Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid identification of New England freshwater copepods using a novel genetic barcode

RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF NEW ENGLAND FRESHWATER COPEPODS USING A NOVEL GENETIC BARCODE by Elisha B. Allan University of New Hampshire, December, 2008 Identification of freshwater calanoid and cyclopoid copepods is limited to adults of certain sexes because morphological keys are mostly based on mature reproductive structures, necessitating an alternate method. Genetic barcodes are an additional tool for distinguishing species using variation in short segments of DNA. I tested the utility of the 28S rDNA D3 expansion segment as a barcode for identifying five species of calanoids and five species of cyclopoids from multiple lakes from New England. Neighbor-joining trees grouped all conspecifics together with high bootstrap support, except for Leptodiaptomus minutus. Comparisons of intravs. interspecific variation revealed a barcode gap for both calanoids and cyclopoids. Fifty characteristic attributes (CAs) were identified that separate specimens from ordinal to specific levels. Overall, the barcode shows promise as an alternate identification tool for freshwater calanoids and cyclopoids and future research should evaluate the barcode for more species over a wider geographic range.
Rates of Returns to Human Capital Investments in Albania

This paper develops a comprehensive framework of the main hypothesis tested whether the private returns to investment in education in Albania are sufficient to provide economic incentives for a high participation rate in post-compulsory schooling. We use cross section data from the Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS) of 2002 and develop a comprehensive framework for our quantitative analysis of the private returns to schooling and private incentives to invest in education. We construct estimates of the private return to each postcompulsory schooling level, taking into account the effects of education on wages. Evidence from the data shows that the significant part of return to secondary education is linked to further returns to higher education. This finding might explain the reduced incentives to invest in additional human capital.
Morphological assessment of Niger Kuri cattle using multivariate methods

A total of 406 adult cows and 34 bulls belonging to the Niger Kuri cattle population were assessed for 16 body measurements and 11 qualitative traits to contribute to the characterization of this unique cattle breed. Body measurements included facial, horn, ear and rump lengths; facial, cranial, shoulder, pelvic and ischium widths; height at withers and at hips; muzzle circumference; heart girth; body and tail lengths; and thorax depth. Qualitative traits included cephalic profile, ear shape, muzzle pigmentation, eyelid pigmentation, hoof pigmentation, horn colour, dewlap size, backline profile, horn shape, spotting pattern, and coat colour pattern. Data were analysed jointly with 377 individuals from four other West African taurine cattle breeds (N’Dama, Lagunaire, Lobi and Somba) using multivariate statistical methods, including canonical and correspondence analyses. Among the breeds analysed, Kuri cattle had the highest mean values for all body measurements: height at withers and body length had mean values of 124.0 ± 0.4 and 146.8 ± 1.0 cm in Kuri cows, respectively, and 126.0 ± 2.2 and 155.7 ± 3.6 cm, respectively, in Kuri bulls. Canonical analysis allowed the construction of contour plots to illustrate the high differentiation between Kuri cattle and the other breeds, regardless of the sex of the individuals. Further, the Mahalanobis distance matrices showed that pairs involving Kuri cattle had the higher differentiation of these populations. Correspondence analysis carried out on these 11 qualitative traits allowed the researchers to ascertain a clear differentiation between the Kuri and the other taurine cattle breeds. The N’Dama, Lagunaire, Lobi, and Somba breeds did not show clear differentiation at qualitative-type trait level with 75% confidence regions computed for these four breeds being highly intermingled. In the current data, Kuri cattle had the highest frequency in qualitative features, such as concave cephalic profile, dropped ears, non-pigmented muzzle and grey-coloured horns, which are absent in West African taurine and zebu cattle breeds, according to the literature. The current evidence would suggest that unique Kuri cattle type features may result from breeding decisions rather than from zebu admixture. This work confirms that at type trait level Kuri cattle is a unique population within the West African taurine cattle group. The implementation of genetic analyses aiming at ascertaining the degree of uniqueness of the breed is advised. Keywords: Body measurements, Bos taurus , multivariate analyses, qualitative traits, West African cattle
Block DCT based image fusion techniques

Block DCT based image fusion techniques have been developed and studied using image fusion quality evaluation metrics. Five image fusion architectures such as feature (FDCT), resizing DCT (RDCT), wavelet structure DCT (WSDCT), subband DCT (SDCT) and Morphological DCT (MpDCT) based on block DCT have been demonstrated. It is observed that WSDCT based image fusion algorithm out performed. The Matlab code will be distributed.
Electric energy costs and firm productivity in the countries of the Pacific Alliance

This paper explores the relation between energy as an input of production and firm-level productivity for Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, all country members of the Pacific Alliance economic bloc. The empirical literature, has explored the impact of infrastructure on productivity; however there is limited analysis on the impact of particular infrastructure variables, such as energy, on productivity at the firm level in Latin America. Therefore, this study conducts a quantitative assessment of the responsiveness of productivity to energy cost and quality for Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. For this, the empirical strategy is to estimate a Cobb-Douglas production function using the World Bank’s Enterprise Survey to obtain comparable measures of output and inputs of production. This approach provides estimates of input factor elasticities for all of the factors of production including energy. The results indicate that electric energy costs explain cross-country differences in firm level productivity. For the particular case of Colombia, the country exhibits the lowest capital and labor productivity of the PA, and firm output is highly responsive to changes in energy use. As a result, the evidence suggests that policies reducing electric energy costs are an efficient alternative to increase firm performance, particularly in the case of Colombia.
An Extended MKNN: Modified K-Nearest Neighbor

In this paper, a new classification method for enhancing the performance of K-Nearest Neighbor is proposed which uses robust neighbors in training data. The robust neighbors are detected using a validation process. This method is more robust than traditional equivalent methods. This new classification method is called Modified K-Nearest Neighbor. Inspired the traditional KNN algorithm, the main idea is classifying the test samples according to their neighbor tags. This method is a kind of weighted KNN so that these weights are determined using a different procedure. The procedure computes the fraction of the same labeled neighbors to the total number of neighbors. The proposed method is evaluated on a variety of several standard UCI data sets. Experiments show the excellent improvement in accuracy in comparison with KNN method.
Surface Modification of Polyimide Film by Dielectric Barrier Discharge at Atmospheric Pressure

In this paper, polyimide (PI) films are modified using an atmospheric pressure plasma generated by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in argon. Surface performance of PI film and its dependence on exposure time from 0 s to 300 s are investigated by dynamic water contact angle (WCA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total multiple reflection mode (FTIR-ATR). The study demonstrates that dynamic WCA exhibits a minimum with 40 s plasma treatment, and evenly distributed nano-dots and shadow concaves appeared for 40 s and 12 s Ar plasma treatment individually. A short period of plasma modification can contribute to the scission of the imide ring and the introduction of C–O and C=O (–COOH) by detailed analysis of FTIR-ATR.
Remote sensing planetary waves in the midlatitude mesosphere using low frequency transmitter signals

Abstract. Very low and low radio frequency (VLF/LF) propagation responds sensitively to the electron density distribution in the lower ionosphere (upper mesosphere). Whereas propagation paths crossing subpolar and polar regions are frequently affected by forcing from above by particle precipitations, mid- and lowlatitude paths let forcing from below be more prominent. Our observations (2009–2011) show, that the low frequency propagation conditions along the midlatitude path from Sicily to Germany (52° N 8° E) using the NSY 45.9 kHz transmitter (37° N 14° E) prove to be a good proxy of mesosphere planetary wave activity along the propagation path. High absorption events with VLF/LF propagation correlate to the well known winter time D-layer anomaly observed with high frequency (HF) radio waves. VLF/LF propagation calculations are presented which show that the radio signal amplitude variations can be modeled by planetary wave modulated collison frequency and electron density profiles. The other way around wave pressure amplitudes can be inferred from the VLF/LF data.
Models for Natural History

of another object. Therefore, a model only bears some properties of the object it represents, and is “true” only within the context in which it has been developed. Science is aimed at providing interpretations of reality; these are not good or bad, but merely more or less useful. In general, “model” is a rather heterogeneous and plastic term that needs to be defined and understood in every specific situation. Computed techniques have rapidly increased the analytical power of the morphological analyses. Such power can be controlled only by using an appropriate conceptual knowledge of these tools. The development of the computed tomographic facilities has improved the physical availability of specimens, structures, features, and variables. The morphology and the composition of the biological volumes are the qualities that have been integrated in the elaboration of the virtual image, with applications ranging from biomechanics to didactics. Geometric morphometrics probably represents the major recent contribution to the morphological approach. The highresolution power is associated with the analysis of the structural and functional matrix of the biological forms, via the matching of landmark data with multivariate statistics. In this context, “model” is the configuration used to represent objects. However, model is also the multivariate shape space itself, generated by the correlations within the morphological network. It is possible to exploit the actual power of these resources only through the complete knowledge of these techniques’ conceptual principles (requirements, constraints, and limits).
On mode I fracture of shape memory alloy plates

The isothermal problem of a mode I fracture of a shape memory alloy (SMA) plate is considered. Although the plate material is in the austenitic phase at a reference temperature, the martensitic transformation is triggered by high effective stresses at the tip of the crack. The phase transformation is accompanied by a reduction of the stiffness and strength that affects the extent of the plastic zone. The analysis is based on a two-dimensional version of the Tanaka constitutive theory for SMA. The goal is to evaluate the size of the plastic zone in front of the crack and the effect of the superelastic phase transformation on the stress intensity factor. This estimate can be used for better understanding of damage tolerance of SMA plates.
Testing the permanent income hypothesis in the developing and developed countries: A comparison between Fiji and Australia

Hall (1978) has stimulated considerable controversy and empirical work on testing the permanent income hypothesis (PIH). Much of the empirical work is on the developed countries where opportunities for inter-temporal substitution are generally higher than in the developing countries. Therefore, it is expected that PIH would be valid for only a smaller proportion of consumers in the developing countries. This paper uses the extended framework of Campbell and Mankiw (1989) to estimate the proportion of consumers for whom PIH is valid in Fiji and Australia. Our results show that PIH consumers are about 40\% higher in Australia than in Fiji.
Validation of Unsteady Flamelet / Progress Variable Methodology for Non-premixed Turbulent Partially Premixed Flames

This paper highlights the modeling capabilities of UFPV approach for the modeling of turbulent partially premixed lifted flames to capture the extinction and re-ignition phenomena. Large eddy simulation (LES) with the probability density function (PDF) approach provides the turbulence-chemistry interaction. All scalars are represented as a function of mean mixture fraction, mixture fraction variance, mean progress variable and scalar dissipation rate. Mixture fraction is assumed to follow a β-PDF distribution. Progress variable and scalar dissipation rate distributions are assumed to be a -PDF. Results are compared with experimental data of a vitiated co-flow burner with fuels like CH4/Air and H2/N2. Results of radial plots for temperature, mixture fraction and scattered data of temperature with mixture fraction at various axial locations are compared. Lift-off height for a CH4/Air flame appears to be over-predicted while the predicted lift-off height for a H2/N2 flame shows an under-prediction.
History force on coated microbubbles propelled by ultrasound

In this paper the unsteady translation of coated microbubbles propelled by acoustic radiation force is studied experimentally. A system of two pulsating microbubbles of the type used as contrast agent in ultrasound medical imaging is considered, which attract each other as a result of the secondary Bjerknes force. Optical tweezers are used to isolate the bubble pair from neighboring boundaries so that it can be regarded as if in an unbounded fluid and the hydrodynamic forces acting on the system can be identified unambiguously. The radial and translational dynamics, excited by a 2.25 MHz ultrasound wave, is recorded with an ultrahigh speed camera at 15×106 frames/s. The time-resolved measurements reveal a quasisteady component of the translational velocity, at an average translational Reynolds number 〈Ret〉 ≈ 0.5, and an oscillatory component at the same frequency as the radial pulsations, as predicted by existing models. Since the coating enforces a no-slip boundary condition, an increased viscous dissipation is expected due to the oscillatory component, similar to the case of an oscillating rigid sphere that was first described by Stokes [“On the effect of the internal friction of fluids on the motion of pendulums,” Trans. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 9, 8 (1851) ]. A history force term is therefore included in the force balance, in the form originally proposed by Basset and extended to the case of time-dependent radius by Takemura and Magnaudet [“The history force on a rapidly shrinking bubble rising at finite Reynolds number,” Phys. Fluids 16, 3247 (2004) ]. The instantaneous values of the hydrodynamic forces extracted from the experimental data confirm that the history force accounts for the largest part of the viscous force. The trajectories of the bubbles predicted by numerically solving the equations of motion are in very good agreement with the experiment.
Persistence of Individual Unemployment in Indonesia: Dynamic Probit Analysis from Panel SUSENAS 2008-2010

This paper presents a dynamic probit analysis of individual unemployment incidence using a panel survey on the national socio-economy (SUSENAS), 2008-2010. It compares a variety of dynamic random effects estimators, particularly focusing on the Heckman’s (1981) and Wooldridge’s (2005) approaches. The main result shows a strong evidence of persistence or state dependence of individual unemployment in Indonesia and therefore consistent with the theory of scar unemployment. This means that a person’s unemployment experience has an implication to his his/her future of labour market experience.
Mechanical Design of A Modular Quadruped Robot - Xdog

This article presents the mechanical design of a modular quadruped robot, named XDog. The leg mechanism of XDog has coplanar hip joints with the leg apart from the body to increase the motion range of the hip joint. Gear pair is used to drive each joint to promise high motion accuracy and compact assembling. Based on the leg mechanism and driving type, only one actuator is mounted on the leg with others in the torso to reduce the mass of the leg. Moreover, the leg design is modularized in a bilateral way, making each leg is capable for left or right side, and for forward or backward direction of the body. The mechanical design of XDog robot has advantages in large range of joint motion, light-weight leg, compact and high-accuracy driving system, and modular leg mechanism, making this design practical for developing a quadruped robot platform.
Identification of segmental duplications in the human genome

Sequencing the human genome early in this decade marked one of the greatest achievements in the advancement in to science. Soon it opened up a great opportunity to the scientific community worldwide with a massive amount of biological data to be explored. Segmental duplication is one of the structural variations found in the genome sequence. It counts for about 5% of genome and with relatively long segments of sequence of more than 1KB in length and more than 90% of sequence identity. Segmental duplications are distributed within the chromosome and throughout the genome and mostly denced in the subtelometric and pericentrometric regions. Segmental duplications play major rule in the evolutionary history and its association with genetic disorders. This review intends to explore in to the publications on previous studies and to tools and methodology they followed to achieve of their objective of identifying segmental duplications. Finding the similar sequences was done by local sequence alignment algorithms, most frequently with Blast program followed by global alignment algorithms. Further some other tools such as Blat, DupMasker and MUMmer also were being used. Sri Lanka Journal of Bio-Medical Informatics 2012; 3 (1):12-19 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/sljbmi.v3i1. 2467
The molecular mechanism for the expression of myosin VI dual function

This is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in small. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms, may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in small, VOLUME 8, ISSUE 19, 2012-07-09, DOI: 10.1002/smll.201200765.
Chytridiomycosis in Wild Frogs from Southern Costa Rica

Abstract In 1993, the amphibian fauna of Las Tablas, Costa Rica, began to decline, and by 1998 approximately 50% of the species formerly present could no longer be found. Three years later, at the Reserva Forestal Fortuna, in western Panama, a site approximately 75 km east southeast of Las Tablas, KRL encountered a mass die-off of amphibians and a subsequent decline in abundance and species richness. The epidemiological features of the anuran population declines and die-offs at both sites were similar, suggesting a similar cause. Herein we document the presence of the fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in dead and dying wild frogs collected at Las Tablas just prior to population declines of several anuran species.
Piriform Margin Augmentation as a Treatment for Persistent Nasal Valve Dysfunction: A Cadaveric Investigation and Report of Initial Clinical Results

C l i n M e d International Library Citation: Capone RB, Kim MM, Genther DJ (2016) Piriform Margin Augmentation as a Treatment for Persistent Nasal Valve Dysfunction: A Cadaveric Investigation and Report of Initial Clinical Results. J Otolaryngol Rhinol 2:021 Received: March 25, 2016: Accepted: June 30, 2016: Published: July 01, 2016 Copyright: © 2016 Capone RB, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Capone et al. J Otolaryngol Rhinol 2016, 2:021 Volume 2 | Issue 3 ISSN: 2379-948X
Bullying among high school students and their relationship with diligence at school Field study on a sample of secondary school students in Algeria

The present research aims to estimate and compare the prevalence of bullying among high school students, and their relationship with diligence at school. To achieve the purpose of this research was chosen intended sample selected from high school containing 900 students in Tlemcen –Algeria-, including 406 boys and 496 girls aged between 15 and 17 years old, were sampled on the random basis. Data collection tools were an (School Health Promotion: School efficiency and Bullying). The results indicated that the prevalence of bullying inside schools within the limits of 10% and 16%. The boy's students in high schools are more violent than girls. The forms of bullying widespread among students are psychological forms as name-calling, humiliation or offensive teasing and being ignored or excluded from a circle of friends. In addition, bullying is related negatively to diligent at school (r = − 0.43, p < 0.001). Students who were bullied become less efficient, they get low marks, have difficulties in concentra.
Development and characterization of porous functionalized collagen scaffolds for delivery of FGF-2

Aim. To develop the porous functionalized collagen scaffold for the delivery of FGF-2 and studying its properties in vitro and in vivo. Methods. Porous collagen scaffolds were prepared by freeze- drying collagen I solutions containing the polymer developed on the basis of cross-linked modified heparin. The scaffolds have been analyzed by SEM, AFM and SCLM. The angiogenic activity of these scaffolds loaded with FGF-2 was tested in a CAM assay. Results. The data obtained by SEM and SCLM analysis revealed that the scaffold mainly hasalayeredstructurewithporesformingaconnection between the layers. The average pore size of the scaffolds varied from 76 to 150 µm. Scaffolds containing the polymer were able to incorporate human FGF-2. Proposed compositions promoted angiogenesis in CAM assay. Conclusions. The developed porous functionalized collagen scaffold incorporating FGF-2 can be used as a vehicle for the sustained delivery of the growth factor both in vitro and in vivo.