Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How markets value CSR programs

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is being adopted by an increasing amount of companies. However, such programs remain topic of debate. Do companies implement a CSR program to generate shareholder value, or is it implemented through stakeholder demand to solve a societal problem? This research sheds light on how markets value CSR programs and more importantly what motivations can be deducted from implementation of CSR programs. In this research seven different domains of CSR (Community, Corporate governance, Diversity, Employee Relations, Environment, Human rights and Product) are modeled from a perspective of strengths and concerns. This paper proves that markets value CSR programs positively. However, different relations are found for different firm characteristics (in size, EBITDA or revenue). In addition, there is no single CSR domain with the largest impact on firm value when differentiating between firms with different characteristics. On an aggregate level both US and non-US firms show that the CSR domain employee relations has the biggest impact on firm value. Differentiating between country/world-wide and industry/firm specific CSR variables showed that markets value country/world-wide CSR programs. Whereas industry/firm specific CSR programs are mostly not valued by markets. This indicates that firms are not only implementing CSR programs to create shareholder value but are also implementing CSR programs based on the desires of other stakeholders.
Sequence Variation and Phylogenetic Relationships Among Ten Iraqi Rice Varieties Using RM171 Marker

In the present study rice microsatellite marker (RM 171) was used to evaluate the genetic diversity and determining cultivar identity among ten rice varieties (oryza sativa L.) (Seven local and three commercial varieties). PCR technique was performed using two specific primers. The result showed presence of a band (305bp) DNA sequencing was done to PCR product to detect sequence variation between the ten rice varieties. In order to detect the relationship among all varieties, alignment of RM171 marker sequence was carried out for each variety. Amber and Daawat varieties showed the highest similarity with 98% identity, while the difference (2%) consists of two gaps and two transition mutations (T/C) and (C/T). Furthermore, Amber was aligned with mashkhab-1; 6% variation was noticed includes 5% gaps of 16 nucleotides which are not found in Amber that distributed in four different locations. In addition to the gaps, two transversion mutations were identified (G/C) and (G/T). Phylogenetic relationships among varieties were achieved, which showed that genetic distances were ranged from 0.029 to 1.999 among rice varieties. Cluster analyses grouped the ten varieties into five main clusters depending on their geographic origin, their ancestor and their aroma characteristics and this revealed relatedness between aromatic and non -aromatic with few of independent varieties. The result of this study could be helpful in the future for rice breeding programs.
Analysis of Error Rates during Bit Transmissions for Different Transmitting and Receiving Antenna

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems can improve the channel capacity and reliability of any wireless communication system which creates interest to do the further research. However, adopting a MIMO system increases system complication and cost of implementation. This paper deals with number of antenna selection at receiver and transmitter to reduce the complexity during the process. Space Time Sum of Magnitude (STSoM) combining selection diversity is used, which has much simpler implementation and provides improved Error Rate performance during bit transmission. The effects of channel estimation errors on this selection scheme are examined. The bit error rate of Binary Phase-Shift Keying in Rayleigh fading using Alamouti transmission scheme and receiver selection diversity in the presence of channel estimation error is analyzed. Numerical analysis is done for different number of transmit and receive antennas and graphs are plotted which shows the comparison among all.
Some Groupoids and Their Representations by Means of Integer Sequences

In some previous works, we have discussed the groupoids related to the integer sequences of Mersenne, Fermat, Cullen, Woodall and other numbers. These groupoids possess different binary operators. As we can easily see, other integer sequences can have the same binary operators, and therefore can be used to represent the related groupoids. Using the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS), we are able to identify the properties of these representations of groupoids. At the same time, we can also find integer sequences not given in OEIS and probably not yet studied.
THE CENTRE FOR MARKET AND PUBLIC ORGANISATION Centre for Market and Public Organisation

This paper explores the relationship between family income and six child developmental outcomes in mid-childhood. The outcomes span development in cognitive, emotional, behaviour and health domains. We examine the income gradients in a consistent manner that allows comparison across outcomes and decompose the income gradients into two overlapping sets of pathways. The first operates through observed parental behaviours and their inputs into children that are associated with income. The second captures the influence of other observed family characteristics, such as low parental education, that tend to co-occur with low income. There is also a residual portion of the income gradient that is not associated with observed inputs or measures of parental background and human capital. We find that the extent of the income gradient differs across outcomes. The strongest gradients are associated with cognitive outcomes, the weakest with health outcomes. Some inputs account for part of the explained income gradient across all six child outcomes but it is more common for specific inputs to be strongly associated with a limited number of outcomes. This variation in the role of inputs suggests that the underlying mediators of the social gradients in different domains of child development are not the same.
Stress and intestinal barrier function

The barrier function is an important characteristic of the gut and an important determinant in the outcome of critically ill patients. Its workings are complex and it consists of epithelial, molecular, and immune components. The pathogenesis of gut dysfunction among critically ill patients is multifactorial. The purpose of this literature review is to provide a better understanding of the normal defense mechanisms of the gut, alterations associated with ischemia reperfusion injury, risk of infection, starvation and malnutrition and severe trauma, and potential therapies for gut dysfunction in critically ill patients.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from the Epidermis and Dermis of Psoriasis Patients: Morphology, Immunophenotype, Differentiation Patterns, and Regulation of T Cell Proliferation

Psoriasis is a skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and chronic inflammation. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) exhibit an immunoregulatory function that can be altered in the skin of these patients. However, to date, the presence and functional capacity of MSCs in the dermis and epidermis of patients with psoriasis have not been fully established. In the present study, we evaluated the presence of MSCs in the skin of patients by obtaining adherent cells from the dermis and epidermis of lesional and nonlesional areas and characterizing them in a comparative manner with corresponding cells obtained from the dermis (HD-MSCs) and epidermis (HE-MSCs) of healthy donors. We determined whether the adherent cells had immunophenotypic profiles and differentiation potentials that were characteristic of MSCs. In addition, we analyzed their immunosuppression function by evaluating their capacity to decrease T cell proliferation. Our results indicate the presence of MSCs in the dermis and epidermis of healthy donors and patients with psoriasis; adherent cells from all skin sources exhibited MSC characteristics, such as expression of CD73, CD90, and CD105 markers and a lack of hematopoietic and endothelial marker expression. However, the cell populations obtained showed differences in differentiation potential toward adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. In addition, we observed a low MSC obtention frequency in nonlesional epidermal samples (NLE-MSCs), which also showed alterations in morphology and proliferation rate. Interestingly, MSCs from both the nonlesional dermis (NLD-MSCs) and lesional dermis (LD-MSCs) showed higher HLA class I antigen (HLA-I) expression than HD-MSCs. Moreover, NLD-MSCs showed a low T cell proliferation suppression capacity. In summary, this study demonstrates the presence of MSCs in the epidermis and dermis of patients with psoriasis and suggests that such cells may favor the inflammatory process and thus psoriatic lesion development through high HLA-I expression and low immunosuppression capacity.
Assessing pollution of aquatic environments with diatoms’ DNA metabarcoding: experience and developments from France water framework directive networks

Ecological status assessment of watercourses is based on the calculation of quality indices using pollution sensitivity of targeted biological groups, including diatoms. The determination and quantification of diatom species is generally based on microscopic morphological identification, which requires expertise and is time-consuming and costly. In Europe, this morphological approach is legally imposed by standards and regulatory decrees by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Over the past decade, a DNA-based molecular biology approach has newly been developed to identify species based on genetic criteria rather than morphological ones (i.e. DNA metabarcoding). In combination with high throughput sequencing technologies, metabarcoding makes it possible both to identify all species present in an environmental sample and to process several hundred samples in parallel. This article presents the results of two recent studies carried out on the WFD networks of rivers of Mayotte (2013–2018) and metropolitan France (2016–2018). These studies aimed at testing the potential application of metabarcoding for biomonitoring in the context of the WFD. We discuss the various methodological developments and optimisations that have been made to make the taxonomic inventories of diatoms produced by metabarcoding more reliable, particularly in terms of species quantification. We present the results of the application of this DNA approach on more than 500 river sites, comparing them with those obtained using the standardised morphological method. Finally, we discuss the potential of metabarcoding for routine application, its limits of application and propose some recommendations for future implementation in WFD.
Compliance of designs with requirements in road infrastructure projects : road infrastructure projects within the context of systems engineering

Developing products in compliance with specifications should be realized throughout a system lifecycle to support the delivery of quality assured products. The quality of large infrastructure projects can be determined by many aspects including the extent to which the system is delivered in compliance with defined specifications. The purpose of this research has been to assess the performance of two road infrastructure projects in developing requirements and designs to be in compliance with each other so to make recommendations to improve current practices. A literature review has been conducted to develop a framework of best practices, for ensuring that designs are developed in compliance with the defined requirements throughout a design level of detail, specifically the concept design level. The framework has been applied to current practices in two case studies, which have been implementing Systems Engineering (SE) processes in the concept design phase of the project lifecycle. Pattern matching analysis, which is about testing whether theory and practice match in real life by comparing their patterns and characteristics, has been used for analyzing current practices. Pattern matching results indicate that one project has been performing better than the other project. This is in terms of matching the expected patterns for developing requirements and designs to be in compliance with each other, throughout a design level of detail. However, the findings of this research could not demonstrate if indeed one of the projects is a success project with regard to developing designs in compliance with the defined requirements throughout the concept design phase, while the other project is not. This is primarily due to the lack of evidence in one of the projects, which has been perceived in itself as an indicator of insufficient performance of that project. Certain practices are seen as reasons for the pattern matching results and are thus further discussed. On the basis of the analysis and discussions, recommendations for improving current practices are developed. Involve SE expertise, enhance required SE knowledge and skills, and ensure strict SE planning and commitment from the beginning of the projects are the recommendations suggested and supported by existing literature.
Low and high density lipoproteins in serum and saliva of ischemic heart disease patients

Background: Coronary artery disease is one of the main reasons of early death in humans; the initiation of the atherosclerotic plaque is ascribed to focal accumulation of lipids. Saliva provides an inexpensive, non invasive and accessible diagnostic element. The aim of this study was to assess Low and high density lipoproteins cholesterol in ischemic heart diseased patients and to assess the role of saliva as a diagnostic tool for this biochemical analysis. Materials and Methods: Eighty subjects were enrolled in this study, forty patients were diagnosed as ischemic heart disease (IHD), their ages ranged between 42-80 years, and forty individuals were age and sex matched healthy looking volunteers. Lipid profile has been estimated for all the serum and salivary samples. Results: the mean level of serum total cholesterol (TC) in healthy controls was higher than that of IHD patients, but it fail to reach a significant level. The mean levels of salivary TC in healthy controls were significantly higher than that of IHD patients. The mean levels of serum and salivary HDL in healthy controls were significantly higher than that of IHD group. There were no significant differences between serum and salivary LDL of IHD patients compared to healthy controls. The levels of TC, HDL, and LDL are more significant in saliva than in serum in IHD patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: Ischemic heart disease is associated with significant decrease in serum and salivary HDL and non significant decrease in serum and salivary LDL. Saliva is more significant than serum in this biochemical analysis.
Response of the Nigerian construction sector to economic shocks

The construction sector (CS) is an economic barometer that mirrors the state of the economy. Therefore, the construction sector is susceptible to economic impacts. This study investigated the impact of economic shocks (measured with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) on construction sector performance. The study used econometric methodology which involves several sequential procedure including unit root test, cointegration test, causality and exogeneity tests. The data used was the Annualized time series data about GDP and construction sector. The data were extracted from the United Nations Statistics Division database based on the year 2010 US Dollars price over a forty seven (47) year period (1970-2016). The study found that the GDP significantly caused the construction sector output in all tests investigated. The study concluded that the construction sector significantly responded to economic shocks in both the short and long run. The study recommended that government should develop a policy framework that supports a concurrent development of the economy and the construction sector in Nigeria.
Global nighttime atomic oxygen abundances from GOMOS hydroxyl airglow measurements in the mesopause region

Abstract. This paper presents a new dataset of nighttime atomic oxygen density [O], derived from OH(8–4) ro-vibrational band emissions, using a non-local thermal equilibrium model, with the aim of offering new insight into the atomic oxygen abundances in the mesopause region. The dataset is derived from the level-1 atmospheric background measurements observed by the Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars (GOMOS) instrument aboard Envisat, with the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) measurements for the atmospheric background. Raw data are reprocessed into monthly zonal mean values in 10 ∘ latitude bins with a fixed altitude grid of 3 km. The dataset spans from 70 ∘ S to 70 ∘ N in latitude and from 80 to 100 km in altitude, covering a time period from May 2002 to December 2011 at local times from 22:00 to 00:00 LT. The atomic oxygen density peaks at about 95 km and the highest values are in the range of 3–8 × 10 11 atoms cm −3 , depending on latitude and season. There is a rapid decrease of [O] below the peak. The annual oscillation (AO), semiannual oscillation (SAO) and the solar cycle impact are distinguished from the [O] longtime series variations. This new GOMOS [O] dataset conforms to other published datasets and is consistent with the [O] datasets obtained from the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) OH airglow measurements within about ±20 %.
Change in Liver Histoarchitecture by Sulphur Dioxide Induced Toxicity and Its Vitalization by Emblica Officinalis in Albino Rat

Atmosphere is a dynamic entity, which absorbs different pollutants from nature and anthropogenic sources, hence act as sink for those pollutants. Different types of gaseous pollutants are absorbed by the atmosphere, SO2 is one of them. SO2 enters in the body through the inhalation and then makes its entry into the blood and affects different body systems. Liver is an important vital which control most of the body activities, any change in liver or liver cell architecture leads to its abnormal functioning, results in deleterious effects. Emblica officinalis is a nutrient rich supplement which contains tannins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, amino acids, carbohydrates and a rich source of vitamin C. Emblica officinalis has a potential to cure the histopathological alterations induced by SO2 in albino rats.
Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Wine Produced from Blended Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) andLantana camara(L. camara) Fruits

Blending different fruits as well as adding medicinal herbs improves important physicochemical and sensorial properties of fruit wine. The present study aimed at investigating prominent physicochemical and sensory properties of wine produced from cactus pear andLantana camarafruit juice blend. Both fruit juices were characterized based on pH, sugar, titratable acidity, total phenol, and organic acid contents. The fermentation process was made at previously optimized fermentation temperature of 24.8°C, pH of 3.4, inoculum concentration (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) of 10.16% (v/v), andLantana camarafruit juice concentration of 10.66% (v/v). The final wine was characterized as having pH of 3.47 ± 0.04, 4.6 ± 0.02 g/L sugar equivalent to dextrose, 0.33 ± 0.006% titratable acidity (w/v citric acid), total phenol of 696.1 ± 22.1 mg/L equivalent to gallic acid, and 4.35 ± 0.4 mg/mL organic acid equivalent to citric acid composition. Predominant color intensity, ethanol, methanol, total sulfite, and sensory value of the final wine were measured as 48.07 ± 2.66% of yellowish color, 8.6 ± 0.68% (v/v), 124.4 ± 9.5 mg/L, 129.94 ± 4.04 mg/L, and 8.65 ± 0.92, respectively. The blendedLantana camarafruit enhanced total phenol, color, and sensory value of the final wine. Titratable acidity and methanol and sulfite contents of the final wine are in an acceptable limit compared to standards for commercial wines. Utilizing cactus pear fruit by incorporatingLantana camarafruit for health-enhancing functional food development such as fruit wines could solve the current postharvest loss of both fruits and be a means of alternative beverage.
Effect of the magnetotherapy in the regeneration after tenotomy in animals

Background: The Achilles tendon is the largest and most resistant tendon in the human body, being one of the most common areas of overload injury among athletes. The rupture occurs more frequently in football athletes, running and jumping, because these activities cause a great stress on the tendon during eccentric muscle contraction of the sural triceps. Among the different physiotherapy resources used to repair tendon injuries, there is magnetotherapy, which is a feature that uses a pulsatile electromagnetic field, a suggested inducer of the acceleration of regeneration. Objective: To investigate the effects of magnetotherapy on the organization of collagen and elastic fibers and inflammatory process induced in different days and phases of the healing process of Achilles tendon injury in rats. Method: This study is a randomized controlled trial. Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (each with n = 6), submitted to tenotomy by transverse shear in the middle third of the right Achilles tendon, except for group 1, which was control group without injury, sacrificed on day 14. Group 2, control with injury, sacrificed on day 7; group 3 was treated and received 5 pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) applications from 24h post injury and sacrificed on day 7; group 4, control with injury and sacrificed on day 14; and group 5 received 12 PEMF applications from 24h post injury and sacrificed on day 14. The parameters used were 20 mT, 50Hz and 30 minutes of application in each session, using the Magnetherp 330 digital device (Meditea). At the end of treatment, a histological study was performed to evaluate the amount of collagen and elastic cells and fibers and to compare the degree of organization of collagen fibers. Results: G 3, compared to its control G 2 showed lower acute inflammatory response; G 5 did not show acute and chronic inflammation and possessed an accelerated process of repair without fibrosis, unlike its control. Conclusion: The magnetotherapy decreased the signs of inflammation in the acute phase, accelerated the repair process with the onset of fibrosis in 7 days; and at 14 days the tendon tissue was healed, with organizing fibrosis, without acute or chronic inflammation.