Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) in Neuroradiological Diagnostics – Methodological Overview and Use Cases

Abstract Background Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based technique using labeled blood-water of the brain-feeding arteries as an endogenous tracer to derive information about brain perfusion. It enables the assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Method This review aims to provide a methodological and technical overview of ASL techniques, and to give examples of clinical use cases for various diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS). There is a special focus on recent developments including super-selective ASL (ssASL) and time-resolved ASL-based magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and on diseases commonly not leading to characteristic alterations on conventional structural MRI (e. g., concussion or migraine). Results ASL-derived CBF may represent a clinically relevant parameter in various pathologies such as cerebrovascular diseases, neoplasms, or neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, ASL has also been used to investigate CBF in mild traumatic brain injury or migraine, potentially leading to the establishment of imaging-based biomarkers. Recent advances made possible the acquisition of ssASL by selective labeling of single brain-feeding arteries, enabling spatial perfusion territory mapping dependent on blood flow of a specific preselected artery. Furthermore, ASL-based MRA has been introduced, providing time-resolved delineation of single intracranial vessels. Conclusion Perfusion imaging by ASL has shown promise in various diseases of the CNS. Given that ASL does not require intravenous administration of a gadolinium-based contrast agent, it may be of particular interest for investigations in pediatric cohorts, patients with impaired kidney function, patients with relevant allergies, or patients that undergo serial MRI for clinical indications such as disease monitoring. Key Points: ASL is an MRI technique that uses labeled blood-water as an endogenous tracer for brain perfusion imaging. It allows the assessment of CBF without the need for administration of a gadolinium-based contrast agent. CBF quantification by ASL has been used in several pathologies including brain tumors or neurodegenerative diseases. Vessel-selective ASL methods can provide brain perfusion territory mapping in cerebrovascular diseases. ASL may be of particular interest in patient cohorts with caveats concerning gadolinium administration.
Ripping off the Band-Aid: Scrutiny Bundling in the Wake of Social Ripping off the Band-Aid: Scrutiny Bundling in the Wake of Social Disapproval Disapproval

Activities that hazard the possibility of increased scrutiny are an unavoidable reality for many firms. While managers may face the need to engage in these activities, there is little research on when managers decide to do so. Existing theoretical perspectives on status quo deviations have not sufficiently addressed how managers order the firm ’ s essential activities that differ primarily in terms of the scrutiny those activities engender. Drawing from concepts in the accounting and political science literatures, we advance a “ scru-tiny-bundling ” perspective that suggests that firms engage in scrutiny-hazarding action in the wake of social disapproval, assessed in this study via negative media coverage. We further theorize that a strong linkage between the focus of media coverage and the specific scrutiny-hazarding action exacerbates this relationship. We then contend that managers at firms that are either large in size or that perform well relative to their aspirations are less sensitive to social disapproval, and are therefore less likely to engage in scrutiny bundling. We test our hypotheses on a sample of 100 firms in the upstream petroleum industry and find general support for our theories.
Chemical composition-dependent hygroscopic behavior of individual ambient aerosol particles collected at a coastal site

Abstract. This study investigated the hygroscopic behavior of individual ambient aerosol particles collected at a coastal site of Jeju Island, South Korea. The size of the particles changes along with the phase transitions during humidification and dehydration processes, and the chemical compositions of the particles were determined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), respectively. Of the 39 particles analyzed, 24 were aged sea spray aerosols (SSAs), with diverse mixing ratios of Cl− and NO3-. The ambient SSAs exhibited multiple deliquescence and efflorescence transitions that were dominantly influenced by NaCl, NaNO3, MgCl2, Mg(NO3)2, and organic species covering the surface of the aged SSAs. For Cl-rich SSAs with X(Na,Mg)Cl>0.4, although some particles showed very slow water uptake at low relative humidity levels (RH ≃30 %), two major transitions were observed during the humidification process. The first was at RH ≃63.8 %, regardless of their chemical compositions, which is the mutual deliquescence relative humidity (MDRH) level; and the second was at RH 67.5 % to 73.5 %, depending on their chemical compositions, which are the final deliquescence relative humidity (DRH) levels. During the dehydration process, the Cl-rich SSAs showed single-stage efflorescence at RH 33.0 % to 50.5 %, due to simultaneous heterogeneous crystallization of inorganic salts. For Cl-depleted SSAs with X(Na,Mg)Cl<0.4, two prompt deliquescence transitions were observed during the humidification process. The first was at MDRH 63.8 %, and the second was at RH 65.4 % to 72.9 %. The mutual deliquescence transition was more distinguishable for Cl-depleted SSAs. During the dehydration process, step-wise transitions were observed at efflorescence RH levels (ERH 24.6 % to 46.0 % and 17.9 % to 30.5 %), depending on their chemical compositions. Additionally, aged mineral particles showed partial or complete phase changes with varying RH due to the presence of SSAs and/or NO3- species. In contrast, non-reacted mineral and Fe-rich particles maintained their size during the entire hygroscopic process. The mixture particles of organic and ammonium sulfate (AS) exhibited lower deliquescence and efflorescence RH levels compared to pure AS salt, highlighting the impact of organic species on the hygroscopic behavior of AS. These findings emphasize the complexity of atmospheric aerosols and the importance of considering their composition and mixing state when modeling their hygroscopic behavior and subsequent atmospheric impacts.
Modification of Electro-Fenton Process with Granular Activated Carbon for Phenol Degradation – Optimization by Response Surface Methodology

As a result of rapid industrialization and population development, toxic chemicals have been introduced into wa - ter systems in recent decades. Because of its excellent efficiency and simple design, the three-dimensional (3D) electro-Fenton method has been used for the treatment of wastewater. The goal of the current study is to explore the efficiency of phenol removal by the 3D electro-Fenton process, which is one of the advanced oxidation pro - cesses (AOPs). In the present work, the effect of the addition of granular activated carbon (GAC) particles to the electro-Fenton system as the third electrode would be investigated in the presence of graphite as the anode and nickel foam as the cathode, which is the source of electro-generated hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). The influence of operation parameters (current density, electrolysis time, and GAC) on catalytic performance will be studied, which will be adjusted by the response surface methodology (RSM). The pH was adjusted to 3, and the airflow was set to 10 L/h. According to the results the nickel foam was an excellent cathode material choice. The best conditions for phenol elimination were at current density of 3.56 mA/cm 2 , FeSO 4 . 7H 2 O dosage of 0.1 mM, GAC of 30 g, and a time of 3 h to attain the removal rates of phenol and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 98.79% and 93.01%, respectively. The results showed that time had a higher effect on the phenol and COD removal efficiency, while the impact of current density was lower. The model equation’s high R 2 value (97.90%) demonstrates its suitability.
Health Indicators in Skeletons from Iron Age Central Thailand: A Preliminary Report from the Site of Phromthin Tai, Lopburi Province | ตัวบ่งชี้สุขภาพอนามัยบนกระดูกมนุษย์สมัยเหล็กในภาคกลางของประเทศไทย: รายงานเบื้องต้นจากแหล่งโบราณคดีพรหมทินใต้ จังหวัดลพบุรี

Little has been published about the health of individuals living in Central Thailand during the Iron Age (ca. 2500 – 1500 BP). The site of Phromthin Thai provides an opportunity to examine indicators of systemic stress and signs of compromised health during this time period using human skeletal remains. Twenty-six Iron Age skeletons from the site were examined for indicators of systemic stress or compromised health in the form of porotic hyperostosis, cribra orbitalia, linear enamel hypoplasia, dental caries, and trauma. These results were compared with data from the Ban Pong Manao site in Central Thailand and from two sites in different parts of Northeast Thailand to determine whether frequencies of these indicators varied significantly at Phromthin Tai. We found that the skeletons from Phromthin Tai exhibited generally low frequencies of most of these skeletal indicators, and that the prevalence of most of these indicators were similar to that reported for Ban Pong Manao in Central Thailand, and Ban Chiang and Noen U-Loke in Northeast Thailand. The main difference was a surprisingly low frequency of dental caries compared to the other three sites, which may relate to some unknown difference in the diet. งานการศึกษาวิจัยเกี่ยวกับสุขภาพอนามัยของผู้คนสมัยเหล็ก (ประมาณ ๑,๕๐๐ – ๒,๕๐๐ ปีมาแล้ว) ในภาคกลางที่มีการตีพิมพ์นับว่ายังมีไม่มาก แหล่งโบราณคดีพรหมทินใต้ได้เปิดโอกาสให้พวกเราศึกษาตรวจสอบเรื่องราวเกี่ยวกับสุขอนามัยโดยพิจารณาจากตัวบ่งชี้สุขภาพต่าง ๆ ซึ่งปรากฎหรือทิ้งร่องรอยไว้บนกระดูกมนุษย์ที่ถูกฝังไว้ในช่วงสมัยเหล็ก ตัวอย่างกระดูกที่ศึกษามาจากผู้ตายจำนวน ๒๖ คน ตัวบ่งชี้สุขภาพอนามัยที่เราศึกษาได้แก่ร่องรอยความพรุนบนกะโหลกศีรษะ (porotic hyperostosis) ร่องรอยความพรุนบนกระดูกบนเพดานเบ้าตา (cribra orbitalia) ร่องรอยความผิดปกติบนเคลือบฟัน (linear enamel hypoplasia) โรคฟันผุ (dental caries) และร่องรอยบาดแผล (trauma) เรานำผลการศึกษาไปเปรียบเทียบกับข้อมูลและผลการศึกษาสุขอนามัยของผู้คนสมัยเหล็กจากแหล่งโบราณคดีบ้านโป่งมะนาวในภาคกลางและแหล่งโบราณคดีอีก ๒ แหล่ง (แหล่งโบราณคดีบ้านเชียงและแหล่งโบราณคดีเนินอุโลก) ในภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือที่มีการศึกษามาแล้ว จากผลการศึกษา เราพบว่าโครงกระดูกของผู้คนสมัยที่แหล่งโบราณคดีพรหมทินใต้โดยทั่วไปมีร่องรอยตัวบ่งชี้สุขอนามัยค่อนข้างต่ำ ซึ่งคล้ายหรือใกล้เคียงกับสุขอนามัยของผู้คนสมัยเดียวกันที่แหล่งโบราณคดีบ้านโป่งมะนาวในภาคกลางและแหล่งโบราณคดีบ้านเชียงและแหล่งโบราณคดีเนินอุโลกในภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ สิ่งที่แตกต่างกันอย่างน่าประหลาดก็คือผู้คนที่แหล่งโบราณคดีพรหมทินใต้มีร่องรอยโรคฟันผุน้อยหรือต่ำกว่าผู้คนจากแหล่งโบราณคดี ๓ แหล่งที่นำมาเปรียบเทียบ
Implementing a coral reef CaCO 3 production module in the iLOVECLIM climate model

Coral reef development is intricately linked to both climate and the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 , specifically 15 through temperature and carbonate chemistry in the upper ocean. In turn, the calcification of corals modifies the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity in the ocean, impacting air-sea gas exchange, atmospheric CO 2 concentration, and ultimately the climate. This retroaction between atmospheric conditions and coral biogeochemistry can only be accounted for with a coupled coral-carbon-climate model. Here we present the implementation of a coral reef calcification module into an Earth System model. Simulated coral reef production of the calcium carbonate mineral aragonite depends on 20 photosynthetically active radiation, nutrient concentrations, salinity, temperature and the aragonite saturation state. An ensemble of 210 parameter perturbation simulations was performed to identify carbonate production parameter values that optimise the simulated distribution of coral reefs and associated carbonate production. The tuned model simulates the presence of coral reefs and regional-to-global carbonate production values in good agreement with data-based estimates. The model enables assessment of past and future coral-climate coupling on seasonal to millennial timescales, highlighting how climatic 25 trends and variability may affect reef development and the resulting climate-carbon feedback
Occasional Paper Series Inflation heterogeneity at the household level

Inflation affects the purchasing power of households. This paper documents large, idiosyncratic inflation differences between households in their everyday shopping. Low-income households have experienced higher inflation in the last ten years, but the difference for richer households has been small and time varying. Household-specific behaviour appears to dominate inflation differences within countries. Between countries, multinational retail chains not only differentiate products by branding, but also charge different prices for identical products. Retailers continue to differentiate prices along national borders, even within largely integrated economic regions. Price changes, however, are broadly aligned across borders within the same retailers.
Knowledge of pregnancy danger signs and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care services In Basra city

Background: Pregnancy is a natural condition that can predispose to several physiological and psychological changes in the anticipated mothers. However normal pregnancy may face the risk of sudden, unexpected complications that may end up in death or harm to the mother or her unborn child. Objectives : To assess the knowledge of pregnancy danger signs among pregnant women attending antenatal care services in Basrah city and factors affecting such knowledge. Method: The present study is a cross-sectional study carried out in four primary health care centres in Basrah city. The study involves 385 pregnant women aged 15 years and older attending the selected primary health care centres during the study period. A special questionnaire form was designed for the purpose of the study. Results : Majority of the women had heard about pregnancy danger signs (53.2%), approximately half of them had obtained this information from a health-care provider with a considerable percentage of women who thought that it is important to know such information (86%). The knowledge level was poor in (45%) of women with a nearly similar percentage (44%) who exhibited good knowledge toward these signs. The most commonly recognized danger sign was vaginal bleeding followed by severe abdominal pain and reduced or absent fetal movement. Severe headache, weakness, swollen hands, face and feet and high-grade fever were mentioned by (32.7%, 31.9%, 17.9% and 7.5%) of women, respectively. Conclusion: knowledge level was poor in (45%) of women. However, a nearly similar percentage (44%) had a good knowledge about these signs. Most commonly recognized danger sign was vaginal bleeding followed by severe abdominal pain and reduced or absent fetal movement.
The absence of the GZK depression in the energy spectrum of the cosmic radiation (CTA contributions to the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference - ICRC 2013)

A resolutive assessment of the GZK suppression in the energy spectrum of the cosmic radiation around the energy of 2.1×1020 eV is presently feasible by the published measurements of the Auger experiment. The data indicate that the GZK kinematical effect on the hypothetical spectrum of cosmological proton is absent. In fact, the break in the spectrum observed by Auger initiates around 2× 10 19 eV reaching a reduction factor of about 3 at the energy 5× 1019 eV with respect to a power-law continuation of the nearby energy decade, 3× 1018−3×1019 eV with an index of 2.67. This suppression pattern is an order of magnitude below the maximum effect for GZK suppression expected at 2.1× 1020 eV. Only the unprecedented accuracy, both systematic and statistical, of the Auger experiment makes this conclusion possible. Comments on the theoretical subterfuges appearing in the literature to elude this conclusion along with the claims for the GZK suppression by the Auger, HiRes and TA experiments are given.
Foreign Managers and the Direction of FDIs: Firm-Based Evidence

We investigate the impact of foreign managers in apical positions on their companies’ investment location choices. We first test the hypothesis that such managers increase the probability of their home country to be picked as target. Based on a large sample of foreign greenfield investments (GIs) and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) from 2013 to 2019, we find evidence of such “migrantmanager effect” for the latter and, to a lesser extent, also for the former. We then test whether the effect may be due to the foreign managers providing inputs such as information, useful contacts and/or cultural mediation, as opposed to simply exercising a personal preference. We find some evidence in favour of the first hypothesis, but cannot entirely exclude the latter to hold, too. JEL classification: F22, F23
Glacial-interglacial sea water isotope change near the Chilean Margin as reflected by δ 2 H of C37 alkenones.

Hydrogen isotopic compositions of C37 long chain alkenones (δ 2 H C37 ) have been proposed as a proxy for past seawater salinity and applied in several regions. However, previous studies were based solely on a single core and often suggested unlikely large changes in salinity. Here we present a new δ 2 H C37 record, in combination with oxygen isotopes of 10 benthic foraminifera from the same samples, from a sediment core from the Chilean Margin (ODP site 1235). The observed negative shift in δ 2 H C37 of 20‰ during deglaciation was identical to that of the nearby located, but deeper, ODP core 1234, suggesting a regionally consistent shift in δ 2 H C37 . This shift translates into a hydrogen isotope shift of the surface seawater (∆δ 2 H SW ) of ca. 14‰, similar to glacial-interglacial reconstructions based on other δ 2 H C37 records. The reconstructed bottom seawater oxygen isotope change based on benthic foraminifera during the last deglaciation is approximately 0.8‰, in line with 15 previous studies. When translated into ∆δ 2 H SW using the modern open-ocean waterline this would suggest a shift of ca. 5‰, smaller than the reconstructed surface seawater shift based on alkenones. The higher change in surface δ 2 H SW suggests that the surface water experienced more freshening during the Holocene than bottom waters either due to increased freshwater input or reduced evaporation, or a combination of the two.
Assessing environmental change associated with early Eocene hyperthermals in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA

Abstract. Eocene transient global warming events (hyperthermals) can provide insight into a future warmer world. While much research has focused on the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), hyperthermals of a smaller magnitude can be used to characterize climatic responses over different magnitudes of forcing. This study identifies two events, namely the Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM2 and H2), in shallow marine sediments of the Eocene-aged Salisbury Embayment of Maryland, based on magnetostratigraphy, calcareous nannofossil, and dinocyst biostratigraphy, as well as the recognition of negative stable carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) in biogenic calcite. We assess local environmental change in the Salisbury Embayment, utilizing clay mineralogy, marine palynology, δ18O of biogenic calcite, and biomarker paleothermometry (TEX86). Paleotemperature proxies show broad agreement between surface water and bottom water temperature changes. However, the timing of the warming does not correspond to the CIE of the ETM2 as expected from other records, and the highest values are observed during H2, suggesting factors in addition to pCO2 forcing have influenced temperature changes in the region. The ETM2 interval exhibits a shift in clay mineralogy from smectite-dominated facies to illite-rich facies, suggesting hydroclimatic changes but with a rather dampened weathering response relative to that of the PETM in the same region. Organic walled dinoflagellate cyst assemblages show large fluctuations throughout the studied section, none of which seem systematically related to CIE warming. These observations are contrary to the typical tight correspondence between climate change and assemblages across the PETM, regionally and globally, and ETM2 in the Arctic Ocean. The data do indicate very warm and (seasonally) stratified conditions, likely salinity-driven, across H2. The absence of evidence for strong perturbations in local hydrology and nutrient supply during ETM2 and H2, compared to the PETM, is consistent with the less extreme forcing and the warmer pre-event baseline, as well as the non-linear response in hydroclimates to greenhouse forcing.
New Trend in Education after Covid-19 Attack: EFL Higher Students’ Experiences in Hybrid Environment in a Private University

After the covid-19 attack for a few years, hybrid environment in education become a new trend in today educational methodology in Indonesia. This is because traditional face to face teaching and learning were forbidden by Indonesian government during covid-19 pandemic. Alternatively, virtual teaching and learning are implemented. The habit of the integration of technology in education continues after the pandemic by implementing hybrid learning and teaching environment. This qualitative research with a case study approach aims to explore EFL higher students’ experiences in hybrid environment. There were six students participated in this research that the researchers got through purposive sampling. Open-ended interview was the main data collection used in this research to give a clear picture and deep understanding of EFL higher students experience in hybrid environment after the pandemic. All the interview data were recorded, transcribed, analyzed, and divided into some themes. Further, member checking was done by the researchers to develop trustworthiness of the research. The findings of this research revealed at least two themes which are the advantages of hybrid environment (free from space-time and increasing speaking ability) and disadvantages of hybrid environment (costly, and bad connection). Further, suggestion and recommendation were offered to all related parties.
Improved Tests for Forecast Comparisons in the Presence of Instabilities

Of interest is comparing the out‐of‐sample forecasting performance of two competing models in the presence of possible instabilities. To that effect, we suggest using simple structural change tests, sup‐Wald and UDmax for changes in the mean of the loss differences. It is shown that Giacomini and Rossi ( ) tests have undesirable power properties, power that can be low and non‐increasing as the alternative becomes further from the null hypothesis. On the contrary, our statistics are shown to have higher monotonic power, especially the UDmax version. We use their empirical examples to show the practical relevance of the issues raised.