Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In silico analysis of phag-like protein in Ralstonia Euthropa H16, potentially involved in polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are synthesised by bacteria as carbon storage material. The protein PhaG directs carbon from non-related carbon sources such as glycerol, metabolised through fatty acid de novo synthesis (FAS) pathway, with PHA synthesis. The gene that codifies for this protein has not yet been found in the genome of Ralstonia eutropha H16, a model organism. By bioinformatic comparison to already known PhaG proteins, a PhaG-like protein was found codified by gene H16_A0147 and presence of the gene was preliminary confirmed by PCR. This is the first study that shows the presence and characteristics of a PhaG-like protein in R. eutropha H16 and represents the first step for the identification of a connection between FAS and PHA pathways in this model bacterium. Further gene deletion and enzymatic activity studies are necessary to confirm this potential relationship, which could improve industrial PHA production and utilisation of agro-industrial residues such as glycerol.
A TEMPORAL INVESTIGATION OF NASALIZATION AND VELOPHARYNGEAL PORT OPENING

INTRODUCTION Although perceptual salience of oral-nasal resonance imbalance is influenced strongly by the amplitude domain of nasalization (Jones, 2000), literature has shown that the temporal domain of nasalization can also present unique features in relation to hypernasal speech. For example, Kuehn (1976) suggested that uncoordinated timing of the velopharyngeal closure in relation to other articulators may result in hypernasal speech. The timing features would become more critical when individuals cannot achieve normal resonance with adequate velopharyngeal closure (Zajac & Hackett, 2002). Given that approximately 20% of individuals with repaired cleft palate suffer from residual velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) (Furlow, 1986), a thorough understanding of the timing patterns of the velopharyngeal mechanism is needed. Previous temporal investigations using aerodynamic and acoustic methods suggested that hypernasal speech may be overall characterized by prolonged nasal airflow and lengthened nasalized duration (e.g., Warren et al., 1993; Jones, 2000; Dotevall et al., 2001; Ha et al., 2004). As indirect measures do not provide direct visualization of the velopharyngeal region, however, many physiologic assumptions and inferences had to be made to interpret aerodynamic and acoustic phenomena in relation to the velopharyngeal status. Thus, there is a strong need to bridge physiologic timing information with findings obtained through the indirect measures. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques have recently become popular in speech research, providing information on vocal tract geometry and specific muscle configurations. MRI techniques, however, have been confined to imaging relatively static postures due to the slow speed of image acquisition. In addition, most MRI speech studies largely lack simultaneous speech recordings and subsequent acoustic analyses due to the intense noise generated by the MRI scanner. A successful fast MRI application in conjunction with acoustic analysis was reported by Bae, Kuehn, Conway, and Sutton (2008) in examining the acoustic and physiologic relationships of the velopharyngeal mechanism. That study showed that the acoustic parameters of nasalization including F1 peak amplitude and F1 bandwidth could be reliably predicted by velar and tongue positional variables. The present study focused on the temporal aspects of the velopharyngeal mechanism. More specifically, the relationships between the acoustic representation of nasalized durations and the physiologic representation of the midsagittal velopharyngeal port opening period were examined using fast MRI with the acoustic analysis method in normal individuals.
See it; be it? The use of role models in campaign trainings for women

ABSTRACT Campaign training programs for women often spotlight women political leaders as role models for attendees, presumably with the intention that their achievements will help inspire other women to aspire to political leadership themselves. There is, however, contradictory evidence in the extant literature on role model effects, which exists primarily outside of political science. Although never applied directly to purposeful efforts to inspire women to run for office, findings in psychology point to ways role models can both enhance and depress ambition in areas other than electoral politics. In this study, I use data on participants in two candidate training programs to explore the effectiveness of this role models tactic. I find that the strength of participant identification with role models is positively associated with enhanced political ambition, but that specific role model characteristics (i.e., stereotypical, counter-stereotypical traits) may be more or less effective. These findings add greater nuance to scholarly discussions of political ambition and suggest that women’s political ambition may be better evaluated with a more refined approach.
Diagnostic Reference Level in Computed Tomography : An Evaluation of CT-Protocol Dose Index in a Diagnostic Facility

Recent surveys in large medical centers have found that Computed Tomography (CT) studies now often account for 25% of all examinations and 60 to 70% of the patient dose received from diagnostic radiology (IAEA, 2009). This has created a sense of urgency and the impetus for establishing Diagnostic Reference Level (DRL) and dose reduction strategies. This study presents the assessment and evaluation of patient radiation doses for common CT examinations and derivation of DRLs for common CT examinations. Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) and Dose Length Product (DLP) of common CT examinations including: Abdomen, Abdominopelvis, Brain, C-Spine, Chest amongst others were measured using a calibrated GE CT scanner. Data were collected for 402 patients. The mean CTDIv (mGy) and DLP (mGy.cm) for all the protocols were 17.92 & 684.94, 17.09 & 744.56, 51.19 & 852.96, 20.08 & 423.92, 16.8 & 490.07 respectively. When compared with international standards, the great variation in dose distribution was attributed to CT technical parameters, clinical complexity of the patients and inadequate quality control program. There is a dire need to establish local DRL, which are corrective measures that are required in elimination of radiation that does not contribute to overall profile of the patients.
A Collaboration Model to Recommend Network Security Alerts Based on the Mixed Hybrid Approach

A high number of cyber security alerts are shared every second in different medias like forums, mail lists, and online social networks. The flood of alerts complicates the network administrator’s job, since not all cyber security alerts are important for his/her specific environment. Thus, recommender system techniques could be properly used to filter cyber security alerts based on network administrator ratings and preferences. This paper presents a collaboration model to recommend cyber security alerts for network administrators, helping them to focus on the relevant alerts. To evaluate the model, an offline experiment is executed. Partial results showed that our model can be used to recommend cyber security alerts.
University of Southern Denmark Children ' s white blood cell counts in relation to developmental exposures to methylmercury and persistent organic pollutants

Background—To explore possible markers of developmental immunotoxicity, we prospectively examined 56 children to determine associations between exposures to methylmercury and persistent organic pollutants since birth and the comprehensive differential counts of white blood cells (WBC) at age 5 years. Materials and methods—Extended differential count included: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes (including T cells, NK cells, and B cells), and monocytes. Organochlorine compounds (OCs) including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides, five perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and total mercury (Hg) were measured in maternal (n=56) and children’s blood at 18 months (n=42) and 5 years (n=56). We constructed latent functions for exposures at three different ages using factor analyses and applied structural equation models adjusted for covariates. Results—Prenatal mercury exposure was associated with depleted total WBC, especially for lymphocytes, where a one standard deviation (SD) increase in the exposure was associated with a decrease by 23% SD (95% CI: −43, −4) in the cell count. Prenatal exposure to OCs was Corresponding author. Address: Department of Environmental Medicine, J.B. Winslowsvej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. pgrand@sdu.dk. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. HHS Public Access Author manuscript Reprod Toxicol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2018 March 01. Published in final edited form as: Reprod Toxicol. 2017 March ; 68: 207–214. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox. 2016.08. 001. A uhor M anscript
Corrosion inhibition of C-steel in acidic media from fruiting bodies of Melia azedarach L extract and a synergistic Ni 2+ additive

The inhibiting ability of the fruiting bodies of Melia azedarach Linn extract (FB-MAL) and its synergistic e ﬀ ect with nickel ions (Ni 2+ ) on the corrosion of carbon (C)-steel in hydrochloric acid were investigated using gravimetric measurements, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The FB-MAL inhibited C-steel corrosion in acidic media up to 76.5%. Combining the FB-MAL with Ni 2+ enhanced the adsorption capability of FB-MAL, greatly and consequently increased its inhibitive e ﬀ ect. Potentiodynamic polarization studies revealed that FB-MAL and FB-MAL + 100 ppm Ni 2+ behave as mixed-type inhibitors. The EIS spectra showed that the charge transfer controls the corrosion process. The studied system obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The kinetic parameters were computed and are discussed later in this paper. The formation of the protective ﬁ lm was con ﬁ rmed using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. impedance spectroscopy (EIS), gravimetric measurements, UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron
THE INFLUENCE OF INQUIRY-BASED MATHEMATICS TEACHING ON 11 th GRADE HIGH ACHIEVERS : FOCUSING ON METACOGNITION

This study investigates the influence of inquiry-based mathematics teaching on high achievers’ metacognitive abilities. The research subjects were 28 eleventh graders high performance in learning mathematics. A mixed methodology combing qualitative and quantitative approaches was used to investigate students’ metacognition in an inquiry-based classroom environment. The main research instrument for collecting quantitative data was the Metacognition Inventory questionnaire which was conducted before and after the inquiry-based lessons. The qualitative data, such as interviews with students, videotaped classroom teaching, students’ work sheets and feedback sheets, and teacher’s journals, were also collected and analysed. Results indicated that there was weak but no significant correlation between student’s mathematics achievement and their metacognition. Besides, students could develop significantly better metacognitive capacities after receiving the three-month inquiry-based mathematics teaching. Moreover, we also discussed how inquiry cycle is related to metacognitive components.
Diagnostic Laparoscopic Findings in Infertile Patients in the Saudi Population

A study was carried out at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh and King Abdul Aziz Armed Forces Hospital, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia over a period of three months from 1.5. 06 to 1.8. 2006 in which fifty female Saudi patients presenting with infertility were subjected to pelvic laparoscopy. The findings of both primary and secondary infertility were evaluated in relation to the patient’s age, symptoms and laparoscopic findings.
Using HotSpotter Animal Individual Recognition Software in the Detection of Ontogenetic Pattern Changes in Panamanian Golden Frogs (Atelopus zeteki)

Panamanian golden frogs (​Atelopus zeteki​) are a species of bufonid toad native to Panama that are suspected to be extinct in the wild due to infection from an invasive foreign fungus. Adult frogs are bright yellow in color, with numerous individually unique black markings that tend to disappear over time. In this study, a captive population of 44 Panamanian golden frogs were photographed once per month over a period of several months to track the changes in black patterning. These images were compared visually and through the program HotSpotter to develop a method by which HotSpotter may be used to consistently identify individual frogs over time, despite the changes in patterning. By querying against each other in HotSpotter all photos of a given individual frog over time, it was determined that instructing HotSpotter to look at only the dorsum of the frogs, excluding head and legs, returned the most accurate matches. Once this method of matching photos (one at a time, using only the back regions of the frogs) was established as the most accurate, it was used to test how well HotSpotter could match photos over time as the frogs’ patterning changed. The preliminary conclusion was that HotSpotter is less able to match photos of younger frogs whose patterning often changed appreciably in the time between photographs. Further testing is needed to confirm or refute this conclusion.
LOW BACK PAIN AND THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF PILATES IN ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

Low back pain is one of the commonest sites of pain in gymnasts. This pain may accompany well defined anatomical abnormalities of the spine or be present without significant skeletal abnormality. Skeletal abnormalities correlate with age and hours of training per week implicating that spinal injuries in gymnasts are “training-dose” related. We give an overview of the studies reporting on the incidence and prevalence of spinal injuries and low back pain in artistic gymnastics. The origin of low back pain is described and analysed. Pilates is an increasingly popular system of body-stabilising exercise. Its main principles are devoted to activation of the muscles contributing to spinal stabilization. It was used as a rehabilitation method for a lower back problems and was shown to be effective and of good subjective acceptance in the general population, whereas specific studies in the artistic gymnastics are lacking. According to the studies with training programs implementing similar lower-trunk stabilizing principles as Pilates, gymnastics couches may be encouraged to implement this kind of exercise for prevention and treatment of chronic low back pain in gymnasts.
Influence of Pheromone Trap Color and Placement on Catch of Male Potato Tuber Moth , Phthorimaea operculella ( Zeller , 1873 )

Potato Tuber Moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is one of the damaging pests of potatoes in both field crops and storage worldwide. Larvae develop in the foliage and tubers of potatoes and cause direct losses of product. Mass trapping application of synthetic pheromone has been found to be effective to control P. operculella; however, several factors have to be optimized for improving its efficiency. This experiment was carried out during the 2012 season, Ardabil province, Iran to evaluate the effectiveness of pheromone trap to capture males for future development of a mass trapping technique, and a subsequent decrease in insect reproduction. Particularly, in this experiment the influence of color (yellow, red and green), and height (ground level, 0.3 and 0.6 m) of water-pan trap on males captures was tested. The results showed that green traps captured significantly (P < 0.05) more males than red and yellow traps. Water-pan traps placed at 0.6 above plant canopy captured significantly (P < 0.05) the highest number of the moths in comparison to traps placed at ground level and 0.3 m.
Impact on Cultural Values in OBOR # 4-6 P-1 Disparate Sensemaking to Develop Successful International Joint Ventures ( IJVs )-- Implications for the One Belt One Road Initiative

In this paper, we focus on the development of Inter national Joint Ventures (IJVs) in the Sino-Western context. A longitudinal qualitative study was condu cted that scrutinized the development of an IJV partnership between a Chinese and a Western firm (b oth large and successful firms in their respective countries). Despite the success in their domestic m arkets, both firms found it challenging to leverage th ir business through the IJV. In the paper, we outline the key issues in the development of IJV partnershi p – namely communication management, legal issues and n vigating culturally different expectations and approaches to strategizing and organizational proce sses and discuss how each partner’s individual sense making about these dimensions contributed to the misalignment between the firms. Based on this analysis, we offer a set of recommendations for dev eloping successful IJVs – such as simplification of contracts and allowing time for contracts to mature . Given the focus of the conference, we also focus at the role of standards in the development of IJVs. I n the final part of the paper, we link the results to the
Stalin and the Origins of Mistrust APRIL 2019

IZA DP No. 12326 APRIL 2019 Stalin and the Origins of Mistrust* We show that current differences in trust levels within former Soviet Union countries can be traced back to the system of forced prison labor during Stalin’s rule, which was marked by high incarceration rates, repression, and harsh punishments. We argue that those exposed to forced labor camps (gulags) became less trusting and transferred this social norm to their descendants. Combining contemporary individual-level survey data with historical information on the location of forced labor camps, we find that individuals who live near former gulags have low levels of social and institutional trust. Our results are robust to a battery of sensitivity checks, which suggests that the relationship we document is causal. We outline several causal mechanisms and test whether the social norm of mistrust near gulags developed because of political repression or due to fear that inmates bring criminality. As such, we provide novel evidence on the channels through which history matters for current socio-economic outcomes today. JEL Classification: D02, H10, N94, Z13
Physical modeling and characterization of thermo-acoustic loudspeakers made of silver nano-wire films

Recent developments of ultra-low heat capacity nanostructured materials revived the interest in the thermo-acoustic (TA) loudspeaker technology, which shows important advantages compared to the classical dynamic loudspeakers as they feature a lower cost and weight, flexibility, conformability to the surface of various shapes, and transparency. The development of the TA loudspeaker technology requires accurate physical models connecting the material properties to the thermal and acoustic speaker's performance. We present here a combined theoretical and experimental analysis of TA loudspeakers, where the electro-thermal and the thermo-acoustic transductions are handled separately, thus allowing an in-depth description of both the pressure and temperature dynamics. The electro-thermal transduction is analyzed by accounting for all the heat flow processes taking place between the TA loudspeaker and the surrounding environment, with focus on their frequency dependence. The thermo-acoustic conversion is studied.
Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in aboriginal and nonaboriginal people living in the Bella Coola Valley

ABSTRACT: Background:Type 2 diabetesmellitus affects an estimated 4.8% of the Canadian adult population. Diabetes prevalence rates for British Columbia’s aboriginal people have been reported as being lower than those reported for other aboriginal groups, and lower than the overall Canadian rate. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of diabetes among the aboriginal and nonaboriginal populations living in the Bella Coola Valley. The relationships between age, gender, weight, body mass index and aboriginal status and having diabetes mellitus were also examined.
Causes and Controlling Factors of Valley Bottom Gullies

Valley bottomland provides diverse agricultural and ecosystem benefits. Due to concentrated flow paths, they are more vulnerable to gully erosion than hillslope areas. The objective of this review was to show what caused valley bottoms gullies and to present deficiencies in existing rehabilitation measures. From the literature review, we found the following general trends: watershed characteristics determine location of valley bottom gullies; an increase in water transported from the watershed initiates the formation of gullies; the rate of change of the valley bottom gullies, once initiated, depends on the amount of rainfall and the soil and bedrock properties. Especially in humid climates, the presence of subsurface flow greatly enhances bank slippage and advancement of gully heads. Valley bottom gully reclamation measures are generally effective in arid and semi-arid areas with the limited subsurface flow and deep groundwater tables, whereas, for (sub) humid regions, similar remedial actions are not successful as they do not account for the effects of subsurface flows. To ensure effective implementation of rehabilitation measures, especially for humid regions, an integrated landscape approach that accounts for the combined subsurface and surface drainage is needed.
2549 Deterrence through Word of Mouth

The deterrent effect of law enforcement rests on the link between the actual and the perceived detection risk. We study the role of word of mouth for this linkage. Our approach makes use of micro data on compliance with TV license fees allowing us to distinguish between households who have been subject to enforcement and those who have not. Exploiting local variation in field inspectors’ efforts induced by snowfall, we find a striking response of households to increased enforcement in their vicinity, with compliance rising significantly among those who had no interaction with inspectors. As we can exclude other channels of information transmission, our finding establishes a substantial deterrent effect mediated by word of mouth. JEL Code: K42, D83.
“ Optimal ” climate change or structural change of the economy ? A multi-agent model

Climate-economic models à la Nordhaus or Stern are based on macro-economic general equilibrium models to weigh costs of climate protection against costs of climate change. In essence, these models are standard neoclassical optimization models, resulting in a cost-minimizing climate policy; typically in a mix of some climate change with some protection measures. There are two problems with such an approach. First, it seems quite obvious that people in the real world do not behave as optimization models assume. Second, such models assume a rather static economy. There are some growth rates for technological progress, population or GDP, but these are either given exogenously or driven by investments which only affect one aggregate level of the economy. The paper suggests to explicitly consider behavioural aspects of climate policy. Instead of calculating optimal behaviour, the model depicts the consequences of different behavioural assumptions. And the model shall include the possibility of structural change.