Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MENA countries: economic and political perspectives in the aftermath of the Arab Spring - an introduction

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s economies have always been characterized by economic volatility and social disparities. A long history of statedriven development led to a rise in human development, reducing poverty, but it also exacerbated social exclusion. Notwithstanding the reforms introduced in the 1980s and 1990s, the problem of social exclusion has not been solved in the subsequent decades. Such reforms, indeed, included largescale privatizations and reduction of barriers to trade and, together with the increase in oil prices, they stimulated growth in the Arab region, but only a small politically connected elite was able to access the benefits of the growth process. This same sense of economic exclusion and social injustice fuelled recent episodes of violence and protests characterizing the socalled Arab Spring. Between 2010 and 2011 the first mass mobilizations overthrew the government in Egypt and in Tunisia, while a wave of popular protests spread all over the MENA countries, although with different intensities and outcomes. In the short term, the socalled Arab Spring has increased political uncertainty and instability in the region, further exacerbating those socioeconomic problems that were among the root causes of the protests, causing the economic outlook in the region to deteriorate. In the long term, however, the effects of the Arab Spring are still uncertain. They could offer an opportunity to begin a real process of political and economic reform in the region. This uncertainty leads to a still weak actual macroeconomic trend, frail from many points of view.
Comparison of time‐integrated pesticide concentrations determined from field‐deployed passive samplers with daily river‐water extractions

The rate of release of three performance reference compounds (PRCs) from passive samplers when deployed in rivers with variable flow and temperature were compared with their release from passive samplers in a laboratory continuous‐flow system. The passive samplers used in the current study were constructed from low‐density polyethylene bags containing trimethylpentane solvent (TRIMPS). The half‐lives for release from the TRIMPS of the PRCs tributylphosphate, endosulfan sulfate, and chlorpyrifosethyl were 7.3, 20.8, and >75 d, respectively, when deployed in rivers, compared with half‐lives of 10.4, 26.5, and approximately 73 d in a laboratory flow system. The mean pesticide concentrations taken up by TRIMPS deployed for periods from 7 to 22 d in rivers adjacent to cotton fields were determined during two studies in the austral summer of 2000/2001 and 2001/2002. During the studies, mean total endosulfan and chlorpyrifos‐ethyl concentrations were also determined from daily river‐water extractions. Regression equations established in previous laboratory studies related the concentration factors into TRIMPS to the time of deployment for a number of pesticides, including endosulfan and chlorpyrifos‐ethyl. The laboratory‐derived calibration factors were used to determine the mean pesticide concentrations for each deployment period, and these were compared with the cumulative mean concentrations calculated from the daily extractions. The pesticide concentrations determined using the TRIMPS were within twofold of the cumulated mean of the daily river‐water extractions of endosulfan and chlorpyrifos‐ethyl for deployment periods of 7 to 22 d when the mean river‐water concentrations were >0.005 μg/L.
Dynamics of Stock Markets Interdependence in the Pre-and Post Global Financial Crisis Period: Evidence from Toda-Yamamoto Causality Test

This paper analysed the causal relationship between the three largest African stock markets; Nigeria, South-Africa and Egypt. The analysis was conducted for two sample periods using the index of the stock markets. The pre-crisis period between January 2000-April 2008, and the crisis/post-crisis period between May 2008-December 2016. The study employed Toda and Yamamoto robust causality test. The result from the study found evidence of no causal relationship between the three selected stock markets in the pre-crisis period. In the crisis/post-crisis period, we found a unidirectional causality from South-Africa to Nigeria stock markets. Beside this, there is no evidence of causal relationship between the stock exchange markets. Therefore, the study concluded that there is no strong difference between the causal relationship in the two analysed periods which signifies benefits of diversification between the three stock exchange markets.
A 32 x 32 element row-column addressed capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer

This paper presents characterization and initial imaging results of a 32 × 32 element two-dimensional capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer array. The devices are fabricated using a wafer bonding process in which both the insulation layer and the membrane are user-deposited silicon nitride. The transducers use a row-column addressing scheme to simplify the fabrication process and beamformer. By adjusting the number of rows and columns that are biased, the effective aperture of the transducer can be adjusted. This is significant because it permits imaging in the near-field of the transducer without the use of a lens. The effect on the transmit beam profile is demonstrated. The transducer has a center frequency of 5.9 MHz and a relative bandwidth of 110%. Images of horizontal and vertical wires are taken to demonstrate image resolution. A three-dimensional image of four pin heads is also demonstrated.
Numerical Analysis on the Magnetic Field of Hybrid Exciting Synchronous Generator

A hybrid exciting synchronous generator (HESG) is analyzed in this paper, including its particular structure and operation principle. A permanent magnet generator is used for providing the main output and a homopolar inductor alternator is used for regulating the terminal voltage. The electromagnetic field computation and the performance analysis of the HESG are carried out by using three-dimensional finite element method. A 1.5 KW, 2000 rpm to 9000 rpm, 8-pole and 9-slot HESG is tested to verify the flux control capability. Experimental results show that it is possible to obtain a voltage from 64% to 126% of the voltage generated only by PM with the adjustment of the exciting current. And the variation range of the output voltage can be narrowed greatly while the speed of the generator varies from 2000 mm to 9000 rpm.
Dual task based cognitive stress induction and its influence on path integration

Current stress induction methods are often too theoretical and do not reflect to real life scenarios. In this study, we used a dual task paradigm in virtual reality, combining a navigation task with a reaction task. With this setup, we aimed at creating a novel benchmark stress induction approach utilizing modern virtual reality technology. Results show that our paradigm induced small scale physiological and subjective state changes. Lastly, we discuss our paradigm and experimental results from the perspective of ecological validity and present suggestions for improving our stress induction methodology as well as potential areas of use.
Applicability of SSVEP-based brain-computer interfaces for robot navigation in real environments

Brain-computer interfaces have been extensively studied and used in order to aid patients suffering from neuromuscular diseases to communicate and control the surrounding environment. Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) constitute a very popular BCI stimulation protocol, due to their efficiency and quick response time. In this study, we developed a SSVEP-based BCI along with a low-cost custom radio-controlled robot-car providing live video feedback from a wireless camera mounted on the robot, serving as our testbed. Our goal was to quantitatively assess the applicability of SSVEPs in real time navigation in realistic environments using a pragmatic approach. In order to assess the additional fatigue that the camera video introduces, we designed a two-session experiment, a control one with no connection to the robot and, thus, no live camera feed, and a realistic one where the users could navigate the robot with the provision of front scenes, captured from the camera. Statistical tests revealed a significant decrease of the accuracy of the system during the realistic session that included live video, in comparison with the session that did not. The results suggest that the moving camera image sequence introduces an extra level of fatigue and/or distraction to the users.
Comparative Inhibition of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Thrombin Generation by Standard Heparin, a Low Molecular Weight Heparin and the Synthetic ATIII-Binding Pentasaccharide

Summary The inhibiting effect of standard heparin, CY216 and the ATIII-binding synthetic pentasaccharide on extrinsic and intrinsic thrombin generation were quantified by evaluating the decrease of the total amount of active thrombin appearing in plasma after triggering coagulation. Heparin as well as CY 216 produced the same quantitative inhibition of extrinsic and intrinsic TGs whereas pentasaccharide inhibited more efficiently extrinsic TG. This pattern of inhibition was further confirmed on pure extrinsic or intrinsic coagulation respectively in factor IX- and factor VII-depleted plasmas. Furthermore, selective suppression of the anti-thrombin activity of CY 216 by limited amounts of PF4 affected the intrinsic TG inhibition more markedly than the extrinsic one. It was concluded that anticoagulant activity produced mainly through thrombin scavenging leads to similar quantitative impairment of extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation, while selective ATIII-mediated factor Xa inhibition results in a more marked effect against the extrinsic system.
Colours of domestication

During the last decade, coat colouration in mammals has been investigated in numerous studies. Most of these studies addressing the genetics of coat colouration were on domesticated animals. In contrast to their wild ancestors, domesticated species are often characterized by a huge allelic variability of coat‐colour‐associated genes. This variability results from artificial selection accepting negative pleiotropic effects linked with certain coat‐colour variants. Recent studies demonstrate that this selection for coat‐colour phenotypes started at the beginning of domestication. Although to date more than 300 genetic loci and more than 150 identified coat‐colour‐associated genes have been discovered, which influence pigmentation in various ways, the genetic pathways influencing coat colouration are still only poorly described. On the one hand, similar coat colourations observed in different species can be the product of a few conserved genes. On the other hand, different genes can be responsible for highly similar coat colourations in different individuals of a species or in different species. Therefore, any phenotypic classification of coat colouration blurs underlying differences in the genetic basis of colour variants. In this review we focus on (i) the underlying causes that have resulted in the observed increase of colour variation in domesticated animals compared to their wild ancestors, and (ii) the current state of knowledge with regard to the molecular mechanisms of colouration, with a special emphasis on when and where the different coat‐colour‐associated genes act.
Professionalism : a study of English post-1992 university hospitality management academics

The term professionalism is endemic in the discourses of work and education. However, there is an absence of empirical work on professionalism with hospitality management academics in post-1992 universities in the UK. Changes have also occurred in the HE sector over recent decades but there has been no exploration of the impact of these on this specific group of practitioners. This research seeks to bridge this gap and contribute to a deeper understanding of professionalism in relation to these academics that have a relatively recent tradition in universities. This qualitative study does not seek to redefine professionalism, but focuses on examining and identifying specific aspects of the construct. Through a synthesis of different aspects of professionalism and a review of changes in legislation and university systems, a professionalism typology was developed. The typology was used as an analytical tool to describe the professional orientations of individual hospitality management academics. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with thirteen hospitality management academics, working in three post-1992 universities in England. Data were also gathered using mind maps and a reflective log. Inductive and deductive techniques were used to analyse and interpret the data. Findings indicate that the changes in the Higher Education sector are having a significant impact on hospitality management academics and their professionalism. As a result the professional orientations of hospitality management academics could be regarded as being stretched in order to meet the work demands made on them. This is causing conflict and tension as the pressure of economies of performance, associated with bureaucracy, managerialism and performativity in post-1992 universities collide with the ecologies of practice associated with scholarly ways of working. This research contributes to the debate about the professionalism of academics and supports a process of re-thinking their work tasks. It suggests that there should be changes in practice to strengthen the professional orientations of individual academics as part of maintaining standards in UK Higher Education.
Effect of sugar cane policosanol on lipid profile in primary hypercholesterolemia

Policosanol, a mixture of long‐chain aliphatic primary alcohols, is used as a cholesterol‐lowering supplement. The effectiveness of policosanol is still questionable. To determine the lipoprotein‐lowering effects of Cuban sugar cane‐derived policosanol a double‐blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial was performed. Sixty‐eight primary hypercholesterolemic subjects were enrolled and randomly assigned to the treatment or to the control group. The first group received sugar cane policosanol 20 mg daily for 8 weeks, while the control group was treated with placebo. All subjects followed a normocaloric diet. The content of policosanol in the supplement tablets was assessed by gas chromatography. A total of 32 subjects in the policosanol group and 31 subjects in the control group completed the study. Body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL‐cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol and triglyceride plasma levels did not change significantly in either group. In conclusion, sugar cane policosanol at doses of 20 mg daily showed no lipid lowering effects in subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GRB2 and phospholipase C-gamma 1 associate with a 36- to 38-kilodalton phosphotyrosine protein after T-cell receptor stimulation

GRB2, a 25-kDa protein comprising a single SH2 domain flanked by two SH3 domains, has been implicated in linking receptor protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) to the Ras pathway by interacting with the guanine nucleotide exchange protein SOS. Previous studies have demonstrated that GRB2 directly interacts with Shc, a proto-oncogene product that is tyrosine phosphorylated upon receptor and nonreceptor PTK activation. In this report, we detected low levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and induced association with GRB2 upon T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. Instead, a prominent 36- to 38-kDa tyrosine phosphoprotein (pp36-38) associated with the SH2 domain of GRB2 and formed a stable complex with GRB2/SOS upon TCR stimulation. Cellular fractionation studies showed that whereas both GRB2 and SOS partitioned to the soluble and particulate fractions, pp36-38 was present exclusively in the particulate fraction. This phosphoprotein had the same apparent mobility in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as the phosphoprotein that associates with phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1). Furthermore, following partial immunodepletion of GRB2 and of the associated pp36-38, there was a significant reduction in the amount of the 36-kDa phosphoprotein associated with PLC-gamma 1, suggesting that a trimeric PLC-gamma 1/pp36-38/GRB2 complex could form. In support of this notion, we have also been able to detect low levels of PLC-gamma 1 in GRB2 immunoprecipitates. We suggest that pp36-38 may be a bridging protein, coupling different signalling molecules to cytoplasmic PTKs regulated by the TCR.
Four simplified gradient elasticity models for the simulation of dispersive wave propagation

Gradient elasticity theories can be used to simulate dispersive wave propagation as it occurs in heterogeneous materials. Compared to the second-order partial differential equations of classical elasticity, in its most general format gradient elasticity also contains fourth-order spatial, temporal as well as mixed spatial-temporal derivatives. The inclusion of the various higher-order terms has been motivated through arguments of causality and asymptotic accuracy, but for numerical implementations it is also important that standard discretization tools can be used for the interpolation in space and the integration in time. In this paper, we will formulate four different simplifications of the general gradient elasticity theory. We will study the dispersive properties of the models, their causality according to Einstein and their behavior in simple initial/boundary value problems.
Institutionalizing Community Engaged Scholarship at a Research University

Higher education institutions are increasingly investing in community-university partnerships as a mechanism for strengthening relationships with the local community, expanding experiential learning (EL) opportunities for students, and supporting faculty in community engaged scholarship (CES). This organizational improvement plan (OIP) examines how a research-focused university can institutionalize CES so that faculty members feel supported and rewarded for their efforts to link teaching and research to community priorities. Using both transformational and distributed leadership approaches, as well as Kotter’s (1996) change model, in combination with Norris-Tirrell, LambertPennington, and Hyland’s (2010) social movement model, the proposed change plan focuses on organizational structure, and suggests two key changes are necessary: moving the CES office from the student affairs unit to academic affairs, and hiring or appointing a new senior academic leader to oversee the priority. Given the complexity of large-scale, university-wide change, the OIP will ultimately include three change cycles; however, this document outlines the first cycle, and strategically builds on the existing success of CES at the institution.
The actions of fisetin on glucose metabolism in the rat liver

Fisetin is a flavonoid dietary ingredient found in the smoke tree (Cotinus coggyria) and in several fruits and vegetables. The effects of fisetin on glucose metabolism in the isolated perfused rat liver and some glucose‐regulating enzymatic activities were investigated. Fisetin inhibited glucose, lactate, and pyruvate release from endogenous glycogen. Maximal inhibitions of glycogenolysis (49%) and glycolysis (59%) were obtained with the concentration of 200 µM. The glycogenolytic effects of glucagon and dinitrophenol were suppressed by fisetin 300 µM. No significant changes in the cellular contents of AMP, ADP, and ATP were found. Fisetin increased the cellular content of glucose 6‐phosphate and inhibited the glucose 6‐phosphatase activity. Gluconeogenesis from lactate and pyruvate or fructose was inhibited by fisetin 300 µM. Pyruvate carboxylation in isolated intact mitochondria was inhibited (IC50 = 163.10 ± 12.28 µM); no such effect was observed in freeze‐thawing disrupted mitochondria. It was concluded that fisetin inhibits glucose release from the livers in both fed and fasted conditions. The inhibition of pyruvate transport into the mitochondria and the reduction of the cytosolic NADH‐NAD+ potential redox could be the causes of the gluconeogenesis inhibition. Fisetin could also prevent hyperglycemia by decreasing glycogen breakdown or blocking the glycogenolytic action of hormones. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence that shed thyrotropin receptor A subunits drive affinity maturation of autoantibodies causing Graves' disease.

CONTEXT In Graves' disease, thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb) activate the TSH receptor (TSHR) causing hyperthyroidism. Serum polyclonal TSAb are difficult to study because of their extremely low serum levels. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine whether monoclonal TSAb possess characteristics previously reported for polyclonal autoantibodies in Graves' sera. DESIGN We studied monoclonal TSAb from three laboratories: six generated from mice with induced hyperthyroidism; and one, M22, a human autoantibody obtained from Graves' B cells. RESULTS All TSAb with one exception were potent activators of TSHR-mediated cAMP generation, with relatively similar half-maximal stimulatory concentrations. Like polyclonal autoantibodies, monoclonal TSAb were largely neutralized by conformationally "active" (but not "inactive") recombinant TSHR A subunits (the N-terminal cleavage product of the TSHR). Chimeric substitutions of TSHR amino acids 25-30 (the extreme N terminus after removal of the 21 residue signal peptide) abrogated the binding and function of all monoclonal TSAb but with one antibody (TSAb4) revealing a nonidentical epitope. Remarkably, these residues are uninvolved in the M22 epitope determined by x-ray analysis. Finally, flow-cytometric dose-response analyses, not previously possible with polyclonal TSAb, revealed that all monoclonal TSAb, human and murine, bound with lower affinity to their in vivo target, the TSH-holoreceptor, than to the isolated TSHR ectodomain. CONCLUSIONS TSAb function does not require antibodies with identical epitopes, and human autoantibody M22 may, therefore, not represent the full epitopic repertoire of polyclonal TSAb in Graves' disease. Most important, we provide strong evidence that the shed ectodomain (primarily the A subunit) is the primary antigen driving affinity maturation of TSAb producing B cells.
Ultrastructural analysis of five patients with total sperm immotility

Summary Asthenozoospermia has been related to structural defects of the sperm flagellum. However, few reports have studied in detail the ultrastructure of sperm with total immotility. We present an ultrastructural study of sperm from five patients with total sperm immotility, four due to dysplasia of the fibrous sheath (DFS) and one with situs-inversus. Of the four patients with DFS, three cases presented a hypertrophic and hyperplastic fibrous sheath that invaded the midpiece space, absence of the annulus, and a short midpiece containing a few disorganized and pale mitochondria. Of these cases, two presented absence of the central complex and radial spokes; another additionally presented absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges; and the other patient presented an intact annulus with a dysplastic fibrous sheath restricted to the principal piece with disorganized microtubule doublets. The patient with situs-inversus presented severe respiratory symptoms, with absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges. In conclusion, we present three cases with DFS associated with total sperm immotility, abnormal mitochondria, and absence of the annulus, central pair complex and radial spokes, of which one had in addition absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges. We also describe a patient, with total sperm immotility and a different presentation of DFS, as the annulus was present and the dysplastic fibrous sheath was restricted to the principal piece. These findings thus confirm the heterogeneity of the DFS condition. The changes observed in the patient with situs-inversus also further support previous observations.