Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological Conjunction of Allelochemicals and Desert Plants

Plants exchange signals with other physical and biological entities in their habitat, a form of communication termed allelopathy. The underlying principles of allelopathy and secondary-metabolite production are still poorly understood, especially in desert plants. The coordination and role of secondary metabolites were examined as a cause of allelopathy in plants thriving under arid and semiarid soil conditions. Desert plant species, Origanum dayi, Artemisia sieberi and Artemisia judaica from two different sources (cultivar cuttings and wild seeds) were studied in their natural habitats. Growth rate, relative water content, osmotic potential, photochemical efficiency, volatile composition and vital factors of allelopathy were analyzed at regular intervals along four seasons with winter showing optimum soil water content and summer showing water deficit conditions. A comprehensive analysis of the volatile composition of the leaves, ambient air and soil in the biological niche of the plants under study was carried out to determine the effects of soil water conditions and sample plants on the surrounding flora. Significant morpho-physiological changes were observed across the seasons and along different soil water content. Metabolic analysis showed that water deficit was the key for driving selective metabolomic shifts. A. judaica showed the least metabolic shifts, while A. sieberi showed the highest shifts. All the species exhibited high allelopathic effects; A. judaica displayed relatively higher growth-inhibition effects, while O. dayi showed comparatively higher germination-inhibition effects in germination assays. The current study may help in understanding plant behavior, mechanisms underlying secondary-metabolite production in water deficit conditions and metabolite-physiological interrelationship with allelopathy in desert plants, and can help cull economic benefits from the produced volatiles.
Whole-Genome Sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus and Whole-Genome Sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus Clinical Isolates from Egypt Staphylococcus haemolyticus Clinical Isolates from Egypt

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus are a global concern. This is true in the Middle East, where increasingly resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus strains have been detected. While extensive surveys have revealed the prevalence of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant staphylococci in Europe, Asia, and North America, the population structure of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci recovered from patients and clinical settings in Egypt remains uncharacterized. We performed whole-genome sequencing of 56 S. aureus and 10 S. haemolyticus isolates from Alexandria Main University Hospital; 46 of the S. aureus genomes and all 10 of the S. haemolyticus genomes carry mecA , which confers methicillin resistance. Supplemented with additional publicly available genomes from the other parts of the Middle East (34 S. aureus and 6 S. haemolyticus ), we present the largest genomic study to date of staphylococcal isolates from the Middle East. These genomes include 20 S. aureus multilocus sequence types (MLST), including 3 new ones. They also include 9 S. haemolyticus MLSTs, including 1 new one. Phylogenomic analyses of each species ’ core genome largely mirrored those of the MLSTs, irrespective of geographical origin. The hospital-acquired spa t037/ST239-SCC mec III/MLST CC8 clone represented the largest clade, comprising 22% of the S. aureus isolates. Like S. aureus genome surveys of other regions, these isolates from the Middle East have an open pangenome, a strong indicator of gene exchange of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes with other reservoirs. Our genome analyses will inform antibiotic stewardship and infection control plans in the Middle East. IMPORTANCE Staphylococci are understudied despite their prevalence within the Middle East. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is endemic to hospitals in Egypt, as are other antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus and S. haemolyticus . To provide insight into the strains circulating in Egypt, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 56 S. aureus and 10 S. haemolyticus isolates from Alexandria Main University Hospital. Through analysis of these genomes, as well as all available S. aureus and S. haemolyticus genomes from the Middle East ( n = 40), we were able to produce a picture of the diversity in this region more complete than those afforded by traditional molecular typing strategies. For example, we identi ﬁ ed 4 new MLSTs. Most strains harbored genes associated with multidrug resistance, toxin production, bio ﬁ lm formation, and immune evasion. These data provide invaluable insight for future antibiotic stewardship and infection control within the Middle East.
A Model Ensemble for Projecting Multidecadal Coastal Cliff Retreat During the 21st Century

Sea cliff retreat rates are expected to accelerate with rising sea levels during the 21st century. Here we develop an approach for a multimodel ensemble that efficiently projects time‐averaged sea cliff retreat over multidecadal time scales and large (>50 km) spatial scales. The ensemble consists of five simple 1‐D models adapted from the literature that relate sea cliff retreat to wave impacts, sea level rise (SLR), historical cliff behavior, and cross‐shore profile geometry. Ensemble predictions are based on Monte Carlo simulations of each individual model, which account for the uncertainty of model parameters. The consensus of the individual models also weights uncertainty, such that uncertainty is greater when predictions from different models do not agree. A calibrated, but unvalidated, ensemble was applied to the 475‐km‐long coastline of Southern California (USA), with four SLR scenarios of 0.5, 0.93, 1.5, and 2 m by 2100. Results suggest that future retreat rates could increase relative to mean historical rates by more than twofold for the higher SLR scenarios, causing an average total land loss of 19–41 m by 2100. However, model uncertainty ranges from ±5 to 15 m, reflecting the inherent difficulties of projecting cliff retreat over multiple decades. To enhance ensemble performance, future work could include weighting each model by its skill in matching observations in different morphological settings.
Visual Speech Recognition Method Using Translation, Scale and Rotation Invariant Features

This paper reports on a visual speech recognition method that is invariant to translation, rotation and scale. Dynamic features representing the mouth motion is extracted from the video data by using a motion segmentation technique termed as motion history image (MHI). MHI is generated by applying accumulative image differencing technique on the sequence of mouth images. Invariant features are derived from the MHI using feature extraction algorithm that combines Discrete Stationary Wavelet Transform (SWT) and moments. A 2-D SWT at level one is applied to decompose MHI to produce one approximate and three detail sub images. The feature descriptors consist of three moments (geometric moments, Hu moments and Zernike moments) computed from the SWT approximate image. The moments features are normalized to achieve the invariance properties. Artificial neural network (ANN) with back propagation learning algorithm is used to classify the moments features. Initial experiments were conducted to test the sensitivity of the proposed approach to rotation, translation and scale of the mouth images and obtained promising results.
Prevention of Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Through Behavioral Intervention: Results of a Two-Year Controlled Randomized Trial in Minority Women

Background: Sexually transmitted disease (STD), including AIDS, disproportionately affects African-American and Hispanic women. Goal: To evaluate efficacy of standard and enhanced (addition of optional support groups) gender- and culture-specific, small-group behavioral interventions, compared to interactive STD counseling, in high risk minority women for two years. Methods: Women with a non-viral STD were treated and enrolled in a randomized trial. Follow-up screens and interviews occurred at 6 months, 1 year, 18 months (short interview, optional exam) and 2 years. The primary outcome was subsequent infection with chlamydia and/or gonorrhea. Secondary outcomes included risky sexual behaviors. We employed logistic regression based on intention-to-treat. Results: Data from 775 women were included; the retention rate was 91%. Adjusted infection rates were higher in the controls in Year 1 (26.8%), Year 2 (23.1%), and cumulatively (39.8%) than in the enhanced (15.4%, P = 0.004; 14.8%, P < 0.03; 23.7%, P < 0.001, respectively) and standard (15.7%, P = 0.006; 14.7%, P = 0.03; 26.2%, P < 0.008, respectively) intervention arms at these time points. Enhanced-intervention women who opted to attend support groups (attendees) had the lowest adjusted infection rates in Year 1 (12.0%) and cumulatively (21.8%). Intervention women in general, but particularly attendees, were significantly less likely than controls to have repeat infections. Multiple partners and unprotected sex with an untreated or incompletely treated partner helped explain group differences in infection. Conclusions: Risk-reduction interventions significantly decreased both single and multiple infective episodes with chlamydia and/or gonorrhea and risky sexual behaviors in the two-year study period. Support-group attendance appeared to contribute additional risk reduction in Year 1.
Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of renal arterial resistive and pulsatility indices in overhydrated Beagles.

OBJECTIVE To determine renal arterial resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) and clinical signs of overhydration induced by IV administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution and to assess RI and PI as variables for monitoring of dogs to detect overhydration. ANIMALS 10 clinically normal Beagles. PROCEDURES Each dog received saline solution at a maintenance rate (2.5 mL/kg/h) and a rate 3 times that of the maintenance rate (overhydration rate; 7. 5 mL/kg/h). Values of RI and PI were determined with pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonographic examination of renal interlobar or arcuate arteries before saline solution administration, every hour during 5 hours of administration, and 1 hour after administration was stopped. RESULTS No significant changes in RI or PI were detected during administration of saline solution at the maintenance rate. However, RI (starting 1 hour after the beginning of fluid administration [mean ± SD value, 0.589 ± 0.012]) and PI (starting 2 hours after the beginning of fluid administration [value, 0.867 ± 0.052]) were significantly lower during administration at the overhydration rate than they were during administration at the maintenance rate. Clinical signs of overhydration were observed in all dogs starting 4 hours after the beginning of fluid administration at the overhydration rate. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated overhydration of dogs caused significant decreases in RI and PI prior to detection of clinical signs of overhydration. Ultrasonographic determination of renal arterial RI and PI seemed to be a noninvasive and sensitive method for evaluation of overhydration in dogs.
Microalbuminuria as a predictor of preeclampsia

Urinary albumin concentration (UA) and albuminlcreatinine ratio (UA/UC) in early morning specimens were assayed in 225 consecutive pregnant women at 20, 26, 28 and 30 weeks of gestation. 193 did not develop preeclampsia (control group), 14 developed preeclampsia later (preeclamptic group), Y were excluded and Y dropped out. Reference intervals of UA and UA/Uc of healthy pregnant women (wk 20–30) was obtained. A statistically significant increase in urinary albumin excretion was observed with increasing gestational age as a normal phenomenon. There was no significant difference in the values of UA and UA/UC in the preeclamptic group when compared with the control group at the same stage of gestation. This indicates that microalbuminuria cannot be used as a predictor of preeclampsia.
Variable-length state splitting with applications to average runlength-constrained (ARC) codes

A new class of constrained systems average runlength constraints (ARCs), is defined by requiring that the sum of n consecutive run lengths be bounded above by a linear function of n. In particular, the running average runlength of every sequence in the system is bounded above by a constant. A general result is given on the capacity of ARC systems. The state splitting algorithm is then improved for variable-length graphs. This is then applied to obtain high, fixed-rate codes from the free binary source to ARC systems. As an example, a rate 1/2, (d,k)=
Daily physical activity in Swedish children aged 8–11 years

Introduction: Physical inactivity is hypothesized to be a contributing factor in the development of a variety of diseases. Recommendations for an adequate level of physical activity have been proposed. There are few studies in which the physical activity in children has been objectively assessed. The purpose of this study was to estimate objectively the level of physical activity in Swedish children.
Optimal Control Discrete Ingham inequalities and applications

In this Note we prove a discrete version of the classical Ingham inequality for nonharmonic Fourier series whose exponents satisfy a gap condition. Time integrals are replaced by discrete sums on a discrete mesh. We prove that, as the mesh becomes ﬁner and ﬁner the limit of the discrete Ingham inequality is the classical continuous one. This analysis is partially motivated by control-theoretical applications. As an application we analyze the control/observation properties of numerical approximation schemes of the 1-d wave equation. The discrete Ingham inequality provides observability and controllability results which are uniform with respect to the mesh size in suitable classes of numerical solutions in which the high frequency components have been ﬁltered. To cite this article: M. Negreanu, E. Zuazua, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 338 (2004). 
The proposed patients' bill of rights: the case of the missing equal protection clause.

Congress is considering passing a patients' bill of rights. The proposed reform provides for appeals of disagreements between managed care organizations and patients over treatment decisions and also ensures access to specialists and emergency rooms. These reforms place a heavy emphasis on regulating managed care groups by assigning due process rights to patients of privately funded health plans. This article offers a vision of an alternative reform based on principles of both equality and due process. Empirical research demonstrates that although managed care systems appear to provide roughly adequate health care for the general public, they may not be providing equal treatment for the poor and elderly. Furthermore, empirical research also indicates that race and ethnicity accounts for the largest disparities in treatments. This article argues that the patients' bill of rights should be revised to safeguard the rights of more patients by extending the same protections to Medicaid managed care programs. Furthermore, the reforms should encourage health care providers to offer all patients treatment approaches consistent with national standards of medical care. Finally, the principle of equality in a patients' bill of rights should emphasize the importance of encouraging managed care organizations to integrate their care with local and state agencies to promote public health.
AN INVESTIGATION ON SANITARY AND HYGIENE PRACTICES AT THE GBAGI COMMUNITY SLAUGHTERHOUSE, IBADAN, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA.

The sanitary conditions of a food processing facility play a vital role in the safety and quality of its final products. This study assessed the hygiene practices and sanitary conditions of the Gbagi Community Slaughterhouse in Ibadan, Nigeria, to identify the factors hindering sanitation and meat hygiene at the facility, and provide recommendations for improvement. The study was conducted using a combination of observation and surveys as the data collection technique. The activities taking place in the slaughterhouse were observed for two weeks during which certain practices were documented textually and pictorially. Twelve key informants comprising butchers, cleaners, buyers, and people in the neighborhood were purposively recruited as study participants and were interviewed, using open-ended questions about the sanitation and hygiene practices at the facility. All obtained data were analyzed qualitatively by thematic content analysis. Study results showed poor waste management practices, inadequate ante- and post-mortem veterinary inspection of slaughtered animals, the absence of requisite slaughterhouse infrastructure, and the unhygienic behaviors of slaughterhouse personnel. The sanitary and hygiene practices of the Gbagi Community Slaughterhouse environment fall below the required standards for food processing operations and hence, poses a risk to food safety and public health. An integrated involvement of relevant arms of government is needed at the state and local levels for sanitary enforcement, provision of critical waste management infrastructure at the Gbagi slaughterhouse, and education of slaughterhouse personnel, so as to prevent microbial food contamination and safeguard public health.
A Steered Molecular Dynamics Study of Binding and Translocation Processes in the GABA Transporter

The entire substrate translocation pathway in the human GABA transporter (GAT-1) was explored for the endogenous substrate GABA and the anti-convulsive drug tiagabine. Following a steered molecular dynamics (SMD) approach, in which a harmonic restraining potential is applied to the ligand, dissociation and re-association of ligands were simulated revealing events leading to substrate (GABA) translocation and inhibitor (tiagabine) mechanism of action. We succeeded in turning the transporter from the outward facing occluded to the open-to-out conformation, and also to reorient the transporter to the open-to-in conformation. The simulations are validated by literature data and provide a substrate pathway fingerprint in terms of which, how, and in which sequence specific residues are interacted with. They reveal the essential functional roles of specific residues, e.g. the role of charged residues in the extracellular vestibule including two lysines (K76 (TM1) and K448 (TM10)) and a TM6-triad (D281, E283, and D287) in attracting and relocating substrates towards the secondary/interim substrate-binding site (S2). Likewise, E101 is highlighted as essential for the relocation of the substrate from the primary substrate-binding site (S1) towards the cytoplasm.
Attitude toward usefulness of mathematics of Costa Rican high school students

This paper presents the results of a study of the attitude toward usefulness of mathematics demonstrated by the students of Costa Rican high schools enrolled in day schools. The attitude toward the usefulness of mathematics, according to Pérez-Tyteca (2012), connects to how helpful people believe that mathematics is for their personal life and their work and professional development. The attitude toward the usefulness of mathematics of Costa Rican high school students was measured using the scale of Fennema-Sherman, which is widely used in educational research. The existence of differences in this variable by gender, by education level and by location of the school (urban or rural) were analyzed. The research was based on a sample of 3703 students for the year 2016. The results show that approximately 65% of students have high or very high attitude toward usefulness of mathematics. Also, the results reveal significant statistical differences in the level of this variable based upon gender, showing that male students have the higher levels, and there is no statistical difference based on location of the school. The findings also suggest that the lower levels of attitude are shown by the tenth graders and eleventh graders, which is worrisome because those students will soon face the choice of a university career, and the mathematical component is important for technology and science careers. This study is another effort of the Mathematics Department of the Technological Institute of Costa Rica to advance studies on the so-called "emotional responses", given the growing recognition that these responses play an essential role in the process of teaching and learning mathematics.
Screening of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Domestic Livestock and Tsetse Flies from an Insular Endemic Focus (Luba, Equatorial Guinea)

Background Sleeping sickness is spread over 36 Sub-Saharan African countries. In West and Central Africa, the disease is caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, which produces a chronic clinical manifestation. The Luba focus (Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea) has not reported autochthonous sleeping sickness cases since 1995, but given the complexity of the epidemiological cycle, the elimination of the parasite in the environment is difficult to categorically ensure. Methodology/Principal Findings The aim of this work is to assess, by a molecular approach (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR), the possible permanence of T. b. gambiense in the vector (Glossina spp.) and domestic fauna in order to improve our understanding of the epidemiological situation of the disease in an isolated focus considered to be under control. The results obtained show the absence of the parasite in peridomestic livestock but its presence, although at very low rate, in the vector. On the other hand, interesting entomological data highlight that an elevated concentration of tsetse flies was observed in two out of the ten villages considered to be in the focus. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that even in conditions of apparent control, a complete parasite clearance is difficult to achieve. Further investigations must be focused on animal reservoirs which could allow the parasites to persist without leading to human cases. In Luba, where domestic livestock are scarcer than other foci in mainland Equatorial Guinea, the epidemiological significance of wild fauna should be assessed to establish their role in the maintenance of the infection.
The Inﬂuence of Work Diversity on Organizational Performance in the Hospitality Sector in the UAE: The Moderating Role of HR Practices

The structure of workplace in hospitality sector has become apparently diverse. As a vital step in deﬁning how diversity aﬀects organizational performance, we suggested training as a mediator over which diversity in income level and race indirectly aﬀects organizational performance. We also emphasized two human resource practices, namely, rewards and performance appraisal, as important possibilities that moderate the impact of employee diversity on training and organizational performance. A sequential regression analysis was applied on performance appraisal data including information from directors, unit managers, supervisors, low level workers