Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Consideration and Cost Estimation in Construction Projects Using Monte Carlo Simulation

Construction projects usually involve high investments. It is, therefore, a risky adventure for companies as actual costs of construction projects nearly always exceed the planed scenario. This is due to the various risks and the large uncertainty existing within this industry. Determination and quantification of risks and their impact on project costs within the construction industry is described to be one of the most difficult areas. This paper analyses how the cost of construction projects can be estimated using Monte Carlo Simulation. It investigates if the different cost elements in a construction project follow a specific probability distribution. The research examines the effect of correlation between different project costs on the result of the Monte Carlo Simulation. The paper finds out that Monte Carlo Simulation can be a helpful tool for risk managers and can be used for cost estimation of construction projects. The research has shown that cost distributions are positively skewed and cost elements seem to have some interdependent relationships.
An Optimal Resolution Steering Method for Geosynchronous Orbit SAR

For satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), the direction of the satellite velocity vector in the Earth-centered, Earth-fixed (ECEF) coordinate system varies widely in one orbital period. When the velocity vector is approximately parallel to the range direction at equatorial latitudes, the 2-D sidelobes of the generalized ambiguity function (GAF) on the ground are non-orthogonal, which results in a significant deterioration in the ground resolution. To improve the ground resolution, this study investigates an optimal resolution steering (ORS) method for GEO SAR. The ORS method differs from the total zero Doppler steering (TZDS) method, which attempts to minimize the Doppler centroid. In the ORS method, a beam pointing direction is derived based on the constraints of optimal ground resolution. Then, a 2-D roll-pitch strategy is derived to obtain small steering angles, and the beam is steered to the optimal beam pointing direction. Finally, the ORS method is verified with simulations.
Veterinarians and Student Loan Debt: Is the Burden Too Much?

United States student loan debt has escalated over the last decade and created public debate over the driving factors as well as the economic and social consequences. Despite repeated warnings about the effects of an uncontrolled student loan market, the available statistics showing all dimensions of the problem, and extensive literature on the causes of the increasing educational debt, the problem remains real in the United States. This paper uses 2016 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Census of Veterinarians data along with a survival model to determine the ability of veterinarians to service their educational debt and the effect of debt on wellness. While it may not be easy for them, it appears that most veterinarians have enough income to pay off their student debt. Veterinarians with student debt are more likely to own or co-own a private practice than those with no debt, which might be due to the need to finance purchase of the practice. The burden of carrying such debt has significant effects on veterinarians’ wellness: burnout and secondary traumatic stress scores increase with the level of debt.
Expression of Osteoclast Differentiation Signals by Stromal Elements of Giant Cell Tumors

The mechanisms by which primary tumors of the bone cause bone destruction have not been elucidated. Unlike most other lytic bone tumors, osteoclastomas, otherwise known as giant cell tumors (GCT), contain osteoclast‐like cells within the tumor stroma. A new member of the TNF‐ligand superfamily member, osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF/OPGL/RANKL/TRANCE), was recently identified. ODF was shown to directly stimulate osteoclastogenesis, in the presence of M‐CSF. In this study, the expression of ODF was examined in a number of tumor samples associated with bone lysis in vivo. In addition, we investigated expression of the ODF receptor on osteoclast precursors, RANK, as well as the ODF inhibitor osteoprotegerin (OPG), and another TNF‐ligand superfamily member, TRAIL, previously shown to abrogate the inhibitory effects of OPG. We report here the novel finding that GCT stromal cells contain abundant ODF mRNA, whereas the giant cell population exclusively expresses RANK mRNA. These results are consistent with the osteoclast‐mediated bone destruction by these tumors. We also report the expression of OPG and TRAIL mRNA in GCT samples. A comparison with other lytic and nonlytic tumors of bone showed that GCT express more ODF and TRAIL mRNA relative to OPG mRNA. In addition, GCT were found to express a number of cytokines previously reported to play central roles in osteoclastogenesis, namely, IL‐1, −6, −11, −17, as well as TNF‐α. Importantly, GCT were also found to express high levels of M‐CSF mRNA, a cytokine shown to be an essential cofactor of ODF, and a survival factor for mature and developing osteoclasts. Furthermore, expression of these molecules by stromal cells isolated from GCT continued in vitro. Thus GCT constitutively express all of the signals that are currently understood to be necessary for the differentiation of osteoclasts from precursor cells.
A Methodology for Assessing the Quality of Corporate Governance in Nigerian Banks

Effective corporate governance is becoming central to achieving success in the global business environment. Corporate governance rating entails attaching a measure to the quality of corporate governance mechanisms in organizations. Currently there is no industry-specific rating system in Nigeria which would factor in the peculiarities of the industry and thus bring out more meaningful and comparative ratings. This study designed a corporate governance rating structure for Nigerian banks, as a tool with which banks and other stakeholders can measure bank's corporate governance performance. This designed rating structure is industry (banking) specific, and utilizes a methodology designed majorly around the code of corporate governance for the banking industry issued by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in 2014. It is assumed that the banking industry aside the individual banks share some common culture and context, and as such developing a methodology around this industry would be invaluable. The resulting rating quotient is described as BI-CGQ (Banking IndustryCorporate Governance Quotient). The three pronged approach in this methodology used the following bases and weights in computing the BI-CGQ: Questionnaire Analysis (50%); Corporate Governance Disclosure Index (25%) and Loan Loss Index (25%). Its applicability was demonstrated in this research with the top 5 Nigerian banks which are listed among the leading 1000 Global Banks in 2014. Corporate governance quality was found to be evidently high in these top banks with BI-CGQ of 91.13% (GTB), 87.61% (Zenith), 89.58% (UBA), 91.36% (Access) and 82.62% (FBN). In addition to demonstrating the applicability of this methodology, computing BI-CGQ for these banks enabled the determination of commonalities in the assessed performance of individual banks across the governance areas examined, which illustrated possible common governance challenges in specific areas. Results showed that different standards and expectations are set by board of directors, shareholders and customers. Banks appeared to be more Page 92 International Journal of Development Strategies in Humanities, Management and Social Sciences Vol. 5. No. 2 November, 2015 ISSN Online: 2360-9004 ISSN Print: 2360-9036 http://internationalpolicybrief.org/journals/international-scientific-research-consortium-journals/intl-journal-of-development-strategies-in-humanities-vol5-no2 challenged in governance matters relating to charges and interest, the manner customers complaints are attended to, and the clarity of terms and conditions to customers. Inadequate disclosure was found to be more glaring on matters relating to board committees. In spite of the criticisms that trail the use of corporate governance ratings, the system remains a useful guide in assessing quality of governance.
Elevations in circulating calcitonin gene-related peptide correlate with hemodynamic deterioration during endotoxic shock in pigs.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a potent vasodilatory neuropeptide, which may play a role in vascular dysfunction during septic shock. Sixteen pigs (25-50 kg) were anesthetized with ketamine and isoflurane in O2, and administered 100 micrograms/kg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide i.v. (LPS; n = 8) or saline vehicle (n = 8). Pigs were instrumented for hemodynamic determinations and blood sampling for CGRP assay (pg/ml) from the portal vein (PV) and the pulmonary (PA) and carotid (CA) arteries. Blood samples were collected into EDTA and aprotinin before (baseline) and at 60, 120, and 180 min after LPS administration. LPS caused significant deterioration in indices of hemodynamic function and a significant increase in plasma CGRP concentration at all sampling sites by 120 min (P < 0.01). No significant difference between sampling sites was recorded at any time. Plasma CGRP concentrations displayed significant negative correlations with mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, and left ventricular stroke work. These data confirm our previous findings of CGRP elevations in endotoxemic rats, and indicate that 1) LPS is a potent stimulus for the systemic release of CGRP, 2) increasing plasma CGRP concentrations temporally correlates with cardiovascular deterioration during LPS shock, and 3) there is little evidence that the portal circulation is a major source of circulating CGRP levels during LPS shock. Vasoactive neuropeptides, such as CGRP, may interact with other documented mediators of vascular dysfunction in the pathogenesis of septic shock.
Survey regarding the corporate governance implementation in Romania.

Business world is a competitive world where only those who can adapt best to the market survive. Still, being successful from an economic stand-point does not refer to fraudulency, treacherous practice or complete exclusion of the competition. The existence of competition and need for profit does not get into conflict with accurate behaviour and respect for ethical standards. A company’s value increases depending on identifying and harmonizing the conflicts of interests that occur between the social partners of the company, especially between shareholders and managers. The harmonization of these interests is ensured by the corporate governance system which aims for the global performance of the company. The present study undertakes to research the impact of the Government’s emergency rule no. 109/2011 over 15 public entities/companies.
An Efficient Multiple Access Coordination Scheme for OFDMA WLAN

A new hybrid multiple access coordination scheme (HMAC) that increases channel utilization for orthogonal frequency-division multiple access wireless local area network is presented. This scheme is based on a mixture of centralized access control and distributed random access to maximize channel utilization. Remarkably, HMAC allows two schemes to function at the same time, not alternatively. Performance evaluation results show notable improvement on channel utilization, which is mainly based on the efficient way how we handle uplink traffic.
Whistleblowing vs. Random Audit: An Experimental Test of Relative Efficiency

This paper reports an experimental test of the relative efficiency of a whistleblowing‐based audit scheme compared to a random‐based audit scheme. We design a between‐subjects laboratory experiment with two treatments: a benchmark with a random‐based audit scheme and an alternative treatment in which taxpayers can blow the whistle. Compared to the benchmark, the whistleblowing‐based audit scheme (i) improves the targeting of evaders, (ii) decreases the monetary amount of tax evasion, and (iii) raises the tax levy.
PM2.5, Investor Sentiment, and Stock Returns

This paper investigates how PM2.5 affects the stock price of firms from heavy polluting industries and environment-friendly industries in China, applying the emotion cognition theory into the investor sentiment theory framework. We argue that PM2.5 will affect people’s emotion, which in turn, affect their investing decision. Meanwhile, people will attribute the release of PM2.5 to heavy polluting firms, when have better predictions for environment-friendly firms. The empirical results are consistent with the argument: PM2.5 has negative impact on stock price of heavy polluted firms, and has positive impact on environment-friendly industries firms. The results of this paper imply that capital market can play as an “invisible hand” to improve air quality of China.
Spectral dynamics of sibilant fricatives are contrastive and language specific.

Previous research has extensively investigated the spectral properties of sibilant fricatives with little consideration to how these properties vary over time. To investigate such spectro-temporal variation, productions of English /s/ and /ʃ/ and of Japanese /s/ and /ɕ/ in word-initial, prevocalic position were elicited from adult native speakers. The spectral dynamics of these productions were analyzed in terms of a psychoacoustic measure of peak frequency: "peak ERBN number. " Peak ERBN number was computed at 17 evenly spaced points across each fricative production. The resulting peak ERBN number trajectories were analyzed with orthogonal polynomial growth-curve models, to determine how peak frequency varied temporally within each fricative. Three analyses compared (1) the English sibilants to each other, (2) the Japanese sibilants to each other, and (3) English /s/ to Japanese /s/. The results indicated that, in both English and Japanese, the sibilant fricatives differ acoustically in terms of both static (i.e., overall level) and dynamic (i.e., shape) aspects of the peak ERBN number trajectories. Furthermore, English /s/ and Japanese /s/ exhibited language-specific differences in the shape, but not overall level, of peak ERBN number trajectories.
Children's Time Production for Concurrent Nontemporal Motor Tasks

An internal clock model has often been used to explain disruptions in timing production that occur when temporal and nontemporal tasks are performed simultaneously. In this study, participants' ability to walk 8 m in 8 sec. while executing various secondary concurrent nontemporal tasks was assessed for 16 children enrolled in sports at school. Children participated in six trials under five randomized task conditions involving different coordinative and cognitive workloads. The duration of timing production increased as the attention requirements or cognitive demands placed upon the completion of the task increased. However, participants also showed learning of timing over the six trials. Significant differences were found between the timing task and the concurrent nontemporal tasks depending on the difficulty and cognitive load of the secondary tasks. Results are discussed using attention models of time estimation and production.
Prion protein heterogeneity in sporadic but not variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease: U.K. cases 1991–2002

Human prion diseases can occur as an idiopathic disorder (sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease) or can be acquired, as is the case for variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. These disorders are characterized by the accumulation of a protease‐resistant form of the host‐encoded prion protein termed PrPSc in the brains of affected individuals. PrPSc has been proposed to be the principal, if not sole, component of the infectious agent, with its accumulation in the central nervous system the primary event leading to neurodegeneration. A major question remains as to whether self‐propagating structural differences in PrPSc might account for the clinicopathological diversity evident in Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and whether different prion protein types underlie the existence of different strains of causative agent. Here, we describe the results of a large‐scale biochemical study of PrPSc from autopsy‐proved cases of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (n = 59) and compare these with cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (n = 170) in the United Kingdom over the period 1991 to 2002. The results show PrPSc in variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease to be remarkably stereotyped. In contrast, considerable heterogeneity in PrPSc exists both between and within cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. Ann Neurol 2004;55:851–859
NK1, NMDA, 5HT1a, and 5HT2 Receptor Binding Sites in the Rat Lumbar Spinal Cord: Modulation Following Sciatic Nerve Crush

Quantitative receptor binding autoradiography was used to study the NK1, NMDA, 5HT1a, and 5HT2 receptor binding densities in the adult rat lumbar spinal cord from 3 days to 20 weeks following a unilateral crush lesion of the sciatic nerve. NK1 binding density increased unilaterally in the superficial dorsal horn on the side of the sciatic crush to reach levels 60% above controls by 4 weeks following the lesion and returned to control values by 12 weeks. NMDA binding density increased bilaterally and equally in both the dorsal and ventral horns to reach 300% of control values at 2 weeks following the crush and returned to near control values by 20 weeks following the lesion. Serotonergic receptor binding did not change. The changes in NK1 receptor binding density on postsynaptic dorsal horn cells are consistent with a response to the decrease and recovery in the synthesis and transport of tachykinins by the dorsal root ganglion cells following peripheral nerve injury. the bilateral changes in NMDA receptor binding are more likely mediated by polysynaptic pathways in the spinal cord that respond to the changes in metabolic events of the dorsal root ganglion cells evoked by axotomy and regeneration.
The Heidelberg classification of renal cell tumours

This paper presents the conclusions of a workshop entitled ‘Impact of Molecular Genetics on the Classification of Renal Cell Tumours’, which was held in Heidelberg in October 1996. The focus on ‘renal cell tumours’ excludes any discussion of Wilms' tumour and its variants, or of tumours metastatic to the kidneys. The proposed classification subdivides renal cell tumours into benign and malignant parenchymal neoplasms and, where possible, limits each subcategory to the most commonly documented genetic abnormalities. Benign tumours are subclassified into metanephric adenoma and adenofibroma, papillary renal cell adenoma, and renal oncocytoma. Malignant tumours are subclassified into common or conventional renal cell carcinoma; papillary renal cell carcinoma; chromophobe renal cell carcinoma; collecting duct carcinoma, with medullary carcinoma of the kidney; and renal cell carcinoma, unclassified. This classification is based on current genetic knowledge, correlates with recognizable histological findings, and is applicable to routine diagnostic practice. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lot Winning Rate and the Classification of Seasoned Equity Offerings: Evidence from Taiwan

This paper classifies two types of improved Season equity offerings (SEO) and regular SEO to investigate whether there are differential cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) around the announcement date of SEO in Taiwan. We find that regular SEO experiences negative CAR whereas improved SEO receive positive CAR during announcement period. The performance of regular SEO with large size firms and high B/M ratio is worse than that of improved SEO with small size firms and low B/M ratio
Guidelines for Visual-Sensitive EEG Testing

A high level of evidence does not exist for many aspects of testing for visual sensitivity. Evidenced-based studies are needed in several areas, including (i) reliability of LED-based stimulators, (ii) the most appropriate montages for displaying responses, (iii) testing during pregnancy, and (iv) the role of visual-sensitivity testing in the diagnosis of neurological disorders affecting the elderly and very elderly. Standardization of testing across the country will be an important step in filling the existing gaps of knowledge.
Reductive dehalogenation of dichloroanilines by anaerobic microorganisms in fresh and dichlorophenol-acclimated pond sediment

We investigated the transformation of 2,4-dichloroaniline (2,4-DiCA) and 3,4-DiCA to monochloroanilines (CA) in anaerobic pond sediment. Dechlorination of 3,4-DiCA to 3-CA started after a lag period of 3 weeks and was complete after an additional 5 weeks. Although 2,4-DiCA disappeared over 8 weeks, the appearance of a CA product could not be detected. In contrast, anaerobic bacteria in pond sediment acclimated to dehalogenate 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DiCP) or 3,4-DiCP rapidly dechlorinated 2,4-DiCA and 3,4-DiCA without any lag time. By comparison, anaerobic sediment bacteria acclimated to 3,4-DiCA rapidly degraded 3,4-DiCP without a lag. In all cases, the CA products were stable for the duration of the experiments. It is concluded that cross-acclimation occurred.
Mastery Biases Agent-Representation in Visual Perception of Handwritings

This study investigated whether normal adults were able to discriminate agency from the perceived traces or trajectories of past actions such as handwritings. Subjects wrote two types of component parts of Chinese characters, either mastered and unmastered, and were later shown various handwritten strokes and judged whether each of them had been written by themselves or by someone else. We found that people tended to answer that the handwritings had been written by others when they saw unmastered types of strokes, while they tended to answer that the handwritings had been written by themselves when they saw mastered types of strokes. This finding suggests a tight interplay among perception, self-consciousness, and memorized action in the motor system and adds to our knowledge about a higher order representation level in the agency recognition. Possible cognitive neuroscientific implications and engineering applications of the finding are also discussed.
The Global Impact of Container Inventory Imbalance and the Factors that Influence Container Inventory Management Strategies

Abstract Container shipping celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2016, as an innovation that had a tremendous impact on the global supply chain. This paper focuses on the impact of container inventory imbalance that mounts a substantial pressure on global supply chains. The primary objective of this paper is to explore best market practices and ascertain as to what factors influence these strategies. It also evaluates the impact of container inventory imbalance to the global supply chain. The study refers to interviews with industry experts and questionnaire responses from shipping lines operated in Sri Lanka in addition to the desk research to explain the impact of the container inventory problem in the global scale. If carriers provide the right quantity of containers demanded by exporters at the right location at the right time, the optimum supply chain performance could be guaranteed. The consequences of container fleet imbalances are ultimately borne by exporters, importers, consumers, traders and even—inadvertently—other players in the cargo supply chain of international trade. Therefore, carriers need an effective solution to the global container inventory imbalance problem. Keywords: Container Inventory Imbalance, Freight, Forecasting, Flexibility, Strategy