Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study on Professors’ Perception With Respect to Higher Education Institutions’ Socially Responsible Initiatives

The organization’s socially responsible actions integration and stakeholders’ demands is an increasingly encouraged practice by the market (Calabrese, Costa e Rosati, 2016). This article looks at the perception that the professor holds on the Higher Education Institution’s (HEI) socially responsible initiatives. Thus, a descriptive quantitative approach with non-probabilistic sample, accessibility and convenience was developed. The literature outlined the corporate social responsibility’s (CSR) main concepts, theories applications and stakeholders. Empirical research collected data from the HEI’s professors, through closed questionnaires. Descriptive analysis and multivariate statistics (cluster and factorial analysis) provided empirical evidence to the research. Results show the high concordance of professors in relation to the analysis categories: Economic, Legal, Ethical and Philanthropic, all of which are considered in this study, according to Carroll (2011). The sharpest legal dimension is given to the professors’ perception. Philanthropic responsibility showed the lowest agreement, coming out to the Carroll (2011) studies, which have supported this work.
Development and Characterization of a ssDNA-based Aptamer that Selectively Targets Epithelial Carcinoma Cells

Epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a biomarker highly expressed on the surface of epithelial carcinoma cells. Consequently, it has been widely used for detection of carcinoma tumors and isolation of individual circulating cancer cells and EpCAM-targeting therapeutics are undergoing pre-clinical and clinical testing against several types of carcinomas. Aptamers are a new class of small oligonucleotide ligands that bind to their targets with high affinity and specificity, and are thus termed “chemical antibodies. ” In comparison to protein antibodies, aptamers are smaller in size, which improves their tissue penetration potential, and elicit few to no immunogenic responses. Furthermore, our previous studies revealed that ssDNA, compared to RNA aptamers are significantly more stable in human serum and thus, are suitable for in vivo use. In this study, by using a hybrid cell-biomarker selection approach, we developed ssDNA-based aptamers specific for EpCAM. We identified a dominant aptamer sequence (58.7% of >0.5 million sequence reads) that contained both loop and stem structures, and specifically targeted EpCAM-expressing carcinoma cells with high binding affinity (Kd=12 nM). Validation studies indicated that the newly synthesized aptamer targeted a variety of cultured carcinoma cells, including pancreatic, breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancer cells, but did not react with cultured EpCAM-negative leukemia and lymphoma cells. In addition, the aptamer recognized EpCAM-expressing, patient-derived primary normal and carcinoma cells. Finally, the aptamer selectively targeted carcinoma cells in complex cell mixtures, and showed no reactivity to mononucleated or red blood cells, demonstrating its suitability for therapeutic in vivo use.
The Value of Urban Ponds for Odonata and Plant Biodiversity

III RÉSUMÉ . V ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . VII LIST OF TABLES . XI CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 BIODIVERSITY . 2 1.2 THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY . 2 1.3 NATURAL SPACES IN CITIES . 3 1.4 CONSTRUCTED POND SYSTEMS IN CITIES . 4 1.5 ODONATA AS BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS . 6 1.6 ODONATA LIFECYCLE REQUIREMENTS . 7 1.7 THESIS OBJECTIVES. 10 1.8 THESIS ORGANIZATION . 10 CHAPTER 2: STORMWATER PONDS AS HABITAT FOR ODONATA IN URBAN AREAS: THE IMPORTANCE OF OBLIGATE WETLAND PLANT SPECIES . 17 2.1 ABSTRACT. 18 2.2 INTRODUCTION . 19 2.3 METHODS . 21 2.3.1 Study sites . 21 2.3.2 Odonata sampling and metrics of community structure . 22 2.3.3 Plant sampling, metrics of community structure and conservation value . 23 2.3.4 Statistical analyses. 25 2.4 RESULTS . 28 2.4.1 Stormwater pond versus natural pond biodiversity . 28 2.4.2 Plant-Odonata associations . 30 2.5 DISCUSSION. 33 2.5.1 Abundance and diversity in stormwater ponds versus natural ponds . 33 2.5.2 Plant-Odonata relationships . 35 2.5.3 Stormwater ponds as “attractive” habitats . 37 2.5. 4 Value of stormwater ponds for urban biodiversity . 37 CHAPTER 3: WATER QUALITY EFFECTS ON DRAGONFLY AND DAMSELFLY NYMPH COMMUNITIES: A COMPARISON OF URBAN AND NATURAL PONDS . 46 3.1 ABSTRACT. 47 3.2 INTRODUCTION . 48 3.3 METHODS . 51 3.3.1 Study sites . 51 3.3.2 Odonata nymph sampling . 52 3.3.3 Water quality . 53 3.3.4 Temporal variation . 54 ix 3.3.5 Water Quality Index . 55 3.3.6 Statistical analyses. 56 3.4 RESULTS . 60 3.4.1 Odonata nymphs in stormwater ponds versus natural ponds . 60 3.4.2 Water quality in stormwater ponds versus natural ponds . 61 3.4.3 Temporal variation in Odonata communities and water quality in stormwater ponds 63 3.4.4 Effects of water quality on Odonata nymph communities . 64 3.4.5 The CCME Water Quality Index (WQI). 66 3.5 DISCUSSION. 67 3.5.1 Water quality in stormwater ponds . 67 3.5.2 The effect of water quality on Odonata nymphs . 70 3.6 CONCLUSIONS . 73 CHAPTER 4: ODONATA REPRODUCTION AND EMERGENCE: A COMPARISON OF URBAN STORMWATER AND NATURAL PONDS . 84 4.1 ABSTRACT. 85 4.2 INTRODUCTION . 86 4.3 METHODS . 88 4.3.1 Study sites . 88 4.3.2 Pond water quality . 89 4.3.3 Odonata sampling . 89 4.3.3.1 Adults . 89 4.3.3.2 Exuviae . 90 4.3.3.2.1 Artificial emergence screen method . 91 4.3.3.2.2 Quadrat method . 91 4.3.4 Data Analyses . 92 4.4 RESULTS . 93 4.4.1 Pond characteristics . 93 4.4.2 Comparison of exuviae sampling methods . 94 4.4.3 Odonata at stormwater ponds . 95 4.5 DISCUSSION. 97 4.5.1 Sampling considerations . 97 4.5.2 Odonata life stages at stormwater ponds . 98 4.5.3 Stormwater ponds are not necessarily ecological traps . 99 4.6 CONCLUSIONS . 101 CHAPTER 5: PLANTS, WATER AND LANDSCAPE AS POTENTIAL DRIVERS OF ODONATA ASSEMBLAGES IN URBAN STORMWATER PONDS. 112 5.1 ABSTRACT. 113 5.2 INTRODUCTION . 114 5.3 MATERIALS AND METHODS . 117 5.3.1 Site selection . 117 5.3.2 Odonata sampling . 117 5.3.2.1 Adult sampling. 117 5.3.2.2 Nymph sampling . 118 5.3.3 Environmental variables . 118 5.3.3.1 Plant communities .
Potential Sources of Resistance to Cucurbit Powdery Mildew in U.S. Plant Introductions of Bottle Gourd

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) can cause severe damage to cucurbit crops grown in open fields and greenhouses. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the United States in grafting watermelon plants onto various cucurbit rootstocks. Bottle gourd plants (Lagenaria siceraria) are being used throughout the world as rootstocks for grafting watermelon. Although gourd plants are beneficial, they may still be susceptible hosts to various soilborne and foliar diseases. Bottle gourd plant introductions (PI) resistant to diseases and pests can be a valuable source of germplasm in rootstock breeding programs. We evaluated 234 U.S. Pis of L. siceraria for tolerance to powdery mildew in two greenhouse tests. Young seedlings were inoculated by dusting powdery mildew spores of melon race 1 on the cotyledons. Plants were rated 2 weeks after inoculation using a 1 to 9 scale of increasing disease severity. Although none of the L. siceraria Pis were immune to powdery mildew, several Pis had significantly lower levels of powdery mildew severity compared with susceptible watermelon cultivar Mickey Lee. The experiment was repeated with 26 select Pis on whole seedlings and cotyledon disks. Significant variability in the level of resistance to powdery mildew on plants within PI was observed. Moderate resistance in several Pis to powdery mildew was confirmed. PI 271353 had consistently lower ratings in the various tests and can be considered the most resistant to P. xanthii race 1 among the L. siceraria accessions evaluated in this study. A few other Pis with moderate resistance to powdery mildew included PI 271357, PI 381840, and PI 273663. These results suggest that novel sources of resistance could be developed by careful selection and screening of several of the Pis with moderate resistance described in our study.
University of Dundee 3 D deformation field in growing plant roots reveals both mechanical and biological responses to axial mechanical forces

Strong regions and physical barriers in soils may slow root elongation, leading to reduced water and nutrient uptake and decreased yield. In this study, the biomechanical responses of roots to axial mechanical forces were assessed by combining 3D live imaging, kinematics and a novel mechanical sensor. This system quantified Young’s elastic modulus of intact poplar roots (32 MPa), a rapid <0.2 mN touch-elongation sensitivity, and the critical elongation force applied by growing roots that resulted in bending. Kinematic analysis revealed a multiphase bio-mechanical response of elongation rate and curvature in 3D. Measured critical elongation force was accurately predicted from an Euler buckling model, indicating that no biologically mediated accommodation to mechanical forces influenced bending during this short period of time. Force applied by growing roots increased more than 15-fold when buckling was prevented by lateral bracing of the root. The junction between the growing and the mature zones was identified as a zone of mechanical weakness that seemed critical to the bending process. This work identified key limiting factors for root growth and buckling under mechanical constraints. The findings are relevant to crop and soil sciences, and advance our understanding of root growth in heterogeneous structured soils.
The Performance of Marketplace Lenders: Evidence from Lending Club Payment Data

Direct financing of consumer credit by individual investors or non-bank institutions through an implementation of marketplace lending is a relatively new phenomenon in financial markets. The emergence of online platforms has made this type of financial intermediation widely available. This paper analyzes the performance of marketplace lending using proprietary cash flow data for each individual loan from the largest platform, Lending Club. While individual loan characteristics would be important for amateur investors holding a few loans, sophisticated lenders, including institutional investors, usually form broad portfolios to benefit from diversification. We find high risk-adjusted performance of approximately 40 basis points per month for these basic loan portfolios. This abnormal performance indicates that Lending Club, and similar marketplace lenders, are likely to attract capital to finance a growing share of the consumer credit market. In the absence of a competitive response from traditional credit providers, these loans lower costs to the ultimate borrowers and increase returns for the ultimate lenders.
Spatial Activity and Labour Market Patterns

The spatial activity patterns of firms in a multi-regional system are closely connected with the structure and evolution of regional labour markets. Based on an extensive data set (cross-section) on commuting flows in Germany, this paper aims to identify the relationship between entrepreneurial activity and spatial labour markets, by employing in particular the concept of entrepreneurial city. A network connectivity model is adopted to assess connectivity patterns, using the power-law and exponential law as a statistical test framework, in order to detect the presence of economic activity hubs that may resemble the concept of entrepreneurial cities. Various results are presented and interpreted in the final part of the paper.
A Novel Improved Data Envelopment Analysis Model Based on SBM and FDH Models

During the past decade, applying nonparametric operation research problems such as Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) has received significant consideration among researchers. In this paper, a new DEA-based SBM-FDH model is introduced. Finally, productivity evaluation for banking systems in Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) based on the proposed model has been compared with Slack Based Measurement (SBM) and Free Disposal Hull (FDH). The obtained results confirm the high performance of the proposed model in comparison to the other models used in this paper.
The Implication of e-WoM Communication on Customer Preference and Purchase Decision of Electronic Gadgets

This study aims to analyze the implications of e-WoM components (intra-personal ties, homophile, credibility) on consumer purchasing decisions both directly and through mediating consumer preferences. Previous experience of consumer purchases conveyed by word of mouth can be a preference for other consumers in buying products or services. The development of digital communication makes electronic Word of Mouth (e-WoM) play an important role in influencing consumer preferences, especially for those who have to make purchasing decisions for products with many features such as gadgets. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed around Jakarta using simple random sampling and obtained 102 complete responses from respondents. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistical methods, correlational and multiple regression with the help of SPSS software. The results showed that the gadget purchase decision was partially influenced by consumer purchasing preferences and credibility sources, but this purchase preference was not as dominant as the credibility source. Gadgets are designed unusual and have many advanced technological features compared to conventional products, therefore the results of this study may not be valid for products outside of the gadget. Further research is needed whether e-WoM has the same influence on consumer purchasing decisions of conventional products.
Exemplifying the CEFR: criterial features of written learner English from the English Profile Programme

English Profile (EP) is a collaborative programme of interdisciplinary research, whose goal is to provide a set of Reference Level Descriptions (RLDs) for English for all six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This chapter summarises work and outcomes to date from one of the EP research strands which focuses on corpus linguistics, second language acquisition, psycholinguistics and computational linguistics. The findings discussed are based on the Cambridge Learner Corpus, a database of over 39 million words of written English produced by English learners from around the world, taking Cambridge ESOL examinations. The chapter illustrates how hypotheses formulated from models of second language acquisition (SLA) and psycholin-guistics, and a corpus-informed approach are used to investigate second language learner data in order to develop the RLDs for English. By adopting such an approach, English Profile aims to produce an exemplification of the CEFR informed by SLA theory and at the same time, shed light to questions and issues raised by SLA and psycholinguistic theory based on empirical (learner) data. A main focus within EP is the identification of ‘criterial features’, i.e. features from all aspects of language which can distinguish CEFR levels from one another and thus serve as a basis for the estimation of a learner’s proficiency level.
The Instability Criterion for Bicrystal at Nanoscale

Atomistic simulations are performed to predict the plastic yield using the instability criterion under thermal effect. The results show the instability criterion is applicable at low temperature (0~100 K) and invalid at a higher temperature (>200 K) due to the influence of thermal vibration. The tensile stress, minimum eigenvalue of matrix A, and atom configurations are compared to investigate the instability criterion in bicrytals. The instability criterion can successfully capture the plastic deformation initiation for bicrystal at 0 K.
Spectral Study of the WNL Star FSZ35 in the M33 Galaxy

We study and analyse low-resolution spectra of the unordinary late WN star FSZ35 in M33. We classify the object as a hydrogen-rich WN8 star. Using the radiative transfer code CMFGEN, we determine the physical parameters of this object and compare them to the parameters of other WN8 stars including the LBV star Romano’s star during the minimum of brightness. Unlike Romano’s star, the object is fairly stable both spectrally and photometrically, that may be attributed to its more advanced evolutionary stage or lower luminosity. FSZ35 is shown to possess a compact nebula producing faint but detectable [O III] emission. Location of this object at a large distance (� 100pc) from the nearest association suggests the object may be one more example of a massive runaway star.
1 SURVEY OF WHITEFLIES AND THEIR TRANSMISSION OF PLANT VIRUSES IN TAIWAN

On a global basis, there are more than 1,420 known species of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Extensive collections of whitefly species have been made in Taiwan. So far, the number of species has increased to 158 species in 45 genera. Among whitefly species, Bemisia tabaci is polyphagous and exhibits morphological polymorphism on different host plants, with more than 24 biotypes having been discriminated by specific phytotoxic reactions, esterase markers, and DNA markers. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the taxonomic status of B. tabaci populations in Taiwan by molecular markers. First, molecular markers of mtCOI, 16S, and ribosomal ITS1 were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of B. tabaci populations in Taiwan. The results indicated that there are three biotypes (B, An, and Nauru) in Taiwan. Second, we developed sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers for each of six B. tabaci biotypes (A, B, Q, Nauru, AN, and S). Six of these SCARs were useful in distinguishing each biotype from the others. Finally, we proceeded to collect and characterize the begomoviruses in several weeds commonly seen in the fields of Taiwan, and demonstrated that the begomovirus from Gonostegia pentanda may be transmitted to tomato plants, and vice versa, by whiteflies. The results may provide valuable insights into the understanding of the life cycles of begomoviruses and the design of effective disease management methods for them in Taiwan.
Vertical Price Transmission in Serbian Wheat-to-Bread Supply Chain during the Global Commodity Price Peaks 2007/2008 and 2010/2011

We analyze how the governmental market interventions during the commodity price peaks 2007/2008 and 2010/2011 have affected the transmission of price changes along the wheat-to-bread supply chain in Serbia. We aim to investigate if consumers benefitted from the wheat and flour export restrictions or if other members along the supply chain were able to gain advantage. Our analysis of price dynamics between wheat and flour prices within a Markov Switching Vector Error Correction Model suggests that the mills increased their margin and thus profits in the aftermath of the food crisis. The simulation of bread production costs makes evident that bakeries and even more retailers profited substantially from the crisis policy. We find that consumers benefitted from the governmental interventions only to a limited degree and experienced overall welfare losses. Compared with laissez-faire policy, the bread price increase was dampened by the governmental market interventions only at the beginning of the crisis. The additional strong bread price increase in April 2008 indirectly resulted from the governmental wheat purchases from the Serbian market.
Agglomeration Economies and the Firm TFP: Different Effects Across Industries

This paper analyzes the effect of agglomeration economies on firms’ total factor productivity. We propose the use of a control function approach to overcome the econometric issue inherent to the two-stage approach commonly used in the literature. Estimations are conducted separately for four industry groups, defined by technological intensity, to allow for non-uniform effects of agglomeration economies on firms given their technological level. In addition, R&D is included to account for the firms’ own efforts to foster productivity through creating and absorbing knowledge. Finally, radii as well as administrative boundaries are used for defining regions. The results confirm differences in the strength and even in the direction of agglomeration economies: While urban economies have the largest effect on TFP for firms in high-tech industries, they have no effect on TFP in low-tech industries. For firms in the latter industries, however, the variety of the local economic structure has an impact, while this is irrelevant for the TFP of firms in high-tech industries. Only localization economies have a positive and significant effect on TFP throughout, but the effect increases with technological intensity of industries. Throughout, R&D is also found to have a positive effect that increases with technological intensity.
Functional relationships among monitoring performance: Subjective report of thought process and compromising states of awareness

A biocybernetic system for use in adaptive automation was evaluated using EEG indices based on the beta, alpha, and theta bandwidths. Subjects performed a compensatory tracking task while their EEG was recorded and one of three engagement indices was derived: beta/(alpha + theta), beta/alpha, or 1/alpha. The task was switched between manual and automatic modes as a function of the subjects' level of engagement and whether they were under a positive or negative feedback condition. It was hypothesized that negative feedback would produce more switches between manual and automatic modes, and that the beta/(alpha + theta) index would produce the strongest effect. The results confirmed these hypotheses. There were no systematic changes in these effects over three 16-minute trials. Tracking performance was found to be better under negative feedback. An analysis of the different EEG bands under positive and negative feedback in manual and automatic modes found more beta power in the positive feedback/manual condition and less in the positive feedback/automatic condition. The opposite effect was observed for alpha and theta power. The implications of biocybernetic systems for adaptive automation are discussed.
on Asian Language Processing 21 ( 2 ) : 71-82 71 Thai FrameNet Construction and Tools

This paper presents the construction of Thai FrameNet through a combination approach: the expand and the merge. The alignment of the original FrameNet is made through the former whilst the latter manifests the indigenous Thai concepts. After a combination approach is implemented, frames are organised in the Thai FrameNet database and linked by seven frame-to-frame relations. To envisage frame relations, a visualised tool was developed. Substantially, this tool assists the frame developers to invent the genuine Thai frames and to place on Thai FrameNet structure.
Outcome Analyses after Microsurgical Resection of Intra Medullary Spinal Cord Tumors : Our Institutional Experience

1 Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana, India 2 Resident in Neurosurgery, Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana, India 3 Professor and HOD of Neurosurgery, Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana, India 4 Senior Residents in Neurosurgery, Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana, India 5 Resident in Neurology, Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana, India