Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biodiversity Conservation through Participatory Monitoring: A Case Study from People’s Protected Area Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh

Abstract Biodiversity plays a significant role in maintaining the life support system of the people and provide them with livelihood opportunities. Forests are the repository of biodiversity. Often such biodiversity resources face the threats of degradation and extinction due to over exploitation and lack of monitoring mechanism. People living in the forest fringe areas can play important role in conservation of biodiversity provided they are properly oriented, their capacity is built and they are empowered to check the drivers of degradation. The present paper focuses on how the floral biodiversity resources of Dugli Jabarra and Sankra Chandanbehera PPAs under Dhamtari Forest Division in Chattisgarh are conserved through active participation of the Joint Forest Management Committee members. Forest fringe dwellers are organized in the form of Joint Forest Management Committees to protect and conserve the biodiversity, sensitized to adopt non destructive harvesting practices of biodiversity, their capacity is built for resource survey to measure the status of biodiversity at a regular interval and take corrective action to reverse the process of degradation. Such empowerment of people has brought positive changes in the status of biodiversity and the substantial increase in the income of the people through biodiversity based livelihood.
Database of molecular masers and variable stars

We present the database of maser sources in H2O, OH and SiO lines that can be used to identify and study variable stars at evolved stages. Detecting the maser emission in H2O, OH and SiO molecules toward infrared-excess objects is one of the methods for identifing long-period variables (LPVs, including miras and semiregulars), because these stars exhibit maser activity in their circumstellar shells. Our sample contains 1803 known LPV objects. Forty-six percent of these stars (832 objects) manifest maser emission in the line of at least one molecule: H2O, OH or SiO. We use the database of circumstellar masers in order to search for LPVs which are not included in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS). Our database contains 4806 objects (3866 objects without associations in GCVS) with maser detection in at least one molecule. Therefore it is possible to use the database in order to locate and study the large sample of LPV stars. The database can be accessed at http://maserdb.net.
Effect of unsteady wake, free stream turbulence, tip geometry on blade tip flow and heat transfer

A comprehensive investigation of the effect of various tip sealing geometries is presented on the blade tip leakage flow and associated heat transfer. The linear cascade is made of four blades scaled up HPT turbine in a low speed wind tunnel facility with the two corner blades acting as guides. The tip section of a HPT first stage rotor blade is used to fabricate the 2-D blade. The wind tunnel accommodates an 116 turn in the flow through the blade cascade. The mainstream Reynolds number based on the axial chord length at cascade exit is 4.83 x 10. The center blade has a tip clearance gap of 1.5625% with respect to the blade span. Static pressure measurements are obtained on the blade surface, the tip surface, and the shroud. Several tip sealing techniques are investigated in this study. Crosswise trip strips are used to reduce leakage flow and associated heat transfer by placing the trip strips in different orientation. Cylindrical pin fins are investigated and compared to the trip strip geometries. A full and three partial squealers are investigated. The partial squealers are placed on the suction side, pressure side and midchord of the blade tip. Detailed heat transfer measurements are obtained using a steady state HSI-based liquid crystal technique. The upstream wake effect is simulated with a spoked wheel wake generator placed upstream of the cascade. A turbulence grid placed even farther upstream generates the required free-stream turbulence of 4.8%. The effect of periodic unsteady wake effect is investigated by varying the wake Strouhal number from 0.0 to 0.2, and to 0.4. Results show that the squealers and the trip strips placed against the leakage flow direction produce the lowest heat transfer on the tips compared to all the other cases. Results also show that the full squealer has a strongest effect on the overall reduction of tip heat transfer.
A hybrid recommender system for usage within e-commerce Content-boosted, context-aware, and collaborative filtering-based tensor factorization recommender system for targeted advertising within e-commerce

Recommender systems are information filtering systems that try to predict what rating a user would give an item, usually with the goal of recommending, would be high rated items to users. Today there exists recommender systems in most online stores, in one form or another. The complexity of these systems varies greatly, where the less complex ones might base their recommendations on similar products, while others are much more complex, utilizing user modeling etc. This thesis describes changes made to a context-aware and collaborative filtering-based tensor factorization recommender system, in order to adapt it to perform better with the implicit-only data found in e-commerce, specifically garment-based e-commerce. Multiple contexts are evaluated in regard to a specific data set, and the performance impact of the changes proposed are also measured. The evaluation is carried out through use of self-implemented algorithms written in Python. The project resulted in a content-boosted, context-aware, and collaborative filtering-based tensor factorization recommender system made for implicit-only e-commerce data. The results show that the changes proposed in this thesis give a substantial performance increase, while time-based contexts do not seem to increase performance, in regard to the specific data set used for evaluation in this project.
Elucidating the microbial community within a trichloroethene contaminated competent bedrock aquifer located at Pease International Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH

ELUCIDATING THE MICROBIAL COMMUNITY WITHIN A TRICHLOROETHENE CONTAMINATED COMPETENT BEDROCK AQUIFER LOCATED AT PEASE INTERNATIONAL TRADEPORT, PORTSMOUTH, NH By Michelle M. Majko University of New Hampshire, September, 2010 A trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated competent bedrock aquifer exists at Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH. Characterization by the Bedrock Bioremediation Center (BBC) at the University of New Hampshire showed active in situ anaerobic degradation of TCE. Formation water from discrete, hydraulically connected fractures was extracted to characterize and enumerate the prevalent TCE biodégradation processes using Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Eubacteria (90%), Archaea (5%), and sulfate reducing bacteria within Desulfobacteriaceae (1-26%) were present at all depths (13-30 meters). Two probes targeting the anaerobic TCEdechlorinating genus, Dehalococcoides (4-10%) were developed. FISH in combination with Flow Cytometry was employed to automate the analysis; however it proved difficult to differentiate microorganisms from background interference. This baseline understanding of community structure is essential for determining if a system is poised to support in situ bioremediation, and aids in monitoring shifts in the microbial population when bioremediation efforts are applied.
Enhanced imaging from multiply scattered waves

Many imaging methods involve probing a material with a wave and observing the back-scattered wave. The back-scattered wave measurements are used to compute an image of the internal structure of the material. Many of the conventional methods make the assumption that the wave has scattered just once from the region to be imaged before returning to the sensor to be recorded. The purpose of this paper is to show how this restriction can be partially removed and also how its removal leads to an enhanced image, free of the artifacts often associated with the conventionally reconstructed image.
Performance-based grouping of adapted and exotic drought-tolerant maize (Zea mays L) inbred lines under stressed and non-stressed conditions.

Knowledge of the heterotic responses of elite adapted and exotic maize inbred lines can facilitate their utilization for population improvement and hybrid development. In the present study, a line x tester mating design was used to determine the combining ability of 20 elite drought-tolerant maize inbred lines developed at CIMMYT and IITA and to classify them into heterotic groups under diverse growing conditions. The 20 lines were crossed each with two inbred line testers representing the tropical and temperate heterotic pattern established in West and Cental Africa (WCA), to generate 40 testcrosses. A trial comprising the 40 testcrosses along with the cross between the two testers and three hybrid checks were evaluated at two environments in the dry season and at six environments in the rainy season. GCA effects were more important than SCA effects in controlling grain yield in both seasons. Two exotic lines in the dry season and four exotic lines in the rainy season had significantly positive GCA effects. Only EXL22 was identified as a superior line in the two seasons. Only two adapted lines had significantly positive GCA effects in either or both seasons while three adapted lines consistently had significantly negative GCA effects in both seasons. Hybrid between EXL22 and tester 9071 showed broad adaptation to all test environments. The two testers separated some of the lines into two main heterotic groups. the lines in each heterotic group and the good combiners will be utilized for developing populations for extracting new improved inbred lines.
DDH261 2451..2460

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a transcription factor that controls bile acid homeostasis. The phenotype of Fxr null mice is characterized by hypercholanaemia, impaired secretion of bile acids and failure to thrive. Human disorders with these characteristics include FIC1 disease (caused by mutations in ATP8B1, which encodes a putative aminophospholipid translocase, FIC1, whose function in bile handling is unknown) and bile salt export pump (BSEP) disease (caused by mutation in ABCB11, which encodes BSEP, the primary canalicular bile salt export pump). We investigated the possibility of hepatic down-regulation of FXR in FIC1 disease and BSEP disease. Three siblings with this phenotype, born to consanguine parents, were initially studied. The children were demonstrated to be compound heterozygotes for missense and nonsense mutations in ATP8B1. Expression of specific genes in liver was analysed, comparing one of these siblings with a child homozygous for missense mutation in ABCB11, as well as with a child having idiopathic cholestatic liver disease, a child with extrahepatic biliary atresia and a normal organ donor. The expression of two main FXR isoforms was specifically decreased in the liver of the FIC1 disease patient. A consistent and concomitant reduction in messenger RNA levels of FXR targets, such as BSEP and small heterodimer partner, was also found. Gene-profiling experiments identified 163 transcripts whose expression changed significantly in FIC1-disease liver. Of note was that several genes involved in synthesis, conjugation and transport of bile acids were down-regulated. A cluster of genes involved in lipid metabolism was also differentially expressed. Our findings suggest that hepatic down-regulation of FXR contributes to the severe cholestasis of FIC1 disease.
Scrutinizing the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance in Foreign Language Learning

Emotional Intelligence (EI) has recently received an enormous amount of interest within the educational settings when pioneers have found integration between EI and academic performance among foreign language learners. Therefore, the present paper is an attempt to discuss the EI in three main sections. In the following sections, the origin and a theoretical framework and major models of EI is presented. Then, the relationships between EI and academic performance will be elaborated. Finally, a review on the studies focusing on the correlation between EI and language learning specifically in different language skills will be presented. On the basis of the results, the researchers conclude that overall EI has a close relationship with academic achievement and is an important requirement for academic success. Thus, it can be claimed that teachers should make a great effort to employ the principles which includes higher levels of EI to activate the interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences to improve learners’ performance in classroom settings.
ALMA observations of the nearby AGB star L2 Puppis - II. Gas disk properties derived from 12CO and 13CO J = 3–2 emission

The circumstellar environment of the AGB star L2 Puppis was observed with ALMA in cycle 3, with a resolution of 15 × 18 mas. The molecular emission shows a differentially rotating disk, inclined to a nearly edge-on position. In the first paper in this series (Paper I) the molecular emission was analysed to accurately deduce the motion of the gas in the equatorial regions of the disk. In this work we model the optically thick 12 CO J = 3−2 and the optically thin 13 CO J = 3−2 rotational transition to constrain the physical conditions in the disk. To realise this effort we make use of the 3D NLTE radiative transfer code LIME. The temperature structure and velocity structure show a high degree of complexity, both radially and vertically. The radial H2 density profile in the disk plane is characterised by a power law with a slope of −3.1. We find a 12 CO over 13 CO abundance ratio of 10 inside the disk. Finally, estimations of the angular momentum in the disk surpass the expected available angular momentum of the star, strongly supporting the indirect detection of a compact binary companion reported in Paper I. We estimate the mass of the companion to be around 1 Jupiter mass.
Kinetic growth of the isolated oleaginous yeast for microbial lipid production

Microbial lipid was produced by the soil isolated oleaginous yeast Torulaspora maleeae Y30 using glucose in flask-batch fermentation. At low concentration of nitrogen, maximum lipid production rate was observed; while high nitrogen concentration (0.4 g/l) resulted in high volumetric cell mass production rate (0.960 g/l d) and specific growth rate (0.266 d -1 ). The isolated yeast T. maleeae Y30 had maximum values of 0.382 g/l d, 0.507 g lipid/g cells, 3.06 g/l and 0.105 g/L d for volumetric lipid production rate, specific yield of lipid, lipid concentration and specific rate of lipid production, respectively when culture was performed in nitrogen-limiting medium supplemented with 90 g/l glucose and 0.2 g/l (NH 4)2SO 4. The Monod’s constant ( KS, g/l) and µmax (1/d) of 24.52 and 0.156, were obtained, respectively. The three major constituent fatty acids of the isolated yeast T. maleeae Y30 were palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid that are comparable to vegetable oils, suggesting that, microbial lipid from these yeast can be used as potential feedstock for biodiesel production.
Examining Knowledge Sharing in IS Development Projects: A Social Interdependence Perspective

Information system development involves the coordinated application of business and information technology (IT) professionals’ expertise. However, knowledge sharing between these two groups can be challenging. The problem is even more pronounced for projects involving external IT consultants with whom the business professionals have no prior collaboration. While previous research has studied various antecedents of knowledge sharing such as source, recipient, communication, and relational characteristics, it is often not clear how they may be manipulated to facilitate sharing. For this purpose, this paper studies the phenomenon from the social interdependence perspective, which suggests that goal, task, and reward interdependencies affect the extent of knowledge sharing in ISD project teams. Findings from a survey of 95 project teams indicate that goal, task, and reward interdependence are significant in determining knowledge sharing, which in turn influence project performance. Additionally, task interdependence partially mediates the relationship between goal interdependence and knowledge sharing. These results thus help to identify antecedents that are more tenable to managerial intervention. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
The State of the Art: Application of Green Technology in Sustainable Pavement

A wide range of literature on predominant green technologies for sustainable pavements is summarized in this paper. It covers two major aspects: energy harvesting technologies and permeable pavement systems. Fundamental mechanics of energy harvesting techniques and possible designs of energy harvesters are described, with the evaluation of energy conversion efficiency, and advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the designs of permeable pavement systems are discussed, along with their advantages and disadvantages. The latest technical innovations are highlighted. It is found that green technologies are promising for developing more sustainable pavements. Application issues are also pointed out, including construction challenges, durability, and life-cycle cost-benefit assessment. Future research directions are suggested to address practical challenges, such as efficient design, construction challenge, timely maintenance, and life-cycle performance assessment.
A Novel Algorithm for Capacitor Placement to improve Voltage stability of Radial and Meshed Power Systems

The objective of this paper is to present a novel method for determining the optimum location and amount of reactivepower to be injected to improve the voltage stability of entire power system or set of buses that are prone to voltageinstability. A new sensitivity matrix named L-Index sensitivity matrix is been proposed and the same is consideredfor identifying the buses, at which the reactive power is to be injected. The proposed procedure has been tested forpractical examples of radial networks and IEEE-14 bus system. Test results demonstrate the effectiveness of thedeveloped algorithm. Keywords : L-index matrix, voltage stability, Jacobian matrix, sensitivity
Vector correlator and scale determination in lattice QCD

We implement a proposal made in [9] to determine the lattice spacing by matching the lattice vector correlator at a reference distance scale with the same correlator obtained by a dispersion relation based on the R-ratio determined experimentally. We work with the isovector current, requiring a separation of the isovector hadronic final states on the phenomenological side. We also discuss the finite-size effect on the correlator, which must be controlled in order for the method to be applicable.
Optimization of a Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Protocol in the Chloroplast Hosting Mollusc Elysia chlorotica

The symbiosis between the mollusc Elysia chlorotica and chloroplasts of its algal prey, Vaucheria litorea, has challenged the understanding of chloroplast biology. E. chlorotica feeds on and retains the algal chloroplasts within its digestive cells. The chloroplasts remain photosynthetically active for months in the animal’s cells devoid of the algal nucleus which encodes approximately 90% of the proteins required for the chloroplasts. To help explain the ability of E. chlorotica to maintain functionally active chloroplasts, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of V. litorea nuclear genes to the E. chlorotica genome has been hypothesized. However, the extent of HGT, as well as the transcriptional viability of putatively transferred genes, is still largely unknown. To better understand the genetic composition of E. chlorotica, optimization of a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure was performed on both V. litorea and E. chlorotica to develop a direct molecular tool to understand the genetic components involved in this symbiosis. Successful FISH analysis of the chloroplast Rubisco gene (rbcL) was accomplished using whole-mounts of both E. chlorotica and V. litorea. Whole-mount FISH analysis of the E. chlorotica nuclear β-actin gene was accomplished in aposymbiotic E. chlorotica larvae. Sectioned, adult E. chlorotica tissue was successfully hybridized for both the rbcL and β-actin genes. The development of the FISH technique for use on whole-mount sea slugs and intact heterokont algal filaments is the first direct application of FISH and can help elucidate the genetic components required to maintain this remarkable symbiosis.
The Four Horsemen Of Genomicalypse: Fuzzy notions in genomic selection

Here I present a non-Final Judgment on the theory supporting Genomic Selection. The number of publications concerning genomic selection totals > 2000, yet to my taste there are many unsolved questions. In particular, in spite of great efforts, current theory is unable to explain and predict accuracy from a priori parameters such as pedigrees of to-be genotyped individuals, heritability, and LD statistics. The role of close vs. far relationships is particularly poorly understood.
Replacement Value of Avocado Seeds with Orange Peels Meal for Guinea Grass on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Growing Sheep

Twenty-four growing West African Dwarf male sheep (rams) balanced for weight 8.00 ± 0.12kg were fed avocado seeds with orange peels meal as replacement for guinea grass to evaluate their growth rate and nutrient digestibility. Sheep were assigned to three treatment diets in a completely randomised design with eight sheep per treatment. The compared treatment diets were as follows: Diet A (consisted of 60% guinea grass, which serves as the control group), while diets B and C comprised combination of avocado seeds with orange peels meal in a ratio 25 : 35 and 20 : 40 respectively. Concentrate supplement of 40% was added to each of the treatment diet. The results showed that diet A was significantly (P 0.05) did not occur in initial body weight and average daily weight gain (kg) with average daily feed intake (kg) among the treatment diets. It is concluded that combination of avocado seeds with orange peels in a ratio of 25: 35 (diet B) has the potential to improve growth rate and nutrient digestibility of growing sheep.
Sonifying Urban Rhythms : towards the spatio-temporal composition of the urban environment

Cette these s'interesse a la composition de rythmes urbains generes par la conception et la planification urbaine. Elle reconnait les limitations temporelles du plan d'urbanisme qui a tendance a etre statique et singulier dans la composition de l'experience urbaine. Ainsi, elle propose l'integration du rythme dans le processus de conception urbaine, dans le but d'ameliorer la qualite temporelle de l'espace urbain. Pour representer ces rythmes tels qu'ils sont produits dans la conception graphique, nous proposons leur sonification. Un outil de sonification des plans d'urbanisme (l'outil SUM) a ete developpe, et permet la sonification de plusieurs couches de cartes le long d'un certain nombre de parcours d'interet. Un code sonore urbain a ete developpe dans le but de relier les parametres graphiques urbains aux parametres sonores. Nous avons pris comme cas d'etude la ville de Paris et avons applique cette strategie a sa sonification, afin de produire un ensemble de cartes sonifiees de la ville dont la composition spatio-temporelle pourrait etre "ecoutee". Des questions temporelles concernant le mouvement humain, les infrastructures de transport, la distribution d'activite, la structuration de la forme urbaine et les elements de conception, peuvent etre representees et entendues. Nous avons ensuite etudie le potentiel de l'outil SUM comme outil de conception et de planification. Ainsi, grâce a l'integration de la sonification dans la conception et la planification urbaine, ce travail de recherche permet la representation spatio-temporelle et la composition de la forme urbaine.