Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of swimming activity on lung function parameters among smoking and non-smoking youth – research extended

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of regular swimming activity on the respiratory system of smokers and non-smokers. Methods. The study included 196 students, aged 19 to 24 years, attending weekly swimming classes. All students underwent pulmonary function testing before and after participating in a swimming program for 10 months. Measurements included forced vital capacity (FVc), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure at the mouth (PImax, PEmax) and the percentage carboxyhemoglobin level in blood (%coHb) were also measured. Results. After 10 months of regular swimming activity the values of FVc, PEF, MIP and MEP increased in the non-smoking as well as in the smoking group, while the FEV1 increased only among smokers. The percentage of coHb level in the blood decreased in both groups. Conclusions. The study confirmed the positive effect of swimming on respiratory system function and the importance of promoting physical activity such as swimming among cigarette smokers as well as non-smokers.
Ethological and phenetic characterization of sea turtle's fishing stock in Jardines del Rey archipelago (Cuba)

Monthly harvests of sea turtles fishing resource were characterized in the Cuban fishery zone D (Jardines del Rey), during fishing periods from 2004 to 2006. We recorded the variables: straight carapace length (SCL) divided into five classes, movement direction, tag presence, sex class, maturation status, and breeding condition in females. All of the meshed sea turtles moved in a northwest to southeast direction. Overall, few tagged individuals were captured. Of those tagged individuals captured, none had been tagged in Cuban waters. Captured Caretta caretta were frequent throughout all fishing periods with typical macrobenthos species in the stomach content, while Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata were concentrated during August-October which implies a seasonal capture for both species. Females and immature individuals prevailed in every month for all three species. However, breeding females were primiparous and most frequently in E. imbricata during August and September. Captures of E. imbricata breeding females were coincident with the nesting peaks of some Caribbean source populations, but not with the main Cuban nesting population. Thus, Jardines del Rey is a migratory corridor for this species while for the other species it also constitutes a foraging ground. In E. imbricata the SCL class composition in the 2000s varied significantly in comparison with that of the 1990s, with a temporal decrease of the longest sizes. Consequently, it is probable that this species has been overfished. The use of the E. imbricata sexual maturity criteria assessed by the Cuban legal fishery to manage other sea turtle species was a mistake according to the literature data. Keywords Caretta caretta; Chelonia mydas; Eretmochelys imbricate; Fishing resource; Harvest; Cuba
SAFETY OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS PERSPECTIVES IN THE CONTEXT OF CURRENT PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES

The safety of products is one essential feature on the way to approval. Methods of safety analysis are applied to ensure this. Facing growing demand for individual products and stricter regulations, these analyses require increasing efforts. In mechanical and mechatronic engineering, these analyses in practice are dominated by traditional methods. Current research aims to improve and enhance this process of considering safety during all stages in design. However, these works mainly focus on software or embedded systems. Thus, this paper aims to understand the current practices and challenges in mechanical or mechatronic engineering. It examines existing approaches from literature and records the industrial practices within an interview study. Challenges in safety analysis are discussed with special focus on increasing variance and user innovation concepts. By that our paper contributes to a better understanding of current and upcoming challenges in the domain of mechanical and mechatronic engineering and identifies the needs and directions for further research.
Chemical Composition and Allelopathic Activity of the Essential Oil from Callistemon viminalis (Myrtaceae) Blossoms on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Seedlings

The extraction of essential oils was performed by using the technique of hydrodistillation modified Clevenger apparatus, identification and quantification of the constituents was achieved by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry, and Gas Chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. Assessment of allelopathic activity was evaluated with the use of the method that assesses the direct contact of essential oils on germination and vigor of lettuce seeds. The major constituents that characterize the essential oil from the flowers of Callistemon viminalis were 1, 8-cineole, α-pinene and limonene at concentrations of 66.9%, 16.0% and 10.0%, respectively. The essential oil presented allelopathic activity at intensities that varied proportionately to the concentration of the essential oil, with a reduction in the percentage of germination and the germination speed index (GSI) of lettuce seeds and in the dry mass and length of shoots and roots of lettuce seedlings.
Legitimacy Theory and Environmental Practices: Short Notes

Legitimacy theory is one of the most discussed theories to explain the phenomenon of voluntary social and environmental disclosures in corporate communication. Consistent with the notion of legitimacy theory, companies seek to gain, maintain or repair their legitimacy by using social and environmental reporting. Legitimacy theory may provide useful insights for corporate social and environmental disclosures. However, there are a number of gaps in the literature dealing with legitimacy theory, which have not been addressed, such as the development of a general framework of legitimacy theory. The paper is mainly concerned with reviewing the literature of legitimacy theory in an attempt to identify the necessary characteristics of this theory. There is a lack of research into framework of legitimacy theory. The paper is mainly concerned with a bringing some coherence to the framework of legitimacy theory and corporate environmental practices. The understanding of the nature of such theory can help in explaining corporate environmental practices.
What factors affect physicians' decisions to use an e-health care system?

Prior studies have not explored physician’s attitudes toward, and behavior and willingness to accept an e-health care system. However, physicians can induce demand for their services. The development of the high-tech asthma care mobile service (ACMS) in Taiwan provided a means of exploring key factors in a physician’s choice of using an ACMS. The study was based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and integrated “subjective norm,” “innovativeness,” and “managerial support” to understand and predict physicians’ attitudes and behavioral intentions toward adopting high-tech healthcare systems such as the ACMS. Of 700 questionnaires distributed to physicians with experience using ACMS, 504 completed returns were received (a 72% response rate). The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method. The results of the study showed that the model selected to explain and predict utilization of the ACMS had high explanatory power and was a good-fit model. The most critical factor that affected behavioral intentions related to ACMS was user attitude, followed by perceived usefulness, managerial support, subjective norm, perceived ease of use, and innovativeness.
ALTITUDINAL CHANGES IN DOMINANCE-DIVERSITY AND SPECIES RICHNESS OF TREE SPECIES IN A TEMPERATE FOREST OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA

In this study, we examined the species composition, diversity and concentration of dominance of tree species along an altitudinal gradient of Garhwal Himalaya. Vegetational analysis of tree species was analysed identifying four forest stands along an altitude of (1200-1800m). Quercus leucotrichophora emerged as a dominant species on the (Stand III, 1600m and Stand IV, 1800m) with the highest IVI values 138.79& 74.49 respectively. The total density ranged from 1166 to 1828 trees/ha. Species diversity ranged from 1.00 to 2.07 Maximum diversity reported for Stand IV, 1800m and minimum diversity (1.00) recorded for Stand I, 1200m. (The Journal of American Science. 2008;4(3):46-54). (ISSN 1545-1003).
Mesh association by projection along smoothed‐normal‐vector fields: Association of closed manifolds

The necessity to associate two geometrically distinct meshes arises in many engineering applications. Current mesh-association algorithms have generally been developed for piecewise-linear geometry approximations, and their extension to the high-order geometry representations corresponding to high-order finite element methods is nontrivial. In the present work, we therefore propose a mesh-association method for high-order geometry representations. The associative map defines the image of a point on a mesh as its projection along a so-called smoothed-normal-vector field onto the other mesh. The smoothed-normal-vector field is defined by the solution of a modified Helmholtz equation with right-hand-side data corresponding to the normal-vector field. Classical regularity theory conveys that the smoothed-normal-vector field is continuously differentiable, which renders it well suited for a projection-based association. Moreover, the regularity of the smoothed-normal-vector field increases with the regularity of the normal-vector field and, hence, the smoothness of the association increases with the smoothness of the geometry representations. The proposed association method thus accommodates the higher regularity that can be provided by high-order geometry representations. Several important properties of smoothed-normal-projection association are established by analysis and by numerical experiments on closed manifolds.
Experimental Visualization of gas-assisted injection long bubble in a tube

A long bubble-driven fluid flow in a circular tube is visualized by an optical method. A pressurized airflow was injected into an 8 mm I. D. and 1,500 mm long horizontally placed glass tube filled with silicon oil to produce a long bubble in the tube. The images were analyzed by two-value calculation and a thinning process to extract the contour of the bubble front. Data points on the contour were then deduced to undergo a regression curve fitting. The results show a good verification of the theoretically derived non-dimensional contour equation. The deduced penetration speed indicates that the speed is increasing downstream due to the decreasing fluid slug in the tube. The experimental results shows the theoretical bubble profile can be introduced to the simulation study to reduce the calculating time, the ratio (λ) of the bubble width to the diameter of the circular tube. The theoretical bubble profile is more precise in a lower λ value than in a higher one. Keyword:- Long bubble, Contour equation, T wo-phase flow, Correlated number, Optical method
Polish entrepreneurs in Glasgow and entrepreneurial opportunity structure

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a modelized representation of the concept of opportunity structures for ethnic minority entrepreneurs in Glasgow, Scotland, that incorporates the different demand and supply side dimensions influencing entrepreneurial activity. Design/methodology/approach – An appropriate qualitative research design was implemented in order to capture and understand the influence of contextual dimensions on entrepreneurial behaviour of Polish EMEs in Glasgow. As part of the abductive and reflective process of the research, 21 semi-structured interviews were carried out in with Polish EMEs who are sole-owners of businesses. Findings – By contextualising ethnic minority entrepreneurship, the paper reveals the crucial and ambivalent role played by the community (for resource mobilisation and as the primary market) and by Polish EMEs’ perception of the opportunity structure, on their entrepreneurial behaviour. Moreover, it highlights the importance of the household as a contex.
Exploring Importance of Professional Attributes of Nurse Students as Prior Indicators of Preparedness for Successful Clinical Education

Clinical education provides nursing students with an opportunity to develop the competency and skill sets to function within dynamic and complex settings. The unpredicted nature of clinical practice requires students who are well equipped and prepared to face the challenges of clinical learning environment. Little or no researches however addressed the issue of nurse students’ professional attributes as elements of readiness for clinical learning experiences. Despite the fact that educators agree on the importance of professional behaviors they however differ as to the perception of significance of each.
ONE-DIMENSIONAL HOPPING TRANSPORT IN ENERGETICALLY DISORDERED SYSTEMS IN PRESENCE OF A STRONG BIASED FIELD

The hopping drift motion in a one-dimensional regular chain of localization sites with energetic disorder has been studied extensively as a simple model for carrier or excitation transport in disordered systems. This model gives a satisfactory understanding of conductivity experiments on many disordered organic solids, such as molecularly doped polymers, conjugated polymers and deoxyribonucleic acids [1]. In calculation of hopping mobility the important quantity is the elementary jump rate from site i to j with the energy difference Δ. In the case of low temperatures the jump rate can be represented in the form suggested by Miller and Abrahams:
Tests of model predictions for the responses of stellar spectra and absorption-line indices to element abundance variations

A method that is widely used to analyse stellar populations in galaxies is to apply the theoretically derived responses of stellar spectra and line indices to element abundance variations, which are hereafter referred to as response functions. These are applied in a differential way, to base models, in order to generate spectra or indices with different abundance patterns. In this paper, sets of such response functions for three different stellar evolutionary stages are tested with new empirical [Mg/Fe] abundance data for the medium-resolution Isaac Newton Telescope library of empirical spectra (MILES). Recent theoretical models and observations are used to investigate the effects of [Fe/H], [Mg/H] and overall [Z/H] on spectra, via ratios of spectra for similar stars. The global effects of changes in abundance patterns are investigated empirically through direct comparisons of similar stars from MILES, highlighting the impact of abundance effects in the blue part of the spectrum, particularly for lower temperature stars. It is found that the relative behaviour of iron-sensitive line indices are generally well predicted by response functions, whereas Balmer line indices are not. Other indices tend to show large scatter about the predicted mean relations. Implications for element abundance and age studies in stellar populations are discussed and ways forward are suggested to improve the match with the behaviour of spectra and line-strength indices observed in real stars.
Biophysical 3D modeling approach of the Canary Current System: a ROMS-PISCES coupling study

Eastern Boundary Currents host complex ecosystems due to the large variability induced by oceanic processes at the mesoscale (10-100 km) and sub-mesoscale (1-10 km) levels. Biophysical models are increasingly useful tools to reproduce and understand this variability. Although physical-biological models have been developed for the California Current and the Humboldt Current upwelling ecosystems, there is at present little information about the Canary Current Ecosystem (CCE). Here we provide for the first time results of a ROMS (Regional Oceanic Modeling System) circulation model coupled to a PISCES (Pelagic Interaction Scheme for Carbon and Ecosystem Studies) biogeochemical model in the CCE. PISCES simulates marine biological productivity and give insights to the spatial-temporal variability of the carbon and inorganic nutrient (P, N, Si, Fe) cycles. As a first step we have used the inferred modeled chlorophyll as a proxy for the model performance. We observe that the modeled temporal patterns of chlorophyll distribution closely agree with surface chlorophyll observations derived from remote sensing, although concentrations in the open ocean seem to be underestimated. Chlorophyll distribution is also compared with in situ data, observing good agreement. We also provide guidelines to improve the model at forward steps. Las denominadas Corrientes de Frontera Este comprenden ecosistemas complejos debido a la presencia de procesos a mesoscala y submesoscala que aumentan la variabilidad del sistema. Los modelos de acoplamiento fisico-biologico son herramientas bastante interesantes para ayudar a entender dicha variabilidad. Aunque se han desarrollado modelos para los sistemas de afloramiento de las Corrientes de California y de Humboldt, el Ecosistema de la Corriente de Canarias sigue sin ser ampliamente estudiado bajo este enfoque. En este trabajo mostramos los primeros resultados de un modelo acoplado ROMS (Sistema de Modelizacion de Oceanografia Regional)-PISCES (Esquema de Interaccion Pelagica para Estudios de Carbono y de Ecosistemas) para el Ecosistema de la Corriente de Canarias. PISCES simula la productividad oceanica y la variabilidad espacio-temporal de los ciclos de carbono y de nutrientes (P, N, Si, Fe). Como un primer paso, hemos usado la distribucion de clorofila como proxy para determinar el funcionamiento del modelo. Se ha observado que los patrones de la distribucion de clorofila concuerdan bastante bien con las observaciones realizadas por imagenes de satelite, aunque tambien se observa que el modelo subestima los valores de las concentraciones. Tambien se compara la distribucion de clorofila en la columna de agua con datos reales observandose una buena relacion con la clorofila modelada. Ademas, se incluyen directrices a seguir para mejorar el modelo.
Cirrus clouds in the tropical tropopause layer: Role of heterogeneous ice nuclei

The role of heterogeneous ice nuclei in controlling the occurrence and properties of cirrus clouds in the tropical tropopause layer is examined with the help of a Lagrangian microphysical cirrus model that includes competition between insoluble and volatile aerosol particles during ice nucleation and small‐scale temperature perturbations. The potential of ice nuclei to influence the moisture budget of air at entry to the stratosphere appears to be limited. Additional dehydration of up to 0.3 ppmv may occur, relative to 1.3 ppmv caused by pure homogeneous freeze‐drying. In contrast, ice nuclei significantly enhance the frequency of occurrence of subvisible cirrus clouds, even when present at concentrations as low as 0.01 L−1. This is likely to be the largest effect of ice nuclei on cirrus near the tropical tropopause. Ice nuclei may also alter cloud radiative forcing by changing the ice water content, increasing the effective crystal radius, and decreasing the cloud lifetime.
New technologies for teaching and learning: Challenges for higher learning institutions in developing countries

The application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is already changing the organization and delivery of higher education. The pedagogical and socio-economic forces that have driven the higher learning institutions to adopt and incorporate ICTs in teaching and learning include greater information access; greater communication; synchronous and asynchronous learning; increased cooperation and collaboration, cost-effectiveness and pedagogical improvement. However, ICTs have not permeated to a great extent in many higher learning institutions in most developing countries due to many socio-economic and technological circumstances. This paper discusses new learning and training technologies considering their pedagogical, cost and technical implications. It also discusses challenges for integrating these technologies in higher learning institutions with examples from Tanzania, and giving best practice approaches for addressing each of the challenges.
Isolation and Identification of Bacillus megaterium Bacteriophages via AFLP Technique

Ten bacteriophages specific for Bacillus megaterium were isolated from a clay loam soil sample collected from the Experimental Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, Minia, Egypt. Four out of ten isolates were inactivated after exposure to 80°C for 10 min and three isolates were inactivated at 78°C for 10 min. Whereas, the other three phage isolates were inactivated at 82°C for 10 min. The isolated phages were found to be tolerant to wide range of pH 5-9. The longevity in vitro varied between the phage isolates. The highest longevity in vitro was recorded for four phage isolates (192 h). Electron micrographs of the isolated phages indicated that all phage isolates were of the head and tail types. Two different host specificities were observed for the ten phage isolates (two different populations). Six phage isolates (population 1) were found to be infectious to B. megaterium among the four species tested (i.e., B. megaterium, B. circulans, B. polymexa and B. subtilis). Whereas, the rest of the phage isolates (population 2) were found to be infectious to B. megaterium and B. subtilis. The dendrogram separated the 10 phage isolates into two main clusters (two populations) and then each cluster was separated into two sub clusters. Isolates that belonged to the same host range were grouped together. The percentage of variation was 9% among populations and 91% within populations. The five most remarkable isolates were submitted to the bacillus database and named BMC1, BMC2, BMC3, BMC4 and BMC5.
Analysis of Methods for Ellipsoidal Height Estimation – The Case of a Local Geodetic Reference Network

Ghana’s local geodetic reference network is based on the War Office 1926 ellipsoid with data in latitude, longitude and orthometric height without the existence of ellipsoidal height. This situation makes it difficult to apply the standard forward transformation equation for direct conversion of curvilinear geodetic coordinates to its associated cartesian coordinates (X, Y, Z) in the Ghana local geodetic reference network. In order to overcome such a challenge, researchers resort to various techniques to obtain the ellipsoidal height for a local geodetic network. Therefore, this paper evaluates, compares, and discusses different methods for estimating ellipsoidal height for a local geodetic network. The investigated methods are the Abridged Molodensky transformation model, Earth Gravitational Model, and the Orthometric Height approach. To evaluate these methods, their estimated local ellipsoidal height values were implemented in the seven-parameter similarity transformation model of Bursa-Wolf. The performance of each of the methods was assessed based on statistical indicators of Mean Square Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Horizontal Position Error (HE) and Standard Deviation (SD). The statistical findings revealed that, the Abridged Molodensky model produced more reliable transformation results compared with the other methods. It can be concluded that for Ghana’s local geodetic network, the most practicable method for estimating ellipsoidal height is the Abridged Molodensky transformation model. Keywords : Abridged Molodensky Model, Earth Gravitational Model, Orthometric Height, Geodetic Network