Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Plasma-activated Medium (PAM) in aqueous solution by an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ)

Plasma-activated medium (PAM) has been produced by exposing a liquid media to Argon plasma jet. The jet plasma exposure to liquid media has produced reactive Oxygen species (ROS) in liquid phase. This study aims to determine the number of reactive species in plasma-activated medium. An atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) was generated with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) column by AC high voltage. Some parameters varied including exposure time; i.e. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min; and the distance between reactor and active media; i.e. 1, 2 and 3 cm. Some analysis conducted including variation of exposure times, the distances of reactor to PAM which affect produced concentration, and the reactive species composition in plasma-activated medium. In addition, temperature characteristics, pH levels, dissolved ozone and dissolved hydrogen peroxide concentrations were also observed in this study. The results showed that increased exposure time resulted in decreased pH, increased temperature and increased concentrations of ozone and hydrogen peroxide. The maximum reactive species composition was obtained at the distance between reactor and plasma-activated medium of 2 cm. Maximum reactive species composition obtained in this study has temperature of 29-30 Celsius degrees; pH 3.5; dissolved ozone 2.97 ppm; and Hydrogen Peroxide 215 ppm.
A family of octapamine receptors that specifically induce cyclic AMP production or Ca2+ release in Drosophila melanogaster

In invertebrates, the biogenic‐amine octopamine is an important physiological regulator. It controls and modulates neuronal development, circadian rhythm, locomotion, ‘fight or flight’ responses, as well as learning and memory. Octopamine mediates its effects by activation of different GTP‐binding protein (G protein)‐coupled receptor types, which induce either cAMP production or Ca2+ release. Here we describe the functional characterization of two genes from Drosophila melanogaster that encode three octopamine receptors. The first gene (Dmoa1) codes for two polypeptides that are generated by alternative splicing. When heterologously expressed, both receptors cause oscillatory increases of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in response to applying nanomolar concentrations of octopamine. The second gene (Dmoa2) codes for a receptor that specifically activates adenylate cyclase and causes a rise of intracellular cAMP with an EC50 of ∼3 × 10−8 m octopamine. Tyramine, the precursor of octopamine biosynthesis, activates all three receptors at ≥ 100‐fold higher concentrations, whereas dopamine and serotonin are non‐effective. Developmental expression of Dmoa genes was assessed by RT–PCR. Overlapping but not identical expression patterns were observed for the individual transcripts. The genes characterized in this report encode unique receptors that display signature properties of native octopamine receptors.
Perceptions and Application of NCTM Standards by Special and General Education Teachers

This study determined teachers' perceptions related to application of, and barriers to implementation of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards with students labeled learning disabled (LD) and emotionally disturbed (ED). A stratified random sample of 129 secondary general education math and special education teachers responded to a mail survey. A majority of special education teachers indicated they had not heard of the NCTM Standards. Respondents reported teaching mostly basic skills/general math to secondary students with LD and ED, versus higher-level math, such as algebra and geometry. Teachers identified lack of adequate materials as a considerable barrier to successful implementation of activities based on the Standards. Implications for practice and future research are also provided.
Deducing effective light transport parameters in optically thin systems

We present an extensive Monte Carlo study on light transport in optically thin slabs, addressing both axial and transverse propagation. We systematically characterize diffusive transport in this intermediate scattering regime, notably in terms of the spatial variance of the transmitted/reflected profile. Focusing on late, multiply scattered light, we test the validity of the prediction cast by diffusion theory that the spatial variance should grow independently of absorption and, to a first approximation, of the sample thickness and refractive index contrast. Based on a large set of simulated data, we build a freely available look-up table routine enabling reliable and precise determination of the microscopic transport parameters starting from robust observables which are independent from absolute intensity measurements. We also present the Monte Carlo software package that was developed for the purpose of this study.
Is Bumblebee Foraging Efficiency Mediated by Morphological Correspondence to Flowers?

Preference for certain types of flowers in bee species may be an adaptation for efficient foraging, and they often prefer flowers whose shape fits their mouthparts. However, it is unclear whether such flowers are truly beneficial for them. We address this issue by experimentally measuring foraging efficiency of bumblebees, the volume of sucrose solution consumed over handling time (μL/second), using long-tongued Bombus diversus Smith and short-tongued B. honshuensis Tkalcu that visit Clematis stans Siebold et Zuccarini. The corolla tube length of C. stans decreases during a flowering period, and male flowers are longer than female flowers. Long- and short-tongued bumblebees frequently visited longer and shorter flowers, respectively. Based on these preferences, we hypothesized that bumblebee foraging efficiency is higher when visiting flowers that show a good morphological fit between the proboscis and the corolla tube. Foraging efficiency of bumblebees was estimated using flowers for which nectar quality and quantity were controlled, in an experimental enclosure. We show that 1) the foraging efficiency of B. diversus was enhanced when visiting younger, longer flowers, and that 2) the foraging efficiency of B. honshuensis was higher when visiting shorter female flowers. This suggests that morphological correspondence between insects and flowers is important for insect foraging efficiency. However, in contradiction to our prediction, 3) short-tongued bumblebees B. honshuensis sucked nectar more efficiently when visiting younger, longer flowers, and 4) there was no significant difference in the foraging efficiency of B. diversus between flower sexes. These results suggest that morphological fit between the proboscis and the corolla tube is not a sole determinant of foraging efficiency. Bumblebees may adjust their sucking behavior in response to available rewards, and competition over rewards between bumblebee species might change visitation patterns in the wild. Thus, the determinants of foraging efficiency and visitation frequency for bee pollinators may be more complex than previously thought.
Effect of canopy position on growth, quality and quantity of Syzygium samarangense (wax apple var. jambu madu) fruits

This study represents the first report of the effects of tree canopy position on growth, quality and quantity of Syzygium samarangense (wax apple) fruit var. Jambu Madu under tropical condition. A total of five wax apple trees with same height and approximately same number of branches were selected for this study. Each wax apple tree was divided into five different canopy positions by differentiate upper, middle, lower, inner and outer and all of these canopy positions were used as treatments. From the observation, outer canopy position had significant effect on fruit number, fruit size, fruit weight, chlorophyll content and leaves stomatal conductance of wax apple trees. The total soluble solids (TSS) content and percentages of peel color cover were also higher in outer canopy fruits. Based on the findings of the experiment, it was concluded that outer canopy position retain the more number of fruits with better quality compared to other canopy position of the tree.
THE INFLUENCES OF COMPANY CHARACTERISTICS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP BEHAVIOR AND BANK RELATIONSHIP TOWARD SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) PERFORMANCE

This study analyses the influences of company characteristics, entrepreneurship behavior and bank relationship toward Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) performance. The object used in this research were 124 owners of SMEs Batik Pekalongan, Central Java. Multiple regression analysis is utilized in this research to examine the hypothesis. The results of the analysis shows that company characteristics, entrepreneurship behavior and bank relationship positively influence the performance of SMEs. The empirical result indicates that the owners of the SMEs of Batik Pekalongan should pay attention on some factors, such as entrepreneurship behavior and bank relationship if they want to increase the performance of their company.
When Does Community Conservatism Constrain Village Organizations?

Formal village organizations can be classified into market‐oriented (MO) and community‐oriented (CO) organizations, with the former aimed at raising members’ incomes and the latter at delivering local public goods. This study investigates the role of community conservatism in opposing economic differentiation and, thereby, constraining the emergence, configuration, and activities of MOs in West Africa. To do this, we develop a model where we show that, if these conservative forces are important, MOs need to be larger than would otherwise be optimal in order to gain acceptability and emerge. This, in turn, has an impact on their governance structure, as the needed extra members demand a more participatory decision‐making process in order to secure the delivery of club goods, constraining the exercise of leadership. With very high community conservatism, no MO can emerge. Using a data set of 646 village organizations in Burkina Faso, we identify a sharp contrast in initial size and governance structure between the first MO to emerge in a village and subsequent MOs. This is consistent with the results of the model if first MOs face strong social conservatism, while the social environment is more tolerant for subsequent MOs.
THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME PLANT EXTRACTS ON NORMAL AND PATHOGENIC MICROFLORA FROM MILK

This paper presents the evaluation of antibacterial activity of some plant alcoholic extracts over bacteria in milk as an alternative to current antibiotics. Tests were conducted on alcoholic extracts from sage ( Salvia officinalis) , two hop species Brewers Gold and Perle and two essential oils (rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis and lavender - Lavandula angustifolia). The antibacterial susceptibility has been evaluated over 24 strains isolated from normal milk and mastitis milk, belonging to Staphylococcus, Vibrio, Serratia, Aeromonas and Bacillus genera . The obtained results show the best antibacterial effect with rosemary essential oil, having areas of inhibition as big as 28 mm, with an average of 16.4 mm. Weaker antimicrobial effect was obtained with alcoholic extract of sage where the average of inhibition diameters were 12.2 mm. Bacterial species isolated from mastitis were more sensitive to treatment with plant extracts compared with species isolated from normal milk. Among the tested bacteria, the strains from Staphylococcus type had the highest sensitivity, while Vibrio strains were more resistant. The results obtained open the prospect of using these herbal extracts as an alternative to the use of antibiotics in the treatment of mastitis and also aim at getting safer products from a microbiological point of view, with less antibiotic residues in milk.
Population structure of the swimming crab Achelous spinicarpus (Crustacea, Portunoidea) in São Paulo northern coast, Brazil

The swimming crab Achelous spinicarpus is commonly captured as a “by catch” of the shrimp fishery. This study evaluated some aspects of the population structure of A. spinicarpus , such as sex-ratio and size classes’ frequency distribution. A shrimp trawler equipped with double-rig nets was used to capture the swimming crabs at Ubatuba and Caraguatatuba areas, northern coast of Sao Paulo state, Brazil. A total of 1,057 individuals were collected in Ubatuba, including 598 males (525 juveniles and 73 adults) and 459 females (379 juveniles and 80 adults, including 15 ovigerous crabs). In Caraguatatuba 5,112 individuals were collected, of which 3,138 males (2,638 juveniles and 500 adults) and 1,974 females (1,746 juveniles and 228 adults, including 29 ovigerous crabs). The sex-ratio favors the number of males in both regions, probably because females have the habit of occupying deeper regions. The size classes’ frequency distribution shows polymodality for both sexes, except for males in Ubatuba. This is the result of some age groups among the juveniles, which migrate to shallower areas, being affected by the fishing activity. Adults have the habit of staying in deeper areas characterized by colder waters. Keywords: Brachyura, sex-ratio, Decapoda, bycatch, size distribution.
Business Students’ Continuance Intention toward Blackboard Usage: An Empirical Investigation of UTAUT Model

The use of Blackboard in the traditional education systems is gaining its popularity in the public Saudi universities. Therefore, this research aims to investigate this phenomenon within a special emphasis on Business students at King Saud University (KSU). This study is based on unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to examine students' pursuit intention toward Blackboard usage, including the influential role of satisfaction in technology acceptance and use. The research data were gathered through an online survey of 170 Business students where the participation was voluntary. In addition, the structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the overall efficacy of UTAUT model and the mediating relationship among variables within the effect of satisfaction. The results indicate that satisfaction plays an essential role on the predication of continuance intention as an independent and mediating variable. However, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and superior influence have no direct significant impact on continuance intention.
Intra-firm Coordination and Horizontal Merger

We look at an industry of Cournot oligopolists each of which consists of production facilities which enjoy some degree of freedom in deciding their output quantities and that way influence the total output of a firm. This structure can be motivated e.g. the existence of profit centers or by the specifics of a cooperative firm. The extent of coordination inside the firms is captured in a simple way, and market equilibrium is derived for potentially asymmetric firms using the concept of a replacement function. We use this model to address the question of profitability of horizontal mergers and of the welfare consequences of such mergers. Contrary to the standard literature, we find a wide range of potentially profitable mergers without having to refer to cost synergies. This result is driven by the effect of size in terms of the number of production facilities and by the strategic consequences of intra-firm decentralization. A number of seemingly conflicting results from the literature can be considered special cases of our model.
Fluorescence characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque and malignant tumors

Two series of investigations utilizing laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in characterizing diseased tissue are presented. In one in vitro investigation the fluorescence from normal and atherosclerotically diseased arteries are studied. In another clinical study the fluorescence in vivo from superficial urinary bladder malignancies in patients who had received a low-dose injection of Hematoporphyrin Derivative (HpD) is investigated. Additionally, the fluorescence properties of L-tryptophan, collagen-I powder, elastin powder, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and (beta) -carothene were investigated and compared with the spectra from the tissue samples. A nitrogen laser (337 nm) alone or in connection with a dye laser (405 nm) was used together with an optical multichannel analyzer (OMA) to study the fluorescence spectra. The fluorescence decay characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque were examined utilizing a mode locked argon ion laser, synchronously pumping a picosecond dye laser. A fast detection system based on photon counting was employed. The fluorescence decay curves were evaluated on a PC computer allowing up to three lifetime components to be determined. A fluorescence peak at 390 nm in fibrotic plaque was identified as due to collagen fibers, while a fluorescence peak at 520 nm was connected to (beta) -carotene. The in vivo measurements of urinary bladder malignancies were performed with the optical fiber of the OMA system inserted through the biopsy channel of a cystoscope during the diagnostical procedure. The spectral recordings from urinary bladders, obtained at 337 nm and 405 nm excitation, revealed fluorescence features which can be used to demarcate tumor areas from normal mucosa. The fluorescence emission might also be useful to characterize different degrees of dysplasia.
Unique aspects of the professional identity of tattooed psychologists : the professional self-esteem, sense of not belonging and intentional behavior modeling of four tattooed professionals from the field of psychology and psychiatry

UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ Department of Psychology BUCKMAN, TIIA: Unique aspects of the professional identity of tattooed psychologists: The professional self-esteem, sense of not belonging and intentional behavior modeling of four tattooed professionals from the field of psychology and psychiatry Master’s thesis, 25 p. Supervisor: Jaakko Seikkula Psychology October 2013 The growing prevalence of body modifications, such as tattoos and piercings, has recently started to reach all social structures and fields of profession, including psychology students and even professional psychologists. Tattoos are not just for bikers and prisoners anymore – they are for everyone, including many current and future psychologists, whose work demands consideration for one’s appearance and relies greatly on the quality of interaction with the client or patient. This qualitative case study of four tattooed Finnish professionals from the field of psychology and psychiatry aims to explore the impact tattoos can have on the professional experience of a psychologist. The subjects were interviewed twice about their experiences with tattoos, work and clients or patients. Qualitative analysis of the interview data revealed three themes revolving around the interviewees’ professional identity: a sense of not belonging among their peers; a strong professional self-esteem despite of feeling like an outsider; and a will to model a certain freespirited and accepting attitude to their clients or patients. This suggests that the professional identity of a tattooed psychologist might be atypical or constructed differently than their professional peers’. The subject hasn’t been studied much previously and still requires more research.
FOLKBIOLOGY DOESN'T COME FROM FOLKPSYCHOLOGY: EVIDENCE FROM YUKATEK MAYA IN CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

Nearly all psychological research on basic cognitive processes of category formation and reasoning uses sample populations associated with large research institutions in technologically-advanced societies. Lopsided attention to a select participant pool risks biasing interpretation, no matter how large the sample or how statistically reliable the results. The experiments in this article address this limitation. Earlier research with urban-USA children suggests that biological concepts are (1) thoroughly enmeshed with their notions of naive psychology, and (2) strikingly human-centered. Thus, if children are to develop a causally appropriate model of biology, in which humans are seen as simply one animal among many, they must undergo fundamental conceptual change. Such change supposedly occurs between 7 and 10 years of age, when the human-centered view is discarded. The experiments reported here with Yukatek Maya speakers challenge the empirical generality and theoretical importance of these claims. Part 1 shows that young Maya children do not anthropocentrically interpret the biological world. The anthropocentric bias of American children appears to owe to a lack of cultural familiarity with non-human biological kinds, not to initial causal understanding of folkbiology as such. Part 2 shows that by age of 4-5 (the earliest age tested in this regard) Yukatek Maya children employ a concept of innate species potential or underlying essence much as urban American children seem to, namely, as an inferential framework for understanding the affiliation of an organism to a biological species, and for projecting known and unknown biological properties to organisms in the face of uncertainty. Together, these experiments indicate that folkpsychology cannot be the initial source of folkbiology. They also underscore the possibility of a species-wide and domain-specific basis for acquiring knowledge about the living world that is constrained and modified but not caused or created by prior non-biological thinking and subsequent cultural experience.
Extinction, colonization, and distribution patterns of common eider populations nesting in a naturally fragmented landscape

Spatial distribution, patchy environments, and population turnover have many fundamental implications for con- servation ecology. Common eider (Somateria mollissima L., 1758) population processes were investigated in Labrador, Canada, between 1998 and 2003. We predicted that local colonies would exhibit population turnover, that extinction would be negatively related to colony and patch size, that colonization would be negatively related to island isolation, and that intraspecific incidence-abundance relationships would be positive. We found that small colonies were prone to extinction, but patch size was not a significant predictor of extinction, nor was colonization related to isolation. The overall observed annual extinction and colonization rates were 0.11 ± 0.02 and 0.41 ± 0.06, respectively, and showed variation across archi- pelagos. At two spatial scales we found that mean colony size was a positive predictor of island occupancy (incidence), and these relationships were maintained across years. Our findings show that common eider colonies in Labrador are dy- namic and have greater turnover rates than previously expected in a species that is considered highly philopatric. Our find- ings support the notion that highly mobile organisms such as migratory birds can exhibit characteristics associated with metapopulation processes.