Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Instruments of Place Branding: How is it Done?

The Instruments of Place Branding: How is it Done? Place branding is the idea of discovering or creating some uniqueness, which differentiates one place from others in order to gain a competitive brand value. This article is not about the concepts or justifications but about how it is actually done at the local level, especially as part of broader conventional place management policies. Three main local planning instruments are widely used throughout the world in various combination in diverse places, each of which is described and exemplified here. These are first, personality association, where places associate themselves with a named individual, from history, literature, the arts, politics, entertainment, sport or even mythology, in the hope that the necessarily unique qualities of the individual are transferred by association to the place. Secondly, the visual qualities of buildings and urban design is an instrument of place-branding available to local planners. This could include flagship building, signature urban design and even signature districts. Thirdly, event hallmarking is where places organise events, usually cultural or sporting, in order to obtain a wider recognition that they exist but also to establish specific brand associations. Lessons are drawn from practice about the importance of combining these instruments and integrating them into wider planning and management strategies.
Invivo Antimalarial Activity of Dodonaea Angustifolia Seed Extracts Against Plasmodium Berghei in Mice Model

Dodonaea angustifolia has a wide range of therapeutic applications against various diseases including malaria. This plant is traditionally used for treatment of malaria in different countries including Ethiopia. However, the antimalarial effect and safety of D. angustifolia are not studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate antimalarial activity of Dodonaea angustifolia in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. In the present study, aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts as well as solvent fractions of the aqueous extract of D. angustifolia seeds were investigated for their antimalarial activity using Peters’ 4-day suppressive test method. Different concentrations of the crude extracts and the fractions of the water extract, most active extract, were orally administered to screen for their antimalarial activities. The extracts significantly inhibited parasitemia and prevented packed cell volume reduction (p <0.05) dose-dependently. Crude extracts and fractions of the aqueous extract of D. angustifolia seeds increased the survival time of infected mice. None of the extracts, however, prevented body weight loss. The aqueous extract of D. angustifolia was found to produce 35.79% parasite suppression. From this extract, three fractions were produced by solvent fractionation technique using butanol, chloroform and water and tested in vivo against P. berghei in mice. The butanol fraction was found to be the most active producing inhibition of 48.6% at 100 mg/kg. The test substance observed to be safe with no toxicity on the mice even at 4500 mg/kg. The results of the present work supported the traditional use of the plant against malaria and confirmed the antimalarial activity of the plant. Moreover, antimalarial compounds can be isolated from this plant and tested against human malaria parasite in the future. Keyword s: Malaria; Dodonaea angustifolia; Extracts; Plasmodium berghei
TITLE: Effects of Radiation on Proteasome Function in Prostate Cancer Cells

Breast cancers are thought to be organized hierarchically with a small number of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) able to re-grow a tumor while their progeny lack this ability. Recently, several groups reported enrichment for BCSCs when breast cancers were subjected to classical anticancer treatment. However, the underlying mechanisms leading to this enrichment are incompletely understood. Using non-BCSCs sorted from patient samples, we found that ionizing radiation reprogrammed differentiated breast cancer cells into induced BCSCs (iBCSCs). iBCSCs showed increased mammosphere formation, increased tumorigenicity and expressed the same stemness-related genes as BCSCs from nonirradiated samples. Reprogramming occurred in a polyploid subpopulation of cells, coincided with reexpression of the transcription factors Oct4, Sox-2, Nanog, and Klf4, and could be partially prevented by Notch inhibition. We conclude that radiation may induce a BCSC phenotype in differentiated breast cancer cells and that this mechanism contributes to increased BCSC numbers seen after classical anti-cancer treatment.
Parametric Spatial Audio Processing of Spaced Microphone Array Recordings for Multichannel Reproduction

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mcSCRB-seq: sensitive and powerful single-cell RNA sequencing

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as the central genome-wide method to characterize cellular identities and processes. While performance of scRNA-seq methods is improving, an optimum in terms of sensitivity, cost-efficiency and flexibility has not yet been reached. Among the flexible plate-based methods “Single-Cell RNA-Barcoding and Sequencing” (SCRB-seq) is one of the most sensitive and efficient ones. Based on this protocol, we systematically evaluated experimental conditions such as reverse transcriptases, reaction enhancers and PCR polymerases. We find that adding polyethylene glycol considerably increases sensitivity by enhancing cDNA synthesis. Furthermore, using Terra polymerase increases efficiency due to a more even cDNA amplification that requires less sequencing of libraries. We combined these and other improvements to a new scRNA-seq library protocol we call “molecular crowding SCRB-seq” (mcSCRB-seq), which we show to be the most sensitive and one of the most efficient and flexible scRNA-seq methods to date.
Factors Influencing Cryptocurrency Prices: Evidence from Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Litcoin, and Monero

This paper examines factors that influence prices of most common five cryptocurrencies such Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Litecoin, and Monero over 2010-2018 using weekly data. The study employs ARDL technique and documents several findings. First, cryptomarket-related factors such as market beta, trading volume, and volatility appear to be significant determinant for all five cryptocurrencies both in short- and long-run. Second, attractiveness of cryptocurrencies also matters in terms of their price determination, but only in long-run. This indicates that formation (recognition) of the attractiveness of cryptocurrencies are subjected to time factor. In other words, it travels slowly within the market. Third, SP500 index seems to have weak positive long-run impact on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litcoin, while its sign turns to negative losing significance in short-run, except Bitcoin that generates an estimate of -0.20 at 10% significance level. Lastly, error-correction models for Bitcoin, Etherem, Dash, Litcoin, and Monero show that cointegrated series cannot drift too far apart, and converge to a long-run equilibrium at a speed of 23.68%, 12.76%, 10.20%, 22.91%, and 14.27% respectively.
Information Technology for Active Ageing: A Review of Theory and Practice

Active Ageing aims to foster a physically, mentally and socially active lifestyle as a person ages. It is a complex, multi-faceted problem that involves a variety of different actors, such as policy makers, doctors, care givers, family members, friends and, of course, older adults. This review aims to understand the role of a new actor, which increasingly plays the role of enabler and facilitator, i.e., that of the technology provider. The review specifically focuses on Information Technology IT, with a particular emphasis on software applications, and on how IT can prevent decline, compensate for lost capabilities, aid care, and enhance existing capabilities. The analysis confirms the crucial role of IT in Active Ageing, shows that Active Ageing requires a multidisciplinary approach, and identifies the need for better integration of hardware, software, the environment and the involved actors.
DOES INDUSTRY MATTER DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT PLACES? A comparison of industry, corporate parent, and business segment effects in four OECD countries

A central stream in business strategy research explores the locus of firm rent generation by decomposing accounting profits into effects attributable to time, industry, corporate parent, and individual business segment. This paper expands the scope of this work by examining data on firms from Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as the United States and addressing the importance of understanding geographic influences on firm profits. The empirical analysis corroborates previous findings for the United States, namely that business-specific effects predominate in explaining variance in profits, although industry and corporate parent effects are significant of important magnitude. Cross-national comparisons demonstrate that this general pattern obtains in other countries as well, although results do vary across country. Results of estimates in the manufacturing sector provide further evidence of cross-country differences and suggest that explanations for locus of profit differences across country operate at levels less aggregate than the national level. In motivating the analysis the paper describes methodological and analytical considerations that arise from the introduction of regional influences into the examination of the locus of profits.
Exploring Language Variation on the Internet: Regional Speech in a Chat Community

This paper suggests a sociolinguistic approach to computer mediated communication (CMC), drawing on a case study of language variation in e-chat. While most linguistic research on CMC has focused on media or genre related language variation, we argue that more attention should be paid to user related language variation. We will outline three components of a sociolinguistic perspective on CMC, i.e. a focus on social diversity of online language use, the notion of online community as a structural unit of analysis, and an integration of variationist and interactional sociolinguistic methods. The case study to be reported is concerned with the representation of regional speech in #mannheim, a German city-chat. Based on log files collected through participant observation, we discuss the range of regional variation represented in online conversations from a particular region, the frequency of selected regional features as well as the conversational functions of regional speech chat interactions.
CAUSES OF DISLOCATION OF TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY

We reviewed radiographs and CT scans of 38 total hip arthroplasties which had dislocated (36 posteriorly; 2 anteriorly) and compared the alignment ofthe prosthetic components with those of 14 uncomplicated arthroplasties. No difference was found between the alignment of the prosthetic components in the two groups. In the seven patients who had reoperations, the cause of dislocation diagnosed by CT was confirmed in only two cases (one retroversion of the cup and one protruding osteophyte). Muscular imbalance rather than malposition of the components was the major factor determining dislocation. CT allows accurate measurement of cup and neck anteversion but contributes little to preoperative planning.
Running Head: ATTENTIONAL STYLE AND ASYNCHRONOUS MUSIC Moderating Influence of Dominant Attentional Style and Exercise Intensity on Psychological and Psychophysical Responses to Asynchronous Music

We examined independent and combined influences of asynchronous music and dominant attentional style (DAS) on psychological and psychophysical variables during exercise using mixed methods. Participants (N = 34) were grouped according to DAS and completed treadmill runs at three intensities (low, moderate, high) crossed with three music conditions (motivational, oudeterous, no-music control). State attentional focus shifted from dissociative to associative with increasing intensity and was most aligned with DAS during moderate-intensity exercise. Both music conditions facilitated dissociation at low-to-moderate intensities. At high exercise intensity, both music conditions were associated with reduced RPE among participants with an associative DAS. Dissociators reported higher RPE overall during moderate and high intensities. Psychological responses were most positive in the motivational condition, followed by oudeterous and control. Findings illustrate the relevance of individual differences in DAS as well as task intensity and duration when selecting music for exercise.
Characteristics of laser operation at 1064 nm in Nd:YVO4 under diode pumping at 808 and 914 nm

A comparative study between 808 and 914 nm pumping of Nd:YVO4 crystals for laser operation at 1064 nm has been carried out. Using similar setups, performances of both configurations were first studied in the continuous wave, small-signal gain, and Q-switched regimes. Thanks to a numerical model, it is shown that fluorescence quenching and upconversion processes limit the possible uses for the 914 nm pumping scheme to regimes with low population inversions.
Refractive Outcomes Using the Lenstar Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry Biometer in Phacovitrectomy for Epiretrinal Membranes and Macular Holes

Objective: To compare refractive outcomes using the Lenstar optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR) biometer in the following cases: phacovitrectomy for epiretinal membranes and macular holes (phacovitrectomy group); sequential cataract surgery after prior vitrectomy (sequential-phaco group); routine cataract surgery (phaco-only group). Methods: This study was a retrospective, consecutive comparative series. Main outcomes were mean prediction error (ME) and mean absolute prediction error (MAE). Secondary out-come was the variance in prediction error. Results: ME was significantly more myopic in the phacovitrectomy group (-0.08 ± 0.77D, mean ± SD, p = 0.04) and the sequentialphaco group (-0.09 ± 0.51D, p = 0.01) compared to the phaco-only group (+0.24 ± 0.53D). MAEs were not statistically different across the 3 groups. The phacovitrectomy group had a wider variance in prediction errors compared to the phaco-only group (p = 0.03). Conclusions: There is a myopic shift of approximately -0.3D in both phacovitrectomy and sequential-phaco cases compared to phaco-only cases when using OLCR-based optical biometry. Phacovitrectomy outcomes are more variable compared to phaco-only eyes.
Star-formation in the host galaxies of radio-AGN

There exist strong evidence supporting the co-evolution of central supermassive black holes and their host galaxies. It is however still unclear what the exact role of nuclear activity, in the form of accretion onto these supermassive black holes, in this co-evolution is. We use a rich multi-wavelength dataset available for the North Ecliptic Pole field, most notably surveyed by the AKARI satellite infrared telescope to study the host galaxy properties of AGN. In particular we are interested in investigating star-formation in the host galaxies of radio-AGN and the putative radio feedback mechanism, potentially responsible for the eventual quenching of star-formation. Using both broadband SED modeling and optical spectroscopy, we simultaneously study the nu- clear and host galaxy components of our sources, as a function of their radio luminosity, bolo- metric luminosity, and radio-loudness. Here we present preliminary results concerning the AGN content of the radio sources in this field, while offering tentative evidence that jets are inefficient star-formation quenchers, except in their most powerful state.
Gender Preference of Obstetricians and Gynecologists by Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Women

Patients' preferences in choosing their physicians have been extensively studied in the past [1-4]. Some studies focused more specifically on women's preferences in choosing their obstetrician/ gynecologist, including the parameter of gender [5-10]. In 2001, the New York Times published a front page story entitled "Women's health is no longer a man's world" [11], reflecting a dramatic increase in the number of women pursuing specialty practice, mainly in obstetrics and gynecology. This trend correlates with changes in women's preferences for female obstetricians/gynecologists [6-15]. The most common reasons for their choices are religious beliefs, cultural traditions and enhanced feelings of privacy [12-15]. Few years later several publications listed other characteristics that superseded gender in importance in women’s decision-making [6,16-18].
Household Food Security in Bangladesh: Going beyond Poverty Measures

In this paper, we analyze changes in the dietary diversity scores of the Bangladeshi population over time. Our results show that although there was a clear increase in real per capital consumption expenditure in Bangladesh between 2005 and 2010, the dietary diversity of Bangladeshis showed no sign of improvement over the same period. Moreover, while poor families typically report a lower dietary diversity than non-poor households, irrespectively of their poverty status, households in Bangladesh limit their food consumption to an inadequate number of food items. Unlike dietary diversity, dietary vulnerability is significantly more prevalent among poor households, suggesting that point-in-time measures of consumption are likely to underestimate chronic deprivation in dietary quality. Given the importance of dietary adequacy and vulnerability, particularly among women and children, we conclude that the policy dialogue should pay special attention to the dietary patterns of the Bangladeshi population, going beyond the focus on short-term expenditure-based measures of nutritional status.
A Survey of Channel Modeling for UAV Communications

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have attracted great interest in rapid deployment for both civil and military applications. UAV communication has its own distinctive channel characteristics compared to the widely used cellular or satellite systems. Accurate channel characterization is crucial for the performance optimization and design of efficient UAV communication. However, several challenges exist in UAV channel modeling. For example, the propagation characteristics of UAV channels are under explored for spatial and temporal variations in non–stationary channels. Additionally, airframe shadowing has not yet been investigated for small size rotary UAVs. This paper provides an extensive survey of the measurement methods proposed for UAV channel modeling that use low altitude platforms and discusses various channel characterization efforts. We also review from a contemporary perspective of UAV channel modeling approaches, and outline future research challenges in this domain.
Hydroclimatic control of sediment and metal export from a rural catchment in northwestern Spain

This paper examines sediment and metal (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) exportation at different timescales (annual, seasonal and event) during a 3-year period (2005–2008) in the Mero River headwater, a rural catchment under humid temperate climate. Interannual differences were found both in annual loads and their distributions throughout the year. At annual scale, sediment and particulate metal loads followed the same trend as streamflow, while dissolved metals showed different patterns. Runoff events contributed to 63% of the total sediment load, whereas particulate and dissolved loads in events accounted for between 38–61 and 27–49%, respectively. Runoff events were characterized by high variability in sediment and metal loads, a few events representing a high percentage of the metal exported. Sediment loads were related to maximum and initial discharge. Particulate metal loads were highly correlated with sediment loads, runoff being the hydrological variable that best explains the load of these metals. Dissolved metal loads displayed different patterns. Dissolved Al, showed a great correlation with runoff, while dissolved Mn with maximum discharge.
Generalized Langevin equations for a driven tracer in dense soft colloids: construction and applications

We describe a tracer in a bath of soft Brownian colloids by a particle coupled to the density field of the other bath particles. From the Dean equation, we derive an exact equation for the evolution of the whole system, and show that the density field evolution can be linearized in the limit of a dense bath. This linearized Dean equation with a tracer taken apart is validated by the reproduction of previous results on the mean-field liquid structure and transport properties. Then, the tracer is submitted to an external force and we compute the density profile around it, its mobility and its diffusion coefficient. Our results exhibit effects such as bias enhanced diffusion that are very similar to those observed in the opposite limit of a hard core lattice gas, indicating the robustness of these effects. Our predictions are successfully tested against Brownian dynamics simulations.
Buprenorphine Added on Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment of Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Background: Methamphetamine (MA) use remains a major public health concern around the world. Recent findings suggest that buprenorphine may be helpful for cocaine use reduction. Moreover, animal studies described reduced dopamine peak effect following MA use, due to the administration of low dose buprenorphine. Objectives: This study examined the effectiveness of buprenorphine with brief cognitive behavioral therapy on MA use disorder. Methods: The study was conducted in an outpatient substance abuse treatment center in Qazvin, Iran. Nineteen MA users received buprenorphine for 24 weeks combined with brief cognitive behavioral therapy in an outpatient substance abuse treatment program, three times per week, as a before and after non - randomization study. Clinical outcomes included treatment retention, MA use, degree of MA dependency and craving, quality of life, cognitive abilities questionnaire, addiction severity and also adverse events. Data was analyzed by performing repeated measures analysis and the Friedman test for nonparametric variables. Results: Fifteen participants completed the study during six months and frequency of MA use was significantly decreased at 24 weeks (P < 0.001). There were also significant reductions in craving (P < 0.001), degree of MA dependence (P < 0.001), and improvements in quality of life, cognitive ability, and some subscales of addiction severity. Conclusions: The results of this preliminary clinical study demonstrated that buprenorphine could potentially attenuate MA craving and alternate rewarding effects of MA and had promising effects on cognitive impairment. Furthermore, buprenorphine can be considered as a harm reduction intervention in some communities, in which the people, as a result of cultural beliefs, do not accept a therapy, which only consists of counseling and no medications.