Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Generalised Estimating Equations: A Comparison of Procedures Available in Commercial Statistical Software Packages

The Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) proposed by Liang and Zeger (1986) and Zeger and Liang (1986) have found considerable attention in the last decade (for an overview see e.g. Ziegler, and Blettner, 1998). Several self-made programs for solving the GEE are available. This paper presents a comparison of three GEE procedures that are already available in SAS PROC GENMOD, STATA procedure XTGEE and SUDAAN PROC MULTILOG. We show that the estimation results may be quite distinct due to different implementations. Summing up, it is pleasant that GEE is becoming established in commercial software packages. However, some aspects of the implementations should be improved. Die Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE), die zuerst von Liang und Zeger (1986) sowie Zeger und Liang (1986) vorgeschlagen wurden, fanden in den vergangenen zehn Jahren grose Beachtung (fur eine Ubersicht s. z. B. Ziegler, Kastner und Blettner, 1998). Verschiedene selbst entwickelte Programme zum Losen der GEE stehen zur Verfugung. In dieser Arbeit werden drei GEE Prozeduren miteinander verglichen, die in SAS PROC GENMOD, STATA Prozedur XTGEE und SUDAAN PROC MULTILOG implementiert sind. Es wird gezeigt, das die Schatzergebnisse aufgrund unterschiedlicher Implementierungen sehr verschieden sein konnen. Daher ist es zwar zu begrusen, das die GEE inzwischen in kommerziellen Softwarepaketen zur Verfugung stehen. Doch sollten verschiedene Aspekte der derzeitigen Implementierung verbessert werden.
Filtering and LQG problems for discrete-time stochastic singular systems

Discrete-time stochastic singular systems are discussed. Filtering and linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) problems are considered. The problems are first transformed into the normal form via state augmentation and then solved by utilizing standard results for nonsingular systems. The linear unbiased least-squares state estimation algorithm and the optimal control law for the LQG problem are given. The order of the filtering algorithm obtained in this way is not much increased. Moreover, this algorithm allows the presence of some kinds of control inputs. >
The Gut Microbial Bile Acid Modulation and Its Relevance to Digestive Health and Diseases

The human gut microbiome has been linked to numerous digestive disorders, but its metabolic products have been much less well characterized, in part due to the expense of untargeted metabolomics and lack of ability to process the data. In this review, we focused on the rapidly expanding information about the bile acid repertoire produced by the gut microbiome, including the impacts of bile acids on a wide range of host physiological processes and diseases, and discussed the role of short-chain fatty acids and other important gut microbiome–derived metabolites. Of particular note is the action of gut microbiome–derived metabolites throughout the body, which impact processes ranging from obesity to aging to disorders traditionally thought of as diseases of the nervous system, but that are now recognized as being strongly influenced by the gut microbiome and the metabolites it produces. We also highlighted the emerging role for modifying the gut microbiome to improve health or to treat disease, including the “engineered native bacteria” approach that takes bacterial strains from a patient, modifies them to alter metabolism, and reintroduces them. Taken together, study of the metabolites derived from the gut microbiome provided insights into a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes, and has substantial potential for new approaches to diagnostics and therapeutics of disease of, or involving, the gastrointestinal tract.
Slower tempo makes worse performance? The effect of musical tempo on cognitive processing speed

The effects of musical tempo on cognitive processing speed were investigated, and the mediating effect of arousal was empirically tested. In an experiment, participants were divided into fast tempo, slow tempo, and no-music groups and completed three cognitive processing speed tests measuring motor speed, visuospatial processing speed, and linguistic processing speed. The results indicated a significant effect of musical tempo on processing speed and task performance in all three tasks. The slow-tempo group exhibited slower processing speed and worse performance than the no-music group in all three tasks. The fast tempo group displayed no significant difference in processing speed or performance compared with the no-music group. In the linguistic processing task, those who listened to slow-tempo music had better accuracy than those in the other conditions. Arousal did not mediate the relationship between musical tempo and cognitive processing speed.
A Narrative Mini Review on Current Status of Hypoallergenic Wheat Development for IgE-Mediated Wheat Allergy, Wheat-Dependent Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies to wheat that develop after school age typically shows a type of wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA). At present, avoidance of wheat products or postprandial rest after ingesting wheat is recommended for patients with WDEIA, depending on the severity of the allergy symptoms. ω5-Gliadin has been identified as the major allergen in WDEIA. In addition, α/β-, γ-, and ω1,2-gliadins, high and low molecular weight-glutenins, and a few water-soluble wheat proteins have been identified as IgE-binding allergens in a small proportion of patients with IgE-mediated wheat allergies. A variety of approaches have been manufactured to develop hypoallergenic wheat products that can be consumed by patients with IgE-mediated wheat allergies. In order to analyze such approaches, and to contribute to the further improvement, this study outlined the current status of these hypoallergenic wheat productions, including wheat lines with a reduced allergenicity that are mostly constructed for the patients sensitized to ω5-gliadin, hypoallergenic wheat by enzymic degradation/ion exchanger deamidation, and hypoallergenic wheat by thioredoxin treatment. The wheat products obtained by these approaches significantly reduced the reactivity of Serum IgE in wheat-allergic patients. However, either these were not effective on some populations of the patients, or low-level IgE-reactivity to some allergens of the products was observed in the patients. These results highlight some of the difficulties faced in creating hypoallergenic wheat products or hypoallergenic wheat lines through either traditional breeding or biotechnology approaches in developing hypoallergenic wheat completely safe for all the patients allergic to wheat.
Soil microbial respiration adapts to higher and longer warming experiments at the global scale

Warming can affect soil microbial respiration by changing microbial biomass and community composition. The responses of soil microbial respiration to warming under experimental conditions are also related to background conditions and the experimental setup, such as warming magnitude, duration, and methods. However, the global pattern of soil microbial respiration in response to warming and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis of the response of soil microbial respiration to warming by synthesizing data from 187 field experiments. We found that experimental warming significantly increased soil microbial respiration and microbial biomass carbon by 11.8% and 6.4%, respectively. The warming-induced increase in microbial carbon decomposition was positively correlated with increased microbial biomass carbon, but not community composition. Moreover, the positive response of soil microbial respiration marginally increased with warming magnitude, particularly in short-term experiments, but soil microbial respiration adapted to higher warming at longer timescales. Warming method did not significantly affect the response of microbial respiration, except for a significant effect with open top chamber warming. In addition, the impact of warming on soil microbial respiration was more pronounced in wetter sites and in sites with lower soil pH and higher soil organic carbon. Our findings suggest that warming stimulates microbial respiration mainly by increasing microbial biomass carbon. We also highlight the importance of the combination of warming magnitude and duration in regulating soil microbial respiration responses, and the dependence of warming effects upon background precipitation and soil conditions. These findings can advance our understanding of soil carbon losses and carbon-climate feedbacks in a warm world.
Impedance boundary condition simulation in the FDTD/FVTD hybrid

The simulation of the impedance boundary condition (IBC) for the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) and the finite-volume time domain (FVTD) hybrid algorithm with overlapping grids is explained in detail. This paper does not discuss the validity of the IBC model, and our model assumes the surface impedance or surface admittance has a constant resistive part and a nonnegative imaginary part, which is a linear function of frequency. This model is restrictive. But, with this assumption, the use of a convolution integral is avoided and for many applications this is sufficient. Comparisons of the calculations, based on our time-domain algorithm with the Mie series solutions and the method of moment (MoM) solutions, are given. The agreement between our solutions and the referenced solutions shows that our IBC simulation gives credible numerical results.
Atmospheric chemistry: response to human influence

Present understanding of global atmospheric chemistry is reviewed. Models are presented and compared with a wide range of atmospheric observations, with emphasis on the stratosphere. In general, excellent agreement is found between the calculated and observed distributions of long lived trace gases. The abundances of many shorter lived species are also satisfactorily reproduced, including NO2, HNO3, O, O3, OH and ClO. Discrepancies between theory and observation are examined and their significance assessed. The influence of human perturbations due to combustion, agriculture and chlorocarbon releases is discussed with emphasis on O3. Uncertainties associated with present models are highlighted. Combustion related releases of CO cause a decrease in the abundance of tropospheric OH with consequent increase in the concentrations of CH4, H2, CH3Cl and other halocarbons. CO emissions may become sufficiently large during the next century to induce substantial increases in tropospheric ozone on a global scale. Recombination of nitrogen fixed by agriculture and combustion may lead to an enhanced source of atmospheric N2O with a related impact on stratospheric NOx. Chlorocarbon industry provides an important source of stratospheric chlorine, and enhanced levels of stratospheric Clx and NOx may cause a significant reduction in the abundance of atmospheric O3, by as much as 10% during the next century. Perturbations due to various anthropogenic activities interact in a nonlinear fashion and the influence on atmospheric chemistry is correspondingly complex.
Direct numerical simulation of the turbulent flow in a baffled tank driven by a Rushton turbine

We present a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the turbulent flow in a baffled tank driven by by a Rushton turbine. The DNS is compared to a Large Eddy Simulation (LES), a Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation, Laser Doppler Velocimetry data, and Particle Image Velocimetry data from the literature. By Reynolds averaging the DNS-data, we validate the turbulent viscosity hypothesis by demonstrating strong alignment between the Reynolds stress and the mean strain rate. Although the turbulent viscosity νT in the DNS is larger than in the RANS simulation, the turbulent viscosity parameter Cμ = νTϵ/k2, is an order of magnitude smaller than the standard 0.09 value of the k-ϵ model. By filtering the DNS-data, we show that the Smagorinsky constant CS is uniformly distributed over the tank with CS ≈ 0.1. Consequently, the dynamic Smagorisnky model does not improve the accuracy of the LES. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Dependence of third-harmonic generation on melanin concentration in solution

In this study, we performed theoretical analysis and experimental measurement of third harmonic generation (THG) in melanin solution with different concentrations. As predicted by theory, only THG at glass/solution interface was observed due to Guoy phase shift effect. We have shown that this interfacial THG intensity is strongly affected by index matching condition between the two media, leading to minimal THG at a certain melanin concentration. By fitting the dependence of THG intensity versus melanin concentration, linear and nonlinear electric susceptibilities of melanin are obtained, providing a valuable tool to characterize optical properties of biological molecules.
Cuscutae semen alleviates CUS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice via the gut microbiota-neuroinflammation axis

Introduction: Major depressive disorder is a mental disease with complex pathogenesis and treatment mechanisms involving changes in both the gut microbiota and neuroinflammation. Cuscutae Semen (CS), also known as Chinese Dodder seed, is a medicinal herb that exerts several pharmacological effects. These include neuroprotection, anti-neuroinflammation, the repair of synaptic damage, and the alleviation of oxidative stress. However, whether CuscutaeSemen exerts an antidepressant effect remains unknown. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effect of CS on chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced depression-like behaviors in mice by observing changes in several inflammatory markers, including proinflammatory cytokines, inflammatory proteins, and gliocyte activation. Meanwhile, changes in the gut microbiota were analyzed based on 16 S rRNA sequencing results. Moreover, the effect of CS on the synaptic ultrastructure was detected by transmission electron microscopy. Results: We found that the CS extract was rich in chlorogenic acid and hypericin. And CS relieved depression-like behaviors in mice exposed to CUS. Increased levels of cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) and inflammatory proteins (NLRP3, NF-κB, and COX-2) induced by CUS were reversed after CS administration. The number of astrocytes and microglia increased after CUS exposure, whereas they decreased after CS treatment. Meanwhile, CS could change the structure of the gut microbiota and increase the relative abundance of Lactobacillus. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between several Lactobacilli and indicators of depression-like behaviors and inflammation. There was a decrease in postsynaptic density after exposure to CUS, and this change was alleviated after CS treatme. Conclusion: This study found that CS treatment ameliorated CUS-induced depression-like behaviors and synaptic structural defects in mice via the gut microbiota-neuroinflammation axis. And chlorogenic acid and hypericin may be the main active substances for CS to exert antidepressant effects.
Investigating Impacts of CVR and Demand Response Operations on a Bi-Level Market-Clearing With a Dynamic Nodal Pricing

This paper investigates the impacts of conservation voltage reduction (CVR) on electricity prices, the local market, and technical issues in distribution networks. An increase in electricity demand is one of the key challenges for developing sustainable societies. An increase in electric consumption puts immense pressure on electricity providers, which forces them to apply for load reduction programs during peak-demand time intervals. The CVR is one of the popular methods for load reduction, but how it would impact the pricing process and electricity market at the distribution level needs further investigation. The proposed methodology includes a power tracing and loss allocation-based pricing method. Since the distribution networks are going to be confronted by penetration of distributed energy resources (DER), prosumers, and microgrids, it is important to have a comprehensive methodology. This paper deploys a bi-level optimization algorithm to consider the financial benefits of all participating agents. In addition to CVR, the demand response (DR) programs are considered to shift and curtail flexible loads by the distribution system operator (DSO) and prosumers, respectively. The price sensitivity of prosumers toward change in the network’s voltage for better planning is calculated. The operation costs/profits of DSO/prosumers decrease/increase during CVR and DR programs by 4.63% / 3%, respectively.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN CURBING FINANCIAL MALPRACTICES IN NIGERIA PUBLIC SECTOR

This research examines the role of government in curbing financial malpractices in Nigeria public sector. Efforts made in the past to curtail the problem, and present experiments to eradicate the scourges from our public sector of Nigeria economy are also examined. In other words, whenever and wherever a party performs a service or obligation in exchange for some gratification or refuses to perform his duty as a result of conferment of some benefits or promise of same, he is said to be corrupt. This dissertation is broken into five chapters. The major objectives of this research are to investigate and educate about the various forms of financial malpractices, causes, dangers, signal and ways of preventing financial malpractices and to discuss some of the role of the Government in curbing financial malpractices in the Nigeria public sector. The methodology explains scientific and methodological nature, it’s scientific in that it follow a well-defined laid down principles and makes use of scientific approach to studying using primary and secondary data, Primary sources such as relevant statutes and legislations, judicial decisions and government publications and secondary sources such as opinions of writers, textbooks, newspaper articles and seminar papers. And finally, with discussion of results and curbing financial malpractices in Nigeria, with Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations we can see from this research project that the efforts and the impact Government is making to curb financial malpractices is having positive and is returning sanity to our public sector, enthroning the virtues of honesty, transparency and accountability in Nigeria
Conventional and Bayesian approach to climate‐change detection and attribution

The conventional multi‐variate, multi‐fingerprint theory of climate‐change detection and attribution, expressed in terms of existing frequency distributions, is reviewed and generalized to a Bayesian approach based on subjective probabilities. Bayesian statistics enable a quantitative determination of the impact of climate‐change detection tests on prior subjective assessments of the probability of an externally forced climate change. The Bayesian method also provides a potentially powerful tool for enhancing statistical detection and attribution tests by combining a number of different climate‐change indicators that are not amenable to standard signal‐to‐noise analyses because of inadequate information on the associated natural‐variability statistics. The relation between the conventional and Bayesian approach is illustrated by examples taken from recent conventional analyses of climate‐change detection and attribution for three cases of climate‐change forcing by increasing greenhouse‐gas concentrations, increasing greenhouse‐gas and aerosol concentrations, and variations in solar insolation. The enhancement of detection and attribution levels through a joint Bayesian analysis of a number of different climate‐change indices is demonstrated in a further example. However, this advantage of the Bayesian approach can be achieved only within the framework of a subjective rather than objective analysis. The conventional and Bayesian approach both exhibit specific advantages and shortcomings, so that a parallel application of both methods is probably the most promising detection and attribution strategy.
Compact Ultrawideband High-Efficiency Rectifier Using an Exponential Tapered Transmission Line

In this letter, a compact ultrawideband high-efficiency (UWHE) microwave rectifier using an exponential tapered transmission line (ETTL) is proposed. The inductive reactance of the filtering capacitor at the band higher than the self-resonant frequency is used to compensate the capacitive reactance of the diode appropriately. Consequently, the proposed design method can immune to the parasitic impedance of diode as frequency increasing. Meanwhile, an ETTL is adopted for ultrawideband impedance matching at input port. For demonstration, a rectifier prototype is designed, fabricated, and measured. The result shows that the design provides the wide bandwidth of 194% from 0.06 to 3.91 GHz for the power conversion efficiency (PCE) higher than 50% with the input power of 17 dBm. The peak PCE of 68.8% is obtained at 0.915 GHz for the input power of 21 dBm.
Long-range ferromagnetism in one-dimensional monatomic spin chains

We show that transition states during spin flips, besides interspin exchange and on-site anisotropy, are necessary for a complete description of monatomic spin chains, and study the dynamical spin system using kinetic Monte Carlo method based on transition-state theory. Using experimental parameters of the monatomic Co spin chains on Pt surfaces, we produce the experimental hysteresis loop at 10 K and show that there is no hysteresis loops at 45 K. There is a phase crossover from the long-range ferromagnetism at low temperature to disordered magnetic states at high temperature. Our systematical simulation shows that the chain-length dependence of the long-range ferromagnetism is very weak and even approaches to zero when the chain length becomes large enough. The crossover temperature is a monotonously increasing function of the sweeping rate of changing magnetic field. The simulations are justified because the quantum effect can be ignored except for very low temperatures. Our theory explains the ferromagnetism of finite one-dimensional spin chains with large magnetic anisotropy such as the monatomic Co chains on Pt surfaces.
The SHI irradiation induced transition to negative dielectric constant phase in K 2 Bi 4 Ti 4 WO 18

In present communication, a new Aurivillius family compound K 2 Bi 4 Ti 4 WO 18 was synthesized, and the impact of swift heavy ion (SHI), Ni +11 irradiation on its surface and dielectric properties has been studied in detail. The phase formation in this complex oxide, and crystallization to B2cb symmetry was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction. However, post irradiation the XRD, SEM and AFM studies shows the surface amorphization, in agreement with the theoretical calculations. Furthermore, the effect of irradiation was also observed in the bulk dielectric properties as the system transform to a phase with negative dielectric constant above 350 K in the radio frequencies. This transition is in correlation with significant change in other dielectric parameters such enhancement in AC conductivity, a helical Nyquist plot and multiple dielectric relaxations. This conspicuous changes in the dielectric response post irradiation is attributed to the SHI induced defect formation, modification of energy barriers and their consequences on the electronic structure. Thus, current study suggests that the dielectric properties of Aurivillius K 2 Bi 4 Ti 4 WO 18 could be tailored by ion irradiation and opens a new possibility of tuning functional properties.