Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated With the Development of Expertise in Heart Failure Self-Care

Background: Self-care is vital for successful heart failure (HF) management. Mastering self-care is challenging; few patients develop sufficient expertise to avoid repeated hospitalization. Objective: To describe and understand how expertise in HF self-care develops. Methods: Extreme case sampling was used to identify 29 chronic HF patients predominately poor or particularly good in self-care. Using a mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) design, participants were interviewed about HF self-care, surveyed to measure factors anticipated to influence self-care, and tested for cognitive functioning. Audiotaped interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Qualitative and quantitative data were combined to produce a multidimensional typology of patients poor, good, or expert in HF self-care. Results: Only 10.3% of the sample was expert in HF self-care. Patients poor in HF self-care had worse cognition, more sleepiness, higher depression, and poorer family functioning. The primary factors distinguishing those good versus expert in self-care were sleepiness and family engagement. Experts had less daytime sleepiness and more support from engaged loved ones who fostered self-care skill development. Conclusion: Engaged supporters can help persons with chronic HF to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers to self-care. Research is needed to understand the effects of excessive daytime sleepiness on HF self-care.
Wideband 160-channel polyphase filter bank cable TV channeliser

The authors present a novel design of a wide bandwidth polyphase up-sampling filter bank formed by cascading external shaping filters, arbitrary interpolators and two stages of polyphase channelisation. The channeliser synthesises 160 channels with 6-MHz frequency centres and thus spans a two-sided baseband bandwidth of 960 MHz. The two stages of channelisation first form super channels from ten sets of 16-channels each in 32-path polyphase channelisers operating at an output sample rate of 192 MHz. These ten super channels are, in turn, channelised by a 16-path polyphase channeliser operating at an output sample rate of 1536 MHz. The two-stage approach permits the ten sets of first stage super channel channelisers to operate at an easy to implement medium sample rate. The complex baseband signal is further up-sampled 1-to-2 and translated to a digital intermediate frequency and pre-compensated for the sin(x)/x distortion of the output digital-to-analogue converter.
Communication Preferences of Politically Active Agricultural Leaders

Agricultural associations and advocacy organizations have begun to use the Internet to establish more effective online grassroots help for lobbying efforts, yet little research has been conducted to ascertain communications technology preferences and willingness of members to use the Internet as a communications tool. To address this issue, a descriptive survey was mailed to a purposive sample (N=814) of members holding leadership positions in the Florida Farm Bureau. 268 members responded to the survey, for an overall response rate of 33%. Findings showed that respondents used communication technologies frequently, expressed competence in basic technology procedures, and actively communicated with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. Respondents indicated that they preferred to receive and send information through the mail, and that they were most inclined to take a strong role in communicating with officials when policies negatively impacting agriculture were being considered. Respondents felt that e-mail would be an adequate substitute for some forms of communication, but were less likely to say that e-mail would be a good substitute for more personal methods of communication, such as telephone conversations or face-toface meetings. These findings suggest that where it is important to communicate en masse rapidly, the online method may have advantages. However, a “one-way-fits-all” online method of communicating with elected officials may not always be the most effective communication method; more personal ways of communicating, especially at the local and state levels, may still be best for some issues.
Listeria monocytogenes Scott A: Cell Surface Charge, Hydrophobicity, and Electron Donor and Acceptor Characteristics under Different Environmental Growth Conditions

ABSTRACT We determined the variations in the surface physicochemical properties of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A cells that occurred under various environmental conditions. The surface charges, the hydrophobicities, and the electron donor and acceptor characteristics of L. monocytogenes Scott A cells were compared after the organism was grown in different growth media and at different temperatures; to do this, we used microelectrophoresis and the microbial adhesion to solvents method. Supplementing the growth media with glucose or lactic acid affected the electrical, hydrophobic, and electron donor and acceptor properties of the cells, whereas the growth temperature (37, 20, 15, or 8°C) primarily affected the electrical and electron donor and acceptor properties. The nonlinear effects of the growth temperature on the physicochemical properties of the cells were similar for cells cultivated in two different growth media, but bacteria cultivated in Trypticase soy broth supplemented with 6 g of yeast extract per liter (TSYE) were slightly more hydrophobic than cells cultivated in brain heart infusion medium (P < 0.05). Adhesion experiments conducted withL. monocytogenes Scott A cells cultivated in TSYE at 37, 20, 15, and 8°C and then suspended in a sodium chloride solution (1.5 × 10−1 or 1.5 × 10−3 M NaCl) confirmed that the cell surface charge and the electron donor and acceptor properties of the cells had an influence on their attachment to stainless steel.
Retail transformations and consumer preferences in Paarl and Stellenbosch: CBD versus decentralised mall

Shopping malls represent high shopping convenience that contains much choice, and great access and entertainment. However, from an urban geographical standpoint, shopping malls represent decentralisation, car dependency and low access by disadvantaged consumers, who live remotely, without a car, in poor neighbourhoods. Shopping malls started to compete with retain in the central business district (CBD) in several countries throughout the world, and it would seem that the CBD is losing the retail battle. Furthermore there also are social consequences, such as low access by disadvantaged consumers, and whereas this topic is discussed in the global north, there are few South African examples of CBD retail and its consumers. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to examine the retail transformations and the consumer preferences in two medium-sized South African cities, namely Paarl and Stellenbosch, which are located in the Western Cape. Through convenience sampling on the basis of 346 surveys, in-depth interviews with key informants, retail street observations and a Google street view analysis, this research provides an overview of the retail transformations experienced in the CBD and two selected shopping malls in Paarl and Stellenbosch, in combination with the experiences and preferences of disadvantaged and advantaged consumers. The empirical findings confirmed the negative impact on retail in the CBD in Paarl after the building of a new, decentralised shopping mall along with stronger, segregated retail use. On the other hand, the empirical findings in the CBD of Stellenbosch showed a strong sign of retail resilience, alongside a decline in retail in a decentralised shopping mall. The chances of retail resilience and a more resilient CBD, such as in Stellenbosch, were explained by the literature, in the context of diverse cultural, retail and economic facilities, along with the provision of education and public areas and buildings. Furthermore, limited access to retail facilities by disadvantaged consumers in Stellenbosch was not found, probably due to the presence of a very accessible city mall for disadvantaged consumers in the Stellenbosch CBD.
Detection of a protein, AngCP, which binds specifically to the three upstream regions of glaA gene in A. niger T21

Electromobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to scan 600 bp of 5′ cis regulatory sequence of Aspergillus niger (A. niger) T21 glucoamylase gene (glaA) for binding by partially fractionated T21 protein extracted from starchinduced mycelia. In this process, one protein, AngCP, was detected to bind specifically to three regions covering -374 to -344, -484 to -414 and -580 to -540 relative to the glaA translational start codon. UV-crosslinking of DNA-protein complex showed that MW of AngCP was 10 ku. DNase I footprinting analysis demonstrated that AngCP specifically binds to two CCAAT containing sequences within the regions between -374 and -344 and -484 and -414 bp. And the region between -580 and -540 bp contains CCAAT similar box, CCTAT. The results indicated that AngCP is probably one of the members of CCAAT-binding protein families, which are generally involved in enhancement of gene expression in filamentous fungi. These findings suggested that AngCP should be a transcription activator for high-level expression of glaA gene.
Meta-Corporate Real Estate Management: Some preliminary thoughts

Purpose: This paper advances the concept of meta-Corporate Real Estate Management (metaCREM) as an adjunct to existing knowledge work in the field. It argues for its existence and relevance, and suggests a number of areas where research with such a focus could occur to advance knowledge in the field. Method: The method is what might be called a 'reflective argument' based on the authors’ lengthy engagement in the field and their recent metatheoretical work on CREM. Findings: MetaCREM is identified together with multiple meta-objects that are forms of meta-work applicable to metaCREM. This established that meta-work already occurs in CREM. A landscape of potential areas for research was identified that encompassed existing work and potential areas of future endeavour. Implications: The paper's implications are largely for theory and theorisation. Relevance to practice is secondary through potential improvements to theorisation of problems that may flow on to practice.
myCourse: An Educational Content Management Platform with Social Networking Characteristics

We adopt the direction towards new educational and pedagogic paradigms, where learning is a process of emergence and co-evolution of the individual, the social group and the wider society. In this direction, Service-Oriented Architectures are becoming a popular system paradigm for e-learning. In this article, we present our research and development efforts to provide a social networking learning platform for developing services which address the personal learning needs of the users and enable them to create value. We also present the specific characteristics of our community driven service framework and discuss our approach in comparison to other similar approaches and frameworks.
Attributes Influencing Retail Store Choice Decision of Shoppers: A Case of Pune City

The consumer markets in India are expected to reach about US$1.5 trillion from the existing US$750 billion by 2021. Emergence of new retail formats and entry of new players in every format is also likely to increase competition in Indian retail sector. It has, thus, become important for the retailers to know how shoppers choose a store from various options available to them. The article aims to achieve data reduction while identifying various store attributes that influence the choice of stores by shoppers while purchasing grocery items from supermarkets. We collected primary data from 300 shoppers using personally administered questionnaire in select supermarkets in Pune. We used exploratory factor analysis to identify the attributes and the factor structure. We then used confirmatory factor analysis to validate the same. Thus, we developed a scale consisting of nine store attributes converging under two factors to understand shoppers’ decision to choose a particular supermarket for their grocery purchases.
A review on phenolic compounds in Illicium species and theirpharmacological effects

This review focuses mainly on findings of chemistry and pharmacological activities of phenolic compounds in Illicium plants. The continued chemical studies of Illicium species such as I.difengpi, I.verum, I.griffithii, I.henryi, and the related plants have resulted in isolation of phenylpropanoids, neolignans, phytoquinoids, flavonoids, neolignans and their glycosides which belong to the phenolic group of compounds. These compounds have been known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antifungal and insecticidal activities.
The Role of Union Leader-Member Relationship Capital within Trade Union for Mental Health

Objective – There are three main objectives of this study. First, this study is to examine the influence of union effectiveness and perceived union support on union relationship capital to achieve positive mental health in the workplace. Next, this study is to investigate the interdependency of the dimensions of union relationship capital: communication, trust and commitment between the union leader and union members in improving and strengthening the relationship within the union. Lastly, this study is to investigate the role of relationship capital as the mediator between union effectiveness, perceived union support and mental health. Methodology/Technique – A total of 600 questionnaires completed by trade union leaders and members in manufacturing sector based in Peninsular Malaysia were analysed using SEM (AMOS) and SPSS. The relationship between union effectiveness, perceived union support, union relationship capital and mental health were analysed using SEM. But the interaction between communication, trust and commitment were analysed using SPSS. Findings – The results demonstrated that union effectiveness and perceived union support are determinants for union relationship capital. The finding showed that communication, trust and commitment are interdependent. Furthermore, the finding also shows a significant relationship between union relationship capital and mental health. Novelty – It is said that good communication, trust and commitment within the trade union can increase cohesiveness and strengthen the trade union. A strong union can lead to positive mental health in the workplace. Type of Paper: Empirical.
Application of the GTGO‐AD procedure in the scanning electron microscopy of streptococci adhered to pellicle‐coated dental enamel

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) offers a direct and visually effective means of examining streptococci adhering to pellicle‐coated dental enamel. The GTGO‐AD (Glu‐taraldehyde‐Tannic acid‐Guanidine hydrochloride‐Osmium tetroxide‐Air‐Drying procedure) has the advantage that critical point‐drying or freeze‐drying need not be employed. It was found that both the structural and spatial integrity of the adherent streptococci and the pellicle were maintained with the GTGO‐AD procedure.
Relationship Lending in Syndicated Loans: A Participant’s Perspective

I explore the role of participants’ relationships with borrowers and lead arrangers in syndicated lending. I predict and find that these relationships mitigate the information asymmetry problems faced by participants with both borrowers and lead arrangers, and allow participants to take a larger share in the loan. In particular, participants with a borrower relationship take, on average, a 10% larger share of the loan, with the effect being more pronounced when the borrower is informationally opaque or less conservative in its accounting. Similarly, participants with a lead arranger relationship take, on average, a 9% larger share of the loan, with the effect being more pronounced: (i) when the borrower has engaged in accounting irregularities or covenant violations in the past, (ii) when the lead arranger is a repeat lender or a large lender, and (iii) when participants have limited information acquisition capacity. Furthermore, loans with a larger total share taken by participants with a borrower or lead arranger relationship are associated with a smaller lead arranger share, less concentrated loan syndicate structure, a lower loan spread, and a lower upfront fee, consistent with these relationships mitigating information asymmetry. Overall, my study sheds light on how participant-level relationship lending shapes debt contracting.
Development of OLI+S Entry Decision Model for Construction Firms in International Markets

The paper aims to provide a holistic approach to address how construction firms make decisions covering all three domains (location, timing and mode) across country, market, firm and project factors within the Ownership, Locational and Internalisation plus Specialty (OLI+S) paradigm. Questionnaires were administered to 62 project managers based on a sampling frame provided by the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia. The findings provide empirical and theoretical insights on how the OLI+S model addresses firms’ entry decisions to penetrate international markets. It suggests that the ownership-entry decision factors focus on firms’ internal transferable advantages. The locational-entry decision factors emphasise attractiveness of certain locations where firms decided to invest and operate. The internalisation– entry decision factors emphasise the extent to which firms were able to manipulate their internal competitive assets (firm’s resources and capabilities). Finally, the specialty-entry decision factors emphasise on firms’ competency in project management and specialist expertise to handle complex projects based on their previous project experience. An example of construction firms’ unique characteristics, namely, specialty advantages based on the original Dunning’s OLI eclectic paradigm has been adopted. The established OLI+S entry decision model could be investigated to further refine other related internationalisation theory.
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF EARTHEN FISH PONDS AND CONCRETE TANKS IN AQUACULTURE ENTERPRISES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The study focused on the comparative evaluation of economic benefits of earthen fish ponds and concrete tanks in aquaculture enterprises in Ibadan, Oyo state. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured interview schedule, administered through personal interviews and observations to elicit information from 100 fish farmers using purposive and convenience sampling procedure. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive, budgetary and inferential statistics. The study revealed that the mean age, male, married, household size, educated and fish farming experience were 41 years, 83.0%, 87.0%, 5 persons, 96.0% and 8 years, respectively. Earthen fish ponds users earned mean revenue of N3,322,189.85 with gross margin of N2,188,397.89 while concrete tank users earned N2,412,271.08 with gross margin of N1,413,299.46. The results showed profitability indices (0.61 and 0.47), Variable Cost ratio (0.35 and 0.30), Benefit Cost Ratio (2.55 and 1.89), Gross ratio (0.40 and 0.54) and Expenses structure ratio (0.13 and 0.23) for both the earthen ponds and concrete fish tanks, respectively. There were significant differences (t = 42.53, p"0.05) between the profit level of earthen fish ponds and concrete tanks. Major constraints affecting economic status of the respondents were high cost of quality feed, insufficient funds, poaching and poor marketing channel. In conclusion, aquaculture is a more profitable and viable business regardless of the culture system. Government should assist the fish farmers by subsidizing feeds cost, granting and monitoring of loan.
Cellular membranes and tumor behavior: a new hypothesis.

Along with its inappropriate growth, the neoplastic state is characterized by numerous and variable cellular derangements; but none of the many biochemical, immunological, biological. and morphological defects hitherto described is common to all tumors. Moreover, even tumors induced by a single agent in a single cell type can have a multiplicity of phenotypes, which tend to modulate in time. Pleiomorphism and variation thus constitute dominant aspects of neoplasia. Current evidence suggests that there may be a common feature underlying the diversity of neoplasia; namely, that alterations in one or more of their membrane systems is a regular feature of tumor cells. In the present communication I shall briefly review both the direct evidence for membrane defects and data that implicate various membrane functions, although circuitously. I shall then submit a hypothesis consistent with the many diverse observations and accounting for the individuality and pleiomorphism typical of tumors. The Data. -(1) Plasma membrane: The plasma membrane is the site of many alterations fundamental to the essential biologic process of "malignancy" -invasiveness and metastasis-and to the immunobiology of tumors. However, no single feature is an invariant aspect of neoplasia. I shall present only a summary of this important topic, since it has been extensively reviewed. '-3 Plasma membrane aberrations may be inferred from (a) asocial tissue organization, (b) altered cellular "adhesiveness",'-3 (c) defective "contact inhibition" of movement and growth,4 (d) abnormal electrophoretic mobilities of the tumor cells,3' (e) appearance of new antigens,' (f) appearance of "embryonic" antigens and loss of "organ-specific" antigens,7' 8 (g) altered composition,9' 10 (h) abnormal "fusion capacity,"" (i) abnormal permeability to cytoplasmic and lysosomal enzymes,'2 and (j) in several cases,3'-5 but not all,'6 loss of intercellular ionic communication. (2) Mitochondria: (a) Most normal tissues sharply reduce lactic acid production when there is sufficient oxygen available for oxidative phosphorylation (Pasteur effect). '7 This regulatory mechanism is commonly defective in tumors, apparently because of mitochondrial malfunction. Thus, tumors with high aerobic lactate production tend to have few'8 and/or morphologically abnormal mitochondria.19 Also, the recent work of Chai-Ho et al.'8 shows that the high aerobic lactate production by homogenates of many tumors can be abolished by replacing their mitochondria with those from tissues having a normal Pasteur effect. There are two feedback systems linking glycolysis with oxidative phosphorylation. Both involve obligatory intermediates, NAD/NADH and ADP/ATP, neither of which can freely permeate the mitochondrial membrane. The translocation of the reducing equivalents of NADH from cytoplasm to mitochondria
Developing Professional Services in Africa: How Regional Integration Can Help

Policymakers in Eastern and Southern African countries have recognized that weaknesses in their services sectors impede growth. Recent studies have revealed a strong relationship between African firms’ productivity and their access to services (Arnold et al., 2006). In parallel with reform of backbone services like telecommunications, banking and transport, governments are beginning to prioritize reform of professional services, including by creating more integrated regional markets. However, relative to the process of regional integration in East Africa, regional integration in Southern Africa is much less advanced.