Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discussion Forums as a Learning Material in Higher Education Institutions

Discussion forums, which have more features among the tools used in the online group discussion process, are the most preferred learning tool in this process. Instructors, from elementary school to college often use online discussion forums to encourage interaction and complex thinking that are not always effective in traditional face-to-face learning situations. Discussion forums are a tool that enables learners to create information, collaborate and interact simultaneously or asynchronously in the online learning environment. In addition, it allows more time for all learners to reflect on their own ideas and respond to other learners in the learning process. However, it is seen that there are not enough studies on the usability of discussion forums, which are an effective learning material used in online learning environments. From this point of view, this study investigates the usability of discussion forums in online learning environments. In this study, in which qualitative research method was used, the opinions of 8 field experts determined by purposeful sampling method were consulted in the context of the use of discussion forums in online learning environments. With the investigation of the usability of discussion forums in online learning environments, it is predicted that the efficiency to be obtained from these environments will increase.
Role of Maturation of Lipoproteins in the Pathogenesis of the Infection Caused by Streptococcus suis Serotype 2

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is an important porcine bacterial pathogen associated with multiple pathologies in piglets. Bacterial lipoproteins (LPPs) have been described as playing important roles in the pathogenesis of the infection of other Gram-positive bacteria as adhesins, pro-inflammatory cell activators and/or virulence factors. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the role of the prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt) and lipoprotein signal peptidase (Lsp) enzymes, which are responsible for LPP maturation, on the pathogenesis of the infection caused by two different sequence types (STs) of S. suis serotype 2 strains (virulent ST1 and highly virulent ST7). Through the use of isogenic Δlgt, Δlsp and double Δlgt/Δlsp mutants, it was shown that lack of these enzymes did not influence S. suis adhesion/invasion to porcine respiratory epithelial cells. However, in the absence of the Lsp and/or Lgt, a significant reduction in the capacity of S. suis to activate phagocytic cells and induce pro-inflammatory mediators (in vitro and in vivo) was observed. In general, results obtained with the double mutant did not differ in comparison to single mutants, indicating lack of an additive effect. Finally, our data suggest that these enzymes play a differential role in virulence, depending on the genetic background of the strain and being more important for the highly virulent ST7 strain.
Modeling Conversion in a Fluid Catalytic Cracking Regenerator in Petroleum Refining

This article discusses modeling and simulation of non ideal flow in a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) regenerator assuming mixed and plug flow regimes for various operating conditions using the tank-in-series model. An overall coke-on-catalyst conversion of 88.85% was obtained in the absence of dead volume in a perfectly mixed regenerator (n = 1). The conversion reduced to 84.76% when a dead volume of 240.66 m 3 was introduced in the mixed regenerator for n = 2. Beyond n = 2, the conversion remained constant. A conversion of 99.99% was achieved with coke flow rate of 0.1 m 3 /h for n = 20. Generally, conversion increased with decreasing coke-on-catalyst flow rate but decreased with increasing dead volume in the mixed flow reactor. Conversion was found to be lower in the plug flow regenerator suggesting that if the regenerator had been designed using the usual plug flow model, its performance would be far less than expected.
Systems E-approach for women at risk (SEWA)—A digital health solution for detection of high-risk pregnancies

Background: High-risk pregnancy (HRP) puts current pregnancy at an increased risk of complications. In the absence of pre-existing HRP implementation model of the country, in collaboration with the Government of Himachal Pradesh, a new digital HRP model called the 'SEWA—A System E-approach for Women at risk' was developed. The current article demonstrates a model for the early identification and line listing of high-risk pregnant women (PW) with appropriate referrals and increased engagement with the healthcare workers using a digital tool in the form of the Android App. Methods: SEWA was implemented as a pilot intervention in two community development blocks of the Chamba district. The key implementation steps included finalizing protocols for the identification of HRPs, defining processes and roles, mapping health facilities, setting up the communication loop, and developing of digital solutions. The digital app, used by the auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) and program officers, tracked PW for a year from October 19 to October 20 and recorded the ANC visits, referrals, and birth outcomes. A qualitative assessment was conducted among the health workers to find out their level of acceptance. Results: A total of 1,340 high-risk PW were identified. The intervention year saw a rise in the identification of HRP to 27.9% from 3.5% in the previous year. A total of 2,559 conditions were tagged to the identified 1,340 women categorized into current pregnancy (81%), previous pregnancy (16%), and any existing chronic illness (3%). A majority of the women who required urgent referrals were provided referrals. The application recorded 53% of the delivered HRP with a digital birth preparedness plan, prepared and shared with the PW and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), by text message for compliance. Conclusion: The SEWA application is a feasible and sustainable solution to complement the competency of the care providers for early identification of the high-risk conditions and reduce the burden of preventable unprecedented deaths around the time of birth.
Spermine-Mediated Tolerance to Selenium Toxicity in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Depends on Endogenous Nitric Oxide Synthesis

Excess selenium (Se) causes toxicity, and nitric oxide (NO)’s function in spermine (Spm)-induced tolerance to Se stress is unknown. Using wheat plants exposed to 1 mM sodium selenate—alone or in combination with either 1 mM Spm, 0.1 mM NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or 0.1 mM NO scavenger cPTIO—the potential beneficial effects of these compounds to palliate Se-induced stress were evaluated at physiological, biochemical and molecular levels. Se-treated plants accumulated Se in their roots (92%) and leaves (95%) more than control plants. Furthermore, Se diminished plant growth, photosynthetic traits and the relative water content and increased the levels of malondialdehyde, H2O2, osmolyte and endogenous NO. Exogenous Spm significantly decreased the levels of malondialdehyde by 28%, H2O2 by 37% and electrolyte leakage by 42%. Combined Spm/NO treatment reduced the Se content and triggered plant growth, photosynthetic traits, antioxidant enzymes and glyoxalase systems. Spm/NO also upregulated MTP1, MTPC3 and HSP70 and downregulated TaPCS1 and NRAMP1 (metal stress-related genes involved in selenium uptake, translocation and detoxification). However, the positive effects of Spm on Se-stressed plants were eliminated by the NO scavenger. Accordingly, data support the notion that Spm palliates selenium-induced oxidative stress since the induced NO elicits antioxidant defence upregulation but downregulates Se uptake and translocation. These findings pave the way for potential biotechnological approaches to supporting sustainable wheat crop production in selenium-contaminated areas.
Histone Methyltransferase Dot1L Contributes to RIPK1 Kinase‐Dependent Apoptosis in Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion

Background Neuron apoptosis is a pivotal process for brain damage in cerebral ischemia. Dot1L (disruptor of telomeric silencing 1‐like) is only known histone H3K79 methyltransferase. It is not clear whether the role and mechanism of Dot1L on cerebral ischemia is related to regulate neuron apoptosis. Methods and Results We use a combination of mice middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke and neurons exposed to oxygen‐glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation to investigate the role and mechanism of Dot1L on cerebral ischemia. We find knockdown or inhibition of Dot1L reversed ischemia‐induced neuronal apoptosis and attenuated the neurons injury treated by oxygen‐glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation. Further, blockade of Dot1L prevents RIPK1 (receptor‐interacting protein kinase 1)‐dependent apoptosis through increased RIPK1 K63‐ubiquitylation and decreased formation of RIPK1/Caspase 8 complexes. In line with this, H3K79me3 enrichment in the promoter region of deubiquitin‐modifying enzyme A20 and deubiquitinase cylindromatosis gene promotes the increasing expression in oxygen‐glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation ‐induced neuronal cells, on the contrary, oxygen‐glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation decreases H3K79me3 level in the promoter region of ubiquitin‐modifying enzyme cIAP1 (cellular inhibitors of apoptosis proteins), and both these factors ultimately cause K63‐deubiquitination of RIPK1. Importantly, knockdown or inhibition of Dot1L in vivo attenuates apoptosis in middle cerebral artery occlusion mice and reduces the extent of middle cerebral artery occlusion ‐induced brain injury. Conclusions These data support for the first time, to our knowledge, that Dot1L regulating RIPK1 to the apoptotic death trigger contributes to cerebral ischemia injury. Therefore, targeting Dot1L serves as a new therapeutic strategy for ischemia stroke.
OESTRUS BEHAVIOUR IN NATURAL AND INDUCED OESTRUM IN DAIRY CATTLE BY PGF2α WITH GnRH AND hCG

Thirty two apparently healthy, parous, cyclic crossbred cows were utilized for this study. All the selected animals were randomly divided into 4 groups comprising of 8 animals in each group namely control (Group l), PGF 2 α (Group-II), PGF2α+GnRH (Group-III), and PGF 2 α+hG (Group-IV). Cows were artificially inseminated twice at an interval of 24 hours in observed estrum. The time taken for the onset of oestrus was 70.50 ± 3.27, 68.00 ± 3.17 and68.25±2.21hrs in Group (II), Group (III) and Group (IV), respectively. The Duration of oestrus in Group (I), Group (II), Group (III) and Group (IV) were 20.50 ± 0.41, 21.00 ± 0.47, 19.50 ± 0.33 and 19.25 ± 0.56 hours . The synchronized cows exhibited 8.33, 58.33 and 33.33 per cent of week, normal and intense oestrus, The administration of PGF 2 α causes rapid regression of corpus luteum and brought down the blood progesterone level within 24 hours after injection.
Seelands and Sai Yok Pebble Tools: A Further Consideration

Pebble tool industries, in which the dominant tool types are made on water worn pebbles obtained from river or beach gravels, with a working edge created by the junction of either two flaked surfaces with the pebble cortex are relatively common in lithic technologies, understandably since the pebble tool is a simple, readily-made stone artefact which can serve as a multi-purpose tool.
Detection of spread-spectrum signals using the time-domain filtered cross spectral density

The authors present a technique for the detection of spread-spectrum signals, of arbitrary form, even when the signal power spectral density (PSD) is well below the surveillance receiver noise spectral density, using a pair of antennas with broadband (1 GHz or more) receivers. Cross correlating the outputs of two receivers, spatially separated by a distance of the order of one metre or more, produces a cross-correlation function (CCF), in which the noise components are spread uniformly over the whole width, while the signal component, the narrow autocorrelation function (ACF) of the spread-spectrum signal, is concentrated in the centre. A simple time-domain filter can select this narrow centre portion of the CCF, rejecting the remainder which contains only noise. Taking the Fourier transform of this windowed CCF produces the 'time-domain filtered cross spectral density' (TDFCSD), in which the signal to noise ratio is independent of receiver bandwidth. Spread-spectrum signals can then be both detected and characterised, in an extremely sensitive broadband system, by threshold detection in this TDFCSD. An analysis of the performance of this dual-receiver system is presented. A computer simulation illustrates the signal processing process involved, and shows excellent agreement with the analysis. A time-integrating acousto-optic correlator may be used to perform the cross correlation and time domain filtering of wideband signals in real time. Final processing of the much reduced data set to obtain the TDFCSD can be carried out digitally.
Bacterial Communities in the Embryo of Maize Landraces: Relation with Susceptibility to Fusarium Ear Rot

Locally adapted maize accessions (landraces) represent an untapped resource of nutritional and resistance traits for breeding, including the shaping of distinct microbiota. Our study focused on five different maize landraces and a reference commercial hybrid, showing different susceptibility to fusarium ear rot, and whether this trait could be related to particular compositions of the bacterial microbiota in the embryo, using different approaches. Our cultivation-independent approach utilized the metabarcoding of a portion of the 16S rRNA gene to study bacterial populations in these samples. Multivariate statistical analyses indicated that the microbiota of the embryos of the accessions grouped in two different clusters: one comprising three landraces and the hybrid, one including the remaining two landraces, which showed a lower susceptibility to fusarium ear rot in field. The main discriminant between these clusters was the frequency of Firmicutes, higher in the second cluster, and this abundance was confirmed by quantification through digital PCR. The cultivation-dependent approach allowed the isolation of 70 bacterial strains, mostly Firmicutes. In vivo assays allowed the identification of five candidate biocontrol strains against fusarium ear rot. Our data revealed novel insights into the role of the maize embryo microbiota and set the stage for further studies aimed at integrating this knowledge into plant breeding programs.
Development and performance of a laboratory-scale passive solar grain dryer in a tropical environment

A laboratory-scale passive solar grain dryer was developed and its performance evaluated in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. The dryer consist of a solar collector panel, a thermal storage unit and a drying chamber. The top of the collector is made of one layer of 4 mm thickness of colourless glass sheet as glazing. The absorber material used was corrugated 0.5 mm thick zinc roofing sheet painted black. The thermal storage unit and the drying chamber were built of wood because of its good insulation properties. The dryer was evaluated using 10 kg of freshly harvested maize at 32.8%wb. The performance evaluation results obtained showed that the mean drying rate of the dryer was 0.7 kg/day per every 10 kg of corn whereas sun-drying rate was 0.3125 kg/day comparatively. The solar dryer has considerable advantages over the traditional sun drying method in terms of faster drying rate, less fear of spoilage by micro-organisms when crop is harvested at high moisture content and handling convenience. Savings in time was achieved by using the solar grain dryer as against the traditional sun drying. It took 4-days to dry the corn to moisture content of 13.1%wb using the passive solar dryer while it took 8-days to dry to 13.4%wb under sun drying. Commercial sizes of the solar dryer can be amplified and produced for community level cooperative use and for prospective investors to fast track agricultural development in the rural areas. Key words: Passive, solar, grain dryer, development, performance, laboratory-scale
Evaluating Recycled Asphalt Pavement Mixtures with Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide Level 3 Analysis

The main objective of this study is to assess the sensitivity of the predicted performance of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) mixtures to the assumed binder grade. That is achieved with the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) software to predict the performance of a specific flexible pavement structure with a RAP-modified hot-mix asphalt surface layer. Different design runs are conducted for which all the pavement properties and conditions are held constant except the properties of the surface layer. Specifically, a near-full factorial experiment is performed in which RAP content and effective binder PG grade are the main variables. Comparison of the predicted performance of the various runs reveals important findings on the extent and manner in which those two properties affect pavement distresses and performance. The influence of the assumed PG binder grade on the RAP mixtures, particularly the high-temperature grade, has a significant effect on the predicted amount of thermal cracking a.
Why Don't You Act Your Age?

Online search engines for children are known to filter retrieved resources based on page complexity, and offer specialized functionality meant to address gaps in search literacy according to a user's age or grade. However, not every searcher grouped by these identifiers displays the same level of text comprehension, or requires the same aid with search. Furthermore, these search engines typically rely on direct feedback to ascertain these identifiers. This reliance on self identification may cause users to accidentally misrepresent themselves. We therefore seek to recognize users from skill based signals rather than utilizing age or grade identifiers, as skill dictates appropriate aid and resources. Therefore, in this thesis we propose a strategy that automatically recognizes users on the fly by analyzing search behavior found in search sessions. In particular, our efforts focus on recognizing the stereotypical 8 to 12 year old searcher, who we posit exhibits skills defined by developmental stages that have a strong impact on language development (Piaget's concrete operational stage) and search literacy (digital competency's first level). This strategy analyzes user-generated text extracted from queries and patterns of search interactions in order to infer features that are leveraged by a random forest classifier in order to determine whether or not a user is a part of this specific segment of searchers. The outcomes from this thesis lay the groundwork for enabling search engines to recognize users based on their search skills and provides further insight into the search behavior of youths.
Evolutionary Game Research on the Core Business and Consumer Behavior in Green Supply Chain under IOT Environment

As the worsening global ecological environment, the effective implementation of green supply chain based on IOT is an inevitable trend of future development. Through combing and analyzing the domestic and foreign situations of green supply chain management under IOT, we found that the current research about the relation between consumer behaviors and core business in green supply chain is insufficient. In view of this, this paper systematically analyzes the intrinsic link between these two sides, and builds the relation model between core business and consumers. Furthermore, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model based on the evolutionary game theory, and derives an evolutionary stable strategy by solving replicated dynamics equation. At last, with the analysis of the results, we put forward some countermeasures and suggestions and provide a useful reference for the effective implementation of green supply chain under IOT.
Desempenho operacional de derriçadores mecânicos portáteis, em diferentes condições de lavouras cafeeiras

In the coffee harvesting, the harvest is considered the most complex operation because of its great influence in the harvesting cost therefore, mechanization of the same may have significant effect on reduction of the final cost of the bag of harvested coffee. The objective of this research was to evaluate the operational performance of portable coffee harvesting machines and to evaluate the operational cost of the semi-mechanized harvest system in comparison to the system of manual harvest. The trials were conducted in five plantation of coffee crop variety Catuai 74 (IAC 62), under different management conditions. Three models of portable coffee harvesting machines available commercially and in use were evaluated. The experiment was constituted of 20 treatments (combinations of three types of portable coffee harvesting machines plus manual harvest and five types of coffee crop), in a randomized block design. On the basis of obtained results, it may be concluded that the semi-mechanized coffee harvester presented superior operational performance in comparison to manual harvest system, becoming a viable alternative for the small to medium size farmers in order to minimize the production costs.
Impacts of forest cover on surface runoff quality in small catchments

Forest cover influences not only the amount of surface runoff, but also its quality. The concentrations of chemicals in surface runoff differ between forest catchments and non-forest catchments (agricultural areas). The authors investigated the chemical compositions of surface runoff in two small neighboring catchments (forest, non-forest), by analyzing and summarizing data over a period of 26 years from 1986 to 2012. During this period, the stock and absorption area of forest stands increased, air quality improved, the agricultural landscape was partly regenerated, and global climate change became apparent. The authors observed differences in surface runoff between forest- and non-forest catchments. However, these differences were not mainly caused by the influence of the forest cover, but by changes in agricultural land management. Since 2006, agricultural land has been managed without the use of artificial fertilizers, which reduced the contents of pollutants in surface runoff from the non-forest catchment. The existence of the forest as such excludes or noticeably eliminates the use of fertilizers and chemical substances that affect water quality.
Evaluation of Speed Camera Enforcement in the District of Columbia

Washington, D.C., implemented a speed camera enforcement program in 2001. Vehicle speeds were measured before and after the program. Seven sites in Washington were selected randomly from a total of 60 targeted enforcement zones. Speed data were collected 1 year before enforcement and approximately 6 months after enforcement began. Results indicated that mean traffic speeds and the proportion of drivers traveling more than 10 mph above the speed limit—fast enough to warrant a speeding ticket—were reduced at each of the Washington study sites. At eight comparison sites in nearby Baltimore, Maryland, where speed camera enforcement was not in place, no decline in traffic speeds was observed. Overall, mean speeds at Washington sites declined by a statistically significant 14% compared with Baltimore sites, and the proportion of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph declined 82%. These findings indicate that speed camera enforcement reduced speeding on surface streets throughout Washington. On the basis of prior research, such speed reductions can be expected to reduce the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes.