Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENT OF THE CONCRETE CRACKS BY USING BACILLUS SPHAERICUS

Cracks are one of the naturally weaknesses of concrete and they are irreversible. Bacillus Sphaericus, a common soil bacterium induce the precipitation of calcite exhibited its positive potential in selectively consolidating simulated fractures in the consolidation of sand. A compression, flexural and durability tested on mortar cubes and concrete beams treated with bacteria were studied. The effect of different depth of crack on the compression, flexural and durability of concrete was studied. It was found that all the increase in depth of crack reduce the strength of cubes and beams.
A Livestock Trampling Function for Potential Emission Rate of Wind-blown Dust in a Mongolian Temperate Grassland

Mongolian Grasslands is one of the natural dust source regions and it contributes to anthropogenic dust due to its long tradition of raising livestock. Decades of abrupt changes in a nomadic society necessitate a study on effects of livestock trampling on dust emissions, so that research studies may help maintain sustainable ecosystem and well-conditioned atmospheric environment. For scaling the effect strength of trampling, therefore, we conducted a mini-wind tunnel experiment (by PI-SWERL ® device) to measure dust emission fluxes from trampling (at 3 disturbance levels of livestock density, N ) and zero trampling (the background level) at test areas in a Mongolian temperate grassland. We found the substantial increase in dust emissions due to the livestock trampling. This positive effect of trampling on dust emissions was persistent throughout all wind friction velocities, u * (varying from 0.44 to 0.82 ms −1 ). Significantly higher dust loading had occurred after a certain disturbance level has reached by the livestock trampling. Our result suggests that both friction velocity ( u * ) and disturbance level of livestock density ( N ) has enormous combinational effect on dust emission from trampling test surface. Furthermore, we successfully developed a livestock trampling function dependant on u * and N . In the livestock trampling function, almost 4 times greater of determinant power for u * than of for N was determined ( f L ( N , u * ) ∼ N 1.1 u * 4 ). It points that the effect strength of trampling get magnified with an increase in u * , and, therefore dust will emit much as stronger wind prevails at the trampled surfaces. This finding indicates that the effect of trampling can be seen or get into a play in emission when wind is strong. It emphasizes that a better management for livestock allocation coupled with strategies to prevent dust loads is needed, however, there are many uncertainties and assumptions to be improved in this study. The applicability of our result is feasible with a care to other areas beyond the study location.
Population dynamics of Calanopia americana Dahl F., 1894 (Copepoda, Calanoida) in a reef environment in tropical Brazil

The present study aimed to analyze variations in population dynamics of the Copepoda Calanopia americana (C. americana) in a reef area in tropical Brazil. Diurnal and nocturnal samples were collected at a fixed station during ebb tide, over four lunar cycles, and in the dry and rainy seasons. C. americana presence was very frequent (94%) and occurred in nearly all samples. Overall, juveniles presented higher densities than adults, and females were more abundant than males. There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the dry and rainy period for density, biomass and production, with the largest average values observed during the dry season (97.2 ± 91.0 ind.m-3 , 157.64 ± 131.80 µg C m-3 and 34.20 ± 30.36 µg C m-3 day-1 , respectively). In relation to the variation between day and night, the population dynamics of C. americana followed a pattern noted in previous studies, showing density peaks at (522,3 ± 402,68 ind.m-3 ) and lower values during the day (324,0 ± 336,36 ind.m-3 ). During the dry season, the amount of available light coupled with a lower amount of suspended material interferes with the community by increasing the density and influencing the productivity of C. americana. Although some studies have shown the influence of the lunar cycle on the migration processes of C. americana, in this study these variation did not have significant influence on population dynamics. Key-words: lunar cycle, plankton, production, biomass
Arsenic Trioxide for Non Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Hematological Malignancies: A New Frontier

Arsenic trioxide (As 2 O 3 ) has been confirmed to be effective in the treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL). Also, encouraging results have been reported in preclinical studies and pilot clinical trials of As 2 O 3 in other hematological malignancies such as Multiple Myeloma (MM), Myeloplastic syndromes (MDS), T-cell leukemia-lymphoma and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). However, conflicting findings have been reported in non-APL Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The mechanisms of As 2 O 3 activity are complex, with multiple modifications of cell growth and apoptosis control regulations of pro-survival and cell defense molecules, cell cycle arrest, glutathione redox system, p53-dependent apoptotic signals; telomerase activity and caspase pathway. It is now known that other mechanisms are also involved including the immunomodulatory and angiogenesis regulation. Recently there is a trend of investigating whether tetra-arsenic tetra-sulphide will be a better alternative for the arsenic trioxide. In summary this review describes emerging information that provides new insights for As 2 O 3 as a broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of hematological malignancies beyond APL. anti-proliferation; anti-angiogenic
Exploring natural and artificial regeneration techniques for developing high-quality bottomland oak stands

Past abusive practices and rapid growth of competitive species have depleted areas of southern bottomland hardwood forests of high-quality oak (Quercus) species. Current prescriptions indicate that pre-harvest treatments must be implemented as least five years in advance of overstory removal to maintain or increase the proportion of oak. A two-year study was established in 2000 in a mature bottomland oak forest in west Alabama to examine the influence of pre-harvest treatments applied one year in advance of overstory removal on the growth of both natural oak seedlings and underplanted Nuttall oak (Q. nuttallii Palm.) seedlings. The treatments included: control, midstory reduction, and midstory reduction plus vine treatment. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the treatments, natural oak seedlings, planted seedlings, and other commercial species were all 10-20% taller than non-commercial species. In addition, stocking of desirable species increased in the understory reduction plus vine treatment plots compared to either of the other treatments. Based on our data, pre-harvest enrichment planting one year prior to overstory removal coordinated with harvesting during a good mast year can improve the spatial distribution and species composition toward that is more commercially valuable.
FOOD SECURITY IN THE UPPER EAST REGION OF GHANA: A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

Despite significant progress made by the government of Ghana in recent times in reducing poverty incidence in rural areas of the country there still remain some challenges in food access, use and availability. The experience of less developed countries shows that food security has often been negatively affected by climate variability, natural disasters and socio-political instability. The main research question is whether or not poverty reduction always brings about increased food security. This paper examines the food situation in the Upper East Region of Ghana with respect to both irrigated and non-irrigated smallholder farmers with focus on food sources and causes of food insecurity and food insecurity coping strategies. Results of in-depth interviews and desk studies reveal that poverty reduction is not always accompanied by increased food security. However, increased access to agricultural water through small-scale irrigation schemes has a positive impact on the food security status of rural households. Irrigation farmers’ inability to expand their farming ventures is due to a number of constraints, prominent among them are difficulty in securing credit to buy inputs such as seeds, fertilizer and agro-chemicals; high disease infestation of irrigated crops (eg nematodes) and poor maintenance of the schemes. The policy implication is that increased access to food security requires the joint support of government, civil society organisations (NGOs) and the private sector. Key words : Food Security, Irrigation and Poverty
Effect of Wheel Traffic on Crop Performance in North China Plain

Controlled traffic system was an effective solution to soil compaction, thus to promote sustainable development. The objective was to evaluate the effect of small and medium machinery wheel traffic on soil conservation and crop performance in annual two-crop region in North China Plain. Three treatments were included, zero tillage with Controlled Traffic (NTCN), zero tillage with random Traffic (NT) and traditional tillage treatment with random traffic (CK). Base d on the two-year controlled traffic experiment in North China Plain, it was illustrated that controlled traffic system NTCN reduced soil bulk density in 0-30 cm soil layer in crop zone by applying permanent wheel track. Due to the avoiding of compaction, crop performance was enhanced. Both winter wheat and summer maize yield components value were increased in NTCN, compared with NT and CK. Even 30% of the field was occupied by the permanent traffic lanes, controlled traffic still increased total annual yield and WUE by compensating yield loss in winter wheat from the yield benefit in summer maize. It was indicated that controlled traffic system improved soil structure, promoted crop performance and induced higher annual crop yield in the annual two crops region in North China Plain. Although these results are preliminary, it was indicated that controlled traffic system was a valuable farming system in small and medium machinery condition in North China Plain.
In Search of Hedges and Safe Havens in Global Financial Markets

Abstract The aim of the paper is to search for hedges and safe havens within three instrument classes: assets (represented by the S&P500 index), gold and oil prices, and dollar exchange rates. Weekly series of returns of all the instruments from the period January 1995 – June 2015 are analysed. The study is based on conditional correlations between the instruments in different market regimes obtained with the use of copula-DCC GARCH models. It is assumed that different market regimes will be identified by statistical clustering techniques; however, only conditional variances (without conditional covariances) will be taken into account. The reason for this assumption is connected with the fact that variances can be understood as market risk, and, as such, are a good indicator of market conditions. A considerable advantage of such an approach is the lack of need to determine the number of market regimes, as it is established by clustering quality measures. What is more, the methodology used in the paper makes it possible to treat the relations between instruments symmetrically. The results obtained in the study reveal that only dollar exchange rates can be treated as a (strong) hedge and a (strong) safe haven for other instruments, while gold and oil are a hedge for assets.
Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds and Ozone Creation Potential in an Urban Center of Southern Nigeria

The relative contribution of individual volatile organic compounds (VOC) species to photochemical ozone formation depends on their atmospheric concentrations and their oxidation mechanism. In an attempt to evaluate the ozone creation potential of ambient VOCs captured in an urban settlement of Benin City, Nigeria, the VOCs concentrations data collected in field studies at nine measurement sites of different air quality in the city and a background site were analysed. Air samples were collected at human breathing height of 1.5 meters from ground level at each site. Active sampling method using the low volume sampling pump (Acuro, Drager, Lubeck, Germany) was used to drawn the air into the tube; the absorbent was Chromosorb 106. The sampling periods were between May 2010 and June 2011; the period covered both dry and wet seasons. The adsorbed gases were desorbed using solvent extraction method with carbon disulphide as solvent. The extracted solutions were analyzed with gas chromatography and mass spectrometer. The observed concentrations of individual VOCs were determined and maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) coefficient along with rate constants of VOC-OH reactions were applied to assess the ozone formation potential of individual VOC in the ambient atmosphere. Sixteen VOC species were observed at various sites with mixing height in decreasing order: toluene (5.82), mp-xylene (3.58), ethylbenzene (3.46), benzene (2.29), and n-butane (0.84). The ozone formation potential study revealed that, ranking by propyl-equivalent, the alkanes included in this study account for 58% of the total propyl-equivalent concentration. The total ozone creation potential in the atmosphere of the Benin City was calculated to be 281.1 µg/m3. A comparison of total ozone formation potential (OFP) in our study with results obtained from other cities of the world revealed that the total concentration of ozone production in our study is threefold lower than the values reported in China city of Foshan. It is suggested that the sources of this pollutant need to be monitored in the area as a way of curtailing the impact of ozone in this city.
Assessment of salivary and serum oxidative stress and antioxidants as plausible parameters in prediction of ischemic stroke among Iraqi Samples

Background: Oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms involved in neuronal damage induced by free radicals production in ischemic stroke due to ischemiareperfusion. Antioxidants, on the other hand, may provide protection from neuronal damage caused by oxidative stress. Objectives: The present study was designed to measure some oxidative stress marker and antioxidants in serum and saliva of ischemic stroke patients and patients with some stroke related diseases in an attempt to obtain the predictive value for ischemic stroke in stroke –prone individuals. Methods: Serum and salivary Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels , glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and uric acid (UA) were estimated for 150 individuals, fifty of them were patients having recently diagnosed ischemic stroke, seventy five were sex and age matched risk-group patients (patients with hypertension, type2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease ) and other 25 sex and age matched healthy control individuals. Results: Serum GSH is considered as the most powerful predictor for ischemic stroke with critical value (< 1.52μmol/L) followed by serum SOD with critical value ( ≥ 2.09 U/ml) and salivary SOD with critical range ( 1.54-1.80 U/ml) could be an alarming sign for stroke in patients with hypertension and patients with heart diseases. Conclusions: Serum and salivary MDA, SOD, UA and GSH can be used as potential marker for monitoring patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and patients with angina or myocardial infarction to give us an idea about the disease progression toward ischemic stroke.
Terapeuti brevi o terapeuti bravi? Una critica al concetto di terapia breve

Il concetto “terapia breve” viene criticato in quanto sostanzialmente tautologico, e anche basato su varie autocontraddizioni. Tutte le tecniche sperimentate dai cosiddetti terapeuti brevi sono le stesse discusse da sempre nel dibattito sulla teoria della tecnica, sia all’interno che all’esterno della psicoanalisi (si pensi ad esempio al fattore esperienziale, presente nel confronto tra Freud e Ferenczi, e anche nella tradizione della terapia della Gestalt). Non ha senso quindi un dibattito separato sulle terapie brevi. La questione importante e capire se si decide di impostare a priori una durata limitata della terapia (cioe il time-limit setting) per motivi esterni o interni alla teoria (il time-limit setting, tra l’altro, e l’unico elemento caratterizzante il concetto di terapia breve, altrimenti non si potrebbe distinguere tra terapeuti “brevi” e “bravi”). A scopo esemplificativo vengono presentate anche due vignette cliniche uguali e contrarie. [Parole chiave: terapia breve, critica, fattore esperienziale, psicoanalisi, teoria della tecnica]
Domoic acid in phytoplankton net samples and shellfish from the Krka River estuary in the Central Adriatic Sea

This paper deals with the precise identification of species of Pseudo-nitzschia , focusing on those which are a potential source of domoic acid, from the Krka River estuary of the Central Adriatic Sea. Domoic acid was measured in phytoplankton net samples and shellfish collected in the winter and early spring of 2011 and 2012. Domoic acid was only detected in early March 2011, both in plankton net samples and shellfish extracts, during a Pseudo-nitzschia species bloom. The measured concentrations of particulate domoic acid (DA) in filtered concentrated seawater varied from 3.1˗6.2 ng DA ml -1 . In shellfish sample DA concentration was 0.2 μg g -1 . Species belonging to the Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima complex were more common than those from the Pseudo-nitzschia seriata complex. Morphological analyses by electron microscopy revealed the presence of three potentially toxic species: P. calliantha , P. pseudodelicatissima and P. pungens, and one non-toxic species: P. subfraudulenta . However, P. calliantha and P. pseudodelicatissima dominated during the March 2011 bloom. This study presents the first evaluation of particulate domoic acid along the Eastern Adriatic Sea and the first record of the presence of P. calliantha , P. pseudodelicatissima , P. pungens and P. subfraudulenta in the Krka River estuary.
Final year Lean projects: advantages for companies, students and academia

The Integrated Master Degree on Industrial Engineering and Management, from the Department of Production and Systems of University of Minho – Portugal, requires the development of an individual final project which is almost exclusively developed in an industrial context. The degree is awarded upon the successful development of an individual masters’ thesis which directly derives from one such project. The process is triggered by companies which make a general proposal based on specific industrial challenges. The proposal might simply identify the theme and require one or more students to collaborate with them. Many of these projects involve the Lean Production paradigm, which to be successfully implemented, needs a change of culture inside the company that is often promoted by the students themselves. From this partnership there are advantages for both sides: companies, students and academia. Some advantages for students are the opportunity to work in an industrial environment with different professionals, gain some experience, enrich the curriculum, apply and explore the knowledge acquired in the university, transform theories into practice, and develop/apply transversal competences, such as those of teamwork, project management, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication skills, etc. Additionally, students develop awareness for the importance of their professional life, entrepreneurial attitude, and initiative spirit, among others. Beyond the project achievements, such as monetary gains stemmed from shop floor improvements, companies renew their staff, bring new ideas and knowledge, reinforce the links with the university, conduct low cost R&D, uncover new challenges, etc. University and supervisors (academia) gain recognition, practical experience, gain access to case studies and practical examples for classes, and so on. This paper aims to discuss the gains achieved by companies, students and academia, resulting from these industrial projects, and also some drawbacks. These drawbacks are bypassed when healthy partnerships are established, so the paper concludes with some guidelines to achieve this. The methodology applied in this paper uses document analysis for data collection. With respect to data analysis it uses content analysis. The main source of information is a set of master thesis concluded between 2011 and 2013 (inclusive), supervised by some of the authors of this paper.
Mutual Fund Performance: Skill or Luck?

Using a comprehensive data set on (surviving and non-surviving) UK equity mutual funds, we use a cross-section bootstrap methodology to distinguish between 'skill' and 'luck' for individual funds. This methodology allows for non-normality in the idiosyncratic risk of the funds -- a major issue when considering those funds which appear to be either very good or very bad performers, since these are the funds which investors are primarily interested in identifying. Our study points to the existence of stock picking ability among a relatively small number of top performing UK equity mutual funds (i.e. performance which is not solely due to good luck). At the negative end of the performance scale, our analysis strongly rejects the hypothesis that most poor performing funds are merely unlucky. Most of these funds demonstrate 'bad skill'. Recursive estimation and Kalman 'smoothed' coefficients indicate temporal stability in the ex-post performance alpha's of winner and loser portfolios. We also find performance persistence amongst loser but not amongst winner funds.
Study of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism in Egyptian Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Diabetic Kidney Disease

Objective: Diabetic kidney disease DKD (Diabetic nephropathy DN) is considered one of the chronic micro vascular complications of diabetes mellitus and considered the commonest cause leading to chronic renal failure and chronic renal dialysis. Genetic susceptibility has been implicated in DKD. The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is one of the key roles in the renin angiotensin system cascade by converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II which plays a key role in regulation of blood pressure as well as electrolytes and fluid balance. This study addressed the association of (ACE) gene polymorphisms with DN in Egyptian (T2DM) patients. Methods: Our research comprised of 75 cases of T2DM with diabetic kidney disease, 100 cases of T2DM without DKD and 94 healthy volunteers. Different genotypes of ACE gene were determined by SSP-PCR analysis. Results: Gene polymorphism of ACE (DD, ID, II) in diabetic patient with DKD is 44%, 52%, 4% respectively and for T2DM individuals without DKD is 23%, 72%, 5% respectively. (DD) had significant higher frequencies in T2DM patients with DKD compared to those without DKD (p < 0.005) and (ID) had significant higher frequencies in T2DM without DKD (p < 0.0001). These results indicated that there is an association between ACE gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of diabetic patients to be affected by diabetic kidney disease. Conclusion: From our results, we can conclude that genotype of ACE in Egypt DD is the genotype of cases diabetic kidney disease. So the presence of D allele has a significant relation with diabetic kidney disease. Our data confirm the role of ACE in its relationship with diabetic kidney disease in Egyptian type 2 diabetic patients.
STORM AND TSUNAMI INDUCED SEDIMENT TRANSPORT AND MORPHOLOGY CHANGES IN VICINITY OF TIDAL INLETS

INTRODUCTION Abstract: This study comprises of numerical modelling studies on the morphology changes in the vicinity of tidal inlets. Two real case scenarios comprising of a very severe cyclonic storm and the mega Indian Ocean tsunami were considered as case studies. Satellite images before and after the storm were used to study the morphology changes. Sediment transport is estimated utilising available sediment transport formulae and the hydrodynamics forcing obtained from a depth averaged hydrodynamic model.