Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface sensing in Escherichia coli

Adhesion of the bacterium Escherichia coli to a surface can lead to initiation of biofilm formation, which is a medically relevant process. However, little is known about how adhesion is perceived and which surface sensing systems are involved. In this thesis, we have studied several potential surface sensing systems in E. coli and we found that only the RcsCDB phosphorelay is responsive to surface contact. This system was rapidly activated in surface-attached cells under specific conditions and our results suggest that Rcs could trigger a metabolic adaptation that enables cells to cope with nutrient limitation, as commonly encountered in developing biofilms. Furthermore, our findings show that the CpxAR two-component system, which is widely considered to be a surface sensing system, is in fact not responsive to surface contact. While studying the Cpx system, we found that it is instead highly responsive to a chemical signal, i.e. the presence of copper ions, and that cells condition their medium during growth, which protects them against toxic concentrations of copper. Finally, to facilitate further research in the field of surface sensing, we established the possibilities and limits of optical tweezers for manipulation of single bacteria under the microscope. Using an oscillating optical trap, we were able to hold individual E. coli cells for at least 30 minutes without affecting viability.
Does investor attention to Islamic finance create spillover?

ABSTRACT This paper examines whether investor attention to Islamic finance creates spillover or not. The answer to this question is relevant to understanding whether the recent growth in Islamic Finance is due to an increase in fundamentals or is more to do with a market attention shock. We examine this question for three developed countries (France, the United Kingdom (the UK) and the United States of America (the USA)), four emerging countries (Saudi Arabia (SA)), the United Arab Emirates (the UAE), Pakistan and India), and the whole world. Our findings show that while the US and the UK lead investor attention to Islamic finance and spillover across the globe, India and Pakistan have experienced the greatest spillover from investor attention for both emerging and developed countries. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, on the other hand, play a somewhat minor role.
EFFECT OF LOW TEMPERATURE STRESS ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS, TOTAL SOLUBLE SUGARS, GRAIN FILLING RATE AND YIELD IN RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

A field experiment with 15 rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes was conducted during kharif (rainy) season of 2001 to understand the photosynthetic basis of productivity under low temperature conditions in hills. Exposure of rice genotypes to low temperature conditions (mean temperature 80%.
Prevalence of Sub-clinical Mastitis and Associated Risk Factors at Cow Level in Dairy Farms in Southwestern Part of Bangladesh

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) among medium to large scale household dairy farms in southwestern district, Jhenaidah, Bangladesh during July to December 2019. A total of 78 (n=100) lactating cows from household dairy farms (N=32) having three or more dairy cows were selected randomly as sampled populations. Milk samples were screened for SCM by using Surf Field Mastitis Test (SFMT). The prevalence of SCM varied among farm level [71.9% (95% CI: 53.3-86.3)], individual animal level [67.9% (95% CI: 56.4-86.3)] and quarter level [29.5% (95% CI: 24.5-34.9)]. Descriptive statistics represented the farmers and farm demography, characteristics of the sampled population, and overall management feature. Random Effect Logistic Regression identified, Body Condition Score (BCS) [OR=3.8 and 2.9, at cows level and quarter level respectively (BCS-2 vs. BCS-≥3)], and breed [OR=5.1 and 2.9, at cows level and quarter level respectively (HF× Sahiwal vs. HF × Local)] as potential risk factors. This study shows that SCM is highly prevalent in the study area, which is a major threat to the dairy industry's production performance. Regular screening by SFMT, proper hygiene, improve the management system, and farmer’s awareness is required to control the disease.
Social Preferences and Environmental Behavior: A Comparison of Self-Reported and Observed Behaviors

Faced with the depletion of natural resources and climate change, individuals making the choice to behave in a more environmentally conscious way is increasingly necessary. Rational choice theory suggests that individuals will only behave in pro-environmental ways if they perceive those actions to align with their own self-interests. Others, however, have highlighted instances where individuals act pro-socially or altruistically, deviating from their own self-interests for the benefit of others. The present study examines whether individuals’ social preferences are associated with engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. Specifically, drawing on a methodology from behavioral economics, we use dictator and ultimatum game behavior to measure social preferences, and we then evaluate whether heterogeneity in social preferences is associated with self-reported pro-environmental behaviors and observed recycling behavior. The results indicate that individual differences in social preferences have a modest association with self-reported pro-environmental behaviors but no association with observed recycling behavior. Self-reported pro-environmental behavior was not associated with observed recycling behavior. We also find that recycling bin proximity to classroom doors increased participation in recycling. This finding demonstrates that individuals are receptive to the proximate opportunity to recycle. This suggests increasing the ease with which people can engage in pro-environmental behaviors, such as recycling, will promote participation in these practices. Overall, our research indicates that social preferences do not seem to drive individuals to act in environmentally friendly ways. This work also provides new opportunities for future research to integrate economic games into the study of pro-environmental behaviors.
Title: Kappa Opioid Inhibition of Somatodendritic Dopamine Inhibitory Post-

Abstract In the midbrain, dopamine neurons can release dopamine somatodendritically. This results in an inhibitory post-synaptic current (IPSC) within adjacent dopamine cells that occurs via the activation of inhibitory D 2 autoreceptors. Kappa, but not mu/delta opioid receptors inhibit this IPSC. The aim of the present study was to determine the mechanism by which -opioid receptors inhibit the dopamine IPSC. In both the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and Substantia Nigra Compacta (SNc) the -receptor agonist, U69593 inhibited the IPSC, but not the current induced by the exogenous iontophoretic application of dopamine. The endogenous peptide, dynorphin A (1-13) also inhibited IPSCs in the VTA and SNC, but also the dopamine iontophoretic current in the VTA. Although both kappa agonists induced a postsynaptic outward current in the VTA, the current induced by dynorphin was dramatically larger. This suggests that the decrease in iontophoretic dopamine current was the result of occlusion. Occlusion alone could not however completely account for suppression of the IPSC. The kappa opioid inhibition of the IPSC was not affected by global increases or decreases in dopamine cell activity within the slice. These findings suggest that while kappa opioid receptors can hyperpolarize dopamine neurons, they also suppress dopamine release via direct actions at the release site. The results thus demonstrate both pre- and postsynaptic actions of kappa receptor agonists. The actions of dynorphin indicate that VTA dopamine cells are selectively regulated by kappa receptors.
Optimally Oriented Remote Triggering in the Coso Geothermal Region

Defining the nature of faulting, the stress needed to trigger earthquakes, and the stress state of faults remains fundamental to understanding the earthquake cycle. Studying remote dynamic triggering allows us to probe faults to systemically address the fundamental physical mechanisms of faulting. Using 13 years of data (2004–2016) from the EarthScope USArray Transportable Array and the Southern California Seismic Network, we search for remotely triggered seismicity in an extended region encompassing the Coso Geothermal Field (CGF+), California. We first apply a short term to long‐term average ratio detector to high‐pass (5 Hz) filtered waveforms spanning ±5 hr encompassing 211 M ≥ 7 global earthquakes. We visually inspect these waveforms to identify uncatalogued local earthquakes. We use the augmented local earthquake catalog to investigate remote earthquake triggering in the CGF+ region. Of the 211 remote mainshocks, we find 32 (15%) produce a statistically significant increase in seismicity following the P wave arrival in CGF+. An additional nine mainshocks had local earthquakes coincident with the surface waves passage but lacked a significant rate increase. Of the 41 (19%) triggering mainshocks, 28 and 13 exhibit instantaneous and delayed triggering, respectively. We find no correlation between triggering and mainshock depth, peak dynamic stress, nor mainshock focal mechanism type. Instead, results suggest the CGF+ may be optimally oriented for remote triggering from mainshocks in the West Pacific and South America and propose the reason for this is that the transient dynamic stresses align favorably with the local stress field (most compressive horizontal stress, SHmax) to promote triggering.
Evaluation of tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) at different sowing dates under the agro-climatic condition of Peshawar

A field trial was conductedto evaluate tomato cultivars at different sowing dates under the agro climatic condition of Peshawar. Randomized complete block design having three replications and two factors. I.e. cultivars (Roma, Rio Grande and Red Stone and sowing dates1, 15 and 30 January was used. Both sowing dates and cultivars significantly affected the growth and yield parameters. Among different sowing dates 15 January significantly increased flower cluster plant , number of fruit cluster and yield (26.3t ha). Cultivar Red Stone significantly increased plant height, branches plant, flower cluster plant, fruit cluster -1 and yield t ha). It is concluded that tomato cultivar Red Stone sown after second week of January resulted in optimum growth and yield under the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar.
A decomposition theorem for $\mathbb Q$-Fano K\"ahler-Einstein varieties

Let $X$ be a $\mathbb Q$-Fano variety admitting a K\"ahler-Einstein metric. We prove that up to a finite quasi-\'etale cover, $X$ splits isometrically as a product of K\"ahler-Einstein $\mathbb Q$-Fano varieties whose tangent sheaf is stable with respect to the anticanonical polarization. This relies among other things on a very general splitting theorem for algebraically integrable foliations. We also prove that the canonical extension of $T_X$ by $\mathscr O_X$ is semistable with respect to the anticanonical polarization.
Anxiety in the Operating Room Before Elective Surgery

The experience of pre-operative anxiety in patients is a common and accepted issue; however, anxiety can potentially increase the patients' need for care, the level of post-operative pain, and ultimately patients' morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to determine the patients' pre-operative anxiety level right before they undergo surgery in the operating room. This study was conducted as a prospective crosssectional study. Accordingly, completed State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires as well as demographic and contextual variables of 230 patients undergoing surgery were evaluated. Data analysis was taken out using SPSS v24. P of less than 0.05 was considered significant. 230 patients with an average age of 48.95 (14.68) years were enrolled. The frequency of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety among the patients was 50.8%, 37%, and 12.2%, respectively. The analysis revealed that the patients' age, gender, occupation, awareness about the type of anesthesia, and place of residence, as well as the type of anesthesia, had no significant correlation with the patients' pre-operative anxiety. However, a significant difference was found regarding patients’ preoperative anxiety level and their educational, marital, awareness of post-operative complications, and trait anxiety status as well as their history of anesthesia. Therefore, to reduce post-operative complications, it is recommended that the patients with these characteristics be given priority for interventions aimed at reducing pre-operative anxiety.
Reversing Mesophication Effects on Understory Woody Vegetation in Mid-Southern Oak Forests

Mesophication has reduced fuel-bed flammability in the Mid-Southern US, limiting the effectiveness of fire alone in promoting disturbance-adapted woody species. We applied combinations of thinning (none, 7, and 14 m2 ha–1 residual basal area) and seasonal fire (none, October, and March) at three sites and monitored understory woody response from 2008 to 2016. In combination, thinning and burning had strong negative effects on some mesophytic species (Pinus strobus, Ostrya virginiana, and Fagus grandifolia) and positively affected many shade-intolerant and fire-tolerant species formerly suppressed under closed canopies. Such compositional shifts were greatest at our most xeric site, and were related to treatment effects on overstory and midstory density. Seedling density of Quercus spp. nearly doubled (+2,256 stems ha–1) from preto postmanagement. Sapling response was less dramatic; however, indicator and ordination analyses often associated mesophytic and disturbance-dependent saplings with unmanaged and managed treatments, respectively. Fire-season effects were subtle, but more species and greater understory densities were associated with March relative to October burning. Although some mesophytic species (Acer rubrum and Liriodendron tulipifera) responded positively to thinning and resprouted aggressively after fire, our results demonstrate how thinning and burning can initiate the reversal of mesophication’s effects on understory woody vegetation.
Comparison of nonlinear growth models and factors affecting body weight at different ages in Toy Poodles

Abstract Limited information is available to evaluate optimal growth in Toy Poodles. This work aimed at comparing three growth curves, proposing centile charts and developing a model to estimate the adult body weight (BW) in Toy Poodles. A total of 65 puppies (male = 30, female = 35) born in the same breeding centre were used. BW at birth and, weekly BW, for 53 weeks, BW of parents, litter size, type of management, daily activity and neutering were recorded. Forty-six puppies were sold, and their data were reported by the new owners. Three growth curves (i.e. Hawthorne, Brody and Gompertz) were constructed and compared; Linear Mixed Models including demographic characteristics and management habits were built. The BW at birth was 154 ± 35 g and adult BW was 3208 ± 860 g. Based on the goodness-of-fit and accuracy indices, Gompertz was the best growth model and was selected to plot centile curves based on sex. Toy Poodles achieved 50% of their adult weight at 11–12 weeks, with an overall growth rate of 11.8%. Adult BW was affected by birth BW (p < .01), sex (p < .05) and mother’s BW (p < .01) and their effects varied depending on the age. Extrinsic factors, including litter size, type of management and daily activity were less significant, probably due to the standardised and high-level management of these Toy Poodles. These new and applicable tools for monitoring the growth and predicting adult BW could be useful for veterinarians, breeders and owners for early diagnosis of poor health and welfare. Subject classification codes: companion animals sections Highlights Performance of three logistic models for describing the growth curve in Italian Toy Poodles were compared Based on the goodness of fit and accuracy indices, Gompertz was the best growth model The centile growth curves were constructed for males and females using the Gompertz Adult body weight (BW) was mainly affected by the sex and birth BW, and less by BW of the parents and litter size Monitoring BW of puppies may be useful to enhance their health and welfare
Spike-based information encoding in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers for neuromorphic photonic systems

The ongoing growth of use-cases for artificial neural networks (ANNs) fuels the search for new, tailor-made ANN-optimized hardware. Neuromorphic (brain-like) computers are among the proposed highly promising solutions, with optical neuromorphic realizations recently receiving increasing research interest. Among these, photonic neuronal models based on vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) stand out due to their favourable properties, fast operation and mature technology. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate different strategies to encode information into ultrafast spiking events in a VCSEL-neuron. We evaluate how the strength of the input perturbations (stimuli) influences the spike activation time, allowing for spike latency input coding. Based on a study of refractory behaviour in the system, we demonstrate the capability of the VCSEL-neuron to perform reliable binary-to-spike information coding with spiking rates surpassing 1 GHz. We also report experimentally on neuro-inspired spike firing rate-coding with a VCSEL-neuron, where the strength of the input perturbation (stimulus) is continuously encoded into the spiking frequency (spike firing rate). With the prospects of neuromorphic photonic systems constantly growing, we believe the reported functionalities with the ultrafast spiking VCSEL-neurons provide a reliable, multifaceted approach for interfacing photonic neuromorphic platforms with existing computation and communication systems.
Direct and Indirect Associations of Food Insecurity, Adolescent–Parent Relationship, and Adolescent Future Orientation

This cross-sectional study on Ghanaian adolescents examined the direct and indirect associations of food insecurity, parent–adolescent relationship, and adolescent future orientation. We used structural equation modeling to examine reliability and validity of our latent constructs and our hypothesized direct and indirect relationships. Results indicated adequate fit of our measurement and structural models with the data. Results also showed a significant direct and indirect effect of food insecurity. Food insecurity was directly associated with parental connection, orientation toward success, and uncertainty about the future. Food insecurity was also indirectly associated with orientation toward success and uncertainty about the future, via parental connection. Further, higher levels of parental connection were directly associated with higher levels of orientation toward success and with lower levels of uncertainty about the future. Understanding the direct and indirect effect of food insecurity is important for the design of appropriate interventions that promote holistic and positive adolescent development.
PRETREATMENT PROTOCOLS PERFORMED AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTE FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE (RICH) PRIOR TO AMS 14C MEASUREMENTS

ABSTRACT The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (RICH) radiocarbon (14C) laboratory in Brussels, Belgium, has acquired experience for pretreating samples with 60 years of involvement in 14C dating, and the implementation of routine protocols. These procedures as applied to wood, seeds, charred materials, bones, ivory, textiles (silk, wool, cotton, linen), paper, shells, cremated bones, mortars, lead carbonates, sediments, etc. are described in detail in this paper. They are evaluated against reference materials.
Study of a master regulator of recombination in Mycoplasma genitalium

Mycoplasma genitalium es un petit patogen huma causant d'uretritis no gonococcica, cervicitis i algunes malalties d'inflamacio pelvica. Te un dels genomes mes petits trobats en un organisme viu autonom i, per aquest motiu, ha esdevingut un model bacteria d'estudi d'una cel·lula minima. A mes a mes, aquest petit patogen presenta un mecanisme unic de variacio antigenica que depen de la recombinacio homologa entre les adhesines principals i elements repetits del genoma que es troben dispersos al llarg del cromosoma. Tot i que M. genitalium va ser un dels primers microorganismes que fou sequenciat, es tenen molt poques dades del seu reduit circuit genetic i de la seva regulacio genica. Per altra banda, els mecanismes que regulen el proces de variacio antigenica son desconeguts tot i ser essencial per a l'evasio immune i la persistencia de la infeccio. En aquesta tesi doctoral, hem estudiat el rol de la proteina MG428 (20), la qual es tracta d'un factor sigma alternatiu d'aquest petit bacteri. La proteina MG428 reconeix una zona promotora nova i activa la transcripcio d'un regulo petit format per gens que codifiquen per enzims de recombinacio clau, gens que codifiquen per proteines hipotetiques i tambe regions no codificants de funcio desconeguda. A mes a mes, analisis de cel·lules individuals han confirmat que l'activacio via 20 nomes te lloc en un percentatge petit de la poblacio al mateix temps i tambe mostren una certa associacio espacial entre cel·lules activades per 20. L'activitat d'aquest factor sigma alternatiu es crucial per a la capacitat de recombinacio de M. genitalium i per a la generacio de variants genetiques dels antigens majoritaris d'aquest bacteri. En aquesta tesi, tambe ens hem centrat en l'estudi de la regulacio de l'activitat de 20 per part de dues proteines no caracteritzades fins ara, anomenades RrlA i RrlB en aquest treball (recombination regulatory loci). Aquests reguladors es troben sota el control transcripcional de MG428 i estabilitzen la proteina 20, permetent d'aquesta manera el progres d'un cicle de retroalimentacio positiva que es essencial per a la correcta activacio del regulo de 20. Mutants tant de la proteina RrlA com de la RrlB presenten deficiencies de recombinacio semblants al mutant defectiu de MG_428. Finalment, hem descrit una transferencia horitzontal de DNA sense precedents entre soques de M. genitalium diferents. Aquesta transferencia te lloc des d'una cel·lula donadora que sobreexpressa 20 cap a una cel·lula receptora mitjancant la recombinacio homologa. En resum, en aquesta tesi doctoral hem presentat un nou regulador transcripcional de la recombinacio a M. genitalium que promou la variacio antigenica mitjancant l'activacio de la transcripcio d'un regulo unic. La proteina 20 tambe permet l'activacio d'un sistema de transferencia horitzontal de gens poc ortodox que pot tenir un rol clau en l'evolucio i adaptacio d'aquests petits patogens.
Daily Judgement: Political News and Financial Markets

ABSTRACT Political economists disagree about the extent to which markets monitor politics in advanced economies. Some argue that investors are interested in a handful of macroeconomic indicators, while others say that markets also watch political competition closely. We argue that political competition drives variation in the government bond market more than information about economic policy. Using a new automatic classifier, we code the content of millions of newspaper paragraphs about the UK from 1986 to 2012. We then test the impact of news on government debt. We find that political news is correlated with bond prices and that macroeconomic policy news is not. Our results suggest that the market passes daily judgement on politics, not merely cleaving to seldom-released official statistics or focusing on occasional events like elections.