Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Musicianship, Tonality, and Subjective Time: Musical Sophistication Predicts Retrospective Time Judgements for Tonal (but not Atonal) Chord Progressions

The human experience of time is highly subjective, particularly during music listening. We use music to make time feel like it is passing more quickly, or to distort our memory of how much time has passed, but how does music alter our temporal experience so profoundly? We aimed to replicate Firmino and Bueno’s (2008) observation that tonal complexity in the form of increasingly distant modulations was accompanied by a commensurate underestimation on a time interval reproduction task. We extended their study with an atonal stimulus and collected musical sophistication scores to investigate effects of expertise on time judgements. Here we show that time underestimation for tonally complex stimuli was much smaller than previously reported and was heavily influenced by participants’ musical sophistication. The original study proposed an Expected Development Fraction (EDF) model to explain their results, based on a perceived incompatibility with existing models. However, we report no significant differences in estimations between any of the conditions; instead, expertise was a much more meaningful predictor of time judgements. Our findings appear compatible with prevailing models of retrospective timing. We interpret musical sophistication as a mediating factor for event segmentation, which in turn affected how many chords were recalled during the timing task. Musical sophistication correlated positively with time judgements only for stimuli that followed rules of functional harmony; in the absence of harmonic syntax, it provided no benefits for segmentation. The role of expertise in time judgements has not been properly explored. We provide novel and compelling evidence that expertise significantly affects retrospective timing: particularly expertise for syntactical rules and the chunking of perceptual information.
WEAR CHARACTERISTICS OF LUBRICANTS WITH NANO-DIAMOND PARTICLES ON A TOOL STEEL

Pin-to-disk wear test experiments were conducted in order to investigate the wear characteristics of a commercially available type of oil (5W-40) with NanoDiamond (ND) particles. The upper specimen was a high-carbon chromium steel ball with a diameter of 4 mm, and the lower specimen was tool steel. The applied load was 35N and the sliding speed was 0.18 m/s. The wear tests were run at a sliding distance of 24 km. The friction coefficients and wear rate of the specimens were tested using a commercial oil with different ND concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.02 wt %. The addition of ND particles to the commercial oil was found to reduce the wear rate of the tool steel. The addition of ND particles into the commercial oil was also found to reduce the coefficient of friction of the tool steel. ND particles as a solid additive in oils are shown to improve the tribological behaviour of tool steel. For the tool steel, the best concentrations were found to be 0.015 wt. % and 0.02 wt. % in terms of the wear rate and the friction coefficient, respectively. Further investigates of the optimal concentration of ND particles under various loadings, sliding speeds, oil temperatures and sliding distances are needed.
Semantic Role Labeling for Indian languages

Semantic role labeling, also known as shallow semantic parsing is a task in Natural Language Processing to determine labels of the words or the phrases (group of words) in a sentence. The labels are of the type agent, patient/receiver, goal, temporal, locative or object. It comes under the domain of Artificial Intelligence for the reason that we want to do this task automatically. Formally, the task can be broken into various steps. The first step is to identify the verbs or the predicates in a sentence. The second step consists of detection of the semantic arguments associated with the corresponding predicates in the sentence and the final step would be to label these arguments pertaining to their respective predicates. For instance, in the sentence, “Ram killed Shyam with a gun”, the semantic role labeler should be able to recognize ‘killed’ (represents the phrase “to kill”) as a predicate. Then ‘Ram’ as representing the killer (agent), ‘Shyam’ as the recipient/receiver and “a gun” as representing the theme/object. Such representations are an important step towards figuring the meaning of a sentence. Semantic role labeling (SRL) gives a lower level of abstraction compared to a full syntactic parsing of a sentence. Therefore, it has higher number of classes and groups fewer clauses in each class. For example, “the car belongs to Ram” will need two labels like ‘owned’ and ‘owner’ whereas “the car was sold to Ram” will need two different labels altogether such as ‘theme/goal’ and ‘receiver’ even though these two clauses would be similar if we use subject and object functions. Hence, the labels largely depend on the whole clause rather than just the individual phrase or chunk. In this thesis, we begin with a detailed overview of the literature in the field of semantic role labeling. This includes discussion over the various techniques used to tackle shallow semantic parsing in the past, the development of different datasets built for semantic analysis such as the Propbank and the Framenet and at last we talk about semantic role labeling task for Indian languages. Since most of the Indian Languages are very low-resourced, we have kept our work restricted to only Hindi and Urdu, for which the respective propbanks were good in size. We also give a detailed analysis of the Hindi/Urdu Propbank data sections used by us in our experiments. Next, we present a statistical semantic role labeler for Hindi which is extended to Urdu as well. We propose a set of new features enriching the existing baseline system for these languages. We break the system into two subsequent tasks Argument Identification and Argument Classification respectively.
Performance Automatic Sprinkler Irrigation Management for Production and Quality of Different Egyptian Wheat Varities

The field experiments of current research work were conducted at the research station of the National Research Center, El-Noubaria, El-Behaira Governorate, during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to study the effect of automation sprinkler irrigation management, four Egyptian wheat varieties: Sids 12, Giza 168, Gemmeza 7 and Gemmeza 11 varieties and different water amounts 100, 75 and 50 from soil field capacity FC (%) on yield components and some technological properties. The design experiment was factorial in complete randomized blocks with three replications. The results could be summarized as follows: Grain yield, 1000 kernel weight and moisture in grain at harvest under 100, 75 and 50%FC were increased by (6.7, 5.0; 0.8 %), (6.2, 4.3; 4.9 %) and (5.9, 4.8; 4.6 %), respectively in second season relative to the first season. On the other hand, grain yield, 1000 kernel weight and moisture in grain at harvest under Sids 12, Giza 168, Gemmeza 7 and Gemmeiza 11 varieties increased by (7.1, 4.5; 0.3), (6.9, 5.5; 7.1), (6.3, 3.7; 6.5) and (4.2, 5.1; 2.8), respectively in the second season relative to the first season. Quality parameters % net flour, % of grain protein, % fat, and % total sugar in flour), under water amounts (FC%) were increased by (1.8, 11.5, 19.7; 30.8 %), (1.7, 10.4, 20.7; 18.8 %) and (1.4, 10.7, 9.6; 32.7 %), respectively in the second season relative to the first season. It could be concluded that: 50 and 75 % FC treatment gave the highest values and it has significant differences between results values, so that for best grain quality production purpose using water50 or 75 % FC treatments with a variety of Sids 12 and 94. While for better flour quality we can recommend using also50 or 75% FC but with verity of Giza 168 and Gemmeza 7 .
Animal welfare: impacts of pre-slaughter operations on the current
poultry industry

The pre-slaughter operations are characterized by all the steps after the phase of raising at the farm until hanging of birds on the slaughter line, and this period is relatively faster than the farm phase. Nevertheless, this phase can cause acute stress in broilers, due to the direct handling of the birds at catching and by offering unknown stressful stimuli to the birds during transportation, lairage and hanging on the slaughter line. Other stressful factors such as handling the bird, crating density, impacts on live load, distance and duration of transport between farm and slaughterhouse, and microclimatic conditions in transport and lairage affect the welfare and, consequently, the meat quality of broiler chickens. The effects of these losses will be felt by all sectors of poultry farming. For all these factors, it is important that the poultry production chain be aligned in the near future to meet the external and internal consumers’ requirements regarding animal welfare. Therefore, the aim of this review is to address the main critical points, which affect the welfare of broilers during preslaughter operations in intensive production systems.
Effects Of Various Pre-Sowing Treatments On Germination Of Kei Apple ( Dovyalis Caffra ) Seeds Harvested At Different Maturity Stages

The effect of pre-sowing treatments on the germinating Kei apple seeds harvested at different stages of maturity is being investigated. Germination values recorded were Germination Percent, (GP) Mean Germination Time (MGT), and Time to 50% Germination (T50) compared between seed collected at varying maturity stages as; Green (GN), ripe (RP) and over ripe (OR). Pre-sowing treatments tested were soaking in cold water (CW), soaking in boiling water (HW), and treatment with Indole Acetic Acid (IBA), Abrasion against sand paper (AB), Sulphuric acid (SA) and the control (CNT). Seed maturity was significant (P<0.0001) with the greatest GP for the GN (88.14±0.54) and RP (88.25±0.54) stages. GP from the OR stage differed significantly (P<0.0001) compared to the other two maturity stages and it was associated with the GP (83.46±0.54). The effect of pre-sowing treatments was significant (ANOVA). The comparison between means showed significant differences in germination due to presowing treatments. IBA, CW, HW, AB, gave the highest GP. MGT corresponding to these pre-sowing treatments ranged between 7.9 – 8.0 days. Intermediate GP of 77.01±0.77 was obtained in untreated seeds while the lowest GP which failed to reach 50% was obtained where Sulphuric acid was used. However, the corresponding MGT to sulphuric acid was the least of 4.3±0.04 days and that corresponding to the CNT was 11.0±0.04 days. Seed maturity x pre-sowing treatments interacted significantly to influence germination. It was concluded that since a reasonable GP was obtained from the control, dormancy is not responsible for hindrance of germination and that all pre-sowing treatment are effective in improving germination but SA is not suitable pre-sowing treatment. [Hae. M and Funnah S.M. Effects Of Various Pre-Sowing Treatments On Germination Of Kei Apple (Dovyalis Caffra) Seeds Harvested At Different Maturity Stages. Life Science Journal. 2011;8(S2):100-105] (ISSN: 1097 – 8135).
The Correlation between a Dysfunctional Mirror Neuron System and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Frequently explored in macaque monkeys, the mirror neuron system (MNS) has demonstrated much influence over the development of behavioral patterns of animals. Since its discovery in macaque monkeys, research about MNS has extended to the development of humans. Researchers have deduced that the cognitive functions of MNS are essential for daily learning and social interactions such as executing imitation, understanding the actions of others, and expressing empathy. Furthermore, recent research has revealed a potential correlation between the impairment of these MNS functions in individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As individuals with ASD progress into adulthood, deficiencies in the functions controlled by MNS become more apparent such as socialization and communication. When individuals with ASD perform activities that are regulated by MNS functions, the putative regions of the brain where these functions are localized reveal little to no activity. Additionally, the structural development of these putative regions in ASD individuals is atypical compared to persons without ASD. Particular studies have shown simultaneous activity of another neural system, known as the mentalizing system, with that of MNS in ASD individuals. The abnormal levels of crosstalk between the MNS and the mentalizing system appears to be a direction for further analysis in ASD individuals. This review will mainly explore the relationship between emergence of ASDs from the dysfunction of the individual’s MNS.
Efficacy of Calcium Borogluconate and Lime Water Therapy in Anagallis arvensis Intoxicated Cattle

Anagallis arvensis is a common weed seen in agricultural fields in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state. This weed contains different poisonous principles like glycosides, volatile oil, saponin (anagallin), tannin, and oxalates. In scarcity of fodder, cattle in some regions had exposure to Anagallis arvensis weed causing oxalic acid toxicity and nephrotic syndrome. Twenty Anagallis arvensis affected cattle were randomly distributed in two groups (Group-I; n=10 and Group-II; n=10). Anagallis arvensis intoxicated cattle of Group-I were subjected to primary therapy of calcium borogluconate @ 450 ml per cattle slow I/V, whereas, Group II cattle were treated with combination of calcium borogluconate @ 450 ml per cattle and lime water (1 kg of lime mixed to make 10 litres of water and one litre of this solution was administered twice a day) therapy. Based on improvement in clinical, haematological, biochemical parameters and recovery; parentral calcium borogluconate and oral lime water therapy along with standard supportive regimen was found highly efficacious in the treatment of Anagallis arvensis toxicity.
Formal teacher-pupil mentoring in Irish second-level education: ‘The Blackwater Experience’

This study analysed the 2009/10 formal teacher-pupil mentoring scheme at Blackwater Community School (BCS), Lismore, Co. Waterford in the Republic of Ireland. Twenty three teachers voluntarily mentored 220 pupils sitting state examinations as part of the scheme, which was monitored by two mentoring coordinators. Benefits and drawbacks of the scheme are discussed under the topics of quality in the mentoring relationship, organisation and perceived impact of the scheme. It was found that the most beneficial outcome of the scheme was the development of positive relationships between teachers and pupils involved.
Low-level night-time light therapy for age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment in the developed world (Wong et al., 2014). The exact causes of AMD are unclear but hypoxia has been implicated (Stefansson et al., 2011). If hypoxia has a role in the pathogenesis of AMD treatments that mitigate the effect of retinal hypoxia may slow disease progression. This thesis aimed to establish the impact of light therapy, as delivered using a light emitting mask, on the progression of AMD. A phase I/IIa randomised controlled trial was implemented in which 60 participants with early and intermediate AMD were allocated to the intervention or the untreated control group in a 1:1 ratio and monitored over 12 months. The ability of secondary outcome measures (including: rate of cone dark adaptation, 14Hz flicker threshold and chromatic thresholds) to identify the likely risk of progression from early and intermediate AMD to advanced AMD was also assessed in a cross-sectional study evaluating the relationship between each baseline outcome measure and the severity of fundus changes. Sixty participants were recruited of which 47 (20 intervention, 27 control) completed the 12 month follow-up period. No significant difference was found in the change of any parameter between groups apart from the time constant of cone-photoreceptor recovery (cone τ), which was increased to a greater extent in the treated group. An additional 40 participants were recruited to the cross-sectional study (n=100). Measurement of cone τ was identified as the best independent predictor of increased AMD severity based on the AREDS Simplified Severity Scale (Ferris et al., 2005). Although a greater proportion of controls (48%) than mask wearers (38%) showed disease progression over the duration of the trial this difference did not reach statistical significance.
GENOMIC AND PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF CHANDIPURA VIRUS (Vesiculovirus) CIRCULATING IN WEST AFRICA

Chandipura virus is a sandflies-transmitted vesiculovirus first isolated in 1965 in India where it is endemic causing outbreaks of acute encephalitis in less than 15 years-old children with death within 48 hours from the date of onset. Despite several isolations from sylvatic area, any Chandipura infection in humans had been yet reported in West Africa where its genetic diversity and phenotypic characteristics remain poorly understood. Collection of full-length genomic data from West Africa allows not only elucidating the diversity of Chandipura virus into two distinct clades circulating and evolving in India and West Africa, respectively, but also provides more insights regarding modifications of the West African sequences in highly conservative motives of virulence. Our study exhibited also differences in codon preferences of viral proteins to human genes which agree with the G protein-based Chandipura virus phylogenetic evolution. The significant M and L proteins codon usage adaptation to human housekeeping genes and the West African clade Chandipura virus pathogenicity in adult mice could facilitate its future spillover in humans as the Indian clade, particularly for the West African subclade 2. The identification of non-neurotropic West African isolates could be useful in development of protective or therapeutic targets for humans or wildlife based on a major gene as the glycoprotein. Considering the context of global exchanges and the recognition of codon adaptation as a mechanism driving its evolution Chandipura virus, could become a major problem of public health worldwide, mainly in geographical areas where vectors are already present.
MAGNESIUM SULPHATE AS AN ADJUVANT TO BUPIVACAINE IN ULTRASOUND- GUIDED PECTORAL NERVE BLOCK IN PATIENTS SCHEDULED FOR MODIFIED RADICAL MASTECTOMY UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA

Background and Aims: Pectoral nerve (Pecs) block is now an established modality for postoperative analgesia following breast surgery. This study compares the efficacy of magnesium sulphate as an adjunct to bupivacaine in ultrasound guided Pecs block. Methods: Forty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists’ physical status 1 or 2 undergoing modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection were recruited for the study. In Group 1 (LA)(n=20), patients received 18 mL 0.25% bupivacaine (45 mg) with 2 mL NS, with 10 ml in Pec I and 10 ml in Pec II block. The patients in Group 2 (LA with magnesium) (n = 20) received 18 mL 0.25% bupivacaine (45 mg) with 1.5 mL (150 mg) of MgSO4 and 0.5 mL NS, again 10 ml at each level. Patients were evaluated for pain scores at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h, duration of post-operative analgesia and rescue analgesic doses required. Non-normally distributed data were analysed using the KruskalWallis testand Analysis of variance for normal distribution. Results: The post-operative visual analogue scale scores were lower in Group 2 compared toGroup 1 at 4, 6, 18 and 24 h (P< 0.05). Mean duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group 2 compared to Group 1(P<0.001). The total dose of rescue analgesic was also more in Group 1 compared to Group 2. (P<0.001). Conclusion: Magnesium sulphate in a dose of 150 mg is effective in prolonging the duration and quality of analgesia when added as an adjunct to bupivacaine in ultrasound guided Pecs block.
Male Anterior Urethral Stricture: Epidemiological Profile and Management at Ouagadougou University Teaching Hospital (Burkina-Faso)

It was a retrospective and descriptive study conducted in the urology division of Yalgado Ouedraogo University Teaching Hospital from October 2009 to September 2014. Sixty three (63) male patients with anterior urethral stricture disease were included. All the patients have their diagnosis confirmed by voiding retrograde cystourethrogram (VCUG) or during surgical intervention. Anterior urethral stricture constitutes 41.1% of all urethral stricture. Hospital prevalence was 4.2%. Patient average age was 50.5 years. Dysuria and urinary retention were the major complaints representing respectively 66.7% and 33.3%. The infectious cause of urethral stricture was 71.1% of cases, followed by iatrogenic and traumatic causes with respectively 17.4% and 11.1% of cases. Voiding retrograde urethrocystogram (VCUG) was the only diagnostic procedure. Single urethral stenosis of the anterior urethra was about 88.8% while multiple stenosis constituted about 11.2%. Bulbar urethral stricture was the major location for the stenosis. Urine analysis was performed on 82.5% patients and ruled out urinary infections in 69.2% of cases with identification and isolation of Escherichia Coli in 77.7%. Majority of patients (61.9%) had open surgery of which 39.7% had end to end resection and anastomosis. Dilatation constituted 33.3% of treatment of the stricture of the anterior urethra. No endoscopic treatment was registered. At the removal of the catheter, all were successful but with time, the success rate was 87% at 6 months, 89.7% at 12 months, 85.2% at 18 months 63.1% at 24 months.
Bacteriological contamination status and phytochemical characteristics of Al-Chibayish marsh regional plants

This study aims to evaluate the status of Al-Chibayish marsh water and regional plants in regards to bacterial contamination and to investigate the phytochemical characteristics of the region’s plants. For this purpose, water samples were collected from three different sites of Al-Chebaysh marshes located in Dhi Qar Governorate, south of Iraq in 2017 to investigate water bacteriological contamination. Additionally, samples of five different plant species were collected from the same region to evaluate plant bacterial contamination status as well as their phytochemical characteristics. Water and plant samples were then examined by bacterial culture and powdered dry plant samples were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Bacteriological results showed that water was worryingly contaminated with clear bacterial contamination in the local flora. The major chemical compositions of the studied local plant were within the normal ranges under pollution conditions with clear signs of antibacterial potentials in S. natans and Ceratophyllum ssp. Additionally, FTIR spectroscopy results showed that many of the regional plants contain various important phytochemical functional groups which increase their importance in the marsh ecosystem sustainability.
Electroactive morphing on a supercritical wing targeting improved aerodynamic performance and flow control in high Reynolds numbers

This article examines the morphing effects of the trailingedge deformation and vibration on the turbulent structures in the wake of a supercritical Airbus-320 wing. The Reynolds number was 1 Million. The study is carried out in the low subsonic regime at an incidence angle of 10o, corresponding to take-off/landing flight phases. The morphing effects on the aerodynamic coefficients are discussed in order to identify optimal frequency/amplitude ranges for the vibrations imposed by composite piezoactuators, disposed along the span of the wing. TimeResolved PIV measurements taken from the subsonic wind tunnel are investigated together with numerical simulations. Morphing effects on the coherent structures in the wake have been analysed by means of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition. It has been shown that specific frequency/amplitude ranges are able to produce an enhanced aerodynamic performance and suppress instability modes associated with noise sources.