Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Moderating Effect of Social Environment on the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Entrepreneurial Intentions of Female Students at Nigerian Universities

The objective of this study was to examine the moderating effect of social environment on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intentions of undergraduate female students of Nigerian Universities. Female students were chosen because they are more susceptible to social pressures. One of the hypotheses was to test whether social environment moderates the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on entrepreneurial intentions. A quantitative research method (survey) was used to solicit responses from 120 final year undergraduate female students of three University Business Schools in the North, East and West regions of Nigeria. This method was used because Universities in Nigeria offer similar courses and the respondents, according to previous studies in other contexts, show a higher propensity to firm formation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression. The results indicated that entrepreneurial orientation (self-efficacy and education) had significant positive influence on entrepreneurial intention among female business students in Nigeria. It was also found that social environment (friends’ agreement) moderated the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (education) and entrepreneurial intentions among the students. Again, the study contributed to the scant literature on entrepreneurial intentions among people in developing countries especially Nigeria. Therefore, the government should focus on ways to encourage entrepreneurship awareness among university students in Nigeria to enhance entrepreneurial intentions and self-employment. The study was limited to female students. Future studies could compare the entrepreneurial intentions of male and female students.
SMOKE for Europe - adaptation, modification and evaluation of a comprehensive emission model for Europe

Abstract. The US EPA regional emission model SMOKE was adopted and modified to create temporally and spatially distributed emission for Europe and surrounding countries based on official reports and public domain data only. The aim is to develop a flexible model capable of creating consistent high resolution emission data for long-term runs of Chemical Transport Models (CTMs). This modified version of SMOKE, called SMOKE for EUROPE (SMOKE-EU) was successfully used to create hourly gridded emissions for the timespan 1970–2010. In this paper the SMOKE-EU model and the underlying European datasets are introduced. Emission data created by SMOKE-EU for the year 2000 are evaluated by comparison to data of three different state-of-the-art emission models. SMOKE-EU produced a range of values comparable to the other three datasets. Further, concentrations of criteria pollutants calculated by the CTM CMAQ using the four different emission datasets were compared against EMEP measurements with hourly and daily resolution. Using SMOKE-EU gave the most reliable modelling of O3, NO2 and SO42−. The amount of simulated concentrations within a factor of 2 (F2) of the observations for these species are: O3 (F2 = 0.79, N = 329 197), NO2 (F2 = 0.55, N = 11 465) and SO42− (F2 = 0.62, N = 17 536). The lowest values were found for NH4+ (F2 = 0.34, N = 7400) and NO3− (F2 = 0.25, N = 6184). NH4+ concentrations were generally overestimated, leading to a fractional bias (FB) averaged over 22 measurement stations of (FB = 0.83 ± 0.41) while better agreements with observations were found for SO42− (FB = 0.06 ± 0.38, 51 stations) and NO3− (FB = 0.13 ± 0.75, 18 stations). CMAQ simulations using the three other emission datasets were similar to those modelled using SMOKE-EU emissions. Highest differences where found for NH4+ while O3 concentrations were almost identical.
Limited-memory Common-directions Method for Distributed Ll-regularized Linear Classification

For distributed linear classification, L1 regularization is useful because of a smaller model size. However, with the non-differentiability, it is more difficult to develop efficient optimization algorithms. In the past decade, OWLQN has emerged as the major method for distributed training of L1 problems. In this work, we point out issues in OWLQN’s search directions. Then we extend the recently developed limited-memory commondirections method for L2-regularized problems to L1 scenarios. Through a unified interpretation of batch methods for L1 problems, we explain why OWLQN has been a popular method and why our method is superior in distributed environments. Experiments confirm that the proposed method is faster than OWLQN in most situations.
Pre‐operative parameters do not reliably identify post‐operative respiratory risk in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy

Adenotonsillectomy is performed in children with recurrent tonsillitis or obstructive sleep apnoea. Children at risk of post‐operative respiratory complications are recommended to be monitored in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The aim of the study is to review the risk factors for post‐operative complications and admissions to PICU.
Reducing Adverse Effects of Antenatal Magnesium Therapy for Neuroprotection: Tailoring Treatment to the Intended Recipient

Magnesium sulfate is widely administered to pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery for neuroprotection. However, there are no uniform guidelines in the dosing protocol for magnesium use. While antenatal magnesium therapy reduces the risk of cerebral palsy and gross motor dysfunction, adverse neonatal outcomes related to magnesium have been reported by some, and are the subject of considerable debate. There may be a therapeutic window within which the neuroprotective effects of magnesium sulfate are observed, with adverse neonatal outcomes at levels outside this window. Magnesium sulfate is one of few drugs currently administered in a “one dose fits all” regimen, without taking into account maternal or fetal parameters. While the mother is monitored and her dose is adjusted as needed, the fetus is not monitored (neither in utero nor in the NICU). Inability to monitor the fetal magnesium concentration while in utero may be countered by identifying variables that influence fetal serum magnesium levels and attempting to adjust the maternal dose accordingly. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine the optimal dose of maternal magnesium to provide fetal neuroprotection or maternal seizure prophylaxis with minimal neonatal adverse outcomes. It may be possible that monitoring neonatal serum magnesium concentrations and treating neonates with high levels may impact their outcomes and this is an option that needs to be explored.
Impact of a Behavioral Sleep Intervention on New School Entrants’ Social Emotional Functioning and Sleep: A Translational Randomized Trial

ABSTRACT Objective/Background: Determine the effects and costs of a brief behavioral sleep intervention, previously shown to improve child social-emotional functioning, sleep, and parent mental health, in a translational trial. Participants: Three hundred thirty-four school entrant children from 47 primary schools in Melbourne, Australia, with parent-reported moderate to severe behavioral sleep problems. Methods: intervention group received sleep hygiene practices and standardized behavioral strategies delivered by trained school nurses in 2013 and 2014. Control group children could receive usual community care. Results: Outcome measures: child social-emotional functioning (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 psychosocial health summary score—primary outcome), sleep problems (parent-reported severity, Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire), behavior, academic function, working memory, child and parent quality of life, and parent mental health. At six months post randomization, 145 (of 168) intervention and 155 (of 166) control families completed the primary outcome for which there was no difference. Intervention compared with control children had fewer sleep problems (35.2% vs. 52.7% respectively, OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3 to 0.8, p = 0.002) and better sleep patterns (e.g., longer sleep duration). Their parents reported fewer symptoms of depression. All differences attenuated by 12 months. There was no difference in other outcomes at either time point. Intervention costs: $AUS 182/child. Conclusions: A brief behavioral sleep intervention, delivered by school nurses to children with behavioral sleep problems, does not improve social emotional functioning. Benefits to child sleep and parent mental health are evident at 6 but not 12 months. Approaches that increase intervention dosage may improve outcomes.
Resistance Switching Capable Polymer Nanocomposites Employing Networks of One-Dimensional Nanocarbon Wrapped by TiO2 Conformal Layer

In order to impart resistance switching capability to polymer-based composite, one-dimensional conductive nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube (CNT) and carbon nanofiber (CNF) were wrapped with TiO2 conformal layer for passivation, and embedded in polymer matrix to form a networklike distribution within it. The CNT-TiO2 and CNF-TiO2-embedded composites, respectively, exhibited the reproducible resistance switching behavior of the high on/off ratio, along with the good switching stability under repetitive switching measurements. Furthermore, it is notable that the presence of defect site or incomplete formation of the TiO2 passivation layer on the conductive component would significantly alter the switching performance. The advantages of our approach include the simple and mass-production capable fabrication procedure along with the sustainable switching performance suitable to promising nonvolatile memory device applications.
CD28 Costimulation of T Helper 1 Cells Enhances Cytokine Release In Vivo

Compared to naive T cells, differentiated T cells are thought to be less dependent on CD28 costimulation for full activation. To revisit the role of CD28 costimulation in mouse T cell recall responses, we adoptively transferred in vitro generated OT-II T helper (Th) 1 cells into C57BL/6 mice (Thy1.2+) and then either blocked CD28–ligand interactions with Fab fragments of the anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody (mAb) E18 or deleted CD28 expression using inducible CD28 knock-out OT-II mice as T cell donors. After injection of ovalbumin protein in adjuvant into the recipient mice we observed that systemic interferon (IFN)γ release strongly depended on CD28 costimulation of the Th1 cells, while secondary clonal expansion was not reduced in the absence of CD28 costimulation. For human memory CD4+ T cell responses we also noted that cytokine release was reduced upon inhibition of CD28 costimulation. Together, our data highlight the so far underestimated role of CD28 costimulation for the reactivation of fully differentiated CD4+ T cells.
Why Don't Remittances Appear to Affect Growth? - Working Paper 366

While measured remittances by migrant workers have soared in recent years, macroeconomic studies have difficulty detecting their effect on economic growth. We review existing explanations for this puzzle and propose three new ones. First, we offer evidence that a large majority of the recent rise in measured remittances may be illusory—arising from changes in measurement, not changes in real financial flows. Second, we show that even if these increases were correctly measured, cross-country regressions would have too little power to detect their effects on growth. Third, we point out that the greatest driver of rising remittances is rising migration, which has an opportunity cost to economic product at the origin. Net of that cost, there is little reason to expect large growth effects of remittances in the origin economy. Migration and remittances clearly have first-order effects on poverty at the origin, on the welfare of migrants and their families, and on global GDP; but detecting their effects on growth of the origin economy is likely to remain elusive.
Reducing child mortality in the last mile: a randomized social entrepreneurship intervention in Uganda

The delivery of basic health products and services remains abysmal in many parts of the world where child mortality is high. This paper shows the results from a largescale randomized evaluation of a novel “social entrepreneurship” approach to health care delivery. In randomly selected villages a sales agent was locally recruited and incentivized to conduct home visits, educate households on essential health behaviors, provide medical advice and referrals, and sell preventive and curative health products. Results after three years show substantial health impact: under-5 child mortality was reduced by 27% at an estimated cost of $71 per life-year saved.
Assessment and learning without grades? Motivations and concerns with implementing gradeless learning in higher education

The relationship between assessment and learning in higher education often comes down to a single thing: a grade. Despite widespread criticism of grades as inexact tools, whose overemphasis undermines student learning and negatively affects student well-being, they continue to be the norm in the assessment of student learning. This paper analyses an alternate form of assessment: so-called ‘gradeless learning’. This study theoretically and geographically contextualises the recent implementation of a gradeless learning policy at a large public university in Asia, and presents findings from a student opinion survey about the policy. The paper shows that respondents overwhelmingly understand and often agree with the central claims of gradeless learning, including its potential to ease students into college life, allow them to make more daring choices in their studies and even develop as lifelong learners. However, the aim of relieving stress among one group of students has increased stress for others. The study explains the circumstances that create this divergence in student stress levels, which are both locally specific and common to all gradeless systems. The paper concludes by discussing the effectiveness of the gradeless system in achieving its aims and suggesting future research avenues.
THE MASS OF THE MILKY WAY AND M31 USING THE METHOD OF LEAST ACTION

We constrain the most likely range of masses for the Milky Way (MW) and M31 using an application of the numerical action method (NAM) that optimizes the fit to observed parameters over a large ensemble of NAM-generated solutions. Our 95% confidence level mass ranges, 1.5–4.5 × 1012 M☉ for MW and 1.5–5.5 × 1012 M☉ for M31, are consistent with the upper range of estimates from other methods and suggests that a larger proportion of the total mass becomes detectable when the peculiar motions of many nearby satellites are taken into account in the dynamical analysis. We test the method against simulated Local Group catalogs extracted from the Millennium Run to confirm that mass predictions are consistent with actual galaxy halo masses.
In vitro analysis of putative cancer stem cell populations and chemosensitivity in the SW480 and SW620 colon cancer metastasis model

The cancer stem cell (CSC) theory implicates a small subpopulation of cells with stem-like properties, which is responsible for tumour initiation, development and metastasis. The unique biological and functional characteristics of CSCs, widely associated with treatment resistance, indicate an association between metastasis and stemness. It was hypothesised that metastatic cell lines may be enriched in CSCs and that this would correlate with a more resistant tumour. In the present study, the SW480 and SW620 paired cell lines derived from a colon adenocarcinoma and its lymph node metastasis, respectively were compared as an in vitro model of cancer progression. Their chemosensitivity and CSC properties were investigated. A range of in vitro assays were performed, including the side population assay, ALDEFLUOR assay, tumoursphere assay and assessment of CSC-associated surface phenotypes. It was determined that the SW480 and SW620 cells exhibited similar growth rates, although the SW480 cells were more migratory in wound healing assays on collagen and fibronectin matrices. SW480 and SW620 cells displayed similar CSC profiles, however, SW480 cells demosntrated significantly greater tumoursphere forming efficiency over SW620 cells. Tumourspheres derived from SW480 and SW620 cells also displayed differential sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, geldanamycin and novobiocin that was not apparent when cells were grown under adherent conditions. Taken together, these results suggest that although the two cell lines have similar levels of putative CSC populations, there are differences in their biology that cannot be explained by these CSC levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to conduct a detailed analysis of the CSC populations using multiple in vitro assays in a paired cell line model. These results have clinical relevance for the understanding of the differences between primary tumours and their metastatic counterparts.
Are the Twin or Triple Deficits Hypotheses Applicable to Post-Communist Countries?

This study examines the validity of the twin or triple deficits hypotheses using bootstrap panel Granger causality analysis and an annual panel dataset of six post-communist countries (Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Hungary) during the period from 1994 to 2015. The results corroborate neither the validity of the twin deficits hypothesis nor its extended version, the triple deficits hypothesis, for any of the sample countries. In other words, we find no Granger causal relationship between budget deficits and external (trade or current account) deficits or among budget deficits, private savings-investment deficits, and external deficits in the countries examined. On the basis of these results, we reject the Keynesian view of the twin or triple deficits hypotheses. Rather, we confirm the Ricardian view.
Dispensing Pollen via Catapult: Explosive Pollen Release in Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

The astonishing amount of floral diversity has inspired countless assumptions about the function of diverse forms and their adaptive significance, yet many of these hypothesized functions are untested. We investigated an often-repeated adaptive hypothesis about how an extreme floral form functions. In this study, we conducted four investigations to understand the adaptive function of explosive pollination in Kalmia latifolia, the mountain laurel. We first performed a kinematic analysis of anther movement. Second, we constructed a heat map of pollen trajectories in three-dimensional space. Third, we conducted field observations of pollinators and their behaviors while visiting K. latifolia. Finally, we conducted a pollination experiment to investigate the importance of pollinators for fertilization success. Our results suggest that insect visitation dramatically improves fertilization success and that bees are the primary pollinators that trigger explosive pollen release.
Antenna geometry optimization for 2D direction-of-arrival estimation for radar imaging

This paper focuses on the optimization of the 2D geometry of sensor arrays for 2D direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation. Such arrays can be used for radar imaging purposes. Due to the optimization, the number of array channels can be kept quite small, which reduces hardware costs, while highly accurate DOA estimation accuracy can be achieved. Therefore, we derive a very simple expression of the 2D Cramér-Rao bound (CRB). By minimizing the geometry dependent part of the CRB, we can reduce the fine error variance of DOA estimation. In addition, we define a modified beampattern for the single source case, which is valid for all physically possible DOA's. By varying its side lobe level, the probability of DOA outliers can be controlled. Furthermore, external conditions such as the range of possible DOA's and the DOA region of interest are also included in the optimization process to adjust the array to external requirements. By this means, optimum (single source) 2D DOA estimation performance can be achieved for a specific problem. As optimization algorithm, we use an evolution strategy. To show the improvement in DOA estimation accuracy of the optimized arrays, simulation results are presented and compared to standard 1D and 2D array geometries. For empirical validation, we have developed a 77 GHz prototype radar sensor with 16 RX channels. The optimized 2D array geometry is realized with microstrip patches. To estimate the distance and the relative velocity of targets, we apply frequency modulated continuous wave signal processing. In order to show the functionality of this radar imaging sensor, we present some measurement results.
Text As Data

An ever-increasing share of human interaction, communication, and culture is recorded as digital text. We provide an introduction to the use of text as an input to economic research. We discuss the features that make text different from other forms of data, offer a practical overview of relevant statistical methods, and survey a variety of applications. (JEL C38, C55, L82, Z13)
GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk in Polish nonsmokers

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes are responsible for cellular detoxification of many carcinogens and are important anticancer elements. This study assessed potential relationships between GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in Polish nonsmokers. We also analyzed the influence of GST gene polymorphisms on CRC clinical and histopathological features. Our study included 197 CRC patients and 104 healthy controls. GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms were evaluated using qPCR. Polymorphism frequencies observed in our control group corresponded to those in other European populations. The GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotypes were observed with similar frequencies in both CRC patients and controls (GSTM1 null: 46.7% vs. 45.2%; GSTT1 null: 15.7% vs. 20.2%). GSTP1 Ile/Ile, Ile/Val, and Val/Val genotype frequencies were respectively 42.1%, 48.2%, and 9.6% in patients and 48.1%, 42.3%, and 9.6% in controls. GSTT1 polymorphism correlated with higher tumor grade in CRC patients, and the GSTM1 null/null genotype was associated with more frequent metastasis to lymph nodes (pN classification). Our results suggest that GST gene polymorphisms may influence CRC tumor grade and stage.
CD40 ligation and IL‐4 use different mechanisms of transcriptional activation of the human lymphotoxin α promoter in B cells

We have previously shown that both CD40 ligation and IL‐4 induce lymphotoxin α (LTα) expression in B cells. We generated a series of truncations of the LTα upstream region (− 915 to +7 bp) and examined their ability to drive expression of a luciferase (LUC) reporter gene in B cells. The CD40‐responsive promoter region of LTα was mapped to the region spanning −120 to − 52 bp. This region contains an NF‐κB site (− 99 to − 89 bp) which was shown to form a complex with nucleoproteins from CD40‐stimulated B cells that contained the p50/p65 subunits of NF‐κB. Mutation of the NF‐κB site within the − 356 to +7 bp region of the LTα gene completely abolished its capacity to drive transcription of the LUC gene in response to stimulation with CD40, but not to IL‐4. The IL‐4‐responsive promoter region of LTα was mapped to the region spanning − 265 to −185 bp. This region contains a site for binding to signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins (−197 to −189 bp). This site was shown to form a complex with nucleoproteins from IL‐4‐stimulated B cells that contained STAT6. Mutation of the STAT site within the − 356 to +7 bp region of the LTα gene completely abolished its capacity to drive transcription of the LUC gene in response to IL‐4, but not to anti‐CD40. These results demonstrate that CD40 and IL‐4 use distinct mechanisms, namely activation of NF‐κB and STAT6, respectively, to activate transcription of the LTα gene in B cells.