Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Myopic Regret Avoidance: Feedback Avoidance and Learning in Repeated Decision Making

Decision makers can become trapped by myopic regret avoidance in which rejecting feedback to avoid short-term outcome regret (regret associated with counterfactual outcome comparisons) leads to reduced learning and greater long-term regret over continuing poor decisions. In a series of laboratory experiments involving repeated choices among uncertain monetary prospects, participants primed with outcome regret tended to decline feedback, learned the task slowly or not at all, and performed poorly. This pattern was reversed when decision makers were primed with self-blame regret (regret over an unjustified decision). Further, in a final experiment in which task learning was unnecessary, feedback was more often rejected in the self-blame regret condition than in the outcome regret condition. We discuss the findings in terms of a distinction between two regret components, one associated with outcome evaluation, the other with the justifiability of the decision process used in making the choice.
Microstructural investigation on an Al 6061 T6 alloy subjected to ballistic impact

Ballistic impact generates significant modifications in the microstructural patterns. High strain rate and local high temperature conditions work together in opposite way: the first causes strain hardening, while the second factor produces softening. Moreover, after the impact, the cooling process is responsible of other local modifications on the arrangement of dislocations and precipitates. Therefore an experimental analysis on Al 6061 T6 cut from the edge of a component subjected to ballistic impact has been carried on in order to investigate on the microstructural modifications. Considerations about the influence on the mechanical behavior and on the fracture propagation are reported. The crystallographic textures and the misorientation featuring the grains play in fact a significant role in the fracture mechanism. The comparison between the texture situation before and after the impact can allow to evaluate the localized straining of the material and to point out its dissipation efficiency as a function of the distance from the damaged surfaces
An Adaptive Education Approach Using the Learners’ Social Network

—How can the 21st century education system capi-talize on online social networks to support formal education? As education transitions away from the traditional brick-and-mortar style, so does the social network that supports learners. Traditional collegiate education lacks the use of an adaptive system through which students can optimize learning, and educators can promote such learning with the assistance of real-time digital feedback. We develop the means through which the Curated Heuristic Using a Network of Knowledge (CHUNK) learning [6] can provide an adaptive learning framework by designing a dynamic social network of students based on social and academic attributes. Learners use a rating system to determine what educational methods are effective or ineffective in assisting their learning, and the CHUNK Learning system exploits this data to provide other learners more effective methods. We explore the impact that users have on each other when they are considered to be similar based on sharing similar interests. We learn that while different modeling methodology can capture the strength of similarity between users, our experiments show that strongly connected groups have a stronger inﬂuence on each other than the weakly connected ones.
Effect of cage spacing on production, fertility and hatchability of eggs in Indian peafowl at wildlife breeding center (Gatwala), Faisalabad-Pakistan

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of cage spacing on production, fertility and hatchability of eggs in Indian peafowl at Wildlife Breeding Center in 2010 for a period of 24 weeks. Result of feed consumption in all the three treatment groups of peafowl were statistically significantly different ( p< 0.01) (Table 1a). In group C (cage spacing 4.13 x 2.90 m) statistically minimum mean feed (68.95 ± 1.87 ) was consumed. Statistically maximum mean feed was consumed by group B (cage spacing 4.57 x 4.57 m) which was 97.25 ± 1.00 while the feed consumption in group A (cage spacing 7.25 x 4.15 m) was 81.69 ± 1.40. From this study it is being concluded that peafowl breeding at cage spacing 4.57 x 4.57 m (21 m 2 area, per bird space 7 m 2 ) has shown better results for all production parameters.
“INFLUENCE OF SMOKING COMBINED WITH OTHER RISK ON MORTALITY FROM HEART DISEASE AND STROKE”

: Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for all forms of stroke. While both the general public and the global healthcare system are aware of the vascular risks associated with smoking. Aim: The goal of the present large-scale pooled analysis, called Evidence for Cardiovascular Prevention from Observational Cohorts, is to provide reliable information on smoking and the risk of mortality from each subtype of cardiovascular disease. Method: A total of 27,385 male and 39,207 female participants aged 40–89 years were enrolled from 10 well-qualified cohort studies with a mean follow-up of 10.1 years. Hazard ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals in smokers who had hypertension or high serum cholesterol were estimated for men and women separately using a Cox proportional hazards regression model that included age, body mass index, cohort and either serum total cholesterol or systolic blood pressure as covariates. Fractions of deaths attributable to the coexistence of these risk factors were also calculated. Conclusion: Smoking is definitely an undesirable habit that can lead to an increased risk of mortality from both coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction. Furthermore, smoking increases the burden of cardiovascular disease due to its high popularity. Particular attention should be given to smokers who have another cardiovascular risk factor, such as hypertension or high serum cholesterol, because the combination of these risk factors substantially increases the mortality risk from coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction. Therefore, smokers with
Teaching English As A Second Language Among Business Students: An Investigation Of Intention Towards Online Learning During The Different Waves Of Covid-19

In the present era, knowing the students' intention towards online learning is become necessary due to the persisting situations of the COVID-19. The current paper explores the teaching of English as a second language among business students through intention towards online learning due to different waves of COVID-19 in Pakistan. The research is conceptualized based on literature. The study used a deductive method that utilizes cross-sectional data. The study employed a random sampling technique to trace the respondents. By using the AMOS, the results of a study underline a positive significant effect of performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), facilitating conditions (FC) and perceived usefulness (PU) on intention towards online learning (ITOL) among the business students. The study's findings would assist policymakers and planners in knowing further about the individuals’ intention towards online learning during the different pandemics. The study would also provide valuable insights to comprehend the elements that influence online learning (OL) concerning the teaching of English, who’s English is a second language. In the last, results of a study would contribute to the arts, management and psychology’s literature to further recognize the intention, English teaching and its connections, particularly in a miserable condition of COVID-19 in a developing country.
PERI-INSULAR AND TELE-INSULAR ACINAR CELLS IN THE PANCREAS OF GECKO, TARENTOLA A

Acinar cells that located near the islets of Langerhans (juxta or peri-insular acinar cells) differ from those lying at a certain distance from the islets (tele-insular acinar cells). The present investigation was conducted to reveal the morphological differences between peri and tele-insular acinar cells in the pancreas of Gecko, Tarentola annularis using light and electron microscopes and to evaluate the relationship between endocrine and exocrine pancreatic tissues. Histological examination of the exocrine pancreatic tissue revealed a clear zymogen halo or zymogen mantle around the islet cells. Ultrastructural examination showed that peri-insular cells around the islets of Langerhans display considerable synthesizing activity than those cells in the tele-insular region. In the peri-insular region, the pancreatic acinar cells are morphologically differentiated into three types; dark, light, and centroacinar cells. Dark acinar cells are the most common cells in this region. They have well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, well developed Golgi apparatus, large number of mature zymogen granules, and euchromatic nuclei. In the tele-insular region, only two types of acinar cells are detected; dark acinar and centroacinar cells. Dark acinar cells have flattened form of rough endoplsmic reticulim cisternae with the prevalence of the vesicular form of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Reduced Golgi apparatus, small numbers of mature secretory granules, and heterochromatic nuclei. The present work indicated that exocrine parenchyma is under the influence of islets hormones and that both the pancreatic exocrine and endocrine tissues form closely an integrated organ.
The impact of international standards certification on firm performance in less developed countries

This paper examines the effects of international standards certification (ISC) on both operational efficiency and sales performance for firms from a wide set of countries exhibiting different degrees of institutional development. Against a large dataset of manufacturing firms operating in 59 countries we find that ISC raises efficiency and sales performance of firms through efficiency gains and quality signaling, with the effects being larger in countries where market supporting institutions are weak. The largest gain in performance comes from direct productivity improvements helping firms to climb the technological ladder and closing the productivity gap with firms based in developed countries.
Comparative evaluation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) potential to predict hepatic OATP transporter-based drug-drug interactions

Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions (DDIs) on hepatic organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) are important clinical issues. Previously we reported that plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) could serve as an endogenous probe to predict OATP-based DDIs in monkeys using rifampicin as an OATP inhibitor. However, since the contribution of hepatic OATPs to the changes of plasma DHEAS by rifampicin remains unclear, here, we evaluated by an in vivo pharmacokinetic study. Since plasma DHEAS concentrations were unexpectedly low in our rat model, disposition of externally administered DHEAS was evaluated. Intravenously administered DHEAS was mainly recovered in bile (29.1 %) and less in urine (2.95 %). The liver tissue to plasma concentration ratio (Kp liver ) decreased from 41.8 to 5.07 by rifampicin, and this decrement was consistent with the decrease of distribution volume from 247 to 59 mL/rat. Comparison of in vitro IC 50 of rifampicin for DHEAS uptake by isolated rat hepatocytes and in vivo plasma rifampicin concentration suggested that rifampicin effect on the plasma DHEAS concentration was mostly explained by inhibition of hepatic OATPs, demonstrating that DHEAS could be a biomarker of hepatic OATP activity. Next, previously reported rifampicin-induced changes of plasma concentrations evaluated as an AUC ratio (AUCR) of possible probe compounds were compared on the basis of rifampicin dose/body surface area. The AUCR values of endogenous compounds and intravenously administered statins, for which possible DDIs in the intestinal due to interaction on hepatic uptake transporters, OATPs, in order to confirm the suitability of DHEAS as a possible biomarker. In the present study, therefore, we evaluated the in vivo contribution of hepatic OATPs to the rifampicin-induced increase of plasma concentration of DHEAS by measuring biliary and urinary excretions, tissue concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters with and without rifampicin. Since endogenous plasma concentration of DHEAS in the present rat model was unexpectedly low to detect by our LC-MS/MS method (limit of detection: 0.5 nM), we evaluated the contribution of hepatic Oatps to the changes in DHEAS disposition by rifampicin by externally administering DHEAS. Furthermore, the usefulness of DHEAS as a biomarker was compared with that of other proposed markers reported in the literature.
CONTAMINATION OF SOME PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ PREMISES WITH GEOHELMINTHS’ AND TAENIA OVA IN AGO-IWOYE, SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Fecal contamination of the environment of school children makes them readily exposed to infection and reinfection by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). Soil samples from the premises of selected four public primary schools in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, south-western Nigeria were examined, using test tube flotation technique, for ova of human intestinal helminths between July and September 2013 (during rainy season), and in January and February 2014 (during dry season). Overall, 96.4% (108/112) of the soil samples examined were positive for ova of human intestinal helminths, including Ascaris lumbricoides , Trichuris trichiura , hookworm, and Taenia species. Ascaris lumbricoides was recorded in all the schools with statistically similar percentage abundance values, which ranged between 98.0% and 100%. Trichuris trichiura , hookworm, and Taenia had low expression in this study. Fertile A. lumbricoides ova, with relative abundance range of 89.6% - 92.0%, were significantly more abundant than infertile ones (P < 0.001), and occurred in the toilet, dump site, playing ground, and lunch areas in all the schools. This study has shown a high contamination of the premises of the visited schools with the ova of STHs and Taenia . In order to reverse the situation, the use of the schools’ premises for socio-cultural, political and religious should be controlled to, at least, minimise human fecal contamination. The school children need being adequately enlightened and monitored by teachers and parents towards adopting hygienic practices at both school and home.
Routing A lgorithm for Automatic Metering of Waterworks Data

—Real-time acquisition of water meter data is very difficult owing to the expensive and difficult environment for installing sensors and wired or wireless communication systems. In this study, a wireless network algorithm that takes into consideration technical and economic factors is proposed. Cluster-based ZigBee communication method is applied to transmit the sensing data without disruption regardless of environmental situations. In addition, it is designed to select the cluster head considering the minimization of battery power consumption. Through this study, data pertaining to the characteristics and the economical efficiency of water meters can be collected and analyzed. This study shows that the system can be widely used to enhance the water distribution networks for stable water supply system.
Undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards organ donation: a survey in an Italian university.

AIMS To examine undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards organ donation and to determine whether or not attitudes were related to the students' education and training. BACKGROUND Nurses' knowledge and personal opinion can influence patient's willingness to donate organs or to hold an organ donor card. It is unclear how Italy's future nurses view organ donation. METHODS The study's source population consisted of third-year undergraduate nursing students enrolled in seven nursing schools from an Italian university during 2008. Respondents completed self-administered quantitative questionnaire with 61 questions, including the Organ Donation Attitude Scale. FINDINGS Of the 378 students contacted, 183 (48%) completed all survey questions; 140 were females (76.5%) and the mean age of students was 25. The median score of students' attitude scores towards organ donation was 151 (the attitude is positive when the score is higher than 161). No significant correlations were found to exist between organ-donation attitude and sex, age, clinical practice in hospitals with a transplant unit, nursing care to patients waiting for a transplant or dialysis patients. Only 16% of the students had previously signed a donor card consenting to their own organ donation. The study revealed that doubts about transplantable organs still exist within the student body. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted that students' awareness of organ donation was not adequate and that attitude levels were lower than in other countries. If these future workers would receive adequate training, they could promote organ donation to the general public and to other hospital personnel.
Secondary Acidification

The book addresses the subjects related to the selected aspects of pollutants emission, monitoring and their effects. The most of recent publications concentrated on the review of the pollutants emissions from industry, especially power sector. In this one emissions from opencast mining and transport are addressed as well. Beside of SOx and NOx emissions, small particles and other pollutants (e.g. VOC, ammonia) have adverse effect on environment and human being. The natural emissions (e.g. from volcanoes) has contribution to the pollutants concentration and atmospheric chemistry governs speciation of pollutants, as in the case of secondary acidification. The methods of ambient air pollution monitoring based on modern instrumentation allow the verification of dispersion models and balancing of mass emissions. The comfort of everyday humanâ€™s activity is influenced by indoor and public transport vehicles interior air contamination, which is effected even by the professional appliances operation. The outdoor pollution leads to cultural heritage objects deterioration, the mechanism are studied and the methods of rehabilitation developed. However to prevent emissions the new technologies are being developed, the new class of these technologies are plasma processes, which are briefly reviewed at the final part of the book.
Heart rate and behavior of fur seals: implications for measurement of ﬁeld energetics

Heart rate and behavior of fur seals: implications for measurement of ﬁeld energetics. Am. J. Physiol. 276 ( Heart Circ. Physiol. 45): H844–H857, 1999. —Archival data loggers were used to collect information about depth, swimming speed, and heart rate in 23 free-ranging antarctic fur seals. Deployments averaged 9.6 6 5.6 days (SD) and totaled 191 days of recording. Heart rate averaged 108.7 6 17.7 beats/min (SD) but varied from 83 to 145 beats/min among animals. Morphometrics explained most variations in heart rate among animals. These interacted with diving activity and swimming speed to produce a complex relationship between heart rate and activity patterns. Heart rate was also correlated with behavior over time lags of several hours. There was signiﬁcant ( P , 0.05) variation among animals in the degree of diving bradycardia. On average, heart rate declined from 100–130 beats/min before the dive to 70–100 beats/min during submersion. On the basis of the relationship between heart rate and rate of oxygen consumption, the overall metabolic rate was 5.46 6 1.61 W/kg (SD). Energy expenditure appears to be allocated to different activities within the metabolic scope of individual animals. This highlights the possibility that some activities can be mutually exclusive of one another.
Road Safety Analysis of Autonomous Vehicles An Overview

For the widespread use of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), a huge number of challenges must be solved by vehicle manufacturers, in contrast they do have significant potential to increase road safety in both passenger and freight transport. In addition to reducing road traffic accidents and traffic jams, AVs also offer a major opportunity to reduce pollutant emissions and CO 2 emissions from environmental point of view. In order to implement accident-free traffic, also called Vision Zero, it is essential to examine the safety and reliability of AVs. This article analyzes road traffic accident data and the potential safety benefits of AVs. Furthermore, the paper also sets the safety of the conventional vehicles against AVs and examines the type, location, causes, and dynamics of the accidents. The article also provides an overview over the current development trends and challenges, such as the risk of cyber-attacks, the necessary improvements in sensing technologies, and the not insignificant moral issue of AVs.
Approches ECM des modèles mixtes hétéroscédastiques à rapports de variances constants

Summary - This paper presents techniques of parameter estimation in heteroskedastic mixed models having constant variance ratios and heterogeneous log residual variances that are described by a linear model. Estimation of dispersion parameters is by standard (ML) and residual (REML) maximum likelihood. Estimating equations are derived using the expectation-conditional maximization (ECM) algorithm and simplified versions of it (gradient ECM). Direct and indirect approaches are proposed with the latter allowing hypothesis testing about the variance ratios. The analysis of a small example is outlined to illustrate the theory. Résumé - Approches ECM des modèles mixtes hétéroscédastiques à rapports de variances constants. Cet article présente des techniques d’estimation des paramètres intervenant dans des modèles mixtes ayant des rapports de variance constants et des variances résiduelles décrites par un modèle linéaire de leurs logarithmes. Les paramètres de dispersion sont estimés par le maximum de vraisemblance classique (ML) et restreint (REML). Les équations à résoudre pour obtenir ces estimations sont établies à partir de l’algorithme d’espérance-maximisation conditionnelle (ECM) et d’une version simplifiée dite du gradient ECM. Des approches directe et indirecte sont proposées, cette dernière conduisant à un test d’hypothèse sur le rapport de variances. La théorie est illustrée par l’analyse numérique d’un petit exemple.
Exchange Rates, Product Variety, and Substitution in U.S. Scanner Data ∗

This paper is the ﬁrst to combine U.S. retail scanner data with barcode-level data on country of origin. We use this novel dataset for 10 narrow product categories from 2001 to 2012 to study several related questions. First, we estimate exchange rate pass-through into the relative CES price index of foreign retail products to be about − 0 . 25 for the median product category. Consistent with the strong positive correlation between the number of foreign products and the dollar that we document, we estimate that exchange rate pass-through is about half the previous magnitude when entry/exit eﬀects are excluded from the price index. Further, our results using a structural demand system provide clear evidence that the macro elasticity of substitution (between U.S. and foreign goods) is signiﬁcantly smaller than the micro elasticity (within U.S. and foreign goods) for essentially all product categories. Finally, we ﬁnd little evidence of income-induced expenditure switching. the data for at least 20 quarters, the data does not contain enough observations for the estimation of σ w f for shampoo. However, we use σ w d as a substitute to construct the subsequent price index.