Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping ICT Use along the Citrus (Kinnow) Value Chain in Sargodha District, Pakistan

The value chains of fresh fruits and vegetables are sensitive to timeliness and require a quick information flow. Keeping in view its importance, this study has focused on mapping the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) along the citrus value chain, including information channels being used, factors influencing ICT use, challenges, and weaknesses faced by value chain stakeholders. Cross-sectional data were mainly collected by structured and semi-structured interviews with value chain stakeholders and key informants. The citrus industry is very important for Pakistan as it is the 4th most important export commodity. There are two product flows in the citrus value chain, one is more traditional with abundant intermediaries, in which contractors, commission agents and wholesalers are the main stakeholders, and the other is export-oriented with processors and exporters (P&Es) as the main stakeholders. It has been noticed that growers are not using ICT extensively at the production stage. Logit analysis has proved that education significantly has influenced ICT use while age has a negative impact on ICT use at the production stage. Mobile usage is quite common at the production stage and intermediary trade; however, the use of the internet is very limited as the majority of intermediaries have lower education. Moreover, both mobile phones and internet are used to a significant extent along the export oriented flow. The results have indicated that there is a vast digital divide among value chain players. Processors and exporters are high ICT users followed by growers and intermediaries. In order to develop an effective information system, all the stakeholders in the chain need to have a certain level of knowledge and expertise of ICT use to improve information use efficiency. This study presents a whole picture of ICT use along the citrus value chain as well as challenges faced by different stakeholders. It also provides suggestions for policymakers to establish an ICT-based information system and enhance ICT adoption at each stage, especially production and intermediary trade, which can further increase growers’ market participation and improve market efficiency. In addition, it is necessary to make policies under the value chain framework rather than just focused on one stage or one stakeholder.
Aerobic exercise increases peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity in sedentary adolescents.

CONTEXT Data are limited on the effects of controlled aerobic exercise programs (without weight loss) on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a controlled aerobic exercise program (without weight loss) improves peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity and affects glucose production (GPR), gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in sedentary lean and obese Hispanic adolescents. PATIENTS AND DESIGN Twenty-nine post-pubertal adolescents (14 lean: 15.1 +/- 0.3 y; 20.6 +/- 0.8 kg/m(2); 18.9+/-1.5% body fat and 15 obese: 15.6 +/- 0.4 y; 33.2 +/- 0.9 kg/m(2); 38.4 +/- 1.4% body fat) (mean +/- SE), completed a 12 wk aerobic exercise program (4 x 30 min/week at >or=70% of VO(2) peak). Peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity and glucose kinetics were quantified using GCMS pre- and post-exercise. RESULTS No weight loss occurred. Lean and obese participants complied well with the program ( approximately 90% of the exercise sessions attended, resulting in approximately 15% increase in fitness in both groups). Peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity were higher in lean than obese adolescents but increased in both groups; peripheral insulin sensitivity by 35 +/- 14% (lean) (p < 0.05) and 59 +/- 19% (obese) (p < 0.01) and hepatic insulin sensitivity by 19 +/- 7% (lean) (p < 0.05) and 23 +/- 4% (obese) (p < 0.01). GPR, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis did not differ between the groups. GPR decreased slightly, 3 +/- 1% (lean) (p < 0.05) and 4 +/- 1% (obese) (p < 0.01). Gluconeogenesis remained unchanged, while glycogenolysis decreased slightly in the obese group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION This well accepted aerobic exercise program, without weight loss, is a promising strategy to improve peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity in lean and obese sedentary adolescents. The small decrease in GPR is probably of limited clinical relevance.
The prognostic importance of left ventricular geometry in uremic cardiomyopathy.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of left ventricular (LV) mass, volume, and mass-to-volume ratio on mortality in chronic dialysis patients. The Design was a multicenter, prospective inception cohort study with a median follow-up of 41 months. The Setting was three university-affiliated nephrology units. A total of 433 patients who (1) survived > 6 months from the start of ESRD therapy and (2) had a technically satisfactory baseline echocardiogram were studied. Measurements included a baseline clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic assessment. LV hypertrophy was present in 74% and LV dilation was present in 36% of patients. In patients with normal cavity volume (< or = 90 mL/m2) and normal systolic function, high LV mass index (> 120 g/m2) and mass-to-volume ratios (> 2.2 g/mL) were independently associated with late mortality (> 2 yr after starting dialysis therapy). After adjusting for baseline age, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease, the relative risk for the former was 3.29 and for the latter was 2.24. Cavity volume was of no prognostic significance in this group. In patients with LV dilation and normal systolic function, high cavity volume (> 120 mL/m2) and low mass-to-volume ratio (< 1.8 mL/m2) were independently associated with late mortality, the relative risk in the former being 17.14 and the latter being 4.27. LV mass index was of no prognostic significance in this group. The baseline echocardiographic classification, based on LV mass and cavity volume, was the strongest predictor of late mortality, after adjusting for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, chronic hypertension, and hemoglobin and serum albumin levels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Locked and Unlocked Nucleosides in Functional Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are able to adopt a plethora of structures, many of which are of interest in therapeutics, bio- or nanotechnology. However, structural and biochemical stability is a major concern which has been addressed by incorporating a range of modifications and nucleoside derivatives. This review summarizes the use of locked nucleic acid (LNA) and un-locked nucleic acid (UNA) monomers in functional nucleic acids such as aptamers, ribozymes, and DNAzymes.
The Role of Nitric Oxide in the Cerebrovascular Response to Hypercapnia

Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to further investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in CO2-induced cerebrocortical hyperemia in rats. A second objective was to elucidate the source(s) of the NO involved in the response to hypercapnia. We used the L-arginine analogue Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to inhibit NO synthase (NOS) and 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) to selectively inhibit brain or nonendothelial NOS. Rats were anesthetized with a single dose of intraperitoneal (IP) pentobarbital (65 mg/kg) for surgery; 60-90 min later they were ventilated with 1.0% halothane in 30% O2 for 1 h to achieve a steady state. The animals were assigned to one of five groups. A control group (n = 9) was infused with 1 mL of saline. The second group (n = 10) received 20 mg/kg of L-NAME intravenously (IV). A third group (n = 9) also received L-NAME; in addition, cerebrocortical laser Doppler flow (LDF) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were restored to baseline using the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). In a fourth group (n = 9), MAP was increased to the level usually seen after L-NAME with an infusion of phenylephrine (0.5-5 micro g [center dot] kg-1 [center dot] min-1). A fifth group (n = 11) received 7-NI at 40 mg/kg IP. The hypercapnic response of LDF was tested in all groups by adding 5% CO2 to the inspired gas at 30-45 min posttreatment; all changes in LDF were significant. In the control group, hypercapnia induced a 70% +/- 24% increase in LDF. In the L-NAME-treated group, the response was decreased to 36% +/- 22% at a posttreatment LDF that was 25% +/- 13% lower than the pre-L-NAME level. In the group where baseline LDF and MAP were restored with SNP, the CO2 response was 56% +/- 15% (not significant versus control). In the group in which MAP was increased with phenylephrine, the response to hypercapnia was 48% +/- 22% at a posttreatment LDF unchanged from pretreatment. These data suggest that increased vascular tone or the absence of basal NO after NOS inhibition influenced the vasodilator response to hypercapnia. In the 7-NI-treated group the response to hypercapnia was 38% +/- 3%, significantly attenuated at a posttreatment flow only 14% +/- 7% lower than pre-7-NI. We conclude that 1) endothelial NO does not mediate the response to hypercapnia but may have a permissive role in the response and 2) that brain NO may have an important role in the response to hypercapnia. (Anesth Analg 1997;84:363-9)
The evolution of abdominal reduction and the recent origin of distinct Abdominal‐B transcript classes in Diptera

SUMMARY In insects, the Hox gene Abdominal‐B (Abd‐B) governs the development of the posterior‐most segments, the number and fate of which differ within and between orders. A striking feature of insect evolution is a trend toward the reduction of posterior abdominal segments which is most pronounced in higher Diptera. In Drosophila melanogaster, two distinct Abd‐B transcript classes and protein isoforms are expressed in non‐overlapping domains and have discrete functions in patterning the posterior abdomen. It has been proposed that evolutionary changes in Abd‐B structure and expression are responsible for the reduction of the dipteran abdomen. We have investigated the relationship between the evolution of the Abd‐B gene and abdominal reduction by analyzing the structure and expression of homologs from four additional dipterans representing distinct clades within the order. The lower dipteran mosquito Anopheles gambiae expresses a single Abd‐B transcript class, as do two species phylogenetically intermediate to mosquitoes and drosophilids. These results delimit the evolution of distinct functional Abd‐B isoforms to within the dipteran radiation after the origin of the reduced abdominal morphology. Furthermore, we found that the spatial distribution of Abd‐B transcripts in non‐drosophilid Diptera is identical to the combined domains of the two D. melanogaster Abd‐B transcripts. Therefore, neither the structural evolution nor changes in the spatial regulation of Abd‐B account for the derived abdomen of higher Diptera. The recent subfunctionalization of this Hox gene has occurred without any apparent morphological correlate. We conclude that regulatory modifications to developmental programs downstream of or parallel to Abd‐B are responsible for the evolutionary reduction of the higher dipteran postabdomen.
Effect of Entrepreneurship Education, Self Efficacy and Need for Achievement toward Student's Entrepreneurship Intention: Case Study in Febi, Iain Surakarta, Indonesia

This study aims to determine the effect of entrepreneurship education, self-efficacy, and need for achievement toward college-students’ entrepreneurship intention in Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI), IAIN Surakarta, Indonesia. This research is a quantitative research. Data collection is by questionnaire given to 500 respondents. Data is processed through the test requirements and hypothesis test using SPSS 21 program. The result of the research shows that all questionnaire’s items are valid and reliable. Based on multiple linear regression analysis can be concluded: 1) entrepreneurship education has positive effect on entrepreneurship intention by 0,360. 2) self-efficacy has positive effect on entrepreneurship intention by 0.153. 3) need for achievement has positive effect on entrepreneurship intention by 0.183. 4) entrepreneurship education and self-efficacy simultaneously affecting entrepreneurship intentions by 20%; 5) entrepreneurship education and need for achievement simultaneously effect entrepreneurship intentions by 20.8%. 6) self-efficacy and need for achievement simultaneously affect the of entrepreneurship intention by 17.4%. 7) entrepreneurship education, self-efficacy and need for achievement simultaneously affect entrepreneurship intention by 62,8%. Theoretical contribution of this research is to cultivate entrepreneurship intention, therefore entrepreneurship education, self-efficacy, and need for achievement need to be embed to college-students in college programmatically. The higher the entrepreneurship intention then economic progress of a society will increase.
Occurrence of Helicobacter pylori in surface water in the United States

The primary mode of transmission of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori is unresolved. This study examined the possibility that H. pylori is water‐borne. Because methods for the direct culture of H. pylori from water samples remain elusive, a microscopic technique was used for detection of this organism. Actively respiring micro‐organisms binding monoclonal anti‐H. pylori antibody were found in the majority of surface and shallow groundwater samples tested (n = 62), indicating that H. pylori may be present in aquatic environments in the US and supporting a water‐borne route of transmission for this organism. There was no significant correlation between the occurrence of either total coliforms or Escherichia coli in the water and the presence of H. pylori. Our results indicate that routine screening of water supplies for the presence of traditional indicator organisms may fail to protect the consumer from exposure to H. pylori.
The effect of liver cytosol on hepatic regeneration and tumor growth

This report further evaluates the concept that the interaction of factors that originate within the liver can contribute, regulate or even initiate the actual development of hepatic regeneration after liver cell necrosis or partial hepatectomy. The effect of liver cytosol (100,000 g supernatant), both from intact adult rat liver (NLC) and from adult rat liver remnants that had been regenerating for 24 hours after 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) in posthepatectomy liver regeneration in the rat was studied. The specificity of the growth‐controlling properties in liver cytosol was determined using tumor cells. The intraperitoneal administration of NLC after PH resulted in approximately 70–80% inhibition of the peak 3H‐DNA specific activity seen in controls at 18 and 24 hours post‐PH, with a significant increase in DNA synthesis at 31–40 hours post‐PH. The intraperitoneal administration of RLC after PH, augmented the hepatic regenerative response normally produced. Autoradiographic determination of hepatic nuclear labeling confirmed the inhibitory and stimulatory properties of NLC and RLC respectively. Syngeneic NLC or RLC at six and 24 days after subcutaneous tumor inoculation resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth for both a methylcholanthrene‐induced bladder carcinoma (FBCa) and an HTC‐hepatoma. The retardation of FBCa growth could be enhanced by administering NLC or RLC every three or seven days. Syngeneic and xenogeneic liver cytosol resulted in dose‐dependent inhibition of P815 mastocytoma cell proliferation in vitro. It is apparent from these studies that both stimulatory and inhibitory factors can be extracted from liver tissue that not only influence liver cell regeneration, but also affect tumor growth. Further isolation and characterization of these factors may lead to an understanding of more fundamental problems such as the control of normal and malignant cell growth.
Interpregnancy Weight Change and Risk for Adverse Perinatal Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between interpregnancy weight change and the risk for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: All live-born singleton births delivered at 21–42 weeks of gestation in women who had their first two consecutive births between 2009 and 2011 in Flanders (the northern part of Belgium) and who were included in the Study Center for Perinatal Epidemiology database (N=7,897) were included. Interpregnancy weight change was calculated as the difference between the prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) of the first pregnancy and the prepregnancy BMI of the second pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy-induced hypertension, cesarean delivery, macrosomia (4,000 g or greater), low birth weight (less than 2,500 g), and congenital malformations were performed. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for gestational diabetes mellitus was 2.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33–3.78; P=.002) for interpregnancy weight retention of 2 or more BMI units, and the adjusted OR for pregnancy-induced hypertension was 3.76 (95% CI 2.16–6.57; P<.001) with an increase of 3 or more BMI units between pregnancies, but these associations were only present in underweight and normal-weight women. In overweight and obese women, the adjusted OR was 2.04 (95% CI 1.41–2.95; P<.001) for cesarean delivery for an interpregnancy weight retention of 2 or more BMI units. In underweight and normal-weight women, the risk for macrosomia was halved if women lost more than 1 BMI unit between pregnancies, but at the same time, the risk for low birth weight doubled. CONCLUSION: We show that weight retention between the first and second pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for perinatal complications, even in underweight and normal-weight women. Stabilizing interpregnancy weight appears an important target for reducing adverse perinatal outcomes in a second pregnancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
GAP junctional communication in brain secondary organizers

Gap junctions (GJs) are integral membrane proteins that enable the direct cytoplasmic exchange of ions and low molecular weight metabolites between adjacent cells. They are formed by the apposition of two connexons belonging to adjacent cells. Each connexon is formed by six proteins, named connexins (Cxs). Current evidence suggests that gap junctions play an important part in ensuring normal embryo development. Mutations in connexin genes have been linked to a variety of human diseases, although the precise role and the cell biological mechanisms of their action remain almost unknown. Among the big family of Cxs, several are expressed in nervous tissue but just a few are expressed in the anterior neural tube of vertebrates. Many efforts have been made to elucidate the molecular bases of Cxs cell biology and how they influence the morphogenetic signal activity produced by brain signaling centers. These centers, orchestrated by transcription factors and morphogenes determine the axial patterning of the mammalian brain during its specification and regionalization. The present review revisits the findings of GJ composed by Cx43 and Cx36 in neural tube patterning and discuss Cx43 putative enrollment in the control of Fgf8 signal activity coming from the well known secondary organizer, the isthmic organizer.
Attribution theories in Human Resource Management research: a review and research agenda

Abstract There is no doubt that attribution theories have made their mark in social psychology and other related disciplines, but their application and extension to the field of HRs is in its infancy. Indeed, HR scholars have recently realized that understanding the process by which individuals explain the causes of behaviors and events provides insight into a host of HR-related issues. In our review of 65 papers, we identified three research streams with different foci – those that focused on HR system strength, on attributions that influence judgements and behaviors within functional HRM domains, and on the attributions employees make of the intent of HR practices. Notably, despite shared foundations, these three streams of literature rarely overlap. We summarize and provide theoretical and empirical directions for future research within each research area to help steer courses in these areas. Importantly, we also draw connections among the three streams to inspire future research to stretch the bounds of current theorizing on attributions in the field of HR.
Transforming Jewellery Designing: Empowering Customers through Crowdsourcing in India

Dynamic business environment demands ‘value’ to be co-created with larger group of stakeholders and especially with customers as partners for development and growth. With this goal in mind, MNCs are engaging in value creation with the customers by largely seeking customer engagement in designing features of products and services that foster customer action and instil a sense of pride and confidence in them. The focus of this study is to investigate crowdsourcing as a tool for customer co-creation in ideation stages of new product development (NPD) through an engagement platform called ‘My Expression’. Case study methodology is applied, and secondary data are collected online mostly from firm website. Thus, this is an attempt to highlight present and future avenues of co-creation in Indian MNCs with distinct cultural and social aspects.
Multiple Roles for the MyoD Basic Region in Transmission of Transcriptional Activation Signals and Interaction with MEF2

ABSTRACT Establishment of skeletal muscle lineages is controlled by the MyoD family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors. The ability of these factors to initiate myogenesis is dependent on two conserved amino acid residues, alanine and threonine, in the basic domains of these factors. It has been postulated that these two residues may be responsible for the initiation of myogenesis via interaction with an essential myogenic cofactor. The myogenic bHLH proteins cooperatively activate transcription and myogenesis through protein-protein interactions with members of the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family of MADS domain transcription factors. MyoD-E12 heterodimers interact with MEF2 proteins to synergistically activate myogenesis, while homodimers of E12, which lack the conserved alanine and threonine residues in the basic domain, do not interact with MEF2. We have examined whether the myogenic alanine and threonine in the MyoD basic region are required for interaction with MEF2. Here, we show that substitution of the MyoD basic domain with that of E12 does not prevent interaction with MEF2. Instead, the inability of alanine-threonine mutants of MyoD to initiate myogenesis is due to a failure to transmit transcriptional activation signals provided either from the MyoD or the MEF2 activation domain. This defect in transcriptional transmission can be overcome by substitution of the MyoD or the MEF2 activation domain with the VP16 activation domain. These results demonstrate that myogenic bHLH-MEF2 interaction can be uncoupled from transcriptional activation and support the idea that the myogenic residues in myogenic bHLH proteins are essential for transmission of a transcriptional activation signal.