Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Common Cycles, Common Trends and Convergence

AbstractStructural time series models are formulated in terms of compo-nents, such as trends, cycles and seasonals, that have a direct interpre-tation. As such they are able to provide a description of a series as wellas yielding forecasts. Interactions between components in di⁄erent se-ries are easily captured and it is straightforward to impose commonfeature restrictions. This article reviews a multivariate extension thatallows convergence to a common growth path and uses newly availablepost-sample data to evaluate the forecasting performance of models re-ported in earlier papers. The case studies in question concern incomeper head in the US and Japan and in US regions. The relationshipbetween similar and common cycle models is explored and a test forcommon cycles is applied to US and Canadian GDP.KEYWORDS: Common features, cycles; balanced growth; errorcorrection mechanism; stochastic trend; unobserved components.JEL Classi–cation: C32, O40 1 Introduction In their investigation of relationships between stationary components, re-ferring to such co-movements in economic series as ‚common feature cycles™,Engle and Kozicki (1993) motivate further investigation of such relationships.In particular, they make the following remark (p. 376): ‚Often, however, the1
Pipe Flow: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide

Description: Presents the information needed to design and analyze piping systems With its detailed coverage of pressure drop and other phenomena related to fluid flow within pipes, Pipe Flow enables readers to design and analyze the piping systems needed to support a broad range of industrial operations, distribution systems, and power plants. Throughout the book, the authors demonstrate how to accurately predict and manage pressure loss while working with a variety of piping systems and piping components. Pipe Flow draws together and reviews the growing body of experimental and theoretical research on fluid flow in piping and its components, including important loss coefficient data gathered from various flow configurations. The book is divided into three parts: Part I sets forth the essential methodology required to solve pipe flow problems. It begins with a discussion of the fundamental physical properties of fluids and the nature of fluid flow and ends with a method to assess the uncertainty associated with pipe flow calculations. Part II presents consistent and reliable loss coefficient data for a wide selection of piping components. Experimental test data and published formulas are examined, integrated, and organized into broadly applicable equations. The results are presented in straightforward tables and diagrams. Part III examines flow phenomena that affect the performance of piping systems, including cavitation and flow–induced vibration. Sample problems and their solutions are provided throughout the book, demonstrating how core concepts are applied in practice. In addition, references and further reading sections enable readers to explore all the topics in greater depth. With its clear explanations, Pipe Flow is recommended as a textbook for engineering students and as a reference for professional engineers who need to design, operate, and troubleshoot piping systems. Pipe Flow employs the English system of units as well as the International System (or SI).
Women’s Involvement in Decision-Making and Associated Factors Among Women Who Underwent a Caesarean Section in Sidama Region, South Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study

Background A caesarean delivery without maternal involvement in decision-making reduces the quality of health care and breaks women’s autonomy. However, the involvement of women in decision-making to have a caesarean delivery is minimal. Still, now paternalism is widely practised. The study aims to assess women’s involvement in decision-making and associated factors among women who underwent a caesarean delivery. Methods Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Sidama region Public hospitals from June 22/2022-August 5/2022, among women who underwent a caesarean delivery. The total sample size was 457. The collected data was exported from the ODK toolbox server to excel and then to SPSS version 26 for further data cleaning and analysis. The variables with a p-value ≤ 0.25 in the bivariable analysis were included in a multivariable ordinal logistic regression model to control possible confounders. The resulting odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were computed, and a p-value of less than 0.05 is considered statistically significant. Results Women’s agreed decision-making involvement to have a caesarean delivery is 165(37.9%). Women who had an scheduled caesarean delivery [AOR: 7.6; 95% CI: 3.3, 17.8], had adequate information about caesarean delivery [AOR: 5.7; 95% CI:3.3, 10.0], had adequate time for decision-making [AOR: 4.6; 95% CI:2.09, 6.4], language of consent [AOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.1], and women-healthcare providers relationship [AOR: 5.2; 95% CI: 3.2, 8.6]are higher odds of being involved in decision-making, but women’s being primary school [AOR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.3,0.97] are lower odds of involvement in decision-making to have a caesarean delivery. Conclusion and recommendation In this study, women’s agreed decision-making involvement to have a caesarean delivery is low compared with other studies. Women-healthcare providers’ relationship and an unscheduled caesarean delivery are highly affect their involvement in decision-making. Therefore, hospitals should translate and prepare the consent form in an understandable way for women and families, and healthcare providers should develop good relationship and encourage her involvement.
Characterising ice slabs in firn using seismic full waveform inversion, a sensitivity study

Abstract The density structure of firn has implications for hydrological and climate modelling, and ice-shelf stability. The structure of firn can be evaluated from depth models of seismic velocity, widely obtained with Herglotz–Wiechert inversion (HWI), an approach that considers the slowness of refracted seismic arrivals. However, HWI is strictly appropriate only for steady-state firn profiles and the inversion accuracy can be compromised where firn contains ice layers. In these cases, full waveform inversion (FWI) may yield more success than HWI. FWI extends HWI capabilities by considering the full seismic waveform and incorporates reflected arrivals. Using synthetic firn density profiles, assuming both steady- and non-steady-state accumulation, we show that FWI outperforms HWI for detecting ice slab boundaries (5–80 m thick, 5–80 m deep) and velocity anomalies within firn. FWI can detect slabs thicker than one wavelength (here, 20 m, assuming a maximum frequency of 60 Hz) but requires the starting velocity model to be accurate to ±2.5%. We recommend for field practice that the shallowest layers of velocity models are constrained with ground-truth data. Nonetheless, FWI shows advantages over established methods, and should be considered when the characterisation of firn ice slabs is the goal of the seismic survey.
Increased Alveolar Epithelial Damage Markers and Inflammasome-Regulated Cytokines Are Associated with Pulmonary Superinfection in ARDS

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening form of respiratory failure defined by dysregulated immune homeostasis and alveolar epithelial and endothelial damage. Up to 40% of ARDS patients develop pulmonary superinfections, contributing to poor prognosis and increasing mortality. Understanding what renders ARDS patients highly susceptible to pulmonary superinfections is therefore essential. We hypothesized that ARDS patients who develop pulmonary superinfections display a distinct pulmonary injury and pro-inflammatory response pattern. Serum and BALF samples from 52 patients were collected simultaneously within 24 h of ARDS onset. The incidence of pulmonary superinfections was determined retrospectively, and the patients were classified accordingly. Serum concentrations of the epithelial markers soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) and the endothelial markers vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoetin-2 (Ang-2) as well as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin 18 (IL-18), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) were analyzed via multiplex immunoassay. Inflammasome-regulated cytokine IL-18 and the epithelial damage markers SP-D and sRAGE were significantly increased in ARDS patients who developed pulmonary superinfections. In contrast, endothelial markers and inflammasome-independent cytokines did not differ between the groups. The current findings reveal a distinct biomarker pattern that indicates inflammasome activation and alveolar epithelial injury. This pattern may potentially be used in future studies to identify high-risk patients, enabling targeted preventive strategies and personalized treatment approaches.
A Review of Hormone and Non-Hormonal Therapy Options for the Treatment of Menopause

Abstract Understanding the role of both menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) along with non-hormonal options for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms, sleep disruption, and genitourinary symptoms after menopause is critical to the health of women during middle and later life. Recent updates to the evidence for the treatment of menopausal symptoms pertaining to both hormonal and non-hormonal therapies as well as updated guidance from specialty societies can help guide clinicians in their treatment of women going through natural menopause or with estrogen deficiencies due to primary ovarian insufficiency or induced menopause from surgery or medications. The objective of this narrative review is to provide clinicians with an overview of MHT for the use of menopausal symptoms in women, incorporating updated primary evidence for risk versus benefit profiles, recent specialty society recommendations, and alternative, non-hormonal options. In this review, we summarize literature on the use of MHT for menopause-related symptomatology including options for formulations and dosages of MHT, non-hormonal treatment options, and the risk–benefit profile of MHT including long-term health consequences (eg, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, venous thromboembolism, and fracture risk). Finally, we highlight areas in which future research is needed to advance care of women after menopause. In summary, both hormonal (MHT) and non-hormonal options exist to treat symptoms of menopause. There is strong evidence for safety and effectiveness of MHT for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms among women who are less than 60 years of age, less than 10 years since menopause, and without significant cardiometabolic comorbidities. For others, treatment with hormonal versus non-hormonal therapies can be considered based on individual risk profiles, as well as other factors such as drug formulation, therapeutic goals, and symptom severity.
Assessing the Value of Multimodal Interfaces: A Study on Human–Machine Interaction in Weld Inspection Workstations

Multimodal user interfaces promise natural and intuitive human–machine interactions. However, is the extra effort for the development of a complex multisensor system justified, or can users also be satisfied with only one input modality? This study investigates interactions in an industrial weld inspection workstation. Three unimodal interfaces, including spatial interaction with buttons augmented on a workpiece or a worktable, and speech commands, were tested individually and in a multimodal combination. Within the unimodal conditions, users preferred the augmented worktable, but overall, the interindividual usage of all input technologies in the multimodal condition was ranked best. Our findings indicate that the implementation and the use of multiple input modalities is valuable and that it is difficult to predict the usability of individual input modalities for complex systems.
Backwards from zero: How the U.S. public evaluates the use of zero-day vulnerabilities in cybersecurity

ABSTRACT Zero-day vulnerabilities are software and hardware flaws that are unknown to computer vendors. As powerful means of carrying out cyber intrusions, such vulnerabilities present a dilemma for governments. Actors that develop or procure such vulnerabilities may retain them for future use; alternatively, agencies possessing such vulnerabilities may disclose the flaws to affected vendors so they can be patched, thereby denying vulnerabilities not only to adversaries but also themselves. Previous research has explored the ethics and implications of this dilemma, but no study has investigated public opinion regarding zero-day exploits. We present results from a survey experiment testing whether conditions identified as important in the literature influence respondents’ support for disclosing or stockpiling zero-day vulnerabilities. Our results show that respondents overwhelmingly support disclosure, a conclusion only weakly affected by the likelihood that an adversary will independently discover the vulnerability. Our findings suggest a gap between public preferences and current U.S. policy.
Who can work from home in MENA?

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the world economy. The need for social distancing, lockdowns, or complete curfews has meant that this impact varied significantly across segments of society. Those unable to work remotely, or who work in settings necessitating close contact with others faced a trade-off between their lives and livelihoods. This trade-off was especially pronounced early on during the pandemic when vaccines had not yet been developed, hospitals were overwhelmed and governments were resorting to strict social distancing measures to mitigate the impact on their already strained healthcare systems. In this study, I examine the extent to which jobs can be successfully performed remotely in five MENA countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Tunisia. I develop a teleworkability index using micro data on occupational characteristics. I find that relatively few jobs in MENA countries are compatible with teleworking and this share varies considerably by industry, gender, age and the formality of employment. I further investigate the ability to work from home in practice by considering the digital divide (a lack of reliable access to vital tools for teleworking, such as a personal computer and reliable internet access) as well as actual work from home behavior during the pandemic using real time surveys. I find that even for those who have high telework potential only few have access to computer and internet. Surveys conducted during the pandemic suggest that our measure of teleworkability was quite close to actual work from home behavior in each country.
Morphological and physiological behaviour of sea barley (Hordeum marinum ssp marinum) genotypes originating from Soliman Sebkha under increasing salinity

Evaluation of germplasm in salt stress environment may help identifying salt-tolerant genotypes. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of Hordeum marinum, genotypes originated from Soliman Sebkha in response to salinity (0, 250 and 400 mM) by measuring a set of parameters related to growth, water statue and photosynthetic activity. Results of ANOVA showed that variability of measured parameters was explained by the effects genotypes, treatment and their interaction, with treatment factor recorded the highest values. Salinity significantly reduced the photosynthetic rate and related parameters, including stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and transpiration (E). Several indices for salt tolerance indices comprising tolerance index (TOL), stress tolerance index (STI) and Salt Tolerance (ST) were calculated based on drought biomass (ADW) under non-stressed and under stress conditions. Results showed that lower values of TOL and higher values of ST and STI indicate the superiority of the genotypes having enough plasticity to respond to extreme conditions. Principal Component Analysis clustered genotypes into sensitive (21.43%), moderately tolerant (50%), and highly tolerant (28.57%) groups, depending on their relative potential to sustain good growth under high salinity. Results indicating sufficient genetic variability for salinity tolerance among the studied genotypes, hence tolerant genotypes can be good candidates in future breeding programs.
Ulotaront, a Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1/Serotonin 5-HT1A Agonist, in Patients With Parkinson Disease Psychosis

Background and Objectives Ulotaront (SEP-363856) is a trace amine-associated receptor 1 agonist with 5-HT1A receptor agonist activity currently in phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of schizophrenia. In this exploratory, flexibly dosed study, ulotaront was evaluated for the treatment of Parkinson disease psychosis (PDP). Methods Patients with PDP requiring antipsychotic therapy were randomized, double-blind to ulotaront (25, 50, or 75 mg/d) or placebo. Mixed Model for Repeated Measures was used to assess change from baseline in the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms for Parkinson Disease (SAPS-PD) at 6 weeks (primary end point). Results The efficacy analysis sample comprised 38 patients (ulotaront, n = 24; placebo, n = 14). SAPS-PD total scores were numerically reduced in ulotaront-treated vs placebo-treated patients from week 1 to week 6: Least squares mean (95% confidence interval) difference in change from baseline at week 6 was −1.1 (−6.5, 4.3, p = 0.681). PDP symptom complete remission (≥100% improvement [reduction] from baseline in SAPS-PD total score) was observed in 25% of ulotaront-treated vs 0% of placebo-treated patients. SAPS-PD and Neuropsychiatric Inventory hallucinations subscales were numerically reduced vs placebo, and SAPS-PD total scores were reduced in patients with greater cognitive impairment (baseline Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] scores ≤24). Ulotaront improved Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson Disease Sleep Scale – Daytime Sleepiness scores (p = 0.022). There was no worsening of Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Part III motor score, MMSE, or vital signs. Adverse events (≥10%) with ulotaront vs placebo included hallucinations (24% vs 14%), confusional state (20% vs 14%), dizziness (16% vs 7%), nausea (12% vs 7%), and falls (12% vs 21%). Discussion In this exploratory pilot study, ulotaront may decrease PDP symptoms without worsening motor function, particularly in patients with cognitive impairment. Trial Registration Information ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02969369; submitted: November 17, 2016; study start date: December 31, 2016. Classification of Evidence This Class II study was an exploratory pilot study that was underpowered to detect a statistically significant difference between ulotaront and placebo in the treatment of patients with Parkinson disease psychosis without worsening motor function.
Axial flow in trailing line vortices

A characteristic feature of a steady trailing line vortex from one side of a wing, and of other types of line vortex, is the existence of strong axial currents near the axis of symmetry. The purpose of this paper is to account in general terms for this axial flow in trailing line vortices. the link between the azimuthal and axial components of motion in a steady line vortex is provided by the pressure; the radial pressure gradient balances the centrifugal force, and any change in the azimuthal motion with distance x downstream produces an axial pressure gradient and consequently axial acceleration. It is suggested, in a discussion of the evolution of an axisymmetric line vortex out of the vortex sheet shed from one side of a wing, that the two processes of rolling-up of the sheet and of concentration of the vorticity into a smaller cross-section should be distinguished; the former always occurs, whereas the latter seems not to be inevitable. In § 4 there is given a similarity solution for the flow in a trailing vortex far downstream where the departure of the axial velocity from the free stream speed is small. The continual slowing-down of the azimuthal motion by viscosity leads to a positive axial pressure gradient and consequently to continual loss of axial momentum, the asymptotic variation of the axial velocity defect at the centre being as x−1 log x. The concept of the drag associated with the core of a trailing vortex is introduced, and the drag is expressed as an integral over a transverse plane which is independent of x. This drag is related to the arbitrary constant appearing in the above similarity solution.
On the Mixed-CSP problem

In the classical Constraint Satisfaction Problem(CSP) two finite models are given and we are asked to find their homomorphism. In the Mixed-CSP problem, besides the models, a set of weighted pairs of elements of this two models is given and the task is to find a homomorphism that maximizes the weight of pairs consistent with the homomorphism, i.e. pairs for which homomorphism maps the first element of the pair to the second element. Mixed-CSP can be considered as a generic model for a class of combinatorial optimization problems, one of which is a maximal independent set. It appears naturally in supervised learning when we are posed a problem of finding a function satisfying some constraints and minimizing the error on a training set. This problem shares a lot of common with the classical CSP. We show that it allows similar algebraic approach to the classification of tractable cases of this problem that connects it with relational and functional clones of multi-valued logic. In the boolean case complete classification was obtained. In general case, a practically important class of order predicates was introduced and it was shown that this class is efficiently solvable.
Stability of synchronization in a multi-cellular system

Networks of biochemical reactions regulated by positive- and negative-feedback processes underlie functional dynamics in single cells. Synchronization of dynamics in the constituent cells is a hallmark of collective behavior in multi-cellular biological systems. Stability of the synchronized state is required for robust functioning of the multi-cell system in the face of noise and perturbation. Yet, the ability to respond to signals and change functional dynamics are also important features during development, disease, and evolution in living systems. In this paper, using a coupled multi-cell system model, we investigate the role of system size, coupling strength and its topology on the synchronization of the collective dynamics and its stability. Even though different coupling topologies lead to synchronization of collective dynamics, diffusive coupling through the end product of the pathway does not confer stability to the synchronized state. The results are discussed with a view to their prevalence in biological systems.