Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Farmer adoptability for livelihood transformations in the Mekong Delta: a case in Ben Tre province

Sustainable livelihood development is an ongoing challenge worldwide, and has regained importance due to threats of water shortages and climate change. To cope with changing climatic, demographic and market conditions in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta (VMD) an agricultural transformation process has been suggested in the recent Mekong Delta Plan. This agricultural transformation process requires the implementation of alternative livelihood models. The majority of current agricultural livelihood models in the VMD have been introduced by the government in a top-down manner. In this study, we applied a bottom-up approach to understand the motivations and abilities of local farmers to adopt alternative livelihood models. It is based on the MOTA methodological framework, which is further tested with the use of multivariate analyses. The study was conducted in Ben Tre coastal province. Results showed that farmers’ motivations and abilities to apply alternative models vary substantially among different groups, driven by their perceptions on triggers and opportunities. Acknowledging this diversity is essential to the development of agricultural transformation plans. Furthermore, based on the analysis, a projection of the precise support that communities need to supplement their knowledge, skills and financial capacities, as well as interventions to reduce the risks of new livelihood models, is given.
Divergence and transcriptional analysis of the division cell wall (dcw) gene cluster in Neisseria spp.

Three of the 18 open reading frames in the division and cell wall synthesis cluster of the pathogenic Neisseria spp. are not present in the clusters of other bacterial species. The region containing two of these, dcaB and dcaC, displays interstrain and interspecies variability uncharacteristic of such clusters. 3′ of dcaB is a Correia repeat enclosed element (CREE), which is only present in some strains. It has been suggested that this CREE is a transcriptional terminator, although we demonstrate otherwise. A gearbox‐like promoter within this CREE is active in Escherichia coli but not in Neisseria meningitidis. There is an active promoter 5′ of dcaC, although its sequence is not conserved. The presence of similarly located promoters has not been demonstrated in other species. In Neisseria lactamica, this promoter involves another dcw‐associated CREE, the first demonstration of active promoter generation at the 5′ end of this common intergenic, apparently mobile, element. Upstream of this promoter is an inverted pair of neisserial uptake signal sequences, which are commonly considered to be transcriptional terminators. It has been proposed to terminate transcription in this location, although we have demonstrated transcript extending through this uptake signal sequence. dcaC contains a 108 bp tandem repeat, which is present in different copy numbers in the neisserial strains examined. This investigation reveals extensive sequence variation, disputes the presence of transcriptional terminators and identifies active internal promoters in this normally highly conserved cluster of essential genes, and addresses the transcriptional activity of two common neisserial intergenic components.
Impact of Corporate Actions on Shareholder Wealth: A Study on the Bombay Stock Exchange

This study focuses on five corporate actions (dividend announcement, stock split, bonus issue, right issues, buy-back, and right issue) and attempts to determine their impact on shareholders’ wealth. The companies in the S&P BSE 500 index are taken as the total population, and the performance of those with corporate actions is compared to that in the broader universe. The study analyzes the impact by taking the share price of sampled companies for 30 days before and 30 days after the announcement of corporate actions. A paired-sample t-test is used to determine the impact of the corporate actions on share price in the event window period. The study concludes that corporate actions have significant impact on shareholders’ wealth; the level of impact is different for different corporate actions, but it does not differ according to the nature of the industry. The dividend and buy-back have a low level of impact, and bonus issues, rights issues, and stock splits have a high level of impact on shareholders’ wealth. Finally, the study proves that corporate actions are quite relevant to shareholders’ wealth.
Towards Digitalization in Academic Start-ups - An Attempt to Classify Start-up Projects of the Gruendungsgarage

Founded in 2013 as a playground for implementation-oriented start-up ideas, the Gruendungsgarage is now an established academic start-up accelerator and an integral part of the regional start-up scene. Starting with a brief in-troduction to the program of the Gruendungsgarage as a best practice example with five years of experience in academic entrepreneurial education, a model with a practical-oriented focus for classifying the degree of digitalization in start-up projects is presented. Successful start-ups and promising start-up projects from the Gruendungsgarage are classified according to their degree of digitalization and illustrated by examples. Finally, implications for the practice in engineering education on entrepreneurship are derived and suggestions for future research are identified.
Fabrication of Organic Photo Detectors Using Inkjet Technology and Its Comparison to Conventional Deposition Processes

The current upscaling of large area electronics is pushing the technological and cost limits of conventional processing and materials. Introduction of new materials, sophisticated device architectures and advanced deposition techniques has made organic photo detector (OPD) attractive for many applications. Spin coated Titanium Oxide (TiOx) has been successfully established as an electron transport layer (ETL) in many optoelectronic devices, including OPDs. In this paper, on one hand OPDs are fabricated with TiOx as ETL deposited by sputtering and electron beam techniques, where the dark current density is reduced by two orders of magnitude up to 10−7 A/cm2 while retaining high photo responsivity. On the other hand, inkjet printing is demonstrated as an alternative additive and digital manufacturing route for the vacuum-free deposition of TiOx and active layer composition of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl-C60-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PC60BM). OPDs fabricated with inkjet printed TiOx layers showed comparable performance as the state of the art devices fabricated by spin coated TiOx. In addition, OPDs were manufactured using inkjet technology for both the active and ETL layers. Our research proves that there is a significant influence of the deposition technique to the corresponding device performance. The results obtained in terms of figure of merit for OPDs (dark current density of $2.7\times 10^{-5}$ A/cm2, signal to noise ratio of 320, external quantum efficiency of 45% and fabrication yield of 30%–60%) from the developed inkjet printing process shows that further investigation on the ink formulation and optimizations can result into better performing OPDs.
The Tlo Proteins Are Stoichiometric Components of Candida albicans Mediator Anchored via the Med3 Subunit

ABSTRACT The amplification of the TLO (for telomere-associated) genes in Candida albicans, compared to its less pathogenic, close relative Candida dubliniensis, suggests a role in virulence. Little, however, is known about the function of the Tlo proteins. We have purified the Mediator coactivator complex from C. albicans (caMediator) and found that Tlo proteins are a stoichiometric component of caMediator. Many members of the Tlo family are expressed, and each is a unique member of caMediator. Protein expression analysis of individual Tlo proteins, as well as the purification of tagged Tlo proteins, demonstrate that there is a large free population of Tlo proteins in addition to the Mediator-associated population. Coexpression and copurification of Tloα12 and caMed3 in Escherichia coli established a direct physical interaction between the two proteins. We have also made a C. albicans med3Δ/Δ strain and purified an intact Mediator from this strain. The analysis of the composition of the med3Δ Mediator shows that it lacks a Tlo subunit. Regarding Mediator function, the med3Δ/Δ strain serves as a substitute for the difficult-to-make tloΔ/Δ C. albicans strain. A potential role of the TLO and MED3 genes in virulence is supported by the inability of the med3Δ/Δ strain to form normal germ tubes. This study of caMediator structure provides initial clues to the mechanism of action of the Tlo genes and a platform for further mechanistic studies of caMediator's involvement in gene regulatory patterns that underlie pathogenesis.
Early high peak hepatitis C viral load levels independently predict hepatitis C–related liver failure post–liver transplantation

The aim of this study was to examine the importance of the serum hepatitis C viral load within the first year post–liver transplant in determining posttransplant survival. A retrospective analysis of 118 consecutive hepatitis C virus–positive liver transplant recipients who received an allograft from January 1997 to September 2005 was undertaken with a median duration of follow‐up of 32.4 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the effects of recipient, donor, surgical, and viral factors on posttransplant outcomes. A total of 620 viral load estimations were undertaken in the first 12 months following transplantation. Patient and graft survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 87.8%, 79.9%, and 70.1% and 87.0%, 79.2%, and 68.2%, respectively. According to multivariate analysis, a peak viral load ≥ 107 IU/mL (P = 0.004; hazard ratio, 8.68; 95% confidence interval, 2.04–37.02) and exposure to antirejection therapy (P = 0.05; hazard ratio, 2.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–5.38) were both independent predictors of diminished patient and graft survival and hepatitis C–related allograft failure. The only other independent predictor of hepatitis C virus–related outcome after transplant was azathioprine use, which was associated with improved outcomes (P = 0.04; hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.07–0.91). A peak viral load in the first year after transplant of >108, 107 to 108, and <107 IU/mL was associated with a mean survival of 11.8, 70.6, and 89.1 months respectively (P ≤ 0.03). The results emphasize the importance of high viral loads in the early posttransplant period as an independent predictor of recipient outcomes. Liver Transpl 15:709–718, 2009. © 2009 AASLD.
Molecular architecture of G protein‐coupled receptors

This review of the current literature on mutations in G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) of the rhodopsin‐related family intends to draw inferences from amino acid sequences for single receptors and multiple sequence alignments with regard to the molecular architecture of this class of receptors. For this purpose a comprehensive list of mutations within the transmembrane helical regions (TMs; over 390 mutations from 38 different receptor subtypes) and their effects on function was compiled, and an alignment of known GPCR sequences (over 150 separate sequences) was made. Regions most prominently involved in ligand binding are located in TMs 3, 5, 6, and 7. Position 3.32 in TM3 is occupied by a D in all biogenic amine receptors (sequence conservation) but may be occupied by uncharged residues in other receptors while its role in ligand binding is analogous (function conservation). TMs 5, 6, and 7 display considerable sequence conservation throughout the majority of GPCRs investigated, but not necessarily at those positions involved in ligand binding. However, considerable function conservation is observed for positions 5.42 (frequently hydrophilic), 5.46 (small amino acids required for agonist binding to “small ligand” receptors), 6.52 and 7.39 (high variability), and 7.43 (frequently aromatic). A general conclusion of this review is that there is overwhelming conservation of structure‐function correlates among GPCRs. Thus, it is now possible to cross‐correlate the results of mutagenesis studies between CPCRs of different subfamilies, and to use those results to predict the function of specific residues in new GPCR sequences. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chitosan microparticles for sustaining the topical delivery of minoxidil sulphate

Given the hypothesis that microparticles can penetrate the skin barrier along the transfollicular route, this work aimed to obtain and characterise chitosan microparticles loaded with minoxidil sulphate (MXS) and to study their ability to sustain the release of the drug, attempting a further application utilising them in a targeted delivery system for the topical treatment of alopecia. Chitosan microparticles, containing different proportions of MXS/polymer, were prepared by spray drying and were characterised by yield, encapsulation efficiency, size and morphology. Microparticles selected for further studies showed high encapsulation efficiency (∼82%), a mean diameter of 3.0 µm and a spherical morphology without porosities. When suspended in an ethanol/water solution, chitosan microparticles underwent instantaneous swelling, increasing their mean diameter by 90%. Release studies revealed that the chitosan microparticles were able to sustain about three times the release rate of MXS. This feature, combined with suitable size, confers to these microparticles the potential to target and improve topical therapy of alopecia with minoxidil.
Unit commitment under gas-supply uncertainty and gas-price variability

We propose a two-stage mixed-integer linear stochastic optimization model to analyze the scheduling of electricity-production units under natural gas-supply uncertainty due to pipeline congestion and natural gas-price variability. The first stage of this stochastic optimization model represents the day-ahead scheduling (i.e., unit commitment) stage, while the second stage represents actual real-time operations through a number of scenarios. We use this model to analyze the effect on unit commitment and dispatch of two types of natural gas-supply conditions. First, we analyze a case involving low-cost natural gas supply with gas transmission issues related to potential gas-pipeline congestion. We then examine a case involving higher-cost natural gas, which is used solely to attain feasibility with fast-ramping events. The first case mimics situations in the ISO New England system, in which relatively low-cost natural gas supply is uncertain in cold weather conditions due to natural gastransmission bottlenecks. The second case is reminiscent of situations in the California ISO system, in which relatively expensive but flexible natural gas-fired units need to be used to handle rapid changes in net demand in the early mornings and late afternoons.
In vivo alterations in cytokine production following interleukin-12 (IL-12) and anti-IL-4 antibody treatment of CB6F1 mice with chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis

CB6F1 mice exhibit intermediate resistance to infection with Leishmania major compared to their highly susceptible (BALB/c) and resistant (C57BL/6) parental strains. Unlike the C57BL/6 and BALB/c strains, which rapidly develop dominant Th1- or Th2-type responses, respectively, after infection, CB6F1 mice develop responses in which both Th1- and Th2-type cytokines are elevated through at least the first month of infection before Th1 responses become dominant as cutaneous lesions gradually heal. We have examined the effects of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and/or anti-IL-4 antibody treatment on cytokine production and the course of disease in CB6F1 mice with chronic L. major infections. When administered at 1 month of infection, IL-12 treatment led to a rapid decrease in mRNA levels for IL-4 within parasitized lesions and a moderate increase in gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) transcript levels in lymph nodes draining the site of infection. When IL-12 and anti-IL-4 antibody were administered together, they induced a marked decrease in IL-4 and transforming growth factor beta mRNA expression within lesions and a more dramatic increase in lymph node IFN-gamma transcript levels within 4 days after treatment. In comparison, similar treatment of infected BALB/c mice led to only a moderate increase in IFN-gamma transcripts but no decrease in mRNA levels for Th2-type cytokines. Treatment of CB6F1 mice with either IL-12 or anti-IL-4 antibody had no significant effect on the subsequent course of infection, whereas combined IL-12 plus anti-IL-4 treatment resulted in a decrease in lesion size and parasite numbers and a shift towards a Th1-dominant response. These results suggest that the immediate effects of cytokine or anti-cytokine therapy may be predictive of the long-term effects on the course of infection and that down-regulation of Th-2 type cytokines may be critical to the development of a Th1-dominant response.
Mapping trends in the concept of nurse rounding: A bibliometric analysis and research agenda

AIMS Examine the growth and diffusion of research on the concept of nurse rounding and provide definitional clarity on forms of nurse rounding. METHODS Bibliometric and content analysis of primary research on nurse rounding were used to map development of the field. Manuscripts were identified from a keyword search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases for the period 2000 to 2015. Titles, country of origin, and year of publication along with details on the characteristics and sample of each study were coded on a database. Content analyses were performed on the coded data to derive a taxonomic understanding and identify publication trends. RESULTS Thirty-eight primary research studies were identified. Overall, there has been an increase in the number and diversity of studies on nursing rounding. A typology of 4 variants of nurse rounding was devised to enhance clarity and enable comparative analysis. CONCLUSION There has been continued interest in nurse rounding and its potential benefits. However, poor definitional clarity is evident in this body of research, with various label used interchangeably in studies reporting similar rounding designs. The field would benefit from improved conceptual clarity and investigation into forms of nurse rounding that remain largely unexamined.
Motor unit control strategies of endurance‐ versus resistance‐trained individuals

Introduction: We examined motor unit (MU) control properties of resistance‐trained (RT) and endurance‐trained (ET) individuals. Methods: Five RT (age 25 ± 4 years) and 5 ET (age 19 ± 1 years) subjects participated. Surface electromyography (EMG) data were recorded from the vastus lateralis during isometric trapezoid muscle actions at 40% and 70% of maximal voluntary contraction. Decomposition and wavelet transform techniques were applied to the EMG signals to extract the firing events of single MUs and EMG intensity across the frequency spectrum. Results: There were significant differences between RT and ET for the mean MU firing rate and derecruitment threshold versus recruitment threshold relationships and EMG intensity at various wavelet bands during the linearly increasing, steady force, and linearly decreasing segments of the trapezoid contraction. Conclusions: MU behavior is altered as a function of training status and is likely the result of differences in the physical properties of the MU. Muscle Nerve 52: 832–843, 2015
Urbanization, Productivity Differences and Spatial Frictions

We study decentralized and optimal urbanization in a simple multi-sector model of a rural-urban economy focusing on productivity differences and internal trade frictions. We show that even in the absence of the typical externalities studied in the literature, such as agglomeration, congestion or public goods, the decentralized city size can be either too large or too small relative to that chosen by a planner. In particular, optimal urbanization exceeds decentralized levels when productivity differences in location specific non-traded goods is small, a case typically arising in developed economies. In contrast, developing countries are likely to display overurbanization. A numerical exercise calibrated to Brazilian data suggests that the wedges can be quantitatively important. Urban biased policies - placing a higher weight on the welfare of city dwellers - are closer to optimal policies than decentralized allocations whenever productivity differences in non-traded sectors are either very small or very large. For intermediate productivity differences, the urban bias leads to larger cities even relative to decentralized policies.
Interleukin 10-Deficient Mice Exhibit Defective Colonic Muc2 Synthesis Before and After Induction of Colitis by Commensal Bacteria

Germ-free (GF) interleukin 10-deficient (IL-10−/−) mice develop chronic colitis after colonization by normal enteric bacteria. Muc2 is the major structural component of the protective colonic mucus. Our aim was to determine whether primary or induced aberrations in Muc2 synthesis occur in GF IL-10−/− mice that develop colitis after bacterial colonization. GF IL-10−/− and wild-type mice were colonized with commensal bacteria for various intervals up to 6 weeks. Colitis was quantified by histologic score and IL-12 secretion. Muc2 synthesis, total level of Muc2, and Muc2 sulfation were measured quantitatively. GF IL-10−/− mice showed 10-fold lower Muc2 synthesis and Muc2 levels compared with GF wild-type mice, but Muc2 sulfation was not different. When bacteria were introduced, IL-10−/− mice developed colitis, whereas wild-type mice remained healthy. Muc2 synthesis was unchanged in wild-type mice, but IL-10−/− mice showed a peak increase in Muc2 synthesis 1 week after bacterial introduction, returning to baseline levels after 2 weeks. Total Muc2 levels decreased 2-fold in wild-type mice but remained at stable low levels in IL-10−/− mice. Upon introducing bacteria, Muc2 sulfation increased 2-fold in wild-type mice, whereas in IL-10−/− mice Muc2 sulfation decreased 10-fold. In conclusion, a primary defect in colonic Muc2 synthesis is present in IL-10−/− mice, whereas bacterial colonization and colitis in these mice led to reduced Muc2 sulfation. These quantitative and structural aberrations in Muc2 in IL-10−/− mice likely reduce the ability of their mucosa to cope with nonpathogenic commensal bacteria and may contribute to their susceptibility to develop colitis.
Cardiac vagal tone, a non‐invasive measure of parasympathetic tone, is a clinically relevant tool in Type 1 diabetes mellitus

To compare a novel index of parasympathetic tone, cardiac vagal tone, with established autonomic variables and to test the hypotheses that (1) cardiac vagal tone would be associated with established time and frequency domain measures of heart rate and (2) cardiac vagal tone would be lower in people with Type 1 diabetes than in a matched healthy cohort and lower still in people with established neuropathy.
The Precautionary Principle Meets the Hill Criteria of Causation

ABSTRACT This article examines the relationship between the precautionary principle and the well-known Hill criteria of causation. Some have charged that the Hill criteria are anti-precautionary because they are strongly inclined towards false negatives in multi-causal contexts typical of environmental and public health issues. However, we argue that without guidance on how to interpret and weight the criteria, no such claims can be supported. Using a case study of tuberculosis among South African goldmine workers, we consider the implications of different weightings of the Hill criteria and how they might be appropriate depending on the stakes of error.