Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Responses of the putative trachoma vector, Musca sorbens, to volatile semiochemicals from human faeces

Background The putative vector of trachoma, Musca sorbens, prefers to lay its eggs on human faeces on the ground. This study sought to determine whether M. sorbens females were attracted to volatile odours from human faeces in preference to odours from the faeces of other animals, and to determine whether specific volatile semiochemicals mediate selection of the faeces. Methodology/Principal findings Traps baited with the faeces of humans and local domestic animals were used to catch flies at two trachoma-endemic locations in The Gambia and one in Ethiopia. At all locations, traps baited with faeces caught more female M. sorbens than control traps baited with soil, and human faeces was the most successful bait compared with soil (mean rate ratios 44.40, 61.40, 10.50 [P<0.001]; 8.17 for child faeces [P=0.004]). Odours from human faeces and some domestic animals were sampled by air entrainment. Extracts of the volatiles from human faeces were tested by coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography with laboratory-reared female M. sorbens. Twelve compounds were electrophysiologically active and tentatively identified by coupled mass spectrometry-gas chromatography, these included cresol, indole, 2-methylpropanoic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid and hexanoic acid. Conclusions/Significance It is possible that some of these volatiles govern the strong attraction of M. sorbens flies to human faeces. If so, a synthetic blend of these chemicals, at the correct ratios, may prove to be a highly attractive lure. This could be used in odour-baited traps for monitoring or control of this species in trachoma-endemic regions. Author summary Musca sorbens, also known as the Bazaar Fly, visits people’s faces to feed on ocular and nasal discharge. While feeding, M. sorbens can transmit Chlamydia trachomatis, the bacterium that causes the infectious eye disease trachoma. Around 1.9 million people worldwide are visually impaired or blind from this disease. Although it is believed that M. sorbens transmits trachoma, very few studies have looked at ways to control this fly. A large-scale trial has shown that control of fly populations with insecticide reduces active trachoma disease prevalence. Odour-baited traps for the suppression of disease vector populations are an attractive option as there is no widespread spraying of insecticide, however, highly attractive baits are critical to their success. Here we demonstrate that the preference of these flies for breeding in human faeces is probably mediated by odour cues, and we isolate chemicals in the odour of human faeces that cause a response in the antennae of M. sorbens. These compounds may play a role in the specific attractiveness of human faeces to these flies, perhaps by being present in greater amounts or at favourable ratios. These may be developed into a chemical lure for odour-baited trapping to suppress M. sorbens populations.
Selected aspects of psychological adaptation in the family in the face of the problem ofworkaholism

Workaholism as a phenomenon examined in theories of addiction is primarily associated with harmful consequences for the functioning of an individual. Along with the development of the psychological mechanisms of addiction, there are more and more difficulties in professional and personal life of a workaholic. These changes affect not only the addict, but also his or her environment, especially the family. Work gradually occupies a space that should be allowed for the family, causing not only the physical absence of the addict, but also the emotional alienation. A strong need to control, which is clearly realized in the area of professional activity, is also evident in interpersonal relations. As a result, relationships with family and friends largely come down to the verification and accounting for carrying out tasks and responsibilities. At the same time, perfectionism characteristic of the functioning of a workaholic overstates the standards and level of expectations in relation to family members. For children it means a risk of living under the constant pressure of tough assessment of a parent, and striving for being the best is associated with the only way to experience the attention and conditional acceptance. The situation of spouses of people addicted to work appropriately characterizes specific adaptation to workaholic behaviour, which in literature is described as codependency. It includes among others: taking over extra responsibilities which are not performed by a busy spouse, a sense of guilt enhanced by grudges of the addict, low self-esteem, lack of emotional satisfaction, loneliness.
Directing Traffic: Regulation of COPI Transport by Post-translational Modifications

The coat protein complex I (COPI) is an essential, highly conserved pathway that traffics proteins and lipids between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi. Many aspects of the COPI machinery are well understood at the structural, biochemical and genetic levels. However, we know much less about how cells dynamically modulate COPI trafficking in response to changing signals, metabolic state, stress or other stimuli. Recently, post-translational modifications (PTMs) have emerged as one common theme in the regulation of the COPI pathway. Here, we review a range of modifications and mechanisms that govern COPI activity in interphase cells and suggest potential future directions to address as-yet unanswered questions.
Fabrication of Integrated HBV Multipliers for THz Generation

The main objective of this licentiate thesis is to demonstrate silicon integrated HBV frequency multipliers for THz generation with RF performance comparable with InP technology. The choice of silicon is motivated by better thermal and mechanical properties, cost and ease of integration compared to III-V semiconductor substrates. Moreover, micromachining of silicon allows fabrication of membranes, antennas and waveguides suitable for THz frequencies. A W-band silicon integrated frequency tripler is demonstrated. Plasma assisted wafer bonding was utilised to integrate InP-based HBV material on silicon substrate. The transferred material was characterised using: atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and Auger spectroscopy. The maximum output power measured for this device was more than 180 mW, corresponding to 23 % of efficiency. For comparison, a monolithically integrated HBV frequency multiplier on InP substrate was fabricated and demonstrated. The peak effiency and output power for both the Si and the InP basecid tripler are comparable. Finally, a x tuned 175 GHz frequency quintupler is presented. The multiplier is based on a single HBV diode that is flip-chip soldered into a microstrip matching circuit. The circuit is fabricated from AlN substrate, a material that has a good thermal conductivity. This device delivers 60 mW output power corresponding to 6.3 % of efficiency.
Measuring and Explaining Patterns of Spatial Income Inequality from Outer Space: Evidence from Africa

This paper argues for night--lights data as an alternative data source for measuring spatial inequalities in Africa, where the paucity of subnational income data is persistent. The analysis compares the statistical relationships between income and lights-based measures of spatial income inequality in South Africa and shows that night-lights are a decent proxy for spatial income inequality. Further analysis of the patterns of lights-based spatial income inequality across 48 countries in Africa broadly reveals rising patterns between 1992 and 2013. Following the climate-economy literature, the analysis also reveals that temperature and precipitation changes significantly increased spatial inequality in the long-run and the effects penetrated through income and agriculture channels across countries in the continent. These findings provide important lessons for policy discussions about how to measure, explain the patterns of, and mitigate the potential drivers of spatial inequality in Africa.
2000: AGENT-BASED SIMULATION OF DYNAMIC ONLINE AUCTIONS

The need to understand dynamic behavior in auctions increasing with the popularization of online auctions. Applications include designing auction mechanisms, biddin strategies, and server systems. We describe simulations a typical online auction, where the duration is fixed, and th second-highest price is continuously posted and determin the winner’s payment. We modeled agents of exactly tw types, idealizations and simplifications of those observed practice: early bidders, who can bid any time during the auction period, andsnipers, who wait till the last moments to bid. This allows us to study the interactions of the two types of bidders during the course of auctions, and the e fects of the two strategies on the probability of winning, the final price, and the formation of price consensus in iterate auctions. Results show that 1) early bidders can win wit a lower price on average than snipers, but much less ofte 2) the late bidding strategy of snipers is effective; and 3 in iterated auctions, adjustment feedback of motivationa parameters can lead to effective price consensus with sm fluctuations.
Image Fusion Algorithm based on Sparse Features and Pulse Coupled Neural Networks in Wavelet Transform Domain

Multi-focus image fusion has become an advanced research topic in image processing field. The traditionalmethods that are commonly used wavelet transform, principal component analysis (PCA),pulse coupled neural networks (PCNN), which got some results, but they are not effective enough for focused regions. In this paper, an algorithm based on sparse features and pulse coupled neural networks in wavelet transform (WT) domain has been proposed. Robust principal component analysis (RPCA) combined PCNN are applied to low frequency of the wavelet coefficients, and spatial frequency (SF) combined PCNN are applied to high frequency components.The experiment results show that the method proposed not only improve the quality of the fused image, but also preserved clarity and information, which gives better results than the other techniques used.
Numerical methods for changing type systems

Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Unless otherwise explicitly stated on the manuscript, Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Please check the manuscript for details of any other licences that may have been applied. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or private study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge.
Distribution of viruses and their potential effect on bacterioplankton in an oligotrophic marine system

Diel and spatial variability in the concentration of virus-like particles (VLP) was determined in a transect from the coast to offshore in the western Mediterranean (? stations and 6 depths per station). VLP abundance in coastal waters was on average 1.6 X 107 VLP ml-l, in offshore stations this value was 1.2 X 107 VLP ml-l. At the coastal station there was no varaibility in VLP abundance, bacterial abundance or chlorophyll a concentration through the water column, while offshore VLP decreased with depth. No clear diel pattern was found in 3 representative stations where diel cycles were studied. Viral impact on the bacterial assemblage was estimated at 2 depths (surface and deep chlorophyll a maximum) of the latter 3 stations using 2 approaches: the percentage of visibly infected bacteria and viral decay rates in cyanide amended cultures. Visibly infected bacteria could not be detected in any sample after counting 300 cells per sample, implying that the percentage of visibly infected bacteria was lower than 0.3 %. Using the maximal conversion factor to convert this value to bacterial mortality we found that viruses could be responsible at most for 21.5 % of the whole bacterial mortality. We calculated a hypothetical viral decay rate if the maximal possible impact of viruses (21.5 %) were true. This value corresponded to 0.02 h-'. However, using the cyanide method to measure viral decay rate, no significant decrease could be detected in a total of 8 viral decay experiments. In conclusion, the percent of total bacterial mortality due to viral lysis in the oligotrophic northwestern Mediterranean was low, certainly much lower than 20%.
Assessing Awareness, Attitude, and Practice of Food Safety Among the Population of Quetta, Pakistan

Foodborne diseases are increasing at an alarming rate in Pakistan. An increase in gastrointestinal disorder outbreaks has demanded implementation of hygiene and quality practices. Food can initiate epidemics and serves as a growth substrate for bacterial and other food poisoning agents. This study evaluates knowledge, attitudes, and practices among food handlers in maintaining food hygiene in Quetta city. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to highlight gaps in food safety knowledge among the population. Survey results reveal the need for consumer education regarding safe food handling practices. Respondents belonging to every sphere of life participated in this survey. Food safety knowledge, practices, and attitudes of food handlers indicate that food-handling problems are needed to be addressed. Our research showed that respondents were aware of hygienic practices before preparing and eating food. However, more than half of the respondents were unaware that Salmonella typhi is a foodborne pathogen. We found 74% of the male and 26% female food handlers were unaware of proper hygienic practices. More than 65% of respondents had poorly developed sewage system which floods during rainy seasons causing a rise in these diseases. Our survey revealed the need for consumer education regarding safe food handling practices from purchasing food to dealing with home. Unhygienic food preparation standards, unavailability of clean water as major factors of food poisoning in third world countries. Microbiologists should take the load to ensure proper knowledge about food pathogens. Continuous education and training can strengthen food handler’s knowledge in required areas.
Impact of kaizen on firm's competitive advantage in a Japanese owned company in Malaysia

This study aims to investigate the relevance of kaizen in today's commercial and market situation in the non-Japanese-oriented social values cultures, specifically in multicultural Malaysia. A qualitative methodology has been used to investigate the role of kaizen and its effect through a semi-structured interview Japanese owned companies (JOC) in manufacturing sector. The study found that kaizen is perceived by the top management of the JOC organisations to be critically important to maintain its competitive position. The findings also suggest that kaizen application is not dependent on having the Japanese social-oriented values. Most importantly, the study finds that kaizen could strive and be deployed strategically in the Malaysian cultural work place to build organisational dynamic capabilities. Many advantages could be obtained from the predicated of the people's efforts in kaizen which often requires behavioural change in application including underscore the transformation of management. Kaizen uniqueness is in its unrelenting continuous development of people's competences, ideas management and never ending operational process improvement. This uniqueness can be very effective as the firms' internal resource to complementing the RBV strategic framework.
Design of Nanoscale 3-T DRAM using FinFET

In the world of Integrated Circuits, Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) has lost its efficiency during scaling beyond 32nm. Scaling causes severe Short Channel Effects (SCE) which are difficult to hold back. As a result of such SCE many alternate devices have been studied. Some of the major contestants include Multi Gate Field Effect Transistor (MuGFET) like FinFET, Nano tubes, Nano wires etc. In this work, the basic gates and memory circuits like DRAM are designed in HSPICE software using CMOS structure and FinFET structures are analyzed and their performances like average power, standby power dissipation and leakage power are compared. A 32nm technology FinFET model is used to design DRAM. Keyword: CMOS, Dynamic RAM, FinFET, Memory Cell, and Power Dissipation.
Las proteínas en la tolerancia al estrés hídrico en plantas

A lo largo de la evolucion, las plantas han desarrollado diferentes respuestas y adaptaciones que les permiten sobrevivir en condiciones de deficit hidrico. Estas estrategias de adaptacion pueden ocurrir a nivel fisiologico, celular y molecular. En este ultimo nivel, al modificarse la expresion genica, se producen diferentes proteinas cuya funcion puede ser: a) otorgar tolerancia ante una limitacion hidrica, actuando como moleculas protectoras, o b) senales regulatorias. El conocimiento de estas proteinas y sus funciones, puede ser utilizado por la Biologia Molecular y la Ingenieria Genetica, en la generacion de plantas tolerantes a las limitaciones hidricas, siendo un importante aporte a la produccion agricola en regiones con baja disponibilidad de agua.
Characterization of Tunicamycin as Anti-obesity Agent

Abstract － Adipocytes undergo adipocyte stress in the excessive presence of lipid. Adipocyte stress accompanies the typical signs of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress: unfolded protein response and overexpression of molecular chaperones. Apoptotic induction in adipocytes is known as a good strategy for treating obesity. The drug “tunicamycin” was tested for its therapeutic potential in inducing apoptosis on differentiating adipocytes of 3T3-L1. When the 3T3-L1 cells, stimulated for adipogenesis, were treated with tunicamycin, they showed typical ER stress symptoms. Despite progression in ER stress, however, the differentiated 3T3-L1 hardly proceeded to apoptosis based on the CHOP protein expression and FACS analysis. This is very different from C2C12, the myogenic counterpart of 3T3-L1, which showed significant apoptosis along with ER stress. This study also characterizes a potential mechanism whereby adipocyte may avoid apoptosis to sustain the pathological state of obesity. The level of GRP94 expression significantly upholds in 3T3-L1 under tunicamycin treatment compared to preadipocytes and C2C-12. When GRP94 expression was inhibited by siRNA, 3T3-L1 showed a higher level of CHOP expression compared to C2C12 cells. In conclusion, adipocytes exert an anti-apoptotic mechanism under ER stress caused by tunicamycin; thus, apoptotic induction in adipocyte is not a viable anti-obesity option. The unusual level of GRP94 may serve as a key role whereby adipocytes reach to the obesity level circumventing the apoptosis.Keywords: Adipogenesis, Apoptosis, ER stress, Myogenesis, Obesity, Tunicamycin
Effect of auxin treatments on male and female cuttings of Hippophae salicifolia

Hippophae salicifolia (Seabuckthorn) is one of the potential multipurpose underutilised plant species having huge multipurpose benefits including economic and ecological. Effect of different concentrated doses of auxins, on rooting percentage, number of root per rooted cuttings and root length of male and female stem cuttings was examined under open field condition. Results show that the cuttings pretreated with 50 mg L -1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) had best rooting traits (respectively for male and female rooting percentage was 50.00 and 76.67%, root number was 2.3 and 3.0 and root length per rooted cuttings was 2.5 and 3.5 cm). Therefore, cuttings pre-treated with 50 mg L -1 IBA is recommended for vegetative propagation through cuttings in H. salicifolia. Moreover, this study provides a significant lead towards the development of a simple cost-effective propagation technique for large scale cultivation and future domestication of the elite genotype for better nutritional security along with socio-economic upliftment and sustainable rural development in Indian Himalayan Region.
Deepening the Knowledge on Information Security Management in Developing Countries: Evidence from Ghana

Following the seamless integration of the internet with computer information systems and the rapid increase in the number of people worldwide who possess the skills needed to launch cyber-attacks on public communication systems, businesses and organizations can hardly assume adequate security by depending on anonymity and geographical location. The basis of this study deepens knowledge on information security management in developing countries . This study uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches to examine the information security management practices of Social Security and National Trust in Ghana. Findings from results from the study suggest significant indications of human factor vulnerabilities and threats to information security. Findings also suggest that high levels of vulnerability to an external attack. Other findings however indicate management level recognition of education and training as very essential in improving information security practices. Although the results of this study may not be generalizable, we recommend that the issue of education and training on information security management should be made top priority on the IT agendas of all organizations in Ghana. A further study is proposed to assess the value placed on information security management within the context of developing countries and the factors that influence these values. Keywords: Information Security Management, Cyber-attack, developing countries, computerization, security policy, security awareness, education and training
Trophic Position of Consumers and Size Structure of Food Webs across Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Do large organisms occupy higher trophic levels? Predators are often larger than their prey in food chains, but empirical evidence for positive body mass–trophic level scaling for entire food webs mostly comes from marine communities on the basis of unicellular producers. Using published data on stable isotope compositions of 1,093 consumer species, we explored how trophic level scales with body size, food web type (green vs. brown), and phylogenetic group across biomes. In contrast to widespread assumptions, the relationship between body size and trophic level of consumers—from protists to large vertebrates—was not significant per se but varied among ecosystem types and animal groups. The correlation between body size and trophic level was strong in marine consumers, weak in freshwater consumers, and absent in terrestrial consumers, which was also observed at the scale of local food webs. Vertebrates occupied higher trophic positions than invertebrates, and green trophic chains were longer than brown ones in aquatic (primarily marine) but not in terrestrial food webs. Variations in body size of top predators suggest that terrestrial and many freshwater food webs are size compartmentalized, implying different trophic dynamics and responses to perturbations than in size-structured marine food webs.