Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use of Gamification and Its Impact on Crowdfunding Participation

This action research study examined how the use of two gamification tools (CreatiCUBE and Children Story Time) can increase the interest of venture capitalists to invest in the start-up company that designed both tools. Data were collected through interviews and field notes using convenience sampling. The eight participants in this study were people who had previous knowledge of and supported the two projects. The initial findings revealed that participants and potential investors were inclining to support Children Story Time rather than CreatiCUBE. The flexible nature of action research allowed a refocus of the study on the latter gamification tool. Four themes emerged from the analysis of data: 1) participants had no particular interest in funding; 2) funding was a byproduct of market demand; 3) Children Story Time was a marketdisrupting tool; and 4) strategies emerged to secure venture capital investment. Three analytical theories shed light on the findings: Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory and Csikszentmikalyi’s flow and transactional leadership theories. Findings provide evidence that, to secure financial investment, startup entrepreneurs need to immerse in the cultural capital of their community and appeal to the support of close friends and family members to create a workable application, demonstrate the application has over 10,000 daily users, and hold a successful Kickstarter campaign. USE OF GAMIFICATION vi
Nonlinear mapping of the luminance in dual-layer high dynamic range displays

It has long been known that the human visual system (HVS) has a nonlinear response to luminance. This nonlinearity can be quantified using the concept of just noticeable difference (JND), which represents the minimum amplitude of a specified test pattern an average observer can discern from a uniform background. The JND depends on the background luminance following a threshold versus intensity (TVI) function. It is possible to define a curve which maps physical luminances into a perceptually linearized domain. This mapping can be used to optimize a digital encoding, by minimizing the visibility of quantization noise. It is also commonly used in medical applications to display images adapting to the characteristics of the display device. High dynamic range (HDR) displays, which are beginning to appear on the market, can display luminance levels outside the range in which most standard mapping curves are defined. In particular, dual-layer LCD displays are able to extend the gamut of luminance offered by conventional liquid crystals towards the black region; in such areas suitable and HVS-compliant luminance transformations need to be determined. In this paper we propose a method, which is primarily targeted to the extension of the DICOM curve used in medical imaging, but also has a more general application. The method can be modified in order to compensate for the ambient light, which can be significantly greater than the black level of an HDR display and consequently reduce the visibility of the details in dark areas.
Tacrolimus ointment 0.1% in the treatment of nickel-induced allergic contact dermatitis.

BACKGROUND Tacrolimus is a macrolactam that prevents the transcription of messenger RNA for various inflammatory cytokines in both helper T cells (types 1 and 2) (T(H)1 and T(H)2). It is currently approved for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, a Th2-mediated disease, in children and adults. OBJECTIVE We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tacrolimus ointment 0.1% in the treatment of nickel-induced allergic contact dermatitis, a T(H)1-mediated disease. METHODS This was a double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled, bilateral paired comparison study to assess the safety and efficacy of topical tacrolimus (Protopic, Fujisawa Healthcare Inc, Deerfield, Ill) ointment 0.1% in the treatment of allergic contact dermatitis induced by nickel sulfate. Volunteers were individuals with known hypersensitivity to nickel. Reactivity to nickel was graded both as the investigator's global assessment and total signs and symptoms, which consisted of the cumulative grade from 0 to 4 for each of the following parameters: erythema, induration, vesiculation, and pruritus (range of scores: 0-16). Reactivity was assessed in the per-protocol group at 1 and 2 weeks after beginning treatment with study drug and control. Adverse events were assessed in the intent-to-treat population. RESULTS Of the 19 volunteers who completed the study (per protocol), 18 had an improvement in total signs and symptoms with tacrolimus versus 10 patients with the vehicle. Of patients, 80% had an improvement in the investigator's global assessment score on the tacrolimus-treated site versus 30% of patients on the placebo-treated site. Overall, tacrolimus was more effective than placebo in ameliorating the nickel reaction. Although the tacrolimus treated site was clear or almost clear in a greater number of individuals at week 1, this difference did not become significant until the second week of the study. Other than application site burning in 25% of volunteers, no significant adverse events were noted in the intent-to-treat population. CONCLUSION Topical tacrolimus (Protopic, Fujisawa Healthcare Inc) ointment 0.1% may be an option for the treatment of allergic contact dermatitis induced by nickel.
Nanoparticle-Based Biobarcode Amplification Assay (BCA) for Sensitive and Early Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Type 1 Capsid (p24) Antigen

Nanotechnology-based techniques are being widely evaluated in medical testing and could provide a new generation of diagnostic assays due to their high degrees of sensitivity, high specificity, multiplexing capabilities, and ability to operate without enzymes. In this article, we have modified a nanoparticle-based biobarcode amplification (BCA) assay for early and sensitive detection of HIV-1 capsid (p24) antigen by using antip24 antibody-coated microplates to capture viral antigen (p24) and streptavidin-coated nanoparticle-based biobarcode DNAs for signal amplification, followed by detection using a chip-based scanometric method. The modified BCA assay exhibited a linear dose-dependent pattern within the detection range of 0.1 to 500 pg/ml and was approximately 150-fold more sensitive than conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No false positive results were observed in 30 HIV-1-negative samples, while all 45 HIV-1 RNA positive samples were found HIV-1 p24 antigen positive by the BCA assay. In addition, the BCA assay detected HIV-1 infection 3 days earlier than ELISA in seroconversion samples. Preliminary evaluation based on testing a small number of samples indicates that the HIV-1 p24 antigen BCA may provide a new tool for sensitive and early detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen in settings where HIV-1 RNA testing is currently not routinely performed.
Genotyping of the three major allelic variants of the human mannose‐binding lectin gene by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

The three major allelic variants of the mannose‐binding lectin gene are responsible for structural defects leading to immune deficiency. The corresponding mutations are all located within exon 1 and result in amino acid substitutions in the collagenous region of the protein, which is involved in the oligomerization process. We have developed a simple and efficient strategy that permits simultaneous genotyping of these known allelic variants of the MBL gene by means of a single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reaction followed by a denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). In addition, this procedure also allows for screening novel alleles due to mutations located elsewhere in the analyzed segment of the gene. During this study, we identified a previously undescribed nucleotide change in exon 1 at codon 44. Hum Mutat 14:80–83, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Dentists Regarding Pit and Fissure Sealants in Suburbs of Chennai, India

Introduction: Pit and fissure caries are initiated in the areas where developmental pits and fissures are located on the tooth surface. Sealants are a thin coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth usually the premolars and molars to prevent caries. The sealant bonds to the depressions and fissures of the teeth, forming protective shield over the enamel of each tooth. Methods: In this study 11-questions pretested questionnaire was used to a convenience sample of general dentists (n = 100) in suburbs of Chennai. The study was conducted to assess dentists’ levels of evidence-based clinical knowledge and their attitude towards pit and fissure sealants. Results: Most of the dentists participated were who graduated within 5 years, and 91% of them received dental sealant education in their pre-doctoral dental curriculum. 83% of them answered to detection and management of incipient lesions incorrectly. A statistically significant difference was found between postgraduates and undergraduates regarding knowledge about guidelines of usage of sealants, sensitiveness of placement technique, need for frequent replacement and difficulty in caring for children. Conclusion: Most of the dentists who participated in this study had sealant education in their pre-doctoral curriculum and had high levels of positive attitudes on sealant usage in clinical practice. However, dentists knowledge on appropriate usage of sealants was low.
Precise test generation for resistive bridging faults of CMOS combinational circuits

In this paper we propose a new method to detect resistive bridging faults by logic testing considering fault effects that depend on the gate threshold voltage and gate input vectors. First we show that some bridging faults can be missed to be detected by the traditional test generation method which generates O and 1 at the bridging signal lines, and then propose a novel method to detect resistive bridging faults by logic testing method, which is complete in the sense that the undetectable resistive bridging fault by this algorithm gives correct result in logical operation. A heuristic method using a random pattern has also been proposed for experimental purpose. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed method some experimental results for benchmark circuits have been shown.
SiC-on-insulator on-chip photonic sensor in a radiative environment

Silicon carbide has a high refractive index, a large band gap, CMOS compatibility, and excellent chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties, thus making it an ideal material for on-chip photonic sensors in hostile environments. We discuss the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a SiC-on-insulator photonic device for chemical sensing as well as the gamma-ray radiation effects on device performance and sensitivity. The SiC-on-insulator device demonstrates a quality factor of 18,000 at near IR wavelengths and maintains the high quality factor even after a high dose of gamma irradiation. The effect of gamma irradiation on N-methyaniline chemical sensitivity of the SiC-on-insulator sensor is studied.
Adult mammalian stem cells : the role of Wnt , Lgr 5 and R-spondins Since

After its discovery as oncogen and morphogen, studies on Wnt focused initially on its role in animal development. With the finding that the colorectal tumour suppressor gene APC is a negative regulator of the Wnt pathway in (colorectal) cancer, attention gradually shifted to the study of the role of Wnt signalling in the adult. The first indication that adult Wnt signalling controls stem cells came from a Tcf4 knockout experiment: mutant mice failed to build crypt stem cell compartments. This observation was followed by similar findings in multiple other tissues. Recent studies have indicated that Wnt agonists of the R-spondin family provide potent growth stimuli for crypts in vivo and in vitro. Independently, Lgr5 was found as an exquisite marker for these crypt stem cells. The story has come full circle with the finding that the stem cell marker Lgr5 constitutes the receptor for R-spondins and occurs in complex with Frizzled/Lrp. The EMBO Journal (2012) 31, 2685–2696. doi:10.1038/ emboj.2012. 149; Published online 22 May 2012 Subject Categories: signal transduction; development; molecular biology of disease
Influence of formulation composition and processing on the content uniformity of low-dose tablets manufactured at kilogram scale

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of processing, API loading, and formulation composition on the content uniformity of low-dose tablets made using direct compression (DC) and roller compaction (RC) methods at 1 kg scale. Blends of 1:1 microcrystalline cellulose/lactose or 1:1 microcrystalline cellulose/dicalcium phosphate anhydrous with active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) at loadings of 0.2, 1 and 5% were processed either by DC or RC. A statistical analysis showed that DC produced comparable content uniformity results to RC. Microcrystalline cellulose/lactose formulations had improved average potency compared to microcrystalline cellulose/dicalcium phosphate anhydrous formulations for both DC and RC. The impact of segregation in the DC blends and adhesion to equipment surfaces was assessed to aid in understanding potency trends. DC may be as suitable as RC for low-dose regime (e.g. < 1 mg) when manufacturing clinical supplies at small scale provided the API has a suitable particle size and potency loss to equipment is negligible.
Engagement of Gab1 and Gab2 in Erythropoietin Signaling*

Several signaling cascades are activated during engagement of the erythropoietin receptor to mediate the biological effects of erythropoietin. The members of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) family of proteins play a central role in signaling for various growth factor receptors and cytokines by acting as docking proteins for the SH2 domains of signaling elements, linking cytokine receptors to diverse downstream pathways. In the present study we provide evidence that the recently cloned IRS-related proteins, Gab1 and Gab2, of the Gab family of proteins, are rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine during erythropoietin treatment of erythropoietin-responsive cells and provide docking sites for the engagement of the SHP2 phosphatase and the p85 subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase. Furthermore, our data show that Gab1 is the primary IRS-related protein activated by erythropoietin in primary erythroid progenitor cells. In studies to identify the erythropoietin receptor domains required for activation of Gab proteins, we found that tyrosines 425 and 367 in the cytoplasmic domain of the erythropoietin receptor are required for the phosphorylation of Gab2. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Gab proteins are engaged in erythropoietin signaling to mediate downstream activation of the SHP2 and phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase pathways and possibly participate in the generation of the erythropoietin-induced mitogenic responses.
Frequency based spell checking and rule based grammar checking

English is a language that is spoken by around 380-420 million people on this planet and understanding it is not at all easy. The meaning of a sentence varies according to the context and the tone of the speaker. To convey the thoughts efficiently, the knowledge of the language and its various rules is very important as thoughts take the form of words and the words take the form of action. One should aim to minimize the errors while using the language. Lesser is the number of mistakes, better will be the communication. To aid in achieving this goal, we are creating a frequency based spell checker and a rule based grammar checker for English language. The grammar checker focuses on detecting and correcting tense related mistakes.
Micro-Equity for Microenterprises

Many microenterprises in developing countries have high returns to capital, but also face risky revenue streams. In principle, equity offers several advantages over debt when financing investments of this nature, but the use of equity in practice has been largely limited to investments in much larger firms. The authors develop a model contract to make self-liquidating, quasi-equity investments in microenterprises. This contract has three key parameters that can be used to shift risk between the entrepreneur and the investor, resulting in a continuum of contracts ranging from a debt-like contract that shifts little risk from the entrepreneur to a pure revenue-sharing contract in which the investor absorbs much more of the risk. The paper discusses implementation choices, and then provides lessons from a proof-of-concept carried out by an investment partner, KGC Equity, which made nine investments averaging $3,800 in Sri Lankan microenterprises. This pilot demonstrates that this new contract structure can work in practice, but also highlights the difficulties of micro-equity investments in an environment with weak contract enforcement.
The Impact of Other Comprehensive Income Items on Financial Performance: Case of Jordanian Commercial Banks

This study aims to determine the effect of the independent variable other comprehensive income on the dependent variables represented by the financial performance of commercial banks. Researcher has studied the case of Jordanian Commercial Banks during the period 2012 to 2017. The study sample consists of 13 Jordanian commercial banks. The study independent variable was given by the quotient of other comprehensive income on net income. The ratios: financial performance by return on assets, and return on equity were the two dependent variables. Study hypotheses were tested by the simple regression equation and T- test. It was found that there was a statistically significant effect of other comprehensive income on the financial performance as measured by the return on assets and return on equity. This significance can be attributed to the increasing weight of other comprehensive income items which makes the value of other comprehensive income an indicator of profitability and efficiency of banks and means of maximizing their wealth. It is recommended that Amman Stock Exchange, Securities Commission and the Companies Control Department, to urge the companies listed on ASE to increase the awareness of companies’ management about the importance of other comprehensive income concept.
Accessibilite d'un operateur humain en environnement tres contraint : placement optimal et posture

Devant la complexite toujours croissante des ensembles mecaniques, il devient aujourd'hui necessaire de disposer d'outils efficaces d'aide a la conception. Les interventions d'un operateur humain pendant les phases de montage ou de maintenance d'un produit sont particulierement etudiees. La modelisation de l'intervention d'un operateur dans un modele cfao, pose deux types de problemes. Le premier concerne la faisabilite geometrique d'une tache: son accessibilite sous contraintes. Le deuxieme concerne la qualite de la posture adoptee par l'operateur, pour realiser la tache. Les taches d'accessibilite sont decrites par les liaisons mecaniques courantes. Ce formalisme fournit une methode de resolution generique. Une modelisation cinematique de l'operateur est retenue. Les contraintes de non-collision et de verification des limites articulaires sont prises en compte. Enfin, le probleme d'accessibilite a ete represente par une fonction mathematique ou critere, minimisee par un algorithme d'optimisation globale. La resolution de nombreux exemples, dans des environnements tres contraints, a permis de conclure sur la robustesse de notre approche. Dans un deuxieme temps, nous proposons des criteres d'evaluation de la qualite d'une posture, bases sur la description biomecanique de celle-ci. Nous avons notamment pris en compte les couplages articulaires de l'articulation de l'epaule, la qualite de la vision de la tache, les couples articulaires induits par la pesanteur et la tache. Un critere complet permet l'optimisation simultanee de ces criteres, tout en satisfaisant les contraintes initiales du probleme d'accessibilite. L'application de ces criteres a l'etude d'une posture de travail, nous a permis de constater son amelioration notable. Notre travail permet de resoudre de maniere robuste et generique, le probleme de l'accessibilite dans le cas d'une tache de dimension quelconque, tout en ameliorant la qualite de la posture. Il contribue a la prise en compte des operateurs humains, en phase de montage et de maintenance, dans la perspective de la conception integree des produits
Differential expression of reg-I and reg-II genes during aging in the normal mouse.

A cDNA termed reg (for regenerating gene) has been isolated from a rat pancreatic DNA library. Reg expression has been shown to correlate with changes in beta cell mass and function. This finding has been recently challenged by studies showing a non-beta-cell-dependent regulation of reg expression. All studies to date, however, have neglected the fact that two nonallelic reg genes (reg-I and reg-II) exist in several species. In studying the regulation of each individual copy gene, we investigated reg-I and -II gene expression in a naturally occurring modification of beta-cell physiology: normal aging. RNA was isolated from individual pancreata of 1-, 3-, 9-, 20-, and 30-month-old C57BL/6J mice (n > or = 3 per group) and subjected to slot-blot analysis using homologous probes for reg-I, reg-II, insulin, and elastase-I. A progressive age-dependent decrease in total reg mRNA levels (reg-I and -II) was detected. At 30 months of age, total reg mRNA levels were approximately 45% of the level detected in 1-month-old mice (p = .01). This paralleled the decrease in insulin mRNA levels (p = .01), which fell below 50%; by contrast, mRNA levels for elastase-I increased with age (p = .05). Analysis of RNA isolated from purified islets did not reveal any mRNA for reg, suggesting that in the normal mouse, reg is primarily a product of the exocrine pancreas. Reg mRNA were detectable in RNA extracts from stomach, duodenum, and small intestine. By hybridization of total pancreatic RNA with oligonucleotide probes which specifically recognize reg-I or reg-II sequences, we show that reg-I mRNA levels declined with age (p = .001) while reg-II mRNA levels remained unchanged. These data demonstrate that in mouse pancreas the two nonallelic reg genes are differentially expressed during aging and that the decrease in reg-I mRNA levels parallels the decrease in insulin gene expression. Differential regulation of reg-I and reg-II genes may explain the presence of conflicting data in the current literature.