Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bioprocess Development Employing Design of Experiments for Antibiotic Production from Streptomyces parvulus Strain Sankarensis-A10

Optimization of antibiotic production medium and fermentation conditions of Streptomyces parvulus strain sankarensis-A10 was studied using classical and statistical methods. After selection of the basal production medium, the effect of sea water and incubation time on antibiotic production was investigated by classical method. In the first step of optimization, factors that significantly affect antibiotic production such as starch, K2HPO4, FeSO4.7H2O, KNO3 and pH were selected based on Plackett-Burman design. In the second step, three significant factors, starch, KNO3, pH, with a positive effect were optimized with a 33 factorial Box-Behnken design and analysed using response surface analysis. The optimal values for maximum antibiotic production were as follows, starch- 20 g/l, pH- 8.0 and KNO3- 3 g/l. Under optimal conditions, the antibacterial activity was found to be 620 U/ml and 616.66 U/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, which indicated that the activity was 1.4 folds higher in contrast to antibacterial activity prior to optimization. TLC-based partial purification of crude extract and bioassay of the fractions revealed the presence of four active compounds with Rf values of 0.275, 0.2, 0.125 and 0.062. These could probably be novel bioactive compound(s) in the crude extract, which could prove to be a novel source of antibiotics.
Influence of Organizational Factors on Education Management Information Systems Outcomes in Counties of Nyanza Region, Kenya

Information systems are created to enable organisations utilise technologies to gather and use information for effective management. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is committed to the implementation of Education Management Information System (EMIS) to provide data to improve planning, policy formulation and decision-making. MOE provides IT infra structure, trains personnel to manage data collection and it provides funds annually to the District Education Officers (DEO) to facilitate EMIS activities since 2004. Despite these efforts, EMIS technical team survey reveals that data capture completion rate has been low at the districts education offices thereby delaying the nationwide data processing; while the counties of Nyanza had the lowest data entry completion rate. Therefore this study determined the influence of organizational factors on EMIS outcomes in the counties of Nyanza Region. The study employed both correlation and descriptive survey designs. The population consisted of 36 District EMIS coordinators, 72 Data Capture Personnel, 36 DEOs and the Regional EMIS Coordinator. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 29 District EMIS coordinators, 68 Data Capture Personnel, 29 DEOs and 1 Provincial EMIS Coordinator. The data were collected using questionnaires and Interview schedules. The regression results showed that organizational factors contributed 18.3% towards EMIS outcomes. Management support (beta = 0.295) and resources allocation (beta = 0.286) were the best organizational predictors of EMIS outcomes. The study recommended the transfer of data capture process from the DEOs to individual learning institutions to reduce the bulk of work of data capture and number of EMIS personnel at DEOs office.
ON R − W1 AS A DIAGNOSTIC TO DISCOVER OBSCURED ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN WIDE-AREA X-RAY SURVEYS

Capitalizing on the all-sky coverage of WISE and the 35% and 50% sky coverage from Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Pan-STARRS, respectively, we explore the efficacy of mR (optical) – m 3.4 &mgr; m ? > (mid-infrared), hereafter R − W 1 ? > , as a color diagnostic to identify obscured supermassive black hole accretion in wide-area X-ray surveys. We use the ∼16.5 deg2 Stripe 82 X-ray survey data as a test bed to compare R − W 1 ? > with R − K, an oft-used obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) selection criterion, and examine where different classes of objects lie in this parameter space. Most stars follow a well-defined path in R − K versus R − W 1 ? > space. We demonstrate that optically normal galaxies hosting X-ray AGNs at redshifts 0.5 < z < 1 ? > can be recovered with an R − W 1 > 4 ? > color cut, while they typically are not selected as AGNs based on their W 1 − W 2 ? > colors. Additionally, different observed X-ray luminosity bins favor different regions in R − W 1 ? > parameter space: moderate-luminosity AGNs (1043 erg s − 1 < L 0.5 − 10 keV < 10 44 ? > erg s−1) tend to have red colors, while the highest-luminosity AGNs ( L 0.5 − 10 keV > 10 45 ? > erg s−1) have bluer colors; higher spectroscopic completeness of the Stripe 82X sample is needed to determine whether this is a selection effect or an intrinsic property. Finally, we parameterize X-ray obscuration of Stripe 82X AGNs by calculating their hardness ratios (HRs) and find no clear trends between HR and optical reddening. Our results will help inform best-effort practices in following up obscured AGN candidates in current and future wide-area, shallow X-ray surveys, including the all-sky eROSITA mission.
The Mitigation Effects of Exogenous Hydrogen Peroxide when Alleviating Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Inhibition on Salinity-Induced Stress in Barley

Our study focused on the mitigation role of exogenously applied hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in eliminating toxicty caused by salt (NaCl). Barley seeds were pretreated with 30 μM (micromolal) H2O2 for 24 hours and then exposed to increasing salt concentrations (0.0, 0.25, 0.275, 0.30 M). Morphogical and physiological changes in seed germination and seedling growth stages were compared between different treatments of salt in laboratory conditions. Adverse effects of salt during both germination and seedling growth stages were dependent on the concentration of the salt treatment. We found that the application of H2O2 effectively alleviated the salt-induced inhibition, and reduced the negative effects of salt on germination (germination index and vigor index), seedling growth stages (radicle and coleoptile lengths, fresh weight), and leaf parameters (stomata and epidermis counts, stomatal index, stomata sizes of adaxial and abaxial surfaces). The differences were statistically signifi cant. Alleviating the effects of H2O2 increased in parallel with salt concentration (p≤0.05). However, under non-stress conditions (control), H2O2 didn’t have any effect on the investigated parameters (p≥0.05). Our results suggest that exogenous H2O2 application is involved in the resistance of barley to salt stress.
Research needs for improving weed management in rice

Weeds are the most important biological constraints to increasing rice productivity in Asia. They are managed by using herbicides; however, reliance on herbicides alone is not sustainable in the long run. There is thus, a need to develop sustainable weed management strategies in different rice-based cropping systems. The development and adoption of improved weed management strategies must form an integral part of sustainable rice production. Improved weed management techniques in rice should focus on shifting the crop-weed balance in favour of rice by integrating possible cultural, physical, and biological weed management tools with judicious use of herbicides. Together, these approaches may be used as components of an integrated package in the future to slow down the evolution of new weed problems in rice production. The improved weed management approaches should aim to reduce the weed seed bank before crop sowing and reduce weed emergence and weed growth in rice.
Anger and Sadness Rumination and Their Impact on Momentary Changes in Impulsivity and Pain Tolerance: Implications for the Development of Suicide Risk

ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . iv DEDICATION . v TABLE OF CONTENTS . vi LIST OF TABLES . ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION . 1 Behavioral Factors and the Capability for Lethal Self-Injury . 3 Cognitive and Emotional Factors and the Capability for Lethal Self-Injury . 5 Present Study . 6 CHAPTER II METHODS . 10 Participants . 10 Measures and Manipulations . 11 Online self-report questionnaire battery . 11 Trait tendencies towards anger rumination. 11 Trait tendencies towards rumination on sadness. 12 Trait tendencies towards impulsivity. 12 Laboratory Suicide Risk Assessment. 12 vii Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. 12 Laboratory Measures . 13 Subjective emotional state. 13 Baseline and state impulsivity. 13 Baseline and state pain tolerance. 14 Experimental Manipulations. 15 Emotion induction. 15 Rumination induction. 16 Procedures . 16 Laboratory Procedures . 16 Data Analytic Procedures . 18 Subjective emotional state and manipulation check. 18 Primary Analyses. 18 CHAPTER III RESULTS . 20 Examination of Distributions . 20 Selection of Covariates . 20 Subjective Emotional State and Manipulation Check . 21 Positive Affect . 21 Negative Affect . 22 Anger. 23 viii Sadness . 24 Primary Analyses . 25 Impulsivity . 25 Immediate Memory Task . 25 Delayed Memory Task . 28 Pain Tolerance . 29 CHAPTER IV DISCUSSION . 32 APPENDIX A – IRB Approval Letter . 37 REFERENCES . 38
Demographic factors and marital satisfaction among Iranian married students in Malaysia

Marriage is a special relationship between two people which its quality plays an important role in one’s life. Marital satisfaction is a personal feeling about and strongly related to health and happiness of marriage. This study aims to examine the relationships between demographic factors and marital satisfaction. Subjects for this study were 387 Iranian married students. The instrument used was ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale to measure marital satisfaction. Results indicated that age, length of marriage, arranged marriage and educational level have significant relationship with marital satisfaction, however, length of stay in Malaysia, income and gender do not have any significant relationship with marital satisfaction. This study recommends that marriage counseling, with an emphasis on promoting awareness in marital happiness and satisfaction, would be helpful in addressing marital conflicts among international married students.
The Role of Prior Beliefs in Decisions from Experience

textabstractThis paper points to the importance of prior beliefs in understanding the gap between decisions from experience and decisions from description. It puts forward a two-stage account that effectively incorporates prior beliefs into the examination of decisions from experience. The two-stage account assumes that (1) the subjective probabilities are estimated in a Bayesian manner, combining prior beliefs with observations, and (2) the estimated probabilities are transformed by probability weighting. The first stage provides a Bayesian explanation for the commonly found overestimation of infrequent outcomes, and an empirically appealing way to deal with always – or never – observed outcomes. A source dependent probability weighting in the second stage captures deviations from Bayesian rationality under experienced uncertainty. The two-stage model is tested by reanalyzing the data sets in Glockner et al. (2016), as well as the famous Technion Prediction Competition data set of Erev et al. (2010). Model comparisons using BIC scores indicate that the two-stage model performs better than the single stage model approximating subjective probabilities with observed relative frequencies. The estimation results show that the two-stage model can accommodate both the classic and the reversed description – experience gap.
Functional outcomes of stroke patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa

Individuals with stroke often experience functional limitationssuch as the inability to walk independently. There are several factors that areassociated with functional outcome post stroke. The aim of the study was thereforeto determine functional outcomes and factors influencing functional outcomes ofstroke patients admitted to a South African tertiary hospital. A longitudinal designwas used to obtain the data. A convenient sampling method was used to recruit100 participants. Data was collected on admission, discharge and two months poststroke, using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Barthel Index and asocio-demographic and medical profile data sheet. The data was analyzed usingSPSS version 18 and SAS version 9. Tobit analysis was used to determine the factors influencing functional outcomes at dischargeand two months post stroke. The necessary ethical clearance was obtained prior to commencement of the study. Stair climbing,mobility and transfers were the functional activities that the majority of the participants could not perform independently. Age andseverity of stroke significantly influenced the functional outcomes at discharge and two months post stroke. Factors such as ageand stroke severity should therefore be considered when planning rehabilitation interventions for stroke patients in this setting.
5-Aminofuro[3,2-c]pyridinium Tosylates and Substituted Furo[3,2-c]pyridine N-Oxides: Synthesis and Reactions

5-Aminofuro[3,2-c]pyridinium tosylates 2a-2c were synthesized by direct N-amination of furo[3,2-c]pyridines 1a-1c with O-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)hydroxylamine in dichloromethane. Zwitterionic furo[3,2-c]pyridinium N-imides 3a-3c generated from 2a-2c and anhydrous potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylformamide afforded by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with dimethyl butynedioate or ethyl propiolate the corresponding furo[3,2-c]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridinecarboxylic esters 4a-4c and 5a-5c. Furo[3,2-c]pyridine N-oxides 6a-6c and their benzo derivative 6d were synthesized by reaction of 1 with 3-chloroperbenzoic acid in dichloromethane. Treatment of N-oxides 6 with benzoyl chloride and cyanide anion (Reissert-Henze reaction) was shown to produce the corresponding furo[3,2-c]pyridine-4-carbonitriles 7. In further transformations (acid and alkaline hydrolysis), the cyano group was converted successively to amide and carboxylic acid.
Molecular markers to study the variability within the Eragrostis curvula complex.

Fil: Zappacosta, Diego Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Bahia Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; Argentina
Does Social Comparison Orientation Moderate the Organisational Justice, In-role Performance, Citizenship and Counterproductive Behaviours Relationship?

This paper aims at (1) investigating the relationship between Organisational Justice and three dimensions of employees’ performance namely; In-role performance, Citizenship Work Behaviours and Counterproductive Work Behaviours within the Egyptian Context, (2) investigating the moderating effect of Social Comparison Orientation on the Organisational Justice-Performance relationship with regard to the three dimensions of performance. The theoretical foundations of the proposed relationships were discussed. Using a structured questionnaire to assess research variables, a quota sampling procedure was used to recruit a sample (N= 298) from managers working in public and private organisations in the greater Cairo Area. The three parts questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability. The proposed relations were tested using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis with the interaction effect between the standardized scores (Z). Results supported the significant relationship between Organisational Justice and In-role performance, Citizenship Work Behaviours and Counterproductive Work Behaviours. Results also supported the moderation role of Social Comparison Orientation. Theoretical and practical implications and future research were addressed.
Subject-verb agreement processes in comprehension

Studies of elicited sentence production show that the occasional subject–verb agreement errors that speakers make are more likely to occur when a singular head noun is followed by a plural, as inThe producer of the adventure movies have arrived,than when a plural head is followed by a singular (e.g., Bock & Miller, 1991). The significance of this asymmetric pattern of errors depends on whether interference from plurals arises only during the production of sentences, or whether it also occurs in sentence comprehension tasks. Five reading experiments revealed the following: (1) patterns of reading times mirror the production error asymmetry; (2) a phrase which isconceptually pluralbut grammatically singular (e.g.,The label on the bottles) produces no more reading difficulty than one which is conceptually and grammatically singular, a result which mimics Bock and Miller's 1991 production results; (3) interference from an intervening plural depends on a close syntactic link to the head noun phrase (e.g.,The ownerof the house whocharmed the realtors). These results suggest that although the computation of agreement may be accomplished differently in the two systems, interference may arise whenever a structure containing a singular head and intervening plural is computed, whether during production or comprehension.
Award-Winning Architecture and Urban Revitalization: The Case of “Olympic Arenas” in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg

This paper investigates socioeconomic impacts of three multifunctional sports arenas situated in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, Germany. The three arenas are chosen with respect to their potential to contribute to a process of revitalization of their economically deprived neighbourhood. Impact is assessed by conducting hedonic analyses of standard land values under consideration of spatial spill-over effects. To confirm results and to provide a more comprehensive interpretation we employ a differences-in-differences approach to check for structural breaks in development of rents and selected socioeconomic variables within determined areas of potential impact. Our results suggest that arenas emanate positive externalities and apparently have accelerated the process of gentrification going on in Prenzlauer Berg. However, evidence also supports neighbourhood activists´ concerns that congestion problems may adversely affect property values, at least when not addressed appropriately during the period of planning.
Dynamic capabilities in strategic choice processes within organisations

Summary Dynamic capabilities are an essential theoretical construct that is useful for understanding the phenomenon of competition. Still, in spite of the apparent popularity of this subject, the existing management literature could do with more studies into processes that shape dynamic capabilities. The purpose of this article is to systematise different approaches to the dynamic capabilities concept as they are found in the existing literature, with a particular focus on its relevance to modern-day organisations as a tool to increase their competitiveness. The other goal is to discuss two issues that are critical to the dynamic capabilities concept. Firstly, what are the conditions for the predominant role of dynamic capabilities in the area of strategic management? Secondly, can the dynamic capabilities concept be treated as an underlying theoretical and methodological framework for strategic choices in modern-day organisations?
Students’ Housing in Private Universities in Nigeria: Influencing Factors and Effect on Academic Performance

Student housing plays an essential role in the attainment of quality education. However, there has been significant evidence as regards the inadequacy of this essential facility among public universities in Nigeria. It was further observed that there is a paucity of information as regards this situation within the private institutions in the country. Based on this background this research was conducted to assess the students’ housing in private institutions, by determining the factors influencing students’ choice of residence and its effect on their academic performance. The study adopted a survey approach, with 216 students sampled through a structured questionnaire. Data gathered were analyzed using frequency, mean item score, and Mann-Whitney U-Test. Results revealed that although gender has no relationship with students’ choice of residence, age and academic level does. The major factors influencing students’ choice of residence are: accommodation fee, quality of the environment, need for privacy, influence of friends/desire to be close to friends, and number of students within the building. The study also revealed that students’ on-campus rarely miss classes due to distance of their residence from their lecture halls, unlike their mates staying off-campus. However, they tend to miss classes as a result of inadequacy of needed facilities; a situation that is uncommon among those staying off-campus. As regards students Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) as a measure of their performance, the residence of students does not have any statistical relationship with their academic grades.
Macro and Socioeconomic Determinants of Turkish Private Savings

This study investigates the effects on private saving rates of a number of macroeconomic and socio economic variables, by estimating an empirical private savings model for Turkey over the period 1975-2008. The following variables are found to increase savings: inflation, income level, terms of trade, real interest rates, credits, young dependency ratio, urbanization rate, economic crisis and political instability and the following variables are found to decrease it: financial depth, income growth, current account deficit, old dependency ratio and life expectations. Last but not least, we find that the private savings have strong inertia, and government savings tends to partially crowd out them. On the other hand, we also find that the female labor participation rate, the rate of self-employed employment and the rate of employment having university education decrease savings in Turkey after 1988.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE AND FIRM PERFORMANCE OF EGYPTIAN LISTED COMPANIES

The study investigates the relationship of corporate governance mechanisms, ownership structure and the Egyptian firm performance. This study utilizes a sample of 50 firms using the accounting and market data available for the period 2004-2006. The sample firms are all listed in either the Cairo or Alexandria Stock. The cross-sectional regression analysis is employed to test the hypotheses of the study. The results indicate a positive significant relationship between firm performance and the percentage of outside directors in boards and the existence of institutional representatives in boards. Furthermore, a significant negative relationship exists between firm performance and board size, role duality and the existence of firm’s website. The results also reveal a significant, positive relationship between firm performance measures and the percentage of women members in boards of directors in Egyptian firms. Our results support previous literature and show consistency with the agency theory.
Communication and Group Perception: Extending the `Saying is Believing' Effect

The saying-is-believing (SIB) effect occurs when tailoring a message to suit an audience influences a communicator's subsequent memories and impressions about the communication topic. Previous studies were restricted to one-person audiences and individuals as the communication topic. The present studies explored the SIB effect with multiple-person audiences and groups as the communication topic. In Study 1, the SIB effect occurred with a 1-person, but not a 3-person, audience. In Study 2, the SIB effect occurred with a 3-person audience when the audience explicitly validated communicators' messages. These findings demonstrate the generalizability of the SIB effect to group contexts, provide further evidence for a shared reality interpretation of this effect, and suggest a potentially important mechanism underlying stereotype development.