Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UV-Light-Induced Fluctuation Enhanced Sensing by WO3-Based Gas Sensors

WO3-based gas sensors were investigated under UV-light irradiation and at different working temperatures with the object of achieving superior sensitivity and selectivity. Resistance fluctuations in the WO3 layer were studied together with dc resistance measurements. The data were taken in synthetic air, ethanol, nitrogen dioxide, and mixtures of these gases. We conclude that UV irradiation can easily be applied to enhance the gas sensing properties of a WO3 layer.
Temporal trends, temperature dependence, and relative reactivity of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations have declined appreciably between 1992 and 1997 at an urban background site in Birmingham, U.K. In contrast, no decline is evident in the city center between 1994 and 1997. Although most PAHs display statistically significant negative correlation with temperature, so does NOx, for which traffic (a nonseasonal activity) is the major source, and for which the negative correlation with temperature reflects seasonal boundary layer depth variations. When concentrations of PAHs divided by NOx were plotted against temperature, no significant relationship was detected for any PAH, except fluorene, phenanthrene, and fluoranthene. For these PAHs, the relationship was positive, suggesting volatilization from surfaces may be appreciable. For samples collected simultaneously at the city center and urban background sites, greater negative temperature-dependence was observed at the latter location. Although this may be partly due to the fact that the enhanced reactivity of PAHs at higher temperatures exerts a greater influence at sites more distant from emissions; the dichotomy in temperature-dependent behavior and temporal trends may also be due to city center concentrations being "buffered" by volatilization from surfaces to a greater extent than those at the urban background site.
Policy in Adaptive Financial Markets — The Use of Systemic Risk Early Warning Tools

How can a systemic risk early warning system (EWS) facilitate the financial stability work of policymakers? In the context of evolving financial market dynamics and limitations of microprudential policy, this study examines new directions for financial macroprudential policy. A flexible macroprudential approach is anchored in strategic capacities of systemic risk EWSs. Tactically, macroprudential applications are founded on information about the level, structure, and institutional drivers of systemic financial stress and aim to manage the financial system risk and imbalances in two dimensions: across time and institutions. Time-related EWS policy applications are analyzed in pursuit of prevention and mitigation. EWS applications across institutions are considered via common exposures and interconnectedness. Care must be taken in the calibration of macroprudential applications, given their reliance on quality of the underlying systemic risk-modeling framework.
Russian banking: a comeback of the state

The purpose of this paper is to assess the size of public sector within the Russian banking industry. We identify and classify at least 78 state-influenced banks. We distinguish between banks that are majority-owned by federal executive authorities or Central Bank of Russia, by sub-federal (regional and municipal) authorities, by state-owned enterprises and banks, and by "state corporations". We estimate their combined market share to have reached 56% of total assets by July 1, 2009. Banks indirectly owned by public capital are the fastest-growing group. Concentration is increasing within the public sector of the industry, with the top five state-controlled banking groups in possession of over 49% of assets. We observe a crowding out and erosion of domestic private capital, whose market share is shrinking from year to year. Several of the largest state-owned banks now constitute a de facto intermediate tier at the core of the banking system. We argue that the direction of ownership change in Russian banking is different from that in CEE countries.
Terriglobus albidus sp. nov., a member of the family Acidobacteriaceae isolated from Namibian semiarid savannah soil.

A novel aerobic, chemo-organoheterotrophic bacterium, strain Ac_26_B10T, was isolated from a semiarid savannah soil collected in northern Namibia (Mashare, Kavango region). Based on analysis of its nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence, the isolate belongs to the genus Terriglobus (family Acidobacteriaceae, order Acidobacteriales, class Acidobacteria) and shares 98.3 and 96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with its closest relatives, Terriglobus tenax DRP 35T and T. aquaticus O3SUJ4T. Cells were Gram-negative, coccoid to rod-shaped, non-motile and divided by binary fission. Strain Ac_26_B10T showed weak catalase activity and, in contrast to the other described species of the genus Terriglobus, was oxidase-positive. Compared with the already established species of the genus Terriglobus, the novel strain used a larger range of sugars and sugar alcohols for growth, lacked α-mannosidase activity and exhibited a higher temperature optimum of growth. DNA–DNA hybridization studies with its closest phylogenetic relative, T. tenax DSM 28898T, confirmed that strain Ac_26_B10T represents a distinct genomospecies. Its most abundant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. Dominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8; minor amounts of MK-7 and MK-8(H2) were also recorded. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 58.5 mol%. On the basis of our polyphasic analysis, Ac_26_B10T represents a novel species of the genus Terriglobus, for which the name Terriglobus albidus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Ac_26_B10T ( = DSM 26559T = LMG 27984T).
Receptive Field Infrastructure Restructuring of Visually Driven Neurons of Extrastriate Area 21a

The results of presented experiments show, that the spatial infrastructure of a visually sensitive neuron receptive field (RF) undergoes certain restructuring related to the visual stimuli used. In the majority of cases the RF discharge centers change their number and their spatial localization within the RF depending on the motion direction, contrast and the magnitude of applied moving stimuli. A suggestion was put forward concerning the role of the temporary activation of neighbour neurons, excited by moving stimuli traversing their RFs during the motion.
Neuroactive Steroids Differ in Potency but Not in Intrinsic Efficacy at the GABAA Receptor in Vivo

The objective of the present investigation was to characterize the in vivo EEG effects of (synthetic) neuroactive steroids on the basis of a recently proposed mechanism-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model. After intravenous administration, the time course of the EEG effect of pregnanolone, 2β-3α-5α-3-hydroxy-2-(2,2-dimethylmorpholin-4-yl)-pregnan-11,20-dione (ORG 21465), 2β-3α-5α-21-chloro-3-hydroxy-2-(4-morpholinyl)-pregnan-20-one (ORG 20599), and alphaxalone was determined in conjunction with plasma concentrations in rats. For each neuroactive steroid the PK/PD correlation was described on the basis of a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model with an effect compartment to account for hysteresis. The observed concentration EEG effect relationships were biphasic and characterized with a mechanism-based pharmacodynamic model, which is based on a separation between the receptor activation process and the stimulus-response relationship. A single unique biphasic stimulus-response relationship could be identified for all neuroactive steroids, which was successfully described by a parabolic function. The receptor activation process was described by a hyperbolic function. Estimates for the maximum activation (e PD) were similar for the different neuroactive steroids but values of the potency estimate (K PD) ranged from 157 ± 16 ng · ml−1 for pregnanolone, 221 ± 83 ng · ml−1 for ORG 20599, and 483 ± 42 ng · ml−1 for alphaxalone to 1619 ± 208 ng · ml−1 for ORG 21465. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the in vivo potency and the IC50 in an in vitro [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding assay (r = 0.91). It is concluded that the new PK/PD model constitutes a new mechanism-based approach to the quantification of the effects of (synthetic) neuroactive steroids in vivo effects. The results show that the neuroactive steroids differ in potency but not in intrinsic efficacy at the GABAA receptor in vivo.
Determinants of International Bank Lending to Emerging Market Countries

This paper analyses the determinants of international bank lending to the largest countries in Asia and Latin America through a framework based on "push"/"pull" factors. Our results show that both types of factors determine international bank lending. However, they differ from those of the early 1990s' literature in that aggregate lending to emerging market countries appears to have been procyclical to growth in lending countries rather than countercyclical. Moreover, the sharp increase in short-term lending during the 1990s seems to have been largely a pull phenomenon. Additionally, there is evidence that fixed rate regimes encouraged international bank lending, while bandwagon and contagion effects were also present. The introduction of the Basel Accord on capital adequacy does not appear to have played a significant role in international bank lending to emerging economies.
Dynamic Asset Allocation: Empirical Evidence from Frontier Emerging Markets

We document the case of global diversification benefits, that can be achieved by the new emerging markets in the world. The so-called frontier emerging markets, along with 4 emerging markets namely Brazil, Russia, India and China and 3 developed markets USA, UK and Japan. We are the first to use a common subset of frontier emerging markets from three distinct index providers, MSCI, S&P and Russell, and thereby covering more than 80% of the respective index constituents.This study explores the dynamic relationship between the degree of financial market integration for developed and emerging markets with that of frontier markets. We use daily stock index data for the given markets, and use different statistical methods for modeling linear and non-linear serial dependence using GARCH, GJR-GRACH, E-GARCH and DCC models. Further our results highlight the presence of significant time-varying conditional correlations between these markets. During crisis periods or turbulence dynamic correlation falls, for frontier markets compared to emerging markets. Our results indicate that investors who expand their investment opportunity set by gaining exposure to frontier markets can significantly improve the efficiency of their investment portfolio on a risk-return metric, even after controlling for transaction costs.
Vedolizumab: early experience and medium-term outcomes from two UK tertiary IBD centres

Objective To gain an understanding of the efficacy of vedolizumab in a ‘real-world’ setting. Design Retrospective cohort study using prospectively maintained clinical records. Setting Two UK tertiary inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) centres. Patients Patients with IBD commenced on vedolizumab at Guy's & St Thomas' and King's College Hospitals during November 2014–November 2015. Intervention Vedolizumab, a monoclonal antibody to α-4 β-7 integrins that selectively inhibit leucocyte migration into the gut. Main outcome measures Clinical disease activity was assessed at baseline, weeks 14 and 30 using Harvey–Bradshaw Index (HBI) for Crohn's disease (CD) and Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) for ulcerative colitis (UC). Response was defined as HBI or SCCAI reduction ≥3. Remission was defined as HBI <5 or SCCAI <3. Continuous data are summarised as medians, followed by range. Results Fifty patients were included: 27 CD, 20 UC and 3 IBD-U (included in the UC group for analysis). At baseline visit, the median HBI was 8 (1–16) and SCCAI was 6 (0–15). At week 14, these values had fallen to 5 (0–15) (p=0.117) and 4 (0–10) (p=0.005), respectively. Additionally, week 30 data were available for 19 patients (9 CD, 10 UC). The clinical disease activity scores at that point were HBI 2 (0–7) (p=0.039) and SCCAI 2 (0–10) (p=0.023). At baseline, 37 (74%) of the 50 patients had clinically active disease. Of the patients with active disease, 22 (59%) responded and 14 (38%) achieved remission at week 14. Conclusions Our early experience with vedolizumab demonstrates a clear benefit in terms of disease control as well as a steroid-sparing effect in a cohort, which included patients with complex and previously refractory disease.
Increasing the Number of Inputs for Hadamard Transform Using Two-Dimensional Multimode Interference Couplers

In this letter, a Hadamard transform based on two-dimensional multimode interference (2DMMI) couplers is proposed. Due to the nature of the Hadamard transform, the 2DMMI structure can increase the number of inputs from N to N2 in comparison to the one-dimensional (1-D) case. This method, which extends the 1-D structure to 2-D, can be used to optimize all kinds of optical Hadamard transformers.
Identifying the key determinants of effective corporate sustainability reporting by Malaysian government-linked companies

Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) underpin the Malaysian economy in areas including plantations, energy, transport, banking and utilities. As many are multinationals (MNCs), or becoming so, they face increasing pressure from global consumers and investors to report on the sustainability of their operations, products and services. Accordingly this research considered the problem of “identifying the key determinants of effective corporate sustainability reporting by Malaysian Government-Linked Companies”. This research investigated whether GLCs have appropriate strategies, knowledge, resources, and organisational frameworks to report effectively; and if they are incentivized by Government to do so. The study used a two-stage mixed-methodology. The first qualitative and exploratory stage, using data collected from a literature review and a focus group, developed an initial theoretical model of what constitutes, drives and supports effective sustainability reporting. The second stage, quantitative and confirmatory, tested the theoretical model against the results of a web survey and analysis by structural equation modeling. The final model on attributes of effective reporting demonstrates that the challenges faced by GLCs are the mediating variable between their ability to report effectively and Government policy and incentives to do so. A key recommendation of the research for Government is that sustainability reporting based on international standards should be made mandatory. For GLCs the recommendations are to develop a strategic business case; establish an organisational governance structure; install a system for managing sustainability; and focus on stakeholder-engagement for inputs and guidance. This research has implications for MNCs from emerging economies seeking to attain, retain or develop competency in sustainability reporting to attract global investors, talent and gain access to export markets. It also has implications for developing country governments aiming to support their domestic and exporting industries by creating business-enabling environments and encouraging good business practices that meet international expectations.
Sexual Activity and Function in Middle-Aged and Older Women

OBJECTIVE: Data on the sexual activity of middle-aged and older women are scant and vary widely. This analysis estimates the prevalence and predictors of sexual activity and function in a diverse group of women aged 40–69 years. METHODS: The Reproductive Risk Factors for Incontinence Study at Kaiser (RRISK) was a population-based study of 2,109 women aged 40–69 years who were randomly selected from long-term Kaiser Permanente members. Women completed self-report questionnaires on sexual activity, comorbidities, and general quality of life. Logistic and linear regression and proportional odds models were used when appropriate to identify correlates of sexual activity, frequency, satisfaction, and dysfunction. RESULTS: Mean age was 55.9 (± 8) years and nearly three fourths of the women were sexually active. Of the sexually active women, 60% had sexual activity at least monthly, approximately two thirds were at least somewhat satisfied, and 33% reported a problem in one or more domains. Monthly or more frequent sexual activity was associated with younger age, higher income, being in a significant relationship, a history of moderate alcohol use, and lower body mass index (BMI) (all P < .05). Satisfaction with sexual activity was associated with African-American race, lower BMI, and higher mental health score (all P < .05). More sexual dysfunction was associated with having a college degree or greater, poor health, being in a significant relationship, and a low mental health score (all P < .05). CONCLUSION: Middle-aged and older women engage in satisfying sexual activity, and one third reported problems with sexual function. Demographic factors as well as some issues associated with aging can adversely affect sexual frequency, satisfaction, and function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3
Single-Strand-Specific Exonucleases Prevent Frameshift Mutagenesis by Suppressing SOS Induction and the Action of DinB/DNA Polymerase IV in Growing Cells

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli strains carrying null alleles of genes encoding single-strand-specific exonucleases ExoI and ExoVII display elevated frameshift mutation rates but not base substitution mutation rates. We characterized increased spontaneous frameshift mutation in ExoI− ExoVII− cells and report that some of this effect requires RecA, an inducible SOS DNA damage response, and the low-fidelity, SOS-induced DNA polymerase DinB/PolIV, which makes frameshift mutations preferentially. We also find that SOS is induced in ExoI− ExoVII− cells. The data imply a role for the single-stranded exonucleases in guarding the genome against mutagenesis by removing excess single-stranded DNA that, if left, leads to SOS induction and PolIV-dependent mutagenesis. Previous results implicated PolIV in E. coli mutagenesis specifically during starvation or antibiotic stresses. Our data imply that PolIV can also promote mutation in growing cells under genome stress due to excess single-stranded DNA.
Product Costing and Pricing

SYNOPSIS AND INTRODUCTION: Recently, management accountants have focussed attention on the appropriate treatment of costs associated with resources committed to support activities which do not vary proportionally to production once initial capacities have been set. In one typical case, it is assumed that costs of committed resources will be incurred irrespective of actual usage, and increasing initial capacities to accommodate unexpected demand involves penalties above normal costs. There are at least two important issues that arise in such a case: (1) how should costs of resources committed to, or subsequently required by, support activities enter into pricing and capacity decisions, and (2) what information should the accounting system provide to marketing and production in order to implement those decisions. Our objective in this paper is to address these two issues. The basic tension which underlies both pricing and capacity decisions is between the nonrecoverable cost of adding capacity before demand becomes known, and the expected penaltyadjusted cost of doing so after demand becomes known. In regard to the first issue, we find in our setting that only normal cost enters into pricing rules established at the time initial capacities are set. (Penalties for exceeding initial capacities are implicit in that for the marginal unit of each activity, normal cost equals expected penaltyadjusted cost.) Findings on the second issue are that the product costing system can be designed without knowledge of demand parameters; the marketing manager only requires activity-based unit costs provided by that system, along with knowledge of demand parameters, to make pricing decisions which are optimal from a firm-wide standpoint; and the production manager only needs expected demand from marketing, along with knowledge of the distribution of random demand shocks, and cost and production parameters, to make initial capacity decisions. The economic sufficiency of the activity-based unit cost in pricing decisions is in the spirit of Amershi et al. (1989), while the equivalence of marginal cost, normal cost,
Shelf Life Prediction of Fresh Italian Pork Sausage Modified Atmosphere Packed

The shelf life of fresh Italian pork sausages packed in modified atmosphere was studied. Samples were packed using different levels of oxygen (high and low) with different levels of carbon dioxide (high-low) in the atmospheres headspace and were stored at 4 °C for 9 days. Microbial, physiochemical and sensory parameters were analyzed during storage. A consumer test was performed to determine the critical acceptability levels. Sensory data were mathematically modelled to estimate product shelf life. A first-order kinetic model and a Weibull-type model aptly described, respectively, the changes in fresh pork sausage odor and color over storage time. These models may be used to predict the sensory shelf life of fresh pork sausage. Results showed that 20% O2 and 70% CO2 extend fresh pork sausage shelf life to 9 days at 4 °C. The microbial quality of the samples at the critical sensory level of acceptability was within the range of microbial acceptability.
Determinants of inter-partner learning in an alliance between a national sporting organisation and a professional sport franchise

x INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background to the Research 1 1.1.1 Relationships, Partnerships, Alliances 1 1.2 Research Context: National Sports Organisations and Professional Sports Franchise . 3 1.2. 1 Football 4 1.2. 2 Rugby League 5 1.2. 3 Basketball 6 1.3 Research Problem 7 1.4 Purpose of the Study 8 1.5 Overview of Methods 8 1.6 Outline of the Thesis 9 1.7 Key Concepts and Definitions 9 1.8 Delimitations of Scope and Key Assumptions 10 1.9 Summary 10 LITERATURE REVIEW 11 2.
Mechanism of redistribution of cerebral blood flow during hypercarbia and seizures.

After occlusion of an artery to the brain, hypercarbia and seizures may produce a paradoxical reduction in cerebral blood flow to the region supplied by collateral vessels. We measured pressure in an occluded branch of the middle cerebral artery and measured regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) to collateral-dependent cerebrum in dogs (n = 25) to examine hemodynamic mechanisms that account for the reduction in flow. During hypercarbia (arterial PCO2 = 70 +/- 5 mmHg), rCBF to collateral-dependent cerebrum, measured with microspheres and identified using the shadow flow technique, decreased from 95 +/- 6 (mean +/- SE) to 71 +/- 9 ml.100 g-1.min-1 (P < 0.05), while flow to normal brain increased from 105 +/- 9 to 281 +/- 15 ml.100 g-1.min-1 (P < 0.05). Pressure in a branch of the middle cerebral artery decreased during hypercarbia from 50 +/- 6 to 25 +/- 3 mmHg (P < 0.05), concurrent with a significant increase in resistance of collateral vessels. Small vessel resistance was the same in collateral-dependent and normal brain. During bicuculline-induced seizures, with blood pressure maintained at control levels by withdrawal of blood, rCBF decreased in collateral-dependent cerebrum from 128 +/- 16 to 67 +/- 11 ml.100 g-1.min-1 (P < 0.05), and flow to normal brain increased from 169 +/- 14 to 418 +/- 17 ml.100 g-1.min-1 (P < 0.05). Small vessel resistance decreased in both regions, but the decrease was much greater in normal cerebrum. Changes in cerebral artery pressure and resistance of collateral vessels during seizure were similar to those during hypercarbia. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)