Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE KEPLER LIGHT CURVE OF V344 Lyrae: CONSTRAINING THE THERMAL–VISCOUS LIMIT CYCLE INSTABILITY

We present time-dependent modeling based on the accretion disk limit cycle model for a 270 d light curve of the short-period SU UMa-type dwarf nova V344 Lyr taken by Kepler. The unprecedented precision and cadence (1 minute) far surpass that generally available for long-term light curves. The data encompass two superoutbursts and 17 normal (i.e., short) outbursts. The main decay of the superoutbursts is nearly perfectly exponential, decaying at a rate ∼12 d mag−1, while the much more rapid decays of the normal outbursts exhibit a faster-than-exponential shape. Our modeling using the basic accretion disk limit cycle can produce the main features of the V344 Lyr light curve, including the peak outburst brightness. Nevertheless, there are obvious deficiencies in our model light curves. (1) The rise times we calculate, both for the normal and superoutbursts, are too fast. (2) The superoutbursts are too short. (3) The shoulders on the rise to superoutburst have more structure than the shoulders in the observed superoutbursts and are too slow, comprising about a third to half of the total viscous plateau, rather than the ∼10% observed. However, one of the αcold ↔ αhot interpolation schemes we investigate (one that is physically motivated) does yield longer superoutbursts with suitably short, less structured shoulders.
Interpreting granulite facies events through rare earth element partitioning arrays

The use of rare earth element (REE) partition coefficients is an increasingly common tool in metamorphic studies, linking the growth or modification of accessory mineral geochronometers to the bulk silicate mineral assemblage. The most commonly used mineral pair for the study of high‐grade metamorphic rocks is zircon and garnet. The link from U–Pb ages provided by zircon to the P–T information recorded by garnet can be interpreted in relation to experimental data. The simplistic approach of taking the average REE abundances for zircon and garnet and comparing them directly to experimentally derived partition coefficients is imperfect, in that it cannot represent the complexity of a natural rock system. This study describes a method that uses all the zircon analyses from a sample, and compares them to different garnet compositions in the same rock. Using the most important REE values, it is possible to define zircon–garnet equilibrium using an array rather than an average. The array plot describes partitioning between zircon and garnet using DYb and DYb/DGd as the defining features of the relationship. This approach provides far more sensitivity to mineral reactions and diffusional processes, enabling a more detailed interpretation of metamorphic history of the sample.
Effects of charge depletion in dusty plasmas

The charge reduction effect is studied in dense dust clouds. The saturation currents of Langmuir probes are used to derive the density of ions and electrons, which are calibrated with the plasma oscillation method. The plasma potential inside the dust cloud is measured with an emissive probe, which also yields the floating potential in a heated nonemitting mode. The presence of the dust also affects the density and the plasma potential of the ambient plasma. The ion densities inside the dust cloud and in the ambient plasma are found equal, while the electron density is reduced inside the dust cloud. The measured potentials are compared with current models. Inclusion of the bi-Maxwellian distribution of the electrons leads to an improved description in the limit of low dust density. The strong increase of the floating and cloud potential for high dust density, predicted by the constant ion density model, is not confirmed.
Biodigestion of cassava peels blended with pig dung for methane generation

Biogas production from cassava ( Manihot esculentus ) peels and pig dung under a mesophilic temperature condition was investigated. Three blends of the wastes and a control labeled as B1, B2, B3 and C representing blend 1 (50:50 peel/dung), blend 2 (30:70 peel/dung), blend 3 (10:90 peel/dung) and control (pig dung alone) were used, respectively. Biodigestion of the wastes blends and control was carried out simultaneously under the same environmental and operational conditions of 30 days retention period using four metallic biodigesters of 32 L capacity each. The biogas yield result shows that blend 2 yielded the highest cumulative biogas of 78.5 L, while the least yield of 61.7 L was obtained by blend 3. When compared with the control set up and biodigestion of cassava waste alone from literature, there was blending effect resulting in increase in yield of biogas over the sole digestion of cassava peel or pig dung. Methane production leading to the combustibility of the biogas started at 6th, 5th, 5th and 4th days for B1, B2, B3 and C, respectively. This, in agreement with earlier studies show that better handling of cassava peels for energy production would be achieved by blending it with animal wastes in the right proportion. Keywords: Cassava peel, biogas, co-digestion, anaerobic digestion, wastes blends, lag days African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(40), pp. 5956-5961
Studies on Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Pheromone Microcapsules Using Various Tree Fruit Species, Cultivars, and Application Methods 1

The number of microcapsules containing pheromone of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), was determined on leaves from apple, Asian and European pear, peach, sweet and tart cherry, and plum trees. In addition, we compared the number of microcapsules on apple and peach leaves using a laboratory leaf dip application and a field airblast sprayer application. Finally, we compared the number of microcapsules on two apple and peach cultivars after airblast sprayer applications of microencapsulated pheromone. The bottom surface of 'Gala' apple leaves had microcapsule density of 0.47, the highest among the different tree fruits. The bottoms of 'Shinko' Asian pear had the lowest microcapsule density of 0.09 followed by the tops of 'Bluebell' plum and 'Columbia' sweet cherry leaves both with density of 0.10. The greater than 3-fold difference between the fruit leaves with the highest and lowest numbers of microcapsules may indicate the need for rate specific recommendations on different species of fruit trees. The number of microcap- sules on apple and peach leaves treated with laboratory leaf dips was 8- to 60-fold greater than the number of microcapsules on field-treated leaves. Al- though laboratory treatments eliminated other potentially confounding field variables, they did not accurately represent microcapsule numbers on leaves treated with an airblast sprayer. There were significant differences in micro- capsule abundance on 'Delicious' and 'Gala' apple leaves and 'Encore' and 'Red Haven' peach leaves. Trichome abundance and cuticle structure may be re- sponsible for the differences in the number of microcapsules on various tree fruit species and cultivars.
Working Paper Series No . 14014 Valuation of Patented Product Features

Ultimately, patents have value to the extent to which the product features enabled by the patents have economic value in the marketplace. Products which are enhanced by inclusion of patented features should generate incremental profits. Incremental profits can be assessed by considering demand for products with patented features and contrasting that demand to demand for the same product without the patented feature. Profit calculations must be based on valid estimates of demand as well as assumptions about how competitive forces affect demand via computation of market equilibria. A conjoint survey can be used to estimate demand. Recently, conjoint methods have been applied in the patent setting but the measures of value used are purely demand-based and do not involve equilibrium profit calculations. We illustrate our method using the market for digital cameras and show that current methods can overstate the value of the patent.
Sensitivity of Health Related Indices is a Non-Decreasing Function of their Partitions

This work aims to theoretically evaluate whether the number k of partitions of a discrete variable X affects the sensitivity Se(X) of a binary health outcome Y. The distribution of variable X was either unknown or the uniform. Thus, two discrete random variables X k and X k+1 with k and k+ 1 partitions, respectively, were considered. In addition, a random var iable Y that indicates the actual health status of an individual was also considered. The case of th e composite index T k m which is formed by the sum of m variables X k , j = 1, 2,. , m either when the distribution of each variable X k is unknown or the uniform was also investigated. This work suggests that the sensitivity of an index is a non-decreasing function of the number of partitions, under certain conditions.
Frame-Based Editing

In introductory programming teaching, block-based editors have become very popular because they offer a number of strong advantages for beginning programmers: They avoid many syntax errors, can display all available instructions for visual selection and encourage experimentation with little requirement for recall. Among proﬁcient programmers, however, text-based systems are strongly preferred due to several usability and productivity advantages for expert users. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive introduction to a novel editing paradigm, frame-based editing – including design, implementation, experimentation and analysis. We describe how the design of this paradigm combines many advantages of block-based and text-based systems, then we present and discuss an implementation of such a system for a new Java-like language called Stride, including the results of several evaluation studies. The resulting editing system has clear advantages for both novices and expert programmers: It improves program representation and error avoidance for beginners and can speed up program manipulation for experts. Stride can also serve as an ideal stepping stone from block-based to text-based languages in an educational context.
ADOPTION OF WIRELESS INTERNET PARKS : AN EMPIRICAL STUDY IN QATAR

This paper examines the adoption of free wireless internet parks (iPark) by Qatari citizens as means of accessing electronic services from public parks. The Qatar government has launched the iPark concept with a view of providing free internet access for all citizens while enjoying the outdoors. By offering free wireless Internet access, the Qatari government encourages its citizen’s to actively participate in the global information society with a view of bridging the digital divide. Using a survey based study this research set out to examine the Qatari citizens’ perceptions of the iPark initiative. Results of the survey showed that there is a positive level of relation between the independent variables, usefulness, ease of use, Internet safety, and Internet speed/response time and one dependent variable, intention to use the iPark in Qatar. The paper provides a discussion on the key findings, research implications, limitations, and future directions for the iPark initiative in Qatar.
Innovation, stategic orientation and performance of Malaysian manufacturing SMES : a review

The objective of this study is to review the empirical studies to identify the effect of strategic orientation on innovation and financial performance among Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. This review paper highlighted the significant of innovation and strategic orientation for superior performance of a business. This study intended to determine how innovation and strategic orientation can improve the performance of Malaysian SME’s. This study also intended to design a framework for examining the mediating effect of innovation on the performance of Malaysian SMEs. By emphasizing on strategic orientation, this study will attempt to identify how such approach can improve the performance of SMEs in Malaysia. Findings of this study expected to improve our knowledge and understandings about the effect of strategic orientation on innovation and performance among manufacturing SMEs.
Binaural coherence and the localization of sound in rooms

The absorption coefficient of materials tends to decrease with decreasing frequency. Therefore, the ratio of direct to reverberant sound is normally least favorable at low frequency, and binaural coherence tends to be a minimum. However, the ability to localize sounds using interaural time differences (ITD) in the steady‐state waveform requires binaural coherence, especially at low frequency. Lateralization experiments, using a forced‐choice staircase technique, indicate that adequate localization based on ITD requires binaural coherence of at least 0.2. Measurements of binaural coherence in rooms find that binaural coherence is often less than that, which means that ITD cues can only be used on the transient portions of a signal. By contrast, interaural level differences are perceptually useful at high frequencies and increasingly dominate the localization of steady‐state sounds as the environment becomes more reverberant. [Work supported by the NIDCD, Grant No. DC00181. ]
r SEXUAL BELIEFS , INTERPERSONAL PERCEPTION AND SEXUAL SATISFACTION

This study investigated the correlation between sexual beliefs, as well as the interpersonal perception of sexual beliefs within a marriage, and the dyadic adjustment and sexual satisfaction. Participants were 38 couples, married less than 10 years. Each participant completed the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Index of Sexual Satisfaction and the Sexual Irrationality Questionnaire. Each participant was also requested to complete the latter questionnaire as he/she would expect hislher partner to complete it. A significant relationship was found between sexual satisfaction and dyadic adjustment, as well as between spouses' sexual beliefs and their perceptions of their partners' sexual beliefs. No support was found for the hypotheses that the interpersonal perception of sexual beliefs would correlate with either sexual satisfaction or marital adjustment. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
POST MORTEM WORM COUNTS IN SHEEP AFTER IMMUNIZATION WITH PURIFIED METABOLIC PRODUCTS FROM BLOOD FEEDING OVINE GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODE

In-vitro culture was made for isolating the metabolic products from ovine gastro intestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus and the culture supernatant was used as antigen. On immuno blot studies, it was demonstrated that the purified metabolic products showed single reactive band at 66.0 kDa. In immunization trial, sheep were immunized with 500 µg of purified antigen along with montanide as adjuvant on day 0, 30 and 60 intramuscularly. On ELISA, it was observed that the mean absorbance values were significantly (P≤0.01) higher up to 20 weeks post immunization in Group-I compared to Group-II (unimmunized control). Further, the mean faecal egg count values was lower in Group-I (200±32.17 to 700±48.14) than Group-II (2300±105.01 to 5300±123.65) and the percentage reduction in mean faecal egg counts was 84.5 per cent. Similarly, the mean post-mortem worm counts was lower in Group-I (845.13±24.15) than Group-II (3465±51.43) and the percentage reduction in mean abomasal worm count was 68.5 per cent.
Comparative study of clinico-biochemical profile and outcome of acute kidney injury in outborn and inborn neonates

Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is one of the major clinical problem in hospitalised neonates having variable outcomes. Prognosis depends on early diagnosis, associated risk factors and type of renal failure. The present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare risk factors, biochemical derangements and outcome of AKI in outborn and inborn neonates.Methods: For this hospital based prospective study 100 neonates were enrolled who were admitted in the NICU, diagnosed as AKI who had serum creatinine >1.5mg/dl. Study was done for 1 year from June 2016 onwards.Results: A large majority (72.3%) cases were outborn neonates (extramural) whereas (27.7%) cases were inborn neonates (intramural). Most of (79.8%) cases were term and were admitted during summer months. In outborn, type of AKI in descending order was prerenal (64.7%), renal (33.8%) and postrenal (1.5%) while in inborn neonates, cases were equally (50%) divided in between renal and prerenal. Among outborn neonates risk factors for AKI was dehydration (44%), sepsis (28%) and shock (16%) whereas in inborn, perinatal asphyxia (31%), dehydration (27%), shock (23%) and sepsis (11.5%) were risk factors. In outborn 36.8% cases were oliguric whereas in inborn 53.9% cases were oliguric.Conclusions: The maximum cases of AKI were outborn neonates in which outborn dehydration was the commonest cause while in inborn neonates perinatal asphyxia was the commonest cause. Sepsis and shock were other causes in both groups. Presence of oliguria, intrinsic AKI and shock carried poor prognosis.
Effect of propagule pressure on the establishment and spread of the little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata in a Gabonese oilfield

We studied the effect of propagule pressure on the establishment and subsequent spread of the invasive little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata in a Gabonese oilfield in lowland rain forest. Oil well drilling, the major anthropogenic disturbance over the past 21 years in the area, was used as an indirect measure of propagule pressure. An analysis of 82 potential introductions at oil production platforms revealed that the probability of successful establishment significantly increased with the number of drilling events. Specifically, the shape of the dose–response establishment curve could be closely approximated by a Poisson process with a 34% chance of infestation per well drilled. Consistent with our knowledge of largely clonal reproduction by W. auropunctata, the shape of the establishment curve suggested that the ants were not substantially affected by Allee effects, probably greatly contributing to this species’ success as an invader. By contrast, the extent to which W. auropunctata spread beyond the point of initial introduction, and thus the extent of its damage to diversity of other ant species, was independent of propagule pressure. These results suggest that while establishment success depends on propagule pressure, other ecological or genetic factors may limit the extent of further spread. Knowledge of the shape of the dose–response establishment curve should prove useful in modelling the future spread of W. auropunctata and perhaps the spread of other clonal organisms.
Cloning and preliminary identification of SptR, a LuxR- like regulator from Serratia plymuthica

N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated Quorum sensing (QS) allows bacterial populations to communicate via the exchange of diffusible signals to coordinate gene expression and control adaptive behaviors in response to cell density in Gram-negative bacteria. Two luxIR-like QS systems splIR and spsIR have been characterized in an endophytic strain G3 of Serratia plymuthica. Here we reported a third LuxR homolog, SptR for better understanding the QS network by strain G3. Firstly, cloning and sequencing of a sptR gene was performed using PCR; phylogenetic analysis revealed that SptR was not closely correlated to other members of LuxR-family protein in Serratia, but clustered into one clade with LuxR-family members from Enterobacter cloacae SCF1 and Erwinia tasmaniensis Et1/99 sharing a more common ancestor. Further mutational analysis of biocontrol-related phenotypes demonstrated that SptR served as a positive regulator to control production of exenzymes, as well as swimming motility and biofilm formation contrary to most LuxR homologs from Serratia as repressor. However, no significant impact on production of auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and antagonistic ability was observed. The results paved the way for further studies of the complex QS network and regulatory mechanisms involved in fine tuning of beneficial bacteria-plant interactions by S. plymuthica.
Title Rare TREM 2 variants associated with Alzheimer ' s disease display reduced cell surface expression Permalink

Rare variation in TREM2 has been associated with greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). TREM2 encodes a cell surface receptor expressed on microglia and related cells, and the R47H variant associated with AD appears to affect the ability of TREM2 to bind extracellular ligands. In addition, other rare TREM2 mutations causing early-onset neurodegeneration are thought to impair cell surface expression. Using a sequence kernel association (SKAT) analysis in two independent AD cohorts, we found significant enrichment of rare TREM2 variants not previously characterized at the protein level. Heterologous expression of the identified variants showed that novel variants S31F and R47C displayed significantly reduced cell surface expression. In addition, we identified rare variant R136Q in a patient with language-predominant AD that also showed impaired surface expression. The results suggest rare TREM2 variants enriched in AD may be associated with altered TREM2 function and that AD risk may be conferred, in part, from altered TREM2 surface expression.
SURVEY OF VIBRATION EXPOSURE AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDER OF ZAHEDAN CITY TRACTOR DRIVERS BY NORDICS QUESTIONNAIRE

Exposure to vibration is the cause of some occupational injuries and diseases. Objective of this study was determination of vibration exposure of tractor drivers and assessment of musculoskeletal disorder . This cross-sectional and descriptive- analytical study was administrated to 95 tractor drivers to census method and measuring induced vibration to the drivers was done in three axis, x, y, and z in tractors with load (10000 liter water), without load, with 10 km/h speed, by the vibration meter instrument “Sevantek”. The information related to musculoskeletal disorder was collected by using Nordic questionnaire. Data from both parts was analyzed by using SPSS. In the over load tractor group and with velocity vibration 10km/h, 50% of workers were in the range of reduced comfort boundary, 39.3% in the range of fatigue decreased proficiency boundary and 10.7% in over exposure limit. This results were in the without load tractor group and with the same velocity, 23.8% of people were in the range of reduced comfort boundary, 42.9% in the range of fatigue decreased proficiency boundary and 33.3% in the range of over exposure limit and waist with 56.8% had the greatest rate of pain and ankle with 9.5% had the least amount of pain rate. Using of many tractors in city to displace water and other applications, paying attention to the health of drivers and checking the periodically, is needed.