Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Silicon revolution: Sustainability disclosures and performance in the semiconductor manufacturing industry (2010-2014)

SILICON REVOLUTION: SUSTAINABILITY DISCLOSURES AND PERFORMANCE IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY (2010-14) by Swarali H. Bhat This exploratory work investigates the sustainability performance and reporting practices in 20 semiconductor companies from 2010-2014 using content analysis, survey, and interview methods. The sample consists of companies that are either integrated chip manufacturers (ICMs) or semiconductor foundries with annual net revenue of $0.2 billion to $55.9 billion. A sustainability matrix based on the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines assesses the reporting completeness. Sustainability performance is measured based on two factors, identification of trends in social and environmental data and adoption of 28 sustainability best practices specific to this manufacturing sector. The majority of the resource use and emissions data followed decreasing trends during 20102014. The study found ethical responsibility and concern for society and the environment to be the main motivations for sustainability reporting in this sector. A positive association between reporting completeness and the sustainability performance was observed, but based on the available data the causation could not be established.
Understanding the Ethnic Self: A Qualitative Study of 1.5 Generation Korean American Immigrants

This study examined the experiences of bicultural identity development of 1.5 generation Korean immigrants living in predominantly White regions. Using grounded theory methodology, this study highlights dynamic forms of 1.5 generation Korean immigrants’ bicultural identities as both Korean and American. The study found that as these immigrants are largely influenced by interpersonal relationships and race-related discrimination experiences, they develop different forms of bicultural identity through five stages (from anxiety and fear to acceptance), differ from first- and second-generation immigrants. Through viewing 1.5 generation immigrants as a unique population with their own needs, the implications center on the opportunity to support 1.5 generation, Korean immigrants, in coping with negative experiences and developing bicultural identity across various contexts.
Taxonomic and functional alterations in the salivary microbiota of children with and without severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) at the age of 3

Background Primary dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease among preschool children, which can cause severe damage to teeth and even affect the mental well-being of children. Various studies have demonstrated that the oral microbiome plays a pivotal role in the onset and development of dental caries. However, it remains uncertain about the key microbial markers associated with caries, owing to the limited evidence. Methods Fifteen S-ECC children and fifteen healthy controls were selected from three-year-old children in this study. Their clinical data and oral saliva samples were collected. Shotgun sequencing was conducted to investigate the microbial differences and the relevant functions between the two groups. Results We observed no apparent difference in oral microbial community diversity between the two groups. Still, at the genus/species levels, several characteristic genera/species such as Propionibacterium, Propionibacterium acidifaciens, Prevotella denticola, Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces sp. oral taxon 448/414 increased significantly in S-ECC children, compared with the oral health group. Furthermore, we found that functional pathways involving glycolysis and acid production, such as starch and sucrose metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, were prominently up-regulated in the high-caries group. Conclusions Our study showed that dental caries in children were associated with the alterations in the oral microbiota at the composition and functional levels, which may potentially inspire the exploration of microbial diagnosis or therapeutic treatments.
Seepage and Stability Analysis of Earth Dam due to The Rising of Upstream Water Level

A physical model of earth dam is constructed a drainage and seepage tank in order to analyze the seepage and stability due to piping considering the rising of upstream water level. The dam model was made of Mt. Merapi sand deposit, with the upstream slope inclination of 1:1; 1:1.5 and 1:2. From the experiment, seepage discharge and permeability coefficient of the dam body and the relationship between the rising rate of upstream water level and slope stability can be analyzed. The result showed that the higher water rising rate, the smaller value of safety factor so that the dam is more prone to landslide. The smallest value of safety factor (SF) against landslide occurred in the steepest slope of 1:1, with the initial SF of 1.13 (before the rising) reduced to below 1.00 (after the rising). Accordingly, the highest critical rate of water level increment that triggers landslide occurred in the model with slope inclination of 1:1.5 at 0.545 mm/s. As the result of piping analysis, the smallest Weighted Creep Ratio against piping (WCR) of 1.86 occurs in the upstream slope with inclination of 1:2. In the dam management, continuous monitoring should be carried out to prevent the reduction of embankment stability that may exceed its critical value due to rapid rising of reservoir water level.
RESULTS AND PROSPECTS OF THE USE OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN REPRODUCTION OF SMALL RUMINANTS’S ANIMAL

The article discusses the most common ART (artificial insemination, cryopreservation of sperm and creation of storage facilities, induction and synchronization of sexual reproduction), as well as ART used in rare cases (technology of superovulation induction and embryo transfer, in-vitro embryo production, embryo cryopreservation, transgenesis). The author presents the results of own long-term research on the development of biotechnological methods and methods of increasing the reproductive qualities of sheep and goats. The reasons for the rare use of multiple ovulation and embryotransplantation programs (MOET) in domestic sheep and goat breeding practice are given. Recommendations on using MOET to preserve the gene pool and to increase the efficiency of using genetic resources of high-value animals, increasing their participation in the sheep and goat reproduction process, are given.
Assessment of parental benzo[a]pyrene exposure-induced cross-generational neurotoxicity and changes in offspring sperm DNA methylome in medaka fish

Abstract Previous studies have revealed that DNA methylation changes could serve as potential genomic markers for environmental benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) exposure and intergenerational inheritance of various physiological impairments (e.g. obesity and reproductive pathologies). As a typical aromatic hydrocarbon pollutant, direct BaP exposure has been shown to induce neurotoxicity. To unravel the inheritance mechanisms of the BaP-induced bone phenotype in freshwater medaka, we conducted whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of F1 sperm and identified 776 differentially methylated genes (DMGs). Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that DMGs were significantly enriched in pathways associated with neuronal development and function. Therefore, it was hypothesized that parental BaP exposure (1 μg/l, 21 days) causes offspring neurotoxicity. Furthermore, the possibility for sperm methylation as an indicator for a neurotoxic phenotype was investigated. The F0 adult brains and F1 larvae were analyzed for BaP-induced direct and inherited toxicity. Acetylcholinesterase activity was significantly reduced in the larvae, together with decreased swimming velocity. Molecular analysis revealed that the marker genes associated with neuron development and growth (alpha1-tubulin, mbp, syn2a, shh, and gap43) as well as brain development (dlx2, otx2, and krox-20) were universally downregulated in the F1 larvae (3 days post-hatching). While parental BaP exposure at an environmentally relevant concentration could induce neurotoxicity in the developing larvae, the brain function of the exposed F0 adults was unaffected. This indicates that developmental neurotoxicity in larvae may result from impaired neuronal development and differentiation, causing delayed brain growth. The present study demonstrates that the possible adverse health effects of BaP in the environment are more extensive than currently understood. Thus, the possibility of multigenerational BaP toxicity should be included in environmental risk assessments.
Combining and analyzing novel multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging metrics for predicting Gleason score.

Background Radiologists currently subjectively examine multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI) to determine prostate tumor aggressiveness using the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System scoring system (PI-RADS). Recent studies showed that modified signal to clutter ratio (SCR), tumor volume, and eccentricity (elongation or roundness) of prostate tumors correlated with Gleason score (GS). No previous studies have combined the prostate tumor's shape, SCR, tumor volume, in order to predict potential tumor aggressiveness and GS. Methods MP-MRI (T1, T2, diffusion, dynamic contrast-enhanced images) were obtained, resized, translated, and stitched to form spatially registered multi-parametric cubes. Multi-parametric signatures that characterize prostate tumors were inserted into a target detection algorithm [adaptive cosine estimator (ACE)]. Pixel-based blobbing, and labeling were applied to the threshold ACE images. Eccentricity calculation used moments of inertia from the blobs. Tumor volume was computed by counting pixels within multi parametric MRI blobs and tumor outlines based on pathologist assessment of whole mount histology. Pathology assessment of GS was performed on whole mount prostatectomy. The covariance matrix and mean of normal tissue background was computed from normal prostate. Using signatures and normal tissue statistics, the z-score, noise corrected SCR [principal component (PC), modified regularization] from each patient was computed. Eccentricity, tumor volume, and SCR were fitted to GS. Analysis of variance assesses the relationship among the variables. Results A multivariate analysis generated correlation coefficient (0.60 to 0.784) and P value (0.00741 to <0.0001) from fitting two sets of independent variates, namely, tumor eccentricity (the eccentricity for the largest blob, weighted average for the eccentricity) and SCR (removing 3 PCs, removing 4 PCs, modified regularization, and z-score) to GS. The eccentricity t-statistic exceeded the SCR t-statistic. The three-variable fit to GS using tumor volume (histology, MRI) yielded correlation coefficients ranging from 0.724 to 0.819 (P value <<0.05). Tumor volumes generated from histology yielded higher correlation coefficients than MRI volumes. Adding volume to eccentricity and SCR adds little improvement for fitting GS due to higher correlation coefficients among independent variables and little additional, independent information. Conclusions Combining prostate tumors eccentricity with SCR relatively highly correlates with GS.
Effect-Directed Profiling of Monofloral Honeys from Ethiopia by High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Ethiopian honey is used not only as food but also for treatment in traditional medicine. For its valorization, bioactive compounds were analyzed in nine types of monofloral Ethiopian honey. Therefore, a non-target effect-directed profiling was developed via high-performance thin-layer chromatography combined with multi-imaging and planar effect-directed assays. Characteristic bioactivity profiles of the different honeys were determined in terms of antibacterial, free-radical scavenging, and various enzyme inhibitory activities. Honeys from Hypoestes spp. and Leucas abyssinica showed low activity in all assays. In contrast, others from Acacia spp. , Becium grandiflorum, Croton macrostachyus, Eucalyptus globulus, Schefflera abyssinica, Vernonia amygdalina, and Coffea arabica showed more intense activity profiles, but these differed depending on the assay. In particular, the radical scavenging activity of Croton macrostachyus and Coffea arabica honeys, the acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting activity of Eucalyptus globulus and Coffea arabica honeys, and the antibacterial activity of Schefflera abyssinica honey are highlighted. Bioactive compounds of interest were further characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Identifying differences in bioactivity between mono-floral honey types affects quality designation and branding. Effect-directed profiling provides new insights that are valuable for food science and nutrition as well as for the market, and contributes to honey differentiation, categorization, and authentication.
179-OR: Cardiovascular Effectiveness of Empagliflozin vs. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists or Liraglutide in the EMPRISE Study

Within the EMPRISE® monitoring program, we evaluated the cardiovascular effectiveness of empagliflozin (EMPA) vs. glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA) or liraglutide using data from Medicare and 2 U.S. commercial claims databases [2014- (2018 for Medicare) ]. We identified patients ≥18 years with type 2 diabetes initiating (i) EMPA vs. GLP1-RA or (ii) EMPA vs. liraglutide. Primary outcomes were hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) , myocardial infarction (MI) , stroke, and all-cause mortality (Medicare only) . After 1:1 propensity score matching, we estimated pooled HR (95% CI) overall and in subgroups of patients with and without baseline cardiovascular disease (CVD) . We identified 105,955 pairs of EMPA vs. GLP1RA initiators and 72,498 pairs of EMPA vs. liraglutide initiators (Table) . Relative to GLP1RA, EMPA had a lower risk of HHF [HR:0.62 (95% CI, 0.53, 0.71) ] and a similar risk of MI [0.95 (0.85, 1.07) ], stroke [1. (0.94, 1.27) ], and mortality [0.91 (0.77, 1.08) ]. Results were consistent for patients with and without CVD. When we compared EMPA vs. liraglutide, estimates were similar to those from GLP1 RA, both overall and across subgroups. Among real-world patients, EMPA was associated with a reduced risk of HHF, but with similar risk of MI, stroke, and mortality, across the broad spectrum of CVD, compared with GLP-1RA overall or liraglutide. P.T. Htoo: Employee; Johnson & Johnson. S.Schneeweiss: None. E.Patorno: Research Support; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, National Institutes of Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. H.Tesfaye: None. J.M. Paik: None. D.J.Wexler: Other Relationship; Elsevier, Novo Nordisk, UpToDate. M.Najafzadeh: None. R.Glynn: Research Support; Amarin Corporation, AstraZeneca, Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc. A.Deruaz-luyet: Employee; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Other Relationship; IQVIA Inc., Sanofi. S.F. Fazeli farsani: Employee; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. L.Koeneman: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company, Stock/Shareholder; Eli Lilly and Company.
The Association of the mazEF Toxin-antitoxin System and Vancomycin Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus faecalis

Vancomycin resistant enterococci are challenging bacteria as they are difficult to be eradicated. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are genetic elements located in most prokaryotic genomes. The mazEF TA system is harbored by a plasmid among Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). To explore the relation between the existence of mazEF TA system and vancomycin resistance among clinical isolates of E. faecalis. Samples were collected from patients showing clinical picture of infection. Isolates of E. faecalis were identified by standard microbiological methods and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were detected by disk diffusion method. In addition, the E-test was used to confirm vancomycin resistant isolates. All the E. faecalis isolates were screened for the mazEF TA system by PCR. A total of 180 E. faecalis strains were identified with a vancomycin resistance rate of 30.6%. Vancomycin resistance was significantly associated with prolonged hospital stay (P= 0.04) and ICU setting (P= 0.001). The mazEF TA system was detected among 100% of vancomycin resistant isolates, while only 33.6% of the vancomycin sensitive isolates carried the system with a significant difference (P= 0.002). In addition, there was a significant association between the mazEF TA system-positive strains and the ICU setting (P= 0.02). A significant association was found between vancomycin resistance and the presence of the mazEF TA system among E. faecalis isolates. This association supports the current efforts to utilize the mazEF TA system as a possible target for novel antibacterial agents; however, further studies on a wider scale are necessary.
Riding The Waves Of Quality Improvement : Sustainability and spread in a Dutch quality improvement program for long-term care

markdownabstractIncreasingly, sustainability and spread have become part and parcel of organizational strategy in health care. This applies in particular to organizations in the long-term care sector, which faces an increasing care demand, ageing population and labor shortage. Unfortunately, sustainability and spread of quality improvement have been understudied. Given the dominance of project-based evaluation research, deeper insight in the dynamics and interplay between care organizations, improvement projects and care practices is lacking. Such insight is desired because sustainability and spread of quality improvement represent a conditio sine qua non for sustainable change at the system level. This dissertation offers a theoretical framework for sustainability and spread of changed care practices based on organization theory: routine theory and Scandinavian institutional theory. Based on this framework measurement instruments were developed and new research designs were experimented with, including, analysis of care indicatordata, a small n case study, Latent Class Analysis, and longitudinal designs. The setting of research concerns the Dutch ‘Care for Better’ quality improvement collaborative (QIC) program for long-term care (2005 - 2012). The program was based on Breakthrough Improvement Methodology. In the ‘Care for Better’ program, improvement teams worked on implementing best practices during one year. This dissertation offers an in-depth, integrated evaluation of the ‘Care for Better’ program in view of the context of the developments in the long-term care sector. Regarding the effectiveness of the program, it is concluded that the program yielded only partially sustainable change, mainly because the internal spread within the care organizations lagged behind. Based on the findings, it is concluded that sustainability and spread of changed care practices are not guaranteed by mere project effectiveness. These two concepts should not be conflated, but require related yet specific processes in care organizations. Sustainability and spread should be part and parcel of the improvement process from the start, rather than configured as a final stage. What is more, quality improvement set demands on the organizational capacity for improvement, and thus requires substantial adaptation from an organization to yield sustainable change. Last, following routine theory, the role of materials in care practices as well as in improvement practices appears vital for sustainability and spread; and therefore deserves more consideration in health policy as well as in the evaluation of quality improvement.
Meniere's Disease: A Review on Epidemiology, Aetiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

Meniere's disease (MD) is a type of peripheral vestibular disease and affects the inner ear. It is characterised by a combination of classic symptoms, including vertigo (spinning sensation), sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), tinnitus (ear ringing), nausea, and vomiting. The most important histological marker of the Meniere’s disease (MD) is endolymphatic hydrops (EH). Different subgroups of patients have different aetiologies, including trauma, viral infection, autoimmunity, allergy, otitis media, and genetic predisposition. MD is most prevalent in European descendants with higher women to men ratio. Recent diagnostic criteria classify MD into definite and probable MD. The treatment consists of non-invasive approaches to surgically destructive methods. The review focuses on epidemiology, aetiology, diagnostic criteria, recent imaging techniques, diagnostic tools, and various treatment regimens.
Meso- and Rac-[bis(3-phenyl-6-tert-butylinden-1-yl)dimethylsilyl]zirconium Dichloride: Precatalysts for the Production of Differentiated Polyethylene Products with Enhanced Properties

Ansa-zirconocene complexes are widely employed as precatalysts for olefin polymerization. Their synthesis generally leads to mixtures of their rac and meso isomers, whose separation is often problematic. In this contribution, we report on the synthesis of a novel silyl-bridged bis(indenyl)-based metallocene, and on the separation of its rac and meso isomers by simple recrystallization from toluene. The two complexes, activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO), have been used as precatalysts in ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization. Regardless of the reaction conditions, the meso complex outperformed its rac congener. A similar trend was observed by performing the process in the presence of the silica-supported versions of the complexes. This is remarkable, since meso metallocenes generally display lower activities than their rac analogues. Furthermore, the meso isomer generates polymer products that are more in line with the targets for the preparation of a bimodal PE grade made of a lower-MW high-density (HDPE) fraction and a higher-MW linear low-density (LLDPE) fraction.