Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cost of Headless vs Headed Screw Fixation for Calcaneal Osteotomy and Subtalar Arthrodesis

Background: Screw head prominence in the heel following fixation for calcaneal osteotomy or subtalar arthrodesis has resulted in high rates of symptomatic hardware and screw removal. A cost analysis was performed to determine the financial implications of screw removal. Furthermore, we compared the rate of nonunion following fixation. Methods: Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify all patients who had a subtalar arthrodesis or calcaneal osteotomy (with screw fixation) performed between 2010 and 2016. The cohort was divided into 2 groups: 7.0-mm headless screw or 6.7-mm headed screw. The primary outcome measure was the rate of symptomatic screw removal. Secondary outcomes included the rate of nonunion. The expense associated with symptomatic hardware removal was determined by cost analysis. Results: Seventy-six patients underwent headless screw fixation, and 2 patients (2.6%) required screw removal. Fifty-four patients underwent headed screw fixation and 12 patients (22.2%) required screw removal. Symptomatic hardware removal was performed more frequently in the headed screw group (P < .001). There was no difference in the rate of nonunion after subtalar arthrodesis between the 2 groups (P = .363). The calcaneal osteotomy united in 100% of patients. There was a $51 755 cost savings per 100 cases using headless screw fixation. Conclusion: The rate of symptomatic screw removal was lower with headless screw fixation. The calcaneal osteotomy healed in 100% of patients, and there was no difference in the rate of subtalar nonunion between the 2 groups. Cost analysis demonstrated a significant benefit when the expense of hardware removal was considered. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Cross-border mergers and acquisitions: Impact on marketing capability and firm performance

Emerging country firms have been increasingly engaging in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and these acquirers predominantly acquire firms from developed countries. The motivation for such acquisitions is to achieve market access but also to benefit from transfers of cross-border managerial skills and knowledge. The performance of such acquisitions has started to receive some research attention, particularly financial performance, but the transfers to other areas such as marketing have not yet been explored. This article addresses this gap by studying the experience of 34 acquirers from emerging countries which acquired firms in developed countries. This study uses two-stage window data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Tobit regression to investigate the impact of these acquisitions on the marketing capability and overall firm performance of the acquiring firms. The results show that the marketing capability of the acquiring firms did improve in the post-merger years and this improvement can be partly attributed to the acquisition. The findings also show that the overall performance of the acquiring firms improved following acquisition, but this is a continuation of superior performance from the pre-merger years rather than a synergistic gain from the acquisitions.
Simplified Electrochemical and Thermal Model of LiFePO4-Graphite Li-Ion Batteries for Fast Charge Applications

Derived from the Pseudo Two-Dimensional mathematical structure, a simplified electrochemical and thermal model of LiFePO4-graphite based Li-ion batteries is developed in this paper. Embedding the porous electrode theory, this model integrates the main design parameters of Li-ion systems and its partial differential equations mathematical structure makes it a promising candidate for battery management system (BMS) applications and comprehensive aging investigations. Based on a modified Single-Particle approach, the model is used to simulate and discuss capacity restitution in galvanostatic charges and discharges at various rates and temperatures. Constant high-rate solicitations similar to fast charge of plug-in electric vehicles or electric vehicles, are experimentally tested and simulated with the present model. Also, thermal issues occurring during these specific operating conditions are quantitatively pointed out. The concept of current-dependent spherical particle radius is used to obtain good agreement with experimental data related to galvanostatic charges and discharges. The capabilities and limits of this preliminary modeling work are discussed in detail and ways to extend the potentialities of this approach to BMS applications are proposed.
Nitrile‐Substituted QA Derivatives: New Acceptor Materials for Solution‐Processable Organic Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

The development of non‐fullerene‐based electron acceptors (especially organic molecules with sufficient absorption property within the solar spectrum region) for bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) is an important issue for the achievement of high photoconversion efficiency. In this contribution, a new class of organic acceptors di‐cyan substituted quinacridone derivatives (DCN‐nCQA, n = 4, 6 and 8) for BHJ solar cells was designed and synthesized. DCN‐nCQA molecules possess facile synthesis, solution processability, visible and near‐IR light absorption and relatively stable characteristics. The DCN‐8CQA molecule exhibited a proper LUMO energy level (–4.1 eV), small bandgap (1.8 eV) and moderate electron mobility (10−4 cm2 V−1 S−1), suggesting that this molecule is an ideal acceptor material for the classical donor material regio‐regular poly (3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT). A photovoltaic device with a structure of [ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:DCN‐8CQA/LiF/Al] displayed a power conversion efficiency of 1.57% and a fill factor of 57% under 100 mW cm−2 AM 1.5G simulated solar illumination. The DCN‐nCQA molecules showed remarkable absorption in the region from 650 to 700 nm, where P3HT has a weak absorption promoting overlap with the solar spectrum and potentially improving the performance of the solar cell.
Preliminary evaluation on the application of grafted membranes for sorption of lead and copper ions in aqueous solution

were found to be 99.18% and 63.32% respectively. The sorption behavior with respect to contact time, initial pH, temperature, ionic strength and initial metal ion concentration were investigated in order to determine the optimum sorption conditions. Results showed that metal ion uptake by the membrane decreases with increasing temperature and ionic strength while increase in initial metal ion concentration led to increase in metal ion uptake. Maximum sorption was found to occur at pH 5 for both metal ions studied. The ability of the grafted membrane to remove some heavy metals from aqueous solution is encouraging and may be used in bioremediation of wastewaters. Key words:
Priority determination in strategic energy policies in Turkey using analytic network process (ANP) with group decision making

In developing countries, energy consumption is continuously increasing in parallel to the developing technology. Turkey is one of these countries with its increasing population and energy demand, which increases every year with a very high rate, that is, 8% annually. Moreover, along with the increasing energy demand, the strategic energy policies have to be analyzed scientifically including the geographical importance for the realization phase. It is necessary to prioritize the determined policies and plan them according to the economic situation of the country. Hence, alternative energy policies have been prioritized objectively with scientific methods including the related institutions' evaluation. In this study, a model based on analytic network process, a group decision‐making technique, is proposed for evaluating strategic energy policies. The model is used to assign priorities to strategic energy policies of Turkey. With this model, various people are included in the decision‐making process and the effectiveness of the process is increased. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
FDI and Economic Growth: Revisiting the Role of Energy Consumption and Financial Development

Purpose: Foreign direct investment (FDI) is one of the driving forces highlighted in the literature that have a significant impact on economic growth, although its significance in the context of Yemen is relatively unclear. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the cointegration and short run relationship between FDI and its determinants especially energy consumption and financial development in Yemen. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilises a semi-annual time series data from 1990 to 2014. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method was used to explore the cointegration of FDI with its determinants in Yemen. Findings: The results showed that the cointegration relationship between FDI, energy consumption, real GDP growth, financial development, exchange rates, exports and inflation rates has been upheld in Yemen, with a significant positive effect of energy consumption and economic growth on FDI. In contrast, financial development was shown to have a significant but negative long run relationship with FDI. Research limitations/implications: The lack of data availability for Yemen has led to the exclusion of some of the critical variables that could have contributed significantly to the results of the study i.e. interest rate and gross debt. Practical implications: The proposed methodology might be a valuable practical tool for policy makers in Yemen or business stakeholder through their decision process to invest in this country in the future. Originality/value: Currently, no studies yet done in Yemen that analyse the cointegration between FDI with energy consumption and financial development. The findings from this study can optimistically leading to a more detailed conclusion and contributing to the literature in the field of FDI.
Management of hydrogen sulphide generation at a Kraft mill effluent plant

Communities surrounding an integrated Kraft mill noticed odours from the mill's effluent treatment plant. A project was therefore commissioned by the mill to proactively manage the odours from both the pulp-processing operations and the effluent treatment plant. This project formed part of a co-ordinated study that was implemented by the mill to limit emissions of the total reduced sulphur (TRS) components from the pulp mill operations. It was found that sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) converted the sulphates present in the effluent to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) by dissimilatory respiration. The combined use of a nitrate-releasing biomodifier (Bulab® 9518) and an anthraquinone sulphate-reduction inhibitor (Busperse® 2432) was effective in reducing both SRB activity and H2S levels. The average aqueous H2S levels (40 mg/l) were reduced to between 92% and 99%.
From chemical disinfection to electrodisinfection: The obligatory itinerary?

This review concerns chemical disinfection and electrodisinfection (ED). Chemical disinfection is a common unit process used in water supply and wastewater treatment. Traditionally, chlorination is the most dominant method of disinfection. However, there are serious safety concerns and great ecological risks involved in the use of chlorine. Other methods, such as ozonation, UV radiation and ClO2 application, are still more expensive or less convenient than chlorination. It has been reported that ED can destroy a wide variety of microorganisms from viruses through bacteria and algae to larger species, such as Euglena. The ED process has the potential to be developed as a robust, cost-effective and environmental friendly alternative of disinfection, particularly for saline sewage effluent and for seawater in cooling and other industrial usages. During ED, water is forced through a disinfector that is equipped with electrodes on which current is charged. This practice is different from conventional electro-c.
Green, low-cost synthesis of photoluminescent carbon dots by hydrothermal treatment of willow bark and their application as an effective photocatalyst for fabricating Au nanoparticles–reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for glucose detection

In this study, we demonstrate that hydrothermal carbonization of low-cost wastes of willow bark leads to water-soluble, photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs) with diameters ranging from 1 to 4 nm and a quantum yield of approximately 6.0%. We further demonstrate the proof of concept that such CDs can be used as an effective photocatalyst for the simultaneous reduction of Au(III) complex and graphene oxide to form Au nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs–rGO) nanocomposites by UV irradiation of a mixture of GO and HAuCl4 aqueous solution in the presence of CDs. It is found that the resultant AuNPs–rGO nanocomposites exhibit notable catalytic performance for H2O2 reduction and oxidation. Furthermore, we fabricate a glucose biosensor by immobilizing glucose oxidase on the AuNPs–rGO-modified glassy carbon electrode for glucose detection. The linear response range and detection limit are estimated to be from 2 mM to 18 mM (r: 0.995) and 45 μM, respectively. The application of this glucose sensor in human blood serum has also been demonstrated successfully.
Stability constants of complexes of metals with humic and fulvic acids under non-acid-conditions

Stability constants of complexes of four divalent metal ions viz. Cu2+, Zn2+, Mn2+ and Ca2+ with humic (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) at pH values of 7 and 8 were determined. The log K (logarithm of the stability constant) ranged from 3.09 to 7.77 and from 2.22 to 5.98 for metal-humic and metal fulvic acid complexes, respectively. Sequentially, the order of stability constants were as follows: Cu> Ca> Mn> Zn and Cu> Ca> Zn> Mn for metal -HA and metal-FA complexes, respectively, indicating a higher degree of complexation with Cu metal ion.
Television advertising and buying behaviour of women consumers towards cosmetic products in Puducherry

The role of television advertising in cosmetics is invariable and induces especially women consumers towards cosmetics. Cosmetics play a very important role in the day to day life of women consumers. It helps to enhance one's personality and increases the confidence level of women consumers. Most of the women are working in society and they are very particular about their appearance. The rising awareness of beauty products, changes in consumption patterns and lifestyles has increased the purchasing power of women. The escalation of cosmetics usage in our habitual life has increased more demand for cosmetics product in the market. The study aims to find the impact of television advertising on buying behaviour of women consumer towards cosmetics. Primary and Secondary data were used to collect data and primary data were analysed by using Correlation, independent samples t-test and ANOVA. The data has been collected from 80 women consumers in Puducherry through questionnaire and SPSS software is used to do the analysis. The study aims to find the role of Television Advertising and the effect of culture, subculture, attitude and beliefs, social class and learning on buying cosmetic products. The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between television advertising and buying behaviour of women consumers towards cosmetics and it was found that there is a significant difference between the age wise classification of the women consumers and the various factors influencing them to buy the cosmetic products. It was observed that from the study there was no significant difference between family type and the purpose of using cosmetics.
Partitioning of soil CO2 flux components in a temperate grassland ecosystem

We deployed an automated multiplexed soil‐respiration (SR) system to monitor partitioned soil CO2 component fluxes (from roots, mycorrhizal hyphae and heterotrophs) in a UK grassland using a combination of shallow surface (total SR flux), deep (excluding roots and mycorrhizal fungi) and 20‐µm pore mesh window soil collars (excluding roots only). Soil CO2 efflux was monitored during a 3‐month period during summer. Repeated cutting of mycorrhizal connections in some of the mycorrhizal treatments enabled assessment of subsequent recovery of mycorrhizal fluxes and a comparison with deep collar fluxes. After soil collar insertion, fluxes in the deep collars were significantly reduced, by approximately 40%. Whereas fluxes in the uncut, mycorrhizal collar treatments remained close to those from the surface collar, cut mycorrhizal treatments showed an immediate reduction after cutting to values close to those from the deep collar with a subsequent recovery of around 4 weeks. Overall, the autotrophic root and mycorrhizal flux was relatively stable throughout. Whereas root fluxes contributed about 10–30% of the total flux during the initial larger flux period, this declined and there was an increased mycorrhizal contribution during the latter part of the measurement period. Moreover, SR flux components differed in their response to key climatic factors, with root fluxes responding equally to temperature and light. Importantly, whereas the heterotrophic flux component responded strongly to temperature and soil moisture, the mycorrhizal component responded much less to those factors, but more to light. We also investigated treatment impacts over time on soil biochemical variables such as microbial biomass C, extractable C, microbial quotient and metabolic quotient, and bacterial community structure, and discussed these in relation to measured SR fluxes and the partitioning technique.
New Application of Chemically Modified Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Thiosemicarbazide as a Sorbent for Separation and Preconcentration of Trace Amounts of Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) in Environmental and Biological Samples Prior to Determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

The present article reports the application of Thiosemicarbazide-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-TSC) as a new, easily prepared selective and stable solid sorbent for the preconcentration of trace Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions in aqueous solution prior to the determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The studied metal ions can be adsorbed quantitatively on MMWNTs at pH 5.0 and then eluted completely with HNO3 (1.5 mol L -1 ) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The separation/preconcentration conditions of analytes were investigated, including the pH, the sample flow rate and volume, the elution condition and the interfering ions. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent at optimum conditions were found to be 32.5, 27.3, 44.5 and 34.1 mg g -1 for Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II), and the detection limits of the method were found to be 0.28, 0.13, 0.21 and 0.17 µg L -1 , respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for extraction and determination of the analytes in well water, sea water, wastewater, soil, and blood samples.
Effect of Viscosity on the Hydrodynamics of Liquid Processes in Microchannels

The hydrodynamics of single-phase liquid flow with relatively high fluid viscosities in a microchannel was investigated experimentally. The results showed that the conventional theory could predict the single-phase flow with high fluid viscosities in microchannels. Furthermore, the effect of viscosity on the slug flow of two immiscible liquid phases in a microchannel was studied with high-speed imaging techniques. It was found that a higher dispersed-phase viscosity quickened the flow pattern transition from slug flow to parallel flow and resulted in smaller slugs. A modified capillary number representing the mutual effects of the viscosities of the continuous phase and the dispersed phase was proposed for predicting the slug sizes in microchannels.
Incensole Acetate, a Novel anti-inflammatory compound Isolated from Boswellia Resin, Inhibits Nuclear Factor (NF)-kappa B Activation

Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, Medical Faculty, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (A.M, R.M.); Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (A.M., E.S.); School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel (Y.K.); Departments of Behavioral Sciences and Molecular Biology, The College of Judea and Samaria, Ariel, Israel (E.F.); Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany (M.L.S., F.R.); University of Freiburg Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Germany (B.L.F.); Departamento Biologia Celular, Fisiologia e Inmunologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cordoba, Spain (E.M.) The Lautenberg Center for Immunology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel (Y.B.). Molecular Pharmacology Fast Forward. Published on September 26, 2007 as doi:10.1124/mol.107. 038810
Properties of an endogenous steady current in rat muscle

A vibrating probe was used to study a steady electric current generated by isolated, whole lumbrical muscles of the rat. Spatial mapping showed that current leaves the muscle in the synaptic region and re-enters in the flanking extrajunctional regions. The point of maximum outward current coincided precisely with the endplate region. As the probe was moved radially away from the endplate region, the current declined monotonically, and the results could be fit with a simple model. As the probe was moved axially away from the endplate region, the current declined and became inward over a distance of approximately 0.5 mm. The physiological mechanism by which the current is generated was also studied. alpha-Bungarotoxin and tetrodotoxin had no significant effect on the current, which suggests that acetylcholine channels and gated sodium channels are not involved in the generation of the current. Ouabain produced a slowly developing, partial inhibition of the current, reducing it by approximately 40% over a period of 30-40 min. Carbachol produced a large inward current at the endplate region. After the carbachol action was terminated with alpha-bungarotoxin, an outward current reappeared, and a transient "overshoot" developed. During the overshoot, which lasted approximately 30-40 min, the outward current was approximately doubled. This overshoot was completely abolished by ouabain. The overshoot is interpreted as reflecting the increased activity of electrogenic sodium pumping in the endplate region, caused by the influx of Na ions during carbachol application. Because of the very different actions of ouabain on the normal current and on the overshoot after carbachol application, we concluded that the normal outward current is not produced by electrogenic sodium pumping in the endplate region.