Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Oral Cavity: A Reservoir that Favors Colonization and Selection of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto Strains with High Pathogen Potential Under Conditions of Gingival-periodontal Disease

The Candida parapsilosis complex comprises three genetically related species: Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis. During the last decade, Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto has become the second most commonly isolated yeast from patients with blood stream invasive fungal infections, following Candida albicans. Despite its clinical significance, little is known about its distribution and behavior in oral cavity niches. Given this background, we intended to perform a molecular characterization of 38 isolates of the Candida parapsilosis complex collected from oral cavities of immunocompetent patients with and without gingivalperiodontal disease, with the aim of determining its distribution and establishing a correlation with clinical data. Besides, we assessed the virulence of the strains by examining the in vitro biofilm-forming capacity in two different culture media: YPD and RPMI 1640. Being more frequently isolated from oral cavities with pathological conditions, 89.5% of the strains were reconfirmed to be Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto. More than 70% of the Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto strains showed biofilm-forming capacity in both culture media, reflecting a statistically significant association between biofilm-forming capacity and the clinical conditions of the subjects from whom the strains were isolated. Among the three complex species, Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto is a normal commensal in the oral cavity, being more frequently recovered in inflammatory conditions. Gingival-periodontal disease may be a factor triggering overgrowth and virulence of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto commensal strains.
ALLELOPATHIC IMPACT OF TWO WEEDS, CHENOPODIUM MURALE AND MALVA PARVIFLORA ON GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.)

The allelopathic impact of aqueous extract of 2 weeds Malva parviflora and Chenopodium murale on growth and photosynthesis of barley was investigated. The barley plants were sown in plastic pots containing a compost:sand mixture and placed in growth chambers. Plants were treated with the following weed aqueous extract concentrations; 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Different responses of plants to the two weeds were observed. Plant heights, number of leaves, number of tillers, root dry weight were not affected by M. parviflora. A clear effect of C. murale was recorded on the growth parameters; plant height, number of leaves and number of tillers, root fresh and dry weight. M. parviflora affected leaf growth, measured as leaf fresh weight (LFW), leaf dry weight (LDW) and leaf area. All the growth parameters measured were more adversely affected by C. murale than by M. parviflora. Significant effect at 25% and 50% and highly significant effect at 75% and 100% were recorded. The only concentration of M. parviflora that affected chlorophyll content was 100%, while the effect of C. murale was significant at 50% and highly significant at 75% and 100%. Photosynthesis was also inhibited by the two weeds, with more effect being with C. murale compared with M. parviflora
Evaluation of the Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hearing Loss

Background and Objective : Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) through hypoxia and reoxygenation periods leads to oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and activation of inflammatory cycles, which eventually may cause disorder in vasa nervorum, and peripheral neuropathy in hearing pathway. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of severe sleep apnea on hearing function. Materials and Methods : In this study, 91 individuals were evaluated and categorized in two groups of patients suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnea [Apnea/Hypopnea index (AHI) > 30], and controls (AHI < 5). Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was performed for all the subjects. Results : Mean hearing threshold at 250-8000 Hz was 24.44 ± 6.80 dB, and 15.75 ± 5.10 dB in case and control groups, respectively (P < 0.01). Evaluation of each frequency showed that hearing threshold was significantly higher at 4000 Hz in the group with severe obstructive apnea. The only effective factor among all variances of sensorineural hearing loss in obstructive sleep apnea was the oxygen desaturation index, which predicted 18% of hearing loss variances. The frequency of hearing loss in patients with obstructive sleep apnea was higher than those without it. The severity of obstructive sleep apnea had significant relationship with hearing loss. Conclusion : The frequency of hearing loss in patients with obstructive sleep apnea was estimated to be more than subjects without it. The severity of obstructive sleep apnea was associated with hearing loss. Obstructive sleep apnea may be a risk factor for hearing loss due to hypoxia. Thus, treatment of it may reduce risk of hearing loss. Further studies are required to evaluate the influence of treatment of obstructive sleep apnea on hearing loss.
Advanced paternal age, infertility, and reproductive risks: A review of the literature

Advanced paternal age (APA) is associated with infertility and other reproductive risks. Studies looking at APA and outcomes have used different paternal age cut‐offs, which has complicated systematic evaluations of reproductive risk associated with paternal aging. This review of the literature suggests that the impact of paternal aging on adverse reproductive outcomes is small, but significant. Studies suggest the incidence of paternal age effect disorders attributed to de novo autosomal dominant mutations is less than 0.5%. Other risks associated with APA include infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, and childhood cancer. Although the increasing prevalence of APA has mirrored the rise in maternal age, this topic has not received similar attention. In this review, we summarize the available literature on the reproductive risks associated with APA to provide a framework for comprehensive genetic counseling and evidence‐based management of APA pregnancies.
STEM Certification in Georgia's Schools: A Causal Comparative Study Using the Georgia Student Growth Model.

The increase in demand for college and career ready students has driven the need for education reform to ensure K–12 schools can support student learning across all content areas and grade levels. A STEM Certification process was established by the Georgia Department of Education as part of an effort to reform public school STEM education. Additionally, an international STEM Certification procedure developed by AdvancED has been implemented in several Georgia schools. As a significant component of STEM certification guidelines, problem based learning has been incorporated to stimulate student interest in science, facilitate self-regulation, and increase pedagogical and content knowledge. As Georgia schools become STEM certified, it is important to understand how certification has influenced achievement in math and science as well as important non-STEM disciplines such as English language arts and social studies. This causal comparative study examined if the STEM certification process altered student achievement in participating schools as compared to schools that have not participated. Student achievement was measured by the median growth percentiles (MGPs) between STEM certified and non-STEM schools in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies at the fourth and fifth grade levels using a MannWhitney U test. The study found only the MGPs for fourth grade ELA were significantly higher (p = .004) in STEM certified schools. Overall, inconsistent differences in MGPs for ELA, math, science, and social studies were found between STEM certified and non-STEM schools.
Edinburgh Research Explorer Factors influencing the stable carbon isotopic composition of suspended and sinking organic matter in the coastal Antarctic sea ice environment

A high resolution time-series analysis of stable carbon isotopic signatures in particulate organic carbon ( δ 13 C POC ) and associated biogeochemical parameters in sea ice and surface waters provides an insight into the factors affecting δ 13 C POC in the coastal western Antarctic Peninsula sea ice environment. The study covers two austral summer seasons in Ryder Bay, northern Marguerite Bay between 2004 and 2006. A shift in diatom species composition during the 2005/06 summer bloom to near-complete biomass dominance inermis with a large 10 ‰ negative isotopic shift in 13 C concurrent in or isotopic signature of CO We the 13 C POC shift by the contrasting biochemical mechanisms and utilisation of carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) in different diatom species. very low δ 13 C POC inermis of
The Strength of Abstraction with Predicative Comprehension

Frege's theorem says that second-order Peano arithmetic is interpretable in Hume's Principle and full impredicative comprehension. Hume's Principle is one example of an abstraction principle, while another paradigmatic example is Basic Law V from Frege's Grundgesetze. In this paper we study the strength of abstraction principles in the presence of predicative restrictions on the comprehension schema, and in particular we study a predicative Fregean theory which contains all the abstraction principles whose underlying equivalence relations can be proven to be equivalence relations in a weak background second-order logic. We show that this predicative Fregean theory interprets second-order Peano arithmetic.
Emotions, Behavior, and the Mediating Role of Climate

This study examined the impact of emotional intelligence on organizational citizenship behavior with organizational climate as the mediator, in the context of Jordanian pharmaceutical companies. The study addresses the gap in the research that examines the mediating effect organizational climate has on organizational citizenship behavior and emotional intelligence. Quantifiable data were collected using a survey questionnaire, and statistical analyses were performed, including correlation and regression analysis. This study indicates that organizational climate is of great importance in Jordanian pharmaceutical companies because it tended to promote efficiency and effectiveness among employees. Organizational climate mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and organizational citizenship behavior; if emotionally intelligent employees are provided with a positive organizational climate, only then can they contribute positively towards organizational citizenship behavior. The study is helpful in understanding how organizational citizenship behavior has become a factor underlying job satisfaction. Therefore, Jordanian pharmaceutical companies should focus on developing a culture in which employees can achieve goals and feel satisfied.
Discovery of a Luminous Radio Transient 460 pc from the Central Supermassive Black Hole in Cygnus A

We report the appearance of a new radio source at a projected offset of 460 pc from the nucleus of Cygnus A. The flux density of the source (which we designate Cygnus A-2) rose from an upper limit of <0.5 mJy in 1989 to 4 mJy in 2016 (ν = 8.5 GHz), but is currently not varying by more than a few percent per year. The radio luminosity of the source is comparable to the most luminous known supernovae, it is compact in Very Long Baseline Array observations down to a scale of 4 pc, and it is coincident with a near-infrared point source seen in pre-existing adaptive optics and HST observations. The most likely interpretation of this source is that it represents a secondary supermassive black hole in a close orbit around the Cygnus A primary, though an exotic supernova model cannot be ruled out. The gravitational influence of a secondary SMBH at this location may have played an important role in triggering the rapid accretion that has powered the Cygnus A radio jet over the past 107 years.
The influence of socio-economic status of parents and home environment on the study habits and academic achievement of students

The study deals with the relationship among the academic achievement of students and the socioeconomic status of parents in selected primary schools of Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. The environment of family plays a significant role in the educational and social development of children. The important family conditions that have significant role in the determination of educational achievement and social behaviour of students are the income level of parents, the educational level of parents and the health status and also the living standard of family. The present study reveal that the socio-economic status of parents does not make significant effect on the educational achievement of students but the parental educational level health status of children has a significant role in determining the educational achievement and social adjustment of the children. Apart from these factors, the democratic environment at home and the availability of means of recreation play a significant role in the academic performance of students at primary level
Signaling, Learning, and Screening Prior to Trial: Informational Implications of Preliminary Injunctions

Preliminary injunctions (PIs) are important in litigation in many settings, including antitrust, copyright, patent, trademark, employment and labor relations, and contracts. The filing of a PI and the court's ruling generate information that can impact settlement. We find that some plaintiffs request a PI to signal bounds on their damages in order to elicit better settlement offers. As a result, the parties are more likely to come to an out-of-court agreement permitting the disputed activity, compared to when a PI is motivated solely by defensive reasons to avert immediate damages during trial. Although the grant of a PI reduces ex post incentives for potential litigants to settle, this is more than offset by an increase in settlement upon a denial. Thus, ex ante, learning leads to more settlement. Nevertheless, the anticipation of learning and increased chances of settlement do not affect the initial filing decision.
The sub-Saharan potential for household level water supply improvement.

Promoting only community-based water supply may mean that we are omitting a major asset which can contribute to MDGs. Many people in sub-Saharan Africa are investing in their own supplies, and appear interested to retain ownership and invest more. In the case of groundwater sources the facility may be privately owned but is generally shared to provide a communal service. In addition there is a growing culture of water treatment which stems partly from seasonal anti-cholera chlorination campaigns and which can reduce health risks of such traditional supplies. Building on these two household level initiatives offers a complementary approach especially for smaller communities, and those with plentiful traditional water supplies, where communal supplies often face problems of sustainability. Combined with rainwater harvesting especially for areas with scarce freshwater, household supply improvements can reduce the financial burden on governments, and yet allow them to respond to community and household demands.
Intention to Purchase Products under Volume Discount Scheme: A Conceptual Model and Research Propositions

Many standard brands sell products under the volume discount scheme (VDS) as more and more consumers are fond of purchasing products under this scheme. Despite volume discount being commonly practiced, there is a dearth of research, both conceptual and empirical, focusing on purchase characteristics factors and consumer internal evaluation concerning the purchase of products under VDS. To attempt to fill this void, this article develops a conceptual model on VDS with the intention of delineating the influence of the purchase characteristics factors on the consumer intention to purchase products under VDS and provides an explanation of their effects through consumer internal evaluation. Finally, the authors discuss the managerial implications of their research and offer guidelines for future empirical research.
The Effect of Board Composition on Corporate Financial Performance: Evidence from Listed Firms in Ghana

This study adds to the literature on corporate governance and corporate financial performance by assessing the effect of board composition on the financial performance of listed firms in Ghana. Using a static panel regression model, the results show that contrary to the agency theory, inside directors tend to have a positive and significant effect on corporate financial performance whilst outside directors have a negative but statistically insignificant effect on corporate financial performance of the listed firms in Ghana. In addition, it was found that the existence of nomination committees tend to have a negative effect on corporate financial performance of listed firms in Ghana. The study recommends that listed firms in Ghana should look at how to continuously empower inside directors to be able to perform their work well instead of bringing in more outside directors to check them. Moreover, the nomination process of board members must be made transparent to achieve the objective of recruiting competent and ethical minded executives to the board. Guidelines for executive recruitment to the board must be established and if possible the nomination committee must employ the services of executive-hunting agency which would assist the committee in the recruitment process.
Effect of dietary supplementation of salts of organic acids on gut morphology and meat quality of broilers

The present investigation was conducted to appraise the effect of different levels of salts of organic acids on the gut morphology and meat quality of broilers. A total 300 day-old commercial chicks were randomly divided into 5 treatments. Each treatment consists of 6 replicates having 10 birds per replicate. The control diet was formulated to contain approximately the same metabolizable energy (ME), crude protein and limiting amino acids (methionine and lysine) as per the requirements of birds. The first group (T1) was fed on control diet without any feed additives, while, groups (T2, T3, T4 and T5) were fed on basal diets containing sodium butyrate and calcium propionate @ 0.5% and 1.0% respectively. Six birds from each treatment (1 per replication) were randomly selected for slaughter and collection of samples and microbial study at day 42. Performance of birds in terms of body weight and feed conversion ratio was significantly improved in treated groups. Results showed that in gut morphology, pH was reduced significantly (P<0.05) in T3 and T5 (6.24 and 6.22, respectively) as compared to the control group (6.64) while significant improvement was observed in villus height and crypt depth in all treatment groups and were highest in T3 (539.50µm,135.67 µm). Lowest Coliform bacteria (log CFU/g.)was recorded in T3 (16.57) which was significantly differ with the T1 (19.17) and Lactobacilli count was significantly increased in all treatments as compared to control.Supplementation of organic acids reduced meat cholesterol level significantly and lowest was in T5(48.03mg/dL) followed by T3 (48.30mg/dL). Similarly SFA decreased while PUFA content was increased significantly on supplementation of salts as compared to control.
Individual species crown mapping in Taman Rimba Ilmu, University Malaya using airborne hyperspectral imaging.

Problem statement: Accurate, current and cost-effective individual standing tree data are required by forest management communities for use in forest inventory over large areas. Currently, most of the forest mapping process is done directly on the ground using many technique such as the bearing-distance and also the other technique that use the computer software as a support, such as Tree MapperTM. Instead of ground data collection and where there are difficulties in reaching the individual trees, hyper spectral remote sensing technology is the best option to map the tree positions. Approach: A novel approach to generating an individual tree crown mapping estimated for a lowland dipterocarp forest of Taman Rimba Ilmu, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur using an airborne hyperspatial (1 m2 ground resolution) imager was presented. Results: A total of 297 individual tree crowns comprising of 83 Xylopia sp. , 79 Ixonanthes sp. , 56 Hevea sp. , 15 Streblus elongates, 14 Pellacalyx sp. , 12 Endospermum diadenum, 11 Macaranga gigantea, 10 Cratoxylum sp. , 10 Cannarium sp. and 7 Ixonanthes icosandra were identified and delineated as individual polygons in a study area plot of 2 ha. Conclusion/Recommendations: It was found out that individual tree crowns in University Malaya can be detected and counted with reasonable field measured to image derived mapping accuracy of 98.65%. This study implied that acceptable individual tree crown classification maps and algometric equations relating diameter at breast height (dbh) or crown area to biomass can be used to generate timber volume estimates with established crown-diameter-volume correlations.
Is Dexamethasone Epidural Injection Effec tive In Relieving Radicular Pain In An Adult Population

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not dexamethasone epidural injections are effective in treating radicular pain in an adult population. Study Design: Review of three randomized controlled trials, two of which were published in 2012 and one in 2010, all English language. Data Sources: Three randomized controlled trials comparing dexamethasone epidural injections to saline injections. All articles were found using PubMed, Medline, and OVID. Outcomes measured: Researchers measured pain associated with radicular pain using the Short McGill Pain Questionnaire, Numeric Pain Scale, and Oswestry Disability Index. Results: All three randomized controlled trials did display significant radicular pain relief with the use of an epidural steroid injection as compared to a saline injection. These three studies however did not display that dexamethasone was the most successful in treating radicular pain. Conclusions: These three RCTs studies displayed significant radicular pain relief by receiving epidural steroid injection. Further research is warranted to compare the safety and efficacy of epidural injections verses physical therapy.
Exploring market failures in open innovation

There is now considerable empirical evidence demonstrating the innovation and performance benefits that accrue to firms engaging in open innovation (OI). Here, we use novel data on micro-businesses to show that the average level of engagement in OI falls well below the optimal level, a finding that reflects that of other empirical studies. We identify and examine three market failures which may help to explain this result. These relate to a lack of understanding of the potential benefits of OI by firms, a lack of information about the capabilities of potential partners and a lack of information about the trustworthiness of potential partners. Our findings provide evidence that policy initiatives designed to offset these information failures are likely to increase the range of partners with which firms engage with significant benefits for innovation.