Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Extended Spectrum B-Lactamases Among Bacteria Isolated from Snacks Sold Within Kaduna State Metropolis Northwest Nigeria

Extended spectrumβ-lactamses (ESBL) are a group of plasmid mediated, diverse, complex, and rapidly evolving enzymes that are posing a major therapeutic challenge today in the treatment of hospitalized and community patients. Due to non-regulation of snacks, people are exposed to pathogenic bacteria. The aim of this study is to detect extended spectrum β-lactamases among bacteria isolates from snack foods sold in Kaduna metropolis Nigeria. A total of 144 samples comprising of meat-pie, doughnut, egg-roll, buns, samosa, burger and pizza were cultured on blood agar, McConkey agar and Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Defficient Agar, for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. The isolated organisms were subjected to biochemical tests for identification using standard procedures. The isolates were screened for Extended Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) production using the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) break point using ceftriazone (30µg) and cefotaxime (30µg). Suspected ESBLs producing organisms from screening tests were subjected to double disc synergy test (DDST) for confirmation and standard discs of Augmentin (30µg). Out of the 144 snack samples analysed, 24 Gram negative entericbacteria were isolated and these includes: Citrobacter freundii 6(25%), Echerichia coli 1(4.2%), Enterobacter sp. 2(8.3%), Klebsiella pneumonia 7(29.2%), Proteus mirabilis 1(4.2%), Serratia marcenscens 4(16.7%), Morganella morganii 1(4.2%), providencia sp. 1(4.2%) and Shigella sp. 1(4.2%). Detection of ESBL among Gram-negative isolates based on CLSI revealed that 16(66.7%) of the isolates were ESBL producers while 37.5% were confirmed as ESBLs producers using Double Disc Synergy Test. Statistically, there was a significant relationship between the different beta-lactamases producing isolates (P<0.05). It also showed a significant relationship between the occurrences of beta-lactamase producing isolates among the different snacks (P<0.05) This study indicated that snack foods can be contaminated by ESBLs producing bacteria and may result to infections following consumption by humans which have public health implications for the general public.
Studies on Seismicity in the Polar Region

During the International Polar Year (IPY 2007–2008), several seismological research studies have been conducted as a part of geophysical observations in bipolar regions. In this chapter, recent studies involving seismicity in bipolar regions are introduced on the basis of compiled data from the International Seismological Centre (ISC). The relationship between the present seismicity and the heterogeneous structure of the crust and upper mantle is discussed, together with a review of geoscientific achievements in terms of the tectonic history of the Earth.
Antecedents and Performance Consequences of Learning Success

Based on a sample of 168 organisations involved in international joint ventures, (IJVs) in Malaysia, this paper investigates the antecedents and performance consequences of learning success. Data was analysed using structural equation modelling. Results suggest that a learning orientation, IJV partner mutual dependency, management control, operational experience, and prior non-IJV experience have a positive effect upon learning success. Results also suggest that prior international experience has a negative effect upon learning success, and that those organisations that are successful in learning in the IJV have higher levels of business performance.
Purification and Characterization of Ligninase Enzymes produced by Pleurotus ostreatus during Solid State Fer

The production of ligninases including laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase from Pleurotus ostreatus was studied under different parameters during solid state fermentation. Maximum production of enzymes was observed after 7 days in SSF medium containing 5g wheat straw (66% w/w moisture) in still culture SSF. Different parameters had significant effect on enzyme production. Maximum laccase (455.11 U/mL) manganese peroxidase (210.77U/mL) and lignin peroxidase (54.50 U/mL) were produced when wheat straw (5g) at 66% moisture (w/w) receiving 4mL inoculum was incubated at pH 4.5 and 30 0 C in the presence of glycerol as carbon source 1%, (0.2% w/w) urea as nitrogen source, ABTS as an inducer for laccase and MnSO4 for manganese peroxidase, CuSO4 as metal ion for laccase and Mn + for manganese peroxidase. Both enzymes laccase and manganese peroxidase produced by Pleurotus ostreatus were purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and gel filteration chromatography and protein content was also noted. Purification results showed increase in purity upto 3.37 and 3.07 fold for laccase and manganese peroxidase respectively. The michaelis constant KM was 62µM and 33µM for laccase and manganese peroxidase respectively. The activators ABTS and MnSO4 proved good for laccase and MnP production. This show that parameter had significant influence on catalytic activity of ligninolytic enzymes produced through Pleurotus ostreatus.
Initial results from the 2004 ichthyoplankton survey of the North Sea

In 2004 an international consortium comprising England, Scotland, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Norway conducted an ichthyoplankton survey covering the whole of the North Sea in order to comprehensively survey cod and plaice spawning areas. At each station, ‘cod-like’ eggs were pre-sorted at sea from the plankton sample and preserved in ethanol for subsequent analysis using species-specific genetic probes. The remainder of the plankton sample was fixed in formalin and ichthyoplankton subsequently sorted and identified using traditional visual methods. The results showed stage I plaice spawning to be located in the traditional areas reported from the literature although with evidence of a more northward extension up the eastern edge of the Dogger Bank compared to data from the 1930s. The distribution of stage I cod eggs also conformed to historical patterns being most abundant around the southern and eastern edge of the Dogger Bank, in the German Bight, off the Moray Firth and to the east of the Shetland Isles. ‘Cod-like’ eggs were also found in southern Bight but this area was not as well sub-sampled for genetic analyses. Most of the ‘cod-like’ eggs on stations that were sub-sampled adequately in this region were shown to be whiting or other species. Data was also produced on the distribution of haddock eggs which were found over a wider region of the north-western North Sea than shown in historical maps. Whiting eggs were found south of the Dogger Bank and to the east of the Shetland Isles but were absent from the central North Sea. These results are discussed in relation to historical patterns of spawning and recent changes in the abundance of the North Sea plaice, cod and haddock stocks.
Impact of synthetic hormone 17α -ethinylestradiol on growth of microalgae Desmodesmus communis

Microalgae has recently attracted much attention as a feedstock for biogas. Using wastewater as microalgae nutrition is a way how to produce algal biomass with low cost and minimum impact on environment. However, wastewater often is polluted with chemicals like pharmaceuticals which are among the commonly used chemicals in everyday life. The present study was aimed at the toxicity evaluation of a commonly used synthetic hormone, 17α - ethinylestradiol, using freshwater green algae Desmodesmus communis as a biotest organism. Parameters like healthy cell number and photosynthetic activity were determined and used to assess the toxicity. Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC) and 50% Effective Concentration (EC 50 ) values were calculated for the parameters at different incubation times. It was found out that 17α -ethinylestradiol affects algal cell ability to grow, inhibits cell division and reduce photosynthetic processes in algal cells. Our research shows that inhibitory effect on growth of green algae D. communis start on concentration below 10 µg L -1 (4 -8 µg L -1). Concentrations in the range of concentration 80 -100 reduce growth by 50%, but concentrations 100 -500 µg L -1 induce 100% reduction of growth rate and even calls initial algal cell destruction. Presence of EE2 in wastewater used for algal growth can affect productivity of a microalgae aquaculture.
EFFECT OF TRIIODTHYRONINE ON IN VITRO MATURATION OF VENDACE (COREGONUS ALBULA) OOCYTES UNDER UNFAVOURABLE INFLUENCES

The ultimate control of fish oocyte final maturation by gonadotropin appears to be mediated through follicular synthesis of a steroid mediator. The mediator, identified in most teleosts as 17α-hydroxy20β-dihydroprogesterone (17,20P), is synthesized in follicular (granulosa) cells and it directly acts on the oocyte, triggering nuclear and cytoplasmic transformations leading to a fertilizable egg (Dettlaff 1977, Masui & Clarke 1979, Nagahama 1987abc). Both of these hormones, acting on the different structures of the follicle (oocyte + follicular envelope), can induce oocyte final maturation in a variety of fish species in vivo and in vitro (review: Saat 1985b). This allows experimental investigation of the responsiveness of each follicular component at different conditions. This approach has been used to study the differential sensitivity of follicular components to unfavourable influences in the chondrostean, Acipenser stellatus Pall. (Davydova 1972, Dettlaff & Davydova 1974, 1979ab, 1981) and in the warmwater teleost, Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch) (Saat 1985a). In both these species, the follicular epithelium cells lost their capacity to respond to hypophyseal hormones earlier than oocytes to progesterone, suggesting that the formers are more sensitive to unfavourable influences. In the stellate sturgeon A. stellatus, the follicular response to gonadotropin can be restored by the administration of triiodthyronine (T3) (Dettlaff & Davydova 1974, 1979ab, 1981). Thyroid hormones have been shown to enhance the oocyte final maturation also in teleosts (Hurlburt 1977, Epler & Bieniarz 1983, Sullivan et al. 1989), and therefore one can expect the same phenomenon in these fish. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of unfavourable influences and T3 on the follicular sensitivity to hormones in the cold-water teleost, Coregonus albula (L.), in vitro.
Production and Characterization of High Porosity Ti-6Al-4V Foam by Space Holder Technique in Powder Metallurgy

The present study was undertaken to investigate the production of a high porosity, biocompatible Ti-6Al-4V alloy by space holder technique using spherical carbamide particles, and to characterize the produced samples by compression tests and SEM images. The technique includes the following steps: mixing of 100-600 m m diameter spherical carbamide particles with irregular Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder of
A Water‐Proof Triboelectric–Electromagnetic Hybrid Generator for Energy Harvesting in Harsh Environments

Packaging is a critical aspect of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) toward practical applications, since the performance of TENG is greatly affected by environmental conditions such as humidity. A waterproof triboelectric–electromagnetic hybrid generator (WPHG) for harvesting mechanical energy in harsh environments is reported. Since the mechanical transmission from the external mechanical source to the TENG is through a noncontact force between the paired magnets, a fully isolated packaging of TENG part can be easily achieved. At the same time, combining with metal coils, these magnets can be fabricated to be electromagnetic generators (EMG). The characteristics and advantages of outputs from both TENG and EMG are systematically studied and compared to each other. By using transformers and full‐wave rectifiers, 2.3 mA for total short‐circuit current and 5 V for open‐circuit voltage are obtained for WPHG under a rotation speed of 1600 rpm, and it can charge a supercapacitor (20 mF) to 1 V in 22s. Finally, the WPHG is demonstrated to harvest wind energy in the rainy condition and water‐flow energy under water. The reported WPHG renders an effective and sustainable technology for ambient mechanical energy harvesting in harsh environments. Solid progress in both the packaging of TENG and the practical applications of the hybrid generator toward practical power source and self‐powered systems is presented.
Bootleggers, Baptists, and Televangelists

The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between tobacco manufacturers and the attorneys general of 46 states substituted a private agreement for the normal processes of regulation and taxation. They dramatically reduced the public's opportunity to participate in both and to hold accountable those responsible for regulatory burdens and tax increases. The MSA was the product of more than the standard "bootleggers and Baptists" dynamics that often propel regulation. The MSA represented the arrival of a new player that can euphemistically be called the "televangelist" - superstar class-action law firms that initially side with the "Baptists" but whose ultimate goal is a settlement that will deliver them enormous fees and political power.
Polymeric Bearings as a new base isolation system suitable for mitigating machine-induced vibrations

The present paper summarizes the preliminary results of the experimental shaking table investigation conducted in order to verify the effectiveness of a new base isolation system consisting of Polymeric Bearings in reducing strong horizontal machine-induced vibrations. Polymeric Bearing considered in the present study is a prototype base isolation system, which was constructed with the use of a specially prepared flexible polymer with improved damping properties. Dynamic oscillatory tests, during which a concrete base slab supported by four Polymeric Bearings was subjected to horizonal sinusoidal excitations characterized by different frequencies and amplitudes, were conducted in order to determine the damping properties of Polymeric Bearings and their effectiveness in mitigating structural vibrations. Equivalent damping ratios for every excitation frequency considered were determined using the experimentally obtained hysteresis loops. Final conclusions are presented and the results discussed.
Globally regular solutions to the $u^5$ Klein-Gordon equation

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Pilot surveillance of Clostridium difficile infections among patients with diarrhoea in medical facilities of Tbilisi, Georgia

1) Department of Communicable Diseases, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia 2) R.G. Lugar Center for Public Health Research, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia 3) Department of Infectious Diseases, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia 4) High Technology Medical Center, University Clinic, Tbilisi, Georgia 5) University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA 6) Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Invariant pseudo-differential operators on a Lie group

The invariant peendo-differential operators on a Lie gronp G with Lie algebra d3 are characterized in terms of a function on (~* called the Lie symbol. A calculus of Lie symbols is developed in terms of the algebraic structure of o. We also define global Sobolev spaces for non-compact groups.
Extracting and Analysing of Heterogeneous Features for Robust FRS

Collecting, cleaning, combining and analysing of data are in demand in all the fields for acquiring accuracy in their task. In biometrics, this process is done for smart and secured life by means of extracting and analysing data for recognition task. Huge volume and variety of data are effectively extracted and analysed with Matlab2015 to identify the uniqueness of attributes for better accuracy in recognition process. Heterogeneous set of features that are extracted from ORL face dataset are analysed with Nearest Neighbour Rule in order to identify the unique facial features for robust FRS (Face Recognition System).
The seven communication reasons organizations do not change

Purpose – Management attempts to transform organizations seldom succeed. This paper aims to describe seven common communication behaviors accompanying those failures.Design/methodology/approach – This paper integrates material from three recent communication and organizational change studies, recent change theory, and complexity theory to model communication and change processes. All the studies employed traditional ethnographic methods, but one study employed quantitative methods as well as part of a mixed methods design.Findings – Data describe six common communication behaviors during failed organizational change efforts. The combination of these behaviors suggests a seventh pattern. Communication during failed efforts seldom involves enough communication opportunities, lacks any sense of emerging identification, engenders distrust, and lacks productive humor. These problems are compounded by conflict avoidance and a lack of interpersonal communication skills. Members decouple the system, sheltering th.
Increasing the Probability of Discovering Improved Antiepileptic Drugs through the Use of Human Epileptic Tissue

Epilepsy affects millions of people world-wide with wideranging health and economic consequences [1]. A first-line approach to the control of epilepsy is through the administration of anticonvulsant drugs sometimes referred to as antiepileptics [2]. These medicines help control seizure activity but the evidence for controlling disease progression in patients is not firmly established [3]. There are many antiepileptics approved for clinical use [2] that dampen excitatory neurotransmission through different mechanisms including positive allosteric modulation of GABA (e.g., diazepam, valproic acid) and blockade of ion channels (e.g., gabapentin, lacosamide).
The Dispersion Characteristics of a One Dimensional Plasma Photonic Crystal Having Inhomogeneous Plasma Density Profiles

The dispersion characteristics of binary 1D-PPCs having inhomogeneous plasma in the unit cell are studied. Using the transfer matrix method the required dispersion relations are obtained. Here the linear and exponential plasma density profiles are considered and compared with the homogeneous plasma having uniform density profile. It is observed that the inhomogeneity in plasma layer highly affect dispersion curves. By comparing the dispersion curves obtained in all considered cases, it is found that the widths of band gaps and phase velocities are always larger for exponential density profile than the linear uniform density profiles in the considered frequency range.
Estimation of Nonlinear Functions of State Vector for Linear Systems with Time-Delays and Uncertainties

This paper focuses on estimation of a nonlinear function of state vector (NFS) in discrete-time linear systems with time-delays and model uncertainties. The NFS represents a multivariate nonlinear function of state variables, which can indicate useful information of a target system for control. The optimal nonlinear estimator of an NFS (in mean square sense) represents a function of the receding horizon estimate and its error covariance. The proposed receding horizon filter represents the standard Kalman filter with time-delays and special initial horizon conditions described by the Lyapunov-like equations. In general case to calculate an optimal estimator of an NFS we propose using the unscented transformation. Important class of polynomial NFS is considered in detail. In the case of polynomial NFS an optimal estimator has a closed-form computational procedure. The subsequent application of the proposed receding horizon filter and nonlinear estimator to a linear stochastic system with time-delays and uncertainties demonstrates their effectiveness.
algunas consideraciones sobre el modelo lineal multivariado

We consider the general linear model with the classical hypothesis. In particular we consider the variance analysis in two factors and we give explicitly the forms of the associated matrixes as well as the statistics of the likelihood ratio test for the null hypothesis. We obtain in a explicit form the distributions of the estimator under hypothesis of normality.
Eligibility, awareness and the application decision: An empirical study of firm participation in an R&D subsidy program

This paper analyzes the application for research and development (R&D) subsidies in Finland. Finnish firm-level data on applicants and potential applicants is used to characterize firms application behavior. In addition to analyzing the characteristics underlying application for R&D subsidies, this paper also examines the use of count data models in modeling the application for R&D subsidies. The findings of this paper suggest that firms that are the most likely to have eligible projects, are also aware of the R&D subsidy program. The results also suggest that the opportunity cost of applying is lower for firms quite at the beginning of their life cycle, and provide evidence that external knowledge is important in lowering the application cost. Industry level heterogeneity in application behavior seems to be related to the application activity of potential applicants rather than the awareness of the program. The model selection exercise indicates that in using a count data framework to model the application behavior it is important to take into account both unobserved heterogeneity and excess zeros. JEL Classification: D21, O31, O38
Original Article Incidence of β-lactamase producing gram-negative clinical isolates and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern: A case study in Allahabad

One hundred ten samples were tested for Beta-lactamase production, collected from different tertiary care hospitals at Allahabad. Out of the 110 patients samples, 89 (80.91%) isolates were found to be gram-negative bacteria. Of 89 clinical isolates from different samples, Escherichia coli was found to be most common organism (58.42%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.22%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.35%), Proteus vulgaris (3.37%), Proteus mirabilis (2.24%) and Enterobacter aerogenes (2.24%). A single strain of Candida albicans was also isolated. Of these 89 isolates studied, 48(53.93%) were found to be beta-lactamase producers. High incidences of beta-lactamase producing strain have been found in Klebsiella pneumoniae (61.11%) and Escherichia coli (57.69%). Beta-lactamase production was high among uropathogens, the high incidence of beta-lactamase producing strains has been studied in females and the frequency of Beta-lactamase production is considerably higher in children and in old age. All the Beta-lactamase producing strains were resistant to Penicillin-G while Imipenem was found sensitive to both beta-lactamase producing strains as well as non- producing strains. © 2011 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved