Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Successful cooperative arrangements for environmental stewardship : a study of BC parks and environmental nongovernment organisations

These are challenging times for parks and protected areas in British Columbia as these areas have increased in size and use, while resources for managing them have shrunk considerably. Environmental nongovernment organisations (ENGOs) have recognized these threats and as a result are becoming increasingly involved in the stewardship of parks and protected areas. As the provincial government authority responsible for their management, BC Parks acknowledges that the needs and aspirations of people living in and around these areas must somehow be integrated in their management in order to ensure their long-term viability, and that ENGOs have valuable knowledge and skills to offer in this regard. As a result, cooperative arrangements, or partnerships, are being increasingly explored as a mutually beneficial means of forwarding BC Parks' mandate of conservation and recreation, and the mandate of similarly-minded ENGOs. The central purpose of this thesis is to identify essential criteria that must be met for cooperative arrangements between ENGOs and BC Parks to be successful. The study focusses on four current, successful partnerships. Research methods included a literature review and interviews with representatives from each of the participating BC Parks districts and ENGOs. The thesis presents a number of key findings that have significant import to the successful planning, implementation and management of cooperative arrangements for parks and protected areas. In addition to the criteria identified as central to their success, certain process-based actions have relevance to fulfilling the criteria. The level of trust between partners also has an impact on relations, which is enhanced when the criteria are met and over the course of time. The expectations of parties with regard to the extent of power-sharing and how this is exhibited in the cooperative arrangement also affects the perceived level of success of partners and therefore their commitment to the partnership.
Quantitative evaluation of B1 insensitivity in nonadiabatic frequency‐selective fat‐suppression RF pulse techniques

Nonadiabatic frequency‐selective fat‐suppression radiofrequency (RF) pulses are simpler than adiabatic RF pulses because nonadiabatic RF pulses are only amplitude modulated. The specific absorption rate (SAR) is lower. However, nonadiabatic RF pulses tend to be sensitive to B1 inhomogeneity. The purpose of this research was to evaluate whether conventional adiabatic RF pulses can replace nonadiabatic RF pulse techniques. The B1 insensitivities of nonadiabatic frequency‐selective fat‐suppression RF pulse techniques were calculated by using the Bloch equation, and their effectiveness was evaluated by simulation using the measured B1 field map. The B1 insensitivities were compared quantitatively. The B1 insensitivities of the nonadiabatic RF pulse techniques were ±5% (CHESS), a maximum of ±20% (inversion recovery RF pulse with the best inversion time), ±25% (RF pulse train with two subpulses), and ±44% (RF pulse train with three subpulses). The RF pulse train was the most effective. The B1 insensitivity of different nonadiabatic RF pulse techniques was specified quantitatively. These results can be used to judge which nonadiabatic RF pulses can replace adiabatic RF pulses. Nonadiabatic RF pulses can reduce the SAR without compromising the image quality and would be useful in higher field‐strength MRI. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 86–91, 2015
Growth and killing of a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium sifA mutant strain in the cytosol of different host cell lines.

Intracellular pathogens have developed different mechanisms which enable their survival and replication within the host cells. Some survive and replicate within a membrane-bound vacuole modified by the bacteria to support microbial growth (e.g. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium), whereas others escape from the vacuole into the host cell cytosol, where they proliferate (e.g. Listeria monocytogenes). In this study a Salmonella strain carrying a mutation in sifA which is released from the vacuole was used to analyse Salmonella survival and replication within the cytosol of several cell lines. It was found that Salmonella replicates within the cytosol of epithelial cells at a higher rate than that achieved when replicating within the vacuole, but is defective for replication in the cytosol of fibroblasts or macrophages. Using an aroC purD double mutant strain which does not replicate within host cells, it was shown that Salmonella encounters a killing activity within the cytosol of macrophages. Furthermore, in vitro experiments using cytosol extracted from either infected or uninfected macrophages suggested that this activity is activated upon Salmonella infection.
Protection by the flavonoids quercetin and luteolin against peroxide- or menadione-induced oxidative stress in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells

Potential protective effects of the flavonoids quercetin and luteolin have been examined against the oxidative stress of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells. Although hydrogen peroxide and menadione reduced cell viability, the toxicity was prevented by desferrioxamine or catalase but not superoxide dismutase, suggesting the involvement of hydrogen peroxide in both cases. Quercetin and luteolin reduced the oxidative damage, especially that caused by hydrogen peroxide. When cultures were pre-incubated with quercetin or luteolin, protection was reduced or lost. Protection was also reduced when a 24 h pre-incubation with the flavonoids was followed by exposure to menadione alone. Pretreating cultures with luteolin impaired protection by quercetin, whereas quercetin pretreatment did not affect protection by luteolin. It is concluded that quercetin and luteolin suppress oxidative damage to MC3T3-E1 cells, especially caused by peroxide. The reduction in protection by pretreatment implies a down-regulation of part of the toxic transduction pathway.
Capital Structure's Determinants and Financial Crisis in Spain

Using annual data that records leverage levels of 77 non-financial firms in Spain prior and during the financial crisis, we demonstrate that tangibility, size, volatility, profitability, non-debt tax shield, growth opportunities and industry effect are factors that determine the capital structure of a company. Our results show that leverage is positively and statistically significant with size, non-debt tax shield and industry-effect. Also, our findings illustrate that profitability, growth opportunity and volatility are negatively and statistically significant with the debt issues on the balance sheet of these public traded firms. We discuss the extent to which these results are consistent with empirical evidence illustrated by prior studies with reference to the 2008 financial crisis. Finally, a negative correlation between leverage and profitability is consistent with pecking-order hypothesis rather than with static trade-off models.
WSNp1-5: Analysis of a New 802.11 Distributed Media Access Control Protocol

Many modifications have been proposed in the literature to improve the performance of distributed coordination function (DCF) under congested environments. These improvements are achieved by modifying the contention window reset mechanism used in DCF protocol. However the main drawback with these modifications is the high backoff process overhead. Therefore we recently proposed a new DCF (N-DCF) protocol to reduce backoff process overhead. In this paper, we proposed a throughput model for N-DCF which is applicable for any arbitrary load conditions. The model was verified using NS- 2 simulations. We then compared the performance of N-DCF with the other recently proposed modifications to DCF in the literature. Comparisons have revealed that only N-DCF provides improvement in throughput performance under RTS/CTS access mechanism. Based on our observations, we further proposed two more media access control protocols to improve the performance of DCF protocol in both basic and RTS/CTS access mechanisms. Finally, we compared the performance of our proposed protocols with our original N-DCF protocol.
Opioid peptides with differential affinity for mu and delta receptors decrease sensory neuron calcium-dependent action potentials.

Previously, it has been reported that opioid peptides decrease the calcium component of action potentials in a dose-dependent and naloxone-reversible manner consistent with mediation by opiate receptors. To clarify the relation of mu and delta opiate receptors to decreases of somatic calcium-dependent action potential duration, we investigated the potency of two opioid peptides which have different affinities for mu and delta opiate receptors, Leu-enkephalin and morphiceptin. We predicted that Leu-enkephalin would be about 1000-fold more potent than morphiceptin on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons if delta receptors mediated decreases of DRG neuron somatic calcium-dependent action potentials, but that these ligands would be approximately equipotent if mu receptors mediated opiate actions. Additionally, because naloxone has been reported to have a higher affinity for mu receptors in comparison with delta receptors, we investigated agonist sensitivity to naloxone antagonism. When morphiceptin and Leu-enkephalin were tested at equimolar concentrations on individual DRG neurons, a heterogeneous pattern of response to the two opioid peptides was obtained. The response pattern ranged from Leu-enkephalin and morphiceptin producing equal effects to Leu-enkephalin, but not morphiceptin, decreasing action potential duration. DRG neurons that responded only to Leu-enkephalin were approximately 100-fold less sensitive to naloxone antagonism than DRG neurons that responded equally well to both opioid peptides. DRG neurons that responded to both opioid peptides but better to Leu-enkephalin were intermediate in sensitivity to naloxone antagonism. Our results suggest that both mu and delta opiate receptors mediate decreases in somatic calcium-dependent action potentials of DRG neurons. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Household Water Resources and Rural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of the Evidence

The benefits and costs of providing a safe, convenient, and reliable water supply to households in the developing world have been the subject of a vast and wide-ranging research effort for at least four decades. Despite the quantity of studies carried out, relatively little is known about a number of key aspects of household water use. In particular, the productivity cost to households of having an inadequate water supply, measured in terms of the quantity and quality of labor lost as a result, has rarely been examined carefully. There is also relatively little known about water use in rural areas, as most research has focused on the developing world's rapidly expanding cities. Among the regions of the world, both of these research gaps are most acute for sub-Saharan Africa, the region whose population is the most rural and has the least access to an improved water supply. This paper reviews and summarizes the results of studies of household water use in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa that offer clues to the effects of household water resources on rural productivity. Findings are presented on the extent of household access to safe water supplies, household water use, the costs of water-related diseases, the time costs of collecting water from distance sources, and the costs and benefits of interventions to improve household water supplies. Most studies indicate that household water use in sub-Saharan Africa averages only about 10 liters/person/day, far less than is needed for proper hygiene practices. Water-related diseases account for between 10 percent and 12 percent of all morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Households (and primarily women) spend an average of 134 minutes/day collecting water, and time saved by bringing water supplies closer to households is likely to dominate estimates of the benefits of improving rural water supplies. Data on the current and future costs of water-related diseases; the opportunity cost of time spent collecting water and lost to sickness or caring for the sick; and what kinds of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, in what sequence, produce the greatest health benefits are poor, and further research on these issues is needed.
Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Past, Present and Future

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in children. Evidence-based guidelines for the management of this population are available; however, the data highlight significant deficiencies with few treatment standards or guidelines. Considering the limited availability of resources, it is necessary to define realistic goals. Attention should be given to injury prevention, developing standardized pediatric admission and outcome evaluations, increasing the utility and spectrum of physiological and biochemical testing, and defining the evolving role of imaging in TBI.
Compartmentalisation between Gut and Lung Mucosae in a Model of Secondary Immunodeficiency: Effect of Thymomodulin

Compartmentalisation of mucosal immune response seems to be the result mainly of the preferential migration of activated cells back to their inductive sites. The aim of this report was to demonstrate, in a model of secondary immunodeficiency in Wistar rats (severely protein deprived at weaning and refed with casein 20 %; group R21), that the oral administration of Thymomodulin (group: R21TmB) has different effects on gut and BALT (Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue). Tissue sections (5μ) were studied by immunohistochemistry 1). The oral administration of Thymomodulin restores only in gut Lamina propria (LP) the IgA B and CD4 T cell populations to control levels. The CD8a and CD25 subpopulations do not vary in gut as they return to control levels when refed with 20% casein diet. All the populations mentioned above remained decreased even after receiving Thymomodulin by the oral route. However, the same behaviour was observed for the TCRδ T cells that were decreased and return to normal levels in both mucosae by the effect of the immunomodulator; 2) when studying the iIEL (intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes) CD8α, CD25 and TCRγδ T cells, that were increased in R21, return to control levels in R21TmB. In BALT intraepithelium CD8α and CD25 T cells remained decreased, while only TCRγδ T cells (increased in R21) return to control values. Conclusions: 1) there exists a compartmentalisation between both mucosae, as T CD4+ and IgA B+ cells are restored by TmB only in gut; 2) only those iIEL involved in inflammation (CD8α+/CD25+ and TCRγδ+/CD25+) are normalised by means of the Thymomodulin 3) however, in BALT, only TCRγδ+ T cells are restored 4) the oral administration of the present immunomodulator may be useful as a therapeutic agent, although the preferential survival in the tissue of initial stimulation is the major factor in the preferential distribution of activated cells.
Enhancing individual employability: the perspective of engineering graduates

Purpose – Employability includes the ability to find employment and remain employed. Employability includes both hard and soft skills, including formal and actual competence, interpersonal skills, and personal characteristics. This paper aims to focus on illuminating perceptions engineering graduates have regarding employability. More specifically, the aim is to explore how engineering graduates perceive, invest in, manage, and develop their employability.Design/methodology/approach – The study highlighted in the paper draws on a longitudinal qualitative study and the empirical data include recurrent interviews with 20 recent graduates from Master's level engineering programs in information technology.Findings – The results of the paper indicate that hard formal and technical vocational skills are considered to be of declining importance. Generally, these skills are considered less important in relation to one's individual employability compared to different forms of soft skills and personal attributes. T.
Retrospective genomic analysis of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor strains from different places in India reveals the presence of ctxB-7 allele found in Haitian isolates

SUMMARY A total of 45 strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 isolated from 10 different places in India where they were associated with cases of cholera between the years 2007 and 2008 were examined by molecular methods. With the help of phenotypic and genotypic tests the strains were confirmed to be O1 El Tor biotype strains with classical ctxB gene. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis by double – mismatch amplification mutation assay PCR showed 16 of these strains carried the ctxB-7 allele reported in Haitian strains. Sequencing of the ctxB gene in all the 45 strains revealed that in 16 strains the histidine at the 20th amino acid position had been replaced by asparagine and this single nucleotide polymorphism did not affect cholera toxin production as revealed by beads enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This study shows that the new ctxB gene sequence was circulating in different places in India. Seven representatives of these 45 strains analysed by pulsed – field gel electrophoresis showed four distinct Not I digested profiles showing that multiple clones were causing cholera in 2007 and 2008.
Why Do Owner-Managers of Micro-Companies Opt for Voluntary Audits? The Importance of Debt Providers’ versus Entrepreneurs’ Needs

This study investigates the extent to which the pressures from outside stakeholders, specifically the providers of debt and trade credit, as opposed to owner-managers’ internal needs explain the use of voluntary audits in micro-companies. Whereas previous studies have mainly focused on how bank debt affects the demand for voluntary audit in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), micro-companies have largely been overlooked in related prior literature. Using a sample of some 50,000 Finnish micro-companies over the period 2008-2010, we find that voluntary audit is expectedly more likely in micro-companies which have above average levels of trade credit or bank finance than those relying on owner’s equity. Surprisingly, the results also indicate that a very significant proportion of companies (26 percent) relying on owner’s equity only also choose voluntary audit. Interview data provide insights into the reasons hereof and confirm the benefits of audit in reducing control risk and business risk for management.
Measles in Latin America: Current Situation.

The Region of the Americas (North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean) successfully interrupted endemic measles transmission in 2002, but recent outbreaks in Latin America threaten to reverse this impressive achievement. Before widespread measles immunization in Latin America, measles was a common illness in early childhood and was associated with substantial mortality. During the 1960s, 600 000measles cases were reported annually in the Region of the Americas [1]. Although measles vaccine was introduced during the 1960s, it was the creation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Expanded Program on Immunization in 1977 that marked the beginning of sustained decreases in case numbers. During 1970– 1979, Latin American countries reported 220 000 measles cases annually, with incidence rates of 47–116 cases/ 100 000 population [2]. The highest mortality rates occurred among young children; from 1971 through 1980, measles associated mortality was 14–55 measles-associated deaths per 100 000 infants and 8–54 deaths/100 000 children aged 1–4 years. By 1980, most countries in the region had established national immunization programs; however, the mean infant measles vaccine coverage in the region was only 42%. In 2002, after more than 30 years of successful strategies and joint efforts of many countries in the region, interruption of endemic measles transmission in the Americas was achieved [3]. However, isolated cases continue to occur, due to the importation of measles from other areas of the world, sometimes causing short chains of transmissions over a few months.
Do Monetary Reward and Job Satisfaction Influence Employee Performance? Evidence from Malaysia

This quantitative study investigated the direct effect of monetary effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between monetary motivation on employees’ job performance and mediating motivation and employees’ job performance at oil and gas offshore production facilities in Malaysia. Data were collected using self administered survey questionnaire from convenience-sampled 341 employees of selected oil and gas companies in Malaysia. Data analyses were performed using the Statistical Product and Service Solution 21. The results of regression analysis and Sobel’s calculation showed that, at the . 05 level, there was a significant direct effect of monetary motivation on employees’ job performance, and job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between monetary motivation and employees’ job performance. The results of this study could assist employers and human resource managers in the development and implementation of their remuneration policy and strategy.
Crystal Structure of the Measles Virus Phosphoprotein Domain Responsible for the Induced Folding of the C-terminal Domain of the Nucleoprotein*

Measles virus is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Mononegavirales order which comprises several human pathogens such as Ebola, Nipah, and Hendra viruses. The phosphoprotein of measles virus is a modular protein consisting of an intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain (Karlin, D., Longhi, S., Receveur, V., and Canard, B. (2002) Virology 296, 251–262) and of a C-terminal moiety (PCT) composed of alternating disordered and globular regions. We report the crystal structure of the extreme C-terminal domain (XD) of measles virus phosphoprotein (aa 459–507) at 1.8 Å resolution. We have previously reported that the C-terminal domain of measles virus nucleoprotein, NTAIL, is intrinsically unstructured and undergoes induced folding in the presence of PCT (Longhi, S., Receveur-Brechot, V., Karlin, D., Johansson, K., Darbon, H., Bhella, D., Yeo, R., Finet, S., and Canard, B. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 18638–18648). Using far-UV circular dichroism, we show that within PCT, XD is the region responsible for the induced folding of NTAIL. The crystal structure of XD consists of three helices, arranged in an anti-parallel triple-helix bundle. The surface of XD formed between helices α2 and α3 displays a long hydrophobic cleft that might provide a complementary hydrophobic surface to embed and promote folding of the predicted α-helix of NTAIL. We present a tentative model of the interaction between XD and NTAIL. These results, beyond presenting the first measles virus protein structure, shed light both on the function of the phosphoprotein at the molecular level and on the process of induced folding.
Buyer‐seller relationships in the PCB industry

Purpose – Prior research has suggested that the key to industrial purchasing success lies in the time development and maintenance of long‐term relationships between buyers and sellers. Good relational exchanges can lead to higher product quality and better coordination with the suppliers. As such, the purpose of this article is to explain how the change of these relationships over time is critical to successful purchasing, especially in understanding the factors that influence the relational change.Design/methodology/approach – Three mini case studies are presented as an attempt to capture the subtle development of buyer‐seller relationships in the Asian printed circuit board industry. The approach used in this paper is to treat the relationship development as a process through time using Ford's model from 1980. Ford's model is appropriate as it allows the examination of time effects in relationships, factors influencing the change and the implications of having close linkages.Findings – Initial results s.