Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Digitalization on the Quality of Service and Customer Loyalty

This research aims to measure the effect of digitalization on service quality through the SERVQUAL model (tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy) and customer loyalty. Also, we analyze the relationship between customer loyalty and their demographics. A quantitative method was used to achieve the objectives through a structured questionnaire, where part of the research sample was 400 clients of Kosovo banks. Results show that digitalization positively affects service quality and customer loyalty based on the OLS model. According to the T-test, there was no significant difference in customer loyalty between the genders. There has been a significant difference in loyalty between clients’ ages following the one-way ANOVA test. According to the Kruskal Wallis test, it also resulted in a significant difference between levels of education. This study will provide banks with feedback on the importance of digitalization and its correlation with their customers’ quality of service and loyalty. In this form, they decide to make even greater investments in digitalization by satisfying customer demands and creating loyal customers. Doi: 10.28991ESJ-2022-06-06-04 Full Text: PDF
Berberine: An Important Emphasis on Its Anticancer Effects through Modulation of Various Cell Signaling Pathways

Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of disease and a major cause of death worldwide. Despite advancement in various treatment modules, there has been little improvement in survival rates and side effects associated with this disease. Medicinal plants or their bioactive compounds have been extensively studied for their anticancer potential. Novel drugs based on natural products are urgently needed to manage cancer through attenuation of different cell signaling pathways. In this regard, berberine is a bioactive alkaloid that is found in variety of plants, and an inverse association has been revealed between its consumption and cancer. Berberine exhibits an anticancer role through scavenging free radicals, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis, inflammation, PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Wnt/β-catenin, and the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. In addition, synergistic effects of berberine with anticancer drugs or natural compounds have been proven in several cancers. This review outlines the anticancer effects and mechanisms of action of berberine in different cancers through modulation of various cell signaling pathways. Moreover, the recent developments in the drug delivery systems and synergistic effect of berberine are explained.
Political socialization and legitimation of radical actions in adolescents: evidence from Chile (Socialización política y legitimación de acciones radicales en adolescentes: evidencia desde Chile)

ABSTRACT Can exposure to mass events with the presence of radical actions influence the legitimation of this type of protest in adolescents? How are changes in legitimation levels conditioned by socioeconomic status or by political socialization at home and school? To answer these questions, we used a sample of 1,203 students in their second year of secondary school in Chile who were surveyed as part of the School Citizenship Panel (Panel de Ciudadanía Escolar, PACES). In the middle of fieldwork in this study, the event known as the estallido social (‘social outburst’) stood out for its mass and presence of violence. We compare the students surveyed before and after this event. Contrary to our expectations, the students had similar levels of legitimation of radical actions before and after the estallido. We also found a trend towards moderation in students with a higher socioeconomic status, who had more frequent political conversations with their parents, and in students from schools that conduct civic education activities. In short, experiences of family and school political socialization can help lower an adolescent’s support of radical actions in radicalized contexts.
A Luciferase Mutant with Improved Brightness and Stability for Whole-Cell Bioluminescent Biosensors and In Vitro Biosensing

The availability of new bioluminescent proteins with tuned properties, both in terms of emission wavelength, kinetics and protein stability, is highly valuable in the bioanalytical field, with the potential to improve the sensitivity and analytical performance of the currently used methods for ATP detection, whole-cell biosensors, and viability assays among others. We present a new luciferase mutant, called BgLuc, suitable for developing whole-cell biosensors and in vitro biosensors characterized by a bioluminescence maximum of 548 nm, narrow emission bandwidth, favorable kinetic properties, and excellent pH- and thermo-stabilities at 37 and 45 °C and pH from 5.0 to 8.0. We assessed the suitability of this new luciferase for whole-cell biosensing with a cell-based bioreporter assay for Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signal transduction pathway using 2D and 3D human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells, and for ATP detection with the purified enzyme. In both cases the luciferase showed suitable for sensitive detection of the target analytes, with better or similar performance than the commercial counterparts.
Discovering Future Earnings Patterns through FP-Growth and ECLAT Algorithms with Optimized Discretization

Future earnings indicate whether the trend of earnings is increasing or decreasing in the future of a business. It is beneficial to investors and users in the analysis and planning of investments. Consequently, this study aimed to identify future earnings patterns from financial statements on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. We proposed a novel approach based on FP-Growth and ECLAT algorithms with optimized discretization to identify associated future earnings patterns. The patterns are easy to use and interpret for the co-occurrence of associated future earnings patterns that differ from other studies that have only predicted earnings or analyzed the earnings factor from accounting descriptors. We found four strongly associated increases in earnings patterns and nine strongly associated decreases. Moreover, we also established ten accounting descriptors related to earnings: 1) %∆ in long-term debt, 2) %∆ in debt-to-equity ratio, 3) %∆ in depreciation/plant assets, 4) %∆ in operating income/total assets, 5) %∆ in working capital/total assets, 6) debt-to-equity ratio, 7) issuance of long-term debt as a percentage of total long-term debt, 8) long-term debt to equity, 9) repayment of long-term debt as a percentage of total long-term debt, and 10) return on closing equity. Doi: 10.28991ESJ-2022-06-06-07 Full Text: PDF
Combined Dietary Education and High-Intensity Interval Resistance Training Improve Health Outcomes in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Reducing cardiovascular risk through lifestyle changes that include a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise is recommended in the rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We pilot-tested the effectiveness of a dietary-education and high-intensity interval resistance training (DE–HIIRT) program on healthy food choices and associated anthropometric variables in patients with established CAD. Methods: A total of 22 participants, aged 60.0 ± 7.2 years, were enrolled in the study. Over 3 months, under the guidance and supervision of a physiotherapist, participants performed the resistance exercises 2×/week in a group setting (cohort of 11). Participants additionally attended three sessions of dietary education led by a dietician. Participants demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of dietary education by picking heart-healthy foods by reading food labels. Outcomes included change in diet (measured using the tricipital skinfold thickness Mediterranean Diet Adherence questionnaire (MEDAS-14) and the Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FCFQ)) and anthropometric measurements (body composition, body circumference, and tricipital skinfold thickness). A paired t-test was performed to analyze the differences between the baseline and post-intervention results. Results: Participants significantly increased their consumption of vegetables (p = 0.04) and lowered their consumption of sweet snacks (p = 0.007), pastries (p = 0.02), and processed food (p = 0.05). Significant improvements in body mass index (p = 0.001), waist circumference (p = 0.0001), hip circumference (p = 0.04), and body fat (p = 0.0001) were also achieved. Conclusion: Making lifestyle changes that include both diet and exercise is essential in the management of CAD. The HIIRT program combined with dietary changes shows promise in achieving weight-loss goals in this population and needs to be further investigated with appropriate study designs.
Achieving entrepreneurial intention through entrepreneurial orientation, social network ties, and market intelligence generation perspectives

Entrepreneurial orientation (ENO), social network ties (SOT) and market intelligence generation (MIT) are independently modeled as distinct antecedents of entrepreneurial intention (EIN). However, the intervening variables for such models are typically under-explored in their applicability to university students in sub-Saharan Africa. Accordingly, drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the present study argues that ENO impacts EIN, primarily explained by SOT and MIT. Using cross-sectional data gathered from university students in Ghana, a sub-Saharan African country, our findings reveal that ENO has both direct and indirect relationships with EIN. Thus, this relationship is mainly mediated when students build and develop social network ties (SOT) instead of gathering marketing intelligence (MIT).
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface Assisted Space-Time Line Code for SIMO Transmission

In this contribution, we investigate reconfigurable intelligent surface assisted space-time line code (RIS-STLC) transmission for enhancing the signal quality when the direct link between the transmitter and receiver is blocked. In the context of intelligent transmission by RIS, the concept of index modulation (IM) is integrated into the pursuit of higher spectral efficiency, while a two-step detection is developed to improve the performance. Correspondingly, for blind transmission where the channel information at RIS is not available, the phase at RIS not associated with the channel is considered. Subsequently, the bit-error-rate (BER) performances of the proposed RIS-STLC system conditioned on both the intelligent and blind transmission are quantified. Theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the development of RIS-STLC.
Odor Profile of Four Cultivated and Freeze-Dried Edible Mushrooms by Using Sensory Panel, Electronic Nose and GC-MS

Cultivated mushrooms are well-known nutrient inputs for an equilibrated diet. Some species are broadly appreciated due to their medicinal properties. Lately, a number of novel foods and nutraceuticals based on dehydrated and freeze-dried powder obtained from cultivated mushrooms has been reaching the market. The food industry requires fast and reliable tools to prevent fraud. In this, work we have cultivated Agaricus bisporus sp. bisporus (AB) (white button mushroom), Agaricus bisporus sp. brunnescens (ABP) (portobello), Lentinula edodes (LE) (shiitake) and Grifola frondosa (GF) (maitake) using tailor-made substrates for the different species and standardized cropping conditions, which were individually freeze-dried to obtain the samples under evaluation. The aim of this article was to validate the use of two different methodologies, namely, electronic nose and sensory panel, to discriminate the olfactory profile of nutritional products based on freeze-dried mushrooms from the different cultivated species. Additionally, GC-MS was used to detect and quantify the most abundant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the samples. The multivariate analysis performed proved the utility of electronic nose as an analytical tool, which was similar to the classical sensory panel but faster in distinguishing among the different species, with one limitation it being unable to differentiate between the same species. GC-MS analysis showed the chemical volatile formulation of the samples, also showing significant differences between different samples but high similarities between varieties of the same cultivated species. The techniques employed can be used to prevent fraud and have the potential to evaluate further medicinal mushroom species and build solid and trustful connections between these novel food products and potential consumers.
Numerical Study on Laminar Drag Reduction for Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Continuous V-Shaped Microstructures

Superhydrophobic surfaces have attracted great attention owing to their capacity of reducing fluid resistance. Most of the previous numerical simulations on drag reduction of the superhydrophobic surfaces have concentrated on the rectangular microstructures, whereas few studies have focused on the continuous V-shaped microstructures. Based on the gas–liquid two-phase flow theory and volume-of-field model, combined with the semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations algorithm, the effects of laminar drag reduction for superhydrophobic surfaces with continuous V-shaped microstructures were numerically studied. Three different sizes of superhydrophobic microchannels with continuous V-shapes were simulated according to the experimental data. Results showed that the drag reduction effects of continuous V-shaped microstructures were mainly determined by the width of adjacent microstructures, with the height of the microstructures only having minimal influence. At the same time, the effects of drag reduction for superhydrophobic surfaces with continuous V-shaped microstructures were compared with those with V-shaped and rectangular microstructures. The results indicated that the effects of drag reduction for superhydrophobic surfaces with continuous V-shaped microstructures were obviously better than for those with V-shaped microstructures, whereas the superhydrophobic surfaces with rectangular microstructures were more effective in reducing their drag than those with V-shaped microstructures under the condition of the same shear-free air–water ratios. Therefore, in the preparation of superhydrophobic materials, the continuous V-shaped microstructures are recommended; in addition, increasing the microstructure width should be emphasized in the preparation of superhydrophobic materials with continuous V-shaped microstructures.
VERITAS observation of Markarian 421 flaring activity

Markarian 421 is one of the brightest BL-Lac objects in gamma-rays in the northern hemisphere. Because of its brightness, the source has been the focus of several coordinated multi-wavelength (MWL) campaigns designed to study the physical processes responsible for the non-thermal continuum emission. The blazar monitoring program of VERITAS recently received a ToO during a strong flaring event by Markarian 421 in February 2010. The source was seen at flux level of approximately 8 Crab units and exhibited spectral evolution and variability features. A multi-wavelength campaign with other MWL partners was udndertaken. Results on past and recent flaring events are presented.
Laminar Heat Transfer Around Blunt Bodies in Dissociated Air

S = Eq. (8) T = absolute temoerature u = x-component of velocity v = y component of velocity x = distance along meridian profile of body y = distance normal to body surface V = Eq. (6) 0 = Eq. (8) \x = absolute viscosity * = Eq. (5) p = mass density a = Prandtl Number cpfx/k A method of predicting laminar heat-transfer rates to blunt, highly cooled bodies with constant wall temperature in dissociated air flow is developed. Attention is restricted to the case of axisymmetric bodies at zero incidence, although two-dimensional bodies could be treated the same way. The method is based on the use of the "local similarity" concept and an extension of the ideas used by Fay and Riddell. A simple formula is given for predicting the ratio of local heat-transfer rate to stagnation-point rate. It depends on wall conditions and pressure distribution, but not on the thermodynamic or transport properties of the hot external flow, except at the stagnation point. Experimental heat-transfer rates obtained with correct stagnation-point simulation and high wall cooling in shock tubes are also presented and compared with the theoretical predictions. On the whole, the agreement is good, although in regions of rapidly varying pressure there is evidence that the local similarity assumption breaks down, and the theory underestimates the actual heat-transfer rate by up to 25 per cent.
Correlation between Olive Oil Intake and Gut Microbiota in Colorectal Cancer Prevention

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet with its excellent balance of fats and antioxidant bioactive compounds. Both the phenolic and lipid fractions of EVOO contain a variety of antioxidant and anticancer substances which might protect from the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The function of the intestinal microbiome is essential for the integrity of the intestinal epithelium, being protective against pathogens and maintaining immunity. Indeed, dysbiosis of the microbiota alters the physiological functions of the organ, leading to the onset of different diseases including CRC. It is known that some factors, including diet, could deeply influence and modulate the colon microenvironment. Although coming from animal models, there is increasing evidence that a diet rich in EVOO is linked to a significant reduction in the diversity of gut microbiome (GM), causing a switch from predominant bacteria to a more protective group of bacteria. The potential beneficial effect of the EVOO compounds in the carcinogenesis of CRC is only partially known and further trials are needed in order to clarify this issue. With this narrative review, we aim at discussing the available evidence on the effect of olive oil consumption on GM in the prevention of CRC.
Association of Fundus Autofluorescence Abnormalities and Pachydrusen in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

A specific form of drusen, known as pachydrusen, has been demonstrated to be associated with pachychoroid eye diseases, such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). These pachydrusen have been found in up to 50% of eyes with CSC and PCV and may affect the disease progression and treatment response. This study aims to investigate the association between pachydrusen and changes in fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in eyes with CSC and PCV. A total of 65 CSC patients and 32 PCV patients were evaluated. Pachydrusen were detected using both color fundus photography and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The relationships between pachydrusen and FAF changes were then investigated. The prevalence of pachydrusen in CSC and PCV eyes was 16.7% and 61.8%, respectively. The mean age of patients with pachydrusen was significantly older than those without pachydrusen (CSC: 56.3 vs. 45.0 years, p < 0.001; PCV: 68.8 vs. 59.5 years, p < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the mean subfoveal choroidal thickness between eyes with or without pachydrusen. Eyes with pachydrusen were significantly associated with more extensive FAF changes in both CSC and PCV (p < 0.001 and p = 0.037, respectively). The study demonstrated that pachydrusen are more prevalent in PCV than CSC. Increasing age and more extensive abnormalities in FAF are associated with the presence of pachydrusen, suggesting that dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelial cells is associated with pachydrusen.
Innovative Work Behavior Shaped by Learning Organization and Employee Engagement as Mediating Variable: A Case Study on Manufacturing Corporation

: This study aimed to examine and analyze the innovative work behavior formed by learning organization and employee engagement in manufacturing companies in Indonesia. The study also aimed to examine the mediating effect of employee engagement. The survey was conducted on 254 employee learners who work in automotive manufacturing companies in Indonesia. The data were analyzed by using the structural equation modeling technique (Structural Equation Modeling) using the AMOS program. The results show that learning organization has a positive direct or indirect effect on innovative work behavior. More interestingly, employee engagement partially mediates the relationship between organizational learning and innovative work behavior. This study contributes to the growing literature on how Human Resources managers in manufacturing companies promote innovative work behavior among their employees through learning organization and by strengthening employee engagement. The findings of this study can contribute to the literature on Human Resource Management in manufacturing companies, especially in Indonesia.
Combined intense pulsed light and low-level light therapy for the treatment of refractory Meibomian gland dysfunction

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of combined Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) in treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Methods and Analysis In this prospective study, 70 patients with refractory MGD were enrolled; group 1 received 3 consecutive sessions of IPL + LLLT treatment using Eye-light® on day 1, day 15 and day 45; group 2 received hyaluronate sodium 2 mg/ml drops 3 times a day for 6 months. Patients underwent at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE), tear-film breakup time (TBUT), fluorescein ocular surface staining, meibum expressibility and quality evaluations. Keratograph 5M (Oculus, Germany) was used to assess NIBUT, tear meniscus height (TMH), meibography, and bulbar redness score. Results At 6 months a significant improvement of OSDI (p = 0.03), SANDE (p = 0.02), NIBUT (p = p < 0.0001), TMH (p = 0.04), TBUT (p = 0.02), corneal-conjunctival staining score (p = 0.02), lid margin score (p < 0.0001), and bulbar redness score (p = 0.001) were recorded in group 1. Comparing the two groups, statistically significant differences were observed at 6 months in TBUT (p = 0.03), lid margin score (p < 0.001), Meibum expressibility (p = 0.03) and NIBUT (p < 0.001). No adverse events were recorded throughout the follow-up period. Conclusion This study confirmed the efficacy and safety of combined IPL and LLLT demonstrating its superiority compared to topical treatment.
Scaling Limit, Noise, Stability

Linear functions of many independent random variables lead to classical noises (white, Poisson, and their combinations) in the scaling limit. Some singular stochastic flows and some models of oriented percolation involve very nonlinear functions and lead to nonclassical noises. Two examples are examined, Warren's `noise made by a Poisson snake' and the author's `Brownian web as a black noise'. Classical noises are stable, nonclassical are not. A new framework for the scaling limit is proposed. Old and new results are presented about noises, stability, and spectral measures.