Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Online Load Balancing Algorithm for a Hierarchical Ring Topology

Ring networks are an important topic to study because they have certain advantages over their direct network counterparts: easier to manage, better bandwidth, cheaper and wider communication paths. This paper proposes a new online load balancing algorithm for distributed real-time systems having a hierarchical ring as topology. The novelty of the algorithm lies in the goal it tries to achieve and the method used for load balancing. The main goal of the algorithm is to correctly utilize the computing resources in order to satisfy the average response time of clients. The secondary goal is to ensure fairness between the numbers of requests solved per client with respect to the average response time. A request from a client is moving through the network until a node considers that it can solve the request in the promised average time for that client or until it seems like the best opportunity to avoid any additional delays in solving it. A performance analysis and motivation for the proposed algorithm is given with respect to the goals it tries to achieve. The results show that the proposed algorithm satisfies its goals.
Planckian energy-mass source and the dynamics of the universe: Phenomenology

A phenomenological model of the dynamics of the Universe is suggested as an alternative of the standard model dynamics whose inadequacy is borne out by the catastrophic difference – over 40 orders of magnitude – between the cosmological constant obtained on the basis of the standard cosmological model and that derived from experimental data. The key factor in the solution of the complex of problems unresolvable within the scope of the standard theory, the problems associated with the establishment of the essence of dark energy and dark matter included, is the abandonment of the notions of the Big Bang involving the momentary generation of matter and adoption of the hypothesis for the existence of an energy-mass source of Planckian power that originated at the instant the Big Bang took place, the energy of this source being constantly generated in and evenly distributed over every element of the already originated or originating space. Possible experimental investigations aimed at gaining an insight into the issues concerning the dynamics of the Universe are discussed.
Constraints on the distribution and energetics of fast radio bursts using cosmological hydrodynamic simulations

We present constraints on the origins of fast radio bursts (F RBs) using one of the largest currently available cosmological hydrodynamic simulations. We use these simulations to calculate contributions to the dispersion measures (DMs) of FRBs from the Milky Way, from the local Universe out to � 100 Mpc, from cosmological large-scale structure and from potential FRB host galaxies, and we then compare the results of these simulations to the DMs for observed FRBs. We find that the foreground Milky Way contr ibution has previously been underestimated by a factor of � 2, and that the the distribution of foreground-subtracted DMs is consistent with a cosmological origin, corresponding to a population of sources observable out to a maximum redshift z � 0.6 0.9. We consider models for the spatial distribution and occurrence of FRBs in which they are randomly distributed in the Universe, track the star-formation rate of their host galaxies, track total ste llar mass, or require the presence of a central supermassive black hole. While the current data (nine extragalactic FRBs) do not allow us to distinguish between these possibilities, we show that the predicted distributions of DM for these different models will differ considerably once we begin detecting significant fractions of FRBs at higher DMs and higher redshifts. We additionally consider the distribution of fluences for observed FRBs, and show that the observations are consistent with the hypothesis that FRBs are standard candles, each burst producing the same radiated isotropic energy. Comparing the combined DM and fluence distributions with our cosmological model, we find that the data are consistent with a constant isotropic burst energy of � 4 × 10 40 erg if FRBs are embedded in host galaxies, or two times higher if FRBs are randomly distributed over the cosmic volume. These energies are a factor of 10‐100 times larger than had previously been inferred. Within the limited constraints of the available s mall sample of data, our analysis favours FRB mechanisms for which the isotropic burst energy has a narrow distribution in excess of 10 40 erg.
Cymbopogon citratus L. essential oil as a potential antifungal agent against key weed moulds of Pleurotus spp. spawns

The essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus L. (250-1500 p.p.m.) was tested in vitro for antifungal activity against seven Pleurotus spp. spawn-contaminating fungi, viz. Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium citrinum, Curvularia lunata and Trichoderma harzianum. Oil-enrichment resulted in significant (p < 0.05) reduction of growth for the pathogens examined. Fungal spore production inhibited up to 80% at 250 p.p.m. of the oil except for C. lunata, which was inhibited by only 30%. In the higher oil concentration (1500 p.p.m.) employed, fungal sporulation was completely retarded. Lemongrass oil reduces spore germination in A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. alternata, P. citrinum and T. harzianum, with the effects dependent on oil concentration. However, lemongrass oil at 250 p.p.m. accelerated spore germination for A. niger and P. citrinum. Indeed, further increase in oil concentration shows complete inhibition. Among the pathogens, C. lunata was found to be most resistant strain, while A. niger was the most sensitive strain against lemongrass oil.
Estimate of the genetic correlation between calving success and days to calving in Angus females.

Female fertility records from 16,350 maiden heifers from Australian Angus herds were used to estimate the genetic correlation between calving success and days to calving using a new analytical procedure that accounted for the categorical nature of calving success. Both calving success and days to calving were lowly heritable, 4 and 12 %, respectively with a –0.66 genetic correlation between the two traits. The results indicate that days to calving is likely to be the better trait in a selection program because of its higher heritability, its ease of modelling and also its favourable correlation with calving success.
Entrepreneurial Identity: The Missing Link for Entrepreneurship Education

The present study merges work related to entrepreneurial cognition to deepen theory as to how students come to view themselves as entrepreneurs. Given the significance established for dispositions like identity in prior literature related to transfer effects, these findings appear to be an important area for entrepreneurship educators interested in transfer of learning beyond the classroom. Results of the present research suggest that students’ entrepreneurial identity aspiration mediated the combined impact of entrepreneurial outcome expectations and selfefficacy related to starting a business on their intention to start a business. In addition, entrepreneurial self-efficacy was also found to directly influence start-up intention. It would appear that the dispositional effect of identity helps consolidate more specific outcome expectations and efficacy perceptions to influence intent. Overall, the proposed model is theoretically grounded, parsimonious, and compares very favorably with other models in terms of predictive ability. Findings hold theoretical and practical implications for future work in the area.
Consequences of Pool Habitat Isolation on Stream Fishes

INTRODUCTION Characteristics of fish assemblages within stream habitats are shaped by physical and biological factors that operate at different temporal and spatial scales (e.g., Poff 1997). Stream ecologists are obligated to determine habitat variables that most influence fish and the spatial scale(s) over which they operate (Rabeni and Sowa 1996). To make predictions, stream researchers have long used information about the physical characteristics of streams and knowledge of the hierarchical nature of the stream environment (e.g., Frissell and others 1986, Naiman and others 1992). Physical features of habitat units (e.g., pools, riffles) such as area or volume (Schlosser and Angermeier 1989), depth, water current, cover, and substrate (Gorman and Karr 1978), often correlate strongly with patterns of fish diversity, richness, and biomass. At large spatial scales (e.g., reaches, watershed), important factors may include flow regime (e.g., Horwitz 1978), temperature, valley form, distance to mouth, and zoogeographic history.
Field Comparison of Real-Time PM2.5 Readings from a Beta Gauge Monitor and a Light Scattering Method

In this study, PM2.5 mass readings by a portable light scattering monitor (Dust Trak) were compared to those obtained using a collocated beta gauge monitor (E-BAM) at various ambient relative humidities. The mass readings of two automatic particle monitors were also compared with those of a manual sampler. The inlet heater of the beta gauge was actuated or switched off to determine whether ambient relative humidity has an effect on the beta gauge readings. This work demonstrated that PM2.5 readings of the light scattering monitor were higher than those of the beta gauge monitor, regardless of whether the inlet heater was turned on or off. In addition, the mean PM2.5 readings of the light scattering monitor were also higher than those of the manual sampler. Results indicated that the relative humidity affected PM2.5 reading of the light scattering monitor and PM2.5 reading increased as the relative humidity rose. In contrast, when the inlet heater of the beta gauge was switched on, the mean PM2.5 mass reading of beta gauge monitor was close to that of the manual sampler, and it was lower than that of the light scattering monitor. The inlet heater appeared to avoid the relative humidity effect on PM2.5 mass readings of the beta gauge monitor.
Does sensitivity to cashflow news explain the value premium on European stock markets

The decomposition of a European market return into cashflow and discount rate news components suggests that returns on European and country value portfolios react more sensitive to news about the European market return´s cashflows than the corresponding growth portfolios. This evidence is substantially weaker when the receptiveness of country value and growth returns to cashflow and discount rate news components of the respective national market return is in question. Moreover, I show that national news series are more important than international news series in explaining the variation in European value and growth returns. Even though European cashflow news play a marginally significant role in explaining returns on value portfolios, there is no persuasive evidence of the notion that high cashflow betas explain relatively high average returns on European countries´ value portfolios.
HYDROPHOBICALLY MODIFIED POLYELECTROLYTES AS POTENTIAL DRUGS RESERVOIRS OF N-ALKYL-NITROIMIDAZOLES

The solubilization of three commercial drugs (ornindazole, metronidazole and tinidazole) and model compounds (N-alkyl-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazoles) on aggregates formed by anionic polyelectrolytes, carrying alkyl side chains of different length, have been investigated in aqueous solution at pH 3.0, 7.0 and 11.0. Potassium salts of poly(maleic acid-co-1-olefins), PA-nK2 with n ranging from 8 to 18, were used as micelle-forming polymers. The partition of these drugs between water and the hydrophobic microdomains provided by PA-nK2 was studied by the pseudo-phase model to determinate the distribution coefficient KS, and the standard free energy of transfer Δμot. The results indicate that solubility of alkyl-nitroimidazoles on these polymer micelles depends moderately on the length of the alkyl chain, and therefore is mainly determined by the heterocyclic group. On the other hand, the solubilization of 1-hexyl-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole increase with decreasing length of the side alkyl chain; i.e. KS follows the order PA-8K2 > PA-10K2 > PA-12K2 > PA-14K2 > PA-16K2 >PA-18K2
Th1/Th2 response after isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate intoxication

By blocking the enzyme, isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (IMPF) may affect the levels of acetylcholine (cholinergic neuromediator) and cause changes in the physiology of various cells (e.g. neurons, lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells etc.). The aim of this study was to examine the influence of IMPF administration to mice on the level of selected cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ) and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE) in their sera, and to evaluate the direction of the immune response. The studies showed changes in the secretion of two factors: IL-4 and IL-5 (compared to control groups). In both cases, the statistically significant differences (increase of IL-4 and IL-5 decrease) were observed at day 7 after the IMPF intoxication. Similarly, the level of IgE (vs. control group) was significantly higher at 24 hours and 7 days from intoxication. Our results indicate that IMPF intoxication can produce changes in selected cytokines and immunoglobulins serum levels that may lead to the immune response disturbances.
Analysis of the Relationship between University Students’ Problematic Internet Use and Loneliness

The computer is part of the information and communication age, and the Internet today is the most used communication tool. Studies have shown that there is a relationship between problematic Internet use and loneliness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between problematic Internet use sub-scales and loneliness. In this study, data were collected from the college students at an Anatolian University in Turkey. The participants of this study consisted of 392 undergraduates. Of the participants, 43% are male (n = 167) and 57% female (n = 225). The average age for the participants is 22 years old. The Problematic Internet Use Scale and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale were used as data collection instruments. In the present study, structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures are used to explore the relationships that exist among the variables. The findings of the study revealed that while university students’ social benefit/social comfort of Internet has a direct effect on their excessive Internet use and negative consequences, it is related to the loneliness level indirectly. In addition, it is seen in the research model that with an increase in the negative consequences of the Internet, the loneliness level was raised. Another result from the study is that when university students’ excessive Internet use increased, their loneliness level decreased.
Does centralization imply better targeting?: evaluating emergency employment programs in Chile

This paper develops direct tests for evaluating the performance of two types of emergency employment programs put in place in Chile since 1999. Our results suggest: First, decentralized and “market-driven” programs (subsidies for hiring and training) are more efficient in terms of productivity, but are targeted to people that are less vulnerable to unemployment. Second, direct employment programs result in moderate increases of the income of the households of the participants. This increase may be outweighted by the costs (in present value) associated with higher school drop-out and participation rates. Third, if analysed at a municipality level (comuna), centralized programs do not target municipalities with higher unemployment, increased vulnerability to unemployment, or even lower median income levels, but are strongly correlated with the political affiliation of its major. Finally, our results suggest that the population targeted in direct employment programs is not more vulnerable to unemployment than the actually unemployed.
Characterization of nematode community in apple orchard soil in the Northwestern Loess Plateau, China

This work was carried out in the Northwestern Loess Plateau (NLP), one of two main large-scale apple production areas in China. It is to investigate the role of nematodes in apple production areas, which cause apple replant disease (ARD). Soil samples from total eight sites in NLP were collected twice, in summer and autumn, respectively. The nematodes were extracted by washing-sifting-sucrose centrifugation and total nematodes in each sample were counted with the aid of an anatomical lens (40×). Furthermore, a sub-sample of one quarter of each nematode suspension was observed with a Motic microscope (400 and 1000×) and each nematode was identified to genus level using diagnostic keys. The results indicated that the characteristics of the nematode community did not vary significantly in four different types of soils. Especially, the diversity indices of nematode community did not show obvious differences. In addition, the analysis of nematodes with different feeding habits revealed that the overall number of Pratylenchus penetrans nematodes in the replanted orchard in NLP were far below the density threshold that could jeopardize apple trees. Thus, it appeared that the nematodes were not the leading causal agent for ARD in NLP.
Cloning of a gene encoding glycosyltransferase from Pueraria lobata (Wild.) Ohwi and its expression in Pichia pastoris

The key enzyme of puerarin biosynthesis in Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi was unclear but may involve glycosylation. To investigate the regulation of puerarin biosynthesis, a putative UDP-dependent glycosyltransferase (UGT) gene, PlUGT1 was isolated from P. lobata root, which contained abundant puerarin. PlUGT1encoded 480 deduced amino acid residues with a conserved UDP-glucose-binding domain, which has 61 to 84% similarity to homologues from other plant species. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting results showed that, fusion protein migrated as a single protein band with a molecular weight of 55 kDa. A yeast expression vector pPICZA-PlUGT1 was constructed and was transformed into Pichia pastoris strain GS115. Several recombinants containing multi-copy expression cassettes were obtained on the zeocin-YPD plate and confirmed by southern dot blotting. The yield of PlUGT1 attained 0.05 g/l when recombinant cells were cultured at pH 5.5, 30°C and induced with 0.5% methanol for 72 h. The expression of PlUGT1 protein correlates positively with the copy numbers of PlUGT1 in transformed yeast cells. These results suggest that, the PlUGT1 protein can be expressed efficiently in the P. pastoris expression system and may supply a new economic and convenient way for the production of PlUGT1 protein. Key words: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, glycosyltransferase, cloning, expression,Pichia pastoris.
05. Habitat use and abundance of a low-altitude chameleon assemblage in eastern Madagascar

We studied the density and abundance of chameleons in a lowland Malagasy rainforest during the austral summer and winter. Nocturnal searches for chameleons were conducted along transects within relatively intact forest and vegetation on abandoned agricultural land adjacent to the forest. Four chameleon species were encountered during the study, Brookesia superciliaris, Calumma parsonii parsonii, Calumma nasutum and Furciferpardalis. Brookesia superciliaris was most common inside relatively intact forest and the few individuals located in the regenerating forest on abandoned agricultural land were found in tiny, isolated patches of degraded rainforest next to rivers. Calumma p. parsonii was only encountered on three occasions in relatively intact forest and was a rare member of the community. The abundance ofC. nasutum was highest in relatively intact forest but this species also occurred in vegetation on abandoned agricultural land. Furciferpardalis was only found on the abandoned agricultural land, where it was observed laying eggs in sandy soil in August. The abundance of all species in habitats alongside rivers was higher in January than July-August, with the exception of C. p. parsonii, which was not detected during the former period. Additional investigations into habitat preference of chameleons and surveys in other forests in region are needed to establish whether the low abundance of C. p. parsonii and the absence of the Brookesia minima group at this site are related to 1) abiotic factors associated with altitude, 2) physical barriers that have prevented dispersal, or 3) the selective logging that occurred at the site until 1993.
The complex long-term X-ray activity of the compact binary 4U 1915-05

An analysis of the long-term X-ray activity of the compact binary 4U 1915–05 from 1996–2003, using the ASM/RXTE data, shows that the behaviour of the long-term X-ray light curve inside this interval was considerably different from that reported previously. We find that the X-ray light curve is dominated by complicated variations in the form of outbursts with rather sharp peaks, each lasting for about 20–30 days. The period search by weighted wavelet transform (WWZ) reveals that the cycle-length of the activity is highly variable and the periods can persist only through several epochs. We find that a cycle of about 230–250 days (similar to the ~199 day cycle reported by Priedhorsky & Terrell 1984, ApJ, 280, 661) occurred only in a limited time interval – this cycle manifests in the variations of the recurrence time and amplitude of the outbursts. Generally, the system spends more time in the low state than in the high state (outbursts), and the standard deviation and skewness display variations on the time scale of the order of hundreds of days. We show that the decays of the individual outbursts in 4U 1915–05 display a relatively broad range of slopes. The slow average decay rate $\tau_{\rm D}\approx 0.2$ ct/s/day can be related to the viscous time of the disk. We discuss the models and offer an interpretation in terms of the thermal instability of the disk, modified by irradiation by the neutron star, following the model by King & Ritter (1998, MNRAS, 293, L42). We also compare the activity of 4U 1915–05 with that of a similar system, 4U 1820–30, and interpret the largely divergent kinds of activity in terms of the different mean mass transfer rates. This rate is lower in 4U 1915–05 and can allow thermal instability of the disk, unlike the case of 4U 1820–30. We argue that the disk in 4U 1915–05 can oscillate between thermally stable and unstable state.