Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of Compensation Given to Complaining Consumers: Is More Better?

Most major consumer products companies offer compensation (e.g., refunds, coupons, replacement products) to their dissatisfied consumers to resolve their complaints. However, it is not clear if greater amounts of compensation have significantly positive effects on complaining consumers. This study evaluated the impact that greater amounts of compensation had on 1,796 consumers who complained to a major consumer products company. The results showed that greater amounts of compensation did not significantly increase these complaining consumers' repeat purchase intentions, word-of­ mouth communication, or satisfaction with the company's compensation offer.
Neurotensin stimulates sortilin and mTOR in human microglia inhibitable by methoxyluteolin, a potential therapeutic target for autism

Significance Human microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, express only the neurotensin (NT) receptor-3/sortilin. NT significantly increases microglia synthesis and release of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and CCL5 via NTR3/sortilin. A soluble form of this receptor is secreted from stimulated microglia and is increased in the serum of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These responses and the NT-stimulated increases in microglia numbers are mediated via mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation and are inhibitable by the natural flavonoids luteolin and methoxyluteolin. We had reported elevated serum levels of the peptide neurotensin (NT) in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Here, we show that NT stimulates primary human microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, and the immortalized cell line of human microglia-SV40. NT (10 nM) increases the gene expression and release (P < 0.001) of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and CCL5 from human microglia. NT also stimulates proliferation (P < 0.05) of microglia-SV40. Microglia express only the receptor 3 (NTR3)/sortilin and not the NTR1 or NTR2. The use of siRNA to target sortilin reduces (P < 0.001) the NT-stimulated cytokine and chemokine gene expression and release from human microglia. Stimulation with NT (10 nM) increases the gene expression of sortilin (P < 0.0001) and causes the receptor to be translocated from the cytoplasm to the cell surface, and to be secreted extracellularly. Our findings also show increased levels of sortilin (P < 0.0001) in the serum from children with ASD (n = 36), compared with healthy controls (n = 20). NT stimulation of microglia-SV40 causes activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling kinase, as shown by phosphorylation of its substrates and inhibition of these responses by drugs that prevent mTOR activation. NT-stimulated responses are inhibited by the flavonoid methoxyluteolin (0.1–1 μM). The data provide a link between sortilin and the pathological findings of microglia and inflammation of the brain in ASD. Thus, inhibition of this pathway using methoxyluteolin could provide an effective treatment of ASD.
A new measure for calculating multiple fault coverage of microprocessor self-test

A new measure is proposed for evaluating multiple fault coverage of test sequences for microprocessor circuits. The class of faults under consideration includes gate-level Stuck-at-Faults (SAF), conditional SAF, and bridging faults of any multiplicity in control paths of microprocessors (MP). A new high-level functional control fault model for MP is introduced, and it is shown that 100% coverage of the high-level functional faults will be equivalent to 100% coverage of the low-level structural faults from the mentioned class of faults of any multiplicity. A simple method was developed for test data generation for high-level control faults, and a fault simulation method was developed for calculating the high-level fault coverage. Several high-level methods of test generation for MP were investigated, and the quality of the related tests were compared using the proposed fault measure.
PENGARUH KEPEMILIKAN INSTITUSIONAL DAN PENGUNGKAPAN SUKARELA TERHADAP BIAYA HUTANG

This research aims to find out about the effect of institutional ownership and voluntary disclosure of the interest expense on the companies manufacturing metal processing listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange. The samples used were as many as 10 metal processing manufacturing company for three years from 2010 to 2012 with a total of 30 samples by purposive sampling method. In this research, researchers used a documentary study conducted by collecting secondary data with web browsing . Voluntary disclosure is measured by scoring method on voluntary disclosure criteria that have been set. Data analysis was performed with the classical assumption and hypothesis testing with simple linear regression method. The test results show that institutional ownership is proven negative effect on the cost payable by 32% and voluntary disclosure does not have a negative effect on the cost payable.
Antibody Titers and Immune Response to Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis and Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccination in Children Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The objective of this study was to investigate the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and/or measles-mumps antibody titers before and after vaccination at various time points of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy and to suggest an appropriate vaccination approach for ALL patients. The authors studied 37 ALL patients and 14 healthy control subjects, divided into three groups. In group 1 (newly diagnosed patients), baseline anti-diphtheria, anti-tetanus, and anti-pertussis titers were determined. Patients in group 2 (on maintenance chemotherapy) and group 3 (patients not receiving therapy for 3-6 months) were vaccinated with diphtheria-tetanus with or without acellular pertussis; group 3 and control subjects were also given measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Preimmunization and 1-month postimmunization titers were drawn. Preimmunization anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers between the groups and the controls were statistically similar. The seropositivity rate for anti-measles antibody in group 3 was significantly lower than controls. After vaccination, all of the patients developed protective anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers. The seroconversion rates of group 3 and controls for anti-measles and anti-mumps antibodies were statistically similar. The results showed that patients on maintenance therapy and after cessation of therapy made good antibody responses to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, but response to measles and mumps vaccines was not as sufficient as toxoid vaccines. Children with ALL can receive the appropriate vaccines during and after maintenance treatment.
Radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma abutting the diaphragm: comparison of effects of thermal protection and therapeutic efficacy.

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to assess the effect of artificial ascites on thermal protection of the diaphragm and the therapeutic efficacy of this technique during percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma abutting the diaphragm. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 44 patients with a single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (< 4 cm; mean, 2.2 cm) that abutted the diaphragm were treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation as first-line treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: a group who received artificial ascites (n = 20) and a control group (n = 24). We compared the two groups in an assessment for change in diaphragmatic thickness, right shoulder pain, and transient lung injury as indicators of thermal injury to the diaphragm. We evaluated therapeutic efficacy with follow-up CT. RESULTS Swelling of diaphragm at immediate follow-up CT was more severe in the control group (mean change in thickness, 0.56 mm versus 1.55 mm; p = 0.01). Right shoulder pain (n = 1 versus n = 7) and transient lung injury (n = 0 versus n = 6) occurred statistically significantly more often in the control group than the artificial ascites group, but pleural effusion did not (n = 13 versus n = 1). The technical success rate was higher in the artificial ascites group (100% versus 79%, p = 0.06). There was no significant difference in effectiveness rate of the primary technique (100% versus 92%, p = 0.49) or rate of local tumor progression (20% versus 30%, p = 0.47). CONCLUSION The use of artificial ascites for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma abutting the diaphragm had a significant effect on thermal protection of the diaphragm but not on therapeutic efficacy.
Are Fat Cats Copycats? Evidence from Director and Consultant Network Dynamics

Prior literature identifies great similarity in executive compensation packages of firms and has succeeded in hypothesizing but not in substantiating the responsible channel or channels. We introduce dynamic stochastic network techniques to directly analyze the following three possible channels simultaneously for the first time: sharing directors, sharing compensation consultants, and sharing industry membership. Using the dynamic technology, we show that package similarity is achieved by sharing directors and industry membership rather than by sharing compensation consultants. Moreover, boards with fewer females are more likely to include higher proportions of options compensation, and higher fixed compensation deters tie formation.
Determination of Anand constants for SAC solders using stress-strain or creep data

The Anand viscoplastic constitutive model is often used to represent the deformation behavior of solders in electronic assemblies. In the Anand model, plasticity and creep are unified and described by the same set of flow and evolution relations. The nine parameters of the Anand constitutive model are typically determined from uniaxial stress-strain tests at several strain rates and temperatures using a standard multistep model parameter determination procedure. Conversely, creep data are often measured for solders, but typically are not used to determine Anand model constants. In this study, the theoretical equations for the uniaxial stress-strain response (constant strain rate) and for the creep response of solder have been derived from the Anand viscoplastic model. Procedures for extracting the Anand model constants from experimental stress-strain and creep data were also established. The two developed methods were then applied to find the Anand constants for SAC305 (Sn3.0Ag-0.5Cu) lead free solder using two completely different sets of experimental test data. The first set of Anand parameters were extracted from uniaxial stress strain data measured over a wide range of strain rates (ε = 0.001, 0.0001, and 0.00001 1/sec) and temperatures (T = 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125oC). The second set of Anand parameters were calculated from creep test data measured at several stress levels ( = 10, 12 and 15 MPa and temperatures (T = 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125oC). The two sets of Anand model constants derived from the stress-strain and creep data have been compared and found to be numerically very similar in magnitude. In addition, the accuracy (goodness of fit) of the Anand model using the extracted material constants has been evaluated by comparing the responses calculated from the Anand model with the measured stress-strain and creep data. In all cases, the Anand model was shown to represent the observed data very well over a wide range of temperatures and stress/strain levels.
Dismantling the Germinal Center: Comparing the Processes of Transformation, Regression, and Fragmentation of the Lymphoid Follicle

The pathologic and immunologic features of the formation of the germinal center have been extensively studied. The process of dissolution of the germinal center is not as well understood. Different patterns of germinal-center breakdown are commonly encountered in diagnostic lymph node biopsy specimens and frequently present difficulties in diagnosis. The current immunologic understanding of germinal-center dynamics is reviewed and correlated with the histologic and immunophenotypic features of three broad classes of germinal center dissolution, namely progressive transformation, regression, and follicle fragmentation. The author suggests that these different patterns represent alternate responses to antigenic stimulation. The relationships of progressive transformation to Hodgkin's disease and of follicular regression to Castleman's disease are discussed.
Model of steady‐state‐biofilm kinetics

A steady‐state biofilm is defined as one that has neither net growth nor decay over time. The model, developed for steady‐state‐biofilm kinetics with a single substrate, couples the flux of substrate into a biofilm to the mass (or thickness) of biofilm that would exist at steady‐state for a given bulk substrate concentration. Based on kinetic and energetic constraints, this model predicts for a single substrate that a steady‐state bulk concentration, Smin, exists below which a steady‐state biofilm cannot exist. Thus, in the absence of adsorption of bacteria from the bulk water and for substrate concentration below Smin, substrate flux and biofilm thickness are zero. Equations are provided for calculating the steady‐state substrate flux and biofilm thickness for S greater than Smin. An example is provided to demonstrate the use of the steadystate model.
N-(2,3-Dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoro-N-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]benzenesulfonamide

In the title compound, C20H17F2NO4S2, the dihedral angles between the o-xylene ring and the fluorobenzene rings are 31.7 (1) and 32.8 (1)°, and the dihedral angle between the fluorobenzene rings is 50.9 (1)°. The C—N—S—C torsion angles are 76.7 (2) and 101.8 (2)°. In the crystal, molecules are connected by C—H⋯O interactions into sheets in the ab plane.
Course of inflammatory bowel disease in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depletes CD4+ lymphocytes, which may benefit patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim was to compare the course of IBD in HIV patients with a matched group of IBD seronegative patients. Methods: A total of 20 IBD (14 Crohn's disease, 6 ulcerative colitis) HIV infected patients and 40 matched control seronegative IBD patients (2 controls per case) were compared regarding relapse of their disease. The CD4+ count was followed every 6 months and a value of ≤500 cells/&mgr;L was used to define patients with immunosuppression. Relapse rates per year of follow‐up were compared among the 2 groups and survival curves for cumulative remission rates were compared with a log‐rank test. Multivariate analysis was used to discriminate among the impact of different variables on the risk of IBD relapse. Results: The median duration of follow‐up was 8.4 years (range 0.6–18 years). The mean relapse rate for the HIV+IBD group was 0.016/year of follow‐up as compared to 0.053/year of follow‐up for the IBD‐matched control group (P = 0.032). Regarding the HIV‐positive/IBD group, 14 patients were immunosuppressed at any given time during the follow‐up period. None of these patients experienced an IBD relapse, whereas 3 out of the 6 without immunosuppression relapsed (P = 0.017). According to the multivariate analysis, HIV status was the only risk factor independently associated with a lower probability of IBD relapse. Conclusions: HIV infection reduces the relapse rates in IBD patients and this may be attributed to the lower CD4+ counts seen in these patients. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010;)
Estimating changes in temperature extremes from millennial scale climate simulations using generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions

Changes in extreme weather may produce some of the largest societal impacts of anthropogenic climate change. However, it is intrinsically difficult to estimate changes in extreme events from the short observational record. In this work we use millennial runs from the CCSM3 in equilibrated pre-industrial and possible future conditions to examine both how extremes change in this model and how well these changes can be estimated as a function of run length. We estimate changes to distributions of future temperature extremes (annual minima and annual maxima) in the contiguous United States by fitting generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions. Using 1000-year pre-industrial and future time series, we show that the magnitude of warm extremes largely shifts in accordance with mean shifts in summertime temperatures. In contrast, cold extremes warm more than mean shifts in wintertime temperatures, but changes in GEV location parameters are largely explainable by mean shifts combined with reduced wintertime temperature variability. In addition, changes in the spread and shape of the GEV distributions of cold extremes at inland locations can lead to discernible changes in tail behavior. We then examine uncertainties that result from using shorter model runs. In principle, the GEV distribution provides theoretical justification to predict infrequent events using time series shorter than the recurrence frequency of those events. To investigate how well this approach works in practice, we estimate 20-, 50-, and 100-year extreme events using segments of varying lengths. We find that even using GEV distributions, time series that are of comparable or shorter length than the return period of interest can lead to very poor estimates. These results suggest caution when attempting to use short observational time series or model runs to infer infrequent extremes.
Multiple sodium channels and their roles in electrogenesis within dorsal root ganglion neurons

Dorsal root ganglion neurons express an array of sodium channel isoforms allowing precise control of excitability. An increasing body of literature indicates that regulation of firing behaviour in these cells is linked to their patterns of expression of specific sodium channel isoforms, which have been discovered to possess distinct biophysical characteristics. The pattern of expression of sodium channels differs in different subclasses of DRG neurons and is not fixed but, on the contrary, changes in response to a variety of disease insults. Moreover, modulation of channels by their environment has been found to play an important role in the response of these neurons to stimuli. In this review we illustrate how excitability can be finely tuned to provide contrasting firing templates in different subclasses of DRG neurons by selective deployment of various sodium channel isoforms, by plasticity of expression of these proteins, and by interactions of these sodium channel isoforms with each other and with other modulatory molecules.
Detection of cyclophosphamide‐induced mutations at the Hprt but not the lacI locus in splenic lymphocytes of exposed mice

The relative sensitivities and specificities of the endogenous Hprt gene and the lacI transgene as mutational targets were evaluated in splenic lymphocytes from male standard B6C3F1 mice (only Hprt assayed) and from lacI transgenic B6C3F1 mice treated at 6–7 weeks‐ of‐age with the indirect‐acting agent, cyclophosphamide (CP). To define the effects of the time elapsed since CP treatment on Hprt mutant frequencies (Mfs), nontransgenic mice were given single i.p. injections of 25 mg CP/kg or vehicle (PBS) alone and then necropsied 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 weeks after treatment. Peak Mfs were found at 6 weeks postexposure, with mean Mf values ranging from 2.27 to 3.27 × 10–5 using two different lots of CP in standard packaging (compared with mean control Mf values of 0.14 to 0.26 × 10–5 in various experiments). To determine the dose response for Hprt Mfs, nontransgenic mice were given single doses of 0, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 mg CP/kg and necropsied 4 weeks postexposure. These treatments produced a supralinear dose response curve for CP‐induced Hprt Mfs. Based on these experiments, CP mutagenicities at Hprt and lacI were compared in transgenic mice treated with 0, 25, or 100 mg CP/kg (using another lot of CP in ISOPAC® bottles; Sigma) and necropsied 6 weeks later. There was a significant increase in Hprt Mfs in treated transgenic mice (100 mg CP/kg: 0.75 ± 0.09 × 10–5; 25 mg CP/kg: 0.39 ± 0.05 × 10–5) versus controls (0.10 ± 0.01 × 10–5); however, the Mfs in lacI of lymphocytes from the same CP‐treated animals were not significantly different from controls (100 mg CP/kg: 9.4 ± 1.1 × 10–5; 25 mg CP/kg: 6.7 ± 0.8 × 10–5; control: 7.7 ± 0.7 × 10–5). Hprt mutational spectra data in CP‐treated transgenic and nontransgenic mice were different from those of control mice, whereas the spectra of mutations in lacI of lymphocytes from Big Blue® transgenic mice were not significantly changed after CP treatment. These data indicate that, under these treatment conditions, CP‐induced mutations in splenic lymphocytes were detectable in the Hprt gene but not the lacI transgene of this nontarget tissue for CP‐induced cancer. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 34:167–181, 1999 © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Depression, anxiety and the dexamethasone suppression test in hospitalized prepubertal children.

Because of the methodologic differences and limited data, the sensitivity and specificity of the dexamethasone suppression test in children are in question. In our study we used 0.5 mg of dexamethasone and a 4 p.m. cortisol sample to perform the DST on 32 hospitalized prepubertal children diagnosed by a structured interview (DICA) and DSM-III criteria. Cortisols differed significantly by ANOVA among principal diagnoses, with highest values in children with major depression (MDE) or separation anxiety (SAD) and lowest in those with behavior disorders (BD). Using 5.0 micrograms/dl as a cutoff value for positive DST, MDE and SAD are positively and BD negatively associated with positive DST results. Rating scales for anxiety and depression showed no significant association with cortisol level. We conclude that the DST in this sample shows excellent sensitivity but its specificity is limited to distinguishing depressed or anxious children from those with pure behavior disorder.
SEROLOGIC SURVEY OF SELECTED CANINE PATHOGENS AMONG FREE-RANGING JACKALS IN KENYA

Serum samples from 76 free-ranging adult jackals of three species from four localities in Kenya were examined for circulating antibodies against four canine pathogens: rabies virus, canine parvovirus (CPV-2), canine distemper virus (CDV), and Ehrlichia canis. Samples were collected between April 1987 and January 1988. Among black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas), the most sampled species, the mean prevalence of antibodies to CPV-2, CDV, rabies virus, and E. canis was 34% (14 positive/55 sampled), 9% (4/55), 3% (1/28), and 2% (1/36), respectively. There were no significant differences among sampling locations. In one area, antibody prevalence of CPV-2 was significantly higher for golden jackals (C. aureus; 9/16) than for C. mesomelas (5/26). Only three side-striped jackals (C. adustus) were sampled, but antibodies to CPV-2 and CDV were present. As jackals often are the most abundant wild carnivore in African ecosystems, they could serve as an important indicator species to monitor the potential of exposure of rare and endangered canids to specific canine diseases.