Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forward detrending for heteroskedasticity-robust panel unit root testing

Abstract The variances of most economic time series display marked fluctuations over time. Panel unit root tests of the so-called first and second generation are not robust in such cases. In response to this problem, a few heteroskedasticity-robust panel unit root tests have been proposed. An important limitation of these tests is, however, that they become invalid if the data are trending. As a prominent means of drift adjustment under the panel unit root hypothesis, the (unweighted) forward detrending scheme of Breitung suffers from nuisance parameters if the data feature time-varying variances. In this article, we propose a weighted forward-detrending scheme. Unlike its unweighted counterpart, the new detrending scheme restores the pivotalness of the heteroskedasticity-robust panel unit root tests suggested by Demetrescu and Hanck and Herwartz et al. when applied to trending panels with heteroskedastic variances. As an empirical illustration, we provide evidence in favor of non-stationarity of health care expenditures as shares of GDP in a panel of OECD economies.
Fatores de risco gestacional em mães de crianças diagnosticadas com autismo

Este estudo visa identificar os possíveis fatores de risco gestacional para o desenvolvimento do Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA). O estudo é do tipo quantitativo, descritivo, documental, com análise exploratória dos dados. Para sua realização foram utilizados dados secundários de 32 prontuários de crianças com diagnóstico de Autismo clássico. Em relação a idade dos genitores no momento da concepção, o maior percentual de mães encontrava-se entre 20 a 30 anos (56,25%) e de pais entre 32 a 45 anos (59,38%). As Infecções do Trato Urinário (ITU) foram as infecções mais comuns durante a gestação (43,80%). Em relação as demais intercorrências clínicas pré-natais, prevaleceram diferentes tipos (40,63%), seguidas por distúrbios metabólicos (25,00%). Para as intercorrências peri e pós-natais, a maioria foi definida como diferentes tipos (43,75%), seguidas de prematuridade (28,13%). No que diz respeito aos medicamentos utilizados na gravidez, a maioria das mães usou diferentes tipos de medicamentos (56,25%), seguidos de antibióticos (50,00%). Desse modo, procurar conhecer os prováveis fatores ambientais envolvidos na etiologia do TEA, possibilita que o profissional de saúde identifique as gestantes mais suscetíveis e busque estratégias oportunas de intervenção na assistência pré-natal.
Real-time measurement and trapping of single atoms by single photons

Cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), the system of a single atom interacting with a single mode of a high finesse optical resonator, has tremendous potential for use in quantum logic, quantum information processing, and in enabling observation of quantum mechanical effects in the laboratory. The work of this thesis demonstrates a number of steps toward realizing these goals, by employing an experimental system with the strongest atom-field coupling achieved to date in optical cavity QED. The effects of strong coupling in cavity QED are studied for single cold atoms measured one at a time, in real time. The passage of single atoms through the cavity is employed to map out the frequency response of the system, and to demonstrate that quantum rather than semiclassical theory provides the correct theoretical model. The mechanical effects of strong coupling on single atoms are explored, these experiments demonstrating the first trapping of single atoms with single photons. Additionally, strong coupling enables high signal-to-noise ratio for monitoring atomic position at single photon field strengths; this capability is employed to investigate the motion of atoms trapped within the cavity. The transmitted cavity field is used to reconstruct the trajectories of single atoms, thereby realizing a new form of microscopy - the Atom-Cavity Microscope. Technical developments necessary to create the cavities used in this experiment are detailed. Ideas for future extensions to the experiment are proposed; a zero light-shift dipole force trap, and measurement of photon statistics of a single strongly coupled atom (which realizes a photon blockade device) are discussed.
On the Morita Equivalence of Tensor Algebras

We develop a notion of Morita equivalence for general C*‐correspondences over C*‐algebras. We show that if two correspondences are Morita equivalent, then the tensor algebras built from them are strongly Morita equivalent in the sense developed by Blecher, Muhly and Paulsen. Also, the Toeplitz algebras are strongly Morita equivalent in the sense of Rieffel, as are the Cuntz–Pimsner algebras. Conversely, if the tensor algebras are strongly Morita equivalent, and if the correspondences are aperiodic in a fashion that generalizes the notion of aperiodicity for automorphisms of C*‐algebras, then the correspondences are Morita equivalent. This generalizes a venerated theorem of Arveson on algebraic conjugacy invariants for ergodic, measure‐preserving transformations. The notion of aperiodicity, which also generalizes the concept of full Connes spectrum for automorphisms, is explored; its role in the ideal theory of tensor algebras and in the theory of their automorphisms is investigated. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 46H10, 46H20, 46H99, 46M99, 47D15, 47D25.
Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy: An Alarming Concern in a Rural Community of Eastern India

Introduction: Hypothyroidism exerts a multitude of effects on pregnant women and newborns. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hypothyroidism and its associated factors among pregnant women. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at a community health center in Tangi, Eastern India. A total of 436 pregnant women ≤24 weeks gestation attending the ante-natal clinic were recruited by consecutive sampling after obtaining written informed consent. Those who were a known case of any psychiatric disorder and were not able to comprehend interview questions were excluded. Estimation of serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels was done at the central laboratory of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar. Analysis was done using STATA 17.0 and presented as means or proportions. The association of hypothyroidism with various sociodemographic factors was analyzed with bivariate logistic regression. Results: Mean age of the study participants was 23.9 years (SD: 3.65). About 31.4% of participants were found to have hypothyroidism. On bivariate logistic regression, the presence of hypothyroidism was not associated with any variable. Conclusions: Hypothyroidism is widely prevalent in pregnant females in rural India. Screening of high-risk pregnant females followed by appropriate management is essential.
The deep space galactic cosmic ray lineal energy spectrum at solar minimum

The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument is an energetic particle telescope on board the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. CRaTER measures energetic charged particles that have sufficient energy to penetrate the outer shielding of the instrument (about 12 MeV/nucleon). Galactic cosmic rays (GCR) with these energies are the primary radiation concern for spacecraft and astronauts outside of the Earth's magnetosphere during times of minimal solar activity. These particles can easily penetrate typical shielding and damage electronics, causing increased electronics failure rates and single event upsets. When this radiation impacts biological cells, it causes an increased risk of cancer. The CRaTER instrument was built to characterize the radiation dose and lineal energy with unprecedented time and energy resolution and was fortuitously flown during a period of time that coincided with the highest GCR fluxes in the modern space age. We report here this worst‐case GCR lineal energy spectrum. Observations are made behind a thin aluminum window and different thicknesses of tissue‐equivalent plastic. These measurements provide important observational data points to compare with current model predictions of the dose deposited by energetic particles within a tissue‐like material.
Loss of nitrogen fixing capacity in a montane lichen is linked to increased nitrogen deposition

The circumboreal/circumpolar N2‐fixing lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum is among the most widespread and abundant fruticose species in montane Britain but has lost the capacity to fix N2 over large areas of the country. To investigate whether loss of N2‐fixation in S. vesuvianum is linked to increased N deposition, we examined thallus morphology, physiology and chemistry at twelve locations representing an N deposition gradient of 3–40 kg ha−1 year−1. Measurements were made in parallel on a non‐N2‐fixing reference species (Parmelia saxatilis). The presence or absence of cephalodia (N2‐fixing nodules containing the cyanobacterium Stigonema sp) was recorded in over 500 herbarium specimens of S. vesuvianum dating back to 1820. Cephalodium abundance in S. vesuvianum, and 15N concentration in S. vesuvianum and P. saxatilis, were strongly negatively correlated with N deposition and particularly with dry deposited N; cephalodia do not form at total N deposition rates ≥8–9 kg ha−1 year−1. Other morphological oddities in S. vesuvianum at N‐polluted sites include increased apothecium (fungal reproductive structure) production and green algal biofilm development. Biofilm covered thalli without cephalodia lacked nitrogenase activity and cephalodia at sites where they rarely develop had nitrogenase activities typical for this species. The presence or absence of cephalodia in herbarium specimens of S. vesuvianum suggest that the present‐day N‐deposition linked gradient in N2‐fixing capacity did not exist in the 19th century and largely developed between 1900–1940. Synthesis. We provide clear evidence that N2‐fixing capacity in S. vesuvianum has been lost in regions subjected to many decades of enhanced atmospheric N deposition. This loss is consistent with established models of diazotrophy, which identify supply of combined N as an inhibitor of N2‐fixation. Progressive depletion of thallus 15N with increasing N deposition is in line with available data indicating that much atmospheric N pollution is 15N‐depleted. Rates of nitrogenase activity in S. vesuvianum are low compared to other symbiotic systems and perhaps more likely supplanted by elevated N deposition. We suggest that other ecosystem compartments with low rates of fixation (e.g. soils) might also be susceptible to N pollution and merit investigation.
TeV light curve of PSR B1259–63/SS2883

The inverse Compton (IC) scattering of ultrarelativistic electrons accelerated at the pulsar wind termination shock is generally believed to be responsible for TeV gamma-ray signal recently reported from the binary system PSR B1259-63/SS2883. While this process can explain the energy spectrum of the observed TeV emission, the gamma-ray fluxes detected by the Array of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (HESS) at different epochs do not agree with the published theoretical predictions of the TeV light curve. The main objective of this paper is to show that the HESS results can be explained, under certain reasonable assumptions concerning the cooling of relativistic electrons, by IC scenarios of gamma-ray production in PSR B1259-63. In this paper we study evolution of the energy spectra of relativistic electrons under different assumptions about the acceleration and energy-loss rates of electrons, and the impact of these processes on the light curve of IC gamma-rays. We demonstrate that the observed TeV light curve can be explained (i) by adiabatic losses which dominate over the entire trajectory of the pulsar with a significant increase towards the periastron or (ii) by the 'early' (sub-TeV) cut-offs in the energy spectra of electrons due to the enhanced rate of Compton losses close to the periastron. The first four data points obtained just after periastron comprise an exception - possibly due to interaction with the Be star disc, which introduces additional physics not included in the presented model. The calculated spectral and temporal characteristics of the TeV radiation provide conclusive tests to distinguish between these two working hypotheses. The Compton deceleration of the electron-positron pulsar wind contributes to the decrease of the non-thermal power released in the accelerated electrons after the wind termination, and thus to the reduction of the IC and synchrotron components of radiation close to the periastron. Although this effect alone cannot explain the observed TeV and X-ray light curves, the Comptonization of the cold ultrarelativistic wind leads to the formation of gamma-radiation with a specific line-type energy spectrum. While the HESS data already constrain the Lorentz factor of the wind, Γ ≤ 10 6 (for the most likely orbit inclination angle i = 35°, and assuming an isotropic pulsar wind), future observations of this object with GLAST should allow a deep probe of the wind Lorentz factor in the range between 10 4 and 10 6 .
Determining the Valid Tools to Screen Malnutrition in Cancer Patients: A Comparison to Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA)

Background: Nutrition screening tools are necessary to predict the risk of malnutrition for cancer patients. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the validity of nutrition screening tools in identifying malnutrition among cancer patients.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 175 oncology patients in Dr. Sardjito General Hospital. Malnutrition risk of participants was screened using Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS) 2002, Simple Nutrition Screening Tool (SNST), Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), Nutriscore, and the Royal Marsden Nutrition Screening Tool (RMNST). Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) was used as a gold standard. Nutritional assessments, including Body Mass Index (BMI), Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), albumin, hemoglobin, Total Leucocytes Count (TLC), and Hand Grip Strength (HGS), were used to evaluate nutritional status.Results: The NRS 2002, SNST, MST, Nutriscore and RMNST identified nutritional risk in 64.6%; 58.9%; 49.1%; 30.3%; 84.6%, respectively. The SNST obtained the highest level of AUC discrimination (0.8) compared to NRS 2002 (0.7); MST (0.7); Nutriscore (0.7); and RMNST (0.7). There was a significant association between nutrition screening with nutritional parameters except for TLC (P>0.005). Patients who were at risk of malnutrition had a lower average of objective assessment tools.Conclusion: All the nutritional screenings were valid to screen for malnutrition risk among cancer patients. Nutritional screening has a strong correlation with nutritional assessment. The lower risk detected by nutrition screening, the poorer the nutrition status measured by nutrition assessments.
Perceived organizational support on employee performance: the mediating role of organization-based self-esteem

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of perceived organizational support on employees’ performance through organization-based self-esteem in general banking sector in East Java, Indonesia. Data were collected from general banking sector employees through a self-administered questionnaire survey where a total of 129 questionnaires were distributed. A total of 100 completed questionnaires were received. The hypothesis was tested using an approach structural equation modeling-partial least squares (SEM-PLS) supported by program computer software Smart-PLS 3.0. This pilot study reveals that high perceived organizational support positively affect employees’ performance in general banking sector in East Java, Indonesia. Moreover, organization-based self-esteem levels would mediate the influence of perceived organizational support on employees’ performance in general banking sector in East Java, Indonesia. This study proposes managers to give chances to proficient advancement, improved occupation and satisfying the necessities identified through deference, mindfulness and endorsement. Furthermore, they ought to make more good working conditions, for example, preparing chances to support workers in their wants for self-improvement and accomplishment. This kind of research has not been thoroughly or even not been discussed in academic research. Therefore, it was necessary to put this issue into a management science.
Obstacles to using electronic research among graduate students amid COVID-19: Graduate students' perspective

The current study aims to reveal the obstacles faced by postgraduate students when using electronic research amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Achieving the study objectives necessitates the use of the descriptive survey approach. The study instruments consist of a questionnaire with a sample of 132 male and female graduate students and a personal interview applied to 10 graduate students. The findings indicate that the degree of obstacles faced by postgraduate students has ranged from low to medium. The most prominent obstacles are the absence of a guideline explaining the steps of electronic research; the Internet networks’ slow speed and the continuous interruption of communication, along with the high cost of knowledge sources, such as periodicals and books; the lack of experience and weak research skills among students; the financial cost of subscribing to Internet and purchasing e-books; and the lack of training workshops required to search the Internet. Keywords: COVID-19; educational sciences; electronic research; graduate students; Obstacles
Order–disorder competition in equiatomic 3d–transition–metal quaternary alloys: phase stability and electronic structure

ABSTRACT We use high-throughput first-principles sampling to investigate competitive factors that determine the crystal structure of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and the energetics dependence of the stable phase on the atomic configuration of ‘semi-ordered’ L12, D022, and random solid solution (RSS) phases of equiatomic quaternary alloys comprising four of the six constituent elements (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu). Note that, generally, an FCC lattice consists of four L12/D022 sublattices. In this study, we call ‘semi-ordered’ phase a FCC lattice where one of the L12/D022 sublattices is fully occupied by a certain element, whereas the others are randomly occupied by the other elements like RSS. Considering the configurational entropy, we demonstrate that valence electron concentration (VEC) and temperature are crucial to determine the phase stability of HEAs at finite temperatures, wherein the ‘rather enthalpy-driven’ ordered phases are energetically more favorable than ‘rather entropy-driven’ RSS phases. Some D022 phases with high VEC are energetically more stable than L12 phases, though both phases are metastable. Furthermore, we explore magnetic configurations to identify the origin of the enthalpy term. The calculations reveal that ordered phases comprising antiferromagnetic atoms surrounded by ferromagnetic atoms are energetically stable. Relationships between magnetic ordering and atomic arrangements are also discussed. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Isomerism effects in relaxation dynamics of Au24(SR)16 thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters

Understanding the excited state behavior of isomeric structures of thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters is still a challenging task. In this paper, based on grand unified model and ring model for describing thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters, we have predicted four isomers of Au24(SR)16 nanoclusters. Density functional theory calculations show that the total energy of one of the predicted isomers is 0.1 eV lower in energy than previously crystallized isomer. The nonradiative relaxation dynamics simulations of Au24(SH)16 isomers are performed to reveal the effects of structural isomerism on relaxation process of the lowest energy states, in which that most of the low-excited states consist of core states. In addition, crystallized isomer possesses the shorter e–h recombination time, whereas the most stable isomer has the longer recombination time, which may be attributed to the synergistic effect of nonadiabatic coupling and decoherence time. Our results could provide practical guidance to predict new gold nanoclusters for future experimental synthesis, and stimulate the exploration of atomic structures of same sized gold nanoclusters for photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices.
Comparability of computer based and paper & pencil test on students’ performance in educational assessment course at the Federal University Gusau, Nigeria

Introduction: Computer-Based Test (CBT) is being adopted for assessment by many institutions in Nigeria due to increase in students’ population, expansion of work demands from academic staff, and advances in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Purpose: This study investigated the comparability of Computer Based Test (CBT) and Paper-Pencil Test (PPT) on students’ scores in Educational assessment course at Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State. Methodology: The study adopted the repeated measures design. The population for this study comprised of all undergraduate students of Federal University Gusau. The target population comprised of all the 450 registered 300 level undergraduate students from Faculty of Education, Federal University Gusau during 2021/2022 academic session. All the students were purposively selected for the study. Two instruments were used for data collection: The Multiple Choice Test in Test and Measurement (MCTTM) used for PPT and CBT had acceptable content validity coefficient of correlation of 0.69 percent and split-half reliability coefficient of 0.81, while the ICT Competence Questionnaire developed for obtaining information on students’ competence in and attitude to ICT had test re -test reliability coefficient of 0.78 and 0.81 respectively. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The hypotheses formulated for the study were tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Results: The findings of the study revealed that Federal University Gusau undergraduate students have little competence in ICT. It also revealed significant difference in students’ scores in CBT and PPT in an educational assessment course. The difference is in favour of PPT with mean score of 48.72. The study also revealed no significant effect of gender on students’ scores on the two modes of testing. In addition, significant relationships also exist among students’ competence in, attitude to ICT and their performance in CBT. Recommendation: The study therefore recommended that educators should encourage the use of the adequate ICT facilities for teaching and learning. This will not only motivated the learners in learning but also prepare them for CBT.