Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of occupational dust exposure on the health status of portland cement factory workers

Introduction: Chronic exposure to Portland cement dust has been reported to lead to greater prevalence of various clinical conditions (includes both respiratory and non-respiratory). These conditions are consistently associated with the degree and duration of exposure. Regular use of appropriate personal protective equipment if made available at the work site could protect the cement factory workers from adverse health effects. Objective: To study the morbidity profile of the cement factory workers. Type of Study: Retrospective cohort study. Material and Methods: This study was conducted in the Portland Cement Factory in North Karnataka. Data was collected using predesigned questionnaire by personal interview method and clinical examination. A total of 64 male workers are randomly selected who are working in various departments like crushing, raw/cement mill, rotary kiln and packing department. Equal number of unexposed controls was selected from the area atleast 5 kms from the factory and those who are not exposed to cement dust in the past, who are matched for age, Socio economic status and smoking with the exposed population. Statistical Analysis: Chisquare test for qualitative data and unpaired t test for quantitative data using Epi info. Results: A total of 64 male workers and equal number of matched controls who are not exposed to the cement dust were included in the study. Among exposed maximum of 36% were employed in Crushing department, 25% each in Packing and cement/raw mill. Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure was found to be higher among the exposed, which is statistically highly significant (p Conclusion: Personal protective equipment should be made available at the workplace and educate the personnel to use them. Extensive research is necessary to improve the technical preventive measures that will reduce the risk of occupational health hazards.
EFFECTS OF PROCUREMENT PRACTICES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: A CASE OF EAST AFRICAN PORTLAND CEMENT COMPANY LIMITED.

According to Sollish and Semanik (2012), procurement refers to events handled by a company for proper management of the supply chain. Manufacturing organizations should readjust their procurement practices with the aim of enhancing efficiency and promoting environmental conservation. Interviews were conducted, data collected and analyzed and finally recommendations were made based on the results. This research focused on achieving efficiency and effectiveness within the procurement department so as to improve overall organizational performance. This study’s objective was to determine how organizational performance is affected by procurement practices. Questionnaires were used as a form of data collection. The study population for this research were the finance and procurement employees of the East African Portland Cement Company Limited. This research embraced a descriptive design, which depicts participants in an accurate way; it describes the people who take part in the study. A survey was used and staff from the procurement and finance departments were asked to fill out questionnaires through a brief interview about specific topics. Primary data was collected through questionnaires that focused on staff from the procurement and finance departments. 46 questionnaires out of a total of 58 were satisfactorily filled signifying a 79 percent rate of reply. Data collected is presented using tables, charts and graphs. The study recommends the building of robust relationships with key suppliers to guarantee unfailing supply and quality of inputs. Manufacturing companies must assess where their greatest investments are made and the benefit procurement can bring to each category. After significant investments are made in machinery, equipment and facilities, the next largest investment should be made in inventories. This is where the organization can produce savings through more efficient production, better utilization of floor space, better service and products to customers.
A Novel Trust Establishment Method for Wireless Sensor Networks

Establishment of trust is important in wireless sensor networks for security enhancement and successful collaboration. Basically, a node establishes trust with other nodes by estimating a trust value based on monitored behavior of the other nodes. Since a malicious/misbehaving node might launch different attack strategies and might demonstrate random misbehavior, a trust estimation method should be robust against such attacks and misbehavior. Otherwise, the operation of trust establishment will be meaningless, and performance of an application that runs on top of trust establishment will degrade. In this paper, we propose a robust and novel trust estimation method. Unlike traditional trust estimation methods, we consider not only the weight of misbehavior but also the frequency of misbehavior. The frequency-of-misbehavior component explicitly demonstrates how frequently a node misbehaves during a certain observed time period, and it tracks the behavior of nodes more efficiently, which is a main factor in deriving an accurate trust value. In addition, the weight of misbehavior is comprehensively measured to mitigate the effect of an on-off attack. Frequency and weight of misbehavior are comprehensively combined to obtain the trust value. Evaluation results show that the proposed method outperforms other trust estimation methods under different attacks and types of misbehavior.
Sexual assault statistics from the Republic of Ireland for 2004-2005

The Republic of Ireland, like all other countries, has strict laws governing the crimes of rape and sexual assault. Victims of such assaults are treated in sexual assault treatment units where evidential material is gathered and forwarded to the forensic science laboratory (FSL). This paper represents the first published study from the Republic of Ireland of the time, day and month most frequently encountered in sexual assault cases presented to the FSL. In addition, the study examines the location and nature of the assault, together with such factors as the age of the victim, relationship to the suspect and degree to which the victim has a clear recollection of the events. The study covers information from 890 cases submitted to the FSL in the time period January 2004 to December 2005. The most common age category of victim was 16-30, the most likely time of occurrence was Saturday night/Sunday morning during the summer months of June, July or August. The assailant will most likely be known to the victim even if only recently met. Loss of memory mainly associated with the consumption of alcohol was a significant factor in many of the cases. The figures were compared to international studies with no significant differences between our findings and other studies. We also compared our results to a similar study in 1995-1996 and found little difference except for the number of the victims who were non-Irish nationals: 3% in the 1995-1996 study but by 2004-2005 that figure had risen to 11%.
Abiotic Stress in Plants and Metabolic Responses

The vast metabolic diversity observed in plants is the direct result of continuous evolutionary processes. There are more than 200,000 known plant secondary metabolites, representing a vast reservoir of diverse functions. When the environment is adverse and plant growth is affected, metabolism is profoundly involved in signaling, physiological regulation, and defense responses. At the same time, in feedback, abiotic stresses affect the biosynthesis, concentration, transport, and storage of primary and secondary metabolites. Metabolic adjustments in response to abiotic stressors involve fine adjustments in amino acid, carbohy‐ drate, and amine metabolic pathways. Proper activation of early metabolic responses helps cells restore chemical and energetic imbalances imposed by the stress and is crucial to acclimation and survival. Time-series experiments have revealed that metabolic activities respond to stress more quickly than transcriptional activities do. In order to study and map all the simultaneous metabolic responses and, more importantly, to link these responses to a specific abiotic stress, integrative and comprehensive analyses are required. Metabolomics is the systematic approach through which qualitative and quantitative analysis of a large number of metabolites is increasing our knowledge of how complex metabolic networks interact and how they are dynamically modified under stress adaptation and tolerance processes. A vast amount of research has been done using metabolomic approaches to (i) characterize metabolic responses to abiotic stress, (ii) to discover novel genes and annotate gene function, and, (iii) more recently, to identify metabolic quantitative trait loci. The integration of the collected metabolic data concerning abiotic stress responses is helping in the identification of tolerance traits that may be transferable to cultivated crop species. In this review, the diverse metabolic responses identified in plants so far are discussed. We also include recent advances in the study of plant metabolomes and metabolic fluxes with a focus on abiotic stress-tolerance trait interactions.
CORNEAL TOPOGRAPHY OF HUMANS WITH CONGENITAL NYSTAGMUS

Abstract The refractive status of individuals with congenital nystagmus (albinos and idiopaths) has been examined. Our results indicate that there is a greater than normal incidence of high spectacle astigmatism. This is predominantly with‐the‐rule and corneal in origin (anterior surface). Partial neutralization by the against‐the‐rule residual astigmatism is frequent and does not differ significantly from that reported for normal populations. Topographical studies of the anterior cortical surface revealed that there was no significantly significantly difference in the mean shape factor values for the albino, idioparh and control populations. The aetiology of the astigmatism is discussed.
Barriers to Gender Equality in Agricultural Extension in Pakistan: Evidences from District Sargodha

| The present study was designed to find out the barriers which limit the active participation of both the genders (men and women) in agricultural operations and also towards gender disparity in agricultural extension. Agriculture comprises of a number of farming activities, where both men and women are involved in multiple diverse nature of field operations. Inspite of their high contribution in farm and non-farm activities, there exist gender disparity with reference to agricultural extension, education and other farm advisory services. The study was conducted in district Sargodha located in the central Punjab, Pakistan. Personal inter-views were conducted from male head as well as spouses of each selected farm family. The total sample size of the study was 300 (150 male and 150 female spouses). A designed structured questionnaire was prepared for the data collection as the research instrument. The data thus collected were coded on SPSS for analysis and interpretation. Results showed that there is significant difference in age and educational status of male heads and their spouses. Majority of the farm families (39.3%) earn income for their livelihoods both from farming and non-farming sources. Intensity of participation of female respondents in different crops and livestock activities was comparatively high as compared to their male counterparts. It was found that average daily share of female in crops related activities was 42% and in livestock activities was 53%. Inspite of their participation in crops and livestock activities it was found that compared to female respondents, male family heads had access to agricultural extension/advisory and agricultural information services and credit facilities. This is due to the existing social, cultural and religious norms in the society of Pakistan. The results of the t-test statistics showed that there is highly significant difference in opinion of male family heads and their spouses (female respondents) regarding barriers to gender equality in agricultural extension in Pakistan
[Nursing Actions in practicing inpatient advocacy in a Burn Unit].

OBJECTIVE Understanding nursing actions in the practice of inpatient advocacy in a burn unit. METHOD A single and descriptive case study, carried out with nurses working in a referral burn center in southern Brazil. Data were collected through focus group technique, between February and March 2014, in three meetings. Data was analysed through discursive textual analysis. RESULTS Three emerging categories were identified, namely: (1) instructing the patient; (2) protecting the patient; and (3) ensuring the quality of care. CONCLUSIONS This study identified that the nurses investigated exercised patient advocacy and that the recognition of their actions is an advance for the profession, contributing to the autonomy of nurses and the effectiveness of patients' rights and social justice.
Modulation of interhemispheric inhibition by volitional motor activity: an ipsilateral silent period study

Brief interruption of voluntary EMG in a hand muscle by focal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the ipsilateral primary motor cortex (M1), the so‐called ipsilateral silent period (ISP), is a measure of interhemispheric motor inhibition. However, little is known about how volitional motor activity would modulate the ISP. Here we tested in 30 healthy adults to what extent and under what conditions voluntary activation of the stimulated right M1 by moving the left hand strengthens interhemispheric inhibition as indexed by an enhancement of the ISP area in the maximally contracting right first dorsal interosseous (FDI). Left index finger abduction, already at low levels of contraction, significantly enhanced the ISP compared to left hand at rest. Even imagination of left index finger movement enhanced the ISP compared to rest or mental calculation. This enhancement occurred in the absence of motor‐evoked potential amplitude modulation in the left FDI, thus excluding a non‐specific contribution from an increase in right M1 corticospinal excitability. Contraction of the left extensor indicis, but not contraction of more proximal left upper limb or left or right lower limb muscles also enhanced the ISP. A reaction time experiment showed that the ISP enhancement developed at a late stage of movement preparation just before or at movement onset. Interhemispheric inhibition of the motor‐evoked potential as tested by a bifocal paired‐pulse TMS protocol and thought to be mediated via a neuronal circuit different to the ISP was not enhanced when tested under identical motor task conditions. Finally, ISP enhancement by contraction of the left FDI correlated inversely with EMG mirror activity in the right FDI during phasic abductions of the left index finger. Our findings strongly suggest that voluntary M1 activation by real or imagined movement of the contralateral hand increases interhemispheric motor inhibition of the opposite M1. This phenomenon shows substantial topographical, temporal and neuronal circuit specificity, and has functional significance as it probably plays a pivotal role in suppressing mirror activity.
The Effect of Bank Monitoring on the Demand for Earnings Quality in Bond Contracts

We investigate whether bank monitoring that relies on private information in private debt decreases the demand for earnings quality in public debt. In doing so, we focus on Japanese main banks that have high abilities to access the private information of borrowing firms. We find that under stable financial conditions in the bond-issuing firms, accruals quality is negatively associated with bond yield spreads, regardless of the existence of a main bank, suggesting that reporting higher quality earnings affects the reduction of the cost of debt in public debt. In contrast, we find that when the bond-issuing firms with a main bank have high default risk, there is no relationship between accruals quality and bond yield spread. The results suggest that when a main bank has a stronger incentive to monitor their borrowing firms due to the firm's poor financial performance, the increased bank monitoring using private information decreases the demand for earnings quality in bond contracts.
Pain Identifies Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Organ Transplant Recipients: The SCOPE‐ITSCC PAIN Study

Organ transplant recipients (OTR) are at high risk for cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). We aimed to define clinically meaningful patient‐reported warning signals predicting the presence of invasive SCC. Patient‐reported signs and symptoms of 812 consecutively biopsied skin lesions from 410 OTR were determined by questionnaire and physical examination and related to the subsequent biopsy‐proven diagnoses. Receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used as a measure of distinction between the predictive values of patient‐reported warning signals and the occurrence of SCC. Pain was an independent predictive patient‐reported warning signal for a biopsy‐proven invasive SCC. The odds ratio from the fully adjusted model predicting SCC was 4.4 (95% confidence interval: 2.4–8.2). Higher scores on the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were associated with a greater likelihood for the presence of SCC compared to none or mild pain. The for scores on the VAS from 1 to 3, 4 to 6 and 7 to 10 were 4.9 (2.2–10.5), 2.3 (0.96–5.5) and 16.5 (3.6–75.8), respectively. Pain is the most powerful patient‐reported warning signal for invasive cutaneous SCC in OTR. Empowerment of patients by education could accelerate diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous SCC.
Adaptive Selling: Conceptualization, Measurement, and Nomological Validity

A 16-item scale is developed to measure the degree to which salespeople practice adaptive selling—the degree to which they alter their sales presentation across and during customer interactions in response to the perceived nature of the sales situation. This paper-and-pencil scale assesses self-reports of five facets of adaptive selling: (1) recognition that different sales approaches are needed for different customers, (2) confidence in ability to use a variety of approaches, (3) confidence in ability to alter approach during an interaction, (4) collection of information to facilitate adaptation, and (5) actual use of different approaches. The reliability of the scale is . 85. Support for the nomological validity of the scale is found by failure to disconfirm relationships with an antecedent (intrinsic motivation), several general personality measures of interpersonal flexibility (self-monitoring, empathy, locus of control, and androgyny), and a consequence (self-reported performance).
Essential roles of CKIδ and CKIε in the mammalian circadian clock

Circadian rhythms in mammals are generated by a negative transcriptional feedback loop in which PERIOD (PER) is rate-limiting for feedback inhibition. Casein kinases Iδ and Iε (CKIδ/ε) can regulate temporal abundance/activity of PER by phosphorylation-mediated degradation and cellular localization. Despite their potentially crucial effects on PER, it has not been demonstrated in a mammalian system that these kinases play essential roles in circadian rhythm generation as does their homolog in Drosophila. To disrupt both CKIδ/ε while avoiding the embryonic lethality of CKIδ disruption in mice, we used CKIδ-deficient Per2Luc mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and overexpressed a dominant-negative mutant CKIε (DN-CKIε) in the mutant MEFs. CKIδ-deficient MEFs exhibited a robust circadian rhythm, albeit with a longer period, suggesting that the cells possess a way to compensate for CKIδ loss. When CKIε activity was disrupted by the DN-CKIε in the mutant MEFs, circadian bioluminescence rhythms were eliminated and rhythms in endogenous PER abundance and phosphorylation were severely compromised, demonstrating that CKIδ/ε are indeed essential kinases for the clockwork. This is further supported by abolition of circadian rhythms when physical interaction between PER and CKIδ/ε was disrupted by overexpressing the CKIδ/ε binding domain of PER2 (CKBD-P2). Interestingly, CKBD-P2 overexpression led to dramatically low levels of endogenous PER, while PER-binding, kinase-inactive DN-CKIε did not, suggesting that CKIδ/ε may have a non-catalytic role in stabilizing PER. Our results show that an essential role of CKIδ/ε is conserved between Drosophila and mammals, but CKIδ/ε and DBT may have divergent non-catalytic functions in the clockwork as well.
CD40 Expression by Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

CD40 is a 50‐kDa protein expressed on B cells, dendritic cells, monocytes and epithelial cells, but the distribution of CD40 expression in humans is not completely known. It binds to a ligand (CD40 L) which is expressed essentially on activated T cells. The interaction between CD40 and CD40 L plays important roles in immune responses. CD40 expression was investigated on bronchial tissues and human bronchial cell lines using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining and analysis with a cytometer, respectively. Constitutive CD40 expression, but not that of CD40 L, was slightly detectable on normal human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) in situ and on an adult lung adenocarcinoma (SKLU1) cell line, while another cell line, a bronchial transformed SV40 cell line (WI26VA4), was negative for CD40. Among the various cytokines tested, only interferon (IFN)‐γ was found to induce CD40 expression on WI26VA4. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α was the best cytokine able to up‐regulate CD40 in SKLU1 cells. A combination of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α was slightly more effective than the cytokine alone at up‐regulating CD40 expression on both cell lines. We further investigated the functional consequences of CD40 ligation on both cell lines. These bronchial cells expressed CD40, HLADR and CD54 under basal conditions or when stimulated by cytokines. Stimulation through CD40 did not affect cell‐surface‐antigen expression on either cell line. The production of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)‐6 and granulocyte macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) by HBEC has been described. SKLU1 and WI26VA4 cells released IL‐6 and GM‐CSF spontaneously. Whatever the case, CD40 engagement did not modulate spontaneous or TNF‐α‐induced production of these two cytokines. These data indicate for the first time that normal HBEC express CD40 in situ. Further investigations are required in order to determine the role of CD40 on normal HBEC.
Digital Dividend: Policies to Harness the Productivity Potential of Digital Technologies

This paper presents a range of policies to enhance adoption of digital technologies and firm productivity. It quantifies illustratively the effect of policy changes by combining the results of two recent OECD analyses on the drivers of adoption and their productivity benefits. Increasing access to high-speed internet, upgrading technical and managerial skills and implementing product and labour market reforms to facilitate the reallocation of resources in the economy are found to be the main factors supporting the efficient adoption of a selection of digital technologies. The most productive firms have benefitted relatively more from digitalisation in the past, contributing to a widening productivity gap with less productive firms. Policies should create the conditions for efficient adoption by less productive firms, which would help them to catch up, achieving a double dividend in terms of growth and inclusiveness. Enhancing skills has a key role to play in this area since less productive firms suffer relatively more from skill shortages.