Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Farmers’ Perceptions and Factors Influencing the Adoption of No-Till Conservation Agriculture by Small-Scale Farmers in Zashuke, KwaZulu-Natal Province

The adoption of conservation agriculture among small-scale farmers is still low despite the proven economic and environmental benefits of the technology. This study was conducted in Ingwe Municipality in Kwa-Zashuke, Ward 8, in KwaZulu-Natal province. The main aim of the study was to determine the factors that influence the adoption of no-till conservation agriculture (CA) in the study area and to explore farmers’ perceptions of no-till CA and the impact of no-till CA on maize yield. A quantitative approach employing a cross-sectional design was used to gather data. Stratified random sampling was employed and a total of 185 small-scale farmers (97 adopters and 88 non-adopters) were sampled. Data analysis was done through descriptive and inferential statistics and econometric modeling using the logistic regression model. Findings show that farmers’ positive perceptions were positively correlated with higher maize yields. While an increase in extension visits, age, education and farmers’ positive perceptions significantly increased the likelihood of a farmer adopting no-till CA, an increase in land size was negatively related to no-till CA adoption. The findings confirm the important role of extension in the promotion of no-till CA, particularly the intensity of the extension services. The study recommends a deliberate effort by all stakeholders to promote the participation of young people in farming and tailor-make current no-till CA programs to suit the illiterate households. The capacity of extension programs to adequately support farmers should be enhanced through improvements in extension services. There is also need to change people’s mindsets and the way they view no-till CA.
Effects of the DASH diet alone and in combination with exercise and weight loss on blood pressure and cardiovascular biomarkers in men and women with high blood pressure: the ENCORE study.

BACKGROUND Although the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in short-term feeding studies, it has not been shown to lower BP among free-living individuals, nor has it been shown to alter cardiovascular biomarkers of risk. OBJECTIVE To compare the DASH diet alone or combined with a weight management program with usual diet controls among participants with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension (systolic BP, 130-159 mm Hg; or diastolic BP, 85-99 mm Hg). DESIGN AND SETTING Randomized, controlled trial in a tertiary care medical center with assessments at baseline and 4 months. Enrollment began October 29, 2003, and ended July 28, 2008. PARTICIPANTS Overweight or obese, unmedicated outpatients with high BP (N = 144). INTERVENTIONS Usual diet controls, DASH diet alone, and DASH diet plus weight management. OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measure is BP measured in the clinic and by ambulatory BP monitoring. Secondary outcomes included pulse wave velocity, flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, baroreflex sensitivity, and left ventricular mass. RESULTS Clinic-measured BP was reduced by 16.1/9.9 mm Hg (DASH plus weight management); 11.2/7.5 mm (DASH alone); and 3.4/3.8 mm (usual diet controls) (P < .001). A similar pattern was observed for ambulatory BP (P < .05). Greater improvement was noted for DASH plus weight management compared with DASH alone for pulse wave velocity, baroreflex sensitivity, and left ventricular mass (all P < .05). CONCLUSION For overweight or obese persons with above-normal BP, the addition of exercise and weight loss to the DASH diet resulted in even larger BP reductions, greater improvements in vascular and autonomic function, and reduced left ventricular mass. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00571844.
Immune cell function testing: an adjunct to therapeutic drug monitoring in transplant patient management

Abstract: Each year, 55 000 organ transplants are performed worldwide. Cumulatively, the number of living organ recipients is now estimated to be over 300 000. Most of these transplant recipients will remain on immunosuppressive drugs for the remainder of their lives to prevent rejection episodes. Controlled doses of these drugs are required to prevent over‐medication, which may leave the patient susceptible to opportunistic infection and drug toxicity effects, or under‐dosing, which may lead to shortened graft survival because of rejection episodes.
Treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with focus on emerging drugs

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. The economic and social cost of disease is very high and there is a need for effective treatments. Areas covered: The available and potential future treatments for NAFLD are reviewed. Expert opinion: Weight loss remains the cornerstone of treatment of hepatic steatosis, but difficult to pursue. A pragmatic approach relies on generic recommendations for weight loss and physical activity in the whole population and limiting interventions to subject at risk of disease progression, but the type of preferred treatment remains a matter of debate. The large number and mechanistic diversity of drugs that have so far been investigated bear testimony to the lack of a specific, effective agent. Insulin resistance remains the pivotal alteration responsible for liver disease and its progression and insulin sensitizers are regarded as the treatment of choice. Several ongoing studies are testing the effectiveness of new approaches on histological outcomes and new metabolic pathways are under scrutiny.
Creating Shareholder Value Via Collaborative Innovation: The Role of Industry and Resource Alignment in Knowledge Exploration

Collaborative innovation provides firms with a privileged opportunity to perform exploration in an externally oriented mode. The central challenges in exploration via collaborative innovation lie in the selection of relevant partners and in gaining access to potentially valuable external knowledge that the focal firm lacks. This article focuses on two aspects of inter-organizational alignment that affect knowledge differences and may thus help explaining the shareholder value implications arising from collaborative innovation: industry and resource alignment. Relying on data covering 97 bilateral collaborative innovations (194 innovation partners) in R&D intensive high-technology industries, we used event study methodology and follow-up hierarchical regression analyses to test our conceptual framework. With regard to industry alignment, results suggest that investors value greater industry distance between collaborating partners, especially when the partner firm provides high-level R&D resources. Furthermore, the results show a positive effect of supplementary resource alignment (i.e., a focal firm's R&D resources are supplemented by a partner firm's R&D resources) and, notably, a negative effect of complementary resource alignment (i.e., a focal firm's R&D resources are complemented by a partner firm's marketing resources) on investors' valuation of the collaboration's expected future performance. They, thus, contribute to research on shareholder value implications of collaborative innovation. From a managerial perspective, the study provides a better understanding of partner selection and shows how managers should position a collaboration to signal the shareholder value-creating potential to investors.
Labor Market Trajectories for Community College Graduates: New Evidence Spanning the Great Recession. A CAPSEE Working Paper.

Over the past few years, a multitude of studies have examined the labor market returns to community college credentials, taking advantage of new administrative datasets that link college transcripts to quarterly earnings records and allow for comparisons of students’ earnings before and after enrollment. These studies, however, typically follow students for only four to six years after initial entry, meaning they may only be observed for a year or two after graduation. Graduates’ early labor market experiences may not fully capture the returns to completion, and may particularly distort comparisons of longer versus shorter duration credential programs. We extend the literature by examining returns to terminal associate degrees and certificates up to 11 years after students initially entered a community college in Ohio. We use an individual fixedeffects approach that controls for students’ pre-enrollment earnings and allows the returns to credential completion to vary over time. Additionally, we examine how the returns to credential completion shift as students enter and exit the Great Recession, as well as how credentials affect other labor market outcomes such as employment stability and the likelihood of earning a “living wage. ” Our results confirm prior findings regarding the positive early returns to associate degrees and long-term certificates. However, the value of an associate degree grows substantially after graduation while the returns to a long-term certificate remain flat. Returns to associate degrees are notably higher during the recession (the patterns for certificates are more muted and vary by gender). Finally, we find that while both associate degrees and long-term certificates increase the likelihood and stability of employment, associate degrees lead to much higher paying jobs and a greater likelihood of earning a living wage. We conclude with a discussion of policy implications.
The accountability information needs of key charity funders

Government and philanthropic funders are key charity stakeholders, yet we know little about their accountability information needs. This New Zealand study captures these stakeholders’ perceptions of the background, financial and non-financial performance information they need from charities. It also reveals how, in addition to imposing reporting requirements, these key funders engage in ‘institutional work’ to ensure they receive appropriate accountability information.
chistosoma antigens downregulate CXCL 9 production by PBMC of TLV-1-infected individuals uciane

HTLV-1 is the causal agent of Adult T cell Leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The immune response to HTLV-1-infection is polarized to the Th1-type, and the presence of CXCL9/CXCL10 chemokines may lead to an increase in the recruitment of pro-inflammatory molecules in spinal cord tissue, contributing to the damage observed in the development of HAM/TSP. It has been observed that in chronic helminth-infections, such as schistosomiasis, there is a deviation toward the Th2/regulatory immune response. Objective: To evaluate the ability of Schistosoma spp. proteins to decrease the in vitro CXCL9 and CXCL10 production by PBMC of HTLV-1-infected individuals. Methods: The Schistosoma proteins rSm29, rSh-TSP-2 and PIII were added to PBMC cultures of HTLV-1infected individuals and the levels of chemokines in the supernatants were measured using a sandwich ELISA method. Results: The addition of rSm29 to the cultures resulted in decreased production of CXCL9 in all the analyzed individuals and HAM/TSP group (18167 ± 9727 pg/mL, p = 0.044; 20237 ± 6023 pg/mL, p = 0.028, respectively) compared to the levels in unstimulated cultures (19745 ± 9729 pg/mL; 25078 ± 2392 pg/mL, respectively). The addition of rSh-TSP-2 decreased the production of CXCL9 in all studied individuals and carriers group (16136 ± 9233 pg/mL, p = 0.031; 13977 ± 8857 pg/mL, p = 0.026) vs unstimulated cultures (19745 ± 9729 pg/mL; 18121 ± 10508 pg/mL, respectively). Addition of PIII did not alter the results. There was no significant change in the levels of CXCL10 by the addition of the studied proteins. Conclusion: The Schistosoma proteins used in this study were able to down modulate the production of CXCL9, a chemokine associated with the inflammatory process in HTLV-1-infection. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Health service use, out-of-pocket payments and catastrophic health expenditure among older people in India: The WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)

Background Healthcare financing through out-of-pocket payments and inequities in healthcare utilisation are common in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Given the dearth of pertinent studies on these issues among older people in LMICs, we investigated the determinants of health service use, out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditures among older people in one LMIC, India. Methods We accessed data from a nationally representative, multistage sample of 2414 people aged 65 years and older from the WHO's Study on global Ageing and adult health in India. Sociodemographic characteristics, health profiles, health service utilisation and out-of-pocket health expenditure were assessed using standard instruments. Multivariate zero-inflated negative binomial regression models were used to evaluate the determinants of health service visits. Multivariate Heckman sample selection regression models were used to assess the determinants of out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditures. Results Out-of-pocket health expenditures were higher among participants with disability and lower income. Diabetes, hypertension, chronic pulmonary disease, heart disease and tuberculosis increased the number of health visits and out-of-pocket health expenditures. The prevalence of catastrophic health expenditure among older people in India was 7% (95% CI 6% to 8%). Older men and individuals with chronic diseases were at higher risk of catastrophic health expenditure, while access to health insurance lowered the risk. Conclusions Reducing out-of-pocket health expenditure among older people is an important public health issue, in which social as well as medical determinants should be prioritised. Enhanced public health sector performance and provision of publicly funded insurance may protect against catastrophic health expenses and healthcare inequities in India.
Self-powering wireless sensors in typical building environment

Electromagnetic Radiation found in a typical building today is an integral part of technology evolution. Electric power distribution networks are present in every building producing time variable magnetic and electric fields in a low frequency range (50 Hz - 100 KHz) commonly named as Extremely Low Frequencies (ELF). On the other hand wireless networks and other high frequency activity, in the range of Radio Frequencies (RF) 100 KHz up to 6 GHz produce ElectroMagnetic Fields (EMF) that radiate in the indoor environment. In this work the potential to take advantage of such electromagnetic pollution to provide power supply to micro-devices (such as wireless sensors) is examined. This is based in real EMF measurements in a typical office environment.
Application of Optimally Scaled Target Factor Analysis for Assessing Source Contribution of Ambient PM10

Abstract Speciated coarse particulate matter (PM10) data ob tained at three air quality monitoring sites in a highly industrialized area in Spain between 2002 and 2007 were analyzed for assessing source contribution of ambient particulate matter (PM). The source apportionment of PM in this area is an especially difficult task. There are industrial mineral dust emissions that need to be separately quantified from the natural sources of mineral PM. On the other hand, the diversity of industrial processes in the area results in a puzzling industrial emissions scenario. To solve this complex problem, a two-step methodology based on the possibilities of the Multilinear Engine was used. Application of positive matrix factorization to the dataset allowed the identification of nine factors relevant to the study area. This preliminary analysis permitted resolving two mineral factors. As a second step, a target rotation was implemented for transforming the mineral factors into experimentally characterized soil resuspension and industrial clay sources. In addition to improving the physical interpretation of these factors, the target rotation reduced the errors arising from the rotational freedom of the solution and the multicollinearity among sources. In this way, the main primary industrial emissions of PM in the zone were identified by this target factor analysis. A marked decrease was observed between 2002 and 2007 for the contributions of industrial sources coinciding with the implementation of mitigation measures in their processes. This study supports the utility of source apportionment methodologies for quantitatively evaluating the effectiveness of the abatement programs for air quality improvement.
In Vitro Synergistic Effects of Double and Triple Combinations of β-Lactams, Vancomycin, and Netilmicin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusStrains

ABSTRACT Several studies have previously reported synergistic effects between vancomycin and a given β-lactam or a given aminoglycoside against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The aim of our study was to exhaustively compare the effects of different combinations of a β-lactam, vancomycin, and/or an aminoglycoside against 32 clinical MRSA strains with different aminoglycoside susceptibility patterns. The effects of 26 different β-lactam–vancomycin and 8 different aminoglycoside-vancomycin combinations were first studied using a disk diffusion screening method. The best interactions with vancomycin were observed with either imipenem, cefazolin, or netilmicin. By checkerboard studies, imipenem-vancomycin and cefazolin-vancomycin each provided a synergistic bacteriostatic effect against 22 strains; the mean fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indexes were 0.35 and 0.46 for imipenem-vancomycin and cefazolin-vancomycin, respectively. The vancomycin-netilmicin combination provided an indifferent effect against all of the 32 strains tested; the mean of FIC index was 1.096. The mean concentrations of imipenem, cefazolin, netilmicin, and vancomycin at which FIC indexes were calculated were clinically achievable. Killing experiments were then performed using imipenem, cefazolin, netilmicin, and vancomycin at one-half of the MIC, alone and in different combinations, against 10 strains. The vancomycin-netilmicin regimen was rarely bactericidal, even against strains susceptible to netilmicin. The imipenem-vancomycin and cefazolin-vancomycin combinations were strongly bactericidal against six and five strains, respectively. The addition of netilmicin markedly enhanced the killing activity of the combination of cefazolin or imipenem plus vancomycin, but only for the MRSA strains against which the β-lactam–vancomycin combinations had no bactericidal effect. It is noteworthy that the latter strains were both susceptible to netilmicin and heterogeneously resistant to methicillin.
Effectiveness of a Risk-Based Visitor-Prioritizing System at a Sexually Transmitted Infection Outpatient Clinic

Objective: The objective of this study was to study the efficacy/effectiveness of a risk-based visitor-prioritizing system at a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic aimed to improve screening capacity by providing tailored service. Study Design: In April 2004, a prioritizing system was implemented that classifies visitors as high or low risk depending on reported sexual behavior and previous STI events. The high- and low-risk groups are assigned to standard and short screening protocols, respectively. Both protocols include diagnostic testing for syphilis, urogenital gonorrhea, chlamydia, and optional for HIV. To assess the effectiveness of the system, differences in prevalence of STI diagnoses in the standard and short protocol were analyzed by &khgr;2 test. Results: In total, 14,391 visitors (64%) received standard screening and 8,056 visitors (36%) received short screening. The STI prevalence in both groups was 18.1% and 7.6%, respectively (P <0.001); prevalence of HIV was 1.8% and 0.3%, respectively (P <0.001). The sensitivity of the prioritizing system was 74%. Specificity was substantially lower (42%). Conclusions: This prioritizing system is effective in differentiating between visitors at high and low risk for STI, contributing to provision of tailored STI service, increasing efficiency, and client access to STI service.
Longevity and health care expenditures: the real reasons older people spend more.

OBJECTIVES In this study, we investigated the relative contributions of both age and time to death to health care expenditures for elderly Medicare beneficiaries. We also analyzed differences in expenditure patterns by age and time to death for various service types and payers. METHODS We conducted graphical analysis of person-month level data on 25,994 elderly persons from the 1992-1998 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey Cost and Use files. RESULTS Monthly health care expenditures for elderly people increase substantially with age primarily because mortality rates increase with age and health care expenditures increase with closeness to death. Time to death is the main reason for higher inpatient care expenditures, whereas aging is the main reason for higher long-term care expenditure. DISCUSSION Both increases in the absolute number of elderly persons and in their longevity will increase future Medicare expenditures. Yet, the expected increase in per person health care expenditures caused by greater longevity of Medicare beneficiaries will be less than expected because of the concentration of expenditures at the end of life rather than during extra years of a relatively healthy life. The latter conclusion may be altered, however, because of other underlying considerations, such as technological change.
Epistemology, pedagogy, and student affairs assessment: A voluminous framework for equity

For the past twenty years higher education scholars have stressed the need to educate senior student affairs officers, divisional staff, and graduate students about the importance of building and maintaining a culture of assessment (Yousey-Elesner, Bentrim, & Henning, 2015). However, few have advocated for educating burgeoning student affairs practitioners about how ways of knowing influence cultures of assessment. We argue that an emphasis on epistemological frameworks in student affairs assessment teaching is seemingly missing in the graduate curriculum and the current teaching paradigm impedes perspectives that resist oppressive structures in higher education—those which disrupt and dismantle colonized thinking and advance equity. In this paper we speculate on the dominant narratives within assessment teaching in student affairs, build a case for critical epistemologies and epistemological pluralism, and share recommendations in the form of a course plan designed to spur dialogue and learning around the role of epistemology in assessment practice.