Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FERRARI: A Flexible Software-Based Fault and Error Injection System

A major step toward the development of fault-tolerant computer systems is the validation of the dependability properties of these systems. Fault/error injection has been recognized as a powerful approach to validate the fault tolerance mechanisms of a system and to obtain statistics on parameters such as coverages and latencies. This paper describes the methodology and guidelines for the design of flexible software based fault and error injection and presents a tool, FERRARI, that incorporates the techniques. The techniques used to emulate transient errors and permanent faults in software are described in detail. Experimental results are presented for several error detection techniques, and they demonstrate the effectiveness of the software-based error injection tool in evaluating the dependability properties of complex systems. >
From Psychological Need Satisfaction to Intentional Behavior: Testing a Motivational Sequence in Two Behavioral Contexts

The present study tested a motivational sequence in which global-level psychological need satisfaction from self-determination theory influenced intentions and behavior directly and indirectly through contextual-level motivation and situational-level decision-making constructs from the theory of planned behavior. Two samples of university students (N = 511) completed measures of global-level psychological need satisfaction, contextual-level autonomous motivation, and situational-level attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and behavior in two behavioral contexts: exercise and dieting. A structural equation model supported the proposed sequence in both samples. The indirect effect was present for exercise behavior, whereas both direct and indirect effects were found for dieting behavior. Findings independently supported the component theories and provided a comprehensive integrated explanation of volitional behavior.
Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia in Canada: prevalence and associations with six health status indicators.

INTRODUCTION Few studies have considered the factors independently associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and/or fibromyalgia (FM) or considered the impact of these conditions on health status using population-based data. METHODS We used data from the nationally representative 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 59 101) to describe self-reported health professional-diagnosed CFS and/or FM, and their associations with 6 health status indicators. RESULTS In 2010, diagnosed CFS and FM are reported by 1.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3%-1.6%) and 1.5% (1.4%-1.7%), respectively, of the Canadian household population aged 12 years and over, with comorbid CFS and FM affecting 0.3% (0.3%-0.4%) of that population. Prevalent CFS and/or FM were more common among women, adults aged 40 years and over, those with lowest income, and those with certain risk factors for chronic disease (i.e. obesity, physical inactivity and smoking). After controlling for differences between the groups, people with CFS and/or FM reported poorer health status than those with neither condition on 5 indicators of health status, but not on the measure of fair/poor mental health. Having both CFS and FM and having multiple comorbid conditions was associated with poorer health status. CONCLUSION Co-occurrence of CFS and FM and having other chronic conditions were strongly related to poorer health status and accounted for much of the differences in health status. Understanding factors contributing to improved quality of life in people with CFS and/or FM, particularly in those with both conditions and other comorbidities, may be an important area for future research.
Strategic pricing in business relationships - do not miss the opportunity to create value for the customers

Pricing of products and services is a complex task for industrial marketing practitioners. The failure to understand the connection between business strategy and the pricing decision at the level of industrial products and services may lead to lost business opportunities and unsatisfied customers. In this article, the importance of strategic pricing in business relationships is discussed by examining the effects of business strategy, business model and service model on pricing in order to make industrial pricing strategy and its implementation successful. The empirical study was conducted within knowledge and service intensive companies. The four cases emphasise that a well-defined business strategy actually limits the number of eligible business, service and pricing options. In the case companies, a misfit between business strategy, business model, service model and pricing prevented of them fully creating value for the customers.
Using online service-scape to appeal to customers : a focus on hedonic shoppers

The website is the main place of interface between online retailers and their customers. As a place of interface it can be an important source of environmental stimuli on customers. This paper empirically examines the influence that factors associated with the online servicescape have on customers' hedonic shopping experience. Data used was collected using a structured questionnaire. Responses from 149 online customers who were found to be hedonic in their shopping orientation were used in the analysis. Version 21 of SPSS/AMOS statistical package was used to analyse the data. The findings show that web site usability, mass customisation and web aesthetic appeal play a significant positive role in influencing online customers' level of hedonic shopping experience. Website informativeness was however not found to have significant influence on customers' level of hedonic shopping experience. The findings also show that customers' level of hedonic shopping experience significantly influences commitment to online stores. The findings in the paper have wider implications on management of online stores. In general the study identifies factors that managers of online stores can focus on in order to appeal hedonic shoppers by bringing enhanced pleasure to the online shopping experience.
Centrally injected kisspeptin reduces food intake by increasing meal intervals in mice

Kisspeptin is distributed not only in brain areas for regulating reproduction but also in nuclei involved in feeding control. Whether kisspeptin alters food intake is unknown in mice. We examined how kisspeptin-10 influences feeding after intracerebroventricular injection in mice using automated monitoring. Kisspeptin-10 (0.3, 1, and 3 &mgr;g/mouse) dose-dependently inhibited the feeding response to an overnight fast by 50, 95, and 90% respectively, during the 2–3 h period postinjection. The 1&mgr;g/mouse dose reduced the 4-h cumulative food intake by 28% whereas intraperitoneal injection (10 &mgr;g/mouse) did not. The decreased 4-h food intake was due to reduced meal frequency (−45%/4 h), whereas meal size and gastric emptying were not altered. These data suggest that kisspeptin may be a negative central regulator of feeding by increasing satiety.
Disclosure of Pension Asset Allocation and Expected Rate of Return Management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the expected rate of return (ERR) management is related to disclosure of pension asset allocation. FAS 132R(1), which requires firms to disaggregate the detailed categories of pension asset allocation, provides a natural experiment setting for investigating the effect of enhanced transparency on firm behavior. Design/methodology/approach The authors focus on the variation of voluntary disclosure and its effect on ERR management under the two different reporting regimes. The authors measure the variation of voluntary disclosure of the pension asset allocations in the pre-period of FAS 132R(1), by using the self-constructed disclosure score. Findings First, firms create flexibility in their choice of ERR through opaque disclosure of pension asset allocation. Next, firms with poor disclosures are more likely to adjust ERR downward when accounting standards require greater transparency, implying that, for firms with poor disclosures, mandated transparency in pension asset allocation plays a vital role in reducing the ERR management. Research limitations/implications The authors directly illustrate the impact of FAS 132R(1) on ERR management. The authors find that the impact of mandated transparency is not uniform across firms. Next, this study highlights the importance of disclosure in restricting managers’ earnings management motivation. Originality/value The authors hand collect the asset allocations under pre-FAS 132R(1) period from the 10-K pension footnotes for all S&P 500 firms, which allows the authors to identify the disclosure variation amongst the firms. Based on the variation of disclosure, the authors construct the ordinal measure of disclosure scores on which the testing indicator variables are built.
Corporate Governance Dan Karakteristik Perusahaan Terhadap Kebijakan Dividen

The objective of this study was to give empirical evidence, the infl uence of corporategovernance, profi tability, and fi rm growth to dividend policy. Population of study was fi rms whichwere followed survey by The Indonesian Institute for Corporate Governance (IICG) in 2006-2008. Datawas collected by purposive sampling and multiple regression. The result showed there is no supportsubstitution that fi rm which had bad corporate governance mechanism would give dividend to investors.Firm profi tability and fi rm size gave positive infl uence to dividend policy, but fi rm growth gavenegative infl uence to dividend policy.
Direct calibration of a reference standard against the air kerma strength primary standard, at 192Ir HDR energy

The primary standard of low air kerma rate sources or beams, maintained at the Radiological Standards Laboratory (RSL) of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), is a 60 cm3 spherical graphite ionization chamber. A 192Ir HDR source was standardized at the hospital site in units of air kerma strength (AKS) using this primary standard. A 400 cm3 bakelite chamber, functioning as a reference standard at the RSL for a long period, at low air kerma rates (compared to external beam dose rates), was calibrated against the primary standard. It was seen that the primary standard and the reference standard, both being of low Z, showed roughly the same scatter response and yielded the same calibration factor for the 400 cm3 reference chamber, with or without room scatter. However, any likelihood of change in the reference chamber calibration factor would necessitate the re-transport of the primary standard to the hospital site for re-calibration. Frequent transport of the primary standard can affect the long-term stability of the primary standard, due to its movement or other extraneous causes. The calibration of the reference standard against the primary standard at the RSL, for an industrial type 192Ir source maintained at the laboratory, showed excellent agreement with the hospital calibration, making it possible to check the reference chamber calibration at RSL itself. Further calibration procedures have been developed to offer traceable calibration of the hospital well ionization chambers.
Anvil clouds of tropical mesoscale convective systems in monsoon regions

The anvil clouds of tropical mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) in West Africa, the Maritime Continent and the Bay of Bengal have been examined with TRMM and CloudSat satellite data and ARM ground‐based radar observations. The anvils spreading out from the precipitating cores of MCSs are subdivided into thick, medium and thin portions. The thick portions of anvils show distinct differences from one climatological regime to another. In their upper portions, the thick anvils of West Africa MCSs have a broad, flat histogram of reflectivity, and a maximum of reflectivity in their lower portions. The reflectivity histogram of the Bay of Bengal thick anvils has a sharply peaked distribution of reflectivity at all altitudes with modal values that increase monotonically downward. The reflectivity histogram of the Maritime Continent thick anvils is intermediate between that of the West Africa and Bay of Bengal anvils, consistent with the fact this region comprises a mix of land and ocean influences. It is suggested that the difference between the statistics of the continental and oceanic anvils is related to some combination of two factors: (1) the West African anvils tend to be closely tied to the convective regions of MCSs while the oceanic anvils are more likely to be extending outward from large stratiform precipitation areas of MCSs, and (2) the West African MCSs result from greater buoyancy, so that the convective cells are more likely to produce graupel particles and detrain them into anvils. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Health Care Waste Management in Uganda-A Case Study of Soroti Regional Referral Hospital

It has been recognized world over that Health Care Waste (HCW) if not properly managed is a potential of disease transmission and puts health care workers, patients and the general public at a risk. This study investigated the problems of waste management in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH) and proposed solutions to mitigate them. This was done through observation, interviews, studying the available policies, guidelines and legislature. Data on waste generation rate and patient attendance was also collected and analysed. The study identified the causes of poor waste management as poor segregation of waste, lack of waste management plan, inadequate waste management and coordination structure, ineffective and inefficient incineration equipment and lack of comprehensive waste management policies and guidelines. The current average waste generation rate at SRRH was determined to be 107.79Kg/day. There is need to have a good and comprehensive waste management policy, guidelines and plan which will provide a proper waste management structure to alleviate the problem. Some of the proposed recommendations may be implemented at the facility level as short term while others at the national level may require significant funding and time. It is hoped that there will be improved efficiency in health care waste management, improved working and living environment at the hospital, reduced risk of infection and will create a good image of the hospital. Copyright © IJWMT, all rights reserved.
Routine X‐ray control of upper central venous lines: Is it necessary?

Background: Insertion of central venous catheters (CVCs) is a procedure associated with a varying risk of complications, depending on the setting and the skill of the clinician who undertakes the procedure. The aim of this study was to monitor the complication rate of CVC insertion and evaluate the value of routine chest X‐ray control.
Peripheral white blood cell count in cerebral ischemic infarction

ABSTRACT – Peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count was determined in 95 patients with ischemic cerebral infarction 3 days after the onset of the stroke. At this time, higher WBC counts were found in patients with more severe neurological impairment and larger infarct size. A relationship between increase of WBC count and poor clinical outcome was also demonstrated. The elevation of peripheral WBC count observed soon after cerebral infarction reflects the degree of the inflammatory response in the acute hase and seems to have a direct relationship with the extent of the local cerebral damage.
Study on Changes in Racehorses??Metabolites and Exercise-related Hormones before and after a Race

Physiological changes in thoroughbred racehorses during the race were investigated by measuring concentrations of metabolites and exercise-related hormones before and after a race. The conversion point from anaerobic to aerobic exercise during the race was estimated subsequently. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 53 thoroughbreds at different times -three h before and 45 min after- for measuring the concentrations of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), lactate, uric acid, ammonia insulin, adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol according to the race distance. In accordance with the race distance, each metabolite increased in concentration compared with the level before the race. The level of glucose, in particular, increased from 56.18±3.20 mg/dl before the race to 148.82±8.82 mg/dl after the race for horses that raced 1,400 m, showing a significant increase of 165% (p<0.001). The concentration of NEFA rose from 76.77±5.59 uEq/L to 335.85±35.39 uEq/L, up 337% (p<0.01) after a 1,400 m race. Exercise-related hormones also showed similar changes. The level of insulin dropped the most in horses that raced 1,400 m, by 42%, from 0.97±0.18 to 0.56±0.05 μg/L (p<0.5); however, ACTH and cortisol jumped significantly at 1,800 m, from 20.17±2.12 to 551.45±91.33 pg/ml (p<0.5) and 1.13±0.16 to 5.66±0.45 μg/dl (p<0.01), respectively, representing the highest increase. Therefore, based on the changes in glucose, NEFA and insulin levels before and after the race, it was concluded that the race distance of 1,400 m represents the point where racehorses make a conversion from anaerobic to aerobic exercise.
Tracheal reconstruction with a composite graft: fascial flap-wrapped allogenic aorta with external cartilage-ring support.

OBJECTIVES Animal and clinical studies have demonstrated the feasibility of tracheal replacement by silicone-stented allogenic aortas. In clinical trials, however, this graft did not show mature cartilage regeneration into the grafts as was observed in animal models. To solve this issue, we investigated tracheal replacement with a composite graft based on a fascial flap-wrapped allogenic aorta with external cartilage-ring support in a rabbit model. METHODS Seven male 'Géant des Flandres' and 'New Zealand' rabbits served as donors of aortas and cartilage rings, respectively. Nineteen female 'New Zealand' rabbits were used as recipients. First, in nine animals, neoangiogenesis of the composite graft following a wrap using a pedicled lateral thoracic fascial flap and implantation under the skin of the chest wall was investigated. Animal sacrifice was scheduled at regular intervals up to 38 days. Second, 10 animals underwent tracheal replacement with the composite graft after a 7-to-9 day revascularization period, and were followed-up to death. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations were used to study the morphology, stiffness and viability of the construct. RESULTS There was one operative death after tracheal replacement. The first group of animals was found to have a satisfactory tubular morphology and stiffness of their construct associated with preserved histological structure of cartilages and moderate to severe aortic ischaemic lesions. In the group of rabbits having undergone tracheal replacement, the anatomical results were characterized by a discrepancy between the severity of ischaemic lesions involving both allogenic aorta and cartilage rings and the satisfactory biomechanical characteristics of the graft in 7 of 10 animals, probably due to cartilage calcification deposits associated with inflammatory scar tissue ensuring the stiffness of the construct. CONCLUSIONS Our investigations demonstrate the feasibility of the replacement of circumferential tracheal defects using our composite graft. Future experiments using therapeutic bronchoscopy tools are required to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of this tracheal substitute in the long-term.
Regulation of synaptotagmin gene expression during ascidian embryogenesis.

The ascidian embryo, a model for the primitive mode of chordate development, rapidly forms a dorsal nervous system which consists of a small number of neurons. Here, we have characterized the transcriptional regulation of an ascidian synaptotagmin (syt) gene to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying development of synaptic transmission. In situ hybridization showed that syt is expressed in all neurons described in previous studies and transiently in the embryonic epidermis. Neuronal expression of syt requires induction from the vegetal side of the embryo, whereas epidermal expression occurs autonomously in isolated ectodermal blastomeres. Introduction of green fluorescent protein reporter gene constructs into the ascidian embryos indicates that a genomic fragment of the 3.4-kb 5' upstream region contains promoter elements of syt gene. Deletion analysis of the promoter suggests that syt expression in neurons and in the embryonic epidermis depends on distinct cis-regulatory regions.
Sustainability Indicators Evaluation and Reporting: Case Studyfor Building and Construction Sector

Current trends of sustainability indicators evaluation (i.e. measurement of economic/financial, environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance) and corporate sustainable reporting are discussed in the paper. The focus is on the building and construction sector. The relationship between sustainability indicators and reporting is an important issue; and the development of advanced methods to identify key performance indicators for ESG performance is discussed here along with the possibility of the utilization of information and communication technology and XBRL taxonomy.
Early menopause association with employment, smoking, divorced marital status and low leptin levels

Aims. The aims of this study were (1) to investigate the determining risk factors related to early menopause and (2) to compare the relationships between demographic characteristics and hormonal status and leptin levels in subjects with early (no surgical) and natural menopause. Study design. The prospective study was conducted on 500 women with early and 2700 women with natural menopause. Detailed information was collected about their employment status, past and present smoking habits, coffee and alcohol use, educational level and other factors relevant to health. Thirty participants with early menopause and 30 participants with natural menopause were evaluated for hormone and leptin levels. Results. Employment status (OR: 1.94), current smoking (OR: 1.80) and divorced marital status (OR: 1.79) were found to be significant risk factors for early menopause. Mean levels of leptin in natural and early menopause were measured 11.40 ± 4.1 ng/ml and 8.01 ± 3.9 ng/ml, respectively (p = 0001). Leptin levels in the early (r = 0.765, p = 0.001) and natural (r = 0.750, p = 0.001) menopause subjects correlated positively with oestradiol (E2) levels. Conclusion. This study shows that early onset of menopause is correlated with smoking, employment status, divorced marital status and lower leptin levels.
CEO Career Concerns and Risk Taking

We introduce a novel measure of CEO career concerns: the distance to contract expiration. Using a sample of 3,954 CEO employment contracts, we show that the distance to contract expiration predicts CEO turnover and that CEO turnover is sensitive to performance only when contracts are close to expiration. We use within-CEO variation in contract-related turnover probability to isolate the effect of career concerns on risk taking. Protection against dismissal should encourage CEOs to engage in projects with less certain outcomes. We find that firms exhibit higher return volatility, higher idiosyncratic risk, and invest more when CEO turnover probability is low.