Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multi-criteria decision-making approach for comparing sample preservation and DNA extraction methods from swine feces

Molecular microbiological methods, such as competetive PCR, real-time PCR, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and large-scale parallel-pyrosequencing, require the extraction of sufficient quantity of high quality DNA from microbiologically and chemically complex matrices. Due to difficulties in the field to standardize/select the optimum DNA preservation-extraction methods in view of laboratories differences, this article attempts to present a straight-forward mathematical framework for comparing some of the most commonly used methods. To this end, as a case study, the problem of selecting an optimum sample preservation-DNA extraction strategy for obtaining total bacterial DNA from swine feces was considered. Two sample preservation methods (liquid nitrogen and RNAlater? ) and seven extraction techniques were paired and compared under six quantitative DNA analysis criteria: yield of extraction, purity of extracted DNA (A260/280 and A 260/230 ratios), duration of extraction, degradation degree of DNA, and cost. From a practical point of view, it is unlikely that a single sample preservation-DNA extraction strategy can be optimum for all selected criteria. Hence, a systematic multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was used to compare the methods. As a result, the ZR Fecal DNA MiniPrepTM DNA extraction kit for samples preserved either with liquid nitrogen or RNAlater? were identified as potential optimum solutions for obtaining total bacterial DNA from swine feces. Considering the need for practicality for in situ applications, we would recommend liquid nitrogen as sample preservation method, along with the ZR Fecal DNA MiniPrepTM kit. Total bacterial DNA obtained by this strategy can be suitable for downstream PCR-based DNA analyses of swine feces.
Road Infrastructure and Road User’s Satisfactions: A Case Study of Motorway Route 7, Thailand

The development of tourism in Thailand relies on the development of appropriate infrastructure. Road access is the key infrastructure issue for tourist destinations throughout Thailand. Each year Thailand has welcomed over 15 million travelers, accounted approximately 7% of GDP. To support tourist activities, variety types of transportation modes have designed. However, road transportation is one of the most effective modes that connect most places together. Beside high-standard vehicles, road is another mechanism that derive comfort and safety of travelling. For this reason, Motorway networks were initiated and constructed to support high speed traffic with high safety and standard. Motorway route 7 is one of major motorway networks that lies between major cities and tourist landmarks. To raise the road standard could be the key to support tourist industry and economic growth. The road developments may not be precise and accurate without knowing the needs from road users’. Therefore, a questionnaire is developed and distributed to 890 randomly selected road users along Motorway route 7. Factor analysis and t -test are employed to analyze the factors affecting road users’ satisfaction and to compare the satisfaction level between both inbound and outbound travelers.
Community as Gift-Giving: Collectivistic Roots of Volunteerism

Who in America volunteers what and why? And what impact does volunteering have? It is widely believed that the typical volunteer is middle-aged and middle-class and that volunteerism is rooted in American cultural individualism. Undocumented and unexplored are collectivistic roots of giving, which may have a different social base than individualistc-grounded volunteerism. Characteristics of collectivistic-rooted volunteerism, conditions under which it transpires, and group and community effects of such giving are explored here. The analysis is based on ethnographic research in a predominantly “old immigrant” working-class inner-ring suburb. Collectivistic-rooted volunteerism is shown to be community-embedded and to have group, community, and class stratifying effects.
Effects of health education on oral health through role playing and painting on awareness and function of children

Statistical surveys indicate that the rate of dental decay among primary school goers in Qazvin province is about 82.2% for permanent teeth and 83.3% for milk teeth. This was a semiexperimental interventional study to improve the knowledge and practice of 80 children (31 boys and 49 girls) aged 9-11 years. Educational planning was delivered through indirect new methods of education including role playing and painting. Data were collected before and after intervention by a fixed questioner and further analyzed by means of two statistical tests including t-test and chisquare test. The results of this study was indicative of a significant difference between the knowledge and practice of children before and after the intervention (p<0.05).
Computerized Dynamic Assessment

Recent studies have reported on the benefits of dynamic assessment (DA) in improving student learning and achievement. Dynamic assessment is an interactive assessment technique that involves diagnostic monit oring of student misunderstandings, providing context-specific feedback, and assessing the improvement thereafter. This paper presents a computer-based DA system developed by us and its use over six semesters in a junior le vel undergraduate course. Results collected over this p eriod are presented to demonstrate that, since implementation of this system, performance of the students in trad itional in-class tests and in the Fundamentals of Engineeri ng (FE) Examination has improved. Student surveys indicate that this system is preferred by the stude nts over traditional teaching methods.
Prognostic Impact of Genetic Polymorphism in Mineralocorticoid Receptor and Comorbidity With Hypertension in Androgen-Deprivation Therapy

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) signaling which is closely associated with hypertension plays important roles in resistance to antiandrogen therapy in prostate cancer. However, its impact on the prognosis in androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) has not been elucidated. Then, we investigated the impact of genetic variation in MR and comorbidity with hypertension on the prognosis in ADT. This study included 182 Japanese patients with prostate cancer treated with ADT, whose comorbidity status with hypertension were available. The associations of MR polymorphism (rs5522) and comorbidity with hypertension with clinicopathological parameters as well as progression-free survival and overall survival were examined. Clinicopathological characteristics were comparable between genetic variation in MR. However, homozygous variant in MR was associated with shorter time to castration resistance (P = 0.014) and any-cause death (P = 0.024). In patients' background, presence of comorbidity with hypertension showed the trend with lower PSA level at diagnosis and lower biopsy Gleason score, as well as significant association with less incidence of N1. Comorbidity with hypertension was associated with longer time to castration resistance (P = 0.043) and any-cause death (P = 0.046), which was diminished on multivariate analysis including age, PSA level at diagnosis, biopsy Gleason score, clinical stage, and the modality of hormonal therapy. Genetic variation in MR (rs5522) and comorbidity with hypertension were significantly and potentially associated with prognosis when treated with ADT, respectively. This suggests that the individual intensity of MR signaling may be associated with resistance to ADT and a promising biomarker in ADT.
EFFECT OF BOTANICALS FOR MANAGEMENT OF LEAF BLAST AND ENHANCING YIELD TRAITS IN RICE

Field experiments were undertaken during kharif 2012 and 2013 under irrigated ecosystem to evaluate the efficacy of botanicals along with standard fungicides for assessing per cent disease incidence, plant height, number of tiller per plant, number of spikelet per panicle, panicle length, 100-grain weight and grain yield against blast of rice. Pooled data of two years suggest that neem based commercial biopesticides with azadiractin as active ingredients were found effective in reducing disease severity and improving the yield attribute of the crop and proves promising products when compared to standard fungicides. Among the botanicals the spraying of Achook, Neem Azal T/S, Neem gold and Tricure shows significant reduction in disease severity, along with improving yield attributes, increasing the 100-grain weight and grain yield.
PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND LEVELS OF TRACE METALS IN CHICKEN MEAT CONSUMED IN UYO METROPOLIS , AKWA IBOM STATE

This study was conducted to determine the proximate composition as well as the concentrations of Pb,Ni,Mn, As, Zn, and Cd in the muscles,liver and gizzards of chicken consumed in Uyo,Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Proximate analysis was done on the different parts of chicken using standard methods and the concentrations of Pb,Ni, Mn, As, Zn, and Cd were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean levels of trace metals were ranged between 0.210±0.014-0.268±0.014mg/kg for Pb; 0.342±0.017-0.437±0.033mg/kg for Ni; 0.483±0.221-0.518±0.025mg/kg for Mn; 0.030±0.025-0.048±0.002mg/kg for As; 2.567±0.025-2.981±0.06mg/kg for Zn; and 0.024±0.04-0.17±0.025mg/kg for Cd.The mean moisture contents of various parts were 67.03±0.03, 66.0±0.002 and 67.23±0.004% formuscle,liver and gizzard respectively. The protein content ranged from 26.22±0.005 -28.35±0.03%; 1.32±0.05-1.23±0.121% for ash; and 0.91±0.01-1.11±0.111% for fat. The results indicated that chicken meat in this study were rich sources of nutrients. The concentrations of trace metals in this study were below tolerance limits except Pb, which was slightly higher than the WHO/FAO permissible limit. Therefore, it can be concluded that chicken meat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has a high nutritional value and it is safe for human consumption.
Fraudulent Accounting and Other Doping Games

From a game-theoretic point of view, fraudulent accounting to embellish the financial status of a firm and the use of drugs to enhance performance in sports are very similar. We study the replicator dynamics of such games. We allow for heterogeneous populations, such as highly talented versus more mediocre athletes, or high-quality managers versus less able colleagues. For some parameters we find cyclical dynamics, so we may see waves of doping and clean sport, and cycles of fraudulent and honest accounting. Moreover, in some cases, high-ability players are more likely to commit fraud than low-ability ones.
Performance Management in Supply Chains : Applications to humanitarian and commercial supply chains

H lla A idi Hella Abidi completed her training as a forwarding clerk (Speditionskauffrau IHK) at Dachser SE in Cologne. During a stay at Dachser SE in Switzerland, she studied a part-time advanced vocational training as “Verkehrsfachwirtin (IHK)” at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Hella Abidi adopted various activities in the department of international transport planning, sales and customer service at Dachser SE in Mannheim and Cologne.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Interfaces in nanoscale photovoltaics

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Evaluation of Drought Tolerant in Some Wheat Genotypes to Post-anthesis Drought Stress

Water deficit is the major cause of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) yield losses in Iran and many other regions where the crop is not normally irrigated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of several selection indices to identify drought-resistant wheat genotypes. Twenty-one bread wheat genotypes were evaluated under two field experiments (post-anthesis drought stress and normal conditions). The experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications in two successive growing seasons (2007/2008 and 2008/2009). The results showed that yields in the normal conditions were positively correlated with yields in the stress conditions. Several genotypes with good performance under both conditions were identified. Correlation analysis indicated that the most suitable drought tolerance criteria for screening substitution genotypes were mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP) and stress tolerance index (STI) (Group A genotypes) and when the stress was severe, stress susceptibility index (SSI) was found to be more useful index in discriminating resistant genotypes. Based on different drought indices, genotypes G4, G14 and G9 had the best ranking. In addition bi-plot and cluster analysis cleared superiority of these three genotypes in both seasons.
Allelopathic activities of selected Mucuna pruriens on the germination and initial growth of lettuce

The study was conducted to test allelopathic effects of some Mucuna pruriens on the germination and growth of lettuce. The effects of root exudates and leaf leachates of eight mucuna genotypes; Mucuna pruriens var. utilis cv. cinza , Mucuna pruriens var. utilis cv. preta , Mucuna pruriens var. utilis cv. hassjo , Mucuna pruriens var. utilis cv. fvb , Mucuna pruriens 82/507, Mucuna pruriens 82/508, Mucuna pruriens 82/116, and Mucuna pruriens GA/94/002 were tested on the germination, radicle, and hypocotyl elongations of lettuce ( Lactuca sativa var. Great Lakes 366). The effects of leaf leachates and root exudates of mucuna were tested using sandwich and plant-box methods respectively with lettuce as the receptor plant. Roots exudates inhibition varied significantly among genotypes (94.3%-98.5%). Root exudates of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis cv. fvb had the maximum inhibition (98.5%). Lettuce radicle inhibition gradually decreased with distance from the mucuna plant in a plant-box and with high correlation (r=0.910-0.952; p<0.05) between lettuce radicle inhibition and distance from mucuna roots. The effect of 50 mg oven-dried mucuna leaves had significant inhibition on lettuce radicle elongation (12.0%-15.8% of untreated control). Leaf leachates had less effect on the hypocotyl elongation of lettuce (50.5%-72.0% of untreated control) at the same application of oven-dried leaves (50 mg/10 ml agar).
Solar coronal heating by forced magnetic reconnection: Multiple reconnection events

Magnetic reconnection is a strong candidate for a coronal heating mechanism, and heating by forced magnetic reconnection is investigated here. Two dimensional, nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic simulations are used to investigate forced magnetic reconnection in a compressible plasma. The reconnection occurs when a sheared force-free field is perturbed by a slow disturbance (pulse) at the boundary which is representative of the solar corona where the reconnection is induced by the photospheric motions. The case of driving by successive pulses, which generate a series of heating events which may interact with each other, is considered. This is in order to model the heating of the corona by a series of nanoflare events. For small perturbations, the simulation results are consistent with the previous analytic theory based on linear approach where a current sheet is formed initially at the resonant surface followed by reconnection and then release of magnetic energy. For large amplitude perturbations, or close to the threshold for tearing instability, the system exhibits strong nonlinear aspects. Following the second driving pulse, the current sheet expands along the separatrix before relaxing to a reconnective equilibrium and releasing even more magnetic energy for the same amplitude perturbation.
Exploration and Exploitation Within and Across Organizations

Abstract Jim March's framework of exploration and exploitation has drawn substantial interest from scholars studying phenomena such as organizational learning, knowledge management, innovation, organizational design, and strategic alliances. This framework has become an essential lens for interpreting various behaviors and outcomes within and across organizations. Despite its straightforwardness, this framework has generated debates concerning the definition of exploration and exploitation, and their measurement, antecedents, and consequences. We critically review the growing literature on exploration and exploitation, discuss various perspectives, raise conceptual and empirical concerns, underscore challenges for further development of this literature, and provide directions for future research.
Mode structure of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser subject to optical feedback

We present an analysis of the external cavity mode (ECM) structure of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser subject to optical feedback. We consider a model in which two transverse optical modes are excited. Furthermore, we allow weak coupling of the modes via the feedback term. (In addition to the coupling through the inversion.) We use numerical continuation techniques to find and follow solutions of the governing partial, delay differential equations. This approach allows us to show how the ECM structure depends on the key parameters of feedback strength, feedback phase and the amount of coupling via the feedback term.
Corporate Governance and International Trade Shocks

We study how the quality of corporate governance affects firms’ competitive position. Our identification relies on exogenous variations in both corporate governance and product market competition experienced by U.S. firms in late 1980s. While the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement of 1989 increased foreign competition, the Business Combination laws, passed between 1985 and 1991 in thirty U.S. states, weakened corporate governance. We find that the operating and stock market performance of firms with a worse corporate governance were particularly affected by the subsequent increase in competitive pressures. This effect was stronger for small, young and low-productivity firms. We also find that worse corporate governance impaired the exporters’ ability to exploit the reduction in export tariffs to Canada. The differences in performance are related to the better governed firms’ ability to raise external finance and increase cash holdings after the competition strengthens.
The Impact of Research and Development on Socio-Economic Development: Perspectives from Selected Developing Economies

Research and innovation have been acknowledged as critical factors for fuelling long-term sustainable economic growth and, concomitantly, employment creation and poverty alleviation in developed and developing economies. However, the overwhelming majority of studies conducted on these critical factors have tended to focus on developed economies. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to undertake an empirical investigation of the importance of research and innovation for industrial and economic growth in the developing economies of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Specifically, the study investigated the practical utilisation of the end-product of research to fuel innovation and growth in developing economies. The significance of this study therefore derives from utilising empirical findings to influence policy on R&D in sub-Saharan developing countries. The study used the Cobb-Douglas production function and panel data from a selected number of countries in SSA to assess the impact and correlation between research and innovation and economic growth. From our regression results, the estimated parameters of all the independent variables, with the exception of labour, are statistically significant at the 5 percent (or better) level of significance. The coefficients (elasticities) of lagged GDP, gross fixed capital formation (investment) and R&D are all positive and statistically significant. The size of the coefficients implies that a 1% increase in investment, increases economic growth by about 0.236%. Similarly our results show that a 1% increase in gross domestic expenditure on R&D will lead to an increase of about 0.326% in economic growth. The insignificance of the labour variable may be attributed to how the variable was measured in this study. Our inability to obtain comparable measure of the quality of labour across all countries in the study meant that the only measure of labour we could use was the total number of economically active population (aged between 15-65 years). Given the paucity of studies on R&D impact that are devoted exclusively to sub-Saharan Africa, our study supports the general contention among development scholars that technological innovation and their adoption (through increased investment in R&D) remains the pathway to increased growth among emerging economies of the sub-Saharan African region. The study therefore adds to the debate among researchers on the impact of R&D in sub-Sahara African countries, therefore enriching the literature on the subject. In addition governments in these countries should increase support for R&D in the relevant institutions and industries.
Genomewide Elucidation of Drug Resistance Mechanisms for Systemically Used Antifungal Drugs Amphotericin B, Caspofungin, and Voriconazole in the Budding Yeast

There are only a few antifungal drugs used systemically in treatment, and invasive fungal infections that are resistant to these drugs are an emerging problem in health care. In this study, we performed a high-copy-number genomic DNA (gDNA) library screening to find and characterize genes that reduce susceptibility to amphotericin B, caspofungin, and voriconazole in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ABSTRACT There are only a few antifungal drugs used systemically in treatment, and invasive fungal infections that are resistant to these drugs are an emerging problem in health care. In this study, we performed a high-copy-number genomic DNA (gDNA) library screening to find and characterize genes that reduce susceptibility to amphotericin B, caspofungin, and voriconazole in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We identified the PDR16 and PMP3 genes for amphotericin B, the RMD9 and SWH1 genes for caspofungin, and the MRS3 and TRI1 genes for voriconazole. The deletion mutants for PDR16 and PMP3 were drug susceptible, but the other mutants had no apparent susceptibility. Quantitative-PCR analyses suggested that the corresponding drugs upregulated expression of the PDR16, PMP3, SWH1, and MRS3 genes. To further characterize these genes, we also profiled the global expression patterns of the cells after treatment with the antifungals and determined the genes and paths that were up- or downregulated. We also cloned Candida albicans homologs of the PDR16, PMP3, MRS3, and TRI1 genes and expressed them in S. cerevisiae. Heterologous expression of Candida homologs also provided reduced drug susceptibility to the budding yeast cells. Our analyses suggest the involvement of new genes in antifungal drug resistance.
Monetary policy and regional output in Brazil

This work presents an analysis of whether the effects of the Brazilian monetary policy on regional outputs are symmetric. The strategy developed combines the techniques of principal component analysis (PCA) to decompose the variables that measure regional economic activity into common and region-specific components and vector autoregressions (VAR) to observe the behavior of these variables in response to monetary policy shocks. The common component responds to monetary policy as expected. Additionally, the idiosyncratic components of the regions showed no impact of monetary policy. Once monetary policy affects the common component of the regional economic activity and does not impact its idiosyncratic components, it can be considered symmetrical.