Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Educating tourists for global citizenship: a microfinance tourism providers’ perspective

ABSTRACT Ethical tourism initiatives have increasingly been framed as tools to educate tourists about global citizenship (GC), yet it is unclear how these initiatives are conceptualised, planned and implemented by tourism providers. This paper focuses on a form of ethical tourism known as microfinance tourism (MFT). It critically explores MFT providers’ perspectives on what constitutes the goals of educating tourists about GC and how MFT can be designed and implemented to achieve these goals. The study adopted a qualitative approach utilising in-depth interviews with 12 key informants from 6 MFT organisations in Tanzania, Mexico, Jordan and Vietnam. The results reveal that MFT providers rely on an experiential learning process to educate tourists. However, as part of this learning process, MFT initiatives are located on a continuum, constituting those initiatives designed to increase tourists’ compassion and philanthropic actions (i.e. ‘thin’ GC) through to those initiatives seeking to build solidarity and global discussions between tourists in order to challenge the structures that perpetuate global injustice (i.e. ‘thick’ GC). These results highlight the diversity of tourism providers’ perspectives pertaining to GC, the effect diversity has on the design of tourism initiatives and the resultant outcomes of GC education utilising ethical tourism.
A STUDY ON VISCOSITY, SURFACE TENSION AND VOLUME FLOW RATE OF SOME EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL OILS

The paper presents data on viscosity, surface tension and volume flow rate of some edible and medicinal oils. The study is based on the simple experimental setup developed in Biophysics Laboratory of Nizam College, Hyderabad. The rheological parameters of oils have a direct relationship with some fatty acids that constitute the triglycerols. Further, the rheological parameters characterize oils of plant origin. The study suggests that any environmental influences; compositional, structural and physiological alterations; storage period can be reflected significantly in the rheological properties of oils extracted from plants and animals.
Absorption and elimination of D & C Red No . 28 in male F-344 rats

D&C Red No. 28 (Red 28) is a US certified color additive used in drugs and cosmetics. Little is known about the extent of systemic absorption and pharmacokinetic behavior of Red 28. Therefore, these studies were performed to determine oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetic parameters of Red 28 in male F-344 rats following single and repeated oral dosing. Rats were administered either a single i.v. dose (50 mg/kg), a low oral gavage dose (50 mg/kg), or a high oral gavage dose (500 mg/kg) of Red 28. Plasma, urine and feces samples were subjected to solid phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed by HPLC for Red 28. Regardless of the dose or route of administration, the terminal t1/2 of Red 28 was 2.5 h. The major route of elimination was fecal excretion, with 88% (i.v.) and 98% (50 mg/kg p.o.) of the dose recovered by 96 h. Urinary excretion of Red 28 accounted for 1% of the dose following i.v. administration. No Red 28 was detected in urine after p.o. administration. Biliary excretion was determined experimentally to be the primary route of elimination for systemically available Red 28. Bioavailability following p.o. administration was very low (1–2%) and was not altered significantly by 14 days of dietary pretreatment with Red 28. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Crossed Response Inhibition Task in Parkinson's Disease: Disinhibition Hyperkinesia

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have dysfunction in frontal-basal ganglia networks. Many of these patients have difficulties with mental processing speed, response inhibition, and shifting between different conceptual sets, suggesting frontal-executive dysfunction. Since frontal lobe dysfunction is associated with disengagement deficits such as perseveration and echopraxia we wanted to learn if patients with PD demonstrated defective response inhibition. Using a brief clinical test called the crossed response inhibition (CRI) task we assessed patients with PD (n = 17), and a group of age matched controls (n = 30). In addition to the CRI, subjects were asked to perform two tests of frontal lobe function: verbal word fluency, anti-saccade test. In the CRI task, patients are instructed to lift the hand opposite to the one the examiner touches. An error is scored whenever the patient makes any movement of the touched (ipsilateral) extremity after stimulation (from shoulder to fingers). The task is performed with the patient's eyes closed. Whereas no differences were found between PD and control subjects on the verbal fluency or anti-saccade tasks, PD patients made significantly more errors on the CRI than did controls. Subsequent analyses found no difference in performance associated with the laterality (asymmetry) of PD symptoms or signs. In addition, there was no difference between PD patients' CRI performance when they were “on” their dopaminergic medications versus when they were “off” these medicines. Based on these findings, it appears that PD is associated with a disengagement-inhibition defect that is not induced by a dopaminergic deficit. In addition, the CRI task might be a brief sensitive bedside task for evaluating frontal dysfunction in PD.
Nonmagnetotactic Multicellular Prokaryotes from Low-Saline, Nonmarine Aquatic Environments and Their Unusual Negative Phototactic Behavior

ABSTRACT Magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes (MMPs) are unique magnetotactic bacteria of the Deltaproteobacteria class and the first found to biomineralize the magnetic mineral greigite (Fe3S4). Thus far they have been reported only from marine habitats. We questioned whether MMPs exist in low-saline, nonmarine environments. MMPs were observed in samples from shallow springs in the Great Boiling Springs geothermal field and Pyramid Lake, both located in northwestern Nevada. The temperature at all sites was ambient, and salinities ranged from 5 to 11 ppt. These MMPs were not magnetotactic and did not contain magnetosomes (called nMMPs here). nMMPs ranged from 7 to 11 μm in diameter, were composed of about 40 to 60 Gram-negative cells, and were motile by numerous flagella that covered each cell on one side, characteristics similar to those of MMPs. 16S rRNA gene sequences of nMMPs show that they form a separate phylogenetic branch within the MMP group in the Deltaproteobacteria class, probably representing a single species. nMMPs exhibited a negative phototactic behavior to white light and to wavelengths of ≤480 nm (blue). We devised a “light racetrack” to exploit this behavior, which was used to photoconcentrate nMMPs for specific purposes (e.g., DNA extraction) even though their numbers were low in the sample. Our results show that the unique morphology of the MMP is not restricted to marine and magnetotactic prokaryotes. Discovery of nonmagnetotactic forms of the MMP might support the hypothesis that acquisition of the magnetosome genes involves horizontal gene transfer. To our knowledge, this is the first report of phototaxis in bacteria of the Deltaproteobacteria class.
Prognostic and predictive factors and reporting of prostate carcinoma in prostate needle biopsy specimens

The information provided in the surgical pathology report of a prostate needle biopsy of carcinoma has become critical in the subsequent management and prognostication of the cancer. The surgical pathology report should thus be comprehensive and yet succinct in providing relevant information consistently to urologists, radiation oncologists and oncologists and, thereby, to the patient. This paper reflects the current recommendations of the 2004 World Health Organization-sponsored International Consultation, which was co-sponsored by the College of American Pathologists. It builds on the existing work of several organizations, including the College of American Pathologists, the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathologists, the Royal Society of Pathologists, the European Society of Urologic Pathology and the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer.
Arctic shrub growth trajectories differ across soil moisture levels

The circumpolar expansion of woody deciduous shrubs in arctic tundra alters key ecosystem properties including carbon balance and hydrology. However, landscape‐scale patterns and drivers of shrub expansion remain poorly understood, inhibiting accurate incorporation of shrub effects into climate models. Here, we use dendroecology to elucidate the role of soil moisture in modifying the relationship between climate and growth for a dominant deciduous shrub, Salix pulchra, on the North Slope of Alaska, USA. We improve upon previous modeling approaches by using ecological theory to guide model selection for the relationship between climate and shrub growth. Finally, we present novel dendroecology‐based estimates of shrub biomass change under a future climate regime, made possible by recently developed shrub allometry models. We find that S. pulchra growth has responded positively to mean June temperature over the past 2.5 decades at both a dry upland tundra site and an adjacent mesic riparian site. For the upland site, including a negative second‐order term in the climate–growth model significantly improved explanatory power, matching theoretical predictions of diminishing growth returns to increasing temperature. A first‐order linear model fit best at the riparian site, indicating consistent growth increases in response to sustained warming, possibly due to lack of temperature‐induced moisture limitation in mesic habitats. These contrasting results indicate that S. pulchra in mesic habitats may respond positively to a wider range of temperature increase than S. pulchra in dry habitats. Lastly, we estimate that a 2°C increase in current mean June temperature will yield a 19% increase in aboveground S. pulchra biomass at the upland site and a 36% increase at the riparian site. Our method of biomass estimation provides an important link toward incorporating dendroecology data into coupled vegetation and climate models.
The donation response to natural disasters

Natural disasters, such as the 2004 East Asian Tsunami, attract a high level of donations. Previous literature has shown that the scale of the disaster is important in driving the aid response, but there are inconsistent findings on whether the number killed or the number affected matters more. In this paper we discuss a number of issues in linking measures of the scale of a disaster to the aid response, particularly taking account of outliers in both scale of disaster and aid. We show that a log-specification is preferred and that this specification can reconcile findings based on different datasets. Both the number killed and the number affected matter equally for whether aid is given; the number killed is more strongly related to the magnitude of the aid response. We also present new evidence confirming the importance of publicity for disasters, focusing on appeals.
Adaptive phase formation in martensitic transformation.

It is shown that an appearance of an intermediate martensite phase called adaptive martensite may be expected if the surface energy of a boundary between two orientational variants of the normal martensite phase is very low and the typical lattice-mismatch-related elastic energy is high. The adaptive martensite is formed as an elastically constrained phase when the scale of structure heterogeneities induced by the crystal-strain accommodation is reduced to the microscopic scale commensurate with the twin-plane interplanar distance. An example of the cubic{r arrow}tetragonal transformation is considered where the adaptive phase has a pseudo-orthorhombic lattice. The crystal-lattice parameters of the adaptive phase are expressed through those of the parent cubic phase and tetragonal normal martensite. It is shown that the (5,{bar 2})7{ital R} martensite in {beta}{prime}NiAl alloys and the intermediate phase recently found just above the temperature of the fcc{r arrow}fct martensitic transformation in Fe-Pd are examples of the adaptive martensite. A possible role of the adaptive phase in the thermal nucleation of the martensite is discussed. The nucleation of the normal martensite may be bypassed by nucleation of the adaptive phase, which transforms to the normal martensite during the growth.
Short-duration mechanical ventilation enhances diaphragmatic fatigue resistance but impairs force production.

STUDY OBJECTIVE s: Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life-support measure for patients who cannot maintain adequate alveolar ventilation. Following prolonged MV, difficulty in weaning patients from the ventilator can occur, and it has been postulated that difficult weaning is linked to respiratory muscle dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that 18 h of controlled MV will diminish diaphragmatic maximal tetanic specific tension (force per cross-sectional area of muscle) without impairing diaphragmatic fatigue resistance. DESIGN To test this postulate, adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly classified into one of two experimental groups: (1) control group (n = 8), and (2) 18-h MV group (n = 6). MV-treated animals were anesthetized, tracheostomized, and received room air ventilation. Animals in the control group were acutely anesthetized but did not receive MV. Muscle strips from the mid-costal diaphragm were removed from both experimental groups, and contractile properties were studied in vitro to determine the effects of MV on diaphragmatic endurance and maximal force production. Diaphragmatic endurance was investigated by measuring tension development during repeated contractions throughout a 30-min fatigue protocol. RESULTS MV resulted in a reduction (p < 0.05) in diaphragmatic maximal specific tension (control group, 26.8 +/- 0.2 Newtons/cm(2) vs MV group, 21.3 +/- 0.6 Newtons/cm(2)). Compared to the control group, diaphragms from MV-treated animals maintained higher (p < 0.05) percentages of the initial force production throughout the fatigue protocol. The observed improvement in fatigue resistance was associated with an increase in diaphragmatic oxidative and antioxidant capacity as evidenced by increases (p < 0.05) in both citrate synthase and superoxide dismutase activities. However, by comparison to the control group, diaphragms from MV-treated animals generated less (p < 0.05) absolute specific force throughout the fatigue protocol. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that 18 h of MV enhances diaphragmatic fatigue resistance but impairs diaphragmatic specific tension.
Voice over IP via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Peer to Peer

The concept of voice transferring from one mobile to another mobile using Bluetooth/ WIFI connectivity is discussed in this paper. Bluetooth is the connection which can be used as a link to share data among devices within a Personal Area Network. Now-a-days mobile phones come with Bluetooth facilities. Wi-Fi is a WLAN standard which is used to share data over the transmission range larger than Bluetooth. Wi-Fi can also be used to share the voice from one mobile to another by receiving the data from one mobile (user) and sending the data to the destination user. The basic concept behind this data transferring is VOIP (voice over protocol). Voice telephony over mobile is currently supported at a cost using service provider such as GSM, or using IP service provider at cheaper cost. The purpose of this research is to design and implement a telephony program that uses WIFI in p2p (Peer-to-Peer) or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) as a means of communication between mobile phones at no cost. The system will allow users to search for other individuals within WIFI range and to establish free p2p voice connections, or to establish virtual connection through Access Points (AP), as well as giving the option to user to use GSM in the case of no WIFI connectivity is available. A novel algorithm is introduced to convert mobile number into IP address and use it as a mean for contacting other mobile over p2p or AP using WIFI technology.
Understanding customer participation in online brand communities: Literature review and future research agenda

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of customer participation research specifically in online brand communities and summarize a number of basic issues as important research gaps that future research should address. Design/methodology/approach By using the content analysis method, this paper explores, analyses and presents a literature review by closely examining 113 articles published during 2001-2016, primarily from the leading marketing and management journals. Findings The findings of this review show that regardless of the plenty of studies in this area, a conceptual framework for customer participation is undetermined. This review presents a framework describing various antecedents, mediators, moderators and consequences of online brand community participation. Apart from this, various theories and models used in the reviewed articles are being depicted. The literature classification presented in this paper portrays the current trends and patterns of research in this area. This review also addresses research gaps in this area and presents them in the form of future research directions. Research/limitations/implications This review of literature carried out by the authors suggests that customer participation in online brand communities needs more focused conceptual research and the implications of this study will help researchers in this direction. Moreover, the managers can use the identified variables as a checklist to their online brand communities’ activities. Originality/value This paper is the first to provide a systematic review of customer participation in online brand community area that presents a comprehensive knowledge regarding the current state of research in this area on a single platform and provides a conceptual framework.
Evaluation of large-scale parameters in urban microcells at 3.8 GHz

This paper evaluates MIMO radio channel measurements at 3.8 GHz, conducted in various urban microcell environments in Louvain-la-Neuve. Large-scale parameters, such as shadow fading, delay and angular spreads, are extracted and compared with values provided by existing models (COST 273, COST 2100 and 3GPP-3D).
Neuroimaging in Neurodegenerative Dementias

Abstract Neurodegenerative dementias are characterized by insidious onset and gradual progression of cognitive dysfunction, initially relatively focal with respect to cognitive domains and brain regions involved. Neuroimaging techniques have contributed enormously to both our understanding of large-scale network specificity in neurodegenerative syndromes and our ability to make clinical diagnoses of syndromes such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), logopenic primary progressive aphasia (PPA), agrammatic PPA, semantic dementia (SD), behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (PSPS). More importantly, rapid advances in imaging and computational techniques promise to improve our ability to make pathologic diagnoses of AD, DLB, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) pathologies in vivo at an early stage of illness. Neuroimaging is thus integral to the development and application of disease modifying therapies for neurodegenerative illnesses.
The Internationalisation Process in Family Firms: Choice of Market Entry Strategies

One of the most important issues in the study of the internationalisation process is the choice of market entry strategy, which can be linked to the degree of international commitment. We have chosen to address this aspect in this paper by undertaking case studies of family firms, located in the province of Alicante (Spain), that belong to the most internationalised sectors in the region. The results obtained show that this group of firms follow the propositions laid down by the Uppsala model and that the age, size and generation of the family firm significantly influence the establishment of international, strategic alliances.
Unveiling the Factors Affecting Profitability of Reinsurance Companies

General Insurance Corporation or GIC Re is a quintessential reinsurer of India. The company is among the premier financial institutions of the country. It has been the only domestic reinsurer of India since many years. Recently from December 2016, with the approval of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), many unassailable international reinsurers have made their foray into the Indian market. Besotted by the recent supple regulations of the Indian reinsurance market, many other international reinsurers are interested to carve a niche in the Indian market. As such it becomes imperative to keep an eye on our own unfettered reinsurer which has to confront the competition posed by these highly adept reinsurers in the changing scenario. In this article, an attempt is made to ascertain the factors affecting the profitability of GIC Re. Profitability has been chosen as it is often considered as the salient parameter of a company’s success. For this purpose, Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model has been used on the quarterly data of GIC Re from 2005 to 2016. It is found that investment income, underwriting profitability and premium growth significantly affect the profitability of GIC Re both in the short and long run.
Framework of Problem-Based Research: A Guide for Novice Researchers on the Development of a Research-Worthy Problem

This paper introduces the importance of a well-articulated, research-worthy problem statement as the centerpiece for any viable research. The aim of this work is to help novice researchers understand the value of problem-based research by providing a practical guide on the development of a well articulated and viable statement of a research-worthy problem as the starting point for all research. Additionally, this paper explores the interaction of the problem with the other fundamental elements of scholarly research including the research topic, goals, research questions, methodology, results, and conclusions. Scaffolding for articulating a ‘research-worthy problem’ is provided in the form of a deconstruction of the expression into definitions of its component terms, followed by a discussion of what is not a research-worthy problem. A roadmap on locating problems that could support scholarly research is provided. The theoretical foundation is placed into practice by examining some problem statements and proposing a template for crafting an effective statement.