Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics for Rapid Recognition of an Hg-Contaminated Plant

The feasibility of rapid recognition of an Hg-contaminated plant as a soil pollution indicator was investigated using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and chemometrics. The stem and leave of a native plant, Miscanthus floridulus (Labill.) Warb. (MFLW), were collected from Hg-contaminated areas () as well as from regular areas (). The samples were dried and crushed and the powders were sieved through an 80-mesh sieve. Reference analysis of Hg levels was performed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The actual Hg contents of contaminated and normal samples were 16.2–30.5 and 0.0–0.1 mg/Kg, respectively. The NIRS measurements of impacted sample powders were collected in the mode of reflectance. The DUPLEX algorithm was utilized to split the NIRS data into representative training and test sets. Different spectral preprocessing methods were performed to remove the unwanted and noncomposition-correlated spectral variations. Classification models were developed using partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLSDA) based on the raw, smoothed, second-order derivative (D2), and standard normal variate (SNV) data, respectively. The prediction accuracy obtained by PLSDA with each data preprocessing option was 100%, indicating pattern recognition of Hg-contaminated MFLW samples using NIRS data was in perfect consistence with the ICP-AES results. NIRS combined with chemometrics will provide a tool to screen the Hg-contaminated MFLW, which can be potentially used as an indicator of soil pollution.
Media and Politics: Re-Thinking the Indonesian Broadcasting System

The emergence of the policy of broadcasting liberalization in the established democracies of Europe and North America, which is indicated by the absence of state intervention to broadcasting governance has been influencing broadcasting policy in the new democracies, including Indonesia. Is it true that Indonesia adopts a liberal broadcasting policy? This paper outlines two issues. First, the academic debate surrounding broadcasting system in the world. Second, discussion as stated by scholars on a thesis of the enactment of the liberal media system in Indonesia that is primarily based on the broadcasting policies after Suharto’s reign of power, among others Law 32/2002 on Broadcasting. Based on the intensive literature review, it can be concluded that the broadcasting system prevailing in Indonesia is not purely liberal, but a mix of liberal and authoritarian model, a unique character that also occurs in the post-communist and post-authoritarian states in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. This mix is indicated within the last fifteen years through the adoption of public and community broadcasters and the establishment of Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia (KPI) as an independent regulator that were accompanied with the existing control of the ruling government to public broadcasters (RRI & TVRI); the weak mandate of KPI and the omission of commercial broadcasting domination.
The Impact of Regulation according to International law on economic growth in ECO countries

This paper investigates the long-run relationship between regulation and economic growth for a panel of ECO countries over the period 1990–2011 by employing the recently developed panel data unit root tests and the Pedroni panel data cointegration techniques. In particular, building effective regulatory structures in ECO countries is not simply an issue of the technical design of the most appropriate regulatory instruments; it is also concerned with the quality of supporting regulatory institutions and capacity. This paper explores the role of state regulation using an econometric model of the impact of regulation on growth. Furthermore, conditional on finding cointegration, the paper extends the literature by employing the Pedroni Panel Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) procedure to generate consistent estimates of the relevant panel variables. The results based on two different techniques of estimation suggest a strong causal link between regulatory quality and economic performance. Keywords: Regulatory, Economic Growth, Panel Cointegration, ECO countries.
Acetate Availability and its Influence on Sustainable Bioremediation of Uranium-Contaminated Groundwater

Field biostimulation experiments at the U.S. Department of Energy's Integrated Field Research Challenge (IFRC) site in Rifle, Colorado, have demonstrated that uranium concentrations in groundwater can be decreased to levels below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) drinking water standard (0.126 μM). During successive summer experiments – referred to as “Winchester” (2007) and “Big Rusty” (2008) - acetate was added to the aquifer to stimulate the activity of indigenous dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria capable of reductively immobilizing uranium. The two experiments differed in the length of injection (31 vs. 110 days), the maximum concentration of acetate (5 vs. 30 mM), and the extent to which iron reduction (“Winchester”) or sulfate reduction (“Big Rusty”) was the predominant metabolic process. In both cases, rapid removal of U(VI) from groundwater occurred at calcium concentrations (6 mM) and carbonate alkalinities (8 meq/L) where Ca-UO2-CO3 ternary complexes constitute >90% of uranyl species in groundwater. Complete consumption of acetate and increased alkalinity (>30 meq/L) accompanying the onset of sulfate reduction corresponded to temporary increases in U(VI); however, by increasing acetate concentrations in excess of available sulfate (10 mM), low U(VI) concentrations (0.1–0.05 μM) were achieved for extended periods of time (>140 days). Uniform delivery of acetate during “Big Rusty” was impeded due to decreases in injection well permeability, likely resulting from biomass accumulation and carbonate and sulfide mineral precipitation. Such decreases were not observed during the short-duration “Winchester” experiment. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes demonstrated that Geobacter sp. and Geobacter-like strains dominated the groundwater community profile during iron reduction, with 13C stable isotope probing (SIP) results confirming these strains were actively utilizing acetate to replicate their genome during the period of optimal U(VI) removal. Gene transcript levels during “Big Rusty” were quantified for Geobacter-specific citrate synthase (gltA), with ongoing transcription during sulfate reduction indicating that members of the Geobacteraceae were still active and likely contributing to U(VI) removal. The persistence of reducible Fe(III) in sediments recovered from an area of prolonged (110-day) sulfate reduction is consistent with this conclusion. These results indicate that acetate availability and its ability to sustain the activity of iron- and uranyl-respiring Geobacter strains during sulfate reduction exerts a primary control on optimized U(VI) removal from groundwater at the Rifle IFRC site over extended time scales (>50 days).
A Study of Cartel Stability: The Joint Executive Committee, 1880-1886

This article employs weekly time series data on the Joint Executive Committee railroad cartel from 1880 to 1886 to test empirically the proposition that observed prices reflected switches from collusive to noncooperative behavior. An equilibrium model of dynamic oligopoly with asymmetric firms, together with explicit functional form assumptions about costs and demand, determines the estimating equations and stochastic structure of the econometric model. The hypothesis that no switch took place, so that price and quantity movements were solely attributable to exogenous shifts in the demand and cost functions, is then tested against this alternative and rejected.
Trichinilosis in African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus) in the arid-region of northeastern, Nigeria

A survey of trichinilosis in 100 wild African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus ) was conducted for the first time in the arid region of northeastern Nigeria. The results showed that 10(10.0%) males, 6(6.0%) females, 11(11.0%) juveniles and 5(5.0%) adults, harboured Trichinella infection. The males and the juveniles were significantly (p<0.05) more infected than the females and the adults respectively. According to locations, 9(9.0%) giant rats in Sanda Kyarimi Zoological Garden, 6(6.0%) in Maimallari Army Barracks and 1(1.0%) in Costums area, harboured the infection, while none (0%) of the rats on the University of Maiduguri Campus or Bagga Road area were infected. On one hand, the diaphragm, intercoastal and eye muscles of the rats did not harbour any infection while, on the other hand, the tongue 3(3.0%), biceps 7(7.0%), and masseter muscles 6(6.0%), harboured Trichinella larvae. The artificial enzymatic digestion technique, significantly (p<0.05) detected 10(10.0%) cases, more than histopathology 4(4.0%) and squash compression microscopy 2(2.0%). We corroborate the importance of the African giant rat, as a potential reservoir of trichinilosis, which is zoonotic in nature.
A Bayesian Model of Sample Selection with a Discrete Outcome Variable

Relatively few published studies apply Heckman’s (1979) sample selection model to the case of a discrete endogenous variable and those are limited to a single outcome equation. However, there are potentially many applications for this model in health, labor and financial economics. To fill in this theoretical gap, I extend the Bayesian multivariate probit setup of Chib and Greenberg (1998) into a model of non-ignorable selection that can handle multiple selection and discrete-continuous outcome equations. The first extension of the multivariate probit model in Chib and Greenberg (1998) allows some of the outcomes to be missing. In addition, I use Cholesky factorization of the variance matrix to avoid the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm in the Gibbs sampler. Finally, using artificial data I show that the model is capable of retrieving the parameters used in the data-generating process and also that the resulting Markov Chain passes all standard convergence tests.
Understanding ENSO Regime Behavior upon an Increase in the Warm-Pool Temperature Using a Simple ENSO Model

The regime behavior of the low-order El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) model, according to an increase in the radiative–convective equilibrium sea surface temperature (SST; Tr), is studied to provide a possible explanation for the observed increase in ENSO irregularity characterized by decadal modulation. During recent decades, a clear increasing trend of the warm-pool SST has been observed. In this study, the increase in the warm-pool maximum SST is interpreted as an increase in Tr following previous studies. A bifurcation analysis with Tr as a control parameter is conducted to reveal that the degree of ENSO irregularity in the model is effectively controlled by the equilibrium states of the model. At a critical value of Tr, bifurcation analysis reveals that period-doubling bifurcation occurs and an amplitude-modulated ENSO emerges. At this point, a subcycle appears within the preexisting ENSO cycle, which initiates decadal modulation of ENSO. As Tr increases further, nested oscillations are successively generated, illustrating clear decadal modulation of ENSO. The qualitative regime changes revealed in this study are supported by the observation of regime shifts in the 1970s. With increasing Tr, the mean zonal SST gradient increases, and the model adjusts toward a ‘‘La Niña–like’’ mean state. Further constraint with shoaling of the mean thermocline depth and increasing stratification causes ENSO to exhibit stronger amplitude modulation. Furthermore, the timing of the period-doubling bifurcation advances with these two effects.
Mobile bound states of Rydberg excitations in a lattice

Spin lattice models play central role in the studies of quantum magnetism and non-equilibrium dynamics of spin excitations -- magnons. We show that a spin lattice with strong nearest-neighbor interactions and tunable long-range hopping of excitations can be realized by a regular array of laser driven atoms, with an excited Rydberg state representing the spin-up state and a Rydberg-dressed ground state corresponding to the spin-down state. We find exotic interaction-bound states of magnons that propagate in the lattice via the combination of resonant two-site hopping and non-resonant second-order hopping processes. Arrays of trapped Rydberg-dressed atoms can thus serve as a flexible platform to simulate and study fundamental few-body dynamics in spin lattices.
Plasma characteristics in the discharge region of a 20 A emission current hollow cathode

In order to obtain the plasma characteristics in discharge region of LIPS-300 ion thruster's 20A emission current hollow cathode and verify the structure design of the emitter, numerical calculation method and finite element method were used to study plasma characteristics in the hollow cathode. The results of these methods indicate that the highest plasma density and electron temperature which improving significantly in orifice region is located in the discharge region of the hollow cathode. The magnitude of plasma density is about 1021m-3 both in emitter region and orifice region, while decreases exponentially in plume region with the distance from the orifice exit. Meanwhile, compared to the orifice region, the electron temperature and current improved about 1~2eV and 36% in the emitter region respectively. The hollow cathode performance test results are in well agreement with numerical calculations, which proved that the structure design of emitter and orifice meets the requirements of 20A emission current. Although there are few mistakes occurred in finite element method, it still, however, can be used to estimate plasma characteristics at the beginning of hollow cathode design process due to its simplicity.
Chapter 2 Enzyme-Based Electrochemical Glutamate Biosensors

Glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, plays a vital role in many physiological processes and is one of the key neurotransmitters of interest in psychopharmacology. It is involved in many normal and abnormal behaviors related to neurological and psychiatric disorders. The glutamate system has been proposed to play a significant role in various neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, schizophrenia, depression, drug addiction, and more. The design, construction, and optimization of enzyme-based electrochemical biosensors for in vivo and in vitro detection of glutamate are active areas of interdisciplinary research. For example, various glutamate biosensors have been developed for monitoring dynamic levels of extracellular glutamate in the living brain tissue adding to the current medical knowledge of these complex neurotransmitter systems and ultimately impacting treatment plans. In addition to biological sciences and clinical medicine, glutamate biosensors have been used in environmental monitoring, in the fermentation industry, and in the food industry for determination of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a common flavor-enhancing food additive.
An Inference of current techniques in retinal hemorrhage detection

Diabetic retinopathy is the major reason for loss of eyesight in recent years. Studies are going on for the earlier detection of diabetic retinopathy symptoms. One of the symptoms of DR is retinal hemorrhage caused due to the leakage of blood vessels. Earlier identification of retinal hemorrhages ensures the right clinical attention for prolonged eyesight in diabetic patients. Different automated screening systems have been developed for the noninvasive detection of DR symptoms. In this paper an attempt is been made to review the existing algorithms developed for automated hemorrhage detection.
Science, sulphur and sustainability : environmental strategies of mining in the Russian Kola Peninsula

OF DOCTORAL DISSERTATION HELSINKI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY P.O. BOX 1000, FI-02015 TKK http://www.tkk. fi Author Olli H. Salmi Name of the dissertation Science, sulphur and sustainability: Environmental strategies of mining in the Russian Kola Peninsula Manuscript submitted 01.02. 2008 Manuscript revised 23.06. 2008 Date of the defence 17.10. 2008 Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles) Faculty Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Department Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Field of research Environmental Strategies and Technology Assessment Opponent Steve Rayner Supervisor Janne Hukkinen Instructor Janne Hukkinen and Richard Howarth
Conflict handling Styles and Employees’ Commitment at the Pharmaceutical Companies in Jordan

This study aimed at studying the conflict handling styles impact on employees’ affective, normative and continuance commitment, at the Pharmaceutical companies in Jordan, its population consisted of all the 14 Pharmaceutical companies in Jordan that are members of the Jordanian association of pharmaceutical manufacturers (JAPM). The respondents to this research and unit of analysis were specified as all the managers who belong to different managerial levels. The rationale for choosing managers is that they have adequate knowledge to answer the study questionnaire and tend to provide unbiased answers. The researcher applied (Rahim, 1983a) organizational Conflict Inventory–II (ROCI–II) to assess the conflict handling styles, and adopted (Meyer & Allen, 1997). The employee commitment construct was to measure employees’ commitment, 253 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 215 were retrieved, and 30 questionnaires did not meet the criteria of statistical analysis, therefore, only 185 were valid for conducting data analysis. The results of the study have shown that conflict handling styles affect employees’ affective, normative and continuance commitment at the Pharmaceutical companies in Jordan.
HbA1c as a diagnostic tool in diabetes mellitus

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) expresses the ratio between glycated HbA1 and total HbA1 and reflects the average plasma glucose concentration the preceding 2-3 months. It has become the most important marker of chronic hyperglycemia and is closely correlated to late complications of diabetes. The analysis has now been standardized and traceable to an international reference material and reference methods. Standardization of the HbA1c analyses paved the way for it to become the primary tool for diagnosing diabetes. Despite some limitations in which HbA1c is not representative of average glucose concentration, the inclusion of HbA1c as a diagnostic tool will simplify the diagnostics of diabetes compared with the glucose criteria, and hopefully improve the prevention of late complications of diabetes.
A survey of methods of assessment of the autonomic system dysfunction in athletes after sport injuries

Vol. 1(21) TRENDS IN SPORT SCIENCES 27 This paper is a survey on the neurophysiological techniques supplementary to clinical evaluation of a possible dysautonomia. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) and heart rate variability analysis (RRIV) are neurophysiological tests commonly used in this case. Sports injuries related to the cranio-cerebral spinal cord as well as peripheral nerve trauma can determine the function of the autonomic system. The study aimed to find out the normative values of SSR and RRIV tests, which can be used for diagnosis of patients after sport injuries. SSRs were recorded following an electrical stimulation of the median nerve. RRIV tests were carried out during normal and deep breathing. Twenty young volunteers (aged 23 ± 2.1) were examined in order to estimate the reference values of SSR and R-R interval variation (RRIV) tests and to confirm the lack of functional changes in the autonomic nervous system. SSR and RRIV tests evaluating the function of two different types of effectors should be applied to confirm the presence of dysautonomia, especially in subjects who show unclear clinical symptoms.
A new transform method I: domain-dependent fundamental solutions and integral representations

A new method for solving boundary-value problems (BVPs) for linear and certain nonlinear PDEs was introduced by one of the authors in the late 1990s. For linear PDEs, this method constructs novel integral representations (IRs) that are formulated in the Fourier (transform) space. In this paper, we present a simplified way of obtaining these representations for elliptic PDEs; namely, we introduce an algorithm for constructing particular, domain-dependent, IRs of the associated fundamental solutions, which are then substituted into Green's IRs. Furthermore, we extend this new method from BVPs in polygons to BVPs in polar coordinates. In the sequel to this paper, these results are used to solve particular BVPs, which elucidate the fact that this method has substantial advantages over the classical transform method.
The impact on wages of generic competencies, psychological capital, new work practices and digital technologies

This paper examines the impact of competencies, psychological capital, new work practices and digital technologies on private sector wages in the Italian economy. It demonstrates ? also considering industry collective bargaining that tends to fix wage levels according to job complexity, moreover giving rise to employment relations governed by incomplete contracts ? that firms pay extra wage premia to workers who: i) use digital technologies, provided they are versatile in the use of these new tools, ii) activate a bundle of distinctive ‘generic’ competencies, iii) possess personal traits considered by the firm as productive in carrying out work, and iv) occupy positions to which the organizational design attributes greater autonomy and more responsibilities. The wage equation used controls for several detailed factors (firm characteristics, occupations, worker characteristics, working and contract conditions, industrial relations) and was estimated with weighted OLS, also controlling for heteroskedasticity. Endogeneity was tested with GMM estimators.
Influence of different eCG doses on sexual receptivity and productivity of rabbit does.

The aim of this study was to examine sexual receptivity and productivity of does injected 48 h before insemination with 8 or 25 IU of eCG (groups 8 and 25, respectively) in comparison with a control group (no injection, group 0). One hundred twenty four does were inseminated during 11 consecutive cycles (reproduction rythm: 35 d; inseminations: 4 d post partum and weaning: 28 d post partum). In comparison with the control group, eCG signifi cantly improves the receptivity of does (60.3 vs 80.5 and 79.8%; P<0.001), kindling rate (70.4 vs 80.9 and 79.4%; P=0.030) and the number of weaned rabbits/insemination (5.9 vs 7.1 and 7.1; P=0.008) for group 0, 8 and 25 respectively, during the whole experiment. eCG effi ciency is not obviously demonstrated for primiparous and non-lactating does. Authors conclude that only an 8 IU dose is able to improve 62% the productivity (measured as weaned rabbits per insemination) of multiparous and lactating does inseminated 4 d post partum.
Paenibacillus sp., as a promising candidate for development of a novel technology of inoculant production

A bacterial strain IMBG1S6 producing exopolysaccharide (EPS) was isolated from siliceous rock and identified as a Paenibacillus species by partial sequencing its 16S rDNA. Paenibacillus sp. IMBG156 was used in a novel technology for inoculant production based on co-cultivating this bacterium with any bacterium of choice. Paenibacillus sp. provides in situ the bacterial cells of the inoculant with EPS, a carrier, and most likely with a source of carbon and energy. The partner bacterium designates a type of inoculant (biopesticide or biofertiliser). The strain IMBG156 does not destroy the signaling system of Gram-negative partners, based on acylated homoserine lactones, stimulates plant growth, and is rather competitive in the plant rhizosphere and soil. A prototype of the inoculant based on dual-culture Paenibacillus sp. IMBG156 — Pseudomonas sp. IMBG163 exhibits a noticeably longer shelf life than monoculture of Pseudomonas sp. IMBGI63.