Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs in Africa -A Case of Kenyan Women Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic growth and wheel that pedal the vehicle of economic development and has been recognized for its importance in the area of job creation, revenue generation, poverty alleviation and wealth creation [1-3] Following this, it is now identified as the central element in the theory of economic development and it makes up the largest business sector in economies [4,5]. It involves a willingness to rejuvenate market offerings, innovate, risks taking, trying out of new and uncertain products, services and markets and being more proactive than competitors towards exploring new business opportunities [6, 7]. It attracts both men and women who are interested in profitable inter-industry relationship. Women account for significant percent of the operators of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) [5, 8]. Women entrepreneurs make a substantial contribution to national economies through their participation in start-ups and their growth in small and medium businesses [9]. This paper looks at the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Africa as entrepreneurship is regarded to be a male activity [10]. The main variables investigated were: demographic factors such as personal background, education and experience; social networks; and access to finance. The exploratory and descriptive research designs were adopted. Questionnaires were used as a tool of data collection. Stratified sampling method was used to get 130 respondents from Kenya. Data was analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Studies). Chi-square, ttest and logistic regression were used. Findings of the study revealed that demographic factors and social networks were the main challenges facing women entrepreneurs. However, access to finance was found not a major challenge as women entrepreneurs were found to prefer internal sources of financing. Recommendations based on these findings were: women empowerment, training and sharing of information, provision of networks to enable marketing, provision of working areas near home location because of family reasons, building of self-confidence and esteem, risk taking training to improve formal market credits and thus grow their enterprises. Keywords: Woman entrepreneur, Demographic factors, Social networks, Access to finance.
Analysis of Reasons and Countermeasures of Plummeting of Chinese Vegetable Export to Japan

In the first quarter,the vegetables exported to Japan plummeted continuing decline during these years.All these are closely related with the trust crisis to Chinese food in Japan,the food safety requirements in Japan,the green barrier and the intense competition in Japanese vegetable market.Chinese government and export companies should take measures to eliminate the negative influence of it,such as restoring the Japanese confidence to Chinese food,improving product quality,dealing with green barriers and expanding other international markets.
Exploring and Organizing Spatiotemporal Features such as Waves in High Throughput Brain Recordings by Lifting to Feature Space

High throughput techniques for recording brain signals and other medical processes produce data that is difficult to analyze because of noise, complexity and massive volume. If this data has correlations in short time segments, the segments can be represented by low-dimensional features and the dataset can be organized by feature characteristics. We explore the possibility of lifting this type of data to a feature space and develop techniques for exploration of that space. We apply the techniques to data characterized by short-duration waves traveling in many directions both from synthetically generated datasets and from multielectrode brain recordings. Projection and navigation techniques, which summarize the distribution and relationships of features across large datasets, can be used in conjunction with color mapping and sorting strategies to compare feature geometry. The key is to find a feature space and a distance metric that emphasize interesting aspects of the data.
How to convert a factory-manufactured induction motor into rotary-linear motor? Part 2 design issues from viewpoint of educational purposes and industrial demands

2DoF rotary-linear motor is perfect study case to show that both circuit and field methods are very helpful and effective in mastering design abilities. The proposed circuit design method is termed “transformation of structure” method. Its essence is to change step by step the basic 3-phase induction motor into the desired rotary module of the 2DoF induction motor. What is important, “transformation of structure” is accompanied by detailed analytical study showing in simultaneous way conversion of the most significant curves from one phase into the another. The calculations are based on the modified equivalent circuit. As regards field design method, it employs Maxwell and FEMM program. Comparison of the results obtained with the help of circuit and field methods shows evidently advantages and disadvantages of each method, as well as confirms, in general, their equivalency.
Revision of an unstable HELICA endoprosthesis with a Zurich cementless total hip replacement

Summary A six-year-old, female, spayed Labrador Retriever was evaluated for progressive lameness of one year duration, ending in non-weight-bearing of the right hindlimb. The dog had a history of severe coxarthrosis of both hip joints, and had a HELICA hip pros-thesis implanted in the right hip 18 months before. On survey radiographs, the acetabular and femoral components appeared unstable, with a large void in the proximal femur and a lacy periosteal reaction on the trochanter. Arthrocentesis was performed to rule out septic loosening. As culture samples were negative, the dog underwent surgery. We report the successful revision of an unstable HELICA screw hip prosthesis with a Zurich cementless total hip replacement. The patient had a good clinical and radiological outcome seven months postoperatively.
Personal, social and environmental determinants of educational inequalities in walking: a multilevel study

Objective: To investigate the contribution of personal, social and environmental factors to mediating socioeconomic (educational) inequalities in women’s leisure-time walking and walking for transport. Methods: A community sample of 1282 women provided survey data on walking for leisure and transport; educational level; enjoyment of, and self-efficacy for, walking; physical activity barriers and intentions; social support for physical activity; sporting/recreational club membership; dog ownership; and perceived environmental aesthetics and safety. These data were linked with objective environmental data on the density of public open space and walking tracks in the women’s local neighbourhood, coastal proximity and street connectivity. Results: Multilevel modelling showed that different personal, social and environmental factors were associated with walking for leisure and walking for transport. Variables from all three domains explained (mediated) educational inequalities in leisure-time walking, including neighbourhood walking tracks; coastal proximity; friends’ social support; dog ownership; self-efficacy, enjoyment and intentions. On the other hand, few of the variables examined explained educational variations in walking for transport, exceptions being neighbourhood, coastal proximity, street connectivity and social support from family. Conclusions: Public health initiatives aimed at promoting, and reducing educational inequalities in, leisure-time walking should incorporate a focus on environmental strategies, such as advocating for neighbourhood walking tracks, as well as personal and social factors. Further investigation is required to better understand the pathways by which education might influence walking for transport.
VSL#3 Improves Symptoms in Children With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Crossover Study

Background and Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common problem in pediatrics, for which no safe and effective treatment is available. Probiotics have shown some promising results in adult studies, but no positive study has been published on pediatric age. We aimed at investigating the efficacy of VSL#3 in a population of children and teenagers affected by IBS, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study conducted in 7 pediatric gastroenterology divisions. Patients and Methods: Children 4 to 18 years of age, meeting eligibility criteria, were enrolled. The patients were assessed by a questionnaire for a 2-week baseline period. They were then randomized to receive either VSL#3 or a placebo for 6 weeks, with controls every 2 weeks. At the end, after a “wash-out” period of 2 weeks, each patient was switched to the other group and followed for a further 6 weeks. Results: A total of 59 children completed the study. Although placebo was effective in some of the parameters and in as many as half of the patients, VSL#3 was significantly superior to it (P < 0.05) in the primary endpoint, the subjective assessment of relief of symptoms; as well as in 3 of 4 secondary endpoints: abdominal pain/discomfort (P < 0.05), abdominal bloating/gassiness (P < 0.05), and family assessment of life disruption (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found (P = 0.06) in the stool pattern. No untoward adverse effect was recorded in any of the patients. Conclusions: VSL#3 is safe and more effective than placebo in ameliorating symptoms and improving the quality of life in children affected by IBS.
A long-term satellite study of aerosol effects on convective clouds in Nordic background air

Abstract. Aerosol-cloud interactions constitute a major uncertainty in future climate predictions. This study combines 10 years of ground-based aerosol particle measurements from two Nordic background stations (Vavihill and Hyytiala) with MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite data of convective clouds. The merged data are used to examine how aerosols affect cloud droplet sizes and precipitation from convective clouds over the Nordic countries. From the satellite scenes, vertical profiles of cloud droplet effective radius (re) are created by plotting retrieved cloud top re against cloud top temperature for the clouds in a given satellite scene. The profiles have been divided according to aerosol number concentrations but also meteorological reanalysis parameters from the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Forecasts). Furthermore, weather radar data from the BALTEX (Baltic Sea Experiment) and precipitation data from several ground-based meteorological measurement stations have been investigated to determine whether aerosols affect precipitation intensity and amount. Small re throughout the entire cloud profiles is associated with high aerosol number concentrations at both stations. However, aerosol number concentrations seem to affect neither the cloud optical thickness nor the vertical extent of the clouds in this study. Cloud profiles with no or little precipitation have smaller droplets than those with more precipitation. Moreover, the amount of precipitation that reaches the ground is affected by meteorological conditions such as the vertical extent of the clouds, the atmospheric instability and the relative humidity in the lower atmosphere rather than the aerosol number concentration. However, lower precipitation rates are associated with higher aerosol number concentrations for clouds with similar vertical extent. The combination of these ground-based and remote-sensing datasets provides a unique long-term study of the effects of aerosols on convective clouds over the Nordic countries.
Spontaneous Histologic Lesions of the Adult Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

Naked mole rats (NMRs; Heterocephalus glaber) are highly adapted, subterranean, eusocial rodents from semiarid regions of the eastern horn of Africa and the longest-living rodent known with a maximum life span of up to 30 years. They are a unique model for aging research due to their physiology, extreme longevity, and, when compared to mice and rats, resistance to cancer. Published surveys of disease in NMRs are sparse. Captive colonies in zoological collections provide an opportunity to monitor spontaneous disease over time in a seminatural environment. This retrospective study describes common lesions of a zoo population over a 15-year period during which 138 adult NMRs were submitted for gross and histologic evaluation. Of these, 61 (44.2%) were male, 77 (55.8%) female, 45 (32.6%) died, and 93 (67.4%) were euthanized. The most frequent cause of death or reason for euthanasia was conspecific trauma (bite wounds) and secondary complications. Some common histologic lesions and their prevalence were renal tubular mineralization (82.6%), hepatic hemosiderosis (64.5%), bite wounds (63.8%), chronic progressive nephropathy (52.9%), and calcinosis cutis (10.1%). In sum, 104 (75.4%) NMRs had more than one of the most prevalent histologic lesions. No malignant neoplasms were noted; however, there was a case of renal tubular adenomatous hyperplasia with nuclear atypia and compression that in rats is considered a preneoplastic lesion. This retrospective study confirms the NMR’s relative resistance to cancer in spite of development of other degenerative diseases and highlights the utility of zoological databases for baseline pathological data on nontraditional animal models.
Supporting Infrastructures Provisions: A Ownership or Location Advantages for Resources seeking Chinese firms in Developing Markets

Supporting infrastructures such as power, road, and telecommunication are considered as essential requirement for internalization of ownership advantages of resources seeking firms in both developed and developing countries. Besides availability of natural resources, supporting infrastructures such as transportation exist to fulfill needs for mobility, power to provide energy and power for the machines and telecommunication fulfill the need for information exchanges. This study looked into whether resources seeking Chinese firms support to host government drive to improve infrastructures and/or outright provision of essential supporting infrastructures required for their operations in Nigeria should be considered as location advantages or ownership advantages of resources seeking Chinese firms. The complete shift from the consideration of supporting infrastructures as location factor evidence from recent phenomenon and developments in emerging markets involving multinational enterprises on the provision of required supporting infrastructures offer avenue for testing existing international business theories.
Regulation of Alternative Pathway Activity in Plant Mitochondria : Deviations from Q-Pool Behavior during Oxidation of NADH and Quinols.

External NADH and succinate were oxidized at similar rates by soybean (Glycine max) cotyledon and leaf mitochondria when the cytochrome chain was operating, but the rate of NADH oxidation via the alternative oxidase was only half that of succinate. However, measurements of the redox poise of the endogenous quinone pool and reduction of added quinones revealed that external NADH reduced them to the same, or greater, extent than did succinate. A kinetic analysis of the relationship between alternative oxidase activity and the redox state of ubiquinone indicated that the degree of ubiquinone reduction during external NADH oxidation was sufficient to fully engage the alternative oxidase. Measurements of NADH oxidation in the presence of succinate showed that the two substrates competed for cytochrome chain activity but not for alternative oxidase activity. Both reduced Q-1 and duroquinone were readily oxidized by the cytochrome oxidase pathway but only slowly by the alternative oxidase pathway in soybean mitochondria. In mitochondria isolated from the thermogenic spadix of Philodendron selloum, on the other hand, quinol oxidation via the alternative oxidase was relatively rapid; in these mitochondria, external NADH was also oxidized readily by the alternative oxidase. Antibodies raised against alternative oxidase proteins from Sauromatum guttatum cross-reacted with proteins of similar molecular size from soybean mitochondria, indicating similarities between the two alternative oxidases. However, it appears that the organization of the respiratory chain in soybean is different, and we suggest that some segregation of electron transport chain components may exist in mitochondria from nonthermogenic plant tissues.
Using Attribute Ratings for Product Positioning: Some Distinctions among Compositional Approaches

Compositional methods for generating product spaces from attribute data differ in their capacity to recover objective dimensions that discriminate between brands. These differences, which have important implications for the usefulness of various scaling techniques to managers, are illustrated by an example from consumer esthetics involving the evaluation of recordings by jazz saxophonists. The emphasis is on contrasts among the compositional approaches that result in different kinds of dimensions being prominent in reduced space solutions.
An organic transistor architecture for stimulation of calcium signalling in primary rat cortical astrocytes

In this work we report the stimulation of astrocytic calcium signalling using an organic cell sensing and stimulating transistor (O-CST). We demonstrate that astroglial cells can adhere and proliferate on these devices giving us the possibility to stimulate bioelectrical activity in this type of cells. By the use of a microfluorimetric calcium imaging approach we show that our device is able to evoke an increase in intracellular calcium levels. This research opens a new path in the study of glial cells and their bioelectrical activity.
Improved Chain-Block Algorithm to RVM on Large Scale Problems

RVM enables sparse classification and regression functions to be obtained by linearly-weighting a small number of fixed basis functions from a large dictionary of potential candidates.TOA on RVM has O(M3) time and O(M2) space complexity, where M is the training set size. It is thus computationally infeasible on very large data sets. We propose I-CBA based on CBA, I-CBA set iteration initial center as the iteration solution last time,reduce the time complexitiy further more with keeping high accuracy and sparsity simultaneously. Regression experiments with synthetical large benchmark data set demonstrates I-CBA yields state-of-the-art performance.
Broadband microwave circuit interconnection

This paper presents a general design approach for broadband microwave component or circuit. The term broadband here means an operational bandwidth of at least 1,5 – 2 octaves. The paper emphazises the need of compensating bond wire inductivity and how to design appropriate structures to achieve this. The design procedure presented here results from the experience gained during various microwave projects.
Diagnostic imaging in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is an idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS that is particularly difficult to differentiate from the first episode of multiple sclerosis, so called clinically isolated syndrome. Currently, no diagnostic criteria exist that could reliably differentiate these two diseases. More importantly no single clinical, neuroimaging or cerebrospinal fluid feature defines a disorder with absolute certainty. This review will summarize clinical and paraclinical characteristics of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in adults, with special emphasis on diagnostic imaging.
INTENSIVE TREATMENT FOR MULTIPLE MYELOMA: WHERE DO WE STAND?

It is now more than 10 years since high-dose therapy for multiple myeloma (MM) was introduced by McElwain & Powles (1983). The Royal Marsden group was the first to establish a dose‐response effect for alkylating agents in MM. Using high-dose melphalan (HDM), 140 mg/m 2 ,i t was possible to overcome resistance to lower doses of melphalan and to induce complete remissions in approximately 35% of patients (Selby et al, 1987). The encouraging results of HDM prompted additional studies which concentrated on highdose chemo/radiotherapy followed by (autologous) stem cell transplantation. Initial studies were performed in refractory patients who were treated with 100‐140 mg/m 2 melphalan
Causes and consequences of fast food sales growth

W ith today's hectic lifestyles, time-saving products are increasingly in demand. Perhaps one of the most obvious examples is fast food. The rate of growth in consumer expenditures on fast food has led most other segments of the food-away-fromhome market for much of the last two decades. Since 1982, the amount consumers spent at fast food outlets grew at an annual rate of 6.8 percent (through 1997), compared with 4.7 percent growth in table service restaurant expenditures. The proportion of away-from-home food expenditures on fast food increased from 29.3 to 34.2 percent between 1982 and 1997, while the restaurant proportion decreased from 41 to 35.7 percent (Clauson). At roughly $109.5 billion in 1997, fast food sales are approaching the amount spent at table service restaurants ($114.3 billion in 1997, including tips), despite fast food's much lower average cost per meal. Between 1990 and 1997, fast food prices rose only an average of about 2 percent per year, according to the Consumer Reports on Eating Share Trends (CREST) data, implying
Study about the Evaluation of Bridge Asset Valuation for Maintenance

PURPOSES : This study is to improve the highway management and rehabilitation efficiently by method for asset management. METHODS : Based on the literature review, The concept of this paper is to investigate the use of asset values from a Bridge management system to improvement of maintenance system more efficiently. This study is suggested for an evaluation method based on the current bridge condition by Written-down replacement cost of the assets. RESULTS : We suggests the optimization methodology of road asset valuation for budge distribution and performance measure. CONCLUSIONS : We evaluate all of national highway`s bridge by the optimization methodology of road asset valuation, and suggest application methods of asset result.
Cash Holding and Operating Performance of Rights Issue Companies

In this paper the listing companies' cash holding and operating performance around rights issue are analyzed taking the companies that issued rights in 1999 as the sample. We conclude that the cash of rights issue companies were money and short-term security in the year of rights issue and invested in next year but 26 percent of the sample changed their investment. The operating performance decreased sharply in the year of rights issue and kept stable in the year of investment, but decreased in the next year of investment again. Above all in the cash-rich companies the performance got worse, the cash kept more. We think the management inefficiently used the cash of rights issue, which took an accord with the agency cost of free cash flow hypothesis.