Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of the Residual Anthracene Concentration in Cultures of Haloalkalitolerant Actinomycetes by Excitation Fluorescence, Emission Fluorescence, and Synchronous Fluorescence: Comparative Study

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds that can be quantified by fluorescence due to their high quantum yield. Haloalkalitolerant bacteria tolerate wide concentration ranges of NaCl and pH. They are potentially useful in the PAHs bioremediation of saline environments. However, it is known that salinity of the sample affects fluorescence signal regardless of the method. The objective of this work was to carry out a comparative study based on the sensitivity, linearity, and detection limits of the excitation, emission, and synchronous fluorescence methods, during the quantification of the residual anthracene concentration from the following haloalkalitolerant actinomycetes cultures Kocuria rosea, Kocuria palustris, Microbacterium testaceum, and 4 strains of Nocardia farcinica, in order to establish the proper fluorescence method to study the PAHs biodegrading capacity of haloalkalitolerant actinobacteria. The study demonstrated statistical differences among the strains and among the fluorescence methods regarding the anthracene residual concentration. The results showed that excitation and emission fluorescence methods performed very similarly but sensitivity in excitation fluorescence is slightly higher. Synchronous fluorescence using Δλ = 150 nm is not the most convenient method. Therefore we propose the excitation fluorescence as the fluorescence method to be used in the study of the PAHs biodegrading capacity of haloalkalitolerant actinomycetes.
Predictive model for sustaining biodiversity in tropical countryside

Growing demand for food, fuel, and fiber is driving the intensification and expansion of agricultural land through a corresponding displacement of native woodland, savanna, and shrubland. In the wake of this displacement, it is clear that farmland can support biodiversity through preservation of important ecosystem elements at a fine scale. However, how much biodiversity can be sustained and with what tradeoffs for production are open questions. Using a well-studied tropical ecosystem in Costa Rica, we develop an empirically based model for quantifying the “wildlife-friendliness” of farmland for native birds. Some 80% of the 166 mist-netted species depend on fine-scale countryside forest elements (≤60-m-wide clusters of trees, typically of variable length and width) that weave through farmland along hilltops, valleys, rivers, roads, and property borders. Our model predicts with ∼75% accuracy the bird community composition of any part of the landscape. We find conservation value in small (≤20 m wide) clusters of trees and somewhat larger (≤60 m wide) forest remnants to provide substantial support for biodiversity beyond the borders of tropical forest reserves. Within the study area, forest elements on farms nearly double the effective size of the local forest reserve, providing seminatural habitats for bird species typically associated with the forest. Our findings provide a basis for estimating and sustaining biodiversity in farming systems through managing fine-scale ecosystem elements and, more broadly, informing ecosystem service analyses, biodiversity action plans, and regional land use strategies.
Going the same ‘weigh’: spousal correlations in obesity in the United Kingdom

The obesity epidemic has received widespread media and research attention. However, the social phenomenon of obesity is still not well understood. Data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) show positive and significant correlations in spousal body mass index (BMI). This article explores the three mechanisms of matching in the marriage market, social learning and shared environment to explain this correlation. We apply a novel method of testing for social learning by focusing on how the addition of individual and partner health and marriage length affects the correlation in spousal BMI. Results show the importance of matching in the marriage market in explaining correlated BMI outcomes. There is significant correlation in partner BMI even after controlling for own health, spouse health, marriage length and regional effects, suggesting evidence of a social influence. However, it does not appear to be a learning effect as the spouse health and marriage length are insignificant.
Etiology and Patterns of Facial Lacerations and Their Possible Association With Underlying Maxillofacial Fractures

BackgroundThis study was designed to analyze the etiology and patterns of soft-tissue facial lacerations associated with maxillofacial fractures and to identify associations between facial lacerations and underlying fractures. MethodsOf 1960 patients who had been admitted for maxillofacial fractures between 2001 and 2010, only patients with complete clinical records presenting with facial lacerations were considered for this study. Facial lacerations were classified according to the MCFONTZL system. ResultsOf the 1960 patients admitted with maxillofacial fractures, 637 had 836 associated facial lacerations. Motor vehicle accidents and falls were responsible for most injuries to patients with facial lacerations. According to etiology, fractures resulting from work-related accidents more frequently produced associated lacerations.For all causes of injury, more facial lacerations were observed over the “T” area formed by the upper orbit and forehead, nose, upper and lower lips, and chin. Lacerations and maxillofacial fractures were more frequently localized to the middle third of the face, followed by the inferior third.There was a strong association between lacerations and fractures in the chin region, considering both symphyseal and parasymphyseal fractures (direct trauma) and condylar fractures (indirect trauma). ConclusionsAn association between facial lacerations and underlying maxillofacial fractures was observed, particularly in the inferior orbital area and over the zygoma, mandible, and chin.
Apoptosis in Microencapsulated Juvenile Rabbit Chondrocytes Induced by Ofloxacin: Role Played by β1-Integrin Receptor

Quinolone(s) (QNs) is widely used in infection therapy due to its good antimicrobial characteristics. However, QNs-induced arthropathy of immature animals has led to restrictions on the therapeutic use of these antimicrobial agents. The exact mechanism(s) of QNs-induced chondrotoxicity remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the possible mechanism of ofloxacin (one typical QNs)-induced injuries of chondrocytes. Juvenile rabbit joint chondrocytes cultured in alginate microspheres were incubated with ofloxacin at concentrations of 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 μg/ml for up to 96 h. Concentration of 10 μg/ml ofloxacin induced apoptosis of chondrocyte with visible apoptotic signs, including degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, caspase-3 activation, and DNA ladder formation. Furthermore, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (phospho-ERK1/2) and growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) were significantly reduced, and similar changes were also observed in the β1-integrin receptor as assessed by immunoblotting. However, the mRNA level of β1-integrin obtained from reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction remained unchanged. Results of β1-integrin immunoprecipitation have also shown that β1-integrin did not interact with activated intracellular signaling proteins. In addition, ofloxacin did not induce apoptosis and decrease β1-integrin expression in chondrocytes supplemented with Mg2+, and the ofloxacin-induced apoptosis was caspase-8-dependent, inhibition of which did not affect the expression mode of phospho-ERK1/2 and β1-integrin. Our results demonstrate that ofloxacin affects β1-integrin receptor functions and the ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, causing caspase-8-dependent apoptosis after exposure of 48 h.
Retrospect of the Chinese Exchange Rate Regime After Reform: Stylized Facts During the Period from 2005 to 2010

In the present paper, we estimate the de facto RMB exchange rate regime, the currency basket, the floating band and the foreign exchange market pressure before and after the reform of the Chinese exchange rate regime in 2005. We find the following stylized facts: the value of the RMB became stable after the reform; the weight of the US dollar remained high in the basket, while other currencies remained statistically significant; and the floating band gradually increased to 10 percent during 2005–2008, and then greatly narrowed from the late summer of 2008 under the assumption of a yearly resetting interval. We find that the foreign exchange market pressure increased from 2005 to 2008. A possible reason is that the weight of the US dollar in the basket was slightly lower than the share of the US dollar in total transactions on the Chinese foreign exchange market. Therefore, it is reasonable for China to adopt a dollar peg exchange rate regime.
Flow Cytometry–Based Cytotoxicity and Antibody Binding Assay

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies with the ability to activate complement are associated with an increased risk of early antibody‐mediated graft rejection in kidney transplantation (KTx). Detection of these potentially harmful complement‐fixing HLA antibodies is commonly performed via the complement‐dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) assay according to protocols that were developed as early as 40 years ago. The read‐out for this assay is based on manual scoring by visual inspection of cells under a fluorescence microscope. CDC is often used in combination with the flow cytometry–based lymphocyte crossmatch assay (FCXM), which, with high sensitivity, detects HLA antibody binding. Here we describe a new approach wherein both cytotoxicity and antibody binding can be simultaneously assessed with flow cytometry. Two strategies are described, using either magnetic bead–enriched T and B lymphocytes or bulk peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as donor target cells. Curr. Protoc. Cytom. 66:6.34. 1‐6.34. 11. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Entrepreneurship and institutional change in transition economies: The Commonwealth of Independent States, Central and Eastern Europe and China compared

This paper examines the interrelationships between institutional change and entrepreneurship development in countries that until recently were operating under the rules of central planning. The evidence presented in the paper shows important differences in state-entrepreneurship relationships between former Soviet republics, where the slow pace of institutional change and major institutional deficiencies has constrained the development of productive entrepreneurship; Central European countries that are now part of the European Union (EU), where institutional changes associated with accession to the EU are associated with the state becoming an important agent of formal and informal institutional change; and China which presents something of a conundrum, since entrepreneurship has developed rapidly despite major formal institutional deficiencies. Yang's concept of double entrepreneurship is used to explain the so-called Chinese puzzle, where enterprise takes on a socio-political as well as a purely economic dimension. The paper demonstrates the complexity of institutional-entrepreneurship relationships, illustrated with examples of how entrepreneurs can influence institutional change even in hostile institutional environments.
A super-resolution algorithm based on adaptive sparse representation

To improve the performance of super-resolution reconstruction of images, a super-resolution algorithm based on adaptive sparse representation is proposed. Our algorithm regards the difference between the high-resolution image and the reconstructed image with Iterative back-projection algorithm as the image's high-frequency characteristic, which is further used for high-resolution dictionary training. And after edge detection, our algorithm adaptively applies sparse representation and Iterative back-projection to edge patches and smooth patches respectively for reconstruction. Experimental results show that, with our algorithm the reconstructed image edges, especially the strong edges, are close to the original high-resolution image, and PSNR could be improved significantly.
Faculty online technology adoption: the role of management support and organizational climate

Although there is a plethora of online learning studies, relatively few studies have probed into teachers’ online technology adoption. It is suggested that faculty resistance to technology be one of the key hindrances to the future development of distance learning. Several studies have argued that teachers’ resistance to technology, one of the key issues and challenges, could remain a difficult problem in educational field. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to understand the key factors that influence teachers’ intention to adopt online technology.
Quantity discount strategies and returns policies

This paper examines the relationship between a quantity discount strategy and a return policy by means of a three-stage game approach. In the first stage, the manufacturer consider show to employ a quantity discount strategy and/or a return policy. If he decides to employ a quantity discount strategy, in the second stage the manufacturer will ask the retailer to order the quantity which provides an optimal stocking level for joint profits. The buyback price is also determined by negotiation between the manufacturer and the retailer in the second stage. Finally, the manufacturer sets the wholesale price to keep his promise that the retailer's profits before and after the strategy remain the same in the third stage. In order to keep the retailer's profits unchanged, the buyback price is positively linked with the wholesale price. The quantity discount could be negative if the buyback price under the return policy is too high.
Arabidopsis MYC2 Interacts with DELLA Proteins in Regulating Sesquiterpene Synthase Gene Expression[W][OA]

This work examines the regulation of two sesquiterpene synthases and shows that gibberellin and jasmonate jointly regulate the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes through the transcription factor MYC2, and the gibberellin signal is transduced to this secondary metabolism pathway through a DELLA–MYC2 interaction Arabidopsis thaliana flowers emit volatile terpenes, which may function in plant–insect interactions. Here, we report that Arabidopsis MYC2, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, directly binds to promoters of the sesquiterpene synthase genes TPS21 and TPS11 and activates their expression. Expression of TPS21 and TPS11 can be induced by the phytohormones gibberellin (GA) and jasmonate (JA), and both inductions require MYC2. The induction of TPS21 and TPS11 results in increased emission of sesquiterpene, especially (E)-β-caryophyllene. DELLAs, the GA signaling repressors, negatively affect sesquiterpene biosynthesis, as the sesquiterpene synthase genes were repressed in plants overaccumulating REPRESSOR OF GA1-3 (RGA), one of the Arabidopsis DELLAs, and upregulated in a penta DELLA-deficient mutant. Yeast two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that DELLAs, represented by RGA, directly interact with MYC2. In yeast cells, the N terminus of MYC2 was responsible for binding to RGA. MYC2 has been proposed as a major mediator of JA signaling and crosstalk with abscisic acid, ethylene, and light signaling pathways. Our results demonstrate that MYC2 is also connected to GA signaling in regulating a subset of genes. In Arabidopsis inflorescences, it integrates both GA and JA signals into transcriptional regulation of sesquiterpene synthase genes and promotes sesquiterpene production.
Systematic review of the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability scale for assessing pain in infants and children: is it reliable, valid, and feasible for use?

Abstract The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scale is one of the most widely used behavioural observation pain scales. However, the psychometrics of the scale have not been adequately summarised and evaluated to provide clear recommendations regarding its use. The aim of this study was to rigorously evaluate the reliability, validity, feasibility, and utility of the scale for clinical and research purposes and provide recommendations regarding appropriate use of the scale. Databases searched were MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO (using the Ovid, PubMed, and Ebscohost platforms), The Cochrane Database of Systematic reviews and Cochrane Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar. Psychometric evaluation studies reporting feasibility, reliability, validity, or utility data for the FLACC scale applied to children (birth to 18 years) and randomised controlled trials (RCT) using the FLACC scale to measure a study outcome in infants and children. Data extraction included study design, population demographics, and psychometric data. Analysis involved in this study are quality assessment of the psychometric evaluation studies and the RCTs using the COSMIN checklist and the Jadad scale, respectively, and narrative synthesis of all results. Twenty-five psychometric evaluations studies and 52 RCTs were included. The study population, circumstances, and quality of the studies varied greatly. Sufficient data addressing postoperative pain assessment in infants and children exist. Some positive data support the psychometrics of the scale used to assess postoperative pain in children with cognitive impairment. Limited and conflicting data addressing procedural pain assessment exist. Content validity and scale feasibility have had limited psychometric evaluation. There are insufficient data to support the FLACC scale for use in all circumstances and populations to which is currently applied.
Family Control and Ownership Monitoring in Family-Controlled Firms in Japan

This paper focuses on a type of firms that have been traditionally neglected in both family business and governance research, namely, family-controlled, publicly-listed firms. Although principal–agent conflicts may be less prevalent in such firms, family control can potentially give rise to principal–principal conflicts, leading to expropriation of the wealth of minority owners by family owners. Superior firm performance and the willingness to distribute the profits through dividend payments would suggest the absence of such expropriation. Based on a sample of 210 OTC firms in Japan, we examined the relationships between family control and dividend payouts and profitability. Our results indicate that family control was positively related to dividend payouts. Further, we found that while foreign ownership interacted with family control to reduce dividend payouts and increase profitability, bank ownership did not have such an effect.
Histogram analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient maps for the differentiation between lymphoma and metastatic lymph nodes of squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck region

Background To clarify the nature of cervical malignant lymphadenopathy is highly important for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of head and neck tumors. Purpose To investigate the role of first-order apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis for differentiating lymphoma from metastatic lymph nodes of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the head and neck region. Material and Methods Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data of 67 patients (lymphoma, n = 20; SCC, n = 47) with malignant lymphadenopathy were retrospectively analyzed. The SCC group was divided into nasopharyngeal SCC and non-nasopharyngeal SCC groups. The ADC histogram features (ADC10, ADC25, ADCmean, ADCmedian, ADC75, ADC90, skewness, and kurtosis) were derived and then compared by independent-samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance test, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were employed to investigate diagnostic performance of the significant parameters. Results Lymphoma showed significantly lower ADCmean, ADCmedian, ADC75, and ADC90 than SCC (all P < 0.05). Setting ADC90 = 0.719 × 10–3 mm2/s as the threshold value, optimal diagnostic performance was achieved (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.719, sensitivity = 95.7%, specificity = 50.0%). Subgroup analyses showed no significant difference between lymphoma and NPC (all P > 0.05). Lymphoma showed significantly lower ADC25, ADCmean, ADCmedian, ADC75, and ADC90 than non-nasopharyngeal SCC (all P < 0.05). Optimal diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.847, sensitivity = 86.7%, specificity = 80.0%) could be achieved when setting ADC90 = 0.943 × 10–3 mm2/s as the threshold value. Conclusion Given its limitations, our study has shown that first-order ADC histogram analysis is capable of differentiating lymphoma from metastatic lymph nodes of SCC, especially those of non-nasopharyngeal SCC.
When Management and Customers See Eye-to-Eye: The Agreement Factor and Performance

Purpose – The paper aims to focus on management‐customer relations as a way to understand the competitive advantages of small/medium‐sized family businesses. The aim of this work is to verify whether management perceptions of business strengths and customer perceptions of the same strengths agree, and whether this agreement (perceptive concordance) can become an important factor in maintaining the firm's competitive advantages.Design/methodology/approach – The research is carried out through a single case study with a sample of 120 customers.Findings – The findings indicate that when management and customers agree on certain business issues, performance benefits. Comparing management's perception of strengths and customers' perceptions of the same strengths allow one to relate what the firm thinks of itself to what the customer sees in it.Practical implications – The research offers useful information about the efficiency of the firm's external communications and demonstrates that a shared language betwee.
Chlorophyll and Protein Interrelationships in Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.

Studies on a quantitative separation and analysis of chloroplastic matter by different investigators have revealed that chlorophyll is held by chemical forces on proteinaceous matter. This matter, named phyllochlorin by MESTRE (17), chloroplastin by STOLL (37), photosynthin by FRENCH (8), and chloroglobin by RABINOWITCH (21), is presumably identical with the substance composing the stroma of chloroplasts. FREY-WYSSLING (9), discussing the composition of chloroplasts, stated that, according to GUILLERMOND, MANGENOT, and PLANTEFOL (13) and SHARP (24), the structure of the chloroplasts of higher plants is homogeneous and not granular with small green particles imbedded in a colorless stroma, as postulated by MEYER (18) and SCHIMPER (22), and that the granulations are artifacts. According to HEITZ (15), the grana are not spheres but disks oriented parallel to the surface of the disk-shaped particles which alone contain the chlorophyll. NOACK (20) observed that colloidal chlorophyll does not show fluorescence except when adsorbed in monomolecular layers. Also, EULER et al. (7) have reached a similar conclusion from determinations of the quantity of chlorophyll in one single plastid.