Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutrient Solutions and Drought in Plant Growth and Fructans Content of Agave potatorum Zucc

The Agave potatorum Zucc. is a wild species endemic to Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico. The stem or “head” of the plants of this species contains a large amount of fructans, which, in conjunction with their crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), helps the agave to survive droughts. The soluble carbohydrates are used to produce mezcal. The objective was to evaluate growth and content of fructans of A. potatorum young plants grown in soil and perlite substrate, fertigated with three nutrient solutions, and subjected to drought. Eight-month-old plants were used and, for 15 months, were fertigated with nutrient solutions: 1) Steiner, 2) Hoagland and Arnon, and 3) Urrestarazu. Irrigation was later suspended to simulate a 5-month drought and induce stress. During fertigation, the vegetative growth was greater in plants irrigated with Hoagland and Arnon and Urrestarazu solutions in perlite and in soil. After the period of water deficit stress, plants in perlite substrate fertigated with the Hoagland and Arnon solution accumulated more fructans in the heads, reaching a maximum of 75%, than plants in soil substrate (42%).
Seaweed nutrient physiology: application of concepts to aquaculture and bioremediation

ABSTRACT Inorganic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus are the main elements required by seaweeds for photosynthesis and growth. This review focusses mainly on nitrogen, but the roles of carbon and phosphorus, which may interactively affect seaweed physiological processes, are also explored. Fundamental concepts such as limiting nutrients, sources, and ratios, mechanisms of nutrient uptake, nutrient assimilation and storage, patterns of uptake and preferences for different nitrogen sources are discussed. The roles of abiotic (water motion, light, temperature, salinity and desiccation) and biotic (life stages and age class) factors in nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon) uptake are also reviewed. Understanding species-specific nitrogen physiologies and nitrogen source preferences will enable polyculture of different seaweed species and the use of seaweeds as biofilters in integrated multitrophic aquaculture systems.
Exploring the factors driving impulse buying tendency on advertisements of Facebook: a social learning theory perspective

Nowadays, advertising on Facebook has grown into a highly popular marketing channel, resulting in how advertisements can capture users' attention becomes a vital issue for practitioners and researchers. This study aims to use the Social Learning Theory as a theoretical foundation to investigate how the social-feature factor, perceived herd behavior on Facebook advertisement, may serve as the external observational learning sources and how personal instant gratification need learned from impulse consumption may serve as the internal reinforcement learning sources. Moreover, how both learning sources tempt consumers' impulse buying tendency was also examined. The results showed that the numbers of "Like," "Share," and "Comment" on the advertisement of Facebook might become an effective observational learning source that triggers users to follow and imitate others' advertisement viewing behaviors. The results also indicated that instant gratification feeling learned from previous impulse buying can be a reinforcement learning source that becomes a durational inner stimulus of impulsive consumption. Moreover, this study further revealed that both perceived herd behavior and instant gratification would lead users to generate reactions of perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment toward advertisements on Facebook News Feed, which in turn intensify their impulse buying tendency. Notably, both perceived herd behavior and instant gratification have greater influences on perceived usefulness than on perceived enjoyment, and perceived usefulness also has a greater influence on impulse buying tendency. Finally, the implications of the results were discussed.
Value Crafting Using Organizational Values for the Development of Sustainable Work Organizations

In this paper we will propose new statistical methods to analyze profiles obtained with the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument. We will argue that the traditional statistical methods do not appreciate the ipsative nature of these profiles. The new methods allow the construction of group profiles from individual profiles, allow the construction of confidence intervals round profiles, provide a test for the hypothesis that preferred and actual profiles are the same, and allow regression analysis with the profiles as dependent variables. We will start with a discussion of problems with ipsative data, followed by a discussion of the required properties of any statistical method of ipsative data. Subsequently, we will explain the new methods proposed, which are based on the work of Aitchison. Finally, we will discuss the possible impact and limitations of our approach and topics for future research.
Phylo-epidemiological and pathogenic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in London with implications for vaccine develpoment

Approximately one-third of the global population is infected with tuberculosis causing approximately 1.7 million deaths. Currently, the BCG vaccine is used to protect against TB, but it cannot prevent primary infection or reactivation of latent infection. Ideally a vaccine should protect against a diverse array of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and promote a strong, long-lasting TH1 cell-mediated immune response. Whilst evaluating the efficiency of novel vaccines using laboratory control strains (M. tuberculosis H37Rv, H37Ra and M. bovis-BCG), it is important to test efficacy against a representative panel of wild-type circulating strains. In England 42.2% of TB cases are reported in London and the diversity of nationalities generates a diverse pool of strains consisting of globally representative TB strains. The aim of the study was to construct a representative panel of strains for vaccine evaluation studies and general TB research. Common M. tuberculosis strains were identified by performing molecular MIRUVNTR and spoligotyping on 2363 isolates from TB cases reported in London during a one-year period. Epidemiological analysis demonstrated there were representatives from 13 global regions, including high TB burden countries. An algorithm was designed to select strains for a preliminary panel based on associations between MTBC families in clusters of more common strains, the country of birth and VNTR sub-clusters. The preliminary panel contained 42 MTBC strains belonging to 10 MTBC families from patients born in 17 countries. Results of phylogenetic analysis of all 2363 isolates was used to select a smaller panel of strains from the preliminary panel to represent MTBC lineages to investigate if wild-type strains were phenotypically similar. The final panel included five strains from each of the Baker et al., 2004 M. tuberculosis lineages (M. tuberculosis Beijing, LAM10, two CAS, EAI5 strains representing lineage I, II, III, IV, respectively) and an M. africanum strain. In vitro tissue culture experiments demonstrated significantly higher growth of the Beijing strain compared to the other wild-type and laboratory strains. Higher growth rates of this strain were also observed in a cell-free culture system. Aerosol challenge of guinea pigs with wild-type strains showed a quicker dissemination of the EAI5
Case Report Recurrent dural based cystic cerebellar haemangioblastoma in a patient with von Hippel-Lindau disease

Summary Surgical excision of cerebellar haemangioblastomas, once they become Symptomatic, is the standard treatment in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. This case report describes a von Hippel-Lindau disease patient with a rare recurrent symptomatic dural based cystic haemangioblastoma.
Taux des lipoprotéines et des apolipoprotéines chez les jeunes diabétiques insulinodépendants. Relations avec l'hémoglobine glycosylée et la fructosamine

: The pathogenesis of premature atherosclerosis in diabetic patients has not yet been fully elucidated, but it seems to be related to changes in circulating lipoproteins and to a poor metabolic balance. In this study plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL- and LDL-cholesterols, apolipoproteins (Apo) A1 and B were measured in 120 young patients aged from 4 to 32 years (mean +/- 1 SD: 17 +/- 6 years) whose diabetes had been present for a mean period of 10 +/- 6 years (range: less than one year to 25 years). The results obtained were analysed in relation to glycosylated haemoglobin (N: 6.8 +/- 0.6 per cent) and plasma fructosamine (N: 1.9 +/- 0.2 mmol/l) levels. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their HbA 1 level: (group 1: less than 9 per cent, group 2: 9 per cent less than or equal to HbA1 less than 11 per cent; group 3: greater than or equal to 11 per cent. The most significant increases of TG, TC, LDL-C and ApoB levels were observed in group 3, i.e. in patients whose diabetes was the most poorly controlled (HbA 1: 12.9 +/- 1.3 per cent; fructosamine: 4.6 +/- 0.9 mmol/l). These parameters were significantly correlated with HbA1 (p less than 0.01) and even more significantly with fructosamine (p less than 0.001). No significant difference in HDL-C and ApoA1 levels was found in the 3 groups of patients. Thus, TG, TC, LDL-C and ApoB are increased in young diabetics whose HbA1 and fructosamine levels exceed reference values by more than 5 standard deviations.
Effect of cysteine, insulin-like growth factor-1 and epidermis growth factor during in vitro oocyte maturation and in vitro culture of yak-cattle crossbred embryos

ABSTRACT Some antioxidants and growth factors play an important role in promoting oocyte maturation and embryo development in many mammalian species, but there is little information about the yak (Bos grunniens). Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate Cys, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and epidermis growth factor (EGF) on yak oocyte maturation, cleavage and blastocyst rates after in vitro fertilized with Jersey sperm. A single or different combination of Cys, EGF and IGF-1 was added to in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro culture (IVC) media. The results showed that a single addition of Cys and IGF-1 increased oocyte maturation and blastocyst rates (p < .05), but did not increase cleavage rate; EGF or IGF-1 + EGF increased oocyte maturation, cleavage and blastocyst rates (p < .05) compared with the control. A combination of IGF-1 + EGF + Cys could have a beneficial effect (p < .05). These results indicated that supplementation of IVM and IVC media with Cys, IGF-1, EGF and their combinations could improve in vitro production efficiency of yak-cattle crossbred embryos.
Test-retest reliability and long-term stability of 3-tissue constrained spherical deconvolution methods for analyzing diffusion MRI data

Purpose Several recent studies have utilized a 3-tissue constrained spherical deconvolution pipeline to obtain quantitative metrics of brain tissue microstructure from diffusion-weighted MRI data. The three tissue compartments, comprising white matter-, grey matter-, and CSF-like (free water) signals, are potentially useful in the evaluation of brain microstructure in a range of pathologies. However, the reliability and long-term stability of these metrics has not yet been evaluated. Methods This study examined estimates of whole brain microstructure for the three tissue compartments, in three separate test-retest cohorts. Each cohort has different lengths of time between baseline and retest, ranging from within the same scanning session in the shortest interval to three months in the longest interval. Each cohort was also collected with different acquisition parameters. Results The CSF-like compartment displayed the greatest reliability across all cohorts, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values being above 0.95 in each cohort. White matter-like and grey matter-like compartments both demonstrated very high reliability in the immediate cohort (both ICC>0.90), however this declined in the 3 month interval cohort to both compartments having ICC>0.80. Regional CSF-like signal fraction was examined in bilateral hippocampus and had an ICC>0.80 in each cohort. Conclusion The 3-tissue CSD techniques provide reliable and stable estimates of tissue microstructure composition, up to 3 months longitudinally in a control population. This forms an important basis for further investigations utilizing 3-tissue CSD techniques to track changes in microstructure across a variety of brain pathologies.
Building literacies in secondary school history: The specific contribution of academic writing support

This paper considers the specific role and effect of academic writing support in a secondary school Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) context. After discussing the potential place for academic writing support in the ongoing process of fostering disciplinary literacy, we report on an experimental study in which 45 Spanish secondary school students received a short academic writing module as part of their history course. The descriptions/explanations written in their post-tests were generally found to be more complete, with more explicit discourse markers and with better textual organization than the pre-tests. We discuss the implications of this for students’ progress towards disciplinary literacy.
An exploratory study of the assistive technology knowledge, skills, and needs among special education teachers and related service personnel

Title of Document: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND NEEDS AMONG SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND RELATED SERVICE PERSONNEL Aaron E. Marsters, Ed.D. , 2011 Directed By: Professor and Chair, Philip J. Burke Department of Special Education Federal legislation, professional standards, and school district initiatives mandate or support the consideration and application of assistive technology (AT) devices and services for students with disabilities. It is not known if practitioners in the field have the knowledge and skills required to successfully implement AT and AT services as intended. This was an exploratory study to describe and compare the level of AT knowledge among special education professionals and related service providers, identify AT training needs, and determine staff perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of AT technical assistance and support within a school system that serves a large number of parents serving in the military. The study was implemented with descriptive and inferential statistical techniques employed through a self-administered web-based questionnaire. Of the 87 professionals randomly selected, 42 participated. Special education professionals indicated a lack of essential skills and knowledge on selected AT knowledge and skill measures and current AT practices do not meet established AT quality indicators. Each professional had AT knowledge specific to their profession, but
Regulation of Duopoly: Managed Competition vs Regulated Monopolies

This paper discusses the regulation of oligopolistic differentiated-product industries. The regulator can control prices and impose quantity restrictions, but cannot control the quality choices of the firms. We inquire about the optimal choice of regulatory regime-whether and under what conditions managed competition or segmentation of the market between regulated monopolies achieves better results. In the spatial duopoly model analyzed here, unhindered competition generally results in an inefficient allocation. When the regulator knows the technologies, optimal managed competition results in distortions of the quality choice, but an optimal regulated-monopolies regime achieves the first best outcome. When the regulator is uncertain about the technologies, neither of these methods yields the first-best outcome. The regulated-monopolies regime still tends to produce better quality choices, but managed competition tends to be more effective at extracting rents from the firms. The overall comparison depends on some finer details of the environment. Copyright (c) 1997 Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Performance of agricultural tractor consuming diesel and biodiesel derived from babassu (Orbinya martiana)

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel to diesel engines. This study aimed to evaluate fuel consumption and smoke density of agricultural tractors fueled by biodiesel, diesel, and biodiesel/diesel mixtures in a tilled field. Treatments consisted of distilled methyl ester (biodiesel) of babassu (Orbinya martiana) and seven combinations of it with two standard diesel fuels (B S1800 and B S50). The blending ratios were 0, 5, 15, 25, 50, and 100% biodiesel in diesel oil (B0, B5, B15, B25, B50, and B100, respectively). Regarding the results for hourly volumetric consumption, no difference was found between B0 and B100 when using B S1800, whereas an 8% increase was observed when using the S50. The weighted hourly consumption increased by 11.29 and 16.9% from B0 to B100 using B S1800 and B S50, respectively. Similarly, the specific fuel consumption increased by 11.1% and 14.3% from B0 to B100 using B S1800 and B S50, respectively. Yet, when comparing B0 and B S1800, the smoke density reduction was 68.6% and between B S50 and B100 was 58.0%. Our findings show that babassu biodiesel is a suitable substitute for diesel oil, without causing any damage to the tractor's engine.
Mothers' experiences of a primary specialist provision for autism attended by their child

Research evidence suggests that a significant minority of mothers of children with autism are dissatisfied with their child’s education. However, research to date has mainly comprised of large-scale ‘broad-brush’ methodologies which cannot capture the detail of these mothers’ experiences. This research sought to explore six mothers’ experiences of engaging with a specialist unit for autism attended by their child. Their accounts of these experiences were elicited through semi-structured interviews in order that the data obtained was detailed and reflected individual, subjective experience. Interview transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, an inductive methodology that is designed to enable the researcher to dig deep into the data and produce a rich descriptive and interpretative summary of participants’ experiences. Three superordinate themes were constructed during the analytical process. The first highlighted the importance mothers placed on feeling their child was loved and accepted by school staff. Secondly, the uncertainties and complexities of making sense of their child’s autism diagnosis were highlighted, as well as uncertainties relating to priorities for their child’s learning, and knowing what expectations to have of the specialist Unit. Finally participants’ experiences of learning are described. These learning experiences related to finding out more about their child through contact with the Unit, discovering principles and practice relating to specialist teaching skills utilised by staff, and finally developing their own way of understanding and parenting their child at home.
The Correlation between Family Functioning and Quality of Life among Family Caregiver of Cervical Cancer Patients

The manner in which a family functions in its daily activities becomes vital when family units are required to handle certain serious situations such as a member being diagnosed and treated for cervical cancer. Both patients and the family members who provide care for them can experience stress in such circumstances, and the family unit is pivotal to the maintenance of their condition and of the quality of their lives. Nonetheless, in contrast to studies conducted abroad, the results of similar studies conducted in Indonesia, a country with a strong culture of familial bonding, evince no relationship between the functioning of families and the quality of life. Therefore, this study aims to examine the correlation between family functioning and quality of life among family members who are also caregivers for cervical cancer patients. The research is based on the hypothesis that there exists a correlation between family functioning and the quality of life of family members who serve as caregivers for cervical cancer patients. This investigation employed the Family Assessment Device (FAD) developed by Epstein, Bishop, and Levin (1978) as the measuring instrument. FAD posits six dimensions of family functioning in accordance with the McMaster Model of Family Functioning and one general functioning scale. WHOQOL-BREF was used to quantify the quality of life of the respondents. This tool was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1996. 30 literate adults, currently living in JABODETABEK, and aged between 20–65 years comprised the respondents of this study. The minimum stipulated duration of caregiving was set at 3 months. The results of the Pearson correlation analysis evinced the association between family functioning and quality of life in family members who served as caregivers for cervical cancer patients in the dimensions of role (α = 0,469, p < 0,05), affective responsiveness (α = 0,406, p < 0,05), and behavior control (α = 0,385, p < 0,05). The findings also reveal that family members who are caregivers for cervical cancer patients may be classified as experiencing good or very good quality of life.
Mechanisms linking bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection with infertility in cattle

Abstract Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important infectious disease agent that causes significant reproductive and economic losses in the cattle industry worldwide. Although BVDV infection is known to cause poor fertility in cattle, a greater part of the underlying mechanisms particularly associated with early reproductive losses are not clearly understood. Previous studies reported viral compromise of reproductive function in infected bulls. In females, BVDV infection is thought to be capable of killing the oocyte, embryo or fetus directly, or to induce lesions that result in fetal abortion or malformation. BVDV infections may also induce immune dysfunction, and predispose cattle to other diseases that cause poor health and fertility. Other reports also suggested BVDV-induced disruption of the reproductive endocrine system, and a disruption of leukocyte and cytokine functions in the reproductive organs. More recent studies have provided evidence of viral-induced suppression of endometrial innate immunity that may predispose to uterine disease. Furthermore, there is new evidence that BVDV may potentially disrupt the maternal recognition of pregnancy or the immune protection of the conceptus. This review brings together the previous reports with the more recent findings, and attempts to explain some of the mechanisms linking this important virus to infertility in cattle.
Portmahomack on Tarbat Ness: Changing Ideologies in North-East Scotland, Sixth to Sixteenth Century AD

reproduced in this volume. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland would be grateful to hear of any errors or omissions. Carver, M, Garner-Lahire, J & Spall, C 2016 Portmahomack on Tarbat Ness: Changing Ideologies in North-East Scotland, Sixth to Sixteenth Century AD. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Available online via the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: https://doi.org/10.9750/9781908332165 Society of Antiquaries of Scotland