Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase conjugation of continuous quantum variables

The phase conjugation of an unknown Gaussian state cannot be realized perfectly by any physical process. A heuristic argument is used to derive a tight lower bound on the noise that must be introduced by an approximate phase conjugation operation. A universal transformation achieving the optimal imperfect phase conjugation is then presented, which is the continuous counterpart of the universal-NOT transformation for quantum bits. In addition, it is shown that more information can be encoded into a pair of conjugate Gaussian states than by using the same state twice.
Binding Profile of the Endogenous Novel Heptapeptide Met-Enkephalin-Gly-Tyr in Zebrafish and Rat Brain

Zebrafish is considered a model organism, not only for the study of the biological functions of vertebrates but also as a tool to analyze the effects of some drugs or toxic agents. Five opioid precursor genes homologous to the mammalian opioid propeptide genes have recently been identified; one of these, the zebrafish proenkephalin, codes a novel heptapeptide, the Met-enkephalin-Gly-Tyr (MEGY). To analyze the pharmacological properties of this novel ligand, we have labeled it with tritium ([3H]MEGY). In addition, we have also synthesized two analogs: (d-Ala2)-MEGY (Y-d-Ala-GFMGY) and (d-Ala2, Val5)-MEGY (Y-d-Ala-GFVGY). The binding profile of these three agents has been studied in zebrafish and rat brain membranes. [3H]MEGY presents one binding site in zebrafish, as well as in rat brain membranes, although it shows a slight higher affinity in zebrafish brain. The observed saturable binding is displaced by naloxone, thus confirming the opioid nature of the binding sites. Competition binding assays indicate that the methionine residue is essential for high-affinity binding of MEGY and probably of other peptidic agonists in zebrafish, whereas the change of a Gly for a d-Ala does not dramatically affect the ligand affinity. Our results show that the percentage of [3H]MEGY displaced by all the ligands studied is higher than 100%, thus inferring that naloxone (used to determine nonspecific binding) does not bind to all the sites labeled by [3H]MEGY. Therefore, we can deduct that some of the MEGY binding sites should not be considered classical opioid sites.
Enhancing Efficiency for Reducing Sugar from Cassava Bagasse by Pretreatment

— Cassava bagasse is one of major biomass wastes in Thailand from starch processing industry, which contains high starch content of about 60%. The object of this study was to investigate the optimal condition for hydrothermally pretreating cassava baggasses with or without acid addition. The pretreated samples were measured reducing sugar yield directly or after enzymatic hydrolysis (alpha-amylase). In enzymatic hydrolysis, the highest reducing sugar content was obtained under hydrothermal conditions for at 125 o C for 30 min. The result shows that pretreating cassava baggasses increased the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. For acid hydrolysis, pretreating cassava baggasses with sulfuric acid at 120 o C for 60 min gave a maximum reducing sugar yield. In this study, sulfuric acid had a greater capacity for hydrolyzing cassava baggasses than phosphoric acid. In comparison, dilute acid hydrolysis to provide a higher yield of reducing sugar than the enzymatic hydrolysis combined hydrothermal pretreatment.
Emerging trends for determining incipient faults by dissolved gas analysis

Dissolved Gas Analysis has been one of the most extensively used tools for health monitoring of power transformers. Since its introduction, researchers have been working on to increase its ability to predict the incipient faults more accurately. DGA methods have been shifting from off-line to online monitoring, and interpretation techniques from key gas and ratio methods to graphical methods and more advanced methods. But presently, the DGA data is used to interpret more detailed information about the faults like severity of the fault or involvement of solid insulation. In this paper, an effort has been made to cover some of such emerging techniques in the field of DGA along with issues like stray gassing problem, scheduling DGA inspection etc. With the development of alternate insulating liquids, DGA of such liquids is gaining importance and have been proactively covered in this paper. Further, the extensive implementation of AI techniques for more flexible interpretation of DGA data is also evaluated through this paper.
Translation and Reliability of the Preliminary Spanish Version of the Sport Imagery Questionnaire

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the preliminary Spanish version of the Sport Imagery Questionnaire (SIQ). The SIQ was developed to examine five cognitive and motivational functions of imagery use. Participants were 81 athletes competing in soccer (n = 43) and roller skating (n = 38), ranging in age from 14 to 29 years (M = 18.10, SD = 3.16). Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency analyses of the scale. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were high indicating that the scale is a reliable instrument for the measurement of imagery use in Spanish athletes. Further psychometric research should now examine factor structure and imagery use across competitive level and type of sport in a larger sample of Spanish athletes.
Krugman and Young revisited: a survey of the sources of productivity growth in a world with less constraints

Young (1994) and Kim and Lau (1994), among others, argue that the “Asian Miracle” of relatively high growth was largely due to increases in factor inputs. Productivity growth would eventually slow because of diminishing returns to factors. Thus total factor productivity growth was not the reason for the Asian Miracle. Krugman (1994) summarized this research, comparing the growth experience of Singapore, among the other Asian Tigers, to that of the Soviet Union and argued that there was reason to expect a similar outcome, namely a collapse of the political institutions due to economic stagnation. Interestingly, Krugman consistently refers to efficiency growth and technical progress as equivalent terms. In this paper and survey we discuss alternative explanations for economic growth in Asia as well as elsewhere in the world in the post WWII years. The alternative explanation is explicit in Krugman's treatise. It is economic growth due to a world with less constraints.
Characterization of Health and Environmental Risks of Pesticide Use in Market-Gardening in the Rural City of Tori-Bossito in Benin, West Africa

A study on the use of pesticides in market-gardening production was carried out on 108 market-gardeners in the rural city of Tori-Bossito in Southern Benin. The objective of the study was to characterize the potential risks of pesticides usage by farmers and the impacts on their health and on the environment. Two risk indexes were calculated for each pesticide: an environmental risk index (ERI) and a health risk index (HRI). First stage larva of the mosquito Aedes aegypti were used as bio-indicator for detecting insecticide residue in vegetable before their harvesting on the farms. The highest ERI were obtained for carbofuran, chlorpyriphos ethyl and endosulfan. Pesticide residues were found in 42% of the samples of leaves of eggplant, cucumber, amaranth and solanum. Vegetables growers used pesticides that may be highly hazardous and which were not registered in most cases. These situations could have unexpected consequences including the exposure of consumers to health hazards.
Research productivity in selected higher education institutions in Nigeria

This paper discusses critical input and output factors of research and development (R&D) in higher education institutions in Nigeria. It also shows quantitative analyses of researchers' productivity using partial productivity approach and an assessment of factors influencing research productivity. Based on a recent research effort, researchers were sampled from 12 leading Universities. They were randomly selected from the fields of Agriculture, Science and Technology/Engineering. Findings from the results reveal that productivity of the researchers is of medium category. Also, input factors such as: qualifications of researchers, years of experience, research collaborations and time spent on research; significantly contribute to research productivity.
Triggered codeswitching: A corpus-based evaluation of the original triggering hypothesis and a new alternative

In this article the triggering hypothesis for codeswitching proposed by Michael Clyne is discussed and tested. According to this hypothesis, cognates can facilitate codeswitching of directly preceding or following words. It is argued that the triggering hypothesis in its original form is incompatible with language production models, as it assumes that language choice takes place at the surface structure of utterances, while in bilingual production models language choice takes place along with lemma selection. An adjusted version of the triggering hypothesis is proposed in which triggering takes place during lemma selection and the scope of triggering is extended to basic units in language production. Data from a Dutch–Moroccan Arabic corpus are used for a statistical test of the original and the adjusted triggering theory. The codeswitching patterns found in the data support part of the original triggering hypothesis, but they are best explained by the adjusted triggering theory.
Optimizing Configuration Data using Prescriptive Analytics

Suboptimal or erroneous conﬁguration data in rail automation systems may cause serious safety and cost issues. This research work aims to address continuous optimization of such data by (i) connecting conﬁguration and operation data by integration of heterogeneous data sources, and by (ii) application of prescriptive analytics methods to pro-pose decision options on how to correct and optimize conﬁguration data.
of Tools and Methods for Knowledge Engineering for Planning & Scheduling

In this paper we present a brief overview of the Knowledge Engineering for Planning and Scheduling (KEPS) area in the light of a prospective design process of planning application models. The main discussion is based on the fact that KE is better introduced in the planning world through the design process, more than through the planning techniques. Thus, we examine the fundamental steps in the design process of AI planning domain models considering techniques and methods that have appeared in the research literature. We analyze design phases that have not been received much attention in practical planning literature.
Associations with rabbits and rabbit meat of three different ethnic groups in Stellenbosch, South Africa

OPSOMMING Die vraag kan gevra word of die produksie van konynvleis ‘n lonende mikro-besigheid kan wees. Vir die verbruiker hou dit voordele in: dit verskaf ‘n gesonde vleisalternatief weens die relatief lae vetinhoud, gunstige vetsuursamestelling en hoe proteieninhoud. Terselfdertyd bied dit afwisseling op die spyskaart. Data oor die faktore wat die potensiele verbruik van konynvleis in Suid-Afrika beinvloed, is nie beskikbaar nie. Ten spyte van allerlei soektogte op verskillende wetenskaplike databasisse, naamlik EbscoHost, FSTA, ProQuest, Religion Index, Science Direct en Social Sciences Citation Index, asook populere soekenjins soos Google, is bykans geen literatuur gevind oor die assosiasies van individue met voedsel of met konyne en konynvleis nie, wel oor hulle houding jeens voedsel en hul persepsies van voedsel. Dit ly geen twyfel nie dat mense se assosiasies hul persepsies oor voedsel beinvloed en, op die langtermyn, die aanvaarding van die produk op die mark. Derhalwe is die assosiasies met konyne en konynvleis ondersoek by drie etniese groepe, naamlik swart (n=101), wit (n=102) en bruin respondente (n=101) in Stellenbosch, Suid-Afrika. Daar is gebruik gemaak van ’n vooraf getoetste, gestruktureerde vraelys en daar word in die verslag oor vier kategoriee van vrae wat assosiasies met konyne en konynvleis ondersoek, gerapporteer, naamlik algemene gedagtes wat opkom by die respondent as die woord ‘konynvleis’ hom voordoen (oop vraag); beskrywings vir konynvleis (‘n geslote vraag); landbouprodukte waarmee konynvleis geassosieer word (geslote vraag); en die vraag of bygelowe met konynvleis en konyne geassosieer word (geslote vraag) en, indien wel, is die respondente gevra om daarop uit te brei (oop vraag). Met behulp van chikwadraattoetse is vasgestel dat daar betekenisvolle verskille was tussen die verskillende etniese groepe in die verhouding van die response vir sekere (nie alle) assosiasies tot die getal response per etniese groep vir ‘n bepaalde vraagkategorie. Voorbeelde van sodanige betekenisvolle verskille is dat ‘n oorgrote proporsie blanke respondente konyne met ’n oulike troeteldier (p<0,01) en met die troeteldierbedryf (p<0,01) geassosieer het, terwyl meer swartes en kleurlinge dit met vleis geassosieer het (p<0,01). Daar was betekenisvolle verskille in proporsie binne die etniese groepe vir hulle assosiasie van konyne met bygelowe. Meer swartes (p<0,01) het konyne met bygelowe geassosieer.
Prevention of Metabolic Bone Disease of Prematurity by Optimizing Calcium and Phosphate Contents in Parenteral Nutrition for Premature Infants

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) of prematurity is mainly caused by inadequate amount of calcium and phosphate in parenteral nutrition admixtures given to premature infants in early days of life before full enteral feeding is established. According to published guidelines/ survey of parenteral nutrition for premature infants in Australia, USA and Europe, it is still a common practice to prepare parenteral nutrition admixtures with calcium and phosphate concentration not high enough to achieve the fetal accretion rate. Therefore, as these bones of premature infants grow without adequate supply of calcium and phosphorus, they are under-mineralized. MBD of prematurity is still prevalent worldwide. Solubility of calcium and phosphate has been a limiting factor for provision of adequate amounts of calcium and phosphate in parenteral nutrition. However, this is no longer true because for more than a decade there have already been studies on the use of organic phosphate and organic calcium in parenteral nutrition showing their compatibility at high concentration, which if provided could achieve the fetal accretion rates. In addition, several studies have shown that these organic forms of calcium and phosphate at such high concentrations are mostly retained. The retention rates vary from 80% to 97% across these studies. Therefore we advocate the use of organic phosphate and organic calcium in preparing parenteral nutrition for premature infants. We recommend: for infants less than 1.2 kg administer calcium and phosphate at 2.2 and 1.7 mmol/kg/day when they are growing. At this rate MBD of prematurity could be minimized.
Ground-dwelling arthropod assemblages of partially improved heathlands according to the species of grazer and grazing regime

The creation of improved areas is one way of increasing the productivity of livestock on Cantabrian heathland (NW Spain), a habitat that is frequently located in less favourable mountainous areas where the development of sustainable husbandry is limited. The effect of this on the biodiversity of heathland is unclear and likely to depend on several factors, such as the grazing regime. In order to clarify this situation, the effects of type of vegetation, species of grazer and grazing regime on the composition of the ground-dwelling arthropod fauna of partially improved heathland were determined. The effects of grazing by cattle or sheep and two grazing regimes (cattle or sheep, or both of them together with goats) were studied in eight plots (two replicates per treatment). Each plot included two types of vegetation, gorse (Ulex gallii)-dominated shrubland and improved grassland (Lolium perenne-Trifolium repens). Arthropods were surveyed using pitfall traps. Overall, the composition of the arthropod fauna did not differ between plots grazed by different species of grazer or using different grazing regimes but was significantly associated with the type of vegetation. Most of the opilionids and several carabids clearly preferred shrubland, while lycosids and various carabids were mainly associated with grassland. While the species of grazer affected the faunal composition of grassland, grazing regime was more important in shrubland. Arthropod responses to the grazing treatments were determined by the grazing behaviour of the large herbivores and the habitat requirements of each arthropod taxon. The great structural heterogeneity of the vegetation and the more microhabitats in shrubland grazed by mixed flocks was mainly a result of the goats preferring to browse on the woody vegetation in these areas. The grazing by either sheep or cattle had less of an affect on the fauna of shrubland than grassland.
From diluted magnetic semiconductors to self-organized nanocolumns of GeMn in germanium

While achieving high Curie temperatures (above room temperature) in diluted magnetic semiconductors remains a challenge in the case of well controlled homogeneous alloys, several systems characterized by a strongly inhomogeneous incorporation of the magnetic component appear as promising. Incorporation of manganese into germanium drastically alters the growth conditions, and in certain conditions of low temperature Molecular Beam Epitaxy it leads to the formation of well organized nano-columns of a Mn-rich material, with a crystalline structure in epitaxial relationship with the Mn-poor Germanium matrix. A strong interaction between the Mn atoms in these nanocolums is demonstrated by x-ray absorption spectroscopy, giving rise to a ferromagnetic character as observed through magnetometry and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. Most interesting, the magneto-transport characteristics of the whole structure strongly depend on the magnetic configuration of the nano-columns.
A REVIEW OF ENERGY EFFICIENT ROUTING PROTOCOLS FOR MOBILE AD-HOC NETWORK

This paper presents a thorough survey of recent work addressing energy efficient routing protocols in Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs). There are so many issues and solutions which witness the need of energy management in ad hoc wireless networks. The objective of a routing protocol for MANETs is to support the propagation of data from a sender to all the receivers while trying to use the available bandwidth efficiently in the presence of frequent topology changes. However, offering energy efficient routing is a difficult and challenging task. In recent years, various routing protocols have been proposed for MANETs. These protocols have distinguishing features and use different mechanisms.
Influence of inorganic phosphate and pH on sarcoplasmic reticular ATPase in skinned muscle fibres of Xenopus laevis

1 The influence of 30 mM inorganic phosphate (Pi) and pH (6.2‐7.4) on the rate of ATP utilization was determined in mechanically skinned bundles of myofibrils from the iliofibularis muscle of Xenopus laevis at approximately 5 °C. 2 BDM (2,3‐butanedione monoxime; 10 mM) depressed isometric force production and actomyosin (AM) ATPase activity equally. Therefore sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) ATPase activity could be determined by extrapolation of the total ATPase activity to zero force. 3 The SR ATPase activity without added Pi at pH 7.1 was 42 ± 2 % of the total ATPase activity. Addition of 30 mM Pi reduced SR ATPase activity slightly, by 9 ± 5 %, and depressed force by 62 ± 2 % and AM ATPase activity by 21 ± 6 %. 4 At pH 6.2, force, SR ATPase activity and AM ATPase activity were reduced by 21 ± 5, 61 ± 5 and 10 ± 4 % of their respective values at pH 7.1. 5 The SR ATPase activity at 30 mM Pi and pH 6.2 was reduced markedly to 20 ± 6 % of the value under control conditions, suggesting that the maximum rate of Ca2+ uptake during muscle fatigue was strongly depressed. This reduction was larger than expected on the basis of the effects of Pi and pH alone.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ CHAPTER 25 Contributions of Morphometrics to Medical Entomology

Morphometrics quantitatively describes the morphological variation of objects.When applied to biological forms, it is a particular field of biometrics. In medical entomology, where a major interest is the biology of insects in their natural environment, morphometrics might be considered as a tool for quantifying the phenotypic variation of an organism. Morphometrics focuses on variation, its parameterization, and relation to extrinsic factors. As long as phenotypic variation has environmental and/or genetic causes, morphometrics can help detect local adaptations and genetic divergence among populations. Morphometric characters are related to growth and development, and they are usually continuous.Traditionally, they were estimates of distances between anatomical points called landmarks. More recently, they have come to be the coordinates of these landmarks in a given system of orthogonal axes. We will present here some concepts and statistical analyses related to the use of these data, insisting on their biological relevance, with some examples of applications in medical entomology. Both traditional and geometric approaches will be presented. Special attention is given to applications involving Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), the vectors of Chagas disease in Latin America (see chapter in this book) and Phlebotominae, the vectors of leishmaniasis. Finally, some information will be given about morphometric software. 25.1. 1 From Dimensions to Biology In the absence of artifactual variation, a distance between two anatomical landmarks or their relative position to other such points (see Figs. 25.1 and 25.2), depend on the morphological development of the organism under study; their variation with geography is arguably an effect of both environmental influence and adaptive changes; and their changes from one species to another reflect the process of natural evolution.When properly analyzed, metric-trait variation allows one to read some biological and evolutionary information embedded in the morphology [79,81,91]. One of the earliest morphometric studies is illustrative. After a severe storm in February 1898, among the moribund sparrows taken to the laboratory by Bumpus, some survived, others died. Examining a few measurements of their skeleton, Bumpus showed that “the birds which perished, perished not through accident, but because they were physically disqualified,’’ and “the birds which survived, survived because they possessed certain physical characters’’ [64]. Thus, a simple set of measurements was able to illustrate the Darwinian concept of selection for the most fit. Morphometrics has this ability to make visible to us many aspects of the biology of an organism, such as its physiology, its pathology, and its phenotypic or genetic evolution.
Our experience of the use of thalidomide in the steroid-dependent severe erythema nodosum leprosum.

Sir, Severe, chronic, recurrent erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a serious problem. Patients are in need of effective and safe treatment because there is a danger of steroid dependence. Thalidomide has been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of refractory ENLs. [1] A number of dosage regimens of thalidomide, an expensive drug, have been tried. [1-3] We describe our experience of the use of a new dosage regimen of thalidomide in the management of steroiddependent severe ENLs.