Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Spatial Groundwater Recharge Using WetSpass Model for East Wasit Province, Iraq

AbstractGroundwater is an important water source, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. Recharge is critical to managing and analyzing groundwater resources despite estimation difficulty due to temporal and spatial change. The study aim is to estimate annual groundwater recharge for the eastern Wasit Province part, Iraq. Where suffers from a surface water shortage due to the region's high elevation above Tigris River water elevation by about 60 m, it is necessary to search for alternative water sources, such as groundwater use. The spatially distributed WetSpass model was used to estimate the annual recharge. The inputs for the model were prepared using the ARC-GIS program, which includes the topography and slope grid, soil texture grid, land use, groundwater level grid, and meteorological data grids for the study area for the period (2014-2019). The result shows that the annual recharge calculated using the WetSpass model (2014-2019) varied of 0 to 65.176 mm/year at an average of 27.117 mm/year, about 10.8%, while the rate of the surface runoff was 5.2% and Evapotranspiration formed 83.33% of the annual rainfall rate of 251.192 mm. The simulation results reveal that the WetSpass model simulates the components of the hydrological water budget correctly. For managing and planning available water resources, a best grasp of the simulation of long-range average geographical distribution around the water balance components is beneficial.
Robust design of deep-submicron digital circuits

The design of circuits to operate at critical environments, such as those used in control-command systems at nuclear power plants, is becoming a great challenge with the technology scaling. These circuits have to pass through a number of tests and analysis procedures in order to be qualified to operate. In case of nuclear power plants, safety is considered as a very high priority constraint, and circuits designed to operate under such critical environment must be in accordance with several technical standards such as the IEC 62566, the IEC 60987, and the IEC 61513. In such standards, reliability is treated as a main consideration, and methods to analyze and improve the circuit reliability are highly required. The present dissertation introduces some methods to analyze and to improve the reliability of circuits in order to facilitate their qualification according to the aforementioned technical standards. Concerning reliability analysis, we first present a fault-injection based tool used to assess the reliability of digital circuits. Next, we introduce a method to evaluate the reliability of circuits taking into account the ability of a given application to tolerate errors. Concerning reliability improvement techniques, first two different strategies to selectively harden a circuit are proposed. Finally, a method to automatically partition a TMR design based on a given reliability requirement is introduced.
The technology acceptance model revisited: empirical evidence from the tourism industry in Pakistan

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze the adoption of social media platforms by tourists in Pakistan. Based on an adaptation of the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study assesses the factors that lead users to adopt these platforms.Design/methodology/approachA survey was administered to a convenience sample of 399 travelers who use social media in Pakistan. A Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using AMOS to evaluate convergent and discriminant validity as well as composite reliability. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the causal relationship among all proposed constructs.FindingsThe findings reveal that the perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEoU) of a social media platform positively impact the behavioral intention of its users. The proposed constructs of compatibility, enjoyment, user expertise and e-trust all demonstrated their crucial roles in the adoption of a social media platform for tourism-related activities by enhancing the platform's PEoU and usefulness.Originality/valueThis research validates the relationship between PEoU and PU of a social media platform in the hospitality industry. Interestingly, this study has expanded TAM by validating the addition of four more constructs, (1) compatibility, (2) enjoyment, (3) e-trust, and (4) expertise, to add worth to this model regarding the understanding of social media usage in this specific industry. The findings are valuable both for managers and policymakers in the tourism sector in Pakistan, as the latter can utilize the results to entice a larger segment of social media users to the tourism industry.
Live testing results of Złotnicka Spotted (ZS), ZS × Polish Large White and ZS × Hampshire fatteners.

Investigated was the fattening potential of purebred Złotnicka Spotted (ZS, n = 423), ZS × Polish Large White (ZSPLW, n=36) and ZS × Hampshire (ZSH, n=31) pigs using the PIGLOG 105 apparatus. The best results were shown in ZSPLW crossbreds (from ZS sows by PLW boars) characterized by higher meat content of carcass, better live weight gain and thinner backfat than in the other two groups. The results suggest the use the ZS breed for production of crossbred fatteners on a wider scale.
ACTIVE TRAVEL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF ELDERLY: A REVIEW

The built environment is considered to be a key factor to promote the active travel (AT) of the elderly in neighbourhood. This study seeks to comprehensively identify the built environmental factors influencing active travel and to show how those environmental factors impact active travel the old adults. It reviewed the literature on neighbourhood-built environmental correlated with AT among older adults. The study found that most of the research concentrated on walking, which was associated with density, land use mix, connectivity access to services, friendly infrastructure，aesthetics，destination，safety. The results showed that the research was concentrated in developed areas and countries, developing countries were seldomly involved. Related research was mainly carried out in urban areas especially in the metropolitan area. The weather has been reported as an important factor in the elderly’s travel but was not widely tested before. Information technology has a wide-ranging impact on the activities of urban residents and the increase of online leisure activities can also reduce the daily non-essential travel time of residents. In future research, more attention needs to be paid to developing areas, small city, and rural communities. ICT changed the way people live, the interaction with other humans, and physical space, it also needs to pay more attention in this field.
A FRAMEWORK FOR GUIDING THE BRIEFING PROCESS IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE UAE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a procurement method that employs a long-term contractual arrangement between public and private sectors with the intention of developing a public facility. A PPP brief must supply information that not only particularizes the project requirements but also specifies its program, risk management, expected performance output and payment mechanism. Many challenges currently face the briefing process of PPP projects in the UAE. A uniform briefing process has not been agreed, because there is no unified tender law or PPP procurement process in the country. The main aim of this research is to develop a framework for guiding the development of PPP briefing stage in the UAE construction industry. To this end, a process framework for PPP briefing with special reference to UAE construction projects was developed first, on the basis of an intensive literature review and analysis of case studies. This framework was validated through interviews with PPP experts and professionals in the UAE. Following this, the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in PPP briefing, with special reference to UAE construction projects, were investigated and identified through a literature review, expert interviews, and a questionnaire survey. This step led to developing another framework for CSFs in PPP briefing with special reference to UAE construction projects. With these in mind, CSFs were modelled to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) the main aim of which was to guide the of the briefing stage for PPP projects in the UAE. Its main objectives focused on assessing the readiness of public and private organizations for successful briefing development, highlighting areas for improvements and helping to develop action plans to improve the briefing process. In order to validate the developed model and assess its performance as a decisionmaking tool, two mega construction projects (real case studies) were assessed by means of the proposed model. The outputs of the implemented evaluation validated the major aspects of this model and its developed prototype, together with its performance for its stated purpose.
Evaluating Capacity Building Methods to Strengthen Livestock Extension Outcomes in Laos

In the remote upland regions of Laos many farming families live in relative poverty, relying on subsistence agriculture. Farmers need effective extension services to provide advice on commercial and technical options to supplement traditional practices and improve their livelihoods. One of these options is small-scale livestock production. However, the quality and quantity of extension staff working in livestock production is limited. Improving the knowledge and skills of extension staff working with upland ethnic minorities is a key goal of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This paper presents research findings from an evaluation of capacity building methods being used for extension staff working across a range of livestock projects in Laos. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Livestock Project Managers and two Provincial Coordinators to find out what capacity building methods they used and the relative effectiveness of each method. In-depth interviews were subsequently held with 10 District Managers and 20 District Extension Officers to gain more local perspectives on capacity building including factors influencing outcomes at the farmer level. Suggestions on how capacity building of livestock extension staff can be strengthened and sustained were elicited from all interviewees. Capacity building methods used by all project managers included workshop training, on the job learning, staff meetings, mentoring and field trips. A few projects also used on-site training, farmer field schools, village learning activities and the internet. The strengths and weaknesses of each method are described in the paper. Interviewees concluded that all methods have advantages and disadvantages, depending on how and when they were used. Workshops, monthly meetings and field trips are particularly costly, relying on project support from international donors, so the sustainability of using these methods is an issue for government. The three key learnings from this research are: 1) capacity building methods need to be carefully combined to take advantage of their relative strengths and weaknesses; 2) the role of district managers in building staff capacity needs greater recognition and support; and 3) capacity building methods can be strengthened by working in teams of different ages and providing further study opportunities.
Dopamine and Methamphetamine Differentially Affect Electron Transport Chain Complexes and Parkin in Rat Striatum: New Insight into Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly abused psychostimulant that is neurotoxic to dopaminergic (DAergic) nerve terminals in the striatum and increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). In vivo, METH-mediated DA release, followed by DA-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in pre- and postsynaptic neurons, mediates METH neurotoxicity. METH-triggered oxidative stress damages parkin, a neuroprotective protein involved in PD etiology via its involvement in the maintenance of mitochondria. It is not known whether METH itself contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and whether parkin regulates complex I, an enzymatic complex downregulated in PD. To determine this, we separately assessed the effects of METH or DA alone on electron transport chain (ETC) complexes and the protein parkin in isolated striatal mitochondria. We show that METH decreases the levels of selected complex I, II, and III subunits (NDUFS3, SDHA, and UQCRC2, respectively), whereas DA decreases the levels only of the NDUFS3 subunit in our preparations. We also show that the selected subunits are not decreased in synaptosomal mitochondria under similar experimental conditions. Finally, we found that parkin overexpression does not influence the levels of the NDUFS3 subunit in rat striatum. The presented results indicate that METH itself is a factor promoting dysfunction of striatal mitochondria; therefore, it is a potential drug target against METH neurotoxicity. The observed decreases in ETC complex subunits suggest that DA and METH decrease activities of the ETC complexes via oxidative damage to their subunits and that synaptosomal mitochondria may be somewhat “resistant” to DA- and METH-induced disruption in mitochondrial ETC complexes than perikaryal mitochondria. The results also suggest that parkin does not regulate NDUFS3 turnover in rat striatum.
Response of morphological and biochemical traits and transcriptomic of CDPKs and P5CS Genes to phytohormones and nutrients in two bread wheat germplasms under salinity conditions

Several enzymes play an important role in the biosynthesis of osmolyte in plants. The main objective of this work is to study the effects of salt stress, kinetin+potassium and giberellic acid+potassium on calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) and delta-1-pyrroline-5- carboxylate synthase (P5CS) genes expression of two bread wheat varieties. The results shodwe that, salts stress reduced the plant growth of the two wheat germplasms. Moreover, the addition of kinetin+ potassium improved the performance of morphometric parameters while the addition of giberellic acid +potassium has less effect. On the biochemical level, results indicated that salt stress increased the proline contents compared with control plants. Extra increase in proline contents was recorded by kinetin+ potassium, while the treatment of giberellic acid +potassium showed almost similar results as in salt stress only. On the molecular level, salt stress, kinetin and giberellic acid significantly increased the two genes expression of CDPKs and P5CS with more effect in presence of kinetin+ potassium.
Eat to the Beat: Musical Incongruity Resolution in Restaurant Advertising

Abstract Music is considered as an effective tool in shaping consumers’ responses to advertising. The present study examines the effects of mildly incongruent background music upon consumers’ responses to restaurant advertising. It integrates country of origin and genre congruity of music in a single congruity framework through focusing more closely upon the twin components of congruity (expectancy and relevancy) and examines how various quadrants of musical in/congruity affect consumers’ cognitive responses and behavioral intentions. Between-subjects experiment was conducted to explore participants’ responses to an advertisement promoting a fictitious Italian restaurant. Findings indicate how the deliberate crafting of musical incongruity can be used to engage and amuse consumers, proposing that resolving mild musical incongruity may enhance consumers’ attitude toward advertising, perception of brand image and quality, as well as their purchase intent. The present research develops, refines, and redefines the concept of musical congruity in advertising and offers the first empirical evidence for the positive effects of using purposeful, mildly incongruent music upon consumers’ cognitive responses to advertising as well as their behavioral intentions.
Graph-based stochastic model for high-speed railway cutting scenarios

This study proposes a stochastic channel model based on the propagation graph theory for high-speed railway (HSR) cutting scenarios. Single-input single-output wideband measurements are conducted under a cutting for acquiring realistic channel data. The propagation graph covering line of sight, single bounced and double bounced conditions is used to describe the measured propagation scenario and generate the virtual channel impulse responses. The graph model is validated focusing on small-scale characteristics such as Ricean K-factor, delay and frequency dispersions, and a close agreement is achieved between model and measurement results. In particular, the verified model is extended to the multiple-input multiple-output case for simulation analysis of MIMO performance of the measured environment, concentrating on the spatial correlation and the ergodic capacity. The proposed model can facilitate the reliable simulation and evaluation of MIMO systems in the HSR cutting scenario.
Incorporation of fixed speed wind turbine generators in load flow analysis of distribution systems

Small scale wind farms are increasingly being integrated into distribution systems. This paper proposes a simple model of a fixed speed wind farm and incorporates that model into a standard load flow program of a distribution system. For each wind farm, the proposed model augments the size of the network by two buses that allow including all parameters of the generator. For a given wind speed, the mechanical power of the wind turbine is first determined from manufacturer's supplied data and then it is incorporated into one of the new buses as a negative load. This would allow evaluating the load flow results of the system using any standard load flow program without modifying the source codes of the program. The effectiveness of the proposed method is then evaluated on a simple system as well as on two distribution systems consisting of 33 and 69 buses.
Evaluation of sowing methods and nitrogen levels for grain yield and components of durum wheat under arid region of Egypt

The present experiment was conducted at private farm during 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons. The investigated area lies within the extremely arid belt, having long hot summer and short warm winter. The main goal of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of different sowing methods on yield components of wheat, using split plot design with three replications. Sowing methods in main plot were broadcasting method, row spacing 10, 15 and 20 cm apart). Nitrogen fertilizer levels in sub plot were 60, 75 and 90 kg N fed-1 (fed = 4200 m-2). The increase percentage due to row spacing at 20 cm apart (M4) compared to broadcasting method (M1) were (23.30 & 26.74%) for spike length; (5.11 & 6.94 %) for 1000 grain weight and (8.02 & 7.74%) for grain yield and according ally (3.07 & 3.08%) for harvest index in both seasons, respectively. Overall, from the present study the sowing method in rows with 20 cm apart and the optimum N fertilizer rate (90 kg fed-1) for durum wheat production in the soils of Qasir, Dakhala oasis on silt loam soil was the best treatment.
Thermodynamic Assessment of B2O3-SiO2 Binary System

The B2O3-SiO2 binary system has been thermodynamically reassessed with CALPHAD approach. The substitutional solution model is adopted for liquid. A set of self-consistent parameters capable of reproducing the corresponding experimental phase diagram data and subliquidus immiscibility data has been obtained.
Constraint analysis of dairy sector in North Eastern Region: A producers and consumers perspective

Livestock sector act as an alternative source of income for the rural population in the North East Region (NER) of India. But at the same time various limitations hinder the growth of this sector. So, the study was undertaken with the objective to examine the constraints faced by the dairy farmers and consumers of milk and milk products in the region. Assam and Meghalaya were selected purposively as these states were the leading states in cattle population in NER. A random sample of 110 dairy farmers and 174 consumers were selected for collecting primary data on constraints faced by them. The data analyzed using Garret’s technique. The major constraints faced by the dairy farmers were the high cost of cattle feed and fodder, inadequate availability of green fodder, lack of organized set up for milk procurement and sale. For the consumers, the major constraints were adulteration, lack of desired quality and inadequate quality control along the value chain. Thus, efforts should be made from the government to take proper steps in regulating the feed prices. Additionally, efforts to set up quality control centre at the block/cluster level so that they can monitor the quality regularly which will further enhance the quality of milk and milk products which would help both the dairy farmers and consumers.
Golgi Alpha1,2-Mannosidase IA Promotes Efficient Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation of NKCC2

Mutations in the apically located kidney Na-K-2Cl cotransporter NKCC2 cause type I Bartter syndrome, a life-threatening kidney disorder. We previously showed that transport from the ER represents the limiting phase in NKCC2 journey to the cell surface. Yet very little is known about the ER quality control components specific to NKCC2 and its disease-causing mutants. Here, we report the identification of Golgi alpha1, 2-mannosidase IA (ManIA) as a novel binding partner of the immature form of NKCC2. ManIA interaction with NKCC2 takes place mainly at the cis-Golgi network. ManIA coexpression decreased total NKCC2 protein abundance whereas ManIA knock-down produced the opposite effect. Importantly, ManIA coexpression had a more profound effect on NKCC2 folding mutants. Cycloheximide chase assay showed that in cells overexpressing ManIA, NKCC2 stability and maturation are heavily hampered. Deleting the cytoplasmic region of ManIA attenuated its interaction with NKCC2 and inhibited its effect on the maturation of the cotransporter. ManIA-induced reductions in NKCC2 expression were offset by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Likewise, kifunensine treatment greatly reduced ManIA effect, strongly suggesting that mannose trimming is involved in the enhanced ERAD of the cotransporter. Moreover, depriving ManIA of its catalytic domain fully abolished its effect on NKCC2. In summary, our data demonstrate the presence of a ManIA-mediated ERAD pathway in renal cells promoting retention and degradation of misfolded NKCC2 proteins. They suggest a model whereby Golgi ManIA contributes to ERAD of NKCC2, by promoting the retention, recycling, and ERAD of misfolded proteins that initially escape protein quality control surveillance within the ER.
The 3S2 experiments – studying the behavioral effects of naval sonar on northern bottlenose whales, humpback whales and minke whales

In order to properly consider how behavioral responses to anthropogenic noise affect marine mammals and establish safety limits for sonar operations, there is a need to establish behavioral impact criteria. In order to achieve this, knowledge about how marine mammals might respond, thresholds and durations of responses as well as the biological significance of behavioral changes are essential.