Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the species composition of epiphytic lichens in Central European oak forests

This paper deals with the species composition of epiphytic lichens in Central European oak forests. A total of 192 oak trees at 48 localities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary were investigated. In total, 104 lichen species were recorded and divided into three groups in accordance with their frequency of occurrence on trees within the area. The importance of abiotic factors affecting species composition was assessed by multivariate statistics. Principal component analysis illustrated that lichen assemblages reflected geographical distribution of localities and that the occurrence of many species is closely associated with several environmental factors. In particular there is a high negative association with pollution, and positive associations with precipitation, solar radiation and basic bedrock. The variation partitioning estimated the influence of environmental parameters, human impact and naturality factors on lichen composition. Cluster analysis recognized six communities of lichens, of which the members differed from those in the other communities in their autecological characteristics. Two of the communities can be assigned to Parmelion caperatae and Pertusarion amarae and seem to be similar to natural lichen communities of oak forests in Central Europe. Possible reasons for absence of several epiphytic lichen associations (Lobarion pulmonariae, Pertusarion hemisphaericae) in the forests studied is discussed and the species composition in Central Europe was compared with the lichen assemblages in oak forests in neighbouring regions (western Europe, Scandinavia). On the basis of these findings several indicative species of close to natural oak forest are suggested (Acrocordia gemmata, Bacidia rubella, Calicium spp., Caloplaca lucifuga, Cetrelia olivetorum s.l., Chrysothrix candelaris, Flavoparmelia caperata, Melanelia subargentifera).
Knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers regarding immunization of infants and preschool children at Al-Beida City, Libya 2008

Objectives: To identify maternal knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about immunization and to determine maternal characteristics and the determinants of full immunization status among respondents of children age (2-24 months). Methods: A cross sectional survey of nonrandomized sample of 200 mothers were interviewed at primary health care clinic at Al-Beida City coming for vaccination of their children in a period from first to 31 August 2008. Results: From a total of 200 studied mothers 81% (n=162) completely immunized their children and 19% (n=38) partially immunized them. Seventy-seven percent of studied sample were from urban, while the rest were from rural town. Paramedical workers were the main source of information to respondents of completely immunized children (88.28%) followed by T.V, posters and symposia, while community leaders and doctors were found to be a lesser source. Concerning the effect of the education status of the mothers the percentage of complete immunization was 71.41% for highly educated mothers while for the illiterates it was 88.23% but, the difference was not statistically significant. The mother's work did not affect the child's immunization status as 79.45% of working mothers completed their children's immunization. The child's health and sickness was the most common cause for cessation of immunization, followed by non availability of the vaccine, social reasons and forgetfulness (54%, 20.%, 10,5% and 5.5%) respectively Only 10% of the mothers failed to report a reason for not immunizing their children. Conclusion: The child's gender, education, residence and job of the mother did not affect the pattern of immunization, while negative attitude (mothers afraid from vaccination) significantly affected the immunization status. This signifies the incomplete knowledge and inappropriate practice of the people. Extra effort is need to raise the knowledge and break the old beliefs of the people. Appropriate information dissemination, aggressive campaigning and family involvement are crucial to the success of the programme. Keywords: Immunization , knowledge, attitude , practice, child, mothers Egypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011;9(1):29-34
Predicting Reverberation Time : Comparison between Analytic Formulae and Computer Simulation

To predict reverberation time, both analytic formulae and computer simulation models are being commonly used. This paper compares results by the two kinds of method. For the former, Sabines formula, Eyrings formula, Millington-Settes formula, Fitzroys formula, Araus formula, Fitzroy-Kuttruffs formula, Tohyamas formula, and the proposed calculation model of Annex D of the final draft of CEN prEN 12354-6 are considered. For the latter, the computer program CATT-Acoustic and a radiosity model are used. Two rectangular rooms with a variety of boundary absorption distributions are investigated. The result suggests that with unevenly distributed absorption it is essential to consider the boundary reflection characteristics because reverberation time resulting from geometrically and diffusely reflecting boundaries is systematically different.
Numerical Techniques for Analysis of Microbial Population with Residual Polymer in Microbial Depolymerization Process

This study shows that microbial consumption of carbon sources is a primary factor of microbial growth and decay in exogenous type microbial depolymerization processes. Values of residua polymer before and after cultivation of microorganisms were introduced into analysis for a microbial population. Once the microbial population was obtained, microbial depolymerization process was simulated. Those techniques were illustrated with analysis of an exogenous type depolymerization process of polyethylene glycol.
The Effect of Centrifugal Forces on Viability of Adipocytes in Centrifuged Lipoaspirates

Standard protocols for autologous fat transfer involve centrifugation of the lipoaspirate for better separation. The effect of the centrifugal forces on cell viability and possible induction of apoptosis is discussed controversially in current literature. We have examined the vitality of adipocytes in lipoaspirates after centrifugation by 8 different accelerations up to 20.000g immediately after the respective centrifugation as well as 4 days later by staining. No significant alterations in the viability of differently centrifuged adipocytes were found. Cultivation of the samples after centrifugation revealed no apoptotic changes. Our results show that centrifugation, as a part of the protocol of lipofilling, has no effect on the survival rate of isolated adipocytes in the purified fat. In contrast, lipoaspirates centrifuged with higher accelerations seem to be better cleansed of oil and cell debris than samples treated with lower centrifugal forces.
Visible thermal emission from sub-band-gap laser excited cerium dioxide particles

Cerium dioxide particles excited in air with sub-band-gap radiation emit very broad radiation in the visible spectrum above a threshold intensity that decreases with increasing ambient temperature. Concomitant with this emission is the near disappearance of the Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman scattering peaks. Both phenomena are reversible in air up to just above threshold, and are seen for nanoparticles and several-micron-diameter particles with particle diameter comparable to or smaller than the laser focus. Temperature estimates using the Stokes/anti-Stokes scattering intensity ratio suggest there is laser heating due to small intragap absorption and possible nonlinear processes, given the very slow thermal conduction. The broad emission in this loose powder may well be due to thermal emission, on the basis of spectral fitting of the high-energy part of the spectrum to a blackbody radiator at ∼1200–1400 °C, although luminescence from a new phase is a possibility. The sudden decrease in Raman scattering and increase in emission in air are consistent with a transition to a new, possibly luminescent, phase, as is the continued disappearance of the Raman peaks in forming gas when the laser power is reduced below the upstroke threshold. Oxygen point defects and their complexes may play an important role in many of these processes.
Geological Survey 2004 IN SITU STRESS , FRACTURE , AND FLUID FLOW ANALYSIS IN WELL 38 C-9 : AN ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM IN THE COSO GEOTHERMAL FIELD

Geoscientists from the Coso Operating Company, EGI-Utah, GeoMechanics International, and the U.S. Geological Survey are cooperating in a multi-year study to develop an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) in the Coso Geothermal Field. Key to the creation of an EGS is an understanding of the relationship among natural fracture distribution, fluid flow, and the ambient tectonic stresses that exist within the resource in order to design a hydraulic and thermal stimulation of an east-flank injection well, the first step in the creation of a heat exchanger at depth. Well datasets from the east flank of the Coso Geothermal Field are being analyzed to develop an understanding of the relationships between natural fracture distribution, fluid flow, and the ambient tectonic stresses that exist within the resource. During the second year of this project, wellbore logs and stress data were acquired in a new production well drilled in the Coso Geothermal Field, 38C-9. The image analysis results include the discrimination of natural from drilling induced fractures in wellbore image data, natural fracture characterization, and wellbore failure analysis. A hydraulic fracturing stress test at 3,703 feet TVD was used to constrain a normal faulting and strike-slip faulting stress tensor for this reservoir. The shear and normal stresses resolved on the fracture and fault planes were calculated and used to identify the subset of critically stressed planes that act to maintain permeability within the Coso Geothermal Field.
SIzE GRADIENTS ACROSS SPECIES DISTRIBuTION RANGES : TESTING PREDICTIONS FROM THE ABuNDANT-CENTRE MODEL uSING THE vERTICAL DISTRIBuTION OF INTERTIDAL BARNACLES

– The abundant-centre model is a theory commonly invoked to explain species distributions. From this model, the density of a species is predicted to peak at its distribution centre (abundant-centre hypothesis), as well as maximum body size, both variables being predicted to decrease similarly towards range margins. These predictions have rarely been tested along the full distribution range of species using the same sampling effort along the range. We tested the hypotheses that density and maximum body size would peak at a species’ distribution centre and decrease similarly towards range edges by surveying intertidal barnacles throughout their full vertical range of distribution. We studied Semibalanus balanoides, which occurs between elevations closely above the lowest tides and closely below the highest tides in rocky intertidal habitats from Atlantic Canada. Analyses of data from 7 contiguous elevation zones indicated that both density and maximum body size followed a unimodal vertical trend. However, both variables peaked at a higher elevation than the distribution centre, decreasing to very low values towards the lower range margin. Several lines of evidence suggest that interspecific interactions may be limiting barnacle development at low elevations and that abiotic stress may limit development at the highest elevation zone. Overall, our study reinforces the notion that density and body size predictions deduced from the abundant-centre model represent an oversimplification of reality. ABuNDANT-CENTRE MODEL
Designing tight filter bank frames for nonlinear frequency scales

We propose a method for the Fourier-side design of nonuniform filter banks. Given a frequency scale and a frequency response prototype, we obtain a family of filters that are uniform shape when observed on the given scale. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the resulting (analysis) filter bank to form a (tight) frame. Implementation of the filter bank analysis and reconstruction are discussed and complemented with a number of examples.
Risk factors for stroke and predictors of one-month mortality.

BACKGROUND Stroke is the third most common cause of death in Malaysia.The prevalence of risk factors and predictors of mortality of stroke in Malaysia are poorly understood. AIM To identify the prevalence of major risk factors for stroke and to determine predictors of one-month mortality. METHOD Prospective study of all stroke patients admitted to Penang Hospital between December 1998 and November 1999. All patients were subjected to brain CT. Predictors of one-month mortality: systolic and diastolic hypertension, hyperglycaemia, type of stroke, age > or = 70, poor Glasgow coma score (GCS) on admission and deterioration of score were assessed. RESULTS A total of 246 (139 male and 107 female) patients were included. Median age was 65 years. Hypertension was the commonest risk factor (71.5%) followed by diabetes mellitus (40.2%) and hyperlipidaemia (37%). 74.8% of the cases were ischaemic in origin and 25.2% haemorrhagic. Mortality at one month was 20.3%. Using multivariate analysis and logistic regression, deterioration of GCS (OR = 46.04), poor GCS on admission (OR = 12.35) and haemorrhagic stroke (OR = 3.45) were independent predictors of one-month mortality. CONCLUSION Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the commonest risk factors of stroke among patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Significant predictors of one-month mortality include the admission GCS, deterioration of GCS and haemorrhagic stroke.
Field induced photonic bandgap in ferrodispersion

A stable dispersion of micron size magnetite spheres in a ferrofluid exhibits several interesting magnetically induced effects like zero forward scattering, enhanced backward scattering etc. Here we show that at a critical magnetic field the dispersion inhibits propagation of certain optical frequencies. The field required to induce this photonic band gap is quite moderate and the technique can be easily adopted for lab-on-chip devices.
EFFECT OF DRINKING NATURAL SALINE GROUNDWATER ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE , BEHAVIOR AND SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS IN RABBITS REARED IN NEW RECLAIMED LANDS OF ARID AREAS IN ASSIUT GOVERNORATE

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of drinking natural saline well-water on growth performance, behavior, reproduction and some blood parameters of rabbits reared in the new reclaimed lands of arid areas in Assiut Governorate. Two trials were carried out in the present investigation, the first one was carried out on growing rabbits of Baladi, Bouscat and California species to determine the effect of drinking natural saline well water on growth performance and blood cortisol, metabolites and mineral levels. However, the second trial was carried out on multiparous does of the same species to determine the effect of drinking natural saline well water on reproductive and maternal behavior of rabbits. Allover 60 days experimental period, a group of each breed used in the first and second trials was allowed to freely drink fresh tap water while the other group was allowed to drink natural saline underground well water. Growing rabbits were weighed by the end of the 60 day experimental period to determine the average total as well as daily weight gain for each breed and blood samples were taken and analyzed for their cortisol, some metabolites and mineral levels. However, does were investigated for their reproductive and maternal behavior. The obtained results indicated that, in spite of the significant elevation of some metabolites and mineral levels of their blood, experimented rabbits could tolerate the salinity of normal saline well-water without deterioration effects either on their growth and reproductive performances or on their maternal behavior. Therefore, there are no problems with the use of underground water for drinking of rabbits reared in farms erected in the new reclaimed arid lands.
The Relationship between Aggression and Perceived Social Support among University Students in Jordan

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between aggressions and perceived of social support among university students in Jordan. A sample of 919 students from the University of Jordan answered selfreported questionnaires including the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). The results showed that 51.3% of the university students had high levels of aggression, and they reported moderate perception of perceived social support. The level of aggression among male students was higher than female students, while female students had higher perception of perceived social support compared with male students. The results also showed negative correlation between aggression and perceived social support (r= -.22, p< 0.001). The perceived social support from family had significant negative correlations with all domains of aggression. These findings indicated to enhance the perceived social support among university students through engaging them in peer support groups or extracurricular activities. Further studies are needed to explore additional ways that strengthen the social support received from family and friends.
Beekeeping for Women Empowerment : Case of Commercial Insect Programme in Kitui County , Kenya

Beekeeping is an important activity that helps rural communities to raise additional income to improve their livelihoods. An intervention conducted by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) introduced modern hives through the Commercial Insect Programme (CIP), trained farmers and developed a value chain to ease marketing of honey from farmer groups. Owing to these interventions, beekeeping has become an important income generating activity for both men and women. In order to contribute to the debate on gender roles in beekeeping, this study was undertaken to assess how commercialization of beekeeping through the CIP has influenced gender roles and women empowerment in Kitui County. Results show that modern beehives introduced by ICIPE contributed significantly to the differences in gender roles among the treatment (CIP) and control group (NCIP) at the household level. In addition, women in CIP were found to be significantly more empowered compared to those in the control group. These findings suggest that participation of women in rural development programmes such as CIP is likely to improve their empowerment. Therefore, a consideration of gender mainstreaming in development and roll out of projects is likely to empower more women.
Graphitic structures : network models , C cages properties and solvation of fullerene

We show some results obtained in the recent years about studies performed on graphitic structured systems. These studies have been developed within a semiemprical framework and involved the use of model based on quantum networks, on embedded atoms (the March model), on sum rules and bounds and, finally, on continuum for solvation. We have obtained results on electron density, binding energies, density of states and dispersion relations, dipole polarizabilities and intermolecular forces. We have considered B and C cages, nanotubes and two-dimensional layers. More recently, we have moved the attention to the solvation of fullerene in organic solvents. We have derived an effective fullerene pair potential and we are going to extend this study by means of Monte Carlo computer simulations of liquid solutions including water as solvent for the potential interest in biochemical applications.
Endothelial Dysfunction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are prevalent in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesized that endothelial dysfunction could be a marker of the proatherogen status in COPD. Methods and results: We measured endothelial dysfunction by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin (nitrate-mediated dilation: NMD) in 44 COPD patients and 48 controls. Compared with controls COPD patients had worse mean FMD (5.4% vs 8.2%, P < .001) and NMD (12.0% vs 13.9%, P = .007). FMD was inversely related to FEV1/VC ratio (r = −0.327, P = .030). The negative association between COPD and FMD was confirmed after correction for potential confounders in a multiple linear regression model (β = −0.019, P = .002). In the same model NMD (β = 0.396, P < .001) was positively associated with FMD. Conclusions: Endothelial-dependent and, to a lesser extent, endothelial-independent dilations are significantly impaired in COPD, and the impairment is proportional to the severity of bronchial obstruction.
Antioxidative and Proapoptotic Effects of Riluzole on Cultured Cortical Neurons

Abstract : Riluzole is used clinically in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. As oxidative stress, in addition to excitotoxicity, may be a major mechanism of motoneuron degeneration in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we examined whether riluzole protects against nonexcitotoxic oxidative injury. Probably reflecting its weak antiexcitotoxic effects, riluzole (1‐30 μM) attenuated submaximal neuronal death induced by 24‐h exposure to 30 μM kainate or NMDA, but not that by 100 μM NMDA, in cortical cultures. Riluzole also attenuated nonexcitotoxic oxidative injury induced by exposure to FeCl3 in the presence of MK‐801 and CNQX. Consistent with its antioxidative effects, riluzole reduced Fe3+‐induced lipid peroxidation, and inhibited cytosolic phospholipase A2. By contrast, riluzole did not attenuate neuronal apoptosis induced by staurosporine. Rather unexpectedly, 24‐48‐h exposure to 100‐300 μM riluzole induced neuronal death accompanied by nuclear and DNA fragmentations, which was attenuated by caspase inhibitor carbobenzyloxy‐Val‐Ala‐Asp‐fluoromethyl ketone but not by protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. The present study demonstrates that riluzole has direct antioxidative actions, perhaps in part by inhibiting phospholipase A2. However, in the same neurons, riluzole paradoxically induces neuronal apoptosis in a caspase‐sensitive manner. Considering current clinical use of riluzole, further studies are warranted to investigate its potential cytolethal effects.
Mahler bases and elementary p-adic analysis

Various theorems in elementary p-adic analysis, commonly proved only for Qp, and summarized in [4], are generalized to any local field, using the concept of a Mahler basis. In the last section we explain the relation of these results to the work [10]. The paper is largely self-contained. 1. Mahler bases 1.1. Background. Fix a prime number p, let Zp denote the ring of padic integers, and Qp its fraction field. Mahler’s theorem [6] states that the binomial coefficients (x n ) (n ≥ 0) form an orthonormal basis for the p-adic Banach space C(Zp,Qp) of continuous Qp-valued functions on Zp. In other words, every continuous function f from Zp to Qp has a unique uniformly convergent expansion