Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of mergers and acquisitions on corporate performance: emerging perspectives from Indian IT sector

Abstract This article is an attempt to investigate the impact of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on corporate performance of Indian IT sector for the period 2007–2015. The focus of this article is on Indian IT sector as it has been the growth engine of the economy and emerging as its most internationalised sector. This article has engaged, fixed and random effect panel data models to measure the impact of M&As on various financial variables with comparative analysis of domestic and cross border deals. The findings reveal that the M&As have significant positive impact on Return on Net worth and Revenue of IT companies in India when both domestic and cross-border regions were considered together. Whereas, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation experienced significant decline. Return on Capital Employed did not experience any significant impact due to M&As. When the impact of M&As was analysed separately for domestic and cross-border deals, it was obtained that the impacts are in different directions for domestic and cross-border deals in two out of four variables. The significant inference is that domestic deals per se are much better than the cross border deals.
Efficiency of Online Course of Medical Statistics in Nanjing Medical University During the COVID-19 Epidemic

Background: To analyze the online course efficiency of a combined mode of Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) micro-video and E-learning platform in Nanjing Medical University during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: We developed a new questionnaire to assess the efficiency of online teaching of medical statistics in Nanjing Medical University. This investigation enrolled students participating in the online course of medical statistics from January 2020 to June 2020. The “Questionnaire Star” electronic questionnaire collection system was used to collect data. Results: In total, 1050 of the 1210 (86.78%) students completed the questionnaire, including 971 (92.48%) juniors. To be specific, 57.33% of the students majored in clinical medicine, 15.14% in pharmacy, 10.38% in pediatrics, 8.00% in medical imageology, and 6.29% in basic medicine. As to the question "Are you satisfied with the current online teaching method? ", 354 (32.77%) students responded with "Agree" and "Strongly Agree", and 1012 (96.47%) thought they needed to consolidate what they had learned after returning to school. Most students reported their "Difficulties in the learning process" by "Learning motivation" and "Personal inertia" (59.90% and 58.29%, respectively). Conclusions: The online course of medical statistics was favored by most students, suggesting its efficiency an efficient alternative to classroom study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet there were still some problems, such as inconvenient communication between teachers and students, poor mastery of key knowledge, which should be resolved in classroom teaching at school.
Nutritional status and cognitive function among the elderly population: Findings from a rural community of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India

Introduction and Aim: Changes in nutritional status play an important role in progress of cognitive decline among the elderly. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and cognitive function among the elderly population and factors associated with them. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural community among 270 elderly individuals. Data was collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Tool (MNA) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) Tool to assess the nutritional, status and cognitive functioning. Data was analysed using Chi square test and Pearson correlation coefficient test. Results: As per MNA scale, 63.3% of the participants are at risk of malnutrition and 8.9% are malnourished. Assessment by MMSE scale reported 25.6% having mild cognitive impairment and 11.1% having moderate cognitive impairment. Statistically significant difference was seen between age groups, presence of co-morbidity and categories of MNA tool. Almost two thirds of the participants belonging to mild cognitive impairment category were in the age group of 60-69 years and this difference was statistically significant. Moderate positive co-relation between mini nutritional assessment scores and mini mental state examination scores was reported and this was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The study results report more than two thirds of the participants were at risk of malnutrition and were malnourished. Almost 40% of them had mild and moderate cognitive function impairment. The study has implications at policy level highlighting the need for comprehensive assessment and care and its integration into primary health care. Keywords: Nutritional status; cognition; aged.
Degradation of sucralose present in Splenda® sweetener by TiO2 photocatalysis assisted with photo-Fenton

The pollutant legislation and its ecotoxicological dates recognize several water pollutants. However, there are others that have not yet been recognized as emerging organic pollutants because the damage that could be caused to the environment, especially in the water, is still unknown. For example, it is interesting to pay attention on Splenda because is increasingly consumed worldwide today. Splenda is one of the emerging pollutants that has not yet been formally declared as a pollutant, but there are some findings that show Splenda as a water pollutant, specifically the sucralose molecule, due to persistence in the environment. In this work, the mineralization of Splenda, in different initial concentrations (72 mg l-1, 144 mg l-1 and 288 mg l-1), was carried out by TiO2 photocatalysis assisted with photo-Fenton. Splenda mineralization is less than 58% by these processes when used separately; however, Splenda was mineralized 62.8% (72 mg l-1), 83.7% (144 mg l-1) and 58.8% (288 mg l-1) by TiO2 photocatalysis assisted with photo-Fenton at 2 h, 5 h and 5 h, respectively. In all cases, the mineralization followed a pseudo-first-order reaction.
Rising and Falling Trends in Incidence Rates of Vulvar and Vaginal Cancers in the United States, 2000-2016

Background: Few studies focus on incidence trends in vulvar and vaginal by histological type, race, age, and region. We aimed to evaluate the temporal incidence trends and survival for the two cancers.Methods: Cases with primary vulvar or vaginal carcinoma from 2000-2016 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 registries. Annual percent change (APC) and average APC (AAPC) were calculated to evaluated trends. Relative survival was estimated to compare survival outcomes.Results: Vulvar cancer incidence rates were highest among non-Hispanic whites (20.9 per 1,000,000 person-years) and in the Midwest (27.7), while vaginal cancer rates were highest among non-Hispanic blacks (8.2) and in the South (6.7). Overall, vulvar cancer rate increased 0.4% annually (AAPC, 0.4%; 95% CI, 0.1% to 0.6%), but vaginal cancer rate decreased 1.4% annually (AAPC, -1.4%; 95% CI, -2.0% to -0.5%). The increased vulvar cancer rate was only observed for squamous cell carcinoma (APC, 1.0%), while the decreased vaginal cancer rate was only observed for other malignancies (APC, -1.7%). Vulvar cancer rates increased only among whites (APC, 1.2%), but vaginal cancer rates decreased only among whites (AAPC, -1.3%) and Asians (APC, -2.7%). Vulvar cancer rates increased among patients aged 50-59 (APC, 1.1%), 60-69 (APC, 1.3%), and 70-79 (APC, 1.2%) years, while vaginal cancer rates decreased among patients aged 50-59 (APC, -1.4%) and 80 (APC, -1.4%) years or older. Overall, whites had the highest five-year relative survival for both vulvar (72.22%) and vaginal (49.03%) cancers. Conclusion: There were profound disparities in vulvar and vaginal cancer incidence rates attributable to histological type, race, age, and region. The increased vulvar cancer rates and the declined vaginal cancer rate highlights the importance of further studies to investigate the reason for the disparities.
First description of whistles of Black Sea short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis ponticus

ABSTRACT The study presents the first quantitative description of whistles (N = 1,017) recorded from free-range short-beaked common dolphins D. delphis ponticus, an endemic subspecies from the Black Sea. The dolphins produced high-pitched frequency-modulated whistles with the fundamental frequency of 1.6–33.2 kHz, the median values of minimum and maximum frequencies being 8.6 kHz and 16.0 kHz, respectively. Whistle duration varied from 0.16 to 2.94 s, with a median value of 1.04 s. Whistle contours with inflection points were the most common (74% of the whistles), followed by simpler whistles: downsweep (13%), upsweep (12%), and flat (1%). Stereotyped repeated frequency-modulated whistles registered in this and previous studies may serve as individual distinctive ‘signature whistles’ in common dolphins. Whistle parameters of the Black Sea subspecies correspond to those reported for D. delphis recorded in neighbouring regions: the Mediterranean Sea and Central–Eastern North Atlantic Ocean. Maximum whistle frequency in common dolphins exhibits a relationship with the body size, similarly to some other dolphin species. Together with minimum frequency, these are parameters with the least coefficients of variation; thus, they may be species-specific acoustic characteristics. This information can be used to distinguish between sympatric dolphin species during their passive acoustic monitoring.
Improving Reproductive Hormones, Semen Quality, and Antioxidative Capacity of Rabbit Bucks Administrated with Moringa Seeds Extract

Effects of daily oral administration with ethanolic Moringa oleifera seeds extract (EMS), as an improving factor, were investigated on physiological and semen quality traits of NZW rabbit bucks. Adult bucks (n=40) were randomly divided into four groups of 10 bucks in each. Bucks were daily treated with oral dose of EMS (0, 900, 1200, and 1500 mg/buck) for 16 weeks; 8 weeks as a preliminary interval, and 8 weeks as a main semen collection interval. Results showed that all levels of EMS administrations mass motility, progressive motility, livability, membrane integrity of spermatozoa, sperm cell concentration, total sperm output, motility index, semen initial fructose, blood plasma FSH and LH, hemoglobin, red blood cells and globulin as well as testosterone, total proteins, albumin, and antioxidants capacity in blood plasma and the seminal plasma, epididymal weights, and spleen-somatic index were increased (P<0.05), while semen pH value, abnormality, acrosomal damage of spermatozoa, platelets, lipid profile, the activity of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde were decreased (P<0.05). Administration of EMS (900 mg/buck) improved (P<0.05) only white blood cells. Pregnancy rate and litter size at birth (live) and weaning, and kit viability rate at birth were (P<0.05) improved. Practically, it could be suggested that oral supplementation of EMS (900, 1200, and 1500 mg/buck) is a suitable tool for improving semen quality, antioxidant status, and reproductive traits of rabbit bucks, particularly EMS at a level of 900 mg/buck.
The effect of Profitability and Stock Split on Stock Return

Purpose of the study is to examine the effect of profitability and stock split on stock returns. This study is carried out on companies that undertake stock split on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The sampling technique used is purposive sampling. The study involves 41 companies that conduct a stock split on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Data analysis techniques used in this research is linear regression. The result of this study shows that the profitability proxied using the earning per share indicator and return on investment has a significant effect on stock returns. Meanwhile, the stock split is also found has a significant effect on stock return. The result of this study indicates that companies that have higher profitability will provide high stock returns to shareholders. Besides, companies that conduct stock splits receive higher stock returns than companies that are not.
Dynamic Variation and Prognostic Value of Weight Loss During Radiotherapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Large-Scale Cohort Study

Background: We aim to investigate the dynamic variation and prognostic value of weight loss among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: A total of 1149 newly diagnosed NPC patients who received radical radiotherapy (RT) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients’ weights were measured at initiation of RT and every week during RT. Recursive partitioning analyses (RPAs) were utilized to determine cut-off value for rate of weight loss (RWL). Disease-free survival (DFS) was our primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included locoregional relapse-free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: RWLs were 0%, 0%, -1.54%, -2.86%, -4.11%, -5.98%, -6.56% at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th week of RT, respectively. RWL optimal threshold with respect to DFS was -5.3% based on RPAs. Thus, a consistent threshold of -5% (> -5% versus ≤ -5%) was selected to classify NPC patients into low RWL and high RWL groups for survival analysis. Compared to high RWL (≤-5%), patients with low RWL (> -5%) had significantly better ten-year DFS (78.6% versus 61.2%; P< 0.001), OS (86.6% versus 70.1%; P< 0.001), and DMFS (88.5% versus 80.2%; P = 0.007). However, no difference was observed between LRRFS groups (91.7% versus 94.3%; P= 0.173). In multivariate analysis, high RWL was an independent risk factor for DFS (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.19-2.03; P= 0.001), OS (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.11-2.15; P= 0.011) and DMFS (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.03-2.10; P= 0.033) in patients with NPC. Additionally, chemotherapy and old age were attributed to the development of high RWL.Conclusions: Weight loss during RT was significantly associated with decreased survival among NPC patients. Clinicians should continuously inform patients on the health impact of minimizing weight loss under 5%.
Epidemiologic characteristics of a Hungarian subpopulation of Huntington’s Disease patients

Background: recent advances in the therapeutic options may prevent deterioration related to Huntington’s disease (HD) even at the presymptomatic stage. However, a well-characterized patient population is essential for screening and outcome monitoring as well. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of a Hungarian subpopulation of HD patients and mutation carriers diagnosed at the University of Szeged.Methods: we conducted a search for International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code G10H0 in the local medical database for the period between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2018.Results: we identified 90 HD cases (male: 45, female: 45) and 34 asymptomatic carriers (male: 15, female: 19). The median age of onset was 45 years (range: 16-79). There were 3 cases of juvenile (3.3%), and 7 of late disease onset (7.8%). The median repeat length was 43 (range: 36-70) for the pathological and 19 for the non-pathological alleles (range: 9-35). 17.5% of the pathological alleles was in the decreased penetrance range, while 7% of non-pathological alleles was intermediate.Conclusions: the genetic and clinical features of the population examined in present study was in line with the previous Hungarian study as well as with international literature, the exceptions being the higher ratio of reduced penetrance and intermediate alleles.
Genetic parameters of soybean populations obtained from crosses between grain and food genotypes

In addition to the agronomic traits of interest, soybean cultivars destined for human consumption must have specific attributes that meet the demands of the consumer market. To meet this demand, this study aimed to select progenies with agronomic and commercial traits of interest from soybean populations obtained from crosses between different food and grain genotypes and to estimate the genetic parameters of these populations. The F3:4 and F4:5 progenies that originated from the two crosses were evaluated in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 agricultural years, respectively, using the pedigree method. The experimental design utilized augmented blocks, while statistical analyses were performed by using the REML/BLUP methodology. The evaluated traits were plant height at maturity (APM), insertion height of first pod (AIV), lodging (AC), agronomic value (VA), number of pods per plant (NV), number of days to maturity (NDM), number of branches (NR), number of nodes (NN), 100-seed weight (PCS), and grain yield per plant (PG). The best progenies were selected, and the following genetic parameters were estimated: genetic variance, phenotypic variance, heritability, and selective accuracy. The estimates of the genetic parameters indicate the presence of high genetic variance in these populations. Heritability was high for most of the traits, indicating good potential for the selection of superior genotypes.
A study to evaluate the prevalence of menstrual and reproductive dysfunctions in women of Reoroductive age group with thyroid dysfunction

Background: Thyroid dysfunctions are marked by various menstrual irregularities. Most common thyroid dysfunction among reproductive age group women is hypothyroidism. This study is being done to evaluate prevalence of menstrual and reproductive dysfunction in women of 18-45 age group with thyroid dysfunction. Methods: The study population consisted of 200 women attending gynaecology outpatient clinic, at KIM’s medical college a teaching and referral hospital, Amalapuram. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria study population was selected and detailed personal, demographic and gynaecological history was taken. Subjects with menstrual disorders were further investigated for subclinical hypothyroidism. Clinical test done by taking early morning sample of venous blood for T3, T4 and TSH estimation. Results: Among 200 women under study majority were in the age group of 25-31 years (40%], 7% had infertility and 12% had history of abortions. Majority in the study group had menorrhagia (28%), dysmenorrhea (20.5%) and oligomenorrhea (16%). Among 200 women, 45 women (23.5%) detected to have a subclinical hypothyroidism. Conclusion: The study revealed that subclinical hypothyroidism is the most prevalent thyroid disorder among females with menstrual disorder. Moreover, the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was found to be the most prevalent among females suffering from menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea. There is a significant association between thyroid disorders and abnormal uterine bleeding. Measures should be taken to manage subclinical hypothyroidism in an attempt to reduce its later consequences.
Transformations of silver nanoparticles in wastewater effluents: links to Ag bioavailability

Wastewater effluents represent one of the main routes through which silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) can reach natural aquatic environments, where they may interact with a range of organisms. However, in wastewaters, Ag NPs may undergo different chemical and physical transformations, which may alter NP toxicity towards aquatic organisms. The main objectives of this study are to characterize the dissolution and speciation of a Ag NP in a wastewater effluent and to assess its interactions with a model organism, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (green alga), in the same medium. Experiments were conducted to distinguish the effect(s) of the wastewater matrix on the dissolution of Ag NPs and to determine whether the transformed NPs or the dissolved Ag species would be more bioavailable to C. reinhardtii. It was shown that in the wastewater effluent, Ag bioavailability was significantly reduced with respect to experiments using similar Ag concentrations in simple media. The substantial reduction in Ag bioavailability in wastewaters could be explained by the presence of high concentrations of organic/inorganic ligands, which complexed the Ag and the presence of substantial competing ions. Nonetheless, Ag NPs did appear to be bioavailable to C. reinhardtii at higher concentrations, as observed from bioaccumulation experiments comparing dissolved Ag and Ag NPs. Since the biouptake of Ag NPs could not be explained by concentrations of free Ag alone, it was hypothesized that complexed Ag species and/or small NPs may have contributed to biouptake. The results suggested that the chemistry of wastewaters had a significant effect on the bioavailability of Ag NPs, by modifying their physicochemical transformations.
Factors Affecting Willingness to be Tested for COVID-19

This study was conducted to ascertain the degree of willingness of the respondents in undergoing a COVID-19 test whether or not they are experiencing its symptoms in relation to their possible motivations and/or aversions in so doing. This study employed a researcher-made instrument using a Likert scale. A Microsoft Office Forms online survey was created and respondents were invited to participate through Facebook, Facebook Messenger and Twitter. The survey was open to the public for 4 days and a total of 147 respondents answered. The results indicate that willingness to be tested if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 depended on the particular symptom. Reasons for the respondents’ unwillingness to be tested despite possibly having said symptoms varied in their degree of importance. And the reasons for the respondents’ willingness to be tested if the symptoms are absent also appeared to possess different levels of significance.
Effect of integrated nutrient management on quality, content, uptake and available nutrient status in soil after harvest of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)

A field experiment was carried out at Agronomy Instructional Farm, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during rabi season of 2017-18 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on quality, content, uptake and available nutrient status in soil after harvest of cumin. The experiment consisting ten treatments was laid out in randomised block design with four replications on loamy sand soil. Various practices did not showed any significant effect on volatile oil content (%) of cumin. A significant increase in nitrogen content in seed and straw was obtained with application of 50% RDN through vermicompost + 50% RDN through fertilizer + Azotobacter + PSB (T9). It also recorded significantly higher N, P and K uptake in seed and straw. Treatment 100% RDN through FYM + Azotobacter + PSB (T2) recorded significantly higher value for available N, while treatment 100% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobacter + PSB (T3) recorded significantly higher value for available P2O5 status in soil after harvest of cumin crop.
A Note on Some Results for $C$-controlled $K$-Fusion Frames in Hilbert Spaces

In this manuscript, we study the relation between K-fusion frame and its local components which leads to the definition of a $C$-controlled $K$-fusion frames, also we extend a theory based on K-fusion frames on Hilbert spaces, which prepares exactly the frameworks not only to model new frames on Hilbert spaces but also for deriving robust operators. In particular, we define the analysis, synthesis and frame operator for $C$-controlled $K$-fusion frames, which even yield a reconstruction formula. Also, we define dual of $C$-controlled $K$-fusion frames and study some basic properties and perturbation of them.