Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Functional Evaluation of RGD-Modified Proteins as r v â 3 Integrin Directed Therapeutics

Tumor blood vessels can be selectively targeted by RGD-peptides that bind to Rvâ3 integrin on angiogenic endothelial cells. By inhibiting the binding of these integrins to its natural ligands, RGDpeptides can serve as antiangiogenic therapeutics. We have prepared multivalent derivatives of the cyclic RGD-peptide c(RGDfK) by covalent attachment of the peptide to side chain amino groups of a protein. These RGDpep-protein conjugates inhibited Rvâ3-mediated endothelial cell adhesion in vitro, while conjugates prepared with a control RAD-peptide showed no activity. Radiobinding and displacement studies with endothelial cells demonstrated an increased affinity of the RGDpep-protein conjugates compared to the free peptide, with IC50 values ranging from 23 to 0.6 nM, depending on the amount of coupled RGDpep per protein. Compared to the parental RGD-peptide and the related RGD-peptide ligand c(RGDfV), the RGDpep-protein conjugates showed a considerable increase in affinity (IC50 parent RGDpep: 818 nM; IC50 c(RGDfV): 158 nM). We conclude that the conjugation of RGD-peptides to a protein, resulting in products that can bind multivalently, is a powerful approach to increase the affinity of peptide ligands for Rvâ3/Rvâ5 integrins.
The welfare implications of large litter size in the domestic pig I: biological factors

Increasing litter size has long been a goal of pig breeders and producers, and may have implications for pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) welfare. This paper reviews the scientific evidence on biological factors affecting sow and piglet welfare in relation to large litter size. It is concluded that, in a number of ways, large litter size is a risk factor for decreased animal welfare in pig production. Increased litter size is associated with increased piglet mortality, which is likely to be associated with significant negative animal welfare impacts. In surviving piglets, many of the causes of mortality can also occur in non-lethal forms that cause suffering. Intense teat competition may increase the likelihood that some piglets do not gain adequate access to milk, causing starvation in the short term and possibly long-term detriments to health. Also, increased litter size leads to more piglets with low birth weight which is associated with a variety of negative long-term effects. Finally, increased production pressure placed on sows bearing large litters may produce health and welfare concerns for the sow. However, possible biological approaches to mitigating health and welfare issues associated with large litters are being implemented. An important mitigation strategy is genetic selection encompassing traits that promote piglet survival, vitality and growth. Sow nutrition and the minimisation of stress during gestation could also contribute to improving outcomes in terms of piglet welfare. Awareness of the possible negative welfare consequences of large litter size in pigs should lead to further active measures being taken to mitigate the mentioned effects.
CONTRACTIVE PROJECTIONS ON C0(K)

We show that the range of a norm one projection on a commutative C*-algebra has a ternary product structure (Theorem 2). We describe and characterize all such projections in terms of extreme points in the unit ball of the image of the dual (Theorem 1). We give necessary and sufficient conditions for the range to be isometric to a C*-algebra (Theorem 4) and we show that the range is a Q-space (Theorem 5).
Targeting poverty to improve maternal health in Sokoto State,Nigeria

The health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period is a critical measure of maternal health while maternal mortality is an important indicator of the well-being of women as well as the performance of any state’s health system. Disparities in the provision of health facilities and the relationships between poverty and maternal health are two primary community issues in the Sokoto State of Nigeria. Using relevant data from secondary sources, this study reviews maternal deaths and assesses the availability and quality of health facilities in Sokoto State. It reveals that the percentage of births attended to by a skilled professional ranged from a high of 81.8% in the SE to a low of 9.8% in Sokoto, NW. Similarly, 90.1% of women in Sokoto, NW are more likely to give birth at home compared to 22.5% in the SW. This implies that with 81.2% poverty rate and 900/100,000 maternal mortality rate in the state there is a critical relationship between poverty and the delivery of maternal health services. Thus, to improve maternal health services delivery, the study advocates for more women empowerment programmes in the state. In addition, government needs to provide more funds for the provision of more efficient maternal health facilities in order to reduce the mortality rates of women and children.
On the well-posedness of the linear peridynamic model and its convergence towards the Navier equation of linear elasticity

The non-local peridynamic theory describes the displacement field of a continuous body by the initial-value problem for an integro-differential equation that does not include any spatial derivative. The non-locality is determined by the so-called peridynamic horizon δ which is the radius of interaction between material points taken into account. Well-posedness and structural properties of the peridynamic equation of motion are established for the linear case corresponding to small relative displacements. Moreover the limit behaviour as δ→0 is studied.
Fever: A Literature Review of Perceptions, Perspectives and Practices

Previous and extant studies on home management of childhood fever among caregivers in most contexts have shown that the perceptions, perspectives and common practices associated with fever have not changed significantly. Generally, caregivers in all contexts are still managing childhood fever aggressively due to fever phobia. In particular, caregivers in resource poor countries such as sub-Saharan Africa still have cultural believes about fever which often underscores the pervasive hybrid of traditional and inadequate orthodox approaches to home management of fever. There is thus need for culturally sensitive and competent health literacy interventions to mitigate deleterious impacts of perceptions, perspectives and common practices related to home management of fever universally.
Consumer Perception and Attitude towards Credit Card Usage: A Study of Pakistani Consumers

Consumer financing have become increasingly important in the private sector of Pakistan for the last two decades. With the new reforms in the banking sector, the marketing of financial products has become very competitive, creating a need for strategizing the marketing efforts. This study investigates the shift of Pakistani consumers towards the use of plastic money, with emphasis on credit cards. A survey of consumers holding (at least) one or no credit card were used for data collection. Variables related to demographics such as age, income level and gender have also been taken into consideration. This study makes (the) use of descriptive variables in terms of analyzing the general attitude about the use of credit cards and the factors contributing towards the selection of (a) one particular credit card over the other. A positive relationship has been found between the income level of a person and his/her possession of the credit card. While making the choice of a credit card the trust in a particular brand name seems to hold a very significant importance in the selection of a credit card, instead of the logo of Visa or Master card. The profession of the person seems to play a very interesting role with their behavior towards credit cards. Our study shows that the bankers hold negative attitude towards the use of a credit card. The moderating variables include the marketing campaign of a particular bank, sales teams support, openness from retailers for accepting credit card instead of cash, knowledge about the true interest rate imposed by the banks and the concept of Islamic mode of financing, etc. Based on our observations, suggestions have also been made for managers to refine the target market.
Geographical variation in carbon stable isotope signatures of marine predators: a tool to investigate their foraging areas in the Southern Ocean

Stable carbon isotope signatures (δ13C) are increasingly being used to determine the foraging habitats of consumers in the Southern Ocean. An underlying assumption is that a latitudinal gradient in δ13C values at the base of the food chain should also be reflected in organisms at higher trophic levels. Our main objective was to test that assumption by using penguin chicks (7 taxa) as predator models, because the feeding habits of provisioning adult penguins are well known during the chick-rearing period. As expected, a strong negative correlation was found between latitude and δ13C values of whole blood of penguin chicks. δ13C values ranged from –24.8 ± 0.5‰ in Adelie penguins living in Antarctica (67°S), to –19.5 ± 0.3‰ in northern rockhopper penguins living in the subtropics (38°S). Unlike δ13C values, stable nitrogen isotope signatures (δ15N) were not related to latitude but instead were strongly affected by penguins' diet, with fish-eaters having higher δ15N values than crustacean eaters. δ13C values also reflect more local spatial foraging segregation of penguins at a subantarctic archipelago (Kerguelen Islands), where they varied from –22.3 ± 0.2‰ for king penguins feeding in oceanic waters to –15.9 ± 0.3‰ for gentoo penguins foraging in an enclosed bay. Blood δ13C values moreover allowed differentiation of 2 sub-populations of gentoo penguins foraging in 2 different environments at Kerguelen. The method has 2 limitations related to the lack of longitudinal variations and to overlapping δ13C values due to different isotopic gradients (latitudinal and inshore/offshore) in the marine environment. The study nevertheless shows that the δ13C values of marine predators are efficient indicators of the foraging habitats at various spatial scales, both in terms of latitude in oceanic waters, and in terms of inshore/offshore gradients in waters surrounding subantarctic islands.
Relativistic Dissipative Accretion Flow onto Black Hole

Dissipations, e.g. heat flow and bulk and shear viscosities, cause the transport of energy, momentum and angular momentum, which is the essence of accretion of matters onto celestial objects. Dissipations are usually described by the Fourier and Navier-Stokes laws ("classic laws" of dissipations). However the classic laws result in an infinitely fast propagation of dissipations. In relativistic formulation, the classic laws of dissipations violate the causality, and hence no relativistic theory of accretion flow onto celestial object is formulated. In this short report, we summarize the causal dissipative hydrodynamics, so-called "Extended Irreversible Thermodynamics" (EIT), with a supplemental comment of which the original works of EIT are not aware, and then show two theorems about relativistic dissipative flows around a Schwarzschild black hole. By these theorems, a significant property of EIT in contrast with classic laws of dissipations is clarified, and a dissipative instability of an exact solution of relativistic perfect fluid flow is also obtained.
Interactive comment on “ Slight glacier reduction over the northwestern Tibetan Plateau despite significant recent warming ”

This paper deals with an interesting topic and the results can be very important to complete the picture on glacier recent changes in the high mountain chains of Asia. Unfortunately, this first draft of the manuscript is not acceptable to be published on the TC and I strongly recommend to reject it. The authors need to improve the analysis of their data and in particular the evaluation of accuracy and errors affecting their results. Only after this, they can re-write the paper (smoothing the English language by a mother tongue) and they can re submit it to TCD. More precisely the most fragile part of the paper are the glacier outlines they compared to evaluate glacier changes. In the paper they refer the older data (CGI1) derive from the digitalization of a topographic map featuring a very poor scale (1:100,000) and that such data were improved and crosschecked by analyzing aerial photos. The authors need to describe the quality of the aerial photos they used (mean scale, black and white or color photos, stereo
Finding Language in the Language Arts: Towards "Cognitive Language Arts.".

The language arts are constructed like a doughnut or a bagel, so that at their center where there might be something, there is instead a hole--emptiness. The dominant approach to understanding the nature of language--generative grammar--does not suggest a center for the language arts. An alternative approach to language and mind is "cognitive linguistics" or "cognitive grammar. " Mark Turner has outlined in a number of books a general approach to the study of language and literature based in cognitive linguistics which he calls "cognitive rhetoric. " A common project in cognitive grammar is often the intensive investigation of the occurrences of a single word. A central goal of Turner is to reinvigorate the study of language and literature as grounded in human cognition. Turner pursues his project by means of illustrative cases. Turner suggests other levels beyond "local" investigations of words and imagery at which knowledge of the structure and system in everyday cognition can and should inform more strictly literary inquiries. At another level, Turner suggests that the study of genre should be rethought. Turner also sketches an analysis of tense (in English) as an example of how grammatical constructions can be explicated in this framework. These ideas can provide the sort of center for the language arts that is currently missing. (Contains 21 references.) (RS) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************
Red-emitting Ba2Si5N8Eu2+ conversion phosphor: A new selection for enhancing the optical performance of the in-cup packaging MCW-LEDs

Abstract In this research, the influence of the red-emitting Ba2Si5N8Eu2+ convention phosphor on the optical performance of the 7,000 K and 7,700 K in-cup packaging multi-chip white LEDs (MCW-LEDs) is investigated. The effect of the red-emitting Ba2Si5N8Eu2+ convention phosphor is demonstrated based on Mie Theory by Mat Lab and Light Tools software. The research results indicated that the optical performance of MCW-LEDs was crucially affected by the red-emitting Ba2Si5N8Eu2+ phosphor’s concentration. This paper provides an essential recommendation for selecting and developing the phosphor materials for MW-LEDs manufacturing.
Off-line handwritten biometric recognitionbased on stroke direction distribution features

Off-line handwritten biometric recognition (OLHBR) is an authentication method based on writing features detected from differenthandwriting images. It remains a challenge for no dynamicwriting order can be used. In this paper, a method based on stroke direction distribution feature (SDDF) is proposed for OLHBR. The proposed feature is utilized for catchingthe distribution features of strokes, which are counted by a loop counting procedure. Then, the similarities between features are measured by the weighted Manhattan distance. In order to reduce the impact of the stroke thickness, two methods have been applied in our method. One is decomposing the whole contour into strokes. Another is ignoring the fragments not connecting the center pixel in a current loop counting window. At last, the experiments on ICDAR 2011writer identification database show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Technologies for Meeting Future Global Demands for Food

Food can be produced under a number of technological conditions. Some observers hold that modern crop production technologies, typified by those embodied in the Green Revolution, are so intensive in the use of external inputs that they damage the environment and so are not sustainable. Those observers argue that “alternative” technologies that use fewer, safer external inputs mark the path toward agricultural sustainability. But the question arises: will those alternative technologies permit increases in global food production on the required scale? In this paper, we address this question and the conflicting arguments regarding the answer.
Uniform Gaussian Bounds for Subelliptic Heat Kernels and an Application to the Total Variation Flow of Graphs over Carnot Groups

Abstract In this paper we study heat kernels associated with a Carnot group G, endowed with a family of collapsing left-invariant Riemannian metrics σε which converge in the Gromov- Hausdorff sense to a sub-Riemannian structure on G as ε→ 0. The main new contribution are Gaussian-type bounds on the heat kernel for the σε metrics which are stable as ε→0 and extend the previous time-independent estimates in [16]. As an application we study well posedness of the total variation flow of graph surfaces over a bounded domain in a step two Carnot group (G; σε ). We establish interior and boundary gradient estimates, and develop a Schauder theory which are stable as ε → 0. As a consequence we obtain long time existence of smooth solutions of the sub-Riemannian flow (ε = 0), which in turn yield sub-Riemannian minimal surfaces as t → ∞.
Anomalous terms in gauge theory : relevance of the structure group

After recalling the results of reference [1] on anomalous terms in gauge theory, we apply the algorithm producing these terms to two examples of structure group, respectively G=SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) and G=U(1)×U(1)×. ×U(1)=(U(1)) N (or more generally G=an arbitrary finite dimensional abelian Lie group). These two examples illustrate very clearly the influence of the structure group on the cohomology describing the anomalous terms Apres un bref rappel des resultats sur les termes anormaux dans les theories de jauge, on applique l'algorithme permettant leur calcul explicite a deux exemples de groupes de structure, respectivement G=SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) et G=U(1)×. ×U(1)=(U(1)) N , (ou, plus generalement, G=un groupe de Lie abelien de dimension finie arbitraire). Ces deux exemples illustrent particulierement bien l'influence du groupe de structure sur la cohomologie decrivant ces termes anormaux
Primary adenocarcinoma arising in esophageal colon interposition for corrosive esophageal injury: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract Background and study aims Colon interposition for benign strictures is associated with significant perioperative complications that carry high morbidity and mortality. Although rarely reported in the literature, adenocarcinoma can occur as a late complication in an interposed colonic segment. We report a case of a late-stage adenocarcinoma in a colonic interposition performed for benign esophageal stricture.
Discussion on the Sustainable Development of Rural Tourism in Inner Mongolia: Based on the Perspective of Rural Tourism Development

Since the 1960s, the rural tourism in European and American countries has become a large industry, rural tourism in China started to develop in the late 1980s. Based on the research on development patterns of rural tourism at home and abroad, the rural tourism development in Inner Mongolia can be divided into several patterns. The pattern of contempt agriculture and animal husbandry business income; the pattern of improving national culture connotation of rural tourism constantly; the pattern of mutual promotion of ecological leisure agriculture and animal husbandry and tourism; the pattern of several business fusion from the perspective of rural tourism industry. From the perspective of the rural tourism development patterns, the author proposed excaving rural tourism cultural connotation is the basis for sustainable development in Inner Mongolia; pay attention to the particularity of agricultural landscape, construct rural tourism activities ecological systems; adjust measures to local conditions, combine the rural tourism aesthetics with science together; pay attention to three parties participate in the rural tourism activities, especially to the Inner Mongolia local farmers and herdsmen. The rural tourism unique image should be set up soon and it will promote the sustainable development of rural tourism
Effect of an Oral Care Educational Program on the Knowledge , Practice and Self-Efficacy Among School Age Children

Oral care is only the tip of the iceberg of oral health literacy. For oral care instruction to be successful in improving oral hygiene practices, the recipient of this instruction must already have an orientation toward oral health promotion. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of an oral care educational program on the knowledge, practice and self-efficacy among school age children. This quasi-experimental study was implemented on 203 students in General primary schools in Port-Said city. A structured interview questionnaire form was used to collect data regarding children`s characteristics, knowledge regarding oral care, and their self-efficacy. An educational program was designed based actual assessment of knowledge, practice and self-efficacy regarding oral health among school age children. The evaluation of the program was done by comparing pre, immediately post to 3-months follow the program intervention. The fieldwork was carried out over a period of 12 months starting in the first week of September 2013 through the last week of August 2014. The results demonstrated that there were statistical significance relation between children's total knowledge, practice and selfefficacy with p ˂0.001 in pre, post and follow – up for each. The study concluded that training program has a positive impact on the children`s knowledge, practice and self-efficacy regarding their oral care. Hence, similar training programs should be implemented in similar settings. Further confirmatory research is suggested to reinforce dental checkup to prevent dental problems among children.
Debt crises, political change and the state in the developing world

Dealing with increasing foreign debt has become a key part of government strategy across the developing world, particularly in wake of the payment crises that have shaken south-east Asia, Latin America, Turkey and Russia over the past decade. This working paper seeks to analyze how the political systems in these countries have adapted to the grave problems created by unpayable debt, examining in the process the structure of modern global finance, the history of the state in the developing world, and the demands placed upon governments by sudden rises in poverty and general economic turmoil. Focusing on case-studies of Argentina, Indonesia and Zambia, the paper unpicks the dynamics of these crises, suggesting that certain states have managed to strengthen their freedom of action and authority by recasting their relations with the public at home and with foreign lenders.