Collembola, an important component of the soil fauna characterized by invasions globally, and five traits related to fitness: critical thermal maximum, minimum and range, desiccation resistance and egg development rate. We test the predictions that the alien component of a local assemblage has greater basal physiological tolerances or higher rates, and more pronounced phenotypic plasticity than the indigenous component. Basal critical thermal maximum, thermal tolerance range, desiccation resistance, optimum temperature for egg development, the rate of development at that optimum and the upper temperature limiting egg hatching success are all significantly higher, on average, for the alien than the indigenous components of the assemblage. Outcomes for critical thermal minimum are variable. No significant differences in phenotypic plasticity exist between the alien and indigenous components of the assemblage. These results are consistent with previous interspecific studies investigating basal thermal tolerance limits and development rates and their phenotypic plasticity, in arthropods, but are inconsistent with results from previous work on desiccation resistance. Thus, for the Collembola, the anticipated advantage of alien over indigenous species under warming and drying is likely to be manifest in local assemblages, globally.
Measuring the Effects of U.S. Uncertainty and Monetary Conditions on EMEs’ Macroeconomic Dynamics

We explore empirically the transmission of U.S. financial and macroeconomic uncertainty to emerging market economies (EMEs). We start by assuming that there are crucial differences between volatility and uncertainty, and between the latter and its shocks. With the help of Bayesian vector autoregressions, we first identify two measures of U.S. uncertainty shocks, which appear to explain the dynamics of output developments better than conventional volatility measures. Next, we find evidence that adverse shocks to U.S. aggregate uncertainty are associated with marked contractions in some EMEs’ business cycles. However, we detect significant cross-country heterogeneity in the responses of EMEs’ business cycles to U.S uncertainty shocks. We also find generalized declines in stock market values, which supports the so-called Global Financial Cycle hypothesis.
Institutional Trading and Price Momentum

This paper aims to explore the effect of institutional trading on the two asymmetric phenomena found by Lee and Swaminathan: (1) asymmetric price momentum: price momentum is more pronounced among high-turnover stocks; (2) asymmetric return phenomenon: low-turnover stocks tend to outperform high-turnover stocks. Lee and Swaminathan use a momentum life cycle to explain the asymmetric momentum effect while attributing the asymmetric return phenomenon to the analysts' overestimating (underestimating) the future profitability of high (low)-turnover firms. However, it essentially needs trading activity to induce both of the above asymmetric results. Because institutional investors exhibit a momentum trading pattern and the trading behavior of institutional investors may have a huge impact on the movement of stock prices, institutional trading may be one of the major driving forces leading to both of the above asymmetric patterns. The empirical results show that, first of all, after controlling for the turnover, the price momentum is still more pronounced among stocks with higher institutional ownership, while high-turnover stocks no longer exhibit a pronounced momentum effect after controlling for the institutional ownership. Furthermore, stocks with higher institutional ownership have better return performance in any of the turnover groups. While low-turnover stocks still outperform high-turnover stocks after controlling for the institutional ownership level, for some winner stocks this is no longer true. The results suggest that the asymmetric momentum effect is not induced by a stock's turnover, but rather it is driven by institutional trading. Turnover is only a proxy for institutional trading. That is, turnover per se has no economic significance in such a momentum phenomenon.
Geriatric Femoral Neck Fractures: Hemiarthroplasty Implant Trends Across a Health System From 2006 to 2018

Introduction: Hemiarthroplasty is increasingly used for the treatment of geriatric femoral neck fractures in an effort to optimize value-based care. The current American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) guidelines released in 2014 for the treatment of geriatric hip fractures recommend the utilization of monopolar cemented constructs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate hip hemiarthroplasty implant cost variability and implant selection trends from 2006 to 2018. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 940 geriatric hip fractures treated with hemiarthroplasty was conducted across 3 institutions from 2006 to 2018. Variables examined were construct type, surgeon, operative time, patient mortality, and implant cost. Statistical analysis consisted of multigroup comparative tests and multiple linear regression analyses to evaluate correlative measures. Results: The study population was 85.0 ± 7.9 years of age with a body mass index of 24.0 ± 5.5. A total of 33 (3.5%) patients were deceased at the 90-day postoperative mark and 45 (4.8%) patients at the 1-year mark. There was no statistical difference in terms of mortality between the 4 implant cohorts at the 90-day mark (P = .56) and 1-year mark (P = .24). The bipolar press-fit construct was the most expensive, US$3900.61 ± US$2607.54, and the monopolar cemented construct was the least expensive, US$2618.68 ± US$1834.16. The mean operative time was 6 minutes greater for press-fit implants, 93.6 ± 32.0, than cemented implants, 87.1 ± 33.6 (P = .02). The use of monopolar cemented implants increased from 12.1% to 83.3%, while bipolar press-fit decreased from 57.6% to 4.6% from 2013 to 2018. Discussion: The use of a bipolar and/or press-fit implant significantly increases construct cost despite little evidence in the literature of improved outcomes. Contrary to previous research, cemented implants do not increase the operative time. Conclusions: Encouragingly, selection of the most cost-conscience implant, monopolar cemented, has been increasing since 2014, which may reflect the influence of current AAOS guidelines. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level III.