Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of Four MODIS Collection 6 Aerosol Products in a Humid Subtropical Region

Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol optical depth (AOD) products have been widely used to characterize the temporal variations and spatial distributions of atmospheric aerosols. In the present study, we evaluate the performance of four Terra and Aqua MODIS Collection 6 (C6) quality assured AOD products in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, a humid subtropical region. The 10 km AOD products retrieved by the Dark Target (DT) and Deep Blue (DB) algorithms, the merged DT/DB (DTDB) 10 km product, and the DT 3 km AOD product were obtained for 2006–2015. These products were compared with Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations, and with each other. The Terra- and Aqua-derived AODs are quantitatively similar. However, there are significant differences among the four AOD products. The DT 10 km product correlates more closely with AERONET AOD observations than does the DB 10 km product. The latter tends to underestimate the AOD, whereas the former typically overestimates it for highly urbanized areas. The DTDB 10 km product is mainly derived from the DT 10 km product; it does not provide a gap-filled data set, because valid DB 10 km retrievals are not included in the merged product even when DT 10 km retrievals are unavailable. Therefore, the DT/DB merging protocol should be improved. The DT 3 km AOD product closely mimics the DT 10 km product; however, it contains fewer data than the DT 10 km product over water-contaminated areas. In addition, although the quality assured AOD products are recommended for use in quantitative applications by the MODIS aerosol science team, the sampling frequency of these products is generally lower than 25%. Thus, the sampling issues of these products should be considered in humid subtropical areas.
Transnational Equity Analysis

Acknowledgements. 1 Introduction. 1.1 Aims and scope of the book. 1.2 Outline of the book. 1.3 References. 2 The Internationalisation of Equity Markets and Growth in Institutional Investment. 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 The growth in trade of foreign securities. 2.3 Determinants of the internationalization of equity markets. 2.4 The growth in institutional investment. 2.5 Summary. 2.6 References. 3 International Accounting Diversity and the Harmonisation of International Accounting. 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Causes of international accounting differences. 3.3 The effects of international accounting diversity on reported figures. 3.4 The effects of international accounting differences on stock markets. 3.5 The international harmonisation of accounting. 3.6 Summary. 3.7 References. 4 Equity Analysis Techniques: Theory and Evidence. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 The theory of equity valuation. 4.3 Equity analysis techniques used by analysts and fund managers. 4.4 The Efficient Markets Hypothesis and equity analysis techniques. 4.5 Existing empirical evidence on transnational equity analysis. 4.6 Summary. 4.7 References. 5 Information Sources Used in Equity Analysis. 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 The usefulness of annual reports and accounting information. 5.3 Direct company contact as an information source. 5.4 International evidence on information sources used in domestic equity analysis. 5.5 Existing empirical evidence on transnational information sources. 5.6 Summary. 5.7 References. 6 Methodology. 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Data collection. 6.3 Analysis of the data. 6.4 Summary. 6.5 References. 7 Transnational Equity Appraisal Techniques. 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 Background of respondents. 7.3 Equity analysis techniques used. 7.4 Comparison of domestic and transnational analysis techniques. 7.5 Differences between transnational analysts and fund managers. 7.6 Transnational analysis techniques: a focus on fundamental analysis. 7.7 Discussion and conclusions. 7.8 References. 8 Transnational Information Sources. 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 Domestic and transnational information sources. 8.3 Differences between transnational analysts and fund managers. 8.4 The role of accounting information in transnational analysis. 8.5 Company contacts: uses and limitations. 8.6 The role of local analysts. 8.7 Discussion and conclusions. 8.8 References. 9 Views of International Accounting Diversity and Harmonisation. 9.1 Introduction. 9.2 The effects of international accounting differences on investment decisions. 9.3 Views on the international harmonization of accounting. 9.4 Discussion and conclusions. 9.5 References. 10 Overview and Conclusions. 10.1 Motivation for the book. 10.2 Summary of findings and implications. 10.3 Concluding remarks. 10.4 References. Appendix. Details of interview respondents. Index.
The Effects of Board Independence in Controlled Firms: Evidence from Turkey

A large number of empirical studies in the U.S. report that there is no cross-sectional relationship between board composition and firm performance. On the other hand, a relatively small but growing literature on boards in emerging market corporations shows that a higher level of board independence is associated with both firm actions which are consistent with the interests of shareholders and with superior firm performance. This important difference between developed and emerging markets suggests that boards matter more in weak governance systems. We analyze the relationship between board structure and firm performance for a sample of listed companies in Turkey - a country that features relatively weak protection for investors, firms associated with family controlled business groups and pyramidal structures. We do so by using a hand-collected data set on directors’ personal characteristics and their roles. We document that Turkish boards are populated besides members of the controlling shareholder and their affiliated parties, by employees of the apex firm in the business group, by ex-politicians, ex-bureaucrats and ex-military officers. Classifying the board members as independent and affiliated directors, we report three main results: (i) Board independence is unrelated to equity issues, (ii) Independent directors are unlikely to curb the extent of related party transactions, and (iii) Depending on the statistical methods we use, the presence of independent board members and firm performance are negatively related or uncorrelated. These results are robust under different specifications and estimation methods which try to deal with the endogeneity problems inherent in board research. Especially the findings (ii) and (iii) challenge the usefulness of independent directors as an internal governance device in Turkish companies.
Incidence, puberty, and fertility in 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism: Report of a patient and a literature review

Turner syndrome (TS), characterized by short stature and premature ovarian failure, is caused by chromosomal aberrations with total or partial loss of one of the two X chromosomes. Spontaneous puberty, menarche, and pregnancy occur in some patients depending on the abnormality of the X. Moreover, spontaneous pregnancy is uncommon (<0.5%) for TS with 45,X monosomy. Among TS patients, 45,X/47,XXX karyotype is extremely rare. Previous reports have demonstrated that TS with 45,X/47,XXX is less severe than common TS due to higher occurrence of puberty (83%), menarche (57–67%), and fertility (14%) and lower occurrence of congenital anomalies (<5%). However, TS mosaicism may not reduce the frequency of short stature. We diagnosed a 10‐year‐girl with TS with 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism who presented with short stature. She showed mild TS phenotype including short stature but had spontaneous puberty. Based on our case and previous reports, we expect that girls with 45,X/47,XXX mosaicism may progress through puberty normally, without estrogen therapy. Therefore, it is necessary to consider specific guidelines for clinical decisions surrounding pubertal development and fertility in TS with 45,X/47,XXX karyotype.
MDM2 Molecular Imaging for the Prediction of Chemotherapeutic Sensitivity in Human Breast Cancer Xenograft

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible use of mouse double-minute 2 (MDM2) molecular imaging to predict chemotherapeutic sensitivity in breast cancer xenografts (BCXs). MCF-7 cells were transfected with MDM2 antisense oligonucleotides (ASONs), and MDM2 expression levels were determined by Western blotting. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in MCF-7 cells transfected with ASONs and treated with paclitaxel. BCXs were established in nude mice by injection of ASONs, and tumor volumes were measured after paclitaxel treatment. MDM2 ASONs were labeled with 99mTc to generate an MDM2 molecular probe, and MDM2 expression levels were evaluated by imaging and Western blotting. MDM2 ASONs downregulated MDM2 expression in a dose-dependent manner and increased the rate of paclitaxel-induced cell growth inhibition. Imaging of tumors revealed significant differences in the tumor to skeletal muscle (T/M) ratio between groups. Tumor MDM2 protein expression was correlated with T/M ratios at 4 hours (R = .880) and 10 hours (R = .886). The effect of paclitaxel varied among nude mice bearing BCXs with different concentrations of ASONs, as shown by differences in tumor growth. MDM2 molecular imaging could be a promising method for predicting the sensitivity of BCXs to chemotherapy.
A radioactive tracer study of food uptake by Pinnotheres maculatus in molluscan hosts.

Adult, female specimens of Pinnotheres maculatus accumulated radioactivity when in bay and calico scallops fed Nitzchia closterium labeled with 14C and in blue mussels fed labeled Thalassiosira pseudonana. Crabs accumulated radioactivity when kept in fingerbowls with labeled N. closterium.
Prevention of Mycosis in Granulocytopenic Patients with Prophylactic Ketoconazole Treatment/Prophylaktische Mykose‐Behandlung mit Ketoconazol bei granulozytopenischen Patienten

Summary: 38 patients with acute leukemia were randomly allocated to receive ketoconazole 400 mg daily p. o. or placebo in a double‐blind fashion. Ketoconazole did neither prevent the patients from being colonized with Candida species, nor eradicate the fungi in patients already colonized, but only 2 ketoconazole patients developed clinical mycosis against 9 placebo patients (p = 0.03). The cumulative risk of developing clinical mycosis was significantly different in the two treatment groups (p = 0.003 at day 14). Prophylactic treatment with ketoconazole prevents or postpones the develepment of clinical mycosis in highly predisposed patients and has very few side effects.
COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY PRACTICES AMONG NURSES: EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONAL SAFETY CLIMATE, ROLE DEFINITIONS, AND SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Dr. Michael Zickar, Advisor Accidental exposure to bloodborne infections is a serious occupational hazard affecting thousands of health care workers. According to surveillance evidence, the level of compliance with safety regulations among health care workers is often low. This cross-sectional, correlational research investigated psychological processes involved in safety compliance. Occupational safety and industrial/organizational psychology theories were integrated to identify organizational and psychological factors that are associated with safety compliance among hospital nurses. The work-systems model of occupational safety proposed by DeJoy, Gershon, and Murphy (1998) was expanded for this study by incorporating the construct of role definition (Hofmann, Morgeson, & Gerras, 2003; Morrison, 1994). 170 nursing professionals and their 103 coworkers employed at two Mid-Western medical centers completed self-administered surveys. The final sample of 95 matched nurse-coworker dyads was analyzed. Safety compliance ratings provided by a coworker were positively correlated with self-reported compliance-specific role definitions, overall job satisfaction, conscientiousness, positive mood at work, and individuallyperceived safety climate within one’s hospital unit. Safety compliance was inversely correlated with negative mood at work. Men were less likely to comply with safety, compared to women. Compliance-specific role definitions moderated the conscientiousness-compliance relationship such that, when role definitions were broad, the conscientiousness-compliance relationship was weak. Role definitions mediated the relationship between negative mood and compliance. Practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
The functions of non‐reproductive mounts among male Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Same‐sex, non‐reproductive mounts have been observed in a number of primate species and in various social contexts. However, the function of non‐reproductive mounts is still largely unknown. We aimed to test whether non‐reproductive mounts function to assert dominance and as appeasement behavior in male Barbary macaques. We analyzed post‐mount behavior in 54 macaques belonging to two captive groups at Trentham Monkey Forest in Staffordshire, using 10 min post‐mount/matched‐control focal sessions collected either on the mounter or the mountee. In support of the dominance assertion hypothesis, the higher‐ranking male within a mounting pair was more likely to be the mounter than the mountee, and to mock bite the lower‐ranking male. In support of the appeasement hypothesis, the former mounting partners were more likely to exchange grooming and to have a lower frequency of self‐scratching (a measure of social tension) after a non‐reproductive mount than in control sessions. Our study indicates that non‐reproductive mounts have different and not mutually exclusive functions and can modulate the quality of social interactions among group members. We discuss the possible factors that can affect the occurrence of non‐reproductive mounts within and between species. Am. J. Primatol. 77:1149–1157, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sulforaphane protects human chondrocytes against cell death induced by various stimuli

Chondrocyte cell death can contribute to cartilage degeneration in articular diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Sulforaphane (SFN), a natural compound derived from cruciferous aliment, is well known as an anti‐carcinogen, but according to recent evidence it also shows cytoprotective effects on a variety of non‐tumoral cells. Therefore we have tested the ability of SFN to protect chondrocytes from cell death in vitro. Treatment of growing monolayer cultures of human C‐28/I2 chondrocytes with SFN in the low micro‐molecular range for a few days, reduced cell growth without affecting cell survival or inducing apoptosis. However it decreased cell death in C‐28/I2 chondrocytes exposed to stimuli previously reported to promptly trigger apoptosis, that is, the cytokine tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF) plus cycloheximide (CHX) or the polyamine analogue N1,N11‐diethylnorspermine (DENSPM) plus CHX. In particular pre‐treatment with SFN reduced effector and initiator caspase activities and the associated activation of JNK kinases. SFN exerted a cytoprotective action even versus H2O2, which differently from the previous stimuli induced cell death without producing an evident caspase activation. SFN pre‐treatment also prevented caspase activation in three‐dimensional micromass cultures of OA chondrocytes stimulated with growth‐related oncogene α (GROα), a pro‐apoptotic chemokine. The suppression of caspase activation in micromasses appeared to be related to the inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. In conclusion, the present work shows that low micro‐molecular SFN concentrations exert pro‐survival and anti‐apoptotic actions and influence signaling pathways in a variety of experimental conditions employing chondrocyte cell lines and OA chondrocytes treated with a range of death stimuli. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 1771–1779, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is Informal Planning the Key to the Success of the Inc. 500

A review of the research on planning indicated that formal planning might be unnecessary for small, fast-growing companies. Many small, flourishing companies are operating with no written business plan. This study surveyed INC. 500 CEOs to investigate their view on the importance of informal and formal planning practices. The CEOs were asked about the time spent on formal and informal planning for the fundamental business functions (marketing, finance, human resource, operations management, supply chain management, information technology, legal issues, social responsibility, and management). The findings indicated that INC. 500 CEOs spend more time on informal planning than formal planning. When involved in informal planning, CEOs spend significantly more time on management, marketing, operations and finance than the other business functions. When involved in formal planning. CEOs spend significantly more time on the same four business functions as informal planning (though the order is slightly different). The study concludes that both informal and formal planning are vital and necessary for small business success. Knowing when and what to do in both areas of planning is essential.
Determinants of Systemic Risk for Companies Listed on Nepal Stock Exchange

This paper aims at advancing empirical evidences on financial factors determining systemic risk in the pre-emerging stock market of Nepal as well as to identify whether preemerging stock market and developed and emerging stock markets exposed to the same financial factors that determine systemic risk. A priori hypothesis between relationship of the company-specific financial factors and systemic risk are set based on theoretical framework and previous studies, and tested on the data from 15 listed companies covering a 5-year period, 2009 to 2013. All regular dividend paying and actively traded companies are selected. Based on cross-sectional approach it is revealed that size and profitability are positively associated with the systemic risk, while the dividend payment is negatively related to the risk. The results thus indicate that financial factors have significant predictive power for the systemic risk of a stock investment in Nepal.
A randomized, multicentre, double‐blind, parallel‐group study to assess the adverse event‐related discontinuation rate with celecoxib and diclofenac in elderly patients with osteoarthritis

Objective: To compare the adverse event (AE)‐related discontinuation rate with celecoxib vs. diclofenac when given to reduce joint pain associated with knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA) in elderly patients. Methods: This was a double‐blind, randomized, multicentre, parallel‐group, 1‐year comparison of celecoxib 200 mg once daily and diclofenac 50 mg twice daily in 925 patients with OA aged ⩾ 60 years. Study visits were at baseline and at 4, 13, 26, 39, and 52 weeks. At each visit, the Patient's and Physician's Global Assessment of Arthritis (PaGAA, PhGAA), the Patient's Assessment of Arthritis Pain – Visual Analogue Scale (PAAP‐VAS), and AEs were assessed. A concomitant health economic analysis was conducted throughout. Results: The rate of study discontinuation due to AEs, laboratory abnormalities, and deaths was 27% for celecoxib and 31% for diclofenac (p = 0.22). The results of the arthritis/pain efficacy assessments were similar for celecoxib and diclofenac. Significantly fewer patients in the celecoxib group than the diclofenac group experienced cardiovascular/renal AEs (70/458 vs. 95/458, p = 0.039) or hepatic AEs (10/458 vs. 39/458, p<0.0001). Medication costs were higher for celecoxib than diclofenac but mean total treatment cost was slightly higher in the diclofenac group. Conclusion: Treatment with celecoxib 200 mg once daily and diclofenac 50 mg twice daily resulted in similar rates of AE‐related study discontinuation in elderly patients with OA. Celecoxib and diclofenac demonstrated comparable efficacy in relieving the signs and symptoms of OA. However, the proportion of patients with cardiorenal and hepatic AEs was significantly lower in the celecoxib group than the diclofenac group.
Effect of perceived brand environment-friendliness on Indian consumer attitude and purchase intention

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of perceived brand environment-friendliness (PBE) on brand trust and perceived brand value and the subsequent effect on consumer’s environment friendly (EF) brand attitude and EF brand purchase intention. The research also proposes a novel construct PBE. Design/methodology/approach – The current research involves a pretest to select a perceived EF brand. Then a survey is conducted among 223 Indian consumers. Structural equation modelling is used to analyse the data and to test the proposed integrated model. Findings – The results show that PBE is positively associated with brand trust and perceived brand value. High trust in the EF brand and high consumer perceived brand value lead to favourable attitude towards the brand. Consumers with positive EF brand attitude have significantly higher intention to purchase the brand. Practical implications – The paper provides interesting insights about Indian consumers’ evaluation of EF brands. These usefu.
Maximum Height to Width Ratio of Freestanding Structures Built using Ultrasonic Consolidation

Ultrasonic consolidation (UC) is a process whereby metal foils can be metallurgically bonded at or near room temperature. The UC process works by inducing high-speed differential motion (~20kHz) between a newly deposited layer and a substrate (which consists of a base plate and any previously deposited layers of material). This differential motion causes plastic deformation at the interface, which breaks up surface oxides and deforms surface asperities, bringing clean metal surfaces into intimate contact, where bonding occurs. If the substrate is not stiff enough to resist deflection during ultrasonic excitation of newly deposited layers, then it deflects along with the newly deposited layer, resulting in no differential motion and lack of bonding. Geometric issues which control substrate stiffness and deflection were investigated at Utah State University by building a number of free-standing rib structures with varying dimensions and orientations. Each structure was built to a height where lack of bonding between the previously deposited layers and the newly deposited layer caused the building process to fail, a height to width ratio (H/W) of approximately 1:1. The parts were then cut, polished, and viewed under a microscope. An ANSYS model was created to investigate analytically the cause of this failure. It appears build failure is due to excessive deflection of the ribs around a 1:1 H/W, resulting in insufficient differential motion and deformation to achieve bonding. Preliminary results show, when the H/W reaches 1:1, the von Mises stress is found to be tensile along portions of the bonding interface, which eliminates the compressive frictional forces necessary for plastic deformation and formation of a metallurgical bond. These tensile stresses are shown to be concentrated at regions near the edges of the newly deposited foil layer.