Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emotional Labor During Disaster Coverage: Exploring Expectations for Emotional Display

ABSTRACT Journalists are among the many professionals whose daily work involves emotional labor, or the manipulation of their emotions in front of others, in orderto do their jobs. This study explored the tenets of emotional labor in the context of natural disaster– a scenario when the emotional burden is high and the energy to cope with it is low. Qualitative analysis of 30 interviews with journalists who covered hurricane Harvey revealed journalists actively engaged in emotional labor during their coverage. Furthermore, their choices for emotional display were based on a shared understanding of professional guidelines and expectations mandating emotional distance in order to maintain objectivity. Implications for news coverage planning and journalists’ mental and emotional health are explored.
Direct conversion of methane to oxygenates catalyzed by iron(III) chloride in water at near ambient temperature

The conversion of natural gas (mainly methane) to more valuable compounds is an attractive topic in energy field. While heterogeneously catalytic conversion of methane with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been extensively studied, in‐depth study on similar homogeneous systems is lacking. In this work, FeCl3 was demonstrated as an excellent homogeneous catalyst for direct oxidation of methane in the presence of H2O2 at near ambient temperature (50°C) in water, with significant yields of methanol (1972.2 μmol/gcat) and formic acid (33 273.5 μmol/gcat) and a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 5.7 hours−1. The superiorities of both the cation (Fe3+) and the anion (Cl−) were revealed by studying the cation and anion effects in comparison with CoCl2 and NiCl2 (TOF of 0.035 and 0 hour−1, respectively) as well as Fe(NO3)3 and FeBr3 (TOF of 3.3 and 0.73 hour−1, respectively). Furthermore, it was found that the hydrated ferryl ion [(H2O)5FeIVO]2+ could be the major active species for the activation of CH4 and the formation of CH3OH, whereas the hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were responsible for the formation of HCOOH, CO and CO2. Moreover, theoretical study based on density function theory (DFT) suggested that the cation effect could be related to the Gibbs free energies for CH4 activation on their corresponding active species. Meanwhile, the anions affect the performance mainly by the structural features.
The impact of English language proficiency testing on the pronunciation performance of undergraduates in South-West, Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of English Language proficiency testing on the pronunciation performance of undergraduates in South-west. Nigeria. The study was a descriptive survey research design. The target population size was 1243 (200-level) undergraduates drawn from eight tertiary institutions. The instruments used for data collection were the English Language Proficiency Test and Pronunciation Test. The English Language proficiency test was used to measure the performance of students in English Language and was adopted from the Post-UTME past questions from Babcock University Admissions Office on Post Unified Tertiary Admissions and Matriculation Examinations screening exercise (Post-UTME) for undergraduates in English and Linguistics. The test contains 20 objective English questions with optional answers. The instruments were validated through experts’ advice as the items in the instrument are considered appropriate in terms of subject content and instructional objectives while Cronbach alpha technique was used to estimate the reliability coefficient of the English Proficiency test, a value of 0.883 was obtained. The research questions were answered with mean and standard deviation while hypothesis was tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of the study revealed that the mean value of the students’ English Proficiency and pronunciation scores were 66.36 and 74.21% respectively, which showed that the students’ English proficiency and pronunciation performance were above average and high result respectively; there was a significant positive relationship between proficiency in English Language and pronunciation performance of the students who participated in the study (r = 0.589; p < 0.05). Key words: English proficiency test, pronunciation, Language Testing, University, South-West.
Psychometric Properties of the Farsi Version of Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (F-ECBI) in Iranian Population

Objective: Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) is one of the most frequently used tools for measuring behavioral problems; however, no research has been done to evaluate its psychometric properties in Iran. Method : The present study sought for exploring the factor structure and psychometric properties of the F-ECBI in an Iranian sample. A total of 495 mothers (mean age = 33.83 years; SD = 4.78) who reported behavioral problems in their children aged 3 to 12 years (mean age = 6.36 years; SD = 2.66) were selected via convenience sampling in 2018-2019. The psychometric properties of F-ECBI, including reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) and validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and convergent validity) were assessed using SPSS version 25 and LISREL 8.80. Results: By performing EFA on the first sample part (n = 360), the examination of scree plot supported a 3-factor or 4-factor solution, and pattern matrix resulted in a 3-factor structure. The factors were called as “behavioral problems related to oppositional defiant”, “behavioral problems related to inattentive”, and “behavioral problems related to conduct”, according to their content and the research. CFA was performed on the second part of the sample (n = 135) to test the fitness of the 3-factor solution. According to CFI (0.91), NFI (0.91), NNFI (0.90), IFI (0.91), PNFI (0.77), GFI (0.75) AGFI (0.70), PGFI (0.62) and chi-square (540.31) indexes, the model had acceptable fitness. Cronbach's alpha was employed to measure the internal consistency and it revealed to be at a good to excellent level (behavioral problems related to oppositional defiant = 0.88; behavioral problems related to inattentive = 0.84; behavioral problems related to conduct = 0.74). The 3-factors subscales were associated with total difficulties, internalizing and externalizing SDQ, indicating the good convergent validity of F-ECBI. Conclusion: The F-ECBI has good psychometric properties in Iran and can be employed as a useful instrument for measuring children's behavioral problems.
How the type of sports-related endorser influences consumers' purchase intentions

PurposeAs the superiority of sports celebrities' endorsements has been questioned, the purpose of this study is to identify various types of endorsers' direct and indirect effects on consumers' purchase intentions.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data were collected from 240 useful responses to an online experiment, and research hypotheses were tested using (moderated) serial mediation analyses.FindingsThe study's findings indicate that an endorser has a positive influence on consumers' purchase intentions through their perceptions of the advertisement and the endorsed brand. A moderated serial mediation analysis finds differences in the four types of endorsers analyzed. A sports celebrity is the most effective type of endorser in increasing consumers' purchase intentions, whereas endorsements by company managers and peer consumers, while also positive, are less effective in influencing advertising outcomes. An expert's endorsement is comparable to that of a manager but not significant.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalizability of the study's findings is limited because of a restricted data sample, the use of fictitious endorsers and the limited number of product categories and brands analyzed.Originality/valueThe study systematically analyzes the behavioral influence of four types of endorsers on consumers' purchase intentions, mediated by their perceptions of the advertisements and the endorsed brand. The results of this analysis extend the current state of endorsement research, indicating that endorsements should be integrated into companies' marketing strategies and provide marketing professionals practical guidance on which type of endorser is most effective in influencing advertising outcomes.
Cortical spike multiplexing using gamma frequency latencies

One of the fundamental problems in understanding the brain, in particular the cerebral cortex, is that we only have a partial understanding of the basic communication protocols that underlie signal transmission. This makes it difficult to interpret the significance of particular phenomena such as basic firing patterns and oscillations at different frequencies. There are, of course, useful models. Motivated by single-cell recording technology, Poisson statistics of cortical action potentials have long been a basic component in models of signal representation in the cortex. However, it is increasingly difficult to integrate Poisson spiking with spike timing signals in the gamma frequency spectrum. A potential way forward is being sparked by new technologies that allow the exploration of very low-level communication strategies. Specifically, the voltage potential of a cell’s soma now can be recorded with very high fidelity in vivo, allowing correlation of its fine structure to be correlated with behaviors. To interpret this data, we have developed a unified model (gamma spike multiplexing, or GSM) wherein a cell’s somatic gamma frequencies can modulate the generation of action potentials. Such spikes can be seen as the basis for a general-purpose method of modulating fast communication in cortical networks. In particular, the model has several important advantages over traditional formalisms: 1) It allows multiple, independent processes to run in parallel, greatly increasing the processing capability of the cortex 2) Its processing speed is 102 to 103 times faster than population coding methods 3) Its processes are not bound to specific locations, but migrate across cortical cells as a function of time, facilitating the maintenance of cortical cell calibration.
Original Contribution Ascorbate enhances the toxicity of the photodynamic action of Verteporfin in HL-60 cells

As a reducing agent, ascorbate serves as an antioxidant. However, its reducing function can in some settings initiate an oxidation cascade, i.e., seem to be a “pro-oxidant. ” This dichotomy also seems to hold when ascorbate is present during photosensitization. Ascorbate can react with singlet oxygen, producing hydrogen peroxide. Thus, if ascorbate is present during photosensitization the formation of highly diffusible hydrogen peroxide could enhance the toxicity of the photodynamic action. On the other hand, ascorbate could decrease toxicity by converting highly reactive singlet oxygen to less reactive hydrogen peroxide, which can be removed via peroxide-removing systems such as glutathione and catalase. To test the influence of ascorbate on photodynamic treatment we incubated leukemia cells (HL-60 and U937) with ascorbate and a photosensitizer (Verteporfin; VP) and examined ascorbic acid monoanion uptake, levels of glutathione, changes in membrane permeability, cell growth, and toxicity. Accumulation of VP was similar in each cell line. Under our experimental conditions, HL-60 cells were found to accumulate less ascorbate and have lower levels of intracellular GSH compared to U937 cells. Without added ascorbate, HL-60 cells were more sensitive to VP and light treatment than U937 cells. When cells were exposed to VP and light, ascorbate acted as an antioxidant in U937 cells, whereas it was a pro-oxidant for HL-60 cells. One possible mechanism to explain these observations is that HL-60 cells express myeloperoxidase activity, whereas in U937 cells it is below the detection limit. Inhibition of myeloperoxidase activity with 4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide (4-ABAH) had minimal influence on the phototoxicity of VP in HL-60 cells in the absence of ascorbate. However, 4-ABAH decreased the toxicity of ascorbate on HL-60 cells during VP photosensitization, but had no affect on ascorbate toxicity in U937 cells. These data demonstrate that ascorbate increases hydrogen peroxide production by VP and light. This hydrogen peroxide activates myeloperoxidase, producing toxic oxidants. These observations suggest that in some settings, ascorbate may enhance the toxicity of photodynamic action.
Phylogenetic relationships of the Orang Asli (Proto Malay) tribe based on the HVS II gene sequences

The Proto Malays are the second largest Orang Asli tribe in Peninsular Malaysia. There are six subtribes of Proto Malays, namely the Jakun, Kanaq, Kuala/Laut, Seletar, Temuan and Semelai. Very little is known about the phylogenetic relationships among the Proto Malay subtribes. This study aims to reveal the phylogenetic relationships of the Proto Malays using HVS II D-Loop sequences. Blood samples were collected from all six subtribes. DNA was extracted and 369 bp of HVS II (D-Loop region) was amplified. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using Maximum Parsimony (MP) and the Neighbour Joining (NJ) method. The HVS II D-Loop gene sequence analysis revealed close phylogenetic relationships between all the Proto Malay subtribes as they can be assembled into a single clade. Amongst all the Proto Malay subtribes, the Kanaq shared the closest phylogenetic relationships among themselves with the lowest pairwise genetic distance of 0.0055 and they also formed a monophyletic clade in the NJ and MP tree. The NJ tree explained the phylogenetic relationships of the Proto Malay subtribes the best, as it portrayed the genetic distances of the subjects involved apart from the branching patterns. This study provides an insight into how different Proto Malay subtribes are genetically related to each other although their physical attributes may differ. It also distinguishes the uniqueness of each subtribe based on their genetics.
Nematode indicators as integrative measures of soil condition during conversion from conventional to organic rice production in Italy: a case study

Abstract The Vercelli district is one of the most technologically advanced rice cultivation areas in the world, but the sector is causing serious environmental problems. This study aimed to acquire information on the ecological impact during conversion from conventional to organic farming, using the nematode community as an indicator of soil quality. An organic farming system managed with a 5-year crop rotation, based on rice (4-years) and soybean (1-year), was compared, during the fourth and fifth year after conversion, with conventional and integrated farming systems, both based on monoculture of rice. The relationship between soil biology and the type of farming system was explored by examining the nematode community, assessing maturity, plant parasitic, basal, enrichment, structure, channel indices and diversity-weighted abundance. No significant differences in total soil organic C, total N and C/N ratio were found between the management systems. Total nematode abundance was not strongly affected by the conversion, but the response of the nematodes to change varied with the trophic groups, year by year. The conversion from conventional to organic farming represented a disturbance factor. The introduction of the soybean crop determined a marked change in nematode composition; the persistent nematode population was only 20%, while the colonizer reached 80%. The indices showed that the nematode community varied between the farming system; in both years maturity index was lower in organic than in other management systems. Higher values of pH, C/N ratio and available P favoured basal and channel indices, while total N was negatively correlated.
Isolating and characterising human developing cone photoreceptors towards a cell replacement therapy for retinal dystrophies

Inherited retinal dystrophies resulting in the death of the light sensitive photoreceptor cells are a major cause of incurable blindness. Loss of the cone photoreceptor cells, which are crucial for colour detection, daylight vision and high visual acuity, has the greatest impact on sight. Retinal differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provides a potential renewable source of cone photoreceptors for cell replacement therapy. However many critical challenges remain to be addressed, including i) assessing the similarity between the transcriptomes of bona fide human foetal and in vitro hPSC-derived cone cells and ii) developing strategies to purify cones prior to transplantation. The work in this thesis addresses these questions in relation to L/M-opsin photoreceptors, which form 90% of the total cone population in the human retina. The onset of cone photoreceptor markers in the developing human retina was characterised, before using an adeno-associated virus (AAV2/9.pR2.1:GFP) reporter to specifically label and isolate a foetal L/M-opsin cone population. Total mRNA sequencing revealed the transcriptome of this human foetal cone population for the first time and by performing differential gene expression analysis at early and late foetal timepoints, a novel cone-enriched gene signature was defined. Additionally, single cell transcriptome analysis revealed a subtle heterogeneity of these cone cells, which deviate based on maturity. Putative cell surface marker genes and cluster of differentiation (CD) marker proteins expressed by L/M-opsin cones were profiled, which led to a CD marker combination allowing for the enrichment of foetal L/M-opsin cones compared to the unsorted cell population via fluorescence activated cell sorting. Translating these tools into an hPSC-derived 3D retinal differentiation culture system revealed similarities in cone gene expression and cone cell enrichment post sorting to human foetal cone cells. Overall, these data provides vital pre-clinical steps towards generating a cone cell replacement therapy for retinal dystrophies.
Synthesis of New Heterocyclic Compounds with Biological Activity against Pathogenic Microbes in the Albaha Area

Several new heterocyclic derivatives containing fused pyrazoloxazine moieties were synthesized via cycloaddition reactions of bi-nucleophilic dentates, including hydrazine hydrate and its derivatives as well as active methylene compounds and aniline derivatives, resulting in novel five-, six- and seven-membered heterocyclic compounds. Due to increased microbial resistance to currently available drugs accentuate a real problem, so novel antimicrobial drugs are needed. Pyrazoles are good candidate as antimicrobial agents, where they have low-molecular-weight compounds, nonvolatile and chemically stable. The novel synthesized five-, six- and seven-membered heterocyclic compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity against different pathogenic microorganisms inside Albaha area. Bacterial species included Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella enteritidis, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii , and Enterobacter aerogenes . However, the following fungi were tested: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigates, Penicillium chrysogenium, Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans 157 and Candida albicans causes candidiasis. Staphylococcus aureus 119 was largely inhibited were observed after contact with synthesized pyrazoloxazine derivatives 1, 5, 8, 10, 13 and 24. Of the susceptible bacteria, Klebsiella pneumonia and Enterobacter aerogens 157 were the least affected, with inhibition zones between 10 and 12 mm. The pyrazoloxazine derivatives 3, 4, 25, 2Y, Ox1 and Ox2 inhibited all the fungi tested, including Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium chrysogenium and Trichophyton rubrum . The zones of inhibition ranged from 40 to 14 mm/disc for these organisms. The current study demonstrates that the newly synthesized pyrazoloxazine derivatives have a good inhibition capacity against most tested pathogenic bacterial and fungal species.
Transcript Diversity in the Protozoan Parasite Toxoplasma gondii

Technological advances have made possible to sequence RNA transcripts at unprecedented depth, enabling deep profiling of abundance and diversity under a variety of conditions. Such information permits refinement of draft genome annotation originally generated in the absence of transcript coverage data, and provides new insights into organismal biology and regulatory mechanisms. This dissertation provides an extensive analysis of mRNA-seq data from the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a ubiquitous pathogen of humans and other vertebrates. We produced and sequenced 24 strand-specific RNA libraries from several parasite strains and developmental stages, and examined these in con�junction with 45 additional mRNA-seq libraries produced by other groups. The current reference genome annotation for T. gondii, generated using de novo methods informed by cDNA sequencing prior to mRNA-seq, identifies ~8300 protein-coding genes, fragmented by ~40K introns. Untranslated regions are incompletely defined, few alternatively-spliced transcripts are described, and noncoding transcripts remain largely unexplored. mRNA-seq datasets presented in this dissertation define a total of 2.7M introns, most observed at vanishingly low abundance. Using current annotation to define parameters minimizing false discovery yields ~60K likely splice junctions. Comparing the frequency of intron-spanning reads to the abundance of transcripts to which introns belong provides a reliable metric for estimating intron excision, readily distinguishing introns that are (i) universally used, (ii) alternatively-spliced, or (iii) likely insignificant. Genome-wide analysis suggests ~3000 annotated introns that should be deleted from the reference genome, ~1400 to be added as alternative isoforms, ~3100 as additions to existing annotation (often within UTRs) and ~3400 associated with novel transcripts. Transcriptomic expression is consis�tent with biological and phenotypic variation across the complex parasite life cycle, including undescribed differences in gene expression during intracellular tachyzoite replication. Strong circumstantial evidence also suggests that lncRNAs may play an important role in regulating stage-specific expression during sexual differentia�tion and sporogony. These results provide the basis for revising the reference T. gondii genome annotation available at ToxoDB.org and GenBank. Strategies developed in this dissertation also provide the basis for defining annotation criteria for other species, including related parasites responsible for malaria and conceivably other eukaryotes as well. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Biology First Advisor David S. Roos This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/2256 Second Advisor Scott Poethig