Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Antagonistic Effect of Phenolic Compounds on Ligninolytic and Cellulolytic Enzymes of Ganoderma Boninense , Causing Basal Stem Rot in Oil Palm

Ganoderma sp. is a white-rot fungus and the causal pathogen of basal stem rot (BSR) in oil palm. To identify a potential chemical control for Ganoderma ten naturally occurring plant phenolic compounds, namely benzoic acid, curcumin, 2,6dimethoxyl benzoic acid, 2,6-dimethoxyl phenol, guaiacol, ferulic acid, pyrocatechol, salicylic acid, syringic acid and vanillic acid were assessed for their antagonistic effect on Ganoderma as well their effect on the secretion of wood-degrading enzymes. Mycelial inhibition was dose dependent in each experiment and ranged from 4.4% to 100%. All the phenolic compounds except ferulic acid completely inhibited the growth of Ganoderma in a ‘poisoned food’ test using the range of concentrations that were tested. However, liquid media cultures containing low concentrations of phenolic compounds showed increased biomass production. Microscopic observations revealed that mycelia growing on media containing phenolic compounds showed deterioration. A significant decrease in the production of ligninolytic enzymes, as well as cellulose, amylase and xylanase was identified. The in vitro tests revealed that benzoic acid had the greatest inhibitory effect. The selected phenolic compounds inhibited the growth as well as the production of wood degrading enzymes indicating their potential use as chemical controls against Ganoderma for disease management of BSR. © 2017 Friends Science Publishers
Asset Pricing in the Information Age: Employee Expectations and Stock Returns

This paper studies the value of employees' expectations to stock markets, using a novel dataset of one million employee reviews. Employee beliefs about their employers' business prospects predict future returns at one- to five-month horizons, delivering an annualized abnormal return of 7% to 9%. Employee reviews are related to firms' fundamentals because they predict cash flow news. In addition, the reviews predict future trading activities by hedge funds and corporate insiders. Overall, this paper highlights that crowdsourced platforms can aggregate massive amounts of data and generate investment-relevant signals that are superior to more traditional sources.
Analysis of some normal parameters of the spermiogram of captive capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella Linnaeus, 1758 )

Nine adult males of capuchin monkey (Cebus apella) were electro-ejaculated with a rectal bipolar probe under general anaesthesia with tiletamine -zolazepan association. From the obtained ejaculate, we only analysed the liquid fraction in order to avoid any kind of chemical treatment to attain dissolution of the seminal coagulum. The mean obtained volume was 0,2ml with the sperm concentration of 56.169 x 106 sperm/ml and mean motility 68,4% and vigor 2,6. The mean percentage of morphologic normal spermatozoa was 39%. The technique was efficient for semen collection in Cebus apella and allowed seminal evaluation without possible sperm lesions caused by chemical treatment for coagulum dissolution.
Youth transitions, the labour market and entry into employment: some reflections and questions

This research paper explores what we know about the process of transitions from education into the labour market, with a particular focus on the UK. There is strong evidence that even before the current recession, right across the developed world transitions were becoming longer, more complex and conditional than they used to be. The paper explores what structural factors may underlie these changes and their implications for policy makers and those working within the education and training system. The paper suggests that insofar as these developments can be addressed by policy, a major consideration is the role that employers may need to play, not least in terms of the attitudes and behaviours that they display towards the process of recruitment, selection, induction and development of new entrants to workforce.
Emotional and Motivational Processes in Bipolar Disorder: A Neural Network Perspective

© 2013 Wessa and Linke, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Emotional and Motivational Processes in Bipolar Disorder: A Neural Network Perspective
The Effects of Gender and Gain Versus Loss Frame on Processing Breast Cancer Screening Messages

This current study investigated how the gain versus loss framing effect would be moderated by gender of message recipients in the context of breast cancer screening (BCS) intervention that promotes both men and women to recommend regular BCS to their close women. A 2 (male vs. female) x 2 (gain vs. loss) between-subject experiment was conducted using 128 African American participants (mean age = 45.9). The results showed that men and women processed the BCS messages with a different elaboration depth, and also perceived gain- versus loss-framed messages differently. For instance, compared to gain frame loss frame was more effective for women in increasing their message elaboration and supportive thoughts about BCS. In contrast, gain frame was more effective for men in increasing their memory of the BCS messages than loss frame. The findings provided practical implications for health communication practitioners in how to strategically use gain versus loss framing in accordance with their target population.
Significant effect of NSP‐ase enzyme supplementation in sunflower meal‐based diet on the growth and nutrient digestibility in broilers

The response of broiler chickens to 3 levels of sunflower meal and 2 levels of NSP-ase enzyme combination (with and without) was investigated in 3 × 2 factorial arrangement under complete randomized design (CRD). A total of 240 Hubbard broiler chicks were fed on practical mash diets having 2950 kcal of ME and 21% CP from 1 to 42 days of age. The BW gain was not significantly reduced when 25% SFM was added in the diets during 1 to 42 days of age. Supplementation of NSP-ase in broiler diets (day 1-42 overall) demonstrated non-significant differences (p < 0.05) across the treatments in terms of FI and BWG. The difference in feed:gain at 15% or 20% SFM was observed to be non-significant. Replacement of SBM with SFM or inclusion of SFM at higher level (25%) increased/deteriorated FCR. The addition of exogenous NSP-ase showed a significant improvement (p < 0.01) in feed:gain. The improvement was clearly demonstrated when SFM was added to the experimental diet at 15% or even 20%. Supplementation of NSP-ase at the 25% inclusion level could not, however, sustain the beneficial effect, which was possibly due to excessively high dietary CF. No difference was noted across the treatments regarding carcass response. Relative gizzard weight and intestinal weight were observed to be improved in birds consuming higher levels of SFM (p = 0.00). The digestibility of CF was observed to improve when SFM was used at 20% and 25% in the diets. No improvement in the digestibility of CF was observed with NSP-ase supplementation, which meant other factors were clearly involved. Supplementation of NSP-ase improved FCR up to 20% SFM. At 25% SFM, no improvement in the digestibility of CF was observed with NSP-ase supplementation.
Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on voltage‐gated K+ and Na+ channels in rat olfactory receptor neurons

Although the polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are enriched in the olfactory mucosa, their possible contribution to olfactory transduction has not been investigated. This study characterized their effects on voltage‐gated K+ and Na+ channels of rat olfactory receptor neurons. Physiological (3–10 µm) concentrations of AA and DHA potently and irreversibly inhibited the voltage‐gated K+ current in a voltage‐independent manner. In addition, both compounds significantly reduced the inhibitory potency of the odorants acetophenone and amyl acetate at these channels. By comparison, the steady‐state effects of both AA and DHA on the voltage‐gated Na+ channel were relatively weak, with half‐maximal inhibition requiring ≈ 35 µm of either compound. However, a surprising finding was that the initial application of 3 µm AA to a naïve neuron caused a strong but transient inhibition of the Na+ current. The channels became almost completely resistant to this inhibition within 1 min, and a 2‐min wash in control solution was insufficient to restore the strong inhibitory effect. These observations suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids have the potential to strongly influence the coding of odorant information by olfactory receptor neurons.
IMMUNOLOGIC COMPONENTS IN HUMAN MILK DURING WEANING

Human milk is characterized by a wide spectrum of host resistance factors (1, 2), the levels of which change dynamically during lactation (3). Since the morbidity of partially breast-fed infants is between those of completely breast-fed and artifically fed ones (4), it seems likely that the immunologic system in human milk operates during weaning. We examined this question in a longitudinal study by measuring selected immunologic components in human milk during gradual weaning. Seven healthy women, age 20 to 35 years, who delivered full-term normal infants and completely breast-fed them, were selected for the study. Their demographic features have been reported (5). The mothers began weaning between 19 to 35 weeks of lactation by reducing the frequency of breast-feeding every two weeks by 15 to 20%. The infants’ diets were supplemented accordingly. The growth of the infants remained normal during weaning. Milk was collected and stored as previously reported (5). Samples were obtained before and 2, 4 , 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after weaning was begun. Viable leukocytes were enumerated by trypan blue exclusion (5). Lactoferrin and lysozyme were quantitated by electroimmunodiffusion (5 ) . Total and secretory IgA (SIgA) were quantified by fluorescent immunosorbence (5). Secretory IgA antibodies to E. coli somatic antigens were titered by enzymelinked immunosorbence (5). This study group was compared at the start of weaning (mean duration of lactation, 25 weeks) with a larger population examined at 24 weeks of lactation (3) by a two sampleStudent test. The effects of weaning were tested by linear regression analysis. Relationships between the rates of change in the concentraHUMAN MILK DURING WEANING
Pharmacy Apps: a new frontier on the digital landscape?

Background Over the course of recent years smartphone and tablet technology has evolved rapidly. Similarly, the sphere of healthcare is constantly developing and striving to embrace the newest forms of technology in order to optimise function. Many opportunities for mobile applications (i.e. ‘apps’) pertinent to the healthcare sector are now emerging. Objective This study will consider whether registered pharmacists within the United Kingdom (UK) believe it appropriate to use mobile apps during the provision of healthcare within the community setting. Methods Further to Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) ethical approval, the 30 item questionnaire was distributed to UK registered pharmacists (n=600) practising within inner city Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. The questions were formatted as multiple choice, Likert scales or the open answer type. On questionnaire completion and return, data were analysed using simple frequencies, cross tabulations and non-parametric techniques in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (v18). Results The majority of respondents (78.4% of 211 participants) confirmed that they were confident when using mobile apps on their technology platform. In general, mobile apps were perceived to be useful in facilitating patient consultations (55%) and supporting healthcare education (80%). The main barrier for mobile app use within the workplace was company policy, deemed significant in the case of regional / national chain pharmacies (p<0.001). Pharmacists alluded to the fact that whilst mobile apps demonstrate potential in modern day practise, they will have a greater impact in the future (p<0.001). Conclusion The data indicate that although pharmacists are supportive of mobile apps in healthcare, a number of factors (i.e. risk, company policy and lack of regulation) may preclude their use in modern day pharmacy practise. Clearly, limitations of the technology must be addressed in order to maximise uptake within healthcare systems. Pharmacists suggest that as the younger generation ages, mobile apps will become a more accepted method by which to manage healthcare in the wider population.
The Impact of Professional Competence & Staffing of Internal Audit Function on Transparency and Accountability Case of Zimbabwe Local Authorities

The study aimed at investigating the impact of internal audit function competence & staffing on transparency & accountability in Zimbabwe local authorities. The study adopted professional competence & staffing as the independent variable and transparency & accountability as the dependent variable. Survey data was obtained from management and internal audit personnel from local authorities in Zimbabwe using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 182 respondents. Two focus group discussions were held separately with 13 senior managers and 8 Chief Audit Executives from local authorities in Zimbabwe. Regression and multivariate analysis were used to test the hypothesis that internal audit function professional competence & staffing is positively associated with transparency & accountability in Zimbabwe local authorities. The study established that there is a significant positive relationship between internal audit function competency dimensions of qualification, experience and training and transparency & accountability in Zimbabwe local authorities. The study reveals the need to improve and uphold internal audit function competency through creation of an enabling environment to support internal audit functions and guarantee their effectiveness in upholding corporate governance practices. The study recommends the establishment of a centralized Local Government Internal Audit Agency under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, responsible for coordinating, supervising, monitoring and reviewing local authorities internal audit functions as a stride towards improving public finance management systems and corporate governance practices within the country’s public sector. Keywords: Professional Competence & Staffing, Internal Audit Function, Transparency & Accountability DOI : 10.7176/RJFA/10-8-15 Publication date : April 30 th 2019
Awareness on AIDS among health care professionals.

In India, a health education professor conducted a survey of 400 health care professionals at the medical college and hospital in Calcutta, West Bengal, to examine their level of awareness about HIV/AIDS. The health care professionals included surgeons, gynecologists, pathologists, internal medicine specialists, blood bank workers, recent medical school graduates, clinical students, preclinical students, nurses, and technologists. 40-60% of preclinical students knew little about the natural history of HIV infection and its clinical manifestations. An absence of HIV/AIDS education in the undergraduate medical curriculum and no exposure to causes and clinical training in HIV/AIDS may account for this low knowledge level. 20% of students and 40% of physicians knew that there were HIV tests available. 50-60% of paramedical personnel had misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, particularly about utensils, sharing toilets, and bites of mosquitoes and bedbugs. 80-90% of all health personnel had knowledge levels about proper decontamination and precautionary measures against exposure to contaminated blood and body fluids. Preclinical students had the highest mean knowledge score. 66-80% of all health professionals were not satisfied with their current knowledge level on HIV/AIDS. This same proportion thought that they would benefit from HIV/AIDS education and training. The relatively low knowledge scores about HIV/AIDS may be due to the fact that public health authorities do not promote HIV/AIDS education, even though the national policy is to disseminate anti-HIV/AIDS messages.
Dorsal Modified Calcaneal Plate for Extensive Midfoot Arthrodesis

Background: Extensive midfoot fusions can be challenging because of bone loss, deformity, and soft tissue anatomy. Several options have been advocated, including multiple screw fixation, medial plating, and plantar plating. We report a new technique using a dorsally-placed, modified calcaneal plate for treatment of this difficult clinical problem. Methods: Patients undergoing extensive (more than four joints) midfoot arthrodeses with a dorsally-placed, modified calcaneal plate between 2000 and 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnoses included Charcot arthropathy (four), osteoarthritis (two), posttraumatic osteoarthritis (two), massive bone loss from previous infection (one), and residual clubfoot deformity (one). Patients with active midfoot infections were excluded. During the study period, midfoot arthrodeses with a dorsal calcaneal plate were done in 10 patients. Of these, nine patients were available for review. Arthrodeses were attempted in 62 joints in these nine patients. Autogenous grafting was used in three patients (23 joints), allograft was used in six patients (39 joints). Patients were maintained nonweightbearing until radiographs or computed tomography conclusively showed union. Results: One of the 10 patients died from an unrelated cause. In the nine remaining patents, 95% (59 of 62) of joints fused within 4 months of surgery. Postoperative complications included nonunion with broken screws in one patient, and three wound problems successfully treated with local dressings. Secondary procedures included one revision arthrodesis and two hardware removals. Patient satisfaction with this procedure was very high (eight of nine). Conclusions: The use of a dorsal calcaneal plate is a viable method of fixation for achieving fusion in extensive midfoot arthropathy. The plate is low-profile and easily moldable to conform to dorsal midfoot anatomy. It can be placed without extensive plantar or medial foot dissection and maintains midfoot alignment until bony fusion occurs. In patients with complex midfoot pathology requiring multijoint fusions, the results have been satisfactory.
Recombination barrier layers in solid-state quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

By replacing the dye in the dye-sensitized solar cell design with semiconductor quantum dots as the light-absorbing material, solid-state quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (ss-QDSSCs) were fabricated. Cadmium sulfide quantum dots (QDs) were grown in situ by successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). Aluminum oxide recombination barrier layers were deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at the TiO2/hole-conductor interface. For low numbers of ALD cycles, the Al2O3 barrier layer increased open circuit voltage, causing an increase in device efficiency. For thicker Al2O3 barrier layers, photocurrent decreased substantially, leading to a decrease in device efficiency.
Human capital: the link between leadership and organizational learning

Purpose There is some research showing that leadership behaviors could be important antecedents to learning, but knowledge is scarce on the impact of which leadership styles support exploitative and explorative learning. The purpose of this paper is to hypothesize that transformational leadership – more concerned with innovation – will encourage generalist human capital (HC), while transactional leadership – more focused on the efficiency of existing operations – will promote specialist HC. Design/methodology/approach To test the hypotheses, the authors adopt a structural ambidexterity approach as the authors consider that organizations need units working on both types of learning. Findings The results show the versatile role of transformational leaders, who are able to promote both types of HC and, in turn, both types of organizational learning. The authors have also found that marketing departments are more willing to explore than production departments. Originality/value This study highlights the relevance of considering the department as a unit of analysis (structural ambidexterity approach), the significant role of transformational leaders in organizational learning and the mediating role of HC.
Dark energy and supermassive black holes

This paper deals with a cosmological model in which the universe is filled with tachyon dark energy in order to describe current and future accelerating expansion. We obtain that the simplest condition for the regime of phantom energy to occur in this scenario is that the scalar field be Wick rotated to imaginary values which correspond to an axionic field classically. By introducing analytical expressions for the scale factor or the Hubble parameter that satisfy all constraint equations of the used models we show that such models describe universes which may develop a big rip singularity in the finite future. It is argued that, contrary to a recent claim, the entropy for a universe filled with dark energy is definite positive even on the phantom regime where the universe would instead acquire a negative temperature. It is also seen that, whichever the fate of the tachyonic accelerating universe, it will be stable to any fluctuations of the scalar field, and that since the considered models have all an imaginary sound speed, any overdense regions will undergo an accelerated collapse leading rapidly to formation of giant black holes. Finally the conjecture is advanced that these black holes may be the supermassivemore » black holes that most galaxies harbor at their center. « less
Innovation Culture in SMEs: The Importance of Organizational Culture, Organizational Learning and Market Orientation

Abstract Academic and practitioner have considered innovation as an approach to produce value to customer in order to remain competitive in the market. However, previous studies on innovation culture among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have received little attention and SMEs need to inculcate the innovation culture in order to generate innovation. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate empirically the influence of organizational culture, organizational learning and market orientation on innovation culture. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to gather data from SMEs in Malaysia. Questionnaires were distributed and gathered with a total of 183 usable responses. The analysis was conducted via SMART PLS to produce interesting findings. Findings suggest that all dimensions of organizational culture (adaptability, involvement, mission and consistency) have an influence on innovation culture, organizational learning in terms of information acquisition and behavioural & cognitive have an impact on innovation culture. Finally, only competitor orientation influences innovation culture. Although SMEs play an important role within the Malaysia economy, their contribution to innovation is small and marginal. This study makes an important contribution by providing information to SMEs on the elements that could nurture innovation culture in their organizations. As such, it is hoped that this study will generate interest among the researchers to reach more conclusive evidence about the practice of innovation culture among SMEs in Malaysia. More effort should be devoted to comprehending the concept of innovation culture among SMEs from the context of developing country. The findings combined with the suggestions may offer alternative insights on innovation culture and extend a basic framework for further investigation.