Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxygen radical scavengers selectively inhibit interleukin 8 production in human whole blood.

The hydroxyl radical (OH.) scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was found to dose-dependently inhibit interleukin 8 (IL-8) production in LPS-stimulated human whole blood. At a concentration of 1% (vol/vol), DMSO blocked IL-8 release by approximately 90% in the presence of 1 microgram/ml LPS at a 24-h time point, but did not affect cell viability or reduce the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6, or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). DMSO was found to directly inhibit IL-8 expression at the level of transcription. Furthermore, this effect was not LPS-specific, in that IL-8 production was reduced by DMSO to a similar extent upon stimulation of blood with phytohemagglutinin, aggregated immune complexes, TNF, or IL-1 beta. Other oxygen radical scavengers that have been shown to inhibit OH. -dependent reactions (dimethyl thiourea, thiourea, mannitol, and ethanol) also inhibited IL-8 production. Conversely, addition of H2O2 caused a dose-dependent stimulation of IL-8 release. These results provide evidence that reactive oxygen metabolites play an important role in the regulation of IL-8 production and suggest that reduction of IL-8 release may contribute to the beneficial effects of antioxidants in experimental models of inflammation and ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Computational studies of resonance wave pumping in compliant tubes

The valveless impedance pump is a simple design that allows the producion or amplification of a flow without the requirement for valves or impellers. It is based on fluid-filled flexible tubing, connected to tubing of different impedances. Pumping is achieved by a periodic excitation at an off-centre position relative to the tube ends. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the fluid and structural dynamics in an impedance pump model using numerical simulations. An axisymmetric finite-element model of both the fluid and solid domains is used with direct coupling at the interface. By examining a wide range of parameters, the pump's resonance nature is described and the concept of resonance wave pumping is discussed. The main driving mechanism of the flow in the tube is the reflection of waves at the tube boundary and the wave dynamics in the passive tube. This concept is supported by three different analyses: (i) time-dependent pressure and flow wave dynamics along the tube, (ii) calculations of pressure–flow loop areas along the passive tube for a description of energy conversion, and (iii) an integral description of total work done by the pump on the fluid. It is shown that at some frequencies, the energy given to the system by the excitation is converted by the elastic tube to kinetic energy at the tube outlet, resulting in an efficient pumping mechanism and thus significantly higher flow rate. It is also shown that pumping can be achieved with any impedance mismatch at one boundary and that the outlet configuration does not necessarily need to be a tube.
Policy in child labour

The importance of health The International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines child labour as “all economic activities carried out by persons less than 15, regardless of their occupational status, except household work in parents/carers homes”. 1 By this definition over 200 million children, or a massive 20% of all children under the age of 15, are engaged in child labour. They are mostly concentrated in the poorest regions of the world: in Sub-Saharan Africa 29% of all children work, in Asia-Pacific 19%, and in Latin America and the Caribbean 16%. 1 Children work across a range of employment sectors, including agriculture (which accounts for 70%), manufacturing, street trading, domestic work, and mining.2 Many children work because the benefits of working are perceived as greater than those of attending school. These benefits may include economic return, the opportunity to learn a skill, a sense of independence, and higher self-esteem.3 The family may also be unable to afford either the actual costs or the opportunity costs of education.4 This may be one of the most crucial dilemmas of poverty. Work and school are not mutually exclusive; table 2 shows that around half of all working children combine the two. Indeed, many children work precisely in order to be able to afford schooling. View this table: Table 1 Economically active children in 26 countries, by industry and gender (averages) View this table: Table 2 Global estimates of the activity status of children in 2000 Child work is a highly contentious issue. Debate has raged between abolitionists, who believe that a childhood of education and leisure is a basic human right, and those who believe that work is an intrinsic part of childhood and essential to survival in many poorer parts of the world.5 Economists are also divided between those who argue that child labour is a rational and necessary household …
Estimation of u1/u2 conversion factor for piezocone

The use of piezocones with a pore pressure filter at the u2 position (located just above the cone tip) suits a wide range of soil conditions. For more demanding conditions, such as highly stratified and heavily overconsolidated soils, the u1 position located on the face of the cone tip can offer more effective and robust piezocone penetration test (CPTU) profiling. In these conditions, the pore pressure measuring system at u2 position can lose saturation where the u1 position will not. Loss of saturation leads to sluggish pore pressure response and reliable pore pressure data may not be consistently obtained. A simple-to-use equation is presented for obtaining the so-called K-factor required for calculating total (or corrected) cone resistance from measurements obtained with an u1 piezocone penetrometer. No input is required from laboratory tests or other sources external to the CPTU. Equation results compare well with field measurements. 2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, May 2010
Risks Management Application in Helping the Poor Through Microfinancing

Risks Management Application in Helping the Poor Through Microfinancing by Edmond Njombe Lyonga MS, Mountain State University, 2012 BS, Mountain State University, 2010 BSC, Buea University, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management—Finance
The Mechanisms Involved in Seed Dormancy Alleviation by Hydrogen Cyanide Unravel the Role of Reactive Oxygen Species as Key Factors of Cellular Signaling during Germination[C][W]

The physiological dormancy of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) embryos can be overcome during dry storage (after-ripening) or by applying exogenous ethylene or hydrogen cyanide (HCN) during imbibition. The aim of this work was to provide a comprehensive model, based on oxidative signaling by reactive oxygen species (ROS), for explaining the cellular mode of action of HCN in dormancy alleviation. Beneficial HCN effect on germination of dormant embryos is associated with a marked increase in hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion generation in the embryonic axes. It is mimicked by the ROS-generating compounds methylviologen and menadione but suppressed by ROS scavengers. This increase results from an inhibition of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities and also involves activation of NADPH oxidase. However, it is not related to lipid reserve degradation or gluconeogenesis and not associated with marked changes in the cellular redox status controlled by the glutathione/glutathione disulfide couple. The expression of genes related to ROS production (NADPHox, POX, AO1, and AO2) and signaling (MAPK6, Ser/ThrPK, CaM, and PTP) is differentially affected by dormancy alleviation either during after-ripening or by HCN treatment, and the effect of cyanide on gene expression is likely to be mediated by ROS. It is also demonstrated that HCN and ROS both activate similarly ERF1, a component of the ethylene signaling pathway. We propose that ROS play a key role in the control of sunflower seed germination and are second messengers of cyanide in seed dormancy release.
Office cardiologists cooperative study on whole blood rapid panel tests in patients with suspicious acute myocardial infarction: comparison between heart-type fatty acid-binding protein and troponin T tests.

BACKGROUND The whole blood rapid troponin T test, used to determine the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), is effective only for 3-4 h after onset. METHODS AND RESULTS The present office cardiologists cooperative study compared the diagnostic efficacy of a newly developed whole blood rapid panel test for heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) with that of the rapid troponin T test in 129 consecutive patients with suspicious AMI according to certain time-frames from onset to presentation. Thirty-one patients (24.0%) had a final diagnosis of AMI. The respective sensitivities of the rapid H-FABP and troponin T tests were 100% vs 50% (p<0.05) for patients presenting within 3 h of onset; 75% vs 0% for those between 3 and 6 h; 100% vs 60% for those between 6 and 12 h; and 100% vs 100% for those presenting later than 12 h. The respective specificities were 63% vs 96.3% (p<0.05); 93.8% vs 93.8%; 72.7% vs 100%; and 75.0% vs 87.5%. Negative predictive value was 100% vs 86.7%; 93.8% vs 78.9%; 100% vs 84.6%; and 100% vs 100%, respectively. Patients with non-AMI myocardial damage associated with unstable angina or severe heart failure showed positive H-FABP test results and blunted the specificity. CONCLUSIONS When using the novel rapid H-FABP test, cardiac emergency triage to exclude non-AMI patients should be effectively organized within 3 h of onset.
Price promotions and brand equity: the role of brand types

Purpose – This study investigates whether the influence of selected marketing-mix elements on brand equity differs for different types of brands. The main focus is on price promotions’ influence. In addition, the impact of discount-store distribution is explored. Design/methodology/approach – This study applies fixed-effects regression to analyze German panel data, which includes 126 national brands in four product categories across five years. Findings – The results reveal that frequent price promotions and intensive discount-store distribution have a negative influence on brand equity. However, this effect differs across brand types: the higher a brand’s initial equity level, the more harmful is the impact of these marketing activities on brand equity. Research implications – This study shows that brand types play an important role in moderating the influence of marketing activities on brand equity. Thus, further research endeavors may generate new insights by accounting for these brand-related differences in their investigations. Practical implications – Managers of high-equity brands should avoid frequent price promotions and intensive discount-store distribution. In contrast, managers of low-equity brands may use these instruments more widely because their detrimental effects are less severe. Originality/value – Current research mainly focuses on improving the conceptualization of brand equity or exploring different kinds of marketing-mix elements. Findings on potential effect moderators are scarce. Thus, this study substantiates and extends existing findings by emphasizing the importance of distinguishing different brand types when investigating the effect of marketing-mix elements on brand equity.
Essays on Financing and Governance of Social Enterprises

The dissertation is based on empirical studies in the field of social entrepreneurship research. The thematic focus is on financing and governance of social enterprises. The relationship of social enterprises and social venture capital investors is analyzed. It is asked how the relationship comes to be and how social entrepreneurs evaluate the social venture capital approach. In addition, governance structures and functions of social enterprises are analyzed. The dissertation provides relevant implications for social enterprises, their capital providers and further industry participants like governments that are shaping legal structures.
E-service Quality: A Study of Online Hotel Booking Websites in Hong Kong

This paper aimed to examine how web design, responsiveness, reliability, enjoyment, ease of use, security, and customization influence e-service quality of online hotel booking agencies in Hong Kong. Quantitative approach was used to examine the relationships between each of the dimensions and overall e-service quality. Based on findings in prior studies, current study extended the framework to the dimensions of ease of use, security and customization in addition to the dimensions of web design, responsiveness, reliability and enjoyment. An online survey website was set up to collect responses from students
of the Use of Amorphous Silicon (ASi) Electronic Portal Imaging Devices as a Physics Tool for Routine Linear Accelerator QA

: Background: Electronic portal imaging device(EPID)has different dosimetric characteristics than the ionization chamber, which is considered as the gold standard detector in radiation dosimetry. The main purpose of this study was to develop the applications of EPID. Dosimetric properties of amorphous silicon EPID (aS500) need to be investigated. Materials and methods: To verify linear response with dose, images of a 10×10 cm² open field were acquired. The EPID was positioned at a fixed detector distance of 150 cm, and varying doses were delivered with monitor unit settings of 1MU and 12MU. Results: The flatness should be less than 3%. The maximum flatness value was 2.7% for field size 10×10 cm² and 1.8% for field size 18×8 cm², which are within tolerance. EPID response was compared with the chamber dose. It was found that by increasing field size, both the EPID response and chamber dose were increased. The study showed that the EPID aSi500 has the potential to be used as a relative dosimeter, making it a very simple and efficient tool for daily QA. Conclusion: All EPID measurements were performed using the linear accelerator Varian DMX. The physical characteristics measured in this work suggest that the SLIC-EPID can be used be as a relative dosimeter.
Evaluation of risk factors for fatal acute pancreatitis in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors associated with fatal acute pancreatitis in dogs. DESIGN Case-control study. ANIMALS 70 case dogs with clinical evidence and histopathologic confirmation of fatal acute pancreatitis and 104 control dogs that had trauma, underwent necropsy, and did not have histologic evidence of acute pancreatitis. PROCEDURE Information on signalment, weight, body condition, medical history, concurrent disease, and results of histopathologic examination was obtained by reviewing medical records. Logistic regression analysis included calculation of univariate and multivariate (adjusted) odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dogs with fatal acute pancreatitis were largely middle- to older-aged dogs. Risk of developing fatal acute pancreatitis was increased by overweight body condition, diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, prior gastrointestinal tract disease, and epilepsy. Additionally, Yorkshire Terriers were at increased risk, and Labrador Retrievers and Miniature Poodles were at decreased risk, of developing fatal acute pancreatitis. Males and neutered females appeared to have an increased risk of developing fatal acute pancreatitis, compared with sexually intact females. Thrombus formation was more likely in dogs that developed fatal acute pancreatitis than in control dogs.
In vitro antibacterial activity and flavonoid contents of Lawsonia inermis (Henna).

Lawsonia inermis known as henna is a woody and flowering plant found in north Africa and south west asia. Flavonoids which were reported as having many pharmacological activities, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, chemo-prevention activities and they possess strong anti-proliferative effects related to inhibition ofcell cycle progression and apoptosis induction. On the basis of this Lawsonia inermis (L.) syn. Lawsonia alba Henna (family Lythraceae) was selected and it is having the major composition of flavonoids and the antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Lawsonia inermis was investigated by agar well diffusion method. The bacteria used for antibacterial study were Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 087), Escherichia coli (MTCC 729), Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC 432), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1688) & Proteus mirablis (MTCC 425). According to our results in the lowest tested concentration of 62. 5μg/ml and 125μg/ml 7.2% of the plant extract were active, 5% active in the concentration of 250μg/ml, 75.7% active in the concentration of 500μg/ml and 92.8% active at the concentration of 1000μg/ml in a dose dependent manner.
PENGARUH DARI IDENTITY TERHADAP BRAND VALUE, SATISFCATION, TRUST AND BRAND LOYALTY

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of brand identity on brand value, customer satisfaction and brand trust and the influence of brand value and customer satisfaction on brand trust and its impact on brand loyalty. Respondents in this study is the beauty clinic customers in Jakarta which consists of 112 respondent . Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS version 16 used in this study for data analysis . Results of the testing showed that the brand identity has a positive influence on brand value and brand trust, and customer satisfaction and brand value has a positive influence on brand trust that subsequently will have positive influence on brand loyalty. The results also showed that the brand identity does not have an influence on customer satisfaction
Predictions From Uncertain Categorizations

Eleven experiments investigated how categorization influences feature prediction. Subjects were provided with sets of categorized exemplars, which they used to make predictions about properties of new exemplars. Because the categories were provided for subjects, this method allowed a test of categorization and prediction processes, bypassing initial concept formation and memory. The experiments tested a Bayesian rule of prediction according to which (1) predictions of an object's features are based on information from multiple categories, and (2) features are treated as independent of one another. With one exception, the studies found evidence against both of these claims. Subjects did not generally alter their predictions as a function of information outside the most likely "target" category. In addition, feature relations had reliable effects on these predictions. We discuss the implications of these results for understanding how categories are used in drawing inferences.
PENGARUH MODAL INTELEKTUAL DAN MEKANISME CORPORATE GOVERNANCE TERHADAP KINERJA KEUANGAN

This research is meant to test the influence of intellectual capital and corporate governance mechanism to the financial performance. The independent variables are intellectual capital, institutional capital, managerial ownership, the proportion of the board of independent commissioner and the board of director. Meanwhile, the dependent variable in this research is the financial performance. The samples are 56 manufacturing companies with 3 years observation in 2012-2014 periods. The samples have been selected by using purposive sampling. The financial statement data has been obtained from the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The analysis method has been carried out by using multiple linear regressions analysis and the SPSS 20 application.The results of this research show that, (1) intellectual capital has positive influence to the financial statement of the company. (2) Institutional ownership does not have any influence to the financial statement of the company. (3) Managerial ownership has positive influence to the financial statement of the company. (4) The proportion of the board of independent commissioner has positive influence to the financial statement of the company. (5) The board of directors does not have any influence to the financial performance of the company. Keywords: Intellectual Capital, Coorporate Governance Mecanism, Financial Performance.
Open versus closed recensions (Pasquali): Pros and cons of some methods for computer-assisted stemmatology

By comparing the results obtained through traditional qualitative stemmatics with those obtained through computer-assisted quantitative stemmatology, when both approaches are applied to two authentic data sets (the Old English Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and a Latin epitome of Marco Polo’s Devisement dou Monde ), this study aims at bringing to the fore the advantages and the disadvantages of some recent methods for the automatic grouping of witnesses, most of which are based on phylogenetic models. The analysis will show that not all the methods provide results which can be considered reliable in light of the evidence offered by a thorough scrutiny of the documentary history of the texts under inspection. In particular, the majority of computer-assisted methods succeed in providing very good information for detecting the grouping of witnesses, as well as for a preliminary evaluation of their variant readings. Yet, few offer some valuable guidance as to define the sub-groups. This limitation becomes crucial when the existence of more than one codex interpositus has to be postulated, i.e. when the historical evidence makes it clear that the actual textual transmission cannot conform to the mathematical ideal of cladistic parsimony. The latter case is particularly evident with ‘closed’ recensions, where mechanical reconstruction plays a heavier role, and the choice of variants follows rigorous stemmatic steps. On the other hand, the application of computer-assisted methods to ‘open’ recensions seems to give better results.
PCA-based preprocessing method of electronic data in Power Grid

The electronic data which are acquired respectively by SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and WAMS (wide-area measurement system) have different structures and characters, therefore these two kinds of data could not be merged easily as well as used conveniently. This problem makes online analysis in SASOPG (Stabilization and Security of Power Grid) difficult. Aiming the problem, this paper proposes a PCA-based preprocessing method of electronic data in power grid. The method is based on a two-stage state estimation algorithm optimized by PCA. By using linear/non-linear mixed state estimation algorithm, the origin data from SCADA/WAMS are transformed into state values. To accelerate the state estimation restrained rapidly, a data value optimized algorithm of principal component analysis is provided, and finally the basic message of online analysis is obtained. The result shows that the processing method merges the electronic data well, and it also has higher execution efficiency.
Incoterms® Use in Buyer-Seller Relationships: a Mixed Methods Study

xvii Chapter 1 – Introduction . 1 1.1 Research Objective and Research Questions . 16 1.2 Justification for this Research . 17 1.3 Research Approach . 17 1.4 Contributions of this Research . 20 1.5 Dissertation Organization . 22 Chapter 2 – Literature Review. 23 2.1 Buyer-Seller Relationships . 23 2.2 Logistics Management. 27 2.3 Incoterms® . 29 2.3. 1 History of Incoterms® . 29