Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of national culture on corporate social responsibility disclosure: a cross-country comparison

ABSTRACT This article presents a cross-country analysis of the influence of national culture on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure. We analyse the relationship between the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and the sustainability disclosure with the GDP per capita (GDPPC) of 44 countries, using panel data with information based on the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. The governance effectiveness and the foreign direct investment are also included in the analysis. The results show that in countries with higher GDPPC, the CSR disclosure is negatively related to individualism and masculinity and positively related to uncertainty avoidance and indulgence. When focusing in countries with lower GDPPC, the results suggest that CSR disclosure is negatively related to power distance and positively related to uncertainty avoidance. Moreover, five of the six Hofstede’s cultural dimensions negatively affect sustainability disclosure in countries with middle GDPPC.
Automatic Segmentation of Manipuri (Meiteilon) Word into Syllabic Units

The work of automatic segmentation of a Manipuri language (or Meiteilon) word into syllabic units is demonstrated in this paper. This language is a scheduled Indian language of Tibeto-Burman origin, which is also a very highly agglutinative language. This language usages two script: a Bengali script and Meitei Mayek (Script). The present work is based on the second script. An algorithm is designed so as to identify mainly the syllables of Manipuri origin word. The result of the algorithm shows a Recall of 74.77, Precision of 91.21 and F-Score of 82.18 which is a reasonable score with the first attempt of such kind for this language.
Effect of spice-incorporated starch edible film wrapping on shelf life of white shrimps stored at different temperatures.

BACKGROUND White shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) are a major aquaculture product in the world fishery market. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of clove- and cinnamon-assimilated starch edible films on the shelf life of white shrimps in terms of maintaining their freshness and other organoleptic properties. Physical, chemical, microbial and sensory qualities of edible film-wrapped white shrimps were studied until they reached their limit of acceptability during storage at different temperatures (10 and 4 °C). RESULTS Shrimp samples wrapped with spice-assimilated edible films showed lower bacterial counts. Shelf life extension of edible film-wrapped white shrimps was estimated to be 14 and 12 days for storage at 10 and 4 °C respectively. Reduced lipid oxidation and release of nitrogen base compounds were noted for edible film-wrapped shrimp samples. Good consumer acceptance was noted for edible film-wrapped shrimp samples through sensory evaluation. CONCLUSION The results of this study show that spice-fused edible films were effective in inhibiting the growth of microbial populations. Reductions in lipid oxidation and total volatile base nitrogen were also achieved through edible film wrapping of shrimps, which increased their consumer acceptance during sensory evaluation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
The Pregnant Hepatitis B Carrier: Evidence Favoring Comprehensive Antepartum Screening

The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among 15,399 gravidas screened in the prenatal clinic at Charity Hospital of Louisiana in New Orleans was 0.88%. The race-specific prevalence was 0.56% for whites, 0.62% for blacks, and 8.8% for Orientals. Identifiable risk factors could not be found for approximately half of the hepatitis B surface antigen-positive women. Comprehensive antepartum hepatitis B screening is recommended, based upon the significant risk of perinatal transmission to the neonate and upon the failure of selective screening to identify the majority of maternal hepatitis B surface antigen carriers in our population. The cost-effectiveness of general antepartum screening compares favorably with current blood bank hepatitis screening costs.
A rapid, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction test for the identification of pathogens in bronchoalveolar lavage samples

BACKGROUND Standard bacteriologic culture techniques offer results within 2 days to 3 days, precluding a focused and timely antibiotic therapy in ventilated trauma patients. Our laboratory developed a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test that can detect 25 different bacteria and fungi and methicillin resistance and offers results within 3 hours. The objective of this study was to compare the qPCR method to standard culture techniques. METHODS This was a prospective observational cohort study at a Level I trauma center from 2009 to 2012. Adult trauma patients on ventilation, receiving at least one bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with culture results were eligible for inclusion. DNA was isolated from the BAL samples and analyzed in 96-well plates using qPCR. Student’s t tests were used to examine differences in mean qPCR cycle counts. Sensitivities, specificities, negative predictive values, and positive predictive values were calculated for the qPCR primer sets. RESULTS There were 28 BALs in the study. The qPCR method detected a total of 165 organisms, and culture methods found 54. The qPCR test had an overall sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 74%, negative predictive value of 98%, and positive predictive value of 27%. Those organisms that were only identified through qPCR had significantly less DNA than those identified through both qPCR and quantitative culture (28.8 vs. 23.3, p < 0.001). Concurrent antibiotic therapy was found to decrease the qPCR specificity in some primer sets, and methicillin resistance was only found in BAL samples that were concurrent with antibiotics. CONCLUSION The qPCR method shows promising initial diagnostic value. Many of the organisms not identified by quantitative culture had late cycle calls, suggesting that they might have been in quantities too low to result in culture identification. Once refined, our qPCR method has the potential to identify pathogens faster and earlier than standard quantitative culture methods, allowing for targeted antibiotic therapy within 3 hours. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic test, level II
Test case generation for information systems using reverse engineering techniques

Testing has a very important role in Software development, implying about a half of the total cost. Its automation tries to minimize these costs and increase the productivity. Whilst there are many well-known solutions for some tasks (such as test case execution), test case and test data generation in information systems which use databases is particularly complex. In this article we propose the automatic generation of test cases to verify information systems that store their data in relational databases. For this we work on a metamodel based on UML (automatically extracted with reverse engineering mecanisms) that represents the data model and the business rules. Applying pattern-matching techniques on this metamodel we detect interesting test situation, for which we generate test cases and their corresponding test data in order to reach the defined coverage criteria on the data model.
Perceptions of Scratch Programming among Secondary School Students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Scratch programming was designed with the aim of helping students to develop their logical thinking skills as well as enhancing their problem-solving capabilities, without having the technical distractions associated with more advanced programming languages such as Java. This study, guided by the technology acceptance model (TAM), focused on exploring the associations between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude towards use, and behavioural intention to use the Scratch programming language, with the aim of identifying how Scratch programming was perceived by a group of South African students in Grades 10 and 11 at two high schools. Results indicated, among other things, that Grade 10 students perceived Scratch to be easy to use and useful, and Grade 11 students found it to be easy to use but useful only in learning introductory programming concepts. These and other findings suggest that while Scratch helps students understand logic and problem-solving, it does not assist sufficiently in preparing them for using a higher-level programming language such as Java. The article concludes with recommendations for South African education policymakers, including proposals that a bridging programming language be introduced between Scratch and Java, and that Scratch be introduced much earlier
Sentinel Lymph Node Evaluation in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) radiolocalization in N0 neck in squamous cell head and neck carcinoma and its predictive value for occult metastasis. Study Design: Nineteen patients of an open prospective trial. SETTING: After peritumoral injection of a 99m Tc labeled radiocolloid, the SLN was localized preoperatively by lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperatively through the intact skin by a hand-held gamma-probe. The histology of the SLN and the nodes of the elective neck dissection were compared. RESULTS: Localization of the SLN by lymphoscintigraphy was possible in 18 of 19, and with the handheld gamma-probe in all 19 patients. Six SLN revealed occult metastatic disease. No skip metastasis were found in the 13 neck specimen with negative SLN. CONCLUSION: SLN evaluation in N0 neck in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is accurately feasible and seems to adequately predict the presence of occult metastasis.
Exploring the antecedents of municipal managers’ attitudes towards citizen participation

ABSTRACT Meaningful and representative citizen participation depends greatly on administrators’ attitudes. This study examines antecedents of municipal managers’ attitudes towards citizen participation based on their perceptions of its likely contributions and costs. Using data from two American states – New Jersey and Pennsylvania – the research found that a manager’s professional identity and knowledge of successful peer group practices involving citizens influenced both perceptions. In addition, the research found that institutional factors such as red tape and city council diversity influenced a manager’s perceptions about the cost of citizen involvement. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Promoting Stair Climbing: Intervention Effects Generalize to a Subsequent Stair Ascent

Purpose. Studies report a significant increase in stair use when message prompts are introduced at the “point of choice” between stairs and escalators. Climbing one set of stairs, however, will not confer meaningful health dividends. Therefore, this study examined whether exposure to point of choice prompts also encouraged individuals to climb the next set of stairs that they encountered. Design. Interrupted time-series design. Settings. Two separate stair/escalator pairings within a U.K. shopping mall (the “intervention” site and the “generalization” site), separated by a 25-m long atrium. Subjects. Ascending pedestrians (intervention site n = 29,713; generalization site n = 47,553). Interventions. Two weeks of baseline monitoring were followed by a 13-week intervention in which banners carrying health promotion messages were introduced at the intervention site only. Measures. At both sites observers inconspicuously recorded pedestrians' methods of ascent, along with their gender, age, ethnicity, and baggage. Results. Banners increased stair climbing at the intervention site by 161%. Results also suggested a simultaneous increase of up to 143% at the generalization site, where no prompt was in place. At both sites stair use remained significantly elevated 5 weeks after the banners were removed. Conclusions. It appears that exposure to point of choice prompts can encourage pedestrians to climb stairs when they are encountered in a subsequent setting. Consequently stair-climbing interventions are likely to engage the public in more physical activity than previously realized.
Chemopreventive Doses of Methylselenocysteine Alter Circadian Rhythm in Rat Mammary Tissue

Abstract It is known that organic forms of selenium inhibit chemically induced rat mammary carcinogenesis, although the molecular basis remains to be elucidated. To identify signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis that are also modulated by methylselenocysteine, we compared the global gene expression profiles in mammary tissues from pubescent female rats maintained on a selenium-supplemented (3 ppm) diet with those on a standardized diet after N-nitroso-N-methylurea. Whereas the selenium-enriched diet altered the steady-state levels of genes involved in various cellular functions, the most dramatic effect was the coordinated changes in the expression of multiple genes that regulate circadian rhythm. Normal mammary tissue of rats fed a standardized diet showed little circadian oscillation relative to liver tissue. By contrast, mammary tissue of rats maintained on the selenium-enriched diet showed a progressive, time-dependent increase in the expression of circadian gene Per2 and circadian-regulated transcription factor DBP. Our results further showed that the expression of Per2 and DBP mRNAs was significantly decreased in mammary tumors arising in rats on the selenium-enriched diet, but not in tumors of rats on the control diet, suggesting that selenium-induced elevation in the expression of circadian genes was incompatible with mammary carcinogenesis. Given the previously reported role of Per2 as a tumor suppressor, these observations suggest that Per2 is an important target of methylselenocysteine during chemoprevention in N-nitroso-N-methylurea–induced rat mammary carcinogenesis, and for the first time provide a link between chemoprevention and circadian rhythm.
Multivariable Control of the Bell 412 Helicopter

In December 2005 the first flight-test took place of an H-infinity controller on the National Research Council of Canada's Bell 412 Advanced Systems Research Aircraft (ASRA). The ASRA is a helicopter which has been modified for research use; it is equipped with a programmable digital full-authority fly-by-wire control system. This paper presents results from the test, and discusses the collaborative project within which it took place. The aim of the project is to develop control laws meeting handling qualities criteria and providing structural load alleviation and flight envelope protection. Piloted simulation using Liverpool's advanced flight simulator is a feature of the research. One of the first goals of the project was to produce simulation models of the test aircraft. The paper discusses how the new models were used in a control law design. Results from flight test of the control law are presented. Using linear analysis, closed-loop bandwidths of 4.2 rad/s in roll and 3.0 rad/s in pitch were accurately predicted
Human anti-mouse antibodies: pitfalls in tumor marker measurement and strategies for enhanced assay robustness; including results with Elecsys CEA.

Therapies using monoclonal antibodies may have undesirable consequences for the diagnostic use of tumor markers. These effects can be minimised by employing chimeric antibodies as well as special interference eliminating reagents. Human Anti-Mouse Antibodies (HAMA) are produced as a result of the immune response of a patient to treatment with murine monoclonal antibodies. The interaction of HAMA with the murine monoclonal antibodies of a tumor marker assay can simulate (false) positive or negative results leading to misdiagnosis and to inadequate disease management of a patient. To avoid HAMA-interferences "Roche Diagnostics" established a three-component-system: The use of chimeric antibodies, the interference elimination, which is realised in the parameters most frequently used like CEA and TSH. By employing such a chimeric antibody, Elecsys CEA proved to be extremely robust against HAMA-interferences. With 20 clinical relevant samples from different Mab-approaches, no HAMA-interference was observed. By fragmentation of the antibodies, i.e., elimination of the constant region and using monovalent fab-fragments (antigen binding fragment) combined with the addition of special blocking reagents all not-chimerized, Elecsys assays showed comparable results to chimerisation. This could also be shown with 20 clinical relevant samples.
AC-DC Matrix Converter with Positive and Negative Output Capacity in Unbalanced Grid

The study of AC-DC matrix converter under unbalanced power grid is mostly focused on the suppression of the two harmonic of output voltage. In this paper, the voltage type AC-DC matrix converter under unbalanced power network is studied, focusing on the control of the three-phase current in the grid side and the predictive unbalance control strategy with negative sequence voltage compensation is proposed. The strategy can suppress the current harmonics of the grid side, realize the unit power factor and the effect of grid side current sine and high balance under unbalanced power grid, and eliminate the grid side current distortion, in order to reduce the pollution to the power grid. In this strategy, new voltage feedforward quantity is get by the negative sequence voltage compensation and the number of regulators in the current loop in the dq frame is reduced, so that the controller parameter design is greatly simplified. And a de-re-couple SVM modulation strategy with voltage command signal basing on the positive and negative switching is proposed, so that it can meet the requirements of the AC-DC matrix converter with positive and negative output capacity under unbalanced network.
Strategies for differentiating infection in vaccinated animals (DIVA) for foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and avian influenza

The prophylactic use of vaccines against exotic viral infections in production animals is undertaken exclusively in regions where the disease concerned is endemic. In such areas, the infection pressure is very high and so, to assure optimal protection, the most efficient vaccines are used. However, in areas considered to be free from these diseases and in which there is the possibility of only limited outbreaks, the use of Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) or marker vaccines allows for vaccination while still retaining the possibility of serological surveillance for the presence of infection. This literature review describes the current knowledge on the use of DIVA diagnostic strategies for three important transboundary animal diseases: foot-and-mouth disease in cloven-hoofed animals, classical swine fever in pigs and avian influenza in poultry.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative and India’s Concerns

Abstract The successful conclusion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Summit in Beijing recently has raised a number of questions about India’s strategy to counter the Chinese project. The One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative which China is implementing along with other partners is primarily aimed at strengthening its economy which was impacted by the global financial crisis of 2008–2009. Through this flagship scheme China will develop large-scale projects in infrastructure such as roads, railway lines, sea ports and airports. Such extensive activity will ensure Chinese influence and clout in different parts of the world. The expanding role undertaken by Beijing via OBOR especially in South Asia has made India apprehensive. China has even bypassed India’s concern and contention on the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Hence, based on the above issues, the article examines India’s reservations, the response to the challenges posed by OBOR and the initiative’s long-term consequences.
Characterization of Denitrification and Nitrification in a Step‐Feed Alternating Anoxic–Oxic Sequencing Batch Reactor

This study was conducted to characterize the denitrification and nitrification in a bench‐scale sequencing batch reactor operating with a three‐stage, alternating anoxic–oxic sequence and step feed (SAOSBR) for treating synthetic wastewater. The results of long‐term operation and dynamic studies showed that the SAOSBR increased the availability of organic matter in wastewater for exogenous denitrification in anoxic periods, and subsequently allowed nitrification to occur under a lower organic loading in oxic periods. Comparatively high kinetic rates of 1.2 to 6.6 mg nitrate/g mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) · h for denitrification and 1.0 to 2.8 mg nitrogen/g MLSS · h for nitrification were found in dynamic studies. With sufficient influent organics and alkalinity, complete denitrification and full nitrification could be achieved sequentially in the alternating anoxic and oxic periods, resulting in an average total nitrogen removal efficiency up to approximately 90%. Alkalinity recovery because of exogenous denitrification was experienced, and a minimum influent alkalinity to total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) ratio of 2.4 was required to reach complete TKN removal. The pH value would be a better parameter other than oxidation–reduction potential or dissolved oxgyen to determine the completeness of nitrification and denitrification in the SAOSBR.
Vardenafil and Weaning from Inhaled Nitric Oxide: Effect on Pulmonary Hypertension in ARDS

We report a 66-year-old patient with refractory pulmonary hypertension secondary to ARDS who was being treated with inhaled nitric oxide. Enteral vardenafil (phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor) was tried at two different doses (10 mg and 5 mg), in order to wean the patient from nitric oxide. The higher dose decreased pulmonary pressure but caused systemic hypotension and the drug was discontinued. Subsequently, a 5 mg dose of vardenafil decreased pulmonary pressure without hypotension. Pulmonary hypertension was controlled using vardenafil 10-15 mg divided in 2-3 daily doses. This therapy allowed nitric oxide withdrawal, weaning from mechanical ventilation and discharge from ICU. Vardenafil acted in synergy with inhaled nitric oxide, permitted nitric oxide reduction and discontinuation and proved to be effective as a single, long-term treatment for pulmonary hypertension.
XpressEth: Concise and efficient converged real-time Ethernet

Owing to Ethernet's low cost, high bandwidth and architecture openness, much attention has been paid to develop converged Ethernet to support both time-critical services and conventional communication services on a unified network infrastructure. The greatest challenge here is providing low and deterministic latency for time-critical packets. Recently, the IEEE time sensitive networking task group is launched to address it. However, their framework is complex and unsuitable for commodity switch architecture. In this paper, we propose a concise and efficient converged real-time Ethernet framework called XpressEth, which leverages Dual Preemption mechanism to minimize the delay of time-critical packets, and employs a lightweight Slot Assignment Scheduler to minimize the conflicts among time-critical packets at sources. XpressEth cuts off great burden from both forwarding and scheduling. The simulation results verify that XpressEth can provide ultra-low and deterministic latency for time-critical packets (1.024µ s per hop and zero jitter in 1Gbps network), which is 13× better than time sensitive networking solution, and the side-effect on conventional communication traffic is negligible.