Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Local Government Systems, Pro-Poor Budgeting, and Policies for Marginalized Communities

1. Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science &International Relations, Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan 2. Research Assistant, HEC Thematic Project, Department of Political Science & International Relations, Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan 3. Research Associate HEC Thematic Project, Department of Political Science & International Relations, Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan  This paper is the part of HEC Project Under Thematic Research Grant Programme 2017-18 PAPER INFO ABSTRACT Received: July 23, 2020 Accepted: September 05, 2020 Online: September 30, 2020 Empowerment under the local self-government system is a longawaited desire of the citizens of Pakistan. As Pakistan is a land of diverse cultures and traditions, a single formula for all the decentralizing units would never serve the purpose of empowerment of marginalized communities and national development. Thus, the local government system is the only way to strengthen Pakistan's democratization and the issues at grass root level. This research paper is an analysis of the Department of Political Science and International Relations of Government College University Faisalabad that illustrates the effectiveness of local government systems, pro-poor budgeting, and policies for marginalized communities, supported by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan. The study was outlined in the light of international agreements, considering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to gender equality, social inclusion, and reducing inequalities at large. The mixed-method methodology explicitly helped the research team to collect data through primary as well as secondary sources. The research team concludes that the findings would arrest the attention of different social actors such as policymakers, the law enforcement agencies/authorities, and rights holders to identify and play their respective roles for the development of Pakistan.
AAC Icefield hard white winter wheat

Abstract: AAC Icefield is the first hard white winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar registered in western Canada. It was selected from a population of F1-derived doubled-haploids of the cross McClintock/83W020007. Registration testing occurred from 2013 to 2017. These data, collected over 53 site–years, showed that AAC Icefield yielded significantly more grain than CDC Buteo, was similar in yield to Flourish, Moats, and CDC Falcon, and was significantly lower yielding than AAC Elevate and Sunrise. AAC Icefield expressed fair survival, intermediate maturity, short straw, and very good lodging resistance. Test weight and kernel weight were within the range of the checks. Ratings based on the prevalent disease races in western Canada were summarized as resistant to stem rust, moderately resistant to leaf and stripe rust, intermediate in resistance to Fusarium head blight, and susceptible to common bunt. The grain yield, agronomic characteristics, and disease resistance attributes of AAC Icefield provide good adaptation for all areas of western Canada. Despite lower grain protein concentration than Canada Western Red Winter wheat cultivars, AAC Icefield showed exceptional gluten strength per unit of protein. AAC Icefield is well-suited to a wide range of end-uses including white and whole-grain pan bread, French and flat breads, Asian steamed bread, and noodles. Currently designated in the Canada Western Experimental wheat class to facilitate test marketing, a decision on permanent class placement for AAC Icefield will be made by the Canadian Grain Commission following the assessment of market interest.
Injectable Hydrogels for Sustained Codelivery of Subunit Vaccines Enhance Humoral Immunity

Vaccines aim to elicit a robust, yet targeted, immune response. Failure of a vaccine to elicit such a response arises in part from inappropriate temporal control over antigen and adjuvant presentation to the immune system. In this work, we sought to exploit the immune system’s natural response to extended pathogen exposure during infection by designing an easily administered slow-delivery vaccine platform. We utilized an injectable and self-healing polymer–nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogel platform to prolong the codelivery of vaccine components to the immune system. We demonstrated that these hydrogels exhibit unique delivery characteristics, whereby physicochemically distinct compounds (such as antigen and adjuvant) could be codelivered over the course of weeks. When administered in mice, hydrogel-based sustained vaccine exposure enhanced the magnitude, duration, and quality of the humoral immune response compared to standard PBS bolus administration of the same model vaccine. We report that the creation of a local inflammatory niche within the hydrogel, coupled with sustained exposure of vaccine cargo, enhanced the magnitude and duration of germinal center responses in the lymph nodes. This strengthened germinal center response promoted greater antibody affinity maturation, resulting in a more than 1000-fold increase in antigen-specific antibody affinity in comparison to bolus immunization. In summary, this work introduces a simple and effective vaccine delivery platform that increases the potency and durability of subunit vaccines.
Wildfire‐mediated vegetation change in boreal forests of Alberta, Canada

Climate-induced vegetation change may be delayed in the absence of disturbance catalysts. However, increases in wildfire activity may accelerate these transitions in many areas, including the western boreal region of Canada. To better understand factors influencing decadal-scale changes in upland boreal forest vegetation, we developed a hybrid modeling approach that constrains projections of climatedriven vegetation change based on topo-edaphic conditions coupled with weatherand fuel-based simulations of future wildfires using Burn-P3, a spatial fire simulation model. We evaluated eighteen scenarios based on all possible combinations of three fuel assumptions (static, fire-mediated, and climate-driven), two fire-regime assumptions (constrained and unconstrained), and three global climate models. We simulated scenarios of fire-mediated change in forest composition over the next century, concluding that, even under conservative assumptions about future fire regimes, wildfire activity could hasten the conversion of approximately half of Alberta’s upland mixedwood and conifer forest to more climatically suited deciduous woodland and grassland by 2100. When fire-regime parameter inputs (number of fire ignitions and duration of burning) were modified based on future fire weather projections, the simulated area burned was almost enough to facilitate a complete transition to climate-predicted vegetation types. However, when fire-regime parameters were held constant at their current values, the rate of increase in fire probability diminished, suggesting a negative feedback by which a short-term increase in less-flammable deciduous forest leads to a long-term reduction in area burned. Our spatially explicit simulations of fire-mediated vegetation change provide managers with scenarios that can be used to plan for a range of alternative land-
Morphometric regressions for the endangered Knysna seahorse, Hippocampus capensis, in the Swartvlei Estuary from mass stranding events

The Knysna seahorse, Hippocampus capensis, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with the only known, apparently isolated, populations occurring in the Knysna, Swartvlei and Keurbooms estuaries along the south coast of South Africa. The Swartvlei Estuary population is the most genetically distinct (Mkare et al. 2017). Despite all three known populations occurring within protected areas and there being no commercial or subsistence use of the species, population sizes are still thought to be declining because of habitat degradation across much of its range (Pollom 2017). Environmental management authorities have outlined strategies for the conservation of H. capensis, including listing it as a species of special concern in the Estuarine Lower Level Plan of the Garden Route National Park (South African National Parks 2020) and setting management objectives for the Keurbooms population in the Keurbooms–Bitou Estuarine Management Plan (Western Cape Government 2018).
Evaluation of the Implementation of a Risk-Need-Responsivity Service in Community Supervision in Sweden

The effective use of the core treatment principles from the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model has the potential to reduce criminal recidivism significantly. A pilot trial of the RNR-based model Krimstics in the Swedish probation service showed increased RNR adherence but no effects on recidivism. The subsequent implementation of Krimstics involved the training and clinical support of more than 700 probation officers working with community supervision. In parallel, an implementation evaluation examining RNR adherence was undertaken, collecting and coding audio-recorded supervision sessions and case file data. Findings showed that Krimstics-trained probation officers (N = 96) used cognitive behavioral therapy-based techniques in supervision sessions while demonstrating moderate-to-high levels of relationship building skills. However, adherence to the risk principle was lacking and key cognitive behavioral techniques showed poor quality. Although Krimstics has increased RNR adherence in a Swedish context, challenges with implementing theory into practice may obscure the assessment of the service’s effectiveness.
Vague Graph Structure with Application in Medical Diagnosis

Fuzzy graph models enjoy the ubiquity of being in natural and human-made structures, namely dynamic process in physical, biological and social systems. As a result of inconsistent and indeterminate information inherent in real-life problems which are often uncertain, it is highly difficult for an expert to model those problems based on a fuzzy graph (FG). Vague graph structure (VGS) can deal with the uncertainty associated with the inconsistent and indeterminate information of any real-world problem, where fuzzy graphs may fail to reveal satisfactory results. Likewise, VGSs are very useful tools for the study of different domains of computer science such as networking, capturing the image, clustering, and also other issues like bioscience, medical science, and traffic plan. The limitations of past definitions in fuzzy graphs have led us to present new definitions in VGSs. Operations are conveniently used in many combinatorial applications. In various situations, they present a suitable construction means; therefore, in this research, three new operations on VGSs, namely, maximal product, rejection, residue product were presented, and some results concerning their degrees and total degrees were introduced. Irregularity definitions have been of high significance in the network heterogeneity study, which have implications in networks found across biology, ecology and economy; so special concepts of irregular VGSs with several key properties were explained. Today one of the most important applications of decision making is in medical science for diagnosing the patient’s disease. Hence, we recommend an application of VGS in medical diagnosis.
DIVERSITY OF ARCHAEA FROM THREE FORESTED ECOSYSTEMS IN GSMNP

Prokaryotes are vital to the survival of all life on Earth since they control the cycles of many elements including carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, etc. The study of the Archaea has resulted in numerous novel metabolic discoveries, most from extreme environments; however, little is known about archaea and their roles intemperate ecosystems. DNA was extracted directly from soil from three forested ecosystems in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and was used to characterize community structure using molecular techniques including PCR followed by molecular cloning and restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) analysis, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing. Seventeen archaea were sequenced, including species aligned to the phylum Crenarchaea, which so far contains only one organism cultured from a non-extreme environment. Overlap was seen between clones sampled from multiple sites and from DGGE banding patterns, indicating that some archaeal species are widespread . The extent of archaeal diversity is unknown and is thought to be dwarfed by bacteria; however, our understanding of archaea is limited due to their resistance to being cultivated. Obtaining a baseline of diversity in this group should ultimately help yield isolated species for further study of their unique metabolisms and biochemical properties.
Accurate and Energy-Efficient Implementation of Non-Linear Adder in Parallel Stochastic Computing using Sorting Network

Recently, due to the high fault tolerance and low hardware cost, stochastic computing (SC)-based neural network (NN) accelerators have been widely studied. One big challenge of it is the implementation of accumulation and activation function. The existing designs have problems of low accuracy and high energy consumption. In this paper, based on a special type of stochastic encoding, the parallel thermometer coding, we propose an accurate design for the combination of the accumulation and non-linear function, which is called a non-linear adder. Dedicated designs for the non-linear adders with the common activation functions such as hyperbolic tangent (tanh), logistic (or sigmoid), and rectified linear unit (ReLU) are proposed using the bitonic sorting network and the selective interconnect. The experimental results show that, at the cost of the area, the proposed nonlinear adder achieves more than three orders of magnitude improvement in accuracy and at least 44.5× energy consumption reduction compared with the traditional designs.
Competitive Intensity and National Participation in Elite Sports: Understanding Competitive Dynamics in International Athletics

Abstract This study contributes to our understanding of competitive dynamics in international sports by investigating national participation in athletics. Recent scholarship has suggested that national elite sport policies follow strategic rationales when dedicating scarce resources to participation in international sport. Therefore, the study builds on the structure-conduct-performance paradigm of industrial organization and assumes that countries’ participation in international sport responds to competitive opportunities. Contrary to our expectations, countries seem to be attracted to highly concentrated and densely populated disciplines in which success prospects might be rather low. Thus, participation in international sport does not follow strategic considerations about competitive opportunities as suggested by the structure-conduct-performance-paradigm. Rather, national elite sport policies seem to resemble to some extent imitative behavior. Thus, the findings indicate the need to complement the ‘outside-in’ perspective of the structure-conduct-performance paradigm of industrial organization with an ‘inside-out’ perspective in the tradition of the resource based view. What we need is a more thorough investigation of how national elite sport systems and their distinctive capabilities evolve.
Metabolic flux analysis and metabolomics of Methylotrophs

Metabolic flux analysis and metabolomics of Methylotrophs Yanfen Fu Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Frank Jungers Endowed Chair of Engineering Mary Lidstrom Chemical Engineering and Microbiology Department Methylotrophs are a group of microbes that use C1 compounds as the sole carbon and energy source, which are of interest to be used as platforms for bioconversion of C1 substrates to valuable chemicals and fuels. Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 is the best studied model organism for methylotrophs, and it uses the serine cycle for assimilation of C1 units. Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1 is a Type I methanotroph that uses the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) pathway for assimilation, and it is also an industrially promising candidate for bio-conversion of methane into valuable chemicals. Metabolic flux analysis and metabolomics are two important approaches to investigate cell behavior at the level of metabolites and fluxes, which are integrative consequences of gene expression. These approaches will provide critical information for a rational strain design process in metabolic engineering iterations. In the first part of the thesis, the metabolic flux analysis approach was successfully applied to M. exorquens AM1 to investigate the metabolic network response to the trade-off between growth rate and biomass yield. Then the method was tailored to apply to M. buryatense 5GB1 for flux elucidation in core metabolism under methane growth to provide baseline information for better prediction of performance. At the end, the combined approaches were used to investigate the core metabolism of M. buryatense 5GB1 response to two substrates, methane and methanol. This work has resulted in major new insights into methylotrophic metabolism. For the serine cycle methylotroph, it was demonstrated that the C3/C4 interconversion reactions, previously thought to be side reactions of little relevance to core metabolism, are critical to the ultimate values of growth rate and yield. This new insight now provides targets for strain engineering towards either maximum growth rate, or maximum yield. For the RuMP cycle methanotroph, it was determined first, that contrary to decades of
EFFECT OF PROBIOTIC PREPARATIONS ON THE GROWTH AND ASSIMILATION OF NUTRITIVE SUBSTANCES IN DIFFERENT BREEDS OF PUPPIES

A newborn puppy faces the environment being absolutely sterile and during relatively short time acquires microflora typical for the species. The digestive system of the dog is constantly affected by harmful environmental factors. Due to these factors, the balance of microorganisms prevailing in the intestine system is disturbed and consequently the probability to get sick with the diseases of digestive system is increasing. Probiotics are bacterial preparations of live cultures of microorganisms intended for the correction and treatment of the digestive system microflora. Probiotics, contrarily to antibiotics, have no negative effect on normal microflora. For this reason probiotics are widely used for prevention and treatment of disbacteriosis. During the investigation, immediately after the birth puppies of three different breeds were given 5 g of probiotic preparation "Fermactiv". It was defined that probiotics positively affected the daily weight gain of the puppies: for the puppies of small breeds the daily weight gain was on the average by 10.7%, medium breeds by 2.1%, and large breeds by 0.75% higher compared to the control group of puppies. Probiotic preparation "Fermactiv" had an influence on the assimilation of different nutritive substances as well. It was defined that small breeds of puppies given probiotics were able to assimilate crude fat by 1.59% and organic matter by 3.43% better compared to the control group. Puppies of medium breeds assimilated dry matter by 7.66% (p<0.01), fat by 0.14%, fiber by 1.72% (p<0.05), and organic matter by 1.58% better. Puppies of large breeds assimilated dry matter by 1.34% (p<0.001), crude protein by 2.09% (p<0.05), crude fat by 0.68% (p<0.001), crude fiber by 8.82% (p<0.001), crude ash by 10.06% (p<0.001), and organic matter by 6.72% (p<0.001) more effectively than the control group. It was defined that the probiotic treatment influenced the blood chemical composition. Compared with the control group, blood glucose and cholesterol levels in all breeds of puppies decreased, wheareas total protein and calcium levels became higher.
Role of Brownian Particle Velocity in Bioelectronic Emissions of DNA.

Hypothesis: If double stranded DNA (dsDNA) is a charged biomolecule that moves in Earth's magnetic field at a Brownian velocity, then dsDNA may emit bioelectromagnetic waves at energies that reflect discrete genetic states. Methods: This work leverages the Planck-Einstein-de Broglie relationship and applies this concept to Brownian velocity of dsDNA within a cell, to describe the relationship between dsDNA mass, the average Brownian velocity of dsDNA within a cell, and the theoretical wavelengths at which DNA may emit bioelectromagnetic waves. Results: Theoretical emission wavelengths of dsDNA, derived from first principles, were found to correlate closely with experimentally observed emission wavelengths from spectroscopic measurements across various cellular systems in the literature. Conclusion: This work provides a conceptual basis for the potential for unification of bioelectromagnetism with Brownian motion, to elucidate how electromagnetic information can be generated at a subcellular level in biological systems. The implications of how finite mass changes in dsDNA can result in discrete emission wavelengths on electromagnetic timescales is discussed through the lens of genomics. Future refinements of this fundamental methodology may provide a conceptual basis to address previously unexplained multilevel phenomena in the field of biology and is general enough to be extended to other charged biomolecules at a subcellular level. Further exploration in this area could lead to new biological tool development that may augment current genomics methods.
No relationship between gastrointestinal parasite intensities or mercury burdens on fluctuating asymmetry in Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) mandibles

Mercury (Hg) emissions have increased since 1950 and biomagnification in Arctic ecosystems can affect animals, particularly at higher trophic levels. Exposure to Hg can negatively affect young developing animals, resulting in altered morphology and ultimately, lower fitness. We examined the relationship of mandible fluctuating asymmetry (FA) with gastrointestinal helminth intensity and breast muscle Hg concentration in Common Eider (Somateria mollissima borealis). Procrustes analysis of variance indicated significant FA but relatively high measurement error. Based on multiple linear regression modelling, there was no significant relationship between FA and Hg concentration or parasite burden. There may be a mismatch in trying to relate amount of Hg and parasite intensity in adults to FA that would have occurred early in life during skeletal development.
Interface thermal conductance between β-Ga2O3 and different substrates

The ultra-large bandgap semiconductor, β-Ga2O3, has shown great potential in application of power electronics with capabilities beyond existing materials. However, due to its ultra-low thermal conductivity, interface thermal conductance (ITC) between β-Ga2O3 and substrate becomes one of the key points to facilitate heat dissipation of devices. In this paper, the ITC between β-Ga2O3 and different substrates (SiO2, 4 H-SiC, α-Al2O3 and Si) is investigated through combing of Landauer formula with the acoustic mismatch model (AMM) and diffusive mismatch model (DMM). It is found that Ga2O3/Si interface has the largest ITC of 1.01 GW m−2 K−1 (0.47 GW m−2 K−1) by AMM (DMM) at 300 K, and Ga2O3/SiO2 interface has the smallest ITC of 0.54 GW m−2 K−1 (0.23 GW m−2 K−1) by AMM (DMM) at 300 K. In between, the ITC of Ga2O3/Al2O3 interface is larger than that of Ga2O3/SiC interface. Regardless of the difference in absolute values of ITCs, the rule for the relative magnitudes of ITCs for the four interfaces is the same for AMM and DMM predictions. The underlying physical mechanism for the difference in ITC of different interfaces is clarified by phonon transmission function and mismatches of impedance and phonon density of states. The study can provide guidance for thermal management and is of great importance for the design of β-Ga2O3 based device.