Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microbiological efficacy of lomefloxacin and other drug's regarding microorganisms isolated from the human conjunctiva

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the in vitro susceptibility of human conjunctival bacterial isolates to various antimicrobial agents, including lomefloxacin, other fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin), aminoglycosides (gentamicin, tobramycin, and amicacin), and cephalosporin (cephalothin). Methods: Antibiotic susceptibility tests conducted over a period of 27 months with 613 bacterial isolates from the conjunctiva were retrospectively analyzed. Results: In relation to the total number of positive isolates, the fluoroquinolones showed greater in vitro effectiveness than the other analyzed antibiotics. All bacterial isolates showed significantly higher susceptibility to ciprofloxacin than to lomefloxacin. Conclusion: The fluoroquinolones are not only equally effective against all conjunctival bacterial isolates, but they also show superior antimicrobial activity in comparison to aminoglycosides and cephalothin. These results suggest that fluoroquinolones, such as lomefloxacin, can be beneficially prescribed for conjunctival infections and also as prophylaxis in ocular surgery.
Gravitational ionization : periodic orbits of binary systems perturbed by gravitational radiation

La perturbation a long terme d'un systeme binaire Newtonien par une onde gravitationelle incidente est examinee et mise en relation avec l'ionisation gravitationelle. On etudie les orbites periodiques de l'equation plane des marees et on presente leurs conditions d'existence. La possibilite de l'ionisation d'une orbite Keplerienne par radiation gravitationelle est discutee.
Simulating the Electrical and Thermal Conductivity in EDM Die Sinking of Cu-TaC Compact Electrodes Using Neural Network

Electrical and thermal conductivity of electrode materials in Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is the main factors that determine the suitability of these electrodes. These electrodes are usually made from graphite, copper and copper alloys because these materials have high electrical and thermal conductivity in additional to high melting temperature. The objective of this paper is to simulate the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity for new compact electrodes made from Cupper-Tantalum Carbide (Cu-TaC). This simulation based on experimental work. Materials have been used in the experiment were Cupper and Tantalum Carbide powders. The compositions of the Cu-TaC are made of 30 % and 55 % wt of TaC, while the compacting pressures are 1, 500 psi and 3,000 psi. The thermal and electrical conductivities have been measured. The Neural Network (NN) technique has been used to simulate the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity of the green compacted electrodes. They were subjected to sintering at temperatures of 450°C and 850°C.
Capabilities and training of feedforward nets

This paper surveys recent work by the author on learning and representational capabilities of feedforward nets. The learning results show that, among two possible variants of the so-called backpropagation training method for sigmoidal nets, both of which variants are used in practice, one is a better generalization of the older perceptron training algorithm than the other. The representation results show that nets consisting of sigmoidal neurons have at least twice the representational capabilities of nets that use classical threshold neurons, at least when this increase is quantified in terms of classification power. On the other hand, threshold nets are shown to be more useful when approximating implicit functions, as illustrated with an application to a typical control problem.
Assisting jurors: Promoting recall of trial information through the use of a trial-ordered notebook

Purpose- This study examined the effects of note taking on juror recall of trial information and, specifically, investigated whether providing mock jurors with a pre-structured Trial-Ordered Notebook (TON) was more beneficial for subsequent recall than freestyle note taking by jurors. Previous research has demonstrated some benefits of freestyle note taking. However, drawing on theories relating to note taking developed in educational contexts, we predicted that providing jurors with a note taking aid designed to follow the trial structure would facilitate enhanced performance on a subsequent recall task. Method - Community-based participants served as mock jurors in a criminal trial and were permitted to take notes during the trial, using either the structured TON or plain paper (‘freestyle’ note taking) although participants in a control condition were not permitted to take notes. After watching the trial video, all participants reached an individual verdict and responded to cued recall questions concerning details of the trial. Results - Mock jurors using the TON to take notes correctly recorded significantly more legally relevant details during the trial and reported more correct information in the post-trial recall task than participants who took unaided notes (or those who made no notes at all). TON participants also reported more relevant legal information correctly in the recall task and evaluated their experience of note taking more positively than those in the free note taking condition. Conclusions - The findings are discussed in relation to differences in individual experience of taking notes and the benefits that may accrue from an innovative juror aid such as the Trial-Ordered Notebook.
Analysis of an mRNA exhibiting anomalous translational specificity

Gene 6 mRNA of Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 is inefficiently translated under standard in vitro conditions by Escherichia coli, while it is efficiently translated by the in vitro system derived from B. subtilis. This is a rare example of the inability of E. coli to translate mRNA translated by B. subtilis. The ionic condition in the translation systems was the key component in the differential recognition of the gene 6 message by E. coli and B. subtilis ribosomes. Its translation by E. coli ribosomes was preferentially inhibited by moderate levels of KCl, while its translation by B. subtilis ribosomes was unaffected by these concentrations of salt. This preferential inhibition with E. coli ribosomes was observed in vitro as well as in vivo. While not influencing the general phenomenon of preferential inhibition, anion-specific effects were observed in overall protein synthesis. Glutamate and acetate promoted efficient synthesis over a broad range of concentrations, whereas chloride was inhibitory at all concentrations tested.
The Role of HPV in Head and Neck Cancer Stem Cell Formation and Tumorigenesis

The cancer stem cell (CSC) theory proposes that a minority of tumor cells are capable of self-replication and tumorigenesis. It is these minority of cells that are responsible for cancer metastasis and recurrence in head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC). Human papilloma virus (HPV)-related cancer of the oropharynx is becoming more prevalent, which makes understanding of the relationship between HPV and CSCs more important than ever. This relationship is critical because CSC behavior can be predicted based on cell surface markers, which makes them a suitable candidate for targeted therapy. New therapies are an exciting opportunity to advance past the stalled outcomes in HNSCC that have plagued patients and clinicians for several decades.
The Effect of Learning English (L2) on Learning of Arabic Literacy (L1) in the Primary School

This study investigated the effect of learning English (L2) on learning to read and spell connected texts accurately in Arabic (L1). The author selected a sample of 83 (38 males and 45 females; 45 bilinguals and 38 monolinguals) native Arabic-speaking fourth-graders in Egypt. Students completed the author-developed Oral Reading Accuracy Measure and Spelling Accuracy Measure. Interestingly, results revealed that the bilingual (Arabic-English) students performed better than their monolingual (Arabic) counterparts on the two literacy variables: oral reading accuracy (ORA) and spelling accuracy (SA). The discussion concludes that learning English (L2) has a positive effect on students’ oral reading accuracy and spelling accuracy in Arabic (L1).
A Reconceptualization of the Process of Leaving the Role of Competitive Athlete

In an attempt to broaden research considerations pertaining to retirement from sport, this paper critically examines notions embedded in social gerontology and thanatology. Both perspectives are criticized for their narrowness of approach, and analysis suggests that neither may be applicable to the athlete who voluntarily or involuntarily leaves sport. Alternative notions which are derived from a data base of former female and male intercollegiate athletes are discussed. It is suggested that concepts of life-long development, role aptitude and anticipatory socialization might offer a more useful framework for future sport retirement research.
The animal trypanosomiases and their chemotherapy: a review

SUMMARY Pathogenic animal trypanosomes affecting livestock have represented a major constraint to agricultural development in Africa for centuries, and their negative economic impact is increasing in South America and Asia. Chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis represent the main means of control. However, research into new trypanocides has remained inadequate for decades, leading to a situation where the few compounds available are losing efficacy due to the emergence of drug-resistant parasites. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current options available for the treatment and prophylaxis of the animal trypanosomiases, with a special focus on the problem of resistance. The key issues surrounding the main economically important animal trypanosome species and the diseases they cause are also presented. As new investment becomes available to develop improved tools to control the animal trypanosomiases, we stress that efforts should be directed towards a better understanding of the biology of the relevant parasite species and strains, to identify new drug targets and interrogate resistance mechanisms.
Disordered animal multilayer reflectors and the localization of light

Multilayer optical reflectors constructed from ‘stacks’ of alternating layers of high and low refractive index dielectric materials are present in many animals. For example, stacks of guanine crystals with cytoplasm gaps occur within the skin and scales of fish, and stacks of protein platelets with cytoplasm gaps occur within the iridophores of cephalopods. Common to all these animal multilayer reflectors are different degrees of random variation in the thicknesses of the individual layers in the stack, ranging from highly periodic structures to strongly disordered systems. However, previous discussions of the optical effects of such thickness disorder have been made without quantitative reference to the propagation of light within the reflector. Here, we demonstrate that Anderson localization provides a general theoretical framework to explain the common coherent interference and optical properties of these biological reflectors. Firstly, we illustrate how the localization length enables the spectral properties of the reflections from more weakly disordered ‘coloured’ and more strongly disordered ‘silvery’ reflectors to be explained by the same physical process. Secondly, we show how the polarization properties of reflection can be controlled within guanine–cytoplasm reflectors, with an interplay of birefringence and thickness disorder explaining the origin of broadband polarization-insensitive reflectivity.
PERSONALITY, MOTIVATION, AND BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS IN THE EXPERIENTIAL CONSUMPTION OF ARTWORKS

The purpose in this study was to examine the relationships between personality, motivation, experience, and behavioral intentions in an artwork consumption setting. A survey of 383 consumers of Franz artworks was conducted using surveys developed through an interview. The results showed that personality directly and significantly influenced motivation and behavioral intentions, but it did not affect experience. Moreover, motivation directly and significantly affected experience, but it did not significantly drive the behavioral intentions. The findings revealed that the personality of arts consumers explains a substantial proportion of total variance in behavioral intentions, given that personality has not only a direct effect, but also an indirect effect via motivation and, in turn, experience. Both motivation and experience play crucial mediator roles for personality.
Response Time Prolongation for a Motion Stimulus in Patients With Glaucoma and Its Relationship With Elevation of the Motion Threshold

Purpose: To investigate whether response times for a motion stimulus are prolonged in glaucoma and to investigate the relationship between response time prolongation and motion threshold elevation in glaucoma. Method: Motion displacement thresholds and response times were measured in 15 patients with glaucoma and 18 age‐matched control subjects. Results: Mean test response times were significantly prolonged in the glaucomatous eyes than in the control eyes, with a mean delay of 200 milliseconds. After correcting for threshold elevation, response times at the motion threshold showed no significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: Response times for motion detection are significantly prolonged in glaucoma and are accounted for by the threshold elevation in patients with glaucoma. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the use of response time analysis to determine subject reliability.
Molecular and Microscopic-Based Characterization of Plasmodium spp. in Fars and Hormozgan Provinces, South of Iran

Despite malaria control programs in recent years, malaria transmission has not been eliminated in Iran. Molecular techniques including PCR, which has proved more sensitive and specific than microscopic examination methods, help to detect infection in low levels of parasitemia and mixed infections. Main our objectives were setting up nested PCR for detection of malaria and evaluating PCR based on plasmodia DNA from blood smears in Fars province, the comparison of this method with traditional microscopy and also evaluate the data in comparison with its neighboring province, Hormozgan. A total of 149 malaria positive samples including 116, 19, and 14 samples from Shiraz, Jask, and Lengeh ports were utilized in this study, respectively. Blood slides were prepared for microscopic observation. DNA from thin smears was extracted and nested PCR was analyzed using rPLU5 and rPLU6 for genus specification, rFAL1, rFAL2, and rVIV1, rVIV2 for P. falciparum and P. vivax detection, respectively. The results showed that 126 (84.6%), 16 (10.7%), and 7 (4.7%) out of 149 cases were positive for P. vivax, P. falciparum, and mixed infections, respectively, by microscopy. The PCR indicated that 95 (63.7%), 15 (10.1%), and 22 (14.8%) cases were infected with P. vivax, P. falciparum, and mixed mentioned species, respectively, and 17 (11.4%) cases were uninfected. Our results confirmed the considerable sensitivity of nested PCR for detection of the mixed infections. Simultaneous application of PCR even based on microscopy slides can facilitate access to the highest level of confidence in malaria researches.
Social Identity and Affect as Determinants of Collective Action

The goal of this paper is to compare and contrast relative deprivation and social identity theories in an attempt to form an integrative model of social comparison. The model posits that, depending on the determinants of salience, people come to categorize themselves as individuals or group members. When personal or group self-identities are salient, individuals engage in intragroup or intergroup comparisons respectively. Negative outcomes from these comparisons result in negative social identities. These personal or group self-identities, in combination with perceptions of the position as illegitimate, are hypothesized to result in feelings of personal and group relative deprivation (RD) respectively. Depending on their feelings of RD, individuals adopt individual or collective actions to change their status. When personal RD is experienced, individuals will first attempt normative individual actions to change their status. If these attempts fail, non-normative individual action strategies will be adopted. When group RD is experienced, individuals will initially attempt non-normative collective actions to change their status. If these type of actions fail, individuals will attempt normative collective actions.
Power and Gender Issues in Academic Administration: A Study of Directors of BSW Programs

Many studies have found that the tenure, rank, and salaries of female faculty members in higher education are not equal to those of men. However, few studies have considered the perceptions of power held by those in leadership positions in academia. This article reports on a study of the differences in equity and the perceptions of power to carry out administrative functions of directors of BSW programs. It discusses the complexity of the gender-power relationship in light of the impact of sex-role socialization and structural barriers to advancement in academic organizations. Men's and women's perceptions of the balance of power in administrative positions are important if women are to understand and overcome their powerlessness.
Play Preferences of Typically Developing Children and Children with Developmental Delays between Ages 3 and 7 Years

This cross-sectional survey research investigated play preferences of children with and without developmental delays who were between 3 and 7 years old. Parents completed questionnaires regarding their child's play activity and context preferences. Valid results were obtained for 166 children, 83 of whom had developmental delays. Preference ratings were compared by gender, age, and delay status. Play preference did not differ by gender. Rough-and-tumble play and computer/video game play increased with age, whereas object exploration decreased. Children with developmental delays had higher preferences for rough-and-tumble play and object exploration and lower preferences for drawing and coloring, construction, and doll and action figurine play than typically developing children. This comparison of children's play preferences across ages, gender, and developmental status enhances our understanding of how these variables influence children's play.
Magma: An Agent Based Virtual Market for Electronic Commerce

We propose an architecture for an agent-based virtual market that includes all elements required for simulating a real market. These elements include a communication infrastructure, mechanisms for storage and transfer of goods, banking and monetary transactions, and economic mechanisms for direct or brokered producer-consumer transactions. We report findings that resulted from implementing and conducting experiments with a free-market agent architecture (MAGMA). MAGMA is an extensible architecture that provides all services essential to agent-based commercial activities. These services are available through an open-standard messaging API, which allows using a heterogeneous set of agents, independently of the platform and language.
X-ray time lags and non-linear variability in the ultraluminous X-ray sources NGC 5408 X-1 and NGC 6946 X-1

This work was financed by MINECO grant AYA 2010-15169 and AYA 2013-42227-P. SV, TPR are supported in part by STFC consolidated grants ST/K001000/1 and ST/L00075X/1, respectively, MJM appreciates support via ERC grant 340442, and LHG acknowledges financial support from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad through the Spanish grants FPI BES-2011-043319 and EEBB-I-14-07885.
A CONCEPTUALISATION AND EMPIRICAL VERIFICATION OF THE ‘STRATEGIST’, (REDEFINED) ‘MANAGER’ AND ‘TECHNICIAN’ ROLES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

The aim of this quantitative study was to determine the chief executive’s role expectations for the most senior practitioner responsible for the public relations (PR) function in the South African organisation, in terms of the roles of strategist (a strategic role at the top management or societal level); (redefined) manager; and technician. A conceptualisation of the role of strategist preceded the empirical study, differentiating it from the historical roles of manager and technician. The method of data analysis was a Common Factor analysis (rotated to an Oblique Promax solution) which indicated a three factor solution—as a control measure, a two factor solution was also extracted. Both solutions were subjected to a Confirmatory Factor analysis to determine fit. The three factor solution provided a (marginally) better fit than the two factor solution, and was accepted as a ‘reasonable’ fit. The most important finding was that, in addition to the (redefined) manager and technician roles, a third role namely the strategist has been conceptualised and empirically verified according to the expectations of 103 South African chief executives.
Causal Factors and Potential Solutions for the Persistent Underidentification of Students Having Emotional or Behavioral Disorders in the Context of Schooling

This article examines factors associated with the substantial underidentification, referral and service of the student population having emotional-behavioral adjustment problems in school. The identification of students as emotionally or behaviorally disturbed over the past decade is analyzed in terms of their absolute number and distribution across age-grade levels. These results are contrasted with those for students with autism, which show a highly divergent pattern in both level and distribution. The validity of the EBD categorical certification is evaluated in terms of its ability to identify a unique student subpopulation as distinct from students with social maladjustment and learning disabilities. The professional literature related to disincentives and barriers to the proactive screening and identification of students having behavior problems is discussed. Multiple-gating and universal approaches to the screening-identification of students with EBD are illustrated and some guidelines are offered as to their effective application in school settings. It is recommended that schools abandon the EBD certification process to focus instead on assessing behaviorally at-risk students along internalizing-externalizing and severity dimensions.
Decreased aerobic capacity 4 years after aortic valve replacement in male patients operated upon for chronic aortic regurgitation

Exercise testing is underutilized in patients with valve disease. We have previously found a low physical work capacity in patients with aortic regurgitation 6 months after aortic valve replacement (AVR). The aim of this study was to evaluate aerobic capacity in patients 4 years after AVR, to study how their peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2) had changed postoperatively over a longer period of time. Twenty‐one patients (all men, 52 ± 13 years) who had previously undergone cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) pre‐ and 6 months postoperatively underwent maximal exercise testing 49 ± 15 months postoperatively using an electrically braked bicycle ergometer. Breathing gases were analysed and the patients’ physical fitness levels categorized according to Åstrand’s and Wasserman’s classifications. Mean peakVO2 was 22·8 ± 5·1 ml × kg−1 × min−1 at the 49‐month follow‐up, which was lower than at the 6‐month follow‐up (25·6 ± 5·8 ml × kg−1 × min−1, P = 0·001). All but one patient presented with a physical fitness level below average using Åstrand’s classification, while 13 patients had a low physical capacity according to Wasserman’s classification. A significant decrease in peakVO2 was observed from six to 49 months postoperatively, and the decrease was larger than expected from the increased age of the patients. CPET could be helpful in timing aortic valve surgery and for the evaluation of need of physical activity as part of a rehabilitation programme.