Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scale mismatches in social-ecological systems: Causes, consequences, and solutions

Scale is a concept that transcends disciplinary boundaries. In ecology and geography, scale is usually defined in terms of spatial and temporal dimensions. Sociological scale also incorporates space and time, but adds ideas about representation and organization. Although spatial and temporal location determine the context for social and ecological dynamics, social-ecological interactions can create dynamic feedback loops in which humans both influence and are influenced by ecosystem processes. We hypothesize that many of the problems encountered by societies in managing natural resources arise because of a mismatch between the scale of management and the scale(s) of the ecological processes being managed. We use examples from southern Africa and the southern United States to address four main questions: (1) What is a “scale mismatch? ” (2) How are scale mismatches generated? (3) What are the consequences of scale mismatches? (4) How can scale mismatches be resolved? Scale mismatches occur when the scale of environmental variation and the scale of social organization in which the responsibility for management resides are aligned in such a way that one or more functions of the social-ecological system are disrupted, inefficiencies occur, and/or important components of the system are lost. They are generated by a wide range of social, ecological, and linked social-ecological processes. Mismatches between the scales of ecological processes and the institutions that are responsible for managing them can contribute to a decrease in social-ecological resilience, including the mismanagement of natural resources and a decrease in human well-being. Solutions to scale mismatches usually require institutional changes at more than one hierarchical level. Long-term solutions to scale mismatch problems will depend on social learning and the development of flexible institutions that can adjust and reorganize in response to changes in ecosystems. Further research is needed to improve our ability to diagnose, understand, and resolve scale mismatches in linked socialecological systems.
The Study of Self-employment at SMEs Level with Reference to Poverty in Developing Countries

This study endeavors to answer the research question; how self-employment at Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) level is related to poverty in the developing countries. During these efforts, we used the narrative literature review, methodology, to study related research stream in this domain to develop a better understanding of the phenomenon. Moreover, in the process Peter Ducker and Noel’s theory of entrepreneurship and Israel Kirzner’s theory of entrepreneurship reviewed to develop theoretical foundations of our research. In this research, we come to the observation that self-employment at SMEs level, somehow helps in fighting poverty in the developing countries. In addition, interestingly Information and Communication Technology (ICT) role has been significant in the developing countries from the context of gig economy, where the firms might not be found in yellow pages, but yet they are part of the economic system against poverty (Subrahmany, 2005).
Measuring the impact of soft and hard quality practices on service innovation and organisational performance

This study aims to examine the relationships among quality practices, service innovation and organisational performance of telecommunication operators in Pakistan. Quality practices were divided into soft and hard quality practices. Initially, the impact of soft quality practices on hard quality practices was studied; then the impact of each of these quality practices on service innovation and organisational performance was examined. The study tests if hard quality practices mediate the impact of soft quality practices on service innovation and organisational performance. Mediating impact of service innovation among quality practices and organisational performance relationship was also tested. A conceptual framework was formulated in order to test and establish these relationships. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the target population and data collected from 318 respondents were used to empirically examine the framework through structural equation modelling technique. The results of the study show that quality practices improve service innovation and organisational performance, while service innovation positively impacts organisational performance. Therefore, telecommunication operators should give importance to quality practices and service innovation in order to ensure improved organisational performance. The results of the study also confirm the findings of pervious researches on a similar subject.
Propagation of activated T lymphocytes from endomyocardial biopsy samples of cardiac allografts: Influence of the addition of recombinant interleukin‐4 to the culture environment

Abstract: In vivo, activated T cells can be propagated from endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) samples of cardiac allografts in cultures containing recombinant interleukin‐2 (rIL‐2). However, T cells are sometimes not propagated in such cultures, even when rejection is present, and at other times the yield of lymphocytes is too small to allow further studies of these graft‐infiltrating cells. The current study investigated the effects of the addition of recombinant interleukin‐4 (rIL‐4) to the culture environment. Cultures were performed on 532 consecutive EMB samples from 120 adult and pediatric heart transplant recipients. Each sample was divided into multiple fragments. Half of the fragments were cultured in media containing 30 U/mL of rIL‐2 and the remaining half were cultured under identical conditions but with the addition of 200 U/mL of rIL‐4. After 14 days, cell counts were performed, the cell phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry, and donor specificity and cytotoxicity were assessed using the primed lymphocyte test (PLT) and cell‐mediated lympholysis (CML) assay, respectively. Lymphocyte growth occured in 18% of grade 0–1a EMB in the presence of rIL‐2 and in 29% of grade 0–1a EMB in the presence of rIL‐2/rIL‐4 (p = 0.02). For higher‐grade EMB (equivalent to grade 1b), the proportion of positive cultures (≈ 39%) was similar in both conditions. For positive cultures, there was a 5‐fold increase in the number of cells in the rIL‐2/4 cultures compared to rIL‐2 alone (1.6 × 106 versus 3.4 × 105). Flow cytometry revealed an increase in the proportion of CD8+ cells in the rIL‐2/4 cultures (42% versus 23%, p = 0.004). Proliferative responses to donor antigens (as assessed by using the PLT) were comparable between the two groups, but donor‐specific cell‐mediated cytotoxicity was enhanced on addition of rIL‐4. Hence, addition of rIL‐4 enhances the propagation of donor‐specific T cells from heart biopsy samples, especially in the presence of minimal rejection. This will provide a greater quantity of material for further studies of graft‐infiltrating cells.
Factors That Contribute to Effective Community Health Promotion Coalitions: A Study of 10 Project ASSIST Coalitions in North Carolina

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the effectiveness of community health promotion coalitions. Member survey data from 10 coalitions formed as part of North Carolina Project ASSIST were analyzed at the coalition level to identify factors related to member participation, member satisfaction, quality of the action plan, resource mobilization, and implementation. The results suggest that coalitions with good communication and skilled members had higher levels of member participation. Coalitions with skilled staff, skilled leadership, good communication, and more of a task focus had higher levels of member satisfaction. Coalitions with more staff time devoted to them and more complex structures had greater resource mobilization, and coalitions with more staff time, good communication, greater cohesion, and more complex structures had higher levels of implementation. Neither member participation nor member satisfaction correlated with the other measures of coalition effectiveness.
Soft-tissue phase-contrast tomography with an x-ray tube source

We report the first experimental soft-tissue phase-contrast tomography results using a conventional x-ray tube source, with a millimeter-sized focal spot. The setup is based on a Talbot–Lau grating interferometer operated at a mean energy of 28 keV. We present three-dimensional ex vivo images of a chicken heart sample, fixated in formalin. The results clearly demonstrate the advantageous contrast attainable through phase-contrast imaging over conventional attenuation-based approaches.
Linear Aperiodic Array Synthesis Using an Improved Genetic Algorithm

A novel algorithm on beam pattern synthesis for linear aperiodic arrays with arbitrary geometrical configuration is presented in this paper. Linear aperiodic arrays are attractive for their advantages on higher spatial resolution and lower sidelobe. However, the advantages are attained at the cost of solving a complex non-linear optimization problem. In this paper, we explain the Improved Genetic Algorithm (IGA) that simultaneously adjusts the weight coefficients and inter-sensor spacings of a linear aperiodic array in more details and extend the investigations to include the effects of mutual coupling and the sensitivity of the Peak Sidelobe Level (PSL) to steering angles. Numerical results show that the PSL of the synthesized beam pattern has been successfully lowered with the IGA when compared with other techniques published in the literature. In addition, the computational cost of our algorithm can be as low as 10% of that of a recently reported genetic algorithm based synthesis method. The excellent performance of IGA makes it a promising optimization algorithm where expensive cost functions are involved.
Generating Conditionally Immortalised Podocyte Cell Lines from Wild-Type Mice

Background: Understanding podocyte biology is key to deciphering the pathogenesis of numerous glomerular diseases. However, cultivation of primary podocytes results in de-differentiation with loss of specialised architecture. Human conditionally immortalised podocytes partly overcome this problem, utilising a temperature-sensitive transgene. Conditionally immortalised murine podocytes exist, but are derived from the Immortomouse. Methods: Using retroviral temperature-sensitive SV40 transfection, we created a conditionally immortalised podocyte cell line from wild-type mice. Results: These cells develop characteristic mature podocyte morphology and robustly express slit diaphragm proteins. Functionally, these cells demonstrate comparable responses in motility and glucose uptake to human conditionally immortalised podocytes. Conclusion: Podocyte-specific transgenic mice are extensively used to study glomerular disease and this technique could be used to make podocyte cell lines from any mouse, allowing study at the cellular level. This will help characterise these disease models and add to the laboratory resources used to study podocytopathies and glomerular disease.
Change of refractive state and eye size in children of birth weight less than 1701 g

Aims: To determine the refractive status and ocular dimensions of a cohort of children at age 10–12 years with birth weight below 1701 g, and also the relation between the neonatal ophthalmic findings and subsequent refractive state. Methods: 293 low birthweight children who had been examined in the neonatal period were assessed at 10–12 years of age. The examination consisted of autorefraction, keratometry, and A-scan. Results of right eyes were compared with published normative data. Results: 293 of the birth cohort of 572 children consented to participate. The average mean spherical equivalent (MSE) in the low birthweight cohort was +0.691 dioptre, significantly higher than the control data (+0.30D, p = 0.02). The average change in MSE over the 10–12 year period was −1.00 dioptre (n = 256), but only 62.1% of cases showed a shift in refractive error of the appropriate magnitude and direction. The presence of any retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) increases the risk of developing anisometropia sixfold. Conclusions: Low birth weight and ROP both significantly impact the refractive state in the long term. At age 10–12 years children born preterm have an increased prevalence of all refractive errors. In low birthweight children refractive state is relatively stable over the first decade of life with a shift towards myopia of 1 dioptre.
Leverage As A Weapon of Mass Shareholder-Value Destruction; Another Look at the Low-Beta Anomaly

The 'low-beta' or 'low-volatility anomaly' is one of the most researched in the field of 'alternative beta'. Despite strong published evidence going back to the 1970s that high beta/volatility stocks underperform relative to expectations generated by the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), the anomaly still persists. The explanations given for this are all behavioural; that investor biases lead to overpricing of high volatility stocks. This paper shows that investor biases cannot be the explanation for the anomaly. Instead, it is proposed that the anomaly stems from a destruction of shareholder value. The strong implication is that the more market leverage a firm has, the more shareholder value is destroyed. Although the prevailing view for a long time has been that adding debt is good for shareholders, making balance sheets more 'efficient', there is in fact a considerable volume of evidence that the opposite is true; evidence which has been incorrectly interpreted for many years. Some possible mechanisms for this shareholder-value destruction are proposed.
Lateral Transfer of Genes for Hexahydro-1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazine (RDX) Degradation

ABSTRACT Recent studies demonstrated that degradation of the military explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by species of Rhodococcus, Gordonia, and Williamsia is mediated by a novel cytochrome P450 with a fused flavodoxin reductase domain (XplA) in conjunction with a flavodoxin reductase (XplB). Pulse field gel analysis was used to localize xplA to extrachromosomal elements in a Rhodococcus sp. and distantly related Microbacterium sp. strain MA1. Comparison of Rhodococcus rhodochrous 11Y and Microbacterium plasmid sequences in the vicinity of xplB and xplA showed near identity (6,710 of 6,721 bp). Sequencing of the associated 52.2-kb region of the Microbacterium plasmid pMA1 revealed flanking insertion sequence elements and additional genes implicated in RDX uptake and degradation.
In vitro effect of anti‐human immunodeficiency virus CCR5 antagonist maraviroc on chemotactic activity of monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells

Compounds targeting the chemokine receptor CCR5 have recently been approved for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Given the central role of CCR5 in inflammation and recruitment of antigen‐presenting cells (APC), it is important to investigate the immunological consequences of pharmacological inhibition of CCR5. We evaluated the in vitro effect of different concentrations of CCR5 antagonist maraviroc (MVC) on cell migration of monocytes, macrophages (MO) and monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (MDC) towards peptide formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP) and chemokines regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and CCL4/macrophage inflammatory protein‐1 (MIP‐1β) and CCL2/monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1). Results of flow cytometric analysis showed that monocytes treated in vitro with MVC exhibited a significant dose‐dependent reduction of chemotaxis towards MIP‐1β and MCP‐1. fMLP‐induced chemotactic activity decreased only at higher concentration (1 µM and 10 µM of MVC). In addition, all concentrations of MVC (0·1, 1 and 10 µM) induced in vitro a significant inhibition of chemotaxis of MO and MDC in response to all tested chemoattractants. No change in phenotype (CD1a and CD14) and CCR1, CCR4, CCR5 and formyl peptide receptor (FPR) expression was seen after in vitro treatment with MVC. These findings suggest that CCR5 antagonist MVC may have the in vitro ability of inhibiting the migration of innate immune cells by mechanism which could be independent from the pure anti‐HIV effect. The drug might have a potential role in the down‐regulation of HIV‐associated chronic inflammation by blocking the recirculation and trafficking of MO and MDC.
The Impact of Later Tracking on Mortality by Parental Income in Finland

We investigate whether later educational tracking reduced the intergenerational persistence of socioeconomic disparities in mortality in Finland,where the tracking age was raised from 11 to 16 in the 1970s. We use a difference-in-differences approach that exploits the gradual rollout of the reform. We find that late tracking did reduce disparities in mortality around the age of 50 by parental income for men. However, the longevity gains of men from low-income families seem to have come at the cost of increased mortality among men who grew up in high-income families. This raises questions about the welfare implications of the reform.
Cerebral circulation and metabolism in the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECT The mechanism of reduction of cerebral circulation and metabolism in patients in the acute stage of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has not yet been fully clarified. The goal of this study was to elucidate this mechanism further. METHODS The authors estimated cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), O2 extraction fraction (OEF), and cerebral blood volume (CBV) preoperatively in eight patients with aneurysmal SAH (one man and seven women, mean age 63.5 years) within 40 hours of onset by using positron emission tomography (PET). The patients' CBF, CMRO2, and CBF/CBV were significantly lower than those in normal control volunteers. However, OEF and CBV did not differ significantly from those in control volunteers. The significant decrease in CBF/CBV, which indicates reduced cerebral perfusion pressure, was believed to be caused by impaired cerebral circulation due to elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) after rupture of the aneurysm. In two of the eight patients, uncoupling between CBF and CMRO2 was shown, strongly suggesting the presence of cerebral ischemia. CONCLUSIONS The initial reduction in CBF due to elevated ICP, followed by reduction in CMRO, at the time of aneurysm rupture may play a role in the disturbance of CBF and cerebral metabolism in the acute stage of aneurysmal SAH.
Antimalarial Quinolines and Artemisinin Inhibit Endocytosis in Plasmodium falciparum

ABSTRACT Endocytosis is a fundamental process of eukaryotic cells and fulfills numerous functions, most notably, that of macromolecular nutrient uptake. Malaria parasites invade red blood cells and during their intracellular development endocytose large amounts of host cytoplasm for digestion in a specialized lysosomal compartment, the food vacuole. In the present study we have examined the effects of artemisinin and the quinoline drugs chloroquine and mefloquine on endocytosis in Plasmodium falciparum. By using novel assays we found that mefloquine and artemisinin inhibit endocytosis of macromolecular tracers by up to 85%, while the latter drug also leads to an accumulation of undigested hemoglobin in the parasite. During 5-h incubations, chloroquine inhibited hemoglobin digestion but had no other significant effect on the endocytic pathway of the parasite, as assessed by electron microscopy, the immunofluorescence localization of hemoglobin, and the distribution of fluorescent and biotinylated dextran tracers. By contrast, when chloroquine was added to late ring stage parasites, followed by a 12-h incubation, macromolecule endocytosis was inhibited by more than 40%. Moreover, there is an accumulation of transport vesicles in the parasite cytosol, possibly due to a disruption in vacuole-vesicle fusion. This fusion block is not observed with mefloquine, artemisinin, quinine, or primaquine but is mimicked by the vacuole alkalinizing agents ammonium chloride and monensin. These results are discussed in the light of present theories regarding the mechanisms of action of the antimalarials and highlight the potential use of drugs in manipulating and studying the endocytic pathway of malaria parasites.
Atrioventricular Node Ablation and Permanent Ventricular Pacemaker Implantation Without Fluoroscopy: Use of an Electroanatomic Navigation System

Fluoroscopic guidance is the standard tool used for transvenous pacemaker implantations and for electrophysiological and ablation procedures. It implies X‐ray exposure, occasionally with high dose of radiation for the patient and operator. We describe the case of a 47‐year‐old man with uncontrollable permanent atrial fibrillation to whom ablation of the AV conduction and a permanent ventricular pacemaker implantation were successfully performed under the guidance of an electroanatomic navigation EnSite NavX® system and with no use of fluoroscopy. This case illustrates the stand‐alone use of one of the new non‐fluoroscopic navigation systems for a complete procedure such as AV ablation and pacemaker implantation.
Isoform‐specific role of transforming growth factor‐β2 in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of murine adrenal chromaffin cells in vivo

Chromaffin cells, the neuroendocrine cells of the adrenal medulla, play an important role in molecular, cellular, and developmental neurobiology. Unlike the closely related sympathetic neurons, chromaffin cells are able to proliferate throughout their whole life span. Proliferation of chromaffin cells in vivo is thought to be regulated by the interaction of neurogenic and hormonal signals. Previous studies have shown that chromaffin cells synthesize and release transforming growth factor‐βs (TGF‐βs). In the present study, effects of TGF‐βs on proliferation and differentiation of chromaffin cells in mouse adrenal chromaffin cells were investigated in a genetic mouse model. We observed a significant increase in the total number of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive (TH+) cells in Tgfβ2−/− knockout mouse embryos at embryonic day (E) 18.5 compared with wild‐type animals (Tgfβ2+/+), but no changes in the number of TH+ cells were observed in Tgfβ3−/− mouse mutants. At E15.5, but not at E18.5, there was a marked increase in the number of proliferative cell nuclear antigen‐positive chromaffin cells in Tgfβ2−/− knockout embryos compared with the wild‐type group. On the other hand, there was a clear decrease in the ratio of total number of phenylethanolamine‐N‐methyltransferase‐positive cells to the total TH+ in Tgfβ2−/− mice embryos at E18.5 compared with wild‐type animals. This is the first documentation of the physiological significance of the TGF‐β2, an isoform that has been suggested to play a role in the regulation of chromaffin cells proliferation and differentiation based on in vitro experiments. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.