Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
P-value and Bayesian Analysis in Randomized-controlled Trials in Child health Research Published Over Ten Years, 2007 to 2017: A Review Protocol

Background: There is an unresolved debate about the reliability of the interpretation of P-value. Some investigators have suggested that an alternative Bayesian method is preferred in conducting health research. As randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) are important in generating research evidence, we decided to investigate the extent, if any, the inferential statistical framework in published RCTs in child health research have changed over 10 years. We aim to examine the change in P-value and Bayesian analysis in RCTs in child health research papers published from 2007 to 2017. Methods: We will search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley) to identify relevant citations. We will leverage a pre-existing sample of child health RCTs published in 2007 (n=300) used in our previous study of reporting quality of pediatric RCTs. Using the same strategy and study selection methods, we will identify a comparable random sample of child health RCTs published in 2017 (n=300). Eligible studies will include RCTs in health research among individuals aged 21 years and below. One reviewer will select studies for inclusion and extract the data and another reviewer will verify these. Disagreements will be resolved by a discussion between reviewers or by involving another reviewer. We will perform a descriptive analysis of 2007 and 2017 samples and analyze the results using both the frequentist and Bayesian methods. Discussion: We will present specific characteristics of the clinical trials from 2007 and 2017 in tabular and graphical forms. We will report the difference in the proportion of P-value and Bayesian analysis between 2007 and 2017 to assess the 10-year change. Clustering around P-values of significance, if observed, will be reported. This review has the potential to help inform the need for a change in the methodological approach from the null hypothesis significance test to Bayesian methods.Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/aj2df
Assessing selected parameters of targeted fitness among youth training handball

Study aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate parameters of targeted fitness among youth training handball, within the framework of the project - Handball Training Centres. Furthermore, an attempt was made at quantitative assessment of youth obtaining the best results regarding targeted fitness parameters. Material and methods: The study participants comprised 294 girls (mean age 14.1 ± 0.29 years), and 304 boys (mean age-15.2 ± 0.31 years), practicing handball at 16 voivodeship Handball Training Centres in 2015-2018. The mean value of the girls’ body mass was - 56.38 ± 7.03 kg, body height - 165.59 ± 6.22 cm, while for boys - 71.87 ± 7.66 kg and 182.68 ± 5.47 cm, respectively. The mean BMI value for girls was -19.94 ± 1.7, and boys-- 21.06 ± 1.97. The girls’ training experience was 4.5 years, and for boys - 5.5 years. The study was based on trials of targeted fitness tests for young people training handball at Handball Training Centres. Results: The average values from the 30-m run for boys totalled 4.35 ± 0.23 s; while for girls, the values equalled - 4.7 ± 0.25 s. Average values from the envelope run with ball dribbling among boys - 24.13 ± 1.73 s; girls - 26.02 ± 1.66 s. Average value for the Beep-test among boys – 2,288 ± 165.99 m; girls - 1,805 ± 125.25 m. These are adequately estimated VO2max values of: 55.7 and 48.9 ml O2/kg/min. Conclusions: The best results of targeted fitness parameters were obtained by 22.7% of boys and 15.7% of girls. The subjects obtained the highest results in the following tests: vertical jump, supported push-up and the Beep-test. The worst results were noted for the following trials: 30-m run, envelope run with ball dribbling and 10x30-m shuttle run.
Maize leaf disease classification using convolutional neural networks and hyperparameter optimization

Maize is an important food crop in the world, but several diseases affect the quality and quantity of agricultural production. Identifying these diseases is a very subjective and time-consuming task. The use of computer vision techniques allows automatizing this task and is essential in agricultural applications. In this study, we assess the performance of three state-of-the-art convolutional neural network architectures to classify maize leaf diseases. We apply enhancement methods such as Bayesian hyperparameter optimization, data augmentation, and fine-tuning strategies. We evaluate these CNNs on the maize leaf images from PlantVillage dataset, and all experiments were validated using a five-fold cross-validation procedure over the training and test sets. Our findings include the correlation between the maize leaf classes and the impact of data augmentation in pre-trained models. The results show that maize leaf disease classification reached 97% of accuracy for all CNNs models evaluated. Also, our approach provides new perspectives for the identification of leaf diseases based on computer vision strategies.
RELIABILITY OF BRONCHOSCOPIC PROCEDURES IN VERY ELDERLY PATIENTS AND THE ROLE OF CHARLSON COMORBIDITY SEVERITY INDEX ON PREDICTING BRONCHOSCOPIC COMPLICATIONS

Results: Bronchoscopic procedures were performed on 272 patients. The average age was 78.6±3.8 years (min:75-max:92). 194 (71.3%) flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedures, 68 (25%) endobronchial ultrasonographic procedures, and 10 (3.7%) rigid bronchoscopy procedures were performed. One or more comorbidities were present in 238 (87.5%) patients. The most common comorbidity was cardiovascular disease. There were 236 (86.7%) patients using one or more medications. One or more complications rates were %5,8 (16/272). The complication rates were 5.7% in the low (≤6) comorbidity severity index group versus 6.4% in the high (>6) comorbidity severity index group, and there was no statistical significance between the two groups (p=0.829). There is no mortality. Only one patient developed hypoxia and respiratory acidosis required noninvasive mechanic ventilation.
Increase in HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance among untreated 16~25-y-old youths in the China-Myanmar border areas during 2009~2017

Background Transmitted drug resistance (TDR) can affect antiretroviral therapy (ART) efficacy. Surveillance drug resistance mutations in untreated youths newly reported with HIV-1 are highly representative of local TDR. We investigated HIV-1 TDR, TDR transmission based on molecular networks, and the effect of TDR mutations (TDRMs) on the CD4 count among youths in the China-Myanmar border area near the "Golden Triangle" to better understand TDR and guide ART.Methods From 2009 to 2017, 573 ART-naïve youths (16~25 y) newly reported with HIV-1 were enrolled. CD4 counts were obtained from whole blood. HIV pol gene sequences were amplified from RNA extracted from plasma. The Stanford REGA program and phylogenetic trees were used to determine genotypes. TDRMs were analyzed using the Stanford Calibrated Population Resistance tool. TDR transmission was evaluated from molecular networks of HIV-1 pol genes.Results The average prevalence of TDR was 6.3%, and the resistance to NNRTIs, NRTIs, and PIs was 3.49%, 2.62%, and 0.52%, respectively. TDR prevalence increased significantly during the period 2009~2017 (3.92%~9.48%, p<0.05). The mean CD4 count was significantly lower among individuals with TDRMs (373/mm3 vs. 496/mm3, p=0.013). The rate of network entry of youths harboring TDRMs (63.89%) was significantly higher than that of youths without TDRMs (44.9%). Conclusions The HIV-1 TDR increase and low CD4 count of patients with TDRMs in Dehong at the China-Myanmar border suggest the need for early ART and completion of resistance testing before initiating ART in HIV hotspots. Youths with TDRMs are likely to have links to others, necessitating intervention in onward transmission.
Composition of the Essential Oils from Inflorescences, Leaves and Stems of Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’ Cultivated in North-western Poland

Abstract The essential oils, obtained by hydrodistillation of inflorescences, leaves and stems from Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’ (sweet basil ‘Cinnamon’) cultivated in north-western Poland were analyzed by GC-MS. Linalool was the major constituent in all three oils (36.67 %, 36.09 % and 33.89 %, respectively). Of the forty-two components detected in the inflorescence oil, comprising 98.58 % of the total, the major components were (E)-methyl cinnamate (29.82 %), germacrene D (3.03 %), (-)-β-cadinene (2.90 %) and methyl chavicol (2.88 %). Forty-three compounds, accounting for 98.57 % of the total oil were identified in the volatile oil of the leaves. The major components were (E)-methyl cinnamate (26.47 %), (Z)-methyl cinnamate (6.26 %) and methyl chavicol (4.10 %). With the stem oil, the main constituents were (E)-methyl cinnamate (8.94 %), (-)-β-cadinene (8.90 %) and γ-selinene (4.11 %).
The Shape of Green Fixed Income Investing to Come

This paper serves as an introduction to the Journal of Environmental Investing’s issue (Vol. 10, No. 1, 2020) on climate and green bonds. Fixed income securities that integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors have become a crucial component of most sustainable investment and climate-related risk management strategies. Global green bond issuance has grown from USD87.2bn in 2016 to USD257.7bn in 2019. However, this issue is addressing some of the challenges of rapid market scaling. The first pertains to the labeling of green bonds. Albeit the term “green bond” becoming synonymous for all ESG-aligned fixed income securities, there now exists a plethora of labels, names, and designations for green bonds, often resulting in confusion of what exactly constitutes a green bond. By providing the most comprehensive overview to date of all green bond variants, this issue explores the core attributes of green bonds, such as their potential returns from financial and non-financial angles, taxonomical and underlying conceptual considerations, and academic assessment of the market as a whole. In conclusion, this paper and the corresponding issue provide contemporary insights and an up-to-date snapshot of the evolving characteristics of climate and green bonds.
Factors Influencing Users’ Behavioral Intention to Reuse Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh

Objective – This paper aims to empirically examine the factors influencing the users’ behavioral intention to reuse mobile technology to facilitate their financial services in Bangladesh. Methodology/Technique – A self-administered online survey method was used and 400 responses were collected with Likert-type questions using Google Forms as a medium. A model was developed and proposed based on different technology acceptance models like TAM, UTAUT and similar studies on factors influencing users’ intention to adopt and reuse mobile financial services in Bangladesh. The proposed model was tested by performing simple and multiple linear regression using SPSS software. Findings – The results show that perceived ease of use influences perceived usefulness of mobile financial services but perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and security have no influence on trust in terms of behavioral intention to reuse mobile financial services in Bangladesh. However, with the exception of trust and perceived financial cost, the remaining variables such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, security, perceived risk, social influence and facilitating conditions significantly influence behavioral intentions to reuse mobile financial services in Bangladesh. Novelty - This study examines crucial factors spotted in literature in the context of Bangladesh. Earlier papers have primarily focused on traditional banking clients’ behavioral intention toward their bank’s mobile banking facilities in Bangladesh. This paper is comprehensively designed to identify influential factors of reusing non-traditional mobile financial services like bKash, Rocket, Nagad etc. at the growth level in the industry of Bangladesh. The researcher tried to identify factors influencing both bank and non-bank users to reuse mobile financial services for their digital transactions. Type of Paper: Empirical. JEL Classification: M31, M39. Keywords: bKash; Bangladesh; Mobile Banking; Behavioral Intentions; Reuse; Mobile Financial Services. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Khan, M.R; Chaipoopirutana, S. 2020. Factors Influencing Users’ Behavioral Intention to Reuse Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh, J. Mgt. Mkt. Review 5(3) 155 – 169. https://doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2020. 5.3(4)
Competition Threats and Rival Innovation Responses: Evidence from Breakthrough Therapies

We study the effect of competition on firm innovation at the product level. We instrument shocks to competition in therapeutic areas with the FDA’s breakthrough designation therapy (BTD) indication. BTDs strongly associate with several indicators of future success, including announcement returns and eventual FDA approval to market the drug. BTD shocks discourage rivals’ innovation in that therapeutic area. The effect varies with the ex-ante competitiveness of the therapeutic area, as well as with the rival’s position (leader vs. follower) in that area, in a manner consistent with the theory by Aghion et al. (2005).
Design and Validation of an Assay for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Biologically Relevant Dissolved and Heat-Extracted Organic Carbon with Neutral Potassium Phosphate Buffer

ABSTRACT Labile soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and heat-extracted carbon (HEC) are sensitive indicators of changing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is an important tool for studying SOC turnover and soil biological function. Several complications are involved in measuring DOC/HEC, for example salt ionic strength; solution pH; and anionic damage to elemental analyzer-IRMS. We evaluated a method for DOC/HEC analysis with 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (PPB). This method was strongly correlated with commonly used carbon (C) extractants for C quantification. Carbon-13 comparisons between DOC/HEC extracted with Milli-Q water and PPB were similar. The δ13C (‰) values of particulate OC and DOC were similar, whereas the relationship between humic OC and HEC was soil specific. An incubation experiment demonstrated that DOC/HEC δ13C (‰) successfully explained respired microbial carbon dioxide over 90 days. We conclude that this method represents an alternative for DOC/HEC quantification and δ13C (‰) analyses.
Economic Freedom and Economic Performance: Does Good Governance Matter? The Case of Apac and OECD Countries

Economic freedom is an important determinant of economic growth and income distribution, which are key factors in facilitating economic development. The paper empirically investigates the relationship between economic freedom and economic performance in the APAC and OECD countries. A panel model with fixed effects technique is employed on yearly data for the period 1980-2017, using a number of measures of economic freedom covering the size of government, property rights, monetary policy, access to international trade, and regulation of credit labor, and businesses. The study also investigates the role of governance in affecting the impact of economic freedom on economic performance. The results of the study indicate that economic freedom positively affects economic performance in the selected countries after controlling for country-and time- fixed-effects. Additionally, the study finds that this positive impact is higher for the APAC than for the OECD countries. For APAC countries, a country’s size of government, expansionary monetary policy, and less regulation has a positive and statistically significant impact on its output per worker. Finally, the study finds that governance is a pre-condition for economic freedom, where the impact of economic freedom on economic performance is amplified by about five folds in the presence of better governance including the freedom of a country’s citizens in selecting governments and expressing their political views, political stability, enhanced quality of public services, and control of corruption.
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) pricing and inflationary dynamics in Nigeria

The study examines the effect of PMS pricing on inflationary dynamics in Nigeria between 1980 and 2018. Inflation was used as the dependent variable for the study, while the prices of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit, simply called petrol), AGO (Automotive Gas Oil, simply called diesel), and DPK (Dual Purpose Kerosene, simply called kerosene), as well as the exchange rate, were used as independent variables. The study employed the ARDL and causality techniques for analysis. It was discovered in the study that the price of PMS increases inflationary tendencies in the country. Meanwhile, the causality test revealed the absence of causality between PMS pricing and inflationary dynamics in Nigeria. Thus, the study recommended that the government should stabilise the price of PMS and align it with the wage rate.
Ferritin as a Marker of Severe Dengue in Children

Background: The aim is to evaluate ferritin levels in fever caused by dengue virus and their association with the severity of infection with dengue virus in children. Subjects and Methods: It is a Prospective that was done for 1 year in the department of pediatrics. 56 reported cases with a history of dengue fever for clinical evaluation by positive IgG and IgM antibodies and positive NS1 antigen and were included in the sample. All 16-year-old subjects with clinical dengue suspicion presenting in the department of emergency. Results: Out of total of 56 children with mean age of the children were 11.5 years and SD 3.5 years, and 59% were male who were majority. Mean hospital stay duration was 5 3 days. Most of the patients in study discharged in 5-7 days of admission in hospital. The mean serum ferritin levels among cases with DHF were raised than those with DF with significant p-values of< 0.05 on Day 5 and 6 of illness. During Days 5, 6, and 7 after the onset of fever, the results for sensitivity were 83, 86, and 92 per cent respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of hyperferritinaemia in patients infected with dengue virus is suggestive of highly active use of ferritin level in serum is 1,200 ng/ml as a method for predicting progression to DHF starting on Day 4 of the disease and continuing to recover.
A decolonial pedagogy for teaching intersectionality

This paper discusses a “pragmatic toolkit” for decolonizing a course by intersectionality combining key notions in literature in decolonial education with four components extracted from the works of Orlando Fals-Borda and Paulo Freire by Joao Mota Neto (2018). As a kind of toolkit for decolonial change, the article first combines the role of being a subversive scholar to address “injuries of coloniality” that places the discipline as part of a landscape of power in the context of a gender studies BA-course. Repairing these injuries of coloniality demanded curriculum changes, to restore the disobedient epistemology inherent in the concept of intersectionality. Second, in so doing, the pragmatic toolkit provided a participatory frame for exchanges of knowledge in a classroom composed of multiple identities, which then aimed to promote diversity and difference. Third, this orientation made a frame suitable for searching for other epistemic coordinates, exploring for example politics of emotion to erase barriers toward potential others, and including literature on coalitional politics. And fourth, revisiting the “telluric origins” of feminist research helped the students reinvent power through writing critical reflections that awaked their “interest in social action” to contest racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, transphobia, and speciesism.
Dynamics of dark fermentation microbial communities in the light of lactate and butyrate production

Background This study focuses on the processes occurring during the acidogenic step of anaerobic digestion, especially resulting from nutritional interactions between dark fermentation (DF) bacteria and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Previously, we have confirmed that DF microbial communities (MCs) that fed on molasses are able to convert lactate and acetate to butyrate. The aims of the study were to recognize the biodiversity of DF-MCs able and unable to convert lactate and acetate to butyrate and to define the conditions for the transformation. Results MCs sampled from a DF bioreactor were grown anaerobically in mesophilic conditions on different media containing molasses or sucrose and/or lactate and acetate in five independent static batch experiments. The taxonomic composition (based on 16S_rRNA profiling) of each experimental MC was analysed in reference to its metabolites and pH of the digestive liquids. In the samples where the fermented media contained carbohydrates, the two main tendencies were observed: (i) a low pH (pH ≤ 4), lactate and ethanol as the main fermentation products, MCs dominated with Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium , Leuconostoc and Fructobacillus was characterized by low biodiversity; (ii) pH in the range 5.0–6.0, butyrate dominated among the fermentation products, the MCs composed mainly of Clostridium (especially Clostridium_ sensu_stricto_12), Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium and Prevotella. The biodiversity increased with the ability to convert acetate and lactate to butyrate. The MC processing exclusively lactate and acetate showed the highest biodiversity and was dominated by Clostridium (especially Clostridium_ sensu_stricto_12). LAB were reduced; other genera such as Terrisporobacter , Lachnoclostridium , Paraclostridium or Sutterella were found. Butyrate was the main metabolite and pH was 7. Shotgun metagenomic analysis of the selected butyrate-producing MCs independently on the substrate revealed C.tyrobutyricum as the dominant Clostridium species. Functional analysis confirmed the presence of genes encoding key enzymes of the fermentation routes. Conclusions Batch tests revealed the dynamics of metabolic activity and composition of DF-MCs dependent on fermentation conditions. The balance between LAB and the butyrate producers and the pH values were shown to be the most relevant for the process of lactate and acetate conversion to butyrate. To close the knowledge gaps is to find signalling factors responsible for the metabolic shift of the DF-MCs towards lactate fermentation. Video Abstract
Greenhouse gas dynamics in a tree-based intercropping system compared with an organic conventional system1

Abstract: Tree-based intercropping (TBI) system has been suggested as an alternative to conventional monocropping (CM) for decreasing overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, little is known about the advantages of TBI compared with organic CM system with low fertilizer inputs. This project compared CO2 and N2O dynamics in replicated TBI and CM in Saint-Paulin (QC, Canada), established about 12 yr prior to this study under organic production, with horse manure and pruning residues as soil amendments. An experimental field, using a complete randomized block design, was instrumented in both systems. A five-point sampling transect was established between tree rows in each of the six plots. Surface CO2 and N2O fluxes, CO2 and N2O soil concentrations, and other physicochemical properties were analyzed at 0.125 and 0.25 m depths over two growing seasons. CO2 and N2O concentrations in TBI soil were similar to or lower than in CM soil. Lower CO2 and N2O emissions suggest that TBI would decrease overall GHG mitigation, even when compared with organic production with low fertilizer inputs, in addition to its potential for carbon sequestration in wood and other advantages that are not discussed in this study.