Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erodibility and sedimentation potential of marly formations at the watershed scale

Grupi and Kashkan marl formations comprise a considerable part of Zagros region. These formations have a considerable erodibility and sedimentation potential because of their special geological and mineralogical characteristics. The objective of this study was to compare the erosion and sediment yield of Kashkan and Grupi formations in Merk watershed located in southeast Kermanshah, using the Modified Pacific Southwest Inter-Agency Committee model. This model is suitable for estimating erosion and sediment intensity within each geomorphologic unit comprising nine effective environmental factors as geological, pedological, climate, runoff, topography, land cover, land use, surface, and river erosion factors. The results indicated that Kashkan formation comprises siltstone, sandstone, shale, and conglomerate, and Grupi formation contains shale, clay, and limestone with a high erodibility potential. Field measurements and soil samples analyzed for effective factors releaved that sediment yield for Merek watershed was 18080.6 m3/ha/y. Furthermore, field measurement and soil samples analyzed for effective factors releaved that sediment yields for Kashkan and Gurpi were 7243.3 and 10837.5 m3/ha/y, respectively. The reasons for erosion intensity and sedimentation in the two mentioned formations are slopes, vegetation and land use in addition to the type of rocks in Kashkan and Gurpi formations which are predominantly marl and shale.
TLR4, NOD1 and NOD2 mediate immune recognition of putative newly identified periodontal pathogens.

Periodontitis is a polymicrobial inflammatory disease that results from the interaction between the oral microbiota and the host immunity. Although the innate immune response is important for disease initiation and progression, the innate immune receptors that recognize both classical and putative periodontal pathogens that elicit an immune response have not been elucidated. By using the Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray (HOMIM), we identified multiple predominant oral bacterial species in human plaque biofilm that strongly associate with severe periodontitis. Ten of the identified species were evaluated in greater depth, six being classical pathogens and four putative novel pathogens. Using human peripheral blood monocytes (HPBM) and murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) from wild-type (WT) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-specific and MyD88 knockouts (KOs), we demonstrated that heat-killed Campylobacter concisus, Campylobacter rectus, Selenomonas infelix, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forsythia mediate high immunostimulatory activity. Campylobacter concisus, C. rectus, and S. infelix exhibited robust TLR4 stimulatory activity. Studies using mesothelial cells from WT and NOD1-specific KOs and NOD2-expressing human embryonic kidney cells demonstrated that Eubacterium saphenum, Eubacterium nodatum and Filifactor alocis exhibit robust NOD1 stimulatory activity, and that Porphyromonas endodontalis and Parvimonas micra have the highest NOD2 stimulatory activity. These studies allowed us to provide important evidence on newly identified putative pathogens in periodontal disease pathogenesis showing that these bacteria exhibit different immunostimulatory activity via TLR4, NOD1, and NOD2 (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01154855).
Digital Backchannel: Promoting Students' Engagement in EFL Large Class

Students’ engagement is widely believed to be the single most significant predictor of persistence in learning process. It is generally reflected in active participation such as listening to presentation, expressing opinions, asking questions, and working on assignment. However, the idea of being embarrassed in front of peers and the feeling of being reluctant to disturb others can often be intimidating for many students and might prevent them to ask questions during class discussion. As the consequence, meaningful discussion that is expected to happen during the lesson oftentimes takes another form of side conversation such as whispering, note passing, and text messaging, the so-called backchanneling. In addition to this, the class size has also been generating another problem. The larger the class is, the greater challenges the teachers face to engage students in their learning. To address this issue, this research investigates how TodaysMeet, a digital backchannel chat platform, promotes students engagement in an Indonesian EFL large class and transfers the side conversation to the forefront. A number of 41 college students took part in this single-case study approach. The research data were taken from interviews, classroom observations, and students' task submission. The degree of students’ engagement was measured in 3 types of engagement i.e. emotional, behavioral and cognitive engagement. Research findings suggest that the digital backchannel promotes students engagement with learning activity, and enables lecturers to provide immediate feedback on the students understanding over the lesson material.
Internet of Things: a systematic literature review

The “Internet of Things”(IoT) is becoming an increasingly growing topic of conversation worldwide that it promises to offer a revolutionary fully connected “smart”world. IoT represents a vision, in which the Internet extends into the real world involving everyday objects equipped with sensors, processing, and communications capabilities that will allow them to interconnect to each other over the Internet to accomplish some objective. This chapter reports on the current status of research on the IoT by examining the literature, identifying trends, exploring issues, challenges, and opportunities associated with IoT.
Children's Perceptions of Economic Groups in a Context of Limited Access to Opportunities.

Children (N = 267, ages 8-14 years, M = 11.61 years, middle to upper-middle income) made predictions regarding groups of same-aged peers from high-wealth and low-wealth backgrounds. The context involved granting access to a special opportunity. From middle childhood to early adolescence children increasingly expected both high- and low-wealth groups to want access to opportunities for their own group. However, children viewed high-wealth groups as motivated in part by selfishness and low-wealth groups as concerned in part with broader economic inequality. Finally, the higher children's family income, the more they expected group-serving tendencies. These findings revealed children's perceptions of exclusive preferences between economic groups, negative stereotypes about high-wealth children, and awareness of some of the constraints faced by low-wealth children.
A test of monophyly of the gutless Phallodrilinae (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae) and the use of a 573‐bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene in analysis of annelid phylogeny

A 573‐bp region of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of two species of Inanidrilus Erséus and four species of Olavius Erséus (Phallodrilinae, Tubificidae) is used in a parsimony analysis together with a selection of 35 other annelids (including members of Polychaeta, Pogonophora, Aphanoneura, and the clitellate taxa Tubificidae, Enchytraeidae, Naididae, Lumbriculidae, Haplotaxidae, Lumbricidae, Criodrilidae, Branchiobdellida and Hirudinea), and with two molluscs as outgroups. The data support the monophyly of the Olavius and Inanidrilus group, with a monophyletic Inanidrilus. However, parsimony jackknife analyses show that most of the other groups are unsupported by the data set, thus revealing a large amount of homoplasy in the selected gene region. Practically no information is given of within/between family relationships except for a few, closely related species. This suggests that the analysed COI region is not useful, when used alone, for inferring higher level relationships among the annelids.
An Application of Fuzzy Integrated Model in Green Supplier Selection

“Sustainability” term has not only become increasingly important globally for individual companies, but also become important for whole supply chains. The selection of supplier is a significant decision for the sustainability of supply chains. Literature review revealed that supplier selection is made traditionally based on economic attributes which are insufficient for sustainability of supply chains as sustainability requires taking economic, environmental, and social issues into account. For this purpose, this paper proposes determining the green supplier selection attributes and then developing a methodology for assessment and ranking of green suppliers based on determined attributes. The first contribution of this study is to propose a novel method, which is FROV (fuzzy extension of range of value) to literature. The latter is to utilize fuzzy extension of preference selection index (FPSI) to identify the weights of attributes. The third is to develop a novel fuzzy multiattribute decision-making model consisting of FPSI and FROV to determine the best supplier for a Turkish textile company.
Dynamic Simulation and Experimental Validation of Single and Multi-Metallic Solutions in the Biosorption of Heavy Metals in Membrane Reactors: An Overview

In this paper an overview on the use of membrane reactors to immobilise micro-organisms in a stirred tank reactor during continuous heavy metal biosorption tests is presented. Experimental data were collected in different operation conditions of pH and biomass concentration both with single and binary metal solutions in membrane reactor apparatus using Sphaerotilus natans as biosorbent. A dynamic model is developed on the base of equilibrium adsorption data obtained by batch biosorption tests carried out in different operation conditions. Comparison among experimental data and simulated profiles provides the base for implementation of dynamic model as a fundamental mathematical tool in process design of continuous biosorption systems. Multi-metallic biosorption experimental data and simulations evidenced the adsorbent selectivity following the general order Pb>Cu>Cd. Multi-stage configuration allows metal removal to be increased and it is a possible alternative to separate the different metals contained in real polluted waste streams in the different stages according to their affinity for the adsorbent active sites. © 2002 SDU. All rights reserved.
In Vitro Metabolism of Isoliquiritigenin by Human Liver Microsomes

Isoliquiritigenin (2′,4′,4-trihydroxychalcone), a chalcone found in licorice root and other plants, has shown potent antitumor, antioxidant, and phytoestrogenic activity in vitro. In preparation for in vivo studies, the metabolism of isoliquiritigenin by human liver microsomes was investigated, and seven phase 1 metabolites were identified. In addition to aromatic hydroxylation that occurred on the A or B ring to form 2′,4,4′,5′-tetrahydroxychalcone or butein, respectively, reduction of the carbon-carbon double bond of an α,β-unsaturated ketone and cyclization occurred to form 2′,4,4′-trihydroxydihydrochalcone and (Z/E)-6,4′-dihydroxyaurone. All metabolites were characterized and identified by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with comparison to authenticated compounds. Finally, monoclonal antibody inhibitors of specific human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes and recombinant human P450 enzymes were used to identify the enzymes responsible for the formation of the major mono-oxygenated metabolites, and P450 2C19 was found to be a significant enzyme in the formation of butein from isoliquiritigenin, which also has anticancer activity. Cytochromes P450, reactive oxygen species, and peroxidases can all contribute to the formation of (Z/E)-6,4′-dihydroxyaurone in human liver microsomes.
An ontology-based semantic foundation for ARIS EPCs

This paper presents an ontological analysis of the EPC (Event-driven Process Chain) business process modeling notation supported in the ARIS Toolset. This ontological analysis provides an interpretation of the modeling elements in EPC diagrams in terms of the UFO foundational ontology. This enables us to define the precise real-world semantics for business process models represented through EPCs and allows us to identify problems affecting the clarity and expressiveness of EPCs. In our analysis, we consider an up-to-date metamodel of the ARIS Method that we have defined in our earlier work, which specifies EPCs as currently supported by the ARIS Toolset. To the best of our knowledge, the interpretation proposed here is presently the most complete ontological account for EPCs.
Enhanced Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana for Red Flour Beetle with Reduced Moisture

Abstract Red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), is a major pest of stored and processed grains that is tolerant of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin under most conditions. Laboratory assays demonstrated that desiccating conditions improved the efficacy of the fungus. For T. castaneum larvae exposed to B. bassiana at different vapor pressure deficits (VPDs), the LC50 potency ratios were 2.3 for 2.42 kPa and 3.9 for 3.31 kPa compared with 1.06 kPa. There were significant effects of moisture on B. bassiana-associated mortality even with brief exposure to low VPD before or at the beginning of exposure to fungus. When T. castaneum larvae were held at 3.31 kPa 1 d before exposure to B. bassiana and/or in the first 1 or 2 d of exposure to the fungus, there was significantly greater mortality for all of the low moisture treatments than occurred with continuous incubation at 1.06 kPa. B. bassiana efficacy for adult T. castaneum was significantly better for VPDs of 3.56 or 3.78 than 1.06 kPa. Weight gain over 4 d of incubation with moisture held constant was significantly less at a VDP of 3.31 kPa than at 1.87 or 1.06 kPa. Treatment with fungus did not affect weight gain significantly. There was no significant difference in larval water content among treatments.
Contents of Endometriotic Cysts, Especially the High Concentration of Free Iron, Are a Possible Cause of Carcinogenesis in the Cysts through the Iron-Induced Persistent Oxidative Stress

Purpose: Endometriotic cysts are known to transform into ovarian cancers, such as clear cell and endometrioid carcinomas. We hypothesized that an iron-rich environment produced by the repetition of hemorrhage in the endometriotic cysts during the reproductive period may play a crucial role in carcinogenesis in the cysts through the iron-induced persistent oxidative stress. Experimental Design: Contents of human ovarian cysts, including 21 endometriotic cysts, 4 clear cell carcinomas, and 11 nonendometriotic cysts, were analyzed for the concentrations of free “catalytic” iron, lactose dehydrogenase, potential antioxidant, lipid peroxide, and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Iron deposition and 8-OHdG levels were also analyzed histologically. Reactive oxygen species and the mutagenicity of the contents in endometriotic cyst were determined in vitro. Results: The concentration of free iron in endometriotic cysts (100.9 mmol/L) was significantly higher than that in nonendometriotic cysts (0.075 mmol/L; P < 0.01). The average concentrations of lactose dehydrogenase, potential antioxidant, lipid peroxide, and 8-OHdG were also significantly higher in endometriotic cysts (P < 0.01). There was a correlation between the concentration of free iron and that of 8-OHdG (P < 0.01). Histologically, we could observe iron deposits more abundantly in endometriotic cysts than in nonendometriotic cysts (P < 0.01). The level of 8-OHdG in carcinoma associated with endometriosis was higher than that of carcinoma without endometriosis (P < 0.05). In vitro analyses showed that the contents of endometriotic cyst could produce more reactive oxygen species and could induce gene mutations more frequently than the contents in the other cysts. Conclusions: Abundant free iron in the contents of endometriotic cysts was strongly associated with greater oxidative stress and frequent DNA mutations. A long-standing history of the RBCs accumulated in the ovarian endometriotic cysts during the reproductive period produces oxidative stress that is a possible cause for the malignant change of the endometriotic cyst.
Effects of Estrogen on Insulin Sensitivity and Adipokines in Mice.

OBJECTIVE To study the potential mechanisms via which estrogen exerts its effects on the insulin sensitivity in mice. METHODS Totally 36 female C57BL/6J mice aged 6 weeks were randomly divided into six groups:normal diet (NOR) group, normal diet with ovariectomy (NOR+OVX) group, normal diet with ovariectomy and estrogen replacement (NOR+OVX+E2) group,high-fat diet (HF) group, high-fat diet with ovariectomy (HF+OVX) group, and high-fat diet with ovariectomy and estrogen replacement (HF+OVX+E2) group. There were six mice in each group. After the ovariectomy based on the grouping, the mice were given normal diet or high-fat diet for 20 weeks. The intervention groups were given estrogen (5 μg/d,subcutaneous injection) for 20 days. Then,the body weight,visceral fat weight,oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity (by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp test), and serum leptin, adiponectin,and resistin levels were compared among these six groups. RESULTS Compared with HF group, the HF+OVX group had significantly higher body weight and visceral fat weight and lower glucose tolerance, which were significantly improved after estrogen replacement therapy (all P<0.05). However, these indicators showed no significant differences among groups with normal diets (all P>0.05). The insulin sensitivity of ovariectomized mice was significantly decreased in both high-fat and normal diet groups and was also improved significantly after estrogen replacement (P<0.05). The serum leptin was increased and adiponectin was decreased significantly in ovariectomized mice, and the improvements of these two adipokines were also statistically significant after estrogen therapy (P<0.05): however,the serum resistin level was not significantly different among these 6 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Estrogen replacement therapy can improve insulin resistance by lowering body weight. In addition, it can exert its effect directly on adipose tissue,improve the levels of adipokines,reduce the amount of visceral fat, and improve insulin sensitivity in mice.
Mediation of Short and Longer Term Effects of an Intervention Program to Enhance Resilience in Immigrants from Mainland China to Hong Kong

Few clinical trials report on the active intervention components that result in outcome changes, although this is relevant to further improving efficacy and adapting effective programs to other populations. This paper presents follow-up analyses of a randomized controlled trial to enhance adaptation by increasing knowledge and personal resilience in two separate brief interventions with immigrants from Mainland China to Hong Kong (Yu et al., 2014b). The present paper extends our previous one by reporting on the longer term effect of the interventions on personal resilience, and examining whether the Resilience intervention worked as designed to enhance personal resilience. The four-session intervention targeted at self-efficacy, positive thinking, altruism, and goal setting. In this randomized controlled trial, 220 immigrants were randomly allocated to three arms: Resilience, Information (an active control arm), and Control arms. Participants completed measures of the four active components (self-efficacy, positive thinking, altruism, and goal setting) at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Personal resilience was assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The results showed that the Resilience arm had greater increases in the four active components post-intervention. Changes in each of the four active components at the post-intervention assessment mediated enhanced personal resilience at the 3-month follow-up in the Resilience arm. Changes in self-efficacy and goal setting showed the largest effect size, and altruism showed the smallest. The arm effects of the Resilience intervention on enhanced personal resilience at the 6-month follow-up were mediated by increases of personal resilience post-intervention (Resilience vs. Control) and at the 3-month follow-up (Resilience vs. Information). These findings showed that these four active components were all mediators in this Resilience intervention. Our results of the effects of short term increases in personal resilience on longer term increase in personal resilience in some models suggest how changes in intervention outcomes might persist over time.
Early detection of prostate cancer using prostate-specific antigen testing: an empirical evaluation among general practitioners and urologists

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequent cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death among German men. One option for PCa early detection is prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, which is still under debate regarding its risk benefits. Besides recommendations on the early PCa detection, daily practice on PSA testing varies in, for example, information communication and usage of the test. This pilot study assessed potential differences between general practitioners (GPs) and urologists in handling PSA testing and guidelines on early detection of PCa. Methods: 172 GPs belonging to the teaching network of the University of Oldenburg in Lower Saxony and Bremen and 128 practicing urologists were included in the online survey focusing on PSA testing. The questionnaire covered 43 questions on topics as the usage of the test, information communication, handling of test results and handling of/knowledge about national and international guidelines on PCa. Wether PSA testing is used in accordance with guidelines was also explored in four standardized case scenarios. Statistical analysis was done at a descriptive level. Results: In total, 65 doctors participated in the survey (response proportion: 21.7%, n=65; 27.9%, n=48 [GPs]; 13.2%, n=17 [urologists]). Results of 41 GPs and 14 urologists were analyzed. The PSA test was judged as useful by all urologists, while almost half of the GPs valued the test as ambivalent or not useful. Urologists showed a more proactive approach of informing men on PSA testing. Regarding guidelines and recommendations on PSA testing, GPs were less familiar with them compared to the urologists. Doctors of both specialties did not always treat men in consistence with the guidelines. This was partially in contradiction to their self-appraisal. Conclusion: This pilot study is highlighting differences in PSA testing practices between GPs and urologists in Germany. Urologists showed a more proactive approach. For further verification, we plan a more comprehensive study covering several German states.
Three-Dimensional Computerized Tomographic Reconstruction of Instantaneous Distribution of Chemiluminescence of a Turbulent Premixed Flame

The advanced CT (computerized tomography) reconstruction technique for measuring an instantaneous three-dimensional distribution of chemiluminescence of a turbulent premixed flame is accomplished. In the technique, first, instantaneous two-dimensional images (‘projection’ images) of an objective flame are simultaneously taken from forty horizontal directions with a forty-lens camera. Next four hundred horizontal CT images, which are reconstructed from the ‘projection’ images by MLEM (maximum likelihood expectation maximization) algorithm, are vertically accumulated, resulting in an instantaneous three-dimensional distribution of flame-chemiluminescence. Results for a propane-air fuel-rich-premixed turbulent flame are as follows. The flame front is observed to be a thin wrinkled luminous region of 0.6mm in thickness. The three-dimensional result clearly shows that the cusps observed in horizontal cross-sections correspond to ridges of the three-dimensional flame front. The luminosity is quenched at the ridges by Lewis number effect. Finally, various types of display of three-dimensional distribution are performed to demonstrate the three-dimensionality of data acquisition.