Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards a methodology for describing the relationship between simulation and reality

For research that carries out experiments in simulation, an important question is how the results will translate into the real world. This paper proposes a method for comparing results obtained in simulated versus physical environments, based on interval relationships between metrics gathered in both settings. The approach is motivated by the fact that the relationship between absolute measures often does not tell much. For example, the amount of time taken to complete a task in simulation versus the same task in the physical world could always be shorter in simulation because of speed-up factors embedded in the simulator. Three different metrics are introduced that describe different interval relations, and these are demonstrated using two case studies.
Functional Status, Chronic Stress, and Cortisol Response After Mild-to-Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

It is well known that individuals experience difficulties with depressive symptoms and functional status after traumatic brain injury. However, it is unclear what the relationship is between these 2 phenomena and whether there is a biological explanation for. In this secondary analysis, we examined whether depressive symptoms explained postinjury functional status and whether chronic stress and salivary cortisol influenced this relationship. Participants included 75 persons within 24 months of their injury dates who were evaluated or treated in specialty clinics. All participants and a family member or significant other completed survey data, and 50 of the participants provided cortisol data. Results indicated that chronic stress, measured using Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, completely mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms, measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and psychological functioning, measured using the Patient Competency Rating Scale. Furthermore, those who provided cortisol data displayed hypocortisolemia in their 12-hr profile. Results from this analysis suggest that interventions focused on addressing the chronic stress experience may be important in limiting depressive symptoms and improving psychological functioning. Longitudinal study of this phenomenon is required to understand the progression of chronic stress after traumatic brain injury.
Effect of increasing elemental sulphur and copper intakes on the copper status of grazing sheep

Under some conditions, the use of high-sulphur fertilisers has been thought to be associated with an increase in the incidence of copper deficiency among ruminants grazing the fertilised pastures or fed treated herbage. In this study 35 Romney lambs grazing ryegrass–white clover pasture of low molybdenum content (<0.5 mg Mo/kg DM) received dietary supplements of elemental S and Cu 3 times weekly for 15 weeks. The supplements increased S intake from 3.9 to 7.9 g/day, and increased Cu intake from 9.3 to 24.3 mg Cu/day. Treatment with S significantly increased the total S concentration in strained rumen fluid (SRF), and treatment with Cu increased the Cu concentrations in all fractions of the digesta. In the presence of 4 g S/day, the effect of supplemental Cu on SRF and duodenum soluble Cu concentrations was reduced by about half. Increasing S intake had no effect on plasma and liver Cu concentrations, while increasing Cu intake markedly raised liver Cu concentration. It was concluded that fertilising pastures with elemental S is unlikely to affect the Cu status of grazing sheep, under conditions where pasture Mo concentration is low (<0.5 mg Mo/kg DM).
Traffic load of forest roads as a criterion for their categorization-GIS analysis

The categorisation of forest roads can be based on several different criteria. In this paper, the outlines of the primary forest traffic infrastructure were divided according to the traffic load typical of long-distance transportation of timber. The survey was conducted in the management unit of Veprinacke sume, forest office of Opatija, forest administration of Buzet. This paper defines the methodology of forest roads categorisation using the GIS analysis, which should become a mandatory tool in development of forest roads network in Croatia. Traffic load of forest roads as a criterion for their categorisation can be used for the rationalisation of construction and maintenance expenses of the primary forest traffic infrastructure, while additional researches should define the standards for construction and maintenance of each category of forest roads.
Comparison of Long-Term Biocompability of PVDF and PP Meshes

ABSTRACT Background: Abdominal hernia repair is the most frequently performed operation in surgery. Mesh repair in hernia surgery has become an integral component. Although meshes made of PVDF are already in clinical use, so far no data of long-term biocompability are available. Methods: In this study a PVDF mesh was compared to a polypropylene mesh with regard to its long-term biocompatibility. A total of 28 rats were randomized to two groups. Mesh material was implanted subcutaneously; animals were euthanized seven days and six months postoperatively. The quantity of inflammatory tissue response was characterized by measuring the diameter of the foreign body granuloma. Furthermore quality of cellular immune response (T-lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils), and inflammation (COX-2) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore the collagen type I/III ratio was determined. Results: Macrophages, T-lymphocytes, neutrophiles, and COX-2 declined significantly up to six months postoperatively in comparison to day 7 for both PVDF and PP meshes, and in both groups the collagen ratio increased significantly in the course of time. PVDF meshes showed a foreign body granuloma size significantly reduced compared to PP (7 days: 20 ± 2 μm vs. 27 ± 2 μm; 6 months 15 ± 2 μm vs. 22 ± 3 μm; p < .001). However no significant differences were found analyzing cellular response six months postoperatively. Conclusions: Our current data suggest that even in the long-term course after six months and despite a higher effective surface of the PVDF samples it showed a smaller foreign body granuloma than with PP whereas the cellular response was similar.
Mean Value-Based Power Allocation without Instantaneous CSI Feedback in Spectrum Sharing Systems

In this paper, we investigate a power allocation method without feedback of the instantaneous channel gain between a secondary transmitter (ST) and a primary receiver (PR) in spectrum sharing systems where channel information between the ST and the PR is outdated. We propose a mean value-based power allocation scheme (MVPA), which uses only the mean value of the channel gain of the ST-PR link. The proposed MVPA satisfies the interference outage constraint at the PR without feedback of the instantaneous channel information, which enables MVPA to reduce feedback burden. We also derive the ergodic capacity based on MVPA in closed-form and compare the ergodic capacity based on MVPA with that of a power allocation method using the outdated channel information instantaneously. Through the comparison, we convincingly demonstrate that MVPA without feedback of instantaneous channel information provides more reliable and superior capacity performance by reducing capacity loss from which the power allocation method using the outdated channel information severely suffers.
Comparative studies on adult donor lymphocytes infected by EB virus in vivo or in vitro: Origin of transformed cells arising in co‐cultures with foetal lymphocytes

Co‐cultures were set up between equal numbers of mononuclear cells from the blood of EB virus‐infected individuals, either acute IM patients or healthy seropositive adult donors, and foetal cord blood mononuclear cells of the opposite sex. The cell lines arising in the co‐cultures were of mixed origin, with foetal cells predominating in many cases. In contrast, when mononuclear cells from seronegative adult donors were first infected with EB virus in vitro and then 5 to 12 days later co‐cultured with a large excess of foetal cells of the opposite sex, the cell lines which arose were almost exclusively derived from the adult donor despite the fact that a small minority of the virus‐infected adult cells released infectious virus capable of transforming the co‐cultivated foetal cells. The experiments suggest that EB virus‐infected cells present in the blood of IM patients and seropositive donors do not possess the capacity for unlimited in vitro growth shown by seronegative adult donor lymphocytes experimentally infected with the virus.
Alix (ALG-2-interacting Protein X), a Protein Involved in Apoptosis, Binds to Endophilins and Induces Cytoplasmic Vacuolization*

ALG-2-interacting proteinX (Alix), also known as AIP1, is a cytoplasmic protein ubiquitously expressed and concentrated in phagosomes and exosomes. Alix may regulate apoptosis since it bindsapoptosis-linked gene 2 (ALG-2), a Ca2+-binding protein necessary for cell death, and also overexpression of its C-terminal half (Alix-CT) blocks death induced by several stimuli. This part of Alix contains a long proline-rich domain containing several potential SH3-binding sites. Using Alix as bait in a yeast two-hybrid system to screen a mouse brain library, we have found that SH3p4, SH3p8, and SH3p13, collectively known as endophilins, bind to Alix. Co-immunoprecipitations and overlay experiments allowed us to demonstrate that endophilins bind to Alix-CT through an SH3/proline-rich domain interaction. We have narrowed the region of Alix interacting with endophilins down to 14 amino acids containing a PXRPPPP consensus sequence, also present in synaptojanin and germinal center kinase-like kinase, allowing their interaction to endophilins. We further show that overexpression of Alix-CT, which blocks cell death, leads to cytoplasmic vacuolization into tubulo-vesicular structures delineated by Alix-CT. This vacuolization phenomenon is greatly enhanced upon co-expression with endophilins and may be part of the protecting mechanism afforded by Alix-CT.
AC-DC converter for wireless power transmission of energy harvesting system

In this study, a high-efficiency AC-DC converter is developed for a wireless power transmission system that transmits power generated from energy harvesting. RF power is transmitted in the frequency of 10-100 MHz, and power of -10 to 15 dBm is received by the AC-DC converter. A matching network is designed according to the received power from resonant coils, and the load resistor is optimized to obtain maximum output power. As a result, conversion efficiency ranging from 50% to a maximum of 87% is achieved in an RF power range of -10 to 15 dBm that has 10-100 MHz frequency. Compared to other converters, the implemented AC-DC converter shows not only 20%-40% higher peak efficiency, but also 20%-50% higher average efficiency. It is suitable for application in wearable devices or body area networks.
Goal-directed Fluid Therapy Does Not Reduce Primary Postoperative Ileus after Elective Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Inadequate perioperative fluid therapy impairs gastrointestinal function. Studies primarily evaluating the impact of goal-directed fluid therapy on primary postoperative ileus are missing. The objective of this study was to determine whether goal-directed fluid therapy reduces the incidence of primary postoperative ileus after laparoscopic colorectal surgery within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program. Methods: Randomized patient and assessor-blind controlled trial conducted in adult patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program. Patients were assigned randomly to receive intraoperative goal-directed fluid therapy (goal-directed fluid therapy group) or fluid therapy based on traditional principles (control group). Primary postoperative ileus was the primary outcome. Results: One hundred twenty-eight patients were included and analyzed (goal-directed fluid therapy group: n = 64; control group: n = 64). The incidence of primary postoperative ileus was 22% in the goal-directed fluid therapy and 22% in the control group (relative risk, 1; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.9; P = 1.00). Intraoperatively, patients in the goal-directed fluid therapy group received less intravenous fluids (mainly less crystalloids) but a greater volume of colloids. The increase of stroke volume and cardiac output was more pronounced and sustained in the goal-directed fluid therapy group. Length of hospital stay, 30-day postoperative morbidity, and mortality were not different. Conclusions: Intraoperative goal-directed fluid therapy compared with fluid therapy based on traditional principles does not reduce primary postoperative ileus in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the context of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program. Its previously demonstrated benefits might have been offset by advancements in perioperative care.
Avoiding Pitfalls in Experimental Research in Marketing

Anja Spilski is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Consumer & Behavioral Research, Saarland University, Campus A5.4, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany. Phone: +49 681 302 2135, E-mail: spilski @ikv.uni-saarland.de *Corresponding author Andrea Gröppel-Klein is Chair of Marketing and Director of the Institute for Consumer & Behavioral Research, Saarland University, Campus A5.4, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany. Phone: +49 681 302 2135, E-mail: groeppel-klein@ikv. uni-saarland.de Heribert Gierl is Professor of Marketing at the University of Augsburg, Universitaetsstrasse 16, 86159 Augsburg, Germany. Phone: +49 821 598 4051, E-mail: heribert.gierl@wiwi. uni-augsburg.de Avoiding Pitfalls in Experimental Research in Marketing
Detection of Clarithromycin‐Resistant Helicobacter pylori by Stool PCR in Children: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

Helicobacter pylori infection is acquired mainly during childhood. To eradicate H. pylori, clarithromycin‐based triple therapy has been recommended in children and adults by the latest Maastricht Consensus. However, the prevalence of clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori was higher in children than that in adults. Therefore, rapid, reliable and noninvasive methods for detecting clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori strains should be developed for children.
The 'Shape&Roll' Prosthetic Foot: I. Design and Development of Appropriate Technology for Low-Income Countries

The Shape&Roll Prosthetic Foot (patent pending) is an artificial foot designed for use in low-income countries, and may also be useful in industrialised nations. Its design is based on the theory that the roll-over shape of a prosthetic foot should mimic that of the non-disabled physiological foot-ankle complex during walking. This article presents the S&R foot including the unique features incorporated into its design. The results of mechanical tests indicate that the roll-over shape of the foot closely mimics the roll-over shape of the non-disabled ankle-foot complex and an expensive 'high-performance' prosthetic foot. The fatigue testing process for the S&R foot is also described. The foot has been shown to be durable according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, with more than five samples tested to date. The Shape&Roll Foot is low in cost, simple to fabricate, light in weight, low in profile, and is highly functional for walking in respect of roll-over characteristics.
Comparison of Brazilian and American norms for the International Affective Picture System (IAPS).

OBJECTIVE The present article compares Brazilian and American norms for the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), a set of normative emotional photographic slides for experimental investigations. METHODS Subjects were 1,062 Brazilian university students (364 men and 698 women) who rated 707 pictures from the IAPS in terms of pleasure, arousal, and dominance following the methodology of the original normative study in the US, enabling direct comparison of data from the two samples through Pearson product moment correlation and Student t test. RESULTS All correlations were highly significant with the highest level for the pleasure dimension, followed by dominance and arousal. However, contrary to the American normative values, our data showed that Brazilian subjects generally assigned higher arousal ratings overall. CONCLUSION Our findings confirm that this set of stimuli can be used in Brazil as an affective rating tool due to the high correlations found across the two populations, despite differences on the arousal dimension, which are discussed in detail.
Ropivacaine Inhibits Lung Cancer Cell Malignancy Through Downregulation of Cellular Signaling Including HIF-1α In Vitro

Background: Ropivacaine is widely used to induce regional anesthesia during lung cancer surgery. Previous studies reported that amide-linked local anesthetics, e.g., ropivacaine, affected the biological behavior of lung adenocarcinoma cells, but the conclusion is controversial and warrants further study. This study set out to investigate the biological effects of ropivacaine on cultured lung cancer cells and underlying mechanisms. Methods: Lung cancer cell lines (A549 and H1299) were cultured and then treated with or without ropivacaine (0.5, 1, and 2 mM) for 48 or 72 h. Their proliferation, migration, and invasion together with cell death and molecules including hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, VEGF, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression associated with these changes were determined. Results: Ropivacaine significantly inhibited proliferation and migration, invasion, and cell death in a concentration-dependent manner in both cell lines. Ropivacaine also promoted cell death and induced a concentration- and time-dependent cell arrest towards the G0/G1 phase. Expression of VEGF, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and HIF-1α in both cell lines was also inhibited by ropivacaine in a concentration-related manner. Conclusion: Our data indicated that ropivacaine inhibited lung cancer cell malignancy, which may be associated with downregulation of cell-survival-associated cellular molecules. The translational value of the current work is subjected to further study.
Adoption of Cloud Human Resource Information System in Egyptian Hotels: An Experimental Design Research

The main purpose of this research is to examine whether the hotel staff impressions hold towards cloud Human Resource Information System (HRIS) importance and adoption are varied according to the hotel category. An experimental 2x2 full factorial design was performed with data collected from 80 hotel employees. Participants were purposively selected through the online web pages of LinkedIn and Facebook. Findings of this experiment showed an overall lack of cloud HRIS adoption in the 3-star hotels than 5-star hotels in Egypt and most of cloud HRIS activities are still used in a very limited extent. In addition, the perception of the degree of importance varies significantly between the hotel types. The main implication of this study within the Egyptian hotel sector is that to be more innovative and competitive, the hotel corporations will need to invest significantly in smart innovation within their HR departments to benefit from the strategic and operational advantages of cloud HRIS. This study is considered one of the few studies that operationalised the concept of cloud HRIS in the Egyptian hotel industry; it highlighted the cloud HRIS key affecting factors based on the Technology Organization Environment (TOE) model and HR activities in hotel. Keywords: Cloud HRIS, Experimental Design, Egyptian hotel industry
Spare parts management under double demand uncertainty

Introducing capital goods brings a lot of uncertainties a company has to deal with. One of these uncertainties is managing the spare parts inventory required for the maintenance. When a capital good has just been introduced there is a large amount of uncertainty related to the demand rates. In this paper, we consider a multi-item inventory problem with a backorder constraint where the distribution of demand is known but the demand rate is uncertain. We show that when demand follows a Poisson distribution, a larger variance of the demand rate always results in higher costs. Next, we show that one may require over four times the initial holding costs investment for certain scenarios in order to deal with the additional demand uncertainty. Moreover, we show that if one would ignore the additional uncertainty, the solutions are in general far from feasible and thus leading to poor solutions.
Cannabis use and later life outcomes.

AIM To examine the associations between the extent of cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood and later education, economic, employment, relationship satisfaction and life satisfaction outcomes. DESIGN A longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort studied to age 25 years. MEASUREMENTS Measures of: cannabis use at ages 14-25; university degree attainment to age 25; income at age 25; welfare dependence during the period 21-25 years; unemployment 21-25 years; relationship quality; life satisfaction. Also, measures of childhood socio-economic disadvantage, family adversity, childhood and early adolescent behavioural adjustment and cognitive ability and adolescent and young adult mental health and substance use. FINDINGS There were statistically significant bivariate associations between increasing levels of cannabis use at ages 14-21 and: lower levels of degree attainment by age 25 (P < 0.0001); lower income at age 25 (P < 0.01); higher levels of welfare dependence (P < 0.0001); higher unemployment (P < 0.0001); lower levels of relationship satisfaction (P < 0.001); and lower levels of life satisfaction (P < 0.0001). These associations were adjusted for a range of potentially confounding factors including: family socio-economic background; family functioning; exposure to child abuse; childhood and adolescent adjustment; early adolescent academic achievement; and comorbid mental disorders and substance use. After adjustment, the associations between increasing cannabis use and all outcome measures remained statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study suggest that increasing cannabis use in late adolescence and early adulthood is associated with a range of adverse outcomes in later life. High levels of cannabis use are related to poorer educational outcomes, lower income, greater welfare dependence and unemployment and lower relationship and life satisfaction. The findings add to a growing body of knowledge regarding the adverse consequences of heavy cannabis use.
Risk management disclosure: evidence from the UK banks

The previous us corporate scandals and financial crisis are have given rise to corporate transparency. As a result, there is now greater demand for increased corporate a disclosures for stakeholders particularly Risk Management Disclosure (RMD). The main goal of this study is to examine the extent of change in disclosure quantity of corporate risk management in the UK bank’s annual financial reports over a period of six years (2011-2016). Stakeholder and agency theory has been used to interpret the extent of RMD. Content analysis approach has been undertaken of a sample of five UK Banks’ reports. The results reveal that the RMD quantity has been increased significantly in the selected banks due to regulations and increased pressures by stakeholders after the financial crisis. Nevertheless, there is a variation found in the bank risk disclosure since a few banks revealed less and did not enhance the extensive coverage of disclosure. The need for more sound regulation regarding risk information disclosure required to safeguard against agency cost and crisis.