Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International Tourism Demand and Macroeconomic Factors

The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in the early 21st century curtailed international tourism growth, and the tourism industry suffered significantly during the financial crisis. There is evidence in the academic literature that the demand for international tourism declined significantly during the GFC and the impact remain consistent after the GFC. In this paper, we use several country level economic variables and find evidence that Political Stability and Exchange Rate volatility is negatively correlated with international tourism demand for our sample developed and emerging country group. Therefore, we conclude that the favourable Macroeconomic Policy, Governance Mechanisms and lower Exchange Rates are desirable for the growth of a tourist-based economy.
Functional characterization of NLRC3

The innate immune system relies on several pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to identify pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). One of the most prominent non-clonal, germline encoded but yet not fully characterized PRR group are the NOD-like receptors (NLRs). Here I aim to characterize a hitherto rarely described member of the NLRs named NOD-like receptor CARD domain containing 3 (NLRC3). Recent studies indicated, that NLRC3 is a cytosolic receptor which negatively regulates T cell function. This thesis utilizes several experimental approaches to access the cellular localization of NLRC3, its functional interactions, and role in inflamed tissue. Microscopical studies showed, that NLRC3 is localized in the cytoplasm. Analysis of different organs indicated, that NLRC3 transcript level are elevated in immune relevant tissues, but not in the intestinal tract. A Y2H screen indicated a potential interaction with the mitochondrial protein IMMT/Mitofilin. Although a direct interaction remained elusive, NLRC was detected in close spatial proximity of mitochondria via immunefluorescence and identified in mitochondrial lysates. NLRC3 was found to interfere with NFB signaling in a dose dependent manner. Dual luciferase assays were performed revealing connections to TRAF6 and ERSE. NLRC3 seems to negatively regulate the TRAF6 mediated NFB response. In combination with a potent stressor, such as tunicamycin elevates NLRC3 the ERSE promoter activity. This reaction connects NLRC3 to cellular mechanisms of the unfolded protein response, and subsequently to mitochondrial stress reactions. NLRC3 was found to be downregulated in biopsies of WG patients. During this thesis Nlrc3+/+ and Nlrc3-/- mice were bred and utilized in several experiments. Cytokine level in bone marrow derived macrophages varied between Nlrc3+/+ and Nlrc3-/- in response to LPS stimulation. A DSS induced colitis was conducted and revealed, that NLRC3 seems to be beneficial for survival and disease severity. These experiments significantly enlarged the knowledge about NLRC3, pointing at the protective role of NLRC3 during cellular stress response and inflammation. NLRC3 is an important regulator in immune modulation.
Determination of certain reproductive and productive parameters in female Mountain (Jabali) and crossbred goats during different age stages.

The objective of the present study was to determine certain productive and reproductive parameters of female goats (Syrian Mountain: Jabali and crossbred: Damascus x Mountain) during different age stages. Thirty female goats from each breed kept at Ura Station for Improving the Mountain Goats, located about 15 km south of Sweida city (115 km south of Damascus), were used at an age of about three months with an average weight of around 13 kg. Jugular blood samples were collected to determine plasma progesterone concentrations using radioimmunoassay. Statistical analyses were carried out using StatView-IV programme. Individual variations among the females in both weight and age at puberty were observed, averaging 24.2 and 22.8 kg, 316.1 and 297.8 days for female Syrian Mountain and crossbred goats, respectively with no significant (P>0.05) differences between them in either parameter. Mating and kidding rates in both breeds were 100 and 93.3%, respectively, whereas fecundity rate was 143 and 161% for Syrian Mountain and crossbred female goats, respectively, with no significant (P>0.05) differences between them. Average weight of kids born to the female Syrian Mountain and crossbred goats was 3.1 and 3.4 kg, respectively, with no significant (P>0.05) differences between them. While, in both breeds, weight of single births was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of twin ones (3.5 and 2.8, and 3.8 and 3.2 kg for Syrian Mountain and crossbred goats, respectively). Progesterone concentration in blood plasma was very low at the start of the study until the puberty stage (below 1 nmol L), indicating an ovarian quiescence. However, the concentration rapidly increased at puberty stage averaging 11.1 and 11.6 nmol L for female Syrian Mountain and crossbred goats, respectively. At the sponge insertion and withdrawal, average progesterone concentration was 1.09 and 0.23, 0.2 and 0.2 nmol L for Mountain and crossbred females,
Essays on Mortgages and Government Debt

This dissertation focuses on mortgages and government debt. The first chapter explores the microelasticity of mortgage demand to interest rates. Using a novel regression discontinuity approach and using novel administrative data alongside individual loanand creditlevel data, I find a large intensive and extensive margin response. A 25 basis point decrease in mortgage rates for high-FICO individuals is associated with a 50% increase in the likelihood of a potential borrower to demand a loan and an increase in loan size of approximately $15k, or approximately 10% of the average origination volume. I also document that for both the intensive and extensive margin, borrowers with high FICOs tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, elasticities are relatively constant over time, and the marginal responsiveness to interest rates is decreasing. The second chapter, joint with Paul Willen and Andreas Fuster, studies the time-varying price of financial intermediation in the mortgage market. We find that the price of intermediation, measured as a fraction of the loan amount at origination, is large – 142 basis points on average over the period 2008-2014. At daily frequencies, intermediaries pass on price changes in the secondary market to borrowers in the primary market almost completely. At lower frequencies, the price of intermediation fluctuates significantly. It is highly sensitive to application volume. Over 2008-2014, the price of intermediation increased about 30 basis points per year, potentially reflecting increased mortgage servicing costs and increased legal and regulatory burdens. Finally, increases in volume associated with “quantitative easing” (QE) led to substantial increases in the price of intermediation, which attenuated the benefits of QE to borrowers.
Effects of sublethal doses of insecticides on the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stal (Homoptera: Delphacidae) and mirid predator, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae)

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of sublethal doses of BPMC, etofenprox,and buprofezin on N. lugens. and its predator C. lividipennis. Buprofezin was found to be the most toxic to N. lugens and the most safe to C. lividipennis among the three insecticides, based on LD50 values. Selective toxicity index calculated by dividing LDSo value of C. lividipennis by that of N. lugens indicated that buprofezin was very safe to C. lividipennis, showing selective toxicity of 2703.3. Longevity and fecundity of N. lugens treated with LDIU and LDm of buprofezin and BPMC were not significantly different with those of untreated brown planthoppers. However, egg hatchability' of N. lugens was greatly reduced when treated with LDm of buprofezin, having the highest inhibition rate of 17.7%. Hatchability of eggs from insects treated with BPMC was similar to that of control. The oviposited peak of treated hoppers appeared late as compared to the untreated which showed the peak at early part of the ovipositional period. The longevity and fecundity of C. lividipennis treated with BPMC were significantly reduced as compared with the untreated. Etofenprox also induced fecundity reduction when treated with LDlo, and LDm. However, C. lividipennis treated with sublethal doses of buprofezin showed no redution in logevity and fecundity. From these results, it may be said that buprofezin can be used to control brown planthopper without disrupting of C. lividipennis population in the rice field.
The role of coronin 1 during cell mediated immune responses

Coronin 1 is one of 7 mammalian isoforms member of the evolutionary conserved WD40-repeat proteins that are involved in a variety of activities such a cell migration and cytokinesis. Coronin 1 is predominantly expressed in cells of hematopoietic origin, and it is the most conserved coronin isoform. Analysis of mice lacking coronin 1 revealed coronin 1 as a crucial pro-survival factor for peripheral T lymphocytes. It was found that coronin 1 was essential for Ca2+ mobilization upon T cell receptor (TCR) triggering; in the absence of coronin 1, T cell signaling does not result in Ca2+ mobilization thereby causing a rapid clearance of the T cells through apoptosis. Nevertheless, coronin 1-deficient mice are capable to mount specific antibody responses after immunization, although somewhat delayed for T cell dependent antigens. Together these results suggest an important role for coronin 1 in T cell signaling and in naive T cell homeostasis. Here, we investigate the cellular immune response to Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), Lympocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), whose clearance and control are either dependent on CD8+ T cells or on CD4+ T cells, in wild type and coronin 1-deficient mice. Our results show surprisingly normal antiviral CD8+ T cell responses concerning magnitude, kinetics and functionality of virus specific CD8+ T cells. In contrast, virus specific CD4+ T cell responses were significantly impaired leading to loss of viral control in VSV infection. These findings suggest a more important role of coronin 1 for CD4+ T cell survival, activation and homeostatic proliferation in the periphery than for CD8+ T cells. In the second part of that thesis we investigate the Natural killer (NK) cell immune response in the absence of coronin 1. Delay in viral control can be due to impaired NK cell response in the absence of coronin 1, which is believed to interact with Phospholipase C ? (PLC? ) activity. Hence, NK cell receptor signaling share some similarities with TCR signaling. We analyzed the functionality of coronin 1-deficient NK cells after VSV infection, stimulation of NK cells with antibodies, YAC-1 tumor cell or Concanavalin A (Con A). We show that NK cell activation and functionality was not impaired in the absence of coronin 1. However, ConA treatment (in vivo and ex vivo) was associated with impaired Interferon ? (IFN? ) production and cytotoxicity against YAC-1 cells. We found that coronin 1-deficiency was associated with increased sensitivity of NK cells leading to increased apoptosis rather than impaired NK cell activation upon Con A treatment. Overall, our results suggest that coronin 1 is crucial for peripheral CD4+ T cell homeostasis and functionality but is largely dispensable for NK cell and CD8+ T cell mediated antiviral immunity.
Inhibition of Enterobacteriaceae by Pichiaanomala during moist grain storage

Enterobacteriaceae one of the bacteria families found in the grain, cause problems later in the food chain. Different methods are applied to give safe storage of harvested grain. Technique like airtight storage in combination with biopreservation provides a good opportunity to assure long term storage of harvested grain. Pichia anomala (J121) a biocontrol yeast with proved inhibitory effects on different mold species was cultivated together with 14 strains belonging to 13 Enterobacteriaceae species (Pantoea agglomerans, Enterobacter sakazakii, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Morganella morganii, Citrobacter freundii, Hafnia alvei, Erwinia carotovora, Escherichia coli) in mini silos to stimulate airtight storage. Enterobacteriaceae CFU values were calculated at different time points (at the beginning, after two weeks and after two month ́s). Results obtained from the study showed that in most cases an inhibition of bacterial growth was obtained. P. agglomerans, E. sakazakii, E. cloacae, E. coli (no 13), E. coli, E carotovora and S. marcescens growth was reduced under the detection level (CFU 10) after two month ́s storage. Reduction in CFU levels (to 10 or higher) was observed for K. oxytoca, K. pneumonia, P mirabilis, E. aerogenes and M. morganii. Not clear results could be obtained for C. freundii and H. alvei because the death of the bacteria after two months storage period occurred in both minisilos cultivated with, and without P. anomala. Yeast CFU levels in mini silos with co-cultivated Enterobacteriaceae species as well as mini silos with no co-cultivation increased after two weeks. After two months the growth stayed at 10 CFU g. Results show that the P. anomala have capacity of reducing growth of Enterobacteriaceae. This ability could improve the quality of the stored grain.
Effect of lactation order and stage of lactation on fat, TS and SNF content of milk of Phule Triveni cow.

A comprehensive study was undertaken to ascertain some of the chemical properties of milk of a newly evolved genotype named ‘Phule Triveni’. During investigation the effect of first three lactation order and four lactation stages on fat, total solids, SNF, lactose and ash was assessed. The overall mean values of fat, total solids and SNF, were found to be 4.26, 13.39 and 9.13, per cent, respectively, all of them being significantly (P<0.05) affected by the stage of lactation but lactation order and its interaction with the stage of lactation did not significantly affect these parameters. It was also noticed that the fat and SNF content were well above PFA limits as well as fulfilling the requirements laid down by the Maharashtra government.
Plant-Parasitic Nematodes of Crops in Belize

Plant nematode surveys were made at 55 farm sites in six Districts of Belize, Central America, during February, November and December, 1993. Crops sampled included banana and plantain, cassava, citrus, coconut, cocoyam, corn, ginger, papaya, passion fruit, peanut, pigeon pea, pineapple, potato, rice, sugar cane, yam, and vegetables (beans, cabbage, carrot, cowpea, onion, peppers, tomato, okra, cucumber, pea, eggplant). Soil and root samples also were taken from primary forest soils. A total of 47 plant-parasitic nematode species were identified. Of these, the important crop pests found were the root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita, and Meloidogyne sp. , on vegetable and other crops; the root lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus brachyurus on a range of crops, P. coffeae on yams and plantain, P. zeae on rice and corn; the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, on banana and plantain, the red ring nematode, Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus, on coconut; the reniform nematode, R
Colors Underwater: A Behavioral and Neural Systems Study on Color Vision in the Larval Zebrafish

Being able to see color is such a natural and intrinsic component of our vision that we rarely pay it mind. In fact, color vision is a very widespread capability of visual systems across species, but despite its intuitive nature for humans, its neural implementation is not well understood in any organism. The zebrafish,Danio rerio, has potential as a color vision model organism, given its optical accessibility, established genetic toolset and four types of cone photoreceptors, all in a vertebrate system. Despite these advantages, very little is known about the color-related computations taking place in the zebrafish brain. Hence this work aims to shed light on these processes, both from a behavioral and neural perspectives. In the first study, a phototaxis assay was used to assess the wavelength preferences of the zebrafish larva. Stimuli were projected from below following the animal in a closed loop, and forcing it to make a choice at every turn between the stimulus on the left or the right. This study showed that zebrafish larva avoid UV light, especially if combined with visible light. This UV avoidance behavior is dependent on the eyes, and in particular on the presence of the UV cone in the retina. The true evolutionary drive for such a behavior is unknown, but it is suggested that its role is to balance sun exposure with enough light to find food and shelter. The second study delves into the brain of the larva, and asks whether there is any indication of color computations taking place there. In particular, the study focuses on the interaction between the output of the eye, the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and
Feeding behaviour of downy woodpeckers. I. Preference for Paper Birches and sexual differences.

THIS report describes how Downy Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos pubescens) feed on paper birches (Betula papyrifera) more than on any other tree in central New Hampshire, where present observations were made in the vicinity of Lyme throughout the year, but particularly in fall and winter when trees were bare of foliage. The woodpeckers appeared to have been attracted by a coccid, Xylococculus betulae, which they extract by a series of pecks that often leave a characteristic trapdoor mark in the bark. Sexual differences in feeding, noted particularly under winter conditions, appeared to depend on male dominance. I have found no published accounts of these various findings by others, but A. E. Brower of the Maine State Forest Service (pers. comm.) has noted the trapdoor marks, and I am indebted to Alex L. Shigo of the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station of Durham, New Hampshire for contributing further information on the coccid in the course of several field trips. For general accounts of Downy Woodpeckers see Lawrence (1967) and Bent (1939). Feeding observations were of two types: In Type A I watched individuals for about 5 minutes (see preliminary survey, Table 1) being sure that they pecked or obviously fed for at least 20 seconds rather than just alighting or progressing up a bole or limb. In Type B I followed individual Downy Woodpeckers for periods of 30 to 40 minutes continuously, noting the time spent on each tree as well as on the parts of the trees which, I divided, for convenience, into base, bole, limbs, and branches. Sex and individual head markings (Kilham, 1962) were noted for all feeding Downy Woodpeckers.
The Dipterans (Insecta: Diptera) of the Vitosha Mountain

The accumulated knowledge of the animal world and the large number of studies on the Vitosha Mt. are related to the proximity of the capital of Sofia, the largest and old natural science centers in the country, the good attendance by foreign and Bulgarian zoologists and its popularity as a tourist site. The long-standing research on the fauna of the mountain and its surroundings allows Vitosha Mt. to be considered the best-studied Bulgarian mountain. The studies on Diptera of the Vitosha Mt. began 112 years ago. The first data were reported by Kovachev (1905), Nedelkov (1910, 1912) and Vimmer (1916). Between the two world wars the works of Komarek & Vimmer (1921, 1922, 1934), Enderlein (1924, 1936), Konsuloff & Paspalev (1925), Tschorbadjiew (1925, 1933), Drensky (1929, 1931, 1934, 1939a, 1939b, 1943), Szilady (1934), Zilahi (1934), Dimitrov (1935), Jacentkovsky (1936, 1937, 1939), Drenowsky (1937, 1939) and Buhr (1941) were published. After the World War II, the first work about Vitosha Mt., was published by Buresch (1953). Then significant number of articles related to dipterans of the Vitosha Mt., including apThe Dipterans (Insecta: Diptera) of the Vitosha Mountain
The Effect of Optogenetic Manipulation of SS interneurons within Malformed, Epileptogenic Cortex

The Effect of Optogenetic Manipulation of SS interneurons within Malformed, Epileptogenic Cortex By Nicole Ekanem A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Anatomy and Neurobiology at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015. Advisor: Kimberle M Jacobs, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology A large percentage of individuals with intractable epilepsies have an accompanying cortical malformation, the underlying cellular mechanisms of which are poorly understood. It is known however that in an animal model for one such malformation, polymicrogyria, epileptogenesis occurs most easily from an adjacent area termed the paramicrogyral region (PMR). Previous studies implicate SS interneurons as a potential contributor to this pathology, which lead to our hypothesis: in PMR, SS interneurons exert a higher modulatory influence on excitatory pyramidal cells, as compared to the same by SS interneurons within homologous
Profile Criteria and Clinical Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients Admitted to General Intensive Care Unit at Assuit University Hospital.

Health outcomes are the main measure of critical care practice. Mortality during ICU stay has been most frequently used effects in clinical practice. So this study aims to assess profile criteria for patient admitted to general intensive care unit and to describe their outcomes. A descriptive research design was once used. Setting: study was carried out at General Intensive Care Unit at Assuit University Hospital, A convenience sample of all adult critically ill patients over a period of 12 months. Two main tools used, tool I: patient profile characteristic's sheet, Tool II: clinical outcomes assessment tool: Main results: of 302 patients were admitted to General ICU, there were 55.6% males and 44.4% females. Age group from 50- 65 years account for 52.3% of total admission, the study showed that trauma cases account for 21.9% of all admission and it was the same as respiratory cause while the lowest was from Gynecological & obstetric, drowning and Hematological Disease 0.7%. Mortality rate was 52.3%. Conclusion: Majority of the studied patients at general intensive care unit were at a high risk of mortality with total mortality rate of 52.3 % more than half of death patients were aged from 50 -65 years and males. Recommendations: - Future identical studies should be carried to disclose standards for intensive care admissions
Ratio of kinetic-to-bolometric luminosity at the “cold” disk accretion onto black holes

Abstract In galactic nuclei (AGN), the kinetic energy flux of the jet may exceed the bolometric luminosity of the disk a few orders of magnitude. At the “cold” accretion the radiation from the disk is suppressed because the wind from the disk carries out almost all the angular momentum and the gravitational energy of the accreted material. We calculate an unavoidable radiation from such a disk and the ratio of the kinetic-to-bolometric luminosity from a super massive black hole in framework of the paradigm of the optically thick α-disk of Shakura & Sunyaev. The results confirm that the gravitational energy of the accreted material can be the only source of energy in AGNs.
Influence of leafroll on local grapevine cultivars in agroecological conditions of Central Anatolia region

Leafroll is one of the most important virus diseases of vineyards of Central Anatolia region. Grapevine leafroll associated viruses GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3 are the most frequently encountered viruses related with leafroll disease of grapes. The effect of leafroll disease on yield and fruit quality was studied. The disease caused in the average 31.22% decrease of berry weights and 28.72% reduction in total soluble solids, while titratable acidity was increased by 24.39%. The reaction of local cultivars to mixed infections of GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3 was evaluated and Parmak, Kara dirmit, Kara gevrek and Gul uzumu cultivars were considered to be the most sensitive local cultivars to GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3.