Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Co-movement between GCC stock markets and the US stock markets: A wavelet coherence analysis

Abstract In this article, the co-movement between GCC and US stock market returns was investigated using the wavelet coherence method. The Dynamic Conditional Correlation GARCH (DCC-GARCH) modelling is then applied on time-varying components in order to provide a point of comparison with the results extracted from wavelet analysis. The investigation was conducted on the weekly stock index prices of two USA stock markets, namely Dow Jones and S&P 500 and six GCC stock markets, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The data were retrieved from Thomson Reuters’s data stream and the sample duration was from 7 January 2007 to 24 June 2018. As a result, a definite co-movement between several GCC stock markets and those of the US stock markets for a long term was found. Moreover, the results also displayed signs of the significant disparity between the co-movements of the stock markets throughout the scales of time during economic decline. This phenomenon was possibly expected during the economic decline, where a significant divergence occurred as opposed to co-movement. The implications of the findings for global investors were considerable due to the indication from long-term co-movement that these investors would not be capable of gaining simultaneous profit from time and portfolio being diversified. In fact, the results showed the major difference in the opportunities for international portfolio diversiﬁcation throughout these markets in terms of scale and time.
Verificação da capacidade fotodegradante de um compósito polimérico com resíduo vítreo visando à inativação de patógenos

The main means of transmission of infections Related to Health Care (HAIs) occurs by direct contact with the hospital staff, instruments and surfaces containing pathogenic micro-organisms, aerosol droplets from other sick patients or even meals and liquids supplied in hospitals. In areas where there is no control of micro-organisms may arise biofilms, which are formed when microorganisms come together and become a community, they are known for their resistance to antimicrobials and as a major cause of HAIs. By means of photocatalysis, these micro-organisms can be neutralized. Photocatalysis is a process which accelerates the oxidation and reduction reactions of organic substances, among them bacteria. Thus, through the preparation of a polymeric composite with TiO2 and glassy residue content, search attempts to determine a mixture, in an attempt to control the biofilm emergence. The composites were soaked in culture medium containing Staphylococcus aureus bacteria forming biofilms within cell culture plates in 24-well plates, which were subjected in an oven, for a period of 48h under UV illumination and in the dark. Through scanning electron microscopy were generated images of the surfaces of composite in order to investigate whether occured or not the formation of biofilms. Through research, we tested two types of TiO2 (nanocrystals with different sizes) and three variations of the composite content, composed of epoxy resin, TiO2 and glass powder. The result shows that the tested compositions inhibit partly the action of the biofilm.
DIARRHEA SYNDROME CAUSED BY CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI IN CALVES

ABSTRACT Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) is the leading bacterial cause of food born diarrheal illness and enterocolitis worldwide in human and young animals. A total of 140 samples (100 fecal samples of calves and 40 raw milk samples of cow) were collected from Dakahlia governorate dairy farms for isolation and identification of C.jejuni by using cultural, biochemical, molecular methods and detection of the virulent cadF gene using PCR. Moreover, the isolated C.jejuni subjected for antimicrobial susceptibility test. Then, we develop an experimental infection of rabbits by inoculation with 1 × 109 colony-forming units (cfu) of completely identified C.jejuni. Rabbits divided into 3 groups: infected untreated (G1), infected treated with enrofloxacine (G2), control (G3) to study pathogenesis, fecal inflammatory response, histopthology, immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural changes post inoculation in the three groups. Results revealed that, from 140 fecal and raw milk samples only 41 isolates were bacteriologically and biochemically identified as Campylobacter spp . Seven isolated strains were positively amplified for map A gene specific to C.jejuni and carried the cadF virulence gene. C.jejuniisolateswere resistant to amoxicillin and ampicillin and highly susceptible to norfloxacine and erythromycin.After oral infection with C. jejuni90% of rabbits developed diarrheawith highly fecal inflammatory responses in G1, but mild in G2(treated) and negative in G3(control). Pronounced histopathologic changes were investigated in G1 during the acute phase (days 1 to 3) restricted on distal small intestine and colon including massive destruction of villi and loss of intestinal glands.The submucosa and muscularis mucosa showed the presence of edema with congested blood vessels, while hemorrhage was seen in the muscularispropria layer. The changes were mild and involved only the villi in treated group (G2), while abscent in control (G3). These results were confirmed by immunostaining, suggesting that C.jejuni is capable of invading deep intestinal tissues down to the submucosal layer in G1 while in G2 infection, the reaction was confined mainly to the villi, and was greatly reduced in the submucosa. Electronmicroscope showed all stages of invasion and associating damages from postinfection, colonizationa and villus damage. Thereby, the implementation of hyagenic practices during milking and proper handling of milk during calves feeding with regular monitoring of antibiogram profile are very crucial in preventing C.jejuni infection, colonization and intestinal damage and subsequently economic loss in dairy farm.
A Novel Minimally Invasive OFM Technique Combined Orthotopic Transplantation of hUC-MSCs with in vivo Monitoring of Liver Metabolic Microenvironment in Liver Fibrosis Treatment

Background Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) transplantation showed promising therapeutic results in liver fibrosis. However, efficient cell delivery method is urgently needed and the therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. This study focused on developing a minimally invasive open-flow microperfusion (OFM) technique, which combined orthotopic transplantation of human umbilical cord-derived (hUC)-MSCs to liver and in vivo monitoring of liver microenvironment in mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Methods The therapeutic potential of OFM route was evaluated by comparing OFM with intravenous (IV) injection route in terms of hUC-MSCs engraftment at the fibrosis liver, liver histopathological features, liver function and fibrotic markers expression after hUC-MSCs administration. OFM was also used to sample liver interstitial fluid in vivo, following metabolomic analysis was performed to investigate metabolic changes in liver microenvironment. Results OFM route caused more hUC-MSCs accumulation in the liver and was more effective in improving the remodeling of liver structure and reducing collagen deposition in fibrotic liver than IV. OFM transplantation of hUC-MSCs reduced blood ALT and AST levels, to a greater extent than IV route. And OFM route appeared to have a more pronounced effect on ameliorating the CCl4-induced up-regulation of the fibrotic markers, such as α-SMA, collagen I and TGF-β. In vivo monitoring of liver microenvironment demonstrated the metabolic perturbations induced by pathological condition and treatment intervention. Two metabolites and eight metabolic pathways which were most likely to be associated with the liver fibrosis progression, were regulated by hUC-MSCs administration. Conclusion The results demonstrated that the novel OFM technique would be useful for hUC-MSCs transplantation in liver fibrosis treatment and for monitoring of the liver metabolic microenvironment to explore the underlying therapeutic mechanisms.
Swiss Recommendations for Systemic Therapies in Locally Advanced and Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most frequent type of non-melanoma skin cancer. Its incidence has been rising in recent years, with the highest rate reported in Switzerland compared to other countries in Europe. While the majority of cSCC cases are low-grade tumors with an excellent prognosis following surgical excision, a minority of cSCC lesions (approximately 5% of patients) progress to locally advanced cSCC (lacSCC) or distant metastatic disease (mcSCC), both of which have an unfavorable prognosis. Recent evidence from studies with checkpoint immunotherapy has changed the systemic treatment landscape for lacSCC and mcSCC patients. While both programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor inhibitors cemiplimab and pembrolizumab are approved by the FDA, cemiplimab is the only approved systemic therapy for the treatment of nonresectable advanced cSCC in the EU and was recently also approved in Switzerland. Based on the latest evidence from randomized clinical trials, national consensus recommendations for the systemic treatment of advanced cSCC have been defined. For classification and optimal management of patients with lacSCC or mcSCC, an interdisciplinary tumor board discussion should be mandatory. Difficult-to-treat advanced cSCC patients should be referred to and treated by specialized centers. These Swiss recommendations provide guidance for the management of patients aged ≥18 years with lacSCC or mcSCC, specifically systemic therapy with a PD-1 inhibitor in the first-line setting. These up-to-date recommendations will also help Swiss physicians in their decision-making and address treatment variability in Swiss clinical practice. Keywords: cSCC, locally advanced, metastatic, systemic treatment, immunotherapy, cemiplimab
Complexation and enhancement of temozolomide solubility with cyclodextrins

Temozolomide is a poorly soluble anti-cancer drug used in the treatment of some brain cancers. Following literature reports about the enhancement of solubility and stability for these kinds of drugs upon complexation with cyclodextrins, we aimed to form an inclusion complex between temozolomide and the different types of cyclodextrins (CDs) to enhance its solubility. In this study, three different cyclodextrins (β-CD, hydroxyl-β-CD and γ-CD) were used, and changes in solubility was measured by UV-Vis Spectroscopy and HPLC. Morphological changes upon complexation were shown by the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and weight loss profiles with respect to temperatures which were unique to the compounds were shown by Thermogravimetric Analysis. Changes in heat release profiles were shown by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). Drug solubility was measured to be increased to around 25% for 1:1 molar ratio for all used CD complexations. Changes of morphology, heat release and weight loss profiles are consistent with the formation of an inclusion complex between CDs and temozolomide. In this study, success was shown in the enhancement of temozolomide solubility upon complexation with different types of CDs. It has been demonstrated that cyclodextrins can be used as complexing agents for poorly soluble anti-cancer drugs, increasing their solubility and hence drug availability.
Perspectives on the Potential Benefits of Children’s Group-based Music Education

Recent empirical evidence suggests that attending individual instrumental training in music schools benefits the development of cognitive skills such as language and executive functions. In this article, we examine studies that have found these transfer effects provided by group-based music education in school and preschool contexts. We conclude that group-based music lessons may enhance children’s language skills and possibly executive functions, but evidence for the impact of music activities on intelligence—as measured by nonverbal intelligence tests—or long-term prosocial abilities is scarce. Although the beneficial effects of music on language skills and executive functions are small, they seem to be discernible. However, we do not know if they apply to all children or only to, for example, children who enjoy engaging in musical activities. We suggest that group-based music education should be part of the national school and preschool curricula, because of both the enjoyment of learning music-related skills and the impact it may have on children’s general learning. In parallel, we encourage new empirical longitudinal projects to be launched, enabling further investigations into the promises of music.
Defect Perovskites under Pressure: Structural Evolution of Cs2SnX6 (X = Cl, Br, I)

The application of pressure on halide perovskite materials provides key insights into their structural properties and the collective motions of their basic structural units. Here, we use synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy measurements combined with density functional theory calculations to perform a comprehensive study on the structural and vibrational properties of the so-called defect halide perovskites Cs2SnX6 (X = Cl, Br, I) under high hydrostatic pressures up to 20 GPa. We find that, while Cs2SnCl6 and Cs2SnBr6 retain a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure for all studied pressures, Cs2SnI6 undergoes successive phase transformations initially to a more disordered structure and secondly to a low-symmetry monoclinic I2/m phase. The first transition is only evidenced by certain features emerging in the Raman spectra at ∼3.3 GPa, whereas the latter happens in a pressure window of around 8–10 GPa and involves tilting and elongation of SnI6 octahedra and hysteretic behavior with pressure r.
OUTWARD FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT: EMERGING ECONOMIES’ HOME COUNTRY DETERMINANTS

The Tendency of firms from emerging economies to invest abroad has increased significantly during the last two decades. Despite this trend, comprehensive literature survey research on macroeconomic determinants and antecedents of outward FDI from emerging economies is still underrepresented. The purpose of this paper is to give a comprehensive understanding of home country level factors’ impact on outward FDI from developing countries through a systematic review of past researches on OFDI’s macroeconomic determinants of home economy. The findings reveal that the most important determinants are, home country market size and openness of home country towards internationalization. However, some researches posted contrasting results for the impact of home country’s interest rates, human capital and technological capability on OFDI from emerging economies. This study also points out that emerging economies suffer from shortage of skilled personnel, thus making human capital an essential push factor for OFDI.
Following in the Footsteps: An Empirical Model of LeaderSignaled Knowledge Hiding by Subordinates

Knowledge hiding depresses outcomes at the individual, team, and organizational levels, yet its causes are not sufficiently studied. This research studied numerous vital antecedents of knowledge hiding that are previously not examined together. We used social learning theory to explain the mechanism and conditions that induce knowledge hiding. The three-phased data were collected from 121 sales and marketing employees working in life insurance companies of Pakistan through an online survey using the measures validated in prior research. The results supported that self-serving leadership propels knowledge hiding in subordinates by signalling tolerability of such behavior. The employee Machiavellianism and a competitive work environment strengthened this relationship. The findings add to the literature on leadership and knowledge hiding behavior by examining how workers perceive knowledge hiding signals from their leaders, especially when the leader himself demonstrates self-serving conduct. The implications of these findings for theory and practices are discussed.
Supralevator Abscess Complicated by Necrotic Fasciitis of Peritoneum, Genitalia, Anterior Abdominal Wall and Retroperitoneum.

A supralevator anorectal abscess may lead to a rare clinical complication, such as perineal necrotizing fasciitis. A 57-year-old man was admitted on an emergency basis with evidence of a deep anorectal abscess of 5-day duration. The clinical presentation involved an unbounded purulent destructive inflammation spreading onto the adjacent areas, with the development of a septic condition. Following a short preparation, a radical surgical debridement of a subfascial purulent necrotic phlegmon of the pelvic space was performed. Since the lower part of the abdomen, retroperitoneum and scrotum were involved, 4 additional subsequent necrectomies were performed at 48-hour intervals. The aggressive radical operative treatment and the combined intensive therapy were the main contributors to the favorable outcome of the disease.
Evidence for Deeply Subducted Lower‐Plate Seamounts at the Hikurangi Subduction Margin: Implications for Seismic and Aseismic Behavior

Seamounts are found at many subduction zones and act as seafloor heterogeneities that affect slip behavior on megathrusts. At the Hikurangi subduction zone offshore the North Island, New Zealand, seamounts have been identified on the incoming Pacific plate and below the accretionary prism, but there is little concrete evidence for seamounts subducted beyond the present‐day coastline. Using a high‐resolution, adjoint tomography‐derived velocity model of the North Island, we identify two high‐velocity anomalies below the East Coast and an intraslab low‐velocity zone up‐dip of one of these anomalies. We interpret the high‐velocity anomalies as previously unidentified, deeply subducted seamounts, and the low‐velocity zone as fluid in the subducting slab. The seamounts are inferred to be 10–30 km wide and on the plate interface at 12–15 km depth. Resolution analysis using point spread functions confirms that these are well‐resolved features. The locations of the two seamounts coincide with bathymetric features whose geometries are consistent with those predicted from analog experiments and numerical simulations of seamount subduction. The spatial characteristics of seismicity and slow slip events near the inferred seamounts agree well with previous numerical modeling predictions of the effects of seamount subduction on megathrust stress and slip. Anomalous geophysical signatures, magnetic anomalies, and swarm seismicity have also been observed previously at one or both seamount locations. We propose that permanent fracturing of the northern Hikurangi upper plate by repeated seamount subduction may be responsible for the dichotomous slow slip behavior observed geodetically, and partly responsible for along‐strike variations in plate coupling on the Hikurangi subduction interface.
Silica Pillared Montmorillonites as Possible Adsorbents of Antibiotics from Water Media

In this work, three silica pillared clays (Si-PILC) were synthetized, characterized, and evaluated as possible adsorbents of ciprofloxacin (CPX) and tetracycline (TC) form alkaline aqueous media. The pillared clays obtained showed significant increases in their specific surface areas (SBET) and micropore volumes (Vμp) regarding the raw material, resulting in microporosity percentages higher than 57% in all materials. The studies of CPX and TC removal using pillared clays were compared with the natural clay and showed that the Si-PILC adsorption capacities have a strong relationship with their porous structures. The highest adsorption capacities were obtained for CPX on Si-PILC due to the lower molecular size of CPX respect to the TC molecule, favoring the interaction between the CPX− and the pillars adsorption sites. Tetracycline adsorption on silica pillared clays evidenced that for this molecule the porous structure limits the interaction between the TCH− and the pillars, decreasing their adsorption capacities. However, the results obtained for both antibiotics suggested that their negative species interact with adsorption sites on the pillared structure by adsorption mechanisms that involve inner-sphere complex formation as well as van der Waals interactions. The adsorption mechanism proposed for the anionic species on Si-PILC could be considered mainly as negative cooperative phenomena where firstly there is a hydrophobic effect followed by other interactions, such as der Waals or inner-sphere complex formation.
Omnibus goodness of fit test based on quadratic distance

This study considers a goodness of fit test based on the quadratic distance (QD) in composite hypotheses. Lindsay et al. [Quadratic distances on probabilities: a unified approach. Ann Statist. 2008;36:983–1006] established a general theory of QD measures for the goodnees of fit test. Using the spectral decomposition of centred kernels, they verified that the QD test asymptotically follows a sum of weighed chi-square distributions. In this study special attention is paid to a smoothing kernel-based QD test and its bootstrap version. Their performances are compared via Monte Carlo simulations with those of the Bickel-Rosenblatt test and those of the Fisher's dispersion test for the normality and the testing for the Poisson distribution in IID samples and AR(1) models. The comparison results demonstrate the validity of our method.
Learning, leadership, and agency: A case study of teacher-initiated professional development

ABSTRACT This case study qualitatively examines the process and outcomes of teacher-initiated professional development through the experiences of an action research collective. Following the group over the course of two years, findings detail how a voluntary group of colleagues organised and experienced leading their own professional development. Through exploration of how a novice teacher developed in her leadership for learning and shifted in her teacher identity, the findings also highlight the powerful role of teacher professional motivation to learn, particularly with colleagues seen as student-first. The study also notes the supports necessary for the collective’s progress. As school and district-level systems move to more greatly recognise teachers as central to capacity-building efforts, this study contributes to our understanding of teacher leadership for learning and suggests that the dynamic nature of teacher leadership and teacher learning is a powerful intersection for transforming teacher identity and practices.
Detecting transportation modes using smartphone data and GIS information: evaluating alternative algorithms for an integrated smartphone-based travel diary imputation

ABSTRACT Smartphones with embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) technology provide an opportunity to passively collect individuals’ travel trajectory data, which can be utilized to identify critical aspects of travel behavior such as transport modes. This paper presents a mode detection algorithm developed to infer modes from smartphone GPS data. The algorithm is designed to classify single-mode trip segments into one of six modes. There are 31 features selected for the algorithm, which are divided into two categories: general features and transit-specific features. General features are needed to classify all available modes. Transit-specific features representing proximity to the nearest transit lines enhance the classification of the three transit modes. Four tree-based ensemble learning models are evaluated: Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM). The results show that LightGBM performs the best in terms of detection accuracy and computation time.