Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Vitamin D3 on Methotrexate- Induced Jejunum Damage in Rats

Both methotrexate and vitamin D3 are used in combination for the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this study is to highlight the effect of vitamin D3 on methotrexate-induced jejunum damage using biochemical and histopathological studies. Seven groups of both sexes of rats were selected and treated as follows: (Group I and Group II) : control 1,control 2 (I.P normal saline) daily for 14 and 21 days respectively ; (Group III and Group IV) :vitamin D3 groups (500 IU/rat/day) orally for 14 and 21 days, respectively;(Group V): once daily dose of methotrexate 20mg/kg, I.P injected for 4 days;(Group VI):vitamin D3 (500 IU/rat/day) once daily for 14 days and methotrexate (20 mg/kg I.P) injected only at day 10;. (Group VII) vitamin D3 (500 IU/rat/day) orally for 21 days and methotrexate (20 mg/kg I.P) injected only at day 17; then the jejunum was removed and used for measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) level; in addition histopathological study of jejunum tissue. Administration of vitamin D3 for 21 days and a single dose of methotrexate at day 17 resulted in non-significant difference (P>0.05) in MDA; while significant reduction (P<0.05) in the TAOC level in jejunum tissue; furthermore , sever villi damage ,crypts abscess, epithelial atrophy , mixed inflammatory cells infiltrate and goblet cells depletion were observed in comparison with methotrexate group. So the study demonstrates that vitamin D3 plays a synergistic role with methotrexate therefore the combined use of vitamin D3 and methotrexate may be used as a strategy to overcome dose limitations and side effects when use for the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Key words: Jejunum damage, Methotrexate, Oxidative stress, Rats, Vitamin D3.
Probabilistic assessment of transport network vulnerability with equilibrium flows

Abstract This article develops a probabilistic approach for assessing transport network vulnerability. A novel performance measure is proposed to evaluate the expected impact when multiple transport network components fail simultaneously at various degrees. The proposed measure captures both the likelihood and consequence of a combination of transport network component failures. The most critical combination of transport network component failures is obtained by solving a bi-level optimization problem. The upper-level problem is to solve for the combination of transport network components together with their corresponding disruption levels, which induces the maximum reduction in the performance measure. The lower-level problem is to capture the response of travelers to network changes due to network component failures and is formulated as a traffic assignment problem. The clonal selection algorithm (CSA), a biologically inspired approach, is adopted to tackle the proposed bi-level optimization problem. Numerical results indicate that neglecting partial capacity degradation and its probability of occurrence could misestimate the worst scenario, and different vulnerability assessment approaches could identify similar critical components but our approach can discover some components that are not found by other existing approaches. Moreover, it is shown that the CSA outperforms the well-known genetic algorithm in terms of solution quality in a large network.
The impact of greenwashing practices on green employee behaviour: Mediating role of employee value orientation and green psychological climate

Abstract The awareness of environmental issues is rising among employees, customers, investors, and businesses. This study is focused on assessing the outcomes of practicing greenwashing and factors effecting green employee behaviour. A quantitative method was applied by collecting data from agri-inputs industry in Pakistan using survey (N = 520). The data were analysed by partial least square structural equation modelling in SmartPLS. Greenwashing has a negative impact on green employee behaviour with employee value orientation and green psychological climate negatively mediating (partially) this effect. The internal environmental orientation has no significant effect of mediation on the linkage of greenwashing and green employee behaviour. It is a cross-sectional study that might not have captured the constructs (e.g., greenwashing) fully. Besides, data were collected from one province and a single industry. It will help policymakers understand greenwashing effects and devising appropriate psychological strategies. The study emphasized on the holistic approach towards greening of organizations, and is, according to our best knowledge, the first empirical study that explored the impact of greenwashing on green employee behaviour in Pakistan.
A generic encoding and operation scheme for mixed aperture three and four hexagonal discrete global grid systems

ABSTRACT Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGSs) are an emerging data model for integration and analysis of big Earth data. Current research on hexagonal DGGSs focuses mainly on the pure aperture, which limits application of resolution and may cause data redundancy. The mixed aperture hexagonal DGGS provides a new and flexible scheme that can optimize data precision by designing the most suitable grid resolution. This paper proposes a generic encoding and operation scheme for the mixed aperture 3 and 4 hexagonal DGGSs. A planar mathematical model with unique location representation was constructed. Based on this model, this paper designed an encoding scheme and gave relevant operational properties and rules. A generic method of extending the planar scheme to the surface of an icosahedron was then designed and spherical grids were obtained by projection. The conversion between geographical coordinates and codes was also provided. The proposed scheme has a more complete theoretical basis than existing schemes and can be applicable to different aperture sequences. Experiments show that the code addition efficiency of the proposed algorithm is superior to existing hexagonal grid systems. A case study with ocean salinity hexagonal data demonstrated the flexibility of the proposed scheme.
The Search Theory of OTC Markets

I review the recent literature that applies search-and-matching theory to the study of Over-the-Counter (OTC) financial markets. I formulate and solve a simple model in order to illustrate the typical assumptions and economic forces at play in existing work. I then offer thematic tours of the literature and, in the process, discuss avenues for future research.
Technological transfer and spillovers within the RIS3 entrepreneurial ecosystems: a quadruple helix approach

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to assess quadruple helix stakeholders’ perception on the implementation of the smart specialisation strategy (RIS3) in the North of Portugal, besides analysing technology transfer (TT) by spillover activities between 2014 and 2017. For the achievement of this goal, a qualitative methodology was followed through semi-structured interviews applied to regional actors of the eight priority domains of RIS3 North of Portugal. Data analysis was performed using Iramuteq software. Our results suggest that regional stakeholder’ motivation to engage in TT were essentially in line with what has been found in other contexts and stakeholders’ perception of the fitness of the RIS3 defined for their region does not match with the RIS3 defined by the policymakers. Our results contribute to (1) bridge the lack of studies focusing on university TT involving QH stakeholders and to (2) identify the real perception of QH actors on the RIS3 process.
Household waste separation intention and the importance of public policy

The key challenge that urban cities in most developing and transitional economies is confronting is municipal solid waste (MSW) management. Waste separation is a critical component to successful recycling management in terms of enhancing the quality of recyclables, reducing MSW and optimizing incineration. The urge to actualizing sustained waste separation behavior has been hindered by potential barriers. This study aims to examine the influences of external and internal stimuli of targeted households' waste separation intention in parts of China. ,A multifactor framework predicting the process that leads to waste separation attitude and behavioral intention is proposed. SEM analysis is conducted in SmartPLS based on 371 survey questionnaires collected in Nanning city in China. ,Policy regulation is the biggest determinant of attitude among external stimuli, while awareness of consequence has the strongest relationship with an attitude among internal stimuli. Facilitating conditions, subjective norms and moral norms are all significant predictors of attitude. As a result, increasing positive attitude leads to enhance waste separation lifestyle. ,This study adopts a cross-sectional design to investigate the waste separation intention of local households. Data collection is restricted to one point in time for every individual. A mixed method is recommended. Quantitative research can examine variables provided in existing literature with numerical analysis. Qualitative research might be helpful to identify other unknown factors. Also, the survey questionnaires employ a self-reported manner, and respondents might be overrating to avoid embarrassment. ,Future research is recommended to engage observation at houses or at the waste-collecting points for actual waste separation behavior. Moreover, this study measures intention toward household waste separation, but whether this intention will eventually lead to waste separation behavior is not a guarantee. Future study is recommended to examine whether intention translates into actual waste separation behavior. ,Emphasizing the importance of policy element as a direct influence toward attitude, this paper focuses on the waste separation attitude accumulated from external and internal stimuli, and, concurrently, waste separation behavioral intention is influenced by accumulated attitudes. The study provides relevant policy development information of three Asian countries to enhance their present and future policy directions for a sustainable household waste separation management process
A Quantitative Analysis of Knowledge Collaboration Enablers for Practicing Engineers

Abstract Transferring knowledge from experts to apprentices is critical for sustaining a company’s competitive advantage. Further, existing literature indicates that employees in the Millennial (Y) generation and Generation Z prefer collaboration in the work environment. To address such needs, this research study aims to analyze the factors that enable knowledge collaboration among apprentices and experts in the practice of engineering. Survey data collected from 138 apprentices in the practice of engineering revealed that apprentices are more likely to collaborate with experts within their companies when they can trust the experts and perceive support for collaboration from senior management. This research adds to the body of knowledge by explicitly addressing apprentices’ trust, senior management support, intrinsic motivation, and knowledge collaboration with experts. Engineering managers can use this article to utilize trust, support from senior management, and employee’s intrinsic motivation to increase knowledge collaboration success among engineering experts and apprentices.
Nuclear and mitochondrial markers suggest new species boundaries in Alloxysta (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae)

Due to their small size and smooth body, members of the figitid genus Alloxysta can be notoriously difficult to identify based on morphology alone. Moreover, several species are suspected to contain brachypterous variants that previously have been described under separate names. We used gene sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI, DNA barcodes) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) to investigate the relationships between species within the genus. Our results show that there is considerably more intraspecific variation in COI than in ITS2, but that both markers can be used to identify potential synonyms of brachypterous and fully winged species. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses of a concatenated dataset of both markers resulted in similar and fairly well supported phylogenies that indicate genetic divergence not matching morphological species boundaries for some groups. Some of the discrepancies can be explained by infections of the endosymbiont Wolbachia, here reported from the first time in Alloxysta and Charipinae. This study also presents the first records of A. arcuata, A. basimacula, A. brachycera, A. brachyptera, A. brevis, A. citripes, A. consobrina, A. curta, A. fracticornis, A. halterata, A. marshalliana, A. obscurata, A. proxima, A. pusilla, A. ramulifera and A. xanthopa from Norway.
Outcome Expectations and Social Entrepreneurial Intention: Integration of Planned Behavior and Social Cognitive Career Theory

The paper examines social entrepreneurial intention through outcome expectations. The proposed model incorporates outcome expectations from social cognitive career theory and theory of planned behaviors. The study also introduces a scale for outcome expectations in social entrepreneurship, including solving social problems, innovation, family tradition of social involvement, meaning in life, prestige and social recognition, competitive and favorite job and wealth. A survey of 279 students was conducted through face-to-face structured interviews. The confirm factor analysis and technique of structural equation modeling were used to explore relationships among latent constructs. Research results show that the outcomes impact only through three determinants of theory of planned behavior and do not have significant impact to social entrepreneurial intention. It suggests that outcome expectations may be a flexible factor. Individual outcome expectations can shift to motivations when facing favorable conditions such as family support, government support, etc. The findings suggest that the ability to predict social entrepreneurial intention of attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The proposed model in this study contributes importantly to the emerging literature on entrepreneurial intention, particularly to social entrepreneurial intention. This study is also the first quantitative study to measure the impact of outcome expectations on social entrepreneurial intention.
Suscetibilidade a escorregamentos rasos a partir de parâmetros morfométricos e dos modelos SHALSTAB e do Valor Informativo

Escorregamentos rasos sao processos naturais recorrentes na regiao das escarpas da Serra do Mar, no sudeste do Brasil, que podem configurar riscos para a sociedade caso estas encostas sejam ocupadas. O objetivo deste artigo foi comparar o desempenho da analise de suscetibilidade a escorregamentos rasos utilizando parâmetros morfometricos e os modelos SHALSTAB e Valor Informativo. A area de estudo foi a bacia do rio Gurutuba, no municipio de Itaoca (Sao Paulo), selecionada devido a grande quantidade de escorregamentos rasos deflagrados apos chuvas intensas em 2014. A comparacao entre os modelos foi feita utilizando a taxa de sucesso e a matriz de contingencia. O modelo do Valor Informativo apresentou melhor desempenho, classificando as areas instaveis mais de acordo com o inventario de cicatrizes, enquanto o modelo SHALSTAB indicou como instaveis zonas sem ocorrencia de cicatrizes. Estes resultados sao relevantes para o planejamento da regiao, que nao possui estudos deste tipo.
Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet for the Improvement of Wettability of Polypropylene

This paper reports the generation of cold plasma jet working under atmospheric pressure condition, for surface treatment of polymeric films. The discharge has been characterized by electrical and optical methods. The electrical property of the discharge has been studied by taking current-voltage wave forms using voltage and current probes. The production of argon plasma jet is done in atmospheric conditions which are relatively much cheaper, convenient, and safer to use. The atmospheric pressure plasma jet sustained in pure argon has been used to improve wettability of polypropylene (PP). Cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet (CAPPJ) has been generated by a high-voltage power supply (5.5 kV, 0-20 kV) at an operating frequency of 20 kHz. The surface properties of the controls and plasma-treated PP samples were characterized by contact angle measurement, surface free energy measurement, scanning electron microscopy, and the Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy analysis.
Correlates of Erectile Dysfunction in Nigerian Men with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Experience from a Tertiary Health Center

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that is associated with poor quality of life and can be present in type 2 diabetics at the time of diagnosis. There are common risk factors associated with erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetic subjects. Some of these are potentially treatable or reversible. The risk factors evaluated by this study included glycaemic control, duration of diabetes, obesity, peripheral artery disease (PAD), hypertension and antihypertensive medications use. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross sectional one carried out over a period of six months (June-November, 2016) at the diabetes clinic of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi and involved 124 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A convenience sampling method was used. A detailed physical examination, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements and vascular assessment with a hand-held doppler ultrasound were carried out. Data was collected using a study proforma. Erectile dysfunction was diagnosed with the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire while anxiety and depression were diagnosed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression questionnaires. Subjects that had anxiety/depression or hypogonadism were excluded from the study. Results: A total of 124 subjects were studied, 48.4% of whom had erectile dysfunction. Glycaemic control was significantly associated with ED among the subjects (OR = 0.198, 95% CI = 0.081 - 0.483, P 0.05). Conclusion: Poor glycaemic control and presence of PAD significantly increase the risk of ED in male subjects with type 2 DM, thus underscoring the need for an early screening and treatment of these predictors of erectile dysfunction.
Effect of ethanolic extracts of Persea Americana seed and zea mays silk on blood glucose levels, body and organ weights of alloxan- induced hyperglycemic Albino wistar rats

The effect of ethanolic extracts of Persea americana seed and Zea mays silk on blood glucose levels, body and organ weights of alloxan- induced hyperglycemic Wistar rats was investigated using standard analytical techniques. Thirty male albino rats weighing 120-161g were randomly assigned to six groups of five rats each. Groups 3- 6 were test groups which received 400 mg/kg body weight Persea americana seed single extract, 400 mg/kg body weight Zea mays silk single extract, 400 mg/kg body weight combined extract of Persea americana seed and Zea mays silk and 500 mg/kg body weight combined extract of Persea americana seed and Zea mays silk repectively. Group 1 and 2 served as normal and diabetic controls respectively. Diabetes was induced using 170mg/kg body weight alloxan monohydrate. All the rats received their normal diet and distilled water daily for a period of 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the groups administered 400 mg/kg body weight Zea mays silk single extract and 400 mg/kg body weight combined extract of Persea americana seed and Zea mays silk showed significant (P< 0.05) decrease in fasting blood glucose when compared with the diabetic control. The highest body weight change was observed in the high dose combined extract group followed by the Zea mays silk single extract group. Apart from the kidney and spleen weights, which were significantly reduced in the Zea mays single extract group, there was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in organ weights of the experimental groups compared with the diabetic and normal controls. Persea americana seed increased body and organ weights of experimental animals whereas Zea mays silk decreased same. It may therefore be concluded that Persea americana seed and Zea mays silk are probable hypoglycemic agents.Keywords: Persea americana seed, Zea mays silk, glucose, body weight, organ weight
Girls' Multimedia Learning Experiences on Skills Development in Rukwa and Dodoma Regions, Tanzania

This article is a case study of the Girls Inspire Project (GIP) of the Institute of Adult Education in Rukwa and Dodoma regions in Tanzania. It aimed at exploring the GIP girls' multimedia learning experiences in skills development. Specifically, it focused at exploring on how the girls participate in skills development through multimedia learning as well as their multimedia learning experiences. The study employed exploratory research design with qualitative research approach. It involved 32 girls by snowball sampling. The researcher analyzed data using content analysis. Findings indicate that; the girls participated in multimedia learning using LCD projectors, conducted discussions and later, practical sessions. Subsequently, they practiced hands-on skills in groups, with reference to learning contents and facilitators' guidance. The study concludes that the girls had a commendable multimedia learning experience on skills development. However, based on the offline learning challenges observed, the researcher recommends a feasibility study for online multimedia learning in rural parts of Tanzania prior to establishing similar interventions so as to enhance flexible access to learning contents and effective learning experiences.
Characterization and Comparison of Alkali Extracted Starches from Selected Cereals and Tubers

Aims: Starch is used in the food industry to impart functional properties and to modify food texture and consistency. In this study starches isolated from six sources using an alkali extraction method were evaluated for physicochemical properties. Study Design: Complete randomized design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries, & Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), Sri Lanka between April 2017 and August 2017. Methodology: Starches were isolated from white rice, foxtail millet, proso millet, cassava, sweet potato and all-purpose wheat flour. Proximate composition, mineral content, physical properties and microscopic characteristics were determined and they were compared. Results: The level of starch extracted was within the range of 27.5-64.1% on a dry basis. Extracted starched contains about 99% carbohydrate in DW and less than 1% non-carbohydrate fraction (protein, fat, fiber and ash and minerals). The amylose content followed the order: proso millet > wheat > foxtail millet > rice > sweet potato > cassava. There was considerable variation in swelling Original Research Article Wijesinghe and Gunathilake; APRJ, 5(1): 1-12, 2020; Article no.APRJ. 56772 2 factor, solubility, gelatinization temperature among all starches. Both swelling power and solubility had a positive relationship with temperature and the swelling power (at 90°C) followed the order: corn > cassava > foxtail millet > wheat > proso millet > rice > sweet potato. The gelatinization temperature of starches ranged from 62°C to 76°C. Conclusion: The study would be helpful to better understand the chemical, physical and microscopic characteristics of these starches and the application of novel starches obtain from nonconventional sources which are foxtail millet, proso millet and sweet potato as a thickening agent and a substitute to other common starches in food.