Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Birefringent photonic crystal fiber as a multi- parameter sensor

Polarizations maintaining photonic crystal fibers (PCF) constitute a new class of birefringent optical fibers with strong separation of polarization modes and large possibilities of tailoring different parameters. These advantages appear to be perfect for designing optical fiber sensor, so we decided to test this type of fiber. A plane-wave method was used to numerically calculate the effective refractive indices and the field distribution of the propagation modes. The simulation results were compared with experimental measurements of the birefringence and finally the fiber was experienced as a sensor with fully automated set-up.
Fungal Diversity Callus Induction and Growing Cell Suspension Culture of Jow Haw Rice ( Oryza sativa L . )

Mature embryos of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties Jow Haw was cultured on solid MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) and NB (Nitch and Nitch, 1969) medium supplemented with 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 30 g/l sucrose, 1 g/l proline, 100 mg/l casein hydrolysate and 2.6 g/l phytagel. An optimum concentration of 3 mg/l 2,4-D in NB medium was found to be effective for callus induction which induced the biggest size of calli. Transferred the calli to liquid NB medium containing 3 mg/l 2,4-D, 30 g/l sucrose, 1 g/l proline and 100 mg/l casein hydrolysate. Study the growth phases at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days respectively, were determined by measuring fresh and dry weight of the cell. And viability of cell suspensions were determined by the method of fluorescein diacetate. The living cell of cell suspensions showed green fluorescence.
40 Years of Surface Warming in the Northern US Rocky Mountains: Implications for Snowpack Retreat

The northern US Rocky Mountains are experiencing rapid warming. Combined analysis of Ground Temperature (GT) measurements at two high-fidelity boreholes with Surface Air Temperature (SAT) measurements near Helena Montana spanning the past 40 years indicate the northern US Rockies have warmed on average 0.12°C - 0.32°C/decade since 1975, at least a factor of ~5 higher than the predicted 500-year-average. Warming appears to be accelerating, with warming rates since 2013 4 - 7 times higher than the 40 year average. Though uncertainty exists, the most significant GT warming appears to occur at higher elevation. Warming estimates are consistent with modelling predictions, snowpack observations, and stream temperature studies, all suggesting rapid surface temperature change in this region during the past ~40 years. The analysis indicates GT warming measured at remote borehole sites is slightly lower than regional SAT measurements collected near urban environments. We associate the discrepancy between GT/SAT measurements to both anthropogenic effects (urban development) that increase warming at the nearest SAT measurement station and a 14-year period of anomalously low snowfall that reduces surface insulation and GT warming. Using a derived average forty-year surface warming rate of 0.22°C/ decade and regional temperature-elevation trends, we calculate that the elevation of the winter freeze line during the three coldest months of the year (December, January, and February) in the northern US Rocky Mountains is retreating upward, on average, 33 m/decade. This implies a 21% reduction in freeze-line area since 1974. If this trend continues, we estimate that within the next 40 years (by 2060), the total area where ground freeze occurs during the three coldest months of the year will be ~60% of 1974 values. Since GT measurements indicate accelerated warming, this may be an underestimate. The analysis has important implications for the snowpack-water budget for Montana and the northern US Rocky Mountains.
Privacy-Preservation for Publishing Sample Availability Data with Personal Identifiers

Medical organizations collect, store and process vast amounts of sensitive information about patients. Easy access to this information by researchers is crucial to improving medical research, but in many institutions, cumbersome security measures and walled-gardens have created a situation where even information about what medical data is out there is not available. One of the main security challenges in this area, is enabling researchers to cross-link different medical studies, while preserving the privacy of the patients involved. In this paper, we introduce a privacy-preserving system for publishing sample availability data that allows researchers to make queries that crosscut different studies. That is, researchers can ask questions such as how many patients have had both diabetes and prostate cancer, where the diabetes and prostate cancer information originates from different clinical registries. We realize our solution by having a two-level anonymiziation mechanism, where our toolkit for publishing availability data first pseudonymizes personal identifiers and then anonymizes sensitive attributes. Our toolkit also includes a web-based server that stores the encrypted pseudonymized sample data and allows researchers to execute cross-linked queries across different study data. We believe that our toolkit contributes a first step to support the privacy preserving publication of data containing personal identifiers.
Hardness and Micro-Texture in Friction Stir Welds of a Nanostructured Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Ferritic Steel

The goal of this study is to characterize the hardness distribution and texture evolution in a friction stir welded oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steel. Hardness profiles were plotted by collecting data on the transverse cross section of the joint. The texture evolution and microstructure characteristics were studied by electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD). Results showed that regions near the bottom of the stir zone were the weak points in hardness, as those regions comprise coarser grains compared with the adjacent regions. EBSD results showed that the grain characterization (size, shape, and aspect ratio) varied within different regions and provided important insight into the material flow within the stir zone. EBSD results also revealed that textures within different regions presented some features of rotating coincidence. By suitable rotations of the poles figures, textures within different regions could superpose with each other almost exactly.
Characterization of net configurations for multichip modules

An investigation of the design considerations for MCMs based on CMOS VLSI has been carried out with the aim of achieving a higher performance system. Included in the investigation were output driver and receiver characteristics and net configurations in MCM. Four MCM types have been introduced: MCM-D, MCM-Si, MCM-C, and MCM-L. Time domain analysis using the SPICE simulation program was carried out taking into consideration a lossy transmission line model. A simpler criterion for the critical damping condition and an estimation method for the signal delay of the network with a lumped circuit approximation is proposed to determine a preferable interconnect network including the output driver and the loads. The effect of the net configuration was also analyzed and the preferences among the net configurations have been represented with only two net parameters, the total net length and the far-end length. <<ETX>>
COLLINSITE IN HYDROTHERMAL ASSEMBLAGES RELATED TO CARBONATITES IN THE KOVDOR COMPLEX, NORTHWESTERN RUSSIA

Several generations of collinsite were formed during the hydrothermal alteration of phoscorite and dolomite carbonatite in the Kovdor alkaline-ultramafic complex, northwestern Russia. The collinsite at this locality shows isomorphic substitution of Sr fo r Ca at the A crystallographic site , which is atypical both for this species and for the entire fairfieldite group. The Sr content reaches 0.74 atoms per formula unit and shows an inverse correlation with Ca. Sr is found to account for no more than 37% of the total occupancy of the A site, a proportion that fits the Lewis acidity of interstitial cations, a value of 0.25 valence units (assuming a disordered distribution of Sr), which in turn matches the Lewis basicity of the structural unit in collinsite, the chain [Mg(PO4)2(H2O)2]. The collinsite-bearing assemblages were formed by juvenile hydrothermal solutions derived from phoscorites and carbonatites that had been cooling in a tectonically active environment. Textural evidence and strontium isotopic character istics show that the assemblages were superimposed upon the host rocks after the cataclasis of the dolomite carbonatite and selective leaching of its primary minerals. The Sr isotopic composition of collinsite and the associated hydrothermal phosphate s shows no contribution from any crustal component. Being confined to faults, the orthomagmatic hydrothermal solutions migrated upward and were not mixed with groundwater or crustal fluids in tectonic channels prior to deposition of the collinsite-bearing assemblages. The active fluid–rock interaction below 270 °C under wide variations in pH–Eh parameters, f(O2), f(S2), and relatively low f(CO2) did not homogenize the isotopic composition of Sr between the solutions and the affected carbonate rock.
The prevalence of elder abuse and associated factors among the elderly in Kashan city, Iran

Introduction: Elder abuse is among the major social health problems in today`s communities, and has significant effect on decreasing the health and security level in this group. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of abuse among the elderly in Kashan, Iran. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 500 people over 60 years old in Kashan, Iran in 2014. Subjects were randomly selected from 10 healthcare centers of Kashan. Data were collected using elder abuse questionnaire. Cronbach alpha coefficient of the questionnaire was determined as 0.975. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 13. Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. The statistically significant level was P<0.05. Results: Results of the current study showed that 80% of subjects have experienced at least one type of abuse during the last year. The highest rate of abuse was in the form of financial abuse (45.6%), and the lowest was in ostracizing (16.6%). There was a statistical significant relationship between the elder abuse and variables such as sex, age, number of children, marital status, living arrangement, residential situation, home properties, monthly income, insurance situation, illness history, walking ability and using mobility aids. Logistic regression analysis also showed significant relationship between the elder abuse and unemployment, living in an apartment, and the age range 71-80 years. Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of abuse among the elderly, clarification of this phenomenon is considered as one of the main priorities, which can be achieved only through multidisciplinary approach in the community, and needs cooperation and collaboration of all community members.
The Influence of Business Environmental Dynamism, Complexity and Munificence on Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

The main purpose of this article is to examine how business environment affects small and medium enterprises. The paper is motivated by the important contributions small and medium enterprises have in many countries, especially Kenya towards job creation, poverty reduction and economic development. Literature however argues that effectiveness of the contributions is conditioned by the state of business environmental factors such as politics, economy, socio-culture, technology, ecology and laws/regulations. Dynamism, complexity and munificence of these factors are therefore vital to achievement of organizational objectives and overall performance. Even so, a review of literature reveals contradictory views regarding the effect of these factors on performance of organizations. Furthermore, studies focusing on these factors in the Kenyan context, particularly with regard to their effect on performance of small and medium firms, are scarce. This article bridges this gap based on a study focusing on 800 manufacturing organizations in Nairobi â€“ Kenya. A sample of 150 enterprises was selected through stratification by business sector followed by simple random sampling. The research design was cross sectional survey where data was collected using a structured questionnaire over a period of one month at the end of which 95 organizations responded giving a response rate of 64%. Reliability and validity of the instrument were determined through Cronbachâ€™s alpha tests and expert reviews. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to determine normality through descriptive statistics and study hypotheses tested using inferential statistics. The study established that business environment had an overall impact on organizational performance. Specifically, dynamism, complexity and munificence each had a direct influence on the enterprises in the study. Furthermore the combined effect on performance was found to be greater than that of dynamism and complexity but less than munificence. The study also established that there is a difference in the way business environment affects performance such that it impacts on financial performance more than on non-financial performance of these enterprises. These results imply that small and medium enterprises in the study are likely to perform better in business environments that are dynamic, complex and munificent.
Physical parameters for subdwarf B stars with composite spectra

For many years, the evolutionary origins of subdwarf B stars remained a mystery. Observations of sdB stars with composite spectra and theoretical considerations suggested that binary star evolution should play a major role, but proof that a large fraction are binaries has taken a decade to establish. Whilst many sdB stars have recently been recognised to be in short-period binaries with unseen companions [8], we have focused on sdB stars in which the spectrum of the secondary can be seen [5]. We previously studied these systems by means of their flux distributions [1] and shown that the secondaries are probably main-sequence G stars. This result has been confirmed from analysis of their optical and near-infrared spectra [2].
A Literature-Based Analysis and Comparative Assessment of Key Success Factors for Managing Russian-Foreign IJVs

The economic significance of International Joint Ventures (IJVs) has attracted a lot of academic research, resulting in a broad variety of studies of which many focus on key success factors of IJVs in emerging countries. Whereas success determinants of IJVs in China have continuously been in the very forefront of scholarly interest, empirical research on success factors of IJVs in other transitional market economies such as e.g., the Russian Federation (Russia) is rather neglected. Thus, this paper aims at filling the research gap by rigorously selecting and categorizing relevant publications on success factors of Russian- and Soviet-Foreign IJVs. Based on a comparative assessment with prior research on success determinants of Sino-Foreign IJVs propositions are deduced for further research on Russian-Foreign IJVs. In doing so, our synopsis draws upon both, fundamental criticism regarding IJV research in general and recent appraising looks on key success factor research of Sino-Foreign IJVs in specific.
Making sense of heat tolerance estimates in ectotherms: lessons from Drosophila

Summary 1. An increasing body of knowledge suggests that the estimation of critical upper thermal limits (CTmax) is highly dependent on the experimental methodology employed. Here, we employ a theoretical approach to analyse how estimates of CTmax (knock-down temperatures and times) are affected by measurement protocol. 2. Our model is able to reproduce the results of empirical studies on Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting that it adequately mimics organismal responses during assays. With simulated data sets, we also show that many experimental protocols result in unreliable and often highly biased estimates of CTmax in Drosophila and possibly in other ectotherms. 3. The confounding effects of stochasticity, resource depletion (or fatigue) and short-term acclimatory responses are expected to be higher in longer assays, and therefore, short assays should be generally preferred. The experimental protocol of choice must also take into consideration the range in which measurement accuracy is not affected and the potential problems of thermal inertia in larger organisms. 4. Our findings justify previous concerns that the methodology may have a greater impact on estimates of CTmax than the biological process under study, and explain why many studies on the subject have often reported inconsistent and even contradictory results.
Effect of Storage Conditons on Some Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Fresh Okra (Abelmoschus esculenta) Fruits

The effects of storage conditions on some physico-chemical and microbiological qualities of fresh okra were determined and compared. Fresh okra fruits were stored in open plates and sealed polyethylene bags in the refrigerator (F1, F2), on the shelf in the laboratory (S1, S2) and in the open sun (O1, O2) respectively for a period of nine (9) days. The moisture content, viscosity, microbiological composition and sensory properties of the stored fruits were determined on a daily basis during the period of storage. The moisture content and viscosity decreased during storage from 92.00% and 700 cP in fresh okra to 35.50% and 100 cP in okra stored in open plates in the sun (O2) respectively. On the other hand, bacterial count increased from 2.27x10 4 CFU/mL in fresh okra to 2.72x10 5 CFU/mL in okra stored in polyethylene bag in the sun (O2), while okra stored in open plates on the shelf (S1) had the highest mould count of 9.0x10 4 CFU/mL. Okra stored in polyethylene bag in the refrigerator (F2) had the highest moisture content of 84.50%, viscosity of 440 cP and the lowest bacterial and mould counts of 1.15x10 4 and 4.0x10 3 CFU/mL, respectively. Mean sensory scores in respect of colour, smell, texture and general acceptability showed that samples stored in the refrigerator scored higher in all attributes and had higher acceptability at the end of the storage period, which compared favourably with fresh okra fruits.
‘So many books they don’t even all fit on the bookshelf’: An examination of low-income mothers’ home literacy practices, beliefs and influencing factors

Given the need to enhance the academic language and early literacy skills of young children from low-income homes and the importance of the home literacy environment in supporting children’s development, the purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the home literacy environment of low-income African-American and Latino mothers of preschool children living in the United States. Specifically, research aims were to examine home literacy environment practices, beliefs and influential factors as well as to compare the home literacy environment of African-American and Latino, specifically Puerto Rican, families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 African-American and 10 Puerto Rican mothers. Data were analysed using the consensual qualitative research method. Twelve themes were identified: provision of educational materials, engagement with books, focus on print, implicit language opportunities, focus on other pre-academic skills, social interactions with books, influence of school, influence of other adults, parents’ reading interest/ability, child’s reading interest, parents’ commitment to child’s success and family stressors. Few differences emerged between African-American and Puerto Rican mothers. Implications for language and literacy intervention development are discussed.
Sources and sinks of CO2 in the west coast of Bay of Bengal

Observations at high spatial resolution (100×50 km2) in the western continental shelf of Bay of Bengal during southwest monsoon, when peak discharge occurs into the Bay through major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, revealed that freshwater discharge exerts dominant control on the inorganic carbon components in surface waters. Lower than present atmospheric pCO2 levels were found in the northwestern (NW) than southwestern (SW) coastal Bay of Bengal. The pCO2 levels in the peninsular rivers were an order of magnitude higher (5000–17000 µatm) than that of atmospheric levels and glacial river Ganges (∼500 µatm). The discharge from the peninsular rivers has a stronger influence in the SW region, whereas the Ganges river discharge has a stronger influences in the NW region. Source or sink of CO2 in the shelf region depends on the discharged river characteristics and the East India Coastal Current that distributes discharged water along the coast. Although during northeast monsoon, the situation is briefly reversed and the region acts as a sink, and on annual scale, the western Bay of Bengal acts as a source for atmospheric CO2 than hitherto hypothesised.
CMV management in lung transplant recipients

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily (Herpesviridae family), that, following primary infection, is able to establish latency in host tissues and may reactivate in conditions of immunosuppression. In solid organ transplant recipients, the incidence of CMV infection and disease varies according to the transplanted organ and is particularly high in lung transplantation (LT), reaching 40-50% incidence. Lung is a CMV latency site and in LT, viral reactivation has been associated with direct (i.e. organ and systemic infection/disease) and indirect effects (including acute rejection and chronic allograft dysfunction). The clinical importance of CMV has grown in parallel with the increasing number of solid organ transplant recipients. Symptoms related to CMV disease and the prevention of CMV infection show variation among different patient populations, depending on the type of transplant and the intensity of immunosuppression. Treatment and prevention of CMV infection have assumed increasing importance in lung transplant recipients management relative to the mortality and morbidity and, on the other hand, to the availability of effective antiviral agents as well as new diagnostic techniques and the prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of CMV infections. In lung transplant recipients management is evolving with experience and we are living the sunrise of a new personalized or tailored management era matching, almost in real time, infection, diagnosis, immunity status and therapy.
Detection of Acoustic Patterns in Broadcast News using Neural Networks

: This paper describes the use of neural networks to detect jingles that mark the start and end of broadcast news. Contrarily to many other applications, in this particular one, we are not interested in the generalization capabilities of the neural network, as the goal is to detect a single acoustic pattern and not generalize to similar ones. Accurate jingle detection is crucial to the performance of our automatic broadcast news transcription system, in order to delimit the parts of the audio signal that belong to the news show and are worth feeding to a large vocabulary speech recognition system. In order to train the neural networks we collected several samples of patterns to be either detected or rejected. That was done for the 2 public TV channels in Portugal (RTP), and for a private one (TVI). In a limited test set, our approach obtained a very high accuracy in frame classification (jingle/non-jingle), allowing the retrieval of 100% of the signal worth transcribing in the news shows. Our jingle detector took 0.028 times real time in a Pentium IV, operating at 2.66 GHz.