Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A statistical approach to the life cycle analysis of cumulus clouds selected in a virtual reality environment

In this study, a new method is developed to investigate the entire life cycle of shallow cumuli in large eddy simulations. Although trained observers have no problem in distinguishing the different life stages of a cloud, this process proves difficult to automate, because cloud-splitting and cloud-merging events complicate the distinction between a single system divided in several cloudy parts and two independent systems that collided. Because the human perception is well equipped to capture and to make sense of these time-dependent three-dimensional features, a combination of automated constraints and human inspection in a three-dimensional virtual reality environment is used to select clouds that are exemplary in their behavior throughout their entire life span. Three specific cases (ARM, BOMEX, and BOMEX without large-scale forcings) are analyzed in this way, and the considerable number of selected clouds warrants reliable statistics of cloud properties conditioned on the phase in their life cycle. The most dominant feature in this statistical life cycle analysis is the pulsating growth that is present throughout the entire lifetime of the cloud, independent of the case and of the large-scale forcings. The pulses are a self-sustained phenomenon, driven by a balance between buoyancy and horizontal convergence of dry air. The convective inhibition just above the cloud base plays a crucial role as a barrier for the cloud to overcome in its infancy stage, and as a buffer region later on, ensuring a steady supply of buoyancy into the cloud.
Comparing body composition measures among Malaysian primary school children

Abstract The global rise in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has necessitated the need for global standards, which is very important for cross-cultural or national comparisons, and to assess the effectiveness of various proposed measures of body composition. In this paper, the body composition of 411 children, consisting of 163 boys and 248 girls, aged 10.49 ± 1.12 years, was analysed based on body mass index (BMI) and two body fat references from Korea (BFK) and the UK (BFUK). BMI was the most sensitive estimate of adiposity (overweight = 15.8%; obesity = 6.6%), when compared with BFUK (overweight = 7.8%; obesity = 3.2%) and the BFK (overweight = 10.2%; obesity = 0.5%). Although, there was significant correlation between BFK and BFUK (r = 0.89, p < 0.0001), BFK and BMI (r = 0.644, p < 0.0001), and BFUK and BMI (r = 0.646, p < 0.0001), they fairly agreed (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.537), as BMI reliably estimated body fat in normal weight, but overestimated body fat in overweight and obese children. Of all the demographic and physical activity variables, only gender was significantly associated with difference in body fat estimation, as BMI estimation of body fat was higher in girls than in boys. Hence, we must be cautious in using BMI as a surrogate for body fat, especially among overweight and obese children.
Leafy Vegetables Free Of Coliforms And Parasites After Washing In Chlorine Treated Water

The production and preparation of vegetables for consumption involve procedures that pose health risks to consumers. In this context the water plays an important role in the quality of minimally processed vegetables. We assessed the hygienic-sanitary quality of leafy vegetables and obtained data of interest to health surveillance agencies and public health. They were tested for the presence of total and faecal coliforms, and also parasitic protozoa and helminths. The vegetable samples were purchased in supermarkets of the Midwest of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. We performed bacteriological analyses of wash water samples using chromogenic substrates to obtain the most probable number of the coliform group at 35 °C and Escherichia coli. We used Hoffman’s spontaneous sedimentation technique for the parasitological analysis in order to check the occurrence of heavy and light helminths eggs and protozoan cysts. The analyses indicated the presence of coliforms, nematodes and freeliving protozoa, except for the last wash. We concluded that the washing process using running water and no active chlorine was not efficient in reducing the load of microorganisms in the vegetables. Therefore, intensive educational programmes should be implemented by health authorities to encourage hygienic-sanitary practices and risk reduction of food-borne diseases. Keywords: Public Health. Vegetables. Parasitic nematodes. Faeces.
DIVERSITY AND LOCAL PUBLIC GOODS: A NATURAL EXPERIMENT WITH EXOGENOUS RESIDENTIAL ALLOCATION

This paper demonstrates the effects of ethnic diversity on social relationships and the quality of public spaces at a very finite neighborhood level. We use detailed block level data on diversity and housing quality from a representative survey on housing in France. We show how and to what extent diversity among adjacent neighborhoods can affect household well-being and the quality of local public goods, whereas the previous literature looks at aggregate indicators and outcomes. Our identification strategy relies on the exogeneity of public housing allocations with respect to ethnic characteristics in France, and thereby eliminates bias due to endogenous residential sorting. Diversity is shown to have a negative effect on local public goods, either due to vandalism and to the lack of social policing, or due to collective action failure for maintenance. However, we find that diversity has no robust effect on civil conflict at a local level and, if anything, is more related to social anomie. We test the exogeneity of residential allocation across public housing blocks with respect to ethnic characteristics. We also show that our results are not driven by potential biases from self-reported well-being and that they hold even with objective measures of housing quality. JEL Codes: H10, H41
The role of surface charge of ISCOMATRIX nanoparticles on the type of immune response generated against Leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice

Objective(s): It is proposed that particulate antigens could better interact with the antigen presenting cells (APCs). A fast, simple and scalable process for preparation of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) is coating of charged antigenic particles, like viruses, with oppositely charged polymers. A second coating with a charged polymer could increase the stability and modify the immunomodulatory potentials of NPs. Materials and Methods: Negatively charged inactivated polio virus (IPV) was coated with cationic polymers, chitosan (CHT) and trimethylchitosan (TMC) by a simple incubation method. CHT: IPV and TMC: IPV NPs were coated by anionic polymer, sodium alginate (ALG). Physical characteristics and stability of NPs were studied. Cytocompatibility of NPs was checked with MTT assay. DC maturation study was used for evaluation of the NPs potential in interaction with DCs. Results: Among the various polymer to antigen ratios tested, the least size and PDI and the highest ZP was seen in TMC: IPV (2:1), CHT: IPV (2:1), ALG: TMC: IPV (2:2:1) and ALG: CHT: IPV (4:2:1). The physical stability of TMC: IPV and CHT: IPV was preserved until 15 days. After an early de-association of some part of coated alginate, ALG: CHT: IPV and ALG: TMC: IPC NPs were stable until the end of study (25 th day). No one of the NPs formulations had a negative effect on cell viability. Compared with plain IPV, nanoparticulate IPV formulations failed to increase the expression of CD40 and CD86 markers of DCs. Conclusion: NPs prepared with simple and scalable method, had reasonable physical characteristics, stability and cytocompatibility and could be tested in vivo for their immunoadjuvant potential.
Mechanisms of resistance to metribuzin in new resistant biotype of jungle rice (Echinochloa colona) in sugarcane fields of hot semi-arid climates

The practice of monoculture and the use of one-mode-action herbicides for more than 10-year period can cause development of resistant jungle rice [(Echinochloa colona (L.)] to photosystem II inhibitors. Jungle rice is one of the most troublesome weeds in the sugarcane fields of Iran. Laboratory and greenhouse testing was carried out from 2013 to 2016 to investigate the development and determine the origin of metribuzin-resistant jungle rice biotypes in the sugarcane fields of Khuzestan province. Five populations of jungle rice (1 susceptible and 4 suspected resistant) were collected and assayed. The suspected populations were first screened using discriminating concentrations of mertibuzin. To determine the resistance factor for R-biotypes, bioassay trials were conducted in a greenhouse. Then, PCR sequencing markers used in the laboratory and PCR products were subjected to pair-end sequencing by Eurofins Scientific to determine the molecular base of resistance in the R-biotypes. The results of seedling bioassays showed that four biotypes were resistant to metribuzin. The weed control efficiency of metribuzin for the R4, R2, R3 and R1 biotypes were 12.38%, 27.24%, 59.29% and 75.21%, respectively. The resistance factor for the R4 and R2 biotypes were 58.51 and 30.23 respectively; ranking these as resistant biotypes. Gene sequencing studies found an effective mutation at position 232 of the psbA gene that resulted in amino acid substitution from Serine to Glycine at residue 264 in the D1 protein in R-biotypes versus S-biotypes. These results show that target site resistance to metribuzin is rapidly developing in sugarcane fields in northern Khuzestan province. This could stem from the spread of resistant biotype seeds through irrigation water from the Karun Agro-industry fields (first reported sites of resistance) or by herbicide selection pressure.
GAM analysis of operational and environmental factors affecting swordfish (Xiphias gladius) catch and CPUE of the Reunion Island longline fishery, in the South Western Indian Ocean

This article deals with the Reunion Island based longline fishery, targeting mainly swordfish (Xiphias gladius) for almost 15 years, operating by night with very straight lines thus attaining quite shallow waters. During the PPR programme, jointly led by the Ifremer, IRD and University of La Reunion, a rigorous data collecting strategy has reached to a very good coverage of the fishery from 1998 to 2000. Operational parameters concerning the fishing gear configuration and fishermen habits had been collected for 3602 longline sets by the Ifremer, including their precise location (beginning and end of the longline setting). According to these positions, data extraction had been conducted from oceanographic satellite maps (available from the IRD S140 "Espace" team), dealing with depth, temperature, colour and vertical dynamics of the surface waters at the locations of the longline sets, supposed to witness the environmental context of the catch. After deleting redundant factors, several GAM models have been tested on these data, including operational (12 initial factors), environmental (20 initial factors) and both, in order to assess the respective influences of these parameters on swordfish catch and CPUE. Even with quite poor explanatory power of our best model (including every factor, with less than 50% of the initial total variance explained), it appears that the operational influence may be greater than environmental, in the way with introduced them in our analyses. As the most important, the main factors influencing swordfish vulnerability thus may be respectively the length of the buoys leaders sustaining longlines at the sea surface, number of hooks, duration of the retrieving of the line from water, mean distance between two successive hooks, duration of the drifting of the longline at night, time of the beginning of the longline setting and duration of the setting. Environmental parameters arrive after operational ones in the total inertia of this best model: horizontal gradients of Sea Surface Anomalies (SLA), Sea Surface Temperature, north-south component of the geostrophic currents derived from SLA, lunar phases and gradients of SST play a graduated role, while the horizontal gradient of the east-west component of the geostrophic currents and lunar days may play a stronger role while considering only environmental parameters on CPUE. Other models are discussed, with the results compared to studies on swordfish in other parts of the world oceans, that could bring some insights on swordfish biology and catchability in the south-western Indian ocean.
Aromatase Inhibitors as Neoadjuvant Treatment in Elderly Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Pre-operative volume reduction of locally advanced breast cancers (LABC) is an issue of great importance when approaching elderly women, who often present with extensive disease along with a burden of co-morbidity which increases the risk of complications and mortality from treatment. A comprehensive geriatric evaluation is a necessary requirement before recommending any treatment in older patients. Endocrine treatment in the neoadjuvant setting allows disease control and downstaging of tumours and is fairly well tolerated. Tamoxifen has been the mainstay of endocrine therapy for patients unable to undergo surgery, but resistance eventually develops. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are superior to tamoxifen in this setting, with greater downstaging of the tumour and disease control. AIs are now the treatment of choice in elderly patients with oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who are being considered for neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. There are some data that definitive treatment with an AI for LABC in unfit patients may guarantee long-term control of disease.
IN VITRO AND IN VIVO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF WHOLE PLANT METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MUKIA MADERASPATANA (L.) M.ROEM. (CUCURBITACEAE)

The study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of whole plant methanolic extract of the medicinal plant, Mukia maderaspatana . The extract was screened for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of protein denaturation and proteinase activity and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity through carrageenan induced paw edema in rat model and enzymic antioxidant status in serum. The extract showed significant activity against protein denaturation and proteinase inhibition at 400μg/mL (65.71% and 62.19% respectively). Similarly, the reduction of paw edema in carrageenan induced rat after 4hrs from the time of treatment with 200μg/Kg b. wt. and 400μg/Kg b. wt. were 34.29% and 54.29% respectively which are comparable to that of the effect of standard, the indomehacin. The inhibition of activity of enzymic antioxidant viz , SOD, CAT GPx and GST was significantly reduced in the animals treated with the methanolic plant extract. The lipid peroxidase and nitric oxide levels were also significantly decreased in the experimental rats as the influence of methanolic extract of M. maderaspatana.
Approaches to Learning in First Year University Physics

Problem statement: In recent decades, discipline specific ways of thinking and knowing have gained increased recognition in understanding learning. However, there has been little empirical research examining student approaches to learning within specific disciplines or, even more specifically, within different streams of study or in response to different curriculum within a discipline. Approach: The aim of this study was to investigate student approaches to learning in physics. We explore whether different streams of study or exposure to different syllabi are associated with deep or surface approaches to learning. A total of 2,030 first year physics students at an Australian metropolitan university over three different year cohorts and three streams completed an adaptation of the Study Processes Questionnaire (SPQ) which produces measures of Deep and Surface approaches to learning. Students studied within Advanced, Regular and Fundamentals streams, based upon prior experience in physics study. Students within the three cohorts were exposed to different senior high school syllabi, as the exam board introduced a new and innovative syllabus. We make comparison on approaches to learning across streams and across the three year cohorts. Results: Findings show that the behavior of the mean scale scores for students in different streams in first year physics is in agreement with expectations; advanced streams reported higher levels of deep approaches while Fundamentals streams reported higher levels of surface approaches. Furthermore, different year cohort performance on the scales reflects changes in senior high school syllabus; with a new syllabus reflecting a shift toward more deep approaches to learning. Conclusion/Recommendations: It is promising to see that revision of syllabi has a direct impact upon student approaches learning. A challenge lies in ways to best harness this power and to address the trends seen in student approaches to learning across streams.
Species conservation in the face of political uncertainty

Recent political developments and academic debate indicate that future political commitment to the protection of natural resources is uncertain. This political uncertainty is particularly problematic when the danger of irreversible damage such as the extinction of species looms. Accordingly, policies are needed which can ward off such damage. This paper analyses a particular policy regarding a situation where the survival of an endangered species depends on certain types of biodiversity-enhancing land-use measures being carried out regularly, yet due to uncertain political commitment the periodical availability of a budget to finance these measures is not guaranteed. To insure against future underfunding for conservation, a fund is established which allows money to be saved for conservation in later periods. To maximise the long-term survival of the endangered species, it has to be decided in each period whether to spend the available money now or to allocate it to the fund for future use. The paper provides an ecological-economic model for this dynamic optimisation problem.
Board of directors and its relationships on performance : case of Gnosjöregion in Sweden

In focus of this paper are selected characteristics of enterprise boards and their influences on performance in companies located in Gnosjö, one of Sweden’s best known industrial districts. The aim and contribution of this paper are to propose and test a model that reflects how the relationship between board characteristics, administration and company age can have an effect on company performance. Our results show that number of commitments among board members as well as company age are significant for company performance measured with sales and sales per employee. The support of the model proposed is strong and we believe the results have practical as well as theoretical implications.
Prevalence of Aeromonas hydrophila in fish and prawns from the seafood market of Coimbatore , South India

Five hundred and thirty six samples of fishes and 278 prawn samples from the major fish market of Coimbatore, South India, were analysed for the prevalence of Aeromonas hydrophila over a period of 2 years (June 1997–May 1999). The prevalence level of A. hydrophila varied from 17.62% in prawns to 33.58% in fishes. More than 30% of the popular table fishes such as Sardinella longiceps, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Mugil cephalus and Caranx sexfasciatus were tested positive for this organism. Among the different species of the prawns analysed, Penaeus semisulcatus showed higher incidence (23.52%). Seasonal variation in the prevalence levels of A. hydrophila in fish and prawns revealed a higher prevalence during the monsoon season during 1997–98 and 1998–99. Of the different body parts of the fishes analysed for A. hydrophila, the intestinal samples showed higher prevalence (38.43%), followed by body surface (32.46%) and gill (29.10%). Considering the psychrotrophic nature and role of A. hydrophila as a pathogen of emerging importance, the considerably high levels of this organism in a popular food item such as fish and prawn raises serious concern. r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
CollaboratiVe Culture as a Challenge of Contemporary sChools

Different authors stress that traditional culture is still the most common culture in schools. This culture prefers high educational goals, high expectations and productivity. Under such circumstances, there is no room for cooperation and helping each other. On the contrary, these stimulate competitiveness that causes tension between the participants. One of the fundamental aims of today’s and future education is also to stimulate cooperation that provides each individual with the strength to come to known him or herself and to behave in accordance with his or her tradition and beliefs, while at the same time staying open to other and different people. This can be achieved only in a culture of good relationships that includes the values of tolerance, solidarity, critical thinking and independence. Research has shown that collaborative culture also has many other benefits over traditional culture reflecting itself in the well-being and effectiveness of teachers and students and also in the development of the institution as a whole. Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine effective schools without cooperation at all school levels. Since school culture is a relatively stable phenomenon, it takes a long time to change and such a change cannot be achieved with external orders. The most important initial step towards changing school culture is that all school staff realise its importance, influence and extent in creating an effective school. This can be a starting point and encouragement to think about the existing school climate, make plans for the future and find ways to change it.
Dendrochronological Investigation on Castanea Sativa Mill. in Belasitza Mountain and Western Balkans (Berkovitza Mountain)

ABSTRACT Chestnut blight, or chestnut bark disease, is caused by an introduced fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr, (formerly Endothia parasitica [Murrill] Anderson & Anderson). The fungus have been suggested in several studies to be a main factor to the problem of chestnut decline in Europe. Nevertheless, it is interesting to make a more detailed analysis of the factors which can influence chestnut health. Dendrochronology is the science of extracting ecological information from dated tree rings. Information about environmental occurrences or changes is documented in a tree in various ways. To further the understanding of the dendrochronological characteristics that are important for dating purposes this poster discusses an investigation based on dendrochronological assessment of living chestnut trees. The analysis was performed by the crossdating of chestnut chronologies of different provenances (Belasitza mountain and Western Balkans-Berkovitza mountain), and the interspecific synchronization with oak stands.
A Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Model with Periodic Transmission Rate in Wenzhou, China

We establish an SEIQRS epidemic model with periodic transmission rate to investigate the spread of seasonal HFMD in Wenzhou. The value of this study lies in two aspects. Mathematically, we show that the global dynamics of the HFMD model can be governed by its reproduction number ; if , the disease-free equilibrium of the model is globally asymptotically stable, which means that the disease will vanish after some period of time; while if , the model has at least one positive periodic solution and is uniformly persistent, which indicates that HFMD becomes an endemic disease. Epidemiologically, based on the statistical data of HFMD in Wenzhou, we find that the HFMD becomes an endemic disease and will break out in Wenzhou. One of the most interesting findings is that, for controlling the HFMD spread, we must increase the quarantined rate or decrease the treatment cycle.