Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of topiramate on ethanol and saccharin consumption and preferences in C57BL/6J mice.

BACKGROUND Topiramate has recently been found to be more effective than placebo as an adjunct treatment for alcohol dependence, but it has not yet been investigated in animal models of ethanol consumption. The current experiment examined the effects of topiramate on ethanol drinking in mice using a continuous access, two-bottle choice procedure. METHOD C57BL/6J male mice were offered a 10% v/v ethanol solution versus tap water over 4 consecutive days per week. Mice were assigned to topiramate (1-50 mg/kg) or saline groups and received injections before the beginning of the dark phase of the light cycle. Topiramate dose increased over 5 successive weeks (1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg). Fluid intake was measured 2, 4, and 23 hr after injection. Body weight and food intake were measured at the time of injection. In a second phase, mice were offered saccharin solutions (0.2 and 2.5% w/v) versus tap water after topiramate (50 mg/kg) or saline injections. RESULTS Results revealed that high topiramate doses (25 and 50 mg/kg) increased water intake and decreased ethanol preference. Compared with saline controls, topiramate produced dose-dependent, bidirectional effects on ethanol dose, with 25 mg/kg of topiramate increasing ethanol dose at 4 and 23 hr after injection but 50 mg/kg topiramate decreasing ethanol dose at 2 hr after injection. During saccharin exposure, topiramate decreased saccharin preference (for 2.5% w/v saccharin solution) and marginally increased water intake but did not directly alter intake of the saccharin solutions. Topiramate had no effects on body weight or daily food intakes. CONCLUSIONS Topiramate reduced ethanol preference in C57BL/6J mice, but this effect was primarily attributable to elevated water intake. Topiramate also reduced saccharin preference, likely through marginally significant increases in water intake. Increases in water intake and bidirectional effects of topiramate on ethanol dose complicate conclusions with regard to the effects of topiramate on ethanol reward.
Gonorrhea Surveillance: Estimating Epidemiologic and Clinical Characteristics of Reported Cases Using a Sample Survey Methodology

Background Little is known about the epidemiology of gonorrhea in the United States, except for basic demographics of reported cases. Knowing the proportion of reported gonorrhea cases identified through screening, the diagnostic test used, and patient behavioral risk factors might help to better explain changes in gonorrhea rates over time. Goal The goal of this study was to implement and evaluate a gonorrhea sample survey surveillance methodology in San Diego, California. Study Design Healthcare providers caring for a representative sample of all gonorrhea patients reported during August 16 through October 18, 2001 were interviewed by telephone about patient demographics, risk factors, and management. Results The healthcare providers of 248 gonorrhea patients were contacted; data were obtained on 224 (90%) patients. Major reasons for testing included symptoms (68%), partner referral (14%), and screening (12%). Gonococcal culture, DNA probe tests, and nucleic acid amplification tests were used to diagnose 40%, 34%, and 21% of patients, respectively. At minimum, 36% of male gonorrhea patients were men who have sex with men (MSM); MSM with gonorrhea were rarely diagnosed with rectal or pharyngeal gonorrhea outside of sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. Estimated local resources required to conduct this survey were $12 per completed interview. Conclusion Healthcare provider telephone interviews regarding recently reported gonorrhea patients are feasible and can provide important additional information to STD programs, which could be used to direct intervention strategies and monitor trends. Ultimately, a national sampling approach could be explored and incorporated into ongoing gonorrhea surveillance.
An elaboration of the relationship between general hospital bed supply and general hospital utilization.

An elaboration of the relationship between changes in an area's general hospital bed supply and changes in its hospital utilization rate is performed using path analysis in order to test two opposing interpretations of this relation. One interpretation sees this relationship as spurious due to the antecedent effect of high demand and consequent unmet need that leads both to increased bed supply and to increased utilization. The opposing interpretation accepts the relationship as causal and sees it operating through the intervening mechanism of changes in the way medicine is practiced in that area. The analysis, using data for New York State counties collectedfrom American Hospital Association statistics, supports the causal rather than the spurious interpretation. The implications of this result for health care delivery are discussed.
Porcine proximal tubular cells (LLC‐PK1) are able to tolerate high levels of lithium chloride in vitro: assessment of the influence of 1–20 mM LiCl on cell death and alterations in cell biology and biochemistry

Lithium, a prophylactic drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder, is prescribed with caution due to its side effects, including renal damage. In this study porcine LLC‐PK1 renal tubular cells were used to establish the direct toxicity of lithium on proximal cells and gain insights into the molecular mechanisms involved. In the presence of LiCl, cell proliferation exhibited insignificant decreases in a concentration‐dependent manner, but once confluent, constant cell numbers were observed. Cell cycle studies indicated a small dose‐dependant accumulation of cells in the G2/M stage after 24 h, as well as an increase in cells in the G0/G1 phase after treatment with 1–10 mM LiCl, but not at 20 mM LiCl. No evidence of apoptosis was observed based on cell morphology or DNA fragmentation studies, or evidence of protein expression changes for Bax, Bcl‐2, and p53 proteins using immunocytochemistry. In addition caspases 3, 8 and 9 activity remained unaltered between control and lithium‐treated cultures. To conclude, exposure to high concentrations of lithium did not result in overt toxic effects to LLC‐PK1 renal cells, although LiCl did alter some aspects of cell behaviour, which could potentially influence function over time.
Implication of duodenogastric reflux in the pathogenesis of Barrett's oesophagus

Fasting and postprandial intragastric bile acid concentrations have been estimated and compared in patients with complications of Barrett's oesophagus, patients with Barrett's oesophagus without complications, patients with oesophagitis and a group of normal subjects who acted as controls. There was no significant difference in fasting intragastric bile acid concentrations between the groups. Postprandial bile acid concentrations were significantly greater in the patients with complications of Barrett's than in the remaining groups at 60, 90 and 120 min. Significant concentrations of bile acids were seen in gastric juice of unaltered pH and may be undetected on intra‐oesophageal pH monitoring. Duodenogastric reflux may be implicated in the pathogenesis of complications of Barrett's oesophagus.
Banks as Potentially Crooked Secret-Keepers

Bank failures are generally liquidity as well as solvency events. Whether it is households running on banks or banks running on banks, defunding episodes are full of drama. This theater has, arguably, lured economists into placing liquidity at the epicenter of financial collapse. But loss of liquidity describes how banks fail. Bad news about banks explains why they fail. This paper models banking crises as triggered by news that the degree (share) of banking malfeasance is likely to be particularly high. The malfeasance share follows a state-dependent Markov process. When this period’s share is high, agents rationally raise their probability that next period’s share will be high as well. Whether or not this proves true, agents invest less in banks, reducing intermediation and output. Deposit insurance prevents such defunding and stabilizes the economy. But it sustains bad banking, lowering welfare. Private monitoring helps, but is no panacea. It partially limits banking malfeasance. But it does so inefficiently as households needlessly replicate each others’ costly information acquisition. Moreover, if private audits become public, private monitoring breaks down due to free-riding. Government real-time disclosure of banking malfeasant mitigates, if not eliminates, this public goods problem leading to potentially large gains in both non-stolen output and welfare.
Updating the classical approach to visual acuity

The classical account of visual acuity incorporates optical, anatomical and physiological components. Knowledge of these helps to put into perspective recent scientific advances that have clinical implications. They include the development of active optical devices for neutralising aberrations in peripheral zones of the pupil, with the potential of improving the eye's imagery beyond its customary limit. In another application of modern optical and electronic instrumentation, the quality of retinal images in young eyes has been compared with that in the aged. This has led to a better understanding of the choice of contrast patterns to enhance visual acuity in older patients.
The impact of organ failures and their relationship with outcome in intensive care: analysis of a prospective multicentre database of adult admissions

The database of a multicentre cohort study was analysed to determine the impact of intensive care unit (ICU) organ failures and their association with ICU mortality using sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA). A consecutive sample of 873 adult patients with a non‐neurological diagnosis was identified. SOFA scores were measured every 24 h of ICU stay. The odds of ICU death within 7 days doubled (95% CI 1.3–2.9) for a 5‐unit increase in total SOFA score at admission, p < 0.001. However ICU death after 7 days was not associated with total SOFA score at admission, p = 0.36. Compared to patients with a day 6 total SOFA score = 5, there was a 1‐unit (95% CI 0.8–3.1) increase in the odds ratio of ICU death after 7 days with every 5‐unit increase in SOFA score on day 6, p = 0.009. Continuous assessments of organ failures during an ICU admission are more useful than scores measured at admission to determine outcome and to compare ICUs.
The cAMP responsive element and CREB partially mediate the response of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene to phorbol ester

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene promoter activity is increased in PC12 cells that are treated with the phorbol ester, 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate (TPA). Mutagenesis of either the cAMP responsive element (CRE) or the activator protein‐1 element (AP1) within the TH gene proximal promoter leads to a dramatic inhibition of the TPA response. The TH CRE and TH AP1 sites are also independently responsive to TPA in minimal promoter constructs. TPA treatment results in phosphorylation of cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) and activation of cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) in PC12 cells; hence, we tested whether CREB and/or PKA are essential for the TPA response. In CREB‐deficient cells, the response of the full TH gene proximal promoter or the independent response of the TH CRE by itself to TPA is inhibited. The TPA‐inducibility of TH mRNA is also blocked in CREB‐deficient cells. Expression of the PKA inhibitor protein, PKI, also inhibits the independent response of the TH CRE to TPA. Our results support the hypothesis that TPA stimulates the TH gene promoter via signaling pathways that activate either the TH AP1 or TH CRE sites. Both signaling pathways are dependent on CREB and the TH CRE‐mediated pathway is dependent on PKA.
Perceived Influence of Work Environment Factors on Organizational Commitment Among the Millennials in the Banking Industry in Kisumu City - Kenya

x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.1 Work Environment . 2 1.1.2 Employee Commitment. 2 1.1.3 Work Environment and Employee Commitment . 3 1.1.4 Millenials and the Banking Industry in Kenya . 3 1.2 Research Problem . 4 1.3 Research Objective . 6 1.4 Significance of the Study . 6 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 7 2.
Nonlinear Characterization of Multiple Carrier Power Amplifiers

In this paper the input signal dependence on the nonlinear transfer function of power amplifiers is discussed. It is shown by measurements that the nonlinear behavior of the amplifier does indeed depend on the input signal. This is seen to be true both for AM/AM and AM/PM distortion. The implication is that a traditionally VNA swept CW cannot be used to obtain the AM/AM and AM/PM distortion that will actually take place in the amplifier during real life conditions, and that test signals which closely resembles the signals that will actually be used are necessary. The focus is to present a new possible measurement methodology necessary to target the demands of accurate characterization raised by multiple carrier power amplifiers MCPA:s. We briefly discuss the mechanisms that lies behind this behavior. The test signal selection and creation is discussed, as well as a method of producing highly linear ¿80 dBc WCDMA signals for ACP testing. Finally we present practical measurement results on AM/AM and AM/PM distortion obtained with swept, pulsed and multi-tone input signals to prove the input signal dependence. Practical results is given for high power narrowband Class AB LDMOS amplifiers intended for the 2.11-2.17GHz WCDMA band and for medium power Class A GaAs FET amplifiers.
Ruissellement en conditions de mouillage partiel

L' ecoulement d'un fluide sur une surface inclinee en conditions de mouillage partiel existe dans de nombreuses situations de la vie courante et dans des applications industrielles variees. A faible debit, des zones seches stationnaires peuvent exister au sein d'un film en ruissellement, qui compromettent le fonctionnement de certains echangeurs de chaleur. Nous avons entrepris une etude experimentale systematique de l' ecoulement d'un film d'huile silicone sur un plan incline convenablement traite pour obtenir un angle de contact statique fini. Nous montrons que des zones seches stationnaires de forme bien definie et reproductible existent dans une certaine gamme de debit, et qu'elles sont supprimees au dessus d'un debit critique. Nous proposons une modelisation de ces phenomenes bases sur de subtils equilibres entre les effets de la gravite, de la viscosite et de la capillarite rendant compte des observations dans une large gamme de parametres. Au premier ordre l' equilibre du bourrelet liquide delimitant une zone seche resulte d'une compensation de son poids par les effets capillaires, et pour les forts angles de contact et des inclinaisons faibles du plan de l'ecoulement, des effets secondaires lies a la courbure de la ligne de contact et a la pression hydrostatique dans le film jouent un role non negligeable et determinent la stabilite du systeme. Nous avons egalement aborde le ruissellement de gouttes sur un plan incline, pour lequel nous mettons en evidence l'existence de regimes d'ecoulement varies. Suivant leur vitesse, les gouttes peuvent etre ovales, pointues ou perlantes. Une interpr etation de l'existence du regime de gouttes pointues basee sur un modele d'angle de contact dynamique est proposee. Enfin, nous presentons quelques resultats qualitatifs sur l'ecoulement d'eau dans un faisceau de tubes tel qu'on en rencontre dans certains echangeurs de chaleur.
RUNNING HEAD: INTERPERSONAL AFFECT IMPROVEMENT Interpersonal Affect Improvement Strategies Questionnaire

This research outlines the development and validation of a new self-report measure to assess the tendency to use different interpersonal affect improvement strategies within the normal adult population (Interpersonal Affect Improvement Strategies Questionnaire; IAISQ). The scale is based on the interpersonal affect classification (Niven, Totterdell, & Holman, 2011) and accurately distinguishes between the two primary means suggested in that model: positive engagement and acceptance. Through four studies we tested the factor structure, reliability, content, criterion, and predictive validity of the scale.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of E-government in Saudi Arabia

This dissertation examines an issue that has gained more attention from researchers; that is, how the diffusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in government is influenced by factors that affect an individual’s decision to adopt the use of the technology. The importance of this topic as an area of research increases as more management related activities are being placed on line, consequently, understanding the challenges that likely confront the adoption of e-government by citizens is critical successful e-government diffusion. Further, in the last decade, e-government has been identified as one of the top priorities for governments across the world. Many governments wanted to capitalize on the potential of revolutionizing the relationship between governments and citizens through emerging web-based technology. Many countries are making efforts for improving e-government to ensure that public institutions are more efficient, effective, accountable and transparent
The Effect of Slack Resources on Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Empirical Evidence on Indonesian Listed Companies

"Objective – This study examines the effect of companies' slack resources on strategic Corporate Social Responsibility ('CSR') and also non-strategic CSR. By analysing the slack resources as a determinant of CSR, it might indicate the companies' priority regarding their strategic CSR as part of companies' strategy. Methodology/Technique – Instead of using profitability as a measure of slack resources, this study employs slack resources as a variable itself as it was developed by Burgeois (1981), based on financial data in the companies' financial statements. Findings – The empirical result of this study indicates that un-absorbed slack resources positively affect the strategic CSR and also non-strategic CSR of a company, while absorbed slack resources do not significantly affect either. Novelty – Unlike previous studies, this study does not use profitability as a proxy of slack resources, but uses slack resources as a variable itself. "
Design and Investigation of Dielectric Engineered Dopant Segregated Schottky Barrier MOSFET With NiSi Source/Drain

In this paper, to solve an important issue of low ON-state current in the nickel silicide (NiSi) metal source/drain Schottky barrier (SB) MOSFET (SBMOS), we have reported a novel dielectric engineered (DE) dopant segregated (DS) SBMOS structure using gate dielectric engineering. In a proposed device, we employ two different gate dielectric materials. The high-k gate dielectric is used at the source side and low-k gate dielectric at the drain side. Beneath the high-k gate dielectric, electron accumulation increases due to large gate dielectric capacitance density. As a result, reduction in depletion of source side dopant segregation layer further decreases the SB tunneling width for the electron injection. Consequently, improvement in ON-state current (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) is obtained. In addition, the low-k gate dielectric and drain side dopant segregation layer increases the effective SB height and tunneling width for the hole injection. Thus, the OFF-state current (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) is suppressed. The optimization of proposed device has been performed by modulating the length of high-k and the low-k gate dielectric. In addition, we have compared the performance of the proposed device in terms of ON to OFF current ratio <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$({I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}/{I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, subthreshold swing (SS), transconductance <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$({g}_{ {m}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, transconductance generation factor <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$({g}_{ {m}}/{I}_{ {D}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, cut-off frequency <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$({f}_{ {T}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and gain-bandwidth product <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$({f}_{ {A}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to the SBMOS, DS SBMOS, and DS SBMOS with the full high-k gate dielectric. Moreover, we have proposed the possible process flow for the DE DS SBMOS fabrication.
The Impact of CSR Efforts on Firm Performance in the Energy Sector

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the financial performance for publicly-traded firms operating in the energy sector. The energy sector has a unique role to play in global CSR efforts because of the size of the firms within that industry, their impact on the environment, and the operational risks that come with energy production. Previous research has been conducted on the relationship between CSR engagement and financial performance in various contexts, but this research has shown mixed outcomes – in some cases there is a positive relationship between CSR and performance while in other studies the research is non-existent or marginal (Lech, 2013; Jha & Cox, 2015). Thus, the research question for this study addresses a significant gap in the understanding of this topic by exploring the relationship between CSR and firm performance in a contextualized setting of the energy sector. A regression model was used to test the hypothesis that a correlation exists between CSR and performance. The independent variable in this study is the ESG disclosure score for each firm as published by Bloomberg (2016), which represents how much CSR activities each firm discloses. The dependent variable was a series of three financial metrics – return on assets, return on equity, and EBITDA. The relationship between the independent and dependent variables was tested for statistical significance at the 10%, 5%, and 1% levels on 0-4 year intervals, with a corresponding effect size reported for each relationship.
Disclosing sponsored Instagram posts: the role of material connection with the brand and message-sidedness when disclosing covert advertising

Abstract Regulation prescribes that sponsored social media posts should clearly disclose their material connection with brands. However, research on the impact of such disclosures is limited. This study used an experimental 4 × 2 between-subjects design (N = 414), reflecting different types of material connections between the influencer and the brand and two kinds of message sidedness, to investigate how the sponsorship disclosure affects consumers' responses to sponsored Instagram posts. Findings show that including a sponsorship disclosure (compared to no disclosure) negatively affects brand attitude through enhanced ad recognition, which activates ad skepticism, which, in turn, negatively affects the influencer's credibility. Further, results show a significant moderated mediation effect in that source's credibility and, consequently, brand attitude was only negatively affected when the influencer used a one-sided message and not when the message was two-sided. Also, influencers who post genuine product recommendations and thus have no commercial relationship with the brand, do well by explicitly mentioning this. Iincluding a statement that a post is not sponsored, rather than leaving thisit unclear whether their post is sponsored, may generate more positive brand responses through lowered ad recognition and skepticism.