Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A modified peer rating system to recognise rating skill as a learning outcome

Abstract The peer rating system used here advances the quantitative literacy goals outlined in the social sciences. We instituted a mid-semester intervention to teach rating skills and used an index to track longitudinal changes of skill mastery over the course of the semester. Seventy-four students in five advanced research classes followed the procedure of the existing peer rating system by completing reading assignments, writing reflections online, engaging in class discussions, rating their peers’ reflections and receiving feedback on their group effort. Peer ratings were then compared with each other and also with the instructor ratings to derive individualised indices of reliability and validity. These technical indicators enabled two rounds of assessment before and after a class-wide intervention. An omnibus test across the five classes showed a significant improvement in rating quality due to the intervention. Our courses not only met a quantitative learning outcome but also promised vocational competence.
Prebiotic supplementation modulates serum immunoglobulin E levels and improves total SCORing atopic dermatitis score in children with atopic dermatitis: a randomized double blind controlled trial

B ac k gro und : Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent chronic disease in children aging from 6 months to 12 years old. Recent studies have shown a positive effect of prebiotics in the prevention and treatment of AD. The mechanism of this effect has not been clearly established. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementation of prebiotic on serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and total SCORing AD (SCORAD) score in 7-24 months old children with AD. M ethods : A total of 70 children with AD in a double-blind controlled clinical trial were randomly divided into two groups. For 3 months, the treated group received prebiotic (inulin + fructooligosaccharide), and the control group received placebo (dextrin powder). At the beginning and at the end of the intervention, the SCORAD test questionnaire was completed for all children by a physician and serum levels of IgE were determined. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS Ver. 18 software, using independent and paired t-tests and regression analysis. p < 0.050 was considered statistically significant. Results : The total SCORAD score and serum IgE levels before intervention were similar in the treated and control groups, and no correlation was found between these variables. The intervention resulted in a significant improvement in the total SCORAD score in the treatment group compared to control group (p < 0.001). Moreover, prebiotic supplementation resulted in significant decrease in serum IgE levels in the treated compared to control group (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between total SCORAD score and serum IgE levels in the intervention group (r2 = 0.20; p < 0.001). Conclusion : Prebiotic supplementation may have beneficial effects on serum IgE, which may improve SCORAD. Our findings suggest prebiotic consumption as an adjuvant treatment of dermatitis.
Neutrino and axion hot dark matter bounds after WMAP-7

We update cosmological hot dark matter constraints on neutrinos and hadronic axions. Our most restrictive limits use 7-year data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe for the cosmic microwave background anisotropies, the halo power spectrum (HPS) from the 7th data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and the Hubble constant from Hubble Space Telescope observations. We find 95% C.L. upper limits of \sum m_\nu<0.44 eV (no axions), m_a<0.91 eV (assuming \sum m_\nu=0), and \sum m_\nu<0.41 eV and m_a<0.72 eV for two hot dark matter components after marginalising over the respective other mass. CMB data alone yield \sum m_\nu<1.19 eV (no axions), while for axions the HPS is crucial for deriving m_a constraints. This difference can be traced to the fact that for a given hot dark matter fraction axions are much more massive than neutrinos.
NEOTECTONICS OF THE MBEYA AREA, SW TANZANIA

The Mbeya area is part of the western branch of the East African Rift System and lies on the intersection of the NW-SE trending South Rukwa-North Malawi segment and the NE-SW trending Ruaha-Usangu depression. The area was already tectonically active during earlier riftings periods (Permo-Triassic and Mesozoic), but underwent a major rift development during Cenozoic times. The neotec­ tonic period, discussed in this work, corresponds to this last first-order geodynamic mechanism. In the Mbeya area this mechanism is characterized since the middle Pleistocene by a dominant strike-slip stress regime. A neotectonic map of the Mbeya area was compiled from Quaternary structural elements and volcanic centres, active hot springs and earthquake epicentres recorded by a regio­ nal seismic network. An additional morphostructural map, highlighting active faulting and basin tilting in the northern extremity of Lake Malawi, was drawn using a LANDSAT­ TM scene and data from a study on recent sediment distribu­ tion in that part of the lake. The depth distribution of earthquakes obtained from a network of five digital three­ components seismometers provides new information about the rheology and the geometry of active faults down to the lower crust.
On the Evaluation of Architectural Figural Goodness: A Foundation for Computational Architectural Aesthetic

The first stage of an investigation into the quantification and computability of architectural aesthetics is reported. Issues considered include the function, sources and role of aesthetic analysis in architecture in the framework of a descriptive approach to architectural analysis and design. The main focus is on the applicability of the concept of figural goodness to architectural aesthetics and the derivation of a representation for architectural form suitable to this purpose.
Cell adhesion on different titanium-coated surfaces

Titanium (Ti) is a biocompatible material, and calcium phosphate coating on titanium is commonly applied in order to obtain faster osseointegration around metallic implant. Osteoblast adhesion on three different Ti surfaces was evaluated. The investigated surfaces were commercially pure Ti (cp Ti), Ti coated with sodium titanate (Na-Ti), and Na-Ti followed by octacalcium phosphate coating (Ti-OCP) done by immersion in a calcium and phosphate-rich solution. The studied materials exhibited different morphology and composition. However, all the surfaces promoted cellular adhesion and showed cytocompatibility. No statistically significant difference was observed among the evaluated samples in relation to the number of cells.
Entropy-based implied volatility and its information content

This paper investigates the maximum entropy method for estimating the implied volatility. Compared to existing methods the maximum entropy method has four advantages. First, it does not rely on parametric models for the risk neutral distribution. Second, it does not require a large number of options with a wide range of strike prices. Third, it allows for estimating implied skewness and kurtosis. Fourth, it allows for constructing confidence intervals around the implied volatility. We show that the maximum entropy method outperforms the existing methods if the risk neutral distribution deviates from normality. By applying this method to the S&P500 index options, we examine the information content of the entropy-based implied volatility for forecasting future realized volatility. The entropy-based implied volatility subsumes all information in the Black-Scholes implied volatility and historical volatility, and has more predictive power than the model-free implied volatility. Lastly, the entropy-based variance risk premium outperforms other alternatives in predicting future monthly market returns.
1 IT / 2-2 High Temperature Superconductors for Future Fusion Magnet Systems – Status , Prospects and Challenges

The application of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) in fusion research has, until now, been limited to the use in current leads. Studies for a use in bus bar systems show a technological potential, too. The applicability of HTS in fusion magnets is presently not feasible but would be desirable for use in future fusion reactors, e.g., DEMO and beyond. The main driver to use HTS materials for fusion coils is to operate the magnets either at high magnetic fields, e.g. 20 T, or at medium or high operation temperatures (50 – 65 K). As the low temperature superconductor (LTS) layouts for a Tokamak or a Stellarator has been optimized by balancing the requirements for current distribution, AC losses and cooling capability, the situation is different in case of HTS, especially for YBCO coated conductors. While transient cooling is not important due to the much higher heat capacity of the materials, AC losses, thermal stability, hot spot temperature and current distribution will play a challenging role due to the structure of the coated conductor tape. This contribution will give an overview about status, promises and challenges of HTS conductors on the way to an HTS fusion magnet system for DEMO and beyond.
Prediction of Seismic Active Earth Pressure Using Curved Failure Surface with Localized Strain

Problem statement: Correct evaluation of the earth pressure against retaining structure during earthquake is essential for the safe and economic design of geotechnical structures. Progressive deformation in the backfill and the assumed shape of failure wedge affect the calculated values of seismic earth pressures. However, no research until now is available that considers both of these two factors in an analysis. Approach: In this study, a new analytical methodology was proposed that took into the account the progressive failure of the backfill soil as well as the shape of the failure wedge. A new formulation was first established taking the failure plane as the combination of a curved lower part and a straight upper part. The localized deformation of the backfill was accounted for in the formulation by utilizing the mobilized friction angle and the peak friction angle depending on the locations along the failure surface. The proposed methodology was validated by comparing the calculated results with the established experimental results. Calculations were also performed for different types of wall with various backfill inclinations. Results: The developed methodology could predict the seismic active earth pressure against retaining structure with reasonable accuracy. It could also realistically predict the active failure domain in the backfill soil at the high excitation level, as compared to the pseudo-static solution provided by the well-known Mononobe-Okabe method. Conclusion/Recommendations: It was observed that the Mononobe-Okabe method underestimates the seismic active earth pressure and overestimates the domain of failure zone in the backfill, especially under intense seismic excitation. The proposed methodology, therefore, can contribute greatly towards the economic earthquake resistant design of geotechnical structures.
Potential Association Between Microsatellite Markers on Chicken Chromosomes 6, 7 and 8 and Body Weight

Selective Genotyping (SG) is a strategy used to reduce the total number of markers and animals to be genotyped in order to detect QTL in a large designed population. The objective of this study was to detect potential associations between microsatellite markers on chromosomes 6, 7 and 8 (GGA6, GGA7 and GGA8) and Body Weight at 42 days (BW42), using an F population developed by crossing a broiler (TT) and 2 a layer (CC) lines. Chickens were separated by sex and BW42 of 2,063 F offsprings was adjusted for the 2 hatch effect. Animals that presented extreme phenotypes, i.e. the 4.5% lightest and heaviest from the normal distribution curve of phenotypes were selected within dam families, comprising 170 chickens. The means and standard deviations from the lightest and heaviest groups were 801.5±93.8 g and 1,328.5±127.8 g, respectively. Fourteen parents (TT males and CC females) and the selected 170 F chickens were genotyped 2 with 25 microsatellite markers, seven on GGA6, 11 on GGA7 and seven on GGA8. Statistical analyses used the chi-square (p<0.25) to test the null hypothesis (H ) that assumed equal allele frequencies between lighter 0 and heavier groups, indicating no association between marker and trait. On GGA6 no association was detected. On GGA7, four markers were potentially associated with BW42: ADL0279 (p=0.1976), ADL0109 (p=0.0946), ADL0315 (p=0.2343) and ADL0169 (p=0.0054). On GGA8, markers MCW0351 (p=0.1580) and ADL0154 (p=0.1741) were also associated. These associations indicate potential QTL regions, where QTL interval mapping studies should be conducted on these chromosomes to identify regions that control BW42.
Corporate Social Performances: the Financial Effects of Responsive and Strategic Approaches

The empirical research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) has largely focused on the strategic and positive aspects (strengths) of corporate social performance (CSP) and neglected the analysis of actions and initiatives that would qualify as responsive, defensive or negative CSP (or weakness in CSP). Using data from the KLD collected over a three-year period, this study examines the relationship between both strategic and responsive CSP and company financial performance (CP) across individual stakeholder domains. Results of the study suggest that strengths in strategic CSP – as measured by strong technical and strong institutional relationships about selected stakeholder domains – are associated with superior financial performance. As for responsive CSP related to all other technical and institutional relationships, the results suggest that a firm performing only defensively in meeting the expectations of stakeholder groups, it is penalized in the form of inferior CP.
Mitochondrial DNA Diversity in the Moose, Alces alces, from Northeastern Poland: Evidence for Admixture in a Bottlenecked Relic Population in the Biebrza Valley

In recently deglaciated areas, studies of mtDNA haplotype diversity have often revealed clear phylogeographic structure for many animal species. Here, we assessed mitochondrial DNA variation of the moose, Alces alces, in northeastern Poland. Altogether, four haplotypes were found among 45 moose and the haplotype (h) and nucleotide (&pgr;) diversity estimates were 0.38 and 0.8%, respectively. The most common haplotype, H1 found in the Biebrza valley, NE Poland was exclusively present in this area and was divergent from the remaining mtDNA haplotypes in the European moose lineage. Our results indicate that the moose population in the Biebrza valley experienced severe bottleneck and could be regarded as a relic group of moose that is very distinct from others in Europe. We also found evidence for population admixture due to immigration, both, in the Biebrza valley and in Poland, in general.
Rethinking of Self-Organizing Maps for Market Segmentation in Customer Relationship Management*

Organizations have realized the importance of CRM. To obtain the maximum possible lifetime value from a customer base, it is critical that customer data is analyzed to understand patterns of customer response. As customer databases assume gigantic proportions due to Internet and e-commerce activity, data-mining-based market segmentation becomes crucial for understanding customers. Here we raise a question and some issues of using single SOM approach for clustering while proposing multiple self-organizing maps approach. This methodology exploits additional themes on the attributes that characterize customers in a typical CRM system. Since this additional theme is usually ignored by traditional market segmentation techniques we here suggest careful application of SOM for market segmentation.
DIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION OF CYP MITOCHONDRIAL GENE IN NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily of heme-containing enzymes catalyzes Phase I biotransformation of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds, including fatty acids, steroids, drugs, and environmental contaminants. Common variations (polymorphisms) in cytochrome P450 genes can affect the function of the enzymes. The effects of polymorphisms are most prominently seen in the breakdown of medications. In fish, members of the CYP2 and CYP3A families play a major role in the metabolism of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. The current study aimed to isolate and compare cytochrome P450 3A40 gene from Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) to understand its diversity and evolution in comparison with fresh water fish species available in the GenBank database. Total length of 1300 bp was obtained and its polymorphism with similar samples from O. niloticus in the GenBank was determined. Site no. 41 T>A changed the amino acid from Phenylalanine (F) to Tyrosine (Y), while sites no. 43 and 54 caused no effect (silent mutations), and site no. 74 A>G changes the amino acid from Glutamic Acid (E) to Glycine (G), in which the two later mutations formed a different protein isoform in its conformational structure. Phylogenetic analysis reflected a clear divergence of fresh water families (Cichlidae and Poecilidae) from other families, while fixed and shared mutations between families were found. Phylogenetic analysis provided strong support for the identity of the majority of CYPs in fresh water fishes. In the current study, conservative regions among the studied families were found.
Distance and Azimuthal Dependence of Ground‐Motion Variability for Unilateral Strike‐Slip Ruptures

Abstract We investigate near‐field ground‐motion variability by computing the seismic wavefield for five kinematic unilateral‐rupture models of the 1992 M w 7.3 Landers earthquake, eight simplified unilateral‐rupture models based on the Landers event, and a large M w 7.8 ShakeOut scenario. We include the geometrical fault complexity and consider different 1D velocity–density profiles for the Landers simulations and a 3D heterogeneous Earth structure for the ShakeOut scenario. For the Landers earthquake, the computed waveforms are validated using strong‐motion recordings. We analyze the simulated ground‐motion data set in terms of distance and azimuth dependence of peak ground velocity (PGV). Our simulations reveal that intraevent ground‐motion variability is higher in close distances to the fault ( μ ln(PGV) is well described by a Cauchy–Lorentz function that provides a novel empirical quantification to model the spatial dependency of ground motion. Online Material: Figures of slip distributions, residuals to ground‐motion prediction equations (GMPEs), distance and azimuthal dependence, and directivity predictor of ground‐motion variability for different source models.
Nonlocality in the excitation energy transfer in the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex

The Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) complex - a pigment protein complex involved in photosynthesis in green sulfur bacteria - is remarkably efficient in transferring excitation energy from light harvesting antenna molecules to a reaction center. Recent experimental and theoretical studies suggest that quantum coherence and entanglement may play a role in this excitation energy transfer (EET). We examine whether bipartite quantum nonlocality, a property that expresses a stronger-than-entanglement form of correlation, exists between different pairs of chromophores in the FMO complex when modeling the EET by the hierarchically coupled equations of motion method. We compare the results for nonlocality with the amount of bipartite entanglement in the system. In particular, we analyze in what way these correlation properties are affected by different initial conditions. It is found that bipartite nonlocality only exists when the initial conditions are chosen in an unphysiological manner and probably is absent when considering the EET in the FMO complex in its natural habitat. It is also seen that nonlocality and entanglement behave quite differently in this system. In particular, for localized initial states, nonlocality only exists on a very short time scale and then drops to zero in an abrupt manner. As already known from previous studies, quantum entanglement between chromophore pairs on the other hand is oscillating and exponentially decaying and follow thereby a pattern more similar to the chromophore population dynamics. The abrupt disappearance of nonlocality in the presence of nonvanishing entanglement is a phenomenon we call nonlocality sudden death; a striking manifestation of the difference between these two types of correlations in quantum systems.
The shape and stability of small liquid drops on fibers

The shape of a small liquid drop on a small diameter fiber may be either an axisymmetric barrel shape or it may be a non-axisymmetric clam-shell shape. Experiments show that when the reduced volume, given by the volume of droplet divided by the fiber radius, is large the barrel shape is the preferred conformation, but that as the volume reduces a transition to a clam-shell (pearl) shape occurs. The volume at which this stability transition occurs depends upon the equilibrium contact angle. In this work we review the known solution to Laplace's equation for the barrel shape and consider the link between the profile, the inflexion in the profile and the stability of the droplet. No known solution of Laplace's equation exists for the clam-shell shape droplet. We therefore consider a finite element approach to determining the possible shapes of a droplet on a fiber and give numerical results for the clam-shell profile. The surface free energies for the two types of droplet conformation on a fiber are computed for several droplet volumes and equilibrium contact angles and the implications of this for droplet stability are discussed.
AN OBJECT DETECTION AND 3D RECONSTRUCTION APPROACH FOR REAL-TIME SCENE UNDERSTANDING

This paper present the theoretical and practical aspects of a 3D object reconstruction approach. The reconstruction process involves the usage of a pair of stereo rectifies images acquired from two digital cameras. The imaged object is rebuilt in a virtual 3D space with the help of internal and external camera parameters obtained from the camera calibration algorithm. For the 2D image detection of the object of interest a color segmentation method is applied, followed by triangulation for estimating the object-camera distance.
Fluorometric analysis of chlorophyll a in the presence of chlorophyll b and pheopigments

A fluorometric method is described which provides sensitive measurements of extracted chlorophyll a free from the errors associated with conventional acidification techniques. Fluorometric optical configurations were optimized to produce maximum sensitivity to Chl a while maintaining desensitized responses from both Chl b and pheopigments. Under the most extreme Chl b:Chl a ratio likely to occur in nature (1 : 1 molar), the new method results in only a 10% overestimate of the true Chl a value, while estimates from older acidification methods are 2.5-fold low. Under conditions of high pheopigment concentrations (pheo a: Chl a = 1 : 1 molar), the new method provides Chl a estimates that are equivalent to those determined from the acidification technique. The new simple method requires a single fluorescence determination and provides adequate sensitivity for small sample sizes (<200 ml) even in the most oligotrophic marine and freshwater environments.