Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Agile contracting: Managing incentives under uncertain needs

We consider a novel principal–agent model that captures some salient features of an agile software development project. Specifically, the project is technically complex, can be modularized via a set of independent stories which are developed in sprints, and has requirements that can change over time due to exogenous changes in business needs, technologies, or market conditions. In addition, given the iterative nature of agile development, our model also captures and analyzes the interaction between two types of learning effects, namely, viability learning and cost learning, which until our paper have been examined only individually in the literature. Our paper makes the following contributions to the literature: (i) We characterize an optimal contract for the principal in closed‐form and generate managerial insights on how the agent's incentive to work changes, and consequently how the optimal contracting terms offered by the principal change, depending upon the business environment. We show that the interaction between the two learning effects and need‐risk plays an important and yet unexplored role in influencing the dynamics in the optimal contract. (ii) Using the optimal contract as the benchmark, we examine the performance of time‐and‐material contracts that are popularly used in agile projects. (iii) We obtain an optimal contract for precedence‐dependent stories in which one story must be completed before starting another story. Overall, our results provide both prescriptive and qualitative guidance to firms outsourcing agile software development projects.
A survey of Italian Physicians self-efficacy regarding communication skills and its correlation with a measure of "Burnout"

Background: The majority of practising physicians experience burnout. One of the factors most frequently advocated to increase such risk is breaking bad news (BBN). Several reports, by showing alteration of physiological indices, have empirically suggested that BBN may stress physicians, ultimately contributing to burnout. However, the association between the way serious news is broken and burnout has not been explored yet. In this study we investigated the correlation between burnout and physicians' self-efficacy regarding communication to patients. Methods: A 23-item questionnaire exploring attitudes and practice regarding BBN and the Maslach Burnout Inventory test were administered to 379 physicians from two University Hospitals. Associations were assessed by means of logistic regression models. Results: 226 (60%) returned the questionnaires. 76% of physicians acquired communication skills by observing mentors or colleagues, 64% considered BBN as discussing a poor prognosis, 56% reported discussing prognosis as the most difficult task, 38% and 37% did not plan a BBN encounter and considered it stressful. The overall burnout rate was 59%. At the multivariable analysis considering BBN as discussing a poor prognosis and a stressful task were related to high level of burnout (OR 2.42, p=0.042; OR 3.56, p=0.005); whereas planning the encounter and mastering communication skills even by just by means of reading relevant literature were correlated to low level of burnout (OR=0.43, p=0.037; OR=0.19, p=0.034). Conclusions: Our study identifies some physicians' BBN attitudes and knowledge of conceptual frameworks which may influence the risk of burnout and support the notion that increasing knowledge about communication skills may protect clinicians from burnout.
Pt‐Sn‐Eu/C Catalysts: Application of Rare Earth Metals as Anodes in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells

Pt‐Sn‐Eu catalysts were synthesized by modified polyol method, evaluated for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), and compared to commercial Pt/C and Pt‐Sn/C catalysts. The catalysts were electrochemically characterized in both three‐electrode and fuel cell setups. X‐ray diffraction measurements indicated some degree of Pt‐Sn alloying in the Pt‐Sn‐Eu/C catalysts, and mean crystallite sizes between 2.3–3.3 nm, while X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements showed the presence of Pt and Sn in both metallic and oxide form, and rare earth metals in the form of mixed oxides. Adding tin and europium promoted filling of the Pt 5d band, as confirmed by X‐ray absorption. The electrochemical characterization showed a higher oxidation current density and lower oxidation onset potential for the ternary Pt‐Sn‐Eu materials compared with the commercial catalysts, in both the three‐cell and fuel cell tests. High performance liquid chromatography measurements indicating that the main products of ethanol oxidation were acetaldehyde and acetic acid; a low concentration of CO2 was also detected. The improved ethanol oxidation efficiency for the Pt‐Sn‐Eu/C catalysts can be explained by the Sn/Eu‐Pt electronic effect, because it weakens the adsorption of intermediate products by Pt, and favors the bifunctional EOR mechanism, as europium oxide renders oxygenated species available at lower potentials.
Survey of Automatic Query Expansion for Arabic Text Retrieval

Information need has been one of the main motivations for a person using a search engine. Queries can represent very different information needs. Ironically, a query can be a poor representation of the information need because the user can find it difficult to express the information need. Query Expansion (QE) is being popularly used to address this limitation. While QE can be considered as a language-independent technique, recent findings have shown that in certain cases, language plays an important role. Arabic is a language with a particularly large vocabulary rich in words with synonymous shades of meaning and has high morphological complexity. This paper, therefore, provides a review on QE for Arabic information retrieval, the intention being to identify the recent state-of-the-art of this burgeoning area. In this review, we primarily discuss statistical QE approaches that include document analysis, search, browse log analyses, and web knowledge analyses, in addition to the semantic QE approaches, which use semantic knowledge structures to extract meaningful word relationships. Finally, our conclusion is that QE regarding the Arabic language is subjected to additional investigation and research due to the intricate nature of this language.
Analysis of the Essential Oil from Mentha pulegium and Identification of its Antioxidant Constituents

Abstract In this study, the hydrodistilled essential oil from aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. was investigated for the antioxidant activity and identification of active constituents. The chemical composition of the oil was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The antioxidant activity of the oil was evaluated by the DPPH assay. The most active constituents of the essential oil were detected by the DPPH-bioautography method and identified by GC analysis. 18 constituents were identified in the oil of M. pulegium and pulegone (48.7 %) and menthone (26.8 %) were found to be the main constituents. The DPPH assay showed an IC50 value of 1.61 (1.41–1.84) mg/mL. The DPPH-bioautography guided fractionation of the essential oil followed by GC analysis of the most active fraction was resulted in the identification of menthone and pulegone as the main active constituents.
Pre-HAART CD4+ T-Lymphocytes as Biomarkers of Post-HAART Immune Recovery in HIV-TB Co-Infected Children

Background Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) dramatically increases the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB). Several studies have indicated that co-infection with TB increases the risk of HIV progression and death. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of these dual epidemics, with about 2.4 million HIV-infected people living with TB. The main objective of our study was to assess whether the pre-HAART CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and percentages could serve as biomarkers for post-HAART treatment immune-recovery in HIV-positive children with and without TB co-infection. Methods The data analyzed in this retrospective study were collected from a cohort of 305 HIV-infected children being treated with HAART. A Lehmann family of ROC curves were used to assess the diagnostic performance of pre- HAART treatment CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage as biomarkers for post-HAART immune recovery. The Kaplan–Meier estimator was used to compare differences in post-HAART recovery times between patients with and without TB co-infection.Results We found that the diagnostic performance of both pre-HARRT treatment CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage was comparable and achieved accuracies as high as 74%. Furthermore, the predictive capability of pre-HAART CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage were slightly better in TB-negative patients. Our analyses also indicate that TB-negative patients have a shorter recovery time compared to the TB-positive patients. Conclusions Pre-HAART CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage are stronger predictors of immune recovery in TB-negative pediatric patients, suggesting that TB co-infection complicates the treatment of HIV in this cohort. These findings suggest that the detection and treatment of TB is essential for the effectiveness of HAART in HIV-infected pediatric patients.
Modeling Electronic Trap States at Interfaces between Anatase Nanoparticles

Interfaces between crystallites in nanocrystalline anatase can give rise to localized electronic trap states, which affect the charge transport and catalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 films and aerogels. Unlike trap states associated with point defects and surfaces, the energetic and spatial distributions of interfacial trap states are not known. We have calculated the electronic structure of attached anatase nanoparticles to search for molecular orbitals localized at the particle interfaces and to identify their energetic positions in the nominal band gap. We found that orbitals localized at the interfaces had energies near the edge of the nominal conduction band and that such trap states localized at the interface between (001) facets were lower in energy than those localized at the interface between (101) facets. The spatial distributions of the interfacial trap states were similar between different levels of theory; however, hybrid density functional theory (DFT) predicted the trap states to be deep.
Molecular and Pathotypic Characterization of Fowl Adenovirus Associated with Inclusion Body Hepatitis in Indian Chickens

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is a disease of chickens characterized by acute mortality with severe anemia caused by fowl adenoviruses (FAdV). IBH is one of the most important re-emerging diseases world-wide. In India earlier IBH/ Hydropericardium Syndrome (HPS) outbreaks were mainly due to FAdV) type 4; however, in recent outbreaks, other serotypes are involved, despite regular vaccination in breeders and young chicks. The aim of the present study was isolation and molecular characterization of FAdV associated with IBH in India. A total of 193 liver samples of IBH suspected broiler chickens were collected from different regions of India. Liver samples were initially screened by histopathology and further, a total of 127 samples which microscopically showed basophilic, intra-nuclear inclusion bodies were processed for FAdV detection. A total of 69 samples were found to be positive for Hexon gene in PCR, of which 28 were sequenced. These samples showed more than 94% sequence homology with FAdV2 and 97% with FAdV11, which was confirmed by Restriction Enzyme Analysis (REA). Tissue Culture Infective Dose 50 (TCID50) and Egg Infective Dose50 (EID50) titer of isolated FAdV was found to be 106.5/ml. Pathogenicity study in SPF chicks showed 100% mortality up to Post Infection Day (PID)-6. These findings conclude that the prevalence of FAdV-11 is currently causing IBH outbreaks India. However, further genetic and pathogenic analysis of FAdV is required, which would provide useful information for the development of the efficient commercial IBH vaccine.
The regulation of accumulation and secretion of several major inorganic cations by Chinese Iris under NaCl stress

ABSTRACT Chinese Iris (Iris lactea Pall. var. chinensis (Fisch.) Koidz. ) is a monocotyledonous halophyte, which is considered an important salt-tolerant species. In this study, the plant growth, ion absorption and transportation and leaf secretion characteristics of Iris under sodium chloride (NaCl) stress were investigated using nutrient solutions with four NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 300 mmol L−1. The main results indicated that Na+ secretion accounted for 5.7–11.5% of the ion distribution pattern of 90% of the ions accumulated in vivo by Iris. The ion transportation ratio was potassium > magnesium > calcium > sodium, (K+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > Na+), K+/Na+, Ca2+/Na+, Mg2+/Na+ in the shoot were greater than those in the root. K–Na and Ca–Na selectivity ratios showed an increasing trend overall. The contribution of salt secretion to the salt tolerance of Iris was tiny, which will be discussed in further research, achieving ion balance in vivo through selective absorption and transportation under salt stress is undoubtedly a primary salt-tolerance adaptation mechanism of Iris.
Financial Leverage and Debt Maturity Targeting: International Evidence

We provide evidence on leverage and debt maturity targeting in a large international setting. There are key differences in the relative importance of institutional factors in explaining actual as opposed to target capital structures. Targets and target deviations are plausibly influenced by the institutional environment. Firms from countries with strong legal institutions target lower leverage and higher long-term debt, whereas better-functioning financial systems result in lower target leverage and long-term debt. Financial crisis has shifted the desired structure of the securities toward shorter maturities and has led to more prevalent target deviations. Better institutions significantly decrease the likelihood of target deviations.
Determinant Factors of Farmer’s Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Land Management Practices Evidence with Homosha Benishangul Gumuz Region: Application with Multinomial Logit Model, Mixed Logit Model, and Conditional Logit Model

The study examines factors affecting farmer’s willingness to pay for sustainable land management practices in Ethiopia, The study uses primary data collected from 200 households randomly selected from four kebeles of districts in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz regional state with 4,800 observations (eight choices for each household). The choice experiment design was done using the R software to efficiently generate an attribute and level combination using fractional factorial design. Data were analyzed using discrete choice models including multinomial logit model, mixed logit model, and conditional logit model using STAT-14. The findings showed that households were aware of the effects of using SLM and benefits of using a bundle of SLM. However, they were challenged by the costs of implementing a bundle of SLM and technologies related to it. Moreover, mean willingness to pay estimates is about 844 to 2540 birr and in case of total willingness to pay households is not less than 66% for a bundle of SLM. Crop-rotation attributes levels are negatively and significantly affect decision for SLM, while conserve-agriculture positively and significantly affects households' decision to adopt a bundle of SLM. Socio-economic (the type of crop, land size, land form, livestock, awareness about SLM and technologies) variables are found to be factors that determine decision to adopt SLM.
In vitro evaluation of membrane stabilizing activities of leaf and root extracts of Calliandra portoricensis (JACQ) benth on sickle and normal human erythrocytes.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin, resulting in abnormal red blood cell which may block blood vessels leading to acute painful crises and other complications. Membrane stabilization activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of C. portorincensis leaf and root on sickle and normal erythrocytes exposed to both heat and hypotonic induced lyses were investigated. The percentage membrane stabilizing activities of these extracts were found to be concentration dependent. Both leaf and root extracts of C. portoricensis mode of protection was revealed to compete favourably with the standard drug (ibuprofen) but ethanolic root extract exhibited the best membrane stabilizing activities. This study indicates that C. portoricensis exhibited human erythrocyte membrane stabilizing activity and possessespotential ability for the management of sickle cell related ailments.
Synaptic vesicle recycling investigated by high-resolution microscopy in a conventional and a sensory synapse

Synaptic neurotransmission depends on the action of highly specialized small secretory organelles – synaptic vesicles. At all chemical synapses the synaptic vesicles release in a strictly regulated fashion their neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft, by fusing with the plasma membrane (exocytosis) at structurally and functionally well organized sites (active zones). The fused vesicles get retrieved (endocytosis), refilled with neurotransmitter and returned to the vesicle cluster near the active zone in order to supply fusion-competent vesicles for further rounds of neurotransmission, thus completing a process termed vesicle recycling. While the molecular key players in the synaptic vesicle cycle have been characterized in detail for conventional synapses, the general mobility of synaptic vesicles is still poorly understood, with only averaged behaviors (over populations of vesicles) known. How could vesicle behavior actually be described when single vesicles are analyzed? The small size of synaptic vesicles (~ 40 nm in diameter) and the dense clustering at the active zone makes it difficult to study their behavior, since conventional imaging techniques are restricted to a resolution of ~200-300 nm by the diffraction limit of light. I investigated here synaptic vesicle mobility throughout the synaptic vesicle cycle, using both conventional and sub-diffraction high-resolution stimulated emission depletion (STED) fluorescence microscopy. I obtained a thorough description of vesicle recycling in hippocampal synapses. Single vesicle tracking revealed that a large resting pool of vesicles has a low mobility, while active, recently endocytosed vesicles exhibit a high-mobility state for a substantial amount of time. They eventually become resting vesicles by integrating into the vesicle cluster (“maturation
Postnatal Service Utilization and Associated Factors among Women who gave Birth in the last 12 months Prior to Study Period in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: - Postnatal care is care (PNC) given to mother and new born within first 42 days of delivery. Lack of care in this period may result in disability even death of either of mother or newborn or both. The aim of this study was to determine postnatal service utilization and associated factors among women, who gave birth in the last 12 months prior to May, 2019.METHODS: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 women who had given birth prior to May 1 to June 30, 2019(study period). The 17 kebeles of Jimma town is grouped into three similar groups based on occupation of majority of population. Three kebeles were randomly selected from each group. Data was collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistic, such as frequencies, proportions and means were calculated. In bivariate logistic regression variables with p-value less than 0.25 were selected for multiple logistic analyses and multiple logistic regression was conducted. Finally significantly associated variables were declared at p value less than 0.05. Result:-This study showed that prevalence of postnatal care utilization was 59.5%. Mothers who knew at least one danger signs which comes after delivery (AOR=11.5,(95%CI:5.56,22.7),who attended ANC (AOR=5.4, 95%CI:2.7,11.3 ), who get counseled to attend PNC ( AOR=14.9% CI :6.1,31.4),who attended at least primary school (AOR=2.3 ,95% CI:1.75,7.0),who did not travel more than 30 minutes to reach health facility(AOR=6.8,95% CI 3.4, 13.6 and those having more family size were more likely utilized postnatal service than their counterpartConclusions: - In this study utilization of postnatal care service was very far behind national target (which is 95% at the end of 2020, health sector transformational plan). Awareness about danger signs, educational status of the mother, counseling to attend to attend postnatal care, distance from health facility and family size were strongly associated with PNC utilization.
Influence of the production system on the surface properties of influenza A virus particles

In this study, influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 H1N1 virus particles (VP) produced in adherent and suspension Madin Darby canine kidney cells were investigated with a broad analytical toolbox to obtain more information on the VP's surface properties potentially affecting their aggregation behavior. First, differences in aggregation behavior were revealed by VP size distributions obtained via differential centrifugal sedimentation and confirmed by dynamic light scattering. The VP produced in adherent cells showed increased levels of aggregation in a 20 mM NaCl 10 mM Tris‐HCl pH 7.4 low‐salt buffer. This included the formation of multimers (dimers up to pentamers), whereas VP produced in suspension cells displayed no tendency toward aggregate formation. To investigate the cause of these differences in aggregation behavior, the VP samples were compared based on their zeta potential, their surface hydrophobicity, their lipid composition, and the N‐glycosylation of their major VP surface protein hemagglutinin. The zeta potential and the hydrophobicity of the VP produced in the adherent cells was significantly decreased compared to the VP produced in the suspension cells. The lipid composition of both VP systems was approximately identical. The hemagglutinin of the VP produced in adherent cells included more of the larger N‐glycans, whereas the VP produced in suspension cells included more of the smaller N‐glycans. These results indicate that differences in the glycosylation of viral surface proteins should be monitored to characterize VP hydrophobicity and aggregation behavior, and to avoid aggregate formation and product losses in virus purification processes for vaccines and gene therapy.
Social Support, Resilience and Subjective Well-being in College Students

Social support has been linked to numerous adaptive psychosocial health outcomes. The Brief Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (BPSSQ) is a newly developed measure of general social support. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties and dimensionality of the BPSSQ in Turkish language and tested the mediating effect of resilience in the relationship between social support and satisfaction with life. Participants included 202 college students (69.3% females), with a mean age of 22.58 years (SD=1.26) who completed online measures of social support, resilience, and satisfaction with life. As expected, the BPSSQ provided a one-factor structure with a satisfactory internal consistency. Social support significantly predicted resilience and satisfaction with life. Resilience also predicted satisfaction with life. Furthermore, the results supported the hypothesis of mediating role of resilience in the relationship between social support and satisfaction with life. These results are important in terms of providing evidence of the underlying mechanism between social support and satisfaction with life. Future intervention efforts aimed at increasing social support and satisfaction with life may benefit from resilience.