Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of CO2 and temperature on the soil microbial carbon and nitrogen of urban and rural forests

This study investigated and compared the effects of elevated temperature and elevated CO2 on the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) of urban and rural forest soils. Soils analyzed from Baltimore Long-Term Ecological Research forests in June and October, 2014 had greater MBC and MBN quantities in rural than urban forests. A controlled environmental chamber study was conducted where June-collected soils were planted with hybrid poplars and exposed to ambient and elevated temperature and CO2 levels. After exposure for 49 days, MBC and MBN quantities were again greater in rural than urban soils. Soil MBC was greater under elevated than ambient CO2, while soil MBN was greater under elevated than ambient CO2 and temperature. Results suggest that if temperature and CO2 levels increase in the Baltimore area as predicted, microbial C and N pools in the studied forests will increase, and will remain greater in rural than urban soils.
Carbapenem Restriction and its Effect on Bacterial Resistance in an Intensive Care unit of a Teaching Hospital

Development of antibiotic resistance in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) is a worldwide problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) by carbapenems restriction on gram-negative antimicrobial resistance in ICU. The study was designed in a 21 bedded general ICU of a teaching hospital with two wings (one and two) in Tehran, Iran. Carbapenem prescription in ICU1 was restricted to only the culture proven multi-drug-resistant bacteria with the absence of sensitivity to other antimicrobial agents. Carbapenem had to be prescribed by a trained ICU physician with close consultation with infectious disease specialist and the clinical pharmacist posted in ICU. Post-prescription reviews and de-escalations were carried out by the same team on regular basis. Restriction policy was commenced in January 2011 in ICU1. All documented infections and resistance patterns of isolated pathogens were recorded in both ICUs during two periods of 6 months before and 9 months after restriction policy implementation. During this study bacterial growth was detected in 51.5% of 1601 samples. Carbapenem administration was decreased from 6.86 to 2.75 DDD/100 patients day (60% decreases) pre-restriction and post-restriction respectively. Significant increase in sensitivity of pseudomonas to imipenem was observed in ICU1 comparing with pre-restriction period six months post restriction (p = 0.000). Sensitivity of Klebsiella and Acinetobacter to imipenem did not change significantly during the study period. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that restriction of carbapenems can increase sensitivity of P. aeroginosa to imipenem.
On the Performance Variability of Production Cloud Services

Cloud computing is an emerging infrastructure paradigm that promises to eliminate the need for companies to maintain expensive computing hardware. Through the use of virtualization and resource time-sharing, clouds address with a single set of physical resources a large user base with diverse needs. Thus, clouds have the potential to provide their owners the benefits of an economy of scale and, at the same time, become an alternative for both the industry and the scientific community to self-owned clusters, grids, and parallel production environments. For this potential to become reality, the first generation of commercial clouds need to be proven to be dependable. In this work we analyze the dependability of cloud services. Towards this end, we analyze long-term performance traces from Amazon Web Services and Google App Engine, currently two of the largest commercial clouds in production. We find that the performance of about half of the cloud services we investigate exhibits yearly and daily patterns, but also that most services have periods of especially stable performance. Last, through trace-based simulation we assess the impact of the variability observed for the studied cloud services on three large-scale applications, job execution in scientific computing, virtual goods trading in social networks, and state management in social gaming. We show that the impact of performance variability depends on the application, and give evidence that performance variability can be an important factor in cloud provider selection.
Quenched millimetre emission from Cygnus X-1 in a soft X-ray state

We present millimetre wavelength observations of the black hole candidate X-ray binary Cygnus X-1 that indicate a suppression, or quenching, of the emission as the source switches to a softer X-ray state. Combining the data with those for another black hole candidate, XTE J1118+480, we demonstrate that the millimetre emission shows the same coupling to X-rays as the radio emission, although with a much stronger sensitivity to spectral shape. We therefore confirm the association of the millimetre emission with the jets in low-hard state black hole candidate X-ray binaries.
PENGEMBANGAN BUKU TEKS TEMATIK BERBASIS KONTEKSTUAL

Text book is an instructional material which is often used in learning. Text book which is used in learning should be contextual with students’ characteristic and environment. The aim of this research is to develop supplement book in learning that is thematic contextual text book which is valid, interesting, practical, and effective. Data are collected by questionnaire, test, and documentation. Based on data analysis, it shows that the text book is valid, interseting, practical, and effective to use in learning. Buku teks merupakan bahan ajar yang sering digunakan dalam pembelajaran. Buku teks yang digunakan dalam pembelajaran hendaknya kontekstual dengan karakteristik dan lingkungan siswa. Tujuan penelitian untuk mengembangkan buku suplemen dalam pembelajaran berupa buku teks tematik berbasis kontekstual yang valid, menarik, praktis, dan efektif. Data dikumpulkan melalui angket, tes, dan dokumentasi. Berdasarkan analisis data, menunjukkan bahwa buku yang dikembangkan valid, menarik, praktis, dan efektif digunakan dalam pembelajaran.
The Role of Trust in Virtual Teams

The barrier comprises a pair of panel sections including a rectangular framework, the panel sections being selectively locked in a straight, linear configuration by a dagger selectively extensible through apertures in the end members and through aligned panel sections; extensible sections each having a pair of rials which may slidably telescope within the rectilinear members at their ends opposite the hinge, means selectively locking the extensible sections with the panel sections, carried on rectilinear members and rails thereof; and abutment bars fastened at the outermost terminal ends of the rails.
An adaptive speech enhancement approach based on DCT and empirical mode decomposition

This paper proposed an adaptive hybrid speech enhancement algorithm to reduce the non-stationary noise of a noise contaminated speech. This approach combines the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) with an Adaptive Empirical Mode Decomposition (AEMD). The proposed DCT is an extension to the general DCT and the AEMD was developed by adding an extra noise cancellation block for enhancement. The complete approach was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, the noise contaminated speech was enhanced through DCT and adaptive soft thresholding. In second stage, to further reduce the residual noise present in enhanced speech, AEMD was applied through an adaptive noise cancellation block. The performance evaluation of proposed approach was under white and babble noises at various SNR levels.
An Empirical Study of Active Learning with Support Vector Machines forJapanese Word Segmentation

We explore how active learning with Support Vector Machines works well for a non-trivial task in natural language processing. We use Japanese word segmentation as a test case. In particular, we discuss how the size of a pool affects the learning curve. It is found that in the early stage of training with a larger pool, more labeled examples are required to achieve a given level of accuracy than those with a smaller pool. In addition, we propose a novel technique to use a large number of unlabeled examples effectively by adding them gradually to a pool. The experimental results show that our technique requires less labeled examples than those with the technique in previous research. To achieve 97.0% accuracy, the proposed technique needs 59.3% of labeled examples that are required when using the previous technique and only 17.4% of labeled examples with random sampling.
VGluT1+ Neuronal Glutamatergic Signaling Regulates Postnatal Developmental Maturation of Cortical Protoplasmic Astroglia

Functional maturation of astroglia is characterized by the development of a unique, ramified morphology and the induction of important functional proteins, such as glutamate transporter GLT1. Although pathways regulating the early fate specification of astroglia have been characterized, mechanisms regulating postnatal maturation of astroglia remain essentially unknown. Here we used a new in vivo approach to illustrate and quantitatively analyze developmental arborization of astroglial processes. Our analysis found a particularly high increase in the number of VGluT1+ neuronal glutamatergic synapses that are ensheathed by processes from individual developing astroglia from postnatal day (P) 14 to P26, when astroglia undergo dramatic postnatal maturation. Subsequent silencing of VGluT1+ synaptic activity in VGluT1 KO mice significantly reduces astroglial domain growth and the induction of GLT1 in the cortex, but has no effect on astroglia in the hypothalamus, where non-VGluT1+ synaptic signaling predominates. In particular, electron microscopy analysis showed that the loss of VGluT1+ synaptic signaling significantly decreases perisynaptic enshealthing of astroglial processes on synapses. To further determine whether synaptically released glutamate mediates VGluT1+ synaptic signaling, we pharmacologically inhibited and genetically ablated metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs, especially mGluR5) in developing cortical astroglia and found that developmental arborization of astroglial processes and expression of functional proteins, such as GLT1, is significantly decreased. In summary, our genetic analysis provides new in vivo evidence that VGluT1+ glutamatergic signaling, mediated by the astroglial mGluR5 receptor, regulates the functional maturation of cortical astroglia during development. These results elucidate a new mechanism for regulating the developmental formation of functional neuron-glia synaptic units.
The In vitro hepatic metabolism of quinine in mice, rats and dogs: comparison with human liver microsomes.

The major metabolic pathway of quinine in the human has been shown to be 3-hydroxylation mediated mainly by human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4. In this extended in vitro study, quinine 3-hydroxylation was further investigated using microsomes from mouse, rat, dog and human livers and was compared among them in terms of the in vitro enzyme-kinetic parameters and quinine-drug interaction screenings. In all species, 3-hydroxyquinine was the principal metabolite of quinine. There was intra- and interspecies variability among all the kinetic parameters, and dogs exhibited a closer resemblance to humans in terms of the mean kinetic data. Ketoconazole and troleandomycin inhibited the 3-hydroxylation of quinine in all species. Both alpha-naphthoflavone and diazepam showed an interspecies difference in quinine 3-hydroxylation: a trend toward an activation in dog and human, and a significant inhibition in mouse and rat, liver microsomes. Antisera raised against rat CYP3A2 strongly inhibited quinine 3-hydroxylation by about 96, 84 and 92% with mouse, rat and dog liver microsomes, respectively, but neither anti-rat 2C11 and 2E1 antisera did so with rat liver microsomes. Primaquine, doxycycline and tetracycline substantially inhibited the formation of 3-hydroxyquinine in rat, dog and human species, but proguanil had no such effect in any species. Chloroquine inhibited quinine 3-hydroxylation with rat and dog liver microsomes but not with human liver microsomes. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.986, P < .001) between the CYP3A contents and the formation rates of 3-hydroxyquinine in eight human liver microsomal samples. It is concluded that 3-hydroxyquinine is a main metabolite of quinine and that CYP3A/Cyp3a is a principal isoform involved in this metabolic pathway in the respective (rat, dog and human/mouse) species tested. The dog and possibly the rat may be qualitatively and quantitatively suitable animal models for exploring the quinine 3-hydroxylase activity and for screening quinine-drug interactions in vitro, at certain inconsistency with the human liver microsomal data.
On infinite unramified extensions

Let k be a number field. A natural question is: Does k admit an infinite unramified extension? The answer is no, if the root discriminant of k is less than Odlyzko’s bounds. The answer is yes, if k fails the test of Golod-Shafarevic for a prime number p. In that case, we know that there exists an infinite unramified p-extension L over k. But generally it is fairly difficult to determin whether k admits an infinite unramified extension. For this problem we introduce the following unramified extensions of k: i) k∞ is the maximal unramified Galois extension of k. ii) k(1) denotes the Hilbert field of k, i.e., the maximal unramified abelian extension of k; its Galois group over k is isomorphic to the class group of k via the Artin map. More generally, let k(i) be the Hilbert field of k(i−1), i ≥ 1, where k(0) = k. Write kH = ∪k(i); kH is the Hilbert tower of k. We say that the Hilbert tower is finite (or stops) if [kH/k] <∞, or infinite otherwise. iii) For a prime number p, kp will be the p-Hilbert tower of k, that is to say the maximal p-extension of k contained in kH . We have the following inclusions:
Dyadic coping: a systemic-transactional view of stress and coping among couples: Theory and empirical findings

This article investigates the field of stress and coping in close relationships. In an effort to move beyond an individually oriented focus, our work proposes a systemic-transactional approach to stress and coping in close relationships. In this conceptualization, stress and coping are understood to be the reciprocal and dynamic interplay between the stress signals of one partner and the dyadic coping reactions of the other. The theoretical and empirical findings concerning the proposed stress-coping-model in dyads are reported and discussed regarding the validity of this construct.
The Young Single Adult Male Experience of Being

Researchers in this study set out to explore the young single adult male experience of being “older” in the LDS church where marriage by the age of 25 is emphasized. Guided by the Life Course Perspective, a qualitative study was designed that surveyed 43 single men in the greater Washington DC area between the ages of 25-31. The survey was administered electronically and consisted of 20 demographic and open-ended questions. Questions were geared towards understanding how LDS men make sense of their experience of being older and single in the Church as well as the influence their social groups have on their experience. Thematic analysis of participant responses revealed two major themes: “It just hasn’t worked out yet,” and “I’m failing. ” Further findings suggest themes of not fitting in, the clock is ticking, the women’s role, and wanting to get married for the right reasons. Additional sub-themes are addressed as well as their clinical implications and suggestions for further research.
Where’s all the ‘good’ sports journalism? Sports media research, the sociology of sport, and the question of quality sports reporting

Across newsrooms and journalism schools, questions as to what constitutes or ‘counts’ as excellent reporting are currently inciting much debate. Among the various frameworks being put forward to describe and encourage ‘excellent’ journalism in its various forms, sport is seldom mentioned – a legacy perhaps of its perennial dismissal as trivial subject matter. This essay grew from our curiosity as to whether the reverse was also true: that is, whether and what those who study sports journalism and sports media – in particular sociologists of sport – have contributed to understandings of ‘best’ and even excellent journalistic practice. We identified and analysed 376 articles from eight leading scholarly journals that feature sports media research with the aim of examining instances where ‘excellent’ sports reporting was either highlighted, described or advocated. After outlining the major themes that emerged from this analysis, we reflect on why so few of the sampled articles explicitly advise on what best practice sports journalism might look like – especially when it comes to coverage of the sport-related social issues that sociologists of sport tend to focus on – and why so little theoretical attention has been afforded to the question of excellent sports journalism more generally. While there are good sociological reasons for focusing on problematic sports reporting, on structural and systemic issues in which media are implicated, and on producing alternatives to hegemonic sports media, we conclude that it is high time for instances of excellent sports journalism to be afforded the theoretical and empirical attention long granted to their ‘bad’ journalistic counterparts.
Fall detection using machine learning algorithms

In this paper, the recognition of and the differentiation between fall activities and activities of daily living (ADL) was performed using the MobiFall dataset. A large database was constructed to train and validate the model. Feature selection methods were implemented to reduce dimensionality. Five different classification algorithms were implemented and evaluated based on their accuracy' sensitivity, and specificity achieved. The k-Nearest Neighbors' algorithm obtained an overall accuracy of 87.5% with a sensitivity of 90.70%, and a specificity of 83.78%.
Multidisciplinary analysis of biological effects of novel analogs of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone : evidence for a proliferative, neurogenic and neuroprotective action

This PhD work allowed us to successfully characterize structural analogs of allopregnanolone. Some of these analogs showed beneficial effects and advantages with respect to the molecule of reference. In particular, the analog O-allyl-AP stimulates proliferation of progenitor cells in different neural in vitro models, neuronal differentiation and protects adult neural stem cells against Aβ-induced apoptosis. In addition, O-allyl-AP is effective in counteracting the decline in neurogenesis related to age and in improving cognitive performance during aging. Interestingly, proliferative and neuroprotective effects seem to involve different mechanisms of action. Additional experiments are needed to confirm our preliminary data about the ability of O-allyl-AP to attenuate the decrease of neurogenic activity and to reduce pathophysiological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD) in Tg2576 mice. Our findings provide interesting perspectives for using O-allyl-AP in the development of therapeutic strategies against AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The Vaccine and Cervical Cancer Screen project 2 (VACCS 2): Linking cervical cancer screening to a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa.

BACKGROUND Cervical cancer is a preventable disease with a high prevalence in South Africa (SA), where screening is opportunistic. Primary prevention is now possible through HPV vaccination. In VACCS 1 the feasibility of linking cervical cancer with HPV vaccination was demonstrated. OBJECTIVES To investigate the feasibility of linking HPV self-testing with a two-dose HPV vaccination schedule and to compare results with VACCS 1. METHODS The project was conducted in five schools in the South-West District of Tshwane, Gauteng, SA. Leaflet information on cervical cancer and screening was provided, with requests for consent and assent for a two-dose HPV vaccination of schoolgirls. Female caregivers were invited to take part in HPV self-screening. RESULTS Of 965 girls invited for vaccination, 519 (53.7%) had full consent and 518 (99.8%) received at least one vaccine dose. The invited uptake rate was 53.7% and 495 girls received both doses, giving a completion rate of 95.4% v. 82.6% in VACCS 1. Of 1 135 self-screen kits handed out, 560 (49.3%) were not returned. The mean age (standard deviation) of the 160 women who participated in self-screening was 38.7 (7.7) years. HPV testing was negative in 116 women (72.5%), 15 women (9.4%) tested positive for HPV 16 and/or 18, and 27 (16.9%) were positive for non-16/18 oncogenic HPV. CONCLUSION Data from the VACCS projects suggest that school-based vaccine programmes can be successfully implemented. A two-dose schedule allowed for higher completion rates. Linking self-collected HPV screening to HPV vaccination is feasible, is a promising and viable screening strategy, and reached the appropriate age group for screening.
Differential Stimulation of Insulin Secretion by GLP-1 and Kisspeptin-10

β-cells in the pancreatic islet respond to elevated plasma glucose by secreting insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis. In addition to glucose stimulation, insulin secretion is modulated by numerous G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The GPCR ligands Kisspeptin-10 (KP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) potentiate insulin secretion through Gq and Gs-coupled receptors, respectively. Despite many studies, the signaling mechanisms by which KP and GLP-1 potentiate insulin release are not thoroughly understood. We investigated the downstream signaling pathways of these ligands and their affects on cellular redox potential, intracellular calcium activity ([Ca2+]i), and insulin secretion from β-cells within intact murine islets. In contrast to previous studies performed on single β-cells, neither KP nor GLP-1 affect [Ca2+]i upon stimulation with glucose. KP significantly increases the cellular redox potential, while no effect is observed with GLP-1, suggesting that KP and GLP-1 potentiate insulin secretion through different mechanisms. Co-treatment with KP and the Gβγ-subunit inhibitor gallein inhibits insulin secretion similar to that observed with gallein alone, while co-treatment with gallein and GLP-1 does not differ from GLP-1 alone. In contrast, co-treatment with the Gβγ activator mSIRK and either KP or GLP-1 stimulates insulin release similar to mSIRK alone. Neither gallein nor mSIRK alter [Ca2+]i activity in the presence of KP or GLP-1. These data suggest that KP likely alters insulin secretion through a Gβγ-dependent process that stimulates glucose metabolism without altering Ca2+ activity, while GLP-1 does so, at least partly, through a Gα-dependent pathway that is independent of both metabolism and Ca2+.
Research article RELATIVE WATER CONTENT AS INFLUENCED BY VARIED PLANT DENSITIES AND IRRIGATION LEVELS IN PIGEONPEA

A field experiment was conducted on a sandy clay soil at Agricultural Research Station, Basanthpur, Medak district of Andhra Pradesh during the kharif seasons of 2009-'10 and 2010-'11 to study the variation in relative water content (RWC) of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L) Mill Sp. ) as influenced by plant densities and supplemental irrigation through drip. Three varied plant densities of pigeonpea (D1-55,555 plants ha - 1 , D 2-41,666 plants ha