bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Promesse et fiction chez David Hume
Authors: Boyer Vincent 
Published: August 2020

Cet article a pour but de montrer que l’analyse humienne de la justice, et en particulier de l’obligation des promesses telle qu’elle est présentée à la section 5 de la seconde partie du livre III du Traité de la nature humaine , repose sur une conception fictionnaliste de la motivation morale, au sens où l’obligation naturelle de justice (notamment de fidélité) est une fiction. Si cette conception est cohérente avec d’autres aspects de la philosophie de Hume, d’une part, et si elle est une preuve supplémentaire que Hume n’est pas un précurseur de l’utilitarisme, d’autre part, celle-ci risque néanmoins de réduire la justice à une forme de superstition utile.
Human CD8+ T Cells Exhibit a Shared Antigen Threshold for Different Effector Responses
Authors: Abu-Shah Enas , Trendel Nicola , Kruger Philipp , Nguyen John , Pettmann Johannes , Kutuzov Mikhail , Dushek Omer 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
T cells recognizing cognate pMHC Ags become activated to elicit a myriad of cellular responses, such as target cell killing and the secretion of different cytokines, that collectively contribute to adaptive immunity. These effector responses have been hypothesized to exhibit different Ag dose and affinity thresholds, suggesting that pathogen-specific information may be encoded within the nature of the Ag. In this study, using systematic experiments in a reductionist system, in which primary human CD8+ T cell blasts are stimulated by recombinant peptides presented on MHC Ag alone, we show that different inflammatory cytokines have comparable Ag dose thresholds across a 25,000-fold variation in affinity. Although costimulation by CD28, CD2, and CD27 increased cytokine production in this system, the Ag threshold remained comparable across different cytokines. When using primary human memory CD8+ T cells responding to autologous APCs, equivalent thresholds were also observed for different cytokines and killing. These findings imply a simple phenotypic model of TCR signaling in which multiple T cell responses share a common rate-limiting threshold and a conceptually simple model of CD8+ T cell Ag recognition, in which Ag dose and affinity do not provide any additional response-specific information.
The Innate Lymphoid System Is a Critical Player in the Manifestation of Mucoinflammatory Airway Disease in Mice
Authors: Lewis Brandon W. , Choudhary Ishita , Paudel Kshitiz , Mao Yun , Sharma Rahul , Wang Yong , Deshane Jessy S. , Boucher Richard C. , Patial Sonika , Saini Yogesh 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Innate lymphoid and adaptive immune cells are known to regulate epithelial responses, including mucous cell metaplasia (MCM), but their roles in mucoinflammatory airway diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, remain unknown. Scnn1b transgenic (Scnn1b-Tg+) mice, which recapitulate cystic fibrosis–like mucoinflammatory airway disease, deficient in innate lymphoid (Il2rg knockout mice [Il2rgKO]), adaptive immune (Rag1 knockout mice [Rag1KO]), or both systems (Il2rgKO/Rag1KO), were employed to investigate their respective contributions in the pathogenesis of mucoinflammatory airway disease. As previously reported, immunocompetent Tg+ juveniles exhibited spontaneous neonatal bacterial infections with robust mucoinflammatory features, including elevated expression of Th2-associated markers accompanied by MCM, elevated MUC5B expression, and airway mucus obstruction. The bacterial burden was increased in Il2rgKO/Tg+ juveniles but returned to significantly lower levels in Il2rgKO/Rag1KO/Tg+ juveniles. Mechanistically, this improvement reflected reduced production of adaptive immunity-derived IL-10 and, in turn, increased activation of macrophages. Although all the mucoinflammatory features were comparable between the immunocompetent Tg+ and Rag1KO/Tg+ juveniles, the Il2rgKO/Tg+ and Il2rgKO/Rag1KO/Tg+ juveniles exhibited suppressed expression levels of Th2 markers, diminished MCM, suppressed MUC5B expression, and reduced mucus obstruction. Collectively, these data indicate that, in the context of airway mucus obstruction, the adaptive immune system suppresses antibacterial macrophage activation, whereas the innate lymphoid system contributes to MCM, mucin production, and mucus obstruction.
Expression analysis of aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) gene in gallbladder cancer
Authors: Kumar Puneet , Yadav Manoj , Verma Khushi , Dixit Ruhi , Singh Juhi , Tiwary Satyendra K , Narayan Gopeshwar , Dixit V K 
Published: August 2020

Background:
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR), a member of the growing superfamily, is a basic helix-loop-helix/PerAHR nuclear translocator (ARNT)-Sim (bHLH-PAS) protein. AHRR has been proposed to function as a putative new tumor suppressor gene based on studies in multiple types of human cancers. This current study aims to investigate AHHR expression and its prognostic significance in gallbladder cancer.

Methods:
The study includes 48 gallbladder cancer and 34 chronic cholecystitis cases as controls. The expression level of AHRR was analyzed by using semi-quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical staining. The results were correlated with different clinical parameters.

Results:
We demonstrate that the expression of AHRR is significantly down-regulated in gallbladder cancer tissue samples as compared to that in chronic cholecystitis tissue samples by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) (P = 0.017) and immunohistochemistry analysis (P = 0.002). Interestingly, our RT-PCR data revealed that AHRR mRNA expression is frequently down-regulated (45.8%; 22/48) in cases as compared to 14.7% (5/34) in controls. Similarly, immunohistochemical analysis data show significant down-regulation of AHRR expression in 77.1% (37/48) of gallbladder cancer cases than 44.1% (15/34) in controls (P < 0.017). Reduced mRNA and protein expression is significantly associated with advanced T-stage (P = 0.001), histological differentiation (P = 0.001), and tumors with nodal metastasis (P = 0.001). Decreased expression of AHRR is significantly associated with poor prognosis in gallbladder cancer patients.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the present study suggests that low AHRR expression may be critical in gallbladder cancer development. Our data suggests that AHRR may act as a tumor suppressor gene and its expression profile may be useful as a diagnostic marker in gallbladder cancer.
Review of Junior Resident Plain Film Reporting and Audit in Singapore
Authors: Tan Alexander Sheng Ming , Chan Shaun Xavier Ju Min , Sia David Soon Yiew , Wong Daniel En Shen , Lim Winston Eng Hoe , Tan Andrew Gee Seng , Tan Bien Soo 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACT

Background
Graduate medical education in Singapore recently underwent significant restructuring, leading to the accreditation of residency programs by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–International (ACGME-I). In radiology, this involved a change in teaching and quality assurance of plain film (PF) reporting. PF reported by junior residents (postgraduate year 1–3) are subject to a 50% random audit. To date, national data on junior resident performance in PF reporting have not been published.

Objective
We reviewed performance in PF reporting under the current teaching and audit framework.

Methods
Retrospective review of junior resident reported PF audit data from all 3 radiology residency programs in Singapore. The number of residents audited, number of PF reported and audited, and major discrepancy rates were analyzed.

Results
On average, 86 440 PF were audited annually nationwide from an estimated 184 288 junior resident-reported PF. Each program trained between 4 to 24 junior residents annually (mean 15), averaging about 44 each year nationwide. A mean of 28 813 PF were audited annually in each program (range 4355–50 880). An estimated mean of 4148 PF (range 1452–9752) were reported per junior resident per year, about 346 PF per month. The major discrepancy rate ranged from 0.04% to 1.13% (mean 0.34%). One resident required remediation in the study period.

Conclusions
Structured residency training in Singapore has produced a high level of junior resident competency in PF interpretation.
Consumers’ Perception of Dried Onion and Okra Using Load Adaptive Drying Technology in Nsukka Urban, Nigeria
Authors: Anoliefo Edward , Chah Jane , Abbah Oliver 
Published: August 2020

The study determined consumers’ perception of onions and okra dried with load adaptive drying technology (LADT). Random sampling technique was used to select equal number of adult male, adult female, young men and young women as respondents. Structured interview schedule was used to elicit data from the respondents, while, percentage, mean score and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. All the respondents had a favourable perception of Onions and Okra dried with LADT. Willingness to use was dependent on taste, aroma and texture in the case of Onions. For Okra, willingness to use was dependent on colour and texture. There was a general willingness to use the products dried with the load adaptive technology, it was, therefore, necessary for the Centre for Lion Gadgets and Technologies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (CLGT) to collaborate with agricultural extension agencies to disseminate the product to farmers and processors for use.
Keywords: photovoltaic, dryer, load adaptive, consumers, perception, okra, onion
Provisions for Agricultural Extension Services in the Implementation Manuals of the World Bank Assisted Fadama Development Projects in Nigeria: Gaps and Lessons
Authors: Madukwe Michael. C. , Anugwa Ifeoma 
Published: August 2020

The study examined the provisions for agricultural extension services in the National Fadama Development Projects in Nigeria. Provisions for extension services were made by the project in the areas of, input support, local development plans and technical assistance. However, certain critical gaps were observed in the provisions for extension services in the projects’ operational manuals. The observed gaps were in the areas of the improper selection criteria for facilitators and service providers in terms of educational qualification, limited subject matter coverage, poor format for preparing local development plans and lack of incorporation of more innovative extension approaches in project execution, and misuse and application of the concept of advisory services as an alternative to extension services. In spite of the observed gaps, some positive lessons namely; the matching grant arrangement and user fee approach which ensured the sustainability of the project, diversified menu for extension services which was based on the needs of farmers were learnt. Detailed criteria for measuring the quality of extension services rendered to farmers should be developed and included in future implementation manuals.
Keywords: Provision of agricultural extension services, fadama implementation manuals.
Effects of Food Price Shocks on Dietary Composition of Farm Households’ in Nigeria
Authors: Adekunle Chioma Patricia , Kutu Augustine Adebayo , Alori David Alaba 
Published: August 2020

This study examined the effects of food price spikes on the quantity and quality of the dietary composition of farm households in Nigeria using the 2010/2011, 2012/2013 and 2015/2016 household survey panel data. The fixed effects models were estimated while controlling for participation in non-farm livelihood activities. Analysis indicated that seasonal comparisons of the average per capita daily calorie intake is lowest in the post-harvest season of 2011 (2511.44 kilocalories), which is higher than the average recommended intake. Results showed that rural households had lower per capita calorie intake and dietary diversity than urban households, which may be an indication of a shift in the calorie inadequacy from urban to rural farm households’ setting in Nigeria. In addition, income and education improvement are crucial for raising food calories and satisfaction of hunger needs among households with total food consumption expenditure of 79.0%. The study recommended that a combination of policy strategies, including income growth, agricultural development and targeted food distribution programs could reduce the problems of inadequate calorie consumption among farm households.
Keywords: Food price increase, household, nutrition, dietary diversity
Climate Change Adaptation Practices and Rice Farmers’ Level of Living in North-West, Nigeria
Authors: Yakubu Danlami Haruna , Akpoko Joseph Gambo , Akinola Mathew Oluwatuyi , Abdulsalam Zakari 
Published: August 2020

The study examined the effect of climate change adaptation practices on rice farmers’ level of living in North-West, Nigeria. It targeted Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States in the North-West, Nigeria that are among the major rice producing States in the country. A multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain a sample of 522 farmers for the study. The data were obtained with the aid of structured interview schedule were analysed using both descriptive (frequency counts, percentages, ranges and means) and inferential (Chi-square) statistics. Findings of the study reveal that the majority (96%) of the respondents had their income from rice production, within the ₦50,000.00 to N499,999.00 (143 to 1,429 USD) range. The mean rice income was ₦308,742.00 (882 USD). The majority (84.48%) and (77.40%) of the respondents used improved rice varieties and intercropping as climate change adaptation practices, respectively. Other climate change adaptation practices used by the rice farmers included moderate use of fertilizers (93.10%) and other chemicals (89.85%), as well as use of organic manure (99.43%). The farmers also adjusted the planting calendar through early planting (92.34%) and early harvesting (93.10%). Similarly, the majority (89.85%) of the respondents made mounds and ridges across slopes while 96.17% and 89.08% used rivers/streams and dug wells for irrigation. About 51% of the rice farmers spent ₦5,000.00 - ₦370,999.00 of their rice income on vehicles. 54% spent ₦8,000.00 - ₦92,299.00 of their rice income on electronics and only about 14% spent ₦4,000.00 - ₦102,999.00 of their rice income on land and housing. There was a significant (X2 = 258.6325; p < 0.00) relationship between farmers’ use of climate change adaptation practices and their level of living. The study concluded that rice farmers’ use of climate change adaptation practices could lead to improvement in their rice income and level of living.
Keywords: Climate change, Adaptation practices, Rice farmers, Level of living
Farm-Level Value Addition among Small-scale Mango Farmers in Machakos County, Kenya
Authors: Musyoka John Kennedy , Isaboke Hezron Nyarindo , Ndirangu Samuel Njiri 
Published: August 2020

The study examined farm-level value addition among small-scale mango farmers in Machakos County, Kenya. A sample size of 352 small-scale mango farmers was proportionately selected from six wards of the study area. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection. Percentage and Heckman two-stage selection model were employed in data analysis. The result showed that only 33.52% of the farmers practised mango value addition. Off-farm income, access to cold storage facilities, price of value-added products, group membership, extension contact, farmers’ awareness, amount of credit and hired labour positively influenced mango farm-level value addition. Training, farmers’ awareness and access to cold storage facilities positively influenced the proportion of mangoes value added at farm-level, while distance to market and livestock equivalence precipitated a negative effect on the proportion of mangoes value added. Relevant authorities in the County should provide adequate and up to date mango storage facilities and improve methods of extension delivery in order to increase the uptake of mango farm-level value addition among small-scale farmers.
Keywords: Farm-level value addition, extent of participation
Assessment of Extension Officers Contribution to Cocoa Production in Nigeria
Authors: Oke O.S. , Nosiru M.O. , Ogunbela A.A. , Marizu J.T. , Lawah M.O. , Jatto K.A. , Bamigboye O.T. , Oyaniyi T. , Adebayo G.J. , Agbeyomi O.S. 
Published: August 2020

This study was carried out to evaluate the extension officer contribution to cocoa production in Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used, where two hundred and sixteen questionnaires were distributed in Osun and Ondo state , the information gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistic such as; frequency and percentage, while chi-square analysis was used to analyze the data obtained. From the results, married (77.6%), male (84.0%), secondary school holders (52.0%), between 40-49 (34.4%) years old farmers were seen as the highest cocoa producers. Extension training(64.0%), commercial agents(64.0%), fellowship(52.8%), self observation(76.0%) were the best source of information on extension service of cocoa farming , most respondents (65.0%); get extension training programme at regular basis, identified Constraints facing cocoa production in the study area includes deficient credit facilities, high cost of labour, bad road, poor marketing/storage facilities, lack of technical knowledge / assess to technical tools and so on. in view of afore mentioned result it is therefore recommended that the government should make loan available to the cocoa famers at very low interest rate and urge cocoa farmers to form cooperative society, strengthen their agricultural extension agents so that they will be able to rain cocoa farmers on the basic things they should know about primary processing such as fermentation and drying of cocoa beans in improving the quality in Nigeria to meet international market.
Keywords: Assessment, Extension officer, Contribution, Farmers, Cocoa production
Evaluation of Stoichiometry, Stability Constants and Gibbs Free Energies of Acetaminophen-Zn (II) complex at Different Temperatures
Authors: Ikpeazu O.V. , Otuokere I.E. , Igwe K.K. 
Published: August 2020

Acetaminophen also known as paracetamol, is a drug used in the treatment of pain and fever. It is essentially used for the relief of mild to moderate pain. The presence of phenol and carbonyl oxygen atom enables acetaminophen to behave as a bidentate ligand. The stoichiometry, stability constants and Gibbs free energies of acetaminophen-Zn (II) were determined colorimetrically at 25 and 40 oC using continuous variation and mole ratio methods. The formation of Zn (II) complex with acetaminophen was studied colorimetrically at an absorption maximum of 630 nm at different temperatures. The data showed that Zn (II) and acetaminophen combine in the molar ratio of 1:1 at pH 7.4 with ionic strength maintained using 0.1M KNO3. Calculated stability constants values were 2.70 x 103 and 2.20 x 103 using continuous variation method and 7.21 x 103 and 7.21 x 103 using mole ratio methods at 25 and 40 oC respectively. Calculated ΔGƟ for the complex were - 1.96 x 104 and -1.98 x 104 J using continuous variation method and -2.2 x 104 J and - 2.31 x 104 J using mole ratio method at 25 and 40 oC respectively. The stability constant and Gibbs free energy results suggested that acetaminophen used in the study is a good chelating agent and can be an efficient antidote in the therapy of Zn (II) overload or poisoning.
Keywords: Acetaminophen, Zinc, complex, stability constant, Gibbs free energy.
A genetic-based data mining model for customer relationship management in B2B ecommerce
Authors: Makinde AS , Vincent OR , Acheme ID , Akinwale AT 
Published: August 2020

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) improves the responsiveness and understanding of business strategies among employees and helps to achieve better customer service. However, in Business-to-Business (B2B) eCommerce, CRM data are rarely analyzed across market segments or customer categories, and customer-to-business relationship also poses issues. Thus, making appropriate decisions in the CRM model is difficult. This study presents a modified B2B CRM using the Genetic algorithm and Data Mining Techniques to improve decision making. The model classifies consumers into consumers of Repeat and Shop-and-Go. Modified data mining C5.0 and the Genetic algorithm was employed to optimize rules generated by the decision tree algorithm. The findings showed that the proposed model allocates resources effectively to the most profitable customers’ decisions. The output metrics are machine time, calibration graph, and ROC curve. In comparison with the conventional C5.0, k-NN, and Support Vector Machine, the proposed model has greater accuracy of 89.3 percent.
Keywords: Customer Relationship Management, B2B eCommerce, Genetic Algorithm, Data Mining
Gear Design Optimization Algorithms: A Review
Authors: Usman YO , Odion PO , Onibere EO , Egwoh AY 
Published: August 2020

Gearing is one of the most efficient methods of transmitting power from a source to its application with or without change of speed or direction. Gears are round mechanical components with teeth arranged in their perimeter. Gear design is complex design that involves many design parameters and tables, finding an optimal or near optimal solution to this complex design is still a major challenge. Different optimization algorithms such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Simulated Annealing, Ant-Colony Optimization, and Neural Network etc., have been used for design optimization of the gear design problems. This paper focuses on the review of the optimization techniques used for gear design optimization with a view to identifying the best of them. Nowadays, the method used for the design optimization of gears is the evolutionary algorithm specifically the genetic algorithm which is based on the evolution idea of natural selection. The study revealed that GA. has the ability to find optimal solutions in a short time of computation by making a global search in a large search space.
Keywords: Firefly Algorithm, Ant-Colony Optimization, Simulated Annealing, Genetic Algorithm, Gear design, Optimization, Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
An Indigenous Smart Cane System For The Visually Impaired With Sound Clap Location Ability
Authors: Igwe JS , Chukwuemeka C , Ituma C , Ogbu NH 
Published: August 2020

Guiding the visually impaired persons is always very tasking. Smart Canes previously designed for the blinds are relatively costly. Also, most of the available Smart Cane Systems used only remote control and buzzing methods for locating the cane if misplaced. However, no research work has handled how to locate the cane should the remote control itself be misplaced. This work designed an Indigenous Smart Cane System for the Visually Impaired with Sound Clap Location Ability. It is relatively less costly, easy to learn, and can be located by a natural means if misplaced. The system uses one ATMEGA328P Microcontroller which is programmed to control both input and output signals. It was designed with three low-cost 0.3m resolution HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensors to detect obstacles within the range of 2cm – 400cm in the front, left and right directions of the user and sends the current obstacle distance signal to the controller for processing. Receiving this signal, the controller determines which of the output devices (Piezo Speaker, Earphone and Vibrator Motor) to use and communicate the object distance to the user. In case the cane is misplaced, the user makes a sound clap which triggers the Sound Sensor to send signal to the controller for an audio feedback. This audio feedback is done by the Piezo Speaker. The system was programmed to use a very simple object – detection algorithm to help the user learn how to use the cane easily. This system has been tested and found to be relatively less costly, easy to learn and can be located with a clap sound.
Keywords: Sound-Clap Location Ability, Visually Impaired, Indigenous Smart Cane, Sensors, Audio Feedback; Object Distance; Microcontroller.