Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Sharing Economy

As scholars search for answers on how modern societies should resolve the social and environmental problems linked to modes of production and consumption, the sharing economy is attracting increased attention. To better understand the emergent focus on the sharing economy and associated business and consumption models, this conceptual chapter applies cascade theory to some of the most pronounced narratives, suggesting a win-win scenario, especially as they relate to the claim of sustainability. Given the tendency among academics, practitioners, and civil society of rapidly embracing new concepts that enable business opportunities and a clear conscience, this chapter proposes that the implications of the sharing economy should be critically explored before they are endorsed and actively promoted.
Examining governance and collaboration for enforcement of hotel greening in Gauteng, South Africa: Towards a network governance structure

Greening is an effective way for hotels to minimise their impact on the environment. Studies have shown that many South African hotels have not adopted greening practices because governance and guidance from the South African government are poor. There is also limited academic literature exploring stakeholder relationships and enforcement of greening regulations. This study will provide empirical evidence (via semi-structured interviews) as to the current state of enforcement, focusing on the government, private, non-governmental and public-private sectors. Results show limited collaboration, poor policy direction and inconsistent certification criteria that restrict greening. Implementing network governance will improve collaboration and in turn hotel greening.
Identification and Characterization of Ich-3, a Member of the Interleukin-1β Converting Enzyme (ICE)/Ced-3 Family and an Upstream Regulator of ICE*

We report here the isolation and characterization of a new member of the ice/ced-3 family of cell death genes, named ich-3. The predicted amino acid sequence of Ich-3 protein shares 54% identity with murine interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE). Overexpression of ich-3 in Rat-1 and HeLa cells induces apoptosis, which can be inhibited by CrmA and Bcl-2. The mRNA and proteins of ich-3 are dramatically induced in vivo upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, an inducer of septic shock. The ich-3 gene product can be cleaved by cytotoxic T cells granule serine protease granzyme B, suggesting that Ich-3 may mediate apoptosis induced by granzyme B. Ich-3 does not process proIL-1β directly but does promote proIL-1β processing by ICE. These results suggest that Ich-3 may play a very important role in apoptosis and inflammatory responses and may be an upstream regulator of ICE.
Which antitakeover provisions deter takeovers?

Antitakeover provisions play a central role in corporate governance research. But there is little agreement over which, if any, provisions affect takeover likelihoods. As a result, researchers variously use the G-index, E-index, ad hoc indices, or selected individual provisions such as classified boards, to measure firms’ takeover defenses. In tests that account for the endogenous use of antitakeover provisions, we find that 11 of the 24 G-index provisions are robustly and negatively related to takeover likelihood. Various indices used in the literature to measure takeover defense relate to takeover likelihood to the extent they include this subset of provisions.
Recombinant Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor p75 Fusion Protein (TNFR:Fc) Alters Endotoxin-Induced Activation of the Kinin, Fibrinolytic, and Coagulation Systems in Normal Humans

Summary The effects of inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on cell and protease activation were evaluated in 18 normal volunteers given endotoxin (4 ng/kg, iv) after an infusion of low (10 mg/m2 iv, n = 6) or high dose (60 mg/m2 iv, n = 6) recombinant human dimeric TNF receptor protein (TNFR:Fc) or its vehicle (placebo n = 6). Activation of the coagulation system occurred by 2 h in the TNFR:Fc vehicle-placebo group manifested by decreased prekallikrein functional levels and increased levels of prothrombin F1+2 fragments (p <0.0001). High or low dose TNFR:Fc delayed the fall in prekallikrein functional levels by 1 h and 4 h, respectively (p <0.0002), but did not inhibit the increase in circulating levels of prothrombin F1+2 fragments. In contrast, endothelium activation, characterized by increased levels of tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and von Willebrand Factor antigen was blunted by both low and high dose TNFR:Fc (p <0.001). While the endotoxin-associated decrease in platelet number was not altered, platelet-derived β-thromboglobulin peak levels were blunted and delayed by TNFR:Fc (p <0.02). Increased levels of neutrophil elastase were attenuated by low and high dose TNFR:Fc (p <0.001). These results suggest that although TNF is functionally linked to the activation of endothelium, neutrophils, coagulation, and fibrinolysis, alternative pathways are present in vivo that result in activation of the kallikrein-kinin system after endotoxin-induced TNF release. These alternative pathways may limit some of the anti-inflammatory effects of TNFR:Fc.
Significant Ways to Improve the Performance of Medium and Large Local Contractors in the Jigawa State, Nigeria

Contractors’ performance is an important criterion for the success of any construction project, as it is the contractor that converts designs into practical reality. While evidence suggests that there is much need for further improvement particularly in cost, time and quality, in Nigeria contractors’ performance is the subject that requires much research. This paper is to identify the significant ways to improve the performance of medium and large local contractors in the Jigawa state, Nigeria. Literature about contractors and their performance was reviewed to identify the ways believed to improve their performance in executing construction projects. Questionnaires distributed to 45 clients, 45 consultants, and 45 medium and large local contractors. The findings show that the respondents agree that the most significant ways to improve medium and large local contractor’s performance are transparent bidding process mechanism, proper selection of construction procurement system, quality control and standard assurance, local contractor patronage by the government and adopting information and communication technology (ICT) in design and construction. This paper offers better performance and expands the pool of knowledge to the Nigerian contractor regarding essential element that is needed to be observed in order to improve their performance.
Delay Analysis in Prioritised Wireless Sensor Networks

In some applications of WSNs some nodes are more likely to generate important data. By setting higher priorities to these nodes, they send data sooner than other nodes by reducing the contention delay. We consider some senders and a receiver in their neighbourhood while one sender has a higher priority than other nodes. We analyse and formulate two concepts: delay and efficient data rate. Simulation results show that a network with prioritised nodes send more important data in a real time manner. Also average delay of sending data in a prioritised network is less compared with equal-priority nodes network.
Phosphorylation of connexin43 gap junction protein in uninfected and Rous sarcoma virus-transformed mammalian fibroblasts

Gap junctions are membrane channels that permit the interchange of ions and other low-molecular-weight molecules between adjacent cells. Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-induced transformation is marked by an early and profound disruption of gap-junctional communication, suggesting that these membrane structures may serve as sites of pp60v-src action. We have begun an investigation of this possibility by identifying and characterizing putative proteins involved in junctional communication in fibroblasts, the major cell type currently used to study RSV-induced transformation. We found that uninfected mammalian fibroblasts do not appear to contain RNA or protein related to connexin32, the major rat liver gap junction protein. In contrast, vole and mouse fibroblasts contained a homologous 3.0-kilobase RNA similar in size to the heart tissue RNA encoding the gap junction protein, connexin43. Anti-connexin43 peptide antisera specifically reacted with three proteins of approximately 43, 45 and 47 kilodaltons (kDa) from communicating fibroblasts. Gap junctions of heart cells contained predominantly 45- and 47-kDa species similar to those found in fibroblasts. Uninfected fibroblast 45- and 47-kDa proteins were phosphorylated on serine residues. Phosphatase digestions of 45- and 47-kDa proteins and pulse-chase labeling studies indicated that these proteins represented phosphorylated forms of the 43-kDa protein. Phosphorylation of connexin protein appeared to occur shortly after synthesis, followed by an equally rapid dephosphorylation. In comparison with these results, connexin43 protein in RSV-transformed fibroblasts contained both phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine. Thus, the presence of phosphotyrosine in connexin43 correlates with the loss of gap-junctional communication observed in RSV-transformed fibroblasts.
Detecting reproductive system abnormalities of broiler breeder roosters at different ages

The objective of this study was to detect the reasons of rooster's fertility decrease at 50 weeks of age. Therefore, the reproductive system of broiler breeder roosters was laparoscopic, macroscopic and histopathology evaluated, and a comparison of the anatomical aspect with the sperm analysis and birds' age was realized. Cobb roosters (n = 59) were distributed into two groups (30 and 50 weeks). Evaluations were performed with laparoscopy, macroscopy and histopathology, and seminal quality, blood serum testosterone concentration and weight were also determined. The old roosters presented smaller testicle size, higher intensity epididymal lithiasis and lower testicle sperm production, compared to the young roosters. The use of the endoscope could easily distinguish a normal-sized testicle than an atrophic one. Four old roosters with severe testicular atrophy did not show spermatogenesis, although three still had sperm in the ejaculate. This would falsely indicate a wrong diagnosis of normal fertility before the testicular atrophy took place. In conclusion, in addition to the weight increase with age, the testicular atrophy and impairment of sperm production seemed to be the main reason to the decrease in the rooster's fertility at 50 weeks of age. Therefore, the use of the laparoscopy as a way to detect the roosters with testicular atrophy before 50 weeks of age and their removal from them flock could be useful as a diagnostic tool to prevent the birds' fertility loss.
Survival of Indianmeal Moth and Navel Orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at Low Temperatures

Abstract Concerns over insect resistance, regulatory action, and the needs of organic processors have generated renewed interest in developing nonchemical alternative postharvest treatments to fumigants used on dried fruits and nuts. Low-temperature storage has been identified as one alternative for the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), and navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), common postharvest pests in California dried fruits and nuts. The response of eggs, nondiapausing larvae, and pupae of both species to exposure to low temperatures (0, 5, and 10°C) was evaluated. Eggs of both species were the least tolerant of low temperatures. At 0 and 5°C, pupae were most tolerant, but at 10°C, nondiapausing larvae of both species were most tolerant, with lethal time (LT)95 values of 127 and 100 d for Indianmeal moth and navel orangeworm, respectively. The response of diapausing Indianmeal moth larvae to subfreezing temperatures also was evaluated. Diapausing larvae were very cold tolerant at −10°C, with LT95 values of 20 and 17 d for long-term laboratory and recently isolated cultures, respectively. Diapausing larvae were far less tolerant at lower temperatures. At −15°C, LT95 values for both cultures were <23 h, and at −20°C, LT95 values were <7 h. Refrigeration temperatures of 0–5°C should be useful in disinfesting product contaminated with nondiapausing insects, with storage times of 3 wk needed for adequate control. Relatively brief storage in commercial freezers, provided that the temperature throughout the product was below −15°C for at least 48 h, also shows potential as a disinfestation treatment, and it is necessary when diapausing Indianmeal moth larvae are present.
Regression in pervasive developmental disorders: seizures and epileptiform electroencephalogram correlates.

BACKGROUND Approximately one third of the parents of children with pervasive developmental disorders or autistic spectrum disorders reports an early regression of unknown cause in their children's language, sociability, and play. Seizures or an epileptiform electroencephalogram (EEG) are associated with language regression in acquired epileptic aphasia (Landau-Kleffner syndrome) and some other pediatric epileptic syndromes. The importance of epilepsy or epileptic EEGs as contributors to autistic regression is not known. METHOD Subjects were 482 boys and 103 girls on the autistic spectrum seen consecutively in consultation by one child neurologist. Data on autistic regression, seizures, sleep EEGs, and cognitive function were entered prospectively into a data base. RESULTS Of the 585 children, 176 (30%) had a history of regression, and 66 children (11%) had a history of epilepsy, defined as two or more unprovoked seizures. Among 392 children with available sleep EEGs, the EEG was epileptiform in 59% of the 66 epileptic children and 8% of the 335 nonepileptic children. Regression had occurred equally among children without seizures and in those with epilepsy. Regression was associated with an epileptiform EEG in 14% of 155 nonepileptic children who had undergone a regression, as opposed to 6% of 364 children with neither regression nor epilepsy. Mean age at regression was 21 months. There was no difference in the proportion of children with epilepsy or epileptiform EEGs who had regressed before or after 2 years of age. Approximately half of the epileptiform discharges were centrotemporal, whether or not the child was epileptic or had regressed. Children with lower cognitive function were more likely to have undergone regression than those with better cognitive skills (34% vs 20%). CONCLUSION Epilepsy or epileptiform EEGs occur in a significant minority of autistic children with a history of regression and in a smaller minority without regression. Prompt recognition of regression and recording of prolonged sleep EEGs is recommended, even though information on the potential efficacy of antiepileptic treatment to improve language and behavior in autistic children with epilepsy or an epileptiform EEG is still lacking.
Education for Sustainability Beyond the Classroom: Companies Born in University Incubators

This study attempts to fill a gap in the literature, which focuses its efforts on the analysis of the education for sustainability in formal business courses and not on the incubation spaces at universities. The intention was to understand the sense of developing a business which incorporates sustainability principles, and debating the role of the university in fostering socio-environmental practices among the new generation of entrepreneurs, with a focus on Brazilian experiences. This qualitative research investigated companies in incubator programs at four Brazilian university business incubators, regarding: the attention to the way the business project is selected in the incubators; the sources and nature of the incubators’ socio-environmental concerns; the meaning of sustainability for these entrepreneurs; the way they put these principles into action in their business plans; the difficulties and challenges they face in meeting socio-environmental goals in their companies, and, finally, the inductor incubator’s role in fostering sustainable businesses. The results are alarming, since investment in education for sustainability seemed to be almost inexistent, which has consequences for generations of born and raised companies in incubators at universities. The findings also offer a route for debating and analyzing relevant aspects of education for sustainability in this academic environment.
On factorization of separating maps on noncommutative L^p-spaces

For any semifinite von Neumann algebra ${\mathcal M}$ and any $1\leq p<\infty$, we introduce a natutal $S^1$-valued noncommutative $L^p$-space $L^p({\mathcal M};S^1)$. We say that a bounded map $T\colon L^p({\mathcal M})\to L^p({\mathcal N})$ is $S^1$-bounded (resp. $S^1$-contractive) if $T\otimes I_{S^1}$ extends to a bounded (resp. contractive) map $T\overline{\otimes} I_{S^1}$ from $ L^p({\mathcal M};S^1)$ into $L^p({\mathcal N};S^1)$. We show that any completely positive map is $S^1$-bounded, with $\Vert T\overline{\otimes} I_{S^1}\Vert =\Vert T\Vert$. We use the above as a tool to investigate the separating maps $T\colon L^p({\mathcal M})\to L^p({\mathcal N})$ which admit a direct Yeadon type factorization, that is, maps for which there exist a $w^*$-continuous $*$-homomorphism $J\colon{\mathcal M}\to{\mathcal N}$, a partial isometry $w\in{\mathcal N}$ and a positive operator $B$ affiliated with ${\mathcal N}$ such that $w^*w=J(1)=s(B)$, $B$ commutes with the range of $J$, and $T(x)=wBJ(x)$ for any $x\in {\mathcal M}\cap L^p({\mathcal M})$. Given a separating isometry $T\colon L^p({\mathcal M})\to L^p({\mathcal N})$, we show that $T$ is $S^1$-contractive if and only if it admits a direct Yeadon type factorization. We further show that if $p\not=2$, the above holds true if and only if $T$ is completely contractive.
Corticosterone Administration Alters Small Intestinal Morphology and Function of Broiler Chickens

Two experiments were carried out to study the effects of corticosterone (CORT) administration on intestinal morphology and function of broilers. In both experiments, birds were randomly divided into two equal groups. One group was the control group (CTRL), and the birds were fed with a basal diet. The other was the experimental group (CORT), and the birds were fed with the basal diet plus 30 mg of CORT/kg diet. At 21 days of age, performance, morphological characteristics of intestine, D-xylose level in plasma, activities of digestive enzymes in digesta, digestibility of nutrients and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd)-labeling index of intestinal epithelial cells were determined. CORT administration decreased feed intake, daily gain and feed conversion ratio (p 0.05). CORT administration increased activities of trypsin and amylase (p<0.05), and decreased BrdUrd-labeling index of duodenal and jejunal epithelial cells (p<0.05). In conclusion, CORT administration impaired the normal morphology and absorptive capacity of the small intestine of broiler chickens.
Solar extreme ultraviolet irradiance: Present, past, and future

[1] New models of solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance variability are constructed in 1 nm bins from 0 to 120 nm using multiple regression of the Mg II and F10.7 solar activity indices with irradiance observations made during the descending phase of cycle 23. The models have been used to reconstruct EUV spectra daily since 1950, annually since 1610, to forecast daily EUV irradiance and to estimate future levels in cycle 24. A two-component model developed by scaling the observed rotational modulation of the two solar indices underestimates the solar cycle changes that the Solar EUV Experiment (SEE) reports at wavelengths shorter than 40 nm and longer than 80 nm. A three-component model implemented by including an additional term derived from the smoothed Mg II index better reproduces the measurements at all wavelengths. The three-component model is consistent with variations in the EUV energy from 0 to 45 nm that produces the far ultraviolet (FUV) terrestrial dayglow observed by the Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI). However, the spectral structure of this third component is complex, and its origin is uncertain. Analogous two- and three-component models are also developed with absolute scales determined by the NRLEUV2 spectrum of the quiet Sun rather than by the SEE average spectrum. Assessment of the EUV absolute spectrum and variability of the four different models indicate that during solar cycle 23, the EUV irradiance (0 to 120 nm) increased 100 ± 30%, from 2.9 ± 0.2 to 5.8 ± 0.9 mWm−2, and may have been as low as 1.9 ± 0.5 mWm−2 during the 17th-century Maunder Minimum. Near the peak of upcoming solar cycle 24, EUV irradiance is expected to increase 40% to 80% above the 2008 minimum values.
Odontogenic fibromyxoma of left maxilla-A case report

Odontogenic myxoma is a locally invasive benign mesodermal tumour found exclusively in the jaws comprising 3-6% of all odontogenic tumors. It usually occurs in the second and third decade of life commonly involving the mandible as compared to maxilla. Its variable clinical and radiological appearance makes the diagnosis difficult. Here we present a case report of a 30 year old female with a swelling in the left maxilla. The clinical findings made us suspect a case of radicular cyst with the carious molar. However, the radiological and subsequent histopathological examination established a final diagnosis of odontogenic fibromyxoma.
A unified nomenclature for TATA box binding protein (TBP)-associated factors (TAFs) involved in RNA polymerase II transcription.

Initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) requires general transcription factors to assemble the Pol II pre-initiation complex (PIC) (Hampsey 1998). PIC assembly on both TATA-containing and TATA-less promoters can be nucleated by the general transcription factors TFIID or B-TFIID, which are comprised of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAFIIs) (Bell and Tora 1999; Albright and Tjian 2000). More than 10 years ago, the first TAFIIs were discovered in Drosophila and in human cells (Dynlacht et al. 1991; Tanese et al. 1991). These proteins were identified in biochemically stable complexes with TBP and named after their electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels. Subsequently, many TAFIIs from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Caenorhabditis elegans,Drosophila melanogaster, andHomo sapiens have been identified. They are distinguished by a number, which indicates their apparent or predicted molecular weight. Cross-species comparisons show a strong sequence conservation of TAFIIs (Sanders and Weil 2000; Gangloff et al. 2001; Walker et al. 2001). Availability of genome sequences has accelerated the identification of TAFII-orthologous and -related genes, resulting in uncertainty whether the gene in question encodes a genuine TAFII. From a discussion initiated at the 2001 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meeting onMechanisms of Eukaryotic Transcription it became clear that the current TAFII nomenclature is unsatisfactory. To clarify the relationship between orthologs and paralogs of TAFIIs and to avoid confusion stemming from molecular weights we propose a new unified nomenclature for the Pol II TAFIIs. We believe that this will (1) aid cross-species comparisons in the literature and sequence databases, (2) facilitate interactions between various laboratories and scientists, (3) expedite literature searches, and (4) avoid confusion caused by similarity in the names of unrelated TAFIIs. The unified nomenclature is based on the following considerations: