Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardamom Casualties: Extreme Weather Events and Ethnic Minority Livelihood Vulnerability in the Sino-Vietnamese Borderlands

In the wake of important economic reforms and an ongoing agrarian transition, non-timber forest products, most notably black cardamom, have emerged as significant trade options for ethnic minority farmers in the mountainous Sino-Vietnamese borderlands. Yet, after a series of harsh winters had already crippled cardamom harvests in the 2000s, extreme weather in 2016 decimated the cardamom plantations of hundreds of farming households. Drawing from sustainable livelihoods, livelihood diversification, and vulnerability literatures, we investigate the multiple factors shaping how these harvest failures have affected ethnic minority cultivator livelihoods. Focusing on four case study villages, two in Yunnan, and two in northern Vietnam, we analyse the coping and adaptation strategies Hmong, Yao, Hani, and Yi minority farmers have adopted. We find that farmers’ decisions and strategies have been rooted in a complex ensemble of factors including their degree of market access, other livelihood opportunities available to them, cultural traditions and expectations, and state development strategies. Moreover, we find that in recent years the Chinese and Vietnamese states have stood-by as affected cultivators have struggled to reorganize their livelihoods, suggesting that the impacts of extreme weather events might even serve state projects to further agrarian transitions in these borderlands.
Geographic variations in gender differences in cataract surgery volume among a national cohort of ophthalmologists

Gender disparities in cataract surgery volume between male and female ophthalmologists have not changed significantly over time from 2012 to 2018 and may be partly explained by where surgeons practice. Purpose: To assess factors associated with gender disparities in cataract surgery volume and evaluate how these differences have changed over time. Setting: Cataract surgeons in the 2012 to 2018 Medicare database. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: The association of provider gender with the number of cataract surgeries per office visit billed was assessed with negative binomial regression models, controlling for calendar year, years in practice, hospital affiliation, geographic region, rurality, density of ophthalmologists, and the national percentile of Area Deprivation Index (ADI) score for the practice location. Results: There were 8480 cataract surgeons, most of whom were male (78%). Male surgeons worked in more deprived areas with a higher ADI (median: 40 vs 33, P < .001). Female surgeons performed fewer cataracts per year (140 [95% CI, 126-154] vs 276 [95% CI, 263-288], P < .001) and billed fewer office visits (1038 [95% CI, 1008-1068] vs 1505 [95% CI, 1484-1526], P < .001). In multivariate analysis, the number of cataract surgeries per office visit was greater for males compared with females in all years in the South (average incidence rate ratio 1.80), Midwest (1.50), and West (1.53), but not in the Northeast (1.16). The relative rate of cataract surgeries between male and female surgeons in each region did not change significantly over time from 2012 to 2018 (P > .05 in each region). Conclusions: Gender disparities in cataract volume among male and female surgeons have remained unchanged over time from 2012 to 2018. The higher cataract volume among male surgeons may be explained in part by provider practice location. Further studies are needed to better understand and address gender disparities.
Spasmolytic, Gastroprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Dry Methanol Extract of Ferula heuffelii Underground Parts

Dry MeOH extract of Ferula heuffelii (Apiaceae) underground parts was tested for spasmolytic, gastroprotective and antioxidant activities. HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid (CGA; 34.6 mg/g) was its main constituent. Extract in vitro exhibited notable total antioxidant activity (FRAP value=1.0 μmol Fe2+/mg), and scavenging of DPPH (SC50=62.5 μg/ml) and •OH radicals (49.5 % at 20 μg/ml in 2‐deoxyribose assay). In vitro on isolated rat ileum, extract exhibited significant spasmolytic activity, i. e. , it showed 124.6 % of maximal atropine effect on spontaneous contractions (at 100 μg/ml), and reduced spasmogenic effect of KCl (80 mm) to 44.4 % (at 60 μg/ml) and of highest applied concentration of ACh to 26.3 % (at 120 μg/ml). In parallel experiments, spasmolytic effect of CGA was also demonstrated. In acute EtOH‐induced gastric ulceration model in rats, extract (100 mg/kg p.o.) showed significant gastroprotective effect (gastric damage score 0.50), similar to ranitidine (20 mg/kg p.o.). Obtained results showed that tested F. heuffelii polar extract represents new herbal preparation with potential use against some gastrointestinal complaints.
Nowcasting Nominal GDP with the Credit-Card Augmented Divisia Monetary Aggregates

While credit cards provide transactions services, as do currency and demand deposits, credit cards have never been included in measures of the money supply. The reason is accounting conventions, which do not permit adding liabilities, such as credit card balances, to assets, such as money. However, economic aggregation theory and index number theory measure service flows and are based on microeconomic theory, not accounting. We derive theory needed to measure the joint services of credit cards and money. Carried forward rotating balances are not included in the current period weakly separable block, since they were used for transactions services in prior periods. The theory is developed for the representative consumer, who pays interest for the services of credit cards during the period used for transactions. This interest rate is reported by the Federal Reserve as the average over all credit card accounts, including those not paying interest. Based on our derived theory, we propose an empirical measurement of the joint services of credit cards and money. These new Divisia monetary aggregates are widely relevant to macroeconomic research.1 We evaluate the ability of our money aggregate measures to nowcast nominal GDP. This is currently topical, given proposals for nominal GDP targeting, which require monthly measures of nominal GDP. The nowcasts are estimated using only real time information, as available for policy makers at the time predictions are made. We use a multivariate state space model that takes into account asynchronous information inflow, as proposed in Barnett, Chauvet, and Leiva-Leon (2016). The model considers real time information that arrives at different frequencies and asynchronously, in addition to mixed frequencies, missing data, and ragged edges. The results indicate that the proposed parsimonious model, containing information on real economic activity, inflation, and the new augmented Divisia monetary aggregates, produces the most accurate real time nowcasts of nominal GDP growth. In particular, we find that inclusion of the new aggregate in our nowcasting model yields substantially smaller mean squared errors than inclusion of the previous Divisia monetary aggregates.
Evaluation of indicator microorganisms in blueberry and raspberry production systems

Recent outbreaks of foodborne disease have been attributed to the consumption of fresh produce. Enteric pathogens derived from animal and human faecal material have been identified as the dominant etiological agents in these outbreaks. The objective of this study was to identify significant sources of such microbial contamination in blueberry and raspberry production systems. Study participants (berry farms) were selected according to agronomic practices, including fertilization, harvesting, source of irrigation water and method of distributing irrigation water. The study was conducted over two berry-growing seasons. Enumeration of coliforms and Escherichia coli on fruit, fruit contact surfaces and environmental samples from growers and processors were conducted using traditional, violet red bile agar-based (TSA-VRBA M U G overlay, PetrifilmTM E coli count plates) and newly developed chromogenic assays (Chromocult® coliform agar and XM-G agar). The TSA-VRBAMUG overlay method, however, was found to be unsuitable and was discontinued after the first sampling year. Results suggested that contamination of berry fruit surfaces occurred at the grower level. Harvesting and processing practices did not contribute significant coliform bacteria (P > 0.05) to the fruit surface at the grower and processor levels. Based upon Kruskal-Wallis and multiple comparison analyses on E coli counts, ditch water-overhead sprinkler irrigation was deemed to be a significant source of microbial contamination in blueberry production. The inability to detect a difference in the sanitary or faecal indices of berry samples using coliform populations re-affirmed the unsuitability of coliform counts as indicators of sanitation for fresh produce. E coli isolates from berry samples were non-verocytotoxicogenic based upon PCR analyses. However, the frequency of E coli occurrence in berry samples indicates a potential risk from other enteric pathogens. Comparison of selective agars revealed that efficiencies of coliform and E coli recovery for CCA and PEC were significantly different (P < 0.05). However, E coli counts within the accuracy and estimated range on CCA and PEC correlated to each other (P < 0.05), likely due to the shared p-Dglucuronidase-based differentiation reaction. CCA is a suitable alternative to T S A V R B A M U G overlay and PEC for coliform and E co//enumeration due to greater indicator recovery and differentiation capability.
Economic Growth: Shared Beliefs, Shared Disappointments?

There are two widely-held views on economic growth: 1) it is a natural outcome of getting ‘the basics’ right-- international integration, macroeconomic stability, and contract enforcement; and 2) it is hard, requiring a complete set of first, second, and third generation reforms that have little payoff until they are all implemented. Yet the evidence shows that growth accelerations do not naturally arise from the Washington Consensus basics, nor do they require extensive reform. Instead, accelerations are triggered by a more effective focus on identifying and removing the binding constraints to growth as they arise. This shifts the focus from creating a laundry list of reforms to using diagnostic signals to identify what particular constraints are holding back growth in a particular country at a particular time. Furthermore, growth involves not only coping with government failures, but also eliminating market failures. Therefore it is not just government sins of commission that drive down growth, it is also sins of omission: things that governments are not doing to overcome market failures. In many instances, there are ad hoc solutions that get the job done. Identifying and implementing such solutions requires a dynamic policy process where problems are identified and addressed, overcoming market failures while containing government failures. [Jointly published as Center for International Development Working Paper No. 125 and KSG Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP06-030. ]
Title Discovery of Optimized Web Service Configurations Using aHybrid Semantic and Statistical Approach

We present a Semantic Optimized Service Discovery (SemOSD) approach capable of handling Web service search requests on a fine-grained level of detail where we augment semantic service descriptions with statistically built predictor functions. Our approach combines ontologies and mathematical functions built using statistical regression over previous Web service interactions. In the search requests we allow for arbitrary, independent and dependent constraints and user preferences expressed using objective functions. Our approach maps to standard Operational Research global optimization problem where algorithms of Simulated Annealing and Differential Evolution are used. It is capable of finding the optimal combination of service input and output parameters (a configuration) to a user request with rich preferences. Our approach is applied to an international package shipment scenario where real (Web) services are used and mined to create price prediction models. We show that the chosen regression method provides price prediction models of high accuracy and our approach supports expressive and complex search requests.
A study of the release of active peptide from semisolid hydrogels measured with Franz diffusion apparatus

Introduction: Recently there has been a growth of interest in novel skin care formulations containing active ingredients, such as low molecular weight peptides. In this paper we present new skincare formulations of hydrogels containing a tetrapeptide (N-Pro-Val-Ala-Gly). Low molecular peptides evolved from research into wound healing and studies on growth stimulation of human skin fibroblasts. The main aim of our study was to perform tests of release of the peptide through synthetic membrane and assessment of the rate of release of peptide from hydrogels from different recipes. Material and methods: The peptide was identified (ion mass, productivity, homogeneity) and the formulations were characterized in terms of physicochemical parameters. Permeation studies were conducted using Franz diffusion cells. The collected samples were subjected to determination by the MALDI-TOF-MS method and the analytical HPLC technique. The ex vivo tests allow for testing of active substances outside a living organism while representing the effects of these compounds on the organism. Results: The results showed that the properties of the formulations strongly determined the release rate of the tetrapeptide. Furthermore, lemon essential oil modified the penetration of the peptide through membranes which we used. Conclusions: The presence of the lemon essential oil in the formulations reduced the time of penetration of the lipophilic peptide.
Influence of High Performance Hybrid Polyvinyl Alcohol- Polyproplene Fibres on Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Shell Lightweight Concrete

Article history: Received 5 October 2018 Received in revised form 4 December 2018 Accepted 8 December 2018 Available online 5 January 2019 The mechanical properties of oil palm shell (OPS) lightweight concrete (LWC) reinforced with high performance of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibre and polypropylene (PP) fibres were investigated in this study. The influence of single PVA fibre, single PP fibre and hybrid PVA-PP fibre with different volume fraction on the compressive strength, flexural load-extension curve and water absorption of OPS LWC were investigated. The test results indicate that, the strength of OPS LWC reinforced with single PVA fibre or PP fibre improved with the increase of fibre content. However, the compressive strength and water absorption enhances slightly, while the flexural strength improved significantly. When the two types of fibres are mixed into OPS LWC simultaneously, the results show positive and negative of synergy effects. The positive synergy effect of hybrid 0.25% PVA and 0.035% PP had showed the optimum results as compared to different volume fraction of mixes. It shows that, compressive strength and flexural strength increased by 5.5% and 22.1% respectively, while the water absorption decreased 23.1% compared with those of OPS LWC without fibres. Hence, the findings of this paper revealed that the combination with both high performance polymeric fibres can be used to develop more sustainable building materials.
DNA repair defects in cancer and therapeutic opportunities

In this review, Hopkins et al. review the major classes of DNA repair and damage signaling defects in cancer, the genomic instability that they give rise to, and therapeutic strategies to exploit the resulting vulnerabilities. They also discuss the impacts of DNA repair defects on both targeted therapy and immunotherapy, and highlight emerging principles for targeting DNA repair defects in cancer therapy.
THE MECHANICAL GREENHOUSE: BURIAL OF HEAT BY TURBULENCE IN HOT JUPITER ATMOSPHERES

The intense irradiation received by hot Jupiters suppresses convection in the outer layers of their atmospheres and lowers their cooling rates. “Inflated” hot Jupiters, i.e., those with anomalously large transit radii, require additional sources of heat or suppressed cooling. We consider the effect of forced turbulent mixing in the radiative layer, which could be driven by atmospheric circulation or by another mechanism. Due to stable stratification in the atmosphere, forced turbulence drives a downward flux of heat. Weak turbulent mixing slows the cooling rate by this process, as if the planet were irradiated more intensely. Stronger turbulent mixing buries heat into the convective interior, provided the turbulence extends to the radiative–convective boundary. This inflates the planet until a balance is reached between the heat buried into and radiated from the interior. We also include the direct injection of heat due to the dissipation of turbulence or other effects. Such heating is already known to slow planetary cooling. We find that dissipation also enhances heat burial from mixing by lowering the threshold for turbulent mixing to drive heat into the interior. Strong turbulent mixing of heavy molecular species such as TiO may be necessary to explain stratospheric thermal inversions. We show that the amount of mixing required to loft TiO may overinflate the planet by our mechanism. This possible refutation of the TiO hypothesis deserves further study. Our inflation mechanism requires a deep stratified layer that only exists when the absorbed stellar flux greatly exceeds the intrinsic emitted flux. Thus, it would be less effective for more luminous brown dwarfs and for longer period gas giants, including Jupiter and Saturn.
Using comprehensive literacy instructional modules for literacy instruction with students with disabilities

This research study examined the use of comprehensive literacy instruction within a self-contained ID mild Special Education classroom. Comprehensive literacy consists of daily instruction in word study, comprehension, and writing, with an additional period of time during each day for self-selected reading. Comprehensive literacy instruction was examined using self-study methodology on teaching practice through the analysis of lesson reflections, class schedules, and an autobiography of professional teaching experience. Three case studies of student performance across a semester of instruction were analyzed using data on literacy tasks, literacy assessment, and classroom observations. Results support the promotion of effective comprehensive literacy instruction for students with learning disabilities. Student performance increased in word identification, in reading stamina, and in engagement in word study and writing. Two cases showed an increase in comprehension (increased performance levels), in writing complexity, and in language use. Self-study of practice revealed the importance of using a literacy program that provides guidance in developing student centered instruction, and the complexity of negotiating the teacher role in providing effective student focused planning, implementation, and assessment. Comprehensive Literacy Chapter
The Philosophical Foundations of Educational Research: a Beginner's Guide

This paper aims to provide a concise introduction about the philosophical underpinnings of educational research. Whilst the philosophies of educational research have been extensively researched, a concise guide is hoped to uncover research underpinnings for beginners’ postgraduate research students. It overviews the philosophies, paradigms, basic terminologies and related methodologies of educational research. Moreover, the paper provides insights into how researchers’ philosophical stance can inform their research undertaking and transform the educational landscape.
Safety and Efficacy of the Off-Label Use of Pipeline Embolization Device Based on the 2018 Food and Drug Administration-Approved Indications for Intracranial Aneurysms: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The pipeline embolization device (PED; ev3/Covidien) has proven safe and effective for treating selected intracranial aneurysms. This device's versatility and popularity have driven increased interest in expanding the latest 2018 Food and Drug Administration–approved indications. OBJECTIVE: To compare “off-label” and “on-label” PED treatment. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of aneurysms treated with PED at a single center from 2013 to 2019. Comparisons were made based on the 2018 Food and Drug Administration–approved indications. RESULTS: A total of 492 treated aneurysms were included (65.2% on-label and 34.8% off-label). Aneurysm complete and near-complete occlusion rate was nonsignificantly lower in the off-label group (80.9% vs 85.7%; P = .19). Off-label treatment had higher rate of poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] >2: 10.3% vs 3.5%; P = .002). Although pretreatment mRS was already higher in the off-label group (5.3% vs 0.3%; P < .001) and there were no differences in mRS worsening during follow-up (5.5% vs 2.9%; P = .15). We also found a trend to a higher rate of intracranial hemorrhagic complications in the off-label group (4.7% vs 1.6%; P = .05), but there were no differences in hemorrhages requiring surgical intervention (1.8% vs 1.3%; P = .65). There were no differences in retreatment, thromboembolic complications, and mortality rates. CONCLUSION: Off-label PED treatment may be considered for select aneurysms, which are challenging to treat with other techniques. These cases have similar complete and near-complete occlusion rates compared with on-label cases. There are, however, higher risks of poor functional outcomes despite similar rates of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications. This is partly explained by the significantly higher pretreatment mRS score in the off-label group.
Predicting Securitized Real Estate Returns: Financial and Real Estate Factors vs. Economic Variables

Securitized real estate returns have traditionally been forecasted using economic variables. However, no consensus exists regarding the variables to use. Financial and real estate factors have recently emerged as alternative forecasting variables that proxy for the set of economic variables that should be useful in forecasting securitized real estate returns. Therefore, a question that arises is whether the predictive ability of the two sets of variables differ. This paper employs fractional cointegration analysis to identify whether long-run nonlinear relations exist between securitized real estate and the two sets of forecasting variables. Fractionally Integrated Error Correction Model (FIECM) forecasts are used in a trading strategy to compare the forecasting ability of the two sets of variables. Empirical analyses are conducted using data for the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. The results show that financial and real estate factors generally outperform economic variables in forecasting securitized real estate returns. The latter is supported by the fractional cointegration analysis in which long memory (long-range dependence) is generally found between securitized real estate and stocks, bonds, and direct real estate.