Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Economic value of microbial resources

Undiscovered biological and genetic resources, in particular microbial resources, preserved in natural habitats, are potentially valuable sources for future innovation of pharmaceutical and other industrial products. However, there is no established method for evaluating the economic value of microbial resources collected from natural habitats. This is one of the reasons why a benefit-sharing agreement on microbial resources in the context of implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is difficult to conclude. This study examined the economic value of microbial resources used as screening materials for developing new pharmaceuticals. The economic value, which was estimated based on the sum of an initial charge and expected royalties obtained from pharmaceutical companies, resulted in US$2-60/strain, depending on their quality and value-added information attached to the strains. In order for source countries to gain a greater share of the benefits from microbial resources, they should, for example, build human and technological capabilities to isolate, preserve and characterize microorganisms and provide users with more value-added resources. For this purpose, emphasis should be placed on non-monetary benefit-sharing rather than monetary benefit-sharing in negotiating an access and benefit-sharing agreement with resource users in the context of the CBD.
THE EFFECTS OF MERITOCRACY FOR TEACHERS IN COLOMBIA

Executive Summary. In 2002 the Colombian government issued the Estatuto de Profesionalizacion Docente (henceforth EPD), introducing a new code for public school teachers. The EPD implements two main strategies in order to improve the quality of education; first, attract capable individuals to the teaching profession; and second, implement recurring evaluations so teachers that are not meeting the expectations are let go and accomplished teachers are promoted. In this report I ask three main questions: Has the EPD succeeded in attracting qualified individuals to the teaching profession? Has the EPD improved students´ outcomes? Is the new system to grant promotions awarding the best teachers? To tackle these issues I exploit the fact that when the reform was issued, incumbent teachers were allowed to remain under the old regime. This old regime provides much more labor stability, and its promotion policy is based on a fixed schedule. The gradualism of EPD´s implementation causes that even by 2009 we observe both EPD and non-EPD teachers in schools, allowing comparisons between these two types of teachers over different outcomes of interest.
Adherence and its Predictors among Patients with Heart Failure

© 2018 Nursing and Midwifery Studies | Published by Wolters Kluwer Medknow Background: Medication adherence is a complex behavioral pattern affecting treatment success. A stepping stone to improve medication adherence is to determine its contributing factors. Objectives: This study intended to evaluate medication adherence and its predictors among patients with heart failure in Mazandaran Heart Center, Sari, Iran. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted on 300 patients with heart failure who were hospitalized from January to March 2015. Sampling was done through the census method. Data were collected using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and were analyzed using the Chi‐square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean score of treatment adherence was 5.82 ± 2.54. Medication adherence had a significant correlation with education level (P = 0.012), number of children (P = 0.013), comorbidity (P = 0.002), ejection fraction (P = 0.046), and the number of tablets used per day (P = 0.001). However, it was not significantly correlated with age, gender, employment status, place of residence, income level, and the number of hospitalizations for heart failure (P > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that none of the demographic and clinical characteristics was a significant predictor of medication adherence. Conclusion: Medication adherence is affected by different factors such as education level, number of children, comorbidity, disease severity, and the number of tablets used per day. Nurses need to take these factors into account when developing care plans and patient education programs.
Do Menu Costs Make Prices Sticky?

This paper studies whether menu costs are large enough to explain why firms are so reluctant to change their prices. Without actually estimating menu costs, we can infer their relevance for firms' price setting decisions from observed pricing behavior around a currency changeover. At a currency changeover, firms have to reprint their price tags (menus) independently of whether or not they want to change prices. And if this is costly, firms' price setting behavior is altered in the months around the changeover. Using data from the Euro-changeover, the paper estimates that menu costs can explain a stickiness of around 30 days which is considerably less than the 7 to 24-month stickiness we observe in retailing and in the service sector. The reluctance of firms to adjust prices more frequently appears to be caused by factors other than menu costs.
Living Labs and designed serendipity: collaboratively discovering the UDUBSit & Mfunzi emerging platforms

Recent investigations into the paradoxical notion of designed serendipity position the concept within the research fields of design science, creativity and to a lesser extent digital innovation. In this study we contribute to the work on designed serendipity by analysing the role of the Living Labs methodology in facilitating and enabling serendipity. We specifically investigate that role within the context of two Higher Education cases within an African context. The two cases de- scribe the development of emerging digital platforms co-created within their respective contexts. The UDUBSit mobile application (developed at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa) and Mfunzi mobile application (developed at Mzumbe University, Tanzania) are analysed to de- termine the extent to which the Living Labs approach enabled observable instances of designed serendipity. This study presents a brief analysis of the causal mechanisms and contextual factors that combine to create designed serendipity within the context of the cases evaluated and within platform design. The study links these causes back to Living Labs as a design methodology. Key words: Living Labs, designed serendipity, emerging platforms
MODELAGEM DE UM SISTEMA DE CONVERSÃO DE ENERGIA EÓLICA PARA ANÁLISE DINÂMICA USANDO O ALTERNATIVE TRANSIENTS PROGRAM

In recent decades, wind energy has gained great prominence in various parts of the world. This fact shows the need to develop advanced studies in order to evaluate the dynamic behavior of modern wind turbines. Within this context, this work presents a mathematical and computer modeling in ABC reference frame of a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) using a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG). The functionality of the constructed model is verified through computer simulations of wind turbulences and load changes using the free software Alternative Transients Program (ATP), especially with its "MODELS" interface. Keywords: ATP, Load changes, PMSG, WECS, Wind turbulences. RESUMO Nas ultimas decadas a energia eolica tem ganhado grande notoriedade em varias partes do mundo. Este fato mostra a necessidade de se desenvolver estudos avancados a fim de avaliar o comportamento dinâmico de turbinas eolicas modernas. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho apresenta uma modelagem matematica e computacional no sistema ABC de um Sistema de Conversao de Energia Eolica dotado de um Gerador Sincrono de Ima Permanente. A funcionalidade do modelo construido e verificado atraves de simulacoes computacionais de turbulencias no vento e variacoes de carga utilizando o software Alternative Transients Program (ATP), especialmente por meio de sua interface "MODELS". Palavras-chave: Programa de transientes alternativos, Variacoes de carga, Gerador Sincrono de Ima Permanente, Sistema de Conversao de Energia Eolica, Turbulencias eolicas.
Scale‐dependent habitat use in a long‐ranging central place predator

Summary 1. It is predicted that the movements of foraging animals are adjusted to the hierarchical spatial distribution of resources in the environment, and that decisions to modify movement in response to heterogeneous resource distribution are scale-dependent. Thus, controlling for spatial scales of interaction with environment is critical for a better understanding of habitat selection, which is likely to follow scale-dependent processes. 2. Here we study the scales of interactions and habitat selection in a long-ranging marine predator foraging from a central place, the yellow-nosed albatross. We use firstpassage time analysis to identify the scales of interaction with environmental variables and compositional analysis to study habitat selection. 3. Of 26 birds, 22 adopted an area restricted search (ARS) at a scale of 130 ± 85 km, and 11 of these 22 birds adopted a second, nested ARS scale at 34 ± 20 km. Habitat use differed according to the spatial scale considered. At the oceanic basin macro-scale, birds foraged in pelagic, subtropical waters. Birds commuted to the ARS zones after a c. 1500-km trip to reach predictable turbulence zones from Agulhas return current, where primary productivity was enhanced at large scale. At a smaller, meso-scale, birds increased their search effort according to sea surface height anomalies (SSHa) and chlorophyll- a concentrations (Chl- a ), indicating association with productive cyclonic eddies. 4. Among birds, differences in search pattern were noted: 11 birds concentrated their search effort directly at a small scale of 77 ± 22 km, avoiding anticyclonic eddies. The 11 other birds showed two scales of ARS pattern: (i) first at 180 ± 90 km with a preference for high Chl- a concentrations but unrelated to SSHa; and (ii) secondly at a nested scale at 34 ± 20 km related exclusively to SSHa where prey patches were expected to be distributed at this scale. This second group of birds appeared to be less efficient, spending more time at sea for the same mass gain than the first group. 5. Our study is the first to demonstrate scale-dependent adjustments, with interindividual variability, in relation to environmental features for predators with a central-place constraint.
Fracture‐related intracrystalline transformation of olivine to ringwoodite in the shocked Sixiangkou meteorite

Abstract— Magnesium‐iron olivine in the Sixiangkou L6 chondrite contains abundant fractures induced by plastic deformation during shock metamorphism. This study reports the discovery of lamellar ringwoodite that incoherently nucleated and grew along planar and irregular fractures in olivine. Magnesium‐iron interdiffusion took place between olivine matrix and crystallizing ringwoodite at high pressures and high temperatures, which resulted in higher FeO content in ringwoodite lamellae than in olivine. This suggests that a quasi‐hydrostatic high pressure lasting for several minutes should have been produced in the shock veins of the meteorite. The intracrystalline transformation of olivine to ringwoodite also has implications for phase transitions in subducting lithospheric slabs because planar and irregular fractures are commonly produced in olivine that suffered plastic deformation.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Vaccination Imprints on T-Cell Dynamics Associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Challenge in Rhesus Monkeys

Non-human primate models aid to design novel vaccine strategies. We analyzed therefore the dynamics of cellular immune responses induced by a bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) / recombinant BCG (rBCG, perfringolysin plus Ag85A/B, TB10.4) prime, subsequent adenoviral (Ad35 expressing Ag85A/B and TB10.4) boosts followed by a challenge with M. tuberculosis (Mtb, Erdman strain) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from rhesus macaques. T-cell compartment mobilization was defined by CD45RA/CCR7/CD27/CD28 expression on CD4+, CD8αα+ and CD8αβ+ T-cells and functional analysis (STAT-5 phosphorylation) was carried out using multicolor flow cytometry. CD4+ as well as CD8+ T-cells showed a marked decrease in IL-7 receptor alpha-chain (IL-7Rα) expression in vaccinated animals (n=12/12) after the first adenoviral boost, but not in control animals (who received saline). BCG- and rBCG- vaccinated animals showed a dramatic decrease of precursor (CD45RA+CCR7+) and subsequent increase of activated central memory (CD45RA-CCR7+) T-cells in the CD4+, CD8αα+ and CD8αβ+ T-cell compartments 2 weeks after Mtb challenge. In contrast, this pattern was observed in control animals only 7 weeks after Mtb challenge. Expression of IL-7Rα was markedly reduced in CD4+ T-cell subsets two weeks after Mtb challenge in BCG-vaccinated animals, yet not in rBCG-vaccinated animals or control animals. These data show that vaccination profoundly shapes the dynamics of immune memory T-cells associated with Mtb infection.
A Novel Wideband Multilayered Microstrip Antenna with Shorting Pins and Arc-Shaped Apertures Loaded

A novel wideband multilayered microstrip antennas with shorting pins and arc-shaped apertures loaded is designed and fabricated. The antenna consists of two dielectric substrates and a quasi H-shaped circular patch with flve shorting pins and four arc-shaped apertures loaded on the upper layer. Multiple layers are employed to achieve wide bandwidth by stacked electromagnetic coupling. The arc-shaped apertures and shorting pins are used to excite multiple modes, which can change the cavity's electromagnetic characteristic by in∞uencing the series-parallel connection inductance, so that the wide bandwidth is obtained. Efiects of the key parameters on the wideband performance are also studied, and a set of optimum values is chosen for the antenna design. The impedance bandwidth (VSWR < 2:0) of the proposed antenna reaches 2.59GHz with the measured results, which means the relative impedance bandwidth is expanded up to 34.7% across 6.17 to 8.76GHz. Simulation results agree well with measured ones.
Real valued functions and metric spaces quasi-isometric to trees

We prove that if X is a complete geodesic metric space with uniformly generated first homology group and $f: X\to R$ is metrically proper on the connected components and bornologous, then X is quasi-isometric to a tree. Using this and adapting the definition of hyperbolic approximation we obtain an intrinsic sufficent condition for a metric space to be PQ-symmetric to an ultrametric space.
Magnetic, geochemical and DNA properties of highly magnetic soils in England

SUMMARY A range of mineral magnetic, Mossbauer, geochemical, microscopy and molecular biological techniques are applied to a small set of bulk and fine fractions of highly magnetic English topsoils that overlie weakly magnetic sedimentary geologies. Results show that the ferrimagnetic component of highly enhanced surface soils is dominated by superparamagnetic (SP) grains with a minor proportion of larger stable single- domain/pseudo-single-domain (SSD/PSD) grains that may derive from magnetosomes and magnetic inclusions. DNA screening of the soils by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) shows that the concentration of viable magnetotactic bacteria is too low (normally <10 2 bacteria g x1 ) to explain the high concentrations of ferrimagnetic minerals observed. There does not appear to be any strong causative relationship between the presence or concentration of Magnetospirillum sp. and soil magnetic properties. Microcosm experiments were able to show that the destructive effects of waterlogging on secondary ferrimagnetic mineral (SFM) formation are rapid and associated with significant changes in bacterial populations. The combined results are used to examine alternative explanations for SFM formation and are consistent with previous findings (Dearing et al. 1996b, 1997) that ferrihydrite may be an important precursor of bacterially mediated magnetite in strongly magnetic temperate soils—a process driven by the rate of Fe flux to the biologically active surface soil.
Prevalence and pattern of injuries among varsity basketball players

Basketball is a most popular competitive sport, presenting a high incidence of contact and movement injuries and this consequently increases the risk of sports injury. Objective: to determine the prevalence and pattern of injuries involved in varsity basketball players. Methods: The study involving 84 varsity basketball players (38 boys and 36 girls; with age range 17 – 28 years). Injuries to players during 2014–2016 seasons were registered by using a questionnaire. Results: A total of 68 injuries were recorded with an incidence of 80.95 injuries per 100 participants with the highest incidence being noted during competition same for boys and girls. Jumping/landing was the most common cause of injury (25%, N =17), followed by collision (20.50%, N = 14). Most of the injuries were at the lower extremities (62%, N = 42); with majority at the knee joint (26%, N = 18) and ankle/foot (19%, N = 13). Ligament sprain was the most common types of injury (41%, N = 28). Most injuries (N = 49, 72.6%) occurred in the offensive half of the court and cryotherapy was the most frequently used management modality. Conclusion: The overall incidence of injury among varsity basketball players was 80.95 injuries per 100 participants. The male gender exhibited a greater risk of injury than the female gender. Majority of the injuries were to the lower extremities and knee and ligament sprains were the most reported injuries. Exercise-based injury prevention programmes intended at improving strength and neuromuscular control may help to reduce the incidence of injuries.
Levels of Concern about Water Problems in Five Arab Countries

Levels of concern about water problems in five Arab countries including Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait are examined in this study. Opinions about water pollution, underground water, desalinated water, and an inadequate management of wastewater were explored. In particular, respondents were asked whether they agree that: (a) water problems are very serious environmental problems, and (b) whether these problems deemed to be the most serious environmental problems in their countries. Results show that while most of water-related problems were considered serious, almost none of them were seen as the most serious environmental problem. All, but the Saudi sample believed that Ozone layer depletion, not water, is the most serious environmental problem in these five countries.
Examining discriminatory procurement practices in developing countries

Developing countries face a problem of making a decision of opening up public procurement markets to all suppliers irrespective of their country of origin. The perceived benefit of opening up procurement markets (non-discriminatory practices) is that it enhances competitiveness, leading to efficient public resources utilisation. Governments discriminating against foreign firms in favour of local suppliers are motivated by the desire to achieve benefits such as, stimulating infant industries, fostering underdeveloped regions and creating employment. This paper examines both arguments and makes recommendations as to how developing countries could open up procurement markets without losing their social and economic objectives.
Meal frequency in Iranian children and adolescents at national and sub-national levels: the CASPIAN-IV study.

1. Dept. of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Noncommunicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran 2. Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 3. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 4. Dept. of Pediatrics, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran 5. Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 6. Dept. of Health Services Management, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 7. Dept. of Medical Emergency, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran 8. Dept. of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Science, Karaj, Iran
Thermal imaging for assessment of electron-beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) additive manufacturing deposits

Additive manufacturing is a rapidly growing field where 3-dimensional parts can be produced layer by layer. NASA’s electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) technology is being evaluated to manufacture metallic parts in a space environment. The benefits of EBF3 technology are weight savings to support space missions, rapid prototyping in a zero gravity environment, and improved vehicle readiness. The EBF3 system is composed of 3 main components: electron beam gun, multi-axis position system, and metallic wire feeder. The electron beam is used to melt the wire and the multi-axis positioning system is used to build the part layer by layer. To insure a quality deposit, a near infrared (NIR) camera is used to image the melt pool and solidification areas. This paper describes the calibration and application of a NIR camera for temperature measurement. In addition, image processing techniques are presented for deposit assessment metrics.
Early Stages of Atherosclerosis Documented in Early Embryologic Life

The composition of arterial bifurcations primarily changes blood flow and has a sub - stantial role in the development of vascular disorders. Hence, it is essential to know the structural physiognomies of the common carotid artery (CCA) and its branches for the early onset of atherosclerosis in newborns. Some studies were conducted to evaluate the characteristics of CCA in newborn cadavers. Correlation between area ratios and atherosclerotic endothelial damage was determined. Investigations demonstrated that carotid bifurcation regions depicted widespread occurrence of intimal lipid accumula - tions, while carotid bifurcation region structure demonstrated abundant blood cells and disconnected endothelial cells. Fibrin collection on endothelial surface in low area ratios was another essential finding in the examinations of their endothelial surface erosion. The abovementioned morphological findings seemed to be matching to outflow to inflow area ratio statistics, favoring low area and degeneration. The correspondence between area ratios and the histological characteristic of cerebral vessels of newborn cadavers specifies that the early stages of atherosclerosis began in early embryologic life.
A Bourdieuan Analysis of Qualitative Authorship in Entrepreneurship Scholarship

Empirically, this study builds on responses from leading qualitative entrepreneurship scholars. We carry out a Bourdieuan analysis of the field of entrepreneurship scholarship—particularly heterodox qualitative writing—and the way that scholars learn to play this game (habitus). It discusses unchallenged assumptions (doxa), commitment to shared stakes (illusio), the practice to achieve these stakes (practice), and the struggle for glories and riches (capital). By deploying Bourdieu‘s frame, we have been able to expose key processes, structures, and relationships within qualitative entrepreneurship authorship. These offer four types of practical outcomes: guidance for good practice; insights into emotional aspects of authorship; warnings of potentially dysfunctional practices; and a celebration of our successes.