Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional consumption, material flows, and their driving forces: A case study of China's Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (Jing–Jin–Ji) urban agglomeration

Continuous urbanization and a coordinated regional development strategy have gradually shaped urban agglomerations as new and massive centers of resource consumption in China. Therefore, understanding the material consumption status and the underlying mechanisms for typical Chinese urban agglomerations will support efforts to promote regional resource‐utilization sustainability. In this study, we analyzed material consumption and its structure in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (Jing–Jin–Ji) urban agglomeration from 2000 to 2015 and traced the sources of material consumption and underlying processes from a metabolic perspective. We also identified the main contributors and key drivers behind the changes of consumption during this period. The urban agglomeration's total consumption increased 2.2 times compared to the 2,000 level during the study period, with metallic minerals accounting for the largest proportion. Highly developed cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, and Handan, consumed the largest amounts of materials and generated the most wastes. These cities also relied heavily on both internal and external resources and exchanged materials frequently among their metabolic compartments. Economic activity was the strongest contributor to the increased material consumption, followed by the population increase, whereas decreasing material‐consumption intensity (increased efficiency) restrained the growth of material consumption somewhat. Our application of the material‐flow accounting framework at the scale of an urban agglomeration provides support for future research on material consumption in other typical urban agglomerations, where it can provide support for policy development to alleviate regional resource shortages.
Multifaceted Characterization And In Vitro Assessment Of Polyurethane-Based Electrospun Fibrous Composite For Bone Tissue Engineering

Introduction Recently several new approaches were emerging in bone tissue engineering to develop a substitute for remodelling the damaged tissue. In order to resemble the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the human tissue, the bone scaffolds must possess necessary requirements like large surface area, interconnected pores and sufficient mechanical strength. Materials and methods A novel bone scaffold has been developed using polyurethane (PE) added with wintergreen (WG) and titanium dioxide (TiO2). The developed nanocomposites were characterized through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), contact angle measurement, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and tensile testing. Furthermore, anticoagulant assays, cell viability analysis and calcium deposition were used to investigate the biological properties of the prepared hybrid nanocomposites. Results FESEM depicted the reduced fibre diameter for the electrospun PE/WG and PE/WG/TiO2 than the pristine PE. The addition of WG and TiO2 resulted in the alteration in peak intensity of PE as revealed in the FTIR. Wettability measurements showed the PE/WG showed decreased wettability and the PE/WG/TiO2 exhibited improved wettability than the pristine PE. TGA measurements showed the improved thermal behaviour for the PE with the addition of WG and TiO2. Surface analysis indicated that the composite has a smoother surface rather than the pristine PE. Further, the incorporation of WG and TiO2 improved the anticoagulant nature of the pristine PE. In vitro cytotoxicity assay has been performed using fibroblast cells which revealed that the electrospun composites showed good cell attachment and proliferation after 5 days. Moreover, the bone apatite formation study revealed the enhanced deposition of calcium content in the fabricated composites than the pristine PE. Conclusion Fabricated nanocomposites rendered improved physico-chemical properties, biocompatibility and calcium deposition which are conducive for bone tissue engineering.
Role of gold nanoparticles in advanced biomedical applications

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have generated keen interest among researchers in recent years due to their excellent physicochemical properties. In general, GNPs are biocompatible, amenable to desired functionalization, non-corroding, and exhibit size and shape dependent optical and electronic properties. These excellent properties of GNPs exhibit their tremendous potential for use in diverse biomedical applications. Herein, we have evaluated the recent advancements of GNPs to highlight their exceptional potential in the biomedical field. Special focus has been given to emerging biomedical applications including bio-imaging, site specific drug/gene delivery, nano-sensing, diagnostics, photon induced therapeutics, and theranostics. We have also elaborated on the basics, presented a historical preview, and discussed the synthesis strategies, functionalization methods, stabilization techniques, and key properties of GNPs. Lastly, we have concluded this article with key findings and unaddressed challenges. Overall, this review is a complete package to understand the importance and achievements of GNPs in the biomedical field.
Herbicide Resistance Mechanism(s) in Italian Ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) Populations in the Southern United States

Italian ryegrass is a principal weed problem in wheat production fields in the Sout hern US. Resistance to herbicides diclofop, mesosulfuron, and pinoxaden among ryegrass populations has been reported. Glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass populations were i dentified in Desha County, Arkansas. This research aimed to 1) determine resistance patterns to ACCase (diclofop and pinoxaden) and ALS (imazamox, mesosulfuron, and pyroxsulam) herbicides among Ita lia ryegrass populations from the southern US; 2) determine if cytochrome P450-mediated e nh nced herbicide metabolism contributed to resistance; and 3) elucidate the resista nce mechanism to glyphosate in four Arkansas populations (Des03, Des05, Des14, and D8). For objective 1, 30 accessions from problematic fields in the southern US between 2008 and 2010 were subje ct d to dose-response bioassays. Among the 30 accessions, 27 were resistant to both diclofop and mesosulfuron, 25 of which were also resistant to pyroxsulam. Ten Arkansas ac ces ions collected in 2008 were resistant to diclofop, mesosulfuron, pyroxsulam, and imazamox. One accessi on from Georgia and three accessions from North Carolina were resistant to di clof p, mesosulfuron, pyroxsulam, and pinoxaden. For objective 2, six ryegrass populations with different re sistance patterns to glyphosate, ALSand ACCase herbicides, were treated with P450 inhibi tors malathion (1000 g ai ha ) and 1-aminobenzotriazole (100 μM ABT) before herbicide application. Malathion improved herbicide activity in some populations; but did not complet ely overcome resistance to any herbicide. This indicates that P450-mediated meta bolism is only partially responsible for resistance in these populations. For objective 3, pla nts from Des03 population were analyzed for resistance level, EPSPS genetic mutation(s), EPSPS enzyme activity, and EPSPS gene copy number. The absorption and translocation of C-glyphosate were similar in R and S plants. The EPSPS gene in the R plants did not contain any point mutation(s) associated with glyphosate resistance. Resistance to glyphosate in Des03 i s due to increased basal EPSPS enzyme activity resulting from amplification of the EPSPS gene. Follow-up experiments conducted on other glyphosate-R populations Des05, Des14, and D8 showed 11fold to 516-fold more copies of the EPSPS gene in resistant plants than their susceptible counterparts indicating that EPSPS gene amplification also confers resistance to glyphosate in these populations. This thesis is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council.
Taylor Bird Swarm Algorithm Based on Deep Belief Network for Heart Disease Diagnosis

Contemporary medicine depends on a huge amount of information contained in medical databases. Thus, the extraction of valuable knowledge, and making scientific decisions for the treatment of disease, has progressively become necessary to attain effective diagnosis. The obtainability of a large amount of medical data leads to the requirement of effective data analysis tools for extracting constructive knowledge. This paper proposes a novel method for heart disease diagnosis. Here, the pre-processing of medical data is done using log-transformation that converts the data to its uniform value range. Then, the feature selection process is performed using sparse fuzzy-c-means (FCM) for selecting significant features to classify medical data. Incorporating sparse FCM for the feature selection process provides more benefits for interpreting the models, as this sparse technique provides important features for detection, and can be utilized for handling high dimensional data. Then, the selected features are given to the deep belief network (DBN), which is trained using the proposed Taylor-based bird swarm algorithm (Taylor-BSA) for detection. Here, the proposed Taylor-BSA is designed by combining the Taylor series and bird swarm algorithm (BSA). The proposed Taylor-BSA–DBN outperformed other methods, with maximal accuracy of 93.4%, maximal sensitivity of 95%, and maximal specificity of 90.3%, respectively.
Adsorption of chain molecules with a polar head a scaling description

The adsorption of chain molecules at an interface is investigated assuming that the molecule has both a polar head type of attraction localized on the chain and a uniform interaction of the chain monomers with the surface. A scaling description of the chain configurations and interactions is used. It is shown that the presence of a uniform surface attraction changes the phase diagram drastically. Both a low density two-dimensional regime and a high density phase with the chains confined in narrow cylinders can occur. The transition between the two phases is first order. Power laws for the surface density, layer thickness and surface pressure are derived. The qualitative similarity with the behaviour observed for short chain lipids and surfactants is also noted and it is suggested that a uniform surface interaction may also play an important role there.
Low plasma progestin concentration during the early postovulatory phase impairs equine conceptus development in the late preimplantation phase

In horses, low postovulatory progestin concentrations delay downregulation of endometrial progesterone receptors, impairing histotroph composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate conceptus development until placentation in mares under experimentally reduced progestin concentrations in the early postovulatory phase. Eleven mares were inseminated until ovulation and received the prostaglandin F2α agonist cloprostenol (125 µg) once daily for 4 days after ovulation (treatment) or were left untreated (control). Conceptus growth and development was analysed daily from Day 10 after ovulation by ultrasound. On Day 34 conceptuses were recovered and underwent microcomputed tomography. Statistical comparison was performed by non-parametric Wilcoxon test or Chi2. First visualisation of embryonic vesicle, embryo proper and heartbeat did not differ. Conceptus fixation in the uterus occurred earlier in controls than in conceptuses recovered from treatment pregnancies (P < 0.05). Embryos from treatment pregnancies were smaller (P < 0.05) and lighter (P < 0.05) than controls. In the lung, the mean number of bronchi was lower in embryos from treatment pregnancies than from control pregnancies (P < 0.05). Persistence of communication between the cardiac ventricles was observed more often in embryos from treatment than control pregnancies (P < 0.05). In conclusion, subphysiological progestin concentrations in the early postovulatory period impaired conceptus development before placentation in horses.
Urologist-led smoking cessation: a way forward through implementation science

Cigarette smoking is responsible for one in every five deaths and is the single greatest preventable cause of disease worldwide (1). Cigarette smoking is associated with several genitourinary disease processes, but is most causally linked with bladder cancer. Current smokers have a threefold increased risk of bladder cancer compared with nonsmokers and an almost twofold greater risk than among former smokers (2). Smokers also have an estimated 40% higher risk of developing renal cell carcinoma, higher rates of infertility and erectile dysfunction, and worse outcomes when treated for prostate cancer (3-9). Considerable progress has been made at the populationlevel to help people either avoid or quit smoking. Several recent studies, including one by the United States Surgeon General, have reaffirmed the benefits and reinforced the need for more widespread delivery of smoking cessation treatment by frontline clinicians who manage smokingrelated diseases. Urologists have the most leverage in helping bladder cancer patients stop smoking but infrequently deliver guideline concordant smoking cessation treatment (10,11). Therefore, we must understand the barriers to the routine provision of smoking cessation counseling by urologists. It is time for urologists to leverage the momentum generated by public policy success and treatment advances to help patients quit smoking. In this commentary, we aim to review some recently published data on the relationship between smoking and bladder cancer outcomes then outline a path for the urologic community to provide routine smoking cessation counseling. It is our goal is to use implementation and dissemination science to help others begin the process of studying and “bridging the chasm” between evidence-based smoking cessation treatment strategies and urologists delivering this care.
Is There a Connection between Sovereign CDS Spreads and the Stock Market? Evidence for European and US Returns and Volatilities

This study complements the current literature, providing a thorough investigation of the lead–lag connection between stock indices and sovereign credit default swap (CDS) returns for 14 European countries and the US over the period 2004–2016. We use a rolling VAR framework that enables us to analyse the connection process over time covering both crisis and non-crisis periods. In addition, we analyse the relationship between stock market volatility and CDS returns. We find that the connection between the credit and equity markets does exist and that it is time variable and seems to be related to financial crises. We also observe that stock market returns anticipate sovereign CDS returns, and sovereign CDSs anticipate the conditional volatility of equity returns, closing a connectedness circle between markets. Contribution percentages in terms of returns are more intense in the US than in Europe and the opposite result is found with respect to volatilities. Within Europe, a greater impact in Eurozone countries compared to non-Eurozone countries is observed. Finally, an additional analysis is also carried out for the financial sector, obtaining results largely consistent with those found using sovereign data.
Definition of Success According to Women Entrepreneur in Malang, Indonesia

This study aims to interpret the meaning of a successful entrepreneur from the perspective of women entrepreneurs in Malang, Indonesia. This research offers a phenomenological approach using purposive sampling. Data was collected by in-depth interviews using structured questionnaire with registered women entrepreneurs in Malang obtained from MSMEs (micro small and medium-sized enterprises) entrepreneurs. The ‘continually developing’ is one of the meanings of a successful entrepreneur. This study also found that success is when what women do can be useful to others. Besides, the meaning of success has two criteria, i.e., when they can meet their needs (individual satisfaction) and social performance as a goal to be achieved by entrepreneurs. The motivation of women entrepreneurs to establish their venture was not only financial returns, but also personal satisfaction, which was also the indicator of entrepreneurial success for women. This study has several limitations. First, our sample size is too small and consists of entrepreneurs that have an average age above 40 years. Hopefully, further research will be able to generalize our findings to a broader sample in various industries outside the city of Malang. As our research shows, the criteria and meaning of success may be different for a larger sample of entrepreneurs.
Modulation of effector functions of bovine mononuclear phagocytes by γδ T lymphocytes during in vitro Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection

Modulation of effector functions of bovine mononuclear phagocytes by γδ T lymphocytes during in vitro Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection Monica M. Baquero Advisor: Dr. Brandon L. Plattner The University of Guelph, 2017 Co-Advisor: John F. Prescott Cells from the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) and γδ T lymphocytes interact with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) and with each other to shape the ensuing immune response. The central hypothesis of this thesis was that bovine γδ T lymphocyte subsets (WC1 + and WC1 neg ) differentially regulate host immunity during early Map infection by interacting with cells of the MPS, the preferred host cells for Map. The main purpose of this research was to understand how bovine γδ T lymphocyte subsets modulate effector function of cells from the MPS during Map infection in vitro. The first study investigated how WC1 + γδ T lymphocytes from heifers mediate autologous macrophage function during Map infection in vitro. We showed that the viability of Map recovered from monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) was significantly reduced when WC1 + γδ T lymphocytes were in direct contact with Map-infected MDMs. Both MDMs and WC1 + γδ T lymphocytes generated increased concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4. Co-cultures of MDMs/WC1 + γδ T lymphocytes were associated with higher expression of MHC-I on MDMs and increased concentration of nitrites. In the second study we investigated how WC1 + or WC1 neg γδ T lymphocytes from young calves influence effector functions of autologous MDMs during Map infection in vitro. We again showed that viability of recovered Map was significantly reduced when γδ T lymphocytes were cultured in direct contact with Map-infected MDMs. Our main findings were: 1) increased IFN-γ in co-cultures of Map-infected MDMs with WC1 neg γδ T lymphocytes; 2) expression of CD1b on MDMs is significantly increased when co-cultured in direct contact with WC1 neg γδ T lymphocytes and 3) expression of CD25 is significantly higher on WC1 + compared to WC1 neg γδ T lymphocytes. Finally, in the third study our aim was to understand how both WC1 + and WC1 neg γδ T cell subsets of calves influence autologous monocyte differentiation and DC maturation during Map infection in vitro. In this study, significant findings included: 1) reduced viability of Map recovered from monocyte-derived cells differentiated in presence of WC1 neg γδ T lymphocytes compared to MDMs; and 2) reduced phagocytosis indicating functional DC maturation in the presence of γδ T lymphocytes.
Attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium Can Be Used to Transduce Human Dendritic Cells Towards Vaccination Against HIV-1

The promise of D N A vaccination is limited in part by invasive, untargeted administration. We refined the strategy by incorporating attenuated bacteria to deliver plasmids directly to APCs. Initial studies involved human macrophages, which were infected with aroASalmonella typhimurium transformed with eukaryotic vectors encoding 8galactosidase. Results of staining with x-gal demonstrated effective transfer of plasmids to the target cells, which expressed the reporter gene themselves. Similarly, immunocytochemical staining of macrophages infected with bacteria bearing a eukaryotic vector encoding HIV-1 env showed expression of the viral gene. Macrophages were also infected with bacteria harboring vectors encoding SIV env and HIV-1 tat, then subjected to lysis, RNA extraction and RT-PCR. In this way, conceptual proof of the system was achieved at the level of transcription. Indeed, in the latter case, we recovered a splice product, which specifically confirms eukaryotic expression. Further studies involved human DCs, cultivated from PBMCs in vitro. We first used flow cytometry to show that infection with Salmonella induces maturation, a state ultimately necessary for immunogenicity. Once again, bacteria carrying Bgalactosidase vectors were used initially. DCs were also infected with bacteria carrying a vector encoding HIV-1 gag, then stained for expression of the viral protein. Both immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry confirmed Gag expression. Finally, transduced DCs were co-cultivated with autologous T-cells in studies aimed at detecting interferon-7 expression as a gauge of antigen presentation. Bacteria were first transformed with eukaryotic vectors encoding influenza Ml protein. PBMCs were therefore obtained from donors known to have memory responses to influenza. Co-cultures yielded significant T-cell responses (by ELISpot and flow cytometry) to DCs transduced to express Ml. We next obtained PBMCs from HIV-1-infected donors, setting up co-cultures involving DCs infected with bacteria carrying HIV-1 gag vector. Again, significant T-cell responses were detected when DCs were transduced to express the viral protein using Salmonella. Thus, using attenuated S. typhimurium, we can deliver vectors encoding foreign antigens directly to human APCs. DCs transduced to express viral proteins can present antigen to autologous T-cells in vitro. As a vaccine tool, this strategy represents a potential way to achieve non-invasive, targeted delivery of DNA vaccines.
Responses of NDVI to climate factors in Inner Mongolia using geographically weighted regression

Using the MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) datasets along with the climate data (precipitation and temperature), geographically weighted regression (GWR) was constructed to explore the spatial nonstationarity and heterogeneity relationships between NDVI and climate factors in Inner Mongolia, China. Our work compared the results of GWR model accuracy with ordinary least squares (OLS) model. The results indicated that GWR method yielded better goodness of fit and higher model accuracy than OLS. Moreover, the GWR model could deeply reveal the complex relationship between NDVI and climate factors. At the same time, the research results could also provide scientific basis for vegetation modeling in Inner Mongolia and similar areas.
Psychological Contract Breach and Its Influence on the Job Embeddedness of Professional Nurses

A shortage of professional nurses is a global concern, and employers of professional nurses in many countries, including South Africa, are losing them to lucrative international job opportunities, further exacerbating the problem. Traditionally, the migration of nurses is studied in the context of turnover and turnover intentions. With the aim of contributing to the knowledge on the retention of nurses, this study examined whether breach of the psychological contract predicts nurses’ job embeddedness, as embeddedness has been found to increase intention to stay. A cross-sectional sample of 228 professional nurses was drawn from private hospitals in South Africa. Hierarchical regression and ANOVA were used to examine the relationship and group differences. The findings indicate that, after controlling for age, citizenship, and employment status, psychological contract breach negatively impacts job embeddedness. The implication for managers is that employers of professional nurses must honour their obligations and promises made to retain them as part of the retention strategy to stem this outflow and loss of expertise.