Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Econometric analysis of improved maize varieties and sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) in Eastern Zambia

Maize is the principle food staple in Zambia, providing both food and income for most of the rural populace. It is estimated that over 50% of the daily caloric intake is derived from maize; with an average consumption of over 85kg per year. Because of the importance of maize, a number of improved maize varieties and sustainable crop management practices have been developed to increase its productivity. Despite these improved agricultural technologies being available for some time now, few studies have analyzed the adoption impacts of these technologies on the economic well-being of smallholder farmers in Zambia. To fill this gap in the literature, this thesis assesses the adoption and impacts of improved maize varieties and sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) on the welfare of smallholder farmers in the Eastern province of Zambia. To accomplish this objective, we use a number of novel econometric approaches and a comprehensive household survey data from a sample of 810 rural households and 3788 plots. First, the findings suggest that the adoption of improved maize varieties is determined by a whole range of factors that include land cultivated, education of the household head and the total asset holdings of the household. Second, the results show that the adoption of improved maize varieties is associated with higher levels of income, food security, child nutritional status and lower levels of poverty. Third, the counterfactual analysis applied in this thesis shows that if non-adopters had adopted improved maize varieties, they would have realized higher levels of welfare than they currently have. Fourth, the results show that adoption of improved maize alone has greater impacts on maize yields, but given the high cost of inorganic fertilizer that limits the profitability of adoption of improved maize, higher household incomes are associated rather with the adoption of multiple SAPs. Key words: Food security, improved maize varieties, sustainable agricultural practices, impact assessment, Zambia
Implantation and Intermediate‐Term Follow‐up of Stents in Congenital Heart Disease

BackgroundBalloon-expandable stents (Johnson and Johnson Interventional Systems) have been in use for congenital heart disease since late 1989. They have made possible treatment in previously untreatable branch pulmonary artery stenoses and systemic venous stenosis. The purpose of this report is to detail the results and intermediate-term follow-up of stents used for treatment of congenital heart disease. Methods and ResultsEighty-five patients underwent placement of 121 stents in Houston and Boston. Fifty-eight patients had stents put in pulmonary arteries, nine had stents in conduits or outflow tracts, and 21 had stents in venous stenoses or narrowed Fontan anastomoses. (Three patients had stents in two locations.) These stent procedures resulted in gradient reduction from 55.2 ± 33.3 to 14.2+13.5 mm Hg in pulmonary arteries, from 41.4 ± 26.0 to 20.7 ± 17.0 mm Hg in conduits or outflow tracts, and from 9.8 ± 6.9 to 2.4+3.1 mm Hg in venous stenoses or Fontan anastomoses. Diameter of narrowings increased from 4.6 ± 23 to 113 ± 3.2 mm in the pulmonary artery, from 8.8+3.6 to 12.7 ± 2.6 in conduits, and from 3.8 ± 2.9 to 113+2.8 in venous stenoses. Follow-up has shown stent fracture in one patient, restenosis in one, and sudden death in one. Recatheterization has been done in 38 patients an average of 8.6 months after stent installation. Compared with immediately postimplant data, there was no significant change in luminal diameter or pressure gradient. Redilation was performed in 14 patients (17 stents) 1 week to 24 months after implantation (mean, 10.2 months), with a small but significant increase in stenosis diameter. ConclusionWe conclude that stent treatment of vascular stenoses in congenital heart disease retains efficacy at medium-term follow-up and offers a much-improved outlook for patients with these lesions.
Efficacy and Toxicity of Liposomal Daunorubicin Included in PVABEC Regimen for Aggressive NHL of the Elderly

Liposomes used for delivering antineoplastic drugs to sites of disease are able to minimize side effects and enhance therapeutic efficacy. Liposomal Daunorubicin (Daunoxome ® ; DNX) has a selective and higher accumulation in neoplastic tissues and seems to be able to escape Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR). We treated 35 elderly patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with PVBECDNX, a regimen analogue to P-VABEC in which doxorubicin is replaced with DNX at a dose of 50 mg (first 13 patients) and thereafter 50 mg/m 2. Twenty-six out of 35 patients were evaluable for response; 15 obtained a CR, 5 a PR (overall response rate of 77%). After a median follow-up of 13 months the 2-years actuarial overall survival was 75% and the failure-free survival was 71%. Two patients out of six no responders died because of progression of disease, and one died in CR because of pre-existing cardiovascular disorders. Eight patients did not tolerate DNX infusion (back pain). Non-haematological toxicity was mild. This study confirms that PVABEC-like regimens are able to induce a high overall response rate in a percentage of patients affected by aggressive lymphoma and shows that DNX is as effective as Daunorubicin in these disorders, but its acute toxicity is reduced.
Can media monitoring be a proxy for public opinion about technoscientific controversies? The case of the Italian public debate on nuclear power

Is it possible to infer information about public opinion by looking at how the media discuss controversial technoscientific public issues? We conduct content analysis on media coverage of nuclear power in Italy in the years 1992–2012 and compare it with longitudinal public opinion surveys. By treating a large amount of textual data and applying an innovative methodology based on indicators of the presence of ‘risky terms’, that is, keywords referring to the issue of risk and danger, very high correlation has been found between media discourse on risk and opposition within public opinion. The analysis is conducted testing as a preliminary step Mazur’s hypothesis on quantity of coverage and opposition towards controversial technoscience. Then, risk content measures are used in order to gain stronger correlations between media and public attitudes towards nuclear power.
Functional analysis of the hexose transporter homologue HXT5 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The HXT5 gene encodes a functional hexose transporter that has moderate affinity for glucose (Km=10 mM), moderate to low affinity for fructose (Km=40 mM) and low affinity for mannose (Km>100 mM). The sole presence of Hxt5p in an otherwise hexose transport null mutant is sufficient to sustain a flux through glycolysis from glucose to fermentative products. However, the presence of HXT5 as the sole hexose transporter gene results in extremely poor growth on glucose, which suggests the involvement of glucose repression in the transcriptional regulation of HXT5. From Northern blot analysis on the members of the HXT family and studies with HXT5 tagged with the green fluorescent protein (GFP), it is evident that HXT5 is transcribed and translated during conditions of relatively slow growth, during growth on non‐fermentable carbon sources and in particular during sporulation. In wild‐type batch cultivations on fermentable carbon sources, Hxt5p is abundant in stationary phase or after depletion of the fermentable carbon source, which seems independent of the carbon source. The deletion of HXT5 does not result in a clear phenotype. A shift of stationary phase cells to fresh glucose medium resulted in somewhat slower resumption of growth in the hxt5 deletion strain compared to the wild‐type strain. The abundance of Hxt5p during stationary phase, sporulation and low glucose conditions suggests that HXT5 is a ‘reserve’ transporter, which might be involved in the initial uptake of glucose after the appearance of glucose. Other possible functions of the protein encoded by HXT5 will be discussed in the context of the results. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does the Timing of Tracheal Intubation Based on Neuromuscular Monitoring Decrease Laryngeal Injury? A Randomized, Prospective, Controlled Trial

Vocal cord injuries (VCI) and postoperative hoarseness (PH) are common complications after general anesthesia. Poor muscle relaxation at the moment of tracheal intubation may result in VCI. There is a large interindividual variation in neuromuscular depression after administration of neuromuscular blocking drugs. Therefore, the optimal individual timing of tracheal intubation based on neuromuscular monitoring (monitoring) may decrease VCI. In this prospective trial, 60 patients were randomized into 2 groups: Monitoring group: tracheal intubation at maximum block based on monitoring after atracurium 0.5 mg/kg and 2-min group: tracheal intubation 2 min after injection of atracurium 0.5 mg/kg. Intubating conditions were evaluated with the Copenhagen score. VCI were examined by stroboscopy before and 24 and 72 h after surgery. PH was assessed at 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery by a standardized interview. Excellent intubating conditions were significantly increased in the monitoring group compared with the 2-min group: 8 versus 2 patients, respectively (P = 0.036). The incidence of PH between the study groups was comparable: 7 (monitoring) versus 8 patients (2-min) (P = 0.860). Similar findings were observed for VCI: 9 versus 5 patients; respectively (P = 0.268); type of VCI: thickening of the vocal cords: 8 (monitoring) versus 5 (2-min) patients (P = 0.423), hematomas: 2 patients in each group (not significant). The present study demonstrated that neuromuscular monitoring improved endotracheal intubating conditions. However, tracheal intubation at maximum intensity of neuromuscular block was not associated with a decrease in vocal cord injuries.
Is Your Student Fit For That College? A Study of the Factors That Contribute to Students' Academic Performance in College

IS YOUR STUDENT FIT FOR THAT COLLEGE? A STUDY OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN COLLEGE By Abdulaziz A. Alotaibi, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2016 Major Director: Richard Huff, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Chair, Master of Public Administration Program L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs The purpose of this study was to expand the extent of available literature in regard to the factors that contribute to students’ academic performance in college. It focused on a neglected segment of the student population, which is Saudi Arabian students studying in the United States. This study utilized a nonexperimental quantitative research design in order to investigate the relationship between the independent variables (the characteristics of the student, the characteristics of the program, and the academic and social integration between the student and the program) and the dependent variables (degree GPA, ability to graduate within academic program time frame, or dropout). The data were collected from Saudi Arabian students who previously enrolled in the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) and had graduated or dropped out between the period of 2005 to 2016. A Web-based electronic survey was sent and made available for Saudi students who entered KASP via any of the entry methods in the United States. There were 1,020 students who participated in the survey, and only 543 of them fully completed the survey. Only completed surveys were considered for analysis. The results showed that some students’ characteristics, some program characteristics, and some academic and social integration attributes were strongly correlated with students’ academic performance in college. This study presented empirical evidence about which factors can impact students’ performance in college. It provided some answers to why some students succeed, while others fail. It also offered insights and recommendations for higher education policymakers as well as for scholars in the field of higher education policy, especially those concerned with admission policies of academic programs.
Respiratory, Acid-Base, and Metabolic Responses of the Christmas Island Blue Crab, Cardisoma hirtipes (Dana), during Simulated Environmental Conditions

The dependency of the Christmas Island blue crab, Cardisoma hirtipes, on fresh water for respiratory gas exchange and transport was investigated in laboratory simulations. The gas exchange rates of air-breathing C. hirtipes were similar to those of other land crabs but decreased to 20% in submerged crabs. Crabs with access to air maintained arterial and pulmonary O₂ content (CO₂) and partial pressure (PO₂), while in submerged crabs the PO₂ and CO₂ rapidly decreased (by 50%). There was no anaerobiosis, but haemolymph glucose concentration and cardiac output decreased when crabs were submersed, which suggests a hypometabolic state. Submersion induced a metabolic rather than a respiratory alkalosis, and since respiratory gas exchange was low, CO₂ excretion to water was unimportant. Cardisoma hirtipes haemocyanin (Hc) has high O₂ affinity but low pH sensitivity, which facilitates O₂ uptake from hypoxic environments. The high Hc-O₂ affinity supports O₂ loading but may prevent access to a venous O₂ reserve. Calcium, magnesium, and urate, but not L-lactate, were effectors of Hc-O₂ affinity. In submerged crabs increased circulating urate maintained haemolymph O₂ content. The CO₂ capacitance and nonbicarbonate buffering of the haemolymph were relatively low. A significant Haldane effect seemed important for CO₂ excretion but would require CO₂ and O₂ exchange to occur at the same organ (gills or lungs). Submersion interferes with respiration and is not needed for haemolymph acid-base balance; thus, C. hirtipes is an air-breathing crab.
Relation of Descriptor Completeness and Distinctiveness to Localization of the Most Informative Regions in Images

Allocation of informative regions in images depends on a visual task. We propose two criteria for allocation of informative regions in images considering visual recognition of objects in images using a space-variant foveal filter. The first criterion relates to descriptor completeness. This criterion is formalized as a measure of similarity of an original image to an image reconstructed from foveal filter responses. The second criterion relates to descriptor distinctiveness. This criterion relates to the problem of retrieving discriminative and repeatable features in images of objects. It is formalized as a variation of descriptor elements of different objects within the same class. We reveal that regions of interest produced by these criteria are distributed in the areas of high variety of brightness gradients orientations.
The Application of Partial Least Square Regression to Develop a Model for Reliable Investment Valuation Estimates in South-East Nigeria

Against the increasing criticism of the reliability of the conventional investment method of property valuation practice in Nigeria, this study examine the ability of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers to estimate accurately the selling prices of residential properties in South-East Geopolitical Zone of the country with a view to formulate a model for reliable value estimates. Questionnaires were administered in a sample of randomly selected forty (40) Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the four selected towns of (Aba, Enugu, Onitsha and Owerri) in the South-East Geopolitical Zone. From the analysis of variance, the total of degree of freedom is seventeen, while the sum of square is 2682.44 and P-value in the table is 0.00, meaning that there is a statistically significant relationship between the Prices and Valuer estimates. The study further used the application of partial least square (PLS) regression model to develop model for perfect reliable price estimates. The model is thus: P=2.250.13 v1 0.23 v2 0.08 v3 0.17 v4 0.17 v5 +0.1 v6 0.03 v7 0.25 v8 +0.14 v9 0.02 v10 +0.07 v11 +0.26 v12 +0.37 v13 +0.07 v14 +0.07 v15 +0 . 09 v16 +0.1 v17 +0.06 v18 +0.08 v19 +0.2 v20 +0.2 v21 . The model developed has the highest independent (X) variance, lowest level of the predicted error and highest coefficient of determination (R-square) between the value estimates and market prices and gives optimal and reliable result.
Evaluation of acridinium-ester-labeled DNA probes for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare complex in culture

The detectability of mycobacteria in culture by the use of nonisotopic, chemiluminescent DNA probes for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the M. avium-M. intracellulare complex (MAC) was evaluated and compared with that by the use of 125I-labeled DNA probes for the same mycobacteria. In the assay, rRNA-directed DNA probes labeled with acridinium ester (AE-DNA probes) were used. Unhybridized probes were chemically degraded, and the esterified acridinium on the hybridized probes was hydrolyzed by the addition of alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution, resulting in the production of visible light which was measured with a luminometer. The detection limits of the AE-DNA probes were almost the same as those of the 125I-labeled DNA probes. A total of 107 clinical isolates of mycobacteria (47 isolates of M. tuberculosis, 36 MAC, and 24 atypical mycobacteria other than MAC) were tested. The sensitivity and specificity of the AE-DNA probes for M. tuberculosis were 100% both for the conventional method and with the 125I-labeled DNA probe. The sensitivity and specificity of the AE-DNA probes for MAC were 97.2 and 100%, respectively, for the conventional method and were both 100% with the 125I-labeled DNA probes. Because the procedure is simple, reliable, rapid (it can be completed within an hour), and safe (it does not use radioisotopes), it can easily be performed in any clinical laboratory.
The effect of equine assisted therapy in children with autism spectrum

Objective: To evaluate the effect of equine assisted therapy (EAT) in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Design: Prospective single-blinded clinical trial. Setting/location: SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center, Corinth, Texas. Methods: Sixty children ranging from 2 to 14 years of age with a diagnosis of ASD participated in this study. During 10 weeks, all patients received EAT once weekly. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was conducted preand post-treatment to establish overall change in ASD severity. The Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) was completed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment for assessing both overall change in ASD severity and the effects on specific areas of functioning (communication, sociability, sensory/cognitive awareness, and physical behavior). Results: After 10 weeks of EAT, a significant improvement in ASD severity was observed. Improvements in ASD severity were larger for patients who received more EAT lessons and for patients with milder forms of ASDs prior to therapy. Effects on the specific areas of functioning were all significant, with the largest effects on sociability and sensory/cognitive awareness. Conclusions: EAT may be an effective treatment for children with ASDs.
Short-term nitrogen dioxide exposure and geomagnetic activity interaction: contribution to emergency hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome

We investigated whether extremely geomagnetic activity may modify the association between short-term nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure and emergency hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A case-crossover study design was used to analyze ACS in 6,594 hospitalized patients at the Clinic of Kaunas, Lithuania. We evaluated the associations between NO2, geomagnetic activity and the rate of emergency admissions for ACS by logistic regression controlling for seasonal variation, weekdays and meteorological factors. Ambient NO2 pollution interquartile range increase (IQR) on the day of admission and previous day (lag 0–1) in patients below 65 years of age increase the risk of ACS equal to 24% (95% CI 0.96–1.60). Evidence of effect modification by combined NO2 and geomagnetic activity was observed in relation to ACS, adjusted OR was 1.61; 95% CI 1.03–2.53. In conclusion, these findings suggest that geomagnetic activity variations may increase the traffic-related air pollution effect on ACS, and highlight environmental factors associated with ischemic heart disease course.
Purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Inosine hydrolysis, tight binding of the hypoxanthine intermediate, and third-the-sites reactivity.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase from calf spleen is a trimer which catalyzes the hydrolysis of inosine to hypoxanthine and ribose in the absence of inorganic phosphate. The reaction occurs with a turnover number of 1.3 x 10(-4) s-1 per catalytic site. Hydrolysis of enzyme-bound inosine occurs at a rate of 2.0 x 10(-3) s-1 to form a stable enzyme-hypoxanthine complex and free ribose. The enzyme hydrolyzes guanosine; however, a tightly-bound guanine complex could not be isolated. The complex with hypoxanthine is stable to gel filtration but can be dissociated by acid, base, or mild denaturing agents. Following gel filtration, the E.hypoxanthine complex dissociates at a rate of 1.9 x 10(-6) s-1 at 4 degrees C and 1.3 x 10(-4) s-1 at 30 degrees C. The dissociation constant for the tightly-bound complex of enzyme-hypoxanthine is estimated to be 1.3 x 10(-12) M at 30 degrees C on the basis of the dissociation rate. The stoichiometry of the reaction is 1 mol of hypoxanthine bound per trimer. The reaction is reversible since the same complex can be formed from enzyme and hypoxanthine. Addition of ribose 1-phosphate to the complex results in the formation of inosine without release of hypoxanthine. Thus, the complex is catalytically competent. Inorganic phosphate or arsenate prevents formation of the tightly-bound E.hypoxanthine complex from inosine or hypoxanthine. Direct binding studies with hypoxanthine in the presence of phosphate result in 3 mol of hypoxanthine bound per trimer with a dissociation constant of 1.6 microM. In the absence of phosphate, three hypoxanthines are bound, but higher hypoxanthine concentrations cause the release of two of the hypoxanthines with an apparent inhibition constant of 130 microM. The results establish that enzymatic contacts with the nucleoside alone are sufficient to destabilize the N-glycosidic bond. In the absence of phosphate, water attacks slowly, causing net hydrolysis. The hydrolytic reaction leaves hypoxanthine stranded at the catalytic site, tightly bound to the enzyme with a conformation related to the transition state. In the phosphorolysis reaction, ribose 1-phosphate causes relaxation of this conformation and rapid release of hypoxanthine.