Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective effects of Nigella sativa extracts during germination on central nervous system

Background: Nigella sativa Linn. which has many acclaimed medicinal properties is an indigenous herbaceous plant and belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, which grows in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Pakistan and India. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of N. sativa seed extracts of different germination phases on the central nervous system (CNS) responses in experimental animals. Materials and Methods: Anxiolytic, locomotor activity of extracts (1 g/kg of body weight) was evaluated in both stressed and unstressed animal models and antiepileptic effect was evaluated by maximal electroshock seizure model keeping diazepam (20 mg/kg) as a positive control. Antidepressant effect was evaluated by forced swim test and tail suspension test keeping imipramine (15 mg/kg) as a positive control. Results: All tested extracts of N. sativa during different phases of germination (especially 5th day germination phase) showed significant (P < 0.001) anxiolytic effect in comparison to control. Diazepam reduced locomotor activity in control (unstressed) rats but did not show affect in stressed rats while N. sativa extracts from germination phases significantly (P < 0.001) reduced locomotor activity in unstressed as well as stressed animals. All the extracts of N. sativa from different germination phases exhibited significant (P < 0.001) reduction in various phases of epileptic seizure on comparison with the reference standard (diazepam). During antidepressant test, N. sativa extracts exhibited a slight reduction in the immobility of rats. Conclusion: During germination, especially in 5th day germination extract, N. sativa showed significant CNS depressant activity as compared to whole seeds that possibly may be due higher content of secondary metabolites produced during germination.
Schur flows and orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle

Connections between Toda lattices (Toda chains) and similar non-linear chains and the theory of orthogonal polynomials on the real axis have been studied in detail during the last decades. Another system of difference differential equations, known as the Schur flow, is considered in this paper in the framework of the theory of orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle. A Lax pair for this system is found and the dynamics of the corresponding spectral measure is described. The general result is illustrated by an example of Bessel modified measures on the unit circle: the large-time asymptotic behaviour of their reflection coefficients is determined.
Games of Dynamic Network Formation

AbstractWe combine a network game introduced in Ballester et al. (2006), where the Nash equilibriumaction of each agent is proportional to her Bonacich centrality (Bonacich, 1987), with an endoge-nous network formation process. Links are formed on the basis of centrality while the network isexposed to a volatile environment introducing interruptions in the connections between agents.Taking into account bounded rational decision making, new links are formed to the neighbors’neighbors with the highest centrality. The volatile environment causes existing links to decayto the neighbor with the lowest centrality. We show analytically that there exist stationary net-works and that their topological properties completely match with features exhibited by socialand economic networks. Moreover, we ﬁnd that there exists a sharp transition in eﬃciency andnetwork density from highly centralized to decentralized networks. Key words: centrality, network formation, adaptation, hierarchyJEL classiﬁcation: D85, D83, L22, C63
Gauge field theory coherent states (GCS): IV. Infinite tensor product and thermodynamical limit

In the canonical approach to Lorentzian quantum general relativity in four spacetime dimensions an important step forward has been made by Ashtekar, Isham and Lewandowski some eight years ago through the introduction of a Hilbert space structure, which was later proved to be a faithful representation of the canonical commutation and adjointness relations of the quantum field algebra of diffeomorphism invariant gauge field theories by Ashtekar, Lewandowski, Marolf, Mourão and Thiemann. This Hilbert space, together with its generalization due to Baez and Sawin, is appropriate for semi-classical quantum general relativity if the spacetime is spatially compact. In the spatially non-compact case, however, an extension of the Hilbert space is needed in order to approximate metrics that are macroscopically nowhere degenerate. For this purpose, in this paper we apply the theory of the infinite tensor product (ITP) of Hilbert Spaces, developed by von Neumann more than sixty years ago, to quantum general relativity. The cardinality of the number of tensor product factors can take the value of any possible Cantor aleph, making this mathematical theory well suited to our problem in which a Hilbert space is attached to each edge of an arbitrarily complicated, generally infinite graph. The new framework opens access to a new arsenal of techniques, appropriate to describe fascinating physics such as quantum topology change, semi-classical quantum gravity, effective low-energy physics etc from the universal point of view of the ITP. In particular, the study of photons and gravitons propagating on fluctuating quantum spacetimes should now be in reach.
The development of performance-based practical assessment model at civil engineering workshop in state polytechnic

Assessment is an important element in education that shall oversees students’ competence not only in terms of cognitive aspect, but alsothe students’ psychomotorin a comprehensive way. Civil Engineering Department at Bali State Polytechnic,as a vocational education institution, emphasizes on not only the theoretical foundation of the study, but also the application throughpracticum in workshop-based learning. We are aware of a need for performance-based assessment for these students, which would be essential for the student’s all-round performance in their studies.We try to develop a performance-based practicum assessment model that is needed to assess student’s ability in workshop-based learning. This research was conducted in three stages, 1) learning needs analysis, 2) instruments development, and 3) testing of instruments. The study uses rubrics set-up to test students’ competence in the workshop and test the validity. We obtained 34-point valid statement out of 35, and resulted in value of Cronbach’s alpha equal to 0.977. In expert test we obtained a value of CVI = 0.75 which means that the drafted assessment is empirically valid within thetrial group.
Collapse State of Multi-Storey Masonry Walls Reinforced by Steel Ties Subjected to In-Plane Horizontal Loads

The determination of the seismic strength of masonry building is strictly connected to the in-plane strength of masonry walls under the action of horizontal forces. Simplified criteria are currently available in literature, based on modelling of the structure as loaded by dead loads and by a gradually increasing distribution of horizontal forces, proportional to the mass of the building. According to this approach, called push-over method, the seismic strength of the building corresponds to the intensity of these gradually increasing horizontal loads, leading the building to the failure condition. This paper moves in the framework of the Limit Analysis, based on the Heyman’s masonry model (1966), rigid in compression with no tensile strength. The resistant model refers to a multi-storey wall with openings arranged in regular patterns, along both vertical and horizontal directions, reinforced at floor levels by steel ties. The in-plane failure of the regular multi-storey walls can occur with the development of various kinematically admissible mechanisms, characterized by the attainment of the yielding state in the steel ties. The proposed methodology consists in the definition of the mechanism along which the failure effectively occurs and in a subsequent check of the statical admissibility of the internal stress state at the limit load. Only in this case, the corresponding kinematical multiplier is the effective collapse multiplier. The presence of the panels situated above the openings strongly conditions the in-plane failure of the wall, acting as diagonal struts, causing different horizontal displacements between the piers at the floor levels and consequently engaging the horizontal ties in the mechanism. In order to ensure the development of the global failure, avoiding local brittle failures, steel strengths of the ties have thus to be suitably defined. Finally, a parametric investigation is carried out considering different geometries of masonry walls and varying the position of the piers self-weights and the horizontal forces distribution, constant or proportional to the height of the masses from the foundation level.
Probing the Turbulence Dissipation Range and Magnetic Field Strengths in Molecular Clouds

We study the turbulent velocity dispersion spectra of the coexistent HCN and HCO+ molecular species as a function of length scale in the M17 star-forming molecular cloud. We show that the observed downward shift of the ion’s spectrum relative to that of the neutral is readily explained by the existence of an ambipolar diffusion range within which ion and neutral turbulent energies dissipate differently. We use these observations to evaluate this decoupling scale and show how to estimate the strength of the plane-of-the-sky component of the embedded magnetic field in a completely novel way.
Lung Nodule Detection and Classification using Machine Learning Techniques

—As lung cancer is second most leading cause of death, early detection of lung cancer is became necessary in many computer aided dignosis (CAD) systems. Recently many CAD systems have been implemented to detect the lung nodules which uses Computer Tomography (CT) scan images [2]. In this paper, some image pre-processing methods such as thresholding, clearing borders, morphological operations (viz., erosion, closing, opening) are discussed to detect lung nodule regions ie, Region of Interest (ROI) in patient lung CT scan images. Also, machine learning techniques such as Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) has been discussed for classifying the lung nodules and non-nodules objects in patient lung ct scan images using the sets of lung nodule regions. In this study, Lung Image Database Consortium image collection (LIDC-IDRI) dataset having patient CT scan images has been used to detect and classify lung nodules. Lung nodule classification accuacy of SVM is 90% and that of CNN is 91.66%.
Effectiveness of Best Management Practices with Changing Climate in a Maryland Watershed

Abstract. Agriculture is one of many contributing sources to water quality degradation in the Chesapeake Bay . It is generally accepted that its contribution can be controlled by adopting Best Management Practices (BMPs) tailored to local conditions and stakeholder preferences. BMPs identified as appropriate for this purpose, under current climate conditions, may however prove potentially ineffective under climate change. The objective of this study is to evaluate the degree to which the effectiveness of a specific BMP varies under the high-emissions IPCC climate change scenario A2, for an agricultural watershed located within the Chesapeake Bay basin.
Transformation of spatial coherence of pulse laser radiation in a thin layer of a medium with thermal nonlinearity

Correlation properties of light beams upon self-phase modulation in a thin layer of a medium with thermal nonlinearity are studied. It is found out that the efficiency of spatial coherence transformation of radiation is determined by the ratio of the characteristic coherence radius of the initial radiation to the size of phase inhomogeneities induced in the nonlinear medium.
KOLMOGOROV'S WORK ON -ENTROPY OF FUNCTIONAL CLASSES AND THE SUPERPOSITION OF FUNCTIONS

CONTENTS § 1. Introduction § 2. What is entropy and -entropy? § 3. Which are more numerous-differentiable functions or analytic functions? § 4. The number of variables and the massiveness of function spaces § 5. Can one get along without continuous functions of several variables? § 6. A lecture by Kolmogorov
New Agegraphic Dark Energy in Brans–Dicke Theory

In this paper, we investigate the new agegraphic dark energy model in the framework of Brans–Dicke theory, which is a natural extension of the Einstein's general relativity. In this framework the form of the new agegraphic dark energy density takes as ρq = 3n2 Φ(t)η−2, where η is the conformal age of the universe and Φ(t) is the Brans–Dicke scalar field representing the inverse of the time-variable Newton's constant. We derive the equation of state of the new agegraphic dark energy and the deceleration parameter of the universe in the Brans–Dicke theory. It is very interesting to find that in the Brans–Dicke theory the agegraphic dark energy realizes quintom-like behavior, i.e., its equation of state crosses the phantom divide w = –1 during the evolution. We also compare the situation of the agegraphic dark energy model in the Brans–Dicke theory with that in the Einstein's theory. In addition, we discuss the new agegraphic dark energy model with interaction in the framework of the Brans–Dicke theory.
CHARACTERISTIC LYAPUNOV EXPONENTS AND SMOOTH ERGODIC THEORY

CONTENTS Part I § 1. Introduction § 2. Prerequisites from ergodic theory § 3. Basic properties of the characteristic exponents of dynamical systems § 4. Properties of local stable manifolds Part II § 5. The entropy of smooth dynamical systems § 6. “Measurable foliations”. Description of the π-partition § 7. Ergodicity of a diffeomorphism with non-zero exponents on a set of positive measure. The K-property § 8. The Bernoullian property § 9. Flows § 10. Geodesic flows on closed Riemannian manifolds without focal points References
Characterization of miniature tissue-equivalent proportional counters for neutron radiotherapy applications

A miniature tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) system has been developed to facilitate microdosimetric measurements in high-flux mixed fields. Counters with collecting volumes of 12.3 and 2.65 mm3 have been constructed using various tissue-equivalent wall materials, including those loaded with 10B for evaluation of the effects of the boron neutron capture reaction. These counters provide a measure of both the absorbed dose and associated radiation quality, allowing an assessment of the utility and relative effectiveness of various neutron radiotherapy techniques such as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), boron neutron capture enhanced fast neutron therapy (BNCEFNT) and intensity modulated neutron radiotherapy (IMNRT). An evaluation of the physical parameters affecting the measured microdosimetric spectrum, the gas multiplication characteristics and the measurement of absorbed dose is presented. In addition, important aspects of the calibration and low energy extrapolation techniques for the microdosimetric spectrum are provided.
Performance Test of a Metal Insulated HTS Magnet with Conduction Cooling

In the fabrication and operation of an HTS magnet, ensuring thermal stability against uneven quench is the most important factor. A sample HTS magnet was designed and fabricated with the metal insulation (MI) method and its fundamental characteristic analysis was conducted under the liquid nitrogen cooling system. On the basis of the electromagnetic analysis results, the thermal and mechanical structural design and detailed experimental analysis of the MI HTS magnet under the conduction cooling condition were performed in this paper. The conduction cooling condition was achieved using the 1st stage GM cryo-cooler. The characteristic resistances and the charging and discharging times of the magnet were measured according to the operating temperature of 32 K of the HTS magnet. The long-term current flowing test was conducted by monitoring the coil temperatures. In addition, the thermal stability of the HTS magnet was analyzed when the over current flowed into the magnet. The test results will be applied to the large size HTS MI magnet.
A comparison of four ultraviolet sources to alter graft-versus-host responses

Graft-versus-host disease (GHVD) is a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Direct ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation of bone marrow and spleen cell allografts in mice using broadband lamps is known to abolish alloreactive responses which would normally cause GVHD. Using a histoincompatible murine model, we have extended these observations by comparing the physical spectrum of four UV sources (the Philips TUV8W, TL12 and TL01, and the Spectronics XX15B) with in vitro assessment of bone marrow progenitor cell damage and suppression of lymphocyte proliferation and in vivo comparison of the effect on GVHD Of the TL12 and XXI5B and on the rate of engraftment with the TL12. At doses of uv found to abolish lymphocyte proliferation (2.5, 7, 12 and 1000 J m-2 with the TUV8W, XX15B, TL12 and TLO1 lamps) colony-forming unit granulocyre-macrophage (CFU-GM) proliferation was reduced to 81%, 7140, 79% and 62%, respectively. At an optimal dose found to suppress GVHD (100 J m-2 integrated radiant energy from 200-320 nm for the TL12 and XX15B) CFU-GM proliferation showed a reduction of 98% with the XX15B and 86% with the TL12. At this radiant energy with the TL12, the rate of bone marrow engraftment was impaired with 72% marrow cellularity at 2 weeks, decreasing to 48% after 200 J m-2. Our results with this model demonstrate that broadband UVB irradiation of bone marrow permits transplantation across a major histocompatibility barrier. Furthermore we have provided in vitro evidence that narrowband UVA or we might potentially be applied to this model.
The radial distribution curves of liquids by diffraction methods

Since the theoretical foundations of radial distribution analysis of liquid diffraction patterns were laid in 1927 by Zernike and Prins, progress in apparatus and experimental techniques has ensured a greater reliability and hence a greater confidence in the method as a means of evaluating the structure of liquids. A detailed discussion is given of apparatus and experimental methods and the procedure for processing experimental data is described from the polarization and absorption corrections to an estimation of the reliability of the final radial distribution curve. Spurious phenomena in the radial distribution curve may be due to errors in intensity observations due to statistical fluctuations, non-linearity of counter or photographic characteristics or from the termination effect which is, however, not significant for the broad distribution in liquids. A critical review is given of the individual radial distribution curves reported for monatomic, diatomic and polyatomic liquids, liquid alloys, water and its aqueous solutions, ionic liquids, molten oxides and glasses.
A Novel Framework for Dependable Cloud Computing

The cloud computing is one technology that has taken the computing world by storm with potent opportunities that are so tempting to ignore. Yet many are skeptical about its adoption because of the many problems that came with internet usage. The belief is that since cloud computing is an offshoot of internet, there are possibilities of multifaceted problems possibly inherited from Internet. They opined that since data will be under the care of cloud service provider, there will be likelihood of compromising data integrity and other security risks. In this work, a framework for dependable cloud computing was designed in such a way that all stakeholders have one part or the other to play to ensure the security of data.An encryption system was designed to encrypt and decrypt data in transit between the client private cloud and the cloud service provider. This ensures that data is delivered to the service provider in encrypted form. Since the task of securing the data stored has the involvement of all stakeholders, it increases the trust level thereby making it dependable.
A collisional-radiative model for microwave discharges in helium at low and intermediate pressures

A stationary collisional-radiative model for helium microwave discharges in cylindrical geometry is developed by coupling the rate balance equations for the n<or=6 excited states of helium to the continuity and transport equations for the electrons, He+ atomic ions and He2+ molecular ions, and to the homogeneous Boltzmann equation. The latter is solved using the DC effective field approximation but taking into account stepwise inelastic and superelastic processes from the 23S, 21S and 23P states, as well as electron-electron collisions. A coherent set of electron cross sections is deduced in order to solve the Boltzmann equation. Special attention is paid to the atomic collisions considered (by taking into account /-change reactions and associative ionization reactions), and to the effects of radiation imprisonment. This, together with the inclusion of the kinetics of the molecular ions, allows the range of validity of the model to extend up to atmospheric pressure. The theoretical populations for the excited states, characteristics for the steady-state reduced maintenance electric field and mean absorbed power per electron at unit gas density agree very well with experimental data from surface wave discharges.
Modeling electromagnetically driven free-surface flows motivated by the Ribbon Growth on Substrate (RGS) process

The Ribbon Growth on Substrate (RGS) technology is a crystallization technique that allows direct casting of silicon wafers and sheets of advanced metal-silicide compounds. With the potential of reaching high crystallization rates, it promises a very efficient approach for future photo-voltaic silicon wafer production compared to well-established processes in industry. However, a number of remaining problems, like process stability and controllability, need to be addressed for the RGS technology to eventually become a competitor in the near future. In this regard, it is very desirable to gain detailed insights into the characteristic process dynamics. To comply with this demand, we have developed a new numerical tool based on OpenFOAM (foam-extend), capable of simulating the free-surface dynamics of the melt flow under the influence of an applied alternating magnetic field. Our corresponding model thereby resolves the interaction of hydrodynamic and magnetodynamic effects in three-dimensional space. Although we currently focus on the RGS process, the modeling itself has been formulated in a more general form, which may be used for the investigation of similar problems, too. Here we provide a brief overview of these developments.
Impact of customer relationship management and social media on sales performance by considering moderating effect of sale personnel capabilities

In an era of increased competition, companies nowadays are bound to make substantial efforts to manage their sales performance. The purpose of this research is to explore the impact of customer relationship management and social media on sales performance by considering the moderating effect of sale personnel capabilities. Simple random sampling technique was used for gathering data. Adopting the questionnaire survey method, data was collected from Gujranwala. The response rate was 350. All the tests were applied on SPSS and AMOS software. Results showed that customer relationship management increases sale. Findings also showed that social media have significant relation with sales performance. Sale personnel capabilities have a significant relation with sale performance.