Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface Charge Affects the Structure of Interfacial Ice

We have conducted studies on the freezing of water molecules next to charged surfaces to elucidate the effect of water orientation on the structure of ice using sum frequency generation spectroscopy. We observed that when water is frozen next to a positively charged sapphire surface, the signal intensity of ice is higher than that of liquid water as expected from previous theoretical studies. However, when water is frozen next to a negatively charged sapphire surface (using NaOH as pH adjuster), the signal intensity decreases. The same signal attenuation upon freezing is obtained when cesium hydroxide (CsOH) and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (N(CH3)4OH) are used as pH adjusters. Since Na+, Cs+, and N(CH3)4+ ions have different hydration properties, the cation specific effect for this attenuation in signal intensity for ice is ruled out. Experiments on a mica surface (inherently negatively charged) also showed similar attenuation in signal intensity for ice as negatively charged sapphire surface. We conclu.
Can drug-related information reverse the effects of a local anesthetic cream? An investigation into the nocebo hyperalgesic response

Objective: Verbal information accompanying administration of a drug has been shown to modulate treatment outcome, in both positive and negative directions. If drug effects alter as a function of verbal suggestions, negative information may potentially abolish or even reverse treatment effects. To test whether nocebo information can reverse the effect of a drug, we investigated how such information modified the effect of a local anesthetic cream (Emla) on heat pain. Based on previous research, we further hypothesized that there would be an increase in negative emotions in the form of elevated levels of sympathetic arousal and stress in the groups receiving nocebo information. Method: Onehundredandfifty healthy volunteers (76 females) participated in a Six-Condition X Six-Trial between-subjects design, whereby heat pain was induced to the right volar forearm. Pain intensity was rated on a 10-mm visual analogue scale (COVAS), and negative emotional activation was assessed by skin conductance level (SCL), subjective stress ratings and systolic blood pressure measurements. Results: Nocebo information about the effect of Emla reversed its analgesic properties into hyperalgesia. The nocebo hyperalgesic response was accompanied by increased SCL and subjective stress, which indicates that the negative information about the effect of the cream led to increased psychological and sympathetic arousal. Conclusions: Negative information produced the opposite response of the intended effect of an anesthetic cream. The notion that mental processes overrode the biological effects of a pharmacologically based analgesic treatment may have important implications for clinical practice.
Factors Influencing Transient Poverty Among Agro-Pastoralists in semi-arid areas of Kenya

In Africa, many pastoral households are increasingly settling in response to curtailed mobility and shrinking grazing areas. Households in pastoral areas are characterised by few resources, low income, low level of human and social capital, and limited access to markets and service institutions like credit institutions, extension and plant protection. This study was conducted to determine the factors that influence transient poverty among agro-pastoral communities in semi-arid areas of Kenya using the Njemps Flats in Baringo district as a representation of the study area. The land-use practice in the Njemps Flats is livestock and crop production (agro-pastolism). Regression techniques were used to determine the relationship between poverty and hypothesized explanatory variables. The number of livelihood sources, household size, distance to the nearest market, ownership of enclosures and household herd size were the most influential factors that determined poverty among agropastoral communities. The number of livelihood sources, education level of the household head, relief food, extension service and distance to the nearest markets were positively related to per capita daily income. A negative relationship was observed between per capita daily income and household size. Since poverty shows declining with positive influential factors, reduction of transient poverty can be achieved through enhancing and providing of livelihood alternatives to reduce over-reliance on livestock and land as primary sources of livelihood.
Stellar Populations and the Star Formation Histories of LSB Galaxies: IV Spitzer Surface Photometry of LSB Galaxies

Abstract Surface photometry at 3.6 μm is presented for 61 low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies (μ o <19 3.6 μm mag arcsecs−2). The sample covers a range of luminosity from −11 to −22 in M 3.6 and size from 1 to 25 kpc. The morphologies in the mid-IR are comparable to those in the optical with 3.6 μm imaging reaches similar surface brightness depth as ground-based optical imaging. A majority of the resulting surface brightness profiles are single exponential in shape with very few displaying upward or downward breaks. The mean V − 3.6 colour of LSB is 2.3 with a standard deviation of 0.5. Colour-magnitude and two-colour diagrams are well matched to models of constant star formation, where the spread in colour is due to small changes in the star formation rate (SFR) over the last 0.5 Gyrs as also suggested by the specific SFR measured by Hα.
Essays on Brand Alliance in Marketing

My dissertation aims to understand marketing activities that involve two or more disparate entities with linked association, resulting in joint promotion and branding. I investigate two such types of activity, an alliance between a celebrity and a brand, and an alliance between credit card companies and merchants. Both attempts to measure and identify the impact the promotion has on the consumer’s decision process. In the first essay, we quantify the economic worth of celebrity endorsements by studying the sales of endorsed products. We do so with the use of two unique data sets consisting of monthly golf ball sales and endorsers’ quality levels. Our identification of the causal effect of a celebrity on the endorsed product is grounded on the endorsers’ random performance over time that captures the variation in sales of the product. We find that there are substantial celebrity endorsement effects. We determine that endorsements not only induce consumers to switch brands, but also have a primary demand effect. In the second essay, using daily customer transaction and program cost data from 2009-2011, we study the effects on consumer behavior of a novel Merchant Network Rebate Program implemented by a multinational bank in Singapore. With the only restriction being that it prohibits aggregation of rebate amount across cards, the rebate is instant with the same benefits offered to all bank issued credit cards, supplementing the existing card level benefits. The analysis takes advantage of the unique features of the program and the richness of data to understand how consumers spontaneously frame the options they face and how this impacts the decision process in and out of the program participating merchants. This has large managerial implication of how to better design the program.
Analysis of Clinical Symptoms and Laboratory Profiles in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Malopolska Region ( Poland ) in the Years 2007-2010

1St. Louis Regional Specialistic Children's Hospital, Department of Older Children with subunits of Neurology, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Krakow, Poland; 2Children's University Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Rheumatology and Environmental Diseases, Krakow, Poland; 3 Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland; 4 Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Institute of Rheumatology, Warsaw, Poland
Conceptual Challenges in Coordinating Theoretical and Data-centered Estimates of Probability

A core component of informal statistical inference is the recognition that judgments based on sample data are inherently uncertain. This implies that instruction aimed at developing informal inference needs to foster basic probabilistic reasoning. In this article, we analyze and critique the now-common practice of introducing students to both “theoretical” and “experimental” probability, typically with the hope that students will come to see the latter as converging on the former as the number of observations grows. On the surface of it, this approach would seem to fit well with objectives in teaching informal inference. However, our in-depth analysis of one eighth-grader's reasoning about experimental and theoretical probabilities points to various pitfalls in this approach. We offer tentative recommendations about how some of these issues might be addressed.
Firm- and Country-Level Antecedents of Corporate Governance Compliance and Disclosure in MENA Countries

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the level of compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations and the firm- and country-level factors that can explain discernible differences in the level of compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations in a number of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries. Design/methodology/approach The authors use the widely used content analysis technique to examine the level of compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations in a sample of listed corporations in MENA countries. In addition, the authors use the ordinary least square multiple regression analysis technique to examine the firm- and country-level antecedents of the level of compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations. The findings are generally robust to different types of firm- and country-level factors, alternative measures and potential endogeneity problems. Findings The findings of this study are two-fold. First, the level of voluntary compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations among MENA listed corporations is low and differs substantially across firms. Second, the evidence suggests that firm- and country-level factors, including religiosity, national governance quality and macroeconomic factors, have a positive and significant impact on voluntary compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to examine both the potential firm- and country-level factors affecting voluntary compliance with, and disclosure of, corporate governance best practice recommendations among MENA listed corporations from a neo-institutional theoretical perspective. The results of our study provide regulators and policymakers with the impetus to encourage greater efforts towards pursuing reforms that seek to improve national governance quality, economic environment and positive religious practices.
Dynamic Response of Saturated Dense Sand in Laminated Centrifuge Container

A highly instrumented centrifuge experiment was conducted at the Univ. of California at Davis, to investigate the seismic response of a saturated dense sand stratum. Nevada sand at about 100% relative density was employed in a laminated (flexible shear beam) container to simulate one-dimensional site response. Among the total of 27 imparted earthquake-like shaking events, peak accelerations near ground surface ranged from 0.03 to 1.7g (in prototype scale), covering linear to highly nonlinear scenarios. This comprehensive set of recorded downhole accelerations is utilized herein to identify variation of shear modulus and damping ratio with shear strain amplitude. The estimated modulus reduction and damping ratio display a confinement dependence. At shear strains below about 0.2%, modulus variation is found in reasonable agreement with the formulae of Hardin–Drnevich and the modulus reduction bounds of Seed–Idriss, while damping is generally higher. At shear strains larger than 0.2%, the shear-induced dilat.
Dealing with collective shame and guilt

We discuss the functions of informal communication in protecting social identity and dealing with collective guilt and shame, the association between referent information influence and rumour credibility, and the ecological validity of the triadic transmission as opposed to the person-to-person transmission in relation to social process of memory. Serial reproduction is conceived of as a paradigm to study social representations of past or collective memory. Previous data and theories are also discussed in relation to Truth and Reparation Commissions that deal with collective human right violations.
A Histopathological Study of Cholecystectomy Specimens

Corresponding Author Dr Dharmakanta Kumbhakar Associate Professor, Pathology Department, Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Tezpur, Assam Email: drkdharmakanta@yahoo.com Abstract BackgroundCholecystectomy specimen (gallbladder) is the most frequently encountered surgical specimen in a histopathology laboratory. It shows different histopathological changes ranging from inflammation to premalignant changes and carcinoma. Incidental detection of gallbladder cancer in cholecystectomy specimen has been reported in 0.3 to 2% of all cholecystectomies performed for benign condition. Aims and objectives: To study the different histopathological entities of the cholecystectomy specimens and to find out the frequency of gallbladder cancer in these specimens. Material and methods: The present study is based on histopathological analysis of 400 cholecystectomy specimens from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2016 in the Department of Pathology, Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Tezpur, Assam. Results: Chronic cholecystitis (86.25%) was the most common finding in our study followed by cholesterolosis (7.50%) and various other mucosal pathologies of gallbladder. Female to male ratio was 4.71:1. Frequency of gallbladder cancer was 1.25%. The frequency of incidental carcinoma in the study was 0.75%. Conclusion: The study gives the different histopathological patterns of cholecystectomy specimens that attended our institute. to reveal the different patterns of gallbladder lesions on histopathological examination. Thorough histopathological analysis of cholecystectomy specimens is important to detect incidental carcinoma.
Self-Assembly Behavior of Some Co-and Heteropolysaccharides Related to Hemicelluloses

A biomimetic approach was taken for studying the adsorption of a model copolymer (pullulan abietate, DS 0.027) representing the lignin-carbohydrate complex to a model surface for cellulose fibers (Langmuir-Blodgett thin films of regenerated cellulose). Adsorption results were assayed using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Rapid, spontaneous, and desorption-resistant surface modification resulted. This effort is viewed as a critical first step towards the permanent surface modification of cellulose fibers with a layer of molecules amenable to either enzymatic crosslinking for improved wood composites or thermoplastic
Tomographic reconstruction of tokamak plasma light emission from single image using wavelet-vaguelette decomposition

Images acquired by cameras installed in tokamaks are difficult to interpret because the three-dimensional structure of the plasma is flattened in a non-trivial way. Nevertheless, taking advantage of the slow variation of the fluctuations along magnetic field lines, the optical transformation may be approximated by a generalized Abel transform, for which we propose an inversion technique based on the wavelet-vaguelette decomposition. After validation of the new method using an academic test case and numerical data obtained with the Tokam 2D code, we present an application to an experimental movie obtained in the tokamak Tore Supra. A comparison with a classical regularization technique for ill-posed inverse problems, the singular value decomposition, allows us to assess the efficiency. The superiority of the wavelet-vaguelette technique is reflected in preserving local features, such as blobs and fronts, in the denoised emissivity map.
Egg quality and hatchability of in situ - reared Kedu and Cemani hens fed diet of farmer formulation supplemented with vitamin E.

The aim of study was to evaluate the effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation in Kedu andCemani hens reraed in situ and given farmer-formulated diet on egg performances. A total of 120 femaleand 24 male birds were equally divided into two groups of Kedu and Cemani, with average body weightof 1890+216.79 and 1830+396.23 g, respectively. Basal ration was based on the diet formulated by thefarmer (R1) consisting of corn (30%), rice bran (50%), protein concentrate (15%), and premix (5%). Dietary treatments evaluated were R1 (without additional vitamin E), and the other three were theinclusion of DL α-tocopheryl acetate into the R1 diet up to 2 (R2), 4 (R3) and 6 IU (R4). The experimentwas arranged in a Randomized Block Design with 4 treatments, and 2 different groups of hen (Kedu andCemani) were assigned as block. Parameters observed were feed consumption, hen day production, feedconversion ratio, egg quality, fertility, and hatchability. The result showed that vitamin Esupplementation did not affect whatever parameters, except egg fertility. Egg hatchability between Keduand Cemani hens was significantly different (p<0.05). Trend comparison test indicated significantlylinear (p<0.05) for fertility and hatchability. In conclusion, vitamin E supplementation up to 6 IUincreased linearly egg fertility and hatchability of about 5-8%, and egg hatchability of Kedu hens washigher (11%) than that of Cemani.
Admission of Expert Testimony on Eyewitness Identification

For years, commentators have argued that jurors may be incapable of assessing the accuracy of eyewitness identifications. Expert testimony on the subject of eyewitness reliability may provide a remedy for this problem. But while scholars insist that such testimony gives the jury essential information, appellate courts routinely have upheld its exclusion. In People v. McDonald,' the California Supreme Court became the second in the nation to hold such an exclusion an abuse of discretion, and the first to articulate a fact-specific methodology for future appellate review. This Comment attempts to discern upon which grounds trial judges may exclude such testimony after McDonald. Part I discusses the basic split between scholars and courts in their treatment of this problem. Part II summarizes the Supreme Court's opinion. It traces the path of the McDonald court's reasoning, which rejects prior case law to conclude that, in some cases, it may be impermissible to exclude the proffered testimony of an eyewitness expert. ' Part III analyzes the policy concerns and the specific rule of admission articulated by the court, interpreting McDonald through the California Evidence Code. The Comment concludes that, while such an interpretation proves helpful in eliminating some of the vagaries and inconsistencies of the opinion, further clarification will be necessary to effectuate the court's policy of not "opening the floodgates" to eyewitness experts.
Linear and Nonlinear Rheology of Living Cells

Living cells are an active soft material with fascinating mechanical properties. Under mechanical loading, cells exhibit creep and stress relaxation behavior that follows a power-law response rather than a classical exponential response. Such a response puts cells in the context of soft colloidal glasses and other disordered metastable materials that share the same properties. In cells, however, both the power-law exponent and stiffness are related to the contractile prestress in the cytoskeleton. In addition, cells are made of a highly nonlinear material that stiffens and fluidizes under mechanical stress. They show active and adaptive mechanical behavior such as contraction and remodeling that sets them apart from any other nonliving material. Strikingly, all these observations can be linked by simple relationships with the power-law exponent as the only organizing parameter. Current theoretical models capture specific facets of cell mechanical behavior, but a comprehensive understanding is still emerging.
Non‐Native Fish Introductions and the Decline of the Mountain Yellow‐Legged Frog from within Protected Areas

Abstract: One of the most puzzling aspects of the worldwide decline of amphibians is their disappearance from within protected areas. Because these areas are ostensibly undisturbed, habitat alterations are generally perceived as unlikely causes. The introduction of non‐native fishes into protected areas, however, is a common practice throughout the world and may exert an important influence on amphibian distributions. We quantified the role of introduced fishes (several species of trout) in the decline of the mountain yellow‐legged frog ( Rana muscosa) in California's Sierra Nevada through surveys openface> 1700 sites in two adjacent and historically fishless protected areas that differed primarily in the distribution of introduced fish. Negative effects of fishes on the distribution of frogs were evident at three spatial scales. At the landscape scale, comparisons between the two protected areas indicated that fish distribution was strongly negatively correlated with the distribution of frogs. At the watershed scale, the percentage of total water‐body surface area occupied by fishes was a highly significant predictor of the percentage of total water‐body surface area occupied by frogs. At the scale of individual water bodies, frogs were three times more likely to be found and six times more abundant in fishless than in fish‐containing waterbodies, after habitat effects were accounted for. The strong effect of introduced fishes on mountain yellow‐legged frogs appears to result from the unique life history of this amphibian which frequently restricts larvae to deeper water bodies, the same habitats into which fishes have most frequently been introduced. Because fish populations in at least some Sierra Nevada lakes can be removed with minimal effort, our results suggest that the decline of the mountain yellow‐legged frog might be relatively easy to reverse.
Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles from leaf extract of Parthenium hysterophorus and its anti-bacterial and antioxidant activity

Nanoparticles are fundamental building blocks of nanotechnology. The most important and distinct property of nanoparticles is their larger surface area to volume ratio (ArangasamyLeelaet al., 2008). Physical and chemical methods are more popular for nanoparticle synthesis but the use of toxic compounds limits their application (Hasna Abdul Salam et al., 2012) and also not economically feasible one. Biosynthesis of nanoparticles is now established as a alternative to chemical and physical methods of synthesis (Peter Amaladhas et al.,2012).