Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fractal Analysis on Asphalt Mixture Using a Two-Dimensional Imaging Technique

Fractal is a mathematical set that has a fractal dimension which usually exceeds its topological dimension and may be nonintegral. Since the asphalt pavement texture has limitations of randomness and self-similarity, fractal theory has been explored to quantify the asphalt pavement texture and employs good applicability in processing and analyzing the complex details of research object. In this paper, the 2D digital image of the pavement surface is measured in terms of area fractal dimension and contour fractal dimension, which are used to correlate with aggregate gradation and British Pendulum Number (BPN) value, respectively. It turns out the area fractal dimension of aggregate provides a simple way to acquire the continuous gradation of asphalt concrete sample and the contour fractal dimension is an available parameter to characterize roughness and friction of pavement surface texture.
A phylogenetic subdivision of Australian skinks

Skinks are the largest and most diverse of the five families of lizards in Australia. The most recent review of the lizard fauna, for example, recognizes 193 species (54 percent of the total; Cogger 1975), but as a result of recent work by several collectors, we now know of at least 242 species. Furthermore, new species are being discovered at a faster rate than in any other family of Australian reptiles (pers. obs.).
Balls intersection properties of Banach spaces

Necessary and sufficient conditions for a Banach space with the Mazur intersection property to be an Asplund space are given. It is proved that Mazur intersection property is determined by the separable subspaces of the space. Corresponding problems for a space to have the ball-generated property are considered. Some comments on possible renorming so that a space having the Mazur intersection property are given.
Search for short-period variable stars in the open cluster NGC 2301

Time-series CCD photometric observations of an intermediate age open cluster NGC 2301 were per- formed to search for variable stars, particularly Dor stars and Sct stars. We also carried outUBVI photometry to study physical properties of variable stars in the cluster. We derived observational parameters of the cluster from UBVI photometric results. The best t of the empirical ZAMS in a color-color diagram gives a reddening value of E(B V )=0 :05 0:03. We also estimated a distance modulus of (V MV )0 =9 :6 0:1 and an age of log t =8 :4 0:1, from the ZAMS and isochrone tting in a color-magnitude diagram. Using V time-series data, we carefully examined light variations of 923 stars fainter than 10: m 0, and discovered nine short-period variable stars; two Dor candidates, ve eclipsing binaries, one Slowly Pulsating B star and one magnetic Chemically Peculiar variable candidate. Two Dor candidates with relatively short periods of around 0.3 days are located in a redder region (about 0: m 1i nB V color) than the red edge of Sct instability strip in the color-magnitude diagram.
A further new species of limbless skink, genus Paracontias, from eastern Madagascar

Abstract We describe a new species of the genus Paracontias from a rain forest in the northern Central East of Madagascar based on a single specimen. Paracontias kankana sp. nov. is unique among all known species of Paracontias by exhibiting large loreals meeting each other in midline dorsally, separating the rostral from the frontonasal scale. All other known Paracontias species have the rostral in broad contact with the frontonasal. In the new species, the nasal scale is in contact with the first supral-abial, a character shared with P. brocchii, P. milloti, P. rothschildi and an unnamed species, but distinguishing it from other known congeners. The type locality is a forest fragment heavily threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture, but the species may well be present in some nearby protected areas and probably also occurs at Marojejy.
Counter‐culture and consumer society

This paper addresses a topic which has been relatively neglected in the marketing and consumer research literature. Our aim is to rejuvenate discussion of what constitutes counter‐culture and what it implies about culture and consumption. Drawing on Hegel's lordbondsman tale, we present three different ways of framing this complex subject. These frames are entitled authentic counterculture, the mediation of counter‐culture and counter‐culture as difference. Through the frames we chart the transition from revolutionary to aesthetic counter‐culture and the central role played in this process by the developing commodity culture. Next we discuss the implications of the aestheticization of social space for counter‐cultural theory and practice, illustrating this with examples of various British and American counter‐cultural groupings and activities. In charting these changes we discuss how the ultimate aim of counter‐culture has shifted from transcendence to resistance, and ask whether the return to some more global theory might ever again be possible. Finally we evaluate the usefulness of Hegel's tale in the light of the previous discussion and suggest issues which require further attention from researchers interested in culture and consumption.
The nutritional significance, biosynthesis and bioavailability of glucosinolates in human foods

The glucosinolates are a large group of sulphur-containing compounds which occur in all the economically important varieties of Brassica vegetable. Their common structure comprises a β-D-thioglucose group, a sulphonated oxime moiety and a variable side-chain derived from methionine, tryptophan or phenylalanine. When the plant tissue is damaged the glucosinolates are hydrolysed by the endogenous enzyme ‘myrosinase’ (thioglucoside glycohydrolase EC 3:2:3:1), to release a range of breakdown products including the bitter, biologically active isothiocyanates. Although these compounds exert antinutritional effects in animals there is also substantial evidence that they are the principal source of anticarcinogenic activity in Brassica vegetables, and this provides a strong motive for the manipulation of glucosinolate levels in vegetables for human consumption. This review provides an overview of the evidence for a beneficial role for glucosinolates in human health, and describes the current state of knowledge regarding the genetics and biosynthesis of glucosinolates, their chemical analysis, their behaviour during cooking and processing, and their bioavailability to humans. As the genetic basis of glucosinolate biosynthesis becomes more apparent, and tools for marker-assisted plant breeding become more available, the selective breeding of horticultural brassicas with different levels and types of glucosinolates, whether by conventional means or genetic manipulation, is becoming a practical possibility. However before this strategy becomes commercially viable, the health benefits of glucosinolates for human beings must be unequivocally established. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
Investigating the Effect of Total Quality Management Practices on Organizational Performance in the Jordanian Banking Sector

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices (customer satisfaction, education and training, continuous improvement, teamwork, and top management commitment) on organizational performance (financial and non-financial) in the Jordanian banking sector. Research papers which are related to services are limited in Jordan. Since Jordanian economy is heavily dependent on the services sector, such research may enhance the quality of this sector. The methodology is based on a questionnaire distributed to 11 commercial banks, and the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse and examine the hypotheses. This research has indicated that TQM practices have a positive effect on organizational performance both financially and non-financially.
The Effect of Collaborative Strategic Vocabulary Learning on EFL Learners' Self-Efficacy

Over the past two decades, vocabulary learning strategies appeared to be of much concern and importance in building up a repertoire of L2 learners' lexical knowledge. The present study examined the effects of three collaborative strategic vocabulary learning on students' self-efficacy in third grade junior high school context of Iran. The study employed an experimental design over a ten week period with eighty students randomly assigned to four groups consisting of three treatment groups and a control. Each treatment group received one of the following kinds of instructions on vocabulary learning: (a) meta-cognitive (b) cognitive and (c) memory strategy. A self-efficacy questionnaire was implemented as the pre- and posttest to collect data. The findings suggested collaborative strategic vocabulary learning did not have any effects on learners' self-efficacy. This calls for the need for further research on learner strategies.
The Impact of Government Interventions on CDS and Equity Markets

We question the impact of government guarantees on the pricing of default risk in credit and stock markets and, using a Merton-type credit model, provide evidence of a structural break in the valuation of U.S. bank debt in the course of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, manifesting in a lowered default boundary, or, under the pre-crisis regime, in higher stock-implied credit spreads. A possible explanation is the asymmetric treatment of debt and equity in rescue measures, which tend to favor creditors. The discrepancies are driven by several factors including firm size, default correlation, and high ratings, thus corroborating our too-big-to-fail hypothesis.
The Effect of Direct and Indirect Corrective Feedback on Iranian EFL Learners’ Spelling Errors

The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of indirect corrective feedback on promoting Iranian high school students’ spelling accuracy in English (as a foreign language). It compared the effect of direct feedback with indirect feedback on students’ written work dictated by their teacher from Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul. The study was conducted at the gifted girls’ high school in Saveh, Iran. A sample of 56 high school sophomores was randomly assigned to two equal groups of 28. Group 1 (the direct feedback group) and Group 2 (the indirect feedback group) were treated differently regarding their spelling errors for five weeks. Statistical analysis based on GLMRM test revealed that indirect feedback was more effective than direct feedback in rectifying students’ spelling errors.
High precision earthquake locations reveal seismogenic structure beneath Mammoth Mountain, California

In 1989, an unusual earthquake swarm occurred beneath Mammoth Mountain that was probably associated with magmatic intrusion. To improve our understanding of this swarm, we relocated Mammoth Mountain earthquakes using a double difference algorithm. Relocated hypocenters reveal that most earthquakes occurred on two structures, a near‐vertical plane at 7–9 km depth that has been interpreted as an intruding dike, and a circular ring‐like structure at ∼5.5 km depth, above the northern end of the inferred dike. Earthquakes on this newly discovered ring structure form a conical section that dips outward away from the aseismic interior. Fault‐plane solutions indicate that in 1989 the seismicity ring was slipping as a ring‐normal fault as the center of the mountain rose with respect to the surrounding crust. Seismicity migrated around the ring, away from the underlying dike at a rate of ∼0.4 km/month, suggesting that fluid movement triggered seismicity on the ring fault.
Some remarks on almost rational torsion points

For a commutative algebraic group G over a perfect field k, Ribet defined the set of almost rational torsion points G ar,k of G over k. For positive integers d, g, we show there is an integer Ud,g such that for all tori T of dimension at most d over number fields of degree at most g, T ar tors,k T(Ud,g). We show the corresponding result for abelian varieties with complex multi- plication, and under an additional hypothesis, for elliptic curves without complex multiplication. Finally, we show that except for an explicit finite set of semi-abelian varieties G over a finite field k, G ar,k is infinite, and use this to show for any abelian variety A over a p-adic field k, there is a finite extension of k over which A ar,k is infinite.
Substrate effects on the optical properties of spheroidal nanoparticles

We developed a spectral formalism to study the effective polarizability of a spheroidal particle lying over a substrate, including multipolar effects. With the help of the spectral representation, we can discuss the optical response in terms of the excitation of the multipolar modes of the system. As an example of applications, we provide a spectral representation of the differential-reflectance spectra and we perform calculations for specific systems.
Mechanism of metamorphic zircon growth in a granulite-facies quartzite, Adirondack Highlands, Grenville Province, New York

Abstract Granulite-facies quartzites from the Adirondack Highlands (Grenville Province, New York) contain accessory zircon with ubiquitous metamorphic overgrowths. Detrital zircon cores are resorbed, preserve various internal zoning styles and inclusions, and have ages of 1.3 to 2.7 Ga. These ages constrain the timing of deposition of the protolith sandstone and suggest that the Adirondack Highlands were proximal or part of Laurentia during deposition. Metamorphic overgrowths formed in the quartzites during the Shawinigan orogeny (1.20-1.14 Ga). The average volume of overgrowths in eight samples ranges from 62-87%, with a positive correlation between zircon growth and feldspar content (melt productivity during metamorphism). Melt volumes and Zr solubility were too small to allow the overgrowths to have formed in one dissolution-precipitation event. Crystal-size distributions suggest zircon coarsening by the dissolution of small crystals and Zr transfer via a partial melt, and thus zircon overgrowths date anatexis. These results have implications for provenance studies, as dissolution of small zircon grains and growth of new zircon could bias age spectra of metasedimentary rocks.
Variability analysis of Sukun durian plant (Durio zibethinus) based on RAPD marker

Ruwaida IP, Supriyadi, Parjanto. 2009. Variability analysis of Sukun durian plant (Durio zibethinus) based on RAPDmarker. Nusantara Bioscience 1: 84-91.The purpose of the study is to assess the diversity of the durian varieties of Sukun, Sunan, Kani,Monthong, and Petruk; and Sukun durian variety grown in different regions based on RAPD markers. Materials research is durian leavesof Sukun, Sunan, Kani, Monthong and Petruk from Ranukutri Garden Seeds, Karanganyar, and also Sukun durian leaf from GempolanKaranganyar, Jepara and Salatiga. Then performed DNA analysis on samples of leaves that began the isolation of DNA, test of DNAquantity and quality, primer selection, and amplification with PCR. Visualization of PCR performed by electrophoresis using EtBr thatgenerate DNA bands. DNA bands were then analyzed with NTSYS program to get durian diversity among varieties of durian andbetween Sukun durian at different planting areas. Six RAPD polymorphic primer was used, namely OPA-01, OPA-02, OPA-07, OPA-16, OPA-18, and OPA-19. Banding pattern of DNA amplification show the existence of diversity among varieties of Sukun durian,Sunan, Kani, Monthong and Petruk and show the diversity of Sukun durian grown in different areas. Dendrogram indicated that fivedurian varieties tend to segregate, whereas Sukun, Sunan, Monthong and Petruk in one group, which split with Kani. Dendrogram alsoindicated that Sukun planted in different regions resulted in two groups, Sukun from Gempolan Karanganyar and Salatiga in one group,while the second group consisted of Sukun from Ranukutri seed garden Karanganyar and Jepara.
New Insight into Toxicity due to Oligomeric Amyloid-b Peptide and Alpha-Synuclein Protein induced by Copper(II) ion

It is well known that Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’ s diseases are closely related with the aggregated forms of amyloid-b peptide and alpha-synuclein (a-syn) protein, respectively, and the recent work shows that neurotoxicity due to oligomeric a-syn requires the presence of copper but not iron ion. In this article, we have proposed the new insight into the toxicity due to the oligomeric amyloid-b peptide and a-syn protein induced by the copper(II) ion, based on the Nishida Reaction which is specific for the binuclear copper(II) compounds where two copper(II) ions are in close vicinity, and that copper(II)-peroxide adduct exhibits strong electrophilicity towards several organic compounds similar to the singlet oxygen ( 1 D g ).
DWARFS GOBBLING DWARFS: A STELLAR TIDAL STREAM AROUND NGC 4449 AND HIERARCHICAL GALAXY FORMATION ON SMALL SCALES

A candidate diffuse stellar substructure was previously reported in the halo of the nearby dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 4449 by Karachentsev et al. We map and analyze this feature using a unique combination of deep integrated-light images from the BlackBird 0.5 m telescope, and high-resolution wide-field images from the 8 m Subaru Telescope, which resolve the nebulosity into a stream of red giant branch stars, and confirm its physical association with NGC 4449. The properties of the stream imply a massive dwarf spheroidal progenitor, which after complete disruption will deposit an amount of stellar mass that is comparable to the existing stellar halo of the main galaxy. The stellar mass ratio between the two galaxies is ∼1:50, while the indirectly measured dynamical mass ratio, when including dark matter, may be ∼1:10–1:5. This system may thus represent a “stealth” merger, where an infalling satellite galaxy is nearly undetectable by conventional means, yet has a substantial dynamical influence on its host galaxy. This singular discovery also suggests that satellite accretion can play a significant role in building up the stellar halos of low-mass galaxies, and possibly in triggering their starbursts.
Cloning and characterization of the first actin gene in Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi

The first actin gene in Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi (Apactin) was cloned and characterized. Remarkably, two types of the Apactin cDNA clones were isolated from the pupal cDNA library, which differed by the length and sequence of 5’ untranslated region (UTR). The open reading frame (ORF) of the Apactin gene is 1131 bp and encodes a protein of 376 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 40.81 kDa and an isolectric point of 5.30. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Apactin gene contains typical structural features of the actin genes. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that the Apactin gene was a cytoplasmic actin gene and had closest genetic relationship with Antheraea yamamai actin gene. The Apactin gene held the highest identity with the Bombyx mori actin A4 gene among the four known B. mori actin isoforms. RT-PCR analysis showed that the Apactin gene was constitutively expressed during four developmental stages and in all tested tissues. These results indicate that the Apactin gene presented here plays an essential role throughout the entire life cycle and can be used as a reference gene in the normalization of gene expression.
Evaluation of Natural Plant Powders with Potential Use in Antimicrobial Packaging Applications

This study investigates the antimicrobial effects of vanillin, turmeric and curcumin in the forms of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) solution as well as polymer packaging. Five types of common pathogens and food spoilage bacteria were used in this study: Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes representing gram-positive bacteria; Shigella sonnei, Salmonella typhimurium as well as E.coli O157:H7 representing gramnegative bacteria. Turmeric is chosen as the antimicrobial agent to be incorporated into packaging materials. In order to study the antimicrobial effect as packaging application, two types of the polymer based turmeric products were produced. They are LDPE based turmeric pellets produced by a single screw extruder, and turmeric coated BOPP films. Finally, a comparison on antimicrobial effect was conducted. between two solvents regent alcohol and DMSO.
Acceptable Noise Levels and Electrophysiological Measures in Listeners with Hearing Impairment

I am submitting herewith a dissertation by Joanna Webster Tampas entitled “Acceptable Noise Levels and Electrophysiological Measures in Listeners with Hearing Impairment. ” I have examined the final electronic copy of the dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Speech and Hearing Science.
Determining the Technical Efficiency of Hospitals in Tabriz City Using Data Envelopment Analysis for 2013-2014

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the technical efficiency of hospitals (training and non-training hospitals of Tabriz city) affiliated with the Medical Science University, based on performance indicators and mathematical model of data envelopment analysis (DEA) in 2014. METHODS: The present research is a cross sectional study conducted to assess the scale, technical and managerial efficiency of hospitals from2013 to2014. Then, a comparison of the collected data was made among the hospitals under study. The model of minimization of production factors and variable return was used in analyzing the data. RESULTS: The collected information included two input groups which consisted of the number of physicians (general physicians and specialists), total personnel and active beds, and output groups which consisted of the number of out-patients and bed occupancy rate. Then, the technical, scale and managerial efficiency of the hospitals were calculated and the efficient (Performance Coefficient of E =1) and inefficient (below 1) hospitals were obtained. The average technical, scale and managerial efficiencies in both 2013 and 2014 was equal to 0.817, 0.956 and 0.856, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hospitals having lower efficiency can model efficient reference hospitals, so as to increase their performance and also approach the efficiency border by better management of human and financial resources.
A new tide model for the Mediterranean Sea based on altimetry and tide gauge assimilation

Abstract. The tides for the Mediterranean Sea are described through a high resolution model (MEDI10) developed by assimilation of tide-gauge data and T/P data into a barotropic ocean tide model. Tidal parameters from 56 coastal tide-gauge stations around the Mediterranean for eight principal constituents: M2, S2, N2, K2, K1, O1, P1 and Q1 and from 20 stations for M2, S2, K1, O1 are included in the model. TOPEX/Poseidon data with all corrections applied except for the ocean tides and bathymetry from TOPO 13.1 were used for development of the model. Numerical experiments were carried out for the estimation of the friction velocity and of the decorrelation length scale. The experiments related to the friction velocity showed that the use of spatially varying friction velocity, estimated as a function of position in the model domain, gives better results than a constant value. The experiments related to the estimation of the decorrelation length suggest that the results are not sensitive for lengths close to ten times the length of the grid cell. The assessment of the model is based on ten tide-gauge observations that are not used for the assimilation. Comparisons were carried out with contemporary published global or regional models. The final solution is computed using 76 selected coastal tide-gauge stations. The comparison between the observed and the model constituents results in a Root Sum of Squares (RSS) equal to 1.3 cm.