Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective effects of polyamines on regulation of senescence in spray carnation cut flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus’Spotlight’)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three polyamines (PAs) on antioxidants capacity, free radical scavenging and vase life improvement of spray carnation cut flowers. Hence, the cut flowers were dipped in different concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 3 mmol) of putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) for 24 h. After treatment, the cut flowers were placed in distilled water and kept at 20 °C ± 2 °C, 70-80 % RH. All concentrations of Put treatment improved the vase life of cut spray carnation flowers as compared to control. The highest positive influence on vase life (with 13 days) was related to 2 mmol Put treatments. Result showed that applying Put and Spm treatments at 1 or 2 mmol concentration significantly minimized the percentage of mass loss compared to the control. A significant inhibition of anthocyanin degradation was observed with Put 1 or 2 mmol and Spm 1 mmol Significantly higher activities of catalase and DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed in petals when cut carnations were treated with 1 mmol Put. It can be concluded that application of polyamines such as putrescine can play a key role to prevent or delay deterioration in cut flowers.
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering 2008-0101 Application of the Fractal Market Hypothesis for Modelling Macroeconomic Time Series

This paper explores the conceptual background to financial time series analysis and financial signal processing in terms of the Efficient Market Hypothesis. By revisiting the principal conventional approaches to market analysis and the reasoning associated with them, we develop a Fractal Market Hypothesis that is based on the application of non-stationary fractional dynamics using an operator of the type ∂ ∂x2 − σ ∂ q(t) ∂tq(t) where σ−1 is the fractional diffusivity and q is the Fourier dimension which, for the topology considered, (i.e. the onedimensional case) is related to the Fractal Dimension1 < DF < 2 by q = 1−DF + 3/2. We consider an approach that is based on the signal q(t) and its interpretation, including its use as a macroeconomic volatility index. In practice, this is based on the application of a moving window data processor that utilises Orthogonal Linear Regression to compute q from the power spectrum of the windowed data. This is applied to FTSE close-of-day data between 1980 and 2007 which reveals plausible correlations between the behaviour of this market over the period considered and the amplitude fluctuations of q(t) in terms of a macroeconomic model that is compounded in the operator above.
Implementation and Optimization of cGA+LS to solve Capacitated VRP over Cell/B.E.

This paper presents a case study to illustrate the design and implementation of cellular Genetic Algorithm (cGA) with Local Search (LS) to solve Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) over Cell Broadband Engine (Cell BE). Cell BE is a heterogeneous, distributed memory multicore processor architecture for multimedia applications with regular memory access requirements. It has one 64-bit Power Processing Element (PPE) that acts as the main processor and 8 Synergistic Processing Elements (SPEs) with only 256 KB of local memory, each for instructions and data. GAs on the other hand use population based search techniques. Such techniques usually have large memory requirements and show non-uniform memory access patterns. These properties of GAs make their implementation over Cell BE even more challenging. In order to take maximum advantage of the hardware, we propose an asynchronous approach to implement cGA+LS over Cell BE. In this paper, we discuss the implementation and optimization of the proposed method in detail. We compare the proposed method with other state-of-theart CVRP solvers and synchronous implementation of cGA+LS over Cell BE. We solve existing benchmark problems and achieve considerable speedups. We extend the work further to solve extremely large instances of CVRP compared to ones present in the CVRP literature, and get acceptable results in a reasonable amount of time.
"Thermodynamique cach\'ee des particules" and the quantum potential

According to de Broglie, temperature plays a basic role in quantum Hamilton-Jacobi theory. Here we show that a possible dependence on the temperature of the integration constants of the relativistic quantum Hamilton-Jacobi may lead to corrections to the dispersion relations. The change of the relativistic equations is simply described by means of a thermal coordinate.
Towards an Inverse Constant Q Transform

The Constant Q transform has found use in the analysis of musical signals due to its logarithmic frequency resolution. Unfortunately, a considerable drawback of the Constant Q transform is that there is no inverse transform. Here we show it is possible to obtain a good quality approximate inverse to the Constant Q transform provided that the signal to be inverted has a sparse representation in the Discrete Fourier Transform domain. This inverse is obtained through the use of `0 and `1 minimisation approaches to project the signal from the constant Q domain back to the Discrete Fourier Transform domain. Once the signal has been projected back to the Discrete Fourier Transform domain, the signal can be recovered by performing an inverse Discrete Fourier Transform. 1. THE CONSTANT Q TRANSFORM The Constant Q transform (CQT) was derived by Brown as a means of creating a log-frequency resolution spectrogram [1]. This has considerable advantages for the analysis of musical signals, as the frequency resolution can be set to match that of the equal tempered scale used in western music, where the frequencies are geometrically spaced, as opposed to the linear spacing that occurs in the discrete Fourier transform (DFT). The frequency components of the CQT have a constant ratio of center frequency to resolution, as opposed to the constant frequency difference and constant resolution of the DFT. This constant ratio results in a constant pattern for the spectral components making up notes played on a given instrument, and this has been used to attempt sound source separation of pitched instruments from both single channel and multi-channel mixtures of instruments[2],[3]. Given an inital minimum frequency f0 for the CQT, the center frequencies for each band can be obtained from: fk = f02 k b (k = 0, 1, .) (1) where b is the number of bins per octave. The fixed ratio of center frequency to bandwidth is then given by Q = ( 2 1 b − 1 )−1 (2) The desired bandwidth of each frequency band is FitzGerald et al. Towards an ICQT then obtained by choosing a window of length
Variability of the ocean carbon cycle in response to the North Atlantic Oscillation

ABSTRACT Climate modes such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), representing internal variability of the climate system, influence the ocean carbon cycle and may mask trends in the sink of anthropogenic carbon. Here, utilising control runs of six fully coupled Earth System Models, the response of the ocean carbon cycle to the NAO is quantified. The dominating response, a seesaw pattern between the subtropical gyre and the subpolar Northern Atlantic, is instantaneous (<3 months) and dynamically consistent over all models and with observations for a range of physical and biogeochemical variables. All models show asymmetric responses to NAO+ and NAO− forcing, implying non-linearity in the connection between NAO and the ocean carbon cycle. However, model differences in regional expression and magnitude and conflicting results with regard to air–sea flux and CO2 partial pressure remain. Typical NAO-driven variations are ±10 mmol/m3 in the surface concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity and ±8 ppm in the air–sea partial pressure difference. The effect on the basin-wide air–sea CO2 flux is small due to compensating fluxes on the sub-basin scale. Two models show a reduced carbon sink in the north-eastern North Atlantic during negative NAO phases, qualitatively in accordance with the observed decline during a phase of predominantly negative NAO. The results indicate that wind-driven dynamics are the main driver of the response to the NAO, which – via vertical mixing, upwelling and the associated entrainment of dissolved inorganic carbon and nutrients – leave an imprint on surface pCO2 and the air–sea CO2 flux as well as on biological export production, pH and the calcium carbonate saturation state. The biogeochemical response to the NAO is predominantly governed by vertical exchange between the surface and the thermocline; large-scale horizontal transport mechanisms are of minor importance.
Diversification of Stack Layout in Binary Programs Using Dynamic Binary Translation

Despite protracted efforts by researchers and practitioners, security vulnerabilities remain in modern software. Artificial diversity is an effective defense against many types of attack, and one form, address-space randomization, has been widely applied. Present implementations of addressspace randomization are either coarse grained or require source code. We present an approach to fine-grained randomization of the stack layout that operates on x86 binary programs. Randomization is applied on a function-by-function basis. Variable ordering on the stack is randomized and random-length padding inserted between variables. Optionally, canaries can be placed in the padding regions. Transform determination is speculative: the stack layout for a function is inferred from the binary, and then assessed by executing the transformed program. If a transform changes a program’s semantics, progressively less aggressive transforms are applied in sequence. We present results of applying the technique to various open-source programs including details of example exploits that the technique defeated. Keywords-security, artificial diversity, stack frame layout, address randomization, binary program
Proximal forward-backward splitting method for zeros of sum accretive operators for a fixed point set and inverse problems

In this paper, we investigate regularization method via a proximal point algorithm for solving treating sum of two accretive operators and fixed point problems. Strong convergence theorems are established in the framework of Banach spaces. Also we apply our result to variational inequalities and equilibrium problems. Furthermore, an illustrative numerical example is presented. c ©2017 All rights reserved.
Influence of anaerobic fungal administration on growth, rumen fermentation and nutrient digestion in female buffalo calves

The study was carried out on the effect of administration of anaerobic fungi Neocallimastix sp. GR1 on feed intake, growth, ruminal fermentation, rumen microbial population and nutrient digestion in female Murrah buffalo calves (5 to 8 months of age) for a period of 90 days. In fungus-fed calves (250 ml broth @ ≈10 6 tfu/ ml; every 4 th day), a considerable increase in daily weight gains (140 g) and better feed effi ciency of total mixed ration (3.61% units) were found when compared with control calves. Besides, the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fi bre and acid detergent fi bre were also higher (P≤0.05) in fungus-fed calves. The digestible energy of total mixed ration in terms of total digestible nutrients was also enhanced. The pH and NH 3 -N of rumen liquor were found to be lowered, whereas total-N, tricarboxylic acid precipitable-N and total volatile fatty acids and number of zoospore/ml were higher. Hence, the present study suggests that rumen fungi Neocallimastix sp. could be exploited as direct-fed microbials for domesticated ruminants to improve the nutritive value of straw based diets.
Energy-saving and by-products-free production of ethanol from granular corn starch

Intense development of the transport sector and a rise in the prices of fossil fuels boost the demand for fuels from alternative sources of energy, including biofuels. Thus, new energy-efficient technologies of fuel production from renewable resources are being developed. Accordingly, we attempted to create a technology of bioethanol production by simultaneous enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of native corn starch. In our work we used commercially available STARGEN 001 enzymatic preparation for native corn starch hydrolyzis, and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Red Star Ethanol Red for it’s fermentation. A major part of the research was on developing a fermentation technology with repeated full recirculation of stillage liquid fraction. It has been shown that a completely effluentless ethanol production with separation of stillage solid fraction and using the liquid fraction to prepare the next portion of corn mash is possible. Thus the process can proceed for several months without any effluent.
On the relationship between climate sensitivity and modelling uncertainty

Abstract Climate model projections are used to investigate the potential impacts of climate change on future weather, agriculture, water resources, human health, the global economy, etc. However, climate projections have a broad range of associated uncertainties, and it is a challenge to take account of these uncertainties in impact studies and risk assessments. Knowing which uncertainties matter and which may be reduced via scientific research or political decisions can help policy-makers in making informed decisions, scientists in focusing their resources, and businesses in building resilience to uncertainties that cannot be avoided. On the global scale, the present political resistance or ability to move from agreements to significant action provides the largest uncertainty in climate projections, followed by the uncertainty associated with climate modelling itself. Here, we show that climate sensitivity is a very important source of model uncertainty over large parts of the globe not only for temperature, but also for precipitation and wind projections. Because ‘climate sensitivity’ is a collective term that encompasses a wide range of feedback mechanisms in the climate system, we may not know for a long time whether models with high or low climate sensitivities are more relevant for the twenty-first century projections. Nevertheless, investigations of climate impacts cannot wait. Here we argue that it is physically and statistically unsound to mix climate model with high and low climate sensitivities, and that the subset chosen for any impact study should depend on the question one is trying to answer.
A Kind of Improved Data Clustering Algorithm in Web Log Mining

Aiming at the user clustering and page clustering in Web log mining and based on the analysis of K-means clustering algorithm and matrix clustering algorithm, the paper presented an improved clustering algorithm that combining fuzzy matrix algorithm with K-means algorithm. Extract compressed sub-matrix from relational matrix of user and page, establishing user interval, and then divide all users into large intervals and separate the noise data, obtain initial value and classified number for K-means algorithm, effectively solve the defect in the K-means algorithm that always suppose or make a try to definite the classified number and the initial value, also include the lacking to exclude the noise data obstruction.
Transport Properties of Polystyrene Solutions Swollen with Carbon Dioxide

WHITTIER, RACHEL ELIZABETH. Transport Properties of Polystyrene Solutions Swollen with Carbon Dioxide. (Under the direction of George W. Roberts and Douglas J. Kiserow.) The viscosity and diffusion coefficient of polystyrene (PS) in decahydronaphthalene (DHN) were measured in the presence of CO2 to investigate the effect of CO2 on the transport properties of polymers in solution. The viscosity of 1-15 wt% PS in DHN was measured, using a moving piston viscometer. The effects of CO2 pressure (0 to 3000 psi), polymer concentration (1-15 wt%), temperature (33-150°C), and molecular weight (126 to 412 kDa) on viscosity were investigated. Viscosity measurements of PS in DHN showed the viscosity increase with increasing concentration was described by the Martin equation. Addition of 30-40 wt% CO2 resulted in the maximum viscosity reduction for all temperatures, polymer concentrations, and molecular weights. Viscosity reduction was greatest for high molecular weight polymer, high polymer concentrations, and low temperatures. At the highest CO2 pressures, the viscosity of all polymer solutions converged to approximately 1-3 cp. The viscosity of PS/DHN/SF6 was also measured. The viscosity reduction with SF6 was approximately the same as that with CO2. In addition, the diffusion coefficient of 0.51. 25 wt% 412,000 n M PS in DHN was measured from 25-150°C. The diffusion coefficient results were extrapolated to zero concentration to determine the infinite dilution diffusion coefficient, D0. The hydrodynamic radius was calculated from D0. The hydrodynamic radius increased with temperature, indicating an increase in solvent quality of DHN with increasing temperature. Upon addition of CO2 to 0.75-1 wt% 412,000 n M PS in DHN, the diffusion coefficient increased, approximately doubling in value. The decrease in viscosity and increase in diffusion coefficient with CO2 show that CO2 is effective as a facilitator of improved transport. Transport Properties of Polystyrene Solutions Swollen with Carbon Dioxide by Rachel Elizabeth Whittier A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Chemical Engineering Raleigh, NC 2004 Approved By: ____________________________ ____________________________ George W. Roberts Douglas J. Kiserow Chair of Advisory Committee Co-Chair of Advisory Committee ____________________________ John H. vanZanten
Obstetric and Pediatric Provider Perspectives on Mandatory Reporting of Prenatal Substance Use.

OBJECTIVE In many states, health care providers are legally required to report pregnant women who use substances, or infants affected by prenatal substance use, to child welfare authorities. The objective of this study was to characterize obstetric and pediatric providers' perceptions of and experiences with policies requiring mandatory reporting of prenatal substance use to child welfare authorities. METHODS We conducted a qualitative interview study among 20 obstetric and pediatric providers to elicit participants' perspectives about and experience with current policy requiring mandatory reporting of prenatal substance use. Two investigators used an iterative content analysis approach to code interview transcripts and identify themes. RESULTS Study participants included obstetrician/gynecologists (N = 7), midwives (N = 5), and pediatricians (N = 8). Providers noted that implementation of the policy was often targeted and that targeted screening can be biased. Most providers reported that they incorporated information about mandatory reporting policies into patient counseling about substance use. They described not knowing what happens to patients after mandatory reporting and concerns regarding unintended consequences. Providers indicated that changes are needed to improve outcomes for patients and their families and suggested increased research into best practices, more funding for social services, and eliminating the policy altogether. CONCLUSIONS Health care providers expressed concern about the targeted screening process used to identify women with substance use whose children are reported to child welfare authorities. Most providers believed that mandatory reporting processes could be modified in ways that would support the health of women and children.
Monoterpene chemical speciation in a tropical rainforest : variation with season, height, and time of dayat the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO)

Abstract. Speciated monoterpene measurements in rainforest air are scarce, but they are essential for understanding the contribution of these compounds to the overall reactivity of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions towards the main atmospheric oxidants, such as hydroxyl radicals (OH), ozone (O 3) and nitrate radicals ( NO3 ). In this study, we present the chemical speciation of gas-phase monoterpenes measured in the tropical rainforest at the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO, Amazonas, Brazil). Samples of VOCs were collected by two automated sampling systems positioned on a tower at 12 and 24 m height and analysed using gas chromatography–flame ionization detection. The samples were collected in October 2015, representing the dry season, and compared with previous wet and dry season studies at the site. In addition, vertical profile measurements (at 12 and 24 m) of total monoterpene mixing ratios were made using proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry. The results showed a distinctly different chemical speciation between day and night. For instance, α -pinene was more abundant during the day, whereas limonene was more abundant at night. Reactivity calculations showed that higher abundance does not generally imply higher reactivity. Furthermore, inter- and intra-annual results demonstrate similar chemodiversity during the dry seasons analysed. Simulations with a canopy exchange modelling system show simulated monoterpene mixing ratios that compare relatively well with the observed mixing ratios but also indicate the necessity of more experiments to enhance our understanding of in-canopy sinks of these compounds.
The effect of Behavioural Factors on the Government bond yield spread in the European Union.

The recent European sovereign debt crisis puts pressure on the conventional models which explain the government yield spread using 3 components; international risk factors, liquidity risk factors and country risk factors. Only limited research is done on the effect of behavioural factors. The main objective of this paper is to determine the effects of behavioural factors on the level of the 10 year government bond yield spread within two groups of Eurozone countries, GIIPS and SEZ, versus Germany. The empirical results show that the behavioural effects, which are indicators of the investors and consumers sentiment, have a significant effect on both the short run and long run. I also found that the effects of the behavioural variables are significantly larger in the GIIPS countries compared to the SEZ countries in all the models. This implicates that a change in the investor sentiment leads to a much stronger yield movement in the GIIPS countries.
Partial plant models in formal verification of industrial automation discrete systems

The use of a plant model for formal verification of Industrial Automation systems controllers must be used in order to improve the obtained results. However, if there are some cases where the use of a plant model makes the formal verification results more realistic and robust, there are other cases where this does not always happen. The discussion presented in this paper is related with the need of using a Plant Model considering, not all of the Plant Model, but Partial Plant models in order to facilitate formal verification tasks of Industrial Automation Discrete Event Systems.
Efficient visualization of 3D medical scenes for remote interactive applications

In this paper, we propose a software framework for developing interactive medical applications that execute on remote servers. The 3D visualization interface of the application can be disconnected from the computation core to allow rendering of the medical scene on the user display while the heavy computations are executed on a remote workstation or a computational grid. We introduce a software architecture designed for reducing the communication overhead between the remote and the local processes and for easing software development by offering transparent management of communications. Execution of a 2D and a 3D segmentation applications are demonstrated and performances are evaluated.