Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Maulana Says The Prophet is Human, Not God”. Milads and hierarchies among Bengali Muslims in Lisbon

This article is based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out among Bengali Muslims in Lisbon. It specifically examines a ceremony, called milad that is performed on certain occasions such as the opening of a shop or the inauguration of a house. What it is intended to argue is that milads are a good metaphor to understand current debates among the Bengalis about what Islam “should be” and what, as a Muslim, one should do. Based on this ethnographic exercise, it is argued that the modernization rhetoric on social change and transformations in religious practices and religiosity, that is currently prominent in migration and religion studies should be substituted by a phenomenology of Islam in the context of migration.
Corynebacterium species: an uncommon agent of peritoneal dialysis -related peritonitis and a challenging treatment Corynebacterium species: um agente de peritonite raro em diálise peritoneal e um desafio terapêutico

 ABSTRACT Introduction: Corynebacterium is a component of normal skin flora and it is responsible for an increas- ing incidence of nosocomial infections in the last decades. Peritonitis and exit -site infections caused by this microorganism are uncommon but have a significant clinical impact due to their high relapsing rate. The ideal therapeutic approach in these situations is not yet clearly defined. Methods: Retrospective analysis of Corynebacterium spp peritonitis in a peritoneal dialysis unit between 2006 and 2013 and characterization as to its frequency, treatment and clinical outcomes. Results: During the reporting period, nine patients (7.8%) had Corynebacterium peritonitis, accounting for a total of 18 episodes of infection caused by this microorganism. The majority of patients (55.6%) had more than one episode of Corynebacterium peritonitis, with a relapsing rate after the first episode of 22.2% and 33.3% repeat peritonitis cases. The relapsing rate was even higher after the second episode (33.3%). Five patients (55.6%) were treated with vancomycin and only one of them required antibiotic switch to linezolid because of hypersensitivity reaction; the same happened with one of four patients treated with cepha- losporins. Cure was achieved in all cases and treatment duration was on average 17.9 days per episode. There was no need for catheter removal or peritoneal dialysis dropout, and we did not record any death related to peritonitis. Conclusions: The Corynebacterium peritonitis rate in our unit was high. The infec- tion proved to be highly relapsing but with excellent response to antibiotics and without any adverse clinical outcome. Therefore, in relapsing and repeat peritonitis caused by this strain, one would recom- mend preservation of the dialysis catheter, and cure may be exclusively achieved with 14 to 21 days of antibiotic therapy with vancomycin or even cephalosporin.
Reaction of melon ( Cucumis melo L.) cultivars to soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi in Iran

The fungi Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi), Monosporascus cannonballus (Pollack and Uecker) and Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn) are responsible for significant destruction and melon crop losses in the Sistan region of Iran. In this study, eighteen melon cultivars were screened for resistance to these pathogens under greenhouse conditions twice. The melon cultivars were grown in pots and inoculated with each pathogen individually in three different experiments. None of the tested melon cultivars was immune to all the soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi. However, two cultivars, namely ‘Sfidak khatdar’ and ‘Sfidak bekhat’ were moderately resistant to all the three fungi. These melon cultivars are promising sources of resistance to M. phaseolina , M. cannonballus and R. solani , and should be the preferred choice for melon grown in infested areas. This study is the first report on screening of melon cultivars in Iran for resistance to M. phaseolina , M. cannonballus and R. solani and it reports the resistance of melon cultivars to three important soil-borne plant pathogens found worldwide. Key words: Melon, fungal resistance, Macrophomina phaseolina , Monosporascus cannonballus , Rhizoctonia solani .
MULTIVARIATE REGRESSION S-ESTIMATORS FOR ROBUST ESTIMATION AND INFERENCE

In this paper we consider S-estimators for multivariate regression. We study the robustness of the estimators in terms of their breakdown point and in- uence function. Our results extend results on S-estimators in the context of uni- variate regression and multivariate location and scatter. Furthermore we develop a fast and robust bootstrap method for the multivariate S-estimators to obtain in- ference for the regression parameters. Extensive simulation studies are performed to investigate nite-sample properties. The use of the S-estimators and the fast, robust bootstrap method is illustrated on some data.
Exploring Determinants to Explain Aspects of Individual Investors’ Financial Behaviour

This study uses exploratory factor analysis and structural modelling to determine individual determinants that are likely to influence financial trading behaviour. A questionnaire was collected form 179 individual investors who traded in the United Arab Emirates. The study has determined three likely independent variables; namely, investors’ perception of information asymmetry, market perceptions and overconfidence, that may predict investor’s risk attitude. The findings are congruent with existing literature in this field, and add knowledge to the relatively new field of financial behaviour. These findings may provide valuable guidance for researchers and practitioners in understanding what may influence the risk attitude of investors and to explain possible reasons for inefficiencies of markets. Additionally, the study demonstrates the relevance of using structural modelling for understanding relationships between factors influencing financial behaviours, and in developing a behavioural framework.
QUALITY SERVICE AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: A STUDY IN THE RETAIL PHARMACEUTICAL

Starting on a discussion based on the redemption of the conceptual aspects of satisfaction and expectations, the goal of such investigation is to verify if the services rendered by the distribution networks of the pharmaceutical sector attend to their clients’ expectations and satisfaction level. The deliberately non-probabilistic sample was composed by 91 executives involved directly in the commercial relations established between pharmacies and the pharmaceutical products distribution networks. The data collected by a survey was analyzed having as a base the calculation of arithmetical mean and the application of linear regression to the variables “Expectation”, “Perception” and “Satisfaction”, regarding the dimensions selected in the study. The results showed that there is a low level of satisfaction regarding the services rendered by the distribution networks of the analyzed sector.
Institutional herding premium in the Taiwan stock market

This study extends the research designs of Nofsinger and Sias (1999) and Wermers (1999) in constructing a more rigorous two-way research procedure to clarify which combination of factors – previous changes in institutional ownership with past earnings, book-to-market ratio effect, or size effect – is able to effectively interpret abnormal returns on stocks in the Taiwan stock market. This study also extends the works of Nofsinger and Sias (1999) and Jones and Winters (1999) in investigating the cross-sectional and time-series correlations between abnormal returns during holding periods and corresponding changes in institutional ownership in Taiwan. The two-way research procedure revealed that all of the above variables and changes in share ownership of the three major types of institutional investors have remarkable influences on abnormal returns over various holding periods. In addition, the abnormal returns driven by any of the three variables proposed previously may be positively related to the level of herding. Furthermore, the empirical results show that, in the Taiwan stock market, investors may regard “changes in shareholding by three major institutional investors during the holding period” as a signal of “short-term following and reverse adjustment. ”
Does a country’s external debt level affect its Islamic banking sector development? Evidence from Malaysia based on Quantile regression and Markov regime-switching

The development of Islamic banking has attracted global attention, particularly since the sub-prime crisis (2007–2008). Despite the establishment of institutions and regulatory framework in countries that are at the forefront of promoting Islamic banking, some stakeholders seem to suggest that Islamic banking development is in stagnation. This may be due to the fact that such initiatives have often ignored the macroeconomic environment in which Islamic banks operate. One such environment, is the external debt level of a country in which Islamic banks operate. This paper makes an initial attempt to investigate firstly, the impact of external debt on Islamic banking development, and secondly, to find out whether the relationship between external debt and Islamic banking development is linear or non-linear. Analysing ten years’ monthly data using VECM, Quantile Regression and Markov regime-switching techniques, the findings tend to suggest that, (a) there is a positive relationship between the external debt levels and Islamic banking development and, (b) However, the relationship seems to be non-linear. Under stable economic conditions, external debt has a higher impact on Islamic banking development compared to those of economic downturns, crises, and increased financial uncertainties.
Underpricing, Ownership and Liquidity of Initial Public Offers (IPO) and Their Impact on Performance of IPO Stocks in Equity Markets of India

Paper studies the impact of the liquidity, underpricing and ownership up on both the short term and long term performance of the Initial Public Offer (IPO) stocks in the equity markets of India. Empirical analysis is undertaken to study the impact of liquidity, underpricing and ownership on Performance of IPO stocks. Multiple regression analysis is undertaken for analyzing the impact. It is found that the short term and long term performance of underpriced IPO stocks is highly dependent on the amount of underpricing at IPO time, Whereas the overpriced IPO stocks depends on the long term liquidity characteristics for the long term performance. However the market adjusted returns are influenced by the liquidity in the long term and non-significantly by the underpricing. Holistic model built in the study explains 80 percent variance of first week returns, 30 percent variance of first year returns and 20 percent variance in the 3 years returns. Inclusion of Ownership structure and liquidity variables in the model provides better explain ability of the IPO stocks performance in the long term.
Using VO tools to investigate distant radio starbursts hosting obscured AGN in the HDF(N) region

Context. A 10-arcmin region around the Hubble Deep Field (North) contains 92 radio sources brighter than 40 µJy which are wellresolved by MERLIN+VLA at 0. 2−2 �� resolution (average size ∼1 �� ). 55 of these have Chandra X-ray counterparts in the 2-Ms CDF(N) field including at least 17 with a hard X-ray photon index and high luminosity characteristic of a type-II (obscured) AGN. More than 70% of the radio sources have been classified as starbursts or AGN using radio morphologies, spectral indices and comparisons with optical appearance and rest-frame MIR emission. On this basis, starbursts outnumber radio AGN 3:1. Aims. We investigate the possibility that very luminous radio and X-ray emission originates from different phenomena in the same high-redshift galaxies. Methods. This study extends the Virtual Observatory (VO) methods previously used to identify X-ray-selected obscured type-II AGN, to examine the relationship between radio and X-ray emission. We describe a VO cut-out server for MERLIN+VLA 1.4-GHz radio images in the HDF(N) region.
Trust-Based Leadership in the Making: Implementing a Trust Reform through distributed leadership

I spite of the popularity of trust-based leadership in consultancy and popular management writings empirical research on the transformation from traditional top-down to trust-based leadership is still limited. In this paper we study the implementation of a trust-based leadership reform in the City of Copenhagen taking place since 2012. We focus on understanding the trust dynamics in this major transformation. We show that the implementation of trust-based leadership should be seen as an emergent process involving a variety of actors within the organization. The case study reveals that the Trust Reform may be seen as a process involving multiple actors contributing to the implementation in diverse ways. The Trust Reform is a complex and fragile process giving rise to radical changes in roles and competences needed for leaders and for employees at different levels in the organization. The study also indicates that the implementation of a radical management reform involves a complex interplay of trust relations between actors at multiple levels of the organization. 1 e-mail: tinaob@ruc.dk & jagd@ruc.dk
Cytogenetic and Biochemical Studies on Vicia faba Plants Treated with Two Insecticidal Active Plant Extracts

This study aims to evaluate, the cytogenetic effects of two plant extracts proved to have insecticidal activity against cotton leafworm “Spodoptera littoralis” pest on Vicia faba plants. In addition, their effects on the protein profiles of the M1 Vicia faba seeds were also studied. These extracts are: “Aqueous Sorgum bicolor seedlings extract” and “petroleum ether Nasturtium officinale seeds extract”. The recommended synthetic organic insecticide “Dursban H-48” has been studied for comparison. The plants were sprayed twice, once at 30 days old and the other at 40 days (the day before fixation) with different concentrations of the three experimental agents. At the cytogenetic level, the two plant extracts induced lower percentages of abnormal pollen mother cells (PMCs.) than those of dursban and N. officinale was the least effective. Relative to the abnormal PMCs. , the plant extracts gave the low toxic effect on the chromosomes comparing with dursban. Relative to the scored number of (Metaphase I and II + Anaphase I and II) PMCs. , the two plant extracts were the least inducing structural aberrations and N. officinale was the least clastogenic. The two insecticidal active extracts were without effect on the pollen grains viability contrary to dursban. At the biochemical genetic level, the two insecticidal active plant extracts induced some changes in the protein banding patterns of M1 Vicia faba seeds. These changes were disappearance of some bands after treatment with S. bicolor extract and disappearance of some bands and appearance of other new bands after treatment with N. officinale extract. Disappearance or appearance of bands, were not recorded after treatment with dursban.
Non-lethal effects of ocean acidification on the symbiont-bearing benthic foraminifer Amphistegina gibbosa

The responses of marine taxa to ocean acidification are varied, with, for example, some exhibiting decreased and some increased calcification rates. Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations on the survival, fitness, shell microfabric and growth of Amphistegina gibbosa, a symbiont-bearing, coral-reef dwelling, benthic foraminiferal species that precipitates low-Mg calcite tests, using CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) levels similar to those likely to occur in shallow marine pore waters in the decades ahead. Specimens were cultured at constant temperature and controlled pCO2 (ambient, 1000 parts per million by volume [ppmv], and 2000 ppmv) for 6 wk, and total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon were measured every 2 wk to characterize the carbonate chemistry of the incubations. Foraminiferal survival and cellular energy levels were assessed using adenosine triphosphate analyses, and test microstructure and growth were evaluated using high resolution scanning electron microscopy and image analysis. Fitness and survival were not directly affected by elevated pCO2 and the concomitant decrease in pH and calcite saturation states (Ωc). Test growth was not affected by elevated pCO2. However, areas of dissolution were observed after 6 wk, even though Ωc was >1 in all treatments; the fraction of test area dissolved increased with decreasing Ωc. Test dissolution occurred only in small, well defined patches that appeared to be distributed randomly over the whole test surface. Similar dissolution was observed in offspring produced in the 2000 ppmv pCO2 treatments. The long-term ecological consequences of the effects observed are not yet known.
Epiphytic microlichens as indicators of phytosociological differentiation between Caatinga and Brejos de Altitude

The present study tested the hypothesis that species richness and composition of epiphytic microlichens can be used to support the phytosociological differentiation between Caatinga and Brejos de Altitude, as exemplified by the Muralha Reserve (Caatinga) and the Parque Estadual Mata do Pau Ferro (Brejo de Altitude), in the state of Paraiba, Brazil. A total of 755 lichen samples were collected, comprising 18 families, 42 genera and 111 species of epiphytic, corticolous microlichens. Overall species richness was higher in the Caatinga, with 67 species, compared to the Brejo, with 46 species. Species richness per sample was significantly higher in the Caatinga compared to the Brejo. Taxonomic composition also differed significantly between the two areas, with Arthoniaceae, Caliciaceae, Chrysothrichaceae, Graphidaceae (particularly Graphis), Lecanoraceae, Mycoporaceae, Pertusariaceae, and Trypetheliaceae being dominant in, or exclusive to, the Caatinga, whereas Coenogoniaceae, Graphidaceae (Diorygma, Fissurina, Myriotrema, Ocellularia, Phaeographis, Sarcographa), Malmideaceae, Porinaceae and Strigulaceae were dominant in, or exclusive to, the Brejo. Five new species were discovered as result of this study. This is the first study to quantitatively compare richness and community patterns of epiphytic microlichens between two major biomes in Northeastern Brazil, and the first detailed lichen study in the state of Paraiba.
Herring schooling manoeuvres in response to killer whale attacks

The antipredator behaviour of overwintering Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus L.) was investigated during repeated attacks by killer whales (Orcinus orca L.) in Tysfjord in northwestern Norway. The observations were made using a high-resolution (455 kHz) multibeam sonar. Ten different types of predator-prey interactions were recorded during 54 observed events (an average of one antipredator event every 3.9 min). Antipredator responses included "split," "hourglass," "vacuole," "bend," "dive," "herd," and "fountain. " Large attacked schools demonstrated a different repertoire of antipredator manoeuvres than small ones and were less likely to be attacked. Despite being located in the vicinity of the whales, herring schools with a cross section exceeding 460 m2 were not attacked by killer whales. Attacked schools were significantly more circular (p < 0.0001) and had higher relative densities (p < 0.05) than schools that were not attacked.
Physical and Microbiological Evaluation of Chitosan Films: Effect of Essential Oils and Storage

— The effect of the inclusion of thyme and rosemary essential oils into chitosan films, as well as the microbiological and physical properties when storing chitosan film with and without the mentioned inclusion was studied. The film forming solution was prepared by dissolving chitosan (2%, w/v), polysorbate 80 (4% w/w CH) and glycerol (16% w/w CH) in aqueous lactic acid solutions (control). The thyme (TEO) and rosemary (REO) essential oils (EOs) were included 1:1 w/w (EOs:CH) on their combination 50/50 (TEO:REO). The films were stored at temperatures of 5, 20, 33°C and a relative humidity of 75% during four weeks. The films with essential oil inclusion did not show an antimicrobial activity against strains. This behavior could be explained because the chitosan only inhibits the growth of microorganisms in direct contact with the active sites. However, the inhibition capacity of TEO was higher than the REO and a synergic effect between TEO:REO was found for S. enteritidis strains in the chitosan solution. Some physical properties were modified by the inclusion of essential oils. The addition of essential oils does not affect the mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, puncture deformation), the water solubility, the swelling index nor the DSC behavior. However, the essential oil inclusion can significantly decrease the thickness, the moisture content, and the L* value of films whereas the b* value increased due to molecular interactions between the polymeric matrix, the loosing of the structure, and the chemical modifications. On the other hand, the temperature and time of storage changed some physical properties on the chitosan films. This could have occurred because of chemical changes, such as swelling in the presence of high humidity air and the reacetylation of amino groups. In the majority of cases, properties such as moisture content, tensile strength, elongation at break, puncture deformation, a*, b*, chrome, ∆E increased whereas water resistance, swelling L*, and hue angle decreased.
Optimizing the precipitation of organic compounds

Crystallization and precipitation processes are used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry to produce crystals with desired product properties, such as flowability, filterability, drying time and bioavailability. These properties are greatly affected by the particle size distribution and control of it is one of the major goals in process design. Model-based design approaches require accurate kinetics and thermodynamic data. Therefore, the focus of this thesis is on the development of protocols for the measurement of nucleation, growth, agglomeration and polymorph transformation kinetics as well as on the development of suitable models for process design and optimization. Three different crystallization and precipitation processes are investigated: pH-shift precipitation of L-glutamic acid, combined cooling/antisolvent crystallization of acetylsalicylic acid and antisolvent precipitation of L-asparagine. Depending on the intrinsic kinetics of the substance and on the operating conditions different experimental methods for the determination of the kinetics have to be applied. If the kinetics are relatively slow the experiments can be carried out in a stirred tank reactor. FBRM, ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy are used for process monitoring. Kinetics are determined based on crystallization experiments by a combination of a population balance model and an integral parameter estimation technique. The process models are used for process design and optimization. If the characteristic time scale of precipitation is similar to or shorter than the one of mixing in a stirred tank, alternative equipment is required to avoid transport limitations and the associated effect on the particle size distribution. This problem can be overcome using efficient mixing devices, such as static micromixers. The mixing efficiencies of two static mixers with different geometries are characterized using competitive-parallel chemical reactions and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Finally, the mixer setup is used to determine nucleation and growth kinetics at high supersaturations and to conduct continuous precipitation experiments.