Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and characterization of novel poly(γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate) derivatives tailored for the preparation of nanoparticles of pharmaceutical interest

Four poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) derivatives bearing at one end specific groups were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of the corresponding γ-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride using different amine-terminated initiators. These moieties were chosen to introduce, on demand, specific functionalities in nanoparticles of pharmaceutical interest. The PBLG and PBLG derivatives were characterized by 1H NMR, viscosimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm in diameter could be easily prepared from these PBLG derivatives by slight modification of a known nanoprecipitation technique. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
The ‘polyonymous identity’ of the Hlengwe people of Zimbabwe and their struggle for a ‘collective proper name’

The Hlengwe people of Zimbabwe constitute one of the four sections of the Hlengwe subgroup of the Tsonga – an ethnic group found in four Southern African countries that include Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Before the 18th century, these sections constituted a single group that was resident in the Nyaka kingdom, south of Maputo, amongst the Southern Rhonga people. Here, they were known by the names ‘Hlengwe’ and ‘Tsonga/Rhonga’. Before then, they were known by names such as ‘Makomati’ and ‘Tonga/Thonga’. After years of internal and external pressures, the Hlengwe people migrated to the north and eventually settled as four separate sections in the three countries. Are the Hlengwe a distinct ethnic group or part of the Tsonga or Shangaan, or they embrace all these identities? This article investigates the ‘collective proper name’ of the Hlengwe people of Zimbabwe from their current ‘polyonymous identity’. The article further explores the complexity of identity formation and the politics of tribalisation, giving rise to assumed identities and sometimes ascribed and coerced identities in order to fulfil demands of power structures that name and label identities, resulting in exonyms used largely as appellation from above or outside. Although the study was heavily reliant on the available literature and archives, it also follows the oral historical methodology that privileges oral tradition and its associated subgenres of conversations and narratives. Most of the data were collected during the main researcher’s exploit of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and eSwatini whilst documenting the migration of the va ka Valoyi people. Contribution: This article contributes to complex debate of defining and locatin the Hlengwe as group within the post-colonial identities largely shaped by colonial boundaries. Should the be defined as a distinct group, or polysemously as a group with an amorphous identification.
What makes an island a suitable refuge for an endemic lizard?

To identify and evaluate the environmental properties of the Mediterranean islands that make them a suitable habitat for their endemic lizards. This would represent an important improvement in our knowledge and would assist the conservation of these lizards, which are threatened by both the expansion of mainland species and the increasing intensity of human disturbance on these islands.
Survey of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from 23 Species of Fruits Collected in Sleman, Yogyakarta

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are major pests of fruits and vegetables in many countries , including Indonesia. Knowledge of the fruit fly host range in a specific area is an important part of the area-wide pest management program to reduce the pest problem. The aim of this study was to extend and update the information on the host range o f fruit flies in the Regency of Sleman, Yogyakarta . This area is one of the centers of fruit production, particularly snake fruit in Indonesia. Fruit sampling was conducted from August 2019 to February 2020 in four sub-districts in Sleman consisting of different types of agro - ecosystems . Fruit rearing was carried out in the laboratory followed by identification of the fruit and fruit flies that emerged to species level. From the 2 3 species of fruits belonging to 1 4 different families that were collected, the following 6 species of fruit flies emerged: Bactrocera dorsalis , B. carambolae , B. umbrosa , B. albistrigata , B. m cgregori , and Zeugodacus cucurbitae . Bactrocera dorsalis and B. carambolae utilized the widest range of hosts , 1 2 and 11 species of fruits, respectively . Syzygium cumini , Malpighia emarginata , and Phaleria macrocarpa were recorded for the first time as new hosts of B. c arambolae in Indonesia . Additional data of B. dorsalis and B. carambolae infesting salak cv. pondoh is also reported.
A four-terminal-pair Josephson impedance bridge combined with a graphene-quantized Hall resistance

This paper introduces a four-terminal-pair impedance bridge based on pulse-driven Josephson junctions arrays which is designed to link any kind of impedance to the quantized Hall resistance. The unique features of the quantized Hall resistance in a multiple series connection allows to dispense a combining network and leads to a compact and simple design of the whole setup. Moreover, the low noise of a quantized Hall resistance reduces the measurement time compared to resistance standards at room temperature which is essential for the characterization of quantum Hall devices in the AC regime. A first measurement campaign confirmed the expected low noise of 1.82 nV/Hz for a link to a 10 nF capacitance standard. The repeatability of the bridge was found to be few parts in 108. Capacitance and resistance standards were measured at 1233.15 Hz against graphene based quantum Hall resistance devices.
Multiple Kernel Stein Spatial Patterns for the Multiclass Discrimination of Motor Imagery Tasks

Brain–computer interface (BCI) systems communicate the human brain and computers by converting electrical activity into commands to use external devices. Such kind of system has become an alternative for interaction with the environment for people suffering from motor disabilities through the motor imagery (MI) paradigm. Despite being the most widespread, electroencephalography (EEG)-based MI systems are highly sensitive to noise and artifacts. Further, spatially close brain activity sources and variability among subjects hampers the system performance. This work proposes a methodology for the classification of EEG signals, termed Multiple Kernel Stein Spatial Patterns (MKSSP) dealing with noise, raveled brain activity, and subject variability issues. Firstly, a bank of bandpass filters decomposes brain activity into spectrally independent multichannel signals. Then, Multi-Kernel Stein Spatial Patterns (MKSSP) maps each signal into low-dimensional covariance matrices preserving the nonlinear channel relationships. The Stein kernel provides a parameterized similarity metric for covariance matrices that belong to a Riemannian manifold. Lastly, the multiple kernel learning assembles the similarities from each spectral decomposition into a single kernel matrix that feeds the classifier. Experimental evaluations in the well-known four-class MI dataset 2a BCI competition IV proves that the methodology significantly improves state-of-the-art approaches. Further, the proposal is interpretable in terms of data distribution, spectral relevance, and spatial patterns. Such interpretability demonstrates that MKSSP encodes features from different spectral bands into a single representation improving the discrimination of mental tasks.
Integrating andragogical philosophy with Indigenous teaching and learning

Recent Australian research has identified that the success of an Indigenous business greatly relies on the business acumen of its owner. Whilst business education offered through Business Schools is seemingly open to all, Indigenous Australian participation in these educational offerings have been low. In contrast the number of Indigenous businesses emerging in Australia over the past decade is building a demand for Indigenous specific business education offerings. The MURRA Indigenous Business Master Class at Melbourne Business School is such an example of an Indigenous business education program. We discuss how this program implements an andragogical philosophy into the Indigenous teaching and learning approach of business education to take into consideration an individual’s cultural and business knowledge to contextualise business learning. This paper identifies a framework of andragogy principles that contributes to the learning environment for Indigenous entrepreneurs. We identify four key learning principles and offer an evidence based model to progress business education. Through well designed Indigenous business education, business education can provide Indigenous entrepreneurs with an effective learning environment that integrates their cultural identity, highlights Indigenous knowledges and allows for the development of skills to support self-determination practices.
The Effect of Alkali Treatment on Wood Crystalline Structure and Micro-Structural Model

The penetrability of wood can be improved by alkali treatment. In this study, Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.)Hook) was treated by sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium hydroxide-ultrasonic (NaOH/US). The NaOH solution was 3%, the impregnation time was 48h and the ultrasonic treatment time was 30min. The crystalline region of the pretreated samples was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the results showed that the diffractive peak of 002 crystal faces was lower and crystallinity decreased after the alkali treatment. It proved that some boding of crystalline region was cut off and area of amorphous increased. In this paper, molecular model was constructed to explain the effect of alkali treatment on wood crystalline structure.
Concordant geographic and genetic structure revealed by genotyping‐by‐sequencing in a New Zealand marine isopod

Abstract Population genetic structure in the marine environment can be influenced by life‐history traits such as developmental mode (biphasic, with distinct adult and larval morphology, and direct development, in which larvae resemble adults) or habitat specificity, as well as geography and selection. Developmental mode is thought to significantly influence dispersal, with direct developers expected to have much lower dispersal potential. However, this prediction can be complicated by the presence of geophysical barriers to dispersal. In this study, we use a panel of 8,020 SNPs to investigate population structure and biogeography over multiple spatial scales for a direct‐developing species, the New Zealand endemic marine isopod Isocladus armatus. Because our sampling range is intersected by two well‐known biogeographic barriers (the East Cape and the Cook Strait), our study provides an opportunity to understand how such barriers influence dispersal in direct developers. On a small spatial scale (20 km), gene flow between locations is extremely high, suggestive of an island model of migration. However, over larger spatial scales (600 km), populations exhibit a clear pattern of isolation‐by‐distance. Our results indicate that I. armatus exhibits significant migration across the hypothesized barriers and suggest that large‐scale ocean currents associated with these locations do not present a barrier to dispersal. Interestingly, we find evidence of a north‐south population genetic break occurring between Māhia and Wellington. While no known geophysical barrier is apparent in this area, it coincides with the location of a proposed border between bioregions. Analysis of loci under selection revealed that both isolation‐by‐distance and adaption may be contributing to the degree of population structure we have observed here. We conclude that developmental life history largely predicts dispersal in the intertidal isopod I. armatus. However, localized biogeographic processes can disrupt this expectation, and this may explain the potential meta‐population detected in the Auckland region.
The role of tumor-derived exosomes in tumor immune escape: A concise review

Use your smartphone to scan this QR code and download this article ABSTRACT Exosomes are small vesicles secreted by viable cells into the microenvironment. These vesicles bring various compositions, including lipids, RNAs and proteins, which carry information from producer cells to target cells. Cancer cells also produce exosomes, termed as tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs), which play important roles in immunemodulation, angiogenesis andmetastasis of tumors. This review summarizes the roles of TDEs in tumor immune escape mechanisms. TDEs affect all kinds of tumor-associated immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DCs), T and B lymphocytes, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Generally, TDEs suppress the immune system to promote tumor immune escape, thereby significantly contributing to tumorigenesis and metastasis.
Evaluating Homocysteine, By HPLC, HBA1C And Fasting Blood Glucose Levels In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the levels of Homocysteine, HBA1C and fasting plasma glucose in serum of type 2 diabetic patients as a parameter and correlation coefficient between Homocysteine and each of HBA1Cand fasting blood glucose (FPG). Materials and Methods: The present study was applied on 30of type 2 diabetic patients and 30 healthy controls of same age and gender. Fasting blood samples were collected from each patient and control and assessed by measurement of serum Homocysteine (HPLC assay), FPG (Glucose Oxidation Peroxidase method) and HbA1c (Immunoturbidimetric method) levels. Result and discussion: : In this project, the mean value of serum Homocysteine in diabetic patients was 26.5 ± 1.73 μmol/L. It was increased significantly compared to controls (0.98 ± 0.11 μmol/L, p=0.000). The mean value of FBG in diabetic patients was 230.3 ± 6.73 μmol/L. Also, it was increased significantly compared to controls (89.5 ± 4.7 mg/dL, p=0.000). Similarly, the mean value of HbA1c in diabetic patients was 11.5 ± 0.99 μmol/L. It was increased significantly compared to controls (5.1 ± 0.13 mg/dL, p=0.000). Our findings demonstrated significant positive correlation between serum Homocysteine and fasting blood glucose levels (r=0.811,p=0.001), and also between serum Homocysteine and HbA1c levels (r=0.324, p=0.02).
Waste disposal and housing price: new evidence from the landfill clean-up program in Hong Kong

Accurately measuring the costs and social benefits of environmental programs may have significant public sector policy implications. When considering environmental programs, governments may choose to conduct landfill clean-ups to improve urban living environments and health. However, these programs may generate substantial costs, and it is not clear whether their social benefits can recover these costs. Since the 1990s, the Hong Kong government has restored 13 closed landfills. This study seeks to quantify the short-term social benefits of this landfill clean-up program by measuring its impact on the housing market. Using the difference-in-differences method, we find that housing prices near landfill sites increase about 2.2%, on average, within two years after landfill restoration. However, housing prices show no further change after the restored landfill sites are redeveloped into urban parks and other facilities. We argue that removal of the stigma effect is likely the main channel for housing price hikes. Through a back-of-the-envelope estimation, we find that the social benefits from housing value appreciation can sufficiently recover the program costs.
An assessment of consumer behavior in the quality to price relationship of tomatoes in the Slovak Republic environment

The aim of this research was to compare consumer expectations of quality of tomatoes based on disclosed price and later estimate the unknown price of tomatoes based on its tasting. One hundred six participants tasted four types of tomatoes with disclosed prices and with unknow prices and fulfilled the questionnaire. We focused on analysing how recognition of prices affects customer behaviour and price estimation of additional products. Using descriptive statistics and machine learning techniques in WEKA software we got results. The findings of this study corroborate that the knowledge of current prices significantly affected participants’ perception of the quality of the tomatoes being tasted; affected 63,21% students’ maximum price limits that they are willing to pay for tomatoes and make 32,77% of students use known prices and its rounded values to evaluate prices of additional products.
Energy Intake was The Dominant Factor Associated with Wasting among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Pagedangan, Tangerang District

Wasting yang diukur dengan indeks BB/PB atau BB/TB merupakan salah satu bentuk malnutrisi yang ditandai dengan penurunan status gizi yang cepat dalam waktu singkat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor dominan yang berhubungan dengan wasting pada anak usia 6-23 bulan di Pagedangan, Kabupaten Tangerang. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain studi cross-sectional . Data dikumpulkan menggunakan pengukuran antropometri dan wawancara kuesioner. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa proporsi wasting adalah 17,0%. Dari 153 anak usia 6-23 bulan, 7,8% memiliki berat lahir rendah, 44,4% memiliki riwayat penyakit infeksi, dan 32,0% mengalami deficit energi. Proporsi anak yang tidak mencapai minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, minimum acceptable diet adalah 43,1%, 15,7%, and 52,9%. Analisis multivariat regresi logistik menunjukkan bahwa riwayat penyakit infeksi (OR 2,930; 95% CI 1,173-7,323) dan asupan energi tidak adekuat (OR 5,785; 95% CI 1,269-26,382) memiliki hubungan signifikan dengan wasting. Asupan energi tidak adekuat merupakan faktor dominan wasting pada anak usia 6-23 bulan di Pagedangan, Kabupaten Tangerang.
SELENIUM SORPTION BY KAOLINITE AND MONTMORILLONITE

Toxic selenium (Se) concentrations were found recently in shallow groundwater on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in California. The origin of the Se and the mechanism by which it accumulated in the groundwater are not known. The objective of this work was to study Se sorption by kaolinite and montmorillonite at different pH levels, as a model of Se sorption reactions in soils, and evaluate the role of adsorption in distributing Se between solution and solid phases of soils. Within an Se concentration range of 0 to about 12 μmol/L and pHs between 4 and 8, which cover the pH and Se concentrations in most affected drainage water, Se solubility in the studied suspensions was governed by adsorption. The sorption kinetics were best described by the Elovich equation. The adsorption decreased with elevating pH values and became negligible above pH 8. A modified competitive Langmuir model simulated satisfactorily Se retention by the two adsorbents under the studied experimental conditions. The greater adsorption of Se4 than Se6 by kaolinite and the different relative adsorption of Se4 by kaolinite and montmorillonite above and below pH 7 were expressed in terms of model parameters. Hydroxyl ions, according to the model, were more effective in modifying the anions' adsorption capacity than competing with Se on common adsorption sites.
First-Principles Studies on Cd Doping in CuInSe2 and Related Compounds during Chemical Bath Deposition of CdS Buffer Layer

First-principles calculations using plane-wave basis functions were performed to quantitatively evaluate the substitution energies of Cd atom for Cu atom and for In atoms in chalcopyrite-type CuInSe2 (CIS) and related compounds, CuGaSe2 (CGS) and CuAlSe2 (CAS). The substitution energies of Cd atoms in CIS and the related compounds were calculated in considering of the atomic chemical potentials of the constituent elements of Cu and In, and doping Cd atoms. During the chemical bath deposition (CBD) of the CdS layer on the CIGS layer, Cu and Cd atoms dissolved in the ammonia aqueous solution and formed [Cu(NH3)2]+ and [Cd(NH3)4]2+ complex ions. Therefore, the chemical potentials of Cu and Cd atoms in [Cu(NH3)2]+ and [Cd(NH3)4]2+ complex ions were calculated. We found that the substitution energy of n-type CdCu is smaller than that of p-type CdIn. The substitution energy of CdCu in CIS is smaller than those in CGS and CAS. However, the substitution energies of CdCu and CdIn in CIS are positive values. The formation energy of charge-neutral Cd doping with the Cu vacancy (CdCu+VCu) pair is a negative value and greatly smaller than those of n-type CdCu in CIS, CGS, and CAS. These results indicate that the charge-neutral (CdCu+VCu) vacancy pair is easily formed during the CBD of the CdS layer on the CIS layer and a small amount of n-type CdCu would also be formed.
Management Reports of Dutch Companies: Their Availability and Compliance with Legal Disclosure Requirements

Abstract Unlike the vast majority of the EU member states, the Netherlands incorporated an option provided by the EU Accounting Directive that exempt companies from the obligation to file the management report with the trade register when a copy of it can be obtained from the company upon request. About 60% of the companies use this filing exemption option, but the availability of the management reports of these companies appears to be poor, because they are (very) reluctant to fulfill a request, rejecting it or do not respond to it at all. Therefore, it is interesting to examine whether the choice of how the management report is published, is associated with the level of compliance with disclosure obligations. In order to do that, we create a disclosure score based on the legal disclosure requirements. Multivariate analysis shows that disclosure compliance of management reports that are filed with the trade register is significantly higher than of those not filed but made available by the company. We also find a significant positive relationship between disclosure compliance and the length of management reports. Compliance levels appear not to be significantly associated with the timeliness of publication, company size and the size of the external auditor’s firm. Based on our research findings we advocate the removal of the filing exemption option on management reports.
Metal-metal vs tellurium-tellurium bonding in WTe2 and its ternary variants TaIrTe4 and NbIrTe4

The new ternary transition-metal tellurides TaIrTe{sub 4} and NbIrTe{sub 4} are ordered variants of the WTe{sub 2} structure, which in turn is based on a distortion of the CdI{sub 2}-type layered structure. The layers in WTe{sub 2} consist of buckled sheets of Te atoms, with the metal atoms residing in distorted octahedral sites. Through single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods, the structure of TaIrTe{sub 4} has been determined and that of WTe{sub 2} has been redetermined. The compounds TaIrTe{sub 4} and WTe{sub 2} belong to the space group C{sup 7}{sub 2{nu}}-Pmn2{sub 1} of the orthorhombic system with four formula units in cells of dimensions a = 3.770 (1), b = 12.421 (6), and c = 13.184 (6) {angstrom} and a = 3.477 (2), b = 6.249 (4), and c = 14.018 (9) {angstrom}, respectively at 113 K. While metal-metal bonding is a structural feature common to all three compounds, Te-Te bonding is observed only in the ternary compounds. The trends of increasing metal-metal and decreasing Te-Te distances on progressing from WTe{sub 2} to TaIrTe{sub 4} and NbIrTe{sub 4} have been rationalized by electronic band (extended Hueckel) calculations. These trends are related to the creation of Te-Te bonds, ensuring the stability of themore » WTe{sub 2} structure type even when addition of more d electrons leads to a weakening of metal-metal bonds. This concept is generalized to an entire series of compounds MM{prime}Te{sub 4} (M = Nb, Ta; M{prime} = Ru, Os, Rh, Ir). 75 refs., 7 figs., 6 tabs. « less