Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Saponin content and trypsin inhibitor activity in processed and cooked pigeon pea cultivars.

Four high-yielding varieties of pigeon pea namely UPAS-120, Manak, JCPL-151. ICPL-87 had considerable amounts of antinutrients i.e. saponins and trypsin inhibitors. Saponin content of these unprocessed cultivars ranged from 2164 to 3494 mg/100 g. There were significant varietal variations in trypsin inhibitor activity (1007-1082 TIU/g) of these pigeon pea cultivars. Some simple, inexpensive and easy-to-use domestic processing and cooking methods, namely, soaking (6, 12, 18 h), soaking (12 h)-dehulling, ordinary cooking, pressure cooking and germination (24, 36, 48 h) were found to be quite effective in lowering the level of saponins and trypsin inhibitors in all the pigeon pea cultivars. Pressure cooking of soaked and dehulled seeds lowered the content of saponins to a maximum extent (28 to 38%) followed by ordinary cooking of soaked and dehulled seeds (28 to 35%), soaked dehulled raw seeds (22 to 27%) and 48 h germinated seeds (15 to 19%). Loss of TIA was marginal due to soaking but ordinary as well as pressure cooking of unsoaked and soaked-dehulled pigeon pea seeds reduced the TIA drastically. Pressure cooking of pigeon pea seeds completely destroyed the TIA while it was reduced to the extent of 86-88% against the control in 48 h pigeon pea sprouts.
Effects of corporate social responsibility on the performance of firms within the financial sector: a case study of Postbank

Business organizations are faced with the reality of the compelling need to show commitment towards Corporate Social Responsibility. Whereas organizations are participating in CSR activities, there is an emerging thought where firms are asking questions about business sustainability of these activities. It is with this background that this research investigated the effects of corporate social responsibility on the performance of firms operating within the financial sector. Postbank which is the only pure savings bank in the country was selected for purpose of the study. The study determined the extent to which environmental issues, customer concerns, employee concerns, philanthropic activities and products and services influences the performance of the Bank. It is important to note that no such study had been done in the Bank and it is therefore deemed that its findings provides input for policy improvement as well as enhance the existing knowledge relating to the area of study. The population of the study comprised 300 staff of Postbank from specific departments and working within the CBD area of Nairobi. A sample of 20% of the population was obtained using stratified random sampling. Questionnaires were used to source data. Other sources were journals, company publications, reports, circulars, text books and information from web sites in the internet. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods including measures of central tendencies and dispersion to explain the population distribution. Findings indicated that CSR activities have a higher effect on the performance of the bank as performance focused on image, profitability, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, costs and risk profile of the organization. Given that the market place has become competitive and players in the industry compete for customers with an intention of increasing the deposits level, the findings indicated that CSR may be considered a differentiation strategy by the bank. Based on the findings the study recommends that the bank should participate more on corporate social responsibility activities while at the same time using it as a platform for marketing its products. The study advocates for CSR to be accommodated as a differentiation strategy with the objective of making the organization attain increased performance. The study confined itself to Kenya Post Office Savings Bank which is a purely savings bank and is not a commercial bank. It may therefore not be fully representative of the financial sector and as such it is proposed that a study of the whole industry in Kenya comprising over 45 banks be undertaken.
The Audit Risk Model, Business Risk and Audit‐Planning Decisions

This study identifies conditions under which the audit risk model does, and does not, describe audit‐planning (investment and pricing) decisions. In an experiment, audit partners and managers examined one of two cases where a material misstatement—error or irregularity—was discovered. The auditors assessed the elements of the audit risk model, assessed business risk and provided recommendations for the audit investment and fee. When the likelihood of an error was high, the audit risk model dominated business risk in the explanation of the audit investment, and the fee did not contain a risk premium. When the likelihood of an irregularity was high, business risk dominated the audit risk model in the explanation of the audit investment, and the fee contained a risk premium. These results suggest that the ability of the audit risk model to describe auditor behavior and the inclination of auditors to charge a risk premium depend upon the nature of the risks present in the audit. In the presence of errors, the.
Identifying homologous anatomical landmarks on reconstructed magnetic resonance images of the human cerebral cortical surface

Guided by a review of the anatomical literature, 36 sulci on the human cerebral cortical surface were designated as homologous. These sulci were assessed for visibility on 3‐dimensional images reconstructed from magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brains of 20 normal volunteers by 2 independent observers. Those sulci that were found to be reproducibly identifiable were used to define 24 landmarks around the cortical surface. The interobserver and intraobserver variabilities of measurement of the 24 landmarks were calculated. These reliably reproducible landmarks can be used for detailed morphometric analysis, and may prove helpful in the analysis of suspected cerebral cortical structured abnormalities in patients with such conditions as epilepsy.
Comparative Metabolism of 14C-Labeled Apixaban in Mice, Rats, Rabbits, Dogs, and Humans

The metabolism and disposition of [14C]apixaban, a potent, reversible, and direct inhibitor of coagulation factor Xa, were investigated in mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, and humans after a single oral administration and in incubations with hepatocytes. In plasma, the parent compound was the major circulating component in mice, rats, dogs, and humans. O-Demethyl apixaban sulfate (M1) represented approximately 25% of the parent area under the time curve in human plasma. This sulfate metabolite was present, but in lower amounts relative to the parent, in plasma from mice, rats, and dogs. Rabbits showed a plasma metabolite profile distinct from that of other species with apixaban as a minor component and M2 (O-demethyl apixaban) and M14 (O-demethyl apixaban glucuronide) as prominent components. The fecal route was a major elimination pathway, accounting for >54% of the dose in animals and >46% in humans. The urinary route accounted for <15% of the dose in animals and 25 to 28% in humans. Apixaban was the major component in feces of every species and in urine of all species except rabbit. M1 and M2 were common prominent metabolites in urine and feces of all species as well as in bile of rats and humans. In vivo metabolite profiles showed quantitative differences between species and from in vitro metabolite profiles, but all human metabolites were found in animal species. After intravenous administration of [14C]apixaban to bile duct-cannulated rats, the significant portion (approximately 22%) of the dose was recovered as parent drug in the feces, suggesting direct excretion of the drug from gastrointestinal tracts of rats. Overall, apixaban was effectively eliminated via multiple elimination pathways in animals and humans, including oxidative metabolism, and direct renal and intestinal excretion.
The Success of Infrastructure Projects in Low-Income Countries and the Role of Selectivity

This research analyzes the success of the infrastructure projects financed by the World Bank, focusing on the causal link between the quality of project implementation and its outcome. The results show that the success of infrastructure projects depends fundamentally on the quality of implementation. Although bad implementation can harm structurally solid projects, good implementation cannot make structurally weak projects successful. This leads to the conclusion that governance and selection of well-designed projects are essential for success and, in order to improve project outcomes, multilateral development banks may need to align their incentives toward this objective and invest more in governance and capacity building.
Antimicrobial Activity of Rosmarinus officinalis against Oral Pathogens: Relevance of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol

The in vitro inhibitory activity of crude EtOH/H2O extracts from the leaves and stems of Rosmarinus officinalis L. was evaluated against the following microorganisms responsible for initiating dental caries: Streptococcus mutans, S. salivarius, S. sobrinus, S. mitis, S. sanguinis, and Enterococcus faecalis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined with the broth microdilution method. The bioassay‐guided fractionation of the leaf extract, which displayed the higher antibacterial activity than the stem extract, led to the identification of carnosic acid (2) and carnosol (3) as the major compounds in the fraction displaying the highest activity, as identified by HPLC analysis. Rosmarinic acid (1), detected in another fraction, did not display any activity against the selected microorganisms. HPLC Analysis revealed the presence of low amounts of ursolic acid (4) and oleanolic acid (5) in the obtained fractions. The results suggest that the antimicrobial activity of the extract from the leaves of R. officinalis may be ascribed mainly to the action of 2 and 3.
Alumni Orientation: Development of the Construct

The aim of this article is to conceptualize and empirically examine the constructs that constitute the concept of Alumni Orientation (AO). Using a discovery-oriented approach, conducted by supplementing educational and marketing literatures with in-depth interviews from 22 alumni personnel in six different UK universities, the author identified three second-order formative constructs and three first-order reflective constructs to measure the concept of AO. The study then developed a self-administrated survey to validate the six identified constructs that form AO. Through using rigorous statistical analysis, the study confirms that the measurement instrument for AO is the 48 items that can be validly and reliably measured using the nine multi-item components of: Case for Support; Alumni Database Management; Social Media Management; Financing Event Management; Financing Publication Management; Promoting Best Practices of Event Management; Promoting Best Practices of Publication Management; Intrafunctional Coordination; and Interfunctional Coordination.
Cash holdings determinants in the Portuguese economy

The analysis of liquidity management decisions by firms has recently been used as a tool to investigate the impact of financial constraints. Firms facing funding constraints need to accumulate more cash in order to protect themselves from the possibility of not being able to finance viable investment projects. This question is particularly relevant in the context of the current financial crisis. Thus, this article analyses the determinants of holding liquid assets (cash and deposits) by Portuguese companies based on annual accounting data for the period 1990-2012 from the Central Balance Sheet of the Banco de Portugal. The results show that the share of liquid assets in total assets is positively affected by current cash flows and its past volatility, which suggests that Portuguese companies are in fact subject to liquidity constraints. In addition, the results suggest that the need to accumulate funds as a protection against future shocks is more pronounced for smaller companies (especially small and micro enterprises).
The Complementary Roles of Board Incentives and Market Monitoring: Theory and Evidence

In this paper I rectify the market governance model of Holmstrom and Tirole (1993) to develop and test a number of hypotheses concerning company board structure and incentives. Exogeneity stems from the forced departure of "non-independent" directors with substantial shareholdings from boards due to regulatory-induced pressure. Various market and accounting measures of performance, investment decision-making with respect to acquisitions, and negotiation and monitoring of CEO and non-executive director pay substantially worsen in the presence of this external market monitoring. I conclude that informed traders utilize information about the actions of board members that reinforce market-based incentives.
Development of a RBI Tool for Inspection Management in Chemical Plants

The increasing complexity of chemical and petrochemical installations and in of oil and gas operations, jointed with the growing sensibility to ensure higher levels of safety, have increased the sensibility of the designers and operators to find innovative solutions to ensure safe as well as economically viable operation. It has become crucial to manage operational risk through the use of effective technology and best practices for inspection and maintenance planning.
Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor in the Spinal Cord of a Brahman Crossbred Calf

A variety of embryonal tumors of the central nervous system, typically malignant and occurring in young individuals, are recognized in humans and animals. This report describes an invasive subdural but predominantly extramedullary primitive neuroectodermal tumor developing at the lumbosacral junction in a 6-month-old Brahman crossbred calf. The tumor was composed of spindloid embryonal cells organized in interlacing fascicles. The cells had oval to elongate or round hyperchromic nuclei, single to double nucleoli, and scant discernible cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical staining for neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, and S-100 protein and formation of pseudorosettes suggested neuronal and possibly ependymal differentiation.
Banner Advertisement Pricing, Measurement, and Pretesting Practices: Perspectives from Interactive Agencies

Abstract This study reports findings from a survey of media directors of interactive advertising agencies regarding how they price, evaluate, and pretest banner ads. Results suggest that more than 90% of the responding agencies used cost per thousand frequently to price banner ads, whereas about 33% used click-throughs. In addition, a majority of the agencies used click-throughs and outcomes (e.g., inquires, purchases) rather than exposures to gauge banner advertising effectiveness. Although few agencies pretested their banner ads on a regular basis, most perceived the lack of measurement standards and independent auditing of Web sites as major problems facing Internet banner advertising. Findings from this study should provide benchmarks for future research on the topic and help facilitate the process of developing viable pricing and measurement standards on the Internet.
Cytomegalovirus infection after allogeneic stem cell transplant in children

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and the course of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and CMV disease in a group of pediatric and adolescent patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Patients were treated according to a protocol including prophylactic high‐dose acyclovir in combination with preemptive administration of ganciclovir, based on weekly examinations of CMV antigenemia. A total of 110 consecutively transplanted patients, with a mean age of 9 yr (range 0–20) were treated according to the protocol. All patients were transplanted between March 1993 and January 2000 at the only Danish allotransplantation center. CMV infection occurred in 21.8% (24 of 110) of the patients. Three patients [12.5% (3/24)] developed CMV disease, all with pneumonitis and one with gastrointestinal disease as well. Mean time of disease onset was day +58. Treatment with ganciclovir was in general well tolerated. Late onset CMV disease was not documented. Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of unrelated donor transplants was significantly associated with an increased risk for CMV infection [hazard ratio (HR) 2.90, p = 0.03] and CMV infection was found to be a risk factor for transplant related mortality before day +100 (HR 10.70, p = 0.0015). Although high‐dose acyclovir in combination with antigenemia based preemptive treatment with ganciclovir resulted in a low incidence of CMV disease in pediatric and adolescent patients, CMV infection was a significant risk factor in stem cell transplantation with unrelated donors.
Monitoring Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus through National Influenza-like Illness Surveillance, China

In China during March 4–April 28, 2013, avian influenza A(H7N9) virus testing was performed on 20,739 specimens from patients with influenza-like illness in 10 provinces with confirmed human cases: 6 (0.03%) were positive, and increased numbers of unsubtypeable influenza-positive specimens were not seen. Careful monitoring and rapid characterization of influenza A(H7N9) and other influenza viruses remain critical.
The role of laparoscopic surgery in the management of a malfunctioning peritoneal catheter.

INTRODUCTION Peritoneal catheter malfunction is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). It has a high failure rate with conservative management. Catheter replacement was historically the standard surgical treatment of choice. Nowadays, laparoscopy has been introduced as an alternative surgical modality to rescue the malfunctioning peritoneal catheter and also offers the possibility of replacement if indicated. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of these two surgical modalities. METHODS The medical records of consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for malfunctioning PD catheters (between January 2010 and April 2013) were analysed. The primary outcome included successful return to adequate PD. The secondary endpoint was length of catheter patency and the cause of catheter failure. RESULTS A total of 32 cases were identified, of which 8 had open catheter replacement and 24 had a laparoscopic intervention. The overall median follow-up duration was 12.5 months. The success rate for laparoscopic surgery in terms of functioning catheter at 12 months was 62.5% but only 37.5% for open surgery. The mean length of catheter patency after laparoscopic intervention was 31.6 months compared with only 13.6 months for the open surgery group. The most common cause of catheter failure diagnosed during laparoscopic intervention was catheter migration (33.0%), followed by omental wrap and catheter blockage by fibrin/blood plug (25.0% each). Open surgery did not have any diagnostic potential. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopy is the treatment of choice for malfunctioning PD. Its proven benefit includes simultaneous identification of the aetiological cause of malfunction together with direct correction of this problem, thereby maximising outcome. It also allows for rapid recommencement of PD and avoidance of haemodialysis, saving cost and resources.
Applying Importance-Performance Analysis for Improving Internal Marketing of Hospital Management in Taiwan

Importance-performance analysis enables management to evaluate and identify the major strengths and weaknesses of a hospital’s key success factors. The author attempts to understand employee expectations and perceptions of hospital internal-marketing and shows the usefulness of the Importance-performance analysis grid in evaluating hospital internal-marketing benefits from employee perspectives in Taiwan. The author identified a list of 18 items from the internal-marketing literature reviews, and each item was rated using a 5-point Likert scale. Responses were obtained from 257 usable questionnaires. The importance-performance grid shows that 4 items fall into the “Keep up the good work” quadrant, 5 items fall into the “Concentrate here” quadrant, 4 items fall into the “Low priority” quadrant, and 5 items fall into the “Possible overkill” quadrant. The findings suggest that an internal-marketing orientation is necessary to better match organizational characteristics and enhance service quality. The results are useful in identifying areas for strategic focus to help hospital managers develop internal-marketing strategies.
Study of Competition in the Road Freight Sector in the SADC Region - Case Study of Fertilizer Transport and Trading in Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi.

The efficiency and affordability of transportation, particularly in the road freight sector, is a key enabler in achieving broader industrial policy, trade and regional integration goals in the SADC region. Competition, market structure and arrangements between firms in the road freight sector – as well as the relationship between road freight operators and large importers – play an important role in determining the price and trade of commodities between countries. The paper focuses on the transportation of fertilizer in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia in seeking to understand the role that different actors including regional economic communities, policymakers, large importers and large exporters play in influencing market outcomes in road transportation. The paper also considers the structure of markets, main players, and prices and costs in each country. The main findings are that competitive outcomes in road freight in the context of fertilizer trading are driven by the inter-relationships between large transporters and users of transport, cross-border rivalry, and both small and large regulatory interventions to enhance outcomes in road transport. A reduction in relative prices in Zambia has been driven, among others, by a combination of increased competition in road transport and the prosecution of a cartel in fertilizer trading; whereas the benefits of entry in the Tanzanian fertilizer market may have been undermined by arrangements in transport and the entrenched position of incumbent multinational importers. In Malawi, a lack of rivalry at various levels of the value chain and regulatory barriers meant prices of fertilizer have been well above those in the comparator countries.
The Role of Product Innovation Output on Export Behavior of Firms

This paper analyzes the role of innovation on the export behavior of firms. Using two waves of Swedish CIS data merged with register data on firm-specific characteristics. I estimate the influence of the innovation output of a firm on its export propensity and intensity, respectively. I find that the innovation output of firms (measured as sales due to innovative products) has a positive and significant effect on export behavior of firms. The results also show that it is indeed innovation output, rather than innovation input (innovative efforts), that matters for export behavior of firms. Specifically, innovation output leads to increase in later export propensity and intensity of firms. Moreover, there is also strong association of productivity and ownership structure of firms with export propensity and intensity of firms. The results are robust when unobserved time-invariant heterogeneity of firm and also potential endogeneity of innovation-export are taken into accounted.