Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing success in first-year Accounting at a South African university: The profile of a successful first-year Accounting student

The study investigated factors influencing success of first-year students in Financial Accounting at a South African university, thereby establishing a profile of successful and at-risk students. A two step process was followed to achieve the goals of the study. Firstly, the significance of a number of factors influencing students’ ability to succeed was statistically tested to determine the possible correlation between specific factors and students’ success. The most important factors in determining success of students in the module include average Grade 12 mark, whether students had Accounting as a subject at secondary school, class attendance, home language (Afrikaans or English), and the programme within which students were enrolled. Secondly, the simultaneous effect of all these factors was determined by means of a multivariate technique to derive a profile of successful and at-risk students. The results show general trends that could inform admission decisions and guide the implementation of interventions for at-risk students, while academically stimulating the highly successful students.
X-Ray Lung Image Enhancement by SpatialFiltering

The problem with lung radiological imaging techniques such as CT, HRCT, MRI and X-Ray is that, it is not that easy for the Physicians to detect most of the major diseases related with the lungs just by visualizing image, although in some cases it is possible, but till that time diseases has reached the next stage. The problem with images is that at a time, they may be blurred, out of focus, improperly bright and noisy, which makes the examination more difficult. One more problem is the pixel intensity level, which is same for the tissues. One of the solutions to all above problems can be image Enhancement, although it does not give us the assurance of high quality outcomes. Image Enhancement methods are broadly categorized into spatial and frequency domain [9]. Spatial domain is our subject of concerned.
Osteochondral Fracture of the Distal Lateral Femoral Condyle: A Report of Two Cases

Osteochondral fractures of the lateral femoral condyle are uncommon injuries. These fractures often are misdiagnosed, and the majority of the cases reported have been managed with surgical excision. We present 2 cases of osteochondral fractures of the lateral femoral condyle. Both patients were treated with open reduction internal fixation of their fractures. A lateral approach to the posterolateral aspect of the distal femur is described.
Cooking “Shrimp à la Créole”: A pilot study of an ecological rehabilitation in semantic dementia

New learning in semantic dementia (SD) seems to be tied to a specific temporal and spatial context. Thus, cognitive rehabilitation could capitalise upon preserved episodic memory and focus on everyday activities which, once learned, will have an impact in everyday life. This pilot study thus explores the effectiveness of an ecological approach in one patient suffering from SD. EC, a 68-year-old woman with SD, stopped cooking complex meals due to a substantial loss of knowledge related to all food types. The therapy consisted of preparing a target recipe. She was asked to generate semantic attributes of ingredients found in one target, one control and two no-therapy recipes. The number of recipes cooked by EC between therapy sessions was computed. She was also asked to prepare a generalisation recipe combining ingredients from the target and control recipes. EC's generated semantic attributes (GSA) of ingredients pertaining to the target and control recipes increased significantly (p < .001), compared to the no-therapy recipes (ps > .79). The proportion of meals cooked also increased significantly (p = .021). For the generalisation recipe, she could not succeed without assistance. Frequent food preparation may have provided EC with new memories about the context, usage and appearance of some concepts. These memories seem very context-bound, but EC nonetheless re-introduced some recipes into her day-to-day life. The impact of these results on the relationship between semantic, episodic and procedural memory is discussed, as well as the relevance of an ecological approach in SD.
The Audit Process: Principles, Practice and Cases

1 Why are auditors needed? 2 An overview of the postulates and concepts of auditing 3 The meaning and importance of auditor independence: factors affecting independence and measures to attain it 4 Audit regulation 5 The risk-based approach to audit: audit judgement 6 The search for evidence explained 7 Systems work: basic ideas 1 8 Systems work: basic ideas 2 9 Testing and evaluation of systems 10 Substantive testing, computer-assisted audit techniques and audit programmes 11 Sampling and materiality 12 Final work: general principles, analytical review of financial statements, non-current assets and trade receivables 13 Final work: specific problems related to inventories, construction contracts and trade payables 14 Final review: post-balance sheet period, provisions, contingencies, letter of representation 15 Assurance engagements and internal audit 16 The auditors' report 17 Fraud and going concern 18 The audit expectations gap and corporate governance 19 The auditor and liability under the law 20 Criticisms and developments in auditing 21 Examination hints and final remarks
Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers Are Responsible for the Vast Majority of Mutations Induced by UVB Irradiation in Mammalian Cells*

The most prevalent DNA lesions induced by UVB are the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and the pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts ((6-4)PPs). It has been a long standing controversy as to which of these photoproduct is responsible for mutations in mammalian cells. Here we have introduced photoproduct-specific DNA photolyases into a mouse cell line carrying the transgenic mutation reporter genes lacI andcII. Exposure of the photolyase-expressing cell lines to photoreactivating light resulted in almost complete repair of either CPDs or (6-4)PPs within less than 3 h. The mutations produced by the remaining, nonrepaired photoproducts were scored. The mutant frequency in the cII gene after photoreactivation by CPD photolyase was reduced from 127 × 10−5 to 34 × 10−5 (background, 8–10 × 10−5). Photoreactivation with (6-4) photolyase did not lower the mutant frequency appreciably. In the lacI gene the mutant frequency after photoreactivation repair of CPDs was reduced from 148 × 10−5 to 28 × 10−5(background, 6–10 × 10−5). Mutation spectra obtained with and without photoreactivation by CPD photolyase indicated that the remaining mutations were derived from background mutations, unrepaired CPDs, and other DNA photopoducts including perhaps a small contribution from (6-4)PPs. We conclude that CPDs are responsible for at least 80% of the UVB-induced mutations in this mammalian cell model.
STAT3 activation is sufficient to maintain an undifferentiated state of mouse embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells can be maintained in an undifferentiated state in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). LIF acts through a receptor complex composed of a low affinity LIF receptor (LIFRβ) and gp130. We reported that the intracellular domain of gp130 plays an important role in self‐renewal of ES cells. In the present study, we examined the signaling pathway through which gp130 contributes to the self‐renewal of ES cells. Mutational analysis of the cytoplasmic domain of gp130 revealed that the tyrosine residue of gp130 responsible for STAT3 activation is necessary for self‐renewal of ES cells, while that required for SHP2 and MAP kinase activation was dispensable. Next, we constructed a fusion protein composed of the entire coding region of STAT3 and the ligand binding domain of the estrogen receptor. This construction (STAT3ER) induced expression of junB (one of the targets of STAT3) in ES cells in the presence of the synthetic ligand 4‐hydroxytamoxifen (4HT), thereby indicating that STAT3ER is a conditionally active form. ES cells transfected with STAT3ER cultured in the presence of 4HT maintained an undifferentiated state. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that STAT3 activation is required and sufficient to maintain the undifferentiated state of ES cells.
Corporate Governance Characteristics and Earnings Management: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the efficiency of corporate governance characteristics in reducing earnings management among the listed firms of Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchange, China. We took abnormal working capital accruals as a proxy for earning management. In this paper, we used modified Jones Model in order to calculate discretionary accruals (DAC). The sample comprises of 1009 firms over the period of 4 years from 2002 to 2006. The study essentially shows that the corporate governance characteristics play a vital role in reducing the earning management. We found a significantly positive association between earning management and different corporate governance characteristics such as CEO duality, board meetings, females directors and concentrated ownership. We lacked evidences to find relationship between board size, director’s shareholdings and proportion of independent directors with DAC as well as between the presence of audit committee and DAC. These studies will broaden the scope of the relationship between earning management and corporate governance characteristics. Very few studies have been conducted in this area especially for the Chinese listed firms with empirical evidences given. A variety of corporate governance variables are used especially board sex ratio in this analysis.
Effector cells involved in nonspecific and antibody-dependent mechanisms directed against Plasmodium falciparum blood stages in vitro

We have evaluated in in vitro conditions the possible cooperative effect of antimalarial antibodies with several human blood cell types. When used alone, immunoglobulin G from African adults who had reached a state of premunition against malaria was found to have no or very limited direct effect on invasion and multiplication of P. falciparum asexual blood stages. In contrast, these antibodies induced a marked specific inhibition of parasite growth in the presence of normal blood monocytes, and the inhibition did not appear to be strain dependent. No similar antibody-dependent cellular inhibitory effect was found using human blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, platelets, or adherent spleen cells. However, these cells could all exert in vitro some non-antibody-dependent inhibitory effect when present at high effector/target cell ratios.
Expatriation in Europe: Factors and Insights

Much of today’s academic literature on expatriation and the process of managing expatriates comes from North American researchers and aims to explain the process in North American multinational companies. However, in recent years, there has been increasing interest and research into International Human Resource Management in Europe, as a result of globalization and market integration. This paper examines past and current expatriation processes and practices in Europe. Special attention is devoted to comparisons and contrasts to patterns found in North America.
Effects of Self-Efficacy and Dispositional Optimism on Adherence to Step Aerobic Exercise Classes

This study investigated the effects of generalized and domain-specific expectancies on participation in 8 weeks of step aerobic-exercise classes. 154 university students and staff who registered for step aerobic classes completed measures of aerobic self-efficacy and dispositional optimism prior to attending their first class. Attendance was taken at each session by the instructors. A split at the median on attendance classified participants as dropouts or adherers. Analysis indicated that adherers scored significantly higher on self-efficacy than did dropouts. Adherers and dropouts did not differ on dispositional optimism.
Intensity-based statistical features for classification of lungs CT scan nodules using artificial intelligence techniques

A computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) system for effective and accurate pulmonary nodule detection is required to detect the nodules at early stage. This paper proposed a novel technique to detect and classify pulmonary nodules based on statistical features for intensity values using support vector machine (SVM). The significance of the proposed technique is, it uses the nodules features in 2D & 3D and also SVM for the classification that is good to classify the nodules extracted from the image. The lung volume is extracted from Lung CT using thresholding, background removal, hole-filling and contour correction of lung lobe. The candidate nodules are extracted and pruned using the rules based on ground truth of nodules. The statistical features for intensity values are extracted from candidate nodules. The nodule data are up-samples to reduce the biasness. The classifier SVM is trained using data samples. The efficiency of proposed CAD system is tested and evaluated using Lung Image Consortium Database (LIDC) that is standard data-set used in CAD Systems for Lungs Nodule classification. The results obtained from proposed CAD system are good as compare to previous CAD systems. The sensitivity of 96.31% is achieved in the proposed CAD system.
Image segmentation model based on adaptive adjustment of global and local information

In this article, an adaptive mixture model for image segmentation that synthesizes both global information and local information using a new adaptive balance function has been proposed. Given the variety of possible image characteristics that may have to be processed, the proposed model can adaptively adjust the weighting to drive curve evolution trends and states. In this way, the intensity information of weak boundaries and complex backgrounds can be extracted more precisely, thus enabling the model to produce better results for low‐contrast images and complex structures. In addition, a Gaussian filtering process has been added to the model to smooth and standardize the level set function, and a parameter has been introduced to speed up the curve evolution. A penalty term is also used to eliminate the need for complex re‐initialization procedures. Experimental results for various kinds of images efficiently demonstrate the good performance of the proposed model in terms of both speed and accuracy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 26, 179–187, 2016
Recovery from aspermia induced by low‐dose radiation in seminoma patients

Gonadal dosimetry and spermatogenic activity was monitored in patients given radiation therapy (RT) after unilateral orchiectomy for seminoma. The RT given was, with minor variations, 3200 rad in 16 fractions in four weeks to the para‐aortic and ipsilateral pelvic inguinal lymphatics in order to include the orchiectomy scar. The incidental amount of radiation to the remaining testicle averaged 78.4 ± 7.4 rad and ranged from 32–178 rad as determined by thermoluminescent dosimetry. Induction of aspermia was documented in ten out of 14 patients who received over 65 rad to the gonad. At lower doses, aspermia may not have occurred or was of short duration. Recovery of sperm in the semen occurred in 12 patients within 30–80 weeks after start of treatment. The data suggest that the time of recovery may be dose dependent within the range of 19–148 rad. During the period of recovery, patients with oligospermic semen may be fertile and should be so advised.
Essays on Loan Pricing and the Credit Channel of Monetary Policy

Credit channel as a channel of influence of financial factors on the real economy has been an intensive subject of both theoretical and empirical research during the last twenty years. Leena Morttinen's doctoral dissertation deals with several topics in this area. The first essay studies the pricing of bank loans using the cross-section data from Finnish Savings banks. In the rest of the essays some issues that arise when firms may be financially constrained are analyzed by using two panel data sets from Finnish firms. The second essay investigates the possible real effects of monetary policy contractions on inventory investment when firms become dependent on internal finance under credit rationing. The third edday considers whether the effects of monetary policy are substantial enough to increase the demand for trade credit and which firms can resort to trade credit under tight monetary policy.
Cytotoxicity analysis of EDTA and citric acid applied on murine resident macrophages culture.

AIM To assess the ex vivo cytotoxicity of EDTA and citric acid solutions on macrophages. METHODOLOGY The cytotoxicity of 17% EDTA and 15% citric acid was evaluated on murine macrophage cultures using MTT-Tetrazolium method [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide]. A total of 5 x 10(5) cells were plated in medium culture with 17% EDTA or 15% citric acid. Fresh medium was used as a control. Toxicity values were analysed statistically by anova and Tukey's test (P<0.05) at short (0, 6, 12, 24 h) and medium periods (1, 3, 5, 7 days), using ELISA absorbance. RESULTS On the short term, both EDTA (0.253 nm) and citric acid (0.260 nm) exhibited cytotoxic effects on macrophage cultures (P<0.05). On the medium term, statistical differences were observed (P<0.05) between the groups. EDTA (0.158 nm) and citric acid (0.219 nm) were cytotoxic when compared with the control group; EDTA-reduced macrophage viability significantly more than citric acid (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both EDTA and citric acid had effects on macrophages cells ex vivo, but citric acid was less toxic in periods from 1 to 7 days of use.
Microleakage reduction using glass-ceramic inserts.

Thirty human non-carious specimens were used in this in vitro study. The specimens were divided into three groups of 10 each: Group 1: incremental fill: Group 2: Beta-Quartz glass-ceramic inserts: Group 3: pre-cured resin composite inserts. All restorations were placed with TPH resin composite. The specimens were thermocycled and sectioned. Microleakage was determined on a scale of 0 (no microleakage) to 5 (microleakage extending to the axial wall). Results of the study indicated that Beta-Quartz glass-ceramic inserts and incrementally placed resin composite restorations exhibited significantly less microleakage compared to pre-cured resin composite inserts (P < .03, Chi-Square Test).
Potential Treatment Modalities for Glaucomatous Neuropathy: Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration

PurposeThis article presents the rationale and an experimental strategy for the development of new treatment modalities for glaucomatous neuropathy. Accumulating evidence suggests that regardless of the primary trigger of the retinal and optic nerve damage in glaucoma, the disease will continue to progress even when the cause is removed. The resulting damage can be mimicked by the progression of damage secondary to an acute partial crush injury at the optic nerve head. Such secondary damage includes degeneration of the directly injured optic nerve fibers culminating in death of their cell bodies, as well as degeneration of nerve fibers that escaped acute injury but nevertheless deteriorate as a result of their exposure to injury-induced mediators of secondary degeneration released by the directly affected neurons. ConclusionWe therefore propose that substances found to be effective in rescuing fibers from secondary degeneration and in increasing the survival rate or prolonging survival of retinal ganglion cells in the partially lesioned optic nerve may be useful for the treatment of glaucoma. The new approach does not replace hypotensive therapy, but addresses the glaucoma-induced damage by promoting nerve protection and neuroregeneration.
Socially Responsible Investment in the USA : evolution of the shareholder advocacy to improve social performance of the firms. Updating a database for a longitudinal study

The aim of this report is to analyze the Socially Responsible Investment in the USA from the shareholder's point of view. Based on the rule 14a-8, dissatisfied investors or activists may submit proposal to be implemented in order to improve social, societal and environmental performances of a firm; they may change the firm strategy through their proposals. The internship mission consisted of updating a database from 1997 to 2007. This database results from the merging of two databases; one with data from 1997 to 2004, and one containing new data from 2005 to 2007. Observations are made from this constructed database containing nature of 3,428 filed resolutions, targeted companies, resolution's outcomes and filers. Empirical analysis reveals that while religious and individual investors are becoming less present, resolutions submitted by mutual funds, public pension funds and advocacy groups come at the front of the stage. In the same way, propositions concerning abortion and contraception and tobacco and military involvement are getting less important whereas energy and environment, animal rights and political involvement questions are increasing. Assuming that Socially Responsible Investment is a growing phenomenon, this report contributes to knowledge about the nature of the resolutions and their vote, and the involvement of filers.
Isolation of Mycoplasma meleagridis from turkeys in Japan.

Serological and biochemical studies were performed with 86 Mycoplasma strains isolated from airsacculitis, trachea, eye cavity, oropharynx and cloaca of a total of 50 turkeys raised in two farms in Miyazaki. In addition, 4 strains originating from the oropharynxes of 2 out of 3 turkeys raised in a farm in Tokyo and affected with airsacculitis were examined. Forty-six strains from Miyazaki and one strain from Tokyo were identified as Mycoplasma meleagridis. The remainder, 43 strains, was serologically identified as M. gallinarum (4 strains), serogroup D (5), serogroup I (18) and unidentified (16). Biochemically, M. meleagridis was characterized by being positive for the production of phosphatase and breakdown of arginine. Contamination with M. meleagridis among turkeys reared in many parts of Japan is suggested.
Brand Engagement on Facebook Based on Mobile Phone Operators' Activity Within Four European Countries

In the online marketing there is currently a growing interest in dig ital interactivity, especially in consumer activity in social media. Infor mation technology is empowering consumers, and their role is shifting from being passive recipients of information to becoming actively en gaged with the brand1. One of the fastest growing and most popular social networks ever to be launched is Facebook. With nearly 800 million users who generate billions of pieces of content, the social network has a larger population than most countries2. According to Syncapse empirical re search3, the average value of brand Fans on Facebook in key consumer categories in 2012 was $174.17! It means that it is no longer just a web site for teenagers, who connect with friends, but a serious marketing channel. This article highlights the concept of brand engagement on Face book – the theoretical part describes the idea of a Page, its elements, mo tives that drive fans to join the community, along with the overview of strategies that rise brand en-