Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Women Entrepreneurship and Poverty Alleviation in Awka Metropolis

Despite the provision of soft loans by the last presidential government in Nigeria through the Central Bank, women entrepreneurs in Awka metropolis still complain of lack of financial assistance from government and poor moral support from members of their families as impediments against their contributions in poverty alleviation. In view of the above, the study examined the relationship between government financial assistance and family moral support on the performance and commitment of women entrepreneurs in Awka metropolis. Research questions and hypotheses were formulated based on the research problems and objectives. Survey design was used to collect the data by the use of a structured questionnaire. The instrument was subjected to validity and reliability tests and found adequate for the study. The data collected were analyzed using frequency distributions and percentages. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypotheses while Probable Error of Correlation was used to test for the significance of correlation. The result of the significance shows that the results of the Probable Errors in the two hypotheses were both lower than the coefficients of correlations. This made the two null hypotheses to be rejected while the alternatives were accepted. Major finding, conclusion and recommendations are that since the financial support from government and moral support from family members were found to be very significant in the performance and commitment of women entrepreneurs in Awka metropolis for poverty alleviation purposes, they should be highly encouraged.
Two novel members of the LhrC family of small RNAs in Listeria monocytogenes with overlapping regulatory functions but distinctive expression profiles

ABSTRACT Multicopy small RNAs (sRNAs) have gained recognition as an important feature of bacterial gene regulation. In the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, 5 homologous sRNAs, called LhrC1-5, control gene expression by base pairing to target mRNAs though 3 conserved UCCC motifs common to all 5 LhrCs. We show here that the sRNAs Rli22 and Rli33-1 are structurally and functionally related to LhrC1-5, expanding the LhrC family to 7 members, which makes it the largest multicopy sRNA family reported so far. Rli22 and Rli33-1 both contain 2 UCCC motifs important for post-transcriptional repression of 3 LhrC target genes. One such target, oppA, encodes a virulence-associated oligo-peptide binding protein. Like LhrC1-5, Rli22 and Rli33-1 employ their UCCC motifs to recognize the Shine-Dalgarno region of oppA mRNA and prevent formation of the ribosomal complex, demonstrating that the 7 sRNAs act in a functionally redundant manner. However, differential expression profiles of the sRNAs under infection-relevant conditions suggest that they might also possess non-overlapping functions. Collectively, this makes the LhrC family a unique case for studying the purpose of sRNA multiplicity in the context of bacterial virulence.
Parametric manipulation of working memory load in traumatic brain injury: Behavioral and neural correlates

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often associated with enduring impairments in high-level cognitive functioning, including working memory (WM). We examined WM function in predominantly chronic patients with mild, moderate and severe TBI and healthy comparison subjects behaviorally and, in a small subset of moderate-to-severe TBI patients, with event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), using a visual n-back task that parametrically varied WM load. TBI patients showed severity-dependent and load-related WM deficits in performance accuracy, but not reaction time. Performance of mild TBI patients did not differ from controls; patients with moderate and severe TBI were impaired, relative to controls and mild TBI patients, but only at higher WM-load levels. fMRI results show that TBI patients exhibit altered patterns of activation in a number of WM-related brain regions, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and Broca's area. Examination of the pattern of behavioral responding and the temporal course of activations suggests that WM deficits in moderate-to-severe TBI are due to associative or strategic aspects of WM, and not impairments in active maintenance of stimulus representations. Overall, results demonstrate that individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI exhibit WM deficits that are associated with dysfunction within a distributed network of brain regions that support verbally mediated WM. (JINS, 2004, 10, 724–741.)
Self-organization of core Golgi material is independent of COPII-mediated endoplasmic reticulum export

ABSTRACT The Golgi is a highly organized and dynamic organelle that receives and distributes material from and to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the endocytic pathway. One open question about Golgi organization is whether it is solely based on ER-to-Golgi transport. Here, we analyzed the kinetics of Golgi breakdown in the absence of COPII-dependent ER export with high temporal and spatial resolution using quantitative fluorescence microscopy. We found that Golgi breakdown occurred in two phases. While Golgi enzymes continuously redistributed to the ER, we consistently observed extensive Golgi fragmentation at the beginning of the breakdown, followed by microtubule-dependent formation of a Golgi remnant structure (phase 1). Further Golgi disintegration occurred less uniformly (phase 2). Remarkably, cisternal Golgi morphology was lost early in phase 1 and Golgi fragments instead corresponded to variably sized vesicle clusters. These breakdown intermediates were devoid of COPI-dependent recycling material, but contained typical ‘core’ Golgi components. Furthermore, Golgi breakdown intermediates were able to disassemble and reassemble following cell division, indicating that they retained important regulatory capabilities. Taken together, these findings support the view that Golgi self-organization exists independently of ER-to-Golgi transport.
Parental perceptions of hearing loss classification in children.

Hearing loss classification scales are commonly used to explain audiometric findings to the parents of children with hearing loss. These scales, however, have little or no scientific basis. In this study, filtered auditory recordings were used to simulate three levels of childhood hearing loss, as defined by the commonly used terms--slight, mild, and moderate. Parents, after listening to each simulation, were asked to provide their impressions. Results demonstrated that: parents defined each simulated loss with terminology representing substantially greater magnitude than the commonly used terms; parents anticipated significantly greater difficulty (p < .05) for each of nine hearing-related tasks when hearing loss was defined by the simulations rather than the classification terms; and parents selected more aggressive management procedures in response to the simulations than to the classification terms. In an additional task, parents estimated degree of simulated hearing loss with percentage values, indicating about 40% greater hearing loss for the three levels of loss compared to values produced by the conventional American Academy of Otolaryngology-American Council of Otolaryngology (1979) percentage formula. The findings indicate that standard methods of classifying hearing loss in audiologic and medical clinics may undermine parents' understanding of their child's hearing loss, causing them to underestimate substantially the magnitude of the loss.
MeFoRE: QoE based resource estimation at Fog to enhance QoS in IoT

Internet of Things (IoT) is now transitioning from theory to practice. This means that a lot of data will be generated and the management of this data is going to be a big challenge. To transform IoT into reality and build upon realistic and more useful services, better resource management is required at the perception layer. In this regard, Fog computing plays a very vital role. With the advent of Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANET) and remote healthcare and monitoring, quick response time and latency minimization are required. However, the receiving nodes have a very fluctuating behavior in resource consumption especially if they are mobile. Fog, a localized cloud placed close to the underlying IoTs, provides the means to cater such issues by analyzing the behavior of the nodes and estimating resources accordingly. Similarly, Service Level Agreement (SLA) management and meeting the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements also become issues. In this paper, we devise a methodology, referred to as MEdia FOg Resource Estimation (MeFoRE), to provide resource estimation on the basis of service give-up ratio, also called Relinquish Rate (RR), and enhance QoS on the basis of previous Quality of Experience (QoE) and Net Promoter Score (NPS) records. The algorithms are implemented using CloudSim and applied on real IoT traces on the basis of Amazon EC2 resource pricing.
A case study on the elements of school culture and the potential effect on student achievement at the rural middle school level

Schools exist for the sole purpose of academic achievement, and within every school exists a unique culture that every student navigates and absorbs. It is reasonable to assume a student’s environment and the expectations set forth in that environment may have an effect on their academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine the elements of rural middle school culture and their potential impact on academic achievement as perceived by administration at a high achieving rural middle school. A rural middle school in Eastern Oregon was chosen for this study. This school received a rating of “Outstanding” on the 2011-12 Oregon State Report Card, and when the report card rating system changed, they received a rating of “5” out of 5, which is above average on the 2012-13 and 2013-14 Oregon State Report Cards, identifying them as high achieving. Oregon did not assign ratings to schools for the 201415 report cards due to the transition between types of state testing, but this school performed higher than the state targets in all tested areas. This qualitative case study was conducted using four days of observations, surveys, interviews, a focus group, pictures, and field notes. The administration interviews and surveys were used to gain perspective on their perception of the school culture and its relation to the academic success experienced. The student focus group, parent and teacher surveys, observations, pictures and field notes were used to triangulate the data to determine support or non-support for the administrative perspective. The results of this research indicated that the administration at this high achieving rural middle school perceive the research-based elements of culture, Unity of Vision, Role of Communication, Behavior Management, and Students Feel Safe/Cared For, as present in their school culture and responsible for student achievement. Administration also perceives they practice the transformational leadership elements of Building Collaborative Relationships, Holding High
RNA and Protein Requirements for Incorporation of the Pol Protein into Foamy Virus Particles

ABSTRACT Foamy viruses (FVs) generate their Pol protein precursor molecule independently of the Gag protein from a spliced mRNA. This mode of expression raises the question of the mechanism of Pol protein incorporation into the viral particle (capsid). We previously showed that the packaging of (pre)genomic RNA is essential for Pol encapsidation (M. Heinkelein, C. Leurs, M. Rammling, K. Peters, H. Hanenberg, and A. Rethwilm, J. Virol. 76:10069-10073, 2002). Here, we demonstrate that distinct sequences in the RNA, which we termed Pol encapsidation sequences (PES), are required to incorporate Pol protein into the FV capsid. Two PES were found, which are contained in the previously identified cis-acting sequences necessary to transfer an FV vector. One PES is located in the U5 region of the 5′ long terminal repeat and one at the 3′ end of the pol gene region. Neither element has any significant effect on RNA packaging. However, deletion of either PES resulted in a significant reduction in Pol encapsidation. On the protein level, we show that only the Pol precursor, but not the individual reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN) subunits, is incorporated into FV particles. However, enzymatic activities of the protease (PR), RT, or IN are not required. Our results strengthen the view that in FVs, (pre)genomic RNA functions as a bridging molecule between Gag and Pol precursor proteins.
Workplace deviance and human resource management relations: A case study of Turkish hotel employees

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study is to examine the negative associations between employees' perception of the effectiveness of performance appraisal practices and deviant workplace behavior. This study also tests the mediating effect of the forms of organizational justice in the relationship between performance appraisal practices and deviant workplace behavior. Moreover, it also investigates how line managers' performance appraisal politics may influence the relationship between perceptions of performance appraisal practices and employee deviant workplace behavior. In order to facilitate this study, the research team employed a survey design. A total of 193 service employees from different service establishments attended the forum where the study was conducted in the capital city of Turkey, Ankara. The results of this study strongly support the premise that effective performance appraisal practices influence employee deviance behavior, and especially that interactional justice is an important predictor of employee violative behavior. Moreover, the findings indicate that there is no evidence regarding the moderating effect of employees' perception of managers' appraisal politics in the negative relationship between performance appraisal effectiveness and employee deviance.
A randomized trial of doxycycline for Mansonella perstans infection.

BACKGROUND Mansonella perstans infection is common in areas of Africa where Wuchereria bancrofti, a causative agent of lymphatic filariasis, is endemic. M. perstans is refractory to standard antifilarial therapies. The recent discovery of bacterial endosymbionts (e.g., wolbachia) in most filarial species, including M. perstans, provides new therapeutic options for reducing microfilaremia. METHODS In an open-label, randomized trial, we recruited subjects with M. perstans microfilaremia, with or without concomitant W. bancrofti infection, from four villages in Mali and randomly assigned them to receive doxycycline, at a dose of 200 mg daily for 6 weeks (106 subjects), or no treatment (110). At 6 months, subjects who were coinfected with W. bancrofti underwent a second random assignment, to treatment with a single dose of albendazole (400 mg) and ivermectin (150 microg per kilogram of body weight) or no treatment. Subjects were monitored daily during the first 6-week study period for adverse events. M. perstans and W. bancrofti microfilarial levels were assessed at 6, 12, and 36 months. RESULTS At 12 months, 67 of 69 subjects who had received treatment with doxycycline only (97%) had no detectable M. perstans microfilariae per 60 microl of blood, as compared with 10 of 63 subjects who had received no treatment (16%) (relative risk, 6.18; 95% confidence interval, 3.63 to 11.89; P<0.001). At 36 months, M. perstans microfilaremia remained suppressed in 48 of 64 subjects who had received treatment with doxycycline only (75%), a finding that was consistent with a macrofilaricidal effect of doxycycline. Vomiting was more frequent in the doxycycline-treated group than in the untreated group (17% vs. 4%). CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with previous findings that M. perstans harbors the intracellular endosymbiont, wolbachia, and suggest that doxycycline is an effective therapy for M. perstans infection. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00340691.)
Point mutations change the thermal denaturation profile of a short DNA fragment containing the lactose control elements. Comparison between experiment and theory.

To understand the denaturation process of short DNA segments we have chosen a 203‐base pair (bp) restriction fragment containing the lactose control region. A steady decrease in GC content exists between its i proximal and z proximal ends. We confirm that this fragment melts at low salt in two subtransitions. A GC to AT mutation in the AT‐rich region (mutation UV5) increases the number of denatured base pairs in the first subtransition and decreases the cooperativity of the melting process. A GC to AT mutation in the GC‐rich region (mutation L8) decreases the number of denatured base pairs in the first subtransition and increases the cooperativity. These mutations induce the same shift in the temperature of half denaturation. The effects of both mutations are additive. A short deletion at the z end of the fragment affects only the first subtransition. When four GC pairs are added to both end, the fragment melts in one transition. Comparison with the results obtained with a larger 789‐bp lac fragment reveals strong end effects on base pair stability and suggests that denaturation of the 203‐bp fragment proceeds unidirectionally from the z end. Good agreement is shown with the predictions made with the “z ipper model” of Crothers et al. (1965).
Explaining Inequality between Countries: The Declining Role of Political Institutions

Within the fundamental determinants of cross-country income inequality, ‘humanly devised’ political institutions represent a hallmark factor that societies can influence, as opposed to, for example, geography. Focusing on the portion of inequality explainable by differences in political institutions, we decompose annual cross-country Gini coefficients for 95 countries (representing 85 percent of the world population) from 1960-2012. Since 1988, inequality has marginally decreased (from a Gini of 0.525 to 0.521) but the portion that cannot be explained by political institutions has increased substantially (from 0.411 to 0.459). Specifically, the explanatory power of institutions fell rapidly from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. This result prevails when using alternative variables, expanding the sample, weighting countries by population size, and controlling for the remaining fundamental determinants of income: culture and education. Over the same timeframe, the explanatory power of geographical conditions has been rising. This phenomenon appears to be global and is unlikely to be driven by contemporary regional events alone, such as the fall of the Soviet Union, Asian success stories (e.g., China), or institutional monocropping in Africa. A corollary of our finding implies that, if we hold societies responsible for their political institutions, inequality has become notably less fair since the late 1980s.
Orthogonally polarized MIMO antennas for all bands of portable computers including digital TV

A dual antenna configuration has been developed for multi-standard multifunction portable computers. Two wideband antennas can cover a frequency band from 470 MHz to 3.6 GHz, which is divided into two sub-bands. The low-band antenna resonates from 470 to 960 MHz and the high-band antenna resonates from 1.57 to 3.6 GHz. There is no significant interference between the two antennas because of the frequency gap between them. The new antennas are unbalanced resonant antennas that do not need matching circuits. Two orthogonal low-band antennas and two orthogonal high-band antennas are used for polarization diversity in MIMO applications. The four antennas can be mounted in different configurations according to the size and the geometry of the portable computer.
Delayed‐onset HIT caused by low‐molecular‐weight heparin manifesting during fondaparinux prophylaxis

Heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a prothrombotic condition caused by platelet‐activating antibodies that react with platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin complexes. Delayed‐onset HIT occurs after heparin is stopped. Fondaparinux, a synthetic pentasaccharide, is thought to be a safe alternative anticoagulant in HIT. We describe a patient with delayed‐onset HIT triggered by low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) which occurred during fondaparinux prophylaxis and which was complicated by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Patient serum contained high‐titer anti‐PF4/heparin antibodies demonstrating heparin‐dependent platelet activation with serial dilutions. Confirmed delayed‐onset HIT with LMWH has not been previously reported. Low dose fondaparinux does not necessarily prevent thrombotic complications of HIT. Am. J. Hematol. , 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Image Processing and 2‐D Morphometry

Image analysis and image processing are becoming commonplace operations in the cytometry environment. This very practical and useful unit describes the basics of image processing, including image enhancement, feature identification, and classification and segmentation. Written by an author with strong background in electron microscopy and image analysis, the unit is well furnished with figures and examples. Anyone needing a start in doing image analysis will find this very easy and useful reading, with suitable references for those wanting to move a step further.
Heterogeneous rpoS and rhlR mRNA Levels and 16S rRNA/rDNA (rRNA Gene) Ratios within Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms, Sampled by Laser Capture Microdissection

ABSTRACT The local environmental conditions in biofilms are dependent on the impinging aqueous solution, chemical diffusion, and the metabolic activities of cells within the biofilms. Chemical gradients established in biofilms lead to physiological heterogeneities in bacterial gene expression. Previously, we used laser capture microdissection (LCM) and quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR to target defined biofilm subpopulations for gene expression studies. Here, we combined this approach with quantitative PCR of bacterial DNA to normalize the amount of gene expression per cell. By comparing the ratio of 16S rRNA to 16S rDNA (rRNA gene), we demonstrated that cells at the top of thick Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms have 16S rRNA/genome ratios similar to those of cells in a transition from the exponential phase to the stationary phase. Cells in the middle and bottom layers of these biofilms have ratios that are not significantly different from those of stationary-phase planktonic cultures. Since much of each biofilm appeared to be in a stationary-phase-like state, we analyzed the local amounts of the stationary-phase sigma factor rpoS gene and the quorum-sensing regulator rhlR gene per cell. Surprisingly, the amount of rpoS mRNA was largest at the top of the biofilms at the air-biofilm interface. Less than one rpoS mRNA transcript per cell was observed in the middle or base of the biofilms. The rhlR mRNA content was also greatest at the top of the biofilms, and there was little detectable rhlR expression at the middle or bottom of the biofilms. While the cell density was slightly greater at the bottom of the biofilms, expression of the quorum-sensing regulator occurred primarily at the top of the biofilms, where the cell metabolic activity was greatest, as indicated by local expression of the housekeeping gene acpP and by expression from a constitutive P trc promoter. The results indicate that in thick P. aeruginosa biofilms, cells in the 30 μm adjacent to the air-biofilm interface actively express genes associated with stationary phase, while cells in the interior portions do not express these genes and therefore are in a late-stationary-phase-like state and may be dormant.