Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrological Modeling in Tropical Regions via TopModel. Study Case: Central Sector of the Middle Magdalena Valley - Colombia

Hydrological modeling allows us to make a comprehensive assessment of the interaction between dynamics of the hydrological cycle, climate conditions, and land use. These modeling results are relevant in water resources management field. We use TopModel (TOPography based hydrological MODEL for the hydrological modeling of an area of 17 000 km2 in the Middle Magdalena Valley (MMV), a tropical basin located in Colombia. This study is located in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) which is characterized by special meteorological conditions and fast water fluxes over the year. This area has been subjected to significant land use changes, as a result of intense economic activities, e.g., agriculture, hydropower energy and oil & gas production (Avellaneda, 2003). The proposed model is based on a record of 12 years of: i. ) daily precipitation data from observed gauges, ii. ) daily evapotranspiration data from temperature data and iii. ) daily streamflow data as observed data. A calibration process was performed using data from 2000 to 2008, and a validation was performed with data from 2009 to 2012. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was used as an objective function to assess the quality of these processes (values of this metric are between 0.74 and 0.73 respectively, for model calibration and validation). The results show us an adequate performance of the model in areas of the tropical region and allow us to analyze the relationship between water storage capacity in the soils of the area with subsurface runoff. This conclusion is consistent with the characteristics of the region. The calibrated model provides an idea about the hydrological functioning of the basin and estimates an approximation of the groundwater recharge in the region. The estimation of the recharge is important to quantify the interaction of surface water and groundwater, especially during the dry season, due to its importance in the analysis of scenarios with climate variability.
A conservative scheme for electromagnetic simulation of magnetized plasmas with kinetic electrons

A conservative scheme has been formulated and verified for gyrokinetic particle simulations of electromagnetic waves and instabilities in magnetized plasmas. An electron continuity equation derived from the drift kinetic equation is used to time advance the electron density perturbation by using the perturbed mechanical flow calculated from the parallel vector potential, and the parallel vector potential is solved by using the perturbed canonical flow from the perturbed distribution function. In gyrokinetic particle simulations using this new scheme, the shear Alfven wave dispersion relation in the shearless slab and continuum damping in the sheared cylinder have been recovered. The new scheme overcomes the stringent requirement in the conventional perturbative simulation method that perpendicular grid size needs to be as small as electron collisionless skin depth even for the long wavelength Alfven waves. The new scheme also avoids the problem in the conventional method that an unphysically large paralle.
Efficient Range ORAM with O ( log 2 N ) Locality Anrin Chakraborti

Oblivious RAM protocols (ORAMs) allow a client to access data from an untrusted storage device without revealing to that device any information about their access pattern. Typically this is accomplished through shuffling the data into random positions such that the storage device is not sure where individual blocks are located, resulting in an access pattern on the device which is highly randomized. However, storage devices are usually optimized for sequential accesses, meaning that ORAMs can often induce a substantial overhead (in addition to their increased bandwidth) due to large numbers of disk seeks [13]. In this paper, we present an ORAM construction specifically suited for accessing ranges of sequential logical blocks while minimizing disk seeks. Our construction obtains better asymptotic efficiency than prior work with similar security guarantees [8], achieving O(r · log2 N ) communication cost (where r is the size of the range) and O(log2 N ) seeks per access, regardless of r . This is an improvement of more than a O(logN ) factor in both metrics when compared to prior work. In evaluation, we find that our construction is 30-50x times faster than Path ORAM for similar workloads on local HDDs, almost 30x faster for local SSDs, and 10x faster for network block devices.
Nano-hardness and elastic modulus of anodic aluminium oxide based Poly (2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) composite membranes

In this study we determine the elastic and hardness properties of electrochemically engineered porous anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) membranes and AAO membranes infiltrated with Poly (2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) to form a unique biologically compatible AAO/polymer composite. The electrochemically-synthesised membranes have a nanometre scale porous oxide structure with a mean pore diameter of 100 nm. The membranes were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy before and after polymer infiltration. The polymer treated and untreated membranes were then examined using the nano-indentation technique to measure the hardness and subsequently determine the membrane elasticity.
An Group Behavior Mobility Model for Opportunisitc Networks

Mobility is regarded as a network transport mechanism for distributing data in many networks. However, many mobility models ignore the fact that peer nodes often carried by people and thus move in group pattern according to some kind of social relation. In this paper, we propose one mobility model based on group behavior character which derives from real movement scenario in daily life. This paper also gives the character analysis of this mobility model and compares with the classic Random Waypoint Mobility model.
Magic - IFATIS: EC-research projects

Abstract In this contribution two European research projects funded by the European Commission in the framework of the IST programme are introduced. The goal is to present the basic ideas and concepts of the projects “Multi-Agents-based Diagnostic Data Acquisition and Management in Complex Systems (MAGIC)” and “Intelligent Fault Tolerant Control in Integrated Systems (IFATIS)” which both aim at the solution of diagnostic problems but in different respects. While MAGIC is based on a multi-agents-based architecture which integrates all levels in a diagnostic scheme, IFATIS deals with hierarchically structured fault-tolerant control for integrated systems. A wide range of industrial applications is expected for both projects.
Soft cataract: improving surgical safety with modified phacoemulsification

Purpose The aim was to describe a modified stop and chop technique for managing soft cataract to improve surgical safety. Materials and methods Capsulorrhexis is performed as usual with a 27 G needle. A trench is fashioned using low ultrasonic power. Hydrodelineation is performed by a cannula introducing directly in central lens substance. Hydrodissection follows next and precise hydroprocedure is achieved. Nucleus is emulsified using ultrasound power and intraocular lens is implanted. Result This technique results in easy rotation and removal of the nucleus and the epinucleus using low phaco power. Conclusion This modified phacoemulsification technique is safe and very effective to emulsify soft to moderate hard cataract where direct chop would be difficult.
Fixed rank kriging for very large spatial data sets

Summary. Spatial statistics for very large spatial data sets is challenging. The size of the data set, n, causes problems in computing optimal spatial predictors such as kriging, since its computational cost is of order . In addition, a large data set is often defined on a large spatial domain, so the spatial process of interest typically exhibits non‐stationary behaviour over that domain. A flexible family of non‐stationary covariance functions is defined by using a set of basis functions that is fixed in number, which leads to a spatial prediction method that we call fixed rank kriging. Specifically, fixed rank kriging is kriging within this class of non‐stationary covariance functions. It relies on computational simplifications when n is very large, for obtaining the spatial best linear unbiased predictor and its mean‐squared prediction error for a hidden spatial process. A method based on minimizing a weighted Frobenius norm yields best estimators of the covariance function parameters, which are then substituted into the fixed rank kriging equations. The new methodology is applied to a very large data set of total column ozone data, observed over the entire globe, where n is of the order of hundreds of thousands.
Statistical Research Unit Goteborg University Sweden Testing for multivariate heteroscedasticity

In this paper we propose a testing technique for multivariate heteroscedasticity, which is expressed as a test of linear restrictions in a multivariate regression model. Four test statistics with known asymptotical null distributions are suggested, namely the Wald (W), Lagrange Multiplier (LM), Likelihood Ratio (LR) and the multivariate Rao F-test. The critical values for the statistics are determined by their asymptotic null distributions, but also bootstrapped critical values are used. The size, power and robustness of the tests are examined in a Monte Carlo experiment. Our main findings are that all the tests limit their nominal sizes asymptotically, but some of them have superior small sample properties. These are the F, LM and bootstrapped versions of Wand LR tests.
USING DIVERSITY TO GUIDE THE SEARCH IN MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION

The overall aim in multi-objective optimization is to aid the decisionmaking process when tackling multi-criteria optimization problems. In an a posteriori approach, the strategy is to produce a set of nondominated solutions that represent a good approximation to the Pareto optimal front so that the decision-makers can select the most appropriate solution. In this paper we propose the use of diversity measures to guide the search and hence, to enhance the performance of the multi-objective search algorithm. We propose the use of diversity measures to guide the search in two different ways. First, the diversity in the objective space is used as a helper objective when evaluating candidate solutions. Secondly, the diversity in the solution space is used to choose the most promising strategy to approximate the Pareto optimal front. If the diversity is low, the emphasis is on exploration. If the diversity is high, the emphasis is on exploitation. We carry out our experiments on a two-objective optimization problem, namely space allocation in academic institutions. This is a real-world problem in which the decision-makers want to see a set of alternative diverse solutions in order to compare them and select the most appropriate allocation.
BARTOSZ FOTSCHKI, ADAM JURGOŃSKI, JERZY JUŚKIEWICZ, ZENON ZDUŃCZYK METABOLIC EFFECTS OF DIETARY APPLE SEED OIL IN RATS

S u m m a r y The aim of this study was to determine the fatty acid profile of apple seed oil and its effects on the caecal functions, blood lipids, and markers of antioxidant status and inflammation in rats. A nutritional experiment was performed on Wistar rats allocated to 3 groups of 8 animals each. The animals were fed with a diet containing different sources of fat: pork lard (group LA), rapeseed oil (group RO) and apple seed oil (group AO). Apple seed oil was rich in linoleic acid and oleic acids (57 % and 32.3 % of total fatty acids, respectively). The short chain fatty acid concentration in the caecal digesta was comparable among all groups, whereas the ammonia concentration was lower in groups AO and RO than in group LA (0.32 and 0.3, respectively vs 0.42 mg/g). The plasma alanine (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities also decreased in the AO and RO groups (ALT, 19.34 and 19.81, respectively vs 30,7 U/L and AST, 115.1 and 107, respectively vs 138.3 U/L) The plasma triacylglycerols (TG) concentration and the atherogenic index (ATI) of plasma were significantly decreased in the AO group compared to the LA group (TG, 1.79 vs 2.62 mmol/L and ATI, 0.095 vs 0.313). Apple seed oil is a valuable source of unsaturated fatty acids and its dietary addition has slightly better metabolic effects on rat organism than does rapeseed oil.
Non-invasive sampling reveals fine-scale genetic structure in black bear Ursus americanus populations from northeastern Mexico

The black bear Ursus americanus is one of the largest terrestrial carnivores that has a wide distribution in northeastern Mexico, the only country in which black bears are listed as endangered. We used 10 nuclear microsatellite loci to evaluate black bear genetic variability in 6 disjointed populations from northeastern Mexico. Non-invasive genetic techniques were applied to fecal and hair samples. Using a panel of 10 polymorphic microsatellites we identified 64 indi- viduals. Black bears showed low to moderate levels of genetic diversity in all sampled populations (mean ± SD expected heterozygosity, He = 0.63 ± 0.628). Pairwise comparisons between all 6 pop- ulations (φST = 0.315, p < 0.05) detected significant genetic differentiation between the western Coahuila and the northeastern Nuevo Leon regions, suggesting that black bears have low levels of gene flow between these 2 regions. Microsatellites revealed significant structure within the complex of disjoint areas in the region. The inbreeding coefficient was also significant (φIS = 0.143). The largest proportion of genetic variation (82.7%) was found between individuals within populations. Distance and anthropogenic activities may serve to limit gene exchange among pop- ulations which form at least 3 distinct genetic clusters; these may respond differently to environ- mental changes and should be considered distinct management units.
MAGIIC-PRO: detecting functional signatures by efficient discovery of long patterns in protein sequences

This paper presents a web service named MAGIIC-PRO, which aims to discover functional signatures of a query protein by sequential pattern mining. Automatic discovery of patterns from unaligned biological sequences is an important problem in molecular biology. MAGIIC-PRO is different from several previously established methods performing similar tasks in two major ways. The first remarkable feature of MAGIIC-PRO is its efficiency in delivering long patterns. With incorporating a new type of gap constraints and some of the state-of-the-art data mining techniques, MAGIIC-PRO usually identifies satisfied patterns within an acceptable response time. The efficiency of MAGIIC-PRO enables the users to quickly discover functional signatures of which the residues are not from only one region of the protein sequences or are only conserved in few members of a protein family. The second remarkable feature of MAGIIC-PRO is its effort in refining the mining results. Considering large flexible gaps improves the completeness of the derived functional signatures. The users can be directly guided to the patterns with as many blocks as that are conserved simultaneously. In this paper, we show by experiments that MAGIIC-PRO is efficient and effective in identifying ligand-binding sites and hot regions in protein–protein interactions directly from sequences. The web service is available at and a mirror site at .
Polymeric ocular nanosuspension for controlled release of acyclovir: in vitro release and ocular distribution

The aim of this study is to formulate a novel ophthalmic nanosuspension (ONS), an alternative carrier system to traditional colloidal carriers for controlled release (CR) of acyclovir (ACV). In the present study, ONS is employed to avoid some of major disadvantages of colloidal carriers systems such as instability in cul de sac and short half life by increasing efficiency of drug encapsulation as well as by CR. A quassi-emulsion solvent evaporation method was used to prepare ACV loaded Eudragit RS 100 ONS with the aim of improved ocular bioavailability and distribution. Five different formulations were prepared and evaluated for pH of ONS, particle size, entrapment efficiency, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in vitro release profile, in vivo release studies and stability studies. An average size range of 100 to 300 nm in diameter was obtained and encapsulation efficiency up to 95.0% was observed for all the formulations. Cumulative percent drug released for all formulations after 24 h was between 79.28 to 95% indicating effective CR property of ONS. The release profile revealed from best formulation followed Non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. In vivo studies showed that ACV concentration in aqueous humor at 8 h was 82.83, 77.49 and 34.15 mg/ml. Stability studies showed a maximum drug content and almost similar in vitro release compared to the initial data found for the sample stored at 4°C. Overall, the study also revealed that ONS was capable of releasing the drug for a prolonged period of time and increased bioavailability.
AVERAGED POWER SPECTRAL VALUE IN CURVELET DOMAIN

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images are inherently affected by multiplicative speckle noise, due to the coherent nature of scattering phenomena. In this paper, a novel algorithm capable of suppressing speckle noise using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is presented. The algorithm initially identifies homogenous region from the corrupted image and uses PSO to optimize the Thresholding of curvelet coefficients to recover the original image. Average Power Spectrum Value (APSV) has been used as objective function of PSO. The Proposed algorithm removes Speckle noise effectively and the performance of the algorithm is tested and compared with Mean filter, Median filter, Lee filter, Statistic Lee filter, Kuan filter, frost filter and gamma filter. , outperforming conventional filtering methods.
Using the WHO–5 Well-Being Index to Identify College Students at Risk for Mental Health Problems

College students are at significant risk for mental health problems. Symptoms of anxi­ ety and depression appear to be the most common concerns, with studies generating prevalence estimates as high as 53.8% for moderate to severe depression (Garlow et al., 2008) and 52.8% for moderate to severe anxiety (Rosenthal & Schreiner, 2000). This is concerning because studies have documented how problems with anxiety and depression negatively affect students’ academic performance, class attendance, retention, career selection, relationship development, physical health, and general well­being (Baez, 2005; Miller & Chung, 2009). Compounding those problems is the fact that the vast majority of college students experiencing mental health problems do not receive treatment. This is true even though most colleges have medical and psychological treatment providers on campus, and there are many effective treatments for both anxiety and depression (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). There is a clear need for colleges to do a better job of identifying students who may benefit from treatment and encouraging those students to actually seek help (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Indeed, research suggests that population­based screening can encour­ age college students who are at risk for mental health problems to seek treatment (Kim, Coumar, Lober, & Kim, 2011). Unfor­ tu nately, there is currently tremendous variability regarding the extent to which colleges effectively screen students for mental health problems (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010) and a shortage of measures designed for this purpose. Currently, we are aware of only one population­based screening measure that was developed specifically for use with college students. The Symptoms and Assets Screening Scale (SASS; Downs, Boucher, Campbell, & Dasse, 2013) is a 34­item measure designed to identify students at risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders. Although there is a relative dearth of screening measures available for professionals who work with college students, several instruments have been developed for use by physicians to identify patients with medical concerns who are also experiencing mental health problems. One such measure is the World Health Organization Five Well­Being Index (WHO–5; Johansen, 1998). Although the WHO–5 measure was originally devel­ oped to assess the quality of life in patients suffering from diabetes, Topp, Østergaard, Søndergaard, and Bech (2015) found the measure to perform well as a screening tool for individuals at risk for depression. The WHO–5 is appealing as a screening measure because it contains only five items, is freely available in at least 31 languages, and is extremely easy to complete, score, and interpret. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the WHO–5 can be used to effectively identify individuals in the general college student population who are experiencing
Real Time Data Acquisation of Solar Panel Using Arduino and Further Recording Voltage of the Solar Panel

This paper presents the simulation of real time data acquisition of a solar panelin LabVIEW. A prototype model has been made where two Arduino were used. One is used for interfacing the solar panel with the PC for acquisition of data and the other one isused with the servomotor. The servomotor is linked with the solar panel with the help of a shaft and is rotated according to the LDR output. Two LDR is fixed on both the sides of the solar panel for tracing the sunlight. The whole simulation is performed with the help of LINX firmware wizard, which is available in LabVIEW Maker’s Hub. Data were collected of different days in different duration of time. According to the collected data, behaviour and the voltage of the solar module was analysed. This paper describes the design of a low cost, solar tracking and real time data acquisition system.
Infrared Space Observatory's Discovery of C4H2, C6H2, and Benzene in CRL 618

We report on the detection with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), for the first time in the circumstellar medium, of the polyacetylenic chains C4H2 and C6H2 and of benzene (C6H6) in the direction of the proto-planetary nebula CRL 618. Surprisingly, the abundances of di- and triacetylene are only a factor of 2-4 lower than that of C2H2. Benzene is ≃40 times less abundant than acetylene. We suggest that the chemistry in CRL 618 has been strongly modified by the UV photons coming from the hot central star and by the shocks associated with its high-velocity winds. All the infrared bands arise from a region with kinetic temperatures between 200 and 250 K, probably the photodissociation region associated with the dense torus that surrounds the central star. C4H2 and C6H2 have also been detected in CRL 2688, so it seems that C-rich proto-planetary nebulae are the best organic chemistry factories in space.
Dynamic Magnetorheological Damper for Orthotic Tremor Suppression

This paper explores the design methodology and effectiveness of small-scale magnetorheological dampers (MRDs) in applications that require rapidly variable damping. Previously applications of MRDs have been chiefly limited to vehicle shock absorbers and seismic vibration attenuators. There has been recent biomedical interest in active-damping technology, particularly in the field of rehabilitation robotics. The topic at hand is the feasibility of developing MRDs that would be functionally and dimensionally adequate for actuation of an upper limb tremor suppression orthosis. A nonlinear Bingham plastic model is used to determine the MRD’s functional characteristics, and experimental data is presented to validate the mathematical model. In addition, the dynamic response of the damper to step input signals and its bandwidth were estimated to explore its potential use in applications that require variable force at relatively high frequencies. A finite element analysis of the magnetic field within the damper was performed, resulting in an optimized design.