Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voluntary Precision Disclosure and Endogenous Market Feedback

We explore a manager’s incentives to disclose the precision of a signal about firm profitability. Voluntary disclosure of precision information encourages traders to acquire private information, increasing price informativeness and improving the firm’s investment efficiency. We highlight a novel tradeoff: on the one hand, more precise public information crowds out traders’ information acquisition by leveling the playing field. On the other hand, there can also be a crowding-in effect because high-precision disclosures indicate greater managerial confidence and higher investment, which increases the traders’ value of information. The crowding-in effect can dominate if the firm discloses above-average profitability. We derive testable predictions regarding the financial market consequences of supplemental disclosures that are informative about the precision or relevance of payoff-related signals. This paper was accepted by Brian Bushee, accounting.
Less conservative results on stability for linear systems with a time‐varying delay

This paper is focused on the problem of stability for linear systems with a time‐varying delay. A novel Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional that decomposed the delay in all integral terms is proposed. As a result, some less conservative stability criteria are derived by considering the relationship between time‐varying delay and its intervals, which have wider application than the existing ones because independent upper bounds of the delay derivative in the various delay intervals are taken into account. Some numerical examples are finally given to show the effectiveness and the benefits of the proposed method. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Empirical determination of the shape of dust attenuation curves in star-forming galaxies

We present a systematic study of the shape of the dust attenuation curve in star-forming galaxies from the far-ultraviolet (far-UV) to the near-infrared (NIR; ∼0.15–2 μm), as a function of specific star formation rate (ψ S) and axial ratio (b/a), for galaxies with and without a significant bulge. Our sample comprises 23 000 (15 000) galaxies with a median redshift of 0.07, with photometric entries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky SurveyLarge Area Survey and Galaxy Evolution Explorer-All-Sky Imaging Survey catalogues and emission-line measurements from the SDSS spectroscopic survey. We develop a new pairmatching technique to isolate the dust attenuation curves from the stellar continuum emission. The main results are: (i) the slope of the attenuation curve in the optical varies weakly with ψ S, strongly with b/a, and is significantly steeper than the Milky Way extinction law in bulgedominated galaxies; (ii) the NIR slope is constant and matches the slope of the Milky Way extinction law; (iii) the UV has a slope change consistent with a dust bump at 2175 A which is evident in all samples and varies strongly in strength with b/a in the bulge-dominated sample; (iv) there is a strong increase in emission-line-to-continuum dust attenuation (τ V,line/τ V,cont) with both decreasing ψ S and increasing b/a; and (v) radial gradients in dust attenuation increase strongly with increasing ψ S, and the presence of a bulge does not alter the strength of the gradients. These results are consistent with the picture in which young stars are surrounded by dense ‘birth clouds’ with low covering factor which disperse on time-scales of ∼10 7 yr and the diffuse interstellar dust is distributed in a centrally concentrated disc with a smaller scaleheight than the older stars that contribute the majority of the red and NIR light. Within this model, the path-length of diffuse dust, but not of birth-cloud dust, increases with increasing inclination and the apparent optical attenuation curve is steepened by the differential effect of larger dust opacity towards younger stars than towards older stars. Additionally, our findings suggest that: (i) galaxies with higher star formation rates per unit stellar mass have a higher fraction of diffuse dust, which is more centrally concentrated; (ii) the observed strength of the 2175-A dust feature is affected predominantly by global geometry; and (iii) only highly inclined discs are optically thick. We provide new empirically derived attenuation curves for correcting the light from star-forming galaxies for dust attenuation.
The Merits, Limitations, and Future Directions of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Cardiac MRI with a Focus on Coronary Artery Disease: A Literature Review

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has a wide range of clinical applications with a high degree of accuracy for many myocardial pathologies. Recent literature has shown great utility of CMR in diagnosing many diseases, often changing the course of treatment. Despite this, it is often underutilized possibly due to perceived costs, limiting patient factors and comfort, and longer examination periods compared to other imaging modalities. In this regard, we conducted a literature review using keywords “Cost-Effectiveness” and “Cardiac MRI” and selected articles from the PubMed MEDLINE database that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria to examine the cost-effectiveness of CMR. Our search result yielded 17 articles included in our review. We found that CMR can be cost-effective in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in select patient populations with various cardiac pathologies. Specifically, the use of CMR in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with a pretest probability below a certain threshold may be more cost-effective compared to patients with a higher pretest probability, although its use can be limited based on geographic location, professional society guidelines, and differing reimbursement patterns. In addition, a stepwise combination of different imaging modalities, with conjunction of AHA/ACC guidelines can further enhance the cost-effectiveness of CMR.
A Plant Endophytic Bacterium Priestia megaterium StrainBP-R2 Isolated from the Halophyte Bolboschoenus planiculmis Enhances Plant Growth under Salt and Drought Stresses

Global warming and climate change have contributed to the rise of weather extremes. Severe drought and soil salinization increase because of rising temperatures. Economically important crop production and plant growth and development are hindered when facing various abiotic stresses. Plant endophytic bacteria live inside host plants without causing visible harm and can be isolated from surface-sterilized plant tissues. Using plant endophytic bacteria to stimulate plant growth and increase environmental stress tolerance has become an alternative approach besides using the traditional breeding and genetically modifying approaches to select or create new crop types resistant to different environmental stresses. The plant endophytic bacterium, Priestia megaterium (previously known as Bacillus megaterium) strain BP-R2, was isolated from the surface-sterilized root tissues of the salt marsh halophyte Bolboschoenus planiculmis. The bacteria strain BP-R2 showed high tolerance to different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations and produced the auxin plant hormone, indole acetic acid (IAA), under various tested growth conditions. Inoculation of Arabidopsis and pak choi (Brassica rapa L. R. Chinensis Group) plants with the strain BP-R2 greatly enhanced different growth parameters of the host plants under normal and salt and drought stress conditions compared to that of the mock-inoculated plants. Furthermore, the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, electrolyte leakage (EL), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration accumulated less in the BP-R2-inoculated plants than in the mock-inoculated control plants under salt and drought stresses. In summary, the plant endophytic bacterium strain BP-R2 increased host plant growth and stress tolerance to salt and drought conditions.
Effect of Leading-Edge Separation on the Lift of a Delta Wing

There are a large class of important fluid flows which involve the effects of fluid viscosity and yet do not constitute flows having restrictive amounts of viscous dissipation. Examples of such flows are the flow over slender bodies in which vortex shedding occurs, swept wings having separated leading edges and-so forth. The important feature of these flows is the production of free vortex sheets in which large dissipation ultimately occurs but only at great distances downstream of the generating body; hence, these flow fields may be approximated by potential flow solutions. The present paper presents an application of this technique to slender triangular wings having leading edge separation. Curves are presented showing the lift versus angle of attack, pressure distributions, and integrated span loadings. I t is shown that leading edge separation leads to nonlinear lift curves with lift greater than that obtained from potential flow theory. Comparison of lift curve with experiment is made.
Motivations to Pursue an Ed.D. in Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study

Ed.D. programs have grown in popularity over the past few decades. Utilizing a qualitative single case study approach, we explored students’ motivations for pursuing an Ed.D. in higher education and their considerations related to program choice at a public research university in the midwestern United States. Data from our 14 interviews highlighted the external and internal influences that shaped participants’ motivations to pursue an Ed.D. We discuss implications for Ed.D. program administrators and faculty.
Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Antibody Responses and Identification of Vaccine Breakthrough Infections Among Healthcare Workers Using Nucleocapsid IgG

Abstract Background Long-term studies of vaccine recipients are necessary to understand SARS-CoV-2 antibody durability, assess the impact of boosters on antibody levels, and protection from infection. The identification of vaccine breakthrough infections among fully vaccinated populations will be important in understanding vaccine efficacy and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine escape capacity. Methods SARS-CoV-2 Spike-RBD (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) IgG levels were measured in a longitudinal study of 1000 Chicago healthcare workers who were infection-naïve or previously-infected and then vaccinated. Changes in S and N IgG were followed up to 14 months and vaccine breakthrough infections were identified by increasing N IgG. Results SARS-CoV-2 S IgG antibody levels among previously infected and previously non-infected individuals decreased steadily for 11 months after vaccination. Administration of a booster 8-11 months post-vaccination increased S IgG levels more than 2-fold beyond those observed after 2 doses resulting in indistinguishable S IgG levels between previously-infected and uninfected individuals. Increases in N IgG identified vaccine breakthrough infections and showed over 15% breakthrough infection rates during the Omicron wave starting in December 2021. Conclusions These results demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 antibody changes after vaccination and breakthrough infections and identify high levels of vaccine breakthrough infections during the Omicron wave based on N IgG increases.
No evidence of delay in colorectal cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gwangju and Jeonnam, Korea

OBJECTIVES We evaluated whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused delays in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Korea, where there have been no regional or hospital lockdowns during the pandemic period. METHODS Data on CRC patients (n=1,445) diagnosed in Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonnam Province between January 2019 and December 2021 were assessed. The stage at the time of CRC diagnosis, route to diagnosis, time to initial cancer treatment, and length of hospital admission were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression was also performed to identify factors associated with the risk for diagnosis in an advanced stage. RESULTS No negative effects indicating a higher CRC stage at diagnosis or delayed treatment during the pandemic were observed. Instead, the risk for an advanced stage at diagnosis (TNM stage III/IV) decreased in CRC patients diagnosed during the pandemic (odds ratio, 0.768; 95% confidence interval, 0.647 to 0.911). No significant differences in the interval from diagnosis to operation or chemotherapy were observed. CONCLUSIONS No negative effects on CRC diagnosis and treatment were found until the end of 2021, which may be related to the small magnitude of the COVID-19 epidemic, the absence of a lockdown policy in Korea, and the rebound in the number of diagnostic colonoscopy procedures in 2021.
Extraction, Isolation and Nutritional Quality of Coffee Protein

Coffee protein is reported to have high levels of branched-chain amino acids of value in sports nutrition and malnutrition recovery. However, data demonstrating this unusual amino acid composition are limited. We investigated the extraction and isolation of protein concentrates from coffee bean fractions, viz. green coffee, roasted coffee, spent coffee and silver skin, and determined their amino acid profile, caffeine content and protein nutritional quality, polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. Alkaline extraction/isoelectric precipitation gave lower concentrate yields and protein content than alkaline extraction/ultrafiltration. The protein concentrate from green coffee beans had a higher protein content than those from roasted coffee, spent coffee and silver skin, regardless of extraction method. The isoelectric precipitated green coffee protein concentrate had the highest in vitro protein digestibility and in vitro protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). Silver skin protein concentrate had a very low digestibility and in vitro PDCAAS. In contrast to a previous finding, the amino acid levels in all coffee concentrates did not demonstrate high levels of branched-chain amino acids. All protein concentrates had very high levels of polyphenols and high antioxidant activity. The study suggested investigating coffee protein’s techno-functional and sensory attributes to demonstrate their potential applications in different food matrices.
Influence of the Processing Parameters on the Aroma Profile and Chemical Composition of Conventional and Ecological Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wines during Concentration by Reverse Osmosis

Wine aroma represents one of the most important quality parameters and it is influenced by various factors, such as climate conditions, viticulture and vinification techniques, storage conditions, etc. Wines produced from conventionally and ecologically grown grapes of the same variety have different chemical compositions and aroma profiles. The composition of wine can also be influenced by the additional treatment of wine, such as the concentration of wine by reverse osmosis (RO). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of four different pressures (2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 MPa) and two temperature regimes (with and without cooling) on the aroma profile and chemical composition of conventional and ecological Cabernet Sauvignon red wine during concentration by reverse osmosis. The results showed that different processing parameters influenced the permeate flux, the retentate temperature and the compounds retention. Higher working pressures (4.5 and 5.5 MPa) and the regime, with cooling, resulted in a higher retention of the total aroma compounds than the opposite processing parameters. The retention of individual compounds depended also on their chemical properties and their interactions with the membrane surface. The reverse osmosis membranes proved to be permeable for ethanol, acetic acid or undesirable 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol that made them applicable for their correction or removal.
Double vibronic process in the quantum spin ice candidate Tb2Ti2O7 revealed by terahertz spectroscopy

The origin of quantum fluctuations responsible for the spin liquid state in Tb$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ has remained a long standing problem. By synchrotron-based terahertz measurements, we show evidence of strong coupling between the magnetic and lattice degrees of freedom that provides a path to the quantum melting process. As revealed by hybrid crystal electric field-phonon excitations that appear at 0.67 THz below 200 K, and around 0.42 THz below 50 K, the double vibronic process is unique for Tb$^{3+}$ in the titanate family due to adequate energy matching and strong quadrupolar moments. The results suggest that lattice motion can indeed be the driving force behind spin flips within the hybridized ground and first excited states, promoting quantum terms in the effective Hamiltonian that describes Tb$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$.
Dark MaGICC: the effect of dark energy on disc galaxy formation. Cosmology does matter

We present the Dark MaGICC project, which aims to investigate the effect of Dark Energy (DE) modeling on galaxy formation via hydrodynamical cosmological simulations. Dark MaGICC includes four dynamical Dark Energy scenarios with time varying equations of state, one with a self-interacting Ratra-Peebles model. In each scenario we simulate three galaxies with high resolution using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). The baryonic physics model is the same used in the Making Galaxies in a Cosmological Context (MaGICC) project, and we varied only the background cosmology. We find that the Dark Energy parameterization has a surprisingly important impact on galaxy evolution and on structural properties of galaxies at z=0, in striking contrast with predictions from pure Nbody simulations. The different background evolutions can (depending on the behavior of the DE equation of state) either enhance or quench star formation with respect to a LCDM model, at a level similar to the variation of the stellar feedback parameterization, with strong effects on the final galaxy rotation curves. While overall stellar feedback is still the driving force in shaping galaxies, we show that the effect of the Dark Energy parameterization plays a larger role than previously thought, especially at lower redshifts. For this reason, the influence of Dark Energy parametrization on galaxy formation must be taken into account, especially in the era of precision cosmology.
A computational assessment of flame speed correlation in an ultra-lean pre-chamber engine

Predictive modeling of pre-chamber combustion engines relies primarily on the correct description of laminar and turbulent flame speeds. For engineering applications, the correlations of the flame speeds with physical variables involve empirical constants that are valid for a limited range of operating conditions. The current work aims at assessing the significance of laminar flame speed prediction in the simulation of ultra-lean pre-chamber engine combustion operated with methane. Gülder’s empirical correlation for laminar flame speed was chosen as a reference and was further modified for equivalence ratio, pressure and temperature ranges beyond what it was originally derived for, in order to confirm the original hypothesis; the pressure and temperature dependence were adopted as a power-law correlation. Based on the computational results using the skeletal reaction mechanism, the correlation was modified better represent the flame speeds at ultra-lean engine conditions, using GRI 3.0 as a reference. The modified correlation for methane was implemented in CONVERGE, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver, and the results were validated against the experimental data. In all cases, the original formulation of Peters’s turbulent flame speed correlation was used and was found to have insignificant effect on the conditions under study, confirming the importance of the accurate determination of the laminar flame speed that dominates over any turbulence corrections for high Karlovitz number effects. The flame topology was also investigated to provide insights into the observed pressure behavior among the tested cases. Finally, the relevant turbulent combustion regimes encountered in the pre-chamber combustion engine conditions were examined in the Borghi-Peters diagram, further confirming the findings of the study.
Complexity classifications of Boolean constraint satisfaction problems

Preface 1. Introduction 2. Complexity Classes 3. Boolean Constraint Satisfaction Problems 4. Characterizations of Constraint Functions 5. Implementation of Functions and Reductions 6. Classification Theorems for Decision, Counting and Quantified Problems 7. Classification Theorems for Optimization Problems 8. Input-Restricted Constrained Satisfaction Problems 9. The Complexity of the Meta-Problems 10. Concluding Remarks Bibliography Index.
Altitude as a determinant of fruit quality with emphasis on the Andean tropics of Colombia. A review.

Due to global warming, the highlands of the tropics have become more important for planting fruit trees. The climate at high altitudes is mainly characterized by decreased temperatures and increased solar radiation. A systematic literature review using four bibliographic databases revealed 22 studies that determined fruit quality at two altitudes. With increasing altitude, duration of fruit development was prolonged, and, in most cases, higher fresh weights and sizes were found; however, fruit firmness decreased. The intensity of the fruit color increased because of greater radiation in high areas. Mostly, the total soluble solids of the fleshy fruits augmented with altitude, probably because of an increase in photosynthesis with higher solar radiation. The total acidity did not show a clear trend with increasing elevations. At higher altitudes, the content of antioxidants (mainly phenolics) increased in the fruits, especially in the epidermis as a reaction to the increasing ultraviolet (UV) light. Physiological disorders in the fruits included sunburn and damage caused by low temperatures. Different species and varieties react differently to the conditions of highlands, depending on their origin and whether climatic conditions are optimal for a specific fruit tree. There are no positive effects on fruit quality when altitude is at the limit or above the recommended range for the fruit species.
X‐Linked Hypophosphatemia Caused by the Prevailing North American PHEX Variant c.*231A>G; Exon 13–15 Duplication Is Often Misdiagnosed as Ankylosing Spondylitis and Manifests in Both Men and Women

Inactivating mutations of the gene coding for phosphate‐regulating endopeptidase homolog X‐linked (PHEX) cause X‐linked hypophosphatemia (XLH). A novel PHEX variant, c. *231A>G; exon 13–15 duplication, has emerged as a common cause of XLH in North America, emphasizing the importance of delineating its clinical presentation. Here, a comprehensive description of a five‐generation American kindred of 22 treatment‐naïve individuals harboring the c. *231A>G; exon 13–15 duplication is provided. After XLH was diagnosed in the proposita, pro‐active family members used social media to facilitate a timely assessment of their medical history. Most had normal height and 50% were normophosphatemic. Thirteen had been given a diagnosis other than XLH, most commonly ankylosing spondylitis, and XLH was only established after genetic testing. The prevalent phenotypic characteristics of c. *231A>G; exon 13–15 duplication were disorders of dentition (68.2%), enthesopathies (54.5%), fractures/bone and joint conditions (50%), lower‐limb deformities (40.9%), hearing loss/tinnitus (40.9%), gait abnormalities (22.7%), kidney stones/nephrocalcinosis (18.2%), chest wall disorders (9.1%), and Chiari/skull malformation (4.5%). More affected males than females, respectively, had gait abnormalities (42.9% versus 13.3%), lower‐limb deformities (71.4% versus 26.7%), and enthesopathies (85.7% versus 40%). Single phenotypes, observed exclusively in females, occurred in 22.7% and multiple phenotypes in 77.3% of the cohort. However, as many as six characteristics could develop in either affected males or females. Our findings will improve diagnostic and monitoring protocols for XLH. © 2022 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.