Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Explaining China’s economic performance from the perspective of non-conventional determinants

We analyze forecasts concerning China’s growth slow-down and future prospects concerning its economic performance. Extending the discussion on China’s possibility of going through a slow-down in future, we focus on the avoidance of such a possibility by drawing forth the role of gross capital formation, trade openness, higher education enrollment ratio, higher education expenditure, R&D expenditure, population growth and number of inventions in determining per capita income. These non-conventional determinants: number of inventions, government R&D expenditure, higher education enrollment ratio and higher education expenditure, show not only significantly positive link with per capita income but also exhibit strong explanatory power in determining per capita income. We apply several techniques (robust regression analysis, Driscoll and Kraay (1998) method, Fixed effects, Random effects estimations and Arellano-Bond GMM estimation) to analyze the sensitivity of our results which show that our variables of interest are robust to heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation of type MA(q), and contemporaneous cross-sectional dependence.
Perceptions of plagiarism among PhDs across the sciences, engineering, humanities, and arts: Results from a national survey in Brazil

ABSTRACT Plagiarism allegations are not rare in the history of science, and credit for prior work was and continues to be a source of disputes, involving notions of priority of discovery and of plagiarism. However, consensus over what constitutes plagiarism among scientists from different fields cannot be taken for granted. We conducted a national survey exploring perceptions of plagiarism among PhD holders registered in the database of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. This survey was sent to 143,405 PhD holders across the fields, in the sciences, engineering, humanities, and arts, with a response rate of about 20%. The results suggest that core principles about plagiarism are shared among this multidisciplinary community, corroborating Robert K. Merton’s observations that concerns over plagiarism and priority disputes are not field specific. This study offers insight into the way plagiarism is perceived in this community and sheds light on the problem for international collaborative research networks. The data focus on a particular research system in Latin America, but, given the cultural similarities that bind most Latin American nations, these results may be relevant to other PhD populations in the region and should provide an opportunity for comparison with studies from other emerging, non-Anglophone regions.
Compartmentalized T cell profile in the lungs of patients with HIV-1-associated pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma (pKS) caused by Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is a devastating form of KS in patients with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Blood T cells play a central role in the response of HIV-1 and HHV-8. However, little information is available on T cells in the alveolar space of HIV-1-associated pKS patients. Therefore, we examined CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the alveolar space in comparison with the blood of patients with pKS. We recruited 26 HIV-1 positive patients with KS, including 15 patients with pKS. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and blood mononuclear cells were analyzed for T cell memory phenotypes, surface markers associated with exhaustion, and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) using flow cytometry. HIV-1 and HHV-8 viral loads were measured in plasma by quantitative PCR. BAL T cells showed reduced inflammatory capacities and significantly diminished polyfunctionality compared to blood T cells from patients with pKS. This was not accompanied by increased expression of exhaustion markers, such as TIM-3 and PD-1. More importantly, we found a negative correlation between the production of MIP1-β and TNF-α in T cells in BAL and blood, indicating compartmentalised immune responses to pKS and accentuated chronic HIV-1/HHV-8 pathogenesis via T cells in the lungs of people with pKS.
Evaporative Cooling Pads: Test Procedure and Evaluation

A procedure for testing evaporative cooling pads was developed to relate efficiency, face air velocity, and static pressure drop across the pads. This article outlines the test procedure; describes how pad performance is affected by pad angle, pad thickness, and initial aging; analyzes the accuracy of the test method; and compares test results with those of previous researchers. Many experimental cross-corrugated cellulose pads of varying design were tested, including three designs currently on the market (10 cm (4 in.) 45°-45°, 15 cm (6 in.) 45°-45°, and 15 cm (6 in.) 308-30°)*.
The impact of environmental management on firm performance in the U.S. lodging REITs: The moderating role of outside board of directors

Recently, many firms that have caused direct pollution to the environment have begun to think about the necessity of environmental management. As buildings have played an important role in environmental issues, the real estate industry can no longer ignore demands for environmental management. Research on environmental management has mainly focused on its financial implications. However, there has been no consensus in the literature about the relationship between environmental management and firm performance. By comparing portfolios of environmentally certified properties of 19 lodging Real Estate Investment Trusts, this study explores the relationship between environmental management and firm performance, while taking into account the moderating role of outside board of directors. The relationship between environmental management and firm performance appeared to have mixed results, but this study found a positive moderating effect of outside board of directors. This study provides new insights into the hospitality and the real estate literature from a corporate governance perspective.
E-Commerce on the subcontinent: How Indian consumers will shape demand

As E-Commerce steadily gains traction in the West, the researchers sought to determine its impact in the Far East. India boasts the second largest population of 1.2 billion inhabitants and is expected to surpass China economically by 2050. Their sheer volume of customers will remake the retail landscape. University students are computer literate and more apt to adopt new technologies. Their viewing and buying habits could provide insights to businesses with valuable information for reaching these customers. The respondents to this survey revealed their internet usage, favorite sites visited, items purchased, reasons for shopping online, and frequency of viewing banner advertisements. Based on the results, implications for businesses are offered.
Artemisia lactiflora Extracts Prevent Inflammatory Responses of Human Macrophages Stimulated with Charcoal Pyrolysis Smoke

Artemisia lactiflora, a Chinese-origin plant, has been reported to have unique phytochemicals responsible for its medicinal properties. The growth of the agricultural industry emits air pollution, which has adverse effects on health. There are limited scientific reports on the biological activities of A. lactiflora. Studies on its activities and mechanisms may provide insight into its use in medicinal purposes to treat those health problems and conditions. In this study, leaves of A. lactiflora were extracted and fractioned with solvents of different polarities. Total phenolics, total flavonoids DPPH• scavenging, ABTS•+ scavenging, and cytotoxicity of A. lactiflora were assessed. Anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by pre-treating macrophages with extract or fractions then induced inflammatory response by coconut shell pyrolysis smoke. Inflammatory responses were assessed by measuring pro-inflammatory genes expression and pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. Among all extract and fractions of A. lactiflora, butanol fraction has the highest phenolic, flavonoid, and DPPH• scavenging activity. All extract and fractions significantly down-regulated pro-inflammatory genes expression (RelA, TNF, IL6) and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion (TNF-α, IL-6), p < 0.0001, compared with pyrolysis smoke-induced macrophages. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity in decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. These results may prove the anti-inflammatory activities of A. lactiflora through the inhibition of the NF-κB-dependent pathway. Taken together, this study first reported the anti-inflammatory activities of A. lactiflora. Thus, the plant can be used to prevent and treat inflammatory responses caused by highly oxidative pyrolysis smoke released from the re-utilization of agro-industrial leftovers.
The Effect of Faults on the Behaviour of the Earth Dam – Case Study of the Ourkiss Dam

The analysis of the failure due to the effect of the propagation of normal and reversed faults with different angles of inclination and by sliding through the Ourkiss dam isstudied numerically. Mainly at the end of construction and at the highest water level, for this purpose the non-linear finite difference method is used considering four fault angles of inclination, activated at the center of the base of the embankment.The results of the study show that the shear stress values increase with the increase of the vertical base displacement imposed in both conditions of the dam state, and this for both normal and overturned faults.
COPD_A_338758 3465..3475

1Department of Anesthesiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China; 2Department of Joint Surgery, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; 3Department of Geriatric Medicine, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China; 4Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China Purpose: With the use of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) as a preoperative examination, it is not rare to screen out airflow limitation (AFL) in asymptomatic patients undergoing lung surgeries. This study aims to elucidate whether there is a difference in the prevalence and prognosis of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) between asymptomatic patients with newly diagnosed AFL and the normal population undergoing lung surgeries. Patients and Methods: The medical records of asymptomatic patients undergoing lung surgeries who were spirometrically diagnosed with AFL between January and October 2017 were collected in Qilu hospital. These patients were subsequently followed up until February 2021. The diagnosis of PPCs was based on a recommended consensus definition. The incidence of PPCs between the newly diagnosed AFL group and the normal group was compared and a propensity score-matched analysis (PSM) was performed. The survival analysis was performed to investigate the long-term prognosis of the two groups. Results: Overall, 535 asymptomatic subjects were recruited and 126 subjects (11.4%) were spirometrically diagnosed as AFL. The incidence of PPCs was significantly higher in the newly diagnosed AFL group than in the normal population (28.6%VS 14.4%, P < 0.001), especially in the FEV1/FVC≤65% group (P < 0.001), which were all confirmed by PSM analysis. Furthermore, these patients were at a higher risk of ICU admissions (P < 0.001) and 90-day hospital readmissions secondary to PPCs (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the overall, in-hospital and 90-day mortality between the AFL group and the normal group (P values >0.05). Conclusion: Asymptomatic patients with AFL are at higher risk of PPCs than the general population after lung surgeries, along with an increase in ICU admissions and 90-day hospital readmissions secondary to PPCs. Although these patients tended to report worse current conditions, they were similar in the in-hospital, 90-day and overall mortality during the follow-up.
Tocotrienol Supplementation Led to Higher Serum Levels of Lysophospholipids but Lower Acylcarnitines in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Osteoporosis is a major health problem in postmenopausal women. Herein we evaluated the effects of 12-week tocotrienols (TT) supplementation on serum metabolites in postmenopausal, osteopenic women. Eighty-nine participants (59.7 ± 6.8 yr, BMI 28.7 ± 5.7 kg/m2) were assigned to 3 treatments: placebo (860 mg olive oil/day), 300mg TT (300 mg TT/day), and 600mg TT (600 mg TT/day) for 12 weeks. TT consisted of 90% δ-TT and 10% γ-TT. In this metabolomic study, we evaluated the placebo and 600mgTT at baseline and 12 weeks. As expected, TT and its metabolite levels were higher in the supplemented group after 12 weeks. At baseline, there were no differences in demographic parameters or comprehensive metabolic panels (CMP). Metabolomics analysis of serum samples revealed that 48 biochemicals were higher and 65 were lower in the 600mg TT group at 12 weeks, compared to baseline. The results confirmed higher serum levels of tocotrienols and lysophospholipids, but lower acylcarnitines and catabolites of tryptophan and steroids in subjects given 600mg TT. In summary, 12-week TT supplementation altered many serum metabolite levels in postmenopausal women. The present study supports our previous findings that TT supplementation helps reduce bone loss in postmenopausal osteopenic women by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the body incorporates TT which restructures biomembranes and modifies phospholipid metabolism, a response potentially linked to reduced inflammation and oxidative stress.
A Comparative Review of Mobile and Non-Mobile Games for Language Learning

Recent studies have increasingly investigated the effectiveness of both mobile and non-mobile digital game-based language learning. To gain an in-depth understanding of the differences in the effectiveness of mobile and non-mobile games, we compared studies from January 2000 to August 2020 investigating mobile game-based language learning (MGBLL) and non-mobile game-based language learning (NMGBLL). Sixty-four articles were analyzed from four aspects: game types, game elements, target languages, and learning outcomes. The results showed that (a) gamification, simulation games, and immersive games were applied most; (b) all games possessed the game elements of goals or rules; (c) the most investigated target languages were English and Chinese; and (d) the most discussed learning outcomes were language acquisition and psychological/affective state. The similarities and differences between MGBLL and NMGBLL were also identified. The current review provides an overview and in-depth analysis of mobile and non-mobile games for language learning, guiding practitioners to select appropriate digital games to cater to specific language teaching goals. Future directions of research are also discussed.
Understanding and Measuring Help-Seeking Barriers among Intimate Partner Violence Survivors: Mixed-Methods Validation Study of the Icelandic Barriers to Help-Seeking for Trauma (BHS-TR) Scale

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a global human rights violation of vast proportions and a severe public health problem. Despite high rates of adverse outcomes related to IPV, help-seeking and service utilization among survivors is low. This exploratory sequential mixed-methods study using a combined etic–emic approach describes the validation of the Icelandic Barriers to Help-Seeking for Trauma (BHS-TR) scale. The qualitative phase involved developing new items based on the experiences of 17 Icelandic IPV survivors, identifying barriers including beliefs that help-seeking is a sign of weakness, and the desire to safeguard oneself from re-traumatization. The quantitative phase examined the psychometrics of the BHS-TR in a sample of 137 IPV survivors in Iceland. Results supported an eight-factor structure (Financial Concerns; Unavailable/Not Helpful; External Constraints; Inconvenience; Weakness/Vulnerability; Problem Management Beliefs; Frozen/Confused; and Shame), which when grouped comprised two indices of Structural and Internal Barriers. The scale’s internal consistency was high (α = 0.87), and the results provided evidence of convergent, discriminant, and known-group validity. This study adds to the growing literature supporting the advantages of applying mixed methods for instrument development and validation, and its results highlight the significance of giving rise to the voices of survivors. The BHS-TR is the first trauma-specific and survivor-centered measure of help-seeking barriers available in Iceland. It can be used to provide valuable information that may guide the development of evidence-based interventions to break down barriers and help survivors find ways to trauma recovery.
SAR4LCZ-Net: A Complex-valued Convolutional Neural Network for Local Climate Zones Classification Using Gaofen-3 Quad-pol SAR Data

The recent local climate zones (LCZ) classification scheme provides spatially fine granular descriptions of inner-urban morphology. It is universally applicable to cities worldwide and capable of supporting various urban studies. Although optical and dual-pol SAR data continue to push the frontiers of this task, the potential of quad-pol SAR data for LCZ classification is not yet explored. In this paper we propose a novel complex-valued convolutional neural network (CNN), SAR4LCZ-Net, to tackle this challenge. SAR4LCZ-Net improves the state of the art by exploiting two facts of this specific task: the semantic hierarchical structure of the LCZ classification scheme, and the complex-valued nature of quad-pol SAR data. To validate the performance of our algorithm, we generate a Chinese Gaofen-3 quad-pol SAR data set for LCZ which covers 31 cities around the world. Results show that the proposed SAR4LCZ-Net improves 2.4% on overall accuracy and 4.5% on average accuracy compared to the real-valued CNN with same structure. Gaofen-3 quad-pol SAR data also showed its advantage over the dual-pol Sentinel-1 data. It enhanced 5.0% on overall accuracy and 7.2% on average accuracy in LCZ classification, under a fair comparison with a model trained by Sentinel-1 of the same area.
Response of growth, yield and quality of small onion (Allium cepa L. var. aggregatum don.) to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University-Water Soluble Fertilizers (TNAU-WSF)

Enhancing the food production for the growing world population has needed application of highly sustainable and efficient inputs to produce more food per unit of land. Hence, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu has produced Water soluble fertilizers (WSF) in its maiden attempt and it is necessary to optimize on different crops. Small onion is one of the most important vegetables in the Indian diet and it has high demand but low productivity. To enhance crop productivity and quality of small onions, the application of TNAU-WSF was taken up. A field experiment was laid out in a Randomized block design (RBD) incorporating 8 treatments comprising of application of RDF at100% NPK as TNAU WSF, soil test based application of 75%, 100%, 125% NPK ha-1 as TNAU-WSF with soil application of sulphur (S) and foliar spray of TNAU Liquid multi micronutrient (LMM) and without S and TNAU LMM and absolute control. Each treatment was replicated thrice with onion (CO 4). Soil test based application of 125% NPK ha-1 as TNAU-WSF with sulphur (S) and TNAU LMM recorded significantly higher in plant height (54.01 cm), the number of leaves per bulb (8.56), leaf greenness (67.5 SPAD), root length (5.42 cm), polar bulb diameter (4.38 cm), equatorial bulb diameter (2.72 cm) fresh bulb weight (74.21 g), bulb yield (1751 t ha-1) and quality attributes like total soluble solids (TSS) (14.78 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (15.34 mg 100 g-1), pyruvic acid content (2.27 µmol g-1). However, soil test based application of 100% NPK ha-1 as TNAU-WSF was found to be an ideal rate to attain the economic target yield of the onion crop.
Analytical solution for postbuckling of uniform nonlinear masonry piers

In this paper the stability condition of uniform cantilevered masonry piers, subjected to eccentric concentrated load, is investigated, considering materials with nonlinear (parabolic) stress-strain law under compression. The analytical solution is obtained by integrating the nonlinear differential equation of the deflection curve using the Taylor series method. Depending on load intensity, on the height-to-depth ratio and initial eccentricity of the applied load, a column can fail owing to elastic instability or because the masonry at the fixed section has attained, or exceeded, the allowable compressive or tensile stress.
Simulation of braking performance: The AnsaldoBreda EMU V250 application

This paper presents the development of a modular tool for the prediction of train braking performance. Particular attention is devoted to the accurate prediction of stopping distances, considering different loading and operating conditions, necessary to verify safety requirements prescribed by the European Technical Specifications for Interoperability of High Speed Trains (TSI-HS) and the corresponding EN regulations. Results are verified by considering, as a benchmark, the AnsaldoBreda EMU V250: a European train being developed for Belgium and The Netherlands’s high-speed lines. Technical information and experimental data were available for this train, directly recorded during preliminary supplier exercise. Validation results were encouraging, and allowed a more accurate identification of the pad friction factor influence on braking performance.
Extracting and Composing Robust Features With Broad Learning System

With effective performance and fast training speed, broad learning system (BLS) has been widely developed in recent years, which provides a new way for network training. However, the randomly generated feature nodes and enhancement nodes in the BLS network may have redundant and inefficient features, which will affect the subsequent classification performance. In response to the above issues, we propose a series of self-encoding networks based on BLS from the perspective of unsupervised feature extraction. These include the single hidden layer autoencoder built on the basis of BLS(BLS-AE), the stacked BLS-based autoencoder (ST-BLS), the sparse BLS-based autoencoder (SP-BLS), and the stacked sparse BLS-based autoencoder(SS-BLS). The proposed BLS-based self-encoding networks retain the advantage of efficient BLS model training, and overcome the time-consuming defect of iterative parameter optimization in traditional self-encoding networks. In addition, the higher-level abstract features of the input data can be learned through the progressive encoding and decoding process. Combining <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_1$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:msub><mml:mi>L</mml:mi><mml:mn>1</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="yu-ieq1-3137792.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> regularization to train the parameters can further enhance the robustness of the extracted features. Extensive comparative experiments on real-world data sets demonstrate the superiority of the proposed methods in terms of both effectiveness and efficiency.