Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The External Wealth of Arab Nations: Structure, Trends, and Policy Implications

The paper makes two main contributions. First, it analyzes net foreign assets and liabilities in selected Arab countries over the past two decades, emphasizing the relative significance of direct versus portfolio investment. It distinguishes between foreign direct investment, portfolio equity investment, official reserves, and external debt. Second, the paper examines the effects of policy variables that affect the accumulation of net foreign assets and its components, analyzing how the existence of a sovereign wealth fund, the country's exchange rate regime, and the development of its financial system affect its net foreign assets. The main findings show that the presence of a sovereign wealth fund is positively and statistically significantly associated with foreign direct investment in Arab countries. Financial development (defined as credit to the private sector as a percentage of gross domestic product) is also statistically significant across various regressions. The more financially developed a country is, the more it should invest in riskier assets, such as portfolio assets. But Arab investors are more risk averse than investors elsewhere. Oil-exporting countries tend to invest more in debt assets than in portfolio assets. For oil-importing countries, financial development is the most important determinant of foreign direct investment.
A global map of root biomass across the world’s forests

Root plays a key role in plant growth and functioning. Here we combine 10307 field measurements of forest root biomass worldwide with global observations of forest structure, climatic conditions, topography, land management and soil characteristics to derive a spatially-explicit global high-resolution (~ 1km) root biomass dataset, including fine and coarse roots. In total, 142 ± 32 Pg of live dry matter biomass is stored below-ground, that is a global average root:shoot biomass ratio of 0.25 ± 0.10. Our estimations of total root biomass in tropical, temperate and boreal forests are 44-226% smaller than earlier studies1–3. The smaller estimation is attributable to the updated forest area, spatially explicit above-ground biomass density used to predict the patterns of root biomass, new root measurements and upscaling methodology. We show specifically that the root shoot allometry is one underlying driver that leads to methodological overestimation of root biomass in previous estimations.
Standardized exercise tests in horses : current situation and future perspectives

The purpose of this literature review is to clarify how exercise capacity can be measured in horses and which standardized exercise tests (SETs) exist. In this review, the measurement of the exercise capacity of horses is discussed and the standardized exercise tests (SET) are described. Two main types of SETs are used. Laboratory or treadmill tests are easy to standardize and provide more options to use all kinds of measuring devices, since the horse stays on the treadmill. On the other hand, field tests are conducted under the natural conditions associated with the specific sports discipline, and are easier to implement in the training schedule. However, field tests encompass interfering variables, such as weather conditions, ground surface conditions and the rider or jockey. Several variables are measured in order to calculate the fitness level which may be expressed by different parameters, such as V200 (speed at a heart rate of 200 beats per minute), V1a4 (speed at a blood lactic acid level of 4 mmol/L) and VO2max (maximum oxygen uptake).
Estresse psicossocial no trabalho e o padrão de consumo de álcool em trabalhadores offshore

Resumo: Os objetivos foram avaliar a associacao entre o estresse psicossocial no trabalho e o padrao de consumo de alcool em trabalhadores offshore. Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com 210 prestadores de servico em instalacoes petroliferas situadas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, entre julho e setembro de 2014. O instrumento de coleta consistiu em um questionario multidimensional autopreenchido. A exposicao ao estresse foi avaliada segundo o modelo demanda-controle e o padrao de consumo de alcool foi avaliado pelo instrumento AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). As analises estatisticas se basearem no modelo de regressao logistica multivariado. Os participantes tem, em media 32,9 anos (desvio padrao ± 8,1 anos). A maioria e casada (62,9%) e relata ter religiao (84,5%); 15,2% apresentam consumo abusivo de alcool, 20,3% completaram o Ensino Superior e 56,6% tem menos de 5 anos de experiencia no campo offshore. Todos os participantes estao submetidos ao esquema de turnos de trabalho de 12 horas diarias ao longo de 15 dias seguidos por 15 dias de folga, 62,4% trabalham em turnos fixos. As analises multivariadas mostraram que trabalhadores expostos ao alto estresse no trabalho (RC = 3,30; IC95%: 1,18-9,27) tem maior chance de apresentar consumo abusivo de alcool quando comparados aos trabalhadores nao expostos. Os resultados apresentados contribuem para o maior entendimento de um tema ainda controverso na literatura, qual seja, a relacao entre o estresse psicossocial e o consumo de alcool, e apontam para a necessidade de novas investigacoes.
Image guidance in telemanipulator assisted urology surgery

This thesis outlines the development of an image guided surgery system, intended for use in \davinci assisted radical prostatectomy but more generally applicable to laparoscopic urology surgery. We defined the key performance parameter of the system as the accuracy of overlaying modelled anatomy onto the surgical scene. This thesis is primarily concerned with determining the system accuracy based on an analysis of the system's components. A common error measure was defined for all system components. This is an on screen error (measured in pixels) based on the error in projecting a single point lying near the apex of the prostate with the endoscope in a typical surgical pose. In this case the projected point was approximately 200 mm from the endoscope lens. An intraoperative coordinate system is first defined as the coordinate system of an optical tracking system used to track the endoscope. The MRI image of the patient is transformed into the intraoperative coordinate system. Prior to surgery the endoscope is calibrated and during surgery the endoscope is tracked, defining a transform from the coordinates of the optical tracking system to the endoscope screen. This transform is used to project the MRI image onto the endoscope video display. The early part of the thesis describes a novel algorithm for registering MRI to ultrasound images of the bone which was used to put the MRI image into the intraoperative coordinate system. Using this algorithm avoids the need for fiducial markers. The table below shows the errors (as on screen pixel RMS) due to using this algorithm. An approximate value as RMS distance error at the prostate apex point is also included.
Bacteriemias por Burkholderia cepacia: análisis prospectivo de 33 episodios

espanolIntroduccion: El objetivo de este estudio es la descripcion de las caracteristicas clinicas y evolucion de los episodios de bacteriemia por Burkholderia cepacia, conocer la sensibilidad antibiotica de las cepas aisladas y analizar las diferencias entre los casos procedentes de brotes epidemicos y los episodios esporadicos. Material y metodos: Se recogieron de forma prospectiva desde 1993 a 2009 todas las bacteriemias por B. cepacia en un hospital universitario. Resultados: Se incluyeron 33 episodios, de los cuales 21 se concentraron en dos brotes (9 en 1994 y 12 en 2006). Los casos pertenecientes a los brotes tuvieron una mediana de edad de 58 anos, el 45 % tenia alguna neoplasia, la mediana de dias desde el ingreso hasta la bacteriemia fue de 15 (rango 0- 120) y el 82% habia recibido algun antibiotico. Los focos mas frecuentes fueron cateter (48%) y desconocido (33%). Por otro lado, los casos esporadicos llevaban mas dias ingresados (una mediana de 25 dias frente a 11, p=0,041) y mostraron mayor tendencia a presentar neoplasia (83% frente a 33%, p=0,083). El patron de resistencias antibioticas fue muy variado y el unico antibiotico activo frente a todos los aislados fue cotrimoxazol. Conclusiones: B. cepacia es un microrganismo infrecuente, que afecta a pacientes con ingresos prolongados y comorbilidad importante. La identificacion de mas de un caso en un corto periodo de tiempo obliga a descartar un posible brote. EnglishIntroduction: The aim of this study is to describe clinical characteristics and outcome of Burkholderia cepacia bacteraemia, susceptibility of the isolates and differences between cases from epidemic outbreaks and sporadic cases. Material and methods: From 1993 to 2009, episodes of B. cepacia bacteraemia were prospectively collected in a university hospital. Results: A total of 33 episodes were included, of which 21 were part of two outbreaks (9 in 1994 and 12 in 2006). Outbreak cases had a median age of 58 years, 45% had neoplasia, median length of stay until bacteraemia was 15 d (range 0- 120) and 82% had received an antibiotic. The most prevalent sources of bacteraemia were catheter (48%) and unknown (33%). On the other hand, sporadic cases stayed longer until diagnosis (median 25 days versus 11, p=0.041) and showed a trend to have neoplasia more frequently (83% versus 33%, p=0.083). Susceptibility to antibiotics was varied and co-trimoxazole was the only active agent against all strains. Conclusions: B. cepacia is an uncommon pathogen, which affects patients with prolonged hospitalization and severe comorbidities. The identification of more than one case in a short term of time should raise the suspicion of an outbreak.
Optimal Damping Recovery Scheme for Droop-Controlled Inverter-Based Microgrids

Inverter-based microgrids may experience small-signal stability issues as the generation, loading or network topology change in real-time. This paper presents an event-triggered damping recovery scheme to improve the stability of a system with droop-controlled inverters and synchronous machines in the event of poorly damped power flows. The droop coefficients of the controllable inverters are manipulated in real-time based on their node sensitivities so as to obtain the maximum damping effort per unit additional power injected. This prevents the overloading of any one inverter or group of inverters in the system and reduces the power sharing disparity that arises from the damping recovery process. For determining the node sensitivities, a novel damping sensitivity formula is presented as an alternative to conventional sensitivity analysis. This enables the reduction of computation complexity from <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$O(n^{3})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$O(n)$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, making the proposed algorithm scalable to large systems. Experimental and simulation case studies are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme in restoring damping, as well as its robustness to communication failure.
Do Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum spelta L. Hybrids Constitute a Promising Source Material for Quality Breeding ofNew Wheat Varieties?

The aim of this two-year study was to determine whether the contents of macronutrients and macro and microelements in wheat grain can be increased by crossbreeding Triticum aestivum and T. spelta. The experimental material comprised the grains of F6 and F7 hybrids and their parental forms. The element content of grain was determined by ICP-SFMS. Hybrid grains had significantly higher ash contents than bread wheat grain (1.90% and 1.93% versus 1.62%). Crude protein content was lowest in bread wheat grain (11.75%) and highest in spelt grain (14.67%). Hybrid grains had significantly higher protein contents (12.97% and13.19%) than bread wheat grain. In both years of the study, the concentrations of P, S, Mg and Ca were highest in spelt grain, whereas their content in hybrids was lower than in spelt grain, but higher than in bread wheat grain. The concentrations of desirable microelements were highest in spelt grain, and the micronutrient profile of hybrid grains was more similar to bread wheat than spelt. Therefore, the hybrids can constitute promising source material for quality breeding in wheat.
The negative impact of market-discrimination CSR: How do consumers respond to perceived company greed?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is reported to have a positive effect on corporate image. However, if companies that have entered different markets implement market-discrimination CSR, which refers to unfairly applied CSR policies in the intermarket, and if the consumer recognizes this fact, the CSR effects will be diminished. To prove this, this research investigated consumers’ adverse reactions when a company that implements market-discrimination CSR faces a crisis. According to the results of this study, consumers who perceived company greed as evidence of a company practicing market-discrimination CSR activities experienced pleasure at the misfortune which called schadenfreude when the company faced a crisis and schadenfreude positively affected the argument strength of a rumor. Finally, the argument strength of a rumor has a positive effect on the consumer’s intention to spread the rumor as an act of revenge against the company. The results of this research suggest that CSR, which aims to build a positive corporate image, can have an adverse effect when it is felt that it is used to discriminate against consumers. Based on these results, this research presents theoretical and practical implications.
Women's Health Issues: A Case for Reproductive Health and the Silent Factors

This paper discusses the significance of women's reproductive health in the light of the burden placed on them in the course of their productive and reproductive roles in the family and community. It argues that programmes meant to enhance women's reproductive health would remain ineffective for as long as gender ideology and the status of women and other factors collectively referred to in this paper as the 'silent factors' continue to undermine women's capacity for independent action and informed decision making in matters affecting them. It calls for a multifarious approach to the problem of reproductive health through collaboration by researchers in various disciplines.
Prospektiver, randomisierter Vergleich zwischen Paclitaxel- und Sirolimus-eluting Stents bei Patienten mit koronarer Herzerkrankung am ungeschützten Hauptstamm

Ziel dieser Promotionsarbeit war der Vergleich zwischen Paclitaxel- (PES) und Sirolimus-eluting Stents (SES) hinsichtlich Sicherheit und Effektivitat bei Patienten mit KHK am ungeschutzten Hauptstamm. Hierzu wurden 607 Patienten randomisiert in die Studie eingeschlossen (302 in die PES- und 305 in die SES- Gruppe). Als primarer Endpunkt wurde die kombinierte Inzidenz von Tod, Myokardinfarkt und Ziellasionsrevaskularisation nach einem Jahr definiert. Sekundarer Endpunkt war das Auftreten einer angiographisch nachweisbaren, ≥50%igen Restenose in der Nachsorgeangiographie nach sechs bis neun Monaten. Sowohl angiographisch als auch klinisch konnte kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den beiden Gruppen verzeichnet werden.
GoldEnvSim -- A FLEXPART-WRF based software for simulation of radionuclides transport in atmospheric

This article illustrates the development of a software named GoldEnvSim for simulation of the dispersion of radionuclides in the atmosphere. The software is written in JavaFX programming language to couple the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and the FLEXPART-WRF model. The highlight function of this software is to provide convenience for users to run a simulation workflow with a user-friendly interface. Many toolkits for post-processing and visualizing output are also incorporated to make this software more comprehensive. At this first version, GoldEnvSim is specifically designed to analyze and predict the dispersion of radioactive materials in the atmosphere, but it has potential for further development and applicable to other fields of environmental science. For demonstration, a simulation of the dispersion of the Cs-137 that is assumed to be released from the Fangchenggang nuclear power plant to whole Vietnam territory was performed. The simulation result on meteorological in comparison to the monitoring data taken from a first-class meteorological observatory was used to evaluate the accuracy of dispersion simulation result.
Corporate Governance and Audit Quality in Nigeria

The motivation for this study emanates from the perception that the production of a quality audit report fosters confidence in financial reports by the issuers of those reports. The paper examines specifically the role of corporate governance in determining the audit quality of firms. The study utilised 71 non-financial firms for the periods 2008 to 2015. Audit quality was measured using a dummy variable of “1” and “0”, with 1 representing the use of a big four auditor by the firm and 0 otherwise. Corporate governance was proxy with board independence measured using the ratio of non-executive directors to total directors. The data collected was analysed using the binary regression analysis. The findings reveal that board independence is negatively related to audit quality. The study highlights the importance of having proper mix of competences on the board. The study recommends that the composition of non-executive directors as members of the board should be sustained and improved upon.
Grant reviewer perceptions of the quality and effectiveness of panel discussion

Background Funding agencies have long used panel discussion in the peer review of research grant proposals as a way to utilize a set of expertise and perspectives in making funding decisions. Little research has examined the quality of panel discussions and how effectively they are facilitated. Methods Here we present a mixed-method analysis of data from a survey of reviewers focused on their perceptions of the quality and facilitation of panel discussion from their last peer review experience. Results Reviewers indicated that panel discussions were viewed favorably in terms of participation, clarifying differing opinions, informing unassigned reviewers, and chair facilitation. However, some reviewers mentioned issues with panel discussions, including an uneven focus, limited participation from unassigned reviewers, and short discussion times. Most reviewers felt the discussions affected the review outcome, helped in choosing the best science, and were generally fair and balanced. However, those who felt the discussion did not affect the outcome were also more likely to evaluate panel communication negatively, and several reviewers mentioned potential sources of bias related to the discussion. While respondents strongly acknowledged the importance of the chair in ensuring appropriate facilitation of the discussion to influence scoring and to limit the influence of potential sources of bias from the discussion on scoring, nearly a third of respondents did not find the chair of their most recent panel to have performed these roles effectively. Conclusions It is likely that improving chair training in the management of discussion as well as creating review procedures that are informed by the science of leadership and team communication would improve review processes and proposal review reliability.
Determination of Anthocyanin and Volatile Profile of Wines from Varieties Yiannoudi and Maratheftiko from the Island of Cyprus

Anthocyanins and volatile aromas may contribute to the identity of a wine varietal. Various parameters such as terroir (including vineyard altitude), viticultural management, vinification techniques and ageing conditions can influence the physiochemical pathways of the compounds. This work evaluated the anthocyanins and volatile compounds of two monovarietal wines from indigenous varieties, Yiannoudi and Maratheftiko, grown in the island of Cyprus from the vintages 2014, 2015 and 2016. The experimental analysis comprised the determination of anthocyanin’s profile (high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) and fermentation derived volatiles (gas chromatography-flame ionization detector, GC-FID) and a blind wine testing sensory evaluation. Both the analytical results and the blind wine tasting showed that wines, at their early stage, were easily differentiated by variety, especially in terms of anthocyanins composition, while, in aged wines, the differences among samples were influenced in time by the winemaking procedures and it was not possible to differentiate varieties in such conditions.
Electrospinning-based construction of porous Mn3O4/CNFs as anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Transitional metal oxide nanoparticles and carbon composites have attracted tremendous research interest due to their potential as anode materials in next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, porous Mn3O4/carbon nanofibers (Mn3O4/CNFs) are designed and synthesized via electrospinning in combination with an in situ growth method followed by subsequent multi-step heat treatments. As an anode for LIBs, Mn3O4/CNFs-2 exhibits good cyclability with high reversible capacity. A reversible capacity of 754 mA h g−1 over 400 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g−1 is achieved. The presence of CNFs can improve the conductivity of the electrode material and relieve the volume expansion of Mn3O4 during the process of Li+ insertion and extraction. Meanwhile, a small amount of N atom doping can enhance the reaction kinetics and Li+ pseudocapacitive behavior while providing reversible capacity and long cycling performance. Quantitative analysis shows that mixed diffusion-controlled and capactive behavior control mechanisms account for the Li+ storage, wherein the pseudocapacitive behavior can contribute to additional capacity.
Effect of temperature and duration of immersion on the stability of prepared feeds in echinoculture

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to provide new insights into the stability in water of the prepared feeds for echinoculture. The stability tests of four prepared feeds were carried out in laboratory in two different trials corresponding to different temperature levels (24°C and 19°C) and four different times of immersion (up to 72 h). Temperature and duration of immersion significantly affected the stability of feeds. Feed 1 was the most stable whereas Feed 3 was the least stable feed, as it started to dissolve in a few hours. Feed 2 and Feed 4 remained stable at 19°C all along the trial, whereas at 24°C remained intact for only 30 h. To optimize the echinoculture practice at temperature >19°C, we recommend a feeding regime at least 3 times a week, whereas at lower temperature we suggest an intermittent feeding regime.
Gravitational waves from density perturbations in an early matter domination era

We calculate the gravitational wave background produced from density perturbations in an early matter domination era where primordial black holes form. The formation of black holes requires perturbations out of the linear regime. Space with such perturbations reach a maximum expansion before it collapses asymmetrically forming a Zel'dovich pancake which depending on the parameters can either lead to a black hole or a virialized halo. In both cases and due to the asymmetry of the collapsing matter, a quadrupole moment generates gravitational waves which leave an imprint in the form of a stochastic background that can be detectable by near future gravitational interferometers.