Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
STATUS OF RIVER WATER QUALITY OF SAURASHTRA, GUJARAT, INDIA

The present communication was report the status of river water quality at Kathiawar peninsula, Gujarat, India was studied. The physicochemical parameters like pH, EC, DO, BOD, alkalinity, hardness, Calcium and Magnesium were analyzed during monsoon and post -monsoon season. Physical parameters like temperature, pH, Conductivity w ere measured on the site by using portable multi parameter analyzer, while chemical parameters were analyzed as per standard methods. The results of the present study have been discussed it is clear that the water is not highly polluted, but the variations in physico-chemical parameters were observed as seasonally. The recorded range of physico -chemical parameters were within the maximum permissible limit. KEY WORD: Analyze, Gujarat, Physico -chemical parameters, River, Status, Water quality
An evaluation of the impact of aerosol particles on weather forecasts from a biomass burning aerosol event over the Midwestern United States: observational-based analysis of surface temperature

Abstract. A major continental-scale biomass burning smoke event from 28–30 June 2015, spanning central Canada through the eastern seaboard of the United States, resulted in unforecasted drops in daytime high surface temperatures on the order of 2–5 °C in the upper Midwest. This event, with strong smoke gradients and largely cloud-free conditions, provides a natural laboratory to study how aerosol radiative effects may influence numerical weather prediction (NWP) forecast outcomes. Here, we describe the nature of this smoke event and evaluate the differences in observed near-surface air temperatures between Bismarck (clear) and Grand Forks (overcast smoke), to evaluate to what degree solar radiation forcing from a smoke plume introduces daytime surface cooling, and how this affects model bias in forecasts and analyses. For this event, mid-visible (550 nm) smoke aerosol optical thickness (AOT, τ) reached values above 5. A direct surface cooling efficiency of −1.5 °C per unit AOT (at 550 nm, τ550) was found. A further analysis of European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), United Kingdom Meteorological Office (UKMO) near-surface air temperature forecasts for up to 54 h as a function of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Dark Target AOT data across more than 400 surface stations, also indicated the presence of the daytime aerosol direct cooling effect, but suggested a smaller aerosol direct surface cooling efficiency with magnitude on the order of −0.25 to −1.0 °C per unit τ550. In addition, using observations from the surface stations, uncertainties in near-surface air temperatures from ECMWF, NCEP, and UKMO model runs are estimated. This study further suggests that significant daily changes in τ550 above 1, at which the smoke-aerosol-induced direct surface cooling effect could be comparable in magnitude with model uncertainties, are rare events on a global scale. Thus, incorporating a more realistic smoke aerosol field into numerical models is currently less likely to significantly improve the accuracy of near-surface air temperature forecasts. However, regions such as eastern China, eastern Russia, India, and portions of the Saharan and Taklamakan deserts, where significant daily changes in AOTs are more frequent, are likely to benefit from including an accurate aerosol analysis into numerical weather forecasts.
Comparative gene expression profiling of stromal cell matrices that support expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

The bone marrow microenvironment maintains a stable balance between self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). This microenvironment, also termed the “hematopoietic niche”, is primarily composed of stromal cells and their extracellular matrices (ECM) that jointly regulate HSPC functions. Previously, we have demonstrated that umbilical cord blood derived HSPCs can be maintained and expanded on stromal cell derived cellular matrices that mimic the complexity of the hematopoietic niche. The results indicated that matrices prepared at 20% O2 with osteogenic medium (OGM) were best suited for expanding committed HSPCs, whereas, matrices prepared at 5% O2 without OGM were better for primitive progenitors. Based upon these results we proposed that individual constituents of these matrices could be responsible for regulation of specific HSPC functions. To explore this hypothesis, we have performed comparative transcriptome profiling of these matrix producing cells, which identified differential expression of both known niche regulators, such as Wnt4, Angpt2, Vcam and Cxcl12, as well as genes not previously associated with HSPC regulation, such as Depp. MetaCore analysis of the differentially expressed genes suggests the down-regulation of several ECM related pathways and up-regulation of Ang-Tie2 and Wnt signaling pathways in OGM under high O2 (20%). Our findings provide an overview of several known and unique genes and pathways that play potential key roles in the support of HSPCs by stromal cells, both ex vivo and in vivo, and could be helpful in understanding the complex network of signaling and communication in hematopoietic niches.
Is There A Monist Theory of Causal and Noncausal Explanations? The Counterfactual Theory of Scientific Explanation

The goal of this paper is to develop a counterfactual theory of explanation (CTE). The CTE provides a monist framework for causal and noncausal explanations, according to which both causal and noncausal explanations are explanatory by virtue of revealing counterfactual dependencies between the explanandum and the explanans. I argue that the CTE is applicable to two paradigmatic examples of noncausal explanations: Euler’s explanation and renormalization group explanations of universality.
Seasonal shifts in phytoplankton ingestion by Daphnia galeata, assessed by analysis of marker pigments

To determine food selectivity in Daphnia galeata, a common freshwater cladoceran, the carotenoid pigments in the guts of animals collected in a meso-eutrophic reservoir were analysed. Using the ratios of carotenoid to chlorophyll a for the main marker pigments enabled an investigation of the algal diet of this herbivorous zooplankton at the class level in natural conditions. To allow a comparison with data from pigments, food-removal experiments were carried out using Daphnia spp. isolated from the lake, fed with the algal assemblages present in the lake at different times. For both methods, based on gut-pigment analysis and food removal, the total and class-specific grazing rates were calculated, and food selection over time was assessed from the mean of selectivity indexes. Except for three dates, both methods agreed on the qualitative composition of the diet of D. galeata. This herbivorous species fed preferentially on the most available algae in the edible size range, and showed positive selection for cyanobacteria and cryptophytes during most of the growing season. The gut-pigment method seems to be an interesting tool for following the algal selectivity of freshwater cladocerans in natural conditions.
Total Quality Management Practices and Their Effects on Organizational Performance.

This paper reports a study designed to examine the key concepts of TQM implementation and their effects on organizational performance. Process Alignment and People Involvement are two key concepts for successful implementation of TQM. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how these two constructs affect organizational performance. The results provide useful insight into the organization that uses TQM as a organization development program.
FexIKA Method Parameters Affecting Black Locust Heartwood Extraction Yield

The influence of certain adjustable parameters (sample property, temperature, and solvent type) on the advanced fexIKA extraction outputs was determined. Extracts were obtained from black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) heartwood and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). The amount of extract yield remained similar, regardless of the wood particle size, whereas the total amount of phenolic compounds gradually decreased when the particle size increased. The highest amounts of extractives were obtained at higher temperatures, and at 170 and 200 °C, a significant influence from the temperature on the chemical composition was noticed. Namely, the phenol and robinetin yields increased, while the rest of the main phenolic compounds were degraded. Additionally, at higher temperatures (170 and 200 °C), two newly formed furfural compounds were detected.
Pulsed Laser Deposition of BaTiO3 Thin Films on Different Substrates

We have studied the deposition of BaTiO3 (BTO) thin films on various substrates. Three representative substrates were selected from different types of material systems: (i) SrTiO3 single crystals as a typical oxide, (ii) Si wafers as a semiconductor, and (iii) Ni foils as a magnetostrictive metal. We have compared the ferroelectric properties of BTO thin films obtained by pulsed laser deposition on these diverse substrates.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Bulgarian Raspberry Germplasm Collection by Microsatellite Markers (SSR)

ABSTRACT The Bulgarian raspberry germplasm collection contains both Bulgarian and foreign varieties with valuable agronomic characters of commercial value. At present, mainly Bulgarian raspberry varieties are grown in Bulgaria with qualities famous in other European countries (Romania, Hungary, Poland, Russia etc.). The study of genetic diversity in the Bulgarian raspberry germplasm collection is mainly based on morphological descriptions. Morphological characteristics are important tools but they are not enough for evaluation of the genetic diversity due to the influence of environmental factors and low number of loci studied. The application of molecular markers should give an enable breeders to expand genetic diversity in breeding material and allow selection of new perspective forms in future breeding programmes. In this article we present our initial study on the assessment of genetic diversity among Bulgarian and foreign raspberry accessions using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSRs) markers. Sixteen raspberry cultivars (six Bulgarian, eight foreign and two wild accessions) were screened for their polymorphism at four loci using polymorphic microsatellite markers. The value determined for genetic variation demonstrated a high genetic diversity in the Bulgarian raspberry germplasm collection. Genetic diversity (GD) calculated from SSR data ranged from 0,740 to 0,887 with a mean GD- 0.839.
What controls the seasonal cycle of black carbon aerosols in India?

The seasonal variability of black carbon (BC) aerosols in India is studied using high resolution (10 km) BC simulations conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model coupled with Chemistry. The model reproduces the observed seasonality of surface BC fairly well over most parts of India but fails to capture the seasonality in the Himalayas and deviates from the observed BC magnitude at several sites. The errors in modeled BC are attributed to uncertainties in BC emissions and their diurnal cycle, planetary boundary layer height underestimation, and aerosol processes. Model results show distinct but opposite seasonality of BC in the lower (LT) and free troposphere (FT) with BC showing winter maximum and summer minimum in the LT and vice versa in the FT. Our analysis shows that BC seasonality is not driven by seasonality of the anthropogenic emissions but by changes in the regional meteorology through weakening of the horizontal transport and strengthening of the vertical transport of BC during summertime compared to winter. BC in both the LT and FT comes mostly from anthropogenic emissions followed by biomass burning emissions except during winter when long‐distant sources become more important in the FT. BC in the FT is significantly affected by anthropogenic emissions from all parts of India. The source‐receptor relationship changes seasonally, but the regional transport remains a significant contributor to BC loadings in the LT of India, highlighting the necessity of considering nonlocal sources along with local emissions when designing strategies for mitigating BC impacts on air quality.
BUDAYA ORGANISASI DALAM ASPEK PENINGKATAN KINERJA KARYAWAN (Studi Kasus Di Hotel Perdana Wisata, Bandung)

Pariwisata merupakan salah satu sumber devisa suatu negara, dan Indonesia memiliki potensi luar biasa dengan keragaman budaya, alam yang indah dan nilai-nilai sejarah, baik sejarah dilihat secara historis, maupun secara fisik, hal ini dapat dilihat dari gedung-gedung yang memiliki nilai artistik tinggi, khususnya yang ada di Kota Bandung. Pariwisata tidak terlepas dari peranan hotel sebagai sarana penunjang pariwisata itu sendiri, sehingga hotel harus siap dan berbenah diri, apalagi dalam era Masyarakat Ekonomi Asean (MEA). Oleh karena itu penelitian ini dilakukan di hotel. Locus penelitian adalah Hotel Perdana Wisata, Bandung yang bertujuan untuk menganalisis peranan budaya organisasi dalam aspek peningkatan kinerja karyawan dengan metode kualitatif. Selanjutnya peneliti melihat dan mengujinya dengan metode kuantitatif untuk mengetahui pengaruh budaya organisasi terhadap kinerja karyawan. Ukuran sampel menggunakan sebanyak 62, dengan metode regresi linier sederhana.Hasil dari penelitian dapat disimpulkan, secara kualitatif menunjukkan bahwa, budaya organisasi merupakan elemen penting dalam mengelola hotel, di mana budaya dapat memengaruhi perilaku karyawan. Sedangkan hasil dari metode kuantitatif, dari analisis deskriptif menunjukkan bahwa, budaya organisasi rata-rata 3,55 ini menunjukkan kriteria baik, sedangkan kinerja karyawan dengan rata-rata 3,49 ini menunjukkan kriteria baik. Sedangkan analisis kuantitatif verifikatif terdapat pengaruh positif dan signifkan antara variabel budaya organisasi sebagai variabel independen terhadap kinerja karyawan sebagai variabel dependen, dengan nilai koefesien determinasi (R2) sebesar 0,687. Â Artinya ini menunjukkan bahwa, semakin kuat budaya organisasi maka akan semakin meningkat kinerja karyawan.Kata kunci: budaya organisasi, kinerja karyawan
Effect of wood apple Aegle marmelos, Correa (Dicotyledons, Sapindales, Rutaceae) extract as an antibacterial agent on pathogens infecting prawn (Penaeus indicus) larviculture

Aegle marmelos, an antimicrobial plant was extracted with 100% methanol and the sensitivity of the extract was assessed against different fish diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. For sensitivity test, the minimal bacterial population growth (10-20%) was observed in the 40 mg/100 ml concentration of the culture medium. Different concentrations (25,50,75 and 100%) of the extracts were enriched with Artemia franciscana nauplii/pre-adult. These were fed to the Penaeus indicus post-larvae (6.5 to 6.85 mg of average weight) for 25 days, which were reared with four different pathogens (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio sp.) inoculated seawater. Among the four pathogens, P.aeruginosa was very sensitive to A. marmelos extract. Penaeus indicus post larvae fed on the un-enriched Artemia exhibited the lowest survival, which averaged 21 %, and this increased to the maximum of 58 % (averaged) in the 75% extract enriched Anemia fed post larvae of P.indicus. Similarly, the weight gain and specific growth rate were also increased significantly (P< 0.01) in the enriched Artemia fed post-larvae of P.indicus. Among the four different pathogens inoculated, the post-larvae, which were reared in the P.aeruginosa inoculation, exhibited the maximum survival (37.35 mg) and better growth rate (12.03 %). Also the bacterial count (cfu/g) was significantly (P<0.01) differed from the un-enriched to enriched Artemia fed post-larvae. The extract helped to reduce the bacterial count of a maximum of 1.9, 2.45, 0.96 and 2.36 times in the P.aerugiosna, A.hydrophila, S.typhi and Vibrio sp. respectively in the 100 % extract enriched Anemia fed post-larvae of P.indicus. Among the different percentages of enrichment, 75 % was considered the best for survival and growth characteristics of the post larvae.
A 500-dpi AC capacitive hybrid flip-chip CMOS ASIC/sensor module for fingerprint, navigation, and pointer detection with on-chip data processing

A fingerprint detection technology that supports navigation, pointer, and fingerprint acquisition is described. The hybrid system consists of a silicon sensor substrate flip-chipped onto a mixed-signal ASIC. The sensor is linear and the finger is swiped over to scan the fingerprint. The navigation and pointer functions are based on the motion detection of the finger on the substrate sensor. Stroking and tapping the sensor substrate surface with the finger determines movement of the cursor and clicking-like mouse. To achieve 500 dpi fingerprint detection accuracy, separate process optimization for both the ASIC and the sensor substrate gives an alternative solution compared with all other silicon sensor approaches. The ASIC is 18 mm/sup 2/ in 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS and the sensor is 105 mm/sup 2/.
EFFECTS OF VITEX AGNUS CASTUS ON MICE FETUS DEVELOPMENT

Vitex agnus castus (chasteberry) is a popular treatment for the management of female reproductive disorders including corpus luteum insufficiency, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopausal symptoms, and insufficient milk production. According to developing situation of complementary medicine, and frequent use of this herb, it is important to examine its effects during pregnancy. In this research we studied its effects on mice development, and we focused on macroscopic parameters, such as CRL (Crown-Rump length) and the weight of embryos, and diameter and the weight of placenta, and microscopic parameters such as the diameters of eye and lens of embryos. We found that Vitex has special effects during different stages of mice development, for example it can improve the growth of embryos in 8 th and 9 th day of pregnancy (it causes significant increase in CRL and weight of embryos). Also, it may changes some microscopic parameters. These founding suggest that it should be used more cautiously during pregnancy.
A spatial analysis of pan evaporation trends in China, 1955–2000

[1] Pan evaporation, an indicator of potential evaporation, has decreased during the last several decades in many parts of the world. This trend is contrary to the expectation that global warming will be accompanied by an increase in terrestrial evaporation, known as the pan evaporation paradox. In this paper we present an analysis of changes in the spatial patterns of pan evaporation in China based on data from 85 weather stations from 1955 to 2000. We found that pan evaporation decreased in China from 1955 to 2000. The decrease was statistically significant in all of China’s eight climatic regions except northeast China. We also found that the decrease in solar irradiance was most likely the driving force for the reduced pan evaporation in China. However, unlike in other areas of the world, in China the decrease in solar irradiance was not always accompanied by an increase in cloud cover and precipitation. Therefore we speculate that aerosols may play a critical role in the decrease of solar irradiance in China. By subdividing China into eight climatic regions, we found that the rate of decrease in pan evaporation was highest in the northwest and lowest in the southwest. Although changes in solar irradiance are the main cause of decreasing pan evaporation, water conditions influence the sensitivity of pan evaporation to the change in solar irradiance in comparing the eight climatic regions. Thus the spatial trends of pan evaporation differ from those of solar irradiance among these regions. INDEX TERMS: 1620 Global Change: Climate dynamics (3309); 1818 Hydrology: Evapotranspiration; 1878 Hydrology: Water/energy interactions; 3309 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Climatology (1620); KEYWORDS: pan evaporation, trends, China
Economic evaluation of sediments as a source of plant nutrients

Sediment deposition as a result of soil erosion is a significant problem in the village water tanks. In order to increase the rainwater storage capacity, removal of sediments from water tanks was taken up under the State Government Water Conservation Programme in Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The feasibility of desilting operations and returning such huge amounts of sediments to agricultural fields was assessed by determining the sediment quality in terms of nutrients, organic carbon (C), biological properties and their economic value as a source of plant nutrients. Analysis of sediment samples showed an average of 720 mg nitrogen (N), 320 mg phosphorus (P), 310 mg potassium (K) and 9.1 g of organic C per kg of sediment. Higher microbial populations were found in the sediments that recorded high nutrient and organic C contents. The microbial biomass C in the sediments recorded an average value of 308 mg kg–1 sediment and the average proportion of microbial biomass C to organic C was 3.8%. Application of 48,777 t of sediment from 21 tanks returned 34 t of N, 15 t of P, 15 t of K and 433 t of organic C to agricultural lands. The benefit– cost ratio of desilting operation and application of sediments to agricultural lands in 21 tanks varied from 0.65 to 5.38, with an average ratio of 1.88. Further, extrapolation of the results for the N, P, K and organic C nutrient values to 78 water tanks in Medak district indicated that 177 t of N, 82 t of P, 76 t of K and 2016 t of organic C could be returned to the agricultural fields. The study suggests economic feasibility for the application of tank sediments to the agricultural fields for crop production, in addition to increased water storage capacity, groundwater recharge and availability of more irrigation water and environmental benefits.
Interactive comment on “ The CO 2 exchange of biological soil crusts in a semiarid grass-shrubland at the northern transition zone of the Negev desert , Israel ” by B . Wilske et al .

Anonymous Referee #1: This paper represents a lot of work and certainly addresses an area where more information would be valuable but I would have difficulty recommending it for publication at present for several reasons. First, the actual measurement system is curious in that any particular sample is measured against one of the so-called controls. It is difficult to see how this does anything except introduce errors. The gas
BETWEEN THE EYES : COGNITIVE STYLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMERICANS AND CHINESE IN A DUAL-DISPLAY SETTING by Dai Tang

Based on previous literature comparing Westerners’ analytic cognitive style and Easterners’ holistic cognitive style, we conducted a laboratory study to examine the attention allocation and information reception differences between Americans and Chinese in a foreground-background display setting. Consistent with previous findings, the results suggested that Chinese were better at getting information from the background display, which was located in the periphery of their visual field. In addition, as the visual complexity of the background display went up, Chinese were more likely to redistribute their attention accordingly whereas Americans were less subjected to the change. The findings extended the existing cross-cultural cognitive style research in a novel display setting and a larger physical space. It also generated design implications for systems support multitasking especially background information processing used in an international setting.