Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-related changes of malondialdehyde, body weight and organ weight in male mice

IntroductionAging is characterized by gradual impairment in all physiological functions. Increases in free radicals and changes in organ morphology occur with aging. The purpose of this study was to determine age-related changes in serum free radicals, body weight, organ weights, and relative organ weights in male mice. MethodsAn experimental animal study was performed on 25 male mice (Mus musculus), which were randomized into 5 groups according to age at termination, i.e. 12 (group K1), 24 (K2), 32 (K3), 40 (K4) and 48 weeks (K5), respectively. Retro-orbital venous blood was taken for examination of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. After termination, liver, heart, kidneys, testes, brain, thymus and spleen were weighed using an analytical balance. ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to analyze the data, with p<0.05 being considered significant. ResultsSignificant changes were found with age in serum MDA level (p=0.000), body weight (p=0.000), and weights of all organs except thymus (p>0.05) (liver p=0.023, heart p=0.000, kidneys p=0.002, testes p=0.000, brain p=0.012 and spleen p=0.006). Significant changes in relative weight of brain (p=0.001) and spleen (p=0.049) were also found with age. ConclusionThis study demonstrated increases in serum MDA levels, body weight, and weights of the liver, heart, kidneys, testes, brain and spleen with age. Peak increases in weights of kidneys and thymus were found earlier than those in MDA levels and weights of other organs.
Effects of reindeer browsing on tundra willow and its associated insect herbivores

Summary 1 Browsing by large mammals may strongly constrain the growth and reproduction of woody plants, and may alter the food quality and resource availability for herbivorous insects. The response of the plants may vary between different growth stages, and the preference of herbivores may be related to plant age. Understanding the effects of reindeer Rangifer tarandus browsing on the growth of woody forage plants is important in formulating guidelines for reindeer grazing management, especially in low productivity subarctic environments. 2 We studied the effects of summer browsing by reindeer on the growth and reproduction of willow Salix phylicifolia and on the abundance of its insect herbivores, by studying plants inside and outside exclosures over a period of 6 years. 3 The experiment was run in northern Finland and included 80 willow genets in an area near the timberline formed by mountain birch Betula pubescens. At the beginning of the experiment, half of the willows were cut at ground level to rejuvenate ramets. 4 Reindeer feeding was more intense on rejuvenated willow compared with old willow, and the effects of browsing were more pronounced on rejuvenated plants. 5 Reindeer browsing reduced the height of willow by c. 50%, shoot length by c. 30% and accelerated dieback of the shoots by c. 50%. Browsed willow produced fewer shoots, with fewer buds and floral catkins, than unbrowsed willow. Browsing also reduced the densities of the most common insect herbivores: leaf beetles of the genus Gonioctena (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and gall-inducing sawflies (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) belonging to the genera Phyllocolpa, Eupontania and Euura. 6 Synthesis and applications. We show that reindeer browsing in summer reduces biomass and diminishes reproductive success of willow; it also lowers the numbers of its associated insect herbivores. Our results suggest that this effect will be most evident in low-productivity tundra heaths where alternative forage plants, such as relatively palatable and productive graminoids, are scarce. We advise that reindeer should be maintained below the present levels of 2–3 reindeer km−2 to sustain the long-term persistence of important forage plants such as willow in these low productivity habitats.
CCA and a Multi-way Extension for Investigating Common Components between Audio, Lyrics and Tags.

In our previous work, we used canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to extract shared information between audio and lyrical features for a set of songs. There, we discovered that what audio and lyrics share can be largely captured by two components that coincide with the di- mensions of the core aect space: valence and arousal. In the current paper, we extend this work significantly in three ways. Firstly, we exploit the availability of the Million Song Dataset with the MusiXmatch lyrics data to expand the data set size. Secondly, we now also include social tags from Last.fm in our analysis, using CCA also between the tag space and the lyrics representations as well as between the tag and the audio representations of a song. Thirdly, we demonstrate how a multi-way ex- tension of CCA can be used to study these three datasets simultaneously in an incorporated experiment. We find that 2-way CCA generally (but not always) reveals certain mood aspects of the song, although the ex- act aspect varies depending on the pair of data types used. The 3-way CCA extension identifies components that are somewhere in between the 2-way results and, interestingly, appears to be less prone to overfitting.
Antimicrobial properties of probiotic bacteria from various sources

The probiotic potentials of lactic acid bacteria species isolated from various food sources (nono, ugba, ogiri, kunun-zaki and ogi) were studied. The predominant species among the isolated strains were Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Streptococcus thermophilus Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Pediococcus cerevisiae . They produced bacteriocins that inhibited the growth of Streptococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus. L. bulgaricus and L. plantarum were selected for the fermentation of vegetable substrates-carrot, cucumber and tomatoes and cereals-rice and maize for the purpose of studying the suitability of these raw materials for probiotic juice production. The fermentations were carried out at 30°C for 72 h. The lactic acid bacteria had viability counts of 10 9 during storage at 4°C. The minimum pH attained during fermentation of samples was 3.9. The best bacteriocin preservative effect of 90% was observed in maize. Key words: Lactic acid bacteria, tolerance, biotechnological properties, bile, ethanol.
Contesting ideologies and struggle for authority: State-Madrasa engagement in Pakistan

Thought the current Madrasa Reform Programme launched by the government of Pakistan in 2002 has faced resistance from the ulema, being viewed as the USA's brainchild, the fact is that Pakistani state's aspiration to reform Islam is much older. The state's agenda to reform madrasas, and through that the conservative interpretation of Islam within Pakistan, goes back to the 1960s. From the start the government has pursued a similar objective: to introduce modern subjects to the madrasa curriculum so that the student's 'integrate into the mainstream economy and society'. The fate of the various efforts has been the same: madrasas have successfully resisted state pressure to change their curriculum; even the current madrasa reform programme has managed to enroll less than 200 of the 16,000 registered madrasas. This study highlights two main reasons for the madrasas' ability to resist state-led reform: one, weak political will due to close links between political legitimacy and Islam; two, strong madrasa leadership resulting from an alliance between senior ulema and a strong base of domestic patronage. The paper reveals that the involvement of bigger madrasas is critical to reform because it gives legitimacy to the reform programme, which in turn makes it more acceptable to smaller madrasas. The paper therefore argues that winning the trust of the senior ulema and making them active partners in developing a reformed curriculum is the only way to develop a reform programme that will have broad-based acceptance among the madrasas. This requires a major shift in the mindset of the government and the donor agencies supporting the madrasa reform programme. Rather than starting their planning from how to secularize the madrasa, they need to accept the madrasas' primary role as a producer of Islamic knowledge, and then explore how modern interpretations of the religious texts can be included within madrasa education, rather than exclusively focusing on adding modern subjects to the madrasa curriculum.
EFFECTS OF R&D EXPENDITURE ON EMPLOYMENT GROWTH: A DYNAMIC PANEL ANALYSIS

This paper estimates the effects of research and development (R&D) expenditure on the employment growth in Malaysian manufacturing sector during the period 2000 to 2008. Theoretical literatures devote the link between R&D and employment structure tends to suggest technological change has positive effects on job. Using dynamic panel GMM system estimation and 3 digit industry levels from manufacturing survey over the period 2000 to 2008, this paper find there is negative and significant relationship between R&D expenditure and employment growth. This is true when we consider with the second lag of the variable. Employment growth in Malaysian labour market however still favour to labour oriented and the absorption of the new technology is considered low.
What are the measures that can be used to assess performance during in situ Paediatric Emergency Medicine Simulation?

Background Paediatric in situ simulation within emergency departments is growing in popularity as an approach for improving multidisciplinary team working, enabling clinical skills development and exploring the importance of human factors in the clinical setting. However, measuring the success of such programmes is often through participant feedback of satisfaction and not measures of performance, which makes it difficult to assess whether such programmes lead to improvements in clinical behaviour. Objective To identify the measures that can be used to assess performance during in situ paediatric emergency medicine simulations. Study selection A literature search of EMBASE, ERIC and MEDLINE was performed using the key terms (Paediatrics and Emergency and Simulation.) MeSH and subheadings were used to ensure all possible variations of the key terms were included within the search. Findings The search revealed 607 articles, with 16 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Three themes of evaluation strategy were identified—the use of feedback forms (56% n=9/16), performance evaluation methods (63% n=10/16) or other strategies (25% n=4/16), which included provider comfort scores, latent safety threat identification and episodes of suboptimal care and their causation. Conclusions The most frequently used method of assessment in paediatric emergency department simulation are performance evaluation methods. None of the studies in this area have looked at patient level outcomes and this is therefore an area which should be explored in the future.
Joint Channel and Carrier Estimation Using Extended Kalman Filter

In this paper a proposal of joint channel and carrier estimation using extended Kalman filter (EKF) is presented. For the proposed algorithm simulations are performed and the results are compared with the separate channel estimation based on the Kalman filter (KF) and carrier estimation based on the extended extended Kalman filter, EKF, joint channel and carrier estimation, synchronization, digital receiver.
Functional morphology of the flounder allows stable and efficient gliding: an integrated analysis of swimming behaviour

Although technologies such as archival tags have been developed to monitor the behav- iour of free-swimming fish, more advanced techniques are required in order to understand the basis of their behaviour. To assess the glide behaviour of the negatively buoyant Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, we adopted a new approach to examine the importance of the physical aspects of its swimming performance by integrating in situ bio-logging data from free-swimming fish with corresponding computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses. Field data from the data loggers revealed that flounder commenced powerless glides after swimming upwards. A theoretical simula- tion of this glide using CFD analysis revealed that the body angle producing the maximum lift/drag ratio was in agreement with the field data and that, during a glide, the moment equilibrium body angle of the flounder resulted in the longest glide distance. This suggests that the morphology of the flounder confers stability on its glide, making this mode of movement more energetically efficient.
Modelling of Mixed Matrix Membranes Using a Resistance Based Model

In this study, a model for the prediction of the mass transport through mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for pervaporation and gas separation processes has been introduced. A Resistance-Based (RB) model was used in conjunction with a Finite Difference (FD) model to derive an analytical model for calculating the effective permeability of mixed matrix membranes. The proposed model was validated using experimental data for the pervaporation and gas separation applications using MMMs.
Hypothesis Testing in Predictive Regressions

We propose a new hypothesis testing method for multi-predictor regressions with finite samples, where the dependent variable is regressed on lagged variables that are autoregressive. It is based on the augmented regression method (ARM; Amihud and Hurvich(2004)), which produces reduced-bias coefficients and is easy to implement. The method's usefulness is demonstrated by simulations and by an empirical example, where stock returns are predicted by dividend yield and by bond yield spread. For single-predictor regressions, we show that the ARM outperforms bootstrapping and that the ARM performs better than Lewellen's (2003) method in many situations.
An Empirical Study of a Repeatable Method for Reengineering Procedural Software Systems to Object- Oriented Systems

This paper describes a repeatable method for reengineering a procedural system to an object-oriented system. The method uses coupling metrics to assist a domain expert in identifying candidate objects. An application of the method to a simple program is given, and the effectiveness of the various coupling metrics are discussed. We perform a detailed comparison of our repeatable method with an ad hoc, manual reengineering effort based on the same procedural program. The repeatable method was found to be effective for identifying objects. It produced code that was much smaller, more efficient, and passed more regression tests than the ad hoc method. Analysis of object-oriented metrics indicated both simpler code and less variability among classes for the repeatable method.
Effect of a nanoparticle on the optical properties of a photonic crystal cavity: theory and experiment

Single quantum emitters can be coupled to photonic crystal (PC) cavities by placing their host nanoparticles into the cavity field. We describe fabrication, characterization, and tuning of gallium-phosphide PC cavities that resonate in the visible, and simulations and measurements of the effect of a nanoparticle on the optical properties of these cavities. Simulations show that introducing a 50 nm (100 nm) sized nanoparticle into S1 and L3-type cavities, with original quality factors of 18·10^3 and 73·10^3, respectively, reduces the quality factor by <10% (? 50%). Furthermore, simulations indicate that an emitter embedded in a 50 nm (100 nm) sized nanoparticle can be coupled 3.5 (9) times more effectively to an S1 cavity than to an L3 cavity. We employ a nanopositioning technique to position individual, 50 nm sized nanocrystals into S1 cavities, and find that the quality factors are reduced by a factor of 0.9±0.1 from the original values of order 10^3.
Climate change and population dynamics during the late Mesolithic and the Neolithic transition in Iberia

This paper explores how Early Holocene climate changes in the Western Mediterranean would have affected Late Mesolithic settlement distribution and subsistence strategies in Iberian Peninsula, thereby giving rise to various adaptive scenarios. The current radiocarbon data set concerning the Neolithisation process has revealed the rapidity of the spread of farming in Iberia. Considering both the implications of the last hunter-gatherers’ adaptation strategies and the population dynamics of agro-pastoral communities, we address the migration patterns underlying the Mesolithic- Neolithic transition. In conclusion, we propose that the initial colonization process was the result of two successive and spatially heterogeneous migrations: Maritime Pioneer Colonization and targeted migration to places favorable to the new economic system.
A new algorithm for high quality video format conversion

The number of video formats is increasing rapidly. As a consequence, the conversion of video signals from one format into another is of growing importance. The motion portrayal of up-converted sequences significantly improves using motion compensated interpolation techniques, but artifacts are generally visible at the boundary of moving objects where either covering or uncovering of picture parts occurs. A robust method to locate covered and uncovered areas, find the correct motion vector, and interpolate new pictures, is presented. Moreover, the paper provides an overview and an evaluation of some of the more relevant proposals for picture rate up-conversion.
Effective field theory and the scattering process for magnons in ferromagnets, antiferromagnets, and ferrimagnets

We discuss that a low-energy effective Lagrangian relying on SO(3) $\rightarrow$ SO(2) is applicable for a ferrimagnet as well as a ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet. The analysis of the particle states shows that there exist not only massless modes with the dispersion relations $\omega \propto |\bm{k}|,\, |\bm{k}|^2$, i.e., the so-called type-I and type-II Nambu-Goldstone modes, respectively, but also gapped modes with $\omega \propto m^2+|\bm{k}|^2$. We clarify how the coefficients of the terms with one time derivative and those with two time derivatives in the effective Lagrangian determine the order parameters specifying whether the system is in a ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic state; we stress that the gapped mode related to the spontaneous symmetry breaking appears only in the ferrimagnetic system and not in the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic systems. We also establish the power counting scheme and calculate the scattering amplitudes and thereby the scattering lengths between the two Nambu-Goldstone bosons. We show that the scattering length of the gapped mode is finite and proportional to the gap. This characteristic property of the gapped NG mode can be used to discriminate it from gapped excitations which originate in other mechanisms. Finally, we study the effects of the explicit symmetry breaking that are given by an external magnetic field and a single-ion anisotropy, and show that the external magnetic fields do not have any effects on the scattering amplitudes in all the spin systems as was known for the ferromagnet system. In contrast, the anisotropy does affect the scattering amplitudes, the phase shift, and the scattering length except for spin 1/2 systems. This result supports the possibility of the Efimov effect in spin systems discussed in previous studies.
Study of the Properties of WC-Co Nanostructured Coatings Sprayed by High-Velocity Oxyfuel

Interest in nanomaterials has increased in recent years. This is due to the potential improvement that size reduction to nanometric scale could provide in properties like hardness, toughness, wear, and corrosion resistance. The current study is focused on WC-Co cermets, materials that are extensively used in applications requiring wear resistance. Two coatings were sprayed by high-velocity oxyfuel using both conventional and nanostructured cermets. Both materials were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to study their phases and morphology. Cross-sectional images and microhardness values are given for both coatings. Friction wear resistance of the coatings was studied by ball-on-disk (ASTM G99-90), and abrasive wear resistance was quantified by rubber-wheel (ASTM G65-91). Finally, the corrosion resistance was studied by electrochemical techniques. Comparative results showed that the nanostructured coating has better properties than the conventional coating except in the dry abrasion wear test, where the wear rates are very similar.
Metamaterial Tri-Band Bandpass Filter Using Meander-Line with Rectangular-Stub

In this paper, a new compact tri-band bandpass metamaterial (MTM) filter based on meander line with a rectangular stub is proposed and designed. The pseudo connections between meander line and ports generate interdigital capacitor (IDC) to provide series capacitance. Meander line with a rectangular stub realizes a virtual ground concept here. To validate the MTM property of the proposed filter structure, a dispersion diagram is plotted. The proposed filter offers measured first passbands from 1.88–4.0 GHz; second band starts from 5.4–5.9 GHz; third passband ranges from 7.1–7.4 GHz. It has insertion losses of 0.8 dB, 1.5 dB and 2.0 dB at 2.1 GHz, 5.7 GHz and 7.3 GHz centre frequencies, respectively. The designed filter will cover S band (2–4 GHz), ISM band (5.725–5.875) and fixed satellite services (7.25–7.3 GHz). Further, the designed filter shows electrical size of 0. 14λ0×0. 13λ0 at zeroth order resonance (ZOR) frequency 2.1 GHz.
PLANNING IN CAPUCHIN MONKEYS ( CEBUS APELLA ) : MAZE CHARACTERISTICS AND EXPERIENCE AFFECT NAVIGATION IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL SPACE by ERICA ANN HOY ( Under the Direction of

AND EXPERIENCE AFFECT NAVIGATION IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL SPACE by ERICA ANN HOY (Under the Direction of Dorothy M. Fragaszy) ABSTRACT Planning was examined in four capuchin monkeys that completed a series of 192 twodimensional computer mazes. These mazes differed in number of choice points (0-5) and “nonobvious” choices (0-3). Non-obvious choices were those in which the incorrect choice appeared to lead more directly to the goal than the correct choice. The number of choices varied randomly throughout testing. Planning abilities were measured in terms of the type of errors made by subjects while solving the mazes. Results of this study were compared to those of a previous study in which three capuchins solved the same mazes in order of increasing difficulty. The current study aimed to determine to what extent performance was influenced by properties of the mazes and by general experience solving these problems. The results of this study suggest that both of these factors affect the extent to which capuchins learn to plan when navigating through two-dimensional space.