Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of material constants of vertically aligned carbon nanotube structures in compressions

Different chemical vapour deposition (CVD) fabrication conditions lead to a wide range of variation in the microstructure and morphologies of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which actually determine the compressive mechanical properties of CNTs. However, the underlying relationship between the structure/morphology and mechanical properties of CNTs is not fully understood. In this study, we characterized and compared the structural and morphological properties of three kinds of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays from different CVD fabrication methods and performed monotonic compressive tests for each VACNT array. The compressive stress–strain responses and plastic deformation were first compared and analyzed with nanotube buckling behaviours. To quantify the compressive properties of the VACNT arrays, a strain density energy function was used to determine their intrinsic material constants. Then, the structural and morphological effects on the quantified material constants of the VACNTs were statistically investigated and analogized to cellular materials with an open-cell model. The statistical analysis shows that density, defect degree, and the moment of inertia of the CNTs are key factors in the improvement of the compressive mechanical properties of VACNT arrays. This approach could allow a model-driven CNT synthesis for engineering their mechanical behaviours.
Comparison of two dedicated ‘in beam’ PET systems via simultaneous imaging of 12C-induced β+-activity

The selective energy deposition of hadrontherapy has led to a growing interest in quality assurance techniques such as ‘in-beam’ PET. Due to the current lack of commercial solutions, dedicated detectors need to be developed. In this paper, we compare the performances of two different ‘in-beam’ PET systems which were simultaneously operated during and after low energy carbon ion irradiation of PMMA phantoms at GSI Darmstadt. The results highlight advantages and drawbacks of a novel in-beam PET prototype against a long-term clinically operated tomograph for ion therapy monitoring.
Explaining Performance Changes in Newly Privatized Firms

Much debate has been generated about whether privatization tends to enhance firm financial performance. The research presented here seeks to identify the strategic choices that differentiated firms with superior post-privatization performance from those with inferior post-privatization performance. Using agency theory as a theoretical foundation, it is hypothesized that superior post-privatization firm performance will be associated with (1) the government not retaining a significant stock holding, (2) changes in leadership, (3) management stock options being initiated, (4) employee head count being reduced, and (5) the company being restructured financially. The sample draws from 41 privatized firms from six industry classifications and 15 countries. To accommodate comparisons of small subsamples, non-parametric statistical methods are used. Controlling for size, industry and country (economic/regulatory effects), the hypotheses are generally supported except for the one relating to headcount.
Letter: Estimating the economic cost of substance abuse treatment

Few studies have estimated the economic costs and benefits of substance abuse treatment services. This paper introduces a data collection instrument and method for estimating the economic cost of substance abuse treatment programs. The Drug Abuse Treatment Cost Analysis Program (DATCAP) is based on standard economic principles and the method has recently been tested in two drug abuse intervention studies. Findings from case studies at three treatment programmes are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the instrument. The estimation methods and results can be used by treatment programmes for self-evaluation purposes and by researchers who are interested in performing cost-effectiveness or benefit-cost analyses of substance abuse services. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
European Union expansion and seaport efficiency in the North Adriatic

This article looks at the relative economic efficiency of seaports in the North Adriatic, and the effects of expansions of the European Union (EU) on this. Taking the main container ports in the region between 2004 and 2012, variations in efficiency are found over time dependent on whether constant or variable returns to scale are assumed. The consistently high number of ports on the efficiency frontier, however, suggests relatively high degrees of competition between them. The Slovenian port of Kope that came under the EU umbrella in 2014 is consistently efficient, as is the main Croatian seaport that remained outside of the Union over the period considered indicating that membership did not impact on economic efficiency.
Obesity and motor vehicle deaths in the USA: a state‐level analysis

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the linkage between obesity and motor vehicle deaths. Design/methodology/approach - The paper specifies a model that explains highway fatalities, which accounts for obesity in its set of potential determinants. State-level data are utilized in this paper. The values for all variables are for the year 2005. They correspond to 46 of the contiguous states for all measures. The model is estimated by multiple regressions. Findings - The paper finds that the motor vehicle death rate (fatalities per million vehicle miles) has a statistically significant positive relationship with the percentage of the population that is obese. The death rate also has significant positive associations with the percentage of elderly male drivers, per capita alcohol consumption, and temperature; and it has significant negative relationships with per capita income, the percentage of elderly female drivers, seat belt use, and precipitation. Practical implications - The estimates of this paper have various policy implications. For example, the findings pertaining to occupant body weight imply that efforts leading to a decline in the prevalence of obesity will also lower the highway death risk. Results suggest that obesity increases this death risk by contributing to more accidents. If so, measures that reduce obesity-related unsafe driving behaviors (e.g. increased chance of falling asleep while driving) could save lives. Originality/value - The paper adds to the research on the relationship between highway safety and obesity. The paper's unique contributions include estimating the linkage between obesity and motor vehicle deaths by regression analysis on US state-level data for 2005 within a model that controls for economic conditions and other considerations such as driver and passenger characteristics, locational factors, government regulations, and weather conditions.
New Micro-foundations for the Aggregate Matching Function

Empirical studies of the aggregate labor market matching function have favored a Cobb-Douglas functional form, for which there are no microfoundations in the existing literature. I present a new model for the matching process, based on a "telephone-line" Poisson queuing process, which, unlike other microeconomic approaches, can be integrated directly into standard theoretical search models. This implies a CES matching function, approximately Cobb-Douglas when search costs are approximately linear. The model allows empirical estimates of matching function parameters to be interpreted in terms of the costs and benefits of search. Copyright 2007 by the Economics Department Of The University Of Pennsylvania And Osaka University Institute Of Social And Economic Research Association.
Ballistic Missile Proliferation

This analysis examines ballistic missile proliferation in the context of strategic interactions among neighboring states. The analysis finds that when faced with ballistic missile threats, nations respond rationally and acquire ballistic missiles as a deterrent. Using a panel data set of 119 countries from 1967 to 1997, this study shows that the probability of a country procuring ballistic missiles increases nonlinearly as the number of bordering states with ballistic missiles increases. Although international norms arising from the Missile Technology Control Regime reduced the probability of missile proliferation, these externalities did not offset a state's decision to arm in response to ballistic missile arsenals in neighboring states. This analysis also finds that surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) increased the probability of proliferation in two ways: first, because ballistic missiles provided states ``ensured penetration'' of a rival's air defenses; and second, because SAMs reduced the ability of a rival to retaliate against a ballistic missile attack.
Impacts of structuring nursing records: a systematic review.

AIM The study aims to describe the impacts of different data structuring methods used in nursing records or care plans. This systematic review examines what kinds of structuring methods have been evaluated and the effects of data structures on healthcare input, processes and outcomes in previous studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrieval from 15 databases yielded 143 papers. Based on Population (Participants), Intervention, Comparators, Outcomes elements and exclusion and inclusion criteria, the search produced 61 studies. A data extraction tool and analysis for empirical articles were used to classify the data referring to the study aim. Thirty-eight studies were included in the final analysis. FINDINGS The study design most often used was a single measurement without any control. The studies were conducted mostly in secondary or tertiary care in institutional care contexts. The standards used in documentation were nursing classifications or the nursing process model in clinical use. The use of standardised nursing language (SNL) increased descriptions of nursing interventions and outcomes supporting daily care, and improving patient safety and information reuse. DISCUSSION The nursing process model and classifications are used internationally as nursing data structures in nursing records and care plans. The use of SNL revealed various positive impacts. Unexpected outcomes were most often related to lack of resources. LIMITATIONS Indexing of SNL studies has not been consistent. That might cause bias in database retrieval, and important articles may be lacking. The study design of the studies analysed varied widely. Further, the time frame of papers was quite long, causing confusion in descriptions of nursing data structures. CONCLUSION The value of SNL is proven by its support of daily workflow, delivery of nursing care and data reuse. This facilitates continuity of care, thus contributing to patient safety. Nurses need more education and managerial support in order to be able to benefit from SNL.
Mindful Creativity Scale (MCS): Validation of a German version of the Langer Mindfulness Scale with patients with severe TBI and controls

Abstract Background: Mindfulness may have an impact on the recovery process in patients who have suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). In order to make an instrument for measuring mindfulness within the German speaking clinical community available, a short, easily usable scale and a cross-cultural adaptation is needed. Objectives: To validate the Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS) with German-speaking patients with severe TBI and their relatives (healthy controls). Research design: In a prospective cohort study of patients with severe TBI, test–re-test interviews were carried out at 6-month intervals. Sample: A total of 225 participants responded to the first survey and 230 completed the second survey. Measures: LMS, self-report questions on personality, openness and attention, as well as health and clinical evaluations (including cognitive and behavioural assessments). Results: On the basis of factor analysis, principal component analysis and item response analysis, the initial 21-items were reduced to six items. The resulting unidimensional scale showed high internal consistency (α = 0.82) and good test–re-test reliability (intra-class correlation for total score = 0.46). External validity was confirmed for the entire sample. Conclusion: It was concluded that the German short form of the original LMS (MCS) is a valid and reliable measure of mindful creativity.
Tourism in Protected Areas: Integrating Conservation and Community Development in Liwonde National Park (Malawi)

Abstract Despite the spatial significance of protected areas and the increasing threats posed to the world's biodiversity by various agents, successful conservation still remains controversial and inconsistent. In this context, protected areas have become a core attraction for nature-based tourism activities, valued for their ability to generate financial benefits in a non-extractive way, thus effectively enabling the sustainability of biodiversity. This paper reviews literature on the relationships between protected areas, conservation, local communities and tourism and evaluates key issues related to the integrated conservation and development (ICD) approach. This is then proposed as an alternative way to traditional protected area management in conjunction with a diversified local livelihood approach. Based on empirical findings from Liwonde National Park in Malawi, key issues related to conservation and community development are explored focusing on how the financial benefit provided by tourism for the government does not reflect the little opportunities offered to local communities – in terms of involvement and economic development. The paper explains the need for an artificial linkage of revenue sharing as a community incentive as well as an effective ICD approach. Some general considerations on the management of protected areas, the role of tourism and the conflicting position of the communities in relation to the former two are also offered.
The role of GABARAPL1/GEC1 in autophagic flux and mitochondrial quality control in MDA-MB-436 breast cancer cells

GABARAPL1/GEC1 is an early estrogen-induced gene which encodes a protein highly conserved from C. elegans to humans. Overexpressed GABARAPL1 interacts with GABAA or kappa opioid receptors, associates with autophagic vesicles, and inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation. However, the function of endogenous GABARAPL1 has not been extensively studied. We hypothesized that GABARAPL1 is required for maintaining normal autophagic flux, and plays an important role in regulating cellular bioenergetics and metabolism. To test this hypothesis, we knocked down GABARAPL1 expression in the breast cancer MDA-MB-436 cell line by shRNA. Decreased expression of GABARAPL1 activated procancer responses of the MDA-MB-436 cells including increased proliferation, colony formation, and invasion. In addition, cells with decreased expression of GABARAPL1 exhibited attenuated autophagic flux and a decreased number of lysosomes. Moreover, decreased GABARAPL1 expression led to cellular bioenergetic changes including increased basal oxygen consumption rate, increased intracellular ATP, increased total glutathione, and an accumulation of damaged mitochondria. Taken together, our results demonstrate that GABARAPL1 plays an important role in cell proliferation, invasion, and autophagic flux, as well as in mitochondrial homeostasis and cellular metabolic programs.
The assessment of frailty in older people with chronic kidney disease

Purpose of reviewFrailty is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is a predictor of adverse outcomes. The current article reviews the most common frailty measures available, gives an overview of their use in the chronic kidney disease population, and summarizes their strengths and limitations. Recent findingsFrailty is increasingly recognized as a potent predictor of adverse outcomes in all stages of chronic kidney disease. Recent investigations have demonstrated that the clinical perception of frailty by healthcare personnel or patients themselves is an inaccurate measure of frailty. The clinical frailty scale, a simple point-of-care tool for the assessment of frailty, has been shown to be a predictor of mortality in individuals on dialysis. SummaryThe Fried criteria have been most extensively used in chronic kidney disease. However, other criteria using self-reported outcomes, clinical and cognitive criteria have also been shown to predict adverse outcomes and may be more applicable in clinical settings. Many of these still require further validation in the chronic kidney disease population.
Regulation of T-lymphocyte CCL3 and CCL4 production by retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PURPOSE Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells have an important role in the immune suppression associated with the immune privilege of the eye. Some aspects of this remain unclear and this study aimed to determine how RPE cells could influence the production of chemokines by T lymphocytes. METHODS T lymphocytes, separated from peripheral blood of normal volunteers, and RPE cells, cultured from donor eyes, were cultured separately and together, either in contact or in transwells. Supernatants were analyzed for CCL3, CCL4, and soluble CD54 (sCD54) by ELISA. Blocking agents were used to determine which soluble mediators were involved. RESULTS Coculture of RPE cells with activated lymphocytes resulted in a reduction in CCL3 and CCL4 production by lymphocytes, primarily by soluble mediators. Soluble CD54 was markedly increased on coculture of lymphocytes with RPE cells. Soluble CD54 reduced CCL3 and CCL4 production by RPE cells, and inhibition of CCL3 and CCL4 on coculture with RPE cells was reduced by anti-CD54. Blocking prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) abrogated the inhibition of CCL4, but not CCL3, by RPE cells. Blocking TGFβ and nitric oxide production had no effect. CONCLUSIONS RPE cells are able to down-regulate high levels of CCL3 and CCL4 production by T lymphocytes by using the soluble mediators sCD54 and PGE2. Reducing this production of CCL3 and CCL4 will dampen down the cascade effect and recruitment of more inflammatory cells, protecting the retina from an excessive immune response.
On the Political Economy of ‘Post-Fordist’ Telecommunications: The US Experience

The article examines the impact of deregulation in the US telecommunications industry on communications workers and unions. The erosion of the traditional telephone monopoly is explained as part of the crisis of the postwar US economy's Fordist mode of development. Theoretically, the analysis draws upon a critical reception of French regulation theory and the so-called state-derivation debate among West-German Marxists.
Dietary Marine n-3 Fatty Acids in Relation to Risk of Distal Colorectal Adenoma in Women

Epidemiologic studies of dietary marine n-3 fatty acids and risk of colorectal cancer have been inconsistent, and their relation to risk of colorectal adenoma has not been evaluated in detail. We examined dietary marine n-3 fatty acids and the ratio of marine n-3 to total n-6 fatty acids (n-3/n-6 ratio) in relation to risk of adenoma of the distal colon or rectum among 34,451 U.S. women who were initially free of colorectal cancer or polyps, who completed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire in 1980, and who underwent endoscopy from 1980 to 1998. We documented 1,719 distal colorectal adenoma cases (705 large adenomas, 897 small adenomas, 1,280 distal colon adenomas, and 505 rectal adenomas) during 18 years of follow-up. Neither dietary marine n-3 fatty acids nor n-3/n-6 ratio were associated with risk of total distal colorectal adenoma after adjustment for age and established risk factors [multivariable relative risk (RR) for extreme quintiles of dietary marine n-3 fatty acids = 1.04; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.84-1.27, Ptrend = 0.66; RR for extreme quintiles of n-3/n-6 ratio = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.83-1.25; Ptrend = 0.86]. Similarly, no significant associations were observed separately for distal colon or rectal adenoma. However, higher intake of dietary marine n-3 fatty acids was nonsignificantly but suggestively inversely associated with large adenoma (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.54-1.01; Ptrend = 0.16) but directly associated with small adenoma (RR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.81; Ptrend = 0.09). Our findings do not support the hypothesis that a higher intake of marine n-3 fatty acids or a higher n-3/n-6 ratio reduces the risk of distal colorectal adenoma but are suggestive that higher intake may reduce the progression of small adenomas to large adenomas.
Backward Induction and Model Deterioration

The issue of how players' model of a game may evolves over time is largely unexplored. We formalize this issue for games with perfect information, and show that small-probability model deterioration may upset the complete-model backward induction solution, possibly yielding a Pareto-improving long run distribution of play. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the robustness of backward induction. These conditions can be interpreted with a forward-induction logic, and are shown to be closely related to the requirements for asymptotic stability of the backward induction path under standard evolutionary dynamics.
Still Like Ships That Pass in the Night? The Relationship Between Public Administration and Management Studies

ABSTRACT In recent times, research on public management has grown rapidly. Nevertheless, despite the expansion of attention to management in the public sector, many important questions about the state of public administration research remain unanswered. One of the most salient of these questions concerns the relationship between public administration and generic management research. In particular, to what extent, and in what ways, is public administration research connected with developments in mainstream management and organization studies. In this article, we use bibliographic methods to explore the place of the generic management literature within the intellectual structure of public administration. Our findings suggest that the influence of generic management theories on certain public administration journals and scholars has grown in recent years, although management scholars appear to be uninterested in public administration articles. Further analysis of the subject matter in published articles is suggestive of the possibility that the emergence of the “New Public Management” has played an important role in re-shaping the connections between the two fields of study.
Quantifying the indirect treatment effect via surrogate markers

As to the proportion of treatment effect (PTE) explained by surrogate markers, existing research has been focused on how to decompose the treatment effect into two parts: the treatment effect via surrogate markers and the treatment effect not explained by surrogate markers. Most proposed methods quantify the PTE explained by a single surrogate marker, or quantify the PTE explained by multiple surrogate markers without considering the cause–effect relationship among surrogate markers. The change of one marker may sometimes be due to changes in other markers. In this case, quantifying the association between multiple treatment effects via surrogates may also be important. In this paper, a method to quantify the possible causal relationship between surrogate markers is proposed. The new method can also be related to path analysis, a widely used analysis in sociology. Therefore, the proposed method can be viewed as a generalization of path analysis to generalized linear models and Cox regression models. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.