Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards a Political Ecology of Caste and the City

ABSTRACT In this contribution, I reflect on the under-recognized role of caste and its allied notions of pollution and purity in the making of deeply inequitable, environmentally unjust, and splintered Indian cities. Published in 2001, Graham and Marvin’s Splintering Urbanism addressed the fragmented and unequal nature of infrastructure networks in the wake of globalization in cities of the Global South. Of particular interest to scholars since then has been to trouble the historicity of the book’s central thesis, demonstrating that postcolonial cities have always been splintered along the lines of race, class, and ethnicity via unequal infrastructural networks and segregated housing; as such, globalization is not the primary cause of inequality. Yet, the category of caste, intersecting with class, religion, and gender, still has not featured centrally in critical urban studies and urban political ecology. Drawing on long-term research on Bangalore (southern India), I sketch mutually reinforcing axes of a research agenda in urban political ecology, namely the interrogation of caste power in urban property, infrastructure, and labor regimes.
Effect of Some Commonly Used Herbicides on Soil Microbial Population

Herbicide application has become an integral part of vibrant agricultural productivity in the whole world since its benefit has been overwhelming over the years. However, its toxic impact on the non-target soil microorganisms which play roles in degrading organic matter, nitrogen and nutrient recycling and decomposition needs to be considered. In the present study, the effect of four (4) most commonly used herbicides in Ghana; Atrazine, 2, 4-D amine, Glyphosate and Paraquat on soil microorganisms was assessed over a period of fifteen continuous days (exposure period). The herbicide treatments were the normal recommended field rate, (6.67 mg active ingredient per gram of soil for Atrazine, 6.17 mg for 2, 4-D amine, 5.56 mg for Glyphosate, and 2.46 mg for Paraquat), half and double of the recommended field rate. Bacterial and Fungal populations were then determined at a five-day interval up to the 15 th day after treatment. The data gathered from bacterial enumeration was logarithmically transformed before graphs of mean bacterial were plotted against the exposure period for each selected herbicide. Bacterial population and percentage organic matter did not show any significant differences relative to the exposure period in this study (p < 0.05). However, the deleterious impact of the herbicides was seen as Paraquat treatment resulted in reduction in the bacterial population for five, ten and fifteen Days after treatment (DAT) in the treatment with half the recommended field rate. Glyphosate followed with 69.3%, 12.7%, and 18.0%; 2,4-D amine had 44.8%, 33.5%, and 21.6%; and lastly Atrazine had 41.8%, 44.5% and 13.6% bacterial population 5DAT, 10DAT and 15DAT respectively. The inhibition effect on the fungal population was very specific as some fungi ( such as Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, Collectotrichum gloeosporioides, Aspergillus flavus, Mucor, Penicillium, Curvularia lunata ) which were present in the baseline determination (control) did not appear in the treatment. Percentage organic matter for the treatment did not vary much with the baseline determination (control) but the impact was observed in the various levels of treatments for all the herbicides. A similar study should be conducted on a normal field condition where herbicide treatments would be carried out on a normal field condition since most of the previous studies had the herbicide treatment carried out under laboratory condition. It will also be very appropriate if further research work is carried out to identify the specific components of these herbicides which favour the growth and development of certain beneficial microorganisms such as fungi and bacterial. Keywords: herbicides, microbial population, biomass, baseline, organic matter, treatments.
How do people with neurofibromatosis type 1 (the forgotten victims) live? A grounded theory study

Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) is a rare genetic disorder, associated with some physical symptoms including spots and tiny bumps on the skin, and internal organ involvement. People suffering from neurofibromatosis face various challenges in their daily lives. However, there is little understanding on how patients deal with neurofibromatosis. This study aimed to investigate the life challenges of patients with NF1.
Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant andAntimicrobial Activity for Prepared Free Gluten Pan Bread from Sorghum Flour and Garden Cress Seeds Flour

This work was undertaken to conduct the attempt of replacing garden cress seeds flour (GCSF) with sorghum flour to produce free gluten pan bread. Shelf life and bioactive compounds (total phenolics content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) were determined. The free gluten pan bread samples were formed by partly substituting the sorghum flour by 5, 10 and 15% of GCSF. Results of bioactive compounds showed that TPC, TFC and DPPH % assay in all free gluten pan bread samples were increased in compared with the control one. All free gluten pan bread samples didn't show an observed change up to 4 days of storage under different storage condition (room and refrigerator temperature). Spoilage was pointed out by black, white and green coloration on the free gluten pan bread samples. It is concluded that substituting GCSF with sorghum flour produces acceptable free gluten pan bread with improved shelf life.
Investigation of the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-standardized autologous blood injection as treatment for lateral epicondylitis

Background There are various conservative treatment options for lateral epicondylitis (LE). The aim is to evaluate pain, daily functioning, and complications after ultrasound-standardized autologous blood injections in patients with LE. Methods For this prospective cohort study, consecutive patients (>18 years) diagnosed with LE were included. Autologous blood was injected using a medical device containing an injection disposable with 12 small needles (Instant Tennis Elbow Cure [ITEC]) device. Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), subjective elbow score (SES), palpation and provocation pain, satisfaction, and complications of treatment were measured at baseline and two months after treatment. Paired t-tests and Fisher’s exact tests were used for calculating the difference between pre- and post-treatment outcomes. Results Fifty-five elbows were analyzed. Mean time between pre- and post-treatment was 11.1 weeks (standard deviation [SD], 8.9 weeks). The mean PRTEE score decreased from 68.2 (SD, 15.7) before surgery to 53.2 (SD, 25.9; p<0.001) after. The mean SES improved from 36.9 (SD, 20.8) to 51.7 (SD, 27.4; p<0.001). Despite this improvement, only 44.7% of patients showed relevant clinical improvement in PRTEE, and 37.3% showed significant clinical improvement based on SES. Four patients reported a complication and the injection disposable failed three times. Conclusions Ultrasound-standardized autologous blood injection using the ITEC device is not an effective tool in reducing symptoms related to LE. This study showed that only half of all patients experienced a positive effect. In this heterogeneous cohort of patients, we showed no added value of ultrasound standardization.
Thiamine‐dependent regulation of mammalian brain pyridoxal kinase in vitro and in vivo

Vitamins B1 (thiamine) and B6 (pyridox (al/ine/amine)) are crucial for central nervous system (CNS) function and neurogenesis due to the coenzyme action of their phosphorylated derivatives in the brain metabolism of glucose and neurotransmitters. Here, the non‐coenzyme action of thiamine on the major mammalian producers of pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate (PLP), such as pyridoxal kinase (PdxK) and pyridoxine 5′‐phosphate oxidase (PNPO), is characterized. Among the natural thiamine compounds, thiamine triphosphate (ThTP) is the best effector of recombinant human PdxK (hPdxK) in vitro, inhibiting hPdxK in the presence of Mg2+ but activating the Zn2+‐dependent reaction. Inhibition of hPdxK by thiamine antagonists decreases from amprolium to pyrithiamine to oxythiamine, highlighting possible dysregulation of both the B1‐ and B6‐dependent metabolism in the chemical models of thiamine deficiency. Compared with the canonical hPdxK, the D87H and V128I variants show a twofold increase in Kapp of thiamine inhibition, and the V128I and H246Q variants show a fourfold and a twofold decreased Kapp of thiamine diphosphate (ThDP), respectively. Thiamine administration changes diurnal regulation of PdxK activity and phosphorylation at Ser213 and Ser285, expression of the PdxK‐related circadian kinases/phosphatases in the rat brain, and electrocardiography (ECG). In contrast to PdxK, PNPO is not affected by thiamine or its derivatives, either in vitro or in vivo. Dephosphorylation of the PdxK Ser285, potentially affecting mobility of the ATP‐binding loop, inversely correlates with the enzyme activity. Dephosphorylation of the PdxK Ser213, which is far away from the active site, does not correlate with the activity. The correlations analysis suggests the PdxK Ser213 to be a target of kinase MAP2K1 and phosphatase Ppp1ca. Diurnal effects of thiamine administration on the metabolically linked ThDP‐ and PLP‐dependent enzymes may support the brain homeostatic mechanisms and physiological fitness.
The acquisition of English active and passive monotransitive constructions by English–Spanish simultaneous bilingual children

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions: We examine the acquisition of English active and passive monotransitives by English–Spanish bilingual children. These data are compared to English monolinguals from previous studies. We explore whether bi- and monolinguals show similar onset patterns given the shared grammatical properties of actives in the bilinguals’ two languages, and whether they differ in the onset of passives given the grammatical properties in English (canonical determiner phrase [DP]-movement) and Spanish (canonical DP-movement and se-passives). We also investigate the role played by adult input in child output. Design/methodology/approach: We analyze the spontaneous production data from eight English–Spanish bilinguals (ages: 1;01–6;11), and the adults who interact with them. Data and analysis: We perform a double analysis: (1) the onset of these structures in the spontaneous production of bilinguals to determine whether emergence patterns differ from those of monolinguals and (2) their incidence through language development to focus on production frequency. Findings/conclusions: Bilinguals start producing passives at the age of 3, later than actives that emerge at the age of 2, akin to English monolinguals. This acquisition order effect is also seen in the lower incidence of passives when compared to actives in the two child groups. The distributional properties of the two passive types do not seem to have interfered in the bilinguals’ acquisition of the English passive type, causing delay. These data suggest that the emergence and the incidence of the two constructions in bi- and monolinguals could be explained by the DP-movement maturation and/or adult input effects given the adults’ lower frequency of exposure to passives with respect to actives. Originality: This is the first study that addresses bilingual acquisition data and compares child output to adult input. Significance/implications: It contributes to elucidate how the bilinguals’ two languages interact in the acquisition and incidence of English actives and passives.
The implementation of a professional development program in functional behavioural assessment in selected elementary schools in Thailand

Several decades of research have demonstrated that Functional Behavioural Assessment (FBA) can be an effective strategy to both increase classroom teachers’ professional skills and encourage appropriate student behaviour. This research also notes that successful implementation of FBA in typical school settings can be complex and challenging. Several recent Thai educational policies require the use of positive and systematic behaviour support in regular schools. However, a number of Thai studies have found that Thai schools have had difficulty implementing these policies and behaviour problems are still reported as a major issue for Thai teachers. The present study aims to assist schools to close the gap between policy and practice by conducting a professional development program for Thai teachers in the use of FBA to guide their behaviour support. Classroom teachers, target students, senior school staff and school principals in two elementary schools in Bangkok, Thailand participated in the study. A blended approach combining elements of case study and single subject designs was used to shape and implement the research. Nine classroom teachers from the two participating schools took part in a fortnightly FBA professional development program spanning six weeks. Multiple sources of data were collected before, during and after the professional development program, and analysis of the data was conducted at several levels. The findings indicate that the professional development program in FBA achieved positive outcomes for the majority of the participating teachers. The results support previous studies showing that the opportunity to practise in class and to receive feedback is needed for successful outcomes. The consistent and continued implementation of FBA was dependent on the teachers’ personal attributes. Teachers in both schools perceived several barriers impeding their FBA implementation such as insufficient support from family, work demands and time management. This study confirmed that the implementation of FBA in typical school settings involves multiple interactions between individuals as well as between external variables. The findings may be used by Thai policymakers and school administrators to assist school staff to build capacity to improve the behaviour support system in Thai schools.
Impact of substrate bias on radiation-induced edge effects in MOSFETs

This paper investigates the effects of gamma-ray irradiation on the Shallow-Trench Isolation (STI) leakage currents in 180-nm complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology. No hump effect in the subthreshold region is observed after irradiation, which is considered to be due to the thin STI corner oxide thickness. A negative substrate bias could effectively suppress the STI leakage, but it also impairs the device characteristics. The three-dimensional simulation is introduced to understand the impact of substrate bias. Moreover, we propose a simple method for extracting the best substrate bias value, which not only eliminates the STI leakage but also has the least impact on the device characteristics.
Results and Comparison from the SAM Linear Fresnel Technology Performance Model: Preprint

This paper presents the new Linear Fresnel technology performance model in NREL's System Advisor Model. The model predicts the financial and technical performance of direct-steam-generation Linear Fresnel power plants, and can be used to analyze a range of system configurations. This paper presents a brief discussion of the model formulation and motivation, and provides extensive discussion of the model performance and financial results. The Linear Fresnel technology is also compared to other concentrating solar power technologies in both qualitative and quantitative measures. The Linear Fresnel model - developed in conjunction with the Electric Power Research Institute - provides users with the ability to model a variety of solar field layouts, fossil backup configurations, thermal receiver designs, and steam generation conditions. This flexibility aims to encompass current market solutions for the DSG Linear Fresnel technology, which is seeing increasing exposure in fossil plant augmentation and stand-alone power generation applications.
Absolute quantitation of individual SARS-CoV-2 RNA molecules provides a new paradigm for infection dynamics and variant differences

Despite an unprecedented global research effort on SARS-CoV-2, early replication events remain poorly understood. Given the clinical importance of emergent viral variants with increased transmission, there is an urgent need to understand the early stages of viral replication and transcription. We used single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridisation (smFISH) to quantify positive sense RNA genomes with 95% detection efficiency, while simultaneously visualising negative sense genomes, subgenomic RNAs, and viral proteins. Our absolute quantification of viral RNAs and replication factories revealed that SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA is long-lived after entry, suggesting that it avoids degradation by cellular nucleases. Moreover, we observed that SARS-CoV-2 replication is highly variable between cells, with only a small cell population displaying high burden of viral RNA. Unexpectedly, the B.1. 1.7 variant, first identified in the UK, exhibits significantly slower replication kinetics than the Victoria strain, suggesting a novel mechanism contributing to its higher transmissibility with important clinical implications.
Optimizing growing conditions for glasshouse studies of root and phosphorus responses of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

Abstract Nutritional responses of tap-rooted legume species in glasshouse studies are often confounded by soil volume. This glasshouse pot experiment was conducted to determine root distribution and phosphorus (P) nutritional requirements of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) as influenced by available soil volume in a sandy loam soil. In the experiment, mungbean was grown under increasing soil volume with pot depths up to 150 cm. Root biomass increased with soil volume. Root mass density in the upper 25 cm was highest in 50 cm deep pots, accounting for ∼3, 2 and 1.2 times that of 100 and 50 cm and 25 cm pots, respectively. Shoot P content was closely associated soil volume (r2 = 0.99). Phosphorus uptake in shoot per unit root mass in 50 cm pots was ∼1.6 times that of 150 cm deep pots. It is recommended that mungbeans should be grown in pots at least 50 cm deep to obtain realistic growth and nutrient uptake data.
Supporting student learning from diagnosing erroneous examples when contrasting them with worked examples in the physics classroom

ABSTRACT Troubleshooting activities require students to diagnose teacher-crafted erroneous examples by detecting and explaining the conceptual errors driving them. In a previous study, the author tested whether diagnosing erroneous examples and then scoring them using a rubric that contained the related worked examples, a step-by-step strategy to solve a problem, would help 8th graders studying simple electric circuits detect and learn from the conceptual errors in the erroneous examples. The findings showed that this graded activity was more effective than the traditional activity with the same worked examples but without rubrics. To determine whether older students with greater metacognitive skills still need the support provided by the graded activity, five 10th grade advanced physics classes completed a pretest/intervention/posttest after finishing a unit on geometric optics. Students in each class were randomly assigned to the graded (69 students) or the traditional activity (73 students). Students assigned to the graded activity detected and learned more from the conceptual errors in the erroneous examples than students administered the traditional activity. Thus, the findings of the current and the previous studies suggest the greater effectiveness of the graded activity as compared to the traditional activity, regardless of the students’ level of metacognitive awareness or topic.
Mathematical modelling of return strokes

A lightning flash is initiated by electrical breakdown of the air in a cloud. This process, commonly known as the preliminary breakdown, signifies the initiation of a stepped leader. Such a stepped leader propagates towards the earth, in a succession of nearly discontinuous surges or steps. The stepped leader leaves a charged, conducting channel in its wake. When the leader reaches the ground, the current flowing in the channel increases abruptly, marking the beginning of the return stroke. After the first return stroke, several subsequent return strokes may occur, each of which is preceded by a fast, continuously moving leader the dart leader which propagates from cloud to earth down the channel made by the stepped leader. This chapter is concerned with the mathematical modelling of return strokes.
Sentiment analysis for Bangla microblog posts

6 2. RELATED WORKS IN ENGLISH 9 3. LEXICON 11 3.1 METHODOLOGY TO CONSTRUCT THE BANGLA SENTIMENT LEXICON: 11 4. METHODOLOGY 13 4.1 DATASET: 13 4.2 TWEET DESCRIPTION: 14 4.3 PREPROCESSING: 14 4.4 OUR APPROACH 17 4.4.1 TRAINING SET CONSTRUCTION: 17 4.4.1.1 SEMI-SUPERVISED: 17 4.4.1.2 SELF-TRAINING BOOTSTRAPPING: 17 4.4.2 FEATURE EXTRACTION: 20 4.4.3 CLASSIFIER: 23 4.4.3.1 SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE: 23 4.4.3.2 MAXIMUM ENTROPY: 24 5. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND EVALUATION 25 5.1 EVALUATION METRICS: 25 5.2 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 27 6. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORKS 33 REFERENCES 43
Neonatal Resuscitation Practices in Europe: A Survey of the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies

Background: We aimed to evaluate the policies and practices about neonatal resuscitation in a large sample of European hospitals. Methods: This was a cross-sectional electronic survey. A 91-item questionnaire focusing on the current delivery room practices in neonatal resuscitation domains was individually sent to the directors of 730 European neonatal facilities or (in 5 countries) made available as a Web-based link. A comparison was made between hospitals with ≤2,000 and those with >2,000 births/year and between hospitals in 5 European areas (Eastern Europe, Italy, Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Western Europe). Results: The response rate was 57% and included participants from 33 European countries. In 2018, approximately 1.27 million births occurred at the participating hospitals, with a median of 1,900 births/center (interquartile range: 1,400–3,000). Routine antenatal counseling (p < 0.05), the presence of a resuscitation team at all deliveries (p < 0.01), umbilical cord management (p < 0.01), practices for thermal management (p < 0.05), and heart rate monitoring (p < 0.01) were significantly different between hospitals with ≤2,000 births/year and those with >2,000 births/year. Ethical and educational aspects were similar between hospitals with low and high birth volumes. Significant variance in practice, ethical decision-making, and training programs were found between hospitals in 5 different European areas. Conclusions: Several recommendations about available equipment and clinical practices recommended by the international guidelines are already implemented by centers in Europe, but a large variance still persists. Clinicians and stakeholders should consider this information when allocating resources and planning European perinatal programs.