Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A High-Linearity, 30 GS/s Track-and-Hold Amplifier and Time Interleaved Sample-and-Hold in an InP-on-CMOS Process

A high-speed, track-and-hold amplifier and interleaved CMOS sample-and-hold circuit are implemented in an InP-on-CMOS fabrication process. Conventional 50- Ω interchip interconnects between III-V and CMOS circuits are eliminated with heterogeneous integration of III-V on CMOS, yielding higher performance circuits at lower power consumption. The track-and-hold amplifier is based on a double-switching feedback architecture using 250 nm InP HBTs and achieves an IIP3 of 19 dBm at a sampling rate of 30 GS/s. To the author's knowledge, this is the first published result of a high-speed track-and-hold amplifier in an InP BiCMOS process and the first implementation of a feedback linearized track-and-hold at a sampling rate above 2 GS/s. Additionally, a novel HBT buffer with feedback is demonstrated to offer high linearity and low power for driving time-interleaved CMOS sample-and-hold circuits. A 90 nm time-interleaved CMOS sample-and-hold circuit is demonstrated to achieve better than -53 dBc HD3 at a sampling rate of 5 GS/s while consuming roughly 24 mW per channel.
Phytomodulatory potentials of Aloe vera against Salmonella OmpR‐mediated inflammation

Mediators released during inflammatory response play an essential role in eliminating microbes or microbial products. However, the uncontrolled release of cytotoxic substances characterized by extensive inflammation may adversely affect normal tissues. Under such conditions it is important to manage the hyperinflammation in order to change the clinical manifestations of the disease. Accordingly, the present study was designed to evaluate the modulation of Salmonella OmpR mediated inflammation by Aloe vera, a plant known to contain antiinflammatory ingredients. It was observed that outer‐membrane proteins (OMPs) extracted from the wild type strain of S. typhimurium caused inflammation of greater magnitude compared with the OMPs extracted from its mutant construct as evident from the oedema test as well as the hyperalgesic (flicking) response of the animals under experimental conditions. However, Aloe vera applied topically, administered intraperitoneally or in combination modulated the inflammatory response. The maximum effect was observed with the combined formulation indicating modulation at local as well as systemic levels. The results reveal that this modulation could be due to the potential of Aloe vera to decrease peroxidative damage via a decrease in the levels of monokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1 and IL‐6) and an increase in the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Moreover, the presence of SOD in Aloe vera itself might be responsible for enhancing its levels in the macrophages. On the other hand, no significant change in the catalase activity was observed by Aloe vera treatment. The use of Aloe vera, therefore, seems to have a promising role in the modulation of Salmonella OmpR mediated inflammation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring the robustness of stellar cooling constraints on light particles

Stellar cooling arguments place strict restrictions on a wide variety of models of new physics. In this paper, we argue that mechanisms to evade these constraints are restricted by thermodynamic arguments, then present a minimal model extension that allows new particles to evade all stellar constraints. In doing this, we demonstrate that interesting parameter space can be reopened, using the EDGES signal and Xenon1T excess as examples. This mechanism highlights the importance of laboratory experiments in a well-controlled environment to search for new physics, complementary to astrophysical searches.
ASSESSMENT OF ANGER-RELATED COGNITIONS

Background Interventions for anger represent the largest body of research on the adaptation of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for people with intellectual disabilities. The extent to which the effectiveness of these interventions reflects the behavioural or cognitive components of CBT is uncertain. This arises in part because there are few measures of anger-related cognitions. Method The Profile of Anger-related Cognitions (PAC) is built around interpersonal scenarios that the participant identifies as personally anger-provoking, and was designed as an extension of the Profile of Anger Coping Skills (PACS). A conversational presentational style is used to approach ratings of anger experienced in those situations and of four relevant cognitive dimensions: attribution of hostile intent, unfairness, victimhood, and helplessness. The PAC, and other measures, including the PACS, was administered to (i) people with ID identified as having problems with anger control (n=12) and (ii) university students (n=23); its psychometric properties were investigated and content analyses were conducted of participants’ verbal responses. In a third study, clinicians (n=6) were surveyed for their impression of using the PAC in the assessment of clients referred for help with anger problems.
Take Your Pick: Kate Moss or the Girl Next Door?

ABSTRACT In the last several years, marketers have started to use “nonidealized” models in advertisements (i.e., “Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty”). Little is known, however, about the effects of “nonidealized” advertising on consumers and whether this type of advertising—when compared to idealized advertising—is truly beneficial for the branded products promoted in these ads. Based on a sample of 347 French women exposed to either idealized or “nonidealized” models, the authors established that the way these advertising models have an effect on brand responses—specifically, the attitude toward (and the purchase intention of) a brand—operates through a dual-process model. When a viewer had a high sense of self-esteem, it was crucial that both processes be understood simultaneously: the effect of the portrayed model's body image on the brand responses can be suppressed by the model-evaluation process. The authors also note that consumers' ages influenced the self-evaluative process following a quadratic function. Their place of residence (i.e., urban versus rural) influenced the self- and model-evaluation processes.
Determinants of Competitiveness in the South African Citrus Fruit Industry

This paper analyses the determinants of competitiveness in the South African citrus fruit industry. It uses Michael Porter's competitive diamond framework to determine and analyse the factors influencing the performance and competitive success of the domestic citrus fruit industry. A structured questionnaire was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data of expert views and opinions from several key industry stakeholders. The paper identified the availability of skilled employees, quality of unskilled labour, cost of doing business in the industry, services from financial institution, electricity supply, land reform and some other government policies such as trade policy, labour policy, BEE policy and tax system as the major determinants impeding the competitive success of the domestic industry. The list also included the current climatic conditions, high incidences of HIV/AIDS and crime, economic stability and the cost of technology and infrastructure in the industry. Despite the challenges mentioned above, the quality of skilled labour, general level of development and quality of infrastructure and technology in the industry, quality of soils, the availability of scientific research institutions and the collaboration of the industry with these institutions, availability and quality of local suppliers of primary inputs, and market information flow were found to have a positive influence on the competitive success of the industry.
Managing Company Stakeholder Responsibility: Why it Might Be Easier Within Countries than between Countries

This paper looks at how companies might respond to the demands of stakeholders when developing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies. Using empirical evidence across five countries we show that stakeholder expectations on CSR do not appear to conflict within countries but are significantly different between countries. We argue that this simplifies management of CSR from a practical perspective since it reduces the variety of CSR policies that companies need to adopt. It also suggests that the theoretical development of the new concept of, 'Company Stakeholder Responsibility,' proposed by Freeman (2006), should focus primarily on international differences in stakeholder characteristics and in particular on the developmental trajectories of respective national business systems and the role of the State.
Banking behavior of Islamic bank customers: perspectives and implications

Describes a study designed to investigate the banking behavior of Islamic bank customers in the state of Bahrain. The study sample comprised 300 customers. A comprehensive profile analysis and a series of chi‐square tests were conducted to reveal key characteristics and patterns: the majority of Islamic bank customers are well educated; approximately 80 per cent are between 25‐50 years of age; more than 50 per cent of the surveyed customers have maintained their current banking relationship with Islamic banks for more than six years; customers’ awareness and usage rates are quite high for savings accounts, current accounts, investment accounts and automated teller machines; customers were found to be most satisfied with the products/services they use most, with the investment accounts receiving the highest satisfaction score; Islamic bank employees received the highest satisfaction score among the elements of the service delivery system; the two most important bank selection criteria were adherence to the Islamic principles, followed by the rate of return.
Practice and Standard of Corporate Governance in the Nigerian Banking Industry

The main objective of this paper is to examine practice and standard of corporate governance in Nigeria using banking industry as a case-study. The consolidation of the banking industry in 2004 necessitated a review of the code of corporate governance for the Nigerian Banks. The recent Global Financial Crisis, Asia Crisis and the bitter experience of banks distress and failure, suggest that Nigeria needs to take stock of its corporate governance capacity. This paper reviews the practice of corporate governance in the banking sector of Nigeria and uses OECD Corporate Governance Assessment Instrument to analyze the standard of corporate governance in Nigeria. The analysis clearly shows a divergence between the code of corporate governance and its compliance. More importantly, for Nigeria to reap the benefits of effective corporate governance and build a sustainable public confidence in the banking industry there is need to strengthen the enforcement mechanism of the regulatory institutions. It is important to restore the confidence of the average shareholder in the capacity of the judicial system to help him enforce his rights.
The effects of residency on physical fitness among military physicians.

PURPOSE Demands of medical residency training would be expected to result in physical deconditioning. This study determined the effects of residency on physical fitness. METHODS A prospective cohort study of the change in physical conditioning during residency using the Army Physical Fitness Test as a standardized measure of fitness was conducted. Ninety-four active duty U.S. Army physicians were followed during their medical residency training from July 1999 to June 2002. Army Physical Fitness Test results from interval tests performed throughout residency were compared to baseline results at matriculation. Changes in total score, number of push-ups and sit-ups completed in 2 minutes, 2-mile run time, and weight were recorded. Correlations between initial and final scores were evaluated. RESULTS All measured parameters worsened with statistical significance noted in the weight (p < 0.01), push-ups (p < 0.05), and 2-mile run (p < 0.01). Statistically significant negative correlations between initial and subsequent tests were noted in push-ups (p = 0.004), sit-ups (p = 0.0003), and total score (p = 0.0192). CONCLUSIONS Physical fitness declines during medical residency training. This effect is most notable in residents with higher levels of fitness at the start of medical education. Further studies are necessary to evaluate for a similar decline among civilian residents.
The New Staging System for Lung Cancer: Imaging and Clinical Implications

Accurate staging of lung cancer is necessary to describe and communicate disease extent, predict prognosis, determine therapy, and evaluate the results of clinical trials. The Union Internationale Contre le Cancer and the American Joint Committee on Cancer published the seventh edition of tumor, node, and metastasis in lung cancer in 2009. Changes to the sixth edition have been based on the analysis of a large database of patients with lung cancer by the International Staging Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. This study reviews the new seventh edition of the tumor, node, and metastasis lung cancer staging system and discusses the radiologic and therapeutic implications.
Volumetric MRI analysis of the amygdala and the hippocampus in subjects with age‐associated memory impairment

Age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) is a common but disputed entity. It is unclear whether AAMI is a phenomenon of normal aging or an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. The present study aimed to identify possible structural abnormalities in the medial temporal lobe of AAMI subjects. We measured volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala by MRI in 16 AAMI subjects and in 16 age- and sex-matched controls and correlated the volumes with subjects' performance on two visual memory tasks (the Benton and the Heaton visual retention tests) and on a verbal memory task (the Buschke-Fuld Selective Reminding Test). The mean hippocampal and amygdaloid volumes normalized for brain size per se did not differ between the two study groups. In controls, but not in AAMI subjects, the right hippocampus was larger than the left. Accordingly, the volumetric asymmetry between the right and left hippocampi was smaller in AAMI subjects than in controls (Student's t test, p <0.05). The volume of the right hippocampus (r = 0.37, n = 32, p <0.05) and the magnitude of the asymmetry between the right and left hippocampi (r = 0.38, n = 32, p <0.05) correlated with total score on the Benton test. We also found significant correlations between the amygdaloid volumes and the performance on visual memory tests but not with score on the verbal memory test. Furthermore, a subgroup of seven AAMI subjects with the lowest visual memory scores (≤5 on the Benton test) had smaller right and left amygdala (13%, p <0.05) than the six controls with the highest scores (=9 on the Benton test). Thus, we demonstrate that minor structural changes are present in both the hippocampus and the amygdala in AAMI subjects compared with age-matched controls. Follow-up of the subjects will be necessary to determine whether these minor structural abnormalities predict development of dementia or just reflect increased variability of cognitive performance in elderly humans.
Isolation of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) from Household Water and Shower Aerosols in Patients with Pulmonary Disease Caused by NTM

ABSTRACT It has been postulated that susceptible individuals may acquire infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from water and aerosol exposure. This study examined household water and shower aerosols of patients with NTM pulmonary disease. The mycobacteria isolated from clinical samples from 20 patients included M. avium (5 patients), M. intracellulare (12 patients), M. abscessus (7 patients), M. gordonae (1 patient), M. lentiflavum (1 patient), M. fortuitum (1 patient), M. peregrinum (1 patient), M. chelonae (1 patient), M. triplex (1 patient), and M. kansasii (1 patient). One-liter water samples and swabs were collected from all taps, and swimming pools or rainwater tanks. Shower aerosols were sampled using Andersen six-stage cascade impactors. For a subgroup of patients, real-time PCR was performed and high-resolution melt profiles were compared to those of ATCC control strains. Pathogenic mycobacteria were isolated from 19 homes. Species identified in the home matched that found in the patient in seven (35%) cases: M. abscessus (3 cases), M. avium (1 case), M. gordonae (1 case), M. lentiflavum (1 case), and M. kansasii (1 case). In an additional patient with M. abscessus infection, this species was isolated from potable water supplying her home. NTM grown from aerosols included M. abscessus (3 homes), M. gordonae (2 homes), M. kansasii (1 home), M. fortuitum complex (4 homes), M. mucogenicum (1 home), and M. wolinskyi (1 home). NTM causing human disease can be isolated from household water and aerosols. The evidence appears strongest for M. avium, M. kansasii, M. lentiflavum, and M. abscessus. Despite a predominance of disease due to M. intracellulare, we found no evidence for acquisition of infection from household water for this species.
Origin of hematopoietic progenitor cells after bone marrow transplantation: Analysis by means of a Y‐chromosome specific DNA probe

To characterize hematopoietic cells in mixed hematopoietic chimeras after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), the authors examined the origin of progenies derived from hematopoietic progenitor cells of male recipients who received a marrow graft from female donors, by use of a Y‐chromosome specific DNA (YDNA) probe in combination with an in vitro colony assay. Host‐type hematopoietic cells were detected in cultured bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) from 4 out of 6 patients studied, who were all in complete remission. In 2 patients of the mixed chimeras, the relative amount of host‐derived YDNA from BMMC increased after methyl cellulose cultures for 14 days. Analysis of individual colonies derived from granulocyte‐macrophage colony forming units (CFU‐GM) from these mixed chimeras, including 2 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), revealed approximately 30% of total colonies were host‐type, although no evidence for the existence of residual Ph1 positive cells was obtained by using polymerase chain reaction for detecting bcr‐abl chimeric messenger RNA in the 2 CML patients. These findings provide direct evidence that considerable numbers of host‐derived normal hematopoietic progenitors survive and persist for a long term in a certain population of marrow recipients, after BMT following supralethal radiochemotherapy.
How virtual community participation influences consumer loyalty intentions in online shopping contexts: an investigation of mediating factors

Extant studies generally recognise that virtual community building is an effective marketing programme for forging deep and enduring affective bonds with consumers. This study extends previous research by proposing and testing a model that investigates key mediating processes (via trust, satisfaction and identification) that underlie the relationship between virtual community participation and consumer loyalty intentions. The authors test the hypotheses using data obtained from three large online retailing stores. Virtual community participation significantly enhances loyalty intentions, through both social mechanisms (via community identification) and psychological mechanisms (via trust and satisfaction). Moreover, the findings provide insights into the complex relationship between the two mechanisms in online shopping settings. Community identification is a pivotal factor for enhancing customer loyalty intentions. The results advance understanding of the process by which virtual community building facilitates the development of business-to-consumer relationships in the computer-mediated environment. The authors discuss the managerial implications of the findings, as well as avenues for further research.
Inhibiting Periapical Lesions through AAV-RNAi Silencing of Cathepsin K

Dental caries, one of the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide, affects approximately 80% of children and the majority of adults. Dental caries may result in endodontic disease, leading to dental pulp necrosis, periapical inflammation and bone resorption, severe pain, and tooth loss. Periapical inflammation may also increase inflammation in other parts of the body. Although many studies have attempted to develop therapies for this disease, there is still an urgent need for effective treatments. In this study, we applied a novel gene therapeutic approach using recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated RNAi knockdown of Cathepsin K (Ctsk) gene expression, to target osteoclasts and periapical bone resorption in a mouse model. We found that AAV-sh-Cathepsin K (AAV-sh-Ctsk) impaired osteoclast function in vivo and furthermore reduced bacterial infection-stimulated bone resorption by 88%. Reduced periapical lesion size was accompanied by decreases in mononuclear leukocyte infiltration and inflammatory cytokine expression. Our study shows that AAV-RNAi silencing of Cathepsin K in periapical tissues can significantly reduce endodontic disease development, bone destruction, and inflammation in the periapical lesion. This is the first demonstration that AAV-mediated RNAi knockdown gene therapy may significantly reduce the severity of endodontic disease.
Spacelike graphs with prescribed mean curvature on exterior domains in the Minkowski spacetime

We consider a Dirichlet problem for the mean curvature operator in the Minkowski spacetime, obtaining a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a spacelike solution, with prescribed mean curvature, which is the graph of a function defined on a domain equal to the complement in $\mathbb R^n$ of the union of a finite number of bounded Lipschitz domains. The mean curvature $H=H(x,t)$ is assumed to have absolute value controlled from above by a locally bounded, $L^p$-function, $p\in [1,2n/(n+2)]$, $n\geq 3$.
Share Repurchase Programs and Liquidity: An Examination of Dutch Auction Repurchases

This paper investigates the temporary and permanent effects of Dutch auction share repurchase programs on the liquidity of a firm's equity. The existing evidence on the effects of share repurchase programs is mixed. However, previous studies have focused solely on open market repurchase programs which do not allow for precise estimates of share buy-back intensity to measure liquidity effects. Since firms are under no obligation to disclose when (or even if) they are repurchasing shares, typically little is known about the precise timing and execution of open market repurchases. Furthermore, open market share repurchase programs are often renewed and can span several years. The indefinite time horizon clouds the ability to measure the permanent impact of share repurchase programs on firm liquidity. In this paper we examine Dutch auction format share repurchase programs to circumvent these problems. The advantage of studying the Dutch auction format is twofold. First, the timing, quantity, and price of share repurchases are known since they are announced in company press releases. Second, Dutch auctions typically occur over a relatively short period (typically 20 days). Therefore, our analysis of Dutch auctions share repurchase programs allows us to investigate the short-term effects that occur over the tender period. In addition, we can examine possible lasting effects on liquidity after the repurchase program is over. We find that the improvement in liquidity is transitory and limited to the tender period. Improvements in liquidity over longer intervals appear to be the result of an overall price improvement and reduction in volatility and not a structural change in market dynamics.