Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of a Compact Dilution Sampler for Stationary Combustion Sources

ABSTRACT The dilution sampling method simulates the rapid cooling and dilution processes after hot flue gas have left the stack. This allows gases or vapors to nucleate both homogeneously and heterogeneously, and to condense on preexisting particles in processes analogous to those that occur in the ambient environment. Using this method the authors can collect filterable particulate matter (PM) and condensible PM, that is, primary PM, simultaneously. In order to make this method more suitable for field investigation, a compact dilution sampler was developed. The sampler enhances mixing of dilution air with the stack gas, and thus shortens the length of the mixing section. The design decreases the nominal flow rate through the aging section, and accordingly reduces the size of the residence chamber. The decreased size of the sampler is suitable for field test. Sampling gas is pressured into the residence chamber, and air pressure in the chamber is micro-positive. Uncollected redundant gas is automatically discharged through unused sampling ports, which keeps the unit stable. Performance evaluation tests demonstrate that the design is reasonable. The sampler has been applied to characterize PM emissions from various combustion sources in China. IMPLICATIONS Particulate matter (PM) emitted from stationary combustion sources is an important contributor to urban ambient PM, especially for PM2.5 (PM ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter). Characterizing PM emissions from various combustion sources and providing reliable emission data are important for identifying their contributions to urban ambient PM and for designing corresponding control measures. This research developed a compact dilution sampler, which is a reliable tool for characterizing PM emissions from stationary combustion sources in China. The data obtained by the field measurements using the dilution sampler will be helpful for source apportionment and emission inventory development.
Strategic Deviation and Stock Return Synchronicity

We examine the effect of strategic deviation on the relative amount of firm-specific information incorporated into stock prices, measured by stock return synchronicity. Strategic deviation is conceptualized as the extent to which the pattern of a firm’s resource allocation deviates from that of its industry peers. We find that strategic deviation is negatively associated with stock return synchronicity. Using a path analysis, we document that firms following deviant strategy issue more frequent managerial forecasts and have a higher level of block ownership than nondeviant firms, and that both managerial forecasts and block ownership partially mediate the relationship between strategic deviation and stock return synchronicity. Our study contributes to accounting and finance literature by documenting the role of firms’ strategic positioning in the stock price-formation process.
Nurses’ perceptions of ethical issues related to patients’ rights law

August 2006 marked the 10th anniversary of landmark legislation when Israel’s parliament passed the unique Patient’s Rights Law. This law underscores the importance of medical ethics in Israeli society. During a seminar at the Shaare Zedek School of Nursing, third-year students performed a qualitative research study investigating ethical issues arising in the field of nursing, and how nursing staff dealt with these issues in relation to the law. The research was conducted using semistructured questionnaires. The results showed that the staff participants knew the law, but did not differentiate between legal and ethical problems. The establishment of a framework for dealing with these issues would help to promote professional ethics, encourage broad-based agreements related to ethical decisions, reduce ethical conflict, and increase implementation of the law on patients’ rights.
Long Nocturnal Dialysis

Background/Aims: The continuous growth of the dialysis pool in our unit induced us to organize a third long nocturnal dialysis (LND) session, considering the excellent survival and rehabilitation results reported with this method. This paper analyzes the results and assesses the role of LND among the different dialytic treatment options. Methods: Out of 18 patients on LND, 13 (12 males and 1 female, mean age 52 ± 13 years, time on dialysis 21.8 ± 23.8 months) with >6 months’ experience were studied, and 9 underwent a further metabolic evaluation. LND was performed using 1- to 1.4-m2 Hemophan membranes, bicarbonate buffer, 200–250 ml/min blood flow, and 300–500 ml/min dialysate flow, 8 h three times a week. Kt/V and protein catabolic rate (3-point classic urea kinetics), postdialytic weight, serum albumin, total protein, hemoglobin, Ca2+, phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone, bioimpedance body water, blood pressure, and drug use (antihypertensives, phosphate binders, erythropoietin, vitamin D, hypnotics) were evaluated in each patient during hemodialysis and LND. In the metabolic study (done twice), sodium (compared with the Kimura model), potassium, phosphate, and urea were analyzed in blood and inlet and outlet dialysate after 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h. Results: The mortality was low (1 death every 247 patient-months). After 19 ± 8.1 months of LND, the postdialytic weight rose from 68.5 ± 9.6 to 70.8 ± 10.7 kg (p ≤ 0.01), and the hemoglobin concentration rose from 10.8 ± 2.2 to 11.8 ± 1.8 g/dl (p ≤ 0.05); phosphate dropped from 5.6 ± 2.0 to 4.4 ± 1.3 mg/ dl (p ≤ 0.01) and the systolic blood pressure from 152 ± 15 to 143 ± 19 mm Hg (p ≤ 0.05). In the metabolic study, the sodium profile was significantly lower during the last 4 h than in the Kimura model. The potassium concentration, stable between 4 and 6 h, rose against the gradient during the last 2-hour period. The behavior of sodium and potassium during the last part of the dialysis session can be taken to indicate exhaustion of the sodium/potassium pump. Phosphate showed a gradual reduction with no intradialytic and only a moderate postdialytic rebound. The postdialytic urea rebound was 23.4%. Conclusions: LND is a useful additional tool for nephrologists in treating chronic renal failure, it is easy to organize, and it shows overall good results. Together with other dialysis methods, this schedule permits individualized treatment for each uremic patient.
Interrelationships between tourist involvement, tourist experience, and environmentally responsible behavior: a case study of Nansha Wetland Park, China

ABSTRACT This study examines a model linking three facets of tourist involvement (“importance & pleasure,” “sign value,” and “risk probability & consequence”) with tourist experience (TE) and environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire in a convenient sampling approach from tourists visiting Nansha Wetland Park, China. In total, 308 valid questionnaires were obtained. The structural equation modeling technique was applied to data analyses. Of three tourist involvement (TI) facets, “importance & pleasure” was found to be the most salient predictor of TE, which in turn led to ERB. “Risk probability & consequence” was shown as a potent predictor of both TE and ERB. “Sign value” did not have any effect on either TE or ERB. Basically, TE served as a full mediator between “importance & pleasure” and ERB, and a partial mediator between “risk probability & consequence” and ERB. Contributions, managerial implications, and future research directions are discussed.
Pneumatic Displacement of Submacular Hemorrhage due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose: Subretinal hemorrhage is one of the most serious complications of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treatment with vitreous surgery with or without plasminogen activator, fluid-gas exchange, or perfluorocarbon yields only a small improvement in visual acuity. Patients and Methods: The files of 24 patients with submacular hemorrhage secondary to AMD who were treated by injection of perfluoropropane gas (C3F8) (11 patients) or sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) (13 patients) were reviewed for visual acuity before and after the procedure and time of treatment from onset of symptoms. Results: For the whole sample, pneumatic displacement led to a statistically significant improvement in mean visual acuity (p = 0.015). A significant difference between pre- and postoperative visual acuity was found for the patients treated with SF6 (p = 0.034), but not for the patients treated with C3F8 (p = 0.245). Conclusion: The use of gas injection to displace submacular hemorrhage can significantly improve visual acuity.
The pharmacodynamics of mivacurium in the rabbit with carbon tetrachloride‐induced liver disease

Background and objective: Neuromuscular blocking effects according to the severity of liver dysfunction have not been evaluated. We assessed the neuromuscular effects of mivacurium in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐treated rabbits with toxic hepatitis in vivo. Methods: We compared the dose‐response relationships and the neuromuscular blocking effects of mivacurium in 66 rabbits randomly treated with 0.3 mL kg−1 of corn oil, 0.3 mL kg−1 of CCl4 or 0.6 mL kg−1 of CCl4 for 11 weeks, respectively. Train‐of‐four stimuli were applied every 10 s to the common peroneal nerve and the force of contraction of the tibialis anterior muscle was measured. Results: Severe hepatitis was associated with a rightward shift of the mivacurium dose‐response curves, but mild hepatitis had no effect. The calculated ED50 values for the control, mild and severe hepatitis were 17.1 ± 2.6, 18.2 ± 2.7 and 31.8 ± 3.2 &mgr;g kg−1, respectively. Rabbits with severe hepatitis had a significantly prolonged recovery time from neuromuscular blockade compared with other rabbits. Cholinesterase activity had a negative correlation with recovery indices of mivacurium even in severe hepatic injury. Severe hepatitis induced a prolongation of action duration of repeated doses, but maintained the constant intervals. Conclusions: The dose‐response and the time course of neuromuscular blockade of mivacurium differ in mild hepatitis compared with severe hepatitis, but required no adjustments of different doses for repeated injection after the desired depth of neuromuscular block, and had a negative correlation with the activity of plasma cholinesterase in both hepatic injuries.
Industrial Policy in the Context of Brexit

This paper reviews UK industrial policy in the context of Brexit and weak productivity performance. It considers proposals made in a recent White Paper as well as more general arguments for reform now that the ‘post-Thatcher consensus’ has ended. The desirability of improving horizontal policies in the areas of innovation, infrastructure and skills is noted. In the event of a hard Brexit, there would be an opportunity to return to 1970s-style selective industrial policies and public-interest-based competition policy. An advantage of a soft Brexit is that it would preclude interventionism of this kind.
Enhanced susceptibility to biomechanical stress in ACE2 null mice is prevented by loss of the p47(phox) NADPH oxidase subunit.

AIMS Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an important negative regulator of the renin-angiotensin system. Loss of ACE2 enhances the susceptibility to heart disease but the mechanism remains elusive. We hypothesized that ACE2 deficiency activates the NADPH oxidase system in pressure overload-induced heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS Using the aortic constriction model, we subjected wild-type (Ace2(+/y)), ACE2 knockout (ACE2KO, Ace2(-/y)), p47(phox) knockout (p47(phox)KO, p47(phox-)(/-)), and ACE2/p47(phox) double KO mice to pressure overload. We examined changes in peptide levels, NADPH oxidase activity, gene expression, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) activity, pathological signalling, and heart function. Loss of ACE2 resulted in enhanced susceptibility to biomechanical stress leading to eccentric remodelling, increased pathological hypertrophy, and worsening of systolic performance. Myocardial angiotensin II (Ang II) levels were increased, whereas Ang 1-7 levels were lowered. Activation of Ang II-stimulated signalling pathways in the ACE2-deficient myocardium was associated with increased expression and phosphorylation of p47(phox), NADPH oxidase activity, and superoxide generation, leading to enhanced MMP-mediated degradation of the extracellular matrix. Additional loss of p47(phox) in the ACE2KO mice normalized the increased NADPH oxidase activity, superoxide production, and systolic dysfunction following pressure overload. Ang 1-7 supplementation suppressed the increased NADPH oxidase and rescued the early dilated cardiomyopathy in pressure-overloaded ACE2KO mice. CONCLUSION In the absence of ACE2, biomechanical stress triggers activation of the myocardial NAPDH oxidase system with a critical role of the p47(phox) subunit. Increased production of superoxide, activation of MMP, and pathological signalling leads to severe adverse myocardial remodelling and dysfunction in ACE2KO mice.
Fatal poisoning with antipsychotic drugs, England and Wales 1993-2002

Prescription of atypical antipsychotics has increased in recent years. There have also been changes in the guidance on using older drugs, particularly the restriction in the use of thioridazine. We analysed deaths due to poisoning involving antipsychotics in England and Wales, 1993-2002, by age, sex, intent, and agents involved. We also studied antipsychotic prescribing in the community and poisoning deaths in England. Deaths attributed to adverse reactions in the course of normal treatment were not studied because these deaths are not classified as ‘poisonings’. The number of deaths involving antipsychotics increased from around 55 per year 1993-1998 to 74 in 2000, and then fell to 53 in 2002. Around 25% of deaths had a verdict of accidental death and in about 60% of deaths a verdict of suicide or an open verdict was recorded. There were no deaths involving thioridazine in 2002, following its removal from use in 2001. However, the number of deaths associated with atypicals, most notably olanzapine and clozapine, has increased. Age-specific death rates were highest in those aged 30-39 and 40-49 years, and were very low in those aged under 20 and 70 or over. Death rates in males were greater than in females. For many drugs the proportion mentions either alone or with ethanol, was 25-45%, but for clozapine and olanzapine such mentions totalled 65-69%. Deaths per million prescriptions (clozapine excluded) were highest for quetiapine (31.3 per million), chlorpromazine (29.4 per million) and thioridazine (15.5 per million).
Ethical decision-making in Islamic financial institutions in light of Maqasid Al-Sharia
: A conceptual framework

This article develops a conceptual framework for ethical decision‐making in Islamic financial institution based on the Islamic methodological approaches on ethics. While making use of the similarities between the scientific method and the Islamic jurisprudence method, a framework is developed by means of argumentation and reasoning to integrate Sharia doctrines with the “plan, do, check and act” (PDCA) cycle as a managerial tool. Using Al‐Raysuni's analysis of Al‐Shatibi's work on maqasid al‐sharia, this article develops a framework to assess the ethical aspects of Islamic financial operations, which is then applied to hypothetical cases. This approach can help overcome the methodological deficiencies in measuring ethical performance in Islamic finance by focusing on the process of ethical decision‐making that leads to the outcomes of organizational behavior beyond legality of contracts. The framework outlines the conditions under which an activity that is considered legal and permissible contractually could lead to outcomes that can make it ethical or unethical.
Inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase: effects on nucleic acid synthesis and cell division in Escherichia coli K-12

Mutants of Escherichia coli resistant to the antibiotic clorobiocin are also coumermycin resistant, and the mutation to resistance in at least one mutant was mapped near gyrB. We conclude, therefore, that clorobiocin inhibits deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase, and the drug was used to probe the role of this enzyme in vivo. Deozyribonucleic acid synthesis was preferentially inhibited but not completely blocked by the antibiotic. Transcription and cell division were also markedly affected. However, unlike other inhibitors of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, clorobiocin failed to induce the synthesis of protein X, the recA gene product. In mutants resistant to clorobiocin the replication velocity was unaffected, but initiation of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis appeared to be delayed. We conclude that deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase, and hence the supercoiled structure of the chromosome, is important for transcription, normal initiation of deoxyribonucleic acid replication, and cell division. The possible role of deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase in the elongation of replication forks is also discussed.
Amplified recruitment pressure of biofouling organisms in commercial salmon farms: potential causes and implications for farm management

The development of biofouling on finfish aquaculture farms presents challenges for the industry, but the factors underlying nuisance growths are still not well understood. Artificial settlement surfaces were used to examine two possible explanations for high rates of biofouling in Norwegian salmon farms: (1) increased propagule release during net cleaning operations, resulting in elevated recruitment rates; and (2) potential reservoir effects of farm surfaces. The presence of salmon farms was associated with consistently and substantially (up to 49-fold) elevated recruitment rates. Temporal patterns of recruitment were not driven by net cleaning. Resident populations of biofouling organisms were encountered on all submerged farm surfaces. Calculations indicate that a resident population of the hydroid Ectopleura larynx, a major biofouling species, could release between 0.3 × 109 and 4.7 × 109 larvae per farm annually. Such resident populations could form propagule reservoirs and be one explanation for the elevated recruitment pressure at salmon farms.
Reaching the Top or Falling Behind?: The Role of Occupational Segregation in Women's Chances of Finding a High-Paying Job Over the Life-Cycle

Using a two-stage decomposition technique, this paper analyzes the role of occupational segregation in explaining the probability of women vis-a-vis men of finding high-paying jobs over the life-cycle. Jobs are classified as highly-remunerated if their compensation exceeds a threshold, which is set at different values to span the entire wage distribution. Results obtained from pooled CPS surveys indicate that the importance of occupational segregation remains virtually unchanged over the life-cycle for low- and middle-wage workers. However, women's access to high-paying occupations becomes significantly more restricted as workers age, suggesting a previously undocumented type of `glass ceiling' in the U.S.
Salt and Water Homeostasis during Oral Rehydration Therapy in Neonates and Young Infants with Acute Diarrhoea

ABSTRACT. The clinical response and changes in water and salt homeostasis were studied daring oral rehydration therapy (ORT) with a solution containing 90 mmol sodium per I (ORS90) in 9 infants less than 2 months old (range 2–60 days). Two infants were still dehydrated 36 hours after starting ORT and were excluded from the study. Fluid was retained more rapidly and also to a larger extent than in infants of the same age treated with a solution with a sodium concentration of 60 mmol/l (ORS60). The stool sodium output was higher than that found previously in infants of the same age treated with ORS60. We conclude that during ORT the gut plays an active role in the regulation of salt homeostasis. When the sodium intake is high the percentage of sodium remaining unabsorbed is higher than when the intake is low. This mechanism reduces the risk of hypematremia in young infants treated with ORS90. The study thus demonstrates that ORS90 is effective and also seems to be safe in the treatment of neonates and young infants with dehydration secondary to diarrhoea if fluid intake is kept around 200 ml/kg/day during the rehydration period.
Exchange Rate Risk and Corporate Hedging: Evidence from Turkey

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of exchange rate risk on corporate hedging in Turkey. Our panel logit analysis for the period 2009–2015 favors the financial distress hypothesis of hedging rather than the agency cost or investment opportunities hypotheses. The US dollar exchange rate affects the likelihood of currency risk hedging more than the conventional firm-specific determinants of corporate hedging especially after the Fed tapering period. Our findings reveal that, as the dollar exchange rate rises, firms increase their hedging activity since they carry considerable amount of debt in dollars, particularly aftermath of the global financial crisis.
5-HT2C Receptor Knockdown in the Amygdala Inhibits Neuropathic-Pain-Related Plasticity and Behaviors

Neuroplasticity in the amygdala drives pain-related behaviors. The central nucleus (CeA) serves major amygdala output functions and can generate emotional-affective behaviors and modulate nocifensive responses. The CeA receives excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the basolateral nucleus (BLA) and serotonin receptor subtype 5-HT2CR in the BLA, but not CeA, has been implicated anxiogenic behaviors and anxiety disorders. Here, we tested the hypothesis that 5-HT2CR in the BLA plays a critical role in CeA plasticity and neuropathic pain behaviors in the rat spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model. Local 5-HT2CR knockdown in the BLA with stereotaxic injection of 5-HT2CR shRNA AAV vector decreased vocalizations and anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and increased sensory thresholds of SNL rats, but had no effect in sham controls. Extracellular single-unit recordings of CeA neurons in anesthetized rats showed that 5-HT2CR knockdown blocked the increase in neuronal activity (increased responsiveness, irregular spike firing, and increased burst activity) in SNL rats. At the synaptic level, 5-HT2CR knockdown blocked the increase in excitatory transmission from BLA to CeA recorded in brain slices from SNL rats using whole-cell patch-clamp conditions. Inhibitory transmission was decreased by 5-HT2CR knockdown in control and SNL conditions to a similar degree. The findings can be explained by immunohistochemical data showing increased expression of 5-HT2CR in non-GABAergic BLA cells in SNL rats. The results suggest that increased 5-HT2CR in the BLA contributes to neuropathic-pain-related amygdala plasticity by driving synaptic excitation of CeA neurons. As a rescue strategy, 5-HT2CR knockdown in the BLA inhibits neuropathic-pain-related behaviors. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neuroplasticity in the amygdala has emerged as an important pain mechanism. This study identifies a novel target and rescue strategy to control abnormally enhanced amygdala activity in an animal model of neuropathic pain. Specifically, an integrative approach of gene transfer, systems and brain slice electrophysiology, behavior, and immunohistochemistry was used to advance the novel concept that serotonin receptor subtype 5-HT2C contributes critically to the imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory drive of amygdala output neurons. Local viral vector-mediated 5-HT2CR knockdown in the amygdala normalizes the imbalance, decreases neuronal activity, and inhibits neuropathic-pain-related behaviors. The study provides valuable insight into serotonin receptor (dys)function in a limbic brain area.