Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does donor proliferation in development aid for health affect health service delivery and population health? Cross-country regression analysis from 1995 to 2010

Background Previous literature suggests that increasing numbers of development aid donors can reduce aid effectiveness but this has not been tested in the health sector, which has experienced substantial recent growth in aid volume and number of donors. Methods Based on annual data for 1995-2010 on 139 low- and middle-income countries that received health sector aid from donors reporting to the OECD's Creditor Reporting System, the study used two-step system generalized method of moments regression models to test whether the number of health aid donors and an index of health aid donor fragmentation affect health services (measured by DTP3 immunization rate) or health outcomes (measured by infant mortality rate) for three subsectors of health aid. Results For total health aid and for the general and basic health aid subsector, controlling for economic and political conditions, increases in the number of donors were associated with increases in DTP3 immunization rate and reductions in infant mortality while increases in the donor fragmentation index were associated with decreases in DTP3 immunization rate and increases in infant mortality, though none of these relationships were statistically significant. For the population and reproductive health aid subsector, a one percent increase in the number of donors was associated with a 0.23 percent decrease in DTP3 immunization ( P < 0.01) while a one percent increase in donor fragmentation was associated with a 0.54 percent increase in DTP3 immunization rate ( P < 0.01); associations with infant mortality rates for this subsector were similar to those for total health aid. Conclusion The results do not provide clear evidence in support of the hypothesis that donor proliferation negatively impacts development results in the health sector. Aid effectiveness policy prescriptions should distinguish responses to donor proliferation versus donor fragmentation and be adapted to specific subsectors of health aid.
Reciprocal hybrid formation of Spartina in San Francisco Bay

Diversity in the tRNALEU1 intron of the chloroplast genome of Spartina was used to study hybridization of native California cordgrass, Spartina foliosa, with S. alterniflora, introduced to San Francisco Bay ≈ 25 years ago. We sequenced 544 bases of the tRNALEU1 intron and found three polymorphic sites, a pyrimidine transition at site 126 and transversions at sites 382 and 430. Spartina from outside of San Francisco Bay, where hybridization between these species is impossible, gave cpDNA genotypes of the parental species. S. foliosa had a single chloroplast haplotype, CCT, and this was unique to California cordgrass. S. alterniflora from the native range along the Atlantic coast of North America had three chloroplast haplotypes, CAT, TAA, and TAT. Hybrids were discriminated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) phenotypes developed in a previous study. We found one hybrid that contained a cpDNA haplotype unknown in either parental species (TCT). The most significant finding was that hybridization proceeds in both directions, assuming maternal inheritance of cpDNA; 26 of the 36 hybrid Spartina plants from San Francisco Bay contained the S. foliosa haplotype, nine contained haplotypes of the invading S. alterniflora, and one had the cpDNA of unknown origin. Furthermore, cpDNA of both parental species was distributed throughout the broad range of RAPD phenotypes, suggesting ongoing contributions to the hybrid swarm from both. The preponderance of S. foliosa cpDNA has entered the hybrid swarm indirectly, we propose, from F1s that backcross to S. foliosa. Flowering of the native precedes by several weeks that of the invading species, with little overlap between the two. Thus, F1 hybrids would be rare and sired by the last S. foliosa pollen upon the first S. alterniflora stigmas. The native species produces little pollen and this has low viability. An intermediate flowering time of hybrids as well as pollen that is more vigourous and abundant than that of the native species would predispose F1s to high fitness in a vast sea of native ovules. Thus, spread of hybrids to other S. foliosa marshes could be an even greater threat to the native species than introductions of alien S. alterniflora.
Identifying the Relationship Between Area Characteristics by Social Class and Bank Branches Distribution using GIS - Case Study of Tokyo 23 Wards -

Over the last few years, the financial service market has seen a proliferation of new players and channels by changes in the external environments. Banks have found themselves facing more aggressive competition, uncertainty and unlimited opportunities. Therefore, they must examine their strengths and opportunities and take a competitive position in the competitive marketplace. Furthermore, banks have to reconsider and reevaluate fundamental assumptions about how they reach their markets to build efficient branch marketing strategies. That is what market segmentation analysis is for awareness of their customers and marketplace. Specifically, GIS based these analyses by spatial data and attributes data such as demographic and socioeconomic data, and are relevant and useful to identify the area characteristics and find new market with similar characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relevance between area characteristic by social class and distribution characteristics of existing branches of five major banks in Tokyo 23 wards for making efficient bank branch strategies using GIS with socioeconomic data, major commercial banks data, and spatial data of Tokyo 23 wards.
Duration perception of emotional stimuli: Using evaluative conditioning to avoid sensory confounds

It has been found that emotional pictures are estimated to last longer than neutral ones. However, emotional and neutral stimuli often differ in their physical characteristics, too. Since this might also affect time perception, we present a method disentangling a possible confounding regarding the processing of physically different stimulus material. In the evaluative condition paradigm, participants, at first, learnt the association of neutral images with a certain Landolt ring and of emotional images with another Landolt ring with a different gap position. The conditioned Landolt rings were subsequently used in a temporal bisection task. In two experiments, the results revealed a temporal overestimation of Landolt rings conditioned with emotional pictures compared to neutral pictures showing that the temporal overestimation of emotional stimuli cannot be attributed to perceptual differences between neutral and emotional stimuli. The method provides the potential for investigating emotional effects on various perceptual processes.
Assessment of paediatric CT dose indicators for the purpose of optimisation.

OBJECTIVES To establish local diagnostic reference levels (LDRLs) at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Melbourne, Parkville, Australia, for typical paediatric CT examinations and compare these with international diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) to benchmark local practice. In addition, the aim was to develop a method of analysing local scan parameters to enable identification of areas for optimisation. METHODS A retrospective audit of patient records for paediatric CT brain, chest and abdomen/pelvis examinations was undertaken. Demographic information, examination parameters and dose indicators--volumetric CT dose index (CTDI(vol)) and dose-length product (DLP)--were collected for 220 patients. LDRLs were derived from mean survey values and the effective dose was estimated from DLP values. The normalised CTDI(vol) values, mAs values and scan length were analysed to better identify parameters that could be optimised. RESULTS The LDRLs across all age categories were 18-45 mGy (CTDI(vol)) and 250-700 mGy cm (DLP) for brain examinations; 3-23 mGy (CTDI(vol)) and 100-800 mGy cm (DLP) for chest examinations; and 4-15 mGy (CTDI(vol)) and 150-750 mGy cm (DLP) for abdomen/pelvis examinations. Effective dose estimates were 1.0-1.6 mSv, 1.8-13.0 mSv and 2.5-10.0 mSv for brain, chest and abdomen/pelvis examinations, respectively. CONCLUSION The RCH mean CTDI(vol) and DLP values are similar to or lower than international DRLs. Use of low-kilovoltage protocols for body imaging in younger patients reduced the dose considerably. There exists potential for optimisation in reducing body scan lengths and justifying the selection of reference mAs values. The assessment method used here proved useful for identifying specific parameters for optimisation. Advances in knowledge Assessment of individual CT parameters in addition to comparison with DRLs enables identification of specific areas for CT optimisation.
Evaluating the Contribution of Energy Storages to Support Large-Scale Renewable Generation in Joint Energy and Ancillary Service Markets

Energy storage systems (ESSs) are of great value to realize energy management and to support large-scale renewable generation. The combined operation of ESSs and renewables is one way to achieve output levelling and to improve the integration of sustainable energy. However, in a market-based environment, ESSs would make strategic decisions on self-schedules and arbitrage in energy and ancillary service markets, maximizing the overall profits. Will the strategic operation of ESSs promote renewable generation integration? To explicitly answer this question, this paper proposes a multi-period Nash-Cournot equilibrium model for joint energy and ancillary service markets to evaluate the contribution of the ESSs for supporting renewable generation. Then, a reformulation approach based on the potential function is proposed, which can transform the bi-level equilibrium model into an integrated single-level optimization problem to enhance the computation efficiency. Numerical examples are implemented to validate the effectiveness of the reformulation technique. The results of the case study indicate that the ESSs indirectly but substantially provide improved flexibilities while pursuing individual profit maximization.
Power control algorithm and architectures for fading communication channels

The present closed-loop power control algorithms in CDMA (code division multiple access) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) ignore the round-trip delay incurred in the measurement of the received signal power. However, in contrast to terrestrial systems, such a condition is not satisfied in the case of satellite channels. The round-trip delay for the geostationary satellite, for example, may be in the range of 250 to 500 msec (including the terrestrial delay) for a single-hop or two-hop system respectively and is not negligible, compared to the inverse channel fading bandwidth of 1 to 10 sec and hence any algorithm based on the assumption of negligible delay will not have satisfactory performance. This paper describes an algorithm based on an adaptive nonlinear predictor, which explicitly takes into account the propagation delay. For the case of systems employing explicit or implicit diversity, the paper also proposes a new architecture for power control. The paper presents many simulation examples on the performance of the new power control architecture and algorithm showing that the residual loss due to fading is made relatively negligible, compared to the case of nonfading channels
Turning up the Volume on Man’s Best Friend: Ethical Issues Associated with Commercial Dog Breeding

As the dog’s popularity as a human companion has grown, demand for purebred dogs has likewise escalated. Commercial breeding of dogs, which currently helps to meet such demands has become a point of social contention. The co-evolution of dogs and humans and the unique, familial relationships people have developed with them suggest that they are owed special consideration of their needs and interests that is independent of their utility to humans. Not surprisingly, opposition to commercial breeding enterprises has increased dramatically in the past decade in the US and abroad, spawning a growing number of legislative initiatives aimed at regulating such operations, which are widely believed to harm dogs. Among the most significant ethical problems embedded in commercial dog breeding are the potential for insults to the human-dog bond, failure to duly consider and meet duties of care to dogs, including dogs’ welfare needs and interests, and insufficient regulation of dog care standards. The shortage of published science on the actual conditions experienced by dogs in commercial breeding kennels complicates understanding of the nature and severity of problems as well as solutions. It is argued that despite the concerns associated with commercial dog breeding, abolishing the practice without identifying an ethically preferable alternative that meets demands could result in even worse consequences for dogs. Given this problem, commercial breeding could be ethically defensible under conditions that vastly reduce or eliminate potential for dog suffering, and with strict regulatory oversight of corresponding standards of care for dogs.
Sustainable assessment of chemical industries for policy advice : the case of the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Viet Nam

This document has been produced without formal United Nations editing. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or its economic system or degree of development. Designations such as “developed”, “industrialized” and “developing” are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of firm names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement by UNIDO.
Microbial life associated with low‐temperature alteration of ultramafic rocks in the Leka ophiolite complex

Water–rock interactions in ultramafic lithosphere generate reduced chemical species such as hydrogen that can fuel subsurface microbial communities. Sampling of this environment is expensive and technically demanding. However, highly accessible, uplifted oceanic lithospheres emplaced onto continental margins (ophiolites) are potential model systems for studies of the subsurface biosphere in ultramafic rocks. Here, we describe a microbiological investigation of partially serpentinized dunite from the Leka ophiolite (Norway). We analysed samples of mineral coatings on subsurface fracture surfaces from different depths (10–160 cm) and groundwater from a 50‐m‐deep borehole that penetrates several major fracture zones in the rock. The samples are suggested to represent subsurface habitats ranging from highly anaerobic to aerobic conditions. Water from a surface pond was analysed for comparison. To explore the microbial diversity and to make assessments about potential metabolisms, the samples were analysed by microscopy, construction of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene clone libraries, culturing and quantitative‐PCR. Different microbial communities were observed in the groundwater, the fracture‐coating material and the surface water, indicating that distinct microbial ecosystems exist in the rock. Close relatives of hydrogen‐oxidizing Hydrogenophaga dominated (30% of the bacterial clones) in the oxic groundwater, indicating that microbial communities in ultramafic rocks at Leka could partially be driven by H2 produced by low‐temperature water–rock reactions. Heterotrophic organisms, including close relatives of hydrocarbon degraders possibly feeding on products from Fischer–Tropsch‐type reactions, dominated in the fracture‐coating material. Putative hydrogen‐, ammonia‐, manganese‐ and iron‐oxidizers were also detected in fracture coatings and the groundwater. The microbial communities reflect the existence of different subsurface redox conditions generated by differences in fracture size and distribution, and mixing of fluids. The particularly dense microbial communities in the shallow fracture coatings seem to be fuelled by both photosynthesis and oxidation of reduced chemical species produced by water–rock reactions.
A super beta bipolar transistor using SiGe-base surface accumulation layer transistor(SALTran) concept: a simulation study

Current gain is an important design parameter of bipolar transistors. While a SiGe base is commonly used to increase the current gain, the recently reported surface accumulation layer transistor (SALTran) concept has been shown to give a similar current gain enhancement. Using two-dimensional numerical simulation studies, we show for the first time that a combination of the SiGe base and the SALTran concept can be used to realize super beta bipolar transistors with peak current gains more than 12000.
Can people perceive different emotions from a non-emotional voice by modifying its F0 and duration?

Forty-four stimuli were made from the unemotional utterance “eh” with duration changes (4 levels) and range of F0 (11 levels). Ten adult participants were asked to judge if the stimuli were congruent with the contexts (disagreement, hesitation, and agreement). Stimuli with rising tones tended to be identified as “surprise. ” On the other hand, stimuli with falling tones were identified as “postponement” when their duration was long, and were identified as “affirmation” when their duration was short. The results indicated that the duration and the ranges of F0 should be effective in identifying the contexts in which they were spoken.
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor α Induces Hepatic Expression of the Human Bile Acid Glucuronidating UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B4 Enzyme*

Glucuronidation, a major metabolic pathway for a large variety of endobiotics and xenobiotics, is catalyzed by enzymes belonging to the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) family. Among UGT enzymes, UGT2B4 conjugates a large variety of endogenous and exogenous molecules and is considered to be the major bile acid conjugating UGT enzyme in human liver. In the present study, we identify UGT2B4 as a novel target gene of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), which mediates the hypolipidemic action of fibrates. Incubation of human hepatocytes or hepatoblastoma HepG2 and Huh7 cells with synthetic PPARα agonists, fenofibric acid, or Wy 14643 resulted in an increase of UGT2B4 mRNA levels. Furthermore, treatment of HepG2 cells with Wy 14643 induced the glucuronidation of hyodeoxycholic acid, a specific bile acid UGT2B4 substrate. Analysis of UGT2B mRNA and protein levels in PPARα wild type and null mice revealed that PPARα regulates both basal and fibrate-induced expression of these enzymes in rodents also. Finally, a PPAR response element was identified in the UGT2B4 promoter by site-directed mutagenesis and electromobility shift assays. These results demonstrate that PPARα agonists may control the catabolism of cytotoxic bile acids and reinforce recent data indicating that PPARα, which has been largely implicated in the control of lipid and cholesterol metabolism, is also an important modulator of the metabolism of endobiotics and xenobiotics in human hepatocytes.
Tear Film Changes Associated with Normal Aging

We examined a group of normal subjects to evaluate the tear film function by measuring reflex tear capacity using the Schirmer test without anesthetic, steady state tear flow using fluorophotometry, meibomian gland function based on gland drop-out, expressible lipid volume and viscosity, tear loss from evaporation, and tear osmolarity. We found the average tear flow to be 0.19± 0.19µl/min, lower than previously measured. The average tear volume was also correspondingly less, 2.74±2.0 µ1. We found there was a decline associated with advancing age for all parameters except the decay constant and lipid volume. The highest correlations with aging were tear volume (-0.64), Schirmer test (-0.63), and tear osmolarity (0.59). Our results indicate that there is a decline in tear film function throughout life and that tear flow is considerably less than previously estimated.
Unequal entrepreneurs: why female enterprise is an uphill business

The report indicates that women business-owners are younger on average than male entrepreneurs - 43% are under 44 compared to 30% of men. Compared to their male equivalents, women entrepreneurs also have: less access to start-up capital, less management experience, are less welcome in the informal business networks that often provide vital support to small firms. The report concludes that these gender differences stifle both start-up and growth of businesses owned by women.
Simultaneous Determinants of Market Share and Advertising Expenditure under Dynamic Conditions: The Case of a Firm within the Japanese Pharmaceutical Industry

The main objective of this model is to analyse the simultaneous determination of market share and advertising expenditure under dynamic conditions. The authors' empirical analysis is applied to the case of the Eisai Company within the Japanese pharmaceutical industry from 1959 to 1969. Although the model is limited to this particular company and industry, the theoretical formulations and estimation techniques together with the particular distributed lag used may be usefully applied to other cases.
A Review on Targets of Corporate Control Rights Transactions

An important function of stock markets is to provide investors with an opportunity to obtain control rights of a company;as such,they are markets for corporate control(takeover market). Market for corporate control is a very important external corporate governance mechanism, which plays a key role in the efficient allocation of resources. Following Jensen and Ruback (1983),market for corporate control is defined as the“a market in which different managerial teams contend for the control rights over company resources”. Numerous studies have investigated various issues regarding takeovers such as characteristics of acquirers and target companies, performance (short-and long-term) and financial policy changes following takeovers, earnings management in takeover,and so on (Anagnostopoulou and Tsekrekos,2013;Bliss and Rosen,2001;Brav et al.,2008;Duggal and Millar,1999;Erickson and Wang,1999;Masulis et al., 2007). These studies predominately focus on developed markets such as US and UK. This paper reviews the existing literature on target firms of control rights transactions. What are the basic theories of takeover? What companies are more likely to be targeted? Does mergers and acquisitions (M&As) create targets’shareholder value? Do target companies manage reported earnings preceding takeover announcement? We pay particular attention to ― ― 11