Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A resource pool for environmental innovation

This paper reports research on the relationship between sourcing strategy of a firm and its environmental innovation propensity. The data is taken from the Spanish TechnologicalInnovation Panel (PITEC) survey during the period of 2007-2011. The uniqueness of the Spanish innovation structure and the increasing relevance of environmental issues for the Spanish economy make it a proper setting to investigate environmental innovation dynamics. The results from 5,352 firms indicate that large firms are more likely to undertake environmental innovation than small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs). These firms rely quite equally on all four sources of knowledge &- internal, market, institutional and freely-available sources &- when deciding to develop environmental innovation. The broad horizons with respect to knowledge sources are likely to increase firms' propensity to introduce environmental innovation. In addition, weprovide the evolutionary nature of firm's innovation search as firms grow in size. Small firmsrely on both internal and freely-available sources rather equally, while internal source is the most relevant for medium firms, and market is the most important source used by large firms indriving environmental innovation. Particularly important is how firms who are already innovators and who receive local funding from the Spanish government are more likely to introduce environmental innovation.
Sequential Determination of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Mycophenolic Acid in Liver Transplant Patients Treated with Mycophenolate Mofetil

Background. In liver transplantation, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is habitually administered using fixed doses. We assessed whether mycophenolic acid (MPA) monitoring could be advisable in liver transplant patients. Methods. In 15 liver transplant patients receiving tacrolimus, daclizumab and MMF (1 g bid, orally), we determined the 12-hour plasma MPA pharmacokinetic profile after one dose of MMF at days 6, 10, and 16, and months 3 and 6. The inhibitory capacity of serum MPA on proliferation of CEM cells, a cell line insensitive to other immunosuppressants, was also determined. Results. A large interindividual variability in MPA profiles was observed at any time. Regardless of a gradual increase in individual MPA AUC and C0 over time following transplantation, a substantial proportion of patients had these parameters below the ranges recommended in other organ transplantations throughout the study. When MPA AUC and C0 were within the recommended ranges, CEM proliferation was inhibited by almost all serum samples, but when these pharmacokinetic parameters were below the recommended ranges, CEM proliferation was very variable and, therefore, unpredictable. No relationship between MPA pharmacokinetics and the efficacy of MMF could be established (only one patient developed rejection), probably due to the concomitant administration of tacrolimus and daclizumab. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the only adverse events with a significant relationship with MPA levels. Conclusions. During the first postoperative months, exposure to MPA is low in a considerable proportion of liver transplant patients receiving MMF at a fixed dose of 1 g bid. MPA monitoring appears necessary in these patients.
Incisor Crown Bending Strength Correlates With Diet and Incisor Curvature in Anthropoid Primates

Anthropoid incisors are large relative to the postcanine dentition and function in the preprocessing of food items. Previous analyses of anthropoid incisor allometry and shape demonstrate that incisor morphology is correlated with preferred foods and that more frugivorous anthropoids have larger and more curved incisors. Although the relationship between incisal crown curvature and preferred foods has been well documented in extant and fossil anthropoids, the functional significance of curvature variation has yet to be conclusively established. Given that an increase in crown curvature will increase maximum linear crown dimensions, and bending resistance is a function of linear crown dimensions, it is hypothesized that incisor crown curvature functons to increase incisor crown resistance to bending forces. This study uses beam theory to calculate the mesiodistal and labiolingual bending strengths of the maxillary and mandibular incisors of hominoid and platyrrhine taxa with differing diets and variable degrees of incisal curvature. Results indicate that bending strength correlates with incisal curvature and that frugivores have elevated incisor bending resistance relative to folivores. Maxillary central incisor bending strengths further discriminate platyrrhine and hominoid hard‐ and soft‐object frugivores suggesting this crown is subjected to elevated occlusal loading relative to other incisors. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that incisor crown curvature functions to increase incisor crown resistance to bending forces but does not preclude the possibility that incisor bending strength is a composite function of multiple dentognathic variables including, but not limited to, incisor crown curvature. Anat Rec, 298:463–478, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antibiotic loading on bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics: An approach to surface modification

A bioactive glass and its corresponding glass-ceramic have been used to investigate the possibility to load a common antibiotic (carbenicillin) on their surface during the reactivity processes which occur by dipping these materials in a simulated body fluid. The materials bioactivity in the early stage of simulated body fluid treatment has been investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction. The uptake of carbenicillin has been performed by dipping the samples in simulated body fluid solution with a drug concentration of 500 mg/l for 6, 12 and 24 h. Some glass samples underwent a pre-treatment in simulated body fluid, for different time frames, in order to form a silica gel layer before the surface exposition to antibiotic. The carbenicillin release has been measured in water up to 36 h. The amount of incorporated and released antibiotic has been estimated by UV visible spectrophotometer. All samples were able to incorporate a significant amount of antibiotic and it was possible to tailor the drug release by modifying the simulated body fluid pre-treatment.
Tax Loss Carryforwards and Corporate Tax Incentives

This paper investigates the extent to which loss-offset constraints affect corporate tax incentives. Using data gathered from corporate annual reports, we estimate that in 1984 fifteen percent of the firms in the nonfinancial corporate sector had tax loss carryforwards. When weighted by their market value, however, these firms account for less than three percent of this sector, suggesting that loss carryforwards are concentrated among small firms and affect relatively few large corporations. For those firms with loss carryforwards, however, the incentive effects of the corporate income tax may differ significantly from those facing taxable firms. We demonstrate this by calculating the effective tax rates on equipment and structures for both types of firms. Our results suggest that firms which are currently taxable have a substantially greater incentive for equipment investment than firms with loss carryforwards, but that loss carryforwards have a relatively smaller effect on the tax incentive for investing in structures. Overall, firms with loss carryforwards receive a smaller investment stimulus than taxable firms.
The Influence Of Director Ownership on the relationship between firm's Financial Performances (FP) and Social Peformance (SP): Malaysian Evidence

The slack resource theory is argued that companies who are financially strong would have slack resources that would provide the opportunity to invest in social activities for community, employee, and environment. If slack resources are available from previous financial performance, better financial performance would be a predictor for better social performance. However, past studies have documented inconsistent evidence of the relationship between with financial performance (FP) and social performance (SP). To improve the theoretical framework, this study introduces moderator variables, director ownership that expected to enhance the relationship between financial and social performance. This argument is on their ability of influencing company decision making since they are the owner of company. They have voting right to make decision this will help to the increase of slack resources allocation in social activity. Past study documented positive relationship between director ownership and social performance this provide evidence that when director of company have positive view toward SP this will help to increase to allocation available slack resources in social activity that will lead better SP. Sample of this study comprises of 262 public listed companies in Bursa Malaysia for the year 2012. The results of the regression analysis provide a support for slack resource theory, that is, financially strong companies have a positive and significant relationship with social performance. Furthermore this study is expected to supports the board ownership in influencing the relationship. This study contributes new knowledge by introducing director ownership as moderator of the relationship between social performance and financial performance.
Prognostic Value of Platelet Count in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

Thrombocytopenia is commonly observed in critically ill patients. A low platelet count is a strong and independent predictor of an adverse outcome in critically ill patients, thereby facilitating a simple and practical risk assessment in these patients and potentially guiding the use of complex or expensive treatment strategies. Objectives: To evaluate the variation in platelet counts and the risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia and mortality in pediatric intensive care patients. Patients and Method: A prospective, observational cohort study was undertaken in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Babylon Gynecology and Pediatric teaching hospital in Hilla city, Babil, Iraq over a period of 5 months from 1 st May 2011 to 1 st October 2011. Besides patients' demography, source of admission, primary diagnosis, presence or absence of sepsis, bleeding, use of central venous or arterial lines and mechanical ventilation were recorded. Laboratory data collected at admission included complete blood counts, C- reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, serum bilirubin and coagulation profile. These were also repeated with the occurrence of thrombocytopenia. Platelet count was performed daily for all patients. Results: The median Pediatric Intensive Care Unit stay was 4 days (range 2-98 days). At least one episode of thrombocytopenia was seen in 58 patients (44.61%) Mild, moderate, and severe thrombocytopenia was present in 27.69%, 23.07%, and 14.61%, of patients respectively. Sepsis, high blood urea and serum creatinin, high total serum bilirubin, and positive C-reactive protein had significant correlation with the development of thrombocytopenia. There was a significant association between mortality and the presence of mechanical ventilation, sepsis, blood transfusion, high blood urea and serum creatinin, positive CRP, and leukocytosis. The survivors had higher platelet counts throughout the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit stay and after an initial fall in platelet counts showed a significantly higher rise in the platelet counts in the following days than the non-survivors. Conclusions:  Thrombocytopenia is common in pediatric intensive care unit especially in patients with sepsis and coagulation defect.  Thrombocytopenic children have higher incidence of bleeding, and higher mortality.  Any drop in platelet counts even without thrombocytopenia needs an urgent and extensive evaluation.  Serial measurements of platelet counts are better predictors of pediatric intensive care outcome than one-time values.  Thrombocytopenia is common in ICUs and constitutes a simple and readily available risk marker for mortality, independent of and complementary to established severity of disease indices. Both a low nadir platelet count and a large fall of platelet count predict a poor vital outcome in adult ICU patients.  We did not study the mechanisms that lead to decreased platelet count. Nevertheless, we think other studies provide compelling arguments to assume that inflammation-induced platelet sequestration plays a major role.
Review on: Effect of using Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (RBST) Hormone on Dairy Cattle Production

Recombinant bovine somatotropin(rbST) administration to dairy cows increases milk production and improves the efficiency of milk synthesis, though management factors have been identified as major source of variation in dairy cows responses. Milk nutrient density is unaffected by rbST supplementation and no significant differences in milk composition between cows treated and not treated. The magnitude of reproductive responses of dairy cows to rbST is variable where there exists an increase in days to first estrus and twinning rates, increases days-open and services per conception. The use of rBST may have significant welfare consequences since unnaturally high milk yield production exist. This is reflected in different forms, among these, challenge of maintaining body condition of cows treated with rBST at the end of lactation, relative risk of mastitis due to increased milk yield and an increased incidence of lameness in cows. Reproductive problems in dairy cows have become very common as consequence of using rBST's, resulting with large numbers of cows being culled. rBST is biologically inactive in humans and its residues in food products have no physiological effect, but its injection to cow results in an increase in quantities of IGF-I and becomes one of the leading suspects involved in the development and spread of cancers. There is also suspect of increased human risk for development of anti microbial resistance in exposure to milk antibiotic residues from the use of rbST caused mastitis. This could be managed by practices in use by the dairy industry. The use of rbST reduces the resource used and environmental impact per unit of milk production. That is why increased animal performance is suggested as one of the most effective mitigation strategies to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions from livestock production per unit of product produced.
Primary Care of Patients without Insurance by Community Health Centers

Community health centers (CHCs) are in a strong position to meaningfully contribute to health promotion, early detection, and improvement in health care outcomes for some of the most vulnerable persons in the nation, since almost one in three users of federally funded CHCs was uninsured in 1994. The purpose of this article is to compare uninsured CHC users with uninsured people nationwide. Data for the analysis came primarily from two population-based surveys: the 1994 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the 1995 Community Health Center (CHC) User Survey.
THE MUTAGENIC ACTION OF FORMALDEHYDE ON BACTERIA

Rapoport (1946), Kaplan (1948), and Auerbach (1949) found formaldehyde highly mutagenic for Drosophila when administered with its food. Auerbach (1949), however, observed negative results when Drosophila was exposed to formaldehyde vapor and concluded that formaldehyde acts indirectly through chemical changes brought about in food constituents. Dickey, Cleland, and Lotz (1949) found formaldehyde and a mixture of formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide mutagenic for Neurospora crassa. This paper will report investigations on the mutagenic effect of formaldehyde on bacteria.
Effects on cardiac function of a novel low viscosity plasma expander based on polyethylene glycol conjugated albumin.

BACKGROUND Plasma expanders have become increasingly advantageous when compared to blood transfusion, due to their long shelf-life and cost-effectiveness. A new generation of plasma expander based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated to human serum albumin (PEG-HSA) has shown positive microvascular effects during extreme hemodilution and fluid resuscitation from severe hemorrhagic shock. PEG conjugation increases uniformly albumin molecular weight (MW) and colloidal osmotic pressure, with minor effects on viscosity. METHODS This study was designed to test the hypothesis that PEG-HSA improves and maintains cardiac function during anemic condition, independently of its lower viscosity, compared to plasma expanders with higher viscosity. To accomplish this objective, we compared PEG-HSA to colloids of different MWs and viscosities, dextran 70 kDa (moderate viscosity plasma expander, MVPE) and dextran 2000 kDa (high viscosity plasma expander, HVPE). Cardiac function was analyzed using indices derived from left ventricular pressure volume, and were assessed using a miniaturized conductance catheter, in two experimental models: 1) hemodilution and 2) resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock. RESULTS After hemodilution, PEG-HSA increased cardiac output compared to MVPE through the entire observation period, and HVPE increased stroke work compared to MVPE. After resuscitation, PEG-HSA increased stroke work compared to HVPE through the entire observation period. In both experimental protocols, cardiac functional changes induced by PEG-HSA were sustained over the observation time. CONCLUSION PEG-HSA, a low viscosity plasma expander, had beneficial effects on cardiac function when compared to conventional colloidal plasma expanders with higher viscosities. Maintenance of homeostasis during hemodilution and resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock using PEG-HSA will lead to a significant decrease of the use of blood, thus alleviating in part, forecasted blood shortages, and significantly reducing morbidity and mortality associated with the use of blood in transfusion medicine.
Channel-, Queue-, and Delay-Aware Resource Allocation in Buffer-Aided Relay-Enhanced OFDMA Networks

Resource allocation is an important factor in providing different varieties of services in next-generation broadband wireless systems. In this paper, we consider dynamic routing and subchannel allocation for providing quality of service (QoS) in the downlink of orthogonal frequency-division multiple-access (OFDMA) networks enhanced with buffering relays. Specifically, we consider satisfying the QoS requirements of both delay-sensitive users with the goal of meeting packet deadline constraints and delay-tolerant users who need guarantees on their average throughputs. We provide a framework for “time-domain scheduling” and “frequency-domain resource allocation,” and based on this, we propose novel channel-, queue-, and delay-aware policies for formulating and solving the joint routing and resource allocation problem. In particular, these policies take different approaches to decide on the set of users considered in the utility function, the delay budget division between the base station and relays, the routing path of delay-sensitive users' packets, and the computation of minimum rate requirements for serving their queues. We present an iterative algorithm to solve the resulting problems. Numerical results show significant improvements in throughput and delay performance of the proposed resource allocation mechanisms compared with existing algorithms.
Role of the CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein NFATc2 Transcription Factor Cascade in the Induction of Secretory Phospholipase A2*

Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α modulate a transcription factor cascade in the liver to induce and sustain an acute and systemic defense against foreign entities. The transcription factors involved include NF-κB, STAT, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP). Whether the NFAT group of transcription factors (which was first characterized as playing an important role in cytokine gene expression in the adaptive response in immune cells) participates in the acute-phase response in hepatocytes is not known. Here, we have investigated whether NFAT is part of the transcription factor cascade in hepatocytes during inflammatory stress. We report that interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor-α increases expression of and activates NFATc2. C/EBP-mediated NFATc2 induction is temporally required for expression of type IIA secretory phospholipase A2. NFATc2 is also required for expression of phospholipase D1 and the calcium-binding protein S100A3. Thus, a C/EBP-NFATc2 transcription factor cascade provides an additional means to modulate the acute-phase response upon stimulation with inflammatory cytokines.
Is visual fatigue changing the perceived depth accuracy on an autostereoscopic display?

In this paper, a subjective study is presented which aims to measure the minimum perceivable depth difference on an autostereoscopic display in order to provide an indication for visual fatigue. The developed experimental setup was used to compare the subject's performance before and after 3D excitation on an autostereoscopic display. By comparing the results to a verification session with 2D excitation, the effect of 3D visual fatigue can be isolated. It was seen that it is possible to reach the threshold of acuity for stereo disparity on that autostereoscopic display. It was also found that the measured depth acuity is slightly higher after 3D viewing than after 2D viewing.
Investor Attention SpillOver Effect : Evidence from DJIA Record Days 1

Using the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index record breaking days as a proxy for market wide attention, we show that as the aggregate stock market intensifies investor attention, stock market response to individual firms’ earnings announcements significantly increases. We hypothesize that there are many channels for the attention spill-over effect and document strong supportive evidence of one important mechanism: the trading volume channel. Heightened investor attention to the aggregate stock market induces investors to trade more before individual earnings announcements and accelerates the stock market reaction. Overall, our empirical results document an important investor attention spill-over effect within the context of earnings announcements. JEL Classification: G11, G14, G15
An Improved Weak-Form BCGS-FFT Combined With DCIM for Analyzing Electromagnetic Scattering by 3-D Objects in Planarly Layered Media

Fast algorithms for electrically large objects buried in layered media are mainly hindered by two time-consuming processes. One is the table filling of Green's function, and the other is the solving of the impedance matrix equation. For the first, to accelerate the evaluation of the time-consuming Sommerfeld integral in the dyadic Green's function (DGF), the discrete complex image method (DCIM) is introduced to get a closed-form DGF. To further accelerate the calculation of DGF for the volume electric field integral equation (EFIE), DGF is split before applying DCIM. For the second, the iterative solver stabilized biconjugate gradient fast Fourier transform (BCGS-FFT) is combined with DCIM for solving the matrix equations. Meanwhile, the closed-form DGF enables the "spherical-mean" Green's function, which eliminates the singularity of Green's function. Numerical results show that the weaker singularity results in a faster and steadier convergence rate for iterative solvers