Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of drying and long-term storage on colour and carotenoids content of giant pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)

The objective of this study was to characterise the quality of giant pumpkin dried in different conditions as well as to determine the best combination(s) of drying conditions, based on colour and chemical composition of dried material. Samples of three pumpkin cultivars (Amazonka, Justynka957 and Ambar) were dried at five different temperatures (40C, 50C, 60C, 70C, 80C) using three different drying methods (forced convection in tunnel dryer, natural convection in chamber dryer and hybrid drying which combined a tunnel drying and fluidized-bed drying). It has been shown that variability of samples resulted primarily from the redness, yellowness, lutein and β-carotene. Samples were scored based on the range of responses identified by factor analysis in order to find an optimal combination of cultivar, temperature and drying method. The three subsequent highest scores were obtained for samples of Ambar cultivar, dried using hybrid drying at 40, 60 and 80C respectively. Symbols: L – colour lightness [–] a – colour redness [–] b – colour yellowness [–] DM – dry matter [g · g] TS – total sugars [g · g] RS – reducing sugars [g · g] LU – lutein [mg · g] Correspondence: Mariusz Sojak, Katedra Podstaw Inżynierii, Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, ul. Nowoursynowska 164, 02-787 Warszawa, phone: 22 59 346 16, e-mail: mariusz–sojak@sggw.pl LY – lycopene [mg · g–1] BC – β-carotene [mg · g] B – pumpkin cultivar Ambar Z – pumpkin cultivar Amazonka J – pumpkin cultivar Justynka F – forced convection in a tunnel dryer N – natural convection in a chamber dryer H – hybrid drying C×D – interaction of cultivar and drying method T – drying temperature [C] C – cultivar D – drying method RSQ – R-squared index [–]
A robust graph optimization realization of tightly coupled GNSS/INS integrated navigation system for urban vehicles

This paper describes a robust integrated positioning method to provide ground vehicles in urban environments with accurate and reliable localization results. The localization problem is formulated as a maximum a posteriori probability estimation and solved using graph optimization instead of Bayesian filter. Graph optimization exploits the inherent sparsity of the observation process to satisfy the real-time requirement and only updates the incremental portion of the variables with each new incoming measurement. Unlike the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) in a typical tightly coupled Global Navigation Satellite System/Inertial Navigation System (GNSS/INS) integrated system, optimization iterates the solution for the entire trajectory. Thus, previous INS measurements may provide redundant motion constraints for satellite fault detection. With the help of data redundancy, we add a new variable that presents reliability of GNSS measurement to the original state vector for adjusting the weight of corresponding pseudorange residual and exclude faulty measurements. The proposed method is demonstrated on datasets with artificial noise, simulating a moving vehicle equipped with GNSS receiver and inertial measurement unit. Compared with the solutions obtained by the EKF with innovation filtering, the new reliability factor can indicate the satellite faults effectively and provide successful positioning despite contaminated observations.
Bound Water and Hydroxyproline are the essential contributors to collagen molecular stability: A Computational Analysis

Being the primarily organic phase of bone, collagen type I is an important contributor to bone’s mechanical resistance to fracture. Gaining mechanistic insight into collagen stabilization mechanism is critical to developing new targets to prevent bone fracture. The role of water and hydroxyproline (Hyp) in collagen stability mechanism is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of Hyp and bound water on the collagen molecular stability. Four collagen like-peptide (CLP) models were compared in terms of conformational energies and hydrogen bonding types. CLP1 model represents regular collagen structure without water molecules while CLP2 model represents collagen structure without water and Hyp residue. CLPW1 and CLPW2 are the models of CLP1 and CLP2 with water molecules around them, respectively. Cumulative interpreting of four CLPs models was shed light on the factors influencing collagen stability in the frame of steric energy. Total steric energy was ordered as: CLP2 > CLP1 > CLPW2 > CLPW1, indicating that CLPW1 was the most stable collagen model. On the other hand, CLP2 was the least stable collagen model based on the steric energy comparison. In addition, the hydrogen bonding observed in the four models reveled that water molecules around the models help in binding collagen triple helix through different water bridges since they contributed extra way for binding of triple chains. Moreover, some of the observed water bridges involved directly the presence of Hyp residue. Cumulative results suggested the important role of bound water molecules and Hyp on collagen molecular stability.
Effect of Hydrothermal, Phytase, or Organic Acid Pretreatments of Canola Meal on Phytate Level of the Meal

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of pretreatment of canola meal with hydrothermal processing, phytase, and organic acid on phytate degradation. Six experiments were conducted processing canola meal in a hydrothermal reactor with different moisture conditions (15-350%), acid additions (hydrochloric acid, citric acid, malic acid, and lactic acid), pH (pH 4, 5, and 6), incubation times (30, 45, and 60 min), and phytase enzymes (‘Quantum Blue’ and ‘Finase’). The study revealed that although hydrothermal pretreatment of canola meal with phytase and higher moisture (200-350%) would allow 24.8-36% phytate breakdown, and a higher moisture addition (200%) combined with organic acid increased even further to 46.6%, lower moisture (50 and 100%) and organic acid was still effective in reducing phytate (by 7.9-19.4%). Optimal pH and incubation time in hydrothermal reactor for phytase efficacy were determined to be pH 4 and 5 and 30 to 60 min. Still, the results of the current study suggest that pretreatments should be further evaluated to optimize the efficacy of enzyme and organic acids as prebiotics to reduce anti-nutrients in canola meal, thus improving its utilization for livestock and reducing excretion to environment.
High-resolution SAXS setup with tuneable resolution in direct and reciprocal space: a new tool to study ordered nanostructures

A novel compact small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) setup with tuneable resolution in both direct and reciprocal space has been designed and tested for the study of nanostructured materials with a hierarchical structure. The setup exploits a set of compound refractive lenses that focus the X-ray beam at the detector position. Anodic alumina membranes with a self-ordered porous structure were chosen as test samples. The setup allows patterns to be collected with a minimum scattering vector value of 0.001 nm−1 and gives the possibility for an easy continuous switch between taking high-resolution statistically averaged diffraction data of macroscopically large sample volumes and lower-resolution diffraction on a small single domain of the anodic aluminium oxide film. It is revealed that the pores are longitudinal and their ordering within each domain tends towards the ideal hexagonal structure, whereas the in-plane orientation of the pore arrays changes from domain to domain. The possible advantages and disadvantages of the proposed compact SAXS scheme are discussed.
Analysis of multiclass cyanotoxins (microcystins, anabaenopeptins, cylindrospermopsin and anatoxins) in lake waters using on-line SPE liquid chromatography high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry

An on-line SPE-UHPLC-HRMS method was optimized for filtration, on-line SPE, and HRMS conditions for the rapid screening of 17 cyanotoxins. 8 cyanotoxins were detected with 75% of lakes containing MC-LR and 38% containing anabaenopeptins (A or B).
Alleviation of alternate bearing phenomenon in mango (Mangifera indica L.) trees using boron and nitrogen fertilization

Abstract This investigation was conducted during two successive seasons (2014/2015) and (2015/2016) using 15 years old productive mango (Mangifera indica) trees cv. Zebda. The trees were grown at AlMalak Valley Farm, El-Sharkeya Governorate- Egypt (30–51° North; 32–53° East). Trees were planted 8 × 8 meter within and between rows in sandy soil under drip irrigation system using the Nile water. The objective of this study is to alleviate alternate bearing in cv. Zebda using mineral nutrients (nitrogen in the on year and boron in the off year). Treatments included three concentrations of nitrogen (1000, 1250, 1500 g/tree/year) and three concentrations of boron (0.0, 250, 500 mg L−1). Nitrogen was applied to the soil as ammonium sulfate and boron was applied as foliar spray of boric acid. The extra amount of nitrogen fertilizer (250 and 500 g N/tree) was applied at three installments in (May, June and July). Treatment was arranged in a factorial Completely Randomized Block Design with three replicates for each treatment. Results show that the on-year nitrogen fertilization significantly increased mango tree vegetative growth (number of shoot/branch, shoot length, shoot thickness, number of leaves/meter and leaf area) and yield. The average yield in the on year is 85.5 kg/tree at 1250 g N/tree but 67.4 Kilogram/tree at 1000 g N/tree (the control treatment). While in the off year boron foliar application resulted in a significant increase in flowering, initial fruit set, final fruit set and fruit yield. The average yield in the off year is 47 kg/tree at 250 mg L−1 boron but 9 kg/tree at 0.0 mg L−1 boron rate (the control treatment). The interaction treatment of 250 mg L−1 boron + 1500 g nitrogen/tree is the best treatment as it resulted in the highest values for all the tested parameters. The average yield of this treatment is 53.5 kg/tree. This treatment helps alleviate alternate bearing phenomenon by 41% and obtain the highest economic yield in the off-year, i.e. increased yield by 5.9 fold.
Characterization of aerosol hygroscopicity using Raman lidar measurements at the EARLINET station of Payerne

Abstract. This study focuses on the analysis of aerosol hygroscopicity using remote sensing techniques. Continuous observations of aerosol backscatter coefficient (βaer), temperature (T) and water vapor mixing ratio (r) have been performed by means of a Raman lidar system at the aerological station of MeteoSwiss at Payerne (Switzerland) since 2008. These measurements allow us to monitor in a continuous way any change in aerosol properties as a function of the relative humidity (RH). These changes can be observed either in time at a constant altitude or in altitude at a constant time. The accuracy and precision of RH measurements from the lidar have been evaluated using the radiosonde (RS) technique as a reference. A total of 172 RS profiles were used in this intercomparison, which revealed a bias smaller than 4 % RH and a standard deviation smaller than 10 % RH between both techniques in the whole (in lower) troposphere at nighttime (at daytime), indicating the good performance of the lidar for characterizing RH. A methodology to identify situations favorable to studying aerosol hygroscopicity has been established, and the aerosol hygroscopicity has been characterized by means of the backscatter enhancement factor (fβ). Two case studies, corresponding to different types of aerosol, are used to illustrate the potential of this methodology. The first case corresponds to a mixture of rural aerosol and smoke particles (smoke mixture), which showed a higher hygroscopicity (fβ355=2.8 and fβ1064=1.8 in the RH range 73 %–97 %) than the second case, in which mineral dust was present (fβ355=1.2 and fβ1064=1.1 in the RH range 68 %–84 %). The higher sensitivity of the shortest wavelength to hygroscopic growth was qualitatively reproduced using Mie simulations. In addition, a good agreement was found between the hygroscopic analysis done in the vertical and in time for Case I, where the latter also allowed us to observe the hydration and dehydration of the smoke mixture. Finally, the impact of aerosol hygroscopicity on the Earth's radiative balance has been evaluated using the GAME (Global Atmospheric Model) radiative transfer model. The model showed an impact with an increase in absolute value of 2.4 W m−2 at the surface with respect to the dry conditions for the hygroscopic layer of Case I (smoke mixture).
Research Methods for Sports Performance Analysis

1. Performance Analysis Research 2. Research Processes 3. Selecting a Research Question 4. Specifying the Research Problem 5. Ethical Issues in Performance Analysis 6. Devising Methods 7. Measurement Issues in Performance Analysis 8. Analysis of Quantitative Sports Performance Data 9. Analysis of Qualitative Sports Performance Data 10. Writing up Performance Analysis Research
Fatigue strength of weathered and deteriorated riveted members, October 1984. (DOT/OST/P-34/85/016) 138p

A study has been performed on the fatigue resistance of corroded and deteriorated riveted members. The need for this study arose from the concern with the large number of riveted structures functioning today that have various degrees of corrosion and potential fatigue damage. The validity of AASHTO and American Railway Engineering Association category D that is generally used for riveted connections is uncertain, particularly near the fatigue limit. A series of fatigue tests was carried out on 80-year-old steel bridge stringers with a riveted built-up cross section. The stringers were significantly corroded along the compression flange and locally at the tension flange. The stress ranges that were applied were selected between the fatigue limits of design categories C and D. The corroded region of the tension flange proved to be the most severe condition, varying between categories C and E. The category D fatigue limit appears to be applicable to the rivet detail studied. The reduction of the compression flanges had no effect on the performance of the member. A strong frictional bond between section components was found to have a beneficial effect on fatigue life. A series of reduced-temperature tests on a cracked stringer did not induce fracture of the cracked component and confirmed the redundancy of riveted built-up sections fabricated from mild steel. (Author)
KVM, OpenVZ and Linux Containers: Performance Comparison of Virtualization for Web Conferencing Systems

Virtualization is an important technology in data center environment due to its useful features such as server consolidation, power saving, live migration and faster server provisioning. However, virtualization sometimes incurs some performance loss. Operating system-level virtualization could be an alternative to classical virtualization as it potentially reduces overhead and thus improves the utilization of data centers. Different virtualization platforms differ in terms of features, performance and virtualization overhead. Web conferencing systems become popular as the clients' bandwidth has increased in last years, in educational, researching and business fields. The BigBlueButton is a web conferencing system that allows multiple users join a conference room, having classes and share their microphone, webcam, desktop and files. In this paper, we use KVM, OpenVZ and Linux Containers as virtualization platforms to deploy conference systems using BigBlueButton. We explore its virtual performance under a real-world workload and a set of benchmarks that stress different aspects such as computing power, latency and memory, I/O and network bandwidth. These results can be a valuable information to be taken in account by systems administrators, for capacity planning and systems designing. Which, in turn, lead to cost savings for companies.
Enabling Energy-Efficient Physical Computing through Analog Abstraction and IP Reuse

This paper shows the first step in analog (and mixed signal) abstraction utilized in large-scale Field Programmable Analog Arrays (FPAA), encoded in the open-source SciLab/Xcos based toolset. Having any opportunity of a wide-scale utilization of ultra-low power technology both requires programmability/reconfigurability as well as abstractable tools. Abstraction is essential both make systems rapidly, as well as reduce the barrier for a number of users to use ultra-low power physical computing techniques. Analog devices, circuits, and systems are abstractable and retain their energy efficient opportunities compared with custom digital hardware. We will present the analog (and mixed signal) abstraction developed for the open-source toolkit used for the SoC FPAAs. Abstraction of Blocks in the FPAA block library makes the SoC FPAA ecosystem accessible to system-level designers while still enabling circuit designers the freedom to build at a low level. Multiple working test cases of various levels of complexity illustrate the analog abstraction capability. The FPAA block library provides a starting point for discussing the fundamental block concepts of analog computational approaches.
Pelatihan Pengembangan Media Pembelajaran Berbasis Teknologi Informasi Bagi Guru-guru SMP

Abstract – IbM activities for junior high school teachers through training the development of information technology-based learning media is an activitiy service-oriented society in the field of education. Learning activities which are still conventional in nature will have an impact on students’ boredom so will experience difficulties in understanding the basic concepts. As identified, problems found is the lack of ability of teachers in mastery of technology results in lack of teachres’ creativity in preparation of design learning in rder to support the teaching and learning activities. The training of information technology-based learning media development helps teachers in preparing the attractive and up-to-date learning materials for students by using the facilities and access to information technology. The stages of activities implementation conducted in the form of training for teachers in deigning teaching material by using various applications, such as, the making of slides by using power point and video applications, and also, by using gadget as learning media and grade management. The next stage is the teacher/trainee mentoring in designing the appropriate learning media according to the training given. Key words : learning media, information technology, gadget, school, junior high school Ringkasan— Kegiatan IbM guru-guru SMP melalui pelatihan pengembangan media pembelajaran berbasis teknologi informasi merupakan kegiatan Pengabdian pada Masyarakat yang berorientasi pada bidang pendidikan. Kegiatan pembelajaran yang masih bersifat konvensional akan berdampak pada kebosanan siswa sehingga mengakibatkan kesulitan dalam memahami konsep dasar. Permasalahan yang ditemukan adalah kurangnya kemampuan guru dalam penguasaan teknologi mengakibatkan kurang kreatifnya penyusunan rancangan pembelajaran dalam menunjang kegiatan belajar mengajar. Pelatihan pengembangan media pembelajaran berbasis teknologi informasi membantu guru dalam mempersiapkan materi belajar yang menarik dan up to date bagi siswa menggunakan fasilitas dan akses teknologi informasi. Tahapan pelaksanaan kegiatan yang dilakukan berupa pelatihan bagi para guru dalam merancang materi ajar dengan menggunakan berbagai aplikasi antara lain pembuatan slide menggunakan power point dan video, pemanfaatan gadget sebagai media belajar serta pengelolaan nilai. Tahapan selanjutnya adalah pendampingan guru/peserta pelatihan dalam mendesain perangkat-perangkat pembelajaran sesuai pelatihan yang diberikan. Kata kunci : Media pembelajaran, teknologi informasi, gadget, sekolah, SMP
Teen Driver Risk inRelation to Age andNumber of Passengers

The presence of passengers in a vehicle has been shown to increase the risk of fatal crash involvement for teenage drivers; however, the studies that have quantified this relationship were based on data that are now over a decade old. In the years since these studies, most U.S. states have enacted graduated driver licensing systems that limit the number of passengers that young drivers are allowed to carry during their first several months of independent driving, and the number of 16- and 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes each year has decreased by more than half. The objective of this study was to provide updated estimates of the relationship between the number and ages of passengers present and the crash risk per mile driven of 16- and 17-year-old drivers. Data on crashes that occurred in years 2007–2010 and data on the number of miles driven in years 2008–2009 were examined. Rates of crash involvement and driver death per mile driven were estimated for 16- and 17-year-old drivers with no passengers; with one, two, and three or more passengers younger than age 21 (and no older passengers); and with at least one passenger aged 35 or older. The results show that although the overall number of teen driver fatalities has decreased substantially over the past several years, carrying young passengers is still a significant risk factor for young drivers. In contrast, carrying adult passengers significantly reduces the risks of crash involvement.
Business Creation, Innovation, and Regional Development: Evidence from China’s Thirty-Year Economic Transition

Using a panel of China’s 31 provinces over 19782008, we examine the effects of entrepreneurship on economic growth in the context of China’s transformation from a centrally planned to a market-oriented economy. We divide entrepreneurship into two types: one is business creation and the other is innovation. Our GMM estimation results show that both types of entrepreneurship have significantly positive effects on growth rate of China’s GDP per capita over the sample period. Specifically, annual growth rate will increase by 0.8-1.4 percentage points if business creation entrepreneurship (measured by non-public employment share in total urban employment) increases by 10 percentage points. And annual growth rate will increase by 0.12-0.16 percentage points if innovation entrepreneurship (measured by number of patents granted) increases by 10 percent. Our results are robust even when we control for different sets of demographical and institutional variables. China’s experience shows that an authoritarian political regime does not conflict with entrepreneurs’ role. Keywords—business creation; China; economic growth; entrepreneurship; innovation JEL Classification: L26, O15, O53
Detection of porcine DNA in cooked meatballs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay

This study was conducted to detect the presence of porcine DNA in meatballs using polymerase chain (PCR) reaction assay targeted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) species-specific gene. Meatballs spiked with 1.0% (w/w) and 5.0% (w/w) porcine meat and gelatin, respectively, were prepared and heat-treated using five (n=5) cooking methods: boiling, pan-frying, roasting, microwaving and autoclaving. Two pairs of mtDNA primers were targeted in short sequences using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, producing 212and 83-bp amplicons. Electrophoresis analysis showed positive results for porcine DNA at 1.0% and 5.0% for both porcine meat and gelatin for all of the different cooking techniques. Thus, PCR analysis using species-specific primers was demonstrated to be very useful for the detection of porcine DNA in cooked meatballs.