Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental validation of a plasma model for electromagnetic metal foam shields

In this paper we investigate, on the basis of an “effective medium approach”, the use of metal foams for electromagnetic shielding solutions. In more details, a shielding effectiveness analysis has been performed by modeling metal foams as a homogeneous medium that shows the dispersion profile of a plasma. The suggested approach is experimentally validated demonstrating that metal foams behave like a plasma medium whose plasma frequency is in the microwave range. The implementation of the proposed effective medium approach has been developed in a proprietary full-wave simulator. Results demonstrate that, by using the plasma model, general electromagnetic analysis of metal foams can be accurately performed with reasonable computational efforts.
Frankia coriariae sp. nov., an infective and effective microsymbiont isolated from Coriaria japonica.

The taxonomic description of a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium, strain BMG5.1T, as a novel species within the genus Frankia was based on a polyphasic approach. The strain was isolated from the root nodules of Coriaria japonica, and it fulfilled Koch's postulates by inducing effective nodules on Coriaria spp. and Datisca spp. Based on phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain BMG5.1T is distinguishable from all other species of the genus Frankia. It is characterized by the presence of phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and glycophospholipids in its polar lipids; galactose, glucose, mannose and a trace of ribose as cellular sugars; meso-diaminopimelic acid as cell-wall peptidoglycan; C18 : 1ω9c as major fatty acid (>30 %); and MK-9(H6) (44.7 %) as predominant isoprenolog (>30 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between the described novel strain and strains of the other species of the genus Frankia correspond to a range of 97-98.4 % and 22.1-24 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content is 70.2 mol%. On the basis of these results, strain BMG5.1T (=CECT 9032T=DSM 100624T) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Frankia, named Frankia coriariae sp. nov.
The societal metabolism and resource curse of developing economies : a comparative study of Ghana and Ivory Coast

This thesis proposes a new analytical framework to analyse the relationship between material and energy use with indicators of well-being and economic growth in developing countries, conducted in the context of debates around the resource curse and development theories. By combining the societal metabolism approach with a historic and political context, this methodology explores the social metabolism and resource curse over time, relying on biophysical indicators of resource abundance. The analytical framework developed in this thesis identifies different aspects that have shaped the development trajectories of currently developing countries. It demonstrates that in order to understand present and future development paths of developing countries, a holistic approach that can combine different sets of data is needed, as it can inform about possibilities and tradeoffs of development pathways such as those envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, the approach developed in this thesis provides the basis to carry out developmental research utilizing a metabolic approach in developing countries where data issues prevent societal metabolism research. In this thesis two case studies are presented to test the methodology, finding that: (1) socio-political stability plays an important role shaping the metabolism of an economy and avoiding the resource curse; (2) well-being can improve without growth in economic activity or resource consumption; (3) international governance has had major impacts shaping the present economic structure of the selected economies.
Beyond Special Privileges: The Discretionary Treatment of Ethnic Minorities in China's Welfare System

Abstract The social welfare of ethnic minorities is a contested subject with a deep politicalised history in contemporary China. This article uses a new large dataset solely looking at ethnic minorities in China, to analyse the impact and outcomes that new urban social and welfare schemes – with notable attention to the basic medical insurance, and the minimum livelihood guarantee allowance (dibao) – have on the livelihoods of minorities. The data suggests that, contrary to the pro-minority rhetoric of the state, minority participation in social welfare programmes is predicated on the incentive set of local government officials. These findings have strong implications for constructing future social welfare policies, and for understanding their potential differential impact on ethnic minority cohorts.
Redox Regulation of an AP-1-Like Transcription Factor, YapA, in the Fungal Symbiont Epichloë festucae

ABSTRACT One of the central regulators of oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is Yap1, a bZIP transcription factor of the AP-1 family. In unstressed cells, Yap1 is reduced and cytoplasmic, but in response to oxidative stress, it becomes oxidized and accumulates in the nucleus. To date, there have been no reports on the role of AP-1-like transcription factors in symbiotic fungi. An ortholog of Yap1, named YapA, was identified in the genome of the grass symbiont Epichloë festucae and shown to complement an S. cerevisiae Δyap1 mutant. Hyphae of the E. festucae ΔyapA strain were sensitive to menadione and diamide but resistant to H2O2, KO2, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH). In contrast, conidia of the ΔyapA strain were very sensitive to H2O2 and failed to germinate. Using a PcatA-eGFP degron-tagged reporter, YapA was shown to be required for expression of a spore-specific catalase gene, catA. Although YapA-EGFP localized to the nucleus in response to host reactive oxygen species during seedling infection, there was no difference in whole-plant and cellular phenotypes of plants infected with the ΔyapA strain compared to the wild-type strain. Homologs of the S. cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe redox-sensing proteins (Gpx3 and Tpx1, respectively) did not act as redox sensors for YapA in E. festucae. In response to oxidative stress, YapA-EGFP localized to the nuclei of E. festucae ΔgpxC, ΔtpxA, and ΔgpxC ΔtpxA cells to the same degree as that in wild-type cells. These results show that E. festucae has a robust system for countering oxidative stress in culture and in planta but that Gpx3- or Tpx1-like thiol peroxidases are dispensable for activation of YapA.
Rhizobium subbaraonis sp. nov., an endolithic bacterium isolated from beach sand.

Two strains (JC85(T) and JC108) of Gram-stain-negative, motile bacteria were isolated from endolithic beach sand samples on an oligotrophic medium. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, both strains were identified as belonging to the genus Rhizobium. Strain JC108 had 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 100 % with Rhizobium pusense NRCPB10(T) and formed a cluster with this strain. Strain JC85(T) had 96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and was 18 % related (based on DNA-DNA hybridization) to Rhizobium borbori DN316(T). With other strains of the genus Rhizobium, the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was less than 96.3 %. Strain JC85(T) could tolerate up to 3 % salinity, fix N(2), was resistant to ampicillin (10 µg) and was positive for catalase and oxidase. The major fatty acid was C(18 : 1)ω7c (69 %) with minor amounts of C(19 : 0) cyclo ω8c (8.9 %), C(16 : 0) (6.9 %), C(12 : 0) (5.7 %) and C(19 : 1)ω7c/C(19 : 1)ω6c (2.2 %). Polar lipids of strain JC85(T) include two unidentified aminophospholipids (APL1,2), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1,2), phosphatidylcholine and four unidentified lipids (L1-4). Q-10 is the major quinone of strain JC85(T). Based on polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain JC85(T) represents a novel species for which, the name Rhizobium subbaraonis JC85(T) is proposed. The type strain is JC85(T) ( = DSM 24765(T) = KCTC 23614(T)).
ChaLearn Joint Contest on Multimedia Challenges Beyond Visual Analysis: An overview

This paper provides an overview of the Joint Contest on Multimedia Challenges Beyond Visual Analysis. We organized an academic competition that focused on four problems that require effective processing of multimodal information in order to be solved. Two tracks were devoted to gesture spotting and recognition from RGB-D video, two fundamental problems for human computer interaction. Another track was devoted to a second round of the first impressions challenge of which the goal was to develop methods to recognize personality traits from short video clips. For this second round we adopted a novel collaborative-competitive (i.e., coopetition) setting. The fourth track was dedicated to the problem of video recommendation for improving user experience. The challenge was open for about 45 days, and received outstanding participation: almost 200 participants registered to the contest, and 20 teams sent predictions in the final stage. The main goals of the challenge were fulfilled: the state of the art was advanced considerably in the four tracks, with novel solutions to the proposed problems (mostly relying on deep learning). However, further research is still required. The data of the four tracks will be available to allow researchers to keep making progress in the four tracks.
MENATA ULANG PEMILUKADA MENUJU TATA KELOLA PEMERINTAHAN DAERAH DEMOKRATIS, AKUNTABEL, DAN BERKELANJUTAN

This research formulated a better model of direct local elections for Indonesia. Based on the depth findings of three series of researches (2012, 2013, 2014) on direct local elections under Law No. 32/2004, this research recommended the “asymmetrical” direct local elections model in which direct local elections shall be varied in level depends on the quality of human development index and regional budget capacity. This research also suggested regulative and technical interventions to achieve democratic, accountable and sustainable direct local elections. Keywords : direct local elections, assymmetrical, local government.
Diverse Methodological Approaches and Considerations for SoTL in Higher Education

The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) is a distinctive form of research that is shaped by multi-disciplinary contexts and focuses on practice-driven institutional/curricula/classroom inquiries with an explicit transformational agenda. This essay provides critical insight to the importance of communities of SoTL practitioners, diverse investigations and methodological approaches within and across disciplines. For example, through an integrated and iterative process, a community of SoTL researchers plays a critical role to enhance and sustain on-going SoTL research. Equal to all forms of research endeavour, interpretations of SoTL research require a healthy scepticism, analysis of methodological rigour, and an openness to alternative perspectives and analysis. L'avancement des connaissances en enseignement et apprentissage (ACEA) dans l'enseignement superieur est une forme de recherche distinctive faconnee par des contextes multidisciplinaires. Axee sur la pratique, elle est centree sur caracterisee par des enquetes sur des institutions, des programmes d’enseignement et des classes, tout en axee sur la pratique et visant un objectif transformationnel explicite. Cet essai fournit un apercu critique de l’importance des communautes d’intervenants de l’ACEA et des diverses enquetes et approches methodologiques au sein de chaque discipline et entre elles. Par exemple, grâce a un processus integre et iteratif, la communaute des chercheurs en ACEA joue un role essentiel en ameliorant la recherche continue sur ce sujet et en la soutenant. Independamment du sujet considere, l’interpretation de la recherche sur l’ACEA suppose de faire preuve d’un scepticisme sain, d’analyser la rigueur methodologique et d’etre ouvert aux autres perspectives et analyses.
The interplay between the X-DING-CD4, IFN-α and IL-8 gene activity in quiescent and mitogen- or HIV-1-exposed PBMCs from HIV-1 elite controllers, AIDS progressors and HIV-negative controls

X-DING-CD4 blocks HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) and pathogen induced pro-inflammatory response. Increased activity of the X-DING-CD4 gene is associated with cellular resistance to virus; therefore, HIV-1 elite controllers (ECs) should have higher X-DING-CD4 and reduced pro-inflammatory mRNA activity than viremic or uninfected individuals. Also, depending on the cell stimulating factor, expression of X-DING-CD4 mRNA in ECs might be autonomous or contingent on IFN signaling. We compared expression of X-DING-CD4, IFN-α and IL-8 mRNAs in naive, phytohemagglutinin- or HIV-1 exposed PBMCs from ECs, HIV progressors and negative controls; tested correlation between X-DING-CD4 and IFN-α expression; sensitivity of the X-DING-CD4 gene to IFN-α regulation; and evaluated interactions between innate and pro-inflammatory genes. We found that expression of X-DING-CD4 and IFN-α was up-regulated in ECs and correlated in cells stimulated with mitogen, but not HIV-1. The X-DING-CD4 gene was more sensitive to HIV-1 than rIFN-α stimulation. ECs had significantly less IL-8 mRNA when PBMCs were exposed to exogenous HIV-1. Two-way ANOVA showed that control of HIV-1 and virus-induced pro-inflammatory response by ECs stemmed from interactions between expression of innate immunity and pro-inflammatory genes, the state of cell stimulation and the status of virus control. Consequently, interaction of multiple host innate immune responses rather than a single mechanism regulates restriction of HIV-1 in ECs.
Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics of Tazobactam in Combination with Ceftolozane in an In Vitro Infection Model

ABSTRACT Despite β-lactamase inhibitors being available for clinical use for nearly 30 years, a paucity of data exists describing the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) determinants of efficacy for these agents. Herein, we describe dose fractionation studies designed to determine the exposure measure most predictive of tazobactam efficacy in combination with ceftolozane and the magnitude of this measure necessary for efficacy in a PK-PD in vitro infection model. The challenge organism panel was comprised of an isogenic CTX-M-15-producing Escherichia coli triplet set, genetically engineered to transcribe different levels of blaCTX-M-15. These recombinant strains exhibited ceftolozane MIC values of 4, 16, and 64 μg/ml representing low, moderate, and high levels of CTX-M-15, respectively. Different blaCTX-M-15 transcription levels were confirmed by relative quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and β-lactamase hydrolytic assays. The exposure measure associated with efficacy was the percentage of the dosing interval that tazobactam concentrations remained above a threshold (%Time>threshold), regardless of enzyme expression (r2 = 0.938). The threshold concentrations identified were 0.05 μg/ml for low and moderate and 0.25 μg/ml for the high-β-lactamase expression strain constructs. The magnitudes of %Time>threshold for tazobactam associated with net bacterial stasis and a 1- and 2-log10 CFU reduction in bacteria at 24 h were approximately 35, 50, and 70%, respectively. These data provide an initial target tazobactam concentration-time profile and a paradigm to optimize tazobactam dosing when combined with ceftolozane.
A Precise and Rapid Microtitre Plate Clot Lysis Assay: Methodology, Kinetic Modeling and Measurement of Catalytic Constants for Plasminogen Activation during Fibrinolysis

Summary A rapid and precise turbidimetric clot lysis assay employing a microtitre plate reader and personal computer is described in detail. The use of such widely available instrumentation, the convenience and rapid throughput suggest the assay could be developed as a reference method with which to measure the potency of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in conjunction with the WHO reference preparation. The method has been used to investigate molecular parameters involved in fibrinolysis. Aggregation status of the fibrin does not appear toinfluence the mechanism of plasminogen activation and clot lysis by plasmin. High ratios of plasminogen to fibrin resulted in a change in clot turbidity and in a change in the lysis profile of turbidity versus time. This is probably the result of plasminogen binding to fibrin and consequent restriction of the access of plasmin to its sites of cleavage in the fibrin. A simple model is proposed, and equations have been derived, for the kinetics of lysis which adequately describe the mechanism and which are confirmed by experimental data. This model results in estimates of the Km and kcat for the activation of plasminogen by t-PA during clot lysis of approximately 150 nM and0.1 s-1, respectively, in excellent agreement with published values The assay should therefore prove useful in quantitative evaluationsof the molecular phenomena occurring during fibrinolysis. The more rapid activation of lys-plasminogen than glu-plasminogen by t-PA was confirmed. However, evidence was obtained that the lys-form binds more tightly to fibrin by the same factor. This observation suggested that the appropriate substrate in the kinetic model is fibrin-bound plasminogen. When the data were re-analysed using published values ofthe affinities of the two forms, t-PA was found to activate both forms indistinguishably on the fibrin surface, consistent with suggestions that the conformation of glu-plasminogen changes to one more like that of lys-plasminogen upon binding to fibrin.
Choice of Expected Return Proxy and Asset Pricing Model Tests: Should It Matter?

Are recent asset pricing tests informative as they seem? The critiques of Roll and, more recently, of Berk are well known, though they have not been raised much in the asset pricing literature over the last 15 years. We explore this question using two sources of expected returns, realised returns and IBES target price based analyst target return, within a Fama and French (1993) time series framework. We find (1) results are sensitive to expected return proxy choice. In particular, tests are sensitive to the way that proxies for market portfolio, size and value are constructed and (2) intercept estimates suggest that some of the more important asset pricing models do not fit the annual data used in this study particularly well. The sample includes US firms over a 10-year period from 2002 to 2012.
Identification of Novel Hexapeptides Bioactive against Phytopathogenic Fungi through Screening of a Synthetic Peptide Combinatorial Library

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to improve the antifungal activity against selected phytopathogenic fungi of the previously identified hexapeptide PAF19. We describe some properties of a set of novel synthetic hexapeptides whose d-amino acid sequences were obtained through screening of a synthetic peptide combinatorial library in a positional scanning format. As a result of the screening, 12 putative bioactive peptides were identified, synthesized, and assayed. The peptides PAF26 (Ac-rkkwfw-NH2), PAF32 (Ac-rkwhfw-NH2), and PAF34 (Ac-rkwlfw-NH2) showed stronger activity than PAF19 against isolates of Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, and Botrytis cinerea. PAF26 and PAF32, but not PAF34, were also active against Fusarium oxysporum. Penicillium expansum was less susceptible to all four PAF peptides, and only PAF34 showed weak activity against it. Assays were also conducted on nontarget organisms, and PAF26 and PAF32 showed much-reduced toxicity to Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, demonstrating selectivity towards certain filamentous fungi. Thus, the data showed distinct activity profiles for peptides differentiated by just one or two residue substitutions. Our conclusion from this observation is that a specificity factor is involved in the activity of these short peptides. Furthermore, PAF26 and PAF32 displayed activities against P. digitatum, P. italicum, and B. cinerea similar to that of the hemolytic 26-amino acid melittin, but they did not show the high toxicity of melittin towards bacteria and yeasts. The four peptides acted additively, with no synergistic interactions among them, and PAF26 was shown to have improved activity over PAF19 in in vivo orange fruit decay experiments.
Perceptions of determinants of job selection in the hospitality and tourism industry: The case of Korean university students

ABSTRACT This study explores the key factors influencing potential employees in the hospitality and tourism industry and examines whether causal relationships between behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence students' job selection. The study suggests that the career decision-making process is related to job selection. A total of 307 responses were analyzed. The results explain individual students' attitudes toward a behavior and perceived behavioral control in the context of their job selection. Attitudes toward a behavior and job selection had significant effects on career decisions. On the other hand, opinions of significant others had no significant effect. Perceived behaviors required to decide on jobs had a significant effect on job selection intentions. Students with internship experience were likely to form positive attitudes toward the hospitality and tourism industry, suggesting internships to be a useful source of a stronger relationship between the industry and job aptitudes of students in hospitality and tourism programs. The results have important implications.
Pregnancy in aged rats that were born small: cardiorenal and metabolic adaptations and second‐generation fetal growth

Uteroplacental insufficiency is associated with adult cardiorenal and metabolic diseases, particularly in males. Pregnancy is the greatest physiological challenge facing women, and those born small are at increased risk of gestational hypertension and diabetes and delivering smaller babies. Increased maternal age is associated with exacerbated pregnancy complications. We hypothesized that pregnancy in aged, growth‐restricted females unmasks an underlying predisposition to cardiorenal and metabolic dysfunction and compromises fetal growth. Uteroplacental insufficiency was induced by bilateral uterine vessel ligation (restricted group) or sham surgery (control group) on d 18 of gestation in Wistar Kyoto rats. At 12 mo, growth‐restricted F1 female offspring were mated with a normal male. F1 restricted females had elevated systolic blood pressure, before and during pregnancy (+10 mmHg) but normal renal and metabolic pregnancy adaptations. F2 fetal weight was not different between groups. In control and restricted females, advanced maternal age (12 vs. 4 mo) was associated with a reduction in the hypoglycemic response to pregnancy and reduced F2 fetal litter size and body weight. Aged rats born small exhibited mostly normal pregnancy adaptations, although they had elevated blood pressure. Advanced maternal age was associated with poorer fetal outcomes that were not exacerbated by low maternal birth weight. —Gallo, L. A. , Tran, M. , Moritz, K. M. , Jefferies, A. J., Wlodek, M. E. Pregnancy in aged rats that were born small: cardiorenal and metabolic adaptations and second‐generation fetal growth. FASEB J. 26, 4337–4347 (2012). www.fasebj. org
Meta‐Regression Models and Observational Research

Meta-regression models were originally developed for the synthesis of experimental research where randomization ensures unbiased and consistent estimation of the effect of interest. Most economics research is, however, observational and specification searches may often result in estimates that are biased and inconsistent, for example, due to omitted-variable biases. We show that if the authors of primary studies search for statistically significant estimates in observational research, meta-regression models tend to make false-positive findings of genuine empirical effects. More research is needed to better understand how meta-regression models need to be specified to help identifying genuine empirical effects in observational research.