Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Propagation of whistler mode waves with a modulated frequency in the magnetosphere

[1] This paper presents results from experimental and numerical studies of the propagation of whistler mode waves in the Earth's magnetosphere. An experiment conducted at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) on 16 March 2008 demonstrates that ionospherically generated waves with particular frequency-time formats are amplified on their pass from HAARP to the conjugate location in the South Pacific Ocean more efficiently than waves with a constant frequency. Numerical simulations of a one-dimensional electron magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model in the dipole magnetic field geometry reveal that the amplification takes place more efficiently when the frequency of the whistler mode waves (in the frequency range from 0.5 to 1.0 kHz) changes in the equatorial magnetosphere with the rate from 0.25 to 0.47 kHz/s. The maximum amplification occurs when this rate is 0.33 kHz/s and no/very little amplification is observed when this gradient is equal to 0 or when it is larger than 0.78 kHz/s.
AT1 receptor-activated signaling mediates angiotensin IV-induced renal cortical vasoconstriction in rats.

Angiotensin IV (ANG IV), an active ANG II fragment, has been shown to induce systemic and renal cortical effects by binding to ANG IV (AT(4)) receptors and activating unique signaling transductions unrelated to classical type 1 (AT(1)) or type 2 (AT(2)) receptors. We tested whether ANG IV exerts systemic and renal cortical effects on blood pressure, renal microvascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and glomerular mesangial cells (MC) and, if so, whether AT(1) receptor-activated signaling is involved. In anesthetized rats, systemic infusion of ANG II, ANG III, or ANG IV (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 nmol.kg(-1). min(-1) iv) caused dose-dependent increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and decreases in renal cortical blood flow (CBF; P < 0.01). ANG II also induced dose-dependent reductions in renal medullary blood flow (P < 0.01), whereas ANG IV did not. ANG IV-induced pressor and renal cortical vasoconstriction were completely abolished by AT(1) receptor blockade with losartan (5 mg/kg iv; P < 0.05). When ANG IV (1 nmol.kg(-1). min(-1)) was infused directly in the renal artery, CBF was reduced by >30%, and the response was also blocked by losartan (P < 0.01). In the renal cortex, unlabeled ANG IV displaced (125)I-labeled [Sar(1),Ile(8)]ANG II binding, whereas unlabeled ANG II (10 microM) inhibited (125)I-labeled Nle(1)-ANG IV (AT(4)) binding in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.01). In freshly isolated renal VSMCs, ANG IV (100 nM) increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, and the effect was blocked by losartan and U-73122, a selective inhibitor of phospholipase C/inositol trisphosphate/Ca(2+) signaling (1 microM). In cultured rat MCs, ANG IV (10 nM) induced mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular/signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation via AT(1) receptor- and phospholipase C-activated signaling. These results suggest that, at nanomolar concentrations, ANG IV can increase MAP and induce renal cortical effects by interacting with AT(1) receptor-activated signaling.
COMPARISON OF SOME BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS OF EMMER WHEAT [Triticum dicoccum (SCHRANK) SCHÜBLER] CULTIVARS FROM TWO DIFFERENT ORIGINS GROWN UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS

The chemical composition (lipids, fatty acids, proteins, amino acids, starch, dietary fiber, sterols and tocopherols) of two Emmer wheat [ Triticum dicoccum (Schrank) Schubler =Triticum dicoccon Schrank] cultivars grown under the same condition in Greece was analyzed . Starch accounted for the highest percentage of the detected substances (67.1-69.4%), followed by proteins (16.1-17.5%) and dietary fiber (ADF 2.1-2.5% and αNDF 5.7-12.0%). The main fatty acids in the lipid fractions (1.36-1.62%) were oleic (35.4-37.0%), palmitic (28.0-31.5%) and linoleic (23.3-28.9%) acids. g - Tocotrienol (46.1-53.2%), a - tocopherol (28.6-34.4%) and β-tocopherol (15.9-17.8%) predominated in the tocopherol fraction, and b - sitosterol (61.3-67.0%) and campesterol (31.3-37.3%) in the sterol fraction. Arginine (10.8-13.2 g/100 g protein), proline (8.7-13.0 g/100 g protein) and tyrosine (8.3-9.2 g/100 g protein) dominated in the amino acids .
Analysis of Coinfections with A/H1N1 Strain Variants among Pigs in Poland by Multitemperature Single-Strand Conformational Polymorphism

Monitoring and control of infections are key parts of surveillance systems and epidemiological risk prevention. In the case of influenza A viruses (IAVs), which show high variability, a wide range of hosts, and a potential of reassortment between different strains, it is essential to study not only people, but also animals living in the immediate surroundings. If understated, the animals might become a source of newly formed infectious strains with a pandemic potential. Special attention should be focused on pigs, because of the receptors specific for virus strains originating from different species, localized in their respiratory tract. Pigs are prone to mixed infections and may constitute a reservoir of potentially dangerous IAV strains resulting from genetic reassortment. It has been reported that a quadruple reassortant, A(H1N1)pdm09, can be easily transmitted from humans to pigs and serve as a donor of genetic segments for new strains capable of infecting humans. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a simple, cost-effective, and rapid method for evaluation of IAV genetic variability. We describe a method based on multitemperature single-strand conformational polymorphism (MSSCP), using a fragment of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, for detection of coinfections and differentiation of genetic variants of the virus, difficult to identify by conventional diagnostic.
The Effectiveness of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Application Implementation in Improving Student with Autism Verbal Communication

Augmentative and Alternative Communication is widely used in the educational context as a learning aid for improving verbal communication among students. The aims of this research are to study the effectiveness of Augmentative and Alternative Communication implementation in improving students with autism verbal communication. This research was conducted at one of the primary school in Machang, Kelantan. 2 students with autism participate in this study as a respondent and divided into treatment group and controlled group. Pre and post-tests were conducted to collect and analyze data. Finding in this research shows there was a significant difference between the pre and post-test score in the treatment group when Augmentative and Alternative Communication application was implemented in the intervention.
Exploring the music: a teaching-learning sequence about sound in authentic settings

ABSTRACT Background: Research regarding students’ ideas about the nature of sound reveals a variety of conceptions about sound. In order to reconstruct these ideas and explain sound phenomena, researchers’ teaching interventions often make use of everyday-life contexts. However existing research on sound only partially addresses the correlation between the properties of sound and its perceptive characteristics. Purpose: To identify the evolution of students’ conceptions regarding the nature of sound and its properties (frequency, intensity and frequency spectrum) through a teaching-learning sequence (TLS) about sound phenomena in an authentic musical context. The described TLS consists of three activities aiming students to correlate the properties of sound waves (frequency, intensity and frequency spectrum) with its perceptive characteristics (pitch, loudness and timbre) via the use of smartphone applications. Sample: Eight students, in the second year of their studies in the Department of Primary Education of the XXX University. Design and methods: Students’ perspectives on sound and their progression are investigated through a teaching experiment design. Data are collected by recording students’ interviews. Due to the explorative nature of the research qualitative methods of content analysis are used. Results: The results show that the students’ perspectives on sound evolved, as students managed to consolidate links between their everyday experience of sounds and the underlying science concepts as frequency, intensity and frequency spectrum. The authentic environment and the use of the smartphone’s applications were key factors for the success of the teaching experiment. The interaction with the activities shifted student’s conceptualizations closer to the scientific ones, by communicating every day sound experiences with their scientific interpretation.
Comparative Study of Hemodynamics Electrolyte and Metabolic Changes During Prone and Complete Supine Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Background Nowadays Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is performed in prone and supine positions. Physiologic solutions should be used to irrigate during PCNL. Irrigation can cause hemodynamic, electrolyte and acid-base changes during PCNL. Objectives The current study aimed to compare the electrolyte, hemodynamic and metabolic changes of prone and complete supine PCNL. Patients and Methods It was a randomized clinical trial study on 40 ASA class I and II patients. Twenty of patients underwent prone PCNL (Group A) and the other twenty underwent complete supine PCNL (Group B). The two groups received the same premedication and induction of anesthesia. Blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean) and pulse rate were recorded before, during and after anesthesia and Hb, Hct, BUN, Cr, Na, and K were also measured before and after operation in the two groups. The volume of irrigation fluid, total effluent fluid (the fluid in the bucket and the gazes) and volume of absorbed fluid were measured. Results There were no significant differences in Na, K, BUN, Cr, Hb and Hct between the two groups. Absorption volume was significantly different between the two groups (335 ± 121.28 mL in group A and 159.45 ± 73.81 mL in group B, respectively) (P = 0.0001). The mean anesthesia time was significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.012). There was a significant difference in bleeding volume between supine and prone PCNL (270.4 ± 229.14 in group A and 594.2 ± 290 in group B, respectively) (P = 0.0001). Mean systolic blood pressure during operation and recovery was 120.2 ± 10.9 and 140.7 ± 25.1 in group B, and 113.4 ± 6.4 and 126.2 ± 12.7 in group A, respectively. Systolic blood pressure between the two groups during operation and recovery was significantly different (P = 0.027 and P = 0.022, respectively). Mean diastolic blood pressure in supine group during operation and recovery was 80.53 ± 7.57 and 95.75 ± 17.48, and 73.95 ± 3.94 and 83.4 ± 12.54 in prone group, respectively. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly different between the two groups. It was 80.55 ± 7.57 and 95.75 ± 17.48, respectively during operation and recoveryin the supine group and 73.95 ± 3.94 and 83.4 ± 12.54 in the prone group, respectively (P = 0.001 and P = 0.014, respectively), but there was no significant difference between the pulse rate mean value of the two groups. Conclusions The electrolyte and metabolic changes were not significantly different between the two groups, and although fluid absorption in prone group was more than that of the complete supine group, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Considering advantages of complete supine PCNL such as less hemodynamic changes (less hypotension, less fluid absorption and less duration of operation) this kind of PCNL was recommended.
Restricted Quantum Affine Symmetry of Perturbed Minimal Conformal Models

We study the structure of superselection sectors of an arbitrary perturbation of a conformal field theory. We describe how a restriction of the q-deformed sl(2) affine Lie algebra symmetry of the sine-Gordon theory can be used to derive the S-matrices of the Φ(1,3) perturbations of the minimal unitary series. This analysis provides an identification of fields which create the massive kink spectrum. We investigate the ultraviolet limit of the restricted sine-Gordon model, and explain the relation between the restriction and the Fock space cohomology of minimal models. We also comment on the structure of degenerate vacuum states. Deformed Serre relations are proven for arbitrary affine Toda theories, and it is shown in certain cases how relations of the Serre type become fractional spin supersymmetry relations upon restriction.
Remote Sensing of Liquid Water and Ice Cloud Optical Thickness and Effective Radius in the Arctic: Application of Airborne Multispectral MAS Data

A multispectral scanning spectrometer was used to obtain measurements of the bidirectional reflectance and brightness temperature of clouds, sea ice, snow, and tundra surfaces at 50 discrete wavelengths between 0.47 and 14.0 mm. These observations were obtained from the NASA ER-2 aircraft as part of the First ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) Regional Experiment (FIRE) Arctic Clouds Experiment, conducted over a 1600 km 3 500 km region of the north slope of Alaska and surrounding Beaufort and Chukchi Seas between 18 May and 6 June 1998. Multispectral images in eight distinct bands of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Airborne Simulator (MAS) were used to derive a confidence in clear sky (or alternatively the probability of cloud) over five different ecosystems. Based on the results of individual tests run as part of this cloud mask, an algorithm was developed to estimate the phase of the clouds (liquid water, ice, or undetermined phase). Finally, the cloud optical thickness and effective radius were derived for both water and ice clouds that were detected during one flight line on 4 June. This analysis shows that the cloud mask developed for operational use on MODIS, and tested using MAS data in Alaska, is quite capable of distinguishing clouds from bright sea ice surfaces during daytime conditions in the high Arctic. Results of individual tests, however, make it difficult to distinguish ice clouds over snow and sea ice surfaces, so additional tests were added to enhance the confidence in the thermodynamic phase of clouds over the Chukchi Sea. The cloud optical thickness and effective radius retrievals used three distinct bands of the MAS, with a recently developed 1.62- and 2.13-mm-band algorithm being used quite successfully over snow and sea ice surfaces. These results are contrasted with a MODIS-based algorithm that relies on spectral reflectance at 0.87 and 2.13 mm.
Temporal Error Concealment Algorithm Using Multi-Side Boundary Matching Principle

Error concealment is an effective approach to reduce the influence of errors that occur at the decoders. When error occurs, it may degrade the reconstructed pictures and lead to undesirable visual distortion. In this paper, we propose a novel temporal error concealment method for H.264 video streaming. A block-matching algorithm based on multi-side boundary matching (MSBM) principle, is presented to refine the concealed video. The proposed algorithm divides a corrupted macroblock (MB) into four 8times8 sub-blocks, and uses the information of the nearest rows and columns to reconstruct the MB. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm yields more satisfying image quality than the relative algorithms presented in previous studies
A Framework for Unsupervised Learning of Dialogue Strategies

Nowadays Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI) are widely studied and become one of the major interests among the scientific community. Indeed, more and more electronic devices surround people in their day-to-day life. Yet this exponential incursion of electronics in homes and offices is not only due to its ability to ease the achievement of common and boring tasks or the continuously decreasing prices but also because more and more user-friendly interfaces make it easier to use. Last decades, the fields of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Text-To-Speech (TTS) synthesis and Natural Language Processing (NLP) knew lots of progresses. It is now allowed to think about building real Spoken Dialogue Systems (SDS) interacting with human users through voice interactions. Speech often appears as a natural way to interact for a human being and it provides potential benefits such as hand-free access to machines, ergonomics and greater efficiency of interaction. Yet, speech-based interfaces design has been an expert job for a long time. It necessitates good skills in speech technologies and low-level programming. Moreover, rapid design and reusability of previously designed systems are almost impossible. For these reasons, but not only, people are less used to interact with speech-based interfaces which are therefore thought as less intuitive since they are less widespread. This dissertation proposes to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to the problem of SDS prototype design. Although Machine Learning and Decision Making techniques have already been applied to SDS optimisation, no real attempt to use those techniques in order to design a new system from scratch has been made. In this dissertation, we propose some novel ideas in order to achieve the goal of easing the design of Spoken Dialogue Systems and allow novices to have access to voice technologies. To do so, a framework for simulating and evaluating dialogues and learning optimal dialogue strategies is proposed. The simulation process is based on a probabilistic description of a dialogue and on the stochastic modelling of both artificial NLP modules composing a SDS and the user. This probabilistic model is based on a set of parameters that can be tuned thanks to prior knowledge (to allow design from scratch) or learned from data (to allow system enhancement). The evaluation is part of the simulation process and is based on objective measures provided by each module. Finally, the simulation environment is connected to a learning agent using the supplied evaluation metrics as an objective function in order to generate an optimal behaviour for the SDS.
THE ROLE OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE IN CHEMICAL EVOLUTION. I. LIFETIME OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE AND METALLICITY EFFECT

We construct a new model of Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia), based on the single degenerate scenario, taking account of the metallicity dependences of white dwarf (WD) wind and the mass-stripping effect on the binary companion star. Our model naturally predicts that SN Ia lifetime distribution spans a range of 0.1–20 Gyr with the double peaks at ∼0.1 and 1 Gyr. While the present SN Ia rate in elliptical galaxies can be reproduced with the old population of the red giants+WD systems, the large SN Ia rate in radio galaxies could be explained with the young population of the main-sequence+WD systems. Because of the metallicity effect, i.e., because of the lack of winds from WDs in the binary systems, the SN Ia rate in the systems with [Fe/H] ≲−1, e.g., high-z spiral galaxies, is supposed to be very small. Our SN Ia model can give better reproduction of the [(α, Mn, Zn)/Fe]–[Fe/H] relations in the solar neighborhood than other models such as the double-degenerate scenario. The metallicity effect is more strongly required in the presence of the young population of SNe Ia. We also succeed in reproducing the galactic supernova rates with their dependence on the morphological type of galaxies, and the cosmic SN Ia rate history with a peak at z ∼ 1. At z ≳ 1, the predicted SN Ia rate decreases toward higher redshifts and SNe Ia will be observed only in the systems that have evolved with a short timescale of chemical enrichment. This suggests that the evolution effect in the supernova cosmology can be small.
University of Birmingham The identification of genes important in pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola plant colonisation using in vitro screening of transposon libraries

The bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola ( Pph ) colonises the surface of common bean plants before moving into the interior of plant tissue, via wounds and stomata. In the intercellular spaces the pathogen proliferates in the apoplastic fluid and forms microcolonies (biofilms) around plant cells. If the pathogen can suppress the plant ’ s natural resistance response, it will cause halo blight disease. The process of resistance suppression is fairly well understood, but the mechanisms used by the pathogen in colonisation are less clear. We hypothesised that we could apply in vitro genetic screens to look for changes in motility, colony formation, and adhesion, which are proxies for infection, microcolony formation and cell adhesion. We made transposon (Tn) mutant libraries of Pph strains 1448A and 1302A and found 106/1920 mutants exhibited alterations in colony morphology, motility and biofilm formation. Identification of the insertion point of the Tn identified within the genome highlighted, as expected, a number of altered motility mutants bearing mutations in genes encoding various parts of the flagellum. Genes involved in nutrient biosynthesis, membrane associated proteins, and a number of conserved hypothetical protein (CHP) genes were also identified. A mutation of one CHP gene caused a positive increase in in planta bacterial growth. This rapid and inexpensive screening method allows the discovery of genes important for in vitro traits that can be correlated to roles in the plant interaction.
A generalised labelled multi-Bernoulli filter for extended multi-target tracking

This paper addresses extended multi-target tracking in clutter, i.e. tracking targets that may produce more than one measurement on each scan. We propose a new algorithm for solving this problem, that is capable of initiating and maintaining labelled estimates of the target kinematics, measurement rates and extents. Our proposed technique is based on modelling the multi-target state as a generalised labelled multi-Bernoulli (GLMB), combined with the gamma Gaussian inverse Wishart (GGIW) distribution for a single extended target. Previously, probability hypothesis density (PHD) and cardinalised PHD (CPHD) filters based on GGIW mixtures have been proposed to solve the extended target tracking problem. Although these are computationally cheaper, they involve significant approximations, as well as lacking the ability to maintain target tracks over time. Here, we compare our proposed GLMB-based approach to the extended target PHD/CPHD filters, and show that the GLMB has improved performance.
Relevance weighting using distance between term occurrences

Recent work has achieved promising retrieval performance using distance between term occurrences as a primary estimator of document relevance. A major bene(cid:12)t of this approach is that relevance scoring does not rely on collection frequency statistics. A theoretical framework for lexical spans is now proposed which encompasses these approaches and suggests a number of important directions for future experimental work. Based on the formalism, approaches to issues such as scoring partial spans, treatment of repeated term occurrences within spans, and the importance of ordering are proposed. Consideration is given to the practical application of the formalism to both locating and scoring concept intersections and to locating phrases (with an estimate of con(cid:12)dence) despite intervening or substituted words.