Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of aging and language proficiency on the interhemispheric dynamics for discourse processing: a nirs study

The Impact of Aging and Language Proficiency on the Interhemispheric Dynamics for Discourse Processing: A NIRS Study Lilian Cristine Scherer UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA 2006 Supervising Professors Leda M. B. Tomitch, PhD Yves Joanette, PhD The study of the bilingual and of the aging brain has the potential to offer important evidences for our understanding of the cerebral dynamics for language processing. There is a special need of studies to investigate discourse processing by these populations. In this study, intermediate-proficiency bilinguals (English as L1 and French as L2) and elderly individuals’ narrative processing at the micro-, macrostructural and situational levels were investigated, by the application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Participants read narratives followed by probes, which tapped one of the three levels, and judged the plausibility of their information by reference to the corresponding passage. The findings brought by the study suggest the possibility of the application of similar theoretical approaches to explain language processing in these two populations. Although emerging from different reasons (aging or low proficiency in the L2), the deficits or limitations brought to language comprehension generate some comparable inter-hemispheric patterns in brain hemodynamics (for instance that of more relevant, wider and in some cases bilateral hemodynamic changes), which are compatible with the theoretical framework proposed by Banich and colleagues. Thus, it seems to be arguable that in both populations the hemispheres tended to cooperate and share the costs for task processing, or demanded an increased activation in the recruited area in order to accomplish the task. Similarly to the assumptions made by the model, it seems to be plausible to state that the increase of activation within a region and/or the interhemispheric contributions were positively correlated to the amount of task difficulty. Total pages: 167 Final word count: 40,390
A Hybrid Approach for Time Series Forecasting Using Deep Learning and Nonlinear Autoregressive Neural Networks

During recent decades, several studies have been conducted in the field of weather forecasting providing various promising forecasting models. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the predictions still remains a challenge. In this paper a new forecasting approach is proposed: it implements a deep neural network based on a powerful feature extraction. The model is capable of deducing the irregular structure, non-linear trends and significant representations as features learnt from the data. It is a 6-layered deep architecture with 4 hidden units of Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM). The extracts from the last hidden layer are pre-processed, to support the accuracy achieved by the forecaster. The forecaster is a 2-layer ANN model with 35 hidden units for predicting the future intervals. It captures the correlations and regression patterns of the current sample related to the previous terms by using the learnt deep-hierarchal representations of data as an input to the forecaster.
PENGARUH KOMPENSASI, KEPUASAN KERJA, MOTIVASI KERJA DAN GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN TERHADAP KINERJA KARYAWAN

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui Pengaruh Kompensasi, Kepuasan Kerja, Motivasi Kerja dan Gaya Kepemimpinan terhadap Kinerja Karyawan pada UMKM di desa Wisata Bobung Gunungkidul Yogyakarta. Penelitian ini menggunakan jenis penelitian survey . Sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah sebanyak 119 karyawan. Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini mengunakan kuesioner dan observasi. Uji coba instrumen menggunakan uji normalitas, uji linieritas, uji multikolinieritas, uji heteroskedatisitas. Metode analisis data yang digunakan analisis regresi linear sederhana dan analisis regresi linear berganda. Hasil Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: (1) Kompensasi berpengaruh positif terhadap Kinerja Karyawan. (2) Kepuasan Kerja berpengaruh positif terhadap Kinerja Karyawan. (3) Motivasi Kerja berpengaruh positif terhadap Kinerja Karyawan. (4) Gaya Kepemimpinan berpengaruh positif terhadap Kinerja Karyawan. (5) Kompensasi, Kepuasan Kerja, Motivasi Kerja dan Gaya Kepemimpinan secara bersama-sama berpengaruh positif terhadap Kinerja Karyawan. Kata kunci : Persepsi Mahasiswa, Konflik Kepentingan, Kesenjangan Anggaran, Anggaran Partisipatif
The Correlation between Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Peripheral Blood MCP-1 NT-Pro BNP in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: To analyse the correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction and Peripheral blood MCP-1 NT-pro BNP in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Hypothesis: The relationship between MCP-1 and NT-pro BNP. Methods: Peripheral blood MCP-1 NT-pro BNP were examined in 89 patients with acute coronary syndrome, measured LVEF by Color Doppler ultrasound. The patients were divided into three groups according to LVEF and were analysed the correlation: group A composed of 28 patients with LVEF ≤ 40%, group B composed of 31 patients with LVEF between 41% and 55%, group C composed of 30 patients with LVEF>55%. The patients were further divided according to type of ACS patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) group and unstable angina (UA) group, comparing the index differences. Results: Peripheral MCP-1, NT-pro BNP levels tend to increase gradually (C group
Mercury isotopes in a forested ecosystem: Implications for air‐surface exchange dynamics and the global mercury cycle

Forests mediate the biogeochemical cycling of mercury (Hg) between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems; however, there remain many gaps in our understanding of these processes. Our objectives in this study were to characterize Hg isotopic composition within forests, and use natural abundance stable Hg isotopes to track sources and reveal mechanisms underlying the cycling of Hg. We quantified the stable Hg isotopic composition of foliage, forest floor, mineral soil, precipitation, and total gaseous mercury (THg(g)) in the atmosphere and in evasion from soil, in 10‐year‐old aspen forests at the Rhinelander FACE experiment in northeastern Wisconsin, USA. The effect of increased atmospheric CO2 and O3 concentrations on Hg isotopic composition was small relative to differences among forest ecosystem components. Precipitation samples had δ202Hg values of −0.74 to 0.06‰ and ∆199Hg values of 0.16 to 0.82‰. Atmospheric THg(g) had δ202Hg values of 0.48 to 0.93‰ and ∆199Hg values of −0.21 to −0.15‰. Uptake of THg(g) by foliage resulted in a large (−2.89‰) shift in δ202Hg values; foliage displayed δ202Hg values of −2.53 to −1.89‰ and ∆199Hg values of −0.37 to −0.23‰. Forest floor samples had δ202Hg values of −1.88 to −1.22‰ and ∆199Hg values of −0.22 to −0.14‰. Mercury isotopes distinguished geogenic sources of Hg and atmospheric derived sources of Hg in soil, and showed that precipitation Hg only accounted for ~16% of atmospheric Hg inputs. The isotopic composition of Hg evasion from the forest floor was similar to atmospheric THg(g); however, there were systematic differences in δ202Hg values and MIF of even isotopes (∆200Hg and ∆204Hg). Mercury evasion from the forest floor may have arisen from air‐surface exchange of atmospheric THg(g), but was not the emission of legacy Hg from soils, nor re‐emission of wet‐deposition. This implies that there was net atmospheric THg(g) deposition to the forest soils. Furthermore, MDF of Hg isotopes during foliar uptake and air‐surface exchange of atmospheric THg(g) resulted in the release of Hg with very positive δ202Hg values to the atmosphere, which is key information for modeling the isotopic balance of the global mercury cycle, and may indicate a shorter residence time than previously recognized for the atmospheric mercury pool.
Evaluation of Effective Factors on Internet Buying Intention of Train Ticket based on DTPB Model

In today's competitive environment, with growth of buying from internet sites, identify and attention to customer needs for companies is consider important. Hence, organizations are trying to create appropriate field in competition including the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways that by given internet tickets has provided faster and easier access of their customers. This research is applied and the nature of it is the descriptive correlation and its is purpose explanation of effective factors on internet buying intention of train ticket based on DTPB model and it examine impact of attitude factors with subset- compatibility, complexity, relative advantage- and subjective norm with subset- subjective influences- and perceived behavioral control with subsets- facilitating, self-efficacy- on behavioral intention . Questionnaire is used to collect data that its validity is approved by supervisors and advisor professors and its reliability is confirmed by doing pre-test from 21 train tickets online shoppers and calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. After distribution of questionnaires as field in railway station of Tehran, analysis of data was performed by Liserl software. The results confirmed positive effect of all factors except compatibility factor.
Professional Accreditation, Assessment, and Licensing: Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

One of the most important phases of the registration process involves satisfactory completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination. This paper describes a FE review course which has been operating since 1980. The course has been successful in that 94.5% of the students completing the sequence have passed the Fundamentals Examination. The review emphasizes, over a seven-week period, the various engineering sciences. It is assumed that the students are motivated to study on their own the remaining material on the exam that includes, in part, questions on chemistry, computers and mathematics. A pretest, final practice exam, and independent student evaluation are also conducted. The findings indicate that well-motivated students, who complete a comprehensive review course, experience a high pass rate on the fundamentals of engineering examination. For a university with an engineering program, performance by students on the FE exam can be important and may be utilized as one measure that outcomes are being satisfied. This can assist in satisfying ABET accreditation requirements. A state may also utilize the FE pass rate as an output measure of the effectiveness of an institution's undergraduate program.
Multimodal Neuroprotective Perspectives of Black Tea in Early Onset of Alzheimer- A New Paradigm

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with far reaching consequences. Therapeutic options assuring total recovery is not available till yet. Adjuvant therapy has attracted the research limelight and now equal importance is being given to dietary and lifestyle interventions parallel with western classical medicine. Therapeutic entities are being developed with multimodal and translational perspectives. Adjuvant therapy has gained prominence as it can treat most naturally without altering the normal lifestyle. This review aims to highlight the putative neuroprotective, neurostimulatory and antioxidant effects of potent black tea compounds like theaflavins, catechins, L-theanine, caffeine where a multimodal therapeutic remedy can be achieved with L-theanine that can successfully cross the blood brain barrier coupled with free radical scavenging capacity of theaflavins and the synergistic improvement in cognitive performance with L-theanine-caffeine combination. Development of black tea formulations to combat bioavailability issues also fulfills the translational purposes.
Impact of LUCC on streamflow based on the SWAT model over the Wei River basin on the Loess Plateau in China

Abstract. Under the Grain for Green Project in China, vegetation recovery construction has been widely implemented on the Loess Plateau for the purpose of soil and water conservation. Now it is becoming controversial whether the recovery construction involving vegetation, particularly forest, is reducing the streamflow in the rivers of the Yellow River basin. In this study, we chose the Wei River, the largest branch of the Yellow River, with revegetated construction area as the study area. To do that, we apply the widely used Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for the upper and middle reaches of the Wei River basin. The SWAT model was forced with daily observed meteorological forcings (1960–2009) calibrated against daily streamflow for 1960–1969, validated for the period of 1970–1979, and used for analysis for 1980–2009. To investigate the impact of LUCC (land use and land cover change) on the streamflow, we firstly use two observed land use maps from 1980 and 2005 that are based on national land survey statistics merged with satellite observations. We found that the mean streamflow generated by using the 2005 land use map decreased in comparison with that using the 1980 one, with the same meteorological forcings. Of particular interest here is that the streamflow decreased on agricultural land but increased in forest areas. More specifically, the surface runoff, soil flow, and baseflow all decreased on agricultural land, while the soil flow and baseflow of forest areas increased. To investigate that, we then designed five scenarios: (S1) the present land use (1980) and (S2) 10 %, (S3) 20 %, (S4) 40 %, and (S5) 100 % of agricultural land that was converted into mixed forest. We found that the streamflow consistently increased with agricultural land converted into forest by about 7.4 mm per 10 %. Our modeling results suggest that forest recovery construction has a positive impact on both soil flow and baseflow by compensating for reduced surface runoff, which leads to a slight increase in the streamflow in the Wei River with the mixed landscapes on the Loess Plateau that include earth–rock mountain area.
An Event-Driven Hybrid Molecular Dynamics and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Algorithm

A novel algorithm is developed for the simulation of polymer chains suspended in a solvent. The polymers are represented as chains of hard spheres tethered by square wells and interact with the solvent particles with hard core potentials. The algorithm uses event-driven molecular dynamics (MD) for the simulation of the polymer chain and the interactions between the chain beads and the surrounding solvent particles. The interactions between the solvent particles themselves are not treated deterministically as in event-driven algorithms, rather, the momentum and energy exchange in the solvent is determined stochastically using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. The coupling between the solvent and the solute is consistently represented at the particle level, however, unlike full MD simulations of both the solvent and the solute, the spatial structure of the solvent is ignored. The algorithm is described in detail and applied to the study of the dynamics of a polymer chain tethered to a hard wall subjected to uniform shear. The algorithm closely reproduces full MD simulations with two orders of magnitude greater efficiency. Results do not confirm the existence of periodic (cycling) motion of the polymer chain.
Evaluation of the phytochemical and hemostatic potential of Jatropha multifida sap

Summary of specific reactions of the activeplant. Classes of active substance Specific reagent and reaction Alkaloids Mayer → yellowish precipitate Quinone derivatives Born-Trager → purplish red color Cathetic and gallic tannins -Reagent of Stiasny → pink precipitate -Saturation by acetate of Na+ FeCl 3 → blue-dark green or black Flavonoids Shinoda → orange color, red or purple Cyanogenic derived Guignard (picric acide) → brown coloration Steroids and triterpenoids -Libermann-Burchard → violet-blue or green -Kedde → reddish purple or red wine Saponins Determination of the foam index (MI): positive test if MI >100 Anthocyanins Red coloration of the filtrate increased in acid medium and blue-violet in alkaline medium Leuco-anthocyanins Chloridric alcohol → cherry red color Mucilages Absolute alcohol → flocculent precipitate Reducing compounds Fehling's hot → brick-red precipitate Coumarins Ammonia 25% → intense fluorescence Anthracene derivatives Ammonia 50% → intense red color
SHORT-PERIOD STELLAR ACTIVITY CYCLES WITH KEPLER PHOTOMETRY

We study the short-periodic component of stellar activity with a cycle period of P cyc < 10 3 ? > days using the Kepler mission photometry of fast-rotating ( 1 < P < 4 ? > days) stars with spectra of M4V to F3V. Applying the originally developed two non-spectral methods, we measured the effective period of stellar cycles in 462 objects. The obtained results are in accordance with previous measurements by Vida et al. and do not seem to result from a beating effect. The performed measurements of Pcyc cluster in a specific branch that covers the previously unstudied region in the Saar & Brandenburg diagram and connects the branch of inactive stars with the area populated by super-active objects. It is shown that the formation of the discovered branch is due to the α-quenching effect, which saturates the magnetic dynamo and decreases the cycle periods with the increase of the inverted Rossby number. This finding is important in the context of the discussion on catastrophic quenching and other heuristic approximations of the nonlinear α-effect.
Chapter 9. Vocal Learning and Auditory-Vocal Feedback

Vocal learning is usually studied in songbirds and humans, species that can form auditory templates by listening to acoustic models and then learn to vocalize to match the template. Most other species are thought to develop vocalizations without auditory feedback. However, auditory input influences the acoustic structure of vocalizations in a broad distribution of birds and mammals. Vocalizations are defined here as sounds generated by forcing air past vibrating membranes. A vocal motor program may generate vocalizations such as crying or laughter, but auditory feedback may be required for matching precise acoustic features of vocalizations. This chapter discriminates limited vocal learning, which uses auditory input to fine-tune acoustic features of an inherited auditory template, from complex vocal learning, in which novel sounds are learned by matching a learned auditory template. Two or three songbird taxa and four or five mammalian taxa are known for complex vocal learning. A broader range of mammals converge in the acoustic structure of vocalizations when in socially interacting groups, which qualifies as limited vocal learning. All birds and mammals tested use auditory-vocal feedback to adjust their vocalizations to compensate for the effects of noise, and many species modulate their signals as the costs and benefits of communicating vary. This chapter asks whether some auditory-vocal feedback may have provided neural substrates for the evolution of vocal learning. Progress will require more precise definitions of different forms of vocal learning, broad comparative review of their presence and absence, and behavioral and neurobiological investigations into the mechanisms underlying the skills.
Effect of temperature-humidity index ( THI ) on the performance of rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) in the humid tropics

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of temperature-humidity index (THI) on rabbit husbandry performance in Benin City, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted using a total of 60 rabbits (50 does and 10 bucks) selected from a composite rabbit breed population. Data on ambient temperature and relative humidity were used to estimate temperature-humidity index (THI) for months and seasons. Data on rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), litter size at birth (LTSB), litter size at weaning (LTSW), gestation length (GLT); total number of kits born (TKB), pre-weaning mortality (PWM), percentage conception rate (PCR), post-weaning mortality (PPW), total number of kits that reached maturity (TNAM) were obtained. Inferential statistics was done by subjecting the data to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the influence of temperature-humidity index (THI) on performance of rabbits. Results obtained showed that season THI had significant influence (p<0.05) on physiological indices with early rain having the highest values of 38.83 ± 0.04 °C rectal temperature and 115.23 ± 0.70 nmpm for respiratory rate, while late rain had the highest value of 124.50 ± 0.42bpm pulse rate. Even though, THI values showed significant difference (p<0.05) between the seasons, such effects were noticed only on total number of rabbits per season, conception rate and post weaning mortality. Mortality was higher in the dry season. THI have no significant effect on the Kits live body weight at 2 weeks of age, but had significant effects on body weight of rabbits at 4 to 22 weeks of age. The seasonal THI values obtained showed that the humid tropical environment is heat stressed hence efforts should be made to reduce such effect for a better performance of rabbits.
The Detrimental Effect of Dietary Ginger Rhizome Powder Supplementation on Reproductive Performance of Pubertal Rabbit Bucks

Thirty six crossbred rabbit bucks aged 6 months were used to study the detrimental effects of supplementing ginger rhizome powder (GRP) on reproductive performance of pubertal rabbits. The rabbit bucks were randomly divided into four experimental treatments A1, B1, C1 and D1 of nine animals and was further replicated three times with three animals per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The animals were fed commercial grower rabbit diet which was supplemented with GRP at the rate of 0g/kg, 5g/kg, 10g/kg and 15g/kg feed respectively for 10 weeks. Prior to the first six weeks of the study, a two week period of training was used to train the bucks to ejaculate artificially into artificial vagina. Semen was collected between 8.00 am and 9.00 am and taken the laboratory for analysis within 30 minutes of collection. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. Dietary supplementation with GRP revealed that live sperm cell (%), dead sperm cell (%) as well as live : dead sperm cell ratios differed significantly (p 0.05) among the treatment groups. The results of this study indicated that dietary inclusion of ginger rhizome powder supplementation at 15g per kg feed had deleterious effect on sperm motility and % live sperm cells of pubertal rabbit bucks.
Application of TG ± DTA to the study of Amynteon lignites , northern Greece

In the present study thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were carried out for seven lignite samples from Amynteon lignite deposit, northern Greece. The samples were chosen to represent the vertical distribution of the lignite beds in the entire deposit. Samples were heated up to 10008C at a constant rate of 108C/min in a 150 cm/min ̄ow of nitrogen (N2). The burning pro®les of the samples studied, combined with proximate analysis and calorimetry results, contribute to a clearer identi®cation of Amynteon lignites' structure and a better understanding of the coali®cation process. DTA and TG curves of all samples studied showed similar patterns. Seven thermal effects were distinguished (three endothermic and four exothermic). A good correlation between the results of proximate and calorimetry analyses and the DTA and TG data is noticed. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.