Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Getting strategic about strategic planning research

ABSTRACT This introduction to the special issue on strategic planning has four main parts. First comes a discussion of what makes public-sector strategic planning strategic. This discussion is meant to reduce confusion about what strategic planning is and is not. Next, we introduce in detail the five articles in the special issue and note their unique contributions to strategic planning research. Third, we provide a broad assessment of the current state of strategic planning research organized in terms of prominent themes in the literature and our assessment of how the articles address voids related to the themes. The themes are: how should strategic planning be conceptualized and defined? How should it be studied? How does strategic planning work, or not? What are the outcomes of strategic planning? What contributes to strategic planning success? Finally, we offer conclusions and an agenda for future research.
Transcriptional co‐activation at the ansB promoters: involvement of the activating regions of CRP and FNR when bound in tandem

Previous work with semi‐synthetic promoters containing a single CRP binding site centred at 41.5 bp from the transcription start site has demonstrated enhanced transcription (synergism) when a second binding site, for CRP or FNR, is placed upstream at around −91 bp. The ansB promoter in Escherichia coli is co‐activated in a co‐dependent manner by one dimer each of CRP and FNR protein whose binding sites are at around −91 and −41 bp, respectively, from the transcription start site. Similarly, the homologous ansB promoter in Salmonella is co‐activated by two dimers of CRP which function synergistically. The binding sites at the E. coli promoter have been changed by mutation to provide a number of active promoter derivatives carrying other combinations of FNR and CRP binding sites. The co‐dependent versus synergistic interaction of these activators and their requirement for known activating regions have been examined. The results demonstrate that FNR can co‐activate when located upstream at around −91 bp in combination with either FNR or CRP downstream. When FNR occupies the downstream site the promoter is co‐dependent on an upstream activator, but not when CRP occupies this site. Activating region 1 in CRP (defined by substitutions at residue H159) and its putative equivalent in FNR (defined by substitutions at S73) are mainly required in the upstream activator; the putative equivalent in FNR of activating region 3 of CRP (defined by substitutions at G85 and K52, respectively) is mainly required in the dimer which binds downstream. Activating region 1 of FNR is required only in the downstream subunit of the upstream activator in a promoter which is co‐dependent on two FNR dimers. These data suggest that both bound upstream and downstream activators interact with RNA polymerase to promote transcription, and that co‐dependence is determined by the nature of the activator plus the promoter context.
An Event-based Fast Movement Detection Algorithm for a Positioning Robot Using POWERLINK Communication

This work develops a tracking system based on an event-based camera. A bioinspired filtering algorithm to reduce noise and transmitted data while keeping the main features at the scene is implemented in FPGA which also serves as a network node. POWERLINK IEEE 61158 industrial network is used to communicate the FPGA with a controller connected to a self-developed two axis servo-controlled robot. The FPGA includes the network protocol to integrate the event-based camera as any other existing network node. The inverse kinematics for the robot is included in the controller. In addition, another network node is used to control pneumatic valves blowing the ball at different speed and trajectories. To complete the system and provide a comparison, a traditional frame-based camera is also connected to the controller. The imaging data for the tracking system are obtained either from the event-based or frame-based camera. Results show that the robot can accurately follow the ball using fast image recognition, with the intrinsic advantages of the event-based system (size, price, power). This works shows how the development of new equipment and algorithms can be efficiently integrated in an industrial system, merging commercial industrial equipment with the new devices so that new technologies can rapidly enter into the industrial field.
On Time Series Modeling of Nigeria’S External Reserves

This paper proposes three short-term forecasting models for the adjusted external reserves using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA), seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with an exogenous input (SARIMA-X) and an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) processes. The performances of the proposed models are compared with the existing model obtained using an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) process using the pseudo-out-of-sample forecasting procedure over July 2013 to May 2014. The results show that SARIMA model outperformed the other models in three to six months forecast horizon, whereas ARDL model performs better in one to two months forecast horizon. Therefore, in forecasting external reserves in longer horizon, the paper concludes that seasonality should be accounted for by using the SARIMA model.
Purification of a 64 kDa antigen from Trypanosoma evansi that exhibits cross-reactivity with Trypanosoma vivax

Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma vivax are the most extensively distributed trypanosomes responsible for diseases in livestock. Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assays revealed a high immunological cross-reaction between these two parasites. An antigen with an apparent molecular mass of 64 kDa (p64), which exhibited cross-reactivity with T. vivax, was purified to homogeneity from a Venezuelan isolate of T. evansi. This antigen is glycosylated, contains a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor and appeared to be localized through the cell except in the nucleus, indicating that it could primarily be confined to the parasite surface. These results, together with its relative abundance and apparent molecular weight, suggest that p64 probably corresponds to the soluble form of a variable surface glycoprotein from T. evansi. Anti-p64 polyclonal antibodies, raised on mice, recognized a 53 kDa polypeptide band from a Venezuelan isolate of T. vivax on Western blots. Additionally, sera obtained from naturally infected animals also recognized p64, suggesting its potential use as a diagnostic reagent. Mild acid treatment only slightly decreased the immunorecognition of p64, suggesting its potential use as a diagnostic reagent. Mild acid treatment only slightly decreased the immunorecognition of p64, demonstrating that another relevant cross-reacting epitope, different than the inositol-1,2-cyclic phosphate of the cross-reacting determinant, must exist in p64. To date, p64 represents the first antigen isolated and partially characterized from T. evansi.
Characterization of a bovine cDNA encoding citrate synthase, and presence of citrate synthase mRNA during bovine pre‐attachment development

Citrate synthase is a key regulatory metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, the synthesis of citrate from acetyl coenzyme A and oxaloacetate. Aerobic metabolism via the TCA cycle is high in bovine embryos at the 4‐cell stage then decreases until the compact morula stage before increasing at the expanded blastocyst stage. This study characterizes the presence of citrate synthase mRNA in bovine pre‐attachment embryos to determine if a variation in mRNA transcript expression patterns is associated with previous reports of the patterns of TCA cycle activity. The reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method was used to detect citrate synthase mRNA from the 1‐cell to blastocyst stage of bovine embryo development, and in embryos cultured under either an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air or 5% CO2/5% O2/90%N2. The nucleotide sequence encoding citrate synthase was determined from bovine heart cDNA by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. This 1455‐bp nucleotide fragment contained an open reading frame that encoded a deduced protein of 466 amino acids. The bovine nucleotide sequence was 92.1% and 93.8% identical to the human and porcine coding sequence, respectively. The amino acid sequence predicted from the bovine sequence is 95.1% identical to the human sequence and 96.3% identical to the porcine sequence. The porcine sequence contains a stop codon that results in a peptide truncated by 2 amino acids. The detection of citrate synthase transcripts from the 1‐cell to blastocyst stage demonstrates that the decrease in TCA cycle activity observed following the 4‐cell stage is not associated with an absence of citrate synthase mRNA. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55:14–19, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Discrete-time modelling, stability analysis, and active stabilization of dc distribution systems with constant power loads

This paper presents the stability analysis of a dc distribution system supplying multi-converter loads. The load converters are tightly controlled, behaving as constant power load with low damped LC input filters. The dynamic behavior of the system in high frequency range is often not studied with the classical tools based on average linearization. Whereas, small LC filters with high cutoff frequency are common in transportation systems. Therefore, in this paper, the stability analysis of the system is established based on a discrete-time model of pulse width modulated converters considering the switching effect and intrinsic nonlinearities of the system. The impacts of the filter parameters and interactions among the loads are investigated with the discrete-time method. Moreover, an active stabilizer is included in the system model in order to extend the stability domain. Experimental results, conducted on a dc distribution system, are given in order to validate the analytical stability analysis and stabilizer.
Diagnosing visceral leishmaniasis with the recombinant K39 strip test: experience from the Sudan

We compared a strip test employing recombinant K39 (rK39) antigen and protein A/colloidal gold as read‐out agents with the rK39 ELISA for IgM and IgG antibodies and the direct agglutination test (DAT) using 55 sera from patients with parasitologically confirmed visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The rK39 strip test was positive in 37/55 (67%), the DAT in 50/55 (91%) at ≥ 1 : 1600 cut‐off value and in 47/55 (85%) at ≥ 1 : 6400 cut‐off value. The rK39‐ELISA gave positive IgG results for all sera; those who had a positive strip test had significantly higher IgG levels than those with a negative strip test (31.1 (SD=3.6) and 17.7 U/ml (SD=9.8), respectively, P < 0.0001). A total of 31/55 (56%) sera showed a positive IgM result; of these 27 (49%) had a positive strip test. We tested 115 apparently cured VL patients with the strip test during follow‐up; 68 were also tested with DAT. In the strip test, 25–43% of patients had a positive result at time points 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment; for DAT (cut‐off ≥ 1 : 1600) these results were 67–83%. In neither test did a significant decrease in positivity rates occur over time (P=0.37 for the strip test, P=0.17 for the DAT). No correlation (P=0.33) was found between a positive strip test and a positive DAT result (cut‐off ≥ 1 : 1600), indicating that the strip test and DAT are complementary rather than interchangeable. Of 61 endemic controls two (3%) had a positive strip test result; both had a positive leishmanin skin test. The rK39 strip test has the ideal format for use in the field, but its sensitivity is limited; like DAT, but to a lesser extent, it remains positive after treatment.
Zimbabwe’s Trade Performance Under Alternative Trade Policy Regimes

This study examines Zimbabwe’s export and import performance under alternative trade policy regimes, from 1976 to 2014. Taking into account export and import volumes, gross domestic product (GDP), price of exports and imports, foreign income, real effective exchange rate and policy changes, log-linear errorcorrection models were adopted to estimate export supply and import demand elasticities. The study concludes that the relationship of exports and imports to GDP is significantly positive, while foreign income has no significant effect. A devaluation is estimated to have a significantly negative effect on imports in the short-term. Though highly inelastic, the effect of prices of imports on import demand is estimated to be significantly negative in the short- and long-term, and that of exports on export supply is positively significant in the short-term. The adoption of outward-oriented strategies was estimated to result in a 13.86 per cent increase in exports in the long-term, and a 32.3 per cent increase in imports in the short-term between 1990 and 1995 alone, and an additional 33.62 per cent between 1996 and 2000. The analysis also reveals that adopting a multi-foreign currency regime will only significantly influence export supply in the long-term.
Analysis of the genetic variability in the species of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto complex

Random amplified polymorphic DNA–polymerase chain reaction (RAPD–PCR) analysis was applied to differentiate the sibling species Saccharomyces bayanus, S. cerevisiae, S. paradoxus and S. pastorianus, which constitute the most common strains of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto complex. Six decamer primers of arbitrary sequences were used to amplify the DNA of 58 strains. Species‐specific (diagnostic) bands were obtained for each species. Two phylogenetic trees constructed by the neighbour‐joining and maximum parsimony methods clearly showed that the delimitation of these related yeast species is possible by using RAPD analysis. Four groups of strains, corresponding to the species S. bayanus, S. cerevisiae, S. paradoxus and S. pastorianus, were obtained. Within the S. bayanus taxon, two groups of strains were observed. One includes the former type strain of S. uvarum, CECT1969T, and closely related wine strains (S. bayanus var. uvarum), whilst the other contains S. bayanus type strain CECT1941T and strains CECT1991 and 10513 (S. bayanus var. bayanus). The heterogeneous S. paradoxus group was divided into three lineages, corresponding to different geographic origin, American, Japanese and European populations. In addition, due to the multilocus nature of the RAPD–PCR marker, this method is both useful and appropriate for the identification of the hybrid origin of S. pastorianus. The hybrid nature was deduced from the analysis of the fraction of bands shared by each hybrid strain and the parental species. Among the 58 strains analysed, six S. pastorianus strains were hybrids, although the fraction of genome coming from each parent varied depending on the strain. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Optimal Temporal Window for CT of the Liver Using a Time—Density Analysis: Implications for Helical (Spiral) CT

Objective Scanning protocols for conventional CT of the liver have been proposed. Current availability of helical CT with a four- to sixfold decrease in scan time requires significant adjustments in these protocols. The present study assesses the implications of time—density curves on the performance of helical liver CT. Materials and Methods Twenty patients without liver lesions were studied for time—density analysis of the aorta, inferior vena cava (IVC), portal vein, and liver. Scans were performed at the level of the portal vein at baseline and every 15 s for 3 min following uniphasic administration of 150 ml (300 mg I/ml) nonionic contrast agent. Regions of interest were used to measure three areas in each anatomic structure over time. Median and mean peak enhancement times were calculated for all 20 patients. Cubic spline interpretation was employed to determine the point of equilibrium. Results Results demonstrated the following average maximum enhancement values and times for peak enhancement: aorta: 227 HU (75 s); liver: 123 HU (105 s); portal vein: 187 HU (90 s); IVC: 142 HU (90 s). Hepatic enhancement achieved 67 HU over baseline. Peak portal enhancement occurred 15 s prior to liver enhancement (p = 0.001). Aortic and hepatic curves became parallel (onset of equilibrium) at a median time of 120 s. Conclusion Helical scanning requires a longer delay (70–80 s) than used for conventional CT. Upon application of these principles, scan initiation occurs higher on the liver enhancement curve, improving liver enhancement without impinging on equilibrium.
HERO: Heterogeneous Embedded Research Platform for Exploring RISC-V Manycore Accelerators on FPGA

Heterogeneous embedded systems on chip (HESoCs) co-integrate a standard host processor with programmable manycore accelerators (PMCAs) to combine general-purpose computing with domain-specific, efficient processing capabilities. While leading companies successfully advance their HESoC products, research lags behind due to the challenges of building a prototyping platform that unites an industry-standard host processor with an open research PMCA architecture. In this work we introduce HERO, an FPGA-based research platform that combines a PMCA composed of clusters of RISC-V cores, implemented as soft cores on an FPGA fabric, with a hard ARM Cortex-A multicore host processor. The PMCA architecture mapped on the FPGA is silicon-proven, scalable, configurable, and fully modifiable. HERO includes a complete software stack that consists of a heterogeneous cross-compilation toolchain with support for OpenMP accelerator programming, a Linux driver, and runtime libraries for both host and PMCA. HERO is designed to facilitate rapid exploration on all software and hardware layers: run-time behavior can be accurately analyzed by tracing events, and modifications can be validated through fully automated hard ware and software builds and executed tests. We demonstrate the usefulness of HERO by means of case studies from our research.
Low power injection locked oscillators for MICS standard

This paper presents two low power injection locked oscillators (ILOs): direct ILO and tail ILO, implemented in a standard 0.13-µm CMOS process. Both ILOs are based on current-reuse differential LC voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with different injection locations: direct injection for direct ILO and current source injection for tail ILO. The current-reuse topology enables lower power dissipation of both ILOs. It is about 1.2mW (without output buffers) under supply voltage of 1.2-V. When the injected input signal power is 0dBm, direct ILO and tail ILO feature a wide locking range of 320MHz and 220MHz, respectively. The locking range covers the Medical Implantable Communications Service (MICS) band (402MHz–405MHz). Each of the proposed ILOs can be used as the driver stage of power amplifier in transmitter systems conforming to the MICS standard.
An Abscisic Acid-AtNAP Transcription Factor-SAG113 Protein Phosphatase 2C Regulatory Chain for Controlling Dehydration in Senescing Arabidopsis Leaves1[C][W][OA]

AtNAP is a NAC family transcription factor gene that plays a key role in leaf senescence but its underlying mechanisms are not known. SENESCENCE-ASSOCIATED GENE113 (SAG113), a gene encoding a Golgi-localized protein phosphatase 2C family protein phosphatase, mediates abscisic acid (ABA)-regulated stomatal movement and water loss specifically during leaf senescence. Here we report that SAG113 is a direct target gene of the AtNAP transcription factor. We found that both AtNAP and SAG113 were induced by leaf senescence and ABA. When AtNAP was chemically induced, SAG113 was also induced whereas when AtNAP was knocked out, the ABA- and senescence-induced expression of SAG113 was reduced. These data suggest that the expression of SAG113 is predominantly dependent on AtNAP. Functionally, overexpression of SAG113 restored the markedly delayed leaf senescence phenotype in atnap knockouts to wild type. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) one-hybrid experiments and electrophoresis mobility shift assays showed that AtNAP could physically bind to the SAG113 promoter in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that AtNAP binds to a 9-bp core sequence of the SAG113 promoter, 5′CACGTAAGT3′. These results indicate that there is a unique regulatory chain, ABA-AtNAP-SAG113 protein phosphastase 2C, which controls stomatal movement and water loss during leaf senescence.
Modulation of brain metabolism by very low concentrations of the commonly used drug delivery vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has long been used in studies as a vehicle to enhance the solubility and transport of ligands in biological systems. The effects of this drug on the outcomes of such studies are still unclear, with concentrations of DMSO reported as “safe” varying considerably. In the present work, we investigated the effects of very low concentrations of DMSO on the brain metabolism of [3‐13C]pyruvate and D‐[1‐13C]glucose using 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy and a guinea pig cortical brain slice model. Our results show that DMSO is accumulated by brain slices. DMSO at all concentrations [0.000025%–0.25% (v/v)] increased the metabolic rate when [3‐13C]pyruvate was used as a substrate and also in the presence of D‐[1‐13C]glucose (0.00025%–0.1% DMSO). These results are consistent with DMSO stimulating respiration, which it may do through altering the kinetics of ATP‐requiring reactions. Our results also emphasize that there is no practical concentration of DMSO that can be used in metabolic experiments without effect. Therefore, care should be taken when evaluating the actions of drugs administered in combination with DMSO. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Metal oxide nanowires as building blocks for light detectors, gas sensors and biosensors

Metal oxide nanowires are promising structures for the development of novel electronic and optoelectronic devices. In this work, we describe the synthesis of ZnO and CuO nanowires by vapor phase transport and Cu oxidation, respectively. After removal from the substrate, the nanowires are deposited on pairs of conductive electrodes previously evaporated on SiO2/Si substrates by dielectrophoresis. Al-doped ZnO (AZO) electrodes present good stability during the process and enable the fabrication of ultraviolet photoconductors and sensors along with ZnO nanowires. On the other hand, the deposition of CuO on AZO electrodes yields rectifying behavior related to the p-type conduction in CuO and the formation a diode-to-diode structure with the n-type electrodes. In contrast to ZnO photoconductors, these structures present optical response under illumination with visible and near-infrared light and short turn-on and recovery times.