Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fugitive Coke Oven Gas Emission Profile by Continuous Line Averaged Open-Path Fourier Transform Infrared Monitoring

Abstract Although most coke oven research is focused on the emission of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, well-known carcinogens, little has been done on the emission of volatile organic compounds, some of which are also thought to be hazardous to workers and the environment. To profile coke oven gas (COG) emissions, we set up an open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) system on top of a battery of coke ovens at a steel mill located in Southern Taiwan and monitored average emissions in a coke processing area for 16.5 hr. Nine COGs were identified, including ammonia, CO, methane, ethane, ethylene, acetylene, propylene, cyclohexane, and o-xylene. Time series plots indicated that the type of pollutants differed over time, suggesting that different emission sources (e.g., coke pushing, quench tower, etc.) were involved at different times over the study period. This observation was confirmed by the low cross-correlation coefficients of the COGs. It was also found that, with the help of meteorological analysis, the data collected by the OP-FTIR system could be analyzed effectively to characterize differences in the location of sources. Although the traditional single-point samplings of emissions involves sampling various sources in a coke processing area at several different times and is a credible profiling of emissions, our findings strongly suggest that they are not nearly as efficient or as cost-effective as the continuous line average method used in this study. This method would make it easier and cheaper for engineers and health risk assessors to identify and to control fugitive volatile organic compound emissions and to improve environmental health.
Cardiac output after beta-adrenergic blockade in ischaemic heart disease.

The suggestion that blockade of the cardiac sympathetic nerves might be helpful in patients with angina pectoris has received some experimental support (Apthorp, Chamberlain, and Hayward, 1964; Hamer et al., 1964). The increased myocardial contractility during exercise is produced by stimulation of beta-adrenergic sympathetic fibres (Ahlquist, 1948) which are specifically blocked by pronethalol and propranolol (Dornhorst and Robinson, 1962; Black et al., 1964). These drugs have been shown to decrease myocardial contractility under a variety of circumstances, and it seems likely that the consequent reduction in myocardial work might be responsible for their beneficial effect in angina pectoris. In order to assess the mechanisms by which exercise tolerance is increased after beta-adrenergic blockade, we have undertaken a study of the effects of propranolol on cardiovascular function at rest and during exercise in a series of patients with ischvmic heart disease.
Nutritional Status and Related Factors in Elderly Nursing Home Residents: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study in Migrants and Native Germans

Former guest workers in Germany who stayed on after retirement are now older than 70 years. Nursing homes (NH) are broadening their offer to meet specific requirements of this population. The nutritional status and related problems of the older ethnic minority group living in German NH has so far not been investigated. The aim of this study was, thus, to compare the nutritional situation of older migrants to that of native residents in two “multicultural” NH (cross-sectional study). All residents 65 years and older with a migration background were enrolled and compared to nonmigrants using frequency matching for age and gender. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI; cut-off for undernourishment: BMI < 22 kg/m2) and calf circumference (CC; CC < 31 cm). Care staff completed a questionnaire on residents' health. Consecutive 3-day food records were evaluated to analyze the intake of energy, macro-, and micronutrients. Participants were n = 23 migrants (76 ± 6 years, 52% female) and n = 37 nonmigrants (78 ± 7 years, 59% female). Undernourishment was more prevalent in migrants according to BMI (39 vs. 11%; P < 0.05) and CC (57 vs. 22%; P < 0.05). Main nutritional problems in both groups were “loss of appetite” (56 vs. 19%; P < 0.05) and “refusal to eat” (56 vs. 25%; P < 0.05). Energy intake was low (6.4 ± 1.4, 6.8 ± 1.6 MJ/d). More than 50% of participants fell below recommended values for vitamin C, B1, B6, D, folate, calcium, and iron; 61% of the migrants had a low vitamin B12 intake. Migrant NH residents were more often undernourished than German NH residents.
Does European Unemployment Prop Up American Wages?

We consider trade between a flexible wage America and a rigid real wage Europe. In a benchmark case, a move from autarky to free trade doubles the European unemployment rate, while it raises the American unskilled wage to the high European level. Entry of the unskilled South to world markets raises unemployment in Europe. But Europe's commitment to the high wage completely insulates America from the shock. Immigration to America raises American income, but lowers European income dollar-for-dollar, while European unemployment rises one-for-one. We consider a stylized game of the choice of factor market institutions. Mitterand's Europe chooses a high minimum wage and Reagan's America chooses a flexible wage for the unskilled. Paradoxically, unskilled workers are worse off in Europe. Trade equalizes wages, but Europeans bear all of the unemployment required to sustain the high wage.
Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic study of the fluorescent probe diphenylhexatriene in model membrane systems.

We have investigated the deuterium (2H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of two 2H-labeled fluorescence probes (trans,trans,trans-1,6-diphenylhexa-1,3,5-trienes, DPHs) incorporated into model lipid bilayer membrane systems at various temperatures. The membranes consisted of multilamellar bilayers of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) containing varying concentrations of cholesterol. The conventional one-order parameter approach often used in the analysis of the NMR data of lipid membranes does not explain the observed temperature variations of the spectral features. Consistent with the molecular symmetry, the results have thus been analyzed in terms of an ordering matrix with more than one independent element. The molecular order parameter (SNMR), the order along the long molecular axis, in the pure lipid system varies from 0.49 to 0.26 as the temperature is increased from 25 to 57 degrees C. These values are somewhat larger than the order parameters obtained from fluorescence depolarization (SFLU) on sonicated DMPC vesicles. Such discrepancies probably arise from the looser packing of the sonicated vesicles. Addition of cholesterol to the model membranes causes the order parameter of the probe molecules to increase. At 35 degrees C, SNMR increases from 0.38 (with no cholesterol) to 0.92 (in the presence of 50 mol % cholesterol). These values are about 10% larger than those obtained from fluorescence depolarization studies on sonicated vesicles. The SNMR for DPH are somewhat larger than those obtained in earlier NMR studies of 2H-labeled cholesterol. However, they compare well with those obtained for 2H-labeled DMPC. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sampling epigeal arthropods: an evaluation of fenced pitfall traps using mark‐release‐recapture and comparisons to unfenced pitfall traps in arable crops

The efficiency of fenced pitfall traps for estimating the density of commonly occurring epigeal predatory beetles was examined using mark‐release‐recapture. Most beetles of those recovered were recaptured within one week of their release. For seven of the ten species tested recapture rates were over 70%, with higher rates for the larger species. The predatory arthropod species composition captured using fenced pitfall traps was compared to unfenced pitfall traps in winter wheat, spring barley and winter oilseed rape. Compositional analysis revealed that the dominance structure of seven carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) taxa differed between the trap types and month of sampling in winter wheat and spring barley, but differences were small with the exception of a few taxa. Linear relationships between the two techniques were found for some carabid and rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). The dominance structure of seven linyphiid spider (Araneae: Linyphiidae) taxa differed between the two trap types in wheat but not barley, although large differences were restricted to two taxa. No linear relationships between the two techniques were found for any of the Linyphiidae examined. Rove beetles were more effectively sampled using the fenced compared to unfenced pitfall traps.
Experiential Values for Casino Hotels in Macao

Casino hotels have traditionally been viewed as commodities competing over price and complimentary rooms. Researchers appeal for brand experience as differentiation strategy and state that unique experiences translate in the success of hotels. Based on previous studies in other industries on experiential values, this study aims to explore experiential values applicable to casino hotels that can be used to market hotels in terms that go beyond the traditional mix of price and complimentary rooms. Dimensions of experiential values are tested for their applicability in Macao's casino hotels against consumers' hotel preference, patronage intent, and willingness to pay higher price and recommend to others.
IITP at SemEval-2017 Task 5: An Ensemble of Deep Learning and Feature Based Models for Financial Sentiment Analysis

In this paper we propose an ensemble based model which combines state of the art deep learning sentiment analysis algorithms like Convolution Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) along with feature based models to identify optimistic or pessimistic sentiments associated with companies and stocks in financial texts. We build our system to participate in a competition organized by Semantic Evaluation 2017 International Workshop. We combined predictions from various models using an artificial neural network to determine the opinion towards an entity in (a) Microblog Messages and (b) News Headlines data. Our models achieved a cosine similarity score of 0.751 and 0.697 for the above two tracks giving us the rank of 2nd and 7th best team respectively.
Testing long-run validity of purchasing power parity for Asian countries

This study presents an empirical analysis of purchasing power parity for five developing Asian countries, namely India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines and Turkey. This is done by using cointegration technique. Time series properties of nominal exchange rate and price series show that they are nonstationary. The exchange rate and relative price series do not appear to be cointegrated for most of the countries. We reject the validity of purchasing power parity for India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, but we can accept it for Turkey.
The hidden layer associative memory model of hippocampus

An earlier model introduced by the authors (1999) for fast associative memory has shown to be an efficient solution to the storage of binary patterns and the recall from incomplete input. We extend this model to include more biologically realistic constraints to serve as a model for the hippocampus. Among the constraints considered are the limited overall connectivity between the neurons and the distributed processing in a sequence of layered topographically connected maps. Although not all biophysical and modulatory effects from various sources have been incorporated into the present model, the emergent computational function of the hippocampus as a fast storage mechanism with reliable retrieval and pattern completion abilities from partial cues is the main subject of our study. We show that the proposed multiple layer mechanism employing a sparse code and a k-winner-take-all mechanism for the storage and retrieval of binary patterns can be matched to the functional layers of the hippocampus, thereby predicting computational roles for each map and an overall processing principle.
Pharmacokinetics of cefadroxil after oral administration in humans

The human oral pharmacokinetics of cefadroxil were studied in parallel at doses of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg in three groups of 10 healthy young male volunteers. Renal excretion of intact cefadroxil, accounted for 82, 79, and 77% of the above doses. Mean peak serum levels were dose linear: 9, 18, and 35 microgram/ml at 250, 500, and 1,000 mg, respectively. However, overall pharmacokinetics were linear only in the 250- to 500-mg dose range; apparent serum clearances were 10 liters/h, and true renal clearances were 9 and 8 liters/h at 250 and 500 mg. At 1,000 mg, apparent serum clearance dropped to about 7 liters/h, true renal clearance, dropped to 6 liters/h, and the area under the curve increased disproportionately. At 250 and 500 mg, mean half-life was about 1.2 h; at 1,000 mg, however, it was 1.6h. The nonlinear decrease in clearance could be related to saturation of active renal tubular secretion of cefadroxil between the 500- and 1,000-mg doses. Previous results indicating that cefadroxil has greater persistence than other oral cephalosporins such as cephalexin, cephradine, cefaclor were confirmed.
Ethnic Diversity and Trust

Using data from U.S. states, I investigate the relationship between ethnic diversity and trust. I find a negative relationship between ethnic polarization and trust and a U-shaped relationship between ethnic fractionalization and trust. According to my estimations, (a) going from an ethnic polarization index (PI) of 0 to an ethnic PI of 1 decreases trust by almost 12% points; and (b) trust is minimized when the ethnic fractionalization index is equal to 0.34.
A Multilevel Analysis of the Determinants of Forest Conservation Behavior Among Farmers in Haiti

We provide a behavioral analysis of farmers' decisions to participate in forest conservation programs. Using the theory of planned behavior as a conceptual framework, we examine the determinants of forest conservation at the farmer level and investigate whether the organizational, structural, and ecological characteristics of Forêt des Pins Reserve villages affect forest conservation behavior. Analysis of data collected from 243 farmers in 15 villages inside the reserve shows that forest conservation behavior is influenced by farmers' attitudes. Results show that forest conservation behavior can be improved by providing villagers information about benefits from the forests, increasing annual income, improving education, strengthening organizational memberships, and increasing women's involvement. Conservation behavior is greatly influenced by organizational, structural, and environmental characteristics of the villages.
THE ORIGINS OF THE VICTORIAN MASTER BUILDERS

T THE building industry is not prominent in accounts of the Industrial Revolution and even a brief consideration of its present organization and techniques is sufficient to suggest that it has not, in fact, had a notably revolutionary history. It has retained a large number of very small firms and a high proportion of its workers still consists of craftsmen using long-established techniques. ' It is not surprising therefore that little space has been given to the industry in histories of the Industrial Revolution. Even Sir John Clapham, in his comprehensive survey of the British economy 'on the eve of the Railway Age', found it necessary to devote only a few pages to describing the technological condition and the structure of the industry, to pointing out its importance in the national economy in terms of numbers employed, and to outlining what he referred to as a 'partial change in organization', unaccompanied by changes in technique, which had taken place during the half century or so before
Sex-Role Identification and Violent Victimization

Although sex-role identification has been found to be associated with crime and delinquency, the link between sex-role identification and violent victimization has remained largely unexplored. Using the Add Health data, this study examines sex-role identification and its relationship to violent victimization. The findings suggest that masculinity increases the risk of violent victimization for males, but does not for females. Other differences in risk factors across gender were also found. These findings indicate that masculinity is an important construct in understanding the complexity of why some persons are violently victimized and others are not.
Consumer online shopping attitude-intention and their determinants in Qatar

The study examines consumer online shopping attitude and intention and their antecedents in Qatar, one of the strongest economies in the world. Commonly used determinants of consumer online shopping attitude and intention in the literature are selected namely usefulness of online shopping, security of online shopping, privacy of online shopping, ease of use of online shopping and self-efficacy of online shopping. An analysis of a sample of 129 cross-section consumers in Doha, Qatar, supports our contention that the usefulness of online shopping, security of online shopping, privacy of online shopping and ease of use of online shopping influence consumer online shopping attitude. In turn, consumer online shopping attitude together with self-efficacy of online shopping affect consumer online shopping intention. Contrary to the expectation, usefulness of online shopping is not a significant predictor of consumer online shopping intention in Qatar. Results and implications are discussed.
In vitro gene expression analysis of nephrotoxic drugs in rat primary renal cortical tubular cells

Rat primary renal cortical tubular cells were exposed to seven test substances, some with, and some without, known direct renal tubular cell toxicity. Cells were exposed to the substances at either one‐third or one‐tenth of the TC50 for cytotoxicity for 6 h or 24 h, so as not to induce cytotoxicity but to cause some transcriptional changes. Transcriptional profiles were investigated by using the Affymetrix Rat Toxicology U34 arrays, containing probes for more than 850 genes and ESTs. Four direct toxicants, cisplatin (CDDP), its less nephrotoxic analogue carboplatin (CBDCA), cephaloridine and gentamicin, were grouped together in a hierarchical clustering. In addition, the four direct toxicants affected more than 32 transcripts at their subcytotoxic concentrations at either 6 h or 24 h exposure. On the other hand, diclofenac, cyclosporine A and zinc, which are not considered to be directly toxic to tubules, affected less than 12 transcripts. Decreased Map3k12 and increased Hmox1 were commonly observed among the four direct toxicants, which appeared to be responses to cellular damage. Two platinum complexes, CDDP and CBDCA, induced similar changes, regardless of exposure duration or concentration. The types of transcriptional changes observed in this study were consistent with previously reported in vivo data, although there were some differences. These observations suggest that an in vitro gene expression analysis approach using GeneChip is feasible for screening for direct tubular toxicity of drugs and may help to clarify the underlying mechanisms of tubular toxicity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficiency of Korean Commercial Banks: An Exploratory Study

This study explores the efficiency changes in the Korean commercial banking industry using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Based on a panel dataset for Korean commercial banks over the period 1991-2012, we find that the efficiency of Korean commercial banks declined sharply during the financial crisis of 1997-1998, but improved in the subsequent bank restructuring period that occurred over 1998-2002, and continued to improve through 2007. We also document that the efficiency of Korean commercial banks has shown a downward trend since the world economic crisis triggered by Lehman Brothers in 2008.
Subtle brain abnormalities in children with sickle cell disease: Relationship to blood hematocrit

Our objective was to test a hypothesis that subtle brain abnormality can be present in pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) patients who are clinically free of stroke. We prospectively compared 50 patients with 52 healthy age‐similar controls, using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. A previously validated precise and accurate inversion‐recovery method was used to measure T1 in a slice at the basal ganglia. We also used the Wechsler test to measure intelligence quotient (IQ) in a randomly selected subset of 27 patients. Brain T1 was significantly lower in patients in every gray matter structure evaluated but in none of the white matter structures. Regression suggests that T1 in caudate, nucleus pulvinares, and cerebral cortex was abnormal by age 4 years. Psychometric testing showed that 33% of patients were functioning in the range of mild mental deficiency (IQ, 50–70), compared with a published prevalence of 1.45% in inner‐city black children. Thus, in our patients, SCD was associated with a 23‐fold increase in the risk of mild mental deficiency. Full‐scale IQ of SCD patients was a function of hematocrit (Hct), and when Hct was used to stratify patients, those with an Hct of less than 27% had significantly lower psychometric test scores, and significantly lower gray matter T1, than those with an Hct of 27 or more. Both cognitive deficits and subtle T1 abnormalities were associated with a low Hct, and both could be present when conventional magnetic resonance imaging findings were normal. Our findings suggest that chronic hypoxia of brain tissue can occur in SCD patients free of clinical stroke. Ann Neurol 1999;45:279–286
The motivation of bloggers for organisational knowledge sharing and creation: A comparative case study to identify contingency factors influencing motivation

The use of weblogs for knowledge sharing and creation is a novel social and organisational phenomenon. In this paper, we start from the assumption that successful knowledge management requires the motivation of people to engage in knowledge-related communication. However, several studies indicate that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) do not always improve organisational knowledge sharing and creation as a result of a missing motivation to use ICTs. Thus, we discuss two partially opposite cases, in order to identify and explain contingency factors that directly influence the motivation towards making a contribution in knowledge sharing and creation.
Do Exchange Rates Affect Inflation? Evidence From Emerging Market Economies

After the 1980s, chronic inflation in Turkey has shaken confidence in the domestic currency, and thus operating debit-credit transactions through dollars. The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of exchange rate pass-through into inflation in both Turkey and emerging market economies that were highly dollarized and shifted to a flexible exchange rate regime, together with inflation targeting policy in an attempt to switch to the advanced economy. This paper also studies whether stabilization programs under flexible exchange rate regimes and particularly inflation targeting policy may have eliminated dollarization in the periods 1995-2001 and 2002-2010.