Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Drying Method on the Composition, Physicochemical Properties, and Prebiotic Potential of Dietary Fibre Concentrates from Fruit Peels

Dietary fibre concentrates (DFC) obtained from fruit and vegetable by-products are powders, mainly obtained by dehydration, used in food formulations to increase nutritional value and to improve functional properties. The modifications of insoluble, soluble, and total dietary fibres (IDF, SDF, and TDF), physicochemical properties (solubility, swelling capacity, water/oil retention capacity, pH, and tapping density), and prebiotic potential of DFC from orange, mango, and prickly pear peels obtained by freeze-drying (FD) and convective hot air-drying (HA) were studied. In vitro faecal fermentation was used to evaluate the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production as a prebiotic indicator. TDF in FD orange was 5.5 g·100 g−1 higher than that in the HA sample, whereas HA increased TDF in prickly pear (9.5 g·100 g−1). No differences in fibre composition were observed in mango DFC. The physicochemical properties mostly affected by dehydration treatment were solubility and swelling capacity. HA increased SCFA production in orange peel (48 mmol·g−1 higher) but decreased it in mango and prickly pear (15 and 19 mmol·g−1 lower). Butyrate production of HA orange DFC was comparable to that obtained with the positive control (4.5 mmol·g−1). No production of propionate or butyrate was observed after 6 h fermentation in mango samples, despite the high SDF content (≈20 g·100 g−1). A decrease of the SDF : TDF ratio produced by the drying method improved the SCFA production.
Effects of Firm Size and Market Structures in Technological Innovation: A Review of Literature

This paper reviews the literature dealing with the effects of market structure and firm size on firm technological innovation. Numerous empirical studies have been conducted to investigate whether monopolies or competitive markets influenced the firms’ need to actively innovate and improve productivity and product quality. The overall evidence is best characterized as mixed as the results are regarding to the importance of competition, firm size, investment climate, and countries considered (developed and developing). The growth of economies depends on the growth and survival of industries and firms. If you analyze national or multinational economies, industry competition, or company management, it is important to know how industries develop and change. A crucial part of this change, in many industries and for overall economic growth, is continual development of new or improved production methods and products.
Economics of Educational Technology

Economists generally use the term "technology" to refer to any way of combining inputs in a production process. In education, processes that make different uses of teachers, textbooks, radio, computers, or peer tutoring are all technologies. This entry focuses on the more capitalintensive hardware associated with the vernacular meaning of educational technology, examining the use of radio, television, the computer, and multimedia distance education systems.
The VMC Survey - VI. Quasars behind the Magellanic system

Context. The number and spatial distribution of confirmed quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) behind the Magellanic system is limited. This undermines their use as astrometric reference objects for different types of studies. Aims. We have searched for criteria to identify candidate QSOs using observations from the VISTA survey of the Magellanic Clouds system (VMC) that provides photometry in the YJK(s) bands and 12 epochs in the K-s band. Methods. The (Y - J) versus (J - K-s) diagram has been used to distinguish QSO candidates from Milky Way stars and stars of the Magellanic Clouds. Then, the slope of variation in the K-s band has been used to identify a sample of high confidence candidates. These criteria were developed based on the properties of 117 known QSOs presently observed by the VMC survey. Results. VMC YJK(s) magnitudes and K-s light-curves of known QSOs behind the Magellanic system are presented. About 75% of them show a slope of variation in K-s > 10(-4) mag/day and the shape of the light-curve is in general irregular and without any clear periodicity. The number of QSO candidates found in tiles including the south ecliptic pole and the 30 Doradus regions is 22 and 26, respectively, with a similar to 20% contamination by young stellar objects, planetary nebulae, stars and normal galaxies. Conclusions. By extrapolating the number of QSO candidates to the entire VMC survey area we expect to find about 1200 QSOs behind the LMC, 400 behind the SMC, 200 behind the Bridge and 30 behind the Stream areas, but not all will be suitable for astrometry. Further, the K-s band light-curves can help support investigations of the mechanism responsible for the variations.
COLOR–MAGNITUDE RELATION AND MORPHOLOGY OF LOW-REDSHIFT ULIRGs IN SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY

We present color–magnitude and morphological analysis of 54 low-redshift ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs; 0.018 < z < 0.265 with zmedian = 0.151), a subset of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite 1 Jy sample, in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The ULIRGs are both bright and blue: they are on average 1 mag brighter in than the SDSS galaxies within the same redshift range, and 0.2 mag bluer in 0.1g − 0.1r. They form a group in the color–magnitude diagram distinct from both the red sequence and the blue cloud formed by the SDSS galaxies: 24 out of the 52 unsaturated objects (∼46%) lie outside the 90% level number density contour of the SDSS galaxies. The majority (47, or ∼87%) have the colors typical of the blue cloud, and only four (∼7%) sources are located in the red sequence. While ULIRGs are popularly thought to be precursors to a QSO phase, we find few (three, or ∼6%) in the “green valley” where the majority of the X-ray- and IR-selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are found. Moreover, none of the AGN-host ULIRGs are found in the green valley. For the 14 previously spectroscopic identified AGNs (∼28%), we perform point-spread function subtractions and find that on average the central point sources contribute less than one-third to the total luminosity, and that their high optical luminosities and overall blue colors are apparently the result of star formation activity of the host galaxies. Visual inspection of the SDSS images reveals a wide range of morphologies including many close pairs, tidal tails, and otherwise disturbed profiles, in strong support of previous studies and the general view of ULIRGs as major mergers of gas-rich disk galaxies. A detailed morphology analysis using Gini and M20 coefficients shows that slightly less than one-half (∼42% in g band) of the ULIRGs are located in the merger region defined by morphology studies of local galaxies, while the remaining sources are located in the region of late-type and irregular galaxies. The heterogeneous distribution of ULIRGs in the G–M20 space is qualitatively consistent with the results found by numerical simulations of disk–disk mergers, and our study also shows that the measured morphological parameters are systematically affected by the signal-to-noise ratio and thus the merging galaxies can appear in various regions of the G–M20 parameter space. We briefly discuss the origins of the uncertainties and note that the morphology measurements should be implemented with caution for low physical resolution images. In general, our results reinforce the view that ULIRGs contain young stellar populations and are mergers in progress, but we do not observe the concentration of ULIRGs/AGN in the green valley as found by other studies. Our study provides a uniform comparison sample for studying dusty starbursts at higher redshifts such as Spitzer MIPS 24 μm-selected ULIRGs at z = 1–2 or submillimeter galaxies.
Effects of Na+, K+ and Ca++ accumulation on the expression of Ca++-ATPase gene in rice KDML 105

Having been exposed to 150 mM NaCl supplemented in the growth medium, the roots of KDML105 started to accumulate Na+ in three hours but the leaves showed the amount of Na+ change after one day. Addition of either 0.4 mM or 10 mM of CaCl2 to the 150 mM NaCl supplemented medium, on the other hand, caused a small drop in Na+ accumulation in the leaves and roots on day 8. K+, however, significantly decreased in both leaves and roots as the result of NaCl in the medium. As for Ca2+ deposition in KDML105, NaCl supplemented alone in the medium had little effect but the combined NaCl and CaCl2 caused the rise of Ca2+ in both leaves and roots. The expression of Ca2+-ATPase gene in the leaves of KDML105 seemed to be directly activated by the exposure to Na+. The combined effect of Na+ and Ca2+ also showed the drastic change in Ca2+ATPase expression, and rice, therefore, try to maintain Ca2+ homeostasis by producing more Ca2+ATPase mRNA especially in the leaves. Since the roots are not the main accumulation site of Na+, the effect of NaCl alone on the Ca2+-ATPase gene in the roots was not as distinctively seen. However, the addition of 10 mM CaCl2 caused a large increase of Ca2+-ATPase gene expression in the roots, while both Na+ and Ca2+ accumulation seemed to affect more to the gene expression in the leaves.
Effect of Rice Straw Addition on Rice Production in Terraced Paddy Field Systems Sukristiyonubowo and Enggis Tuherkih

Studies on the effect of rice straw addition on rice production in terraced paddy field systems was carried out during the Wet Season of 2003-04 and Dry Season 2004 at Keji Village, Semarang District. Four treatments, including Improved Technology + Rice Straw (IT+RS), Improved Technology (IT), Conventional Farmer Practices + Rice Straw (CFP+RS), and Conventional Farmer Practice (CFP) were evaluated. Treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design, replicated three times. The objectives were (1) to assess the application of rice straw on rice yield, and (2) to evaluate seasonal variation of biomass production and grain yield. Biomass production for the Improved Technology + Rice Straw treatments was significantly higher than those of other treatments, both in the wet season 2003-04 and dry season 2004. Rice grain yields were 5.73 t/ha in the wet season of 2003-04 and 5.91 t/ha in the dry season of 2004. Significant improvement of rice grain yield was due to the increases of 1000 grains weight, the number of grains/panicle, and the number of filled grains/panicle. Significant increase of rice straw yield was due to the increase of shoot weights and for rice residue due to root weights. Seasonal variations were observed for grain and straw yields when rice straw was applied, similarly variations for the 1,000 grains weight, the number of grains/panicle, the number of filled grains/panicle and shoot weights, were observed. Rice straw is suggested to be incorporated into the soil during the land preparation, to improve soil quality.
INSYDE: a synthetic, probabilistic flood damage model based on explicit cost analysis

Abstract. Methodologies to estimate economic flood damages are increasingly important for flood risk assessment and management. In this work, we present a new synthetic flood damage model based on a component-by-component analysis of physical damage to buildings. The damage functions are designed using an expert-based approach with the support of existing scientific and technical literature, loss adjustment studies, and damage surveys carried out for past flood events in Italy. The model structure is designed to be transparent and flexible, and therefore it can be applied in different geographical contexts and adapted to the actual knowledge of hazard and vulnerability variables. The model has been tested in a recent flood event in northern Italy. Validation results provided good estimates of post-event damages, with similar or superior performances when compared with other damage models available in the literature. In addition, a local sensitivity analysis was performed in order to identify the hazard variables that have more influence on damage assessment results.
Photophysiology of the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. WH8102, a new model organism

Synechococcus spp. constitute a major and ubiquitous component of marine ecosystems. The genome of one strain of this genus, WH8102, has recently been completely sequenced. Since it can also be genetically manipulated, this clone has the potential to become a new model organism; however, to date, it remains poorly characterised in terms of pigment composition, optical properties and photophysiology. It has a very high phycourobilin to phycoerythrobilin (PUB:PEB) ratio (ca. 1.95 at low light), and is therefore representative of Synechococcus populations found in oligotrophic areas of the ocean. We show here that this strain has a very wide growth irradiance range from 650 μmol photons m -2 s -1 continuous white light, with a maximum growth rate (μ max = 1.13 ± 0.02 d -1 ) at 207 pmol quanta m -2 s -1 (I max ). As cells acclimated to high light, drastic variations in the chlorophyll a (chl a), β-carotene and phycoerythrin (PE) contents were observed, reaching a quasi steady state around I max . In contrast, the zeaxanthin content remained approximately constant whatever the light level. Similarly, the carbon and nitrogen contents did not significantly vary with irradiance. Red and orange fluorescences, as measured by flow cytometry, were found to correlate well with chl a and PE contents, respectively. Spectrometric analyses of phycobilisome (PBS)-containing fractions from cells grown under different photon fluxes suggest a specific reduction of the PEII content relative to other phycobiliproteins (PBPs) during acclimation of the PBSs to high light.
CHAPTER 5 Plant tolerance , resistance and phenology : responses from Acacia nigrescens to ungulate browsing in an African savanna

I examined defensive traits of two stands of Acacia nigrescens, Miller, in a eutrophic southern African savanna under a natural regime of ungulate browsing. Mass compensation after artificial clipping, tree branching, prickle spacing and size, annual shoot growth, leaf nitrogen, specific leaf area (SLA), and seed production were measured over a two-year survey period among stands of Acacia trees that have undergone very different histories of attack from herbivores. The results show that Acacia trees in a heavily browsed stand developed (1) tolerance traits such as high mass compensatory growth abilities, extensive tree branching and rapid shoot growth rates during the main growing season, as well as (2) resistance traits such as short prickle spacing and large prickle size. However, efforts of phenological escape from browsers were similar in both stands, and presumably resulted from the interplay of different key environmental factors. Overall, tree pruning strongly affected plant morpho-functional traits and decreased pod production in heavily browsed trees. Hence, I present experimental evidence that tolerance and resistance traits may have evolved first, as a strategy to reduce mass loss and increase plant survival under chronic herbivore disturbance rather than as a strategy to increase reproductive success over undamaged trees. Finally, I suggest that tolerance and resistant traits may coexist only if, (1) costs related to produce structural defences (resistance traits) are relatively low and amortized over several years in a semi-arid eutrophic savanna, and (2) browsers trigger a positive feedback loop with their plant resources indirectly supporting plant compensatory growth abilities. I discuss the role of nutrient remobilization mechanisms, and herbivore-mediated linkages between aboveand below-ground processes, to support plant growth under high browsing intensity.
Control variates for estimation based on reversible Markov chain Monte Carlo samplers

Summary. A general methodology is introduced for the construction and effective application of control variates to estimation problems involving data from reversible Markov chain Monte Carlo samplers. We propose the use of a specific class of functions as control variates, and we introduce a new consistent estimator for the values of the coefficients of the optimal linear combination of these functions. For a specific Markov chain Monte Carlo scenario, the form and proposed construction of the control variates is shown to provide an exact solution of the associated Poisson equation. This implies that the estimation variance in this case (in the central limit theorem regime) is exactly zero. The new estimator is derived from a novel, finite dimensional, explicit representation for the optimal coefficients. The resulting variance reduction methodology is primarily (though certainly not exclusively) applicable when the simulated data are generated by a random‐scan Gibbs sampler. Markov chain Monte Carlo examples of Bayesian inference problems demonstrate that the corresponding reduction in the estimation variance is significant, and that in some cases it can be quite dramatic. Extensions of this methodology are discussed and simulation examples are presented illustrating the utility of the methods proposed. All methodological and asymptotic arguments are rigorously justified under essentially minimal conditions.
On the feasibility of promptly producing quasi-definitive magnetic observatory data

Magnetic observatories currently distribute two types of data: preliminary data, available in less than 72 hrs in the case of INTERMAGNET observatories, and definitive baseline-corrected data, produced only once a year. Several users and groups of users have expressed the need for baseline-corrected observatory data produced in a continuous manner. The main applications for such quasi-definitive data include geomagnetic field modeling and the calculation of geomagnetic activity indices. We present an original method for producing quasi-definitive data at the end of each calendar month using temporary baselines. Preliminary and definitive data at nine INTERMAGNET observatories are used to test this method, simulating the production of quasi-definitive data throughout the year 2008. The temporary baselines obtained are very close to the definitive ones, except during the last few days of each time interval. The means and standard deviations of the differences between quasi-definitive and definitive data do not exceed 0.3 nT, well below the current INTERMAGNET standard of accuracy. This result demonstrates the feasibility of promptly producing quasi-definitive data at most magnetic observatories of INTERMAGNET type.
FIG FRUIT GROWTH AND QUALITY DEVELOPMENT AS AFFECTED BY PHLOEM STRESS

HOSSAIN, A. B. M. S. and A. N. BOYCE, 2009. Fig fruit growth and quality development as affected by phloem stress. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 15: 189-195 Fig fruit set, growth and yield, weight and maturity index as influenced by phloem stress (represented by partial bark ring) were studied. The treatments were namely control (unringed), I-shape partial ring (I-SPR), Xshape partial ring (X-SPR) and S-shape partial ring (S-SPR) at pre harvest stage. Phloem stress was represented by partial bark ringing. The percent flower bud and fruit set were greater in S-SPR treated than in other treated branches. However, the result showed that all three treated branches had significantly higher percentage of flower bud and fruit set than that of the control one. Fruit length and diameter were higher in I-SPR, S-SPR, XSPR treated branches than in control (un-ringed). Fruit number per bunch was lower in treated branches than in control branches. On the contrary, bunch weight, per fruit weight, soluble solids content and maturity index were greater in I-SPR, S-SPR, X-SPR treated branches than in control (un-ringed) branches. The result showed that phloem stress represented by partial ringing as dwarfing component was a useful practice for fig fruit growth and quality development.
Mechanisms of fast-ice development in the south-eastern Laptev Sea: a case study for winter of 2007/08 and 2009/10

ABSTRACT Accurate representation of fast ice in numerical models is important for realistic simulation of numerous sea-ice and ocean variables. In order to simulate seasonal and interannual variability of fast-ice extent, the mechanisms controlling fast-ice development need to be thoroughly understood. The objective of this paper is to investigate mechanisms contributing to the advance of fast-ice edge to its winter location in the south-eastern Laptev Sea. The study is based on time series of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for winter 2007/08 and 2009/10. A detailed examination of SAR-based ice drift showed that several grounded ice features are formed offshore prior to fast-ice expansion. These features play a key role in offshore advance of the fast-ice edge and serve as stabilizing points for surrounding pack ice as it becomes landfast. Electromagnetic ice thickness measurements suggest that the grounded ice ridges over water depths of ca. 20 m water might be responsible for interannual variations in fast-ice edge position. Contrary to previous studies, we conclude that grounding is a key mechanism of fast-ice development in the south-eastern Laptev Sea.
The Rationale for Applying Critical Pedagogy in Expanding Circle Countries: The Case of Iran

The globalization of English in general and the global prevalence of English language teaching (ELT), as the most systematic way of English spread, in particular have led to a situation which has been debated and discussed from political, cultural, social and ideological standpoints. Since the early years of 1990s, following the publication of Phillipson's Linguistic Imperialism (1992), the appearance of a critical intellectual shift in applied linguistics has not only significantly challenged the mainstream ELT, but also has mostly introduced critical pedagogy (CP) as an alternative approach to the mainstream ELT especially in the Periphery. Thus, as ELT programs become more prevalent throughout the world, the cultural, political, social and ideological implications of this activity are more often debated and such considerations seem more relevant in societies that are culturally, politically, socially and ideologically are different from the Center and certainly the Iranian society as an Expanding Circle country in which English is taught as a foreign language and culturally, politically and ideologically is different from the Inner Circle Countries, is not an exception to this rule. This paper, as an attempt to review the current status of English and ELT in Iran, tries to deal with and introduce the strengths and benefits of CP as an alternative approach in ELT and moreover discuss the rationale for applying this approach with specific reference to the socio-political, cultural, ideological as well as educational features of the Iranian society. The writers strongly believe that, strengthening critical thinking in learners, empowering the learners to make them agents of transformation in the local and global arenas, unmasking the underlying values and ideologies of the mainstream ELT, and especially reducing the cultural and social implications of English in such societies involves rethinking the nature and status of ELT as well as resorting to CP as an alternative and effective approach in ELT.