Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BIOSCREENING OF THE METHANOLIC CRUDE EXTRACT OF ULVA LACTUCA AND ITS WATER FRACTION

Marine algae have been use as a novel food with potential nutritional benefits, and in industry and medicine for various purposes. Recently, aquatic habitats have increasing been shown to provide a rich source of natural bioactive compounds. Green algae Ulva lactuca is a widespread macro algae occurring at all levels of the intertidal zone, in calm and protected harbours as deep as 10 meters and in northern climates. Many of its nutrients include iron, protein (15%), iodine, vitamins (A, B1, and C) and trace elements. The present study investigated the bioactivity of Ulva lactuca methanolic crude extract and its water fraction. Also we identified on their different bioactive constituents using high performance liquid chromatography technique. Our results showed that methanolic crude extract of Ulva lactuca and its water fraction had phenolic and flavonoid active constituents acting in synergism to increase their bioactivity such as antioxidant, antiinflamatory and antihemolytic activities. Through 15 days, there was no mortality detected among mice injected with Ulva water fraction different doses. Therefore, we could not calculate the LD50 and accounted it as safe agent. Finally we concluded that Ulva water fraction safe to be used in the treatment of oxidative stress and inflammation related
Experimental and numerical FEM-based determinations of forming limit diagrams of St14 mild steel based on Marciniak-Kuczynski model

Forming Limit Diagrams (FLD) are used to design metal sheet processes and to choose appropriate material according to their formability. Development of simple and robust methods to determine the formability domain is then a major industrial issue. Marciniak-Kuczynski (M-K) plastic instability criterion is a classical and common approach used to predict numerical FLD. A convergence of the experimental conditions and theoretical M-K hypotheses is investigated. This analysis leads in the proposition of a simple experimental procedure based on classical instrumented biaxial testing machines to reproduce M-K in-plane loading conditions. Experimental results are compared with numerical simulations based on a finite element method implantation of M-K model. This versatile implementation allows the coupling of the plastic instability criterion in ABAQUS with a large range of material behaviors. Application of these experimental and numerical procedures on commercial St14 mild steel leads to the relative differences between lower experimental points and numerical forming limits predictions that do not exceed 4% and 10% in the case of uniaxial and equibiaxial tension for initial prescribed defect ratio of 0.99 and 0.95, and 22% in the case of plane tension. These procedures constitute ways easily implementable in the industry to obtain FLD at reduced costs that show good correlations between experimental results and numerical M-K predictions.
Long-term Brown Carbon and Smoke Tracer Observations in
Bogotá, Colombia: Association to Medium-Range Transport of
Biomass Burning Plumes

Light-absorbing aerosols emitted during open biomass burning (BB) events such as wildfires and agricultural burns have a strong impact on the Earth’s radiation budget through both direct and indirect effects. Additionally, BB aerosols and gas-phase emissions can substantially reduce air quality at local, regional, and global scales, negatively affecting human health. South America is one of largest contributors to BB emissions globally. After Amazonia, the BB emissions from wildfires and agricultural burns in the grassland plains of northern South America (NSA) are the most significant in the region. However, few studies have analyzed the potential impact of NSA BB emissions on regional air quality. Recent evidence suggests that seasonal variations in air quality in several major cities in NSA could be associated with open biomass burning emissions, but it is still uncertain to what extent those sources impact air quality in the region. In this work, we report on 3 years of continuous equivalent black carbon (eBC) and brown carbon (BrC) observations at a hilltop site located upwind of the city of Bogotá, and we demonstrate its association with fires detected by the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in a 3000 km× 2000 km domain. Offline PM2.5 filter samples collected during three field campaigns were analyzed to quantify water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), organic and elemental carbon (OC/EC), and biomass burning tracers such as levoglucosan, galactosan, and potassium. MODIS active fire data and HYSPLIT back trajectories were used to identify potential biomass burning plumes transported to the city. We analyzed the relationship between BrC, WSOC, water-soluble potassium, and levoglucosan to identify signals of the regional transport of BB aerosols. Our results confirm that regional biomass burning transport from wildfires occurs annually during the months of January and April. The seasonality of eBC closely followed that of PM2.5 at the city air quality stations; however, the observed seasonality of BrC is distinctly different to that of eBC and strongly associated with regional fire counts. The strong correlation between BrC and regional fire counts was observed at daily, weekly, and monthly timescales. WSOC at the measurement site was observed to increase linearly with levoglucosan during high BB periods and to remain constant at ∼ 2.5 μgC m−3 during the low BB seasons. Our findings show, for the first time in this region, that aged BB plumes can regularly reach densely populated areas in the Central Andes of northern South America. A source footprint analysis involving BrC observations, back trajectories, and remotely sensed fire activity shows that the eastern savannas in NSA are the main BB source region for the domain analyzed.
Pricing Strategy for New Products with Presales

An increasing number of firms and retailers use presale strategies to induce customers to purchase before new products enter the market to increase their market share. Presales have gradually become a hot issue in business and academic circles. Based on a skimming pricing strategy and a penetration pricing strategy, this paper uses the different choice behaviors of two types of consumers to investigate the pricing strategy of preselling new products. The results show that if the proportion of fashion consumers is relatively low and their willingness to buy in the spot channel is below the threshold, the retailer should focus on traditional consumers by using a skimming pricing strategy; otherwise, the retailer should switch to a penetration pricing strategy. Moreover, we find that to gain more profits, the retailer should introduce a presale channel using either a penetration pricing or skimming pricing strategy. The introduction of a presale channel may not only reduce inventory risk and cost and enhance the market share and profitability of the enterprise but also help consumers avoid the risk of shortage and enhance their sense of security.
Delay and Energy Consumption Analysis of Frame Slotted ALOHA variants for Massive Data Collection in Internet-of-Things Scenarios

This paper models and evaluates three FSA-based (Frame Slotted ALOHA) MAC (Medium Access Control) protocols, namely, FSA-ACK (FSA with ACKnowledgements), FSA-FBP (FSA with FeedBack Packets) and DFSA (Dynamic FSA). The protocols are modeled using an AMC (Absorbing Markov Chain), which allows to derive analytic expressions for the average packet delay, as well as the energy consumption of both the network coordinator and the end-devices. The results, based on computer simulations, show that the analytic model is accurate and outline the benefits of DFSA. In terms of delay, DFSA provides a reduction of 17% (FSA-FBP) and 32% (FSA-ACK), whereas in terms of energy consumption DFSA provides savings of 23% (FSA-FBP) and 28% (FSA-ACK) for the coordinator and savings of 50% (FSA-FBP) and 24% (FSA-ACK) for end-devices. Finally, the paper provides insights on how to configure each FSA variant depending on the network parameters, i.e., depending on the number of end-devices, to minimize delay and energy expenditure. This is specially interesting for massive data collection in IoT (Internet-of-Things) scenarios, which typically rely on FSA-based protocols and where the operation has to be optimized to support a large number of devices with stringent energy consumption requirements.
MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION OF GENETIC SCREENS VIA RNA INTERFERENCE AND FACS

We study mathematically a method for discovering which gene is related to a cell characteristic (“phenotype”) of interest. The method is based on RNA interference – a molecular process for gene deactivation – and on coupling the phenotype with cell fluorescence. A small number of candidate genes are thus isolated, and then tested individually. We model probabilistically this process, prove a limit theorem for its outcome, and derive operational guidelines for maximizing the probability of successful gene discovery.
Zeta Functions of Laurent Polynomials

The main goal of this talk is to present a link between the theory of Chern classes for singular varieties and the geometry of the varieties in question. Namely, we show that if Z is a hypersurface in a compact complex manifold, defined by the zero-scheme of a nonzero holomorphic section of a very ample line bundle, then its Milnor classes, regarded as elements in the Chow group of Z, are determined by the global Lê cycles of Z. Morally this implies, among other things, that the Milnor classes determine the topology of the local Milnor fibres at each point of Z, and the geometry of the local Milnor fibres determines the corresponding Milnor classes.
Effects of surface modification processes on the adhesion of hydroxyapatite layers coated onto titanium substrates

Hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is a biomaterial exploited in bone graft and implant coating applications. The present study aimed at developing the technique employed in coating hydroxyapatite onto internal fixation titanium plates. The coating consisted of hydroxyapatite layer and titanium dioxide layer, functioning as a buffer layer between hydroxyapatite and titanium plate substrate. The titanium substrates were i) untreated; ii) polished and immersed in 70% nitric acid; and iii) immersed in nitric acid. Coating of titanium dioxide and hydroxyapatite layers were achieved via hydrothermal technique. Porous hydroxyapatite layers with the average pore size close to 120 Âµm, and porosity ranging from 40 to 45% were observed. Fair adhesion among titanium substrate, titanium dioxide and hydroxyapatite layers were found in the samples prepared by polishing and acid immersion and the ones prepared by acid immersion. A peeling method (ASTM D3359 â€“ 09E2), used in evaluation of adhesion on a 0B to 5B scale, was employed in determination of adhesion strength of the coating. The peeling results revealed that complete detachment of the buffer and hydroxyapatite layers occurred in untreated substrates. For the polished and acid immersed samples, the 2B category adhesion, which corresponds to film removal between 15 to 35%, was observed. The observation was being agreed with the image analysis which indicated that 67.7%-69% of coated area remained. Potential biocompatibility was tested by simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion. After 28 days, pH values remained unchanged. Slight weight increase and hydroxyapatite formation after immersion was observed, indicating potential bioactivity of the samples.
Expression analysis of BMPR1B, BMP15, and GDF9 in prolific and non-prolific sheep breeds during the follicular phase

To elucidate how expression characteristics of BMPR1B, BMP15, and GDF9 are associated with sheep reproduction, tissue-specific mRNA expression of these genes in Small Tail Han (STH) ewes (a polytocous breed) and Sunite (SNT) ewes (a monotocous breed) in the follicular phase were investigated using transcription profiling and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression levels of the three genes were all highest in ovaries of the two sheep breeds, and BMPR1B and GDF9 expression in the ovarian tissue was significantly higher in STH sheep compared with SNT sheep (P < 0.01), whereas BMP15 expression in pituitary, ovarian, oviduct, and uterine tissues was significantly lower in STH sheep compared with SNT sheep (P < 0.01). This study revealed that BMPR1B, BMP15, and GDF9 may play important roles in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, especially in the ovary, which may affect sheep prolificacy. BMPR1B and GDF9 expression might increase litter size, whereas BMP15 expression may decrease litter size. These results provide preliminary information regarding molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying sheep prolificacy.
A Spatiotemporal Deformation Modelling Method Based on Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression

The geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model is a dynamic model which considers the spatiotemporal correlation and the spatiotemporal nonstationarity. Taking into account these advantages, we proposed a spatiotemporal deformation modelling method based on GTWR. In order to further improve the modelling accuracy and efficiency and considering the application characteristics of deformation modelling, the inverse window transformation method is used to search the optimal fitting window width and furthermore the local linear estimation method is used in the fitting coefficient function. Moreover, a comprehensive model for the statistical tests method is proposed in GTWR. The results of a dam deformation modelling application show that the GTWR model can establish a unified spatiotemporal model which can represent the whole deformation trend of the dam and furthermore can predict the deformation of any point in time and space, with stronger flexibility and applicability. Finally, the GTWR model improves the overall temporal prediction accuracy by 43.6% compared to the single-point time-weighted regression (TWR) model.
ARMA 2015 Symposium , Workshop Report : “ Geomechanics for Unconventionals ”

This issue of the ARMA e-Newsletter is a particularly important one to our readers. In it you will find articles describing two new major initiatives undertaken by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), both of which have a strong rock mechanics/geomechanics component. The SubTER (Subsurface Technology and Engineering Research, Development and Demonstration) initiative is intended to achieve adaptive control of subsurface fractures and fluid flow in order to radically improve subsurface energy production and waste storage strategies. One of the first projects supported by SubTER is kISMET, under which a hydraulic fracture and stimulation field laboratory is being established at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, for research on permeability enhancement and induced seismicity in crystalline rock. kISMET is the subject of the article by Curtis Oldenburg (LBNL) and others. The second initiative, DBD (Deep Borehole Disposal) is being considered by the US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) as an alternative to a mined geological repository for small radioactive waste forms. Kristopher Kuhlman (SNL) describes in some detail the concept of disposing of such waste in a deep hole, the safety of deep hole storage, and the field test that is now in preparation, involving two 5 km deep holes. These two major national projects are not only a shot in the arm for the American rock mechanics community, but they also highlight the importance of this field to our energy supply, national security and general wellbeing. Bezalel Haimson Chair, ARMA Publications Committee FALL 2015
PROCESS-EVENT APPROACH FOR OPERATIONAL RISK ESTIMATION

Authors propose a new process-event approach for quantitative estimation of operational risk in a bank and calculation the amount of economic capital in dynamics. The proposed approach, according to the Basel II Capital Accord, belongs to the category of “advanced methods”. Operational risk is not financial risk and appeared in unfavorable events mainly. A number of business processes are performed in banking activity. Every business process contains a set of routines (operations), which can be interrupted by operational risk events with certain losses. The main idea of the approach is to describe processes as chains of casual events instead of a traditional graphic description as diagrams. Authors introduce new concepts: an elementary process event, a chain of process events, a time diagram of enterprise’s event flow, and build logical and probabilistic risk models. Methods and formulas for calculation the current and integrated operational risk in dynamics, the amount of economic capital, upper and lower limits of reservation, are given. The value of integrated operational risk can be used as a rating of the current reliability of the bank. The paper outlines the advantages and disadvantages of proposed process-event approach. Research results can be implemented as analytical tool in risk management technology, “process mining” technology and in bank intelligent management systems.
Examining the gender-gap in STEM-field career expectations among 15-year-old students

The gender-gap in graduation rates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) continuous to puzzle social scientists and policymakers, as women are still underrepresented in these fields. A further puzzle exists in the relationship between graduation rates and a country’s ability to ensure equal opportunities for men and women, where an increase in the gender-equality gap index is associated with fewer women graduating in STEM-fields. This paper sets out to investigate whether a similar relationship can be found in the career-expectations of 15-year-old students using data from Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015-survey. The research focuses on postmaterialism as the predictor, and how post-materialistic societies promote values that will manifest themselves in micro-level behavior. A Cross-level moderated mediation analysis shows that students in post-materialistic societies who have reading as their personal best subject are less likely to expect a STEM-field career. The research also shows that the increasing gender-gap in more post-materialistic countries cannot be ascribed to differences in science-abilities or efficacy in science between boys and girls.
The Influence of Rainfall and Land Use/Land Cover Changes on River Discharge Variability in the Mountainous Catchment of the Bagmati River

Changes in rainfall and land use/land cover (LULC) can influence river discharge from a catchment in many ways. Homogenized river discharge data from three stations and average rainfall records, interpolated from 13 stations, were examined for long-term trends and decadal variations (1970–2017) in the headwater, upper and middle catchments of the Bagmati River. LULC changes over five decades were quantified using multitemporal Landsat images. Mann–Kendall tests on annual time series showed a significant decrease in river discharge (0.61% per year) from the entire Bagmati catchment, although the decrease in rainfall was statistically insignificant. However, declines in river discharge and rainfall were both significant in upper catchment. Decadal departures from long-term means support these trend results. Over tenfold growth in urban area and a decrease in agricultural land were observed in the upper catchment, while forest cover slightly increased in the entire catchment between 1975 and 2015. Correlation analysis showed a strong association between surface runoff, estimated using the curve number method, observed river discharge and rainfall in the upper catchment, while the relationship was weaker in the headwater catchment. These results were also supported by multiple regression analysis, suggesting that human activities together with climate change have contributed to river discharge changes in the Bagmati catchment.
Wind Tunnel Investigation of a Helicopter Model in Shipboard Operations

Abstract The paper presents the wind tunnel simulation of a helicopter model in shipboard operations. The test rig consists of a scaled helicopter model and a simplified ship model, based on the geometry of the Simple Frigate Shape 1. In the first phase of the experiment, pressure and Particle Image Velocimetry survey of the flow field on the flight deck were performed without the presence of the helicopter, to study the flow features on the ship deck, for several wind conditions obtained modifying the wind speed and direction. The influence of Atmospheric Boundary Layer was investigated as well. Then, the rotorcraft was positioned in a series of points representative of both a typical fore-aft landing trajectory toward the deck, and a vertical descent on the deck. Loads generated by the rotor were monitored by means of a six-axis load cell. Particle Image Velocimetry of the ship wake and of the helicopter inflow were carried out in order to have a better understanding of how the interacting flow fields affected the helicopter performance. The test showed a significant effect of the mutual aerodynamic influence between the helicopter and the ship model and a limited effect of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer.
Short-term CO2 exposure and temperature rise effects on metazoan meiofauna and free-living nematodes in sandy and muddy sediments: Ingels,

Global concern over increasing CO⁠ 2 emissions, and the resultant CO⁠ 2 driven temperature rises and changes in seawater chemistry, necessitates the advancement of understanding into how these changes will affect marine life now and in the future. Here we report on an experimental investigation into the effects of increased CO⁠ 2 concentration and elevated temperature on sedimentary meiofaunal communities. Cohesive (muddy) and non-cohesive (sandy) sediments were collected from the Eden Estuary in St. Andrews, Scotland, UK, placed within a flume setup and exposed to 2 levels of CO⁠ 2 concentration (380 and 750 ppmv, current at the time of the experiment, and predicted CO⁠ 2 concentration by 2100, respectively) and 2 temperature levels (12 °C and 16 °C, current in-situ and predicted temperature by 2100, respectively). We investigated the metazoan meiofauna and nematode communities before and after 28 days of exposure under these experimental conditions. The most determinative factor for abundance, diversity and community structure of meiofauna and nematodes was sediment type: on all levels, communities were significantly different between sand and mud sediments which agrees with what is generally known about the influence of sediment structure on meiofaunal organisms. Few CO⁠ 2 and temperature effects were observed, suggesting that meiofauna and nematodes are generally much less responsive than, for instance, microbial communities and macrofauna to these environmental changes in estuarine environments, where organisms are naturally exposed to a fluctuating environment. This was corroborated by the observed effects related to the different seasons in which the samples were taken from the field to run the experiment. After 28 days, meiofauna and nematode communities in muddy sediments showed a greater response to increased CO⁠ 2 concentration and temperature rise than in sandy sediments. However, further study is needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms and meiofauna species-specific resilience and responses to ocean acidification and warming, and their interactions with other biota, to understand what such changes may mean for meiofauna communities and the ecosystem processes and functions they contribute to.