Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxic effect of Aeruginosin-865, capsaicin, and resveratrol on mouse cell lines of different origin

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of three natural bioactive compounds (and their combinations) on normal vs. tumour-transformed mouse cells. The cytotoxic effect of Aeruginosin-865 (Aer), capsaicin (Cap), resveratrol (Res) and their combinations was evaluated on normal hepatocytes (AML) and tumour cells derived from livers (Hepa) and kidneys (Renca). Various concentrations from 25 to 200 μM of tested substances were used. Only the Aer + Res combination and a low concentration of Res had a significant cytotoxic effect on Hepa and Renca and no significant cytotoxic effect on AML. Cap had a significant cytotoxic effect on all tested cell lines, but tumour-derived cells showed higher resistance than AML. A significantly increased cytotoxicity was found in the combination of Cap + Res compared to each substance alone. All types of cells showed similar sensitivity to the cytotoxic effect of Cap + Res. Because of a possible hepatotoxic effect, we recommend further investigations into side-effects of Cap + Res. No cytotoxic effect was described in Cap + Aer or in Aer alone. Only substances with a significant cytotoxic effect on tumour cells and no cytotoxic effect on normal cells can be potentially used in anticancer treatment. According to the results, only Res or the combination of Aer + Res can be recommended for further evaluation in the process of new anticancer drug development. The potential hepatotoxic effect of Cap + Res can significantly limit the utilisation of these substances in anticancer treatment.
OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE USE OF ANONYMOUS CELL PHONE TRACKING FOR GENERATING TRAFFIC INFORMATION

This paper is an investigation of the use of anonymous tracking of cellular phones to generate traffic information on a road network. The E911 initiative mandated by the FCC presents the possibility that a traffic surveillance system based on the movements of cell phones could generate travel information for all roads in an urban street network. The effectiveness of a cell phone based traffic monitoring system depends on the interaction of several parameters including: the accuracy of the locations, the frequency with which location measurements are taken, and the number of locations available to support traffic monitoring in a given area. This research examined the effects of these parameters on the operation of a possible traffic monitoring system. Ranges of likely values were determined for the operating parameters based on the technologies being installed by the cellular telecommunications companies and combined into sets representing likely operating modes. For each operating mode, the effectiveness of a cell phone based traffic monitoring system was examined
Ground movements resulting from urban tunnelling: predictions and effects

Abstract The paper provides practical guidance for estimating the effects of ‘soft ground’ tunnelling in urban areas upon existing structures and services. Various empirical approaches to the definition of the surface settlement zone are summarized and the assessment of the magnitude and distribution of surface movements is compared with case history data. A tentative risk classification related to settlement and maximum slope criteria is proposed, which will allow rapid optimization of route adjustments and thereby identification of those buildings particularly at risk and requiring a more detailed assessment.
Opportunistic Infections and Associated Factors among HIV/AIDS Patients taking Ante-Retroviral Therapy at Selected Hospitals in Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study

Background Opportunistic infections are late complications of HIV infection is the depletion of the immune system. It is a major public health problem and high morbidity AIDS patients die of AIDS-related infections in developing countries like Ethiopia. Identification of opportunistic infections (OIs) is important to develop a specific intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the burden and associated factors of opportunistic infections.Method A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 randomly selected HIV/AIDS patients taking anti-retroviral therapy. Data was collected from selected hospitals in Sidama Zone based on population proportion to size. Data was collected by a pre-tested questionnaire and a pre-tested checklist from the medical records of patients. Data entry and analyzed for descriptive and logistic regression models by SPSS v.23. The result declared as statistically significant at p < 0.05. Result The magnitude of opportunistic infections was 39.6%. Major identified OIs was oral candidacies 23.2%, recurrent bacterial pneumonia 21.5%, Herpes zoster 6.3%, and Pulmonary Tuberculosis 6.0%. The magnitude of opportunistic associated with; older age [AOR=2.69, 95% CI: 1.33-5.43], No formal education [AOR=3.12, 95% CI: 1.06-9.25], Low monthly income [AOR=2.27, 95%CI:1.35-3.83], initial CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3 [AOR=1.91, 95% CI:1.05-3.46), WHO clinical stage II [AOR=2.43, 95% CI:1.34-4.42] and stage III and IV [AOR=4.27, 95% CI: 2.12-8.59], had no extra medicine additional to ART (prophylaxis) had [AOR= 5.91, 95% CI: 3.31-10.56], who interrupt ART medicines [AOR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.09- 3.80] and Khat chewing [AOR=5.48, 95% CI: 2.32-12.96] when compared to their counterparts.Conclusions The overall magnitude of opportunistic infections was high when compared with other studies. Health officials and clinicians need to give attention on the strengthening of the provision if ART with prophylaxis on early-stage and adhrerence, implementation of the TB/HIV collaboration activity, and early initiation of ART to reduce opportunistic infections.
Software Process Improvement Works

Abstract : The Advanced information Services Inc. (AIS) Development Group was motivated by business needs to begin its Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) initiative in 1992. We chose the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Capability Maturity Model(registered) (CMM(registered) as the process maturity framework Paulk 93 and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards as the guidelines for software engineering. We can relate the changes in AIS process capability to three different eras. The first was the time before 1992, during which AIS did not use a model for software process improvement During the second era, 1992 to 1995, the CMM was used. Data Indicate that project schedule and effort predictability Improved with the Introduction of the CMM framework. The third era began in 1995 when AIS piloted the Personal Software Process(Service Marks) (PSP(Service Marks)). With the adoption of the PSP, data reflect an Increase in product quality and Improvements In productivity levels.
Sentence stress in presidential speeches

can be performed with different stress contours. Both the regularities and the variation require an explanation. We explore the view that regularities in phrasal stress come from stress rules such as the Nuclear Stress Rule and the Compound Stress Rule that operate on syntactic structures (received wisdom), while variability partly depends on ambiguity at the level of lexical phonology (new proposal). For example, words like in may or may not be lexically stressed. Since phrasal stress is a function of lexical stresses and their mode of combination, variation results. On the empirical side, we report on our ongoing study of rhythm in presidential speeches. Building on data made available by the American Presidency Project (Peters and Woolley 1999-2017), syntactic analysis by the Stanford Parser (Chen and Manning 2014), automatic metrical analysis by MetricalTree (Dozat 2015), and native speaker stress judgments collected using the web application MetricGold (Shapiro 2016) we compare the theoretically predicted stress patterns to the actually experienced stress patterns, exploring the interaction of stress, lexical frequency, and syntactic linearization. In particular, we consider the hypothesis that informative words tend to be placed in positions where they are highlighted by phrasal stress (Bolinger 1972, Cohen Priva 2012).
User participation and user satisfaction in information systems development

Information Systems (IS) are being developed and used in organizations to achieve their business goals and to enhance organizational effectiveness. The rate of systems success is questionable. One of the causes of IS failures might be user dissatisfaction with the systems. The success of an Information System is difficult to measure directly, so user satisfaction and system usage are frequently used as surrogate measures of system success. User participation in IS development has been advocated to achieve user satisfaction with the system and consequently system success. Past research findings about the effect of user participation on user satisfaction leading to system success are mixed and inconclusive. Past research has not been successful in showing whether user participation in IS development is necessary or not. So further research in this respect is justifiable. This thesis investigated the effect of user participation/involvement on user satisfaction. The effect of user expectations, and user-developer effective communications on user C satisfaction has also been explored. A research model was proposed to proceed with this research. Meta-Analysis was carried out to investigate the relationship between user participation, user expectations and user-developer effective . Q14 communication each with user satisfaction respectively. This thesis found some relationship of these factors with user satisfaction. The strength of the relationship (i. e. correlation 'r') was found to be 'medium' but not large'. The results also show that user involvement has a larger correlation with user satisfaction as opposed to user participation. The findings not only lead to the conclusions that user participation/involvement, user expectations, and user-developer effective communication have positive relationship with user satisfaction, but also contribute to the existing alternative views among IS researchers. The relationship between system usage and user satisfaction was found to be positive and of 'medium' strength and contrasts with the prevailing view that no correlation exists between them. So research findings are not only useful to resolve controversies that exists in past research but also lead to conclusions that user participation may contribute towards successful IS development and consequently user satisfaction with IS. Further, the causes of the emergence of unrealistic user expectations are explored and suggestions for future research are made.
Susceptibility kinetic profile of Candida albicans biofilm on latex silicone surfaces with antifungal azoles

The present study examined the susceptibility profile of Candida albicans biofilm on latex silicone surfaces to antifungal azoles. Biofilms formed by C. albicans on latex silicone surfaces behaved in accordance with a second-order rate kinetic model. Nonadherent nonbiofilm C. albicans cells were initially susceptible to posaconazole, fluconazole, miconazole, and voriconazole. Biofilms formed by C. albicans on latex silicone surfaces remained susceptible to fluconazole, miconazole, and voriconazole, although a significant reduction in the zone of inhibition diameter was noted at 48-hour to 72-hour biofilm formation. The susceptibility kinetic profile of the fungal biofilm with posaconazole and voriconazole can be described using the zero-order rate kinetic model. Information obtained on these model biofilms with emphasis on susceptibility kinetic profile can possibly explain resistance of antifungal drugs and subsequent development of novel therapies for biofilm-based diseases.
Computational hydrodynamics applied to an America's Cup class keel - best practice and validation of methods

Numerical predictions of the flow around yacht keels can be performed with various types of methods. In this work computational fluid dynamic (CFD) computations are validated against wind tunnel studies of an America's Cup Class keel with the purpose of investigating the accuracy that can be achieved with CFD, which methods that are suitable and how they should be used in the best way. \\\\ The test case is a quarter scale model of a keel with a fin, a bulb and two winglets, tested in a closed section wind tunnel. Force measurements as well as wake surveys are presented for several winglet pitch angles and two longitudinal positions. The experimental results are used for validation of one RANS code and one potential flow/boundary layer code. Effects of grid size, stagnation point anomaly and turbulence model are discussed. The errors of the RANS code are slightly larger than the experimental uncertainty, whereas the potential flow/boundary layer results are within the experimental uncertainty, provided that a correct panelisation is used. The usefulness of wake integration methods are investigated. Force-estimates based on wake integration applied to the computed wake are proven to be equally or slightly less accurate than integration of surface forces. The measured wake is successfully used to validate the lift distribution along the winglets computed with the RANS code and the potential flow code. A decomposition of the drag force is made by applying wake integration methods to the computed wake. The difference between vortex drag and induced drag are pointed out. Apart from the CFD validation work, the thesis contains two short pre-studies. The first concerns methods for verification and uncertainty analysis of CFD results. Three different methods are applied to the results from an analytical test case. The second pre-study describes the first steps towards the implementation of an automatic grid adaption method for a viscous flow solver.
Field sobriety tests: reliability and validity

This paper presents some results of a three-year investigation of the reliability and validity of field sobriety tests. The three-part standardised field sobriety test (SFST) battery was used, consisting of: (1) walk-and-turn (WAT); (2) one-leg stand (OLS); (3) horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN). In the first year, 1990, only weak statistical associations were found between drivers' blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) and their SFST performance. To examine possible explanations of these unexpected results, a special study was made during 1991 of the validity and reliability of all three SFSTs as BAC predictors. It was combined with the normal roadside sessions on five consecutive weekends, on the assumption that experts' performance in field settings would approximate the tests' fundamental validity. Inatter help to assess the longer-term effects of training on the reliability and validity of SFSTs. It concentrates on test validity. 361 drivers and 119 dosed subjects participated in the study. As the results at best offer mixed reviews of the effectiveness of the SFSTs, several alternative strategies are proposed for future sobriety studies. For the covering abstract see IRRD 866577.
The dynamic approach to heterogeneous innovations

In this work the dynamical framework which combines different aspects of innovative activity is analyzed. First the basic model with finite time horizon is constructed where the single agent (planner) is optimizing his stream of investments into the process of creation of new products together with investments into the improvement of already invented products. The range of products which might be invented is given by the bounded real interval. Agent may develop quality of only those products which are already invented for any given time t. The role of heterogeneity of the investment characteristics of these new products is analyzed and it is demonstrated that this heterogeneity plays the essential role in the dynamics of the model. That is the considered special case of the model with homogeneous investment characteristics of products do not demonstrate any important dynamic link between two different types of innovations which are considered. Due to the linear-quadratic costs of investments rather then linear ones the investments into the development of quality of all invented products stop only at terminal time while leaving room for the gradual decline of the achieved quality level near the terminal time of the model. The basic model reacts in a rather natural way for changes in the exogenous parameters values and the dynamics replicates the empirical findings concerning the process of innovative activity. In the second part of the thesis the analysis is extended to account for long-run behavior of the planner on the infinite-time horizon. This gives significant simplification to the basic model and allows to decompose the entire dynamical problem in two consecutive parts: growth of quality problem and variety expansion problems. The explicit formulation of optimal investment rules is given. Optimal investments into quality growth for every invented product is constant in time but differ from product to product, while investments into variety expansion follow the linear feedback rule and depend negatively on the level of variety already achieved. Variety expansion in infinite-time time horizon is faster then for the limited time basic model. Quality increases towards the maximal attainable quality level (different for each product) and then remains constant on this steady-state level. This also distinguishes the infinite-time extension from the basic model. Two following chapters of the thesis deal with two different extensions of the basic model. Possibilities for further analysis of the given approach and the difference in conclusions and policy implications with earlier approaches to innovations' analysis are demonstrated. First the effect of patenting policy on the innovative activity is taken into account. Every product upon its invention is supposed to be finitely-living during some constant time which is then interpreted as the length of the patent granted for the products upon its invention. No costs of preserving the patent during its length are assumed. After the expiration of the patent the quality…
Effects of Follicular Fluid Components on Oocyte Maturation and Embryo Development In vivo and In vitro

| Oocytes of the antral follicles are bathed in extracellular fluid, which is termed follicular fluid (FF). Follicular fluid is synthesized from a transudate of blood plasma and from secretions of follicular cells. Oocytes in antral follicles persist in meiotic arrest until surge of luteinizing hormone and then start maturation.This suggests that follicular fluid before LH surge might contain meiosis inhibiting factor(s). Hence, inclusion of follicular fluid or cumulus cells or synthesized follicular component(s) during in vitro maturation of oocytes is expected to affect maturation of oocytes and development of the resulting embryos. Follicular fluid components might change during estrous cycle according to follicle size and/or animal nutrition. Concentration of follicular fluid components such as amino acids (AAs), meiosis activating sterol (FF-MAS), hyaluronan (HA), midkine (MK), carotenoids, antioxidants, urea, hormones and others is changed with follicles size and/or animal nutrition and effect on maturation of oocytes and development of the resulting embryos in vivo and/or in vitro. The present review article reviews and discusses these effects.
Evaluation of Heavy Metals Concentration in Imported Frozen Fish Trachurus Murphyi Species Sold in Zaria Market, Nigeria

The aim of the study is to assess the quality of fish imported into Nigeria with samples collected in Zaria. Concentrations of cadmium, lead, mercury, iron and nickel (Cd, Pb, Hg, Fe and Ni) were determined in the tissues/organs (skin, muscles, gills, liver, intestine, kidneys, brain and bones) of Trachurus Murphyi fish species on the basis of their import batches and across two major fishing origins. Health risks to human via dietary intake of fish were determined by the assessments of hazard quotients (HQ), daily intake of metals (DIM) and the individual’s health risk index (HRI). Elemental determinations of the metals were performed by AAS via microwave digestion method of the fish tissues. The analysis of heavy metals variations (Post-Hoc) shows there are no significant differences (p Hg > Pb > Cd > Ni. However, individuals consuming fish above the recommended daily intake might be at risk from ingestion of heavy metals at unacceptable concentrations.
Agricultural and Extension Education Faculty Members' Use of Emerging Educational Technologies within Their Instruction

Teaching faculty, are expected to use technologies with only rudimentary support, no incentives, and an inadequate awareness of how to incorporate technologies into instructional settings. A descriptive-correlational study of faculty of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University explored factors impacting faculty implementation of educational technologies within teaching/learning exchanges. Data were gathered via the use of an on-line questionnaire to describe faculty in terms of six dimensions: characteristics (personal, professional, and educational technologies); attitudes and beliefs; access and support; reinforcement and recognition; awareness and interest; and use and frequency. Relationships were examined among the six dimensions. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the predictive value of these dimensions. The tenure-initiating unit was a predictor of the frequency of using and the implementation of educational technologies. A majority of faculty believed that educational technologies provide: potential for enhancing student learning; beneficial means for engaging students; and a stimulus for student problem-solving. More than 75% of the respondents reported that they did not currently receive support in the form of expert assistance and reported not having access to training opportunities or a sufficient infrastructure for supporting technology-enhance teaching. The majority of the faculty reported there were no existing incentives for teaching with technology. Awareness and interest were the most valuable predictors for the use of educational technologies within the teaching/learning exchange.
Energy storage systems cost update : a study for the DOE Energy Storage Systems Program.

This paper reports the methodology for calculating present worth of system and operating costs for a number of energy storage technologies for representative electric utility applications. The values are an update from earlier reports, categorized by application use parameters. This work presents an update of energy storage system costs assessed previously and separately by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Storage Systems Program. The primary objective of the series of studies has been to express electricity storage benefits and costs using consistent assumptions, so that helpful benefit/cost comparisons can be made. Costs of energy storage systems depend not only on the type of technology, but also on the planned operation and especially the hours of storage needed. Calculating the present worth of life-cycle costs makes it possible to compare benefit values estimated on the same basis.