Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rosette nebula globules: Seahorse giving birth to a star

The Rosette Nebula is an HII region ionized mainly by the stellar cluster NGC 2244. Elephant trunks, globules, and globulettes are seen at the interface where the HII region and the surrounding molecular shell meet. We have observed a field in the northwestern part of the Rosette Nebula where we study the small globules protruding from the shell. Our aim is to measure their properties and study their star formation history in continuation of our earlier study of the features of the region. We imaged the region in broadband near-infrared (NIR) JsHKs filters and narrowband H2 1-0 S(1), P$\beta$, and continuum filters using the SOFI camera at the ESO/NTT. The imaging was used to study the stellar population and surface brightness, create visual extinction maps, and locate star formation. Mid-infrared (MIR) Spitzer IRAC and WISE and optical NOT images were used to further study the star formation and the structure of the globules. The NIR and MIR observations indicate an outflow, which is confirmed with CO observations made with APEX. The globules have mean number densities of ~$4.6\times10^4 \rm cm^{-3}$. P$\beta$ is seen in absorption in the cores of the globules where we measure visual extinctions of 11-16 mag. The shell and the globules have bright rims in the observed bands. In the Ks band 20 to 40% of the emission is due to fluorescent emission in the 2.12 $\mu$m H2 line similar to the tiny dense globulettes we studied earlier in a nearby region. We identify several stellar NIR excess candidates and four of them are also detected in the Spitzer IRAC 8.0 $\mu$m image and studied further. We find an outflow with a cavity wall bright in the 2.124 $\mu$m H2 line and at 8.0 $\mu$m in one of the globules. The outflow originates from a Class I young stellar object (YSO) embedded deep inside the globule. An H$\alpha$ image suggests the YSO drives a possible parsec-scale outflow. (abridged)
Monitoring Microbiological Response to Antituberculosis Therapy by Real-Time PCR

Background: M. tuberculosis grows slowly and requires several weeks to detect in clinical specimens using standard culture techniques. Messenger RNA is more rapidly destroyed in cells than rRNA or genomic DNA, assays that target mycobacterial mRNA better reflect mycobacterial viability. Therefore we evaluated performance of mRNA for monitoring response to antituberculosis therapy using Real-Time PCR. Methods: Sputum specimens from 29 tuberculosis patients confirmed by positive culture were included in this study. Sputum specimens were collected before therapy, at 1st week, 4th week, 8th week and 16th week after initiating antituberculosis therapy to evaluate acid-fast bacilli (AFB), culture and mRNA level. Results: All 29 specimens were positive for culture and mRNA before initiating tuberculosis chemotherapy. Within 29 samples confirmed by positive culture, only 22 (75.9%) patients were positive by AFB. After 8 and 16 weeks of therapy, 27 (93.1%) and 28 (96.5%) were negative by culture, 26 (89.6%) and 28 (96.5%) were negative results for mRNA, and 15 (51.7%) and 29 (100%) were negative results for AFB. Conclusion: Rapidly decline of mRNA level correlated with rapid culture clearance after anti-tuberculosis therapy.
An HST study of three very faint GRB host galaxies

As part of the HST/STIS GRB host survey program we present the detection of three faint gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies based on an accurate localisation using ground-based data of the optical afterglows (OAs). A common property of these three hosts is their extreme faintness. The location at which GRBs occur with respect to their host galaxies and surrounding environments are robust indicators of the nature of GRB progenitors. The bursts studied here are among the four most extreme outliers, in terms of relative distance from the host center, in the recent comprehensive study of Bloom et al. (2002). We obtain a revised and much higher probability that the galaxies identified as hosts indeed are related to the GRBs (P(nchance) = 0.69, following Bloom et al. 2002), thereby strengthening the conclusion that GRBs are preferentially located in star-forming regions in their hosts. Apart from being faint, the three hosts consist of multiple structures, indicative of merging and active star-formation. For one of the hosts, GRB 980329, we estimate a photometric redshift of z ∼ 3.5.
Screening of Rice ( Oryza sativa L. ) Genotypes for Salinity Tolerance in Ethiopia

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of 4 different salinity levels (0, 4, 8 and 12 dSm -1 ) on yield of 13 rice genotypes along with a salt-tolerant and susceptible check genotypes to identify salt tolerant rice genotype to be used under irrigation. A factorial combination of the fifteen genotypes and four salinity levels was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) in two replications in a mesh house. The experiments were conducted at Werer Agricultural research Center, eastern Ethiopia, from December, 2008 to May, 2009. Since all plants of all genotypes died under salinity level of 12 dSm -1 , grain yield data obtained from three salinity levels are included in the analysis. Statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant difference among the test genotypes in all traits studied, witnessing the availability of ample genetic variability which can be used in breeding rice for tolerance to salinity. Salinity levels affected all measured traits. The Genotype x Salinity interaction was also significant for all traits except for Plant Height during Heading, Panicle Length, Number of Panicle, Number of Grains per panicle and Number of Tillers per plant, indicating the inconsistency of the performance of genotypes by many of the traits over the salinity levels and the need for selection of rice genotypes specifically adapted to a particular salinity level. In the pot experiment an increase in salinity from 0 to 4 and to 8 dSm -1 consistently reduced growth parameters, biomass, grain yield and its components, but delayed phenology. Genotypes IR66946-3R-176-1-1 (G15) and IR68144-2B-2-2-3-2 (G8) were tolerant to salinity both during early growth and later during vegetative growth, and seed setting. IR59418-7B-21-3 (G1), IR59418-7B-27-3 (G2) and IR72593-B-18-2-2-2 (G13) were found to be salt tolerant during vegetative growth and seed setting. These five genotypes can therefore be recommended for further testing under salt stress. Higher grain yield and its components under salt stress and smaller reduction of these parameters under salt stress as compared with values under normal growth condition should be used as selection criteria to develop salt tolerant rice genotypes. AMMI biplot analysis enabled clear discrimination of genotypes response against root zone salinity stress.
Essays on selection in health survey data

In this dissertation I examine the effects of sample selection on the probability of stroke among older adults. If study subjects are selected into the sample based on some non-experimental selection process, then statistical analysis may produce inconsistent estimates. Chapter 1 develops a model of non-ignorable selection for a discrete outcome variable, such as whether stroke occurred or not. I start by noticing that in the literature there are relatively few applications of the Heckman model to the case of a discrete outcome variable and they are limited to a bivariate case. After that I extend the Bayesian multivariate probit model of Chib and Greenberg (1998) broadly following the logic of Heckman’s original (1979) work. The model in the first chapter of my dissertation is set in a way general enough to handle multiple selection and discrete-continuous outcome equations. The first extension of the multivariate probit model in Chib and Greenberg (1998) allows some of the outcomes to be missing. In particular, stroke occurrence is missing whenever the person is not selected into the sample. In terms of latent variable representation this implies that multivariate normal distribution is not truncated in the direction of missing outcome. I also use Cholesky factorization of the variance matrix to avoid the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm in the Gibbs sampler. Chapter 2 evaluates how severe the problem of sample selection is in Assets and HEAlth Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) data set. I start with a more restrictive assumption of ignorable selection. In particular, I apply the propensity
Response of Soybean Cultivars to Bentazon, Bromoxynil, Chloroxuron, and 2,4-DB

The response of several hundred soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] cultivars to postemergence application of four herbicides was evaluated in the field, greenhouse, and growth chamber in 1970, 1971, and 1972. Postemergence application of 3.4 kg/ha of bentazon [3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-(4)3H-one 2,2-dioxide] did not significantly reduce yields of the seven commercially important soybean cultivars evaluated. All entries in the regional breeding trials, Uniform Test I to IV, were relatively tolerant of postemergence applications of the herbicides at rates about double those required for weed control. The observed order of phytotoxicity was 3.4 kg/ha of bentazon < 3.4 kg/ha of chloroxuron [3-[p-(p-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-1,1-dimethylurea] < 0.3 kg/ha of bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile) = 0.4 kg/ha of 2,4-DB [4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid]. Of the 338 named U.S. and Canadian cultivars in the U.S. Department of Agriculture soybean germplasm collection, all but one were tolerant to a postemergence application of 3.4 kg/ha bentazon. One U.S. cultivar, ‘Hurrelbrink,’ and ten plant introductions from Japan were highly sensitive to bentazon. These 11 cultivars were also highly sensitive to bromoxynil and 2,4-DB and somewhat sensitive to chloroxuron.
Isolation of potent biosurfactant producing bacteria from oil spilled marine water and marine sediments

Biosurfactants produced by bacteria are surface-active compounds involved in the degradation of hydrocarbons. They are heterogeneous group of surface active molecules produced by microorganisms, which adhere to cell surface or are excreted extracellularly in the growth medium. These can be divided into low- molecular weight molecules, that lower surface and interfacial tensions efficiently and high-molecular-weight polymers that bind tightly to surfaces. These surfactants, produced by a wide variety of microorganisms, have very different chemical structures and surface properties. It is therefore reasonable to assume that different groups of biosurfactants have different natural roles in the growth of the producing microorganisms. In this study, isolation and identification of biosurfactant producing bacteria were assessed from oil-spilled seawater collected from harbors and docks from Arabian Sea (Mumbai), India. The potential application of these bacteria in microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) was investigated. To confirm the ability of isolates in biosurfactant production, various biosurfactant activity assay tests and measurement of surface tension were conducted. Hemolysis was used as a criterion for the primary isolation of biosurfactant producing bacteria. Effects of different pH, salinity and temperature on biosurfactant production were also studied. Among all of the isolated strains, Pseudomonas sp. (MW2) showed high salt tolerance, successful production of biosurfactant in a vast pH and temperature domain and reduced surface tension of the medium to value below 40 mN/m. This strain is a potential candidate for MEOR. The MW2 biosurfactant component was detected as glycolipid in nature. Key words : Biosurfactant, emulsification, extreme conditions, microbial enhanced oil recovery, marine water.
EFFECTS OF P APPLICATION RATE AND FREQUENCY ON P ADSORPTION AND WATER EXTRACTABLE P IN A MEADOW BROWN SOIL OVER 12-YEAR FIELD MICRO-PLOT TRIALS

Long term P fertilization increases the water extractable P (WEP) thus increasing P loss risk. Distribution dynamics of WEP are known to promote the management of P fertilizer and prevent the pollution of surface and ground water. An experiment with meadow brown soil was therefore conducted from 1997 to 2008 in field micro-plots conditions. The effects of P application frequency and rate on WEP and P adsorption capacity was investigated with four fertilization methods: unfertilized control, N fertilization annually, N plus P fertilization annually, and N fertilization annually plus P fertilization once every 6 years. Long term P application increased the WEP contents thus increased the risk of P loss from soil into surface and ground water. P application frequency had a significant impact on the WEP. Specifically, contents of WEP gradually increased over time with annual P application, while they decreased with P applied once every 6 years in each 6year period. At the end of each 6 years period, the higher WEP concentrations with annual P application indicated that P fertilizer should be applied once every 6 years to decrease P loss risk in the long term. The higher P adsorption capacity with P application once every 6 years confirmed that P fertilizer should be applied once every 6 years for agro-environment safety.
Welfare State without Dependency: The Case of the UK Chinese People

The present study was based on data from 100 face-to-face interviews, supplemented by findings from 316 respondents in a national postal survey, and shows that UK Chinese respondents were family-orientated and self-reliant, having low expectations of public welfare. These features challenge the myth of welfare dependency of ethnic minorities. Also, compared with Chinese welfare practices based on strong moral values and duties towards other people, New Labour's welfare culture lacks a solid social and ethical base for nurturing the concepts of duty and self-reliance.
ELASTIC CLOUD COMPUTING ARCHITECTURE AND SYSTEM FOR HETEROGENEOUS SPATIOTEMPORAL COMPUTING

Spatiotemporal computation implements a variety of different algorithms. When big data are involved, desktop computer or standalone application may not be able to complete the computation task due to limited memory and computing power. Now that a variety of hardware accelerators and computing platforms are available to improve the performance of geocomputation, different algorithms may have different behavior on different computing infrastructure and platforms. Some are perfect for implementation on a cluster of graphics processing units (GPUs), while GPUs may not be useful on certain kind of spatiotemporal computation. This is the same situation in utilizing a cluster of Intel's many-integrated-core (MIC) or Xeon Phi, as well as Hadoop or Spark platforms, to handle big spatiotemporal data. Furthermore, considering the energy efficiency requirement in general computation, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) may be a better solution for better energy efficiency when the performance of computation could be similar or better than GPUs and MICs. It is expected that an elastic cloud computing architecture and system that integrates all of GPUs, MICs, and FPGAs could be developed and deployed to support spatiotemporal computing over heterogeneous data types and computational problems. 1. SPATIOTEMPORAL COMPUTING IN THE ERA OF
The Relationships between Language Learning Strategies and Positive Emotions among Malaysian ESL

Emotions are an indispensable part of second language learning. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the use of language learning strategies and positive emotions. The present study adopted a sequential mixed methods design. The participants were 300 Malaysian ESL undergraduates selected through stratified random sampling from 5 public universities in Malaysia. The quantitative data were collected through two sets of questionnaires: (a) Oxford's (1990) Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), and (b) Fredrickson's (2009) modified Differential Emotional Scale (mDES). The qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. With regard to the quantitative data analysis, a series of t-tests and correlational analyses were used. The data from the interviews were analysed qualitatively. A positive significant correlation was found between positive emotions and overall language learning strategy use. Also, the qualitative results of the study indicated that the learners who experienced more positive emotions tended to use a greater variety of language learning strategies. The findings of the study emphasise the importance of students’ positive emotions in their use of language learning strategies. It might be suggested that teachers by designing the classroom settings and instructions which promote positive emotions can inspire learners to use language learning strategies more frequently and with a greater variety which in sequence relate to learners’ language learning proficiency.
Use of Dried Blood Spots for Estimating Children’s Exposures to Heavy Metals in Epidemiological Research

Background: Children’s exposures to arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) are of particular concern in early-life. Exposures to heavy metals are traditionally measured in whole venous blood, which is costly and invasive. As an alternative we describe a method for quantifying As, Pb, Hg, and Cd in dried blood spot (DBS) samples. Objectives: To validate a method for quantifying levels of As, Pb, Hg, and Cd in finger-stick DBS samples. Background metal contamination in blood collection cards poses a challenge for quantifying heavy metals in DBS samples. Here we report a method to remove background contamination from the filter paper prior to blood collection to improve assay precision. Methods: Matched samples of venous blood and finger-stick DBS samples were collected from 82 children ages 1-21. Whole venous blood samples were also applied to pre-cleaned and untreated blood collection cards. All samples were analyzed for As, Pb, Hg, and Cd using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: Matched venous blood and finger-stick DBS samples from untreated cards were significantly correlated, but with relatively weak R2 values of 0.083, 0.186, 0.498, and 0.022 for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb, respectively. When blood collection cards were decontaminated prior to blood collection the correlations between venous blood and DBS samples were highly significant, with R2 values of 0.66, 0.99, 0.98, and 0.94 for As, Pb, Hg, and Cd, respectively. Conclusions: Standard blood collection cards contain significant and highly variable background levels of heavy metals. Once blood collection cards are treated to remove residual contamination, DBS sampling can be used as a minimally-invasive alternative to venipuncture to estimate exposures to toxic metals.
The comprehensive evaluation of latent tuberculosis infection in health care workers and of patients with active tuberculosis using TST, ELISA, and ELISPOT methods

Aim: Until recently, the tuberculin skin test (TST) has been the only assay used for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but two ex-vivo tests, used as alternative methods to TST, based on enumerating the M. tuberculosis-specific interferon (IFN)-γ response are now commercially licensed. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of TST, QuantiFERON Gold (QFT-G), and T-SPOT.TB in diagnosing LTBI and active tuberculosis (TB). Materials and methods: This study was carried out with 95 participants including 3 groups (negative control, close contact, and patient groups) during a 10-month period from March 2007 to January 2008. Results: When the cut-off value of the TST was regarded as ≥15 mm, 46.4% of the patients and 14.3% of the control group were found to have positive values. The sensitivity (51.4%) and the negative predictive value (NPV) (52.6%) of TST were lower than the specificity (83.3%) and the positive predictive values (PPV) (82.6%). The sensitivity and the PPV of the QFT-G test (78.4% and 76.3%, respectively) were higher than the specificity (62.5%) and NPV (65.2%). The PPV (81.8%) of the T- SPOT.TB test was higher than sensitivity (73.0%), specificity (75.0%), and NPV (64.3%). Conclusion: IFN-γ tests could be useful in diagnosing LTBI and chemo-prophylaxis, as the false negativity of the TST was higher compared to both QFT-G and T-SPOT.TB. However, additional studies are needed to assess better the utility of these tests with large populations.
Food-Evoked Changes in Humans Startle Response Modulation and Event-Related Brain Potentials (ERPs)

Two experiments investigate effects related to food intake in humans. In Experiment 1, we measured startle response modulation while study participants ate ice cream, yoghurt, and chocolate. Statistical analysis revealed that ice cream intake resulted in the most robust startle inhibition compared to no food. Contrasting females and males, we found significant differences related to the conditions yoghurt and chocolate. In females, chocolate elicited the lowest response amplitude followed by yoghurt and ice cream. In males, chocolate produced the highest startle response amplitude even higher than eating nothing, whereas ice cream produced the lowest. Assuming that high response amplitudes reflect aversive motivation while low response amplitudes reflect appetitive motivational states, it is interpreted that eating ice cream is associated with the most appetitive state given the alternatives of chocolate and yoghurt across gender. However, in females alone eating chocolate, and in males alone eating ice c.
Periodontal Status, Salivary Enzymes and Flow Rate in Passive Smokers

Summary The effect of passive smoking on prevalence and severity of periodontitis, saliva flow rate, total protein and activity of peroxidase and amylase was studied. In practice, 30 university students (18�22 years) who lived with sm oker parents, friends or relatives considered as passive smokers and 30 healthy students in the same age range entered as control. A questionnaire was filled by each subject recording dental and dietary habits. Periodontal pocket depth was examined as a marker of periodontitis severity. Saliva flow rate, the concentration of total protein and biological activity of enzymes were measured on saliva samples. According to the results, periodontitis was either absent or had a pocket depth < 3mm in healthy subjects. Almost all passive smokers had one or two pockets with depth of ≥ 3mm. Salivary total protein showed slight alternation, salivary amylase activity and flow rate decreased while peroxidase activity increased in passive smokers. It was concluded that passive smoking was not only responsible for prevalence of periodontitis, but it also caused a decrease in saliva flow rate and salivary α�amylase activity as well as an increase in activity of peroxidase indicating incidence of oxidative stress.
Juvenile justice in Louisiana: an exploratory study of trends surrounding juvenile incarceration

v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.1 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE.3 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.3 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LOUISIANA JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.6 CHILDREN HOUSED WITH ADULTS.14 THEORIES ASSOCIATED WITH DELINQUENCY.15 RESEARCH QUESTION.20 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY.21 PARTICIPANTS.21 MEASURES.21 VARIABLES.22 DATA ANALYSIS.22 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS.24 DEMOGRAPHICS.24 CHI-SQUARED ANALYSIS.25 CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION.29 RESEARCH QUESTION.30 LIMITATIONS.31 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION.33 REFERENCES.35 VITA.39