Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Widespread plasmid resistance genes among Proteus species in diabetic wounds of patients in the Ahmadu Bello university teaching hospital (ABUTH) Zaria

Plasmids have been known to play a major role in the dissemination of antibiotics resistance genes in a microbial population. In this background, 148 Proteus species comprising of 97 Proteus mirabilis and 51 Proteus vulgaris were isolated from diabetic wounds. Seventy-six strains had varied multi-drug resistance (MDR) pattern encoded on transferable plasmid gene with a very high frequency (2 x10-4 to 4 x 10-2 per donor cell) by conjugation. 34% of the strains lost the antibiotic resistance plasmids marker after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) mediated curing. The rest of the plasmid markers were non transferable. The results indicated that plasmids carry varied dissemination of antibiotics resistance markers to distant recipient cells, indicating clonal transfer among bacterial strains.
Implementable Fiscal Policy Rules

We use a novel procedure to identify fiscal feedback rules for the US: We start by estimating a DSGE model and on that basis compute the Ramsey optimal responses to structural shocks. Then we let the policy maker choose from a general set of rules to match the dynamic behavior of a number of key variables like output, debt, and consumption, in the competitive equilibrium with their corresponding dynamic behavior in the Ramsey equilibrium. In the next step we estimate the model again but employ the contingency derived previously. The policy rules derived are general, not as complex as Ramsey and easily implementable. JEL classification: E62, H30, C51.
Knowledge, Resources and Markets: What Economic System of Valuation?

Jeannerat H. and Kebir L. Knowledge, resources and markets: what economic system of valuation? , Regional Studies. Exploring in ever more detail learning processes at the root of economic change, main territorial innovation models (TIMs) remain focused on production today. Thus consumption is most often assessed as an abstract demand expressed by exogenous market mechanisms. In a socio-institutional approach, this article conceptualizes an economic system in which knowledge is a constructed resource valued in a market through the co-evolution of a production and a consumption system. From a meta-synthesis of various case studies, the paper draws four ideal types of economic systems and their related territorial knowledge dynamics (TKDs): knowledge marketization, knowledge improvement, knowledge adaptation and knowledge co-development.
Astrometric observations of Phobos with the SRC on Mars Express - New data and comparison of different measurement techniques

Aims. From April 2008 to August 2011 Mars Express carried out 74 Phobos flybys at distances between 669 and 5579 km. Images taken with the Super Resolution Channel (SRC) were used to determine the spacecraft-centered right ascension and declination of this Martian moon. Methods. Image positions of Phobos were measured using the limb-fit and control-point measurement techniques. Camera pointing and pointing drift were controlled by means of background star observations that were compared to corresponding positions from reference catalogs. Blurred and noisy images were restored by applying an image-based point spread function in a Richardson-Lucy deconvolution. Results. Here, we report on a set of 158 Phobos astrometric observations with estimated accuracies between 0.224 and 3.405 km circular w.r. t. the line of sight to the satellite. Control point measurements yield slightly more accurate results than the limb fit ones. Our observations are in good agreement with the current Phobos ephemerides by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) with mean offsets of up to 335 m. Our data can be used for the maintenance and update of these models.
High-redshift quasar selection from the CFHQSIR survey

Being observed only one billion years after the Big Bang, z ∼ 7 quasars are a unique opportunity for exploring the early Universe. However, only two z ∼ 7 quasars have been discovered in near-infrared surveys: the quasars ULAS J1120+0641 and ULAS J1342+0928 at z = 7.09 and z = 7.54, respectively. The rarity of these distant objects, combined with the difficulty of distinguishing them from the much more numerous population of Galactic low-mass stars, requires using efficient selection procedures. The Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey in the Near Infrared (CFHQSIR) has been carried out to search for z ∼ 7 quasars using near-infrared and optical imaging from the Canada-France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). Our data consist of ∼130 deg2 of Wide-field Infrared Camera (WIRCam) Y-band images up to a 5σ limit of YAB ∼ 22.4 distributed over the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS) Wide fields. After follow-up observations in J band, a first photometric selection based on simple colour criteria led us to identify 36 sources with measured high-redshift quasar colours. However, we expect to detect only ∼2 quasars in the redshift range 6.8 < z < 7.5 down to a rest-frame absolute magnitude of M1450 = −24.6. With the motivation of ranking our high-redshift quasar candidates in the best possible way, we developed an advanced classification method based on Bayesian formalism in which we model the high-redshift quasars and low-mass star populations. The model includes the colour diversity of the two populations and the variation in space density of the low-mass stars with Galactic latitude, and it is combined with our observational data. For each candidate, we compute the probability of being a high-redshift quasar rather than a low-mass star. This results in a refined list of the most promising candidates. Our Bayesian selection procedure has proven to be a powerful technique for identifying the best candidates of any photometrically selected sample of objects, and it is easily extendable to other surveys.
Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer in Impingement Air Cooled Plate Fin Heat Sinks

*† Impingement cooling of plate fin heat sinks is examined. Experimental measurements of thermal performance were performed with four heat sinks of various impingement inlet widths, fin spacings, fin heights and airflow velocities. The percent uncertainty in the measured thermal resistance was a maximum of 2.6% in the validation tests. Using a simple thermal resistance model based on developing laminar flow in rectangular channels, the actual mean heat transfer coefficients are obtained in order to develop a simple heat transfer model for the impingement plate fin heat sink. The experimental results are combined into a dimensionless correlation for channel average Nusselt number Nu ~ f(L * ,Pr). We use a dimensionless thermal developing flow length, L * = (L/2) / (DhRePr), as the independent parameter. Results show that Nu ~ * L / 1 , similar to developing flow in parallel channels. The heat transfer model covers the practical operating range of most heat sinks, 0.01 < L * < 0.18. The accuracy of the heat transfer model was found to be within 11% of the experimental data taken on four heat sinks and other experimental data from the published literature at channel Reynolds numbers less than 1200. The proposed heat transfer model may be used to predict the thermal performance of impingement air cooled plate fin heat sinks for design purposes.
ON THE COMPUTATION OF AUTOCOVARIANCES FOR GENERALIZED GEGENBAUER PROCESSES

Gegenbauer processes and their generalizations represent a general way of modeling long memory and seasonal long memory; they include ARFIMA, sea- sonal ARFIMA, and GARMA processes as special cases. Models from this class of processes have been used extensively in economics, finance, and in the physical sciences. An obstacle to using this class of models is in finding explicit formulas for the autocovariances that are valid for all lags. We provide a computationally efficient method of computing these autocovariances, by determining the moving average representation of these processes, and also give an asymptotic formula for the determinant of the covariance matrix. This allows feasible calculation of the exact Gaussian likelihood, while also making simulation, forecasting, and signal extraction practicable. The techniques are illustrated using maximum likelihood estimation to model atmospheric CO2 data.
An Overview on Mini-screws Compliance as Anchorage Unit in Orthodontic Practice

In contemporary orthodontics intrusion of posterior molars without the extrusion of anterior dentition is quite challenging but with the help of temporary anchorage devices like miniscrews it becomes relatively easier for an orthodontist to achieve the good treatment results. Orthodontic anchorage is one the important factor for orthodontic treatment to be successful and conventional orthodontic appliances like headgear and intra-oral elastics are usually used but now a days mini implants are being utilized as skeletal anchorage devices instead of convention orthodontic appliances. According to recent studies relatively higher number of patients are choosing miniscrews over extraction of teeth although very few had previous knowledge of mini-implants. According to many orthodontist, miniscrews were easier to place and enhanced the orthodontic treatment procedures and results. The prime purpose of using mini-implants as temporary anchorage because they provide support through osseointegration. Because of close contact between bone and implant junction osseointegration takes place. Beside many advantages there are also fewer disadvantages of using miniscrews as anchorage devices such as higher cost, scar formation, technique sensitive, and longer duration required for osseointegration. Miniscrews can be utilized for various orthodontic treatment procedures intrusion of dentition, retraction of anterior dentition, individual tooth extrusion or intrusion. It helps in intrusion of dentition without the extrusion anchorage teeth. In prosthetic procedures when intrusion or extrusion of teeth is required miniscrews can be used. There are also few complications reported after miniscrew placement like trauma to surrounding tissues, infection, peri-implantitis, inflammation, orthodontic loading affecting stationary anchorage resulting in its failure, soft tissue covering the miniscrew head area. The main aim of this review was to enlighten the types, advantages, disadvantages and acceptance of miniscrews in field of orthodontics.
Intervention Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with EPCs Transplantation on the Mice in Aging Model

The results of this experiment suggested that electroacupuncture promotes the endothelialization of liver endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) for mice in D-gal model and improves the repair of vascular endothelial function, as well as increasing the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in liver tissue fluorescence and KL protein levels. Also, it reduces the malondialdehyde (MDA) activity and delays vascular aging and even overall aging. Results showed that the in vivo fluorescence intensity for D-gal EA group was significantly lower than that of D-gal group, P < 0.05; VEGF fluorescence expression in liver tissue for D-gal EA group was significantly higher than that for D-gal group, P < 0.05; KL protein content in liver tissue for D-gal EA group was significantly higher than that for D-gal group, P < 0.05; MDA activity for D-gal EA group was significantly lower than that for D-gal group, P < 0.05.
A case of high tree diversity in a sal (Shorea robusta)-dominated lowland forest of Eastern Himalaya: Floristic composition, regeneration and conservation

A seasonally dry, sal (Shorea robusta)-dominated forest in the Eastern Himalayan lowlands of the Mahananda Sanctuary, Darjeeling had a far greater species richness (87 species in ≥ 10 cm and 69 species in ≥ 30 cm girth class) and diversity than other sal forests in India. Euphorbiaceae, with 8 species, was the most speciose family followed by Lauraceae, Meliaceae and Leguminosae. Dispersion of species was either clumped or random, and only two species were uniform. Rare species (≤ 1 stem ha) constituted 36% of the flora and were randomly distributed. Tree species dominated the flora with 87.3% share. Mixed dominance of species groups prevailed in the forest, i.e. large, medium and small trees and shrubs shared stand density in nearly equal proportions, but climbers were less abundant. Among five most abundant species, none was a large tree. However, four of the five species accumulating maximum basal area were large trees. All the girth classes showed a multi-species dominance, with 21 species in mature (≥ 180 cm girth), 40 in elder (≥ 90 to < 180 cm), 55 in young (≥ 30 to < 90 cm), and 68 in juvenile class (≥ 10 to < 30 cm). Six species were available only in seedling layer (≥ 30 cm height to < 10 cm girth). Thus of all 93 species, 20.4% showed good regeneration, 10.8% fair, 30.1% poor and 17.2% lacked regeneration. The remaining 21.5% species seem to be reappearing. While high-grade timber species were poorly regenerating, shrubs and climbers were regenerating well. Despite legal protection, this diverse sal forest continually experiences anthropogenic interference by the inhabitants on fringes. Rare species that contribute maximum to the tree diversity are at high risk of local extinction.
Factors influencing Willow Tit Poecile montanus site occupancy: a comparison of abandoned and occupied woods

The British Willow Tit Poecile montanus kleinschmidti underwent a decline of 85% between 1970 and 2003. The cause of this decline is unknown. However, several hypotheses have been put forward to account for it: competition from other tit species, predation by Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos major and habitat change. In order to test these, woods that are currently occupied by Willow Tits were paired with woods (within 50 km) that had been abandoned by Willow Tits five or more years previously. Point counts for other tit species (potential competitors) and woodpecker species (potential predators) were carried out at ten evenly spaced points throughout each wood. Habitat variables were collected within a 50-m radius of where a Willow Tit was located (in the occupied woods) or where maps showed a Willow Tit had been located (for abandoned woods). No evidence was found for differences in numbers of potential competitor or potential predator species in abandoned and occupied woods. Soil water content was found to be higher at occupied sites. No other habitat features differed between the two categories of site. The drying up of British woods could therefore be implicated in the Willow Tit decline and this warrants further investigation.
Source separation using bilinear forms

In recent years many source separation algorithms which are based on different types of second order statistics have been proposed. Among these we find the SOBI, the phase-SCORE and many others. We describe a unifying frame under which all these seemingly different algorithms can be combined into a single coherent algebraic source separation framework. We also derive a new whitening scheme which greatly enhances each of the algorithms in the family, and a new generalization of the phase-SCORE algorithm.
RESOLVE AND ECO: THE HALO MASS-DEPENDENT SHAPE OF GALAXY STELLAR AND BARYONIC MASS FUNCTIONS

In this work, we present galaxy stellar and baryonic (stars plus cold gas) mass functions (SMF and BMF) and their halo mass dependence for two volume-limited data sets. The first, RESOLVE-B, coincides with the Stripe 82 footprint and is extremely complete down to baryonic mass Mbary ∼ 109.1 M⊙, probing the gas-rich dwarf regime below Mbary ∼ 1010M⊙. The second, ECO, covers a ∼40× larger volume (containing RESOLVE-A) and is complete to Mbary ∼ 109.4 M⊙. To construct the SMF and BMF we implement a new “cross-bin sampling” technique with Monte Carlo sampling from the full likelihood distributions of stellar or baryonic mass. Our SMFs exhibit the “plateau” feature starting below Mstar ∼ 1010 M⊙ that has been described in prior work. However, the BMF fills in this feature and rises as a straight power law below ∼1010 M⊙, as gas-dominated galaxies become the majority of the population. Nonetheless, the low-mass slope of the BMF is not as steep as that of the theoretical dark matter halo MF. Moreover, we assign group halo masses by abundance matching, finding that the SMF and BMF, separated into four physically motivated halo mass regimes, reveal complex structure underlying the simple shape of the overall MFs. In particular, the satellite MFs are depressed below the central galaxy MF “humps” in groups with mass <1013.5 M⊙ yet rise steeply in clusters. Our results suggest that satellite destruction and stripping are active from the point of nascent group formation. We show that the key role of groups in shaping MFs enables reconstruction of a given survey’s SMF or BMF based on its group halo mass distribution.
Spectrophotometric analysis of the 5200 Å region for peculiar and normal stars

Context. Many chemically peculiar (CP) stars, especially the magnetic CP2 stars, show a flux depression at 5200 A. The Δa photometric system takes advantage of this characteristic to detect these objects in an efficient way. In addition, it is capable of finding metal-weak, emission-type, and shell-type objects of the upper main sequence. Aims. To compare available observations and to detect new peculiar objects, we used a spectrophotometric catalogue consisting of 1159 stars. From this catalogue, we selected 1067 objects to synthesize three different a indices to find the most efficient one for further observations. In addition, we extended the analysis to stars cooler than F5. Methods. We employed classical Δa photometry described by Maitzen, using simulated filter curves, the spectrophotometric Δa index by Adelman, and a modified index. Results. Even though the accuracy of the spectrophotometry used for this investigation is significantly lower than the photometric Δa measurements, we are able to confirm peculiarity for most of the known CP2 stars above a certain limit of Δa. We investigated 631 stars hotter than spectral type F5 to find additional that are not yet identified peculiar objects. We find that for very low mass stars (M0), the a index is independent of the colour (effective temperature). Conclusions. The Δa photometric system is very closely correlated with the effective temperature over a wide range of the main sequence. It is able to detect any kind of peculiarity connected to the 5200 A region. Especially for low-mass stars, this opens up a new possibility of detecting peculiar objects in an efficient way.
Lasting tensions in research policy-making — a delegation problem

A basic paradox in funding policy is that policy-makers want to guarantee maximum welfare benefits without violating the independence of scientists and their organisations. This article contends that this problem can be adequately conceptualised in terms of delegation and principal-agent theory. In the past, blind delegation and incentives were used to resolve the tension: more recently, efforts have been in quite a different direction. The ‘steady state’ succeeds in realising more society-oriented research but fails to reduce the tensions. ‘Delegation by contract’ and ‘delegation to networks’ attack the estimation of costs by scientists linked to the efforts in politically or user-inspired research and can thus reduce the likelihood of moral hazard by scientists. They are ‘opening up’ the scientific system to user systems by changing the functioning of the basic structures of science whilst embodying two very different solutions. ‘Delegation by contract’ maintains a strong belief in the rationalisation of funding policy and in political guidance, while ‘delegation to networks’ makes the state a ‘facilitator’ helping scientists and their institutions to self-organise networks of co-operation with user systems. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
The Effects of a Perturbation-Based Balance Training on the Reactive Neuromuscular Control in Community- -Dwelling Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of short-term perturbation-based balance training and a detraining period on postural control in older adults. Methods. A group of healthy older women were recruited and divided into two groups: an exercise group (EG, n = 21, age = 67.0 ± 2.0 y) that performed balance-based exercises three times a week over a sixweek period and a control group (CG, n = 20, age = 67.9 ± 3.1 y). Center-of-pressure displacement (CoP) and electromyographic data (EMG onset, time-to-peak and amplitude) were assessed during forward and backward perturbations for six leg muscles. All variables were analyzed before the training program began, at its end, and after a six-week period of detraining. A mixed ANOVA model was used to analyze the withinand between-subject results. Results. A decrease in backward CoP displacement, EMG onset and time-to-peak of the ankle muscles, especially the tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (MG), was observed. Improvement in muscle EMG amplitude for the ankle muscles (TA, MG and Soleus – SO) at the early phase (0–200 ms) of the perturbation test, with the SO also showing an increase in amplitude at the intermediate phase (201–400 ms). After the detraining period, only the TA muscle maintained an improvement in reaction time. Conclusions. Perturbation-based balance training improved neuromuscular responses such as muscle reaction time and ankle muscle activation and consequently aided the body’s ability to maintain correct center of pressure, although after a period of detraining this gain was not maintained for most of the assessed variables.
Original Article Effect of levothyroxine on the fibrinolytic system, lipid profile, and plasma glucose in rats

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA Thyroid hormones exert many effects on the cardiovascular system. Thyroid abnormality enhances atherosclerosis not only through general risk factors (dyslipidemia) but also via a close relationship with hemodynamic parameters; levothyroxine sodium modulates some elements of the fibrinolytic system, though the relationship is not completely clear. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of levothyroxine sodium on fibrinolytic parameters such as plasminogen activator (PA) in rat heart, plasma levels of PA and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), plasma glucose, and the serum lipid profile. Rats were given 50 microgram 100 g -1 body weight levothyroxine sodium for one week. Rat heart PA activity was significantly greater in the treated animals than in controls. There were no significant differences between the two groups of rats in PA, PAI or plasma glucose. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in sera from the treated group, resulting in decreased LDL/HDL and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratios. These results suggest that levothyroxine sodium treatment could have clinical value: it raised PA activity in the heart and reduced the blood cholesterol level. It could therefore confer a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease risk. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}