Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Firm Characteristic on Capital Structure Can Improve Technology Improvement in Malaysian Manufacturing SMEs?

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is a important contribution to boost the economies overall the world. In fact, SMEs always struggle to access the financing compared list company. There are several factors influence the capital structure decision in SMEs. This study focuses on manufacturing SMEs companies and examines the influence of firm characteristics (firm size, tangible asset, liquidity, profitability and firm growth) on capital structure towards technology improvement. The results showed only liquidity and firm growth were found to be positive significantly affect the external financing. Furthermore, internal and external financing also able improve the manufacturing’s technology performance. Conclusion, different firm characteristics have different leverage privileges which trying to attain optimal capital structure. The variations in the capital structures affect the costs of equity or debt and cost of capital. This study provides benchmarks for corporate managers in SMEs when making a company’s decision on the company’s performance.
Improving Pilot/Air Traffic Control Voice Communication in General Aviation

The influence of the air traffic control (ATC) message format and message length was investigated on the ability of general aviation pilots to read back ATC instructions. While flying a simulator, 12 pilots heard altitude and radio frequency instructions spoken in grouped format ("forty-one-hundred"), and 12 heard them sequentially ("four-thousand-one-hundred"). Only limited evidence was found that grouped message format improved pilot memory. Specifically, pilots who received altitude and radio frequency instructions in the grouped, rather than the sequential, format produced fewer requests for clarification, especially for longer messages. Pilots were also more likely to read back the grouped instructions in sequential format, suggesting that prior experience with the sequential format influenced pilot communication involving the relatively novel grouped format in this study.
On-Match Impact and Outcomes of Scoring First in Professional European Female Football

Background: Scoring first seems to be a determinant in professional football playing; several factors could influence the development of the match and the outcome. This study aimed to identify which factors could influence scoring first and impact match outcomes in professional European female football. Methods: There were 504 official matches held on 74 match days during the 2018–2019 professional female European football seasons (Primera Iberdrola, D1 Féminine, and Frauen-Bundesliga), analysed using a notational and inferential assessment. Results: There was a direct positive relationship (p < 0.05) between scoring first and winning the match; 75.9% of the winning teams scored first. Moreover, those teams that usually scored first had a better final league classification (p < 0.05). These relationships were not influenced by home or away conditions. Conclusions: Scoring first is a determinant in the outcomes of professional European female football matches. Physical and tactical training and programming should focus on those variables, leading female teams to score first.
Potential causes of Acaricide Resistance in Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Namwala District, Zambia

Acaricide resistance in ticks poses a great threat to livestock production in many parts of the world where ticks are a problem. The objectives of this study were to screen for acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma ticks using phenotypic and molecular assays, and to assess current tick control practices used by cattle farmers in the traditional sector of Namwala District. The larval packet test was used to screen for acaricide resistance in ticks covering concentrations up to twice the discriminatory dose for amitraz, diazinon and cypermethrin. Genetic mutations associated with resistance to amitraz (A22C-T8P and T65C-L22S), and organophosphates/ pyrethroids (G1120A) were screened using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Information on tick control practices at the household level was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Intermediate resistance (21-50%) to amitraz and cypermethrin was detected in both Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma ticks, with both tick genera showing susceptibility to diazinon (<10%). None of the ticks in this study had the reported acaricide resistance-conferring molecular markers that were screened for. The findings suggest that the resistance detected in the studied tick population may be due to other mechanisms that are yet to be identified. Tick control practices observed amongst the farmers, such as incorrect use of acaricide concentrations and rotations could be fuelling the development of acaricide resistance. It is critical to comprehensively unravel the factors that could be contributing to acaricide treatment failure as this would allow for application of appropriate remedial actions for effective tick control in Zambia.
Self-management Behavior Interventions for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is chronic diseases with serious complications and reduces the quality of life of patients. Evidence based strategies to enhance diabetes self-management may prevent complications and enhance the quality of life for patients is needed. AIM: This study to summarize the types of intervention strategies used to enhance diabetes self-management behaviors in adult individuals type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHOD: This study was used Literature review randomized controlled trials study. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library data base were used. Jadad scale checklist was used to evaluate quality appraisal included in the study. RESULTS: Twenty-six randomized controlled trials studies were included in this review. Overall, quality of the studies was high-quality. Varied interventions included studies at different countries were found to enhance diabetes self-management behaviors in T2DM patients. In addition, almost type interventions were reported a significant enhancement diabetes self-management behaviors especially in adults with type 2 diabetes patients. CONCLUSION: Varied self-management behavior interventions in diabetes mellitus. This review suggested for investigate best intervention to enhance diabetes self-management behaviors in different cultural for best outcomes.
Developing effective managers

With the advent of the single European market and rapidly increasing international competition there has never been a more pressing time in the history of British manufacturing industry for managers to sharpen their skills. The author recently visited the GEC Management College, Dunchurch, to see how one of Britain's leading engineering companies tackles the task of initially educating and then reskilling their own and other companies' engineering managers. >
Comparative Study of Efficacy and Safety of Microneedling with Topical Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma Versus Microneedling Alone in Facial Atrophic Acne Scars

Introduction: Atrophic acne scars are dermal depressions resulting from destruction of collagen after inflammatory acne which can lead to poor self-image and treating them can help improve patients’ self-esteem. Objectives: This study compared the efficacy and safety of combination of microneedling using dermaroller with topical application of autologous platelet rich plasma versus microneedling using dermaroller alone in facial atrophic acne scars. Methods: Patients with atrophic acne scars were randomized into 2 groups of 20 patients each and treated with either dermaroller alone or with a combination of dermaroller and topical application of autologous PRP at 4 weeks intervals for 16 weeks. Final response was evaluated at 4 weeks after the last sitting. Goodman and Baron’s qualitative acne scarring grading system, Goodman and Baron’s quantitative acne scar grading system, physician’s global assessment (PGA) and visual analogue scale were used to evaluate the treatment outcome in both the groups. Side effects were also noted at each visit. Results: At the end of treatment, improvement in Goodman and Baron’s qualitative acne scar grades, decrease in mean Goodman and Baron’s quantitative acne scar scores, percentage decrease in mean Goodman and Baron’s quantitative acne scar scores, physician global assessment and visual analogue scale were significantly higher in patients treated with dermaroller in combination with topical autologous PRP as compared to patients treated with dermaroller alone without much adverse effects. Conclusion: The combination approach using dermaroller and PRP was a better treatment option compared to dermaroller alone in atrophic acne scars with similar safety profile.
Crack Sealing in Flexible Pavements: A Life-Cycle Cost Analysis

Pavement cracks are usually sealed to prevent water from entering base course layers. Experience suggests that water in pavement layers hastens pavement deterioration and, therefore, increases rehabilitation costs. Initially the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO), Canada, had limited success in sealing cracks because inappropriate materials and installation procedures were used. This setback during the initial stages of development in crack sealing raised questions about the effectiveness of crack sealing in reducing the rate of pavement deterioration. In the 1970s and 1980s MTO carried out several field studies to develop an effective crack sealing procedure and to study the influence of crack sealing on pavement distress and performance. The cost-effectiveness of this treatment was investigated as well. The results of the studies indicate that sealing cracks is a viable and cost-effective preventive maintenance treatment and can extend the service life of asphalt pavements by at least 2 years. However, for optimum benefits the crack sealing program must be implemented according to guidelines proposed. The guidelines provide a basis for the selection of suitable pavements and cracks, sealant materials, and application procedures.
Accurate simulation of GaAs MESFET's intermodulation distortion using a new drain-source current model

An accurate characterization of the nonlinear distortion caused by the Ids(Vgs,Vds) current in a MESFET, does not allow the common approach of splitting this nonlinear equivalent circuit element in two voltage dependent nonlinear current sources, Gm(Vgs) and Gds(Vds). By an improved laboratory characterization procedure, it was possible to extract the cross terms of the Ids(Vgs,Vds) Taylor series expansion. Measurements and Volterra series simulations, made at 2 GHz, have shown that they can give an important contribution to the prediction and understanding of MESFET's intermodulation load-pull behavior. >
High-power high-frequency traveling-wave heterojunction phototransistors with integrated polyimide waveguide

A high-power high-speed phototransistor has been demonstrated using a traveling-wave (TW) structure with an integrated polyimide optical waveguide. In our configuration, optical power transfer is distributed along the length of the device via leaky mode coupling of light from the polyimide waveguide to the active region of the phototransistor. The TW electrode design allows for an electrically long structure while maintaining high bandwidths. Due to the increased absorption volume, the optical power handling capabilities of the TW-heterojunction phototransistors (TW-HPT's) are improved over that of conventional lumped-element HPT detectors. The experimental results show no saturation of the fundamental at 60 GHz up to 50 mA of DC photocurrent.
Characterization of thermal and frequency-dispersion effects in GaAs MESFET devices

New simple and accurate measurement procedures that enable the dispersion and thermal effects in GaAs MESFETs to be observed independently are presented in this paper. The results indicate that the differences observed between the static and pulsed characteristics of the device are not solely due to thermal effects, as is sometimes thought. Electrical and thermal measurements also show the GaAs MESFET to take a relatively long time before the effect of self-heating manifests itself on the IV characteristics of the device.
Novel clinical biomarkers in blood and pleural effusion for diagnosing patients with tuberculosis distinguishing from malignant tumor

Pleural effusion (PE) is a common manifestation of tuberculosis (TB) and malignant tumors but tuberculous PE (TPE) is difficult to distinguish from malignant PE (MPE), especially by noninvasive detection indicators. This study aimed to find effective detection indices in blood and PE for differentiating TB from a malignant tumor. A total of 815 patients who were diagnosed with TB or cancer in Hubei Shiyan Taihe Hospital from 2014 to 2017 were collected. Amongst them, 717 were found to have PE by thoracoscopy. Clinical characteristics, patients’ blood parameters and PE indicator information were summarized for analysis. Patients with MPE had higher percentages to be bloody and negative of Rivalta test in PE than those with TPE. For clinical indicators, comparison of the specific parameters in blood showed that 18 indicators were higher in the TPE group than in the MPE group. By contrast, 12 indicators were higher in the MPE group than in the TPE group (P < .01). In addition, in PE tests, 3 parameters were higher in the TPE group, whereas other 4 parameters were higher in the MPE group (P < .01). Then, for clinical diagnosing practice, ROC analysis and principal component analysis were applied. The top 6 relevant indicators with area under curve over 0.70 were screened out as follows: hydrothorax adenosine dehydrogenase (pADA, 0.90), hydrothorax high-sensitivity C reactive protein (0.79), percentage of blood monocyte (sMONp, 0.75), blood high-sensitivity C reactive protein (sHsCRP, 0.73), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (0.71) and blood D-dimer (0.70). Moreover, logistic regression model revealed that a specific combination of 3 biomarkers, namely, pADA, sMONp and sHsCRP, could enhance the distinguishment of TB from malignant tumor with PE (area under curve = 0.944, 95% confidence interval = 0.925–0.964). The diagnostic function of the top single marker pADA in patients from different groups was analyzed and it was found to maintain high specificity and sensitivity. The 6 indicators, namely, pADA, hydrothorax high-sensitivity C reactive protein, sMONp, sHsCRP, sESR and blood D-dimer, showed significant diagnostic value for clinicians. Further, the combination of pADA, sMONp and sHsCRP has high accuracy for differential diagnosis for the first time. Most interestingly, the single marker pADA maintained high specificity and sensitivity in patients with different statuses and thus has great value for rapid and accurate diagnosis of suspected cases.
A dilemma for management of third fragment of shaft femur fracture with closed intramedullary nailing: A retrospective study

Background: Aim of this study was to report the union rate of fracture shaft femur with third fragments after closed intramedullary nailing. Methods: Sixty patients were analyzed retrospectively, AO/ASIF classification was done. Fractures were treated with closed intramedullary nail. Followed up in OPD until fracture united. Results: Mean union time was 30 weeks which is longer than average time period for union of shaft femur fracture. There were two cases of non-union. Conclusion: Use of closed intramedullary nail technique for treatment of shaft femur fracture with third fragments has predictable union rate and union of bone is related to the displacement of third fragments and irrespective of size of fragment.
Biocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of (S)-1-indanol using Lactobacillus paracasei BD71

Abstract Enantiopure benzo-fused cyclic alcohols have been used as a building block of a drug for Parkinson’s disease. Biocatalytic reduction of ketones is one of the most promising and significant routes to prepare optically active alcohols. In this study, the reductive capacity of seven lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were investigated as whole-cell biocatalyst in the enantioselective reduction of 1-indanone (1). Lactobacillus paracasei BD71 was found to have the best reductive capacity. Effects of different parameters such as pH, incubation time, agitation speed and temperature, on enantiomeric excess (ee) and conversion were investigated in a bioconversion. (S)-1-indanol ((S)-2) could be used as precursor for the synthesis of rasagiline mesylate TVP1012 for the therapy of Parkinson’s illness. It was produced in gram-scale (5.24 g), high yield (93%) and enantiomerically pure form using L. paracasei BD71 whole-cell biocatalysts. Also, to our knowledge, this is the first report on production of (S)-2 using whole-cell catalyst in enantiopure form, excellent yield, conversion and gram scale. This is a cheap, clean and eco-friendly process for production of (S)-2 compared to chemical processes.
Three-dimensional effects on cracked discs and plates under nominal Mode III loading

The existence of three-dimensional effects at cracks has been known for many years, but understanding has been limited, and for some situations still is. Understanding improved when the existence of corner point singularities and their implications became known. Increasingly powerful computers made it possible to investigate three-dimensional effects numerically in detail. Despite increased understanding, threedimensional effects are sometimes ignored in situations where they may be important. The purpose of the present contribution is to review the study carried out by the same authors in some recent investigations, in which a coupled fracture mode generated by anti-plane loading of a straight through-the-thickness crack in linear elastic discs and plates has been analysed by means of accurate 3D finite element (FE) models. The results obtained from the highly accurate finite element analyses have improved understanding of the behaviour of through cracked components under anti-plane loading. The influence of plate bending is increasingly important as the thickness decreases. It appears that a new field parameter, probably a singularity, is needed to describe the stresses at the free surfaces. Discussion on whether KIII tends to zero or infinity as a corner point is approached is futile because KIII is meaningless at a corner point. The intensity of the local stress and strain state through the thickness of the cracked components has been evaluated by using the strain energy density (SED) averaged over a control volume embracing the crack tip. The SED has been considered as a parameter able to control fracture in some previous contributions and can easily take into account also coupled three-dimensional effects. Calculation of the SED shows that the position of the maximum SED in the discs case is a function of the thickness. In the plates case instead the position of the maximum SED is independent of plate thickness, contrary to disc results.
Changes in sward structure, plant morphology and growth of perennial ryegrass–white clover swards over winter

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is at a disadvantage to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG) due to its limited cold tolerance and low growth rates at colder temperatures, which can affect subsequent spring herbage dry matter (DM) availability. The effect of PRG ploidy on white clover morphology and growth over winter, and its subsequent recovery in spring and the following growing season, is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of white clover inclusion and PRG ploidy on sward structure, plant morphology and growth of PRG–white clover swards over winter. Four swards (diploid PRG only, tetraploid PRG only, diploid PRG–white clover and tetraploid PRG–white clover) were evaluated over a full winter period (November–February) at a farmlet scale. The PRG ploidy had no effect on herbage DM production, white clover content or tissue turnover (P > 0.05) over winter. However, white clover inclusion caused a significant decrease in herbage DM production (P < 0.001; −254 kg DM/ha) and tiller density (P < 0.001; −1,953 tillers/m2) over winter. Stolon mass was not affected by PRG ploidy (P > 0.05); however, stolon length and number of leaves per stolon were affected by PRG ploidy (P < 0.05). Including white clover in PRG swards can alter winter sward dynamics, potentially causing difficulties in subsequent spring management and performance due to the reduced over-winter growth rate when compared with PRG.
Gender Differences in the Dimensional Structure of Apparel Shopping Satisfaction Among Korean Consumers: The Role of Hedonic Shopping Value

The moderating role of hedonic shopping value in conjunction with gender differences in apparel shopping satisfaction was investigated. Involvement, variety seeking, and physical environment of stores were selected as antecedents of shopping experience satisfaction. Respondents were 746 Korean undergraduate university students. To test the hypothesized structural model, structural equation modeling was utilized. The structural model for female subjects confirmed the existence of the mediating role of hedonic shopping value in shopping satisfaction, whereas the model for male respondents did not. For the female group, involvement and variety seeking influenced shopping experience satisfaction directly through hedonic shopping value. For the male group, hedonic shopping value did not play a role as an intervening variable. Male respondents’ levels of hedonic shopping value may have been too low to serve as an intervening determinant. This result implies that male respondents may possess greater utilitarian constructs for apparel shopping satisfaction rather than hedonic constructs.
Exploring the Diversity and Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degrading Potential of Epiphytic Fungi on Hornbeams from Chronically Polluted Areas

Plants can ‘catch’ and mitigate airborne pollutants and are assisted by fungi inhabiting their leaves. The structure and function of the fungal communities inhabiting the phyllosphere of hornbeam trees growing in two chronically polluted areas, the oilfield of Bóbrka and the city center of Warsaw, were compared to the ones growing in one nature reserve, the Białowieża National Park. Fungi were isolated and characterized both phylogenetically and functionally for their potential role in air pollution mitigation. Both culture-dependent (e.g., enzyme assays and tolerance tests) and culture-independent methods (e.g., ITS and shotgun sequencings) were used. Furthermore, the degradation potential of the fungi was assessed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Shotgun sequencing showed that the phyllosphere fungal communities were dominated by fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota. Aureobasidium was the only genus detected at the three locations with a relative abundance ≥1.0%. Among the cultivated epiphytic fungi from Bóbrka, Fusarium sporotrichioides AT11, Phoma herbarum AT15, and Lophiostoma sp. AT37 showed in vitro aromatic hydrocarbon degradation potential with laccase activities of 1.24, 3.62, and 7.2 μU L−1, respectively, and peroxidase enzymes with activities of 3.46, 2.28, and 7.49 μU L−1, respectively. Furthermore, Fusarium sporotrichioides AT11 and Phoma herbarum AT15 tolerated exposure to airborne naphthalene and benzene. Lophiostoma sp. AT37 was the most tolerant to exposure to these pollutants, in line with being the best potential aromatic hydrocarbon degrader isolated in this study.