Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ESTIMATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OF ARABIAN ORYX ( ORYX LEUCORYX ) IN WADI RUM AREA OF JORDAN BY MICROSATELLITE MARKERS

Data regarding genetic diversity of Arabian oryx(Oryx leucoryx) inWadi Rum area of Jordan is not available so far. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the genetic composition and structure of the Arabian oryx(Oryx leucoryx) herd in Wadi Rum area of Jordan using microsatellite marker analysis.Forty-nine Arabian oryx individuals were captured using a dart gun. Blood samples were obtained via jugular vein puncture into EDTA-blood collection tubes. Then, DNA was extracted and processed using StockMarks® Animal Genotyping System containing 11 microsatellite markers namely, TGLA 227, BM2213, TGLA53, ETH10, SPS115, TGLA 126, TGLA 122, INRA 23, ETH3,ETH225 and BM1824. Then, the samples were analyzed using ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer. Results obtained were used to estimate the level of heterozygosity and allelic diversity and calculation of allelic frequencies of all microsatellites markers, the mean observed and expected heterozygosity, the fixation index, gene flow and Shannon information index using the software GeneAlEx. In the current study the observed Heterozygosity, Expected and Unbiased Expected Heterozygosity were 0.535, 0.431 and 0.435, respectively. These numbers along with the Shannon's Information Index (0.751) indicates high level of within population genetic diversity. High level of genetic variation among Arabianoryx population of the current study ensures genetic diversity in this population which implies that the Arabianoryx population of the current study is almost likely a naturally living wild population surviving on its own.
Country of origin advertising and US demand of imported wine: an empirical analysis

We investigate the impact of media advertising on the US consumption of imported wine. Panel data from six countries over 15 years (1994–2008) are used to estimate an aggregate demand function for US wine imports. Our empirical analysis reveals evidence of important effects of advertising of domestic and imported wines on imported quantities; the advertising of imported wines significantly increases the quantity of imports for most countries while the advertising of domestic wines has a mixed effect on imported wine volumes. Other determinants such as price and real income are also found significant.
An analysis of critical information technology issues facing organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyze the views of top financial executives on the information systems (IS) in their organizations and to study the critical information technology issues facing organizations. Specifically, it aims to study critical issues over the period 2006 to 2010, as well as the effect of company size on the criticality of issue.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses an analysis of secondary data obtained from the 2006 and 2010 Financial Executives International (FEI) comprehensive survey‐based research on technology issues for financial executives. The study was conducted by the FEI and in conjunction with Computer Sciences Corporation in 2006. Factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) and other statistical methods are used.Findings – The findings confirm critical issues that are facing organizations today. The study also finds that company size generally does not play a significant role in the criticality of information technology (IT) issues and that gene.
Measuring the effects of topical moisturizers on changes in stratum corneum thickness, water gradients and hydration in vivo

Background Moisturizers are the most commonly used topically applied product for the treatment of dry skin conditions. They affect many properties and functions of the stratum corneum but some moisturizers have been reported to be detrimental to barrier function. Stratum corneum barrier function is a composite of its total structure and thickness but few studies have taken this into account. As a biosensor, the stratum corneum (SC) will change its structure in response to treatment and a swelling effect has been clearly demonstrated by skin hydration. Recently several moisturizing agents have been shown to have an effect on SC swelling behaviour with conflicting results. However, there is a paucity of data reported for measuring the effects of long‐term usage of moisturizers on SC thickness in vivo as, until recently, traditional techniques did not have the resolution to measure the effects of moisturizers on nonpalmoplantar body sites. The development of confocal Raman spectroscopy for use in human subjects provides noninvasive, real‐time, in vivo measurement of SC water concentration profiles and we have also used this state of the art equipment to measure the effect of the long‐term use of moisturizers on SC thickness for the first time.
Effect of Hematocrit and Inertial Losses on Pressure‐Flow Relations in the Isolated Hindpaw of the Dog

The effect of hematocrit on pressure-flow relations was studied in the perfused isolated hindpaw of the dog. Blood and suspensions of erythrocytes (RBC) in albumin-Ringer solution, hematocrit range of 0 to 80%, were used as perfusates. Flow resistance was found to increase markedly with hematocrit. No significant difference was found between pressure-flow data obtained with blood and RBC in albumin-Ringer solution when comparisons were made at comparable hematocrits, indicating negligible effect of RBC aggregation when blood was the perfusion fluid. Computations of flow resistance relative to cellfree perfusate indicated that non-Newtonian viscosity, as well as vessel distensibility, contributed to the nonlinearity of pressure-flow curves. Perfusion of paws with two Newtonian fluids of different viscosities allowed computation of inertial pressure losses under conditions of steady flow. At physiological perfusion pressures, inertial losses accounted for about 40% of the total pressure drop for cell-free albumin-Ringer solution, and dropped to about 5% for a hematocrit of 50. The results suggest that inertial losses, rather than a Fåhraeus-Lindqvist effect, play an important role in pressure-flow relations in the hindpaw.
Optimized multimodal functional magnetic resonance imaging/near-infrared spectroscopy probe for ultrahigh-resolution mapping

Abstract. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an increasingly important noninvasive method in neuroscience due to its high temporal resolution and ability to independently measure oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin. However, the relatively low spatial resolution of fNIRS makes it difficult to relate this signal to underlying anatomy. Simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can complement fNIRS with superior spatial resolution and the ability to image the entire brain, providing additional information to improve fNIRS localization. However, current simultaneous fMRI/fNIRS acquisition methods are not optimal, due to the poor physical compatibility of existing MR coils and fNIRS optodes. Here, we present a technique to manufacture a true multimodal fMRI/fNIRS probe in which both modalities can be used with maximal sensitivity. To achieve this, we designed custom MR coils with integral fNIRS optodes using three-dimensional printing. This multimodal probe can be used to optimize spatial (1.2×1.2×1.8 mm) and temporal resolution (2.5 Hz) of fMRI, and it provides maximal MRI sensitivity, while allowing for high flexibility in the location and density of fNIRS optodes within the area of interest. Phantom and human data are shown to confirm the improvement in sensitivity in both modalities. This probe shows promise for addressing fundamental questions of the relation of fNIRS to physiology.
The role and significance of endomorphin-1 and μ-opioid receptor in rats with endometriosis

Abstract Endomorphin-1 (EM-1) was reported to have very high affinity and selectivity for μ-opioid receptor (MOR). However, it remained unclear whether EM-1 and MOR were involved in the pathologies of endometriosis resulting in reduced fertility. In this study, RT-PCR, radioimmunoassay, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot were used, respectively. The results showed that the immune positive cells of EM-1 in hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries were significantly increased in endometriosis model rats, accompanied by the increase of plasma level of EM-1 and the decrease of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P). Interestingly, EM-1 was negatively correlated with FSH and LH (p < 0.05). More importantly, Naloxone (MOR antagonist) can significantly reduce the levels of EM-1 in serum, hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries, while increased the levels of FSH and LH. In conclusion, our results suggested that EM-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of the endometriosis-associated infertility by regulating hypothalamus–pituitary–ovarian axis, and Naloxone may be a new alternative drug for the treatment of endometriosis.
The Seven Deadly Sins of Statistical Analysis

In a pedantic but playful way, we discuss some common errors in the use of statistical analysis that are regularly observed in our professional plastic surgical literature. The seven errors we discuss are (1) the use of parametric analysis of ordinal data; (2) the inappropriate use of parametric analysis in general; (3) the failure to consider the possibility of committing type II statistical error; (4) the use of unmodified t-tests for multiple comparisons; (5) the failure to employ analysis of covariance, multivariate regression, nonlinear regression, and logistical regression when indicated; (6) the habit of reporting standard error instead of standard deviation; and (7) the underuse or overuse of statistical consultation. Confidence and common sense are advocated as a means to balance statistical significance with clinical importance.
Operating efficiency evaluation of urban logistics enterprises based on the Data envelopment analysis model

In order to evaluate operating efficiency of urban logistics enterprises, Data envelopment analysis (DEA) model is established. This model calculates overall efficiency, technical efficiency, scale efficiency and scale benefit of four logistics enterprise respectively. Then some feasible measures are given to nonDEA effective enterprises to make them be DEA effective. While the relationship between operating efficiency and resource allocation efficiency is analyzed, this paper also gives some advices about logistics industry development that are referred to the decision department of enterprises.
A Comparison of Patient Acceptance of Fingerstick Whole Blood and Oral Fluid Rapid HIV Screening in an Emergency Department

Background:Although whole blood rapid HIV testing has a greater sensitivity and specificity compared with oral fluid (OF) testing, patients prefer HIV testing using OF specimen collection. Whether patient preference for noninvasive collection methods affects acceptance of HIV screening in clinical practice, however, is unknown. Objective:To determine whether patient acceptance of fingerstick whole blood (FWB) and OF rapid HIV screening differs in an emergency department setting. Methods:From May 1 to June 30, 2007, triage-based testers offered rapid HIV screening to patients. OF and FWB tests were available on alternate days. Eligible patients were medically stable, ≥15 years of age, and not known to be HIV infected. Results:Two thousand two hundred one patients were referred for HIV screening: 1089 on OF days and 1112 on FWB screening days. Screening rates with OF and FWB were similar (61.9% vs. 59.1%, P = 0.18). Although most reasons why patients declined screening were similar for the groups, the specimen collection method was the primary reason for refusal by 25 patients who declined FWB screening compared with none of the patients who declined OF screening. Conclusions:Among emergency department patients, the preference for 1 rapid test collection modality over another has a minimal effect on actual screening rates.
The Quest for Content: the Integration of Product Networks and Social Networks in Online Content Exploration

Without the "guidance" of traditional marketing campaigns, how do consumers find "good" usergenerated-content online? Recently, websites have begun to present content through combined product and social networks, linked by hyperlinks. We focus on the role of this dual network structure in facilitating ill-defined exploration of the content space. We first analyze the YouTube.com and show that user pages have unique structural properties and act as content brokers in the dual network. Using simulation analysis we show that random rewiring of the product network cannot replicate the brokering effect of the self-organizing social network. Finally, we introduce an experiment in which consumers browse a YouTube-based website that offers video recommendations through different networks. Using survival analysis we show that the dual network structure leads to faster access to “good” content and to overall higher satisfaction. Our work suggests that integrating a selforganizing social network with product networks significantly improves content exploration.
Control Techniques for Active Power Filters

With the widespread use of harmonic-generating devices, the control of harmonic currents to maintain a high level of power quality is becoming increasingly important. An effective way for harmonic suppression is the harmonic compensation by using active power filter. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of active power filter (APF) control strategies put forward recently. It is aimed at providing a broad perspective on the status of APF control methods to researchers and application engineers dealing with harmonic suppression issues. Many control techniques have been designed, developed, and realized for active filters in recent years. We classify all control methods into two main groups. The first group is reference parameter detection method. This can be done in either the time or frequency domain. The second group is derivation methods of the switching functions for active filters. In this paper, we mainly discuss the second group and its application. The paper also investigates some possibilities of new approach to control active power filters.
A New Direct Detection System for Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

to a non-selective media for isolation and/or for susceptibility testing. Screen representative isolated colonies using a phenotypic test for carbapenemase production, such as the Modified Hodge Test (MHT) or test for carbapenem susceptibility using a standardized method and follow the CLSI guidelines for identification of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae [12].
RightCapacity: SLA-driven Cross-Layer Cloud Elasticity Management

Cloud computing paradigm has become the solution to provide good service quality and exploit economies of scale. However, the management of such elastic resources, with di erent Quality-of-Service (QoS) combined with on-demand self-service, is a complex issue. New challenges for elasticity management arise when people look deeper into the Cloud characteristics such as non-ignorable instance initiation time and full hour billing model. The main challenge for a SaaS provider is to determine the best trade-o between pro t and end-user satisfaction. This paper proposes RightCapacity, an approach driven by Service Level Agreement (SLA) for optimizing the Cloud elasticity management (i.e., both elasticity at the application and at the infrastructure levels). We consider cross-layer (application-resource) Cloud elasticity. We model Cloud application using closed queueing network model taking into account the SLA concept and the Cloud economic model. Our results show that RightCapacity successfully keeps the best trade-o between SaaS provider pro t and end-user satisfaction. Using RightCapacity, the cost saving of as much as 30% can be achieved while causing the minimum number of violations, as small as 1%.
Sensor fusion for prediction of orientation and position from obstacle using multiple IR sensors an approach based on Kalman filter

Kalman filters have gained immense research attention in robotics, throughout the last decades. Among the applications, localization of robots through Kalman filters proved promising results. This paper presents an application of sensor fusion for prediction of orientation and depth to wall/obstacle by fusing the inputs from three IR range finders. The experimental result demonstrates the capability of Kalman filter to predict the parameters precisely, from noisy sensor inputs. The technique find application in determining the position and orientation from wall which will be helpful in obstacle avoidance decision making, automatic parking of automobiles etc.
Chemical changes in concentrated, acidic, metal-bearing wastewaters when treated with lime.

Lime neutralization of acidic wastewaters can prove to be an effective treatment process provided sufficient lime is added. The chemical changes that occur in the system are extensive and varied. Precipitation is predominant with complexation, oxidation and adsorption playing major roles. Total chemical analyses have identified the chemical changes, and controlled laboratory simulations have identified the relative importance of the physical-chemical processes. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide are discussed, and optimum lime addition rates are predicted by thermodynamic computer simulation.
Rule extraction for multi bottom-up tree transducers

Following the invention of computers, it was always a dream to obtain translations automatically. If we give a machine a sentence it should return a sentence in another language expressing the same meaning. In the subfield of statistical machine translation (SMT), this translation is achieved with the help of statistical models. Those models use large text collections to automatically learn basic translation units that model the translation from a source sentence into a target sentence. The basic translation units can be single words or phrases consisting of multiple words. Other approaches, called syntax-based SMT, use rules of some formal grammar as their basic translation units. Syntax-based SMT systems easily allow the use of linguistic annotations. Rules can contain nonterminal symbols which can encode linguistic annotations. Furthermore, one can decide whether such annotations are used for both the source and target language, for one language only, or if those annotations are excluded alltogether. The integration of linguistic annotations yielded mixed results. In some cases translation quality significantly improves whereas in others it seems to hurt coverage and thus overall translation quality. While the use of annotations for both languages generally did not result in good translation quality, the use for one language only showed improvements. However, the best results are often obtained by a syntax-based SMT system that excludes all linguistic annotations. The underlying formal grammars vastly vary with respect to their expressive power. Synchronous context-free grammars are widely used but more powerful for-
Big Data -- A Theory Model

Big Data is an emerging research topic. However, the term remains fuzzy and is seen as an umbrella term. Its origin, composition, possible strategies, and outcomes are unclear. This impedes the positioning of publications addressing business administration issues related to Big Data. The missing theoretical foundation of Big Data has been recognized, as has the need for underlying relationships and concepts to be elucidated. While a few publications have directly addressed this need, the analysis has remained methodically weak. Based on an existing qualitative model, we developed a Big Data theory model and tested it through structural equation modeling. All the hypotheses in our research model proved significant. The study makes three principal contributions to the scientific discussion about Big Data. First, it elucidates the current characteristics of Big Data. Second, the addressability of Big Data through strategies is demonstrated. Third, it produced evidence of positive outcomes through Big Data.
Effects of Dietary Chromium Picolinate and Ascorbic Acid Supplementation on Egg Production, Egg Quality and Some Serum Metabolites of Laying Hens Reared under a Low Ambient Temperature (6 °C)

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of chromium (chromium picolinate, Cr Pic) and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) supplementation on egg production and egg quality in laying hens (Hy-Line) kept at 18 °C (at thermo-neutral zone) or 6 °C (cold stress) in temperature-controlled rooms. One hundred and fifty laying hens (32 week-old) were divided into 5 groups, 30 hens per group. The laying hens kept at 6 °C temperature were fed either a basal diet (low temperature-basal diet, LTB group) or the basal diet supplemented with either 400 µg of Cr per kg diet (Cr group), 250mg of L-ascorbic acid per kg diet (Vit C group) or 400 µg of Cr plus 250mg of L-ascorbic acid per kg diet (Vit C + Cr group) while hens kept at 18 °C fed a basal diet (thermo-neutral-basal diet, TNB group). Performance and egg quality were significantly reduced in LTB group compared with TNB group. Supplemental chromium and vitamin C significantly increased live weight change, egg production, and improved feed efficiency in cold-stressed hens compared with group fed the basal diet at 6 °C brought up to the values of the group reared under thermoneutral conditions (18 °C). Egg production and egg weight were also greater in each supplemental group compared with the LTB group. Separately or as a combination, supplemental chromium and vitamin C increased serum insulin but decreased corticosterone, glucose and cholesterol concentrations. Results of the present study show that supplementing vitamin C and chromium, particularly as a combination, improved the performance of cold-stressed hens. Such a combination of supplement can offer a potential protective management practice in preventing cold stress-related losses in performance of laying hens.
Instabilités et dynamiques de particules en interaction dans un système quasi-unidimensionnel

Dans cette these nous presentons une description theorique et numerique detaillee des instabilites et des dynamiques observees dans des systemes quasi-unidimensionnels de particules en interaction repulsive soumises a un bain thermique. Lorsque le confinement transverse decroit, ces systemes presentent une transition structurelle les faisant passer d'une configuration en ligne a une configuration en zigzag, homogene ou inhomogene. Nous avons mis en evidence et explique le changement de caractere de cette bifurcation qui passe de sur-critique a sous-critique. La description quantitative de configurations d'equilibre stables, appelees "bulles", a ete realisee, celles-ci correspondent a une coexistence de domaines en ligne et en zigzag. La dynamique des "bulles" a ete ensuite etudiee a l'aide d'un modele de particule effective diffusant dans un potentiel periodique induit par le caractere discret du systeme. Lorsque plusieurs "bulles" coexistent, elles interagissent et se reorganisent pour former une configuration stable a une seule "bulle" selon des mecanismes de coalescence ou de collapse. Nous avons montre que la topologie de la configuration peut induire des effets de frustration conduisant a une interaction attractive ou repulsive selon les cas. Enfin, nous avons montre que les fluctuations transverses des particules divergent a l'approche des seuils de transition et explique ces comportements par l'apparition de modes mous dans le spectre de vibration. Cette description en modes propres nous a permis par ailleurs de comprendre l'augmentation observee de la diffusion d'une chaine de particules dans un potentiel periodique asymetrique par rapport a une chaine libre.