Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contrasts and Similarities in Attitudes toward Death of Health Care Providers.

ABSTRACT Although death and the circumstances surrounding it are inevitable for all people, open discussions of this subject are considered morbid and thus taboo. The fear of death, however, greatly affects the care administered to dying patients in a health care setting by professionals, family, and friends. A mail survey was administered to 247 individuals, aged 24 to 72, identified from five occupat'. onal groups in San Diego County: physicians, nurses, clergy, social workers, and psychologists. The fear of death, a dependent variable, was measured by Feifel's Metaphor Scale an. ] a death adjective semantic differential scale. Data analysis revealed that statistical relationships existed between fear of death and occupation, religious affiliation, and religiosity. Multiple regression, however, did not yield many significant correlations. Age, sex, educational level, and death education training had no significant effect on the attitudes toward death among health care providers. Because imprecise measurement of indicators presents a problem in this type of research, more reliable scales are needed. (Data tables are included.) (Author/TW)
Game Theory and Real Options: Analysis of Land Value and Strategic Decisions in Real Estate Development

This thesis investigates the use of the game theory and the real options theory in real estate development at the strategic level, trying empirically to explain different economic observations among different metropolitan cities and different property types. The real options theory provides a rich theoretical framework to analyze investment values in real estate development. It takes the market uncertainty into consideration, while the widely used neoclassical NPV valuation method takes a deterministic approach. A simplified real options valuation model is set up in this thesis to calculate the option premium value of waiting for developers. However, since it is done in a monopolistic setting, the strategic interaction aspect of real estate development will be analyzed using the game theory model. The interaction of the game theory model and the real options model will provide a comprehensive and powerful framework to study the timing strategy of developers. Using data spanning quarterly from 1995 to 2013 among 5 property types (single-family house, apartment, industrial, office, and retail) and 44 MSAs, this thesis analyzes the relationships empirically between the volatility of underlying assets, the land cost ratio, the option premium value, and the timing of development. The aims of the study are twofold. First, the study compares different market characteristics among different MSAs and different property types from the option game theoretic perspective. Second, it analyzes the effect and the use of the game theory and the real options theory in the context of real estate development. Thesis Supervisor: Walter Torous Title: Senior Lecturer, Center for Real Estate
Metabolomic and Proteomic Analysis of the Mesenchymal Stem Cells’ Secretome

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells with a strong potential in human regenerative medicine due to their ability to renew themselves and differentiate into various specialized cell types under certain physiological or experimental conditions. MSCs secrete a broad spectrum of autocrine and paracrine factors (MSCs’ secretome) that could exert significant effects on cells in their vicinity. MSCs have been clinically tested and have displayed a great potential in the treatment of bone/cartilage fractures and disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and immune, neurodegener‐ ative and inflammatory diseases. The therapeutic efficacy of MSCs was initially attributed to their multipotent character and ability to engraft and differentiate at the site of injury. However, in recent years, it has been revealed that either undifferentiated or differentiated MSCs’ secretome plays an important role in the therapeutic potential of MSCs. The deciphering of the composition of MSCs’ secretome through proteomic and metabolic analyses and implementation of certain advanced analytical (nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), chromatography, etc.) and immunological methods could contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of MSCs.
New e-HRM Typology: From Broadcasting towards Supply Chain Support

We argue that an existing classification of e-HRM, known as a division between transactional, relational, and transformational (based on a canonical work of Lepak and Snell [11]), doesn’t meet all expectations of the multidisciplinary character of e-HRM and Human Resource Information Systems. Built mainly on the ideas from the HRM field, it lacks attention to such properties as coordination of information and its exchange, capturing knowledge domain, and communication languages. We propose to broaden existing typology by inclusion insights from the field of information technologies. In the suggested typology, e-HRM / HRIS is classified along ontological, coordination, user-interface, adaptation, and HR function impact blocks; allowing for distinguishing five types of e-HRM: static and customized informational, pooled and sequential transactional, and supply chain delivery support. We see several advantages in using this typology for the practitioners, the most important is that it hel ps to evaluate the stage of e-HRM / HRIS development and foresee horizons for improvements
Factors of Sustainable Firm Performance and the Mediating Role of Strategic Opportunity Recognition: A Conceptual Study

The significant role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in economic development has been acknowledged and focused for a very long time. They dominate the business establishment around the world. The current challenging and volatile business landscape has called for greater scrutiny to identify survival toolkit for SMEs, given that SMEs are very much important to the dramatic economic changes. Thus, understanding practices that may damage business success is needed urgently. With this crucial and critical situation, it is the time now to identify an alternative approach to understand practices that lead to business success. The purpose of this study is to concentrate on the influence of strategic entrepreneurship (SE) which is manifested in exploration activities only that in-turn represented by strategic opportunity recognition construct, on sustainable SMEs performance in Malaysia. This paper is an attempt to address this challenge by developing a framework for the assessment of recognizing the important role of SE in efficiently contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Firm Performance.
Feature-Based Algorithm Selection for Mixed Integer Programming

Mixed integer programming is a versatile and valuable optimization tool. However, solving specific problem instances can be computationally demanding even for cutting-edge solvers. Such long running times are often significantly reduced by an appropriate change of the solver's parameters. In this paper we investigate "algorithm selection", the task of choosing among a set of algorithms the ones that are likely to perform best for a particular instance. In our case, we treat different parameter settings of the MIP solver SCIP as different algorithms to choose from. Two peculiarities of the MIP solving process have our special attention. We address the well-known problem of performance variability by using multiple random seeds. Besides solving time, primal dual integrals are recorded as a second performance measure in order to distinguish solvers that timed out. We collected feature and performance data for a large set of publicly available MIP instances. The algorithm selection problem is addressed by several popular, feature-based methods, which have been partly extended for our purpose. Finally, an analysis of the feature space and performance results of the selected algorithms are presented.
Data Resources in Dynamic Environment

Technology is changing social attitudes by making electronic data easy to use and easy to carry, and this capability impacts data security in business organizations. Therefore, organizations have to define appropriate controls aimed at preventing data loss. Having said that, the effectiveness of security controls in complex dynamic environments has not yet been systematically analyzed. In this paper, we propose a formal system model for data resources in a dynamic environment, which focuses on the location of different classes of data resources as well as the users. Using such a model, the concurrent and probabilistic behaviour of the system can be analyzed. This study provides a systematic way of exploring the efficiency of a given security policy, or access control technology, in the business process context. The proposed approach can help a technical expert to develop a deeper analysis of the detailed security measures required by a business organization. Keywords—data resources, threats, locality, Petri net, information security technology, security policy.
EFFECT OF Ta 2 O 5 DOPING ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF BaTiO 3 BASED CERAMICS

The main focus of the research was to correlate composition and sintering parameters with the microstructure and dielectric properties of Ta2O5 doped BaTiO3 ceramics. The samples were sintered using both single and two-stage sintering techniques. Thereafter SEM and XRD techniques were used to examine the structure of the samples with a particular focus on the incorporation of Ta 5+ ions into the BaTiO3 crystal lattice. The SEM analysis focused on measuring the grain size and investigating the grain size distribution of the sintered samples. Finally, the dielectric properties were analysed and the relationship between the properties and structure of the doped BaTiO3 was established. From the research it can be stated that two-stage sintering yielded the best dielectric properties. The best stable value of the room temperature dielectric constant (k) of 19000 was obtained for the 1.5 mole % Ta2O5 doped BaTiO3 sample sintered at 1320 0 C for 0hrs and 1280 0 C for 6hrs, due to the combination of a high percent theoretical density (%TD) and optimum grain size. At a temperature range of 30 0 to 60 0 C, this combination of composition and sintering parameters yielded a dielectric constant in the range of 18000–19000.
Construction of IoT-based Hybrid App for Patients’ Preventive Management in the Mobile Environment

This study investigated the development of hybrid application for patients’ prevention management and constructed IoT convergence technology capable of providing more customized service to each individual based on the sensing information opening, sharing, spreading and participation which were enabled by the connection between smart devices and the sensor network information that had been used individually in a closed manner. Also, data collection and establishment was performed on preventive care methods against aspects deeply related to cardio-cerebrovascular diseases such as smoking and drinking as well as healthcare application-related factors including health common sense, etc., to provide more suitable service. It is expected that, in the near future, according to the needs, IoT-related convergence technology will further develop and more research and development efforts will be made to commercialize integrative sensor kit applicable to diverse aspects of real life or individualized sensor products easily interlocked wirelessly.
Establishment of an Efficient Regeneration System Amenable to Agrobacterium Mediated Transformation of Two Elite Indica Rice Varieties of North East India

An efficient plant regeneration system from embryogenic callus of two elite indica rice ( Oryza sativa spp. indica ) varieties of Northeast India, Ketokijoha and Monoharsali is established. The effect of auxin, 2,4-dicholorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) on callus induction was optimized. Friable, nodular and creamish-white embryogenic calli were induced from mature seeds on NB medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l 2,4-D. Plants were regenerated from 40-50 days old embryogenic callus on NB medium containing 0.5 mg/l BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) and 0.25 mg/l ABA (abscisic acid). Regenerated plants with multiple tillers were rooted on half strength MS medium and rooted plants were acclimatized with 94% survival rate. Higher frequency of callus induction as well as plant regeneration was recorded in Ketokijoha as compared to Monoharsali. The calli of both the varieties were found amenable to Agrobacterium- mediated transformation as evident from strong GUS (β-glucuronidase) expression. The results may find wide application for genetic improvement for valuable traits these elite indica rice varieties of Northeast India. Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 3(4): 680-686
Deposition of Oriented Molecular Thin Films Relevant for Organic Electronics

Organic thin films have many potential applications in the field of organic electronics. To be electronically viable, films must have strong molecular orientation to enable maximum electron sharing and mobility through the film. In this study, simple, solution-based film deposition techniques are tested on several highly solvable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with the goal of obtaining excellent molecular orientation using simple methods. Good orientation was obtained growing anthracene films from evaporation and solution shearing deposition techniques, and reasonable orientation was obtained growing pyrene films with the same methods. To further determine the level of orientation of these films, x-ray diffraction analysis will be done at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). Further suggestions for continuing exploration of organic thin films are also discussed.
Speciation and distribution of Botryosphaeria spp. on native and introduced Eucalyptus trees in Australia and South Africa

Botryosphaeria spp. are important canker and die-back pathogens that affect Eucalyptus spp. They also occur endophytically in Eucalyptus leaves and stems. For the purpose of this study, Botryosphaeria strains were isolated from diseased and symptomless Eucalyptus material from Australia and South Africa. These isolates were induced to sporulate in culture, and compared with known species of Botryosphaeria. Selected isolates were also compared with authentic isolates of known Botryosphaeria spp. based on nuclear DNA sequence data of the ITS rDNA, β-tubulin and elongation factor 1-α regions. Five Botryosphaeria spp. were identified from Eucalyptus plants. The ITS rDNA sequence data were then used to develop a PCR RFLP technique that could distinguish these species. Botryosphaeria eucalyptorum and a new species, B. eucalypticola, were the most common species on Eucalyptus in eastern Australia. These species also occur on Eucalyptus in South Africa, where they have most likely been introduced. Botryosphaeria parva was common on Eucalyptus in exotic environments, but rare on this host in Australia. Although B. dothidea was previously thought to be common on eucalypts, only one isolate of each of B. dothidea and B. australis were found in all the areas surveyed. No isolates of B. ribis, which was also commonly reported from Eucalyptus, were identified during this survey from Eucalyptus. Data from the present study provide the first holistic overview of the species of Botryosphaeria associated with Eucalyptus in both native and exotic environments.
Detection of Building Damage Using Helmholtz Tomography

High-rise buildings with dense permanent installations of continuously recording accelerometers offer a unique opportunity to observe temporal and spatial variations in the propagation properties of seismic waves. When precise, floor-by-floor measurements of frequency-dependent travel times can be made, accurate models of material properties (e.g., stiffness or rigidity) can be determined using seismic tomographic imaging techniques. By measuring changes in the material properties, damage to the structure can be detected and localized after shaking events such as earthquakes. Here, seismic Helmholtz tomography is applied to simulated waveform data from a high-rise building, and its feasibility is demonstrated. A 52-story dual system building—braced-frame core surrounded by an outrigger steel moment frame—in downtown Los Angeles is used for the computational basis. It is part of the Community Seismic Network and has a three-component accelerometer installed on every floor. A finite-element model of the building based on structural drawings is used for the computation of synthetic seismograms for 60 damage scenarios in which the stiffness of the building is perturbed in different locations across both adjacent and distributed floors and to varying degrees. The dynamic analysis loading function is a Gaussian pulse applied to the lowest level fixed boundary condition, producing a broadband response on all floors. After narrowband filtering the synthetic seismograms and measuring the maximum amplitude, the frequency-dependent travel times and differential travel times are computed. The travel-time and amplitude measurements are converted to shear-wave velocity at each floor via the Helmholtz wave equation whose solutions can be used to track perturbations to wavefronts through densely sampled wavefields. These results provide validation of the method’s application to recorded data from real buildings to detect and locate structural damage using earthquake, explosion, or ambient seismic noise data in near-real time. Electronic Supplement: Table and figures describing nine additional velocity imaging tests that were run using the same procedure described in the main article.
Precision Modelling of Distributed Greenhouse Climate

A completely dynamic computational fluid dynamics model for greenhouse climate was developed and analysed. The simulations were carried out for an arc type tunnel greenhouse with a tomato crop representative of the greenhouses used in the Mediterranean region. The CFD code Fluent was used as a basis where the required external source code for the dynamic boundary conditions (written in C) was embodied. In the present paper the distribution of solar radiation during a whole day was incorporated in the crop model which is represented by the equivalent porous medium approach to model dynamic effects and a macro-model of heat and mass transfer to model the exchanges of heat and water vapour between leaves and air. Time step for the unsteady simulations was 1 sec. The results show the distribution of solar radiation and the exchanges of heat and mass between crop and air in for a whole day period and they compared with relative results from simulations carried out with steady state conditions.
Three-dimensional two-layer outer gap model: Fermi energy-dependent light curves of the Vela pulsar

We extend the two-dimensional two-layer outer gap model to a three-dimensional geometry and use it to study the high-energy emission of the Vela pulsar. In this model, the outer gap is divided into two parts, i.e. the main acceleration region on the top of last-open field lines and the screening region around the upper boundary of the gap. In the main acceleration region, the charge density is much lower than the Goldreich–Julian charge density, and the charged particles are accelerated by the electric field along the magnetic field to emit multi-GeV photons. In the screening region, the charge density is larger than the Goldreich–Julian value to close the gap, and particles in this region are responsible for multi-100 MeV photon emission. We apply this three-dimensional two-layer model to the Vela pulsar and compare the model light curves, the phase-averaged spectrum and the phase-resolved spectra with the recent Fermi observations, which also reveals the existence of the third peak between two main peaks. The phase position of the third peak moves with the photon energy, which cannot be explained by the geometry of magnetic field structure and the caustic effects of the photon propagation. We suggest that the existence of the third peak and its energy-dependent movement results from the azimuthal structure of the outer gap.
Reduced klotho is one risk factor for the occurrence and development of coronary artery disease in elderly people

Background: S-Klotho has been deemed as a protein related to human longevity. However no studies have specially examined the relationship between serum levels of Klotho and coronary artery disease (CAD) in the people more than 70 years old. Hypothesis: We proposed that low plasma klotho concentrations would be independently associated with CAD in elderly people. Methods: 315 consecutive patients who had at least one coronary angiography examination were included in our study. All the patients were older than 65 years old. Their coronary artery condition, blood pressures, s-Klotho concentration, liver function, renal function and thyroid function were evaluated at their first visits. Their readmissions because of CAD were recorded during their follow-up. Logistic regression analysis was used to select the risk factors for CAD readmission. Results: The 315 consecutive patients were divided into primary cohort (200 cases) and validation cohort (115 cases) randomly. The final model included 6 significant variables, which were a-klotho, CAD grade, creatinine, HDL, hemoglobin and uricacid. All these variables were then used to build a risk score in terms of the prediction of incidence of CAD. The ROC curve for the weighted score showed good discriminant power with a c statistic of 0.894 (95% CI: 0.8237-0.9637). Conclusions: Our study is the first time reporting that the elderly patients with lower level of s-klotho concentrations have a higher risk of readmission because of CAD.
VIDARR: monitoring reactor anti-neutrinos using a plastic scintillator detector in a mobile laboratory

Technology developed for the T2K electromagnetic calorimeter has been adapted to make a small footprint, reliable, segmented detector to characterise anti-neutrinos emitted by nuclear reactors. The device has been developed and demonstrated by the University of Liverpool and underwent field tests at the Wylfa Magnox Reactor on Anglesey, U.K. It was situated in a 20 ft ISO shipping container, above ground, roughly 60 m from the 1.5 GW th reactor core. Based on the design of the T2K Near Detector ECal, the device detects anti-neutrino events through the distinctive delayed coincidence signal of inverse β-decay interactions using extruded plastic scintillator as the target and detection medium and silicon photomultipliers as the photosensors. The detector is undergoing an upgrade to the VIDARR detector system based on the data and experiences of the field trial for easier deployment and better detection sensitivity.
Policy Issues Surrounding Processes of Centralization and Decentralization in European Education Systems

Four levels of authority within the educational decision‐making structure in seven European countries and states for primary and lower secondary education are analyzed. Next, the results of an investigation on loci, domains and modes of decision making are presented, indicating a slightly higher degree of school autonomy in England/Wales, the Netherlands and Sweden than in the other countries and states. A more evaluative assessment shows that democratization, market orientation, recession and general aims of improving the quality and equality of education are important background forces in shifting patterns of centralization and decentralization in the investigated countries and states.