Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive Growth Modeling of Listeria monocytogenes in Rice Balls and Its Risk Assessment

This study aimed to investigate the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in rice balls and to conduct its microbial risk assessment based on the Korean dietary pattern. Each tuna or ham rice ball was mixed with mayonnaise, soy sauce, or gochujang, a Korean traditional fermented red peeper paste, which was artificially contaminated with L. monocytogenes and then stored at 7°C–25°C to assess bacterial growth. Growth data were analyzed using three primary models (the Huang, Baranyi, and Gompertz models), and the growth pattern was found to fit well to the Baranyi model based on the following five statistical criteria: root mean square error (0.38–0.56), Akaike’s information criterion (−51.55–−26.99), coefficient of determination (0.72–0.97), bias factor (0.97–1.01), and accuracy factor (1.06–1.18). The effects of temperature on bacterial growth rate and lag time were evaluated using the square root model. The minimum growth temperature for L. monocytogenes in tuna or ham rice balls was the lowest when they were mixed with mayonnaise (−9.44°C or −15.37°C, respectively). Risk assessment using FDA-iRISK showed that tuna or ham rice balls mixed with gochujang exhibited the highest microbial risk among all the rice balls tested, regardless of the storage temperature. Tuna or ham rice balls mixed with gochujang had the highest disability-adjusted life years per year (0.015) followed by ham rice balls mixed with soy sauce (0.011–0.015) or mayonnaise (0.006–0.015) and then tuna rice balls mixed with soy sauce (0.006–0.008) or mayonnaise (<0.001). In conclusion, our results, determined using predictive growth models, allow the assessment of potential risk ranking associated with the consumption of rice balls contaminated with L. monocytogenes based on the number of illnesses experienced per serving and the disease burden.
The Relationship between E-Commerce and Firm Performance: The Mediating Role of Internet Sales Channels

This paper postulates that the effect of e-commerce on firm performance is not direct and needs to be examined using mediating factors. The Ordinary Least-Squares (OLS) model was employed with the data of the Flash Eurobarometer 439 Survey entitled The Use of Online Marketplaces and Search Engines by small and medium enterprises. The obtained findings provide support for the mediating hypothesis. To be more precise, while the relationship between e-commerce and firm performance is negative, it is positively mediated by certain types of internet sales channels. In particular, the benefits of e-commerce in terms of higher sales are more pronounced when firms use commercial websites and online marketplaces. On the other hand, the interaction between e-commerce and search engines has an insignificant effect on firm performance. This study advances research on e-commerce by emphasizing the importance of mediating effect.
The Effects of the Professional Development Program Supported by On-the-job Visits on the Pedagogies of Mathematics Teachers

Researchers have approached to teacher change in different ways: as a learner, as a teacher, and as a colleague. This study aims to analyze teachers’ pedagogical changes within the professionally collaborated training program supported with on-the-job visits in their teaching environments. Five elementary mathematics teachers were involved in the study which was organized as a longitudinal professional program aiming at teachers’ classroom practices. By analyzing teaching practices and interviews through Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP), the results show that teachers had various characteristics in terms of enacting their pedagogical goals. The study concludes that sample classroom implementations and pedagogical discussions have impact on teachers’ beliefs about putting pedagogical goals into practice.
ZONA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO PROXIMAL COMO UM QUATÉRNIO PARA SIGNIFICAÇÕES: POSSIBILIDADES PARA ANÁLISE DE VÍDEO

Neste texto sao explorados aspectos acerca do conceito de zona de desenvolvimento proximal (ZDP). Inicialmente, apresenta-se uma visao geral sobre a perspectiva sociocultural dos processos psicologicos. Em seguida, discute-se algumas definicoes de ZDP e problematicas envolvendo traducoes de textos que apresentam essas definicoes. Nesse contexto, sao enfatizados o modo como sao tratados os verbetes atual, real e potencial e um quadro teorico denominado quaternio ontologico. Esse quaternio e um modo de se conceber as relacoes envolvendo o possivel, o real, o atual e o virtual. Essa perspectiva e utilizada para produzir significados sobre um arquivo em formato de video digital. Especificamente, analisamos uma cena de um episodio da serie Jornadas nas Estrelas, na qual o comandante Data cria os hologramas de Newton, Einstein e Hawking para uma partida de poker . O modelo ora proposto podera servir como base para analise de dialogos (registrados digitalmente) ocorridos em ambientes educacionais. Este texto, portanto, explicita olhar alternativo ao conceito de ZDP e possibilidade analitica para a producao de significados sobre informacoes contidas em textos filmograficos.
Opportunity recognition in immigrant entrepreneurship through social capital and geographical proximity: A conceptual framework

The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework of the role of social capital as an ultimate resource for immigrant entrepreneurs in recognising entrepreneurial opportunities. Research consistently reveals that immigrants have higher tendency to engage in entrepreneurial activities in countries where they reside. Based on a review of existing literature, resources such as human, social, and financial capital facilitate immigrants to pursue entrepreneurial activities. In recognising business opportunities, social contexts have immensely influenced the entrepreneurial process. However, the role of social capital as an ultimate resource for immigrant entrepreneurship have yet to be comprehensively understood. Social capital is significantly related to the information flows, the trust and norms between individuals. Additionally, the geographical proximity between immigrants and their co-ethnic groups and local communities which enable more rigorous social exchanges plays prevalence role for immigrants to pursue entrepreneurial activities. Therefore, we could argue that the social capital and immigrant entrepreneurs’ geographical proximity are crucial constructs for immigrant entrepreneurs to recognise opportunities for their business ventures in a host country. The review of past literature enables us to develop a conceptual framework on how social capital and geographical proximity may assist the opportunity recognition of immigrant entrepreneurs. The proposed conceptual framework offers three general propositions than can be empirically validated in future research. This paper contributes to enhance the understanding of immigrant entrepreneurship from the lens of opportunity recognition, social capital and geographical proximity.
Dangling in a Vacuum: A Presentation of Polish Think Tanks in Political Life

This article belongs to the special cluster, “Think Tanks in Central and Eastern Europe”, guest-edited by Katarzyna Jezierska and Serena Giusti. This article explores the image and reputation of think tanks in their reciprocal relationship with their environment. The aim is to unravel the logic of think tanks’ institutional identity formation in the largely understudied context of Poland. How do Polish think tanks present themselves and how are they (re)presented by others? To answer these questions, the Goffmanian microsociological framework and positioning theory are adjusted to a study of institutions. The analysis of original interview and media data reveals that Polish think tanks project an image of and are perceived by the media as being weak. I argue that this image and reputation of weakness should primarily be explained by think tanks’ and the media’s perceptions of the political field, which confine the possible identity and positioning of think tanks.
Management of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections in India: are we equipped to meet the challenges of the growing menace of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus?

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a Gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium that colonizes the skin and nasal passages of humans. The incidence of invasive S. aureus infections has increased over the past decades and is associated with poor outcomes and high mortality rates. S. aureus is responsible for almost one-third of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounting for a large proportion of these. The S. aureus strains prevalent in India are more aggressive and there are recent reports of the emergence of the more virulent multidrug resistant lineages ST2371 and ST8. Management of these infections is complicated by the fact that antimicrobial stewardship is non-existent, the choice of treatment is often empirical and available treatment options are limited due to a high prevalence of resistance strains. Currently available anti-MRSA agents include vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, daptomycin, tigecycline, and clindamycin. However, the emergence of resistant strains and several undesirable features related to the safety and tolerability of these agents have limited the options available for the management of MRSA infections. A newer, safe and efficacious antibiotic is thus an unmet need for the management of MRSA in patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. In this review we explore the current and future trends in the management of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections highlighting the challenges in their management in India, and current progress in the development of some novel drugs for the management of MRSA infections.
Diatom assemblages as indicators of salinity gradients: a case study from a coastal lake

Abstract In order to understand the variability of diatoms in coastal lakes and its relationship to salinity, the authors have conducted a two-year study at Lake Resko Przymorskie (the Southern Baltic coast), which has a salinity between 1.9-4.8 PSU. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to describe the relationship between the species composition and selected variables. Four of the 10 measured variables of surface water chemistry (Cl- and PO43- concentrations, temperature, and pH) significantly explained 23% of the variation in the diatom species composition. We found 82 taxa of diatoms (mostly tychoplanktonic) and determined the optimum and tolerance levels of salinity for predominant taxa (49 species with minimum 2% abundance). The optimum chloride concentration for the predominant diatoms ranged from 1471 to 2961 mg Cl- l-1. The most abundant brackish water species was Pseudostaurosiropsis geocollegarum. Brackish-freshwater diatoms were represented by Cyclotella atomus, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Diatoma tenuis and Staurosira subsalina. The most abundant fresh-brackish water diatoms were Amphora pediculus, Fragilaria sopotensis, Hippodonta hungarica, Pseudostaurosira brevistriata and Staurosira construens. Freshwater taxa accounted for as little as 1% of the population. This study provides new data on the ecology of coastal lakes and the possibility of using diatom-based transfer functions in the reconstruction of past environmental changes.
Stopped-flow Light Scattering Analysis of Red Blood Cell Glycerol Permeability.

Stopped-Flow Light Scattering (SFLS) is a method devised to analyze the kinetics of fast chemical reactions that result in a significant change of the average molecular weight and/or in the shape of the reaction substrates. Several modifications of the original stopped-flow system have been made leading to a significant extension of its technical applications. One of these modifications allows the biophysical characterization of the water and solute permeability of biological and artificial membranes. Here, we describe a protocol of SFLS to measure the glycerol permeability of isolated human red blood cells (RBCs) and evaluate the pharmacokinetics properties (selectivity and potency) of isoform-specific inhibitors of AQP3, AQP7 and AQP9, three mammalian aquaglyceroporins allowing transport of glycerol across membranes. Suspensions of RBCs (1% hematocrit) are exposed to an inwardly directed gradient of 100 mM glycerol in a SFLS apparatus at 20 °C and the resulting changes in scattered light intensity are recorded at a monochromatic wavelength of 530 nm for 120 s. The SFLS apparatus is set up to have a dead time of 1.6-ms and 99% mixing efficiency in less than 1 ms. Data are fitted to a single exponential function and the related time constant (τ, seconds) of the cell-swelling phase of light scattering corresponding to the osmotic movement of water that accompanies the entry of glycerol into erythrocytes is measured. The coefficient of glycerol permeability ( Pgly , cm/s) of RBCs is calculated with the following equation: Pgly = 1/[(S/V)τ] where τ (s) is the fitted exponential time constant and S/V is the surface-to-volume ratio (cm-1) of the analyzed RBC specimen. Pharmacokinetics of the isoform-specific inhibitors of AQP3, AQP7 and AQP9 are assessed by evaluating the extent of RBC Pgly values resulting after the exposure to serial concentrations of the blockers.
Analysis of Moral Reasoning of Teachers and the Students with Respect to Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Moral development of persons is a basic aim of education. According to Islamic teachings success and failure of a person is judged on moral basis in this world and the hereafter. This study focuses on analysis of moral reasoning of teachers and the students with respect to Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. The target population for this study were teachers and students of secondary schools of district Dera Ghazi Khan. Twenty secondary schools were randomly selected from district Dera Ghazi Khan. Three (03) teachers and ten (10) students from each school were selected using random sampling method. The total sample size was 60 teachers and 200 students. Data was selected by DIT (defining issue test). The collected data was analyzed through descriptive analysis and chi-square test applied using SPSS. The results revealed that the participants reasoned predominantly at the conventional level of Kohlberg's moral reasoning which found that there is no significant difference between the view of teachers and students towards moral reasoning.
EXD2 and WRN exonucleases are required for interstrand crosslink repair in Drosophila

Interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) present a major threat to genome integrity, preventing both the correct transcription of active chromatin and complete replication of the genome. This is exploited in genotoxic chemotherapy where ICL induction is used to kill highly proliferative cancer cells. Repair of ICLs involves a complex interplay of numerous proteins, including those in the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway, though alternative and parallel pathways have been postulated. Here, we investigate the role of the 3’-5’ exonuclease, EXD2, and the highly related WRN exonuclease (implicated in premature ageing human Werner syndrome), in repair of interstrand crosslinks in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We find that flies mutant for EXD2 (DmEXD2) have elevated rates of genomic instability resulting from chromosome breakage and loss of the resulting acentric fragments, in contrast to WRN exonuclease (DmWRNexo) mutants where excess homologous recombination is the principal mechanism of genomic instability. Most notably, we demonstrate that proliferating larval neuroblasts mutant for either DmWRNexo or DmEXD2 are deficient in repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks caused by diepoxybutane or mitomycin C, strongly suggesting that each nuclease individually plays a role in repair of ICLs in flies. These findings have significant implications not only for understanding the complex process of ICL repair in humans, but also for enhancing cancer therapies that rely on ICL induction, with caveats for cancer therapy in Werner syndrome and Fanconi anemia patients.
Tension Pneumothorax -Challenge of foreign body removal during Rigid Bronchoscopy in children

Rigid bronchoscopy for foreign body removal from lungs can cause life threatening complications like tension pneumothorax. A timely diagnosis and active management can prevent devastating events. A two years old child who developed tension pneumothorax after rigid bronchoscopy for foreign body removal was survived successfully because of multidisciplinary active management.
Overview of Pestalotiopsis vismiae UTMC 5019 as a Potential Agent for the Biological Control of Hordeum spontaneum (Wild Barley)

Hordeum spontaneum, which is one of the most important and troublesome annual weeds in crop fields around the world, causes extensive losses every year. The purpose of this study was to screen phytopathogenic fungi for biological control of this weed. For this purpose, firstly, 150 fungi were isolated from different soils in Iran. Thirty fungal strains were selected by consideration of their herbicidal activities against mature wild barley leaves. Common wheat was used as a negative control in all experiments. Finally, 6 strains showed necrosis lesions on wild barley leaves without any effects on wheat (control). The best result was achieved by Hcr99 isolate. Based on microscopic and Internal transcribed spacer-PCR (ITS-PCR) analysis, Hcr99 displayed 100% phylogenetically similarity to Pestalotiopsis vismiae (P. vismiae). 1×107 conidia/ml of P. vismiae showed the most suppression effect on weed seeds germination and rhizoid extension. Inoculum concentration of 1×106 and 1×107 conidia/ml provided significant results of weed controlling in greenhouse experiments. Host range study indicated that P. vismiae could induce disease symptoms in 4 weed plant species out of a total of 24 species belonging to 9 families.
Correlation of obesity indices with QTc interval and Ankle Brachial Index in young adult population

Background: In recent times, obesity has acquired an epidemic status world over and in India. The association of obesity with vulnerability to cardiovascular ailments and peripheral vascular disease are well deﬁned. The present study was designed to correlate between chosen obesity indices with electrocardiographic variables, Ankle brachial index(ABI) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in asymptomatic young adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study performed on 100 subjects, with equal number of male and female participants. Blood pressure, Electrocardiogram, pulse rate were recorded in the participants after resting for ten minutes. Waist circumference, hip circumference, height and weight were measured using standard protocols deﬁned by WHO. Student’s t test, ANOVA test and Pearsons correlation test were used to ﬁnd the signiﬁcance. Results: Among the randomly selected 100 subjects, 46% of male and female subjects were in the obese category (Body Mass Index >25.0). Almost 38% of male and 60% of female subjects had a Waist circumference more than the cut-off value. 28% of male and 88% of female subjects were found to have a Conicity Index (CI) more than the cut-off value. Leftward shift of the mean QRS axis correlated signiﬁcantly with increasing obesity indices in both sexes. A persistent increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed among obese individuals. Results in male subject show that CI correlated with QTc interval (r=0.71; p=0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.32; p=0.02). Results among female subjects show that BMI correlated signiﬁcantly with systolic(r=0.34; p=0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.35;p=0.01), WC positively correlated with systolic blood pressure(r=0.32; p=0.02) and there was a signiﬁcant negative correlation between WC and ABI (r= -0.42; p=0.002) and CI correlated negatively with ABI (r= -0.36; p=0.01). Conclusion: Abdominal obesity is increasingly prevalent among young adults. The measurement of ankle-brachial index by using oscillometric blood pressure instrument can be used in primary health centers and relatively unequipped clinics for provisional diagnosis of Peripheral arterial disorder and related disorders.
Within‐diet variation in rates of macronutrient consumption and reproduction does not accompany changes in lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Interventions such as caloric or dietary restriction extend lifespan in organisms spanning from yeast to primates. Despite its positive influence on longevity, dietary restriction has been found to negatively affect reproduction. Many studies have reported negative correlations between lifespan and reproductive characteristics (such as mating rate, fecundity, reproductive period, and others). Such correlation gives the appearance of a resource‐based trade‐off between these two life‐history traits. Here, we have used nutritional geometry to confirm previous findings in flies that dietary macronutrient balance (protein‐to‐carbohydrate ratio, P:C) impacts both lifespan and reproduction, such that across a series of diets differing in P:C, maximum lifespan was observed at a lower P:C (1:8) than that which supported highest fecundity (1:1.5). We have then addressed the question whether variation among Drosophila melanogasterMeigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) fruit flies in food intake and egg production within a single dietary treatment is negatively associated with within‐diet variation in lifespan, as might be expected under a resource‐based trade‐off. There was no such association between intake rate, egg production, and longevity. We noted that the smaller sample sizes and smaller inter‐individual variance apparent within — as compared to across — diet treatments may have weakened any signature of a trade‐off between lifespan and reproduction. Thus, we conclude that, whereas dietary macronutrient ratio is a primary determinant of both reproduction and longevity, neither eating less nor laying fewer eggs per se predicted lifespan. This supports the view that there is not a simple quantitative resource‐based trade‐off between lifespan and reproduction, but rather these represent life‐history traits with qualitatively different nutritional optima.
Principle of Neural Network and Its Main Types: Review

: In this paper, an overview of the artificial neural networks is presented. Their main and popular types such as the multilayer feedforward neural network (MLFFNN), the recurrent neural network (RNN), and the radial basis function (RBF) are investigated. Furthermore, the main advantages and disadvantages of each type are included as well as the training process.
Risk identification and modeling for blockchain-enabled container shipping

Purpose: Although being considered for adoption by stakeholders in container shipping, application of blockchain is hindered by different factors. This paper investigates the potential operational risks of blockchain-integrated container shipping systems as one of such barriers. Design/methodology/approach: Literature review is employed as the method of risk identification. Scientific articles, special institutional reports and publications of blockchain solution providers were included in an inclusive qualitative analysis. A directed acyclic graph (DAG) was constructed and analyzed based on network topological metrics. Findings: Twenty-eight potential risks and 47 connections were identified in three groups of initiative, transitional and sequel. The DAG analysis results reflect a relatively well-connected network of identified hazardous events (HEs), suggesting the pervasiveness of information risks and various multiple-event risk scenarios. The criticality of the connected systems' security and information accuracy are also indicated. Originality/value: This paper indicates the changes of container shipping operational risk in the process of blockchain integration by using updated data. It creates awareness of the emerging risks, provides their insights and establishes the basis for further research.