Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mobile information system for small-scale rural farmers

Technology advances in agriculture is leveling the playing fields for small scale farmers in rural areas. In this study we look at the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) which is disseminating market information to small-scale farmers and market actors through mobile-based market information systems (MKIS). The number of users who adopt such technology, however, is still relatively low. Understanding the factors promoting or limiting the acceptance and adoption of new information system is a key challenge. Against this background, the present study explores the determinants of adoption of mobile-based MKIS services in Ethiopia. Empirical evidences were gathered through a questionnaire survey based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as a theoretical base. The results indicate that performance expectancy, social influence, facilitating condition were the most significant constructs on behavior intention to adopt mobile-based MKIS services. Moreover, the study reveals the influence of moderator variables on the main constructs towards intention behavior and usage behavior of mobile-based MKIS in the context of agricultural commodity exchange. Partial Least Square (PLS) is used to analyze the data. The findings are in line with those reported in previous studies. The study also validates the UTAUT model in the context of agricultural commodity exchange in low-income country.
Protection of monkeys by a split vaccine against SIVmac depends upon biological properties of the challenge virus

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of the anti-cellular immune response in the protection of rhesus macaques against infection with the simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac. To determine the biological differences between SIV challenge stocks grown either on human T-cell lines or on monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MPBMC). DesignA protective SIVmac split vaccine was administered to rhesus macaques and their anti-, B- and T-cell response monitored. Vaccinees and controls were challenged with SIVmac grown either on human or on monkey cells. The in vivo replication rate of, and the immune response to, the two viruses was compared. MethodsFive rhesus macaques were immunized with a total of 2 mg each of purified SIVmac251/32H grown on the human C8166 T-cell line. The antibody and proliferative T-cell responses were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and T-cell proliferation assay, respectively. Four protected animals and four controls were reboosted and challenged with MPBMC-grown SIVmac251 (SIVmac251/MPBMC). Cell-free virus load was determined by titration of plasma for SIV infectivity on C8166 cells and antigen with a core antigen capture assay. ResultsProtection from virus challenge with C8166-grown SIVmac251/32H or SIVmac251/ MPBMC did not correlate with anti-cellular antibodies or proliferative T-cell reactivities. Control animals infected with SIVmac251/MPBMC showed high persistent antigenaemia and high plasma virus titres. Both were absent in controls infected with complement C8166-grown SIVmac251/32H. Whereas the latter always seroconverted against the full panel of viral polypeptides, SIVmac251/MPBMC-infected animals showed a drastically decreased antibody response. ConclusionsNeither the antibody nor the proliferative T-cell response to SIVmac correlates with protection from virus challenge. In contrast to SIVmac251/32H grown on C8166 cells, the MPBMC-grown challenge virus SIVmac251 appears to belong to the ‘rapid-high’ phenotype, possibly explaining the lack of protection against this SIV.
Impact of OATP transporters on pharmacokinetics

Membrane transporters are now recognized as important determinants of the transmembrane passage of drugs. Organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP) form a family of influx transporters expressed in various tissues important for pharmacokinetics. Of the 11 human OATP transporters, OATP1B1, OATP1B3 and OATP2B1 are expressed on the sinusoidal membrane of hepatocytes and can facilitate the liver uptake of their substrate drugs. OATP1A2 is expressed on the luminal membrane of small intestinal enterocytes and at the blood‐brain barrier, potentially mediating drug transport at these sites. Several clinically used drugs have been identified as substrates of OATP transporters (e.g. many statins are substrates of OATP1B1). Some drugs may inhibit OATP transporters (e.g. cyclosporine) causing pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions. Moreover, genetic variability in genes encoding OATP transporters can result in marked inter‐individual differences in pharmacokinetics. For example, a single nucleotide polymorphism (c.521T > C, p.Val174Ala) in the SLCO1B1 gene encoding OATP1B1 decreases the ability of OATP1B1 to transport active simvastatin acid from portal circulation into the liver, resulting in markedly increased plasma concentrations of simvastatin acid and an enhanced risk of simvastatin‐induced myopathy. SLCO1B1 polymorphism also affects the pharmacokinetics of many other, but not all (fluvastatin), statins and that of the antidiabetic drug repaglinide, the antihistamine fexofenadine and the endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan. This review compiles the current knowledge about the expression and function of human OATP transporters, their substrate and inhibitor specificities, as well as pharmacogenetics.
CPG-MTA implementation for locomotion control

This paper deals with the new realization of the VLSI chip for locomotion control introduced in Arena et al. (2003). With respect to the previous version, the new chip includes the fully functional generation of several locomotion gaits suitable for the control of hexapod robots and other bio-inspired structures. Experimental results and the application of the chip to the control of two bio-inspired robots are shown.
Beyond the "model minority" stereotype: trends in health risk behaviors among Asian/Pacific Islander high school students.

BACKGROUND Asian/Pacific Islander (API) students have been stereotyped as the "model minority. " The objective of this study was to examine the trends in health risk behaviors among API students who participated in the San Diego City Schools Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) between 1993 and 2005. METHODS High school students from the San Diego City School District completed the self-administered YRBS between 1993 and 2005. Among sexually active students, logistic regression for survey data was used to examine trends in health risk behaviors. RESULTS From 1993 to 2005, condom use at last sexual intercourse was consistently lower among API students than their cross-ethnic peers. We observed a significant increasing trend in lifetime smoking, drinking, and marijuana use. Parental communications regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were significantly less frequent and decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS Our findings challenge the notion of API youth being the "model minority. " API students face unique challenges, including barriers to good communication about sex and lower rates of condom use. School-based prevention programs are needed for API students, including a focus on HIV communication with parents.
PHYLOGENETIC TAXONOMY *

During the century following the publication of Darwin’s (24) Origin of Species, biological taxonomy waited for the revolution that should have followed upon acceptance of an evolutionary world view. Although the principle of common descent gained wide acceptance early in that era, it assumed a largely superficial role in taxonomy (131). Pre-existing taxonomies were explained as the result of evolution (16, 86, 124, 128), and evolutionary interpretations were given to long-standing taxonomic practices (111), but the principle of descent did not become a central tenet from which taxonomic principles and methods were derived (111, 115). In the middle of the twentieth century, the late Willi Hennig outlined an approach (57-59) that represented a fundamental shift in outlook concerning the role of the concept of evolution in taxonomy, and which engendered significant changes in that discipline (see 3, 29, 30, 97, 133, and references therein). By deriving the principles and methods of his approach from the tenet of common descent, Hennig granted the concept of evolution a position
Incremental dynamic analysis for estimating seismic performance sensitivity and uncertainty

Incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) is presented as a powerful tool to evaluate the variability in the seismic demand and capacity of non‐deterministic structural models, building upon existing methodologies of Monte Carlo simulation and approximate moment‐estimation. A nine‐story steel moment‐resisting frame is used as a testbed, employing parameterized moment‐rotation relationships with non‐deterministic quadrilinear backbones for the beam plastic‐hinges. The uncertain properties of the backbones include the yield moment, the post‐yield hardening ratio, the end‐of‐hardening rotation, the slope of the descending branch, the residual moment capacity and the ultimate rotation reached. IDA is employed to accurately assess the seismic performance of the model for any combination of the parameters by performing multiple nonlinear timehistory analyses for a suite of ground motion records. Sensitivity analyses on both the IDA and the static pushover level reveal the yield moment and the two rotational‐ductility parameters to be the most influential for the frame behavior. To propagate the parametric uncertainty to the actual seismic performance we employ (a) Monte Carlo simulation with latin hypercube sampling, (b) point‐estimate and (c) first‐order second‐moment techniques, thus offering competing methods that represent different compromises between speed and accuracy. The final results provide firm ground for challenging current assumptions in seismic guidelines on using a median‐parameter model to estimate the median seismic performance and employing the well‐known square‐root‐sum‐of‐squares rule to combine aleatory randomness and epistemic uncertainty. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Business services outsourcing and economic growth: Evidence from a dynamic panel data approach

Innovations in information- and telecommunication technology render the proximity requirement between business partners obsolete and make business service outsourcing via cross-border trade more feasible. Although the (service-led) growth prospects have been widely discussed, evidence at the country level is scarce. In this paper, we evaluate the effect of openness to trade commercial- and specialized business services on long-run growth by applying a dynamic panel data approach to account for unobserved country specific effects and endogenous growth determinants. The system GMM estimates validate that a long-run growth effect for countries taking part in the outsourcing process of producer services exists. The growth effect is significantly stronger in a sample of Non-OECD countries and suggests a kind of catching-up process. Evidence from two stage least square indicate that the impact of professional service regulation on long-run growth work rather indirectly through trade flows.
Long‐term efficacy of the hepatitis B Vaccine in a high‐risk group

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global health problem. In an attempt to control infection, worldwide HBV vaccination programs have been established. Saudi Arabia, an endemic area for HBV infection, established an HBV immunization program in 1989. This cross‐sectional study evaluates the long‐term protection of HBV vaccination 14–24 years after primary immunization in a high‐risk group (clinical year medical students) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All participants had complete HBV immunization at birth or in early childhood. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti‐HBs) levels were obtained. An anti‐HBs titer of <10 mIU/ml indicated no protection, while a titer of >10 mIU/ml was considered to represent protective immune status. A total of 238 students were included; they were predominantly females (n = 182, 76.5%). Mean age was 22.2 ± 1.1 years. Duration since primary vaccination was 19.8 ± 2.3 years. Female students were more likely to maintain long‐term protection compared to males (62.1% and 58.8%, respectively). Anti‐HBs levels were significantly low in many students after primary immunization. Testing medical students for anti‐HBs levels may be warranted as they represent a high‐risk population. The higher rate of vaccine failure in males than females requires further investigation as it may explain the higher prevalence of HBV in the male population. J. Med. Virol. 85:1518–1522, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optical Properties of Direct Restorative Materials

The contrast ratio, light reflectivity, scattering coefficient, and absorption coefficient of four composites and an unfilled resin were calculated algebraically from reflection spectrophotometric data using Kubelka's equations. The correlation coefficient between calculated and experimental values of contrast ratio was 0.9996. Values of infinite optical thickness ranged from 4.19 to 6.70 mm.
Determinants of Capital Structure: An Age Wise Analysis from Non-Financial Sector of Pakistan

This study examines various determinants of capital structure in non-financial sector of Pakistan. Data are retrieved from the balance sheets, income statements and notes of 214 companies from non-financial sector in Pakistan. These companies were selected through random sampling. The data has been analysed through regression analysis (using the Random Effect Model) in order to evaluate the effects of various determinants. This study has evaluated the data of the organization lying in different age categories to evaluate either there is change in different determinants with maturity of the firm. The study finds that non-debt tax shield and liquidity are two most influential determinants of capital structure. However, there is a variation observed with respect to age categories.
Proximity to Broad Credit Rating Change and Earnings Management

This paper shows that firms near a broad credit rating change, that is, a rating with a plus or minus specification, tend to inflate their reported earnings more than firms that are not near a broad credit rating change. Our measures of earnings inflation are discretionary accruals and conservatism in reported earnings. Our results are consistent with the notion that due to regulatory and contractual factors related to broad ratings (Kisgen [2006]), firms benefit (lose) more from an upgrade (downgrade) to a higher (lower) broad rating category as compared to an upgrade (downgrade) within a broad rating category. Our results also suggest that firms believe that by inflating earnings they can influence credit rating agencies' decision to upgrade or downgrade.
Pengaruh Human Capital Terhadap Kinerja Auditor Pada Kap Yang Ada Di Bandung

This study is based on the importance of accountant professionalism as human capital in accounting firm as a service company. This research is intended to study the effect of human capital on the performance of auditors in KAP in Bandung by proposing research hypothesis that, human capital have positive effect on auditor performance, either partially or simultaneously. Several dimensions as sub-variables that form human caputals to be studied are represented by individual capability, individual motivation, leadership, the organizational climate, and workgroup effectiveness factors. The auditor's performance is measured by three factors that make the performance are (1) individual factors, (2) psychological factors, and (3) organizational factors. The study was conducted at an accounting firm located in Bandung. From the number of population taken random sample consisting of senior accountant and junior accountant as respondent. Data collection technique used is by using questionnaire. In accordance with the measurement scale, the data that have been collected tested the validity of Rank Spearman correlation formula and reliability with Alpha Cronbach. Data that have been tested and declared valid and reliable are then analyzed by correlation and regression analysis. Based on the results of correlation and regression analysis to test the hypothesis obtained findings of research results that human capital simultaneously have a fairly close relationship with its performance. While from multiple regression analysis it is known that each dimension gives various contribution to auditor performance and significant at p = 0,05, so from result of significance test, either partially or simultaneously can be concluded to accept research hypothesis, that is human capital have positive effect to auditor performance
Decreased RyR2 refractoriness determines myocardial synchronization of aberrant Ca2+ release in a genetic model of arrhythmia

Dysregulated intracellular Ca2+ signaling is implicated in a variety of cardiac arrhythmias, including catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Spontaneous diastolic Ca2+ release (DCR) can induce arrhythmogenic plasma membrane depolarizations, although the mechanism responsible for DCR synchronization among adjacent myocytes required for ectopic activity remains unclear. We investigated the synchronization mechanism(s) of DCR underlying untimely action potentials and diastolic contractions (DCs) in a catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia mouse model with a mutation in cardiac calsequestrin. We used a combination of different approaches including single ryanodine receptor channel recording, optical imaging (Ca2+ and membrane potential), and contractile force measurements in ventricular myocytes and intact cardiac muscles. We demonstrate that DCR occurs in a temporally and spatially uniform manner in both myocytes and intact myocardial tissue isolated from cardiac calsequestrin mutation mice. Such synchronized DCR events give rise to triggered electrical activity that results in synchronous DCs in the myocardium. Importantly, we establish that synchronization of DCR is a result of a combination of abbreviated ryanodine receptor channel refractoriness and the preceding synchronous stimulated Ca2+ release/reuptake dynamics. Our study reveals how aberrant DCR events can become synchronized in the intact myocardium, leading to triggered activity and the resultant DCs in the settings of a cardiac rhythm disorder.
Do Firms Time Seasoned Equity Offerings? Evidence from SEOs Issued Shortly after IPOs

We examine whether firms take advantage of brief windows of opportunity to time seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) when their equity is substantially overvalued given managers’ private information. We find that firms experiencing larger IPO underpricing, larger stock price run-ups after the IPO, and larger IPO offer size tend to return to the market with an SEO earlier than the others. Firms which issue SEOs quickly after an IPO underperform in comparison to their peers. The mean three-day abnormal return of firms issuing SEOs within six months of IPOs is 2.69% lower than that of firms issuing SEOs six months or more following their IPOs. Firms issuing SEOs shortly after their IPOs also exhibit worse long-run stock returns and operating performance. The results are most consistent with the hypothesis that managers with private information time SEOs in ways that benefit existing shareholders.
Experimental cerebral concussion

EXPERIMENTAL concussion is a condition well known from the early investigations of Kocher [1901], Duret [1920], Polis [1894] and, more recently, Miller [1927] to be associated with a cessation of respiration and rise of blood pressure, of duration corresponding to the intensity of the blow. Re-investigation of the phenomenon in cats under nembutal anaesthesia confirms its appearance in severe degree, and ability to result in death, without macroscopic lesions of the brain stem. It is further established that the phenomenon can be elicited in the decerebrate animal, and corresponds with a passing depression of all bulbar reflexes (corneal, pinna reflexes, etc.). The respiratory centre is the most sensitive to percussion. Acceleration in movement resulting from the blow is the essential factor in the stimulus, for if the head is prevented from moving when struck the phenomenon fails to occur. Momentary deformity of the skull, and stimulation of superficial structures, therefore appear to play no part. An instant acceleration of the head from zero to 23 feet per second (or reverse deceleration) is the minimal stimulus for the cat. It is slightly higher for the macaque monkey. Labyrinthine stimulation likewise appears to have slight if any part in the phenomenon, for it is obtained after section of both eighth nerves. Rise of intracranial pressure does not accompany the phenomenon, though it is possible under certain circumstances to reproduce a similar effect by a shock-like rise of intracranial pressure alone. The nervous effect of a blow is thus considered to be due to the physical acceleration directly transmitted to each and every centre.
Delay Tolerant Networks on Vehicle-to-Vehicle Cognitive Wireless Communication with Satellite System for Disaster Information System in a Coastal City

This paper introduces new Disaster Information System based upon Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) in Taro, Miyako, and Iwate Prefecture in Northern Japanese coastal towns which are the severely damaged by the East Japan Great Earthquake in 2011. This paper reports and discusses about the network conditions in disaster area by using our prototype network. Then, the computational experiments of the DTN by using cognitive wireless cars in those towns are discussed. The results show that the proposed cognitive wireless network (CWN) under the Spray and Wait Routing can work effectively. Finally we conclude that 25 wireless cars are expected to need for Disaster Information System with DTN in the town of Taro.
Molecular correlates in urine for the obesity and prostatic inflammation of BPH/LUTS patients

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is strongly associated with obesity and prostatic tissue inflammation, but the molecular underpinning of this relationship is not known. Here, we examined the association between urine levels of chemokines/adipokines with histological markers of prostate inflammation, obesity, and lower urinary tract symptoms LUTS in BPH patients.
User Acceptance of the Intranet in Restaurant Franchise Systems: An Empirical Study

This research study examined the acceptance of the intranet in restaurant franchise systems. The widely accepted Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) developed by Davis (1986, 1989) was the basis for this study. TAM is an excellent model to predict information technology (IT) usage and is based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). Therefore, TAM was adopted in this study of intranet acceptance. Furthermore, this study attempted to see if the earlier results of TAM are still valid. The original model was modified to include one external variable, franchise support. Data were collected from franchise restaurant systems throughout the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Of 3,500 questionnaires distributed to individual users of intranet, 161 contained usable responses. The results of regression analysis confirm that TAM is valid for additional applications such as evaluating the intranet in restaurant franchise systems.