Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of basin connectivity on sediment source, transport, and storage within the Mkabela Basin, South Africa

Abstract. The management of sediment and other non-point source (NPS) pollution has proven difficult, and requires a sound understanding of particle movement through the drainage system. The primary objective of this investigation was to obtain an understanding of NPS sediment source(s), transport, and storage within the Mkabela Basin, a representative agricultural catchment within the KwaZulu–Natal Midlands of eastern South Africa, by combining geomorphic, hydrologic and geochemical fingerprinting analyses. The Mkabela Basin can be subdivided into three distinct subcatchments that differ in their ability to transport and store sediment along the axial valley. Headwater (upper catchment) areas are characterized by extensive wetlands that act as significant sediment sinks. Mid-catchment areas, characterized by higher relief and valley gradients, exhibit few wetlands, but rather are dominated by a combination of alluvial and bedrock channels that are conducive to sediment transport. The lower catchment exhibits a low-gradient alluvial channel that is boarded by extensive riparian wetlands that accumulate large quantities of sediment (and NPS pollutants). Fingerprinting studies suggest that silt- and clay-rich layers found within wetland and reservoir deposits of the upper and upper-mid subcatchments are derived from the erosion of fine-grained, valley bottom soils frequently utilized as vegetable fields. Coarser-grained deposits within these wetlands and reservoirs result from the erosion of sandier hillslope soils extensively utilized for sugar cane, during relatively high magnitude runoff events that are capable of transporting sand-sized sediment off the slopes. Thus, the source of sediment to the axial valley varies as a function of sediment size and runoff magnitude. Sediment export from upper to lower catchment areas was limited until the early 1990s, in part because the upper catchment wetlands were hydrologically disconnected from lower parts of the watershed during low to moderate flood events. The construction of a drainage ditch through a previously unchanneled wetland altered the hydrologic connectivity of the catchment, allowing sediment to be transported from the headwaters to the lower basin where much of it was deposited within riparian wetlands. The axial drainage system is now geomorphically and hydrologically connected during events capable of overflowing dams located throughout the study basin. The study indicates that increased valley connectivity partly negated the positive benefits of controlling sediment/nutrient exports from the catchment by means of upland based, best management practices.
Molecular Detection of Human Enterovirus in Raw and TreatedWastewater from a Sewage Treatment Plant in Mahdia, Tunisia

Enterovirus infections are a frequent cause of morbidity around the world. The present study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of sewage treatment for the removal of Enterovirus from wastewater and to compare environmental strains with clinical strains detected in the same region during the same period in order to study the impact of the quality of sewage treatment on public health. A total of 96 wastewater samples collected from March 2012 to February 2013 at entry and exit points from sewage treatment plant of Mahdia, Tunisia were analyzed for EV with an RT-PCR assay. Enteroviral RNA was detected in 24 (25%) sewage samples and circulates throughout the year with predominance during autumn. The strains were identified in 12.5% samples and belong to echovirus subtype. Environmental strains detected were genetically related to those identified in patients with aseptic meningitis in the same region which suggests a correlation between water contamination and aseptic meningitis.
Aggregates reduce transport distance of soil organic carbon: are our balances correct?

The effect of soil erosion on global carbon cycling, especially as a source or sink for greenhouse gases, has been the subject of intense debate. The controversy arises mostly from the lack of information on the fate of eroded soil organic carbon (SOC) whilst in-transit from the site of erosion to the site of longer-term deposition. Solving this controversy requires an improved understanding of the transport distance of eroded SOC, which is principally related to the settling velocity of sediment fractions that carry the eroded SOC. Although settling velocity has already been included in some erosion models, it is often based on mineral particle size distribution. For aggregated soils, settling velocities are affected by their actual aggregate size rather than by mineral particle size distribution. Aggregate stability is, in turn, strongly influenced by SOC. In order to identify the effect of aggregation of source soil on the transport distance of eroded SOC, and its susceptibility to mineralization after transport and temporary deposition, a rainfall simulation was carried out on a silty loam. Both the eroded sediments and undisturbed soils were fractionated into six different size classes using a settling tube apparatus according to their settling velocities: 20 μm. Weight, SOC content and instantaneous respiration rates were measured for each of the six class fractions. Our results indicate that (1) 41% of the eroded SOC was transported with coarse aggregates that would be likely re-deposited down eroding hillslopes, rather than with fine particles likely transferred to water courses; (2) erosion was prone to accelerate the mineralization of eroded SOC, and thus might contribute more CO2 to the atmosphere than current estimates which often ignore potential effects of aggregation; (3) preferential deposition of SOC-rich coarse aggregates potentially causes an increase of SOC remaining in the colluvial system and a reduction of SOC flux to the alluvial or aquatic system. These findings identify a potential error of overestimating net erosion-induced carbon sink effects, and thus add an additional factor to consider when improving our current understanding of SOC erosion and deposition on hillslopes.
Locality and resource aware peer‐to‐peer overlay networks

Abstract Unstructured peer‐to‐peer (P2P) overlay architectures are attracting more and more attention. In order to solve the topology mismatch problem, many approaches take locality information into account when designing peer‐to‐peer overlay networks. In this paper, we not only exploit locality but also take resource types into consideration. Taking advantage of data replication, selective search, clustering, and interest groups, we can improve the search performance of unstructured P2P networks. Simulation results show that our algorithm is better than the mOverlay network in the number of messages per search while it maintains almost the same hit ratio and comes with competitive locality properties.
LEAF ANATOMICAL ADAPTATIONS OF SOME HALOPHYTIC AND XEROPHYTIC SEDGES OF THE PUNJAB

Some members of family Cyperaceae inhabit a variety of habitat types in the Punjab region including polluted and brackish wetlands, desert and semi-desert habitats, river and canal banks, wastelands, agricultural fields, etc. Five sedge species (Bulboschoenus affinis, Cyperus alternifolia, C. conglumeratus, Fimbristylis dichotoma, and Schoenoplectus litoralis), representatives of distinct habitat types, were studied to investigate the leaf anatomical modifications to withstand environmental stresses. Cyperus alternifolia is the cultivated species of this family, whereas, Cyperus conglumeratus a xeropbhytic species of Cholistan desert. The later was found to have adapted some specific anatomical modifications like extensive sclerification, stomata located only on abaxial leaf surface, and high proportion of parenchyma. Fimbristylis dichotoma recorded from the saline waterlogged areas showed high proportion of aerenchyma in leaves. Bulboschoenus affinis and Schoenoplectus litoralis recorded from the brackish Kalar Kahar Lake, showed highly developed bulliform cells and extensive aerenchyma development. Generally, the anatomical features were the representatives of specific habitat types and degree of stress tolerance in these species.
Low back pain (LBP): physical therapy approach*

The physician caring for the subject with LBP needs to precisely ascertain the stage of the disease, the presenting features and symptoms, the biomechanical changes, the severity of the referred pain, the changes of the paravertebral muscles, and the psychological consequences of the disease. Additionally, its causes should be sought as well as the disease’s mode of presentation, that is, acute, recurrent, subacute or chronic. It is also important to determine the patient’s acceptance of previous treatments, the degree of incapacitation for routine activities, the effects of planned exercises and the ergonomics of the patient’s professional activities. The social and economical issue regarding matters of workers compensation is also a challenge because of patient simulation. Low back pain is perhaps the best example of the shortcomings of the disease-illness paradigm as a simple model of disability (20) . Although back pain is a common cause of disability, a few cases display an anatomical abnormality accounting for the clinical findings and symptoms. Even in cases where a diagnosis of herniated disk is attained, the patient’s degree of disability may show no bearing with severity of the symptoms. Most patients with low back pain respond to a course of conservative management. However, the components of nonoperative therapy that are effective in treating and preventing low back pain continue to be debated in the literature (4,5)
Seasonal, lunar and tidal control of ichthyoplankton dynamics at the interface between a temperate estuary and adjacent coastal waters (western Portugal)

Influence of season, lunar-tide cycle and tide on ichthyoplankton at the interface between Mondego estuary and the adjacent coast and on up-estuary transport was evaluated. Seasonal samples were collected at a fixed station at the mouth of the estuary during diel cycles, at neap and spring tides. Additionally, four sampling stations along the estuary were assessed. Pomatoschistus spp. was the main estuarine taxon, while Sardina pilchardus and Parablennius pilicornis were the most important marine species. Ichthyoplankton entrance and transport along the estuary presented a seasonal pattern with higher densities during summer. Lunar-tide cycle also represented an important influence, structuring communities that reach the estuary and their subsequent distribution. Solea senegalensis and Sardina pilchardus seemed to take advantage of spring tides to enter the estuary. S. pilchardus appear to be using tides to move upstream of the estuary. Ichthyoplankton entrance in the estuary seemed related to species spawning period, while its distribution within the estuary depends on in situ spawning and on the capacity of species to counteract currents and river flow. The present study provides a better understanding of ichthyoplankton dynamics at the interface of two coastal systems, reinforcing knowledge of the lunar-tide cycle influence on ichthyoplankton communities.
All Near Neighbor GraphWithout Searching

Given a collection ofnobjects equipped with a dis-tance functiond(·,·), the Nearest Neighbor Graph(NNG) consists in finding the nearest neighbor ofeach object in the collection. Without an index thetotal cost of NNG is quadratic. Using an index thecost would be sub-quadratic if the search for indi-vidual items is sublinear. Unfortunately, due to theso calledcurse of dimensionalitythe indexed and thebrute force methods are almost equally inefficient. Inthis paper we present an efficient algorithm to buildthe Near Neighbor Graph (nNG), that is an approx-imation of NNG, using only the index construction,without actually searching for objects.
Holistan Revisited: Development of a Demonstration Scenario for Future Military Coalition Operations

As a fundamental research program, the International Technology Alliance (ITA) endeavours to research and develop solutions to some of the problems confronting US/UK military coalition forces. Fundamental research programs can, however, deliver scientific and technical outcomes whose immediate practical relevance and exploitation potential is sometimes not immediately obvious to members of the end-user community. To address this problem we have often found it useful to demonstrate capabilities using a combination of domain scenarios and technology demonstrators. The current report describes our efforts to develop a domain scenario and technology demonstrators within a specific component of the ITA initiative, namely Project 12 Task 1 (P12T1). P12T1 is concerned with the development and evaluation of solutions that support the large-scale integration of information from multiple sources within a distributed network environment. It also focuses on the development of knowledge accessibility solutions that support both the retrieval of task-relevant information and the monitoring of battlefield information. To provide practical demonstrations of these capabilities we have developed a pseudo-realistic domain scenario that features US and UK coalition forces jointly involved in humanitarian relief and conventional warfighting operations. The scenario provides the narrative backdrop for a number of technology demonstrations. These include the identification, integration, and retrieval of information relevant to the planning of humanitarian relief efforts; the alignment and integration of nation-specific data repositories for the purposes of improved coalition interoperability; the acoustic detection and classification of military vehicles using data fusion algorithms; and the detection of mission-critical information from battlefield event streams. All these technology demonstrations are described in the report and presented alongside the aforementioned domain scenario. The report also identifies and describes a number of collaborative linkages between P12T1 and other ITA projects. These linkages reflect the fundamental inter-dependency of research efforts within the ITA program, and they are an essential ingredient of our technology demonstration goals.
STUDY OF DES-GAMMA-CARBOXYPROTHROMBIN (DCP) LEVELS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C WITH OR WITHOUT HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA (HCC) IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually asymptomatic in the early stage and does not show elevated alpha-feto protein (AFP). Des-Gamma-CarboxyProthrombin (DCP) and Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) may increase in sera of HCC patients. The ultimate goal is to evaluate the potential role of DCP and CA19-9 compared to AFP as early diagnostic, non-invasive markers for chronic hepatitis C patients with and without HCC. 26 chronic HCV patients, 26 HCC related to HCV and 25 normal controls were studied. Quantitative determination of AFP, DCP and CA19-9 concentrations in sera was done using commercially available Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Results: In HCC patients, AFP showed the highest diagnostic accuracy (90.2%) followed by DCP (80.4%) and CA19-9 (70.6%). AFP showed the highest specificity and sensitivity (100%-80.8%). DCP and CA19-9 showed the same specificity (92%) but DCP showed higher sensitivity (69.2%) than CA19-9 (50%). In HCV patients, CA19-9 showed the highest diagnostic accuracy (74.5%) followed by DCP (70.6%). AFP showed the lowest diagnostic accuracy (58.8%). Both CA19-9 and DCP showed highest specificity (100%), AFP is the lowest (84%). CA19-9 showed the highest sensitivity (50%), followed by DCP (42.3%) and AFP (34.6%). Significant higher levels of DCP and CA-19-9 were detected in HCC patients with low AFP levels (P<0.05). Conclusion: Serum levels of DCP and CA19-9 could be used as sensitive tumor markers to detect HCV patients with HCC and also to detect HCV patients who are at risk to develop cancer.
Computer Virus Detection Based on Artificial Immunity Concept

As computer viruses accumulate intelligence and continuously change their signature, they simulate the act of biological viruses. Based on the biological immunity system, this paper aims to implement an algorithm that utilizes the concept of artificial immune system in the computer viruses field. The virus evolution concept achieved by the biological clonal selection process is incorporated in an algorithm that anticipates computer virus evolution and works to detect any virus signature modification prior to eliminate it. This algorithm is based on CLONALG algorithm and will be termed computer virus clonal detection CVCD algorithm. Preliminary experimental calculations were promising and resulted into detection rate of over 95%, however, more investigation is underway to improve the detection process and get satisfactory results.
Bacillus thuringiensis savarankiškosios P450 citochromo monooksigenazės geno pagausinimas ir lyginamoji sekų analizė

* Corresponding author. E-mail: donaldas.citavicius@gf.vu. lt Four primers targeting the self-sufficient cytochrome P450 monooxygenase gene in the Bacillus cereus group were designed in this study. PCR was carried out using these primers, and Bacillus thuringiensis wild type strains C32 and 1.2 as well as the reference strain HER1410 were proven to possess this gene. Our results also showed that B. thuringiensis C32 possesses two different copies of this gene. Phylogenetic analysis and comparative sequence analysis were performed in order to evaluate the differences between the sequences of B. thuringiensis C32, 1.2 and HER1410 as well as those from the public databases. The sequence of B. thuringiensis HER1410 clustered with that of B. cereus 14579T, and the sequences of B. thuringiensis C32 and 1.2 clustered with that of Bacillus weihenstephanensis KBAB4. The sequences of both B. thuringiensis Al Hakam and B. thuringiensis serovar konkukian 97–27 did not cluster with strains C32, 1.2 and HER1410. The diversity of CYP102A in B. thuringiensis strains implies that this species represents an excellent potential resource of different self-sufficient cytochrome P450 monooxygenases.
A BAYESIAN DECISION THEORETIC APPROACH TO THE CHOICE OF THRESHOLDING PARAMETER

Thresholding rules recently became of considerable interest when Donoho and Johnstone applied them in the wavelet shrinkage context. Analytically simple, such rules are very efficient in data denoising and data compression problems. In this paper we find hard thresholding decision rules that minimize Bayes risk for broad classes of underlying models. Standard Donoho-Johnstone test signals are used to evaluate performance of such rules. We show that an optimal Bayesian decision theoretic (BDT) hard thresholding rule can achieve smaller mean squared error than some standard wavelet thresholding methods, if the prior information on the noise level is precise.
Hepatotoxicity of Cobalt Chloride in Albino Rat

Summary Cobalt is natural element found throughout the environment. Cobalt is an essential trace element being an integral part of vitamin B 12 but deficiency of cobalt has not been reported in humans. Cobalt has also been used as treatment for anemia because it stimulates RBC production. The present study was undertaken to study the hepatotoxic effect of cobalt chloride (CoCl 2.6H 2O) in male Wistar rats. Cobalt chloride (100 mg/kg b.wt/day) was administrated orally in rats for 60 days. Administration of cobalt chloride caused a significant increase in the activity of hepatic marker enzymes like serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin in serum. The level of serum total protein was also decreased. There was significant increase in the lipid peroxidation (TBARs) and decline in total glutathione, ascorbic acid, glycogen, protein and cholesterol in liver of treated rats as compared to control rats. The histopathological study indicates marked degenerative changes in the hepatocytes and infilteration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes. The results of this study indicate that subchronic treatment of cobalt chloride induces hepatotoxicity
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the Literature: how TPCK is defined and implemented in initial Teacher Education

In recent decades, there has been increasing research interest in teachers’ competencesregarding the growing role of technologies in educational practices. These competences are grounded on a clear base of technological knowledge, along with the recognized dimensions of a broad pedagogical expertise and deep knowledge of the content. This paper analyses the most significant international literature on the topic, reporting the theoretical discussion about teachers’ knowledge as described by the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework (TPCK – Koehler & Mishra, 2005a) based on Shulman’s (1986, 1987) PCK. This framework will be analysed in its definition and main components, as well as in the different interpretations given by researchers in recent years. Finally, some of the main strategies documented in the literature to develop this type of teacher knowledge in pre-service education will be presented.
Reconfigurable microstrip stacked array antenna with frequency and pattern characteristics

This paper presents a frequency and pattern reconflgurable stacked patch microstrip array antenna fed by aperture-coupled technique. The antenna consists of three substrate layers with radiating elements sorted at substrate layer 1 (top patches) and substrate layer 2 (bottom patches). The layers have difierent sizes to indicate difierent operating frequencies. On the ground plane, the four sets of two difierent aperture slot shapes (I-shaped and H-shaped) are used to transfer the wave and signal to particular radiating elements during the PIN diode switches conflgurations. The I-shaped slots are used to activate the bottom patches while the H-shaped slots are used to activate the top patches. Four PIN diode switches are placed at the feed line, positioned between the I- and H-shaped slots. Next, by changing the PIN diode switches conflguration to ten cases, the proposed antenna has capabilities to change the operating frequencies and the pattern characteristics itself. The measured results of return loss, gain and radiation patterns have slightly shifted compared to the simulated results.
Compact dual-band dielectric resonator antenna for 2.4/5.8 GHZ WLAN applications

Design of a Dual-Band Dielectric Resonator Antenna (DRA) for the radio-frequency identification (RFID) and wireless local area network (WLAN) is presented. The necessity of a compact sized dual-band antenna is to allow the manufacturers to produce small size high-performance WLAN access points. The proposed antenna consists of printed T-Shaped monopole antenna and rectangular dielectric resonator to operate simultaneously at 2.4 and 5.8 GHz. The monopole antenna was printed on a standard 1.6 mm FR4 substrate material. Impedance bandwidth for -10 dB return loss in the 2.35 GHz and 5.86 GHz center frequency reaches 0.25 GHz (2.22 GHz to 2.47 GHz) and 0.28 GHz (5.72 GHz to 6 GHz), respectively. A good agreement is achieved between measured and simulated results. This compact antenna fed by a 50 Ω microstrip line is a low-profile and easy to manufacture antenna.