Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Weak-Form Efficient Market Hypothesis in Zimbabwe Stock Exchange during Pandemic Period

Stock markets, just like other sectors of businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has caused things to change in some sort; behavior, culture, and economy. Investors’ behavior and expectations may have been shaken. Huge stock market dislocations may have occurred as individual and institutional investors react to bad economic news. This paper evaluated the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) for evidence of a weak-form efficient market hypothesis in the context of a random walk model for the pandemic period. The study used low-frequency data (monthly) from January 2020 to February 2022 for its analysis. The study employed autocorrelation tests, unit root test runs tests, and variance ratio tests. The study found that the autocorrelation tests run tests and the variance ratio tests failed to reject the random walk hypothesis, while the unit root test have opposite results. Given that the variance ratio test is more powerful than the unit root test and that unit root tests have very poor power properties, the study concludes that the ZSE followed a random walk during the pandemic period. The study, however, believes that the efficiency of the stock market may have been attributed to inflation problems during the period. As inflation sours, the revenue growth becomes of nominal terms not real terms, hence actual returns in real terms become meaningless in the financial trade. The study recommended further development of the stock market to resemble those of developed markets with various trading products, greater participation, automation, and capitalization.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Associated with Flooding Tolerance in Mulberry Plants

Mulberry (Morus alba), a widely distributed economic plant, can withstand long-term flooding stress. However, the regulatory gene network underlying this tolerance is unknown. In the present study, mulberry plants were subjected to submergence stress. Subsequently, mulberry leaves were collected to perform quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and transcriptome analysis. Genes encoding ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly upregulated after submergence stress, indicating that they could protect the mulberry plant from flood damage by mediating ROS homeostasis. Genes that regulate starch and sucrose metabolism; genes encoding pyruvate kinase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and pyruvate decarboxylase (enzymes involved in glycolysis and ethanol fermentation); and genes encoding malate dehydrogenase and ATPase (enzymes involved in the TCA cycle) were also obviously upregulated. Hence, these genes likely played a key role in mitigating energy shortage during flooding stress. In addition, genes associated with ethylene, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and MAPK signaling; genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis; and transcription factor genes also showed upregulation under flooding stress in mulberry plants. These results provide further insights into the adaptation mechanisms and genetics of submergence tolerance in mulberry plants and could aid in the molecular breeding of these plants.
Using the Finite Element Method to Determine the Odonto-Periodontal Stress for a Patient with Angle Class II Division 1 Malocclusion

The finite element method (FEM) is a computational method that can solve all biomechanical problems, including the field of orthodontics. The purpose of this virtual experimental study is to determine the behavior of a real orthodontic system subjected to different systems of loads. To analyze the real orthodontic system, we studied the case of a 21-year-old female patient. We used the InVesalius program, which can transform a set of DICOM-type images taken from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) into three-dimensional structures. These structures were edited, modified, completed, and analyzed from a geometric point of view with the help of the Geomagic software. The final result of these operations must be a three-dimensional model made up of perfectly closed surfaces so that they can be transformed into virtual solids. The model consisting of perfectly closed surfaces is loaded into computer-aided design (CAD) programs. Bracket and tube components, as well as orthodontic wires, can be added to these models, similar to the analyzed patient’s tissues. When the model is complete and geometrically correct, it is exported to a program that uses FEM, such as Ansys Workbench. The simulation was performed for the forces of 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 1 N. The intention was to determine the behavior of the entire orthodontic system for these force values. After running the simulations, result maps were obtained that were composed of displacement, strain, and stress diagrams. It was also found that, in addition to the known rigidity, the orthodontic system has some elasticity due to the orthodontic wires, as well as the periodontal ligaments. Thus, a virtual analysis study can be carried out starting from a real patient with pre-treatment CBCT images and the virtual models of the bracket and tube elements and of the orthodontic wires.
The evaluation of left ventricular strain using speckle tracking echocardiography in normal young adults:comparison of three-dimensional and two-dimensional approaches

Objective To investigate the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in assessment of left ventricular (LV) strains.Methods Thirty healthy young adults examined by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and 3D-STI.And the results of LV measurements were compared,which included mean peak systolic longitudinal strains,radial strains and circumferential strains.Also,the time consumption of these two methods was compared.Results The time needed for 3D-STI in acquisition and analysis of the images were (309.3±23.4)s,(305.5±11.2)s,while the time for 2D-STI were (490.6±14.4)s,(1261.4±39.9)s.The differences were significant(t=-21.81,69.94,both P0.01). The global mean peak systolic radial strains was (48.59±7.68)% by 3D-STI and (33.25±7.27)% by 2D-STI.The difference was significant(t=9.16,P0.01). The global mean peak systolic longitudinal and circumferential strains were (-17.66±3.14)%,(-17.13±2.29)% by 3D-STI and (-21.35±2.46)%,(-21.97±3.84)% by 2D-STI.The differences were significant(t=5.33,5.99,both P0.01). The 3D-STI strains were different at different levels of LV.The longitudinal,circumferential and radial 3D-STI strains were largest at middle levels.However,2D-STI strains didni t show such trend.Peak strains measured by 3D-STI and 2D-STI showed high inter-observer and intra-observer agreement in Bland-Altman chart.Conclusion 3D-STI is a novel,convenient and reproducible method to evaluate the strains of LV.
Three‐dimensional time‐harmonic fundamental solutions for a fluid‐saturated poroelastic half‐space with partially permeable free surface

By virtue of a pair of scalar potentials for the displacement of the solid skeleton and the pore fluid pressure field of a saturated poroelastic medium, an alternative solution method to the Helmholtz decomposition is developed for the wave propagation problems in the framework of Biot's theory. As an application, a comprehensive solution for three‐dimensional response of an isotropic poroelastic half‐space with a partially permeable hydraulic free surface under an arbitrarily distributed time‐harmonic internal force field and fluid sources is developed. The Green's functions for the poroelastic fields, corresponding to point, ring, and disk loads, are reduced to semi‐infinite complex‐valued integrals that can be evaluated numerically by an appropriate quadrature scheme. Analytical and numerical comparisons are made with existing elastic and poroelastic solutions to illustrate the quality and features of the solution. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stability Analysis of Deformation-Monitoring Network Points Using Simultaneous Observation Adjustment of Two Epochs

AbstractAn important issue in deformation analysis is identification of (un)stable points in a monitoring network. This paper proposes a new method that identifies the unstable points of a network based on the generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) test. The method, which simultaneously uses the observations of two epochs, is called the simultaneous adjustment of two epochs (SATE) method. The existing methods apply individual least-squares adjustment to the observations of each epoch. SATE is applicable to one-, two-, or three-dimensional deformation networks with any type of observations, including distances, angles, global positioning system (GPS) baselines, and height difference. To investigate the performance of the proposed method, observations of a real GPS deformation-monitoring network were used. The results for unstable points identification are identical to those of the existing methods. Furthermore, a few simulation case studies were used to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed method. The simulat.
Body Image, Social Physique Anxiety Levels and Self-Esteem among Adults Participating in Physical Activity Programs

(1) Background: individuals may benefit from being involved in physical and athletic activities in order to improve their body appearance and promote their physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate body image, body mass index (BMI) characteristics, social physique anxiety, self-esteem and possible correlations between the above factors. (2) Methods: 245 adults engaged in training programs in gyms, as well as in track and field, football and basketball athletic activities completed (a) a sociodemographic questionnaire which recorded their BMI values and utilized the (b) Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, (c) the Social Physique Anxiety Scale and (d) the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. (3) Results: Females and individuals with higher BMI reported statistically significant lower body-esteem and greater social physique anxiety levels compared to males and individuals with lower BMI, respectively (p < 0.05). A total of 25.3% of our participants were labeled as “overweight”, while 20.4% had been overweight in the past. Significant differences were reported between body-esteem and social physique anxiety levels (p < 0.001); age (p = 0.001); BMI value (p < 0.001) and never having a problem with body weight (p = 0.008). Additionally, individuals with lower body-esteem and greater social physique anxiety levels presented lower global self-esteem (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: individuals’ engagement in physical activity promotes physical as well as mental well-being, contributing to an improved quality of life, which may be the most important issue for health care professionals.
Nomenclature and typification in Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae) from North Africa

﻿Abstract The progress of taxonomic work on native Verbascum L. taxa found in Morocco led to a search for reference specimens in various herbaria. This process was extended to the taxa found in the other four countries of North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt), which make up the southern shore of the Mediterranean basin. Numerous names were identified as needing typification or requiring corrections of their earlier lectotypifications in order to stabilize their nomenclature and provide a better definition of each taxon. As a result, lectotypes are now designated for 35 names, a neotype is proposed for V.ballii (Batt.) Hub. -Mor. , and second-step lectotypes are proposed for V.faureisubsp. acanthifolium (Pau) Benedí & J.M. Monts. and V.pinnatisectum (Batt.) Benedí. Comments have been added for each typified name. Known isolectotypes are also mentioned whenever possible. Furthermore, some new combinations are proposed in this paper, namely V.longirostrevar. antiatlantica (Emb.) Khamar, comb. nov., V.longirostrevar. atlantica (Maire) Khamar, comb. nov., and V.longirostrevar. hoggarica (Maire) Khamar, comb. nov.
Food Emulsion Gels from Plant-Based Ingredients: Formulation, Processing, and Potential Applications

Recent advances in the understanding of formulations and processing techniques have allowed for greater freedom in plant-based emulsion gel design to better recreate conventional animal-based foods. The roles of plant-based proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids in the formulation of emulsion gels and relevant processing techniques such as high-pressure homogenization (HPH), ultrasound (UH), and microfluidization (MF), were discussed in correlation with the effects of varying HPH, UH, and MF processing parameters on emulsion gel properties. The characterization methods for plant-based emulsion gels to quantify their rheological, thermal, and textural properties, as well as gel microstructure, were presented with a focus on how they can be applied for food purposes. Finally, the potential applications of plant-based emulsion gels, such as dairy and meat alternatives, condiments, baked goods, and functional foods, were discussed with a focus on sensory properties and consumer acceptance. This study found that the implementation of plant-based emulsion gel in food is promising to date despite persisting challenges. This review will provide valuable insights for researchers and industry professionals looking to understand and utilize plant-based food emulsion gels.
The Effect of Lithium Ion Leaching from Calcined Li–Al Hydrotalcite on the Rapid Removal of Ni2+/Cu2+ from Contaminated Aqueous Solutions

A layered double hydroxide (LDH) calcined-framework adsorbent was investigated for the rapid removal of heavy metal cations from plating wastewater. Li–Al–CO3 LDH was synthesized on an aluminum lathe waste frame surface to prepare the sorbent. The calcination treatment modified the LDH surface properties, such as the hydrophilicity and the surface pH. The change in surface functional groups and the leaching of lithium ions affected the surface properties and the adsorption capacity of the heavy metal cations. A zeta potential analysis confirmed that the 400 °C calcination changed the LDH surface from positively charged (+10 mV) to negatively charged (−17 mV). This negatively charged surface contributed to the sorbent instantly bonding with heavy metal cations in large quantities, as occurs during contact with wastewater. The adsorption isotherms could be fitted using the Freundlich model. The pseudo-second-order model and the rate-controlled liquid-film diffusion model successfully simulated the adsorption kinetics, suggesting that the critical adsorption step was a heterogeneous surface reaction. This study also confirmed that the recovered nickel and/or copper species could be converted into supported metal nanoparticles with a high-temperature hydrogen reduction treatment, which could be reused as catalysts.
HIV Virologic Failure among Patients with Persistent Low-Level Viremia in Nairobi, Kenya: It Is Time to Review the >1000 Virologic Failure Threshold

Persistent low-level viremia (PLLV) of 200-999 copies/ml has been reported as a risk factor for HIV virologic failure (VF). This retrospective study was aimed at characterizing patients with PLLV, determining factors associated with VF, and determining the effect of regimen change. Data were extracted from electronic medical records for HIV care and treatment. Patients' characteristics (N = 705) were as follows: a mean age of 42 years, majority female (55%), and 51% married. A majority (78.7%) had a history of opportunistic infections in their ART lifetime. To determine factors associated with VF, 187 records on patients who maintained PLLV and 12 on deceased patients at the time of data review were eliminated from the analysis, leaving 506 patient records. Out of the 506, 89% (451/506) suppressed VL to nondetectable levels while 11% (55/506) had VF, and the difference was significant (P = 0.0001). Virologic failure was significantly associated with ages 10-30 years (P < 0.05). Baseline VL ≥ 1000 (OR 3.929; P = 0.002) and 200-999 copies/ml (OR 4.062; P = 0.004) were associated with VF. During PLLV, factors associated with VF included the following: PLLV of 200-999 copies/ml (P < 0.05), viral blips (OR 4.545; P = 0.0001), mean maximum VL (P < 0.05), and age (P = 0.043). Married marital status was inversely associated with VF (OR 0.318; P = 0.026). Regimen change was not significantly associated with virologic outcomes. However, patients who switched regimens to the second line had a high risk of VF (P = 0.028; OR 3.203). Regimen change was significantly high (P < 0.05) among adolescents and patients with a start regimen of 2NRTI+1NNRTI. Most of the PLLV patients (89%) achieved nondetectable VL after their continued ART monitoring for at least 12 months. Therefore, PLLV was not an indicator of VF. However, a consistent VL of ≥200-999 copies/ml at baseline and more than 12 months of ART care and treatment were significantly associated with VF. Patients with VL 200-999 copies/ml, adolescents, and young adults require intensive ART monitoring and support.
On the auditory identifiability of Asian American identity in speech: The role of listener background, sociolinguistic awareness, and language ideologies

The current study examined the auditory identifiability of Asian American ethnoracial identity, including the role of listener characteristics and ideologies. Results of an identification experiment showed that the overall accuracy of ethnoracial identification on (East and Southeast) Asian talkers was low, but not the lowest among talker groups and not significantly different from accuracy on Black talkers. There were also significant effects of listeners' ethnoracial identity, gender, and linguistic chauvinism (i.e., disfavoring linguistic diversity in the US). In particular, being Asian or a woman was associated with a higher likelihood of accuracy, whereas greater linguistic chauvinism was, to an extent, associated with a lower likelihood of accuracy. Results of a discrimination experiment additionally showed an effect of listeners' awareness of ethnoracially-based language variation: having this awareness was associated with a higher likelihood of accuracy on discrimination trials with one or more Asian talkers. Taken together, these findings converge with previous results showing an effect of the listener's background on ethnoracial perception and further implicate the listener's sociolinguistic awareness and ideologies.
Stationary solutions in applied dynamics: A unified framework for the numerical calculation and stability assessment of periodic and quasi‐periodic solutions based on invariant manifolds

The determination of stationary solutions of dynamical systems as well as analyzing their stability is of high relevance in science and engineering. For static and periodic solutions a lot of methods are available to find stationary motions and analyze their stability. In contrast, there are only few approaches to find stationary solutions to the important class of quasi‐periodic motions–which represent solutions of generalized periodicity–available so far. Furthermore, no generally applicable approach to determine their stability is readily available. This contribution presents a unified framework for the analysis of equilibria, periodic as well as quasi‐periodic motions alike. To this end, the dynamical problem is changed from a formulation in terms of the trajectory to an alternative formulation based on the invariant manifold as geometrical object in the state space. Using a so‐called hypertime parametrization offers a direct relation between the frequency base of the solution and the parametrization of the invariant manifold. Over the domain of hypertimes, the invariant manifold is given as solution to a PDE, which can be solved using standard methods as Finite Differences (FD), Fourier‐Galerkin‐methods (FGM) or quasi‐periodic shooting (QPS). As a particular advantage, the invariant manifold represents the entire stationary dynamics on a finite domain even for quasi‐periodic motions – whereas obtaining the same information from trajectories would require knowing them over an infinite time interval. Based on the invariant manifold, a method for stability assessment of quasi‐periodic solutions by means of efficient calculation of Lyapunov‐exponents is devised. Here, the basic idea is to introduce a Generalized Monodromy Mapping, which may be determined in a pre‐processing step: using this mapping, the Lyapunov‐exponents may efficiently be calculated by iterating this mapping.
Impact of COVID-19 mandatory lockdown on maternal gestational weight gain and neonatal macrosomia rate at an academic medical center in Israel

Abstract Background In an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), governments restricted outdoor activities and imposed lockdown quarantine. This change in lifestyle probably affected individuals’ eating habits and physical activity. Objective To examine the effect of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal antenatal weight gain, neonatal macrosomia, and other maternal and neonatal outcomes of women delivering at an academic medical center in Israel. Method A retrospective, two-period cohort study conducted at a university teaching medical center in Afula, Israel. The study period was between April and September 2020. This period signifies worsening in pandemic situations, during which citizens experienced strict prolonged lockdown measures. The parallel unexposed period (control period) was between April and September 2019. Singleton pregnancies delivered at >24 weeks were eligible. Primary outcome was incidence of macrosomia. Secondary outcomes included gestational weight gain, body mass index (BMI) at delivery, rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), mode of delivery, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), and neonatal outcomes reflecting neonatal birth weight and condition at delivery. Results A total of 4,765 women were included, 2,442 in the study group and 2,323 in the control group. The incidence of macrosomia was significantly higher in 2020 (6.2%) than in 2019 (4.9%), (p = .048; OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.002– 1.65). Women gained significantly more weight (median 1 kg more), weighed more at delivery (median 1 kg), and had higher BMI at delivery in 2020 compared with those in 2019 (p < .01). The incidence of GDM was 9.5% and 8.5% in the study and control groups respectively (p = .26; OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 0.92–1.37). Greater percentage of women did not perform the glucose challenge test in 2020 (9.9%) compared with those in 2019 (7.5%) (p = .003, OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.11–1.67). The incidence of any hypertension related to pregnancy was significantly higher in 2020 compared to 2019 (5.8% vs 4.4% respectively, (p = .042; OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.02–1.71). The proportion of women who smoked during pregnancy was also significantly higher in 2020 than in 2019 (5.1% vs 3.7%, respectively, p = .02; OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.06–1.86). Delivery mode did not differ, while the incidence of PPH was significantly higher in 2020 than in 2019 (5.6% vs 3.4%, respectively, p = .001; OR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.25–2.19). Neonatal condition at delivery was comparable. Conclusion COVID-19-related lockdown was associated with the increased rate of macrosomic infants. This indirect effect of the pandemic is probably related to poorer maternal antenatal metabolic health status. Long-term consequences should be further examined.
Baer–Levi semigroups of linear transformations

Given an infinite-dimensional vector space V, we consider the semigroup GS (m, n) consisting of all injective linear α: V → V for which codim ran α = n, where dim V = m ≥ n ≥ ℵ0. This is a linear version of the well-known Baer–Levi semigroup BL (p, q) defined on an infinite set X, where |X| = p ≥ q ≥ ℵ0. We show that, although the basic properties of GS (m, n) are the same as those of BL (p, q), the two semigroups are never isomorphic. We also determine all left ideals of GS (m, n) and some of its maximal subsemigroups; in this, we follow previous work on BL (p, q) by Sutov and Sullivan as well as Levi and Wood.