Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Climate change and plankton phenology in freshwater: current trends and future commitments

A solid body of empirical, experimental and theoretical evidence accumulated over recent years indicated that freshwater plankton experienced advance in phenology in response to climate change. Despite rapidly growing evidence for phenological changes, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of how climate change alters plankton phenology in freshwater. To overcome current limitations, we need to shed some light on trends and constraints in current research. The goal of this study is to identify current trends and gaps based on analysis of selected papers, by the help of which we can facilitate further advance in the field. We searched the literature for plankton phenology and confined our search to studies where climate change has been proposed to alter plankton phenology and rates of changes were quantified. We did not restrict our search for empirical contributions; experimental and theoretical studies were considered as well. In the following we discuss the spatio-temporal setting of selected studies, contributions of different taxonomic groups, emerging methodological constraints, measures of phenological trends; and finally give a list of recommendations on how to improve our understanding in the field. The majority of studies were confined to deep lakes with a skewed geographical distribution toward Central Europe, where scientists have long been engaged in limnology. Despite these findings, recent studies suggest that plankton in running waters may experience change in phenology with similar magnitude. Average rate of advancement in phenology of freshwater plankton exceeded those of the marine plankton and the global average. Increasing study duration was not coupled either with increasing contribution of discontinuous data or with increasing rates of phenological changes. Future studies may benefit from i) delivering longterm data across scientific and political boundaries; ii) extending study sites to broader geographical areas with a more explicit consideration of running waters; iii) applying plankton functional groups; iv) increasing the application of satellite data to quantify phytoplankton bloom phenology; v) extending analyses of time series beyond the spring period; vi) using various metrics to quantify variation in phenology; vii) combining empirical, experimental and theoretical approaches; and last but not least viii) paying more attention to emergence dynamics, nonresponding species and trophic mismatch.
Clustering Alcohol Use Behavior: State Socioeconomic Conditions, Alcohol Policy and Individual Regular Alcohol Use in the US

This multilevel study examined whether state-level variations existed in the prevalence of regular alcohol use in the US after controlling for individual characteristics, evaluating the contribution of both individual socio-economic status, and state economic and alcohol policy in explaining alcohol use behavior using data from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions and data from the U.S. Census and National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism State Policy System. When controlled for individual-level variables, state poverty level, Sunday alcohol sales, states with higher per capita ethanol sales were associated with individual alcohol use. Over and above the individual characteristics, state-level predictors explained a considerable proportion of state variance and had an impact on individuals’ propensities to use alcohol regularly. This implies that both individual characteristics and state conditions were independently associated with alcohol use behavior. Our results showed that state socio-economic conditions and state alcohol policy were as important as individual-level characteristics in explaining alcohol use in the U.S. Policies aimed at reducing alcohol use may be more effective if they address both situational and individual factors.
A Highly Integrated Navigation Unit for On-Orbit Servicing Missions

VINAG (VISION/INS integrated Navigation Assisted by GNSS) is a highly integrated multisensor navigation unit, particularly conceived for On-Orbit Servicing missions. The system is designed to provide all-in-one, on-board real time autonomous absolute navigation as well as pose determination of an uncooperative known object orbiting in LEO (Low Earth Orbit), GEO (GEosynchronous Orbits) and possibly in HEO (Highly Earth Orbit). The system VINAG is under development by a team of Italian companies and universities, co-financed by the Italian Space Agency. Thanks to a tight optimized integration of its subsystems, VINAG is characterized by a low power and mass total budgets and therefore it is suitable for small and very small satellites. In order to provide both 1) absolute orbit and attitude determination and 2) vision-based pose determination, the unit integrates three metrology systems: a Cameras Subsystem (a monocular camera and a Star sensor), an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver. In this paper, we briefly introduce the complete system architecture, the adopted algorithms and then we detail the adopted hardware design solutions. In addition, we describe preliminary numerical simulation results obtained for different orbits from LEO to GEO carried out for the validation phase of VINAG.
Impact of Mobile advertising on consumer attitudes in Algeria: case study of Ooredoo

Article history: Received: June 1, 2016 Received in revised format: November 16, 2016 Accepted: December 22, 2016 Available online: December 22, 2016 Mobile advertising is a perfect tool to build a relationship based on proximity between brand and consumer. It is tactile, interactive, and personalized. As few studies have focused on this concept, particularly in the Algerian context, we aim in this research to show the role of mobile advertising on consumer attitudes. After a literature review, an empirical study is conducted among150 students in Tlemcen city. Results, using regression analysis, show that attitude towards mobile advertising had no influence on the attitude towards brand and purchase intention. © 2017 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Genotype based transcript abundance of TLR2 among crossbred cattle and their relation with mastitis

Mastitis is the most severe disease for dairy cattle based on traditional cost analysis. Genetic factor is one of the several factors affecting the occurrence of mastitis. Toll like receptor2 (TLR2), a key component of innate immune system, plays an important role in the initiation of the inflammatory responses to foreign pathogens. This present study was aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLR2 gene and analyze the association of expression in different genotypes with mastitis. A total of two hundred nine crossbred cows (140 mastitis tolerant and 69 mastitis group) were selected to explore the genotypic and expression profiling of TLR2 gene and their association with mastitis susceptibility. Two fragments of TLR2 gene (179 bp and 313 bp) were amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The different genotypic analysis by SSCP revealed that 179 bp fragment was monomorphic where in 313 bp was polymorphic. Association studies revealed that, AA genotype of 313 bp were less susceptible to mastitis and the mRNA expression of TLR2 was significantly (P<0.05) higher in AB and BB genotypic animals compare to AA. This suggested that genotype AA can be useful for selecting disease resistant traits.
Reconstructions of the past: how virtual can they be?

Since the Middle Ages, perhaps even before, the questions related to the historical and cultural past, mainly to the level of archaeological findings, have exerted an enormous and mysterious allure on Man. Ever since then, Man has come up with methods and forms to recreate such places, in order to satisfy this recognized natural and ancestral curiosity associated to the human being. In these last few years, the number of projects involving historical reconstruction has increased significantly, due to two main factors: the technological developments that allow such designs to be accomplished more easily, with a larger impact, affecting a greater number of people; and the continuous and increasing interest of humanity about these questions related to cultural and architectural patrimony. This paper intends to present two virtual models developed using some optimization techniques that allowed the creation of realistic historical environments, but keeping low file sizes, so that they can be accessed anywhere by anyone. As a result, you can make your own historical tour at: • The Flavian Forum of Conimbriga: http://www.forumflaviano. web.pt • House of Skeletons (Conimbriga): http://www.casadosesqueletos. web.pt
Opening the black box: The mediating roles of organisational systems and ambidexterity in the HRM-performance link in public sector organisations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how HIWS may shape organisational capabilities, in particular organisational ambidexterity (OA) – the ability to be both adaptable to the wider world, and internally aligned so that existing resources are used well. Given the demands on public agencies to manage conflicting objectives, and to do more with less in increasingly complex environments, this paper improves our understanding of how HIWS can contribute to public sector performance. The paper sheds light inside the black box of the HIWS/organisational performance link. Design/methodology/approach This multi-level quantitative study is based on a survey of 2,123 supervisory staff, and 9,496 non-supervisory employees in 56 government organisations. Findings The study identifies two paths to organisational performance. The first is a direct HIWS performance link. The second is a double mediation model from HIWS to organisational systems, to OA and then performance. Practical implications A focus on developing HIWS provides an alternative means to public sector performance, than restructuring or other performative activities. Originality/value This is one of the few studies that explore how HIWS can develop collective as well as individual capabilities. Studies in the public sector are particularly rare.
An Experimental Study on the Columbic Efficiency of Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaf Generated BPL Cell

The performance of a primary cell highly depends on the coulombic efficiency of that cell. Being a primary cell, Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf generated BPL cell, where electrodes- pair of zinc and copper dipped in the filtered leaf juice, a good efficiency is required. In this paper, we have tried to show the approximate coulombic efficiency of a unit BPL cell on a certain condition.
Neighboring Plants Alleviate Aluminum Toxicity on The External Hyphae of Gigaspora margarita

Excessive soluble aluminum (Al3+) in acidic soils is toxic to the external hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but it can be alleviated by other soil factors. A glasshouse experiment was conducted to study the effect of increased Al3+ concentration on the growth of the external hyphae of Gigaspora margarita in the presence of other plants near the host plants. The experiment used compartmentalized pots to facilitate the growth of mycorrhizal-inoculated host plants, external hyphae of the fungus and not mycorhizal-inoculated neighboring plants in different compartments; and measuring the effects of Al3+ and of the neighboring plants on the growth of the fungal hyphae independently. Increased concentration of Al3+ in soil affected the growth of external hyphae of G. margarita negatively. However, the hyphal length density of the fungus was much higher in the pots with neighboring plants than that in the other ones, despite the Al toxicity. This indicates that the hyphae could be taken away from the toxic effect of Al3+ by the stimulating growth from roots of the neighboring plants.
STUDY OF TAILA BINDU PARIKSHA ON ARTIFICIAL URINE

Taila bindu pariksha is an ancient technique described in medieval Ayurvedic texts by which prognosis of disease can be predi cted. For revival of this ancient technique efforts have been made and procedure of Taila bindu pariksha has been standardized but till date reference range in healthy and diseased condition has not been established. For establishing reference range it is needed that study should be done at large scale. It is quite difficult to get urine of same individual repeatedly to check consist ency of test as well as urine of various pathological states as desired. So, i t was planned that if an observation on artificial urine matches with that of normal urine the n it can be used easily in future for performing Taila bindu pariksha. For this aim it was decided to prepare stock solution which can be turned into urine of different pathological conditions by adding various constituents so that observations can be recorded and thus both normal as well as abnormal range can be established easily . Test was performed on artificial urine prepared at two different time s but result didn’t match with that of normal urine. Hence, it was concluded that spread in Taila bindu pariksha depends on para - magnetic constituents present in traces which are undiscovered till date.
Local and global dynamics of cutting processes

In this thesis work, the dynamics of metal cutting processes like turning and milling are investigated from linear and nonlinear points of view. The turning process is considered by means of the one dof orthogonal cutting model. Using both analytical and numerical techniques, unstable periodic orbits emerge from subcritical Hopf bifurcation traced up to the appearance of the fly-over effect. The feed dependency of the bistable (unsafe) zone is shown and the worst case value for the feed is predicted. A nonsmooth model is introduced in order to model the fly-over effect in the orthogonal cutting model. Using semi-analytical continuation software, the bounds of the chaotic attractors and their nature are determined and the results are confirmed by time-domain simulations. The process damping effect is investigated based on an oscillatory cutting force measurement. The short delay model is extended and its local behaviour is explored. A general milling model is introduced and the feed dependency of the local behaviour of milling process performed by serrated cutters is predicted. This effect was validated by chatter tests using aluminium workpiece. An efficient algorithm to determine the dominant vibration frequencies is developed for the semi-discretization technique. The behaviour of the unsafe zone, namely, its feed dependency and the maximum of its feed characteristics is measured by a specially designed milling process. Lastly, the intricate linear stability properties of milling processes performed by variable helix tools are shown.
Hedonic products for you, utilitarian products for me

Consumers make trade-offs when they choose between utilitarian and hedonic products. The former is practical, instrumental, and functional, whereas the latter is sensational and experiential. Prior research shows that people feel more guilt when they contemplate on engaging in hedonic consumption than engaging in utilitarian consumption. The current research investigates the effect of decision targets (i.e., making decisions for oneself or another person) on preferences for utilitarian and hedonic products. Consumers deciding for others were more likely to choose hedonic over utilitarian options than were consumers deciding for themselves. Utilitarian/hedonic was manipulated either through attributes of similar products (Study 1) or through different products (Study 2). Anticipatory guilt accounted for such self–other difference (Study 2). In particular, anticipatory guilt triggered by contemplating hedonic consumption is less for consumers who made choices for others than for those who made choices for themselves. In sum, preferences for utilitarian and hedonic products depend on decision targets.
Bank Efficiency in Africa

This study examines the efficiency of the financial sector in African countries. It aims to investigate if “The financial institutions are capable of distributing the economic resources efficiently”. Empirical evidence supports a sound intermediation process and efficiency in the banking system (Vittas, 1991; Howard & Haynes, 2001). In this paper, the cost function is estimated with the use of a single-output and multi-input approach for the analysis. The output consists of loans, other earning assets and non-interest revenue which are used individually for the estimation. The input is deemed to be made up of capital, deposits and labour (overhead). The analysis is further extended by calculating the x-inefficiency which is found to be within the range of 24 - 26%. The study made postulations in respect of the causes for the inefficiency and the possible remedies. The study comprises of Commercial banks from about forty seven African countries for a period of ten years.
Lipid Lowering Effect of Anthocyanin-Pigmented Rice Bran in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats

Oryza sativa cv. Heugjinjubyeo, an anthocyanin-pigmented rice variety, is well known to contain high levels of bioactive phytochemicals, anthocyanin, quinolone alkaloids and phenolic acids. Here, we studied the inhibitory effect of Oryza sativa cv. Heugjinjubyeo bran on the absorption of dietary fat in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley male rats. For these experiments, experimental animals were divided into four groups: normal, diabetic-control and two experimental groups that were fed 1.0 g or 2.0 g/㎏ body weight/day of Oryza sativa cv. Heugjinjubyeo bran supplement for 14 days. As a result, liver glycogen levels increased significantly by 65% and 32% in groups receiving 1.0 g and 2.0 g/㎏ body weight/day, respectively, compared to diabetic-control. Liver cholesterol levels were significantly lower by 8.3% and 14.5% in the groups fed 1.0 g and 2.0 g of anthocyanin-pigmented rice extracts, respectively.
A uniform area law for the entanglement of eigenstates in the disordered XY chain

We consider the isotropic or anisotropic XY spin chain in the presence of a transversal random magnetic field, with parameters given by random variables. It is shown that eigenfunction correlator localization of the corresponding effective one-particle Hamiltonian implies a uniform area law bound in expectation for the bipartite entanglement entropy of all eigenstates of the XY chain, i.e. a form of many-body localization at all energies. Here entanglement with respect to arbitrary connected subchains of the chain can be considered. Applications where the required eigenfunction correlator bounds are known include the isotropic XY chain in random field as well as the anisotropic chain in strong or strongly disordered random field.
A Shifted Jacobi-Gauss Collocation Scheme for Solving Fractional Neutral Functional-Differential Equations

The shifted Jacobi-Gauss collocation (SJGC) scheme is proposed and implemented to solve the fractional neutral functional-differential equations with proportional delays. The technique we have proposed is based upon shifted Jacobi polynomials with the Gauss quadrature integration technique. The main advantage of the shifted Jacobi-Gauss scheme is to reduce solving the generalized fractional neutral functional-differential equations to a system of algebraic equations in the unknown expansion. Reasonable numerical results are achieved by choosing few shifted Jacobi-Gauss collocation nodes. Numerical results demonstrate the accuracy, and versatility of the proposed algorithm.
Microwave-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Moringa oleifera seed as anti-biofouling agents in membrane processes

Moringa seed has known as a coagulant in the water purification process. It is because of the large amount of anti-microbial compounds contained in it. Phenol is one of the most common antimicrobial compounds found in natural materials. The aim of this study was to determine the total phenolic content (TPC) of Moringa seed which was extracted by Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE). Moringa seeds were characterized by FTIR and showed that it contained phenol compounds confirmed by specific peak in some areas. Moringa seeds were characterized by FTIR before extracted. Therefore, MAE was performed by variation of solvent ratios (1: 4, 1: 6, 1: 8) and extraction time (2, 3, 4 min). The highest TPC of 41.78 mg GAE / g dw was reached at 1: 8 solvent ratio and 3-min extraction time.
Environmental determinants of latitudinal size-trends in cephalopods

Understanding patterns of body size variation is a fundamental goal in ecology, but although well studied in the terrestrial biota, little is known about broad-scale latitudinal trends of body size in marine fauna and much less about the factors that drive them. We conducted a comprehensive survey of interspecific body size patterns in coastal cephalopod mollusks, covering both hemispheres in the western and eastern Atlantic. We investigated the relationship between body size and thermal energy, resource and habitat availability and depth ranges. Both latitude and depth range had a significant effect on maximum body size in each of the major cephalopod groups (cuttlefishes, squids and octopuses). We observed significant negative associations between sea surface temperature (SST) and body size. No consistent relationships between body size and either net primary productivity (NPP), habitat extent (shelf area) or environmental variation (range of SST and NPP) were found. Thus, temperature seemed to play the most important role in structuring the distribution of cephalopod body size along the continental shelves of the Atlantic Ocean, and resource availability, seasonality or competition only played a limited role in determining latitudinal body size patterns.
Pilot scale microbial production and optimization of Serratia peptidase from Serratia marcescens

Serratia peptidase is active proteolytic enzyme which has the potential of cleaving peptide bond. Present investigation deals about the Microbial production of serratia peptidase using Serratia marcescens in small scale fermentor. Batch fermentor has been run continuously throughout the night to analyze the production of protein as well as kinetics. Culture broth was maintained at 150rpm for 72 hrs. Protein sample was isolated by centrifuging at 3000rpm for 10mints. The result revealed that Serratia marcescens showed the enormous production of protein in fed batch fermentor compared to the small scale level. Different substrates were been used for the production of enzyme. Among all cysteine showed the better activity as 2 units/ml of enzyme. Enzymatic assay of Serratia peptidase was done at different time interval of crude broth. Enzyme activity showed that maximum at 40oC for 72hrs. It was observed that 0.65 units/ml of enzyme. Fed batch pilot scale production of Serratia peptidase was done at 0.5%cystein and 700rpm for 48hrs of run time.
Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm for Mackey-Glass Chaotic Time Series Prediction

For decades, Mackey-Glass chaotic time series prediction has attracted more and more attention. When the multilayer perceptron is used to predict the Mackey-Glass chaotic time series, what we should do is to minimize the loss function. As is well known, the convergence speed of the loss function is rapid in the beginning of the learning process, while the convergence speed is very slow when the parameter is near to the minimum point. In order to overcome these problems, we introduce the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm (LMA). Firstly, a rough introduction is given to the multilayer perceptron, including the structure and the model approximation method. Secondly, we introduce the LMA and discuss how to implement the LMA. Lastly, an illustrative example is carried out to show the prediction efficiency of the LMA. Simulations show that the LMA can give more accurate prediction than the gradient descent method.