Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation between vitamin D status and Serum lipid profile parameters in CAD Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital

s Cardiovascular disease(CVD) is consists of variety of heart disease, illnesses and events that impact the heart & circulatory system, including high blood pressure & coronary artery disease. Our aim was to the study serum vitamin D levels in patients with proven CAD attending cardiology clinic of SAIMS hospital and to compare it with control subjects and it’s out come. Our study add input to previous existing evidence suggesting that low vitamin D levels may be an independent, potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. We observed that high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in cases with angiographically documented CAD. Thus we can conclude that serum Vitamin D estimation may be considered as an important surrogate marker for screening and prevention of CAD to improve the outcome which needs further exploration.
Durability Gap Analysis for Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites in Civil Infrastructure

The lack of a comprehensive, validated, and easily accessible data base for the durability of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as related to civil infrastructure applications has been identified as a critical barrier to widespread acceptance of these materials by structural designers and civil engineers. This concern is emphasized since the structures of interest are primarily load bearing and are expected to remain in service over extended periods of time without significant inspection or maintenance. This paper presents a synopsis of a gap analysis study undertaken under the aegis of the Civil Engineering Research Foundation and the Federal Highway Administration to identify and prioritize critical gaps in durability data. The study focuses on the use of FRP in internal reinforcement, external strengthening, seismic retrofit, bridge decks, structural profiles, and panels. Environments of interest are moisture/solution, alkalinity, creep/relaxation, fatigue, fire, thermal effects (including free.
Preparation and Characterization of Anion-Dependent Octahedral Nickel(II) Geometric Isomers

Department of Chemistry Education and Green-Nano Materials Research Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea. E-mail: minks@knu.ac. kr Department of Chemistry and Green-Nano Materials Research Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea Department of Chemistry Education, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea Received August 20, 2013, Accepted October 14, 2013
Teacher identity construction and plurilingual competence: a longitudinal study about language teaching in multilingual contexts

This article is part of a thesis dissertation focused on cognition and belief systems about prior language learning experience, teacher education and classroom practice. This document examines teacher identity construction in relation to plurilingual competence. We want to study a dynamic identity, which is constructed in the here and now. We use the European Council contents for language teaching. The central purpose is analyzing belief systems in relation to the teaching of languages in plurilingual contexts. We focus our analysis on teacher understandings of their new social challenges and how they respond in and to these situations. The interactional data was gathered from five focus groups of ten teachers from different educational stages. Prior to this, we collected recurrent questions which had emerged in reflective narrative and individual interviews. Data was analysed using a qualitative approach. Activity theory is the conceptual framework to identify which tensions appear when we identify not only the theoretical discourse, but also the everyday practical classroom reality. For this reason, we distinguish between dilemmas, conflicts, critical conflicts and double binds. The impact of this proposal can be summarized in relation to the following results: urgent necessity for teacher training, sharing experiences to help developing professional identity and transferring positive experiences in schools.
Great Expectations or Small Country Living? Enabling Small Rural Creative Businesses with ICT

Small businesses are prototypical rural business, but limited by distance. However, creative businesses are less constrained by space and hold great promise for rural development. Indeed, the rural is an attractive creative aesthetic milieu. Moreover, new broadband technologies seem to offer a solution to address connectivity; the social and spatial problem of being rural. Consequently, we ask how does broadband enable small rural creative firms. We sought out the practices and experiences of creative business owners, finding that broadband offered useful technical, creative, and business linking. However many were frustrated by poor technical performance. Furthermore, the accelerating pace of ICT worried respondents, who feared being left behind. Nonetheless for most–without broadband their rural location would have been impossible. We found that broadband has fostered creative rural businesses, but as new ways of making a small country living rather than stimulating a rural creative milieu. The digital promise of a creative transformation of the rural has not been realised in Scotland.
A Participatory System to Sense the Road Conditions

The monitoring of road conditions and surface anomalies such as potholes, bumps etc., has shown a great importance in the safety and comfort of road users from pedestrian to drivers. Detection and identification of such road anomalies not only reduces the causes of road accidents but also avoid vehicle damages. This can provision the management authorities to keep a track of road conditions along with maintenance of roads. Monitoring the road conditions is a challenging task and potholes detection plays an important role in the repairing of asphalt road surface. Many approaches exist to collect data about road surface conditions, however most of these approaches are low-speed human visual inspection or approaches that uses advanced and costly measuring equipments. Therefore, there is a need to develop a cost effective system that can manages these kind of issues. In this paper, a Participatory Sensing system based on raspberry pi is designed and developed to detect and record road surface anomalies that are measured by the inertial measurement unit (IMU) and GPS sensor. An android application is also designed and developed to alert the user from an upcoming highintensity rough area on the road. Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol is used to publish and subscribe data from raspberry pi to data servers.
Mass Media as Alcohol Educator for Everyone? Effects of Portrayed Alcohol Consequences and the Influence of Viewers’ Characteristics

ABSTRACT Many correlative and experimental studies indicate that the portrayal of alcohol in the mass media impacts viewers’ alcohol expectancies, attitudes, and behaviors. Based on social cognitive theory, the portrayed consequences and the valence of the character experiencing these consequences are important to consider when investigating the portrayal of alcohol in the mass media. However, experimental studies manipulating character valence and consequences are scarce. This study presents an experimental examination of an adult sample, manipulating the occurrence of consequences (no consequences, positive consequences, and negative consequences), as well as character valence (a positive or negative character). We investigated the effects of media portrayals on positive and negative alcohol expectancies, as well as on attitudes toward alcohol. Furthermore, the moderating role of participants’ level of alcohol consumption was considered. We found main effects only on the negative alcohol expectancies, supporting the differentiation of alcohol expectancies and attitudes. However, the valence of the depicted character did not moderate the impact of the portrayed consequences. Interaction effects of participants’ individual levels of alcohol consumption and portrayals of consequences of alcohol consumption in the mass media were uncovered. This finding has important implications for further research and prevention efforts directed at risk groups.
Increased cardiac microvascular permeability and activation of cardiac endothelial nitric oxide synthase in high tidal volume ventilation-induced lung injury

Abstract Background: Positive pressure ventilation with large tidal volumes has been shown to cause lung injury via the serine/threonine kinase-protein kinase B (Akt) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-pathways. However, the effects of high tidal volume (VT) ventilation on the heart are unclear. Objectives: Evaluate the effect of VT ventilation on the cardiac vascular permeability and intracellular Akt and eNOS signaling pathway. Methods: C57BL/6 and Akt knock-out (heterozygotes, +/−) mice were exposed to high VT (30 mL/kg) mechanical ventilation with room air for one and/or five hours. Results: High VT ventilation increased cardiac microvascular permeability and eNOS phosphorylation in a timedependent manner. Serum cardiac troponin I was increased after one hour of high VT ventilation. Cardiac Akt phosphorylation was accentuated after one hour and attenuated after five hours of high VT ventilation. Pharmacological inhibition of Akt with LY294002 and high VT ventilation of Akt+/− mice attenuated cardiac Akt phosphorylation, but not eNOS phosphorylation. Conclusion: High VT ventilation increased cardiac myocardial injury, microvascular permeability, and eNOS phosphorylation. Involvement of cardiac Akt in high VT ventilation was transient.
Inhibition of non-enzymatic protein glycation by pomegranate (Punica granatum)

The non-enzymatic glycation of proteins is an oxidative-dependent process inhibited by phenolic compounds. This study investigates the effect of extracts of pomegranate fruit and its various parts (aril, peel, and membrane) on the in vitro glycation of albumin. Extracts were analyzed for phenolics content, FRAP antioxidant capacity and their effect on fructose mediated glycation of bovine serum albumin. Compared to a control fruit, apple, whole pomegranate fruit exhibited a much higher total phenolic content and antioxidant potential. Pomegranate decreased glycation by 80% at a phenolics concentration of 2.5 μg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/ml; apple, at this concentration, inhibited protein glycation by only 20%. Pomegranate membrane exhibited the highest total phenolics content and antioxidant potential compared to the aril and peel. At 2.5 μg GAE/ml, the membrane fraction decreased glycation by 85% compared to the aril (42%), and peel (75%). Pomegranate membrane also produced the greatest decrease in glycation when incubated at the same antioxidant capacities. These results demonstrate that the inhibitory activity of pomegranates was concentrated in the membrane and is attributed to ellagitannins, potent inhibitors of the glycation process.
Quantum supersymmetric cosmology and its hidden Kac--Moody structure

We study the quantum dynamics of a supersymmetric squashed three-sphere by dimensionally reducing (to one timelike dimension) the action of D = 4 simple supergravity for an SO(3)-homogeneous (Bianchi IX) cosmological model. The quantization of the homogeneous gravitino field leads to a 64-dimensional fermionic Hilbert space. The algebra of the supersymmetry constraints and of the Hamiltonian one is found to close. One finds that the quantum Hamiltonian is built from operators that generate a 64-dimensional representation of the (infinite-dimensional) maximally compact sub-algebra of the rank-3 hyperbolic Kac–Moody algebra AE3. Some exponentials of these operators generate a spinorial extension of the Weyl group of AE3 which describe (in the small wavelength limit) the chaotic quantum evolution of the universe near the cosmological singularity.
A Transistor-Level Reconfigurable Circuit for Rapid Transconductor Design and Testing

In modern mixed-signal systems-on-a-chip (SoC), a key role is played by the analog filter. For intermediate frequency (IF) bands, the filtering function is best performed with Gm-C structures. The active element of Gm-C circuits is the transconductor, the design of which is particularly difficult due to the multiple and conflicting design specifications. This article proposes a reconfigurable transconductor to aid the task of transconductor design. Transistor level reconfigurability enables rapid conception, design and testing of various transconductor topologies. Extensive simulation proves the feasibility and usefulness of the proposed reconfigurable circuit. Ill. 8, bibl. 12, tabl. 5 (in English; abstracts in English and Lithuanian). DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.eee. 117.1. 1062
The Budgetary Process with a Use of Modern Approaches in Cost Management

State organisational units still compile their budget as incremental and as such it therefore disregards causes of the origination of costs and does not put a sufficient pressure on increase in efficiency of economy. This article aims to propose a budgetary setup for operating costs using the methods of ABC/ABM (Activity Based Costing/Activity Based Management) in state organisational units (SOU). Essence of the proposed procedure towards budgetary setup as well as cost management is specification of such cost drivers that reflect the causal link between activities of the given organisation and indirect operating costs. Through a system of linear equations there is in turn resolved parity between demands on budgetary funding of a specific activity and full costs of activities. Using a multiple regression analyses, for selected cost groups there was also tested their dependence upon criteria that may act as general cost drivers. Undertaken research has also uncovered that frequently used variable “number of workers” cannot explain the analysed cost groups. Benefit of proposed solutions is increase in efficiency of SOU economy. This way, the management receives a tool for budgeting and cost control not only within the process structure based on activities, but also within individual items of the budgetary classification.
A gender wise study of arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) acetylation phenotyping using sulphamethazine by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay

The acetylation polymorphism is one of the most common inherited variations in the biotransformation of drugs and chemicals and large number of studies has been done to determine the distribution of acetylator phenotypes among populations of different geographic origin. The aim of this study was to investigate the acetylator phenotypes of the Pakistani population and compare it between male and female healthy volunteers. The polymorphic acetylation of sulphamethazine has been investigated in male and female volunteers (50 each) of Pakistani population. Sulphamethazine was administered orally in Capsule form as 500 mg to each healthy male and female volunteer. Sulphamethazine and acetylsulphamethazine were determined in the six hour plasma samples by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Acetylator phenotype was determined from the metabolic ratio of acetylsulphamethazine to sulphamethazine in the plasma samples. The acetylation of sulphamethazine by arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) showed bimodal population frequency distribution. 60% of the female volunteers were found to be fast and 40% to be slow acetylators while that of male volunteers were 62% fast and 38% slow acetylators. Key words: NAT2 acetylation phenotype, sulphamethazine, male & female volunteers, HPLC assay.
Recovering Risk-Neutral Densities from Brazilian Interest Rate Options

Building Risk-Neutral Density (RND) from options data is one useful way for extracting market expectations about a financial variable. For a sample of IDI (Brazilian Interbank Deposit Rate Index) options from 1998 to 2009, this paper estimates the option-implied Risk-Neutral Densities for the Brazilian short rate using three methods: Shimko, Mixture of Two Log-Normals and Generalized Beta of Second Kind. Our in-sample goodness-of-fit evaluation shows that the Mixture of Log-Normals method provides better fitting to option’s data than the other two methods. The shape of log-normal distributions seems to fit well to the mean-reversal dynamics of Brazilian interest rates. We have also calculated the RND implied Skewness, showing how it could have provided market early-warning signals of the monetary policy outcomes in 2002 and 2003. Overall, Risk-Neutral Densities implied on IDI options showed to be a useful tool for extracting market expectations about future outcomes of the monetary policy.
Synergism and Detoxification Mechanism of Crude Sugar Apple Seed Extract in Tetranychus truncatus Ehara (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae)

Synergism of maleic acid (MA), piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and triphenyl phosphate (TPP) combined with sugar apple seed extract on the mortality of T. truncatus adult females was performed by the spray method. Crude sugar apple hexane extract+0.5% MA induced the highest toxicity to T. truncatus (LC50=2.27%), followed by crude hexane extract (LC50=3.52%), crude hexane extract+0.2% PBO (LC50=3.79%) and crude hexane extract+0.2% TPP (LC50=4.13%). Tetranychus truncatus mites exhibited similar esterase activity levels (0.09-0.13 n mole/min/mg protein) in all treatments including the control (untreated mites). Mites in the control exhibited relatively higher GST activity (0.32 n mole/ min/mg protein) compared to all other treatments (0.14-0.27 n mole/min/mg protein). Both synergism effect and detoxification mechanism suggested that glutathione S-transferase might play an important role in sugar apple seed extract degradation.
Multi-unit price promotions and their impact on purchase decisions and sales

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare the impact of different multi-unit promotions (MUPs) and a single-unit promotion (SUP) on store-level sales and consumer-level purchase probability and quantity decision. Design/methodology/approach The paper combines two empirical studies. Study 1 applies a hierarchical multiplicative model to store-level sales data for four product categories provided by a large Dutch retail chain. Study 2 presents a laboratory experiment in which the quantity requirements of the two focal MUP frames are manipulated to assess their impact on consumer purchase decisions. Findings The paper provides empirical evidence for the superiority of the “X for $Y” above “X + N free”, which confirms the hypotheses based on prospect theory, mental accounting and theory about gift-giving. Quantity requirements of four to five units show the largest effects. In addition, the superiority of the “X for $Y” frame holds for functional product categories, but not for the hedonic categories. Practical implications The paper provides managerial insights into the relative effectiveness of alternative MUPs and an SUP and how this promotional effectiveness depends on the type of product category and quantity requirements. Originality/value This paper combines actual sales data and experimental data. This “mixed approach” extends existing knowledge by comprehensively evaluating two MUP frames, namely, “X + N free” and “X for $Y” promotions, and an SUP.
REDD+ as Performance-Based Aid: General Lessons and Bilateral Agreements of Norway

REDD+, when it officially became part of the international climate agenda in 2007, was an idea about payment to countries and projects for reducing emission from forests, with funding primarily from carbon markets. REDD+ has since become multi-objective; the policy focus has changed from payments for environmental services (PES) to broader policies, and international funding is mainly coming from development aid budgets. This `aidification´ of REDD+ has made it similar to previous efforts of conditional, result-based, or performance-based aid (PBA). But, experience of PBA, in other sectors, has hardly been brought into the REDD+ debate. A major conclusion from earlier research is that aid cannot buy policy reforms, yet this remains a major idea in current REDD+ discourses. This paper reviews the main challenges in designing and implementing a system of PBA in terms of donor spending pressure, performance criteria, benchmark setting, risk sharing, and credibility, in terms of amount of funding provided. It then reviews four bilateral REDD+ agreements Norway has entered with Tanzania, Brazil, Guyana, and Indonesia. Some elements of performance-based payments were included, and these agreements and the aid experience provide valuable lessons for design and implementation of future REDD+ mechanism.
What Factors Drive Takeovers in Australia?

We examine the relationships between the wealth changes associated with a takeover announcement to distinguish between three major competing motivesiXsynergy, hubris, and agency. Empirical tests indicate that the synergy motive is the predominant explanation for the majority of takeovers in Australia; however, the evidence is consistent with the simultaneous presence of hubris in value-creating takeovers. The evidence also suggests agency, not hubris, is the primary motivation for the takeovers which result in value destruction.
Behavioural Determinants Associated with CHIKV Outbreak in Gouriepet, Avadi, Chennai, South India

Introduction: Frequent outbreaks of CHIKV infection implicate not only vectors but also risk behaviours of communities. While ample literature is available on vector biodynamics, studies on behavioural determinants are limited. We conducted a study to: (i) identify behavioural risk factors associated with CHIKV outbreak in Gouripet, Avadi, Chennai, South India and (ii) describe the association between vector indices and CHIKV infections. Methods: Adopting a case control design, we defined households with at least one case of CHIKV as case-households and those without any case of CHIKV as control households. Using interview techniques, we collected data on behavioural risk factors at individual and household levels. By observation we ascertained information on backyard cleanliness in households. We calculated Odds Ratios, Adjusted Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals. House, Breteau and Container Indices were compared for case and control households. We used chi-square test, mid P exact test and conditional Poisson test to test the differences of these indices between case and control households. Results: We included 279 case households and 378 control households. Not wearing clothes that fully cover the body (AOR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.95 – 11.11), storing water (AOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.64 – 7.88), storing water in cement barrels/ plastic containers (AOR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.90 – 3.78), infrequent changing of stored water ( AOR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.66 – 3.99), poor backyard cleanliness (AOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.10 – 2.27) were all significantly associated with risk of CHIKV infections. Vector indices in case households were double compared to control households. Conclusion: Our study has proved that risk behaviour impacts adversely on vector indices to cause CHIKV outbreaks. We strongly advocate efficient vector control measures combined with Behavior Change Communication programmes to effectively prevent future outbreaks.
Italian Consumer Attitudes Toward Products for Well-being: The Functional Foods Market

The current paper investigates the factors which influence Italian consumers’ behaviour towards functional food products and verifies the opportunities for further expansion of these products through a survey with a sample of 340 consumers responsible for family shopping. Findings show that there is a large number of factors that influence consumer purchasing behaviour. The empirical analysis emphasizes that, although Italian consumers are rather confused on the exact meaning of the term functional foods, their high interest on the bond between diet and health can be a potential element for the development of the demand of these food products. The work also provides a segmentation of the sample to verify the existence of homogeneous groups of consumers characterized by a different propensity towards functional foods.