Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of distribution and orientation of collagen fibers in tissue development: study by means of double imaging by two-photon excited fluorescence and second harmonic generation microscopy

The TPEF and SHG imaging was used to study the distribution and orientation of collagen fibers in immature skin appendages on ex vivo chicken embryo skin samples in connec- tion to mechanical properties of developing tissues. Our study has demonstrated that the orientation of collagen fibers in the feather buds may promote growth of feathers by creating the gra- dient of stiffness and thus triggering the pressure sensitive growth factors. Index Terms - Two photon excited Fluorescence, Second har- monic generation, Chicken embryo, Collagen, Feather, Develop- ment.
Level-Synchronous Parallel Breadth-First Search Algorithms For Multicore and Multiprocessor Systems

Breadth-First Search (BFS) is a graph traversal technique used in many applications as a building block, e.g.,~to systematically explore a search space. For modern multicore processors and as application graphs get larger, well-performing parallel algorithms are favourable. In this paper, we systematically evaluate an important class of parallel BFS algorithms and discuss programming optimization techniques for their implementation. We concentrate our discussion on level-synchronous algorithms for larger multicore and multiprocessor systems. In our results, we show that for small core counts many of these algorithms show rather similar behaviour. But, for large core counts and large graphs, there are considerable differences in performance and scalability influenced by several factors. This paper gives advice, which algorithm should be used under which circumstances.
Biobjective Air Traffic Flow Management

Air traffic flow management seeks to extenuate delay created by congestion in the air traffic control system while ensuring equitable access to air transportation system resources. Mathematical programming formulations of the air traffic flow management problem typically minimize delay costs, ignoring evidence that equity is a critical concern in practice. Recently, authors have adjusted classical formulations, adding terms to the objective function to penalize various results deemed unfair. This work reformulates the air traffic flow management problem as a formal multiobjective optimization problem. We are able to find all Pareto-optimal solutions trading off efficiency and equity, without having to select and parameterize a model of the costs of inequity.
PREPARATION OF SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES CONTAINING MANGOSTEEN PERICARP EXTRACT

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) containing mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE) to achieve enhanced photoprotection and to provide an alternative to synthetic sunscreens in the market.Materials and Methods: The MPE was prepared using the maceration method, and evaluated for sun protection factor (SPF) value using an ultraviolet (UV)-Vis spectrophotometer. SLNs were prepared through ultrasonication method. Blank-SLNs were formulated using stearic acid (SA) or palmitic acid (PA) as solid lipids at a concentration of 3%. Tween® 80 or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was employed as a surfactant with a concentration ranging from 1 to 2%. The obtained blank-SLNs were investigated for their physical characteristics, (i.e., morphology, particle size, polydispersity index [PDI], and zeta potential values). The blank-SLNs with suitable physical characteristics were selected to encapsulate MPE and evaluated for the physical characteristics.Results: The MPE was a brownish viscous substance with an SPF value that ranged from 3.09±0.005 to 27.20±0.05 at a concentration ranging from 0.02 to 0.1 mg/ml. Based on the physical characteristics, the blank-SLNs employing PA or SA with 1% of PVA were selected. The MPE-SLNs were spherical, with a particle size that ranged from 443.51±6.50 to 533.52±16.15 nm; PDI ranged from 0.35±0.008 to 0.459±0.02, and zeta potential value ranged from 18.32±1.37 to −19.03±0.64. The entrapment efficiencies of MPE-PA-SLNs and MPE-SA-SLNs were 83.24±1.37% and 84.17±0.411%, respectively.Conclusion: The results indicated the promising potential of MPE as a UVB photoprotector. The MPE-SLNs were also successfully formulated, but, further study is needed to confirm the potential of MPE-SLNs to be used as a sunscreen, and their stability during storage.
High power laser production of short-lived isotopes for positron emission tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful diagnostic/imaging technique requiring the production of the short-lived positron emitting isotopes 11C, 13N, 15O and 18F by proton irradiation of natural/enriched targets using cyclotrons. The development of PET has been hampered due to the size and shielding requirements of nuclear installations. Recent results show that when an intense laser beam interacts with solid targets, megaelectronvolt (MeV) protons capable of producing PET isotopes are generated. This report describes how to generate intense PET sources of 11C and 18F using a petawatt laser beam. The work describing the laser production of 18F through a (p,n) 18O reaction, and the subsequent synthesis of 2-[18F] is reported for the first time. The potential for developing compact laser technology for this purpose is discussed.
Similarities among languages of the Americas: An exploration of the WALS evidence

An exploration of WALS (i.e. the World Atlas of Language Structures, edited by Haspelmath et al., 2005) has brought out a number of linguistic features that are significantly better represented in the New World than anywhere else. 24 such features remain when features that are restricted to certain subareas of the Americas are excluded. Two possible explanations are consistent with the available data. The features in question may be inherited from some language ancestral to all or most of the languages of the Americas. Alternatively, the features may be diffused across distances much greater than typically encountered in language areas. More data will be necessary to decide between these explanations.
Econometric analysis of local level perception, adaptation and coping strategies to climate change induced shocks in North Shewa, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to analyse the determinants of perception and adaptation to climate change. The study also examines the coping mechanisms followed by farmers in the aftermath of climate change induced shocks using a survey of 452 households in north Shewa Zone. A two steps process of Heckman model was used to analyze adaptation to climate change, which initially requires farmer’s perception that climate is changing and then responding to changes through adaptation. The analyses of determinants of perception to climate change revealed that number of factors ranging from socioeconomic to natural have contributed to the increase in perception level of farmers to climate change. Moreover, the determinants of adaptation conditioned on perception have shown that several programmatically important variables have affected the adaptation level of farmers to climate change. The result indicates that perception to climate change was the prime determinant for adaptation. on the other hand, farmers follow different coping mechanisms; where some of the coping mechanisms negatively affect the future development of the community and immediate recovery from climate change impacts. Thus carefully targeted programming should be made to enable farmers take those positive coping mechanisms and exercise those strategies that can boost their adaptation to the changing climate condition. In conclusion, awareness creation on climate change, facilitation of credit availability, investment on non-farm engagement, improve good mix of livestock holding, encourage adult education, dissemination of indigenous early warning information, diversifying crops to perennial trees, and improved frequencies of agricultural extension contact be made so as to ensure farmers well perceive climate change and then adapt to the changes.
Tailings Impoundment Failures: Are Geotechnical Engineers Listening?

Structural engineers are “technical cousins” to geotechnical engineers. The two groups have similar training in the fundamentals of mechanics and an equal ability to claim that the other “has it easy” in the design process. There can, however, be communication difficulties between the two. Speaking as an unbiased geotechnical engineer, the communication gap is personified by the structural engineer’s insistence that the ground is a linear-elastic material and geotechnical engineers are only useful if they will admit to such fact and provide a suitable subgrade reaction modulus at their earliest convenience. Alas, this is also expected while using factors of safety that are 50%, or lower, of those utilized for predictable materials like steel and concrete. Now, assume that structural engineers wanted to provide some more good-na tured fun for the i r geotechnical cousins. The nature of this fun would take the form of specifying the most challenging project conditions imaginable for the geotechnical engineer. Soliciting the assistance of learned geotechnical associates not aware of their evil intent, the structural engineers would conjure facilities for the geotechnical engineers to design and steward with the following characteristics: • All of the challenges of water retention dams (e.g. fluid storage with catastrophic results if such storage was unintentionally breached). • Cannot be breached upon project completion and must remain structurally competent in “perpetuity” (perpetuity is a long time). • Constantly changing in size and often reaching hundreds of millions of tonnes of material to utilize or store (and occasionally exceeding one billion tonnes). • Ever changing states of stress. • Typically under construction for at least 5 to 10 years but construction can be extended to periods of more than 50 or even 100 years. • Susceptible to brittle undrained loading response. • Contain real and perceived contaminants. • Have no ability to generate revenue for its owner (as opposed to a hydro-electric dam, for example) and so generally thought of in less than glowing terms as a necessary, but annoying, cost of doing business. • Seldom have owners that are familiar with all the key geotechnical issues facing these facilities and thus putting such responsibility on the consulting designer. Add to this long list of constraints the additional “just for fun” element that the factors of safety to be used are only marginally greater than unity. To meet the good-natured challenging scenario out l ined above, geotechnical engineers only has to note that many of us already deal with such challenges on a daily basis – these challenges are called tailings impoundments. Tailings impoundments are some of WASTE GEOTECHNICS
The Power of Practice and Community: A Case Study of Environmental Living in El Bolson, Argentina

To combat environmental problems, it is necessary to investigate and draw inspiration from people who live in environmentally friendly ways. This paper describes an environmentalist community in El Bolson, Argentina, and identifies some of the key factors that explain its success. El Bolson is well known in Latin America for being a centre for citizen driven environmental action and for environmentally friendly living. Based on anthropological fieldwork, the paper presents and analyses how the environmentalist community in El Bolson is organised, and shows how practice and community are two decisive driving forces. These driving forces can be used to inspire environ- mentally friendly actions elsewhere.
Mapping the floristic continuum : Ordination space position estimated from imaging spectroscopy

Abstract Objective: To present a non-classificatory technique of map representation of compositional patterns of vegetation as no two plant species assemblages are completely alike and gradations often occur. Variation is depicted as continuous fields instead of classes. Location: Murnauer Moos, Bavaria. Methods: The study combined vegetation ecology and remote sensing methods. The gradual representation of compositional patterns was based on techniques of ordination and regression, instead of mapping class fractions. The floristic field data were collected in releves and subjected to three-dimensional non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS). The reflectance information corresponding to plots was gathered from remotely sensed imagery with a high spectral resolution. Reflectance values in numerous wavelengths were related to NMS axes scores by partial least squares regression analysis. The regression equations were applied to the imagery and yielded three grey-scale images, one for each ordination axis.
ScienceDirect International Conference on Accounting Studies 2014 , ICAS 2014 , 18-19 August 2014 , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia Impact of service quality , trust and perceived value on customer loyalty in Malaysia services industries

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of service quality, trust and customer perceived value on customer loyalty in the Malaysia services sector. The research examines three factors of service quality, trust and perceived value by customers in the banking, insurance, and telecommunications industry. A quantitative approach was employed to measure the relationships between the variables of the study. Statistical tests included descriptive statistics, internal consistency, reliability, validity, correlation and regression were conducted to determine the relationship and to validate the study. The study found that there is positive relationship between service quality and trust, service quality and perceived value, trust and customer loyalty and perceived value and customer loyalty. Consequently, based on findings, service quality, trust and perceived value are considered to be antecedents of customer loyalty. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the School of Accountancy, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Unbundling in Current Broadband and Next-Generation Ultra-Broadband Access Networks

Abstract This article overviews the methods that are currently under investigation for implementing multi-operator open-access/shared-access techniques in next-generation access ultra-broadband architectures, starting from the traditional “unbundling-of-the-local-loop” techniques implemented in legacy twisted-pair digital subscriber line access networks. A straightforward replication of these copper-based unbundling-of-the-local-loop techniques is usually not feasible on next-generation access networks, including fiber-to-the-home point-to-multipoint passive optical networks. To investigate this issue, the article first gives a concise description of traditional copper-based unbundling-of-the-local-loop solutions, then focalizes on both next-generation access hybrid fiber–copper digital subscriber line fiber-to-the-cabinet scenarios and on fiber to the home by accounting for the mix of regulatory and technological reasons driving the next-generation access migration path, focusing mostly on the European situation.
Lethal and Sublethal Effects of UV‐B/pH Synergism on Common Frog Embryos

Abstract: Although the negative effects of ultraviolet‐B ( UV‐B) radiation on the development of many amphibian species have been demonstrated, some species—such as the common frog ( Rana temporaria)—seem to be tolerant of UV‐B radiation. The amount of UV‐B radiation received is likely to vary among populations of the same species, but little is known about geographic variation in UV‐B tolerance. Similarly, although UV‐B radiation can have synergistic effects with other stressors, no studies have focused on geographic variation of these effects on amphibians. We investigated the synergistic effects of UV‐B radiation and low pH on hatchability and early development of R. temporaria embryos in a factorial laboratory experiment with animals originating from southern and northern Sweden. Newly fertilized eggs were exposed to three different UV‐B treatments (no UV‐B [control], 1.254 k/J/m 2[normal] and 1.584 k/J/m 2[26% enhanced]) and two pH treatments (4.5 [low] and 7.6 [neutral]). Ultraviolet‐B radiation in combination with low pH lead to markedly (approximately 50%) reduced survival rates and increased (approximately 30%) frequency of developmental anomalies in the northern but not in the southern population. The UV‐B‐ exposed embryos hatched at smaller size in the southern population, whereas low pH reduced hatchling size in both populations. In both populations and pH treatments, embryos in the normal UV‐B treatment developed significantly faster than embryos in the enhanced or control UV‐B treatments. No interaction between pH and UV‐B on developmental rates or hatchling size was detected. The results demonstrate—contrary to earlier belief—that R. temporaria embryos are not insensitive to increased levels of UV‐B radiation. The lethal effects of UV‐B radiation may, however, become manifested only in combination with other stressors, such as low pH, and the effects of this synergism may differ among different populations of the same species.
Professional Development and Physics Teachers’ Ongoing Learning Needs

This study sought insight into the professional learning and development needs of physics teachers in New Zealand high schools. It used a mixed methods approach that comprised a national survey of high-school physics teachers as well as interviews with high-school physics teachers and physics teacher educators. Data from the teacher survey were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. Audio recordings from interviews were transcribed, analysed and used to triangulate and add depth to the survey data. Findings indicated that physics teachers were dissatisfied with the lack of formal physicsfocussed professional development opportunities available to support their professional growth. Instead, teachers tended to rely on personal critical inquiry and infrequent practitioner meetings to inform practice. Suggestions for how to support the professional development needs of physics teachers better are discussed.
Food Allergy: Always a Threat, How do We Treat it?

Food allergy is a disorder with high frequency in children. The similarities of gastrointestinal food allergy symptoms with those of other diseases make it difficult to diagnose the disease. Digestive symptoms of food allergy can range from mild to severe, including anaphylaxis. Treatment consists of food allergen avoidance and medications to relieve symptoms and their remission. Thus, the most important aspect is highlighting suspected allergen and subsequent food allergen avoidance.
IMPACT OF CLINICAL PHARMACIST PROVIDED PATIENT EDUCATION ON QOL OUTCOME IN TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS IN RURAL POPULATION Research Article

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the major causes of illness and disability across the world. Patient knowledge, attitude, practice of the diabetes is an important aspect and it has direct effect on quality of life. Objective: The main objective of the study is to assess the impact of clinical pharmacist provided patient education on Quality of life outcomes. Methodology: A prospective randomized control study was conducted in general medicine department of a tertiary care hospital. Patients were enrolled and randomized in to control and intervention group based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of three follow ups were made from the baseline. At each follow up questionnaires were applied to both the groups and their blood glucose was measured. Educational materials PIL (patient information leaflet) and formal counseling was given to intervention group at each level and to the control group at final follow up. Results and Discussion: A total of one hundred and thirteen patients were enrolled. A significant increase in QOL, KAP, adherence scores (P value< 0.05) was observed in intervention group when compared to control group. A Blood glucose level in intervention group was significantly changed, but was altering in the control group. Conclusion: Hence this study concludes that pharmacist plays an important role in educating the patients to maintain their quality of life.
FIRST DETECTION OF WATER VAPOR IN A PRE-STELLAR CORE

Water is a crucial molecule in molecular astrophysics as it controls much of the gas/grain chemistry, including the formation and evolution of more complex organic molecules in ices. Pre-stellar cores provide the original reservoir of material from which future planetary systems are built, but few observational constraints exist on the formation of water and its partitioning between gas and ice in the densest cores. Thanks to the high sensitivity of the Herschel Space Observatory, we report on the first detection of water vapor at high spectral resolution toward a dense cloud on the verge of star formation, the pre-stellar core L1544. The line shows an inverse P-Cygni profile, characteristic of gravitational contraction. To reproduce the observations, water vapor has to be present in the cold and dense central few thousand AU of L1544, where species heavier than helium are expected to freeze out onto dust grains, and the ortho:para H2 ratio has to be around 1:1 or larger. The observed amount of water vapor within the core (about 1.5 × 10−6 M☉) can be maintained by far-UV photons locally produced by the impact of galactic cosmic rays with H2 molecules. Such FUV photons irradiate the icy mantles, liberating water vapor in the core center. Our Herschel data, combined with radiative transfer and chemical/dynamical models, shed light on the interplay between gas and solids in dense interstellar clouds and provide the first measurement of the water vapor abundance profile across the parent cloud of a future solar-type star and its potential planetary system.
Sample and Implied Volatility in GARCH Models

The unconditional variance of various GARCH-type models is a function h(theta) of the parameter vector theta which is estimated by theta. For most models used in practice, closed-form expressions of h(.) have been found. On the contrary, the unconditional variance can be estimated by the sample variance sigma^2. This article establishes the asymptotic distributions of the differences sigma^2 - h(theta) and &sigma^2 - h(theta) for broad classes of GARCH-type models. Even though both limit distributions are normal, the asymptotic variances are not equal. Potential practical consequences of these results are discussed. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
BIOUTILIZATION OF KINNOW WASTE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOPIGMENTS USING SUBMERGED FERMENTATION

Biopigments are the microbial products, which have number of advantages over synthetic pigments. Fungi like Monascus purpureus produces pigments, which possess certain therapeutic properties, coloring properties having wide applications in food, pharmaceutical and textile industries. The present investigation was carried out for the optimization of media and process parameters for efficient biopigment production utilizing fruit waste in order to reduce cost of the process and pollution related problems. Kinnow peel waste was used as a substrate for the production of red pigment using Monascus purpureus MTCC 369 using submerged fermentation. Maximum pigment production was recorded when the media containing kinnow peel powder and pea pod supplemented with magnesium sulphate (0.1%) with pH of 6.5, incubated at 35 °C after 9 days of incubation period. Among the different solvents and concentration tested, maximum pigment production extraction was observed with 90% ethanol.