Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiracial Feminism: An Intersectional Approach to Examining Female Officers’ Occupational Barriers in Federal Law Enforcement

Abstract There has been a rise in scholarship targeting women’s experiences in federal law enforcement. Missing, however, are the women of color, as all previous studies capture women as a homogeneous group without regard to race/ethnicity. Using a combined survey dataset from sworn female officers (n = 1,189) employed by two federal law enforcement agencies, this article employs multiracial feminism as a framework to differentiate women’s experiences in the workplace and provides an exploratory analysis of occupational barriers utilizing an intersectional approach to race and gender. Specifically, this study employs an independent-samples t-test to explore the responses between White women and minority women, as well as each minority racial/ethnic group. The findings suggest women of color collectively, as well as individual minority racial/ethnic groups, have varying workplace experiences and perspectives in comparison to White women, especially in response to a perceived glass ceiling to promotions, an inclusive work culture, and experiencing sex discrimination.
Analysis of balanced scorecard usage by private companies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors related to the use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) by private companies. Specifically, the authors examine how foreign ownership, focus on a global market beyond the local company’s geographic region and other sophisticated management accounting practices (MAPs) (activity-based costing, just-in-time and total quality management) are related to the use of the BSC. Design/methodology/approach The paper takes a contingency theoretic perspective. The data in this study is based on responses to a survey questionnaire that was mailed to 300 non-listed private companies in Singapore. A total of 135 responses were received, but 23 were incomplete, and thus, rendered unusable. Therefore, the final sample for the study is 112 private companies yielding a 37.3 per cent response rate that is considered high for survey research. Findings The authors find significant associations between the use of BSC and foreign ownership, focus on a global market and other sophisticated MAPs. The authors find that foreign ownership and a global market focus are significantly and consistently related to the extent to which the BSC is used across seven different management control purposes. The authors also find some evidence of associations between other sophisticated MAPs and the extent to which the BSC is used for management control purposes. Practical implications Private companies can use the BSC to better manage risks and use it for purposes such as communicating strategy and objectives, setting targets, evaluating performance, rewarding employees and managers, motivating employees and managers, controlling performance and coordinating across activities, departments and/or functional areas. The study has limitations such as the model is limited and excludes the effects of other significant contingency factors such as organisational culture. It may be appropriate to interview organisational participants to learn more about how their national and organisational culture affects the decision to use the BSC. Originality/value The findings fill a critical void in the literature by providing new evidence on the determinants of the use of the BSC by private companies.
Zoophilic and anthropophilic behaviour in the Anopheles gambiae complex

The work included in this thesis arose from a long-standing interest in the possible use of genetic control for one of the most important malaria vectors in Africa, Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto. It was hoped that the genes involved in animal biting in the sibling species Anopheles quadriannulatus could be exploited by crossing with An. gambiae s. s. and using the fertile female hybrids for successive backcrosses to An. gambiae s. s. It was envisaged that this method could be used in an attempt to produce a mosquito stock that is harmless to humans because it is zoophilic but with the genetic background of An. gambiae s. s. so that there would be no barriers to cross-mating in the wild. The innate host preference of mosquitoes can be determined in the laboratory using an olfactometer, or in the field using baits. Host-selection patterns in nature are often affected by external factors, which may or may not mask the host preference of the mosquito species in question (discussed in section 1.3). The main aim of this work was to investigate the host preferences of the two most behaviourally diverse members of the Anopheles gambiae complex (An. gambiae s. s. and An. quadriannulatus) and to attempt to modify the anthropophilic host preference of An. gambiae s. s. by hybridisation experiments with the zoophilic An. quadriannulatus. The behaviour of these two sibling species was assessed in an olfactometer by testing a range of odours. Anopheles gambiae s. s. behaved as expected and was attracted to human odours. However, the behaviour of An. quadriannulatus was somewhat unexpected and a large proportion also selected human odour. Therefore an outdoor host-choice experiment was performed and confirmed the olfactometer findings. A standardised bioassay was developed to evaluate the behaviour of mosquitoes resulting from the crossing experiments. Human and cow skin washings were prepared and tested. Cow skin washing combined with carbon dioxide and tested against a control of clean air was then chosen to evaluate the behaviour of hybrids and backcrossed mosquitoes in the olfactometer. Three backcrosses to both An. gambiae s. s. and An. quadriannulatus were performed, which showed extreme stability of the anthropophilic trait. A field study in Ethiopia investigated the host preference of An. quadriannulatus species B and suggested that this species is more zoophilic than its sibling species An. arabiensis but is also attracted to humans. The impact of these findings on our current understanding of the behaviour of members of the Anopheles gambiae complex is discussed.
High-Growth Aspirations of Entrepreneurs in Latin America: Do Alliances Matter?

This study considers how the formation and implementation strategies of a Latin America alliance between four of the best economic performance countries in the region have impacted the quality of entrepreneurship in these countries. To this end, we studied the Pacific Alliance (PA) and employed an ordered probit model with sample selection bias and statistical information from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) database for the 2012–2017 period. As a dependent variable, we used the growth aspiration of entrepreneurs as a proxy to measure the future growth of the company, from which a possible economic impact could be inferred. The evidence shows that during the implementation period of the PA, there is a positive impact on entrepreneur growth aspirations in member countries; the likelihood that entrepreneurs have high-growth aspirations is found to be greater during and after the implementation period than before the signing of the PA. Likewise, it was found that motivation, gender, education, skills, innovation (as perceived by the entrepreneur), export level, two pillars of the global competitiveness index (GCI), and the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate explain the growth aspirations of entrepreneurs in the member countries during the period under study.
Optimization of Green Building Design Processes: Case Studies within the European Union

Green buildings have recently become a key aspect of the construction field and bring along a renovation of the whole industry chain. Such changes introduce new challenges for all subjects involved, and designers are also affected by such issues, especially for the development of projects based on international green building standards. Within this scope, project management plays a key role in the optimization of the design phase. This research analyzes the design process of international projects from the project management perspective through a multiple case study approach, considering the sustainability-related tasks that negatively affect the project design development under two types of contractual approaches: Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build. It aims to identify whether the Design-Build or Design-Bid-Build process is the best solution for developing green building projects. Two case studies in Italy and two case studies in Spain are analyzed, and the effects of the project management issues are evaluated under three different points of view: Time, cost, and level of sustainability of the building. A poorly planned process for the achievement of the various green building features of the project can impact the project schedule and the budget, whereas, a poorly managed project could also negatively impact its green building features. Finally, this research also highlights the positive relationship between process integration and green building design development.
SPECIFICITY OF INHIBITORY CONTROL OF CORTICAL INTERNEURONS IN LAYER 4 OF MOUSE SOMATOSENSORY BARREL CORTEX

Cortical processing of sensory information relies on a diversity of inhibitory control. This thesis examines the cell type specificity in layer 4 of mouse somatosensory barrel cortex of two understudied mechanisms of GABA inhibition: 1) tonic inhibition mediated by specific GABA receptors, and 2) GABA receptor mediated inhibition. Using whole-cell patch clamp techniques, we find that tonic GABA inhibition is greatest in inhibitory neurons. This inhibition of inhibitory neurons produces a net excitatory effect. Within inhibitory neurons, there is additional diversity of tonic GABA inhibition, with consequences for information processing, seen specifically in fast spiking (FS) mediated feed forward inhibition. GABA receptor mediated inhibition of neurotransmitter release acts on both excitatory and inhibitory neurons, with the greatest effect seen in a non-FS interneurons. Paired recordings between synaptically coupled neurons show an approximate 50% inhibition at synapses with either excitatory or FS inhibitory interneurons presynaptic, while responses produced by non-FS cells were essentially abolished by activation of GABA receptors. In contrast to tonic GABA inhibition, in adult animals, inhibitory currents from activation of GABA receptors is greatest in excitatory neurons, rather than inhibitory neurons. However, in younger animals, there is equal A
Wearable high gain low SAR antenna loaded with backed all‐textile EBG for WBAN applications

A high gain, low specific absorption rate, oval-shaped monopole antenna is presented. It is backed by an all-textile 3 × 3 array of electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) unit cells. The antenna is printed on the thin Rogers ULTRALAM 3850 substrate, while the EBG array is composed of the conductive ShieledIT Super and dielectric substrate felt. The design operates at 2.45 GHz of the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical band. Due to the close distance between the extended grounds of the co-planar waveguide feeding configuration and the oval-shaped monopole antenna, current-coupling was achieved, leading to gain enhancement. However, with body-loading cases, resonance at 2.45 GHz was attained at a separation of 30 mm. By incorporating the EBG array, as an isolator, this issue was resolved. In free space and over a gap of 3 mm from the human body, gain enhancements by 2.68 and 11.54 dB were achieved at 2.45 GHz, respectively. Simulated and measured results are benchmarked. Furthermore, SAR simulation study showed reductions by 99.5%, averaged over 1 and 10 g of tissue.
Unrooted stem cutting physiology; water use and leaf gas exchange of severed stem cuttings

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS іiv TABLE OF CONTENTS v LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF FIGURES vii CHAPTER 1. LITRATURE REVIEW 1 Water potential 2 Stomatal behavior and functioning 4 Stomatal distribution 4 Factors responsible for opening and closing of stomata 5 Stomata and transpiration 7 Factors affecting transpiration 8 Water availability of rooting media 12 Relationship between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance 13 Water movement in stem severed stems 14 Literature cited. 16 2. WATER FLUX OF POINSETTIA CUTTINGS IN PROPAGATION 23 Introduction 23 Materials and methods 25 Results and Discussion 28 Literature cited 38 3.GAS EXCHANGE OF POINSETTIA CUTTINGS (LEAVES) 39 Introduction 39 Materials and Methods 42 Results and Discussion 45 Literature cited 51
Cerebral haemodynamic effects in the human brain during radiation therapy for brain cancer

Radiotherapy is already well-established and an effective form of treatment for many cancers, especially for brain tumors. Currently, the clinical efficacy of a treatment, however, can only be established based on clinical or radiological responses observed after a significant period of time following the single irradiations during radiotherapy course. On the other hand, the radiotherapy dose is limited by its toxicity to surrounding healthy tissues. Particularly, radiation to brain tumors may sub-acutely or chronically affect cognition and cause fatigue even with conventional doses. However, there is currently no on-line and safe method to monitor the effects of radiation to the brain during the irradiation. In our project, we aim to develop an on-line method to monitor effects in brain tissue that correlate with the radiation dose in radiotherapy. In this case study, we use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and study possible temporal effects in cerebral haemodynamics during irradiations of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). fNIRS is safe for the patient, it can be used noninvasively and also in demanding environments, such as in radiotherapy treatment rooms during irradiation, and thus could be in future potential technique to be utilized for monitoring tailored radiotherapy.
Relationships between running demands in soccer match-play, anthropometric, and physical fitness characteristics: a systematic review

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to systematically review the current literature that has investigated the relationships between anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics and match-play running demands in female and male soccer players at youth and senior levels. Using PRISMA guidelines, four databases were searched: PubMed/NCBI, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus. Twenty-seven articles were selected resulting in a sample of 991 players (687 youth and 304 senior). Three studies related anthropometric measures to running demands during the matches and reported poor relationships (R2 = 4-36%). Incremental treadmill tests performed in laboratory settings showed large-to-very large correlations with total distance covered and/or high-intensity running activity during matches (R2 = 20-50%). Values for the Yo-Yo Intermittent recovery test levels 1 and 2 were associated with total distance covered and high-intensity running activity across all studies. This study collected scientific evidence that can aid sport science and coaching practitioners in understanding the construct validity of anthropometric and laboratory- and field-based assessments.
Associations between metabolic syndrome and gynecologic cancer

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of risk factors that causes cardiovascular and diabetic morbidity and mortality, which is diagnosed by central obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. Increasing epidemiological data and experimental results indicate that the presence of MetS increases the incidence of common malignancies and related mortality. Epidemiological studies have previously reported an association of endometrial cancer occurrence with MetS. Aromatization of androstenedione to estrogen, insulin resistance, and diabetes can cause increased levels of free estrogen, and the detrimental effect of elevated estrogen as a carcinogen is well studied in endometrial cancer. Medications used to manage MetS such as metformin and statins are suggested to reduce endometrial cancer risk and improve survival. Some large population-based epidemiological studies have suggested that the MetS is related to an increased risk of cervical carcinoma. MetS may contribute to viral-host interactions, which lead to persistent human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, although limited epidemiological data are available. Specific effects of obesity and diabetes on the occurrence of ovarian cancer have been suggested. However, the direct correlation between MetS and ovarian cancer is still lacking. Previous retrospective studies reported that the use of metformin, statins, and beta-blockers could be associated with cancer prevention or better prognosis. Proper diagnosis and management of the MetS should be a part of the strategies undertaken to prevent and treat gynecologic cancer. So far, only limited data is available on this subject, and further clinical and fundamental research is required to further clarify the effect of these therapies on gynecologic cancer treatment.
Ductility and Compressibility Accommodate High Magma Flux Beneath a Silicic Continental Rift Caldera: Insights From Corbetti Caldera (Ethiopia)

Large silicic magma reservoirs preferentially form in the upper crust of extensional continental environments. However, our quantitative understanding of the link between mantle magmatism, silicic reservoirs, and surface deformation during rifting is very limited. Here, we focus on Corbetti, a peralkaline caldera in the densely populated Main Ethiopian Rift, which lies above a focused zone of upper mantle partial melt and has been steadily uplifting at a maximum rate of 6.6±1.2 cm yr−1 for more than 10 yr. Numerical modeling shows that a maximum concomitant residual gravity increase of 9±3 μGal yr−1 by the intrusion of mafic magma at ∼7 km depth into a compressible and inelastic crystal mush best explains the observed deformation and gravity changes. The derived magma mass flux of ∼1011 kg yr−1 is anomalously high and at least 1 order of magnitude greater than the mean long‐term mass eruption rate. This study demonstrates that periodic and high‐rate magmatic rejuvenation of upper‐crustal mush is a significant and rapid contributor to mature continental rifting.
B vitamins and DNA methylation in colorectal carcinogenesis: across a continuum of differential risk for colorectal cancer.

Plasma B vitamins and methionine may influence global DNA methylation, an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis. LINE-1 DNA methylation is often used as an indicator of global DNA methylation. Data describing the impact of plasma B vitamins on LINE-1 methylation in colorectal carcinogenesis via one-carbon metabolism in healthy individuals are sparse but are important given their potential for improving our understanding of cancer processes. We have used data from 1,142 ageand sex-stratified randomly selected individuals who had participated in a population-based survey. Those in the extremes (10th (2.69-5.62 nmol/L) and 90th (37.24-95.94 nmol/L) percentiles) of plasma folate concentrations were selected. In a total of 275 healthy, cancer-free persons with plasma folate in the 10th (n=138) and 90th (n=137) percentiles, we describe leukocyte LINE-1 DNA methylation in relation to circulating concentrations of B vitamins (folate, riboflavin, vitamin B6 species (pyridoxal 5’phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid), cobalamin, methylmalonic acid (MMA)) and methionine, and dietary and lifestyle characteristics. Age, sex, and MTHFR C677T genotype were also examined as possible predictors of LINE-1 methylation in the extremes separately using multivariable linear regression. Our results suggest no difference in leukocyte LINE-1 DNA methylation between those in the 10th and in the 90th percentile for plasma folate. Age was inversely related to LINE-1 methylation in both extremes, and LINE-1 DNA methylation was lower in females compared with males in the 10th percentile of plasma folate, while there was no association with MTHFR C677T genotype.
Perceptions of students and teachers participating in a science festival regarding science and scientists

ABSTRACT Background: Numerous studies have been conducted to identify students’ perceptions of science and scientists since the 1950s. Those studies have revealed that students have stereotypical perceptions, on which teachers may have a significant effect. It is, therefore, essential to determine both teachers’ and students’ perceptions. Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate students’ and teachers’ perceptions of science and scientists. Sample: The sample for the study consisted of 85 students and 47 teachers who participated in a science festival. Design and methods: The study is based on a descriptive survey model. Data were collected using the Draw-A-Scientist Test (DAST) and Word Association Test (WAT), and analyzed using content analysis. Results: Participants’ drawings focused on scientists’ physical characteristics, type of activity, working environment and the materials used while conducting experiments. A scientist was often depicted as a man in a lab coat with strange hair and eyeglasses and using laboratory materials. Teachers made more detailed drawings of scientists’ working style and environment and more detailed associations with the nature of science, ways of acquiring scientific knowledge and scientific process. Unlike teachers, students emphasized space-related concepts both in their drawings and word associations. Conclusion: This study shows that both teachers and students possess various stereotypical perceptions of scientists aligned with the previous studies. However, the number of scientists drawn as happy and female is higher than the previous studies, which is a promising finding. Moreover, students’ drawings consisting symbols or alternative images that evoked space in particular is one of the several aspects which differentiate this study from most studies. This study also shows that using drawings and word association tests together provides a richer understanding of people’s views of science and scientists than using only one measurement tool.
One size fits all: How many default funds does a pension scheme need?

In this paper, we analyse the number of default investment funds appropriate for an occupational defined contribution pension scheme. Using a unique dataset of member risk attitudes and characteristics from a survey of a large UK pension scheme, we apply cluster analysis to identify two distinct groups of members in their 40s and 50s. Further analysis indicated that the risk attitudes of the two groups were not significantly different, allowing us to conclude that a single lifestyle default fund is appropriate.
Effects of Pruning at Planting on Pecan Trunk Development and Total Shoot Growth

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) trees were pruned using varying intensities at planting to determine the effect of pruning on trunk development and shoot growth. Data on trunk diameter, number and length of shoots, as well as the total shoot growth were recorded annually from a completely randomized design experiment that assigned 0%, 50%, and 75% pruning of above-ground height to single-trunk transplants. The results suggest that pruning intensity has little effect on trunk diameter. The pruned trees had fewer shoots initially and more growth per shoot, leading to a difference of 7 cm/shoot higher for the 50% pruning group than the control group and to a difference of 11 cm/shoot higher for the 75% pruning group compared with the control group. The total length of all shoots was not significantly different across treatments. Because previous research has sometimes shown that pruning increases tree survival and this research shows that trees can recover from pruning, there is no need to change the current recommendation of pruning seedlings at planting.