Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is Pollution Value-Maximizing? The Dupont Case

DuPont, one of the most respectable U.S. companies, caused environmental damage that ended up costing the company around a billion dollars. By using internal company documents disclosed in trials we rule out the possibilities that this bad outcome was due to ignorance, an unexpected realization, or a problem of bad governance. The documents rather suggest that the polluting was a rational decision: under reasonable probabilities of detection, polluting was ex-ante optimal from the company’s perspective, even if the cost of preventing pollution was lower than the cost of the health damages produced. We then examine why different mechanisms of control – legal liability, regulation, and reputation – all failed to deter a behavior that was inefficient from a social point of view. One common reason for the failures of deterrence mechanisms is that the company controls most of the information and its release. We then sketch potential ways to mitigate this problem.
Bazı Dormansi Kırma Uygulamalarının ve Sıcaklığın Sakız Geveni’nin (Astragalus gummifer Labill.) Tohum Canlılığı Üzerine Etkileri

This research was carried out to determine the effects of germination temperature and 12 dormancy breaking applications on the germination of the seeds of the gum tragacanth (Astragalus gummifer Labill.) bush. The research was carried out in the Field Crops Department laboratory, Iğdır University Faculty of Agriculture, in 2019. Gum tragacanth seeds were germinated for 28 days in the dark at constant temperatures of 10, 15, 20, and 25 °C and variable temperatures of 20/10 °C, 20/15 °C, 25/10 °C, and 25/15 °C. As a result of the research, the highest total germination rate was determined at 10.7% at 25/10 °C and 25/15 °C temperatures. It was determined that there was 89.3% dormancy in gum tragacanth seeds. Then, 12 dormancy breaking methods (matrix priming, hydro priming, gibberellic acid (GA3, potassium nitrate, cold, moist stratification, warm moist stratification, warm+cold moist stratification, cold+warm moist stratification, cold water, hot water, mechanical scarification, and chemical scarification) were applied. After dormancy breaking applications were made, the seeds were germinated again at 25/15 °C. At the end of the study, it was revealed that the highest total germination percentage with 50.7% was obtained from the application of hot water for 2 minutes. On the other hand, it was determined that matric priming, hydro priming, gibberellic acid, potassium nitrate, cold, moist stratification, warm moist stratification, cold+warm moist stratification, mechanical scarification, and chemical scarification applications did not have any effect on removing the dormancy status of gum tragacanth seeds.
Does IFRS convergence affect earnings quality and market volatility?

In 2006, Egypt issued new standards to be in line with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The new Egyptian Accounting Standards (EAS) were created with the intention of making financial statements more comparable and transparent, and they replaced the country’s previous 1997 and 2002 standards. This study aims to investigate how these new modifications of the EAS affect the market volatility (MV) and earnings quality (EQ) in such a developing country. Using data from 184 observations from 46 non-financial Egyptian listed firms for the period from 2013 to 2018, our results show that IFRS convergence has no effect on EQ (Mahmoud, 2018; Osinubi, 2020). Earnings quality is also found to be inversely related to MV (Hung & Van, 2020; Wongchoti, Tian, Hao, Ding, & Zhou, 2021), and IFRS has a significant positive impact on MV. The results also confirm no change in EQ and MV after the new EAS. These findings can guide standard setters and regulators that applying high-quality financial standards is not solely sufficient to provide accurate information and that other factors, such as legal enforcement, organization performance, and increasing the cost of compliance, are needed alongside post-IFRS convergence.
Nuclear mechanoprotection: From tissue atlases as blueprints to distinctive regulation of nuclear lamins

Two meters of DNA in each of our cells must be protected against many types of damage. Mechanoprotection is increasingly understood to be conferred by the nuclear lamina of intermediate filament proteins, but very different patterns of expression and regulation between different cells and tissues remain a challenge to comprehend and translate into applications. We begin with a tutorial style presentation of “tissue blueprints” of lamin expression including single-cell RNA sequencing in major public datasets. Lamin-A, C profiles appear strikingly similar to those for the mechanosensitive factors Vinculin, Yap1, and Piezo1, whereas datasets for lamin-B1 align with and predict regulation by the cell cycle transcription factor, FOXM1, and further predict poor survival across multiple cancers. Various experiments support the distinction between the lamin types and add mechanistic insight into the mechano-regulation of lamin-A, C by both matrix elasticity and externally imposed tissue strain. Both A- and B-type lamins, nonetheless, protect the nucleus from rupture and damage. Ultimately, for mechanically active tissue constructs and organoids as well as cell therapies, lamin levels require particular attention as they help minimize nuclear damage and defects in a cell cycle.
Pengaruh Independence In Attitude Dan Pengalaman Terhadap Skeptisisme Profesional Auditor

This research has two goals. First, applying PLS software for data fit test and to know the impact of independence in attitude and experience to auditor’s professional skepticism. This study uses two main software, Smart PLS use for data fit test, and Eviews ver.05 for hypothesis testing. Data was taken from public accountant staff who work for CPA firm in Yogyakarta Special Region. This study shows that PLS software may be used as data fit test tools by running PLS several times. This study also showed that independence in attitude has a significant positive effect on of professional skepticism, but experience has a negative significant effect on professional skepticism. This study also shows that PLS and OLS have not consistent conclusions. Base on OLS, Experience is more significant than Independence, but PLS conclusions is opposite.
Crowdsourced Urban Package Delivery

Crowdsourced shipping presents an innovative shipping alternative that is expected to improve shipping efficiency, increase service, and decrease cost to the customer, and such shipping promises to enhance the sustainability of the transportation system. This study collected data on behavioral responses to choose from available crowdsourced shipping jobs. The goal of the study was to measure the potential willingness of individuals to change status from pure commuters to traveler–shippers. In particular, the study quantified potential crowdsourced shippers’ value of free time, or willingness to work (WTW) in a hypothetical scenario in which crowdsourced shipping jobs were available in a variety of settings. This WTW calculation is unique compared with the traditional willingness to pay (WTP) in that it measured the trade-off of making a profit and giving up time instead of spending money to save time. This work provides a foundation to analyze the application and effectiveness of crowdsourced shipping by exploring the WTW propensity of ordinary travelers. The analysis was based on a newly developed stated preference survey and analyzed choice across three potential shipping jobs and the option to choose none of the three (i.e., the status quo). Results showed that the experiment was successful in recovering reasonable WTW values that are higher than the normal WTP metrics. The results also identified many significant sociodemographic variables that could help crowdsourced shipping companies better target potential part-time drivers.
COVID-19 and Fungal Diseases

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) can cause secondary bacterial and fungal infections by affecting the expression of pro-inflammatory markers, such as tumor necrosis alpha and certain cytokines, as well as the numbers of CD4 and CD8 cells. In particular, in the head and neck, various fungal species are naturally present, making it the main route of secondary infection. It is difficult to clearly distinguish whether secondary infection is caused by COVID-19 directly or indirectly as a result of the immunocompromised state induced by drugs used to treat the disease. However, the risk of fungal infection is high in patients with severe COVID-19, and lymphopenia is observed in most patients with the disease. Patients with COVID-19 who are immunosuppressed or have other pre-existing comorbidities are at a significantly higher risk of acquiring invasive fungal infections. In order to reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients, early diagnosis is required, and treatment with systemic antifungal drugs or surgical necrotic tissue resection is essential. Therefore, this review aimed to examine the risk of fungal infection in the head and neck of patients with COVID-19 and provide information that could reduce the risk of mortality.
Clinical Efficacy of Carbocysteine in COPD: Beyond the Mucolytic Action

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease with a versatile and complicated profile, being the fourth most common single cause of death worldwide. Several research groups have been trying to identify possible therapeutic approaches to treat COPD, such as the use of mucoactive drugs, which include carbocysteine. However, their role in the treatment of patients suffering from COPD remains controversial due to COPD’s multifaceted profile. In the present review, 72 articles, published in peer-reviewed journals with high impact factors, are analyzed in order to provide significant insight and increase the knowledge about COPD considering the important contribution of carbocysteine in reducing exacerbations via multiple mechanisms. Carbocysteine is in fact able to modulate mucins and ciliary functions, and to counteract viral and bacterial infections as well as oxidative stress, offering cytoprotective effects. Furthermore, carbocysteine improves steroid responsiveness and exerts anti-inflammatory activity. This analysis demonstrates that the use of carbocysteine in COPD patients represents a well-tolerated treatment with a favorable safety profile, and might contribute to a better quality of life for patients suffering from this serious illness.
Nutrition and Supplementation in Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) belongs to the group of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). UC is an incurable, diffuse, and chronic inflammatory process of the colonic mucosa with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission. This review aimed to analyze the scientific research conducted to date to determine what impact different nutritional plans and dietary supplements may have on the course of UC. The latest 98 articles about nutrition and supplementation in ulcerative colitis were used to prepare the work. Certain components in food can greatly influence the course of UC, inducing changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiome. This activity may be an important part of therapy for people with IBD. The Mediterranean diet has shown the most promising results in the treatment of patients with UC due to its high content of biologically active foods. Patients with UC may benefit from the UC Exclusion Diet (UCED); however, it is a new nutritional plan that requires further research. Patents frequently resort to unconventional diets, which, because of their frequent elimination of nutrient-rich foods, can worsen the health and nutritional status of those who follow them. The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics supplementation may have additional therapeutic effects; however, the evidence is not unequivocal.
Calcium‐binding proteins typify the dopaminergic neuronal subtypes in the ventral tegmental area of zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata

Calcium‐binding proteins (CBPs) regulate neuronal function in midbrain dopamine (DA)‐ergic neurons in mammals by buffering and sensing the intracellular Ca2+, and vesicular release. In birds, the equivalent set of neurons are important in song learning, directed singing, courtship, and energy balance, yet the status of CBPs in these neurons is unknown. Herein, for the first time, we probe the nature of CBPs, namely, Calbindin‐, Calretinin‐, Parvalbumin‐, and Secretagogin‐expressing DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) in the midbrain of zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata. qRT‐PCR analysis of ventral midbrain tissue fragment revealed higher Calbindin‐ and Calretinin‐mRNA levels compared to Parvalbumin and Secretagogin. Application of immunofluorescence showed CBP‐immunoreactive (‐i) neurons in VTA (anterior [VTAa], mid [VTAm], caudal [VTAc]), SN (compacta [SNc], and reticulata [SNr]). Compared to VTAa, higher Calbindin‐ and Parvalbumin‐immunoreactivity (‐ir), and lower Calretinin‐ir were observed in VTAm and VTAc. Secretagogin‐ir was highly localized to VTAa. In SN, Calbindin‐ and Calretinin‐ir were higher in SNc, SNr was Parvalbumin enriched, and Secretagogin‐ir was not detected. Weak, moderate, and intense tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐i VTA neurons were demarcated as subtypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. While subtype 1 TH‐i neurons were neither Calbindin‐ nor Calretinin‐i, ∼80 and ∼65% subtype 2 and ∼30 and ∼45% subtype 3 TH‐i neurons co‐expressed Calbindin and Calretinin, respectively. All TH‐i neuronal subtypes co‐expressed Parvalbumin with reciprocal relationship with TH‐ir. We suggest that the CBPs may determine VTA DA neuronal heterogeneity and differentially regulate their activity in T. guttata.
Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging Illustrates the Quality Characters of Isatidis Radix

For a long history, herbal medicines have made significant contributions to human health all around the world. However, the exploration of an effective approach to illustrate their inner quality remains a challenge. So, it is imperative to develop new methods and technologies to characterize and identify quality markers of herbal medicines. Taking Isatidis Radix, the dried root of Isatis indigotica as an example, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), in combination with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF/MS), was applied in this work for the first time to reveal the comprehensive spatial distribution of metabolites and, further, to illustrate quality characters of this herbal medicine. After simple pretreatment, 102 metabolites including alkaloids, sulfur-containing compounds, phenylpropanoids, nucleosides, amino acids, organic acids, flavonoids, phenols, terpenes, saccharides, peptides, and sphingolipids were characterized, some of which were successfully localized and visualized in the transverse section of the root. Based on the ion images, samples with different quality characters were distinguished unambiguously by the pattern recognition method of orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA). Simultaneously, 11 major influencing components exerting higher ion intensities in superior samples were identified as the potential quality markers of Isatidis Radix. Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), together with chemometric analysis could not only improve the understanding of the plant biology of herbal medicines but also be beneficial in the identification of quality markers, so as to carry out better quality control of herbal medicines.
The General Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS): Confirmatory Validation and Associations with Personality, Corporate Distrust, and General Trust

Abstract Acceptance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be predicted by individual psychological correlates, examined here. Study 1 reports confirmatory validation of the General Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS) following initial validation elsewhere. Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the two-factor structure (Positive, Negative) and showed good convergent and divergent validity with a related scale. Study 2 tested whether psychological factors (Big Five personality traits, corporate distrust, and general trust) predicted attitudes towards AI. Introverts had more positive attitudes towards AI overall, likely because of algorithm appreciation. Conscientiousness and agreeableness were associated with forgiving attitudes towards negative aspects of AI. Higher corporate distrust led to negative attitudes towards AI overall, while higher general trust led to positive views of the benefits of AI. The dissociation between general trust and corporate distrust may reflect the public’s attributions of the benefits and drawbacks of AI. Results are discussed in relation to theory and prior findings.
Mechanism of a Herbal Formula Associated with Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in LIHC: Transcriptomics Analysis and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Background The aim of this study is to explore the interactions between effective monomers of herbal formulas and their therapeutic targets using systems biology approaches which may be a promising approach to unraveling their underlying mechanisms. Shentao Ruangan decoction (STRGD), which has been experimentally, clinically demonstrated to be effective in treating liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), was selected. Methods Bioactive ingredients and drug targets of STRGD were retrieved from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform and BATMAN-TCM databases. LIHC-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and key modules were identified by a weighted gene coexpression network analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas data. The Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to investigate the relationship between STRGD tumor targets and patients survival. The CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm was used to analyze the correlation between STRGD tumor targets and infiltrating immune cells. Enrichment analysis was used to analyze biological functions. Interactions between STRGD compounds and LIHC-immune-related genes were investigated using molecular docking and MDS. Results We identified 24 STRGD tumor targets, which were found to be correlated with survival and the level of immune cell infiltration in LIHC patients. Immune infiltration, gene set enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses highlighted the roles of T and B cell subsets, which were both related to activator protein 1 (AP1), in STRGD action. Docking studies and HPLC indicated that tanshinone IIA is the main compound of STRGD in LIHC treatment, and MDS showed that the potential LIHC-immune-related targets 1FOS and 1JUN firmly bind to tanshinone IIA. Conclusions The mechanisms of STRGD in improving the immune and survival status of LIHC patients include interactions between STRGD compounds and LIHC-immune-related targets. The findings of this study can guide research studies on the potential usefulness of tanshinone IIA in the development of drugs targeting 1JUN and 1FOS for the treatment of LIHC.
IL-1R8 as Pathoimmunological Marker for Severity of Canine Chronic Enteropathy

Chronic enteropathy (CE) is a severe multifactorial gastrointestinal disease that affects dogs and is driven by poorly characterized inflammatory pathways. Imbalance of pro-inflammatory response regulators, including IL-1R8, may be due to different factors, among which the infection with Helicobacteraceae is known to lead to a vicious circle in which excessive pro-inflammatory signaling and gastrointestinal injury reinforce each other and boost the disease. We investigated the expression of IL-1R8 in large intestine biopsies of dogs with or without clinical signs of CE and with previously assessed enterohepatic Helicobacter spp. colonization status by mean of quantitative real-time PCR. Our study revealed that IL-1R8 is downregulated in both acutely (p = 0.0074) and chronically (p = 0.0159) CE affected dogs compared to healthy controls. The data also showed that IL-1R8 expression tends to decrease with colonization by Helicobacter spp. Interestingly, a negative correlation was detected between the level of expression of IL-1R8 and the severity of macroscopic lesions identified by endoscopy and the crypt hyperplasia score. We further compared the expression levels between males and females and found no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No significant difference was observed in IL-1R8 expression profiles with the age of the animals either. Interestingly, an association was uncovered between IL-1R8 expression level and dog breed. Together, our data advance knowledge on gastrointestinal pathoimmunology in dogs and highlight the potential utilization of IL-1R8 as a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarker for canine chronic enteropathy.
The effect of gillnet twine thickness on catching efficiency and selectivity for common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) fishery in Marmara Lake

The effects of multifilament gillnet twine thickness on selectivity and catching efficiency for the common carp fishery were investigated in this study. Sampling was carried out with multifilament gillnets of two different twine thicknesses (with 210d/2 and 210d/3) on 140, 150, 160, 180, 200 mm mesh sizes between June 2015 and December 2016 in Marmara Lake, located in Western Turkey. Higher modal lengths and lower catch per unit effort (CPUE) values and lower sub-minimum landing size (MLS) individuals rate (excluding 180 and 200 mm mesh sizes) were obtained in the thick multifilament material (210d/3) with the same mesh size compared to thin material (210d/2). All mesh sizes in both twine thickness provided modal lengths above the MLS. However, the thin twine material had a higher nominal percentage of undersized fish (8%), greater than the 5% accepted limit for total catches when all mesh sizes are considered together. As a result, the modal lengths and spread values increased and the selectivity and catching efficiency decreased with the thicker twine material.