Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Information Efficiency and the Cocoa Supply Chain in Ghana

The challenges of the cocoa supply chain in Ghana have received enormous attention from researchers over the years. This research particularly focused on how efficiency of information from the standpoint of the cocoa farmer contributes to eliminating or ameliorating some of these challenges and thereby impacting on farmers’ productivity. Certain risks or challenges have therefore been highlighted time and time again. Among these consist predominantly of issues relating to seedling procurement, fertilizer application, pests and diseases control, and credit and loans facilities. The research therefore explored how information efficiency in these areas impacted on farmers’ productivity. Data were collected from three cocoa farming communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana with sample size of 300 and through the use of multiple regression and descriptive statistics tools, established and tested four hypotheses that were produced from the review of literature. The research outcome indicated a strong impact of the lone as well as the combined impacts of the predictor variables; information efficiency levels in seedling procurement, fertilizer application, pests and diseases control and credit and loans facilities on the dependent variable; farmers’ productivity. The research also established the relation between gender and income levels of farmers and the information efficiency levels and the resultant effects on farmers’ productivity. In respect of these findings, recommendations are offered to improve information dissemination among cocoa farmers in the areas in issue in particular, and Ghana as a whole. Background of the study
The effects of some inhalation anaesthetics on the sodium current of the squid giant axon.

The effects of diethyl ether, methoxyflurane, halothane, dichloromethane and chloroform on the ionic currents and electrical capacity of the squid giant axon have been examined. The peak inward current in voltage‐clamped axons was reduced reversibly by each substance. Sodium currents under voltage clamp were recorded in intracellularly perfused axons before, during, and sometimes after exposure to the test substances, and the records were fitted with equations similar to those proposed by Hodgkin & Huxley (1952). Shifts in the dependence of the steady‐state activation and inactivation parameters (m infinity and h infinity) on membrane potential, reductions in the peak heights of the activation and inactivation time constants (tau m and tau h) and decreases in the maximum Na conductance (gNa) have been tabulated. For each of the anaesthetics the steady‐state inactivation curve was shifted in the hyperpolarizing direction though less markedly than for the hydrocarbons. The steady‐state activation curve was in each instance shifted in the depolarizing direction, as for the alcohols and other surface active substances. In common with both the hydrocarbons and the surface active substances the peak time constants were invariably reduced. The membrane capacity at 100 kHz was affected significantly only by methoxyflurane, where decreases of ca. 9% were observed for 3 mM solutions. The extent to which the results can be accounted for in terms of the perturbation of membrane lipid has been discussed.
Threat and Efficacy Uncertainty in News Coverage About Bed Bugs as Unique Predictors of Information Seeking and Avoidance: An Extension of the EPPM

An experiment was conducted from the perspective of the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) investigating readers' responses to print news stories about the issue of bed bugs. Stories containing reference to (a) the threat of bed bugs and (b) efficacy of the solution were manipulated to vary the level of certainty with which the variables were discussed. Results suggest that stories referencing uncertainty regarding presence of the bed-bug threat may be more likely to motivate intention to seek information than stories referencing certainty of the threat. Results also suggest that stories referencing uncertainty regarding feasibility/effectiveness of proposed solutions may be more likely to motivate intention to avoid information than stories referencing certainty of proposed solutions. Given that information avoidance is one of various types of maladaptive responses to fear appeal messages (according to EPPM), results suggest that the presence of uncertainty when discussing solutions to threats in news stories might result in problematic avoidance responses that discourage people from taking protective action.
Clinical Characteristics of Arytenoid Dislocation After Endotracheal Intubation

Objective:The objective of this study was to review the clinical characteristics of the arytenoid dislocations after the endotracheal intubation and to identify the factors affecting voice recovery in the arytenoid dislocation after the endotracheal intubation. Methods:A retrospective chart review was performed at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital from April 2008 to February 2014. Results:A total of 13 patients with the arytenoid dislocation were identified. The patients had undergone the endotracheal intubation for head and neck surgery (n = 7), abdominal surgery (n = 4), and orthopedic surgery (n = 2). The most common symptom was hoarseness (100%), followed by swallowing difficulty (15.4%). All of the patients with the arytenoid dislocations after the endotracheal intubation were treated by the closed reduction. All of the patients regained normal voice and vocal fold movement after the closed reduction in spite of late surgical intervention. There was no statistical significance between the Cormack-Lehane classification, expertise of anesthetist, patient's position, operation time, duration between first operation and the closed reduction, and period of voice improvement. Conclusion:This study indicates that the arytenoid dislocations after the endotracheal intubation may be needed for the aggressive surgical intervention, even if the diagnosis was delayed.
Economic and environmental impacts of a hypothetical global GMO ban

Mahaffey, Harrison H. MS, Purdue University, May 2016. Economic and Environmental Impacts of a Hypothetical GMO Ban. Major Professor: Wallace Tyner. The objective of this research is to assess the global economic and greenhouse gas emission impacts of GMO crops. This is done by modeling two counterfactual scenarios and evaluating them apart and in combination. The first scenario models the impact of a global GMO ban. The second scenario models the impact of increased GMO penetration. The focus is on the price and welfare impacts, and land use change greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with GMO technologies. Much of the prior work on the economic impacts of GMO technology has relied on a combination of partial equilibrium analysis and econometric techniques. However, Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling is a way of analyzing economy-wide impacts that takes into account the linkages in the global economy. Though it has been used in the context of GMO crops, the focus has been on the effects of various trade policies and regulatory regimes. Here the goal is to contribute to the literature on the benefits of GMO technology by estimating the impacts on price, supply and welfare. Food price impacts range from an increase of 0.27% to 2.2%, depending on the region. Total welfare losses associated with loss of
Allocating Costs of Ancillary Services: Contingency Reserves and Regulation

SUMMARY In general, the costs of the real-power ancillary services (spinning rese rve, supplemental reserve,and regulation) amount to several percent of the wholesale cost of electricity. These costs aretypically recovered from transmission customers on the basis of a very simple billingdeterminant—MWh of energy. However, hourly ener gy use has nothing to do with the factors thatrequire contingency reserves and regulation. Because of the high cost of th ese services and the possible ine quities in the current system usedto charge transmission customers for these services , we collected and analyzed data on alternativecost-allocation methods. For contingency reserves, we focused on the number and size of forcedoutages, the sizes of the large generators online each hour, and system load. Fo r a particular controlarea, we obtained hourly data on the output of the large generating units plus the flows across themajor interties, the number and magnitude of forced outages, th e amounts of contingency reservesrequired and acquired, and the prices of spinning and supplemental re serves. We used these data todevelop and test alternative ways to assign contingency-reserve costs to individual generators.Although retail customers ultimately pay all the costs of electricity production, transmission, anddistribution, substantial efficiency gains might be realized by, in the first instance, charginggenerators for reserves. Charging generators for contingency reserves gives generator owners andinvestors incentive to optimize the tradeoff between higher equipment and maintenance expensesversus fewer forced outages (and therefore lower costs for contingency reserves). Therefore, werecommend a method that assigns these costs on the basis of the number and size of forced outagesand the sizes of the large generators online each hour. Figure S-1 shows how different generatorswould fare if charged for reserves on the basis of these two factors. For regulation, wefocused on the standarddeviation of 1-minutefluctuations for individualcustomers. This methodcharges individual loads(and, in principle, individualgenerators) on the basis oftheir contribution to theoverall variability of systemload. Figure S-2 shows thatindividual loads varyenormously in their relativeuses of regulation andenergy. The results of theseanalyses suggest that theelectricity industry should
Corticospinal neurons up‐regulate a range of growth‐associated genes following intracortical, but not spinal, axotomy

The failure of some CNS neurons to up‐regulate growth‐associated genes following axotomy may contribute to their failure to regenerate axons. We have studied gene expression in rat corticospinal neurons following either proximal (intracortical) or distal (spinal) axotomy. Corticospinal neurons were retrogradely labelled with cholera toxin subunit B prior to intracortical lesions or concomitantly with spinal lesions. Alternate sections of forebrain were immunoreacted for cholera toxin subunit B or processed for mRNA in situ hybridization for ATF3, c‐jun, GAP‐43, CAP‐23, SCG10, L1, CHL1 or krox‐24, each of which has been associated with axotomy or axon regeneration in other neurons. Seven days after intracortical axotomy, ATF3, c‐jun, GAP‐43, SCG10, L1 and CHL1, but not CAP‐23 or krox‐24, were up‐regulated by layer V pyramidal neurons, including identified corticospinal neurons. The maximum distance between the lesion and the neuronal cell bodies that up‐regulated genes varied between 300 and 500 µm. However, distal axotomy failed to elicit changes in gene expression in corticospinal neurons. No change in expression of any molecule was seen in the neocortex 1 or 7 days after corticospinal axotomy in the cervical spinal cord. The expression of GAP‐43, CAP‐23, L1, CHL1 and SCG10 was confirmed to be unaltered after this type of injury in identified retrogradely labelled corticospinal neurons. Thus, while corticospinal neuronal cell bodies fail to respond to spinal axotomy, these cells behave like regeneration‐competent neurons, up‐regulating a wide range of growth‐associated molecules if axotomized within the cerebral cortex.
Catecholamine innervation of the basal forebrain IV. Topography of the dopamine projection to the basal forebrain and neostriatum

In this study the location of dopamine (DA) neuron perikarya in the rostral mesencephalon of the rat was determined using the glyoxylic acid fluorescence histochemical technique. Subsequently the topography of the projection of these mesencephalic neurons on the basal forebrain and striatum was analyzed using the anterograde transport‐autoradiographic tracing method and the retrograde transport‐horseradish peroxidase (HRP) technique. The results of these anatomical studies were correlated with the biochemical and histochemical studies presented in previous reports (Moore, 1978; Fallon and Moore, 1978; Fallon et al., 1978) to provide the following conclusions. The topography of the DA neuron projection on the basal forebrain and neostriatum is organized in three planes, dorsal‐ventral, medial‐lateral and anterior‐posterior. DA cells are found almost exclusively in the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Ventral cells of the SN and VTA project to the dorsal structures of the basal forebrain such as the septum, nucleus accumbens and neostriatum. The latter includes some DA cells located ventrally in the pars reticulata of the SN. Dorsal cells project to ventral structures. The medial‐lateral topography is organized such that the medial sectors of the SN‐VTA area project to the medial parts of nuclei in the basal forebrain and neostriatum whereas lateral sectors of the SN‐VTA area project to the lateral parts of nuclei in the basal forebrain and neostriatum. An anterior‐posterior topography also is evident such that anterior parts of the SN‐VTA project anteriorly whereas the posterior SN‐VTA projects more posteriorly in these areas. These observations are consistent with the view that the DA neurons of the SN‐VTA complex form a single nuclear group with a highly topographically organized projection innervating not only deep nuclei of the telencephalon but allocortical structures as well.
Shareholder Wealth Effects of Modern Slavery Regulation

We examine the shareholder wealth effects of the adoption of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA). The MSA’s Transparency in Supply Chains clause introduced new reporting requirements mandating certain firms to provide an annual statement outlining how they identify and mitigate modern slavery in their business and supply chain. An event study of stock price reactions of UK firms covered by the MSA to eight events associated with its adoption provides no evidence of abnormal stock returns. We do, however, uncover significant cross-sectional differences in stock price reactions, with results suggesting that the MSA provides a competitive advantage to firms with a demonstrated track record of addressing slavery risk. We find no effects for preregulatory corporate social responsibility disclosure levels on stock price reactions. Our findings highlight the economic value of maintaining socially responsible sourcing practices and inform the current policy debate on the importance of greater transparency in corporate supply chains. This paper was accepted by Gad Allon, operations management.
IgA class anti‐endomysial and anti‐tissue transglutaminase antibodies in relation to duodenal mucosa changes in coeliac disease

Aim: The aim of the present study was to correlate the serological methods of coeliac disease diagnostic tests (IgA EmA and IgA anti‐tTG) with the histological findings of the duodenal mucosa. Methods and Results: Forty‐seven patients were studied and the data were analysed by the Pearson correlation. Seven patients (15%) with normal mucosa were negative for both assays. Forty untreated patients showed 89% agreement between the two serological methods, with all samples (40/40) positive to EmA and 80% (32/40) positive to anti‐tTG. Eight positive samples to EmA, that were negative to anti‐tTG, presented an increased number of intra‐epithelial lymphocytes in the duodenal biopsy and clinical improvement with a gluten‐free diet. Partial or total villous atrophy was detected with EmA titres equal to or higher than 1/10. The correlation coefficient between the two serological methods was R=0.797. Conclusions: Both serological tests correlated very well with histological findings in negative patients and in those with high levels of antibodies. For patients with clinical evidence of CD but with low levels of antibodies, the combination of serological tests and intestinal biopsy is recommended.
Facial Soft Tissue Depths in Craniofacial Identification (Part II): An Analytical Review of the Published Sub‐Adult Data *

Abstract: Prior research indicates that while statistically significant differences exist between subcategories of the adult soft tissue depth data, magnitudes of difference are small and possess little practical meaning when measurement errors and variations between measurement methods are considered. These findings raise questions as to what variables may or may not hold meaning for the sub‐adult data. Of primary interest is the effect of age, as these differences have the potential to surpass the magnitude of measurement error. Data from the five studies in the literature on sub‐adults which describe values for single integer age groups were pooled and differences across the ages examined. From 1 to 18 years, most soft tissue depth measurements increased by less than 3 mm. These results suggest that dividing the data for children into more than two age groups is unlikely to hold many advantages. Data were therefore split into two groups with the division point corresponding to the mid‐point of the observed trends and main data density (0–11 and 12–18 years; division point = 11.5 years). Published sub‐adult data for seven further studies which reported broader age groups were pooled with the data above to produce the final tallied soft tissue depth tables. These tables hold the advantages of increased sample sizes (pogonion has greater than 1770 individuals for either age group) and increased levels of certainty (as random and opposing systematic errors specific to each independent study should average out when the data are combined).
Assessment of benzodiazepine receptors using iodine-123-labeled iomazenil single-photon emission computed tomography in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. A comparison with PET study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE [123I]Iomazenil (IMZ) is a tracer used for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that has the characteristics of selectively binding to central benzodiazepine receptors (BZR) in the neuron membrane. To determine whether IMZ SPECT provides new information on assessing neuronal damage after ischemic insult to the brain, we compared IMZ SPECT images with the cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), and cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRGlc) studied by position emission tomography in the chronic stage of ischemic stroke. METHODS Five patients (male; mean age, 63.2 +/- 6.0 years) with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and 6 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects were studied. IMZ images obtained 180 minutes after injection were analyzed for BZR binding, and these images were compared with the CBF, CMRO2, and CMRGlc obtained by position emission tomography in the same perfusion areas both visually and quantitatively. RESULTS In the visual analysis of data obtained from 4 patients with subcortical infarction, decreased IMZ accumulation was observed locally in the overlying normal-appearing cortices of the affected hemisphere, where extensive hypoperfusion and hypometabolism were seen on the images of CBF, CMRO2, and CMRGlc. The regional relative IMZ uptake (regional to cerebellar ratio) for all 5 patients was significantly correlated with the corresponding regional CMRO2 values (r = .45, P < .05). However, no significant correlation was found of the IMZ uptake with either the regional CBF or the regional CMRGlc. CONCLUSIONS The use of IMZ SPECT provides new information on the neuronal alteration induced by chronic ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
Effects of Two Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Hydralazine on Coronary Circulation in Hypertensive Rats

The goal of the present study was to compare the effects of cilazapril, a new long-acting angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, to those of captopril and hydralazine on the coronary vascular bed. For this purpose, spontaneously hypertensive rats were treated for 4 months with either placebo, 10 mg/kg/day cilazapril, 100 mg/kg/day captopril, or 10 mg/kg/day hydralazine. At the end of treatment, maximal coronary blood flow was measured during maximal coronary vasodilation with adenosine in isolated perfused hearts. Cilazapril was the most effective drug in increasing maximal coronary blood flow. Captopril was less effective in improving maximal coronary blood flow but was as effective as cilazapril in reducing cardiac hypertrophy. Hydralazine had an extremely small effect on cardiac hypertrophy and maximal coronary flow reserve. The ranking of efficacy was similar for the reduction of vessel wall hypertrophy in the coronary arteries and arterioles. Because of the higher efficacy of cilazapril compared with captopril, a second experiment was performed in which 10 mg/kg/day cilazapril was compared with 100 mg/kg/day captopril and 300 mg/kg/day captopril after 1 month of treatment Captopril increased maximal coronary flow and decreased cardiac hypertrophy to the same level as cilazapril only at the highest dose. We conchide that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, in contrast to hydralazine, can increase markedly maxima] coronary flow in spontaneously hypertensive rats but that this increase does not always parallel the decrease of cardiac hypertrophy and is closely dose dependent
Physical Investigation Into Effective Voltage Balancing by Temporary Clamp Technique for the Series Connection of IGBTs

The series connection of IGBTs is essential for high-voltage applications where fast switching performances need to be maintained. However, unbalanced voltage sharing is a major resistance to the converter application of this structure. There are a number of causes leading to voltage unbalance, such as different signal delays, parasitic parameters, tail currents, and so on. A temporary clamp scheme performed by active voltage control (AVC) has been proven to be effective in solving the unbalanced voltage-sharing issue. However, the basic physics has not been investigated. In this paper, the physical principle of voltage unbalance within IGBTs series operation is discussed. The carrier storage region differences are concluded to be the intrinsic cause of unbalanced voltage sharing. By using an accurate Fourier-series-based IGBT simulation model with appropriate assumptions, a physical explanation for temporary clamp is provided in detail. At the end of the tail current period when the excess carrier concentration becomes close to the intrinsic doping density, the temporary clamp is able to achieve satisfactory equal voltage sharing.
Association between the disease severity and extraneural pressure induced by maximum elbow flexion in patients with cubital tunnel syndrome

Abstract Extraneural pressure in the cubital tunnel is considered to be a major pathophysiological factor for cubital tunnel syndrome. Thus, it has been hypothesised that the higher extraneural pressure in the cubital tunnel should result in a more severe stage of cubital tunnel syndrome. Extraneural pressures in cubital tunnel at elbow maximum flexion of 41 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were evaluated, and compared with their preoperative disease severity using McGowan's classification and Dellon's staging. Mean extraneural pressure was significantly higher in maximum elbow flexion than in maximum elbow extension (p < 0.001). However, no significant relation was seen between the severity of cubital tunnel syndrome and the extraneural pressure induced by maximum elbow flexion (McGowan's classification: p = 0.62; Dellon's staging: p = 0.92). The results suggested that the progression of disease severity of cubital tunnel syndrome may not be explained simply by dynamic pressure in the cubital tunnel, and other causative factors should also be contributing to the progression.