Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New records of Atractus ronnie (Serpentes, Colubridae) in relictual forests from the state of Ceará, Brazil, and comments on meristic and morphometric data

Atractus ronnie was recently described from Serra de Baturite, a mountainous relictual forest enclave in the semiarid Caatinga, state of Ceara, northeastern Brazil. Here we report new records of A. ronnie in two other areas of relictual forests and provide additional data on pholidosic variation. The results presented herein reinforce the need for systematic inventory surveys in the relictual forests of Ceara, since the herpetofauna remains poorly known.
Get Shorty? - Market Impact of the 2008-09 U.K. Short Selling Ban

In September 2008, during one of the most intense periods of the financial crisis, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) decided to ban short-selling in financial stocks during four months in the U.K. market. The aim of the ban was to guard against instability and calm the market. This paper examines the effect of the ban on the banned stocks in terms of returns and market quality measured by abnormal returns, volatility, bid-ask spreads and volumes using intraday data. Event study methods and panel regressions are used to isolate the effects of the ban as specifically as possible. We do not find evidence of any effects of the ban on abnormal returns and volatilities, largely due to the extreme levels of noise during the financial crisis. However, we do find strong evidence that the bid-ask spreads in the affected stocks widened during the ban and that the trading activity in the banned stocks decreased.
Does a structured exercise intervention of at least ten weeksimprove the distance walked in a 6 minute walking test(6MWT) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertensioncurrently on optimized medical control compared to patientswho do not exercise

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does a structured exercise intervention of at least ten weeks improve the distance walked in a 6 minute walking test (6MWT) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension currently on optimized medical control compared to patients who do not exercise? ” STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of two randomized controlled trials and a prospective case study published between 2006-2013, all English language. DATA SOURCES: Two randomized controlled studies and a prospective uncontrolled trial which studied the effects of a structured exercise program of at least 10 weeks duration were obtained using PubMed. OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome of each study was the distance (measured in meters) that each patient was able to walk during the 6 minute walking test as compared to their baseline at the beginning of the study. The average of these participants were then used to compare the control group versus the intervention group RESULTS: Two randomized controlled trials and a uncontrolled prospective study were used in this review. Mereles et al showed a difference between the control and exercise group to be a mean of 111 m (95% CI, 65 to 139; P<0.001) after 15 weeks. Chat et al found that there was a statistically significant mean increase of 45m with a 95% CI of 980m (p=0.003) in the exercise intervention group, and determined the number needed to treat was 3 using dichotomous data. Grunig et al showed a significant mean increase from baseline to 3-week testing (64 +/47m, p<0.001) and again from baseline to 15week (71 +/35m, p<0.003), with no control group studied. CONCLUSIONS: All three studies demonstrated statistically significant improvement in the distance walked in the six minute walking test after a structured exercise intervention as compared to baseline testing, as well as compared to a control group. A structured exercise intervention in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension should be considered as a useful addition to medical therapy. KEY WORDS: pulmonary hypertension, exercise therapy, rehabilitation Gdovin, Exercise Intervention in PAH 1
Intellectual Capital and Corporate Financial Performance of Selected Listed Companies in Indonesia

The main focus of this research is to investigate the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and corporate financial performance of selected listed companies in Indonesia. Unlike financial and physical assets, intangible assets are difficult to emulate, which makes them a powerful source of competitive advantage. The study uses data from consumer goods firms listed on the Jakarta Stock Exchange. Pulic’s Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC) model is utilised as the efficiency measure of capital employed, both human and structural capital. The regression model explores the relationship between intellectual capital and its contribution to the financial performance of firms in both current and future years. The results reveal that intellectual capital does contribute to the financial performance, with the exception of revenue growth of consumer goods firms in Indonesia. Furthermore, findings suggest that future performance is also affected by the level of intellectual capital. Finally, evidence shows that capital of physical, financial and structural nature is the most significant underlying driver of corporate performance. Although insignificant, human capital has a positive and consistent role in revenue growth. This paper contributes to the understanding that in creating corporate value, Indonesian investors placed less weight on the potential of intellectual capital.
Adjusting and Resetting of the Pre-determined Storage Temperature for O/W Emulsions

Adjusting and resetting the predetermined storage temperature of O/W miconazole cream from 20-24° to be 30° to coincide with the storage temperature of the Egyptian climatic ICH/WHO zone IVA was the objective of this work. Eight sets of miconazole cream were prepared by using different proportions of the oil phase ingredients while their ratios were fixed at 30 %. The calculated HLB values of the oil phases were 9.067, 9.134, 9.2, 9.267, 9.36, 9.46, 9.566 and 9.6. These eight sets have same optimum surfactants blend proportions equal to 0.5:0.5 and same effective surfactant blend concentration equal to 7 %. Sets which have storage temperature equal to 30±2° were assessed according to the acceptance criteria of the accelerating stability testing protocol for O/W emulsions stabilized by nonionic surfactants (aqueous surfactant two-phase systems) as previously reported. Only two sets, numbered 2 and 4 with storage temperature of 30.5 and 32°, respectively met the acceptance criteria of aqueous surfactant two-phase system. The applicability and validity of the method was confirmed by measuring zeta potential and particle size distribution of original miconazole cream set, set numbers 2 and 4. Zeta potential and particle size distribution of the three sets were measured on a Zetasizer with zeta potential results equal to -20, -30.7, -41.7 mV and particle size distribution results equal to 560.8, 387.6, 386.5 nm, respectively. Particle size distribution was also measured using a transmission electron microscope with results equal to 84.875, 49.168 and 46.05 nm, respectively. These results indicated that zeta potential defined the emulsion stability accurately and precisely whereas particle size distribution measurement gave unreliable and indefinite results. Zeta potential results revealed that the increase in the storage temperature of emulsion to 30° is accompanied by an increase in its stability. Increasing temperature beyond 30 is possible and would result in subsequent increase in stability due to the presence of liquid crystalline phase below 35°, which contributes significantly to emulsion stability while the destructive effect of the temperature starts at 35°. Unreliable and indefinite results of particle size measurement proved that the droplet diameter and droplet size measurement reported in many reports is more convenient. This work described a theory to determine the storage temperature of materials, pharmaceuticals, foods and cosmetics obeying non-Newtonian plastic flow.
Determinants of Physical Activity among Patients with Cardiovascular Metabolic Risk Factors based on the Educational Factors of PRECEDE Model: A Mixed Method Study

Background and objective: Physical activity (PA) is a multi-factorial behavior that is affected by intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental and social fac - tors. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of PA among pa - tients with cardiovascular (CV) metabolic risk factors based on the educational factors of PRECEDE Model. Materials and methods: This mix method study (qualitative and quantitative) was conducted in two consecutive phases. In the qualitative phase, the experi - ences of 50 patients with CV metabolic risk factors and 12 healthcare providers who worked in the Diabetes Units of Health Centers of Alborz University of Medical Sciences (ABZUMS) were explained based on the educational factors of PRECEDE Model. In the quantitative phase, the questionnaire of determinants of PA was developed and its validity and reliability were evaluated and con- firmed and it was completed by 450 patients and the strongest determinants of PA using the Structural equation modeling (SEM) through AMOS 18 were identified. Results: Using path analysis the findings showed, self-efficacy (β= 0.90) and perceived barriers (β= -0.63) determinants of predisposing category, skill (β= 0.38) determinant of enabling category, motivation comply (β= 0.47), social support (β= 0.23) and behavioral outcomes (β= 0.17) determinants of reinforc- ing category were higher predictive power and they were significant. Conclusion: The determinants mentioned should be targeted in designing an intervention program for promoting PA. Identifying the determinants of PA helps health planners to select the most appropriate methods and applications to address these determinants in order to increase the PA behavior. Paper Type: Research Article.
Optimizing cellulase production of Penicillium waksmanii F10-2 with response surface methodology

Cellulase is an enzyme complex which breaks down cellulose to s-glucose. It has been used widely in commercial food processing, textile industry and laundry detergents. In this article, medium composition and fermentation conditions for Penicillium waksmanii F10-2, an isolated cellulase production strain, are studied. Wheat straw and peptone are found to be the most promising and effective carbon and nitrogen sources for cellulase production by P. waksmanii F10-2. Response surface methodology (RSM) is employed to optimize the medium constituents (wheat straw, peptone and minerals) and fermentation conditions (pH, rev and temperature) for cellulase production. The predicted maximal cellulase activity is about 5.64 U/mL, which is achieved at the following condition: pH: 6.4, rev: 136.2 r/min, temperature: 26.5°C, fermentation condition: wheat straw 20.3 g/L, peptone 11.3 g/L, KH 2 PO 4 2.7 g/L, NaCl 3.3 g/L, MgSO 4 . 7H 2 O 0.2 g/L. Under the proposed optimized conditions, the model predicted a cellulase activity of 5.64 U/mL, which is very closely matching the experimental activity of 5.9 U/mL.
Perceptions Of Professional Accountants On The Costs And Benefits Of Implementing Ias/Ifrs In Romania

This study aims to investigate the perceptions of professional accountants on the costs, benefits and implications of applying IFRS in Romania. The main results show that the benefits of implementing IFRS is ensuring greater transparency and comparability of financial information. In terms of costs, most respondents felt that the main costs is related to staff training, this being one of the factors that have caused difficulties in implementing IFRS. Regarding the quality of financial information after the adoption of standards, we conclude that it will improve considerably.
Investigating the Catalytic Growth of Carbon Nanotubes with In Situ Raman Monitoring

Abstract : The objectives of this project were to identify the processes responsible for growth termination, creation and healing of defects, and chiral selectivity of single-walled carbon nanotubes, in order to develop strategies to increase nanotube length, improve the structural quality of samples, and improve the metallic semiconducting ratio of samples. Using in situ Raman measurements and scanning electron microscopy, we showed that reaction of the catalyst with support to form more refractor compounts can increase growth selectivity, showed that catalyst ripening, nanotube nucleation, and catalyst encapsulation can affect diameter and chirality, and showed that exposure to oxygen may be causing defects in growth.
Bleached kraft pulp production from Pinus tecunumanii (Eguiluz e Perry)

The use of 12-year-old Pinus tecunumanii (Eguiluz e Perry) grown in Colombia was evaluated for bleached kraft pulp production. Kraft pulps of kappa number 30 ± 1 were produced, and oxygen delignified and bleached to 90% ISO with ECF processes. The bleached pulps produced under optimum conditions were evaluated with regard to their strength properties. Pinus tecunumanii wood required low effective alkali charge to reach the desired kappa number and the unbleached pulp showed high oxygen delignification efficiency and bleachability when a OD(EO)DED sequence was used. The bleached pulps presented good physical-mechanical properties, which are comparable to those obtained with more traditional pines such as Pinus taeda and Pinus radiata. The results demonstrate that this tropical pine species is a suitable raw material for bleached kraft pulp production
On the Fluid Structure Interactions of a Wire-Wrapped Pin Bundle

Abstract Presently there exist no experimental methods readily available to characterize the comprehensive motion of wire-wrapped pins for the purpose of measuring fluid structure interactions. Specifically, the dearth of capabilities lies in the need to capture pin-to-pin interactions within the bundle that do not have visual access. This study leverages recent previous efforts that have demonstrated the successful use of a distributed strain sensor to characterize the motion of a single wire-wrapped pin under fluid flow and expands through the use of multiple instrumented pins to characterize the simultaneous motion of pin-to-pin interaction. The outcome of this study demonstrates the direct measurement of pin-to-pin contact, rubbing, and interaction over a range of relevant flow rates on a 19-pin wire-wrapped bundle.
Localization of Mycobacterial Antigens by Immunofluorescence Staining of Agarose Embedded Cells

Here we report the adaptation of an immunofluorescence staining method for mycobacterial antigens. Our approach is based on agarose embedding followed by thin sectioning of the bacterial samples. We demonstrate that this technique has great potential for protein localization studies, without the use of fluorescence tagged fusion proteins, which is of special interest for slow growing mycobacterial species.
Thermal properties of guna seed

Thespecific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of whole and ground guna seed and kernel were evaluated and their change with moisture content and temperature investigated. The specific heat of whole and ground seed increased from 1391.1 to 3020.13 and from 1459.14 to 3058.15 J kg -1 K -1 , respectively, as the moisture content and temperature increased from 4.7 to 25.35% (d.b.) and 307.12 to 368 K. The specific heat of whole and ground kernel also increased from 2135.15 to 4275.56 and from 2173.4 to 4340.06 J kg -1 K -1 , respectively, as the moisture content and temperature increased from 5.6 to 19.13% (d.b.) and 308 to 368 K. The thermal conductivity of whole seed and kernel increased from 0.0711 to 0.1282 and 0.087 to 0.126 W m -1 K -1 , respectively, as the moisture content and temperature increased. Thermal conductivity of ground seed and kernel increased also from 0.1 25 to 0.223 and 0.107 to 0.191 W m -1 K -1 , respectively, as the moisture content and temperature increased. The thermal diffusivity of whole seed and kernel decreased from 8.5 10 -8 to 9.311 10 -8 and 3.42 10 -8 to 4.397 10 -8 m 2 s -1 , respectively, as the moisture content and temperature increased. The thermal diffu- sivity of ground seed and kernel decreased from 3 10 -7 to 8.468 10 -8 and 1.768 10 -7 to 4.214 10 -8 m 2 s -1 , respectively, as the moisture
Causes of stillbirth according to different gestational ages

Stillbirth is a relatively understudied major health issue and has not been accounted for globally as a part of major maternal and child health strategies. A substantial proportion of fetal deaths are still classified as unexplained intrauterine fetal demise. In general, the study of specific causes of stillbirth has been affected by scarcity of uniform protocols for assessment and classification of stillbirths and falling autopsy rates.
The Role of Type I Interferon in Regulating Macrophage Responses to Salmonella Typhimurium Infection

Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a Gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacterium that exploits the host’s type I interferon (IFN-I) response to induce cell death in macrophages. We have previously demonstrated that activation of the IFN-I receptor (Ifnar1) results in recruitment of RIP1 and subsequent formation of a RIP1/RIP3 complex, leading to a specific form of programmed cell death, termed necroptosis, in S. Typhimurium-infected macrophages (Robinson et al. 2012). Despite our detailed knowledge on IFN-I/RIP1/RIP3-dependent necroptosis execution, the IFN-I-mediated pathways that determine whether infected macrophages will undergo necroptosis remain elusive. This work therefore sought to identify the IFN-I-mediated events that sensitize S. Typhimurium-infected macrophages to cell death. Here, we demonstrate that S. Typhimurium infection causes mitochondrial damage and impairs the host´s anti-oxidative stress response through upregulation of the mitochondrial phosphatase Pgam5 downstream of IFN-I/RIP3. Pgam5 subsequently interacts with the transcription factor Nrf2, which sequesters Nrf2 in the cytosol thereby repressing the transcription of Nrf2-dependent anti-oxidative genes. The impaired ability to respond to S. Typhimurium-induced oxidative stress results in ROS-mediated mitochondrial damage, ATP depletion, transient induction of autophagy, and autophagy-mediated degradation of p62, which impairs p62-Keap1 interaction. Consequently, Keap1 interacts more with Nrf2, which further represses Nrf2 function and additionally impairs anti-oxidative stress responses to S. Typhimurium infection thereby sensitizing macrophages to cell death. Taken together, we identify impaired Nrf2-dependent redox homeostasis of S. Typhimurium-infected macrophages as an important mechanism that drives cell death downstream of IFN-I/RIP3.
Dwarf nova outbursts in intermediate polars

The disc instability model (DIM) has been very successful in explaining the dwarf nova outbursts observed in cataclysmic variables. When, as in intermediate polars (IP), the accreting white dwarf is magnetized, the disc is truncated at the magnetospheric radius, but for mass-transfer rates corresponding to the thermal-viscous instability such systems should still exhibit dwarf-nova outbursts. Yet, the majority of intermediate polars in which the magnetic field is not large enough to completely disrupt the accretion disc, seem to be stable, and the rare observed outbursts, in particular in systems with long orbital periods, are much shorter than normal dwarf-nova outbursts. We investigate the predictions of the disc instability model for intermediate polars in order to determine which of the observed properties of these systems can be explained by the DIM. We use our numerical code for the time evolution of accretion discs, modified to include the effects of the magnetic field, with constant or variable mass transfer from the secondary star. We show that intermediate polars have mass transfer low enough and magnetic fields large enough to keep the accretion disc stable on the cold equilibrium branch. We show that the infrequent and short outbursts observed in long period systems, such as e.g., TV Col, cannot be attributed to the thermal-viscous instability of the accretion disc, but instead have to be triggered by an enhanced mass-transfer from the secondary, or, more likely, by some instability coupling the white dwarf magnetic field with that generated by the magnetorotational instability operating in the accretion disc. Longer outbursts (a few days) could result from the disc instability.
The Introduction of a Secondary Reinforcer During Therapy Based on the ABA Model for Children with Autisme

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a technique used to teach children with autisme a variety of skills. In ABA, children with autisme often do not receive reinforcers because they have difficulty performing their targeted behaviors, which consequently leads to challenging behaviors. Objectives of this study are to increase spontaneous request and decrease challenging behavior among children with autisme by introducing a secondary reinforcer during therapy based on ABA model. Secondary reinforcer has lower reinforcing value than the primary reinforcer. When the children tried but were unable to produce their targeted behavior, they were given the secondary reinforcer. The children were divided into two groups, five children in the intervention group and four children in the control group, and they were taught specific target requesting behavior (TRB) to request for a preferred item. Three children in the intervention group recorded an increase in spontaneous request and a reduction in challenging behaviors. Only two children from the control group recorded an increase in spontaneous request and a decrease in challenging behaviors. However, only children from the intervention group were able to maintain their performance during the generalization sessions. The results suggest that children respond differently to specific prompts and interventions. Future studies should focus on how prompts affect children’s performance and also on reinforcer selection. Bigger scale studies are still needed to further determine the effectiveness of a secondary reinforcer in assisting the learning of requesting skill and in reducing challenging behaviors among children with autisme during therapy based on ABA model. DOI : http://dx.doi. org. /10.17576/JSKM-2016-1402-11
Estimating Multiplicative and Additive Hazard Functions by Kernel Methods

We propose new procedures for estimating the univariate quantities of interest in both additive and multiplicative nonparametric marker dependent hazard models. We work with a full counting process framework that allows for left truncation and right censoring. Our procedures are based on kernels and on the idea of marginal integration. We provide a central limit theorem for our estimator.
A calibration of Geneva photometry for B to G stars in terms of Teff, log g and $[M/H]$

We have used recent Kurucz models and numerous standard stars to improve the calibration of the Geneva photometric system proposed a few years ago. A new photometric diagram for the classification of intermediate stars () is proposed and fills a gap that the previous calibration had left open. Evidence is given for a clear inadequacy of the new Kurucz models in the region of the parameter space where convection begins to take over radiation in the star's atmosphere. This problem makes the determination of the surface gravity difficult, but leaves that of the other parameters apparently unaffected. The determination of metallicity is considerably improved, thanks to the homogeneous spectroscopic data published recently by Edvardsson et al. (1993). Instead of showing the traditional diagrams, we chose to publish the diagrams of the physical parameters with the inverted grids inside, i.e. the lines of constant photometric parameters