Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Giant liposomes as delivery system for ecophysiological studies in copepods

SUMMARY Giant liposomes are proposed as a potential delivery system in marine copepods, the dominant constituent of the zooplankton. Liposomes were prepared in the same size range as the food ingested by copepods (mean diameter of about 7 μm). The encapsulation of a hydrophilic and high molecular mass fluorescent compound, fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FitcDx), within the liposomes provided a means of verifying copepod ingestion when viewed with the confocal laser-scanning microscope. Females of the calanoid copepod Temora stylifera were fed with FitcDx-encapsulated liposomes alone or mixed with the dinoflagellate alga Prorocentrum minimum. Control copepods were incubated with the P. minimum diet alone. Egg production rates, percentage egg-hatching success and number of faecal pellets produced were evaluated after 24 h and 48 h of feeding. Epifluorescence of copepod gut and faecal pellets indicated that the liposomes were actively ingested by T. stylifera in both experimental food conditions, with or without the dinoflagellate diet. Ingestion rates calculated using 3H-labelled liposomes indicated that females ingested more liposomes when P. minimum was added to the solution (16% vs 7.6% of uptake). When liposomes were supplied together with the algal diet, egg production rate, egg-hatching success and faecal pellet production were as high as those observed for the control diet. By contrary, egg production and hatching success were very low with a diet of liposomes alone and faecal pellet production was similar to that recorded in starved females. This results suggest that liposomes alone did not add any nutritive value to the diet, making them a good candidate as inert carriers to study the nutrient requirements or biological activity of different compounds. In particular, such liposomes are proposed as carriers for diatom-derived polyunsaturated aldehydes, which are known to impair copepod embryo viability. Other potential applications of liposomes as a delivery system of drugs and nutrients in copepod mass cultivation, or as carriers of pollutants to study copepod physiology in ecotoxicological experiments, are also discussed.
Strategic Factors on Interpreting Remanufacturing Quality-Certifying Framework to Address Warranty Aftermarket for Malaysian Industry

While the concept of remanufacturing is gaining popularity globally, literature and theory on strategic decision-making on certifying for warranty in this area remain limited. A strategic and establish concept flow is developed based on extensive literature review and surveys with experienced experts who are dealing with remanufactured, reconditioned, rebuilt and reused components. The remanufacturing research on evaluating quality assurance of remanufactured component targets macro-level parameters and the indicators which must be confirmed for evaluation. The strategic remanufacturing factors identified from the literature review are discussed in a brainstorming session with a number of remanufacturing researchers and academic experts. The study is further broadened by industrial surveys and case studies to justify the inputs on developing a framework to certify remanufactured components. Preliminary results have established the key factors of remanufacturing quality control that might lead to the strict quality assurance of remanufactured components. Later, the developed framework can be used as a benchmarking tool to certify remanufactured components and warranty issuance. The findings serve as the foundation for further research concerning Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or Original Equipment Remanufacturer (OER) and Independent Equipment Remanufacturer (IER) in the Malaysian Remanufacturing Industry.
A Semi-Selective agar medium to detect the presence of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum in naturally infected cotton seed

Um meio de cultura semi-seletivo foi desenvolvido para detectar Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum (Xam) em sementes do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum). O meio basico foi peptona-sacarose-agar (PSA). Os criterios para o meio semi-seletivo foram; as caracteristicas tipicas das colonias de Xam e sua patogenicidade em algodoeiro. Varios fungicidas sistemicos e antibioticos foram testados sozinhos ou em combinacao com outros em diferentes concentracoes. A composicao final do meio semi-seletivo foi estabelecida apos varias tentativas no sentido de inibir a maioria dos fungos e bacterias saprofiticas e favorecer o desenvolvimento de Xam. O meio contem: PSA + ciclohexamida, cefalexina, pencycuron, triadimenol e tolylfluanid. A bacteria foi recuperada de sementes naturalmente infetadas atraves do plaqueamento direto de 2.000 sementes externamente desinfestadas em meio semi-seletivo. A recuperacao do patogeno de tecidos homogenizados da folha infetada e a recuperacao em plaqueamento por diluicao, em meio semi-seletivo e em agar nutriente, foram comparaveis. Entre os tres metodos de deteccao, o meio semi-seletivo foi o mais preciso e confiavel. O nivel da severidade de infeccao em campo nao era sempre correlacionado com o nivel de infeccao nas sementes. Este e o primeiro relato de meio semi-seletivo para detectar a presenca de Xam em sementes do algodoeiro.
Thermography basket catheter: In vivo measurement of the temperature of atherosclerotic plaques for detection of vulnerable plaques

We have developed an intravascular thermography basket catheter to measure the temperature of the vessel wall to locate foci of inflammation. Our 3 Fr thermography basket catheter is a thermocouple‐based catheter made of a nitinol expandable and externally controllable basket system loaded with nine small and flexible built‐in thermosensors. It is equipped with real‐time data acquisition software with a thermal resolution of 0.0001°C and a sampling rate of 20 readings per second. In 10 inbred cholesterol‐fed dogs with femoral (but not carotid) atherosclerosis, we found foci of warmth on the surface of atherosclerotic but not disease‐free regions (P < 0.05). Marked temperature heterogeneity was also observed in the aortas of atherosclerotic Watanabe rabbits but not in normal rabbits. The catheters showed satisfactory accuracy, reproducibility, and safety. If confirmed in further studies, it has the potential to be utilized in detection of vulnerable plaques. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2003;59:52–59. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Impact of Relationship Marketing on Customer Loyalty Enhancement (Case Study: Kerman Iran Insurance Company)

Nowadays, only those trading that just focus on the effectiveness of the marketing mix elements can shift their direction towards relationship marketing and establishing effective relationship management with customers. In today's competitive world, customers are in the center of companies’ attention and their satisfaction is the main factor in gaining competitive advantage. The fundamental prerequisite for achieving customers’ satisfaction is to fully meet or exceed their needs, wants, desires, expectations, and their willingness to purchase products. To gain competitive advantage, the companies should pay more attention to customers’ needs and meet them better than their rivals. This paper aims to investigate the impact of relationship marketing on customer loyalty enhancement in Kerman Iran insurance company. This study was carried out through a survey method using questionnaires as the main instrument. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between loyalty as dependent variable and trust, satisfaction, management, communication, and competence as independent variables and revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between variables.
Cognitive barriers to information seeking: A conceptual analysis

Based on the conceptual analysis, the study examines the features of cognitive barriers and their impact on information seeking. The study resulted in a typology specifying six sub-types of cognitive barriers: unwillingness to see one’s needs as information needs, inability to articulate one’s information needs, unawareness of information sources, low self-efficacy, poor search skills and inability to deal with information overload. The sub-types were reviewed at two stages of the information-seeking process: identifying and articulating information needs; and selecting and accessing information sources. The impact of cognitive barriers is mainly negative because they block, limit or hamper information seeking, or give rise to negative reactions such as frustration. Cognitive barriers can also impact positively by helping the individual to concentrate on a few, good enough sources of information.
The Impact of Corporate Governance on Chinese Firms Performance: A Board Structure Perspective

Since the last few years, corporate governance emerged as a highly important research topic in China. The major objective of this paper is to empirically pinpoint the impact of corporate governance on the performance of Chinese listed firms using different variables. To narrowing down the topic, we included board structure variables to evaluate the firm performance. We have investigated the data of Chinese companies listed on Shanghai stock exchange and Shenzhen stock exchange from 2008 to 2011. There are 6981 observations used for regression and spearman correlation coefficient analysis. The variables used in this research paper to measure firm performance included return on equity, return on invested capital and Tobin’s Q while corporate governance variables were board size and board independence. In a broader perspective, empirical results clearly indicate that the board size has significant negative effects on firm performance. On the other hand, the board independence has overall significant positive effects on firm performance. These findings bear board implications in corporate governance, and thus could be helpful in improving the governance, performance and productivity of the firms to comply with the challenges posed by competing firms in the end.
Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid (Timentin ® ) compared with standard antibiotic regimes in the treatment of early and late neonatal infections

Timentin (ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid) was compared with"standard"antibiotic regimens in thetreatmentof proven or suspected early or late infections on 100 occasions in 89 newborn infants. Standardregimens consisted of piperacillin with or without gentamicin (early) or flucloxacillin plus gentamicin (late). Timentin was found to give abroadspectrum of cover, was as effective as the standardtherapies, providing satisfactoryserum levels of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid at the doses used, and with the addedadvantageof being a single drug without thepotentialtoxicity problems associated with gentamicin.
Preparation of Different Formulations of Experimental Herpes Simplex Viral Vaccine Type-2 Using Aluminum and Calcium Phosphate gel as Adjuvants and Related Stability and Immunogenicity

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a one of the most prevalent worldwide sexually transmitted infection. HSV-2 causes recurrent genital ulcers, neonatal herpes, and also, increases the risk for HIV acquisition. Many HSV-2 vaccines have been tested in humans, but were not consistently effective. In the present work we tried to produce a model vaccine for HSV-2 formulated in different formulae as an attempt for development of an effective prophylactic and therapeutic HSV-2 vaccine. Beta propiolactone (BPL) as virus inactivant was compared with the conventional formalin. Also, calcium phosphate nano-particles (CPN) as a vaccine adjuvant was compared with current used aluminum phosphate gel (alum) micro-particles. Stability of adjuvanted and non adjuvanted vaccine models was monitored at different thermal conditions. Subcutaneous route was conducted in balb-c mice to determine the immune response of vaccine formulations. Data revealed that Al-BPL-HSV-2 vaccine showed the highest and longer durative immune response compared with other vaccine candidates. Different formulations of the test vaccine showed the same pattern of stability at different thermal conditions (4°C and 37°C and 45°C). Also, Al-BPL-HSV-2 vaccine formulation could efficiently develop antibody level that could neutralize the challenge dose of HSV-2 and no viral infection could be detected in the vaginal tissues using direct immune-fluorescent assay.
Measuring the relative efficiency of insurance companies in Saudi Arabia: The case study of Takaful vs cooperative industries

Abstract The aim of this paper is to measure the efficiency of insurance companies in Saudi Arabia using data envelopment analysis (DEA), to analyse the effectiveness of underwriting processes primarily inputs and outputs are determined. Moreover, this study aims at comparing the efficiency of Takaful and cooperative in the year 2014. Taking into account two main approaches of this technique and considering a sample of 23 insurance companies, we show that the results revealed that insurance companies do not operate efficiently. Also, a classification of companies allows to discover that on average, Takaful insurance are relatively more efficient than cooperative insurance companies. The main finding of this paper is the need for better resource allocation in the cooperative insurance companies’ systems, because some Takaful insurance companies have resource surplus and in other cooperative ones it is observed a lack of resources.
Cost-effectiveness of stereotactic 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted breast biopsy.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency with which stereotactic 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted breast biopsy obviated a surgical procedure and to calculate cost savings attributable to that biopsy method. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 200 consecutive solitary nonpalpable lesions on which stereotactic 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted breast biopsy was performed. Cost savings were calculated using Medicare reimbursements. Mammograms, histologic findings, and medical records were reviewed. RESULTS Stereotactic 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted biopsy obviated a surgical procedure in 151 (76%) of 200 lesions, including 112 (73%) of 154 calcific lesions and 39 (85%) of 46 masses. Reasons for not obviating a surgical procedure in 49 lesions (25%) included recommendation for surgical biopsy in 35 lesions (18%), small carcinomas treated by excision in 10 lesions (5%), and histologic underestimation in four lesions (2%). Stereotactic 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted biopsy decreased the cost of diagnosis by S264 per case, a 20% ($264/$1289) decrease in the cost of diagnosis compared with surgical biopsy. Of 200 lesions that had stereotactic 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted biopsy, 106 (53%) would not have been amenable to 14-gauge automated core biopsy because of their small size, their superficial location, or inadequate breast thickness. CONCLUSION Stereotactic 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted breast biopsy obviated a surgical procedure in 76% of lesions, yielding a 20% decrease in cost of diagnosis compared with surgical biopsy. Although savings per case are modest, 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted biopsy expands the spectrum of lesions amenable to stereotactic biopsy, increasing cost savings in the population.
A high IIP3 6.5 mW self-biased 0.3–3 GHz small area LNA

This paper presents a 300 MHz to 3 GHz Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) with high HP3 and one of the smallest silicon area we could find. It is based on a single amplifier, where it is systematically optimized to achieve better results than more complex noise canceling topologies, thus, saving area and power consumption. A CMOS inverter with resistive feedback where transistors are self-biased in strong inversion is designed and optimized for low NF and high IIP3 and then the feedback resistor is calculated for input impedance matching. The post-layout simulation results in a 130 nm process show for the entire bandwidth a voltage gain around 12 to 15 dB, a NF < 3.6 dB, a Sii of −15.2 to −10.5 dB, HP3 of 4.7 to 5.3 dBm, total area of 40 um × 30 um and power consumption of 6.5 mW under 1.2 V supply. Monte Carlo simulations for 1000 samples show IIP3 of 3.3 to 6 dBm with σ of 0.48 dBm.
Ship Rotated Bounding Box Space for Ship Extraction From High-Resolution Optical Satellite Images With Complex Backgrounds

Extracting ships from complex backgrounds is the bottleneck of ship detection in high-resolution optical satellite images. In this letter, we propose a nearly closed-form ship rotated bounding box space used for ship detection and design a method to generate a small number of highly potential candidates based on this space. We first analyze the possibility of accurately covering all ships by labeling rotated bounding boxes. Moreover, to reduce search space, we construct a nearly closed-form ship rotated bounding box space. Then, by scoring for each latent candidate in the space using a two-cascaded linear model followed by binary linear programming, we select a small number of highly potential candidates. Moreover, we also propose a fast version of our method. Experiments on our data set validate the effectiveness of our method and the efficiency of its fast version, which achieves a close detection rate in near real time.
Enhanced rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa USM‐AR2 via fed‐batch cultivation based on maximum substrate uptake rate

A fed‐batch strategy was established based on the maximum substrate uptake rate (MSUR) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa USM‐AR2 grown in diesel to produce rhamnolipid. This strategy matches the substrate feed rates with the substrate demand based on the real‐time measurements of dissolved oxygen (DO). The MSUR was estimated by determining the time required for consumption of a known amount of diesel. The MSUR trend paralleled the biomass profile of Ps. aeruginosa USM‐AR2, where the MSUR increased throughout the exponential phase indicating active substrate utilization and then decreased when cells entered stationary phase. Rhamnolipid yield on diesel was enhanced from 0·047 (g/g) in batch to 0·110 (g/g) in pulse‐pause fed‐batch and 0·123 (g/g) in MSUR fed‐batch. Rhamnolipid yield on biomass was also improved from 0·421 (g/g) in batch, 3·098 (g/g) in pulse‐pause fed‐batch to 3·471 (g/g) using MSUR‐based strategy. Volumetric productivity increased from 0·029 g l−1 h−1 in batch, 0·054 g l−1 h−1 in pulse‐pause fed‐batch to 0·076 g l−1 h−1 in MSUR fed‐batch.
Negative Symptoms and Poor Insight as Predictors of the Similarity Between Client and Therapist Ratings of Therapeutic Alliance in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Patients With Schizophrenia

Recent studies have found that clients with schizophrenia rate therapeutic alliance more highly than therapists. Unclear is whether there are clinical characteristics which predict the degree of difference in client and therapist ratings. To explore this, we correlated client and therapist ratings of therapeutic alliance with baseline assessments of positive negative, and disorganized symptoms and awareness of need for treatment. Participants were 40 adults with schizophrenia enrolled in a 6-month program of cognitive behavior therapy. Results indicated that clients produced higher ratings of therapeutic alliance than therapists and that therapist and client general ratings were more disparate when clients had fewer negative symptoms and better insight. Higher overall client ratings of therapeutic alliance were linked to lower levels of positive, negative, and disorganized symptoms and better awareness of need for treatment. Higher overall therapist ratings were linked only to lower levels of disorganized symptoms among clients.
Disseminated Malignant Histiocytosis in a Golden Retriever: Clinicopathologic, Ultrastructural, and Immunohistochemical Findings

Diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis (MH), a disorder characterized by systemic proliferation of morphologically atypical histiocytes and their precursors, in an 8-year-old neutered female Golden Retriever was based on light and electron microscopic and immunohistochemical findings. Clinically, the dog presented with unilateral forelimb lameness. Eight days after surgical exploration of a swollen brachium, the dog developed sudden onset of posterior paresis, fecal and urinary incontinence, and a flaccid tail. Necropsy revealed infiltrative and nodular lesions in the right forelimb and regional lymph nodes, thoracic and abdominal cavities, and lumbar epidural space. Gross lesions were not found in the lungs or integument. Histopathologic examination showed infiltrates of atypical histiocytes in skeletal muscle, joint, and regional lymph nodes of the right forelimb; intercostal muscle; lung; liver; spleen; pancreas; kidneys; and spinal dura. Most tumor infiltrates were nodular and composed of loosely aggregated cells that were 10-30 μm in diameter with abundant eosinophilic to foamy cytoplasm, had central or eccentric nuclei, and were periodic acid-Schiff negative. Many binucleated cells, multinucleated giant cells, and mitotic figures were seen. Tumor cells contained phagocytosed erythrocytes, mononuclear cells, and some leukocytes. Ultrastructural features of tumor cells included cytoplasmic lipid droplets, lysosomes, and phagolysosomes. Immunohistochemical studies on paraffin-embedded sections showed positive reactivity to human T-cell Ag (clone UCHL-1) and for lysozyme, α-1-antitrypsin, and cathespin B. Polyclonal intracellular immunoglobulin reactivity and lectin binding (peanut, soybean, and wheat germ agglutinins and concanavalin A) were also demonstrated. Criteria for diagnosis of malignant histiocytic tumors and differential diagnosis are discussed.
Nonlinear Mixed-effects Models and Nonparametric Inference. A Method Based on Bootstrap for the Analysis of Non-normal Repeated Measures Data in Biostatistical Practice.

En la presente investigacion se presenta un taller de analisis avanzado de datos en el contexto de los modelos mixtos, con matrices estructuradas de varianzas-covarianzas de los efectos aleatorios y/o de los residuos. El ajuste de dichos modelos ha permitiedo poner de manifiesto ciertas preocupaciones por la sensibilidad de las inferencias respecto de las suposiciones del modelo, especialmente cuando no cumplen las hipotesis habituales sobre normalidad de residuos y de factores aleatorios. El proposito principal del trabajo ha sido el estudio de la validez del empleo de modelos mixtos no lineales para analizar datos de medidas repetidas y discutir la robustez del enfoque inferencial parametrico basado en la aproximacion propuesta por Lindstrom y Bates (1990), y proponer y evaluar posibles alternativas al mismo, basadas en la metodologia bootstrap. Se discute ademas el mejor procedimiento para generar las muestras bootstrap a partir de datos longitudinales bajo modelos mixtos, y se realiza una adaptacion de la metodologia bootstrap a metodos de ajuste en dos etapas, como STS (Standard two-stage) y GTS (Global two-stage). Los resultados de simulacion confirman que la aproximacion parametrica basada en la hipotesis de normalidad no es fiable cuando la distribucion de la variable estudiada se aparta seriamente de la normal. En concreto, los intervalos de confianza aproximados basados en una aproximacion lineal, y en general en los resultados asintoticos de la maxima verosimilitud, no son robustos frente a la desviacion de la hipotesis de normalidad de los datos, incluso para tamanos muestrales relativamente grandes. El metodo "bootstrap" proporciona un estimador de los parametros, en terminos de amplitud del intervalo y de su cobertura relativamente mas adecuado que el metodo clasico, basado en la hipotesis de normalidad de la variable estudiada.