Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing the adoption of insurance as a risk treatment tool by contractors in the construction industry

Abstract The major challenge surrounding construction projects are hinged on time, cost and quality, which are all susceptible to uncertainty and have financial implications. As a response to the excessive uncertainty, standard contracts for construction projects demand that contractors indemnify all works associated with a project and the people involved in it through having insurance cover. Even though the consensus that insurance as a primary means of managing risk has expanded significantly, few contractors have adopted it in developing countries. This study set out to evaluate the factors influencing insurance use as a risk response tool for contractors alongside its efficiency in the construction industry. Quantitative research method was adopted to achieve the aim of the study in which a close-ended questionnaire was developed. Respondents were chosen using a purposive sampling technique and they include Architects, Construction Managers, Project Managers, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers and Insurance professionals within Gauteng province. Retrieved data was analysed using descriptive statistics, One-Sample T-test, and exploratory factor analysis. Findings revealed that factors influencing insurance use as risk response tool by contractors can be categorised into project characteristics, financial stability influence, organisational objective influence, insurer’s influence, and insured participants and legal requirement influence. It was also established that insurance is efficient in managing external risks. Based on these findings, it was concluded that project characteristics play a major role in the decision to employ insurance as a tool for managing risk. It was recommended that construction team players and stakeholders should encourage the use of the different insurance covers for construction projects.
Combined cognitive–motivational modules delivered via an LMS increase undergraduate biology grades.

Students ’ success in undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses requires effective studying behavior, but also the motivation to enact it. Promoting students ’ achievement in STEM has commonly focused on either study strategies (cognitive) or motivational interventions; we hypothesized that combinations of these would be more effective. Using a learning management system (LMS) for delivery, we iteratively developed and tested the effect of different combinations of one of the four cognition-focused with one of the three motivation-focused intervention modules. Participants were 3,092 undergraduate introductory biology students tested in 10 studies at three universities over 4 years. They were randomly assigned to either a no-treatment control condition or one of the 17 conditions involving either single or combined intervention modules delivered over an entire semester. Course grades were provided by the instructor. We used meta-analytic techniques to capture the effectofstudents ’ accesstotheinterventionsongrades,andtotestwhetherdifferencesacrossexperimentschangedtheeffectsizefor the interventions. Averaging across the studies, the intervention had an effect of g = . 30. All 10 moderators were signi ﬁ cant: Cognitive + Motivational versus either one alone, timely access to the intervention, iterative development phase, type of cognitive or type of motivation module, the speci ﬁ c cognitive – motivation combination, university, academic year, semester, ﬁ rst versus second semester of biology, and course content. We conclude that combined interventions delivered via an LMS can meaningfully improve undergraduate students ’ course grades (corresponding to 6.6 percentage points on ﬁ nal course grade), with minimal extra work for instructors. However, these effects depended on a variety of contextual factors.
Assessment of different rates of NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield components of two exotic okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) western urban of Sierra Leone

The experiment was conducted in an Inland Valley Swamp during the dry spell of 2017 laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) three replications at the Kabala Horticultural Crops Research Centre (KHCRC) cropping site, Ogoo Farm of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), Freetown, Sierra Leone. Raised beds measuring 5m x 1m (6 m2) with a 1m furrow between beds. Inter and intra row spacing of 75 cm by 50 cm with two rows per bed and two seeds per hills were directly sown. The treatments constituted NPK 15:15:15 at the rate of 0, 90, 120 and 150 kg/ha designated as T1, T2, T3 & T4 and Two hybrids of okra were used as experimental materials obtained from Indo-American Hybrid Seed Company, India; Okra-WASA-HyOKR-1 and Okra-WASA-HyOKR-2. Seeds were treated with Thiram Poison for longevity. Result indicates T2 (25.2; 35.1 cm) and T4 (56.9 cm) treatments recorded tallest plant heights followed by T2 (24.0, 34.4 & 50.1 cm), while T1 (18.8, 28.4 & 33.3 cm) had the shortest plant heights at 4, 8 & 10 Week After Planting respectively. Similarly, T4 & T2 (38.9, 65.5 & 44.8 cm) exhibited the largest SG and T1 (21.7, 33.0 & 52.0 cm) the least values at 4, 8 & 10 Week After Planting. While, the widest and narrowest LA at 4, 8 & 10 Week After Planting was observed in T3 (131.3, 135.0 & 158.5 cm2) and T1 (120.8, 121.8 & 128.1 cm2). With respect to yield and yield components, the longest (22.0 cm) and heaviest (112.7 g) fruit were recorded by T3 followed by T2 (19.1 cm & 101.3 g) with T1 having the shortest (11.7 cm) and lightest (52.3 g). The width of pod in T3 (31.2 cm) was greater than the rest of treatments and as usual, T1 indicated the least value (14.6 cm) respectively. The average NP produced plant-1 was shown by T2 & T3 (4.0) with the least of fruit produced by T1 (2.0). Also, 100 seed weight, T3 (106.7 g) weighted the highest followed by T2 (103.3 g), while T1 (60.3 g) accounted for the lowest seed weight. Conclusively, the two materials are adaptable to the climatic conditions of Sierra Leone (Western area). Hence further evaluation required across vegetable growing zones.
Impacts of elevated water temperatures on righting behavior and survival of two freshwater caenogastropod snails

ABSTRACT As global temperatures rise, streams and rivers are predicted to be more severely impacted than other ecosystems, due in part to the limited mobility of aquatic invertebrates. Compared to many terrestrial animals, freshwater snails have particularly low potential for migration and thus are not expected to be able to compensate for climate warming with active dispersal. In freshwater animals, several behaviors are affected by elevated temperatures, including burrowing and escape responses, among others. This laboratory study aimed to assess the impacts of elevated temperatures on righting behavior and survival in two species of freshwater caenogastropod snails: fine-ridged elimia (Elimia semicarinata) and Shawnee rocksnails (Lithasia obovata). Righting time (the time to turn the body right-side-up when placed on the dorsal side of the shell) was assessed before beginning the experiment and again after chronic (10 day) exposure to an elevated temperature. There was no significant change in righting time at any temperature for either species, but there was significantly more failure to right within the time limit at elevated temperatures. For fine-ridged elimia, 30% of the snails failed to right in 30°C, compared to 2.5% in the control temperature (20°C). Similarly, 47.8% of Shawnee rocksnails failed to right at 27°C, while 19.4% failed to right in the 20°C group. Mortality was significantly higher at 35°C for fine-ridged elimia and 30°C for Shawnee rocksnails compared to the mortality of each species’ control group. Predicted rates of climate warming and current average temperatures suggest that fine-ridged elimia face more imminent risk of large-scale failure to right within natural populations, but the lower lethal temperature for Shawnee rocksnails suggests relatively high risk as well. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence that freshwater snails will be negatively impacted by climate warming, and may face large losses in the years to come.
Tuberculosis risk factors in South Africa, 2008 to 2017: A Generalised Estimating Equations approach

Background: Although, death due to tuberculosis has been on the decline. In 2016, 124 000 people died of tuberculosis in South Africa and the disease was declared the leading cause of death by Statistics South Africa. Continued efforts to use research to create a nation free of tuberculosis are underway. Methods: A repeated measures investigation was performed with the aim of identifying the persistent predictors and the long-term patterns of tuberculosis infection in South Africa for the period 2008 to 2017. The most suitable Generalised Estimating Equations that describe the population average probability of infection over time were applied to a sample of respondents taken from the National Income Dynamics Survey data, wave 1 to wave 5. The response variable was binary with the outcome of interest being the respondents that self-reported to have been diagnosed with tuberculosis. To improve estimation efficiency, the best working correlation matrix for this data was selected. Results: We used a sample of 8510 individuals followed for five waves, of these, 3.7%, 2.54%, 4.15%, 5.72% and 5.99% for waves 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, reported to have been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Findings revealed that the independent working correlation matrix with the model-based standard error estimates gave the most robust results for the repeated measures tuberculosis data in South Africa. Furthermore, over the years, the average probability of being diagnosed with tuberculosis was positively associated with being single, male, middle-aged (30- 59 years), black African, unemployed, smoking, lower education levels, lack of regular exercise, asthma, suffering from other diseases, lack of access to improved sanitation, lower household income and expenditure. Conclusion: The probabilities of tuberculosis infection are independent within individuals over time. The inequalities in socioeconomic status in South Africa caused the poor to be more at risk of tuberculosis over time from 2008 to 2017.
Hematopoietic stem cells self-renew symmetrically or gradually proceed to differentiation

It is not known whether hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) undergo symmetric or asymmetric cell divisions in the unperturbed bone marrow. Here, we integrate data from HSC fate mapping and cell-cycle-dependent labeling through mathematical inference and thus gain insight into how HSCs coordinate self-renewal with differentiation. We find that most HSC divisions in adult mice are symmetric self-renewing, replacing HSCs lost by direct differentiation and death, and slowly expanding the HSC population. This expansion maintains constant HSC output to multipotent progenitors (MPPs), despite declining HSC differentiation rate with age. We identify a linear hierarchy of differentiation states between tip HSCs and MPPs, where Tie2-driven HSC fate mapping fully covers the progression of the differentiating cells. A turning point from self-renewal to accelerated cell differentiation occurs between early-stage and late-stage MPPs, just before lineage differentiation becomes manifest in single-cell transcriptomes. This stem cell hierarchy precedes lineage differentiation and may limit mutation accumulation in the hematopoietic system.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contamination in Three Tea Samples Collected in Two Different Areas of Vietnam

The present work was undertaken to identify and determine the concentration of PAHs in forty samples of three different types of tea (green, oolong and black teas) collected in two provinces of Vietnam (Thai Nguyen province in the North and Lam Dong province in the South). For sample preparation, the quick and simple QuEChRES procedure was used and eighteen PAHs congeners were detected by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), with the percentage recovery higher than 70%. The concentration of the total 18 PAHs in tea samples ranged from 154.2 to 709.0 μg/kg with the highest of total PAHs found in black tea samples. Nine PAHs congeners were found in all samples with wide ranges of concentrations as follows: 1-methylnapththalene (3.6 – 73.1 μg/kg), Acenaphthene (1.6 – 45.0 μg/kg), Fluorene (4.2 – 49.5 μg/kg), Anthracene (2.1 – 40.0 μg/kg), Pyrene (19.3 – 224.9 μg/kg), Chrysene (4.6 – 233.0 μg/kg), Benzo (b) fluoranthene (0.6 – 23.7 μg/kg), Indeno (1,2,3,cd) pyrene (1.0 – 38.4 μg/kg), and Dibenzo (a,h) anthraxcene (1.1 – 25.0 μg/kg). 3–4 rings PAHs were dominant in all tea samples, with a contribution of 66.0 – 84.3% of the total 18 PAHs content. The average content of the indicated PAHs in oolong tea from the South (OS) was the lowest and that of black tea from the South (BS) was the highest. It was also observed that the toxic equivalent (TEQ) values of tea samples from the North higher than those from the South.
Galectin3 and CD16 play an important immunological role in patients infected with Salmonella typhi.

Enteric fever caused by Salmonella typhi (S.typhi) is one of the most dangerous diseases in developing countries. The main aim of this work is study the immunological role of Galectin3 and CD16 in human infected with S.typhi. A total number of 60 outpatients infected with acute IgM and chronic IgG S.typhi were included in this study, serum concentration of Galectin3 and CD16 were measurement by Enzyme-linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA) for each patient. The results proved that there was significant increase (P = < 0.0001***) in serum concentration of CD+16 between patients with acute S.typhi (IgM) (17.760 ± 0.72773 ng/ml) and healthy individuals (13.690 ± 0.36638 ng/ml). Also, there was significant increase (P = <0.0001***) in serum concentration of CD+16 between patients with chronic S.typhi (IgG) (20.348 ± 1.1848 ng/ml) and healthy individuals (13.690 ± 0.36638 ng/ml). Also; there was significant increase (P = 0.0011**) in serum concentration of Galectin3 between patients infected with acute S.typhi (IgM) (9.1485 ± 0.30444 ng/ml) and healthy individuals (7.1058 ± 0.50831 ng/ml) and there was significant increase (P value= 0.0004***) between patients infected with chronic S.typhi (IgG) (9.5004 ± 0.38143 ng/ml) and healthy individuals (7.1058 ± 0.50831 ng/ml). Conclusion: Natural killer cell (CD16) and Galectin3 have an important immunological role in patients infected with acute and chronic S.typhi infection. Therefore, Galectin3 and natural killer cell have synergistic immunological effect against S.typhi infection.
Interaction between the SAGA complex and chromatin regulates nucleosome acetylation and inducible gene transcription

iv Chapter 1. General Introduction 1 General Introduction 1 Literature Review 2 Dissertation Organization 9 References 10 Chapter 2. Crosstalk between histone H3 tails produces cooperative nucleosomes acetylation 16 Abstract 16 Introduction 16 Materials and Methods 18 Results 20 Discussion 25 Acknowledgments 27 References 28 Figure Legends 31 Table 34 Figures 35 Supporting Information 3916 Introduction 16 Materials and Methods 18 Results 20 Discussion 25 Acknowledgments 27 References 28 Figure Legends 31 Table 34 Figures 35 Supporting Information 39 Chapter 3. The Gcn5 bromodomain of the SAGA complex facilitates cooperative and cross-tail acetylation of nucleosomes 58 Abstract 58 Introduction 58 Materials and Methods 60 Results 62 Discussion 67 Acknowledgments 69 References 70 Figure Legends 73 Table 76 Figures 77 Supplementary Information 8158 Introduction 58 Materials and Methods 60 Results 62 Discussion 67 Acknowledgments 69 References 70 Figure Legends 73 Table 76 Figures 77 Supplementary Information 81 Chapter 4 Acetylation-dependent multimerization of SAGA regulates cooperative nucleosome acetylation and transcription 84 Abstract 84 Introduction 85 Materials and Methods 86 Results 89 Discussion 95 Acknowledgments 98 References 98 Figure Legends 10384 Introduction 85 Materials and Methods 86 Results 89 Discussion 95 Acknowledgments 98 References 98 Figure Legends 103
Insights from the Greek experience of the use of Blinatumomab in pediatric relapsed and refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

Pediatric refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) poses unique therapeutic challenges, with novel immunotherapy approaches offering potential cure opportunities. In this frame, the use of Blinatumomab may induce durable remissions, serving as a successful bridge to allergenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Herein, we retrospectively summarize the Greek experience on pediatric relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor ALL patients that were treated with Blinatumomab in a compassionate, off-label setting as an effort to achieve disease clearance and proceed to allo-HSCT. In our cohort of 9 patients, 6/9 (66.7%) responded to Blinatumomab, achieving complete morphological remission (CR) after the 1st cycle, while minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD)-negativity (< 10-4) after the 1st cycle was achieved in 2/2 patients (100.0%) with prior CR. A successful bridge to HSCT was feasible in 5/9 patients (55.6%). Median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 3.0 months (range 0.5-21.4 months) and median overall survival (OS) was 8.7 months (range 1.4-47.1 months) for the whole pediatric cohort. There was a trend of prolonged survival among patients who achieved MRD response after the 1st Blinatumomab administration. MRD response (defined as the >=2-log reduction of MRD value before and after Blinatumomab administration), was associated with a median RFS/OS of 7.4/7.6 months, while lack of MRD response was associated with a median RFS/OS of 0.5/3.0 months, respectively. Novel therapeutic maneuvers, in order to overcome disease resistance, i.e. increased usage of Blinatumomab dose (45 μg/m2/day), combination with donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs), use of other immunotherapy salvage approaches (inotuzumabozogamicin), are herein discussed. Additionally, the optimal number of Blinatumomab cycles, the CD19-negative relapses and lineage switch, are also addressed. Our data although referred to a limited however refractory or relapsed and heavily pretreated number of patients, strongly suggest that Blinatumomab may well induce sustained remissions and serve as an effective bridge to HSCT. Whether immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy can outweigh the need for subsequent allo-HSCT, if incorporated into frontline high-risk ALL therapy, remains an optimistic issue to be verified in future randomized clinical trials.
ENERGY INTENSITY OF KAZAKHSTAN’S GDP: FACTORS FOR ITS DECREASE IN A RESOURCE-EXPORT DEVELOPING ECONOMY

Kazakhstan continues to use several times more energy per production unit than more developed countries and regions of the world. This study is the first comprehensive review and analysis of energy intensity factors of Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product for the priod of 1990-2018. We have studied the influence of various factors on the GDP energy intensity: indicators characterizing the country's economic growth, power industry and living standards development. Calculations made have shown that the most significant influence on improving the energy efficiency of the economy is exerted by the indicators of Net Energy Imports and GDP per capita at PPP. The calculated elasticity coefficient shows that with an increase in the value of Net Energy Imports by 1%, the expected decrease in energy intensity shall be 0.85%. With an increase in GDP per capita of 1%, the expected decrease in energy intensity shall be 0.44%. However, in Kazakhstan, the influence of GDP per capita is mediated by the export of energy resources, which is confirmed by the high correlation between GDP growth, total energy production and export. We are concluding that for the developing economy of Kazakhstan exporting energy resources, the conversion of primary energy into products with high added value is more rational for economic development and energy conservation.
Two ecotype-related long non-coding RNAs in the environmental control of root growth

Background Root architecture varies widely between species and even between ecotypes of the same species despite the strong conservation of the protein-coding portion of their genomes. In contrast, non-coding RNAs evolved rapidly between ecotypes and may control their differential responses to the environment as several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can quantitatively regulate gene expression. Results Roots from Columbia (Col) and Landsberg erecta (Ler) ecotypes respond differently to phosphate starvation. We compared complete transcriptomes (mRNAs, lncRNAs and small RNAs) of root tips from these two ecotypes during early phosphate starvation. We identified thousands of new lncRNAs categorized as intergenic or antisense RNAs that were largely conserved at DNA level in these ecotypes. In contrast to coding genes, many lncRNAs were specifically transcribed in one ecotype and/or differentially expressed between ecotypes independently of the phosphate condition. These ecotype-related lncRNAs were characterized by analyzing their sequence variability among plants and their link with siRNAs. Our analysis identified 675 lncRNAs differentially expressed between the two ecotypes including specific antisense RNAs targeting key regulators of root growth responses. Mis-regulation of several intergenic lncRNAs showed that at least two ecotype-related lncRNAs regulate primary root growth in Col. Conclusions The in depth exploration of the non-coding transcriptome of two ecotypes identified thousands of new lncRNAs showing specific expression in root apexes. De-regulation of two ecotype-related lncRNAs revealed a new pathway involved in the regulation of primary root growth. The non-coding genome may reveal novel mechanisms involved in ecotype adaptation of roots to different soil environments.
When Peace and Quiet Is Not Enough: Place-Shaping and the Role of Leaders in Sustainability and Quality of Life in Rural Estonia and Latvia

Estonian and Latvian rural inhabitants enjoy many factors enhancing the quality of life, such as the peace and quiet of the countryside, fresh food and rural activities. However, these benefits are insufficient to overcome poor employment prospects in rural areas. Place-shaping practices have transformative powers that are instrumental in achieving sustainable change in communities. The process of reappreciating local landscapes creates memories of positive associations with symbolic meaning; it helps inhabitants to strengthen their sense of place identity and re-grounds their appreciation into a specific local context. Sustainable rural futures require conditions where inhabitants feel listened to and that are responsive to their needs. They also require inspirational leaders to facilitate change and create networks of opportunities, linking inhabitants to the outside world and resources. Leaders may play an important role of re-positioning local communities for the future, creating new experiences or new opportunities, which further feeds re-appreciation of place and enhances quality of life. In order to understand the main issues of the rural areas, two villages with active rural projects in Estonia and Latvia were selected to analyse the role that leaders play in the development of the area and the barriers to a more sustainable approach.