Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cave physical attributes influencing the structure of terrestrial invertebrate communities in Neotropics

The stability of temperature and humidity in caves is well known. However, little is known if higher or lower cave environmental stability (temperature, humidity, light and others) implies changes in the structure of the biological communities. Number, position and size of entrances, then size, depth, host rock and extent of the cave, the amount and type of food resources are all factors that can have strong influence on the cave biological communities. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between the presence of water bodies, size of entrances and the linear development of caves with the terrestrial invertebrate richness and species composition in 55 limestone caves located in the Brazilian Savannah, sampled from 2000 to 2011. Invertebrates were sampled by active search throughout the caves, prioritizing micro-habitats (sites under rocks) and organic resources (litter, twigs, feces and bat guano). We recorded 1,451 invertebrate species. Species richness was positively correlated with presence of cave streams, width of entrances and linear development of the caves. The richness of troglomorphic species was positively correlated to the presence of perennial pools and linear development of the caves. The presence of cave streams was a decisive factor for determining the community structure, increasing the number and the similarity of troglophile species among the caves. Flood pulses can cause disturbances that eventually select the same species besides importing resources. However, for the terrestrial troglomorphic species the disturbance caused by cave streams may decrease the number of species. Subterranean Biology 16: 103–121 (2015) doi: 10.3897/subtbiol.16. 5470 http://subtbiol.pensoft. net Copyright Matheus Henrique Simoes et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. RESEARCH ARTICLE Subterranean Biology Published by The International Society for Subterranean Biology A peer-reviewed open-access journal
A Comparison Of The Var Model And The Pc Factor Model In Forecasting Inflation In Montenegro

Montenegro started using the euro in 2002 and regained independence in 2006. Its main economic partners are European countries, yet inflation movements in Montenegro do not coincide with consumer price fluctuations in the eurozone. Trying to develop a useful forecasting model for Montenegrin inflation, we compare the results of a three-variable vector autoregression (VAR) model, and a principle component (PC) factor model starting with twelve variables. The estimation period is January 2001 to December 2012, and the control months are the first six months of 2013. The results show that in forecasting inflation, despite a high level of Montenegrin economic dependence on international developments, more reliable forecasts are achieved with the use of additional information on a larger number of factors, which includes domestic economic activity.
Comparison of Notch Depth for Constrained Least Mean Squares and Dominant Mode Rejection Beamformers

COMPARISON OF NOTCH DEPTH FOR CONSTRAINED LEAST MEAN SQUARES AND DOMINANT MODE REJECTION BEAMFORMERS Mani Shanker Krishna Bojja, M.S. George Mason University, 2015 Thesis Director: Dr. Kathleen E. Wage Detection of low power signals in the presence of high power interferers is a common problem in spatial signal processing. Notch depth (ND) is defined as the response of the beamformer in the interferer direction when the beamformer is steered towards a specified look direction. This thesis analyzes the ND of the constrained Least Mean Squares algorithm proposed by Frost [1]. Several variants of the LMS algorithm are considered, and the algorithm is analyzed for the case of single and multiple interferers. The thesis compares the ND of the LMS beamformer to the ND of the Dominant Mode Rejection beamformer proposed by Abraham and Owsley [2]. The performance comparison indicates that DMR attains a deeper notch faster than LMS. The white noise gain of the two beamformers is approximately the same. Analysis of the computational complexity of the LMS and DMR algorithms indicates that DMR requires on the order of N times more floating point operations than LMS, where N is the size of the receiving array. Thus, DMR is a better choice for applications requiring fast convergence as long as the processor can handle the increased computational load. Chapter 1: Introduction In sonar array processing the need to detect low power signals in the presence of high power noise is a persistent problem. Initial development was made to understand and solve this problem by using optimum Minimum Variance Distortionless (MVDR) beamformer [3], which assumes known signal characteristics and is the most basic adaptive beamformer. Later the study was extended developing other adaptive algorithms in detecting such low power signals with changing power characteristics. One such algorithms have already been analyzed in the simple case of single interferer and noise, namely the Dominant Mode Rejection (DMR) [4] algorithm. This thesis is focused on understanding the performance of Frost Least Mean Squares (LMS) [1] algorithm by presenting numerical results based on the characteristic called Notch Depth (ND). ND is a measure of how well a beamformer can eliminate an interferer. A deeper notch implies that the beamformer filters out more of the interference, thus improving its output signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) ratio. The beamformer which achieves optimum ND is the MVDR beamformer implemented using the ensemble covariance matrix (ECM). The MVDR beamformer minimizes the total variance of the output of the beamformer while maintaining a distortionless constraint in the desired direction. The Frost LMS and Dominant Mode Rejection algorithm (DMR) are adaptive beamformers which use the Sample Covariance Matrix (SCM), an estimate of the ECM, to do the beamforming. Essentially, the goal of adaptive beamformers is to approximate the performance of the optimum beamformer.
Current Prevalence of HCV in Patients with Liver Disease and its Related Profile

Background: To study the prevalence of HCV in patients with Liver disease, HCV related patient’s profile, age, obesity, habits, biological marker, Co-morbidities, Diabetes, Obesity, Hepato Celluar Carcinoma (HCC) and detecting Liver stiffness. Material and methods: Prevalence of HCV was studied in 69,353 patients with liver disease. Tests done and results were recorded. Results: Overall prevalence of HCV in patients with liver disease was 1.3% in our present study, conducted in South Indian population. Statistical significance was found between screened patients and serological and virological reactive patients. Liner prevalence of HCV was observed and double fold increases in the year 2013. No bad habits were found in 49.7% and unhealthy habits in 50.3%. Co-morbidies found in 60.1% and no comorbidies in 39.9%. Prevalence of Diabetes mellitus and obese were 20.9% and 34.8% respectively in HCV reactive patients with liver disease. 2.5% of patients were with Hepato Cellular Carcinoma (HCC). Elevation of biological markers were studied (S. protein-63.9%, ALT -50.6%, AST-50.3%. Alkaline phosphatase-(M-35.5%, F-39.1%). As year progresses prevalence of HCV increased in both gender and HCV reactivity were higher in male than female. A statistical significant was found in detecting liver stiffness by fibroscan. Conclusion: Liner increase of HCV was found. Higher numbers of patients were with unhealthy habits among the study population. CLD and CKD were found in higher percentage in HCV reactive patients with liver disease. 1/5 and 1/3 of our HCV reactive patients were Diabetic and obese respectively. Fibroscan was the best non-invasive marker in detecting liver stiffness in our study.
Selection and Performance Analysis of Asia-Pacific Hedge Funds

Hedge funds that invest in Asia-Pacific markets have grown rapidly in recent years. Asia-Pacific focused hedge funds are poised to play a bigger role in investor portfolios judging by the growing number of investment companies that are based in the Asian region. This article examines the skew and kurtosis of Asia-Pacific hedge fund returns, and tests the hypothesis that they are normally distributed. The results indicate that the distribution of returns are not necessarily Gaussian, but instead exhibit fat tail characteristics. As such, standard deviation itself is insufficient to capture the full risks inherent within these funds. In order to account for fat tail distributions this article uses conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) and conditional drawdown (CDD) to assess the impact of negative tail risks of hedge funds. Further an optimal portfolio of hedge funds is constructed that is subject to constraints on CVaR and CDD.
Rigorous Derivation of the Nonlocal Reaction-Diffusion Fitzhugh-Nagumo System

We introduce a spatially extended transport kinetic FitzHugh-Nagumo model with forced local interactions and prove that its hydrodynamic limit converges towards the classical nonlocal reaction-diffusion FitzHugh-Nagumo system. Our approach is based on a relative entropy method, where the macroscopic quantities of the kinetic model are compared with the solution to the nonlocal reaction-diffusion system. This approach allows to make the rigorous link between kinetic and reaction-diffusion models.
Migration als Ressource: Zur Pendelmigration polnischer Frauen in Privathaushalte der Bundesrepublik

Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Gruhlich, Julia (Rev.): Metz-Göckel, Sigrid ; Kalwa, Dobrochna ; Münst, A. Senganata: Migration als Ressource: zur Pendelmigration polnischer Frauen in Privathaushalte der Bundesrepublik. Opladen: B. Budrich, 2010. In: GENDER Zeitschrift für Geschlecht, Kultur und Gesellschaft 2 (2010), 2, 154-157. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168ssoar-394690
Chemical characteristics of organic wastes and their potential use for acid mine drainage remediation

Organic substrate is an important component of biological treatments for acid mine drainage (AMD) remediationsystems. It provides organic substrates to sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the sulfate (SO4) reduction, resultingin increased alkalinity and metal sulfide precipitates. Natural organic matters vary in their characteristics, andtherefore may perform differently for remediation properties. This study was aimed to characterize four locallyavailable organic wastes (bark, empty fruit bunch, sawdust, and chicken manure) potential for AMD remediation.Their chemical properties and elemental compositions were measured. An anaerobic incubation of these wastesin AMD was undertaken to determine their remediation properties. The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), redoxpotential (Eh), and dissolved Fe and SO4 of the mixtures were measured after the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 30th day of theincubation at room temperature. The results demonstrated that organic wastes varied in their chemical propertiesand performed differently in treating AMD. Organic wastes containing high alkalinity (high pH) and nutrientconcentrations (chicken manure and empty fruit bunch) improved AMD quality through increasing pH (>6) andreducing dissolved Fe and SO4 concentrations. Although sawdust and bark (high CEC) did not increase pH up toacceptable standard at most time, they apparently were able to remove dissolved Fe from AMD through adsorptionmechanism.
Constructing Continuous Proton-Conducting Highways within Sulfonated Poly(Arylene Ether Nitrile) Composite Membrane by Incorporating Amino-Sulfo-Bifunctionalized GO

To obtain a proton exchange membrane (PEM) with high proton conductivity and low methanol permeability, a novel amino-sulfo-bifunctionalized GO (NSGO) was synthesized and explored as a filler for sulfonated poly(arylene ether nitrile) (SPEN). The result indicated that the microstructure of composite membranes was rearranged by NSGO and strong acid–base interactions were formed between fillers and the SPEN matrix, affording enhanced thermal, mechanical, and dimensional stabilities. Moreover, it was found that NSGO fillers were uniformly dispersed in the SPEN matrix, generating efficient proton-conducting paths along the SPEN/NSGO interface. Meanwhile, the sulfonic and amino groups of NSGO served as additional proton hopping sites to connect the ionic clusters in the SPEN matrix, creating interconnected and long-range ionic pathways. In such a way, proton-conducting highways with low energy barriers are constructed, which enhance the proton conductivity of the composite membranes via the Grotthuss mechanism. Furthermore, the composite membranes also effectively prevent methanol permeation, and therefore high selectivity (the ratio of proton conductivity and methanol permeability) is endowed. Compared to SPEN membrane, a 3.6-fold increase in selectivity is obtained for the optimal composite membrane. This study will provide a new strategy for the preparation of high-performance PEM.
2&3-DIMENSIONAL OPTIMIZATION OF CONNECTING ROD WITH GENETIC AND MODIFIED CUCKOO OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHMS

In this paper, a connecting rod was modeled and analyzed by finite element method. Byusing genetic algorithm (GA) and modified cuckoo optimization algorithm (MCOA), the materialproperties and some geometrical specifications were optimized. Cost function was a combination ofweight and stress. The connecting rod was under a load of 21.8 kN which obtained 360o crank angleat 5700 rev/min. The reduction percentages of weight in 2-D analysis were 45.47% and 50.34%based on GA and MCOA, respectively. The reduction percentages of stress were also 1.26% and2.20% based on GA and MCOA, respectively. The values of reduction percentages in 3-D analysisshowed the same trends.The results showed that applying each of the algorithms was efficient. Meanwhile, the resultsof MCOA were better than GA, because of the smaller number of iterations and the initialpopulation, which resulted in increasing the rate of convergence (i.e. decreasing computationaltime) and accuracy of answers. It can be mentioned that MCOA is an efficient and reliablealgorithm and can be used as a benchmark for future works.
The Relationship of Equal Division of Labor and Satisfaction of Division of Labor to Positive Parenting as Mediated by Parents' Relationship Quality

The Relationship of Equal Division of Labor and Satisfaction of Division of Labor to Positive Parenting as Mediated by Parents’ Relationship Quality Lauren A. Barnes Marriage and Family Therapy School of Family Life Master of Science Couples learn to negotiate a complex intersection between household labor and family processes. Using both observational coding and questionnaire self report, this study examined the relationship between father and mothers’ reported equality with their division-of-labor, their satisfaction with division-of-labor and their respective positive parenting as observed in taped interaction with a target child while controlling for quality of the relationship between the parents. Findings showed that egalitarian division of labor was positively related to satisfaction in division of labor and that egalitarian division of labor was a significant predictor of mothers’ relationship quality, but not fathers’ relationship quality. It also showed that fathers’, but not mothers’, marital relationship quality was found to be correlated with positive parenting and satisfaction with division of labor was a significant predictor of positive parenting for mothers, but not for fathers. Therapists should be mindful of and address the role division of labor plays in a family. Researchers should examine the use of a more comprehensive overview of division of labor tasks.
Journal of Solid Mechanics Vol

In this study, the free vibration of partially fluid-filled laminated composite circular cylindrical shell with arbitrary boundary conditions has been investigated by using Rayleigh-Ritz method. The analysis has been carried out with strain-displacement relations based on Love’s thin shell theory and the contained fluid is assumed irrotational, incompressible and inviscid. After determining the kinetic and potential energies of fluid filled laminated composite shell, the eigenvalue problem has been obtained by means of Rayleigh-Ritz method. To demonstrate the validity and accuracy of the results, comparison has been made with the results of similar works for the empty and partially fluid-filled shells. Finally, an extensive parameter study on a typical composite tank is accomplished and some conclusions are drawn. © 2016 IAU, Arak Branch.All rights reserved.
A reassessment of the pycnogonid genus Stylopallene (Arthropoda, Callipallenidae) with description of a new genus

Staples D.A. 2014. A reassessment of the Pycnogonid Genus Stylopallene (Arthropoda, Callipallenidae) with description of a new genus. Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 72: 121-129. The genus Stylopallene comprising only four species is reviewed. All species are recorded from Australia, predominantly from the southern and south-eastern coastlines in association with arborescent bryozoans. Sexual dimorphism in the scape segments is recognized in the genus for the first time. The status of Stylopallene dorsospinum is re-evaluated and assigned to the new genus Bamberene. A diagnosis of the new genus is provided along with additional images to complement existing figures.
A collective case study of athletic identity and successful injury rehabilitation

Jama Kaisa-Mari, 2015. A Collective Case Study of Athletic Identity and Successful Injury Rehabilitation. Master’s Thesis in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Department of Sport Sciences. University of Jyvaskyla. 89 p. A severe injury is an identity threatening situation for competitive athletes. Previous literature suggests that having a strong athletic identity can be beneficial for the athlete when injured. To the date there has been little research on how athletic identity is managed during that challenging time of injury. The purpose of this study was to explore how athletic identity is managed during the injury and rehabilitation phase before returning to competitive sport. Knowing the determinants of athletic identity management allows practitioners to adjust their interventions toward specific issues when working with injured athletes. The present study is a qualitative, collective case study. Hermeneutic phenomenological research approach was used to explore the narrative identities of the participants, who were selected with criterion sampling. The data was generated in semi-structured interviews with four Finnish national or international level athletes, who faced an injury and returned to their sport successfully. The data was analyzed abductively using thematic analysis. Quality of data and analysis was enhanced by selecting varied cases and concentrating the analysis on rich narratives. The findings of the present study suggest that athletic identity determinants throughout the injury phase include the internal will to do sports; maintenance of athletic life style; goal-setting; staying involved with team; social support from team, other injured athletes and staff and positive contact with media or audience. The findings mirror those of the previous literature. It can be concluded that even if the injury does not change the perception of the strength of the participants’ athletic identity, it does affect the role of the determinants behind it. Athletic identity is regenerated through various ways. Social support from the sport organization and staff seems to be an important factor in maintain athletic self when facing an injury and should therefore be provided. Strong intrinsic motivation to do sports, acknowledging that injuries are part of sport, and staying on athletic life rhythm also help athletes to maintain their athletic identity. The present study raises the possibility that maintaining strong athletic identity does not exclude positive outcome in regards of other identities.
Effects of crude extracts on some selected physiological parameters of French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) infected with rust (Uromyces appendiculatus)

Rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) is a major foliar disease that reduces yield and pod quality in beans. The field trial of French beans was established at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Single plant extracts and combinations of Boscia angustifolia, Zanthoxylum chalybeum and Melea volkensii were used to evaluate their effect on U. appendiculatus in the field. During the growing period, beans were infected with rust from natural inoculum at the field. Physiological responses such as carbon dioxide assimilation, transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and photosynthetic rate (Pn) of French beans treatments were examined after extracts of three antifungal plants were sprayed. B. angustifolia - Z. chalybeum combination and single plant treatment M. volkensii had positive effects on enhancing the rate of photosynthesis in bean plants. The high regressions between stomatal conductance and rate of transpiration in the treatments indicated that stomatal conductance and rate of transpiration were interdependent and it was interpreted to mean that stomatal conductance enhanced rate of transpiration at different times of the day. These plant extracts however caused an increase in the rate of transpiration of the bean plants, which resulted in loss of water. Results reveal bioactive potential of the flora from M. volkensii and a combination of B. angustifolia and Z. chalybeum to produce metabolites with potential applications as botanical pesticides. Key words: Antifungal, beans, physiological responses, rust.
Patterns and correlates of solid waste disposal practices in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania

This study examines the patterns and correlations of solid waste disposal practices among households in urbanized and populated Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania. The Tanzanian Household Budget Survey (HBS) data covering many households' characteristics was used. Multinomial Logit (MNL) model was applied to examine the underlying correlates of choosing ways to dispose garbage. About 35% of the households used rubbish bin, and approximately 24% used throwing out option. MNL estimation suggest that distance, home ownership, household expenditure proxy for income, age, proportions of family members and education were statistically significant in influencing the choice of ways to dispose garbage in the city. This study suggest to policy makers to rely much on policies that will reduce poverty and raise households’ income. And the city to increase the supply of waste containers on streets, the number of municipal vehicles for garbage collection and to ensure there is regular collection. Key words: Solid waste, garbage, waste disposal, waste management, Multinomial Logit model.
A STUDY ON USE OF RICE HUSK ASH IN CONCRETE

In the present investigation, a feasibility study is made to use Rice Husk Ash as an admixture to an already replaced Cement with fly ash (Portland Pozzolana Cement) in Concrete, and an attempt has been made to investigate the strength parameters of concrete (Compressive and Flexural). For control concrete, IS method of mix design is adopted and considering this a basis, mix design for replacement method has been made. Five different replacement levels namely 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5% and 15% are chosen for the study concern to replacement method. Large range of curing periods starting from 3days, 7days, 28days and 56days are considered in the present study.