Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of micro-computed tomography to microstructure studies of the medicinal fungus Hericium coralloides

The potential of 3-D nondestructive imaging techniques such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was evaluated to study morphological patterns of the potential medicinal fungus Hericium coralloides (Basidiomycota). Micro-CT results were correlated with histological information gained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). It is demonstrated that the combination of these imaging methods results in a more distinct picture of the morphology of the edible and potentially medicinal Hericium coralloides basidiomata. In addition we have created 3-D reconstructions and visualizations based on micro-CT imagery from a randomly selected part of the upper region of a fresh H. coralloides basidioma: Analyses for the first time allowed an approximation of the evolutionary effectiveness of this bizarrely formed basidioma type in terms of the investment of tissue biomass and its reproductive output (production of basidiospores).
Cost-Effectiveness of Electronic Training in Domestic Violence Risk Assessment

The need for domestic violence training has increased with the development of evidence-based risk assessment tools, which must be scored correctly for valid application. Emerging research indicates that training in domestic violence risk assessment can increase scoring accuracy, but despite the increasing popularity of electronic training, it is not yet known whether it can be an effective method of risk assessment training. In the present study, 87 assessors from various professions had training in the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment either face-to-face or using an electronic training program. The two conditions were equally effective, as measured by performance on a post-training skill acquisition test. Completion rates were 100% for face-to-face and 86% for electronic training, an improvement over a previously evaluated manual-only condition. The estimated per-trainee cost of electronic training was one third that of face-to-face training and expected to decrease. More rigorous evaluations of electronic training for risk assessment are recommended.
Effects of Pre-sales Posted Price Channel on Sequential B2B Dutch Flower Auctions

Multichannel sales strategies have become common in consumer markets due to the usage of advanced information technologies. However, the interactions between multichannel prices in Business-to-Business (B2B) markets are largely underexplored. This paper investigates the impact of a pre-sales posted price channel on the performance of the century-old sequential B2B Dutch flower auctions. The pre-sales channel is conducted online ahead of the auctions. Only a specified fraction of each flower lot can be sold through the pre-sales. Given this limit, growers can decide on their participation, available quantity and selling price. Flowers that are not sold during the pre-sales are added to the auctions. Our analysis of over 2 million flower lots traded in 2015 reveals a higher total revenue for lots that are offered in the pre-sales as compared to lots that are not. The result holds true even for lots where no actual sales occurred in the pre-sales channel.
A Case Study: An ICT Technology in Enterprise Integration

An approach to development of pioneering Information and Communication Technology large-scale industrial enterprise integration technology is described for a case study of Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Management systems (CIMMs). The paper presents some experience in large-scale systems and the current state of art for the domain. A feasible approach is proposed, based on prospective user expectations and the system development with use of so called first thread on which the standards facilitating development of subsequent systems should be developed and people acquainted with both manufacturing and management problems should be educated. There is also depicted some research work intended for facilitating design and implementation of CIMMs. The approach proposed is particularly suitable for big and medium manufacturing plants
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage Among Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

The survey was to determine the frequency of usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the factors associated with it among patients attending the general outpatient department of a tertiary care centre in Nigeria. It was carried out also in the Department of Family Medicine, Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. It was a cross-sectional survey in which one hundred and twenty eight (128) patients were enrolled. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics and other questions on knowledge and usage of CAM; satisfaction with previous usage and willingness to discuss it with their doctors. One hundred and eight (84.4%) of 128 reported that they were currently using or had used some form of CAM. Mean age of the patients was 46.8 ± 17.3 years. Fever and pains are the commonest conditions or illnesses for which CAM was used. Sixty eight (53.1%) of the patients said they were seeking treatment for the same conditions and illnesses for which they had used CAM and 46 (40%) reported that they felt CAM has helped their conditions and illnesses. CAM usage is very common among patients attending the hospital. Although only few patients learn about CAM from their doctors, majority of them think that it is important for doctors to be educated about the therapies. Doctors and other healthcare professionals need more education about CAM so that they can handle its use by their patients more effectively.
Mindreading the self

This chapter contrasts two different kinds of account of our knowledge of our own thoughts. According to standard theories, self-knowledge of at least a subset of thoughts is direct and noninterpretive. According to the alternative, which will be elaborated and defended here, self-knowledge results from turning our mindreading capacities on ourselves, relying on the same sensory channels that we employ for other-knowledge and utilizing many of the same sensory cues.
Oxcarbazepine concentrations during pregnancy: A retrospective study in patients with epilepsy

We assessed the concentration of the oxcarbazepine metabolite 10-hydroxycarbazepine (MHD) in nine pregnancies among seven women before, during, and after pregnancy. The mean dose-corrected concentration of MHD was decreased during pregnancy (analysis of variance, p = 0.0016), being 72% (SD = 13%) in the first trimester, 74% (SD = 17%) in the second trimester, 64% (SD = 6%) in the third trimester, and 108% (SD = 18%) after pregnancy vs the dose-corrected concentration before pregnancy.
Studies on the growth inhibition and metabolism of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluorocytidine in cultured human lymphoblasts.

Summary The nucleoside 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine (FCdR) inhibits the growth of various human lymphoblastic cell lines in culture. FCdR is deaminated to 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine and phosphorylated to the triphosphate level. Two additional FCdR-containing metabolites, comprising about 50% of the acid-soluble metabolites, were also detected. The FCdR incorporated into acid-insoluble material was primarily in DNA. Deoxycytidine protected these cell lines from growth inhibition by FCdR, but for only a limited time.
Low-cost tissue simulating phantoms with adjustable wavelength-dependent scattering properties in the visible and infrared ranges.

We present a method for low-cost fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) tissue simulating phantoms with tunable scattering spectra, spanning visible, and near-infrared regimes. These phantoms use optical polishing agents (aluminum oxide powders) at various grit sizes to approximate in vivo tissue scattering particles across multiple size distributions (range: 17 to 3 μm). This class of tunable scattering phantoms is used to mimic distinct changes in wavelength-dependent scattering properties observed in tissue pathologies such as partial thickness burns. Described by a power-law dependence on wavelength, the scattering magnitude of these phantoms scale linearly with particle concentration over a physiologic range [μs′=(0.5 to 2.0 mm−1)] whereas the scattering spectra, specific to each particle size distribution, correlate to distinct exponential coefficients (range: 0.007 to 0.32). Aluminum oxide powders used in this investigation did not detectably contribute to the absorption properties of these phantoms. The optical properties of these phantoms are verified through inverse adding-doubling methods and the tolerances of this fabrication method are discussed.
How do extrinsic performance incentives affect the alignment between frontline police performance and police strategy

This research explored how extrinsic performance incentives (EPIs) affect the alignment of frontline police performance and police strategy using the Hong Kong Police Force as a case study. A formal research model was developed and used to explore the correlations between EPIs and organisational alignment, between EPIs and constructs of individual performance and between individual performance and organisational alignment. A combined methodology was adopted using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to test the formal research theory. The findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between EPIs, when measured in terms or effort reward imbalance (ERI), and organisational alignment, but not generally between the realisation or expectation of an EPI and organisational alignment. There are no consistent patterns or relationships between EPIs and the constructs of individual performance. The effect of EPIs on the alignment of frontline police performance and police strategy is influenced by the officer’s career stage. The results and findings support the notion that stewardship theory fits the case organisation more closely than agency theory. This research contributes to the body of knowledge relating to the effects of EPIs on frontline performance and organisational alignment. Further research should apply the research model to other case settings.
Positive end‐expiratory pressure prevents atelectasisduring general anaesthesia even in the presence of a high inspired oxygen concentration

Background: General anaesthesia impairs the gas exchange in the lungs, and moderate desaturation (SaO2 86–90%) occurred in 50% of anaesthetised patients in a blinded pulse oximetry study. A high FiO2 might reduce the risk of hypoxaemia, but can also promote atelectasis. We hypothesised that a moderate positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) level of 10 cmH2O can prevent atelectasis during ventilation with an FiO2=1.0.
Cdc42 and PAK-mediated Signaling Leads to Jun Kinase and p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Activation (*)

The PAK family of protein kinases has been suggested as a potential target of the Cdc42 and Rac GTPases based on studies in vitro. We show that PAK-3 is activated by Cdc42 in vivo. Both, activated (GTPase-defective) Cdc42 and a constitutively active PAK-3 mutant stimulated the activity of Jun kinase 1 (JNK1) in transfected cells. Activated Cdc42 also stimulated the activity of the related p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase but was a less effective activator of ERK2. The effect of Cdc42 on JNK activity was similar to that of the potent inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1). The observation that a dominant-negative Cdc42 mutant inhibited IL-1 activation of JNK1 indicates a role for Cdc42 in IL-1 signaling. These results suggest that Cdc42 and PAK may mediate the effects of cytokines on transcriptional regulation.
The impact of firm heterogeneity in aggregated productivity: Firm entry, financial selection, and capital misallocation

Aggregated productivity is the primary source of long-run economic growth. Therefore, understanding the nature of productivity accumulation is crucial to promoting welfare and development across nations. Recent literature has turned to the micro-foundation of aggregated productivity by studying the role of firms and entrepreneurs in shaping this process, which is the focus of my dissertation. This dissertation consists of three chapters, each of which investigates how heterogeneous firms' decision making determines aggregated productivity. The first chapter studies the role of the financial system in selecting and developing the most promising business plans. In particular, more developed financial sectors are able to better allocate resources and foster cohorts of firms that are more productive. This chapter shows that considering firm heterogeneity is fundamental when studying the effects of financial development in long-run growth. In fact, the financial system determines not only the size of a new cohort of firms but also the productivity of the new entrants. The second chapter enriches the former model by studying the effects of financial crises in the long-run level of aggregated productivity. The main mechanism of the first chapter is embedded into a standard stochastic small open economy model, commonly used to study international financial crises. The model suggests that during crises, smaller cohorts of firms arise, but the average contribution of those cohorts to aggregated productivity should be higher than during normal times. This prediction is verified using firm level data from Chile spanning the period of crisis triggered by the Russian sovereign default of 1998. The calibrated model suggests that heterogeneity is crucial when assessing the long-run impact of financial crises in aggregated productivity. The third chapter focuses on the allocation of capital between heterogeneous firms. Firms in the United States have access to unequal tax benefits tied to physical capital and firms that lobby for taxation issues enjoy larger benefits than the rest. A heterogeneous firm dynamics model with endogenous lobbying decisions is developed and calibrated to firm level data. Although only a small fraction of firms lobby, the effect on aggregated productivity is sizeable. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Economics First Advisor Ufuk Akcigit This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/1431
Situated empowerment: Mobile phones practices among market women in Kampala

In this article we depart from studies on empowerment and its intersections with the informal economy and market women in the Global South and promises of the mobile phone in so-called developing regions. Conducting an explorative study among market women in Kampala, the aim is to examine what roles (if any) the mobile phone plays for them in terms of empowerment. Our findings resonate with studies from other parts of the world, suggesting that while pivotal for their business endeavors, mobile phone practices are also embedded in patriarchal structures. By discussing how these market women navigate the tensions between using the phone for their business and in relations to their partners, the article contributes a more nuanced and context-specific understanding of mobile phone practices and the empowerment of market women. We conclude the article by suggesting a situated approach to the study of empowerment.
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 inhibits liposaccharide‐induced inflammation in the airway

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a multifunctional growth factor that belongs to the TGF‐β superfamily. The role of BMP4 in lung diseases is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that BMP4 was upregulated in lungs undergoing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammation, and in airway epithelial cells treated with LPS or TNF‐α. BMP4 mutant (BMP4+/−) mice presented with more severe lung inflammation in response to LPS or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and lower bacterial load compared with that in BMP4+/+ mice. Knockdown of BMP4 by siRNA increased LPS and TNF‐α‐induced IL‐8 expression in 16HBE human airway epithelial cells and in primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Similarly, peritoneal macrophages from BMP4+/− mice produced greater levels of TNF‐α and keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) upon LPS treatment compared with cells from BMP4+/+ mice. Administration of exogenous BMP4 attenuated the upregulation of TNF‐α, IL‐8, or KC induced by LPS and/or TNF‐α in airway epithelial cells, and peritoneal macrophages. Finally, partial deficiency of BMP4 in BMP4+/− mice protected the animals from restrictive lung function reduction upon chronic LPS exposure. These results indicate that BMP4 plays an important anti‐inflammatory role, controlling the strength and facilitating the resolution of acute lung inflammation; yet, BMP4 also contributes to lung function impairment during chronic lung inflammation.
Enhancing partner support to improve smoking cessation.

BACKGROUND While many cessation programs are available to assist smokers in quitting, research suggests that partner involvement may encourage long-term abstinence. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this review was to determine if an intervention to enhance partner support helps smoking cessation when added as an adjunct to a smoking cessation program. SEARCH STRATEGY The search was performed in: Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group specialized register (Aug 2001), Cochrane controlled trials register (Apr 2000), CDC and Prevention-Tobacco Information and Prevention Database (Jul 2000), MEDLINE (1966-Jul 2000), Cancer Lit (1966-Jul 2000), EMBASE (1974-Apr 2000), CINAHL (1966-Jul 2000), PsycInfo (1861-Oct 2000), ERIC, PsycLit, & Dissertation Abstracts (1861-Dec 1999), SSCI (1972-Jul 2000) and HealthStar (1975-Jul 2000). The search terms used were smoking (prevention, control, therapy), smoking cessation, and support (family, marriage, spouse, partner, sexual partner, buddy, friend, co-habitees, and co-worker). The search was also limited to English language. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials of smoking cessation interventions that compared an intervention that included a partner support component with an otherwise identical intervention and reported follow-up of 6 months or greater. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently extracted data using a structured form. A third reviewer was consulted to aid in the resolution of discrepancies. Abstinence and biochemical assessment were the primary outcome measures and were analyzed at two post-treatment intervals: 6-9 months and >12 months. The scores of PIQ (partner interaction questionnaire) were also analyzed to assess partner support. A fixed-effects model was used to assess the summary effect of the studies. MAIN RESULTS A total of 31 articles were identified for this review. Only eight articles (nine studies) met the inclusion criteria. The definition of partner varied among the studies. All studies included data on self reported smoking cessation rates, but there was limited biochemical validation of abstinence rates. The odds ratio for self-reported abstinence at 6-9 months was 1.08 (CI 95%, 0.81 -1.44); and at 12 months post-treatment was 1.0 (CI 95%, 0.75 - 1.34). Of the six studies that measured partner support at follow-up, only two studies reported significant increase in partner support in the intervention groups. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS We conclude that interventions designed to enhance partner support for smokers in cessation programs did not increase quit rates. Limited data from several of the RCTs suggest that these interventions did not increase partner support either. No conclusions can be made about the impact of partner support on smoking cessation. More systematic intervention to affect partnership significantly should be delivered if partner support were part of an existing cessation program.
Product/service cost system design in Malaysian companies

Despite much publicity given to the criticisms relating to product cost measurement and the prevailing costing systems since the mid-1980s, there was a scarcity in surveys relating to this area. In the 1990s, studies on management accounting practices and product-costing, focusing on the Activity-Based Costing (ABC) increased, but mainly in Europe and the US. Therefore this research is undertaken in Malaysia, to study the product-cost system design from a broader perspective, and investigate the criticisms. The over-riding objective is to explore the influence of explanatory variables on the design of product costing systems, using the contingency theory framework explicitly, one of the major contributions for this study. Other objectives include examining the extent to which different cost information is used for different purposes; sophistication level of productcost system maintained; prevalence of financial accounting mentality; treatment of non-manufacturing costs in manufacturing companies; extent of ABC usage; nature, content and role of profitability analysis. A postal questionnaire survey was conducted giving a response rate of 27%. Concrete evidence on the prevalence of financial accounting mentality is not available as the overall findings indicated mixed responses. Investigation revealed that 51% of the firms use unsophisticated, 42% maintain low sophistication level and 7% maintain sophisticated systems. Only 6.5% of the firms adopted ABC. Nevertheless the respondents were satisfied and perceived their costing systems to be accurately assigning costs to products/services. Although periodic profitability analysis is considered to be important for decisionmaking, the content of it is questionable as a large number of firms use full costs with arbitrary allocation bases or inappropriate cost drivers. Only the variables 'size' (significant) and 'competitive environment' (weak significant) influence sophistication levels maintained. Finally the limitations of this study that may affect the possibility of generalising the findings are acknowledged and suggestions for areas of future research highlighted.
Bacille Calmette‐Guérin intravesical instillation and erectile function: is there a concern?

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) therapy on erectile function in a cohort of male patients affected by non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer. Thirty male patients undergoing BCG treatment for non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer were enrolled in the study. Their mean age was 60.4 years. None of the patients had risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED). All subjects underwent a BCG standard schedule therapy (once weekly instillation for 6 weeks). International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5) and International Prostate Symptom score (I‐PSS) were addressed to the patients during the treatment schedule (at fourth or fifth instillation) and 1 month after the last instillation. The mean IIEF‐5 score was 17.6 ± 6.7 during therapy and 21.7 ± 2.92 a month after the last instillation (P = 0.008). Baseline ED and the association with lower urinary tract symptoms are variables significantly connected with post‐treatment results (P = 0.016 and 0.00 respectively) whereas the age seems not to be related to ED (P = 0.256). No major side effects were recorded. It is concluded that BCG treatment is effective for prophylaxis of non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer; however, it may induce a high incidence of ED. Although this effect is transient and reversible, erectile failure is another source of psychological distress that adversely affects the quality of life of men undergoing BCG treatment.