Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Access to Modern Agricultural Technologies and Farmer Household Welfare: Evidence from India

This article attempts to take up the issue of access to modern technologies and their impact on the welfare of farmer households in the context of India. An attempt has also been made to analyze this issue for different regions of India to provide a comparative picture, which assumes its relevance for holistic policy formulation. The impact of the access of modern agricultural technologies on farmer household welfare is measured by per capita consumption expenditure in rural India. To realize this objective, we utilize farm household unit-level data collected in 2003 (59th Round) by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). Descriptive analysis suggests that nearly 59 per cent of the farmer households had not accessed any source of information on modern technology. The outcome variables in terms of per capita consumption (income) expenditure show better performance for those who adopt modern agricultural technology. The logistic regression analysis reveals that controlling for other household characteristics, the access to modern technology has a significant positive impact on consumption expenditure in rural India. From a policy point of view, there is a need to take institutional measures that help small and marginal farmers to increase their earnings through better access to modern farm technology.
Enhanced photocurrent properties of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells by grating coupled-surface plasmon resomamce

In this work, we report the fabrication of grating structure of solid-state electrolyte layers on dye-TiO2 film by nanoimprint technique using PDMS stamp, and their application to photo-electric conversion devices. PDMS grating pattern is imprinted from BD-R or nickel templates. Silver electrode was deposited on the patterned solid-state electrolyte layers. Surface plasmon resonance excitation is observed on the fabricated solar cells by an irradiation of white light. The photo-electric conversion properties are measured to study the effect of two types of surface plasmon resonance excitations, i.e. propagating surface plasmon on Ag grating surface and localized surface plasmon from the Au nanoparticles on TiO2.
Budget-Maximizing Bureaucracy and the Effects of State Aid on School Expenditures

This article estimates expenditure equations for Michigan school districts using Kelejian's (1971) procedure for dealing with the endogenous state aid variables. Alternative specifications of the expenditure equation are derived, based on (i) a median voter model and (ii) Niskanen's (1971) budget-maximizing model. Theoretical considerations imply different specifications of the aid variables than have been used in previous empirical work. The estimated effect of grants-in-aid is a larger increase in expenditures than is consistent with model (i) but less than is consistent with model (ii).
GCMS‐based metabolomic study in mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium

Background: Metabolomics provides data about all the metabolic processes of a cell or organism. So far, the changes that occur in the levels of metabolites during the development of colitis have not been fully elucidated. Here we examined the changes of metabolite levels in the serum and colon tissue of colitis mice using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with the aim of achieving a detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: To induce colitis, C57BL/6J mice were administered 3.0% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in their drinking water for 5 days and were subsequently given drinking water alone. Results: A total of 77 and 92 metabolites were detected in serum and colon tissue, respectively, and among the metabolites the compositions of TCA cycle intermediates and amino acids changed depending on the degree of colitis. Then, partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA), a multiple classification analysis, showed distinct clustering and clear separation of the groups according to the degree of colitis. Furthermore, PLS‐DA loadings plots revealed that succinic acid, indole‐3‐acetic acid, glutamic acid, and glutamine were the main contributors to the separation of each stage of colitis. In addition, it was revealed that supplementation with glutamine, the level of which was significantly decreased in the acute phase of colonic inflammation, attenuated colitis induced by DSS. Conclusions: Our results suggest that metabolomics is capable of representing the various degrees of colitis, and our findings will aid in the discovery of therapeutic agents for IBD and other inflammatory disorders by metabolomic approaches. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Integrators for organisational intellectual capital

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the organisational intellectual capital as an integral result of a generative process. The dynamics of this process is based on some core integrators. Each integrator acts on some constitutive organisational elements and by combining those produces a result whose magnitude is larger than the sum of individual contributions. The resultant organisational intellectual capital is not exactly a multiplier of these basic individual components since tacit and explicit knowledge have a non-linear nature and they cannot be combined based on linear laws. We are going to analyse the following organisational integrators: technology and its associated processes, management and leadership, vision and mission, and organisational culture.
Reusable framework for location-aware mobile applications

A fundamental dilemma in location-aware mobile applications is how to determine their physical location. Because pervasive computing is still immature, and its ubiquitous infrastructure is not set to serve location-aware applications, much research has been conducted in the last few years to use available technologies to determine physical location. This paper describes the definition and implementation of a generic location identification framework which is reusable by most location-aware mobile applications. A review of technologies for location determination leads to the design of a Location Abstract Framework (LAF) to implement different location sensing techniques under a common Application Programming Interface (API). A Java Micro-Edition (J2ME) implementation of LAF using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based location sensing methods is described
Use of Titanium Grommets in Silicone Implant Arthroplasty of the Hallux Metatarsophalangeal Joint

Double-stem silicone implants protected by titanium grommets were placed in the hallux metatarsophalangeal joints of 32 patients (47 feet). All patients had a painful destroyed joint and most were women. Three patients (six feet) were lost to follow-up. Nineteen patients had a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (25 feet) and 10 had degenerative joint disease (16 feet). The average age for the group was 57 years and the average follow-up was 51 months (range, 34–76 months). Twenty patients (30 feet) were completely satisfied with their result. Eight patients (10 feet), all with rheumatoid arthritis, had some minor postoperative complaints, usually involving the lateral toes. Two patients (three feet) in this group had no pain, but would have preferred more hallux motion. One patient with rheumatoid arthritis (one foot) had a poor result due to implant removal for deep sepsis. Radiographic analysis of these patients showed no evidence of implant fracture and the implant composite appeared to be well tolerated by the surrounding bone in which it was placed. When compared with another, similar group of patients in whom grommets were not used, this implant appeared to be much more stable, as there was significantly less evidence of radiolucency seen around those implants protected by the grommets. It appears that the titanium grommets may protect the silicone implant and may help provide a longer life for the silicone implant.
Assessment of IgE binding to native and hydrolyzed soy protein in serum obtained from dogs with experimentally induced soy protein hypersensitivity.

OBJECTIVE To assess binding of IgE to native, whole hydrolyzed, and separated hydrolyzed fractions of soy protein in serum obtained from dogs with experimentally induced soy protein hypersensitivity. ANIMALS 8 naïve Beagles (6 experimentally sensitized to native soy protein and 2 control dogs). PROCEDURES 6 dogs were sensitized against soy protein by administration of allergens during a 90-day period. After the sensitization protocol was completed, serum concentrations of soy-specific IgE were measured and intradermal skin tests were performed in all 6 dogs to confirm that the dogs were sensitized against soy protein. Serum samples from each sensitized and control dog underwent western blot analysis to assess the molecular mass band pattern of the different allergenic soy fractions and evaluate reactivities to native and hydrolyzed soy protein. RESULTS In sera from sensitized dogs, a characteristic band pattern with 2 major bands (approx 75 and 50 kd) and 2 minor bands (approx 31 and 20 kd) was detected, whereas only a diffuse band pattern associated with whole hydrolyzed soy protein was detected in the most reactive dog. Reactivity was evident only for the higher molecular mass peptide fraction. In control dogs, no IgE reaction to native or hydrolyzed soy protein was detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Data suggest that the binding of soy-specific IgE to the hydrolyzed soy protein used in the study was significantly reduced, compared with binding of soy-specific IgE to the native soy protein, in dogs with experimentally induced soy hypersensitivity.
The sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap

The sternocleidomastoid muscle has three blood supplies: the occipital artery superiorly, the superior thyroid in the middle, and the thyrocervical trunk inferiorly. A compound flap has been developed to transport segments of neck skin on either end of a pedicle of sternocleidomastoid muscle to reconstruct defects in the oral cavity or orophaynx. It permits one‐stage reconstruction at the time of the primary resection and eliminates the need for skin grafts to the donor sites.
Effect of Intensive Education and Training of Nurses on Ventilator-associated Pneumonia and Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection Incidence in Intensive Care Unit at a Tertiary Care Center in North India

Objective: The aim was to analyze the impact of education and training of nurses on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Patients and Methods: A prospective observational study at a tertiary care hospital included adult patients with Intensive Care Unit stay >48 h. The study was done in three phases: in Phase 1, baseline VAP and CLABSI incidence was calculated; in Phase 2, education and training of nurses; and in Phase 3, data were recollected for the incidence of VAP and CLABSI. Results: The baseline incidence of VAP in Phase 1 was 28.86/1000 ventilator days and that of CLABSI was 7.89/1000 central-line days. In Phase 3, the incidence of VAP increased to 35.06 and that of CLABSI decreased significantly, 1.73. Conclusion: Intensive education and training sessions with feedback from nurses over a period of 6 months led to significant reduction in the incidence of CLABSI; however, the incidence of VAP increased.
Fast and realistic European ARCH option pricing and hedging

The behavior of the implied volatility surface for European options was analysed in detail by Zumbach and Fernandez for prices computed with a new option pricing scheme based on the construction of the risk-neutral measure for realistic processes with a finite time increment. The resulting dynamics of the surface is static in the moneyness direction, and given by a volatility forecast in the time-to-maturity direction. This difference is the basis of a cross-product approximation of the surface. The subsequent speed-up for option pricing is large, allowing the computation of Greeks and the delta replication strategy in simulations with the cost of replication and the replication risk. The corresponding premia are added to the option arbitrage price in order to compute realistic implied volatility surfaces. Finally, the cross-product approximation for realistic prices can be used to analyse European options on the SP500 in depth. The cross-product approximation is used to compute a mean quotient implied volatility, which can be compared with the full theoretical computation. The comparison shows that the cost of hedging and the replication risk premium have contributions to the implied volatility smile that are of similar magnitude to the contribution from the process for the underlying asset.
Nasal Fossa of Mouse and Dwarf Lemurs (Primates, Cheirogaleidae)

Dimensions of the external midface in mammals are sometimes related to olfactory abilities (e.g., “olfactory snouts” of strepsirrhine primates). This association hinges on the largely unexplored relationship between the protruding midface and internal topography of the nasal fossae. Herein, serially sectioned heads of embryonic to adult cheirogaleid primates (mouse and dwarf lemurs) and a comparative sample were studied. To assess the anteroposterior distribution of olfactory epithelium (OE) within the nasal fossa, the surface area of OE and non‐OE was measured in two mouse lemurs (one adult, one infant). Prenatally, ethmoturbinal projections appear in an anteroposterior sequence. Fetal mouse lemurs, tenrecs, voles, and flying lemurs have four ethmoturbinals that project toward the nasal septum. Major distinctions among these mammals include the number of turbinals in recesses and the extent of the olfactory recess. Surface area measurements in the adult mouse lemur reveal that 31% of the entire nasal fossa is lined with OE. The majority is sequestered in a posterior recess (70% OE). Anterior to this space, only 28% of the nasal fossa is lined with OE. Ethmoturbinal I is lined with relatively less OE (35%) compared with more posterior ethmoturbinals (46–57%). Age comparisons support the idea that OE increases less than non‐OE between ages. Regionally, results suggest that most growth in surface area occurs in turbinals. But in all ethmoturbinals, surface area of non‐OE differs between ages more than that of OE. This study shows that the anterior part of the nasal fossa is mostly nonolfactory in Microcebus murinus. Anat Rec, 291:895–915, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An overlapping essential gene in the Potyviridae

The family Potyviridae includes >30% of known plant virus species, many of which are of great agricultural significance. These viruses have a positive sense RNA genome that is ≈10 kb long and contains a single long ORF. The ORF is translated into a large polyprotein, which is cleaved into ≈10 mature proteins. We report the discovery of a short ORF embedded within the P3 cistron of the polyprotein but translated in the +2 reading-frame. The ORF, termed pipo, is conserved and has a strong bioinformatic coding signature throughout the large and diverse Potyviridae family. Mutations that knock out expression of the PIPO protein in Turnip mosaic potyvirus but leave the polyprotein amino acid sequence unaltered are lethal to the virus. Immunoblotting with antisera raised against two nonoverlapping 14-aa antigens, derived from the PIPO amino acid sequence, reveals the expression of an ≈25-kDa PIPO fusion product in planta. This is consistent with expression of PIPO as a P3-PIPO fusion product via ribosomal frameshifting or transcriptional slippage at a highly conserved G1-2A6-7 motif at the 5′ end of pipo. This discovery suggests that other short overlapping genes may remain hidden even in well studied virus genomes (as well as cellular organisms) and demonstrates the utility of the software package MLOGD as a tool for identifying such genes.
TESTING WEAK-FORM EFFICIENCY OF EMERGING ECONOMIES: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Due to the globalisation and mobilisation of capital markets, the concept of EMH is gaining a lot of importance in both developed and emerging economies. Most of the researches on the weak-form efficiency to date were based on the developed countries. The present study will seek to provide a comprehensive understanding of the weak-form efficiency in emerging economies. In terms of practical implications, the paper has direct implications for future research in EMH in particular emerging economies. The paper contributes in manly three ways: First, the paper collates and examines the broader and most effervescent literature and their findings. Second, it also presents a comprehensive, encompassing research work and a holistic view of various aspects of weak-form EMH. Finally, no studies have been conducted to date on a literature review of EMH weak-form efficiency in emerging economies. Nevertheless, the limitation of the study is that the findings are presented that may not be generalized to developed nations, which may be quite different in socio-cultural and political settings including the behavioral aspects of investors and the strength of the capital market.
Groups in Rational Turnout Models

A model of the strategic calculus of voting that incorporates the behavior of groups is presented. If candidates choose different positions, positive turnout is possible in (partial) equilibrium and is generally larger than that without group rationality. Nevertheless, if candidates are probability maximizers and a unique (general) equilibrium exists, the candidates will choose equivalent positions and turnout will be zero even with group rationality. But if candidates care about both policy and winning, they will choose different positions and cause positive turnout. This turnout will be larger than that that would occur without group rationality. Group rationality, alone, cannot explain positive turnout in a (general) equilibrium theory of elections; it does imply larger turnout in conjunction with policy-oriented candidates than would be predicted solely by individualistic rational behavior.
Assessment and Critical Autonomy in Post-compulsory Education in the UK

Particular assessment practices can, potentially, enhance learners' autonomy and motivation. However, developments in outcome-based assessment hinder better theoretical and empirical links between assessment and different forms of autonomy. In addition, sociocultural aspects of assessment are an overlooked dimension in promoting autonomy, affecting the implementation of assessment regimes and teachers' and students' values and beliefs. This article provides a theoretical framework of autonomy and assessment as a basis for exploring empirically how critical autonomy might be promoted more strategically in learning programmes.
Skeletal health after continuation, withdrawal, or delay of alendronate in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen-deprivation therapy.

PURPOSE Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer is associated with bone loss and osteoporotic fractures. Our objective was to examine changes in bone density and turnover with sustained, discontinued, or delayed oral bisphosphonate therapy in men receiving ADT. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 112 men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving ADT were randomly assigned to alendronate 70 mg once weekly or placebo in a double-blind, partial-crossover trial with a second random assignment at year 2 for those who initially received active therapy. Outcomes included bone mineral density and bone turnover markers. RESULTS Men initially randomly assigned to alendronate and randomly reassigned at year 2 to continue had additional bone density gains at the spine (mean, 2.3% +/- 0.7) and hip (mean, 1.3% +/- 0.5%; both P < .01); those randomly assigned to placebo in year 2 maintained density at the spine and hip but lost (mean, -1.9% +/- 0.6%; P < .01) at the forearm. Patients randomly assigned to begin alendronate in year 2 experienced improvements in bone mass at the spine and hip, but experienced less of an increase compared with those who initiated alendronate at baseline. Men receiving alendronate for 2 years experienced a mean 6.7% (+/- 1.2%) increase at the spine and a 3.2% (+/- 1.5%) at the hip (both P < .05). Bone turnover remained suppressed. CONCLUSION Among men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving ADT, once-weekly alendronate improves bone density and decreases turnover. A second year of alendronate provides additional skeletal benefit, whereas discontinuation results in bone loss and increased bone turnover. Delay in bisphosphonate therapy appears detrimental to bone health.
The impact of cash conversion cycle on firm profitability: An empirical study based on Swedish data

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to seek to investigate the impact of cash conversion cycle (CCC) on performance (i.e. profitability) in Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over the 2008-2011 period. Design/methodology/approach - – The study uses a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model to analyse cross-sectional panel data covering 13,797 SMEs operating in four industries. Findings - – The study provides empirical evidence that CCC significantly affects profitability. In addition, the firm-level control variables size, age, and industry affiliation significantly affect firm profitability. These findings imply that managers could increase firm profitability by improving their working capital management. Research limitations/implications - – The present study is limited to a sample of Swedish SMEs in four industries; further research could examine the generalizability of these findings to other countries and industries. Practical implications - – Improved working capital policy could improve firm profitability by reducing the firm's CCC, thereby creating additional firm value. In addition, the results can be used for other purposes, including monitoring of firms by auditors, debt holders, and other stakeholders. Originality/value - – The present study contributes to the literature by employing a SUR model to analyse a comprehensive cross-sectoral sample in a high-tax environment. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study to address this issue in the Swedish context based on a large data set covering SMEs in various industries.
Collaborative Learning Instrument in Teaching Entrepreneurship Issues

Abstract Due to the shortcomings associated with the largely passive learning experience currently experienced by students at the University level in Central and Eastern Europe, active learning approaches have been promoted by educationalists as a more effective method for teaching business and entrepreneurship. This paper contributes to this literature by outlining a collaborative learning instrument involving active learning that can be used to teach entrepreneurship at university level in Central and Eastern Europe. This instrument illustrates the role of entrepreneurship and proprietorship in both a well-established market economy and in the post-communist economies of Central and Eastern Europe. Students outcomes should include the following: firstly, the recognition that the emerging small business sectors of the post-communist economies have much potential as a vehicle for economic growth and for developing capitalist forms of economic production; secondly, an understanding that entrepreneurial behavior is an essential element in the development of the small business sector; thirdly, an ability to identify traits common to successful entrepreneurs; and fourthly, they will develop and practice a variety of entrepreneurial skills themselves that may make them aware of their potential as entrepreneurs.