Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of co-administration of Khat (Catha edulis) and metformin on metabolic syndrome in high fructose diet induced type 2 diabetes in rats

Background: Despite numerous reports regarding the associations of Khat chewing with serious health adverse effects, a significant number of people worldwide uses Khat daily, especially in its origin countries. The risk of co-administration of Khat and drugs that is high among these individuals, leading to increase probability of adverse Khat-drug interactions. Under these circumstances, it becomes important to evaluate the effect of concomitant administration of Khat and clinical drugs. Metformin is a drug of biguanide class used to the lower blood glucose concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the beneficial or harmful effects of concomitant administration of Khat and metformin in a high fructose diet induced T2DM model. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six adult male rats weighing 120150 g were made diabetic by feeding a high fructose diet for 4 weeks. These rats while continuing to be on high fructose diet were divided into six groups and administered orally, normal control (normal saline), normal control with Khat (1500 mg/kg), non-treated diabetic group, Khat treated group (1500 mg/kg), metformin treated diabetic (300 mg/kg), and metformin (300 mg/kg) with Khat (1500 mg/kg) treated group. All the above treatments were given for 4 weeks and their effects were studied. Results: The hyperglycemia, body weight, and lipid profile parameters were brought down significantly by Khat and metformin (P < 0.05) monotherapy; metformin being more effective than Khat. The metformin-Khat combination had a synergistic effect and resulted in much greater efficacy in ameliorating the parameters. Moreover the adverse effect of Khat like lowering of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels was significantly mitigated by metformin-Khat combination. Conclusion: The results suggested that metformin-Khat combination had a much greater efficacy with the added advantage of reducing the adverse effects.
Poverty drivers and Nigeria’s development: Implications for policy intervention

Abstract Several policies and programmes have been put in place to address the issue of poverty both in developing and developed countries of which Nigeria is not exempted. This study using data from World Development Indicators (WDI) for the period of 1992–2016 examined the key principles influencing poverty rate in Nigeria and their implications for policy interventions. The result of the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model using several equations showed that unemployment increases poverty by approximately 1.4, 1.5 and 3.3 percent in the short run while inflation reduces poverty by approximately 0.08 percent in the short run. This implies that unemployment causes poverty while inflation, public resources devoted to austerity programmes and economic growth reduces poverty in the short run. The study recommends that government should put in place adequate measures and conducive environment to encourage more business operations in the country.
Enhancing Multifunctionality through Secondary Phase Inclusion by Self-Assembly of Mn3O4 Nanostructures with Superior Exchange Anisotropy and Oxygen Evolution Activity

While altering physical properties by self-assembly is a common phenomenon, controlled inclusion of a secondary phase that in turn enhances the properties of the ensemble is a rare occurrence. Herein monodisperse Mn3O4 spherical nanoparticles were self-assembled into hierarchical flakes and cubes by regulating the surfactant–metal precursor molar ratio, reaction atmosphere, and time. The secondary phase of Mn2O3 was incorporated differently, depending on the type of self-assembly as 2, 3.5, and 6.5 wt % in the flake, spherical, and cubic morphologies, respectively. The highest percentage of Mn2O3 in the cubes boosts its multifunctionality in terms of enhanced magnetic exchange coupling and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity. With a 2 T cooling field, the hysteresis loop shift corresponding to coupling between antiferromagnetic Mn2O3 and ferrimagnetic Mn3O4 reached 3813 ± 2 Oe for the cubes, which is a record high for any reported Mn3O4–Mn2O3 system. The presence of a eg1 electron due to a higher Mn2.
Utilizing an Electrical Low Pressure Impactor to Indirectly Probe Water Uptake via Particle Bounce Measurements 

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA), formed through oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), display complex viscosity and phase behaviors influenced by temperature, relative humidity (RH), and chemical composition. Here, the efficacy of a multi-stage electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI) for indirect water uptake measurements was studied for ammonium sulfate (AS) aerosol, sucrose aerosol, and α-pinene derived SOA. All three aerosol systems were subjected to greater than 90 % chamber relative humidity, with subsequent analysis indicating persistence of particle bounce for sucrose 10 aerosol of 70 nm (initial dry diameter) and α-pinene derived SOA of number geometric mean diameters between 39 nm and 136 nm (initial dry diameter). On the other hand, sucrose aerosol of 190 nm (initial dry diameter) and AS aerosol down to 70 nm (initial dry diameter) exhibited no particle bounce at elevated RH. Partial drying of aerosol within the lower diameter ELPI impaction stages, where inherent and significant RH reductions occur, is proposed as one explanation for particle bounce persistence.
The effect of increased mobility on SARS-CoV-2 transmission: a descriptive study of the trends of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe between December 2020 and January 2021

Introduction when the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Zimbabwe in March 2020, the local outbreak was characterised by an insidious increase in national caseload. This first wave was mainly attributable to imported cases, peaking around July 2020. By October 2020, the number of cases reported daily had declined to less than 100 cases per day signalling the end of the first wave. This pattern mirrored the global trends. In December 2020, reports of new COVID-19 variants emerged and coincided with the beginning of the second wave within the ongoing pandemic. This paper reports on the analysis conducted on the new wave of COVID-19 beginning December 2020 to January 2021. The objective of this study was to document the evolving presumptive second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe from December 2020 to January 2021. Methods this is a retrospective analysis of secondary data extracted from the daily situation reports published by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Zimbabwe and World Health Organization Country Office, Zimbabwe. The period under consideration started from 1st December 2020 to 31st January 2021. Results there was a 333% increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases starting 1st December 2020, to 31st January 2021. These new cases were mainly attributed to community transmission though there were a few imported cases. There was a 439% increase in the absolute number of deaths; however, the case fatality rate remained low at 3.6%, and comparable to that from other countries. Harare, Bulawayo and Manical and provinces accounted for 60% of the case burden, with the other seven provinces only accounting for 40%. By mid-January, the number of incident COVID-19 cases started to decline significantly, to levels similar to the residual levels seen during the first wave. Conclusion the second wave, which lasted a period of less than 2 months, had a steep rise and sharp decline in the incident cases and fatalities. The steep rise was attributable to increased mobility, with a consequent increase in the chains of community transmission. The declines, noted from mid-January 2021, may be partly attributable to a strict national lockdown, though more in-depth exploration of the drivers of transmission is needed to tailor effective interventions for future control. Differentiated strategies maybe needed according to the case burdens in the different provinces. In anticipation of further waves, the introduction of safe and effective vaccines might be the game changer if the vaccines are widely availed to the population to levels adequate to achieve herd immunity. Meanwhile, infection prevention and control guidelines must continue to be observed.
Rasch Modeling and Multilevel Confirmatory Factor Analysis for the Usability of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Several instruments are currently used to assess Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) -induced psychological distress, including the 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The IES-R is a self-administered scale used to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study aimed to examine the construct validity of the IES-R, based on the Rasch model, with COVID-19-related data, as well as to test the multilevel construct validity of the IES-R within and among countries during the pandemic crisis. Methods: A multi-country web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted utilizing the 22-item IES-R. A total of 1020 participants enrolled in our survey, of whom 999 were included in the analyses. Data were analyzed using Rasch modeling and multilevel confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA). Results: The Rasch modeling results of the IES-R demonstrated that the IES-R is a satisfactory instrument with the five-point Likert scale, asserting that its 22 items are significant contributors to assessing PTSD as a unidimensional construct covered by the items of the IES-R. The MCFA confirmed that the 22-item IES-R, with its three factors, including intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, demonstrates adequate construct validity at the within- and among-country levels. However, the results of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) model determined that the 16-item IES-R is better than the 22-item IES-R. Conclusion: The results suggested that the 22-item IES-R is a reliable screening instrument for measuring PTSD related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be utilized to provide timely psychological health support, when needed, based on the screening results.
Singleton and twin pregnancies in Red Maradi goats: changes in maternal serum biochemical composition and ovarian biometrics at mid gestation

Pregnancy involves some structural and physiological adjustments to achieve an optimal outcome for the fetus and its mother. The magnitude of these changes is influenced by number of fetuses in utero. This research was designed to compare serum biochemical and ovarian morphometric changes associated with singleton and twin pregnancies in Maradi goats. Using Richardson formula, 2.1 × [CRL (cm) + 17], twelve (12) ovarian and blood samples (7 single and 5 twin) from mid gestation (≈70-100 dGA) pregnant goats were purposively selected. Ovarian weights, ovarian diameters, serum biochemistry and levels of ovarian sex hormones were determined and analyzed using standard procedures. Twin pregnant goats had higher (p < 0.05) left ovarian weights, average ovarian weight, left ovarian diameters, average ovarian diameter, serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus levels compared with singleton pregnant goats. There was no significant variation (p > 0.05) in the mean crown-rump length, mean gestational age, mean fetal weight, right ovarian weights, right ovarian diameters, serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, total protein, estrogen and progesterone between sinlgeton and twin pregnant Red Maradi goats. Ovarian sections from the twin bearing mid gestation goats had more growing follicles and fewer primordial follicles compared with the singleton bearing goats. Findings from this study indicate that twin pregnancy, which could be genetically programmed, has the tendency to affect ovarian follicles development, ovarian morphometrics and calcium metabolism in mid gestation in Red Maradi goats.
Is Simple Better ? : Revisiting Simple Generative Models for Unsupervised Clustering

In this paper, we proposed a model to learn both clusters and representations of our data in an end-to-end manner. Our model is a modification of the stacked generative model M1+M2 applied to semi-supervised learning, in which, we model our clusters with the Gumbel-Softmax distribution and we consider the use of a deterministic autoencoder to learn latent features, avoiding the problem of hierarchical stochastic variables. Experimental results on three datasets show the effectiveness of our model achieving competitive results with the state-of-the-art. Moreover, we show that our model generates realistic samples.
Are feralization and domestication truly mirror processes?

Feralization is the process by which a once-domesticated animal returns to a wild-like state due to desocialization from humans. Whether feralization results from a true reversion of the physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying domestication or whether it involves a return to a wild state by other means is still a controversial issue. In this paper we provide a comparative account of both processes. We highlight the physical, behavioral, and neurobiological traits of domesticated animals that appear to be reversible, as well as those others that are resistant to change in cases of feralization. Additionally, we compare the genetic signatures of domestication and feralization, and identify a core set of genes involved in both process that could account for the reversion of selected traits in feralized animals. We conclude with a discussion regarding the ultimate reasons for the differences and overlaps attested between feralization and domestication.
Strategic Orientation, Integrated Marketing Communication, and
 Relational Performance in E-commerce Brands: Evidence from Japanese
 Consumers’ Perception

Objectives: The effect of integrated marketing communications (IMC) has not received sufficient attention in the e-commerce context. The objective of this research was to examine the effects of customer orientation and technology orientation on IMC and relational performance (i.e., trust, commitment, loyalty). Methods: Three hundred valid responses were obtained via questionnaire from e-commerce shoppers (e.g., Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo Shopping) in Japan. The partial least squares structural equation modeling procedure was utilized to examine the measurement models and test the research hypotheses. Results: IMC antecedents of strategic orientations, such as customer orientation and technology orientation, were found to positively influence IMC consistency. Technology orientation was found to exert a more significant role in the development of IMC consistency than customer orientation. In addition, all three factors of relational performance were found to be affected by IMC consistency, with the most significant impact found for brand trust. This study found that customer attitudes towards brand trust and commitment mediated the relationship between IMC and brand loyalty. Conclusions: These findings suggest that marketing managers responsible for e-commerce brand promotion and other branding activities need to evaluate the relative contributions of IMC antecedents of strategic orientations. Furthermore, if consumers perceive a consistent message and image of e-commerce brands, they are more likely to learn more about them, develop positive feelings, and actively promote them to others. To improve brand loyalty, the establishment of brand trust and commitment appears to be crucial.
The use of chickpea flour in the minced meat products formula

The goal of the research was to substantiate the possibility of using various doses of chickpea flour in the recipe for the “Chopped Beefsteak” instead of beef to improve its consumer and protective properties. Taking into account the functional and technological properties and organoleptic characteristics of various minced meat models, the most optimal dose of including chopped chickpea flour in the formulation of semi-finished steak is 5.0% to the mass of minced meat. To assess the consumer qualities of the compared samples of the “Chopped beefsteak” dish with the addition of chickpea flour in a dosage of 5% to the mass of minced meat, technological charts were drawn up on the basis of recipe No. 604. When chickpea flour was included in the amount of 5.0% to the mass of minced meat, the consumer characteristics of the finished product were improved. Was found, that chickpea flour is a valuable dietary product, it is distinguished by high taste and health characteristics.
COVID-19 organizational support and employee voice: Insights of pharmaceutical stakeholders in Jordan

How to cite this paper: Ta’Amnha, M. , Samawi, G. A. , Bwaliez, O. M. , & Magableh, I. K. (2021). COVID-19 organizational support and employee voice: Insights of pharmaceutical stakeholders in Jordan [Special issue]. Corporate Ownership & Control, 18(3),
Understanding the Determinants of Wearable Fitness Technology Adoption and Use in a Developing Country: An Empirical Study

On account of slow adoption rate of Wearable Fitness Technology (WFT), the device designers need to comprehend the determinants behind the adoption and use of WFT. Which antecedents affect the intention of WFT wearers remains unclear and a brainteaser for designers, especially in developing countries. This study, therefore, examined the factors liable to influence the WFT users in a developing country using the extended ‘Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology’ (UTAUT2) model and ‘Perceived Reliability’. The desired data for assessment the model was assembled from 260 Bangladeshi respondents using a self-administered questionnaire through online platforms. The Partial-Least-Squares-Structural-Equation-Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was followed by operationalizing SmartPLS 3.3. 3 software to test the proposed hypotheses mentioned in the model. The outcomes of the test confirmed that the facilitating conditions and habit are the most influential determinants for intention-to-use and actual use of WFT followed by performance expectancy and facilitating conditions respectively. Contrariwise, effort expectancy was unearthed to have no notable impact on behavioral intention whereas price value showed negative association with intention. The documentation of the findings could benefit WFT vendors and those policymakers who have strong desire to enter in developing countries’ market.
Supporting Deep Neural Network Safety Analysis and Retraining Through Heatmap-Based Unsupervised Learning

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are increasingly important in safety-critical systems, for example, in their perception layer to analyze images. Unfortunately, there is a lack of methods to ensure the functional safety of DNN-based components. We observe three major challenges with existing practices regarding DNNs in safety-critical systems: 1) Scenarios that are under-represented in the test set may lead to serious safety violation risks but may, however, remain unnoticed; 2) characterizing such high-risk scenarios is critical for safety analysis; 3) retraining DNNs to address these risks is poorly supported when causes of violations are difficult to determine. To address these problems in the context of DNNs analyzing images, we propose heatmap-based unsupervised debugging of DNNs (HUDD), an approach that automatically supports the identification of root causes for DNN errors. HUDD identifies root causes by applying a clustering algorithm to heatmaps capturing the relevance of every DNN neuron on the DNN outcome. Also, HUDD retrains DNNs with images that are automatically selected based on their relatedness to the identified image clusters. We evaluated HUDD with DNNs from the automotive domain. HUDD was able to identify all the distinct root causes of DNN errors, thus supporting safety analysis. Also, our retraining approach has shown to be more effective at improving DNN accuracy than existing approaches.
The Economic Loss of Dairy Cattle Poor Reproductive Performance inCentral Highlands of Ethiopia

The purpose of the study was to quantify the economic loss due to delayed conception in dairy cows and heifers in central highlands of Ethiopia using data collected from 298 randomly selected dairy farmers of Oromia and Amhara national regional states. The study covered two zones of Oromia (Finfine special zone and North Shoa) and one zone of Amhara (North Shoa). A three-stage sampling technique was employed to select the sample for the study which involved purposive and random sampling techniques. The data collection was done using a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The total loss due to poor reproductive performance per year per cow/heifer was the aggregate of milk loss, extra feed cost, extra medical cost, breeding cost, calf loss, and extra labor. The result of the study revealed that the mean annual cost of the poor reproductive performance of the crossbreed cow was ETB 32,068.53 (US $1,167.40) with the mean per day cost of ETB 157.43 (US $5.73). On the other hand, the mean annual cost of poor reproductive performance of local zebu cows was ETB 15,696.34 (US $571. 39) with the mean per cow per day cost of ETB 54.90 (US $2.00). Based on the results, a high proportion of poor reproductive performance cost of crossbreed cows goes to milk loss (53%) and extra feed cost (39%), and the highest proportion goes to cost of milk loss (53%) and cost of extra feed (33%) for local zebu cows. Concurrently, the cost of poor reproductive performance (delayed conception) for crossbreed heifers was ETB 69,333.59 (US $2,523.97) with a mean per heifer per day cost of ETB 151.75 (US $5.52), and the mean cost of poor reproductive performance of local zebu heifers along the study zones was ETB 27,010.75 (US $ 983.28) with a mean per day per heifer cost of ETB 52.56 (US $1.91). More than 55% of the cost goes to milk loss for both crossbreed and local zebu heifers. The study has also estimated the cost of delayed conception in central Ethiopia. The estimated result showed that poor reproductive performance of crossbred cows annually costs ETB 2,053,022,879.41 (US $74,736,908.61). On other hand, poor reproductive performance of local zebu cattle costs ETB 14,802,637,790.05 (US $538,865,591.19). Thus, it is suggested to work on AI efficiency, timely culling, and using crossbreed dairy cattle to reduce the economic losses caused by delayed conception.
Fatty Acid and Alcohol Metabolism in Pseudomonas putida: Functional Analysis Using Random Barcode Transposon Sequencing (vol 86, e01665-20, 2020)

Author(s): Thompson, Mitchell G; Incha, Matthew R; Pearson, Allison N; Schmidt, Matthias; Sharpless, William A; Eiben, Christopher B; Cruz-Morales, Pablo; Blake-Hedges, Jacquelyn M; Liu, Yuzhong; Adams, Catharine A; Haushalter, Robert W; Krishna, Rohith N; Lichtner, Patrick; Blank, Lars M; Mukhopadhyay, Aindrila; Deutschbauer, Adam M; Shih, Patrick M; Keasling, Jay D