Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
More on the Morphological Typology of Sinitic

Chinese is often defined as a ‘textbook example’ of an isolating language, with comparatively few affixes that are usually etymologically transparent (Sagart 2004). After ‘deconstructing’ the notion of the isolating morphological type, I shall discuss data from a number of Chinese dialects spread over the Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Hebei, and Shandong provinces. I will show that there seem to be some areal clusters with productive morphological phenomena not expected to occur in isolating languages, which can be explained both by the cross-linguistically widespread tendency towards the reduction of certain items in speech production and, arguably, by processes of convergence among dialects. (This article is in English.) 提要 學者們通常認為漢語是典型的孤立語，詞綴較少，由來知根知底 (Sagart 2004)。 本文首先對孤立語的概念進行“解構”。 接著，基於山西、陝西、河南、河北以及山東方言的語料，說明漢語方言中似乎存在著地域上成片的具有能產性的形態現象，而這種現象似乎不該出現在孤立語中。 本文認為，產生這類形態現象的動因包括語法化標記語音侵蝕的普遍傾向以及方言之間的互相影響。
Snow and ice facies variability and ice layer formation on Canadian Arctic ice caps, 1999–2005

[1] Time series of enhanced resolution data from the SeaWinds scatterometer aboard QuikScat were used to map the distribution of snow and ice surface facies and ice layer formation in the percolation zone on ice caps in the Queen Elizabeth Islands during the period 1999–2005. Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis classification of the mean postfreeze-up biweekly average σ0 signal for the 7-year period resulted in the delineation of four snow and ice surface facies (interpreted as the percolation, saturation, superimposed ice, and glacier ice zones). Analysis with National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research Reanalysis reveals that changes in geopotential height in the troposphere (700, 500, and 300 hPa) and air temperature (700 hPa level) are positively (negatively) correlated with area changes in the glacier ice (percolation and saturation) zones and changes in facies boundary elevation. The change in biweekly-averaged backscatter following the freeze-up periods between successive autumns was used to map changes in the distribution of ice layers formed by meltwater percolation and refreezing in the snowpack within the percolation zone. Strongly positive air temperature anomalies at the 700 hPa level in 2001 and 2005 are consistent with extensive ice layer formation in the percolation zones of all ice caps. Such large interannual changes in ice layer formation are likely associated with large changes to the density profile of the snowpack and may be associated with surface elevation changes that are unrelated to changes in surface mass balance.
An application of the coda methodology for moment‐rate spectra using broadband stations in Turkey

A recently developed coda magnitude methodology was applied to selected broadband stations in Turkey for the purpose of testing the coda method in a large, laterally complex region. As found in other, albeit smaller regions, coda envelope amplitude measurements are significantly less variable than distance‐corrected direct wave measurements (i.e., Lg and surface waves) by roughly a factor 3‐to‐4. Despite strong lateral crustal heterogeneity in Turkey, we found that the region could be adequately modeled assuming a simple 1‐D, radially symmetric path correction. After calibrating the stations ISP, ISKB, and MALT for local and regional distances, single‐station moment‐magnitude estimates (Mw) derived from the coda spectra were in excellent agreement with those determined from multi‐station waveform modeling inversions, exhibiting a data standard deviation of 0.17. Though the calibration was validated using large events, the results of the calibration will extend Mw estimates to significantly smaller events which could not otherwise be waveform modeled. The successful application of the method is remarkable considering the significant lateral complexity in Turkey and the simple assumptions used in the coda method.
INNOVATION IN SERVICES USING THE DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES APPROACH: A STUDY OF RESTAURANT CHAINS IN RIO DE JANEIRO INNOVACIÓN

This article aims to identify the routines and processes that promote dynamic service innovation capabilities (DSIC) in restaurant chains. The study of innovation in chains is distinctive due to the need for uniform results in the chain's units. Thus, a permanent tradeoff exists between innovation and standardization. This research encompasses innovation-promoting processes both at the restaurant-units level and at the chain level. In order to handle different managerial levels, the study was divided in two parts. The quantitative part resulted in a DSIC measurement scale for restaurant chains and an innovation indicator that considers the type of business expansion. Methods used, therefore included exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The result enables the development of indicators for innovation management. In the qualitative part, besides categorizing the restaurants interviewed, we investigated how the routines linked to the DSIC are managed. Despite the lack of studies in this area, this work investigates the management of innovation and the measurement of this capacity as decisive aspects for success. Thus, we believe that the results of the research, besides being applicable in innovation management, contribute to the academic debate.
Identification of surface wave higher modes using a methodology based on seismic noise and coda waves

Dispersion analysis of Rayleigh waves is performed to assess the velocity of complex structures such as sedimentary basins. At short periods several modes of the Rayleigh waves are often exited. To perform a reliable inversion of the velocity structure an identification of these modes is thus required. We propose a novel method to identify the modes of surface waves. We use the spectral ratio of the ground velocity for the horizontal components over the vertical component (H/V) measured on seismic coda. We then compare the observed values with the theoretical H/V ratio for velocity models deduced from surface wave dispersion when assuming a particular mode. We first invert the Rayleigh wave measurements retrieved from ambient noise cross-correlation with the assumptions that (1) the fundamental mode and (2) the first overtone are excited. Then we use these different velocity models to predict theoretical spectral ratios of the ground velocity for the horizontal components over the vertical component (H/V). These H/V ratios are computed under the hypothesis of equipartition of a diffuse field in a layered medium. Finally we discriminate between fundamental and higher modes by comparing the theoretical H/V ratio with the H/V ratio measured on seismic coda. In an application, we reconstruct Rayleigh waves from cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise recorded at seven broad-band stations in the Valley of Mexico. For paths within the soft quaternary sediments basin, the maximum energy is observed at velocities higher than expected for the fundamental mode. We identify that the dominant mode is the first higher mode, which suggests the importance of higher modes as the main vectors of energy in such complex structures.
The Effect of Foreign Direct Investment on Air Pollution in the Economic Community of West African States region: What Influence Does Tax Expenditure Have?

Air pollution is one of the crucial environmental challenges facing the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The objective of this paper is to examine the effect of an attractive tax policy on the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and air pollution in ECOWAS region over the period 2000 to 2019. By using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method and panel data analyses (fixed effects and random effects), the results show that, in general, FDI does not have a significant effect on air pollution in the region. However, closer analysis reveals that an interaction between FDI and an attractive tax policy has a negative effect on air quality, leading to an increase in air pollution. Thus, companies attracted by tax incentives may not meet rigorous environmental standards. These re-sults highlight the importance for policymakers to balance economic incentives with environmental protection in ECOWAS. Attractive tax policies can stimulate investment, but they must be designed in a way that encourages environmentally friendly practices, thereby helping to improve air quality in the region.
Understanding the Role of Radio-Sensitizing Nanoparticles in Enhancing Pathologic Response in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Simple Summary Introducing high-atomic-number nanoparticles into tumor cells enhances the effect of radiotherapy. In the case of soft tissue sarcomas (STS), preclinical studies indicate that the dose is enhanced by approximately 1.2 when polyethelyne glycol (PEG)-modified gold and up to 1.8 when hafnium oxide nanoparticles (NBTXR3, Nanobiotix SA, Paris, France) are introduced into tumor cells and activated by X-ray photon beams. Clinical trials assessing the therapeutic benefit of nanoparticles in preoperative radiotherapy for locally advanced STS revealed that using NBTXR3 nanoparticles doubled the proportion of patients achieving a pathological complete response in their resected tumor. Additionally, a higher percentage of patients in the NBTXR3 plus radiotherapy patient group achieved complete tumor resection. The incorporation of radio-sensitizing nanoparticles in the preoperative radiotherapy of STS could enhance treatment outcomes. Abstract High-atomic-number (Z) nanoparticles produce a cascade of low-energy secondary electrons and characteristic X-rays when ionized by X-ray irradiation. These secondary particles deposit their energy in the vicinity of the nanoparticles and, provided that the latter are selectively accumulated within tumor cells, this results in increased DNA damage and tumor cell deaths. This study reviews the utilization of high-Z nanoparticles in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the dose is enhanced by approximately 1.2 when polyethelyne glycol (PEG)-modified gold nanoparticles, and from 1.4 to 1.8 when hafnium oxide nanoparticles (NBTXR3, Nanobiotix SA, France) are introduced into tumor cells and activated by X-ray beams. In a phase 2/3 clinical trial investigating the therapeutic benefit of using nanoparticles in preoperative external beam radiotherapy for locally advanced STS, the proportion of patients with a pathological complete response in their resected tumor was doubled when NBTXR3 nanoparticles were used. Additionally, a higher percentage of patients with complete tumor resection was observed in the NBTXR3 plus radiotherapy group. Similar toxicity profiles were found for both the NBTXR3 plus radiotherapy and the radiotherapy alone patient groups. The incorporation of radio-sensitizing nanoparticles in the preoperative radiotherapy of STS could enhance treatment outcomes.
Urban agriculture: connecting producers with consumers

The authors find that food production is an essential part of the mission for all urban farms. Some farms have social missions, as well, which the survey results indicate are related to food security, education, and community building. The authors find that all urban farms, regardless of their mission, are relatively small and face similar challenges in terms of providing the primary farmer with a living. Farms with explicit social missions, relative to those with a strict market orientation,.
Uncovering the Hidden Burden of Pharmaceutical Poisoning in High-Income and Low-Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Pharmaceutical poisoning is a significant global public health concern, causing approximately 190,000 deaths annually. This scoping review aims to comprehensively map the available literature on pharmaceutical poisoning and compare patterns between high-income countries (HICs) and low-middle-income countries (LMICs). A systematic search was performed across the following databases: Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and CINAHL. Studies included were from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2020, in English, with full text available. Seventy-nine articles were included in the study; 21 were from LMICs and 58 were from HICs. Toxic exposure was largely intentional (77%) in LMICs and accidental (68%) in HICs. Drugs acting on the nervous system were responsible for 95% of toxicities worldwide with analgesics accounting for the largest subtherapeutic group in both LMICs (40%) and HICs (58%). Notable statistics were that HICs accounted for 99% of opioid overdoses, and LMICs accounted for 19% of anti-epileptic-induced toxicities. Overall, the medical outcomes due to poisonings were generally worse in LMICs. The review provides possible interventions to target specific geographic locations, based on the trends identified, to reduce the burden worldwide. Many gaps within the literature were recognised, calling for more robust analytical research.
Evaluation of the Effect of Different Locally Available Manures on Planktonic Quality and Quantity

An experiment was conducted in out-door, circular cement tanks (1000 L) with soil base for one year to estimate the plankton productivity and microbial characteristics in relation to seasons and inputs. Effect of three locally available manures - Cow dung (CD), poultry manure (PM) and goat manure (GM), on plank.tonic quality and quantity was evaluated. CD, GM and PM were applied to freshly prepared triplicate tanks at isonitrogenous dose at fortnightly intervals. Water quality, plankton quality and quantity were estimated. The study revealed that irrespective of the treatment, the water quality parameters showed similar pattern during the study period. Though the ammonia levels remained almost similar throughout the study, after initial 3 months, drastic decrease in nitrate levels were noticed in all the tanks owing to higher growth of plank.tonic biomass. Significantly higher phosphate content in water was noticed in poultry manure applied tanks. Plankton biomass was higher in all seasons with poultry manure followed by goat manure and cow dung. Bacillariophyceae (diatoms), Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae were higher with CD followed by GM, PM and Control (CO-without inputs). Density of Crustaceans, Rotifers and Euglenophyceae was the highest with PM, while it was similar in CD and GM. Control recorded the least value. Further, there was variation in tanks with respect to density of lactobacillus group of bacteria (on MRS agar plates) with highest count in CD (3.9x104 CFU/ml of bacteria) followed by GM (5.1x103 CFU/ml), PM (5.1x102 CFU/ml) and CO (3.7x102 CFU/ml). The study revealed superiority of poultry manure as a nutrient source for higher production of rotifers and crustaceans at all seasons under the prevailing conditions.
A new Jurassic Rhynchonellide Brachiopod from the Newmarracarra Limestone, Perth Basin, Western Australia

A new species of rhynchonellide brachiopod, Cirpa fromontae sp. nov., is described from the Middle }urassic Newmarracarra Limestone, Perth Basin, Western Australia. This is the first species of Cirpa recorded from Australia and links the region with the Tethyan Sea.
Fish foraging under visual constraints

Visual conditions are changing in several different ways. Some lakes are getting turbid due to eutrophication or erosion while others are getting browner due to brownification. These two types of visual degradation results in completely different optical properties of lakes. Turbid water scatter light which degrades image quality severely while brown coloured humic water mainly absorb light making the aquatic environment darker. In juvenile fish, the effects seem to be similar between turbid and humic water where foraging of planktivorous life stages are largely unaffected. However, prey selectivity in juvenile fish may change as red carotenoid pigmentation in copepod zooplankton make them more conspicuous in turbid water while transparent copepods are selected by the fish in humic water. The pigments, that are usually used for UV-protection in clear water, may therefore make the pigmented copepod cryptic in humic water, explaining the presence of the pigments even in brown waters where UV-radiation is very low. Piscivorous juvenile fish experience negative effects of visual degradation, including reduced reaction distance which reduces the search efficiency and encounter rate for the predator. Juvenile pike (Esox lucius) are able to counteract the reduced encounter rate with increased attack rate and thereby probably also higher foraging effort. This increase in foraging effort when foraging on fish prey may reduce the benefit of ontogenetic diet switches and thereby have consequences for growth and recruitment in fish populations. Foraging in adult fish depend heavily on visual conditions. For adult fish, image quality is important, resulting in that prey size selectivity collapses completely in turbid water. In clear water pike consistently selects small prey to reduce handling time to a minimum. This selectivity for small prey are maintained in brown humic water. Lost selectivity in turbid water and thereby capture of larger prey than necessary, increases the handling time of prey, and thereby the exposure of pike to cannibalistic and cleptoparasitic conspecifics. However, the most pronounced foraging cycle effect of visual degradation is the reduced reaction distance that lowers the search efficiency of the predator and thereby possibly the encounter rate with prey. Decreased encounter rates was however not counteracted by increased search activity. The importance of the visual conditions for the encounter rate is also implied when growth rate of perch (Perca fluviatilis) was evaluated before and after biomanioulation in Lake Finjasjon. A 10-fold decrease in prey density after biomanipulation is completely counteracted by improved visual conditions where Secchi depth increased from 0.35 m before to 1.16 m after biomanipulaton. This resulted in increased growth in the predator, probably due to increased encounter rate, despite the 10-fold decrease in prey density.
Interval colorectal cancers after negative faecal immunochemical test in the New Zealand Bowel Screening Pilot

Objective Evaluate the diagnostic performance of faecal immunochemical test (FIT), identify risk factors for FIT-interval colorectal cancers (FIT-IC) and describe long-term outcomes of participants with colorectal cancers (CRC) in the New Zealand Bowel Screening Pilot (BSP). Design From 2012 to 2017, the BSP offered eligible individuals, aged 50–74 years, biennial screening using a quantitative FIT with positivity threshold of 15 µg haemoglobin (Hb)/g faeces. Retrospective review of prospectively maintained data extracted from the BSP Register and New Zealand Cancer Registry identified any CRC reported in participants who returned a definitive FIT result. Further details were obtained from hospital records. FIT-ICs were primary CRC diagnosed within 24 months of a negative FIT. Factors associated with FIT-ICs were identified using logistic regression. Results Of 387 215 individuals invited, 57.4% participated with 6.1% returning positive FIT results. Final analysis included 520 CRC, of which 111 (21.3%) met FIT-IC definition. Overall FIT sensitivity for CRC was 78.7% (95% CI=74.9% to 82.1%), specificity was 94.1% (95% CI=94.0% to 94.2%). In 78 (70.3%) participants with FIT-IC, faecal Hb was reported as undetectable. There were no significant associations between FIT-IC and age, sex, ethnicity and deprivation. FIT-ICs were significantly associated with proximal tumour location, late stage at diagnosis, high-grade tumour differentiation and subsequent round screens. Median follow-up time was 74 (2–124) months. FIT-IC had significantly poorer overall survival. Conclusion FIT sensitivity in BSP compared favourably to published data. FIT-ICs were more likely to be proximal tumours with poor long-term outcomes. Further lowering of FIT threshold would have minimal impact on FIT-IC.
Efficacy and safety of telitacicept in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicentre, retrospective, real-world study

Objective To examine the efficacy and safety of telitacicept in the treatment of patients with SLE in everyday clinical practice. Methods Seventy-two patients with active SLE who received telitacicept for more than 24 weeks at multiple centres in China between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively identified. Twenty-one of these patients received 52 continuous weeks of treatment with telitacicept. Treatment outcomes were analysed separately according to whether patients had renal or haematological abnormalities. Trajectory analysis was performed to identify patients with a limited response. Factors contributing to a limited response were explored by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results After treatment with telitacicept for 4, 12, 24 and 52 weeks, 22.22%, 54.17%, 72.22% and 80.95% of patients, respectively, achieved an SLE Responder Index 4; 8.33%, 26.39%, 34.72% and 47.62% achieved a Lupus Low Disease Activity State; and 0%, 4.17%, 8.33% and 23.81% achieved remission. Significant decreases in serum IgA, IgG and IgM levels were observed at 4 weeks and showed a downward trend at 12, 24 and 52 weeks. The median 24-hour urinary protein declined from 1323.5 mg to 224.0 mg in patients with lupus nephritis after treatment with telitacicept for 52 weeks. Furthermore, a large proportion of patients (10 of 13) with haematological abnormalities recovered after 52 weeks of treatment with telitacicept. No severe adverse events were reported during the observation period. Age appeared to have a negative impact on treatment efficacy. Conclusions Telitacicept demonstrated favourable efficacy and safety in patients with active SLE and improved the renal and haematological manifestations of the disease.
Ocular morbidity among children (aged 6-18 yr) of the tribal area of Melghat, India: A community-based study

Background & objectives: Most of the ocular morbidities among school children are preventable or treatable. Melghat, a difficult to access, hilly, forest, tribal area with poorly developed infrastructure in the Amravati district of Maharashtra. Scarcity of ophthalmologists and low health-seeking behaviour of tribal people contributes to the high burden of ocular morbidity. Given the lack of published studies on the ocular morbidity among children in Melghat, outreach programmes are essential to diagnose and treat visual impairments promptly. The objective was to determine the prevalence of ocular morbidity among children in the tribal area of Melghat. Methods: A community-based observational study was carried out in the Chikhaldara and Dharni blocks of Melghat. Children from 15 tribal villages were screened for eye disorders by trained paramedics. Most of the children were examined by an ophthalmologist. We used Chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: A total of 4357 children aged between 6 and 18 yr were examined. Of these 2336 (53.6%) were females and 2021 (46.4%) were males. Out of 4357 children, 507 (11.63%) had an ocular morbidity. The prevalence of ocular morbidity and refractive error increased in the age group of 8-10 yr (P<0.05 and <0.001, respectively). Refractive error was the most common ocular morbidity (n=339; 7.8%), followed by vitamin A deficiency (VAD) (n=120; 2.8%). Interpretation & conclusions: The prevalence of refractive error and VAD in this study was significantly higher than the rest of India and the world. For the prevention of childhood blindness, immediate intervention programme, including eye screening by trained paramedics, treatment by an ophthalmologist and prophylaxis, is crucial.