Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of toxin genes and RAPD analysis of bacillus cereus isolates from different soil types

The aim of this study was to detect genes for enterotoxins (hbla, entFM and bceT) and for emetic toxin (cer), to determine antibiotic resistance, and to estimate intraspecies diversity in B. cereus isolates by RAPD analysis. B. cereus was identified in 12 out of 117 indigenous Bacillus spp. using the classical microbiological methods and PCR. All isolates were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin, two to tetracyclin and four to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. Also, all isolates produced inducible penicillinases and β-lactamase. Toxin genes were detected with PCR. EntFM and cer genes were present in all isolates, hbla in all, but two, and bceT in none. RAPD analysis was performed with four different primers, two of them designed for this study. The intraspecies diversity revealed 10 different patterns at the 90% similarity level. Two separate clusters were formed regardless of a soil type or utilization. The detection of genes encoding toxins in all B. cereus isolates indicated these bacteria as potentially pathogenic and seriously for human health. Regardless of a soil type or utilization, the RAPD analysis showed high intraspecies heterogeneity in B. cereus isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to analyse the presence of entero- and emetic toxin genes and genetic heterogeneity in B. cereus isolates from different soil types and different soil utilization in Serbia. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR37006]
Prevalence of common mental disorders in primary health care Prevalência de transtorno mental comum na atenção primária

DOI http://dx.doi. org/10.1590/19820194201400035 Universidade Federal de Goiás, Catalão, GO, Brazil. Conflicts of interest: there are no conflicts of interest to declare. Abstract Objective: To assess the prevalence of common mental disorder and its related factors in primary health care. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 607 individuals in a primary health care service. The instrument of the study was the Self Reporting Questionnaire 20. Results: Out of the interviewed subjects, 31.47% showed greater probability of occurrence of a common mental disorder. The following predictive variables were associated with a lower probability of occurrence of common mental disorder: sex, being single, being a student or a worker with signed labor, having higher education levels and income over four times the minimum wage. The variables associated with a higher probability of occurrence of a common mental disorder were being self-employed, housewife, with children, having lower education level and low income. Conclusion: The prevalence of a common mental disorder was high and the associated factors were: being female, divorced, Asian, aged between 18 and 59, housewife, with children, having four to seven years of education, income up to one minimum age and living in a borrowed or donated house.
Exploring the Validity of the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals Explorer la validité du « Transsexual Voice Questionnaire » appliqué aux transsexuels d’homme à femme

Speech and voice feminization for transsexual women is a relatively new field within the scope of speech-language pathology and research in this area is sparse and narrowly focused. The current study investigates the content validity of a newly developed tool, the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire, Male to Female, TVQMtF, (Dacakis, Davies, Oates, Douglas, & Johnston 2013). Five transsexual women were interviewed and the content of the interviews was compared with the content of the TVQMtF items. The themes most frequently expressed in the interviews were the themes addressed in the TVQMtF. Similarly the items on the questionnaire that were rated as particularly problematic concerned the themes that were most frequently raised in the interviews. Although the sample size was small these initial findings indicate that the TVQMtF may provide a valid picture of transsexual women’s real life experiences with voice and is worthy of further study.
Communication Aspects of Virtual Learning Environments: Perspectives of Early Adopters

Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) are increasingly used in higher education to support communication and collaboration among students. However, there is little research into the effectiveness of VLE communication tools, and how they might be improved. This paper reports findings from interviews with teaching staff at UK universities who were early adopters of VLEs. The interviews revealed how these staff used VLE communication tools, what benefits and problems they experienced, and how VLEs might be improved to provide better support for collaborative learning.
TRANSFER WITHIN MNES : INTER-SUBSIDIARY COMPETITION AND COOPERATION

Much theory and research that seeks to explain why and how technology transfers occur within multinational enterprises (MNEs) actually addresses the question of how these transfers occur among cooperative subsidiaries, and relies on the assumption of inter-subsidiary cooperation. However, subsidiaries do not always cooperate. We suggest that the success of technology transfer among subsidiaries depends on the extent to which the relationships among an MNE's subsidiaries (i.e. intersubsidiary) are competitive or cooperative. Inter-subsidiary cooperation is determined by the MNE's international strategy, organizational structure, and the social relationships among subsidiaries. Both hierarchical and social relational factors drive the potential for inter-subsidiary multimarket competition that originates from the overlap on the subsidiaries' products, technologies, and market portfolios.
A Closer Look at the Relationship between Justice Perceptions and Feedback Reactions: The role of the quality of the relationship with the supervisor

Two field studies were undertaken to investigate the nature of the relationship between justice perceptions and feedback reactions. Previous work suggests that the relationship between procedural justice and feedback reactions is mediated by the quality of the relationship with the supervisor. However, there are also good theoretical reasons to hypothesise that the relationship between justice perceptions and feedback reactions is moderated by relationship quality. Across two field studies, we found support for both mediated and moderated relationships. Results of the moderator analyses showed that the positive relationship between justice perceptions and feedback reactions was more pronounced for subordinates in a low-quality relationship with their supervisor. The present results provide useful suggestions for enhancing feedback reactions in organisations.
Causes and consequences of individual variability and specialization in foraging and migration strategies of seabirds

Technological advances in recent years have seen an explosion of tracking and stable isotope studies of seabirds, often involving repeated measures from the same individuals. This wealth of new information has allowed the examination of the extensive variation among and within individuals in foraging and migration strategies (movements, habitat use, feeding behaviour, trophic status, etc.) in unprecedented detail. Variation is underpinned by key life-history or state variables such as sex, age, breeding stage and residual differences among individuals (termed ‘individual specialization’). This variation has major implications for our understanding of seabird ecology, because it affects the use of resources, level of intra-specific competition and niche partitioning. In addition, it determines the responses of individuals and populations to the environment and the susceptibility to major anthropogenic threats. Here we review the effects of season (breeding vs. nonbreeding periods), breeding stage, breeding status, age, sex and individual specialization on foraging and migration strategies, as well as the consequences for population dynamics and conservation.
Effective Use of Assistive Technologies for Inclusive Education in Developing Countries: Issues and challenges from two case studies

Developing countries face many obstacles in the process of implementing inclusive education (IE). Effective use of assistive technologies (AT) can help governments in developing countries achieve inclusive education by helping children with disabilities in schools. Despite the importance and positive impact of AT, prior research on the use of AT in inclusive education especially in developing countries is limited. To fill the research gap in this area, this paper investigates the research question of, How can AT be effectively used for IE in developing countries? To address this question, we conducted an in-depth case study of two developing countries, Bangladesh and Tanzania, and thoroughly reviewed existing IE projects around the world and other relevant literature. Three experts in the field and 18 informants of the two selected countries were interviewed in person, by phone or by email. The analysis of findings from interviews and literature review shows that obstacles to effective use of AT for IE come from three different levels ‐ school, national, and network. Because AT is only part of the equation for a country to achieve IE, a high level national perspective is required and other related factors also need to be considered. We recommend governments in developing countries adopt a systematic approach in tackling obstacles at each level and pay attention to five management challenges: establishment and maintenance of professional networks: identification and maintenance of knowledge and expertise; funding management; coordination among ministries, and implementation, maintenance, and monitoring of a national program. Overall, governments are suggested to adopt a “network” approach that includes a constructive view of development drawing on incentives-based cooperation from all stakeholders. The results of this research shed light on the status quo of the use of AT for inclusive education in developing countries and provide useful guidance to parties who are interested in using assistive technologies to achieve inclusive education.
Effect of various water regimes on rice production in lowland irrigation

Water-wise rice production is the current concern. To justify whether less water affects rice production, rice plants were cultivated under different water regimes. Four treatments, T1: flooding at 5 cm depth, T2: flooding at 1 – 3 cm depth, T3: saturated to 1 cm flooding, and T4: alternative wet and dry (AWD), were arranged as completely randomized design with five replicates. Yield and yield parameter, plants physiological, and soil chemical properties were evaluated. Treatment of AWD significantly decreased plant height (9%), tillers number (p ≤ 0.04), panicles number (p ≤ 0.024), filled grains (p ≤ 0.037), yield (p ≤ 0.001) and harvest index (≤ 0.005) but increased unfilled grains (p ≤ 0.011) compared to the control. Chlorophyll (Chl) content (p ≤ 0.003) and Chl fluorescence (p ≤ 0.012), net photosynthesis rate (Pn; p ≤ 0.0001), stomatal conductance (SC; p ≤ 0.0001), transpiration rate (TR; p ≤ 0.0001), and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; p ≤ 0.001) decreased in plants under T4 treatment than control treatment. Soil pH decreased (p ≤ 0.0001) but soil electric conductivity (EC) increased (p ≤ 0.041) in soil of T4 treatment than that of in soil of control treatments. Nitrogen (N; p ≤ 0.012), phosphorus (P; p ≤ 0.038), potassium (K; p ≤ 0.024) and relative water content (RWC; p ≤ 0.003) decreased under T4 treatment. Treatment T3 saved 45% of water use in T1 treatment and showed higher water use efficiency (WUE) but produced rice yield similar to T1 and T2 treatments. These results suggested that saturated to 1 cm flooding water could easily be implemented in rice cultivation by the farmers which might not affect rice production, plant and soil characters.
econstor Make Your Publications Visible . A Service of zbw

This paper considers a simple model of credit risk and derives the limit distribution of losses under different assumptions regarding the structure of systematic and idiosyncratic risks and the nature of firm heterogeneity. The theoretical results obtained indicate that if firm-specific risk exposures (including their default thresholds) are heterogeneous but come from a common parameter distribution, for sufficiently large portfolios there is no scope for further risk reduction through active credit portfolio management. However, if the firm risk exposures are draws from different parameter distributions, say for different sectors or countries, then further risk reduction is possible, even asymptotically, by changing the portfolio weights. In either case, neglecting parameter heterogeneity can lead to underestimation of expected losses. But, once expected losses are controlled for, neglecting parameter heterogeneity can lead to overestimation of risk, whether measured by unexpected loss or value-at-risk. The theoretical results are confirmed empirically using returns and credit ratings for firms in the U.S. and Japan across seven sectors. Ignoring parameter heterogeneity results in far riskier credit portfolios. JEL Code: C33, G13, G21.
60 ANXIETY AND STRESS DISORDERS : COURSE OVER THE LIFETIME

There are a number of factors that relate to the development of anxiety in general. Although this remains a controversial area, current evidence suggests that anxiety does not appear to be specifically heritable; what clusters in families is a more general predisposition to mood or anxiety disorders. Evidence of this comes from twin studies (1) as well as from studies of the incidence of disorders in the families of anxious patients (2). Specific phobia, however, may be an exception to this general heritability; family members with specific phobias tend to be associated with increased risk only for specific phobias (3). Any biological predisposition is likely moderated by environmental factors. For example, Beidel and Turner (2) found that parental psychopathology was a risk factor for the development of disorder only among the lower socioeconomic status (STS) portion of their sample. It has been suggested that environmental factors play a significant role in the manifestation of specific psychopathology (1). Anxiety in particular is believed to be related to a combination of negative affect, a sense of lack of control over situations or environments, and attentional self-focus. Early experiences of being unable to influence or control situations, therefore, may lead to the development of anxiety (4). Specific patterns within the family may lead to increased
Supply Restrictions, Subprime Lending and Regional US House Prices

With regard to the recent US house price cycle, we analyze how the interaction between housing supply restrictions, mortgage credit constraints and a price-to-price feedback loop affects house price volatility. Considering 247 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, we estimate a simultaneous boom-bust system for house prices, housing supply and subprime lending. The model accounts for regional differences in supply elasticities that are determined by local variations in topographical and regulatory supply restrictions. Our results suggest that tighter supply restrictions lead to both a larger house price boom and bust, and that this is due to supply restricted areas being significantly more exposed to a financial accelerator effect and a price-to-price expectation mechanism. We further find that the presence of endogenous price acceleration mechanisms contribute to dilute the positive relationship between the total quantity response and the supply elasticity during a housing boom.
Comparison of osteoblast activity and osteogenic potential of autogenous bone harvested with different methods : an in vitro study

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare three techniques of autogenous bone graft harvesting for intraoral surgeries namely the trephine bur, bone scraper and piezosurgery device. The viability of osteoblasts in the harvested bone was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Bone grafts were harvested from 4 dogs . Tissue samples were obtained from the mandibles of dogs and stored in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) in sterile test tubes. Decellularization was done and the specimens were incubated under specific conditions for cell culture. Viability of osteoblasts was evaluated in the specimens harvested with the three techniques. Also, osteoinductive potential of bone graft, mineralized and demineralized bone allograft (MBA/DBM), and control group was evaluated using MTT assay, Alizarin Red staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity measurement. Results: Two weeks after tissue culture, only the bone graft harvested by trephine bur contained viable cells; but number of isolated cells was small. At three days, the MTT assay revealed a significant reduction in cell proliferation in the trephine and the MBA/DBM groups. Alizarin Red staining demonstrated that number of calcified nodules was significantly higher in the MBA/DBM and the positive control groups at 3 days. These nodules were not observed in the other groups. Conclusion:The results showed that only the bone graft harvested by the trephine bur contained viable cells. Allogenous bone showed higher osteoinductive potential than autogenous bone graft. Further in-vitro and in-vivo studies are required to find the most efficient technique for autogenous bone graft harvesting.
The Sale of Multiple Assets With Private Information

By generalizing the Leland and Pyle (1977) model to the case of multiple correlated assets, this paper studies the signaling and hedging behavior of an intermediary who sells multiple assets in financial markets. Based on information asymmetry, this paper demonstrates the intrinsic interdependence of risk management and asset selling for intermediaries, and obtains several testable empirical implications. For instance, an intermediary with a more diversified underlying portfolio will face greater liquidity (a smaller price impact) when selling assets to the market. Several applications are discussed, including bank loan sales and selling mechanisms.
Effect of chemical insecticides used in tomato crops on immature Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The effects of the chemical insecticides acetamiprid, lufenuron, imidacloprid, novaluron, triflumuron, and pyriproxifen on the developmental stages of Trichogramma pretiosum were evaluated. Eggs of Anagasta kuehniella glued on blue paper cards were offered to T. pretiosum females for 24 h. After parasitization, the eggs were treated by dipping the cards into the insecticide solutions or in water for 5 s after they had reached the egg-larval, pre-pupal, or pupal stages. The application of pyriproxifen to T. pretiosum during its egg-larval period was slightly harmful to the parasitization capacity of F1 generation females and the emergence rate of F1 and F2 generation adults. When applied to T. pretiosum in the egg-larval period, acetamiprid was slightly harmful to the parasitization capacity of the F1 generation females of T. pretiosum. When applied to T. pretiosum in the pupal stage, acetamiprid was slightly harmful to the parasitization capacity of F2 generation females. When applied during the egg-larval period, imidacloprid was slightly harmful to the parasitization capacity of T. pretiosum females of the F1 generation. Lufenuron applied on T. pretiosum in the pupal stage was slightly harmful to the parasitization capacity of the F2 generation females. The insecticides novaluron and triflumuron, when applied during the immature stages to T. pretiosum, were harmless to its F1 and F2 generations.
Evidence of trends in daily climate extremes over southern and west Africa

Received 31 May 2005; revised 10 January 2006; accepted 23 March 2006; published 21 July 2006. [1] There has been a paucity of information on trends in daily climate and climate extremes, especially from developing countries. We report the results of the analysis of daily temperature (maximum and minimum) and precipitation data from 14 south and west African countries over the period 1961–2000. Data were subject to quality control and processing into indices of climate extremes for release to the global community. Temperature extremes show patterns consistent with warming over most of the regions analyzed, with a large proportion of stations showing statistically significant trends for all temperature indices. Over 1961 to 2000, the regionally averaged occurrence of extreme cold (fifth percentile) days and nights has decreased by � 3.7 and � 6.0 days/decade, respectively. Over the same period, the occurrence of extreme hot (95th percentile) days and nights has increased by 8.2 and 8.6 days/decade, respectively. The average duration of warm (cold) has increased (decreased) by 2.4 (0.5) days/decade and warm spells. Overall, it appears that the hot tails of the distributions of daily maximum temperature have changed more than the cold tails; for minimum temperatures, hot tails show greater changes in the NW of the region, while cold tails have changed more in the SE and east. The diurnal temperature range (DTR) does not exhibit a consistent trend across the region, with many neighboring stations showing opposite trends. However, the DTR shows consistent increases in a zone across Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique, coinciding with more rapid increases in maximum temperature than minimum temperature extremes. Most precipitation indices do not exhibit consistent or statistically significant trends across the region. Regionally averaged total precipitation has decreased but is not statistically significant. At the same time, there has been a statistically significant increase in regionally averaged daily rainfall intensity and dry spell duration. While the majority of stations also show increasing trends for these two indices, only a few of these are statistically significant. There are increasing trends in regionally averaged rainfall on extreme precipitation days and in maximum annual 5-day and 1-day rainfall, but only trends for the latter are statistically significant.
Comparison of Autoclave and Out-of-Autoclave Composites

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Exploration Systems Mission Directorate initiated an Advanced Composite Technology Project through the Exploration Technology Development Program in order to support the polymer composite needs for future heavy lift launch architectures. As an example, the large composite dry structural applications on Ares V inspired the evaluation of autoclave and out-of-autoclave (OOA) composite materials. A NASA and industry team selected the most appropriate materials based on component requirements for a heavy lift launch vehicle. Autoclaved and OOA composites were fabricated and results will highlight differences in processing conditions, laminate quality, as well as initial room temperature thermal and mechanical performance. Results from this study compare solid laminates that were both fiber-placed and hand-laid. Due to the large size of heavy-lift launch vehicle composite structures, there is significant potential that the uncured composite material or prepreg will experience significant out-life during component fabrication. Therefore, prepreg out-life was a critical factor examined in this comparison. In order to rigorously test material suppliers recommended out-life, the NASA/Industry team extended the out-time of the uncured composite prepreg to values that were approximately 50% beyond the manufacturers out-time limits. Early results indicate that the OOA prepreg composite materials suffered in both composite quality and mechanical property performance from their extended out-time. However, the OOA materials performed similarly to the autoclaved composites when processed within a few days of exposure to ambient "shop" floor handling. Follow on studies evaluating autoclave and OOA aluminum honeycomb core sandwich composites are planned.