Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Social Responsibility Towards Human Development: A Capabilities Framework

The starting point of this paper is the need to promote a people‐centred corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework in a context where many human needs and rights remain unsatisfied and where businesses may have both a positive and a negative impact on the quality of life of human beings today and tomorrow and may even lead to irreversible damage. Our normative definition of CSR is consistent with the criteria established by the EU Commission in 2011. We conceive CSR as a responsibility towards human development in two complementary ways: (a) a holistic responsibility shared by companies together with other actors to safeguard humanity and (b) a direct liability of each company for its impact on stakeholders' capabilities. We apply Nussbaum's list of central capabilities and concept of thresholds to specify the nature and extent of corporate responsibilities towards employees, subcontractors, investors, customers, and humanity as a whole. In addition, we leverage fieldwork in developing and developed countries to analyse the effect of business activities on human capabilities. We demonstrate that by quantifying the impact of businesses' activities on various dimensions of stakeholders' lives, and especially on the most vulnerable ones, these businesses can be held accountable for the negative externalities they produce.
Three-Dimensional In Vitro Models in Glioma Research - Focus on Spheroids

In the field of glioma research, in vitro models are widely used to investigate tumor biology as well as tumor response to chemotherapy and radiation. There is an increasing need to improve these in vitro models in order to meet the new challenges arising in drug discovery. It is thus important that development of new drugs is based on the latest knowledge about glioma biology such as for example the recent discovery of tumor stem cells (Reya et al., 2001). When investigating glioblastomas in vitro – and especially the supposed tumor stem cells – three dimensional multicellular spheroid models have recently come into focus. The aim of this chapter is to review the development as well as the most recent aspects of the three-dimensional glioma in vitro models focusing on glioma spheroids. The implementation of these models in current and in future in vitro glioma research will be discussed putting emphasis on the themes described below. Cell lines cultured as monolayers have been the in vitro model of choice for many years (Ponten & Macintyre, 1968). However, the three-dimensional aspect came into focus in the 1970’s, where scientists started to grow tumor cells from cell lines as multicellular spheroids (Yuhas et al., 1977). Over the years the spheroid model has been improved by deriving spheroids from cells obtained from dissociated primary glioblastoma tissue (Mackillop et al., 1985) as well as by using organotypic primary spheroids derived from small tumor fragments (Bjerkvig et al., 1990). In general, most in vitro studies are performed with cells cultured in conventional serumcontaining medium. Recently – as the tumor stem cell theory has evolved – the culturing medium has come into focus. It has thus been demonstrated that the use of serum-free medium for culturing of cell line-derived spheroids preserved the in vivo-like features as well as the tumor stem cell-like phenotype suggesting crucial importance of the use of serum-free medium in tumor stem cell research (Lee et al., 2006). Identification of the glioma stem cells is still a matter of discussion. The most used marker in the field has been the cell surface marker CD133. Expression of this putative tumor stem cell marker in gliomas has been studied in several papers demonstrating clusters or niches of CD133 positive tumor cells as well as CD133 positive single cells dispersed in the tumor
10-40GHz design in SiGe-BiCMOS and Si-CMOS linking technology and circuits to maximize performance

This paper reviews the relevance of the widely used device metrics f/sub T/, f/sub max/ as well as the introduced device metrics f/sub A/ and f/sub cross/ for broadband circuit design. Usually, IC processes are benchmarked on the basis of their f/sub T/ and f/sub max/. For most circuit applications however, there is only an indirect relation between f/sub T/, f/sub max/ and circuit bandwidths. Since the differential pair amplifier is a key building block in broadband circuits, the metric f/sub A/ provides a nearly direct relation to broadband circuit performance. This is demonstrated via the maximum operating frequency of a current-mode logic frequency divider, processed in 3 generations of a BiCMOS process. Metric f/sub cross/ is valuable for the design of circuits employing a cross-coupled differential pair as active negative resistance, such as in LC-VCOs. The metrics can be expressed in terms of transistor parameters (e.g., R/sub b/, C/sub bc/, .), allowing to derive a link between circuit performance and technology. Based on our experience, we evaluate IC processes on the basis of f/sub T/, f/sub A/ and f/sub cross/ rather than f/sub T/ and f/sub max/.
Multiple Oppressions and the Mental Health of Sexual Minority Latina/o Individuals

This study investigated the additive and interactive relations of two forms of external oppression (racist discrimination and heterosexist discrimination) and internalized oppression (internalized racism and internalized heterosexism) with psychological distress, life satisfaction, and self-esteem in a sample of 173 sexual minority Latina/o adults. A combination of external and internalized oppressions was associated uniquely with psychological distress whereas the two internalized oppressions were linked uniquely with life satisfaction and self-esteem. The Racist discrimination × Internalized racism, Racist discrimination × Internalized heterosexism, and Heterosexist discrimination × Internalized racism interactions each accounted for unique variance in self-esteem. Specifically, low internalized racism protected self-esteem at low levels of racist discrimination, low internalized heterosexism protected self-esteem at high levels of racist discrimination, and low internalized racism protected self-esteem at high levels of heterosexist discrimination. Thus, multiple forms of oppression contribute additively and interactively to mental health in this population.
Stained glass rendering for images

A flexible stained-glass stylization system is proposed. It consists of three stages including image segmentation and color/texture allocation. The second stage provides some options for users to choose from. The first stage is manual image segmentation. In the second step, each segmented region is allocated with the color or texture of reference images chosen from a database. The proposed system provides many options for this allocation, allowing the users to select from a variety of form of texture or color allocation. The proposed system is easy to use and very flexible. It provides many options for users to stylize an image into a variety of stylized results. Our experiments show that the proposed system can generate a wide range of satisfactory results.
Associations and dynamics of Vibrionaceae in the environment, from the genus to the population level

The Vibrionaceae, which encompasses several potential pathogens, including V. cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, and V. vulnificus, the deadliest seafood-borne pathogen, are a well-studied family of marine bacteria that thrive in diverse habitats. To elucidate the environmental conditions under which vibrios proliferate, numerous studies have examined correlations with bulk environmental variables—e.g., temperature, salinity, nitrogen, and phosphate—and association with potential host organisms. However, how meaningful these environmental associations are remains unclear because data are fragmented across studies with variable sampling and analysis methods. Here, we synthesize findings about Vibrio correlations and physical associations using a framework of increasingly fine environmental and taxonomic scales, to better understand their dynamics in the wild. We first conduct a meta-analysis to determine trends with respect to bulk water environmental variables, and find that while temperature and salinity are generally strongly predictive correlates, other parameters are inconsistent and overall patterns depend on taxonomic resolution. Based on the hypothesis that dynamics may better correlate with more narrowly defined niches, we review evidence for specific association with plants, algae, zooplankton, and animals. We find that Vibrio are attached to many organisms, though evidence for enrichment compared to the water column is often lacking. Additionally, contrary to the notion that they flourish predominantly while attached, Vibrio can have, at least temporarily, a free-living lifestyle and even engage in massive blooms. Fine-scale sampling from the water column has enabled identification of such lifestyle preferences for ecologically cohesive populations, and future efforts will benefit from similar analysis at fine genetic and environmental sampling scales to describe the conditions, habitats, and resources shaping Vibrio dynamics.
Slipping, sliding and stability: locomotor strategies for overcoming low-friction surfaces

SUMMARY Legged terrestrial animals must avoid falling while negotiating unexpected perturbations inherent to their structurally complex environments. Among humans, fatal and nonfatal injuries frequently result from slip-induced falls precipitated by sudden unexpected encounters with low-friction surfaces. Although studies using walking human models have identified some causes of falls and mechanisms underlying slip prevention, it is unclear whether these apply to various locomotor speeds and other species. We used high-speed video and inverse dynamics to investigate the locomotor biomechanics of helmeted guinea fowl traversing slippery surfaces at variable running speeds (1.3–3.6 m s–1). Falls were circumvented when limb contact angles exceeded 70 deg, though lower angles were tolerated at faster running speeds (>3.0 m s–1). These prerequisites permitted a forward shift of the body's center of mass over the limb's base of support, which kept slip distances below 10 cm (the threshold distance for falls) and maximized the vertical ground reaction forces, thus facilitating limb retraction and the conclusion of the stance phase. These postural control strategies for slip avoidance parallel those in humans, demonstrating the applicability of these strategies across locomotor gaits and the potential for guinea fowl as an insightful model for invasive approaches to understanding limb neuromuscular control on slippery surfaces.
Is Matang Mangrove Forest in Malaysia Sustainably Rejuvenating after More than a Century of Conservation and Harvesting Management?

Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR) in Peninsular Malaysia is under systematic management since 1902 and still considered as the best managed mangrove forest in the world. The present study on silvimetrics assessed the ongoing MMFR forest management, which includes a first thinning after 15 years, a second thinning after 20 years and clear-felling of 30-year old forest blocks, for its efficiency and productivity in comparison to natural mangroves. The estimated tree structural parameters (e.g. density, frequency) from three different-aged mangrove blocks of fifteen (MF15), twenty (MF20), and thirty (MF30) years old indicated that Bruguiera and Excoecaria spp. did not constitute a significant proportion of the vegetation (<5%), and hence the results focused majorly on Rhizophora apiculata. The density of R. apiculata at MF15, MF20 and MF30 was 4,331, 2,753 and 1,767 stems ha−1, respectively. In relation to ongoing practices of the artificial thinnings at MMFR, the present study suggests that the first thinning could be made earlier to limit the loss of exploitable wood due to natural thinning. In fact, the initial density at MF15 was expected to drop down from 6,726 to 1,858 trees ha−1 before the first thinning. Therefore the trees likely to qualify for natural thinning, though having a smaller stem diameter, should be exploited for domestic/commercial purposes at an earlier stage. The clear-felling block (MF30) with a maximum stem diameter of 30 cm was estimated to yield 372 t ha−1 of the above-ground biomass and suggests that the mangrove management based on a 30-year rotation is appropriate for the MMFR. Since Matang is the only iconic site that practicing sustainable wood production, it could be an exemplary to other mangrove locations for their improved management.
General-Purpose Monitoring during Speech Production

The concept of “monitoring” refers to our ability to control our actions on-line. Monitoring involved in speech production is often described in psycholinguistic models as an inherent part of the language system. We probed the specificity of speech monitoring in two psycholinguistic experiments where electroencephalographic activities were recorded. Our focus was on a component previously reported in nonlinguistic manual tasks and interpreted as a marker of monitoring processes. The error negativity (Ne, or error-related negativity), thought to originate in medial frontal areas, peaks shortly after erroneous responses. A component of seemingly comparable properties has been reported, after errors, in tasks requiring access to linguistic knowledge (e.g., speech production), compatible with a generic error-detection process. However, in contrast to its original name, advanced processing methods later revealed that this component is also present after correct responses in visuomotor tasks. Here, we reported the observation of the same negativity after correct responses across output modalities (manual and vocal responses). This indicates that, in language production too, the Ne reflects on-line response monitoring rather than error detection specifically. Furthermore, the temporal properties of the Ne suggest that this monitoring mechanism is engaged before any auditory feedback. The convergence of our findings with those obtained with nonlinguistic tasks suggests that at least part of the monitoring involved in speech production is subtended by a general-purpose mechanism.
Actigraphy in Human African Trypanosomiasis as a Tool for Objective Clinical Evaluation and Monitoring: A Pilot Study

Background Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness leads to a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome with characteristic sleep alterations. Current division into a first, hemolymphatic stage and second, meningoencephalitic stage is primarily based on the detection of white blood cells and/or trypanosomes in the cerebrospinal fluid. The validity of this criterion is, however, debated, and novel laboratory biomarkers are under study. Objective clinical HAT evaluation and monitoring is therefore needed. Polysomnography has effectively documented sleep-wake disturbances during HAT, but could be difficult to apply as routine technology in field work. The non-invasive, cost-effective technique of actigraphy has been widely validated as a tool for the ambulatory evaluation of sleep disturbances. In this pilot study, actigraphy was applied to the clinical assessment of HAT patients. Methods/Principal Findings Actigraphy was recorded in patients infected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, and age- and sex-matched control subjects. Simultaneous nocturnal polysomnography was also performed in the patients. Nine patients, including one child, were analyzed at admission and two of them also during specific treatment. Parameters, analyzed with user-friendly software, included sleep time evaluated from rest-activity signals, rest-activity rhythm waveform and characteristics. The findings showed sleep-wake alterations of various degrees of severity, which in some patients did not parallel white blood cell counts in the cerebrospinal fluid. Actigraphic recording also showed improvement of the analyzed parameters after treatment initiation. Nocturnal polysomnography showed alterations of sleep time closely corresponding to those derived from actigraphy. Conclusions/Significance The data indicate that actigraphy can be an interesting tool for HAT evaluation, providing valuable clinical information through simple technology, well suited also for long-term follow-up. Actigraphy could therefore objectively contribute to the clinical assessment of HAT patients. This method could be incorporated into a clinical scoring system adapted to HAT to be used in the evaluation of novel treatments and laboratory biomarkers.
Staging Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Gadolinium EthoxybenzylDiethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid -Enhanced Magnetic ResonanceImaging: A Comparison with Multi-Detector Row Computed Tomography

Aim: To explore if gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI provides more accurate information than multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) for staging hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We retrospectively investigated 112 patients with HCC who underwent MDCT and Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI within one month before treatment. Two experienced radiologists reviewed the size, number, and boundaries of the HCC lesions, portal invasion, and tumor metastasis on MDCT and MRI images in consensus. Then the performance of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and MDCT on staging HCC lesions was compared through statistical analysis. The classification of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage was also evaluated. Results: HCC lesions in five patients were detected on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI only. Of the other 107 patients, 21 (19.6%) were in BCLC stage 0, 49 (45.8%) in BCLC stage A, 14 (13.1%) in BCLC stage B, and 23 (21.5%) in BCLC stage C on MDCT. On Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, 12 (11.2%), 48 (44.9%), 17 (15.9%), and 30 (28.0%) patients were classified as BCLC stages 0, A, B, and C, respectively. The two methods differed significantly in staging HCC patients (χ2=16.444, P=0.006). Conclusion: This study suggests that Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI provides more accurate information than MDCT for characterizing and staging HCC which will help to choose accurate treatment strategy.
Measurement of rotational eye movement with blue light irradiation

It is difficult to measure rotational eye movement constantly from "almost black eyeball image" acquired under the condition that the brightness of an image content being watched by a user is very low or the condition that almost no light is irradiated from its surrounding environment. To solve this problem, turning our attention to the "conjunctival blood vessel ends" located on the periphery of the iris, which are not affected by the changes in pupil diameter, as well as small "blue LED light" irradiation as auxiliary light, the authors developed a new method for measuring rotational eye movement at high accuracy by enhancing the contrast in the image of the vessels on the white of the eyeball. This paper proposes the above-mentioned new method to enable a measuring system, which is not subject to the changes in pupil diameter and eyelid closure, and has been compactly-designed in terms of both software and hardware with a miniature camera. In our evaluation experiment, the images of rotational eye movements were captured, and data on the vessel end positions were obtained by both visual measurement and this system to evaluate the estimated error and processing speed. The result suggests that our proposed system is capable of measuring rotational eye movement with an average of estimated errors equal to or lower than 0.24 degrees, even with almost black eyeball image.
Science Overview Document Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC) April 2008

The ARM Climate Research Facility’s (ACRF) Aerial Vehicle Program (AVP) will deploy an intensive cloud and aerosol observing system to the ARM North Slope of Alaska (NSA) locale for a five week Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC) during period 29 March through 30 April 2008. The deployment period is within the International Polar Year, thus contributing to and benefiting from the many ancillary observing systems collecting data synergistically. We will deploy the Canadian National Research Council Convair 580 aircraft to measure temperature, humidity, total particle number, aerosol size distribution, single particle composition, concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei and ice nuclei, optical scattering and absorption, updraft velocity, cloud liquid water and ice contents, cloud droplet and crystal size distributions, cloud particle shape, and cloud extinction. In addition to these aircraft measurements, ISDAC will deploy two instruments at the ARM site in Barrow: a spectroradiometer to retrieve cloud optical depth and effective radius, and a tandem differential mobility analyzer to measure the aerosol size distribution and hygroscopicity. By using many of the same instruments used during Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment (M-PACE), conducted in October 2004, we will be able to contrast the arctic aerosol and cloud properties during the fall andmore » spring transitions. The aerosol measurements can be used in cloud models driven by objectively analyzed boundary conditions to test whether the cloud models can simulate the aerosol influence on the clouds. The influence of aerosol and boundary conditions on the simulated clouds can be separated by running the cloud models with all four combinations of M-PACE and ISDAC aerosol and boundary conditions: M-PACE aerosol and boundary conditions, M-PACE aerosol and ISDAC boundary conditions, ISDAC aerosol and M-PACE boundary conditions, and ISDAC aerosol and boundary conditions. ISDAC and M-PACE boundary conditions are likely to be very different because of the much more extensive ocean water during M-PACE. The uniformity of the surface conditions during ISDAC greatly simplifies the objective analysis (surface fluxes and precipitation are very weak), so that it can largely rely on the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts analysis. The aerosol measurements can also be used as input to the cloud models and to evaluate the aerosol retrievals. By running the cloud models with and without solar absorption by the aerosols, we can determine the semidirect effect of the aerosol on the clouds. « less
Extended symbolic transition graphs with assignment

An extension of symbolic transition graphs with assignment is proposed which combines the advantages of both the assignment-before-action and the assignment-after-action approaches: like the former it allows a simple set of rules to be designed for generating finite symbolic graphs from regular value-passing process descriptions; like the later it avoids creating multiple copies in the graph for a recursive process definition. Experiences show that, in most cases, considerable reductions in verification time and space can be achieved using the new approach.