Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Brand Assets on the Choice Criteria of FMCG Products Among Bcom Students of the University of Nairobi

Branding is increasingly becoming important in organizations as a competitive strategy. Brand assets are perceived to influence the consumer choice of various brands, but the extent to which the various assets do this is not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of brand assets on the choice criteria of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) among Bachelor of Commerce students of the university of Nairobi. The study adopted the descriptive cross sectional research design, with the population being Bachelor of Commerce Degree students of the University of Nairobi. The study targeted 90 conveniently selected students, 30 in the regular programme, 30 in module 11 (day class) and 30 in module 11 (evening class) . Of the 90 students targeted, a total of 55 responded, mainly from module 1 and module 11(day) class, which was a response rate of 61%. Validity and reliability was done by first issuing the questionnaires to 4 students and checking their responses. The questions were also thoroughly checked to ensure that they were correct, before doing the final study. Descriptive analysis as well as factor analysis, and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The study found that brand assets, namely, brand awareness, brand association, brand loyalty and perceived quality have a positive influence on the selection criteria that a customer makes. Brand awareness, brand association, and perceived quality have a positive influence on the selection criteria, while brand loyalty has a negative influence. The results of this study demonstrate that in making decisions, marketers need to always be guided by the various brand assets. It is therefore recommended that manufacturers and marketers consider these assets in marketing their products. Since this study was based on Bcom students in one campus of the University of Nairobi, the findings may not be generalizable to all the students. A wider study focusing on several universities may therefore shed more light on the choice behavior of the students Keywords: Brand assets, Brand awareness, Brand association, Perceived quality, Brand loyalty, Fast moving Consumer Goods
Optimized Energy Management of Electric Drive Vehicles in a Green Residential Building

During the extremely-hot weather or transient heat waves, air conditioners are the main contributors to highest peak electricity demand which may lead to the widespread blackouts or brownouts. Meanwhile, electric drive vehicles are rapidly gaining popularity due to the global warming and energy crisis. Hence, this paper schedules on optimal charge and discharge decisions of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) in a residential cooling and power microgrid that is driven by a solar Stirling engine. In the presented microgrid, the solar dish Stirling heat engine is employed as an external combustion engine to supply the electricity requirement of compressor, evaporator and condenser fans and charge the PEVs in the off-peak cooling-load hours. During the on-peak periods, optimal discharge of PEVs increases total energy and emission savings significantly. A thermodynamic based mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem is solved to minimize total electricity cost for a benchmark residential building located in a tropical region taking into account the operational constraints of the Stirling engine and the refrigeration cycle. Simulation results demonstrate that this micro-cogeneration system can be introduced as a near-zero energy building with zero-carbon footprint in the presence of PEVs.
Responding to sustainability: A model exploring the impacts of boards of directors and organisational strategic flexibility

As the strategic apex of decision making, boards of directors have ultimate responsibility in ensuring that firms address economic, environmental and social sustainability. We contend that board information-processing activities act as the mediational pathway by which board composition affects sustainability. Further, because of the complexity of the sustainability paradigm, strategic flexibility is posited to moderate relationships between information-processing activities and sustainable outcomes. The model proposed in this paper offers original insight into the drivers of sustainability in organisations and thus, we conclude the discussion with implications for both research and practice.
Development of ontological knowledge representation: learning hydrocarbons with double bonds at the secondary level

This paper presents the development of an ontological knowledge organization and representation, and explains how application of appropriate methods for its visualization can lead to meaningful learning. We have applied systemic diagrams (SD) as a method of visualizing ontological knowledge organization. Seven ontological models for "Hydrocarbons with double bonds", following the development from concept map to systemic diagram, are constructed. Chemical properties of alkenes are particularly elaborated and represented as a final systemic diagram (SDf). [AJCE, 3(2), June 2013]
Some asymptotic error estimates for finite element approximation of minimal surfaces

— The solution of a minimal surface problem over a plane domain is approximated by piecewise linear finite éléments. Using related results of Johnson/ Thomée [5] and a weighted Sobolev norm technique introduced by Nitsche [11], we show the D°-convergence with rate 0(h |ln h\) and the L-convergence with rate 0(h).
Conditional Knock-out of mGluR5 from Astrocytes during Epilepsy Development Impairs High-Frequency Glutamate Uptake

Astrocyte expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is consistently observed in resected tissue from patients with epilepsy and is equally prevalent in animal models of epilepsy. However, little is known about the functional signaling properties or downstream consequences of astrocyte mGluR5 activation during epilepsy development. In the rodent brain, astrocyte mGluR5 expression is developmentally regulated and confined in expression/function to the first weeks of life, with similar observations made in human control tissue. Herein, we demonstrate that mGluR5 expression and function dramatically increase in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Interestingly, in both male and female mice, mGluR5 function persists in the astrocyte throughout the process of epileptogenesis following status epilepticus. However, mGluR5 expression and function are transient in animals that do not develop epilepsy over an equivalent time period, suggesting that patterns of mGluR5 expression may signify continuing epilepsy development or its resolution. We demonstrate that, during epileptogenesis, astrocytes reacquire mGluR5-dependent calcium transients following agonist application or synaptic glutamate release, a feature of astrocyte-neuron communication absent since early development. Finally, we find that the selective and conditional knock-out of mGluR5 signaling from astrocytes during epilepsy development slows the rate of glutamate clearance through astrocyte glutamate transporters under high-frequency stimulation conditions, a feature that suggests astrocyte mGluR5 expression during epileptogenesis may recapitulate earlier developmental roles in regulating glutamate transporter function. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In development, astrocyte mGluR5 signaling plays a critical role in regulating structural and functional interactions between astrocytes and neurons at the tripartite synapse. Notably, mGluR5 signaling is a positive regulator of astrocyte glutamate transporter expression and function, an essential component of excitatory signaling regulation in hippocampus. After early development, astrocyte mGluR5 expression is downregulated, but reemerges in animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) development and patient epilepsy samples. We explored the hypothesis that astrocyte mGluR5 reemergence recapitulates earlier developmental roles during TLE acquisition. Our work demonstrates that astrocytes with mGluR5 signaling during TLE development perform faster glutamate uptake in hippocampus, revealing a previously unexplored role for astrocyte mGluR5 signaling in hypersynchronous pathology.
S36-2 The effect of size on water and energy balance during migratory flight: empirical data versus theory

In the absence of sufficiently reliable empirical data, theoretical models for estimating the costs of flight have had to serve ecology. This has led to general insights, such as the finding that power requirements for flight increase rapidly with size. As maximum fuel loads decrease with size, potential flight range decreases too. Because water balance also needs to be maintained during flight, the potential problems for large migrants only seem to grow. This has significant implications for migratory flight. With every gram of fuel added, the more can returns in distance flown diminish. The physiological challenges of long flight in birds, however, can now be studied with greater accuracy than ever before because of the development of wind tunnels. Here, the latest findings are used to update previous predictions on energy and water use in migrating birds in relation to inter- and intra-specific variations in size. These findings are then placed into a more comprehensive ecological context by considering some of their consequences for avian migration strategies, stopover ecology and breeding performance.
Soybean Technology and the Loss of Natural Vegetation in Brazil and Bolivia

This paper looks at the impact of the introduction of new soybean technologies on the clearing of natural vegetation (forest and savanna) in southern Brazil, the Brazilian Cerrado, and Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The paper looks at how technological change interacted with other government policies and examines general equilibrium effects on product and labor markets as well as the direct on-farm effects. In southern Brazil new technologies made large-scale mechanized soybean production more profitable. This led to the displacement of many small farmers that moved to the Brazilian Amazon and clearing forests for agriculture. It may have also encouraged deforestation in southern Brasil itself. In the Brazilian Cerrado and Santa Cruz Bolivia the new technologies made it possible to plant soybeans in areas where it had previously not been economically feasible. Large areas of forest and other natural vegetation were cleared as a result.
Bilateral Antrochoanal Polyp with Diabetes: A Rare Presentation of Cystic Fibrosis

Bilateral antrochoanal (AC) polyps have been rarely reported in english literature. Here we report the first case of an adolescent male with bilateral AC polyps, cystic fibrosis and diabetes. The case was managed successfully by functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The patient has been under follow-up for the last six months with no signs of recurrence.
Moderated vs. Fossilized Modes of Teaching and Learning English in the Preparatory Classes in Iraq

The present study exhibits an outsight over the prominent problems that face the educational process and an outlook over the preparatory school syllabuses conducted in teaching English language in Iraq. Three syllabuses are to be concerned in the present study: the New English Course for Iraq (NECI), Iraq Opportunities (IO) and English for Iraq (EFI). The study propounds the main characteristics of each syllabus and their relativity to the variant approaches of teaching. The NECI conducted a classical mode of teaching, started with the sixties of the last century and continued until the year-study 2012-2013, for the sixth preparatory. English for Iraq, now replaced the "Iraq Opportunities", is taught for 4 th , 5 th and 6 th preparatory. On the other hand, the study tackles the main problems that are also obstacles to teaching/learning progression in Iraq, such as those of using helping sketches diverting students from the syllabus trends and abolishing many learning activities. Iraq Opportunities proved to be better than the two other syllabuses, mainly in its being based on communicative method of teaching and more appropriate for teaching students in Iraq. The educational system in Iraq, as the study recommends, needs more reforming, development and planning on the educational needs, at the variant levels of reliability.
Musical activities predispose to involuntary musical imagery

Involuntary semantic memories are a new topic in psychology. Initial research has suggested that musical memories are a dominant type of involuntary memory. Interestingly, no comprehensive information exists on the commonality of “earworms”, or repeated involuntary imagery of music (INMI), and its relationship to the engagement with musical activities. The present study investigated these using cross-sectional, retrospective reports from a questionnaire study that was conducted among Finnish internet users (N = 12,519). The analyses of the data revealed that 89.2% of participants reported experiencing this phenomenon at least once a week. The amount of music practice and listening was positively related to the frequency of involuntary music. Women reported elevated levels of involuntary imagery episodes in contrast to men, who reacted differently. In older age-groups the frequency of the incidents decreased among both sexes. People with extensive musical practice history seemed to experience longer musical segments and more often instrumental ones. They were less agitated by involuntary music and reported it less often. The results are discussed in relation to a memory-based hypothesis of involuntary musical imagery. In conclusion, INMI is viewed as an integral part of our musical mind.
Mean value properties for eigenfunctions of the Laplacian on symmetric spaces

has zero integrals over all balls in Rn with radii belonging to the zero set of Jn/2. In [1] (also see [2], Part II, Theorem 1.12), the first author proved the following. Theorem A. Let f ∈ L1,loc(Rn), n > 2, and let {νk}k=1 be the sequence of all positive zeros of the function Jn/2. Then the integrals of f over all balls in Rn with radii ν1, ν2, . are equal to zero if and only if ∆f + f = 0 (here the equality is understood in the sense of distributions). Analogues of Theorem A for rank one symmetric spaces were established by V.V. Volchkov in [3]. These results enabled him to get a description of the Pompeiu sets in terms of approximations of their indicator functions by linear combinations of indicator functions of balls with special radii in L1 (see [1–3]). The purpose of this paper is to obtain an analogue of Theorem A for symmetric spaces of arbitrary rank. As regards basic notions and facts from the theory of symmetric spaces, see [4]–[6]. Let X = G/K be a symmetric space of the noncompact type, G being a connected semisimple Lie group with finite center and K a maximal compact subgroup. Let o = {K} be the origin in X and denote the action of G on X by (g, x) → gx for g ∈ G, x ∈ X. The Lie algebras of G and K are respectively denoted by g and k. The adjoint representations of g and G are respectively denoted by ad and Ad. Let 〈 , 〉 be the Killing form of gC, the complexification of g. The form 〈 , 〉 induces a G-invariant Riemannian structure on X with the corresponding distance function d(·, ·) and the Riemannian measure dx. For R > 0, y ∈ X we set
Ring graft technique for microvascular decompression

Introduction: Various nerve compression syndromes, such as trigeminal neuralgia (TN), glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN), and hemifacial spasm (HFS), are caused by compression of the concerned nerve by the adjacent vessel. Patients who do not respond to medical management are usually treated by “microvascular decompression (MVD) of the nerve. ” Teflon patch graft is the most commonly used material for MVD. This graft has been used in various shapes like a patch, in the shredded form, or as a sling. This is done to prevent recurrence because of graft failure. We used a teflon ring graft to perform a successful MVD in 10 patients. Material and Methods: Out of 10 cases, 6 cases were of TN, 2 of HFS, 1 of GN, and 1 case was of cochleovestibular nerve compression syndrome (CNCS). After MVD, every patient underwent a follow up assessment for 5 years. Results: There was no major postoperative complication, except in the patient with CNCS who suffered from a temporary episode of facial palsy. All cases were symptom free at a follow-up duration of equal to or more than 5 years. Conclusion: Ring teflon graft may be used as an alternative as well as a safe method to perform MVD and has a good success rate.
Modified Ramsey Rule, Optimal Carbon Tax and Economic Growth

In contrast to the overlapping-generations model, it is allowable to discount the future utility in a dynasty model without the ethical difficulty related to intergenerational conflicts. Much precedent research uses Ramsey-type optimal growth theory in order to estimate the social discount rate. However, one must note that almost all the formulations neglect the existence of negative intertemporal externalities. This problem is vital when one analyzes the global warming problem mainly caused by the excess concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2). This is because an adjoining effect of capital accumulation exists besides the improvement of product capacity, which is reflected in the rate of interest (or equivalently, the marginal productivity of capital). That is, one cannot neglect a negative externality to the future productivity that originates from the excess emissions of CO2. Accordingly, following the optimal growth theory, the effective social discount rate should be heightened by a proportional carbon tax to suppress future excess consumption/ emissions than in the case of the existing analyses, which exclude such an intertemporal external diseconomy.
PGV-0 AND PGV-1 INCREASED APOPTOSIS INDUCTION OF DOXORUBICIN ON MCF-7 BREAST CANCER CELLS

As chemotherapeutic backbone for breast cancer therapy, doxorubicin showed various side effects and induced resistancy of breast cancer cells. Development of targeted therapy on breast cancer focused on combinatorial therapy of doxorubicin and molecular targeted agents. PGV-0 and PGV-1, a curcumin analogue showed potency as co-chemotherapeutic agent with doxorubicin. Our previous study of PGV-0 and PGV-1 showed cytotoxic activity in T47D cells. Therefore, the aim of this research is to examine the synergistic effect of PGV-0, PGV-1 on the cytotoxic activity of doxorubicin through cell cycle modulation and apoptotic induction on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic assay of PGV-0, PGV-1, doxorubicin, and their combination were carried out by using MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were determined by flowcytometer FACSCalibur and the flowcytometry data was analyzed using Cell Quest program. Single treatment of PGV-0, PGV-1 and doxorubicin showed cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 with cell viability IC50 value 50 μM, 6 μM and 350 nM respectively. Single treatment of Doxorubicin 175 nM induced G2/M arrest. Single treatment of PGV-0 5 μM induced G2/M arrest while in higher dose 12.5 μM, PGV-0 induced apoptosis. Combination of doxorubicin 175 nM and PGV-0 5 μM induced apoptosis. Combination of doxorubicin 175 nM and PGV-0 12.5 μM also increased apoptosis induction. Single treatment of PGV-1 0.6 μM induced G1 arrest while in higher dose 1.5 μM, PGV-1 induced apoptosis. Combination of doxorubicin 175 nM and PGV-1 0.6 μM induced apoptosis. Combination of doxorubicin 175 nM and PGV-0 1.5 μM also increased apoptosis induction. PGV-0 and PGV-1 are potential to be delevoped as co-chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle modulation, but the molecular mechanism need to be explored detail.
Precise Self-tuning of Spiking Patterns in Coupled Neuronal Oscillators

In this work we discuss and analyze spiking patterns in a generic mathematical model of two coupled non-identical nonlinear oscillators supplied with a spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) mechanism. Spiking patterns in the system are shown to converge to a phase-locked state in a broad range of parameters. Precision of the phase locking, i.e. the amplitude of relative phase deviations from a given reference, depends on the natural frequencies of oscillators and, additionally, on parameters of the STDP law. These deviations can be optimized by appropriate tuning of gains (i.e. sensitivity to spike-timing mismatches) of the STDP mechanisms. The deviations, however, can not be made arbitrarily small neither by mere tuning of STDP gains nor by adjusting synaptic weights. Thus if accurate phase-locking in the system is required then an additional tuning mechanism is generally needed. We found that adding a very simple adaptation dynamics in the form of slow fluctuations of the base line in the STDP mechanism enables accurate phase tuning in the system with arbitrary high precision. The scheme applies to systems in which individual oscillators operate in the oscillatory mode. If the dynamics of oscillators becomes bistable then relative phase may fail to converge to a given value giving rise to the emergence of complex spiking sequences.
Globalization and Economic Growth in India: A Granger Causality Approach

Today, the term 'globalization’ has become a ‘buzzword’ in any economy all over the world. The growing integration of economies and societies all over the universe has been one of the most burning topics i n international economics over the past few years. Gl obalization has many dimensions and has a variety o f social, political and economic implications.This pa per attempts to enquire into the fact econometrical ly whether globalization is a cause of India’s economi c growth in the long run. More precisely, the artic le tries to find the causal relationship between globalizati on and economic growth in India. The regression res ults show that private investment, openness and human resource development have significant positive impact on economic growth via GDP growth. Financial integration variable (capital inflow+capital outflow) has negative impact, although not significant, on econo mic growth and public investment is also having insignificant positive impact on economic growth. J ohansen’s cointegration procedure showed that all t he above-mentioned variables are cointegrated implying these macro economic variables have long-run equilibrium relationship with economic growth via GDPgrowth. Error-correction model results also supported the cointegration results. We observe tha t the direction of causality between globalization and economic growth in India is generally bidirectional (causality runs in both directions) excepting a fe w where it is unidirectional.