Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intraperitoneal delivery of NanoOlaparib for disseminated late-stage cancer treatment

Background PARP inhibitors, such as Olaparib, have advanced the treatment of ovarian cancer by providing patients with an effective and molecularly-targeted maintenance therapy. However, all orally-administered drugs, including Olaparib, must undergo first-pass metabolism. In contrast, a nanoparticle delivery system has the advantage of administering Olaparib directly into the peritoneal cavity for local treatment. Consequently, we sought to optimize the sustained-release formulation NanoOlaparib, previously deemed effective as an intravenous solid tumor treatment, for the local treatment of disseminated disease via intraperitoneal (i.p.) therapy. Methods The tumor cell line 404, which was derived from a Brca2−/−, Tp53−/−, Pten−/− genetically engineered mouse model, exhibited high sensitivity to Olaparib in vitro. It was chosen for use in developing an i.p. spread xenograft for testing nanotherapy efficacy in vivo. NanoOlaparib as a monotherapy or in combination with cisplatin was compared to oral Olaparib alone or in combination using two different dose schedules. A pilot biodistribution study was performed to determine drug accumulation in various organs following i.p. administration. Results Daily administration of NanoOlaparib reduced tumor growth and decreased the variability of the treatment response observed with daily oral Olaparib administration. However, systemic toxicity was observed in both the NanoOlaparib and vehicle (empty nanoparticle) treated groups. Scaling back the administration to twice weekly was well tolerated up to 100 mg/kg but reduced the effect on tumor growth. Biodistribution profiles indicated that NanoOlaparib began accumulating in tissues within an hour of administration and persisted for at least 72 hours after a single dose, exiting the peritoneal cavity faster than expected. Conclusion NanoOlaparib must be modified for use against disseminated disease. Future avenues to develop NanoOlaparib as an i.p. therapy include a modified surface-coating to retain it in the peritoneal cavity and prevent entry into systemic circulation, in addition to targeting moieties for localization in tumor cells.
Selection bias in plots of microarray or other data that have been sampled from a high-dimensional space

For data that have many more features than observations, finding a low-dimensional representation that accurately reflects known prior groupings is non-trivial. Microarray gene expression data, used to create a ``signature'' or discrimination rule that distinguishes cancer tissues that are classified according to type of cancer, is an important special case. The optimal number of features is suitably determined using cross-validation, in which each of several parts of the data becomes in turn the test set, with the remaining data used for training. At each such division or ``fold'' of the data into a training and test set, both the selection of features and the derivation of the discriminant rule must be repeated. Use of the complete data for prior selection of features can lead to a grossly optimistic assessment of predictive accuracy and, in scatter-plot graphs that show discriminant function scores, to a spurious or exaggerated separation between groups. At each division or fold, a second versus first discriminant axis plot of test scores can be drawn. This paper presents a method for bringing these different plots, which have different choices of features and relate to different coordinate systems, into a single plot in which the configuration of points fairly reflects the accuracy of the discriminant procedure. The methodology is applicable, in principle, to use of any discriminant analysis methodology, or of ordination or multidimensional scaling, for obtaining a low dimensional graphical representation of data.
Welfare State and Life Satisfaction: Evidence from Public Health Care

We examine the link between the welfare state and citizens' subjective wellbeing by using evidence from public health care services. By combining local-level data on public health care and individual-level data on life satisfaction, we show that relatively high expenditures in health care have a positive effect on individuals' life satisfaction in our data. We find some evidence for an ‘ends-against-the-middle’ equilibrium in provision of public health care, where middle-income individuals prefer higher public expenditure than low-income or high-income individuals. Further, our results indicate that the welfare benefit of public provision depends on individual political orientation.
Applying the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Pursuing a Deeper Understanding of How Students Learn.

The research discussed within is one example of how to move from scholarly teaching to the scholarship of teaching and learning. This transition began with a desire to better understand the teaching and learning process and evolved into the development of an empirically-based emerging theory called Mutual Engagement (ME). Mutual Engagement reinforces how group formation and a safe learning environment can benefit teaching and learning. Mutual Engagement embraces classroom research with the goal of making teaching and learning more visible for others to critique and to build theory and pedagogy.
Assessing the Responsibility to Protect’s motivational capacity: The role of humanity

While the concept of humanity is most often referred to as the moral source of the Responsibility to Protect’s motivational capacity, humanity’s normative status and value has continued to be left assumed and/or unexplored. Consequently, there remains a considerable lack of analysis into humanity’s role in supposedly helping to both locate moral harm and subsequently provide a motivational cause that can drive protection practices in support of the Responsibility to Protect principle. In response to this lacuna, this article puts forward three hypotheses regarding the motivational role of humanity in this process: (a) humanity functioning as a rhetorical tool with no motivational qualities, (b) humanity as a concept that works to redefine sovereignty in support of the Responsibility to Protect and (c) humanity as a motivating principle that ultimately diminishes in influence as the Responsibility to Protect principle is diffused into action. Through this analysis, the article offers a more rigorous and systematic evaluation of humanity’s limitations as a moral motivator for generating collective response to mass atrocity crimes, highlighting the need to further develop understanding of the complex interaction between morality and politics in international decision-making.
A systematic review of the recent ecological literature on cushion plants: champions of plant facilitation

Abstract. Cushion-forming plant species are found in alpine and polar environments around the world. They modify the microclimate, thereby facilitating other plant species. Similar to the effectiveness of shrubs as a means to study facilitation in arid and semi-arid environments, we explore the potential for cushion plant species to expand the generality of research on this contemporary ecological interaction. A systematic review was conducted to determine the number of publications and citation frequency on relevant ecological topics whilst using shrub literature as a baseline to assess relative importance of cushions as a focal point for future ecological research. Although there are forty times more shrub articles, mean citations per paper is comparable between cushion and shrub literature. Furthermore, the scope of ecological research topics studied using cushions is broad including facilitation, competition, environmental gradients, life history, genetics, reproduction, community, ecosystem and evolution. The preliminary ecological evidence to date also strongly suggests that cushion plants can be keystone species in their ecosystems. Hence, ecological research on net interactions including facilitation and patterns of diversity can be successfully examined using cushion plants, and this is particularly timely given expectations associated with a changing climate in these regions.
Interactive comment on “ Improved determination of daytime net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide at croplands ” by P . Zhao

We fully agree that the data-processing strategies by Foken and Wichura (1996) and Reichstein et al. (2005) are well-known and understood in the community. We are sorry that some ideas of ours are inadequately expressed, which possibly makes it difficult for the referees to fully appreciate the specific points in our paper. Nevertheless, we think that our study has specific advantages which are both appropriate and new.
Comparative Analysis of Probability of Failure Determination Using Weibull Distribution and Generic Failure Frequencies on Heat Exchanger Tube Bundles Based on API 581

RBI analysis for heat exchanger tube has been explained by API 581. Two types of PoF determination using statistical data is provided to determine the PoF category. Both Weibull parameter and generic failure frequencies are the methods that will be analysis in this present study. PoF determination using Weibull distribution gives the exponential value of PoF in a certain of time. This method only consider failure modes and the failure rate of heat exchanger tube without considering possible active damage mechanisms in the tube. However PoF determination using generic failure frequencies gives more complex consideration. It considers not only failure and possible active damage mechanism, but also the effect of management system facilities of the heat exchanger on the integrity of the plant.
Assembly/Disassembly of DNA-Au Nanoparticles: A Strategy of Intervention

This report describes the viability of a strategy for manipulating the assembly/disassembly processes of DNA-Au nanoparticles by molecular intervention. Using the temperature-induced assembly and disassembly processes of DNAs and gold nanoparticles as a model system, the introduction of a molecular recognition probe is demonstrated to lead to the intervention of the assembly/disassembly processes depending on its specific biorecognition. This process can be detected by monitoring the change in the optical properties of gold nanoparticles and their DNA assemblies. Implications of the preliminary results to exploration of the resulting nanostructures for fine-tuning of the interfacial reactivities in DNA-based bioassays and biomaterial engineering are also discussed.
Characterization of spore laccase from Bacillus subtilis WD23 and its use in dye decolorization

A bacterial strain, designated as WD23, was isolated from the forest soil using M9 medium supplemented with 0.4 mmol/L Cu 2+ . The spores from this strain showed laccase-like activity, oxidizing syringaldazine, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate acid) (ABTS). The strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis based on its morphological and physiological properties, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The optimum pH and temperature for the spore-bound laccase were 6.8 and 60°C, respectively. The temperature half-life of the laccase was 2.5 h at 80°C and 68 h at 60°C. It also showed high stabilities over a broad pH range. The pH half-life of the laccase was more than 6 months at pH 6.8. The sensitivities of the laccase to organic solvents and inhibitors were tested and it was found that laccase activity was strongly inhibited by methanol, EDTA and dithiothreitol, but only slightly affected by NaN3 and xylene. The spore enzyme efficiently decolorized anthraquinone and azo dyes in 24 h.
The Evolution of Socioeconomic-Related Inequalities in Maternal Healthcare Utilization: Evidence from Zimbabwe, 1994-2011

Abstract: Inequalities in maternal healthcare are pervasive in the developing world, a fact that has led to questions about the extent of these inequalities across socioeconomic groups. Yet, despite a growing literature on maternal health across Sub-Saharan African countries, relatively little is known about the evolution of these inequalities over time for specific countries. This study sought to examine and document the trends in the inequalities in prenatal care use, professional delivery assistance, and the receipt of information on pregnancy complications in Zimbabwe. We assess the extent to which the observed inequalities have been pro-poor or pro-rich. The empirical analysis uses data from four rounds of the nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey for Zimbabwe conducted in 1994, 1999, 2005/06 and 2010/11. Three binary indicators were used as measures of maternal health care utilization; (1) the receipt of four or more antenatal care visits, (2) the use of professional delivery assistance, and (3) the receipt of information regarding pregnancy complications for the most recent pregnancy. We measure and explain inequalities in maternal health care use using Erreyger’s corrected concentration index. A decomposition analysis was conducted to determine the contributions of each determining factor to the measured inequalities. We found a significant and persistently pro-rich distribution of inequalities in professional delivery assistance and knowledge regarding pregnancy complications was observed between 1994 and 2010/11. Also, inequalities in prenatal care use were pro-rich in 1994, 2005/06 and 2010/11 periods and pro-poor in 1999. Furthermore, we stratified the results by rural or urban status. The results reveal a rising trend in observed inequalities in maternal health care use over time. Our findings suggest that addressing inequalities in maternal healthcare utilization requires coordinated public health policies targeting the more poor and vulnerable segments of the population in Zimbabwe.
CONTENT ANALYSIS AND SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS: A TWO-PHASE METHODOLOGY IN OBTAINING FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF COOPETITION

This study introduces a two-phase methodology in obtaining fundamental concepts from literature. Content analysis performed in the first phase leads to the most frequent concepts scholars used in scrutinizing a theme. Social network analysis in the second phase results a network of the relationships between concepts and examines the importance of every concept in the network. To elucidate the advantage of the methodology, the study applies the methodology on Coopetition – to cooperate and compete simultaneously – literature. Ten most frequent concepts occur in the coopetition literature are: Competition, Cooperation, Coopetition, Knowledge, Market, Network, Relationships, Resources, Strategy and Value. Under the social network analysis terms, the importance of every concept in the network is denoted in degree, closeness and betweenness centrality measures. Ranging from the most important concepts to the least are Relationships, Strategy, Resources, Competition, Cooperation, Coopetition, Market, Network, Value and Knowledge. Keywords: content analysis, social network analysis, coopetition
An Assessment of the Performance of Some Vegetable Markets and End Users in the Upper East Region of Ghana

A study was undertaken in some selected districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana to assess aggregators and end users of vegetable in the region. Districts were selected based on their history of vegetable production. The Bawku municipality, Binduri district, Bolgatanga municipality, Bawku west and the Kassina Nankana west district qualified for selection. A purposive sampling method was used to select respondents for the study, and these were interviewed using a check list of questions, comprising both open and closeended questions, to gather information. The main aim of the research was to identify and assess the potentials of aggregators and end users of vegetables in the region. Hotels/ guesthouses, restaurants/chop bars and institutions (schools) were the selected end users for vegetables. These end users were categorized into „very large‟, „large‟ and „medium‟, based on the number of guests/customers served food in a day. A total of fifty (50) aggregators, ten (10) from each district were selected and interviewed based on the volume of vegetables aggregated and sold, where their produce were sold, their prospective buyers, methods/facilities of storage, mode of transporting aggregated produce to the end user or storage point, the various challenges and relationships with the producer and end user regarding contracts. Data obtained from the checklist was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Scientists (SPSS version 17.0) and Microsoft Excel, and summarized into percentages and means. Tomatoes, Fresh okra, onion, Dry okra, cabbage, carrot, chilli pepper and sweet pepper were the commonly aggregated and consumed vegetables in the Upper East Region. Tomatoes and fresh Okra were the most aggregated and consumed vegetable by end users per an annual average of 27,090 kg, followed by onion (26,418 kg). Fresh tomatoes were the most consumed vegetable in the „very large‟ category of end users, with annual consumption of 1,560kg for guest house/Hotel and 8,736kg for the restaurants/chop bars category. The restaurants/chop bars consumed the highest in terms of fresh tomatoes with a yearly consumption of 8,736kg. The tricycle, popularly called „Motor king‟ in the study area was the most patronized (30%) means of transporting aggregated vegetables to aggregation centers or end users. There is a higher prospect for vegetable business in the Upper East Region of Ghana, with the capacity of adequate supply across all regions of the country, in particular and the export market, in general. Actors in the value chain have to grapple with the constraints of finance and storage facilities.
Advertising and Promotional Effects On Consumer Service Firm Sales

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the effects of different marketing-communications tools on company performance, namely how advertising-execution quality, media spending, and sales promotions differentially influence changes in sales revenue. The analysis employs five years of aggregated monthly data on nine leading brands in a consumer-services sector, quick-serve restaurants, an often-overlooked area with high marketing-communications expenditures. The findings illustrate that advertising spending and then execution quality mattered most for changes in sales revenue. Internet advertising had no effect for most companies, and sales promotions either were not significant or were related negatively to changes in sales.
The Impact of Corporate Governance on Firm Performance: Evidence from the UAE

This study seeks to examine the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance of companies listed in Abu Dhabi stock exchange. It is argued in this paper that strong corporate governance mechanisms are expected to have a positive impact on performance measures. The dataset is drawn from the Abu Dhabi exchange Shareholding Company’s guide for years 2007-2011.The study uses pooled regression analysis on 281 firm/year observations.In this regard, two measures of firm performance are used; Tobin’s Q score and Return on Assets (ROA), on the other hand independent variables include institutional ownership, governmental ownership, board size, and audit quality. The study controls for the relationship between the dependent and independent variables by including firm size, debt ratio, dividend yield, and age as control variables. Results showed significant positive impact of corporate governance measures on firm performance (except for Audit quality). Results obtained inthis research paper provide further evidence on the importance of corporate governance mechanisms on stock market participants’ valuation of listed companies. In addition, it makes us understand to some extent the attitudes of shareholders toward good corporate governance practices.The importance of this research paper stems from the fact that it is conducted in an emerging economy which has recently adopted a corporate governance code. In this regard, the UAE has put into action the new corporate governance code on 2007 and made it mandatory on all listed companies as on 2010, the current study focus on this period. As far as the current researcher is aware of, prior studies conducted in the UAE context were cross-sectional in nature and conducted before the implementation of the new code. Key words: Corporate Governance, Firm Performance, Ownership Structure, Emerging Markets.
Modeling the effects of cold front passages on the heat fluxes and thermal structure of a tropical hydroelectric reservoir

We study the inﬂuence of cold fronts on the heat ﬂuxes and thermal structure of a tropical reservoir located in Brazil. The period chosen for this study consisted of 49 days between 28 April 2010 and 15 July 2010 and was deﬁned based on information from the Brazilian Centre for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC), data col-5 lected in situ and the interpretation of remotely sensed images. During the selected time period, ﬁve cold front passages were identiﬁed, allowing us to analyze the cumulative e ﬀ ect of cold fronts and the reservoir’s resilience on the days that elapsed be-tween the passages. To better understand the physical processes that drive changes in heat ﬂuxes and thermal structure, a simulation was performed that utilized a three-10 dimensional hydrodynamic model. The results showed that during the cold front days, the sensible and latent heat ﬂuxes were enhanced by approximately 24 % and 19 %, respectively. The daily average heat loss was up to 167 % higher on the cold front days than on the non-cold front days. The high heat loss and the increased wind intensity that occurred during the cold front passages destabilized the water column and pro-15 vided partial or complete mixing. The colder waters of the Parana´ ı ba River contributed to reestablish the thermal stratiﬁcation following the passages of the cold fronts. These results suggest that cold front passages play an important role in the stratiﬁcation and mixing regimes of Brazilian reservoirs located in southern and southeastern regions