Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Edinburgh Research Explorer In search of decent work

As the world faces increasing environmental, social and financial crises, as a result of climate change, deepening unrest about inequality, and the cost of living crisis, there are growing calls for organisations to play a role in responding to them. Scholars in the field of sustainable human resource management (HRM) have elaborated various avenues through which the field of HRM can contribute to this response. One such contribution HRM can make to global grand challenges is through contributing to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Of particular relevance for HRM is SDG8, which calls for decent work. In this study we empirically explore why, how and what influences HR managers in international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) to seek to enact fair reward, a key component of decent work. Based on our analysis, we find evidence that HR managers can be strategic actors in enacting fair pay, and we identify a complex interplay between HR managers and their context in the behaviours underpinning this enactment. HR managers adopt one of at least three identified roles to proactively enact fair reward (visionary, gatekeeper or technical consultant). Each role adopts differing strategic and fairness enactment behaviours to navigate the constraints posed by the context in which they work, including focussing on influencing different justice dimensions, and leveraging disruption in the external environment. By drawing out the key role HR managers can play in enacting fairness, we offer support for the importance of HRM in contributing to decent work and global grand challenges. Ultimately our study offers support for a common good HRM, in which HR manager actions are influenced and driven by challenges beyond the scope of their organisation. We offer empirical support and
Evaluation of ethanol extract of Allium cepa and fractions on haematological parameters in doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity using Wistar rats

This research study evaluated the effects of Ethanol extract of Allium cepa (A. cepa) popularly known as Onions and its fractions on haematological parameters in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity using Wistar rats. A total of 45 Wistar rats weighing between 150-200 g were recruited for this study. They were randomly divided into 9 groups of 5 animals each; as follows: Group 1: served as control and received 10 ml /kg/ body weight (b.w) per oral (p.o) of normal saline. Group II: received 3.5 mg / kg b.w intraperitoneal (i.p) of Doxorubicin (Dox). Group III: received 500 mg/kg/ b.w p.o of vitamin E plus Dox. Group IV: received 1000 mg/kg/ b.w of crude extract (C.E) of A. cepa plus Dox. Group V: received 1000 mg/kg b.w of n-Hexane fraction of A. cepa plus Dox. Group VI: received 1000 mg/kg b.w of dichloromethane (DCM) fraction of A. cepa plus Dox. Group VII received 1000 mg/kg b.w of ethyl acetate (E.A) fraction of A. cepa plus Dox. Group VIII: received 1000 mg/kg b.w of methanol (METH) fraction, and Group IX received Combinations of C.E of A. cepa + vitamin E and Dox respectively for 14days. Groups I and II treatments lasted for 14 days, while treatments for groups III-IX lasted for 16 days (making 14 days for respective treatments and additional 2 days for doxorubicin administered once 48 hourly before sacrificing. All substances in this study were administered orally except doxorubicin that was administered intraperitoneally. Haematology results obtained from this study showed Dox administration negatively altered full blood count; Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell (WBC) and Platelets levels significantly (p<0.05). However, pre-treatment administration with Allium cepa showed significant (p<0.05) improvement of full blood count levels from the effects of singular administration of Dox. Injury to the myocardium was also observed on histological examination in the Dox treated group. Our findings indicate that haematological parameters RBC, WBC, Platelets could be useful diagnostic tools in prediction and evaluation of Cardiotoxicity. Haematology results obtained from this study showed Doxorubicin administration significantly altered (p<0.05) full blood count; Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell (WBC) and Platelets levels. However, pre-treatment administration with Allium cepa showed significant (p<0.05) improvement of full blood count levels from the effects of singular administration of Doxorubicin. Injury to the myocardium was also observed on histological examination in the Doxorubicin treated group. Our findings indicate that haematological parameters RBC, WBC, Platelets could be useful diagnostic tools in prediction and evaluation of Cardiotoxicity.
Feasibility of a Voice-only Chatbot with Anthropomorphic Features Compared to a Text-based Chatbot as a Responder to Questions on Mental Health: a Randomized, Controlled Trial among Healthy Participants

Background: The use of chatbots in mental health support has increased exponentially in recent years, with studies showing that they may be effective in treating mental health problems. More recently, the use of voice-controlled visual avatars called digital humans has been introduced, which use machine learning and mimicry of facial emotions to build emotional engagement with users. It is important to study the difference in emotional response and usability preferences between text-based chatbots and digital humans for interacting with mental health services. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore to what extent a voice-only and a text-only chatbot interface differed on usability when tested by healthy participants, using BETSY (Behavior, Emotion, Therapy System, and You) which employs two distinct interfaces: a voice-only user interface with anthropomorphic features and a text-only user interface. We also set out to explore how chatbot-generated conversations on mental health (specific to each interface) affected self-reported feelings and biometrics. Methods: We explored to what extent a voice-only
A conceptual framework for ecological responses to groundwater regime alteration (FERGRA)

Globally, the provision of groundwater‐supported ecosystem services is threatened by climate change, water extraction, and other activities that alter groundwater regimes (defined as temporal dynamics in groundwater pressures, storage, and levels). Research on how altered groundwater regimes affect the ecology and ecosystem services of diverse groundwater‐dependent ecosystems (GDEs) is currently fragmented with little integration across different GDEs, hampering our ability to understand and manage ecological responses to anthropogenic changes to groundwater regimes. To address this, we present a framework for assessing ecological responses to groundwater regime alteration (FERGRA). FERGRA is a logical approach to investigating how alterations to groundwater regimes change the timing, variability, duration, frequency, and magnitude of groundwater connections to different GDEs, in turn affecting their ecological processes and ecosystem service provision. Using FERGRA, multiple GDEs can be assessed concurrently, optimizing their integrated management. Unifying the concepts of ecological responses to altered groundwater regimes and groundwater connections of different GDEs across the landscape, FERGRA provides a framework for (a) organizing the currently fragmented research on GDEs to better identify commonalities and knowledge gaps, (b) formulating and testing hypotheses for quantifying ecological responses to groundwater regime alteration in GDEs to derive general principles to guide research and management, and (c) facilitating assessments of the trade‐offs between the benefits of groundwater extraction (e.g., to support mining and agriculture) versus conservation of GDEs to protect other ecosystem services.
Pampaloite, AuSbTe, a new mineral from Pampalo gold mine, Finland

Abstract Pampaloite, AuSbTe, is a new mineral discovered in the Pampalo gold mine, 65 km east of Joensuu, Finland. It forms anhedral grains (up to ~20 μm) intergrown with gold, frohbergite and altaite. Pampaloite is brittle and has a metallic lustre. Values of VHN25 lie between 245 and 295 kg/mm2, with a mean value of 276 kg/mm2, corresponding to a Mohs hardness of ~4–5 (measured on synthetic material). In plane-polarised light, pampaloite is white with medium to strong bireflectance, weak reflectance pleochroism from slightly pinkish brown to slightly bluish white (only visible in grains of synthetic material containing multiple orientations), and strong anisotropy, with blue to light brown rotation tints; it exhibits no internal reflections. Reflectance values of pampaloite in air (R1, R2 in %) are: 60.0, 62.5 at 470 nm, 62.5, 64.8 at 546 nm, 63.2, 65.6 at 589 nm and 63.7, 66.0 at 650 nm. Ten electron-microprobe analyses of natural pampaloite give an average composition: Au 44.13, Sb 27.44 and Te 28.74, total 100.31 wt. %, corresponding to the empirical formula Au1.00Sb1. 00Te1.00 based on 3 atoms; the average of eleven analyses on synthetic pampaloite is: Au 44.03, Sb 27.26, and Te 29.08, total 100.38 wt. %, corresponding to Au0.99Sb1. 00Te1.01. The density, calculated on the basis of the empirical formula, is 9.33 g/cm3.The mineral is monoclinic, space group C2/c, with a = 11.947(3), b = 4.481(1) Å, c = 12.335(3) Å, β = 105.83(2)°, V = 635.3(3) Å3 and Z = 8. The crystal structure was solved and refined from the single-crystal X-ray-diffraction data of synthetic AuSbTe. The pampaloite crystal structure can be considered as a monoclinic derivative of the CdI2 structure composed of [AuTe3Sb3] octahedra. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of synthetic pampaloite [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 4.846(24)($\bar{2}$02), 3.825(18)(111), 2.978(100)($\bar{3}$11), 2.968(50)(004), 2.242(25)(020), 2.144(55)(313), 2.063(33)($\bar{3}$15) and 1.789(18)(024).
Forchlorfenuron-Induced Mitochondrial Respiration Inhibition and Metabolic Shifts in Endometrial Cancer

Simple Summary Our research focuses on the molecular mechanism of forchlorfenuron (FCF), a plant growth regulator widely used in agriculture to enhance fruit size and quality, and explored its potential in cancer treatment. Despite its known effects, the specific cellular and molecular mechanisms behind FCF’s actions have been unclear. Our study reveals a new mechanism: FCF inhibits mitochondrial respiration, affecting crucial cellular energy processes. This discovery sheds light on how FCF connects to the regulation of HIF-1α and glucose uptake observed in previous studies. Our findings not only deepen our understanding of FCF but also hint at the possibility of novel cancer therapies when combined with existing glycolytic inhibitors. Abstract Forchlorfenuron (FCF) is a widely used plant cytokinin that enhances fruit quality and size in agriculture. It also serves as a crucial pharmacological tool for the inhibition of septins. However, the precise target of FCF has not yet been fully determined. This study reveals a novel target of FCF and elucidates its downstream signaling events. FCF significantly impairs mitochondrial respiration and mediates metabolic shift toward glycolysis, thus making cells more vulnerable to glycolysis inhibition. Interestingly, FCF’s impact on mitochondrial function persists, even in cells lacking septins. Furthermore, the impaired mitochondrial function leads to the degradation of HIF-1α, facilitated by increased cellular oxygen. FCF also induces AMPK activation, suppresses Erk1/2 phosphorylation, and reduces the expression of HER2, β-catenin, and PD-L1. Endometrial cancer is characterized by metabolic disorders such as diabetes and aberrant HER2/Ras-Erk1/2/β-catenin signaling. Thus, FCF may hold promise as a potential therapeutic in endometrial cancer.
PERMEABILITY, VOID CONTENT, AND DURABILITY OF BITUMINOUS CONCRETE

THE USUAL PRACTICE IN BITUMINOUS MIXTURE DESIGN IS TO HAVE STATED VOID LIMITS IN AN EFFORT TO CONTROL DURABILITY. IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT SINCE PERMEABILITY MEASURES THE ABILITY OF THE MIXTURE TO TRANSMIT DETERIORATING FLUIDS IT MAY BE A BETTER CRITERIA OF DURABILITY THAN ARE VOID RELATIONSHIPS. SOME PERMEABILITY TESTS WERE RUN USING COMPRESSED AIR AND OTHERS USING WATER AS THE FLUID MEDIUM. THE DESIGN OF EQUIPMENT AND TEST METHODS ARE DESCRIBED. SAND ASPHALT AND ASPHALTIC CONCRETE MIXTURES WERE TESTED. CYLINDRICAL SPECIMENS WERE PREPARED FOR PERMEABILITY TESTS AND BEAMS FOR FREEZING AND THAWING. BEAM DETERIORATION WAS CHECKED PERIODICALLY BY DETERMINATION OF SONIC MODULUS OF ELASTICITY. SONIC TESTS WERE CONDUCTED AT 40 DEGREES F. A CONSTANT POISSON'S RATIO OF 0.4 WAS ASSUMED FOR ALL TESTS. LOSS IN SONIC MODULUS, EXPRESSED AS A PERCENT OF ORIGINAL IS CONSIDERED AN EXPRESSION OF DURABILITY. THE RELATIONSHIPS DETERMINED BETWEEN VOIDS AND PERMEABILITY IS SIMILAR TO THAT FOR SOILS. THE RELATIONSHIP IS INFLUENCED BY AGGREGATE GRADATIONS, COMPOSITION, AND AMOUNT OF ASPHALT IN THE MIXTURE. THERE IS NO GENERAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERMEABILITY AND DURABILITY AS MEASURED BY PERCENT LOSS IN SONIC MODULUS CAUSED BY LABORATORY FREEZING AND THAWING. FILM THICKNESS, AS WELL AS GRADING, INFLUENCES DURABILITY.
Hyporheic Exchange Driven by Three‐Dimensional Sandy Bed Forms: Sensitivity to and Prediction from Bed Form Geometry

Bed form‐driven hyporheic exchange is vital to biogeochemical processes occurring within aquatic sediment. The integrated effects of hyporheic processes in a bed form ultimately impact watershed‐scale water quality. However, much of what is understood regarding bed hyporheic exchange is based on idealized two‐dimensional bed forms despite the prevalence of potentially complex three‐dimensional (3‐D) bed forms in sandy riverbeds. We thus examined the impact of bed form three‐dimensionality on hyporheic exchange. Bed form three‐dimensionality was represented by two groups of geometric parameters: (1) crest planform curvature and (2) transverse and longitudinal wavelength and amplitude. A wide variety of synthetic bed forms was generated based on the geometric parameters. Then, surface flow over and hyporheic flow through each bed form was calculated using a 3‐D multiphysics computational fluid dynamics model implemented across a range of Reynolds Number. We found that hyporheic exchange is sensitive to both types of parameters that determine the bed form three‐dimensionality. Hyporheic exchange is dominated however by the three‐dimensionality caused by out‐of‐phase superimposed sinusoidal surfaces. The results of the complex flow models were synthesized into simple equations for predicting hyporheic flux and bulk residence time based on bed form longitudinal and transverse wavelengths, bed form height, and Reynolds Number.
Is There a Link between the Molecular Basis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Autoimmune Diseases? Systematic Review

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is currently the most common chronic rheumatic disease in children. It is known to have no single identity, but a variety of diagnoses. Under-diagnosis is a barrier to early treatment and reduced complications of the disease. Other immune-mediated diseases may coexist in the same patient, making research in this area relevant. The main objective was to analyse whether links could be established between the molecular basis of JIA and other immune-mediated diseases. Early diagnosis may benefit patients with JIA, which in most cases goes undetected, leading to under-diagnosis, which can have a negative impact on children affected by the disease as they grow up. Methods: We performed a PRISMA systematic review focusing on immune molecules present in different autoimmune diseases. Results: A total of 13 papers from different countries dealing with the molecular basis of JIA and other immune diseases were evaluated and reviewed. Conclusions: Most of the autoimmune diseases analysed responded to the same group of drugs. Unfortunately, the reason for the under-diagnosis of these diseases remains unknown, as no evidence has been found to correlate the immunomolecular basis with the under-diagnosis of these immune-mediated diseases. The lack of information in this area means that further research is needed in order to provide a sound basis for preventing the development of immune-mediated diseases, especially in children, and to improve their quality of life through early diagnosis and treatment.
DETERMINANTS OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN POLAND

Aim: Female entrepreneurship is a still-untapped economic potential. To trigger it, it is necessary to better recognize barriers to its development. Thus, the aim of the research was to identify the motives that make women start their own businesses, the reasons why they postpone or decline such decisions, the barriers that they encounter when running a business, and their priorities concerning professional careers and family. Methods: Applied methods include an e-mail survey and direct interviews, both using a questionnaire. The gathered data was processed using standard qualitative data analysis tools and descriptive analysis. Results: Women decide on their own business mainly because of negative experiences of being an employee and, to a lesser degree, because of a lack of satisfactory job offers or a lack of job offers at all. However, they often postpone starting their own business because of subjective reasons: the feeling that they lack experience, the lack of self-confidence, the fear of failure, and objective ones: lack of capital. The identified barriers in women running businesses are mainly universal, not gender-related, i.e., high taxes, problems with findingemployees, and frequent changes in legal and administrative regulations. Limited time devoted to family is the only gender-related barrier. However, a considerable share of respondents claims that there are no bottle-necks to female entrepreneurship in Poland. Conclusions: To trigger the potential of female entrepreneurship, we recommend two types of actions: training, mentoring and promoting success stories aimed at decreasing the subjective barriers to women starting businesses and actions aimed at diminishing the universal, not gender-related obstacles in running businesses in Poland.
Role of the PXR Gene Locus in Inﬂammatory Bowel Diseases

Background: The pregnane X receptor gene ( PXR/NR1I2 ) has been recently associated with an increased risk for inﬂammatory bowel disease (IBD), although a subsequent case-control study failed to replicate the original association in an independent population. This nuclear receptor regulates genes involved in the detoxiﬁcation process in the liver and intestine, like ABCB1/MDR1 . PXR expression was significantly reduced in the colon of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), but remained unaffected in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Considering previous results, we aimed at investigating the impact of this locus on IBD predisposition in the Spanish population. Methods: Three PXR polymorphisms, including the 1 more strongly correlated with IBD risk in the initial study at (cid:1) 25385C/T (rs3814055) and the 6 haplotypes conformed by them, were analyzed in 365 UC and 331 CD patients and compared with 550 ethnically matched controls. Results: The overall haplotypic distribution showed a signiﬁcant difference between UC and CD patients ( P (cid:2) 0.05; (cid:1) 2 (cid:2) 10.84). Among UC patients a signiﬁcant difference was seen between those with extensive colitis and controls ( P (cid:2) 0.004; (cid:1) 2 (cid:2) 17.04), mainly due to the presence of a risk haplotype (rs3814055*T//rs6784598*C// rs2276707*C: P (cid:2) 0.001; odds ratio [OR] (cid:2) 1.66, 95% conﬁdence interval [CI] 1.20–2.30). Patients with extensive UC carrying the (cid:1) 25385T allele showed increased susceptibility compared with left-sided colitis patients and with healthy subjects. In patients with extensive UC a signiﬁcantly different distribution of genotypes of the MDR1 G/A change located in intron 3 (rs3789243) was observed between carriers/noncarriers of the (cid:1) 25385T risk allele ( P (cid:2) 0.005). Conclusions: Our data seem to support the association of the PXR locus with extensive UC and the interaction between PXR and MDR1 genes.
Effects of SGLT2 Inhibitors with and without Metformin in High-Risk, Treatment-Naïve Patients with Diabetes

Background: Contemporary evidence supports the cardiovascular and renal benefits of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) in patients with diabetes. While metformin has traditionally been recommended as a first-line treatment, its exact role in improving cardiovascular outcomes remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the impact of combination therapy with metformin on the cardiovascular and renal outcomes in high-risk, treatment-naïve diabetic patients who have undergone SGLT2i therapy. Methods: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. Treatment-naïve patients with diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) undertaking SGLT2i therapy from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021 were included. Patients were categorized based on the concomitant use of metformin. Propensity score matching was employed to minimize confounding factors. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), with secondary outcomes including cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, and renal outcomes. Results: In total, 10,151 treatment-naïve diabetic patients with ASCVD were identified, with 2570 in the only SGLT2i therapy group and 7581 in the SGLT2i plus metformin group. In total, 2262 pairs were analyzed after propensity score adjustment. The risk of MACEs (36.6 vs. 42.1 events per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.70–1.09) and other outcomes did not significantly differ between the two treatment groups. Conclusions: In high-risk, treatment-naïve diabetic patients, initiating SGLT2i therapy alone or in combination with metformin resulted in comparable cardiovascular and renal outcomes. These findings suggest that metformin might not be mandatory as a first-line treatment for achieving cardiovascular benefits in such patients.
Multisensor Integrated Platform Based on MEMS Charge Variation Sensing Technology for Biopotential Acquisition

We propose a new methodology for long-term biopotential recording based on an MEMS multisensor integrated platform featuring a commercial electrostatic charge-transfer sensor. This family of sensors was originally intended for presence tracking in the automotive industry, so the existing setup was engineered for the acquisition of electrocardiograms, electroencephalograms, electrooculograms, and electromyography, designing a dedicated front-end and writing proper firmware for the specific application. Systematic tests on controls and nocturnal acquisitions from patients in a domestic environment will be discussed in detail. The excellent results indicate that this technology can provide a low-power, unexplored solution to biopotential acquisition. The technological breakthrough is in that it enables adding this type of functionality to existing MEMS boards at near-zero additional power consumption. For these reasons, it opens up additional possibilities for wearable sensors and strengthens the role of MEMS technology in medical wearables for the long-term synchronous acquisition of a wide range of signals.
Improving Public Procurement Outcomes Review of Tools and the State of the Evidence Base

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.