Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected subjects in a resource -- limited setting in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

Since the early days of antiretroviral therapy, adherence has emerged a milestone to success. The objective of this study was to evaluate the factors militating against adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected individuals in the resource - limited setting of the Niger Delta of Nigeria. A structured interviewer- administered questionnaire from consecutively recruited 187 HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy of two-nucleoside analogue; stavudine and lamivudine and one non-nucleoside (nevirapine) was used. Association between the independent variables and adherence were analyzed using chi square analysis. This study observed an adherence level of 49.2% and identified the following as factors associated with nonadherence: cost of antiretrovirals, educational status, medication adverse effect, occupational factors, and high pill burden of prescribed regimen (p African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13 (3-4) 2006: pp. 13-17
Conceptualizing Congressional Organization: The Legacy of Keith Krehbiel’s Informational Theory

A small-scale replication of Keith Krehbiel’s original test on the 99th Congress is carried out in this paper. This replication consists of four committees in the 112th Congress selected because of their symptomatic distributive tendency. The aim in this paper is to characterize committees as diverse in composition with heterogeneous high demanding members who possess different bits of information. Furthermore, this heterogeneity of membership is associated with a higher percentage of closed rules assigned to the committee by the House Committee on Rules. Though evidence supports Krehbiel’s assessment of committee composition, there does not appear to be a relationship between membership heterogeneity on committees and the number of closed rules it is granted. This article is available in Res Publica Journal of Undergraduate Research: http://digitalcommons.iwu. edu/respublica/vol21/iss1/ 11
Synthesis and Characterization of the Reduced Single-Layer Manganite Sr2MnO3.5+x

Abstract The nuclear and magnetic structures of polycrystalline Sr2MnO3.5 have been determined by the Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction data and electron diffraction techniques. The pure Mn3+ single-layered phase crystallizes in the primitive monoclinic space-group P21/c with lattice constants a=6.8524(3) A b=10.8131(4) A c=10.8068(4) A β=113.247(4)°. The oxygen defects form an ordered superstructure within the perovskite block layers consisting of interconnected MnO5 square pyramids, slightly different from those observed for the defect perovskites SrMnO2.5 and Ca2MnO3.5. Magnetic susceptibility studies show a broad transition at ∼280 K, which is attributed to an overall antiferromagnetic ordering of spins, which leads to doubling of the unit cell along [100]. The magnetic unit cell comprises ferromagnetic clusters of four corner-sharing MnO5 pyramids, which are antiferromagnetically aligned to other similar clusters within the perovskite block layers.
A review on reproductive strategies in two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus Urticae Koch 1836 (Acari: Tetranychidae)

This review summarizes some of the important reproductive strategies in phytophagous acarine pest, Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836. It is an economically important agricultural pest with a global distribution which feeds on a wide range of host plant species throughout the world. The rapid developmental rate, high reproductive potential, and arrhenotokous parthenogenesis in T. urticae allows them to achieve damaging population levels very quickly when growth conditions are good, resulting in an equally rapid decline of host plant quality. Moreover, webbing, habitat preference on the underside of leaves, ballooning and high dispersal rate provide additional benefit to the expanding populations of two spotted spider mite, T. urticae.
Does the AK Model Apply to the Chilean Economy? Time-Series Evidence for the Period of 1960-1998

This paper examines the relevance of one of the most important textbook of endogenous growth models. The AK model - chosen as a representative of an endogenous growth model - is applied and tested using Chilean annual data (1960-1998). Chile's case provides an interesting example of an economy showing a respectable growth rate that could either be characterized as endogenous or as neoclassical (transitional or steady state). The analysis revealed two main insights. First, when analyzing long-term growth, the time series should be purged from short-run fluctuations. This can be achieved utilizing a filter. Second, in principle, the differences between the AK model and the neoclassical growth model might not be so significant, making it difficult to discriminate between them from both a theoretical and an empirical point of view.
Essential oil of Tagetes filifolia against the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum and its relation to acetylcholinesterase activity and lipid peroxidation

The development of natural insecticides would help to decrease the negative impact of synthetic insecticides. Fumigant toxicity of essential oil of Tagetes filifolia Lag (Asterales: Asteraceae) and its major compounds were evaluated against Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The essential oil and (E)-anethole were the most toxic at 24 h against adult insects (CL50= 2.4 y 2.6 µL/mL water, respectively). Changes in the products of lipid peroxidation were evidenced by an increase in malondialdehyde content. Acetylcholinesterase activity in vitro, of T. castaneum adults, was also reported. (E)-anethole and estragole showed similar acetylcholinesterase inhibition (54 and 63%, respectively at 5 mM). The present study constitutes one of the first contributions to understanding the relationship between the insecticidal action of essential oil and oxidative stress.
TEXTUAL NORMS IN SOURCEAND TRANSLATED TEXTS

TRADITIONALLY THE LABEL GENRE HAS BEEN USED to distinguish different sorts of literary texts. Alongside this use it is currently employed to group together sets of texts that show certain common properties of general organisation. It seems that the notion, whose definition and range are still the subject of much controversy, belongs to a higher rather than to a purely internal linguistic levei. As Halliday puts it:
Optimized model of ANN using PSO for prediction application

A novel approach of incorporating particle swarm optimization (PSO) with artificial neural network (ANN) has been proposed for removing the demerit associated with ANN, viz. getting stuck in the local optima during training. The PSO-ANN model was capable of escaping the local optima and approaching the global optimum. The actual usefulness of the PSO-ANN model was tested using a dataset and the results were satisfactory.
Glycerin from biodiesel in the feeding of red-egg layers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vegetable glycerin on performance and egg quality of red-egg layers in the second production cycle. A total of 252 Hy-Line Brown layers weighing 1.919 ± 0.095 kg, at 90 weeks, were used in a completely randomized design with six treatments and seven birds per replication. The experiment lasted 84 days. Treatments consisted of a control diet (no glycerin) and five diets with increasing levels of vegetable glycerin (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%). The following variables were evaluated: feed intake (g/bird/day); egg production (%); egg weight (g); egg mass (g/bird/day); conversion per egg mass (kg kg) and per dozen eggs (kg/dz); percentages of albumen, yolk, and shell; eggshell thickness (mm); and egg specific gravity. (Y = 67.69 + 54.23X, R2 = 0.78) and egg mass (Y = 44.84 + 42.87X, R2 = 0.66) improved linearly with the glycerin levels. A quadratic effect was observed (Y = 114.11 + 336.96 X – 3,169.6 X2, R2 = 0.52) on feed intake. In conclusion, glycerin can be used to partially replace corn in diets for layers in the second production cycle at inclusion levels of up to 10%.
Bioefficacy of Zingiber officinale against Prostephanus truncatus Horn (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) infesting maize.

Maize is an important cereal crop grown in sub-Saharan Africa however, greater part of the grains produced is destroyed in storage by Prostephanus truncatus Horn (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). In this study, the bio -activities of Zingiber officinale rhizome (Ginger), was investigated in the laboratory against P. truncatus at different proportions (25%, 20%, 15%, 10% and 5% wt/wt) with Actellic dust insecticide as a reference insecticide. The highest proportions (25% wt/wt) of Z. officinale powder significantly reduced the survival of P. truncatus to 0% after 12 days of treatment and the LD50 of the dust was obtained as 6.72%. The oil extract of Z. officinale at different concentrations (700 µL/mL, 350 µL/mL, 175 µL/mL, 87.5 µL/mL and 44 µ L/mL) and Agricombi insecticide as the reference was equally evaluated for the following: contact toxicity on adult insect by dipping, grain residual treatment, repellency effect, effect on progeny and adult emergence in treated grains and damage assessment to grains. There was no survival (0%) recorded at 700 µL/mL both in contact and residual treatment of P. truncatus. The LD50 of the oil extract was obtained as 84.78 µL/mL. Grains treated with the different concentrations of Z. officinale oil significantly repelled in sects with the highest concentration of 700 µL/mL yielding 100% repellency. The least mean adult emergence of 0.0 was recorded for both concentrations of 700 µL/mL and 350 µL/mL in treated grains. Grain damage by P. truncatus was significantly reduced when treated with Powder and oil extract of Z. officinale compared to the untreated grains.
Brittle-failure controls on maximum sustainable overpressure in different tectonic regimes

Formation or reactivation of brittle faults and fractures within low-permeability rocks capping regions of overpressured crust creates drainage conduits limiting the degree of overpressuring. Maximum sustainable overpressure is therefore affected by the local state of stress within the capping layer and by any existing architecture of faults and fractures. Reshear of existing cohesionless faults that are favorably oriented for frictional reactivation within the stress field provides the lower limiting bound to overpressures and inhibits development of other brittle structures. Formation of drainage conduits by hydraulic extension fracturing is important only in the case of intact caprock under low differential stress. Brittle-failure-mode plots demonstrate that maximum overpressure is inversely related to the level of differential stress and that high overpressures are easier to sustain in compressional regimes. Changes in the regional stress state in areas of overpressuring (for example, during tectonic inversion) may induce significant fluid redistribution.
An Analytical Study of Short-Channel Effects of Strained-Si on Silicon- Germanium-on-Insulator (SGOI) MOSFETs Including Interface Charges

In this paper, an analytical threshold voltage model is developed for short-channel Strained-Si (s-Si) on Silicon- Germanium-on-insulator (SGOI) MOSFET including the effects of interface charges. The two-dimensional Poisson's equation is solved in the undamaged and damaged strained-Si and relaxed Si 1-xGe x regions to find out the surface potential minimum for calculating the threshold voltage. The results obtained from the developed model have been compared with the numerical simulation results obtained using ATLAS TM from Silvaco. The extent of influence of hot carriers induced effects in terms of interface charges and damaged s-Si/front gate oxide interface on threshold voltage roll-off and drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) have been studied.
Use of in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence to quantify short-term variations in the productive biomass of intertidal microphytobenthos

This study investigates the ability to use in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence to quantify the productive biomass of undisturbed microphytobenthic communities, defined as the photosyn- thetic biomass present in the photic zone of the sediment and actually contributing to measurable photosynthesis. The purposes of defining and quantifying productive biomass are (1) to evaluate the effect of the migratory rhythms on the variability of microphytobenthic photosynthesis and (2) to characterise the community photophysiological response independently of the migratory stage, through the estimation of biomass-specific, community-level photosynthetic rates. The possibility of using chl a fluorescence, as measured non-destructively at the sediment surface, to trace variations in the productive biomass of microphytobenthos was confirmed by testing (1) the variability of the relationship between fluorescence emission and chl a concentration under varying temperature and irradiance levels and (2) the effects of natural variability in the vertical profile of chl a within the photic zone of the sediment on the depth-integrated fluorescence signal, F, measurable at the sur- face. Dark-level fluorescence, F0, was found to allow for tracing variations in chl a concentration under the range of temperature and irradiance variability found in situ. Depth-integration of fluores- cence emission resulted in only a fraction of total productive biomass being detectable at the surface. However, this fraction was found to be sufficiently constant to allow for the use of F0 to proportionally follow variations in community productive biomass. On average, measurements of productive bio- mass on natural samples overestimated by a factor of 1.30 during low tide and underestimated by a factor of 0.66 during high tide, mostly due to variations in the chl a profile in the photic zone associ- ated with vertical migrations. The method was applied to intertidal microphytobenthic communities of the Tagus estuary, Portugal, by non-destructively measuring F0 (using pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry) and photosynthesis (using oxygen microelectrodes) on the same samples under in situ conditions. The results showed that a significant proportion of the hourly and fortnightly variability in the community photosynthetic light response was explained solely by variations in F0 associated with movements of microalgae, identifying migratory rhythms as the main cause for short-term variability in intertidal benthic primary productivity.
Reproductive Biology, Mating Behavior, and Vibratory Communication of the Brown-Winged Stink Bug, Edessa meditabunda (Fabr.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

We describe different aspects of the reproductive biology, mating behavior, and vibratory communication of the pentatomid Edessa meditabunda (Fabr.). This species shows lower copulation frequency and reproductive potential with longer sexual maturation period compared to other species of pentatomids. Females with multiple mating show increased fecundity when compared with single-mated females and both increased fecundity and reduced longevity when compared with virgin females. Courtship and mating behavior and vibratory signals are typical and similar to what was observed in other species of pentatomids, except that males started the courtship. These results constitute the first paper on biology, behavior, and vibratory communication among species of the subfamily Edessinae.
Amylase inhibitory and metal chelating effects of different layers of onion (Allium cepa L.) at two different stages of maturation in vitro

Researches on traditional medicinal plants are consolidating the belief that this system of medicine provides a viable alternative to conventional drugs for various free radical mediated diseases, e.g., diabetes. Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the oldest cultivated plants with multiple functional and biological properties. These are attributed to the presence of active phytomolecules, e.g . , phenolic acids, flavonoids (especially quercetin), cepaenes, thiosulfinates and anthocyanins. In the present study, outer layers (transitional layer with the first living cells below the dry onion peel) and innermost layers from two different sizes of onion were studied for their -amylase inhibiting activity, flavonoid content, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HRSA) and metal chelating activity. Our results demonstrate that the outermost living layers had higher flavonoid content (ranging from 40.27 to 45.0 mg), followed by a continuous decrease towards the inner part of the bulb (ranging from 29.10 to 31.81 mg). Outermost living layers of the onion extracts were found most powerful hydroxyl radical scavenger and having higher ferrous ion chelating effects compared to the inner layers with higher HRSA of outer layers of smaller onion. Differences in % -amylase inhibitory activity were also observed among different layers and sizes of onions, ranging 52.0 to 44.8% in case of outer layers and 36.00 to 39.12% in case of inner layers, showing high inhibitory activity in outer layers of onion (p < 0.05). Quercetin was a potent inhibitor with inhibitory activity ranging from 69.6 to 84.3% at different concentrations, respectively. The findings may explain the antioxidative and antidiabetic effect of onion and also foods containing quercetin.
Culturally relevant pedagogy : an ethnomathematical approach.

The implementation of a culturally relevant pedagogy in the school curriculum helps to develop students’ intellectual, social, emotional, and political learning by using their own cultural referents to impart their knowledge, skills, and attitudes. A culturally relevant pedagogy provides ways for students to maintain their identity while succeeding academically. In the context of culturally relevant pedagogy, there is a need to examine the embeddedness of mathematics in culture, drawing from an ethnomathematical perspective that takes on the cultural nature of knowledge production into the mathematics curriculum. Ethnomathematics and culturally relevant pedagogy-based approaches to mathematics curriculum are intended to make school mathematics relevant and meaningful as well as to promote the overall quality of students’ educational experience. In this perspective, the theoretical framework used in this article is Culturally Relevant Education Theory. Since Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and the Cultural Aspects of Ethnomathematics are interrelated to Culturally Relevant Education, this article is also framed by applying these theoretical approaches.
A high performance core for OSI management agents: implementation, simulation and performance evaluation

This article presents a proposal of a multithreaded core for an OSI/ISO management agents including its modeling, simulation and performance evaluation. The proposed model i s compared against another one (unthreaded core) which is the commonly adopted model by the most of the network management systems. All the modeling and simulation process were done at the a gent core level. Therefore the performance evaluation do not consider any effect of the communication layers, dealing with the performance of the activities related to the core of the agents applications.
Biodegradable nanocomposite for food packaging application

Biodegradable poly(lactic) acid (PLA)/clay nanocomposites were investigated to be used as food packaging material. Several techniques were used, rheology, mechanical, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), contact and biodegradability tests, to characterize the developed materials. The addition of organoclay improved PLA mechanical and biodegradable properties. Food contact test showed that the nanocomposites are able to be used as food packaging materials.
Comparison of the glucooligosaccharide profiles produced from maltose by two different transglucosidases from Aspergillus niger

Comparaison des profils en glucooligosaccharides produits a partir de maltose par deux transglucosidases differentes d’Aspergillus niger. Les preparations prebiotiques d’isomaltooligosaccharides (IMO) contiennent des α-D-glucooligosaccharides et la structure de ceux-ci est l’element majeur determinant le potentiel prebiotique d’un produit. Il est etabli que la selectivite de la reaction de transglucosylation depend de la specificite de l’enzyme et que le maltose et les α-glucooligosaccharides peuvent a la fois jouer le role de donneur ou d’accepteur de residus glucosyl au sein de la reaction. Deux enzymes commerciales, une glucosyltransferase et une α-glucosidase, ont donc ete testees seules ou en combinaison sur du maltose pur afin d’etudier leurs specificites et le profil en IMO obtenu. Les reactions ont ete suivies a l’aide d’une methode analytique amelioree AEC-PAD permettant la detection et la resolution de nouveaux IMO inconnus. La determination structurale de ces nouvelles especes a ensuite ete entreprise par le biais de leur temps de retention et leur abondance relative. De maniere generale, l’α-glucosidase possede une activite hydrolytique plus prononcee produisant des composes contenant moins de liaisons residuelles α-(1-4) digestibles telles que l’isomaltose, l’isomaltotriose, l’isomaltotetraose, le kojibiose et le nigerose, alors que la glucosyltransferase produit des quantites importantes de panose. Enfin, la combinaison des deux enzymes a permis l’obtention d’un profil en IMO intermediaire. La composition des sirops d’IMO s’avere donc dependante de la specificite de l’enzyme transglucosylante, ce qui permet de faire varier le profil en IMO du produit obtenu en jouant sur le choix des enzymes et leur proportion.
Detection of BRAF V600E Mutation in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Using High-resolution Melting Analysis in Decalcified, Paraffin-embeddedTissue

The oncogenic BRAF V600E mutation has recently been found in a substantial number of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) cases. We developed and validated a rapid and sensitive high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis–based assay to detect BRAF V600E mutation in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE), decalcified bone tissues, including 32 LCH cases and four primary bone lymphoma cases. BRAF V600E mutation was found in 18 (56%) of the LCH cases. HRM results were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Our assay is thus a rapid, sensitive, and low-cost way to detect the BRAF V600E mutation in LCH FFPE samples for clinical diagnostic use.
Analysis of magnetic forces in magnetically saturated permanent magnet motors by considering mechanical and magnetic coupling effects

Vibrations of magnetically induced origins are becoming more serious with the trend of high speed use in industrial applications. Vibration of motors with the rotor eccentricity, which may result from working allowances or errors in manufacturing processes, is a coupled phenomenon between mechanical and magnetic performance and dynamic characteristics of permanent magnet motors. This article investigates magnetic forces for interior permanent magnet (IPM) motors when the rotor eccentricity exists. An IPM motor, widely used in high speed applications, is significantly effected by the rotor eccentricity due to the magnetic saturation. Due to the magnetic saturation, amplitudes and frequency contents of magnetic forces for IPM motors are worse in vibration viewpoint than those for without the rotor eccentricity.
On properties of generalizations of noise sensitivity

In 1999, Benjamini et. al. published a paper in which they introduced two definitions, noise sensitivity and noise stability, as measures of how sensitive Boolean functions are to noise in their parameters. The parameters were assumed to be Boolean strings, and the noise consisted of each input bit changing their value with a small but positive probability. In the three papers appended to this thesis, we study generalizations of these definitions to irreducible and reversible Markov chains.