Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomass Assessment and Optimization of Alcaligenes faecalis Isolated from some Nigerian Mining Sites for Heavy Metal Uptake Using Response Surface Methodology Model

In this study, we investigated the heavy metal absorption of Alcaligenes faecalis strain U.B. I. , a bacteria isolated from a mining site, under different environmental conditions. We utilized both conventional and molecular techniques to identify the bacteria and employed response surface methodology (R.S.M.) to determine optimal environmental conditions for heavy metal absorption. Our analysis revealed that the heavy metal-tolerant bacteria belong to the Proteobacteria, specifically the Betaproteobacteria order in the Burkholderiales family. Additionally, the bacteria’s phylogenetic characteristics indicated a close relationship between the Aeromonas sp. cluster and members of the Aeromonadaceae family. Our results showed that the biomass A. faecalis strain U.B. I. had an optimal potential for chromium (Cr+) absorption at 93.0%. We also conducted tests on the biomass under optimized conditions for lead (Pb2+) absorption using R.S. M. , resulting in a mean heavy metal uptake of 89.99%. Furthermore, we analyzed the surface functional groups after interaction with heavy metals and observed a significant shift in position of the functional groups. The O-H stretch and H-bonded at the 3268 cm1 position, while C=C stretch and N-O asymmetrical stretch/C-O stretch occurred at positions 2195 cm-1 and 1629 cm-1 of the spectra, respectively. Our findings suggest that the biomass of A. faecalis strain U.B. I. has potential for heavy metal bioremediation and can be used for heavy metal biosorption under various environmental conditions.
The Disproportional Support That Affects the Implementation of Inclusive Education in Full-Service Schools of Limpopo Province

This paper reports on the disproportional support that affects the implementation of inclusive education in full-service schools of Limpopo Province. The study followed a qualitative case study research methodology. Sixteen teachers and eight Heads of Departments were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected using interviews. Creswell’s model of thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Four findings emerged from the data: lack of communalism, a missing link, the ignored purpose, and lack of interdependence, which resulted in the disproportional support that affected the implementation of inclusive education in full-service schools. Recommendations that may help to restore the balance of support offered for the implementation of inclusive education in full-service schools have been made.
Effects of cutting regimes on forage yield and chemical composition of Leucaena leucocephala.

The effect of cutting frequencies (42, 54, 70 and 84 days) and stubble height (30, 50 and 80 cm) on forage yield and chemical composition of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala cv. Cunninghan) were evaluated under field conditions. Cutting frequency at 84 days, with 50 or 80 cm stubble height, provided the higher (P<0.05) dry matter (DM) yields. Forage production decreased when cutting intensity was increased from 50 to 30 cm. For cutting frequency at 54, 70 and 84 days, the higher DM yields were obtained with 50 cm stubble height; while at 42 days cutting interval, stubble height of 80 cm provided the highest forage production. Edible forage increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in the cutting frequency from 42 to 84 days. For 30 and 50 cm stubble height, it was found that 84 or 70 days cutting interval showed maximum DM yields. Cutting frequency and stubble height greatly influenced (P<0.05) CP content and IVDMD. The CP content and IVDMD were highest when the herbage was harvested each 42 or 54 days at 80 cm stubble height. COSTA, N.L. , PAULINO, V.T. e MAGALHÃES, J.A. Effects of cutting regimes on forage yield and chemical composition of Leucaena leucocephala. PUBVET, Londrina, V. 8, N. 20, Ed. 269, Art. 1791, Outubro, 2014. The lowest CP content was obtained at 84 days interval, independently of stubble height. The main reason for increase in CP content and IVDMD values with infrequent cuts may be due to the age of the cut material. This report showed that harvesting crop for forage purpose between 70 and 84 days at 50 cm stubble height provided higher forage yields and appears to be ideal so as to succulent green forage with higher dietary nutrients.
Low-inspired oxygen condition on cardiorespiratory, metabolic functions and exercise performance

To investigate changes in physiologic and metabolic functions from exercise under acute low-inspired oxygen condition. Thirty three male-football players progressively exercised at submaximal workloads of 60, 90, 120 and 150 watts on cycle ergometer under two randomized conditions of normobaric-hypoxia (15% O2, HYP) and normoxia (21% O2, NOR). Exercise performance, cardiorespiratory and metabolic profiles were continuously monitored. No significant differences between groups on cardiac variables, with the exception of significantly higher heart rate (HR) in HYP at all workloads. Respiratory variables, after 90 watts, showed remarkable increased in HYP (p<0.05). At highest intensity, HYP condition showed significantly reductions of end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV) and ejection fraction (EF) with significantly higher respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (VT), pulmonary ventilation (VE) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) (p<0.05). Exercise under hypoxic condition limits cardiac function but not for respiratory system. The parallel rising in VO2 and VCO2 at higher submaximal workload reflects to the limitation in VO2 with further increasing in VCO2 at maximal intensity. These will reduce physical performance. Awareness of cardiac deteriorations should be concerned for those who have to work hard under low O2 conditions.
The Influence of Effective Leadership Styles and Appraisal Systems towards Employee Performance

The objective of this study is to investigate how the application of appraisal systems and effective leadership styles using transformational and transactional theories can significantly affect employee performance in a company or organization. For this study, data on the effective leadership style of employees in Jakarta was collected and analyzed to determine the relationship between their effective leadership style and appraisal system and the employee performance. Results showed that transformational leadership style was positively associated with employee performance; transactional leadership style, on the other hand, produced a different result. In addition, the results showed that appraisal system was positively associated with employee performance. This study extends past research by examining the differential aspects of both transformational and transactional on leadership styles.
Impact of Leadership Styles on Government Construction Project Success: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Government construction projects play an important role in both developed and developing countries. They contribute about 80% of total capital assets, 10 % of GDP, and more than 50% of the wealth invested in fixed assets and employment opportunities. As such, several countries like Sweden in Europe, Indonesia in Asia, South Africa and Kenya in East Africa have invested heavily and succeeded in construction projects. Similarly, Uganda has also invested heavily in construction projects; however, most of these projects have been unsuccessful, yet projects contribute to economic development. This study aimed to determine the contribution of leadership styles to the success of government construction projects in Uganda. The study was cross-sectional with a quantitative research design. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 100 Kampala Capital City Authority construction projects from a population of 120 projects that were stratified according to the five divisions of Kampala district. Four respondents were selected from each of the 100 projects selected, resulting in a total of 400 respondents for the study. Structural Equation Modelling was conducted using SPSS. Results show that leadership styles, especially communication and participation are positively and significantly associated with government construction project success. Therefore, government project managers should communicate effectively and involve stakeholders at every stage of the project cycle to realise project success. It is recommended that the path-goal theory be adopted for replicating the study. Also, government ministries must adopt the proposed model as it is a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, especially those involved in government construction projects. Similarly, the government, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, should constantly remind government project managers to ensure adequate internal and external communication and allow the participation of stakeholders during the implementation of government projects. Keywords Communication, Government Construction Projects, Leadership styles, Participation, Project Success, Structural Equation Modeling, Uganda
Enhanced Catalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin by Iron-doped Hydroxyapatite

In order to solve the problems in the iron-based Fenton-like catalytic oxidation system, a green, safe, efficient and stable Fe-hydroxyapatite (HAP) catalyst was developed and prepared for the Fenton-like catalytic oxidation reaction system in this study. We constructed the Fe-HAP /hydrogen peroxide system, systematically evaluated the synergistic effect between the Fe-HAP catalyst and hydrogen peroxide, and investigated the effect of the Fenton-like catalytic oxidation system on the removal of Ciprofloxacin(CIP), a hard-to-degrade antibiotic organic pollutant. We investigated the effect of this Fenton catalytic oxidation system on the removal of CIP, a difficult-to-degrade antibiotic organic pollutant, and revealed the mechanism of the reaction system and the main mechanism of the degradation of CIP. We also applied this catalyst material to the actual water body and explored the value of the application of this system, which provided scientific basis and reference value for the subsequent development of more efficient, stable, green and safe catalyst materials.
The Impact of Stock Market Listing on the Financial Performance of Companies within the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE)

The study, titled Stock Market Listing and Company Performance in Rwanda aimed to explore the connection between a company's stock market listing and its performance. Examined within were firms listed in the Rwanda Stock Exchange, specifically Bralirwa, KCB, and BK. Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study relied solely on secondary data, primarily the financial statements of the three companies that operated in Rwanda between 2008 and 2015. The scope included BK, Bralirwa, and KCB. Data gathered from 2010 to 2012 was structured in tables, with financial ratios computed and subsequent analysis conducted using SPSS to ascertain the relationship between stock listing and financial performance. The results demonstrated a positive yet statistically insignificant relationship between stock listing and the financial performance of the listed firms. Notably, the correlation between financial leverage and financial performance lacked statistical significance (R = 0.303, P > 0.01) and showed a negative correlation with market ratio (0.582, P > 0.01). Recommendations included a call for improved liquidity management, especially in working capital for firms like BK, to address the impact on liquidity levels while maintaining financial stability. Stakeholders were encouraged to recognize the linkage between stock listing and financial performance and adopt suitable measures to assess and analyze the financial status of companies. Moreover, the study revealed that companies in Rwanda tend to rely more on short-term debt than long-term debt, potentially due to the underdeveloped bonds market in the country. Liquidity ratios exhibited a negative relationship with financial leverage, indicating that highly profitable and well-performing companies in Rwanda tend to have less debt and rely more on internal financing sources, aligning with the pecking order theory. Furthermore, the study emphasized considering the market value of capital structure in evaluating stock listing, given its stronger connection to financial performance compared to the book value. Keywords: Stock Market, Listing, Performance of Companies, Rwanda Stock Exchange, Liquidity
EngagedScholarship@CSU EngagedScholarship@CSU

The DNA hypomethylating agents decitabine and 5-azacytidine are the only two drugs approved for treatment of all subtypes of the myeloid malignancy myelodysplastic syndromes (MD S ). the key to drug activity is incorporation into target cell DNA, however, a practical method to measure this incorporation is un-available. Here, we report a sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method to simultaneously measure decitabine incorporation and DNA hypomethylation. A stable heavy isotope of 2 ' -deoxycytidine was used as an internal standard and one-step multi-enzyme digestion was used to release the DNA bound drug. Enzyme-released decitabine along with other mononucleosides were separated by a reverse-phase C 18 column and quantified by mass spectrometry using multiple-reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode, with a lower limit of quantitation at 1.00 nM. In vitro studies demonstrated dosage and time-dependent incorporation of decitabine into myeloid leukemia cell DNA that correlated with extent of DNA hypomethylation. When applied to clinical samples serially collected from MD S patients treated with decitabine, the method again demonstrated correlation between decitabine DNA-incorporation and DNA hypomethylation. This novel assay to measure the intended molecular pharmacodynamic effect of decitabine therapy can therefore potentially provide insights into mechanisms underlying sensitivity versus resistance to therapy.
EngagedScholarship@CSU EngagedScholarship@CSU

Translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) is the ability of DNA polymerases to incorporate nucleotides opposite and beyond damaged DNA. TLS activity is an important risk factor for the initiation and progression of genetic diseases such as cancer. In this study, we evaluate the ability of a high-fidelity DNA polymerase to perform TLS with 8-oxo-guanine (8-oxo-G), a highly pro-mutagenic DNA lesion formed by reactive oxygen species. Results of kinetic studies monitoring the incorporation of modified nucleotide analogs demonstrate that the binding affinity of the incoming dNTP is controlled by the overall hydrophobicity of the nucleobase. However, the rate constant for the polymerization step is regulated by hydrogen-bonding interactions made between the incoming nucleotide with 8-oxo-G. Results generated here for replicating the miscoding 8-oxo-G are compared to those published for the replication of the non-instructional abasic site. During the replication of both lesions, binding of the nucleotide substrate is controlled by energetics associated with nucleobase desolvation, whereas the rate constant for the polymerization step is influenced by the physical nature of the DNA lesion, that is, miscoding versus non-instructional. Collectively, these studies highlight the importance of nucleobase desolvation as a key physical feature that enhances the misreplication of structurally diverse DNA lesions.
Digital Commons@DePaul Digital Commons@DePaul

Low-income urban African American youth experience multiple uncontrollable stressors (e.g. community violence) that may then impact the severity of controllable stressors (e.g. school stressors) and combine to produce negative life outcomes. In light of these negative outcomes, it is important to understand individual protective factors, and the coping response in particular. Past research has emphasized the advantages of primary control engagement coping, but recent evidence suggests that low-income urban African American youth facing complex and uncontrollable stressors may benefit more from disengagement strategies in response to uncontrollable stressors. Although it is expected this population would additionally benefit from applying engagement strategies to controllable stressors, it is unclear how well these youth are able to match their coping responses to specific stressors, namely violent versus school stressors. This study investigated four primary research questions: 1) Do low-income urban African American youth perceive different levels of control over uncontrollable (i.e. violent) versus controllable (i.e. school) stressors? 2) Does the level of violent stressors predict the level of school stressors experienced by these youth? 3) What patterns of coping strategies emerge across violent and school stressors and how does level of each stressor impact the coping response? 4) What direct effects do level of each stressor and the coping response have on outcomes (i.e. school problems, internalizing problems, and personal adjustment) and does the coping response serve as a moderator of the relation between stressors and outcomes? Secondary research questions addressed differences in each variable of interest by age and gender. Participants
Post-discharge Healthcare Usage and Costs From March 2020 Through the Omicron Surge for Individuals Hospitalized With COVID-19

Introduction: Despite the rise of post-COVID care centers, few studies exist that quantify the burden of patient healthcare usage and hospital costs after COVID-19 hospitalization. It is essential to target post-COVID follow-up care to the individuals who need it most, such that costs and emergencies are minimized and health and appointment attendance are optimized. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort comparison among four groups of 50 patients (200 total). Post-discharge healthcare utilization metrics were collected for individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 during the first four surges of the pandemic to compare how patients receive and seek care in the year after they contract COVID-19. A brief cost analysis was done to identify high-usage groups that could be targeted for intervention to decrease post-COVID hospitalization emergencies and burden. Results: Patients hospitalized during the Omicron surge were scheduled for the most specialist visits on average, significantly higher than average specialist visits in the Delta surge (p<0.05). The Delta surge had significantly less specialty care and missed visits than all other surges (p<0.05) and less primary care than the first two surges of the pandemic (p<0.05). Patients with type 2 diabetes and asthma had the highest overall costs (p<0.05). Females and Hispanic patients had the highest specialty and ED costs (p<0.05). Conclusion: Each surge reflects a different approach to post-COVID care, with the Omicron surge demonstrating the heaviest usage overall, particularly with specialty visits. Increased specialty referrals may exacerbate rates of missed appointments, while primary care may lower emergency visits. Future approaches to post-COVID care design should identify patients at risk for emergencies and reinstate them with primary care.
Inventory Management at Makerere University Business School and Its Impact on the Revenue Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises

Numerous studies have explored the effectiveness of implementing operations management techniques in inventory management and its impact on revenue performance. This study aims to ascertain the significance of inventory management, its various approaches, and the correlation between managing inventory effectively and revenue performance. Employing a secondary data collection method, the researcher reviewed and analyzed pertinent documents from various authors. The research findings reveal that a majority of small and medium-sized enterprises struggle to adopt new inventory management methods, thereby adversely affecting their revenue performance. When inventory management isn't integrated seamlessly, treating it as a separate entity, these enterprises struggle to ensure optimal resource utilization. However, the study also notes the presence of both positive and negative relationships between inventory management strategies and sales performance. In conclusion, the study recommends that SMEs enhance their inventory management techniques to positively impact business revenue. This improvement is crucial for streamlining operations and maximizing financial outcomes. Keywords: Inventory management, Business revenue, Applying operations, Management techniques, Sales performance.
Protective effects of swimming exercises and metformin on cardiac and aortic damage caused by a high-fat diet in obese rats with type 2 diabetes, by regulating the Bcl2/Bax signaling pathway

Background/aim Due to the increasing mortality and morbidity rates in diabetes mellitus (DM), which is one of the biggest health problems of our age, many treatment modalities are still being tried. The positive effects of metformin (MET) and physical exercise (EXE) on the pathophysiology of diabetes are well known. In this study, it was aimed to detail these positive effects of MET and EXE in combination on the basis of inflammation, apoptosis mechanisms, and endogen nesfatin-1 (NES-1) synthesis. Materials and methods Twenty-seven type 2 DM (DM-2) male Wistar Albino rats were divided into 4 groups, as the high-fat diet (HFD), MET, EXE, and MET+EXE groups. The total duration of the study was 3 months. At the end of the experiment, blood glucose and lipid profiles were measured. Histopathological evaluation was performed on the cardiac and aortic tissues and apoptotic markers were evaluated immunohistochemically. Inflammatory markers and NES-1 levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The plasma glucose, homeostatic model evaluation-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels increased, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels decreased significantly in the HFD group. In the treatment groups, the glucose, HOMA-IR, LDL, NES-1 levels in the plasma, as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, caspase-3 (Cas-3), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and histopathological findings of inflammation in tissues were decreased. Additionally, there was an increase in plasma insulin, HDL, and tissue B-cell lymphoma-2 and levels. Conclusion It was observed that the MET and EXE treatments in the DM-2 model reduced cellular damage mechanisms such as inflammation and apoptosis. The decrease in NES-1 levels was thought to be secondary to this antiinflammatory effect. In conclusion, the results demonstrated the effectiveness of EXE in reducing DM-2 and the NES-1 levels. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect in different EXE models and treatment durations.