Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Supplement of Characterizing the evolution of physical properties and mixing state of black carbon particles: from near a major highway to the broader urban plume in Los Angeles

Black carbon particles can have deleterious human health consequences and impact regional and global climate. 10 Uncertainties remain in part due to incomplete knowledge on the evolution of physical properties and mixing state of black carbon from sources to the remote atmosphere. We aim to understand how road-to-ambient processing and longer timescale aging in an urban plume affect black carbon physical properties. Refractory black carbon (rBC) was measured during summer 2016 using a Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) in two distinct environments: near a major freeway and downwind of downtown Los Angeles. The near-road measurements were made at distances ranging from 30 to 114 m 15 downwind of Interstate 405 in Los Angeles. These results were compared with measurements performed 100 km east of Los Angeles in Redlands, California. Coatings on rBC particles were quantified using two methods. As distance from the highway increased at the near-road site, we observed decreases in rBC mass and number concentrations and increases in the number fraction of rBC particles with thick coatings (f). The latter likely occurred due to rapid processing of the highway plume and entrainment of urban background particles. Most rBC-containing particles measured near the highway were either 20 uncoated or thinly-coated. In Redlands, we found that rBC mass concentrations on weekdays were similar to those observed at the furthest measured distance from the highway (114 m). However, rBC number concentrations for the smallest measured sizes were an order of magnitude lower in Redlands than all measured distances from the highway. Observations of f indicate that values in Redlands during periods when estimated photochemical age was highest (6-8 hours) were similar to corresponding values at the furthest measured distance from the highway. This suggests that the residence time of air in the 25 Los Angeles basin under typical summertime conditions measured during this campaign may not be sufficient for rBC to acquire thick coatings. However, under certain meteorological conditions, f was observed to be ~0.20 in Redlands, with coating thickness histograms showing a larger contribution of rBC particles with coating thickness > 80 nm. This occurred during a weekend day when local emissions from diesel vehicles were lower (compared to weekdays) and winds brought air from the desert regions to the Northeast of Los Angeles, both of which would increase the relative contribution of remote 30 sources of rBC. Afternoon values of f (and O3) were found to be systematically higher on weekends than weekdays, suggesting that the “weekend effect” can create more thickly-coated rBC particles presumably due to enhanced secondary organic aerosol and reduced available rBC as condensation sites.
A New Focus in Healthcare Conflict Research

A scoping review of published articles that reported causes and consequences of healthcare conflicts was conducted to advance the knowledge base in this domain– a field that remains surprisingly underexplored given the evidence associating conflicts with patient care outcomes [1,2]. The purpose of the review was to identify and synthesize key triggers and impact of healthcare conflicts arise during patient care. A meta-analysis of empirical studies on intra-group conflicts in business organizations guided the conceptual framework of our scoping review, which targeted conflicts along the individual, interpersonal and organizational spectrum [3].
TERMINOLOGY CONCEPTS OF PROBIOTIC AND PREBIOTIC AND THEIR ROLE IN HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH

The mode of action of specific probiotic bacteria and specific prebiotic ingredients and their effects on the intestinal microbiota modulation in humans and animals has been demonstrated in many studies. Intestine is characterized for harboring a complex and dynamic microbiota which, among others, has a function to protect the host from inflammatory disorders. A mature and balanced endogenous microbiota has also an important role in the maintenance of a desirable activity of the immune system. Deviations in gut microbiota composition, due to improper diet, radiotherapy, antibiotic treatment, stress and others, may lead to a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. To overcome an unbalanced microbiota, the consumption of specific probiotics and prebiotics has been proved to be effective. For more than three decades, many probiotic microorganisms have been characterized and evaluated. However, the term prebiotic has only recently been identified, characterized and evaluated in human intervention studies. The list of prebiotic ingredients remains limited, and yacon (Smallantus sonchifolia) is an Andean root to which prebiotic attributes have been inferred recently. Humans and animals could seemingly benefit from the consumption of specific prebiotics and probiotics. In this work, terminology aspects of pre- and probiotics, and their roles in human and animal health are discussed.
Environmental forcing of phytoplankton community structure and function in the Canadian High Arctic: contrasting oligotrophic and eutrophic regions

We assessed phytoplankton dynamics and its environmental control across the Canadian High Arctic (CHA). Environmental (hydrographic, atmospheric, sea ice conditions) and biological variables (phytoplankton production, biomass, composition) were measured along 3500 km transects across the Beaufort Sea, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and Baffin Bay during late summer 2005, early fall 2006 and fall 2007. Phytoplankton production and chlorophyll a (chl a) biomass were measured at 7 optical depths, including the depth of subsurface chl a maximum (ZSCM). Phytoplankton taxonomy, abundance, and size structure were determined at the ZSCM. Redundancy analyses and non-metric multidimensional scaling were used to assess relationships between phytoplankton composition in relation to biological and environmental variables. In late summer/fall, the CHA was characterized by (1) an oligotrophic flagellate-based system extending over the eastern Beaufort Sea, the peripheral Amundsen Gulf, and the central region of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago; and (2) a eutrophic diatom-based system located in Baffin Bay, Lancaster Sound, and in a hotspot in the central Amundsen Gulf. The oligotrophic regions were characterized by low production and biomass of large phytoplankton cells (>5 μm) and relatively high abundance of eukaryotic picophytoplankton (<2 μm) and unidentified nanoflagellates (2−20 μm). The eutrophic regions were characterized by high production and biomass of large cells and relatively high abundance of centric diatoms, mainly Chaetoceros spp. The distinction between the 2 regimes was explained by differences in stratification (density gradient) and nitrate concentrations at the ZSCM. This study demonstrates the key role of vertical mixing and nutrient input in shaping the structure and function of phytoplankton communities in the CHA, showing how ongoing environmental changes have the capacity to alter the diversity of biogeographic regions in the CHA.
Spatial dynamics, ecological thresholds and phase shifts: modelling grazer aggregation and gap formation in kelp beds

On the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, transitions between alternative states of the subti- dal ecosystem, kelp beds and sea urchin barrens, occur on a decadal scale. To explore the process of urchin aggregation within kelp beds that leads to the shift to barrens, we developed a coupled map lattice model to simulate the spatial dynamics of kelp and green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droe- bachiensis abundance over time. Our simulations show that the following factors can cause sea urchins to form grazing aggregations that create gaps in a kelp bed: (1) random movement by >60% of sea urchins residing in the bed, (2) moderate to high levels of spatial variability in sea urchin recruitment (30 to 90 (urchins m -2 ) 2 ), (3) localized aggregation of sea urchins (150 urchins m -2 ) amid a moderate to high background density of sea urchins within the kelp bed (>10 urchins m -2 ), with or without a chemotactic response of sea urchins to kelp, and (4) removal of kelp from areas >20 m 2 (to simulate physical or biological disturbance, or harvesting). Gaps formed at random locations within the spatial domain and expanded and coalesced to form barrens in which sea urchins were randomly distributed. Sea urchins formed circular fronts around gaps in the kelp bed. The rate of advance of fronts (and increase in gap size) was linearly related to the density of sea urchins at the front. The duration of the transition to the barrens state decreased with increases in (1) the proportion (Pm) of sea urchins moving (from >6 yr for Pm = 0.8 to 5 yr for 30 (urchins m -2 ) 2 to <3 yr for 90 (urchins m -2 ) 2 ). Our findings support observa- tions of gap formation within kelp beds that resulted in widespread destructive grazing on this coast in the late 1960s. Our model provides a predictive tool for the design of monitoring programs and field experiments to explore the underlying mechanisms of an ecosystem phase shift that has major ecological consequences.
Microporosity of BIF hosted massive hematite ore, Iron Quadrangle, Brazil

Massive hematite ore (MHO) is a special high-grade iron ore, used as lump ore in the process of obtainingdirect reduction iron (DRI). The inﬂuence of porosity on the reducibility of MHO from the Capitao do MatoMine (Iron Quadrangle, Brazil) was investigated using optical and scanning electron microscopes on drillcore and open pit samples.Hematite is the main component of the samples and occurs as granular crystals
RESULTS-BASED FINANCING IN EDUCATION:

This paper outlines the World Bank Group’s approach to how results-based financing (RBF) can resolve some of the forthcoming constraints faced by client countries to achieving the education Sustainable Development Goal (Goal 4). In sum, the WBG approach uses RBF as an instrument to strengthen education systems, by aligning and incentivizing actors around a set of system results. This stands in contrast to other approaches whereby RBF is first and foremost considered as a way to increase value-for-money, or more generally as a tool for “smarter aid”. The RBF agenda in education takes a wide lens, consisting of knowledge activities, convening services, and financing instruments such as the Program-for-Results lending instrument, and other financial modalities that reward the achievement of independently verified results. The World Bank Group has committed to doubling its current education portfolio of RBF operations to US $5 billion by 2020.
HYPERHOMOCYSTEINEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY EMBOLISM

Investigation of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) as an important risk factor for pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), which represents a most dangerous consequence of a unique phenomenon of venous thromboembolism which still suffers from sometimes conflicting or inadequately clarified results. The role of homocysteine in the clinical manifestation of this life-threatening disease and its treatment (in which any further information may be decisive) requires detailed examination. The purpose of this study is to determine the differences in HHcy incidence and homocysteinemia levels between patients with PTE and healthy persons. The study enrolled 70 patients with PTE and 50 healthy persons. Homocysteine was measured using the HPLC method with fluorescent detection and HHcy was defined as homocysteinemia above 12 μmol/L. Statistical analyses included chi-square and Mann Whitney U tests. The median homocysteinemia value was significantly higher (p=0.017) in the patients (12.10 μmol/L) than in the controls (10.35 μmol/L). The comparison of HHcy incidence between the patients (51.5%) and controls (30%) revealed a significant difference (p=0.021). In patients, homocysteinemia was significantly higher (p=0.002) in men (14.05μmol/L) than in women (10.01 μmol/L). HHcy was present in 67.6% of men with PTE, which was significantly higher (p=0.006) than the incidence in women with PTE (33.3%). Healthy males had significantly higher (p=0.001) homocysteinemia (12.54 μmol/L) than healthy females (9.4 μmol/L). A significant difference (p=0.031) was observed between the incidences of HHcy in healthy males (44.0%) and healthy females (16.0%). We conclude that the incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia and homocysteinemia are significantly higher in all the patients compared with the healthy persons, as well as in both healthy males and males with PTE compared with healthy females and female patients. This indicates that HHcy findings in PE are likely to have a clinical importance.
Investigation of Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Potential of Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Water Extract

Amac: Son zamanlarda, tarcin ile ilgili calismalar zengin polifenol icerigine bagli antioksidan aktivitesi uzerinde yogunlasmistir. Polifenollerin ayni zamanda pro-oksidan olarak hareket ettikleri ve DNA’da oksidatif zincir kiriklarina neden olduklari bildirilmistir. Bu calismada Cinnamomum cassia su ekstresinin insan periferal kan lenfositlerindeki sitotoksik ve genotoksik potansiyelini arastirdik. Yontemler: Cinnamomum cassia su ekstresi, toz haline getirilmis tarcin kabugunun ultra saf suda 72 saat maserasyonu ile hazirlandi. Ekstrenin lenfositlerdeki sitotoksik etkisi WST-1 yontemi ile arastirildi. Ekstrenin DNA’da hasar olusturucu potansiyelini degerlendirmek icin alkali Komet yontemi uygulandi. DNA hasari kuyruk DNA yuzdesi ve kuyruk momenti seklinde ifade edildi. Bulgular: Lenfositlerin canliligi ekstre ile 24 saat muamele sonrasi konsantrasyona bagimli olarak azaldi. Ekstre ≥400 μg/ml konsantrasyonlarda negatif kontrole gore anlamli duzeyde DNA hasarina neden oldu. Sonuc: Calisma sonuclarimiz Cinnamomum cassia kabugu su ekstresinin in vitro olarak sitotoksik ve genotoksik etki potansiyelini gostermektedir. Ekstrenin ozellikle yuksek dozlarda ya da uzun sureli kullaniminda guvenliligi acisindan bu bulgu onemli gorunmektedir ve bu nedenle in vivo calismalarla aydinlatilmalidir. Anahtar sozcukler: Cinnamomum cassia, alkali Komet yontemi, sitotoksisite, pro-oksidan aktivite ABS TRACT Investigation of cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of cinnamomum cassia bark water extract
Synoptic perspectives on pollutant transport patterns observed by satellites over East Asia: Case studies with a conceptual model

Abstract. We demonstrate that daily pollutant transport patterns in East Asia are visible from satellite images when inspected with corresponding synoptic weather analyses. Transport pathways of air pollutants in East Asia are investigated using satellite observations, surface weather charts, and chemical-transport model simulations. It is found that during cool season (fall to spring), pollutant transports in East Asia are largely determined by synoptic weather patterns associated with high pressure system over southern China, which is extended from the Siberia High, and low pressure system over Manchuria, which is initiated by Altai-Sayan cyclogenesis. Based on the relative location and strength of these weather systems, three types of synoptic weather patterns that may contribute to pollutants transport in East Asia, especially in China and Korea, are identified: i.e., (1) a strengthening of the Siberian High and its southeastward propagation; (2) a high-pressure system over southern China followed by a frontal passage associated with a northern low-pressure system; and (3) a stagnant high-pressure system over southern China. For all three patterns, the high-pressure system in southern China is essential for the development of regional air pollution, while frontal activities associated with low-pressure system provide a forcing mechanism to transport those pollutants eastward or southeastward. Observed and simulated surface PM distributions show good agreement in both aerosol optical depth and NO2 column density further implying that anthropogenic emissions also contribute to regional events of high surface PM concentrations. It is argued that the quasi-periodic migration of synoptic weather systems in East Asia works as an efficient pump of pollutants; i.e., regional air pollutions developed under high-pressure systems are transported downstream by low-pressure systems.
Partial selection scheme of MPEG-1 stream for the purpose of encryption using open SSL libraries

Modern day communications require that the information be transmitted in a secure manner with due importance given to bandwidth requirements. This gains more importance in lieu of the ever-increasing use of the internet in today's world. The SEAL algorithm is a stream cipher that has some drawbacks when taking factors like licensing and standardization into consideration. This paper focuses on a widely used form of encryption, DES and RSA, using Open SSL libraries, implemented on a partially selected MPEG1 encoded stream, thus taking care of the bandwidth factor also. The new scheme evolved, is more efficient than the previously proposed scheme.
Determinants of Super Store Customer Satisfaction in Pakistan

Trend in retails selling has been changed in the European countries and getting change in the developing countries. The old fashion of small retail shops has been changed to the super stores where customer can move around and pick the desired products. In Pakistan trend of super stores is emerging recently and a number of new stores of are opened in big cities of Pakistan. This study focuses on the dimensions which create satisfaction in the customer of the retails super stores and attract new customers. Study concluded that Physical environment, Personal interaction, problem solving ability, policy are the major determinants of customer satisfaction of retail super stores. For this study RSQS measure was used. Keywords : Retail Super Stores, Customer Satisfaction, Personal Interaction, Policy
Statistical Properties of SNR for Compressed Measurements

Some basic statistical properties of the compressed measurements are investigated. It is well known that the statistical properties are a foundation for analyzing the performance of signal detection and the applications of compressed sensing in communication signal processing. Firstly, we discuss the statistical properties of the compressed signal, the compressed noise, and their corresponding energy. And then, the statistical characteristics of SNR of the compressed measurements are calculated, including the mean and the variance. Finally, probability density function and cumulative distribution function of SNR are derived for the cases of the Gamma distribution and the Gaussian distribution. Numerical simulation results demonstrate the correctness of the theoretical analysis.
Applying Indicators of Orientation to Innovations, Potential of Growth and Strategic Objectives to Explain Corporate Entrepreneurship: Case study of the three Finnish companies

This paper aims to explore how different Finnish companies develop and sustain entrepreneurial venture. The purpose of the paper is to identify main features and behavioural patterns of the company facilitating entrepreneurial spirit within the companies . The methodology of the research is based on Wickham (2004) concept of entrepreneurial venture. This concept embraces three essential characteristics that distinguish entrepreneurial organization from usual business venture, i.e. innovation, potential for growth, and strategic objectives. Wickham (2004) states that not all entrepreneurial ventures necessarily show an obvious innovation, clear growth potential or formally articulated strategic objectives as well as some small businesses also demonstrate one or more of these characteristics. However entrepreneurial organization makes significant changes to the world. The paper uses case study method. Three different Finnish companies were examined. All three companies are of different types. The city of Vantaa is a social welfare public institution, positioning itself as being an entrepreneur-oriented city neighbour-ing to the north of Helsinki. The Kalevala Koru Group Ltd. consolidates Kalevala Koru and Lapponia Jewelry, also including Kaunis Koru (which was a separate company in the past) as a modern line of jewellery and now is the largest jewellery manufacturer in Finland. SOL Palvelut Ltd. is a family company that provides cleaning services. All three companies are from the different sec-tors; however, they demonstrate similarities in entrepreneurial features as well as behaviour patterns. Data for the case study were collected through secondary sources as well as semistructured interviews with CEOs’ – SOL Palvelut Vice-President for international business, the President of Kalevala Koru Group, and City of Vantaa Business Development manager. The research could be extended to the broader sample in the same sector. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to carry out the study in different countries with developing economies to test and compare the findings of the research. However, the paper applies entrepreneurial organization theory in order to illustrate the challenges that transitional and developing countries’ institutions face in a rapidly changing external environment, and contributes to the development of the debate on the application of business management model in organizations with different characteristics, i.e. objectives, size, sector, etc.
Comparative Quantitation of Lymphoma Gene Signatures in Parallel FormalinFixed Paraffin Embedded and Frozen Tissue Lymph Nodes

Abstract Microarray gene expression profiling of frozen samples has identified Indicator genes predictive outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) and there is a now a need to translate these to use in routine clinical material. In order to evaluate the use of Indicator genes as a diagnostic tool in routinely processed formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPET), we used a simple, practical polyA PCR based method for analysis of Indicator genes in DLBCL and FL, using parallel FFPET and frozen tissue lymph nodes. PolyA PCR was used to generate polyA cDNAs from 42 archival FFPET lymph nodes and 42 parallel frozen tissue lymph nodes. These polyA cDNAs were assayed by real-time PCR for 35 Indicator genes, identified from previous microarray studies, predictive of outcome in FL and DLBCL, together with housekeeping genes. Housekeeping genes were detectable at high levels in all cases, though the 35 Indicator genes were expressed at lower levels. There was statistically significant difference in gene expression between DLBCL and FL for one of the Indicator genes, HSP27 (p ≤ 0.02). There was no correlation between the Indicator gene expression levels in the FFPET and frozen lymph nodes. The results demonstrate that gene expression in FFPET is altered from that in frozen tissue and that gene expression data from frozen tissue is therefore not transferable for use in FFPET.