Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing Soil Functions for Sustainable Remediation of Contaminated Sites

Soil contamination is a worldwide problem. Soil remediation is often carried out to reduce the risks posed by contaminants in the soil to human health and environment. Contaminant concentration is typically the only soil quality aspect maintained in remediation projects. However, emerging regulatory requirements on soil protection has introduced the soil function concept and demand that other chemical as well as physical and biological soil quality indicators are considered in soil management projects. Some remediation technologies may adversely impact soil functions, e.g. lead to compaction, nutrient deficiencies, and decreased water storage capacity. Others may lead to improvement of soil functions. Hence, it is important to evaluate the effects of remediation alternatives on soil functions when assessing the overall sustainability of decision options. A generic approach to soil function assessment in sustainability assessments is presented, conceptualizing linkages between soil functions, soil ecosystem services and the environmental, social and economic sustainability domains. A minimum set of soil quality indicators is identified and a scoring method for soil function assessment is developed, taking uncertainties of input data into consideration. The scoring method is further operationalized with the SF Box tool and integrated into SCORE (Sustainable Choice Of REmediation) for sustainability assessment of remediation alternatives. The developed soil function assessment method is applied on four case studies in Sweden. The results show that contaminated soil may have a good nutrient status and a good water storage capacity providing potentially favorable conditions for functioning, while reduction of the risks posed by contaminants to the environment does not necessarily lead to restoration of soil functions. To ensure proper soil functioning, special care needs to be taken with regard to physical, chemical and biological properties of the remediated soil in the top layer within future green areas.
Distribution of power output during the cycling stage of a Triathlon World Cup.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the power output (PO) during the cycle phase of the Beijing World Cup test event of the Olympic triathlon in China 2008. METHODS Ten elite triathletes (5 females, 5 males) performed two laboratory tests: an incremental cycling test during which PO, HR at ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2), and maximal aerobic power (MAP) were assessed, and a brief all-out test to determine maximal anaerobic power output (MAnP). During the cycle part of competition, PO and HR were measured directly with portable device. The amount of time spent below PO at VT1 (zone 1), between PO at VT1 and VT2 (zone 2), between PO at VT2 and MAP (zone 3) and above MAP (zone 4) was analyzed. RESULTS A significant decrease in PO, speed, and HR values was observed during the race. The distribution of time was 51 +/- 9% for zone 1, 17 +/- 6% for zone 2, 15 +/- 3% for zone 3, and 17 +/- 6% was performed at workloads higher than MAP (zone 4). From HR values, the triathletes spent 27 +/- 12% in zone 1, 26 +/- 8% in zone 2, and 48 +/- 14% above VT2. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates a progressive reduction in speed, PO, and HR, coupled with an increase in variability during the event. The Olympic distance triathlon requires a higher aerobic and anaerobic involvement than constant-workload cycling exercises classically analyzed in laboratory settings (i.e., time trial) or Ironman triathlons. Furthermore, monitoring direct PO could be more suitable to quantify the intensity of a race with pacing strategies than classic HR measurements.
Mapping geometry in heart rate data

We introduce a new methodology for the analysis of heart interbeat interval time series based on the geometric/topological analysis of spaces of frequently occurring motifs (short patterns in the data). We use these methods to identify interesting differential features in data from three patient groups: healthy, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
An Assessment of Entrepreneurship Involvement among Undergraduate Students of Cross River State University of Technology, Ogoja Campus, Cross Rive State

The study evaluated entrepreneurship involvement among undergraduate students of Cross River State University of Technology, Ogoja Campus, Cross Rive State. Data was obtained through the administration of a structured questionnaire to undergraduate students with personal business irrespective of the scale. Result indicated that family knowledge and natural ability did not determine students’ entrepreneurship involvement but the need for money, desire to become self-dependence and the desire to be employers of labour. The study identified University entrepreneurship internship programme and parental occupation as main sources of entrepreneurship awareness accruable to university students. Furthermore, fund from parents and personal savings were the main sources of capital used to start a business. Pearson’s correlation showed a high, positive and significant association between students' involvement in entrepreneurship and income diversification (0.97, P<0.01). Independent samples test indicated that entrepreneurship motivation between male and female students differs (t = 12.767, P<0.05). The study based on the result obtained suggested that the universities in Nigeria should add more valves to their graduate by incorporating into their curriculum elements that enhance the development of entrepreneurial attitudes and self-efficacy. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Student involvement, Undergraduate students, Source of capital
Atypical Presentation of Visceral Leishmaniasis in a HIV-positive Patient from a Nonendemic Area

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), though widely prevalent in India, is not seen in the Rajasthan where the dry, hot and arid climatic conditions create a hostile environment for the growth of the parasite or its vector, the sandfly. We present a case of VL in a patient co-infected with HIV from this region. A 34-year-old known case of a HIV-positive patient presented to the skin department of our hospital with multiple, nontender, erythematous, papulonodular lesions all over the body for 6 months with history of weight loss and low-grade fever. Important examination findings were pallor, inguinal lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory findings included anemia, leucopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia and altered leucocytes to erythrocyte ratio. Buffy coat examination and bone marrow aspirates showed the presence of leishman bodies inside monocytes and macrophages respectively as well as extracellularly also. The patient was treated with amphotericin B intravenously and responded well to the treatment.
Corruption: An Alternative Approach to its Definition and Measurement

Discussion of the definition of corruption has progressed little since Heidenheimer's groundbreaking distinction between definitions centred on public opinion, public office and public interest. All these definitions have been severely criticised. I suggest that underneath these traditional concepts of corruption lurks a much older one based on distributive justice – namely the ‘impartiality principle’, whereby a state ought to treat equally those who deserve equally. This principle provides a much more plausible reason for why the public condemns corruption than alternative approaches, and, moreover, it is recognised fairly universally: the implicit distinction between ‘public’ and ‘private’ is certainly neither as ‘modern’ nor as ‘Western’ as many have claimed. The universality of the principle of impartiality does not imply universality of its content: who deserves equally, or, alternatively, on which grounds discrimination is ruled out, will be answered differently at different periods in time and will vary from society to society. The impartiality principle provides a starting point for the discussion of both corruption in ‘traditional’ societies and contemporary political corruption – corruption involving violations of specific non-discrimination norms governing the access to the political process and the allocation of rights and resources. The impartiality principle calls for rule-bound administration and thus underpins the public office definition of corruption. A central element of the analysis of corruption is the study of specific non-discrimination norms and their comparison across time and place. This approach leads to a significant enrichment of the concept of corruption.
Advances in the design and delivery of peptide subunit vaccines with a focus on Toll-like receptor agonists

Considerable success has been made with many peptide antigen formulations, and peptide-based vaccines are emerging as the next generation of prophylactic and remedial immunotherapy. However, finding an optimal platform balancing all of the requirements for an effective, specific and safe immune response remains a major challenge for many infectious and chronic diseases. This review outlines how peptide immunogenicity is influenced by the way in which peptides are presented to the immune system, underscoring the need for multifunctional delivery systems that couple antigen and adjuvant into a single construct. Particular attention is given to the ability of Toll-like receptor agonists to act as adjuvants. A survey of recent approaches to developing peptide antigen delivery systems is given, many of which incorporate Toll-like receptor agonists into the design.
Electrically Small Folded Dipole Antenna for HF and Low-VHF Bands

A novel, highly miniaturized, lightweight antenna operating at the low-VHF band is presented. Earlier studies on an extremely short HF monopole antenna consisting of two in-phase vertical elements face an inevitable issue regarding an unbalanced coaxial cable feed due to the very small ground plane . To resolve this problem, as well as to achieve higher bandwidth, we introduce an electrically small folded dipole version of the same antenna having a fully balanced structure. The overall dimension and total mass of the proposed antenna are 10 ×10 ×15 cm<sup>3</sup>. ( 0.013λ<sub>0</sub> ×0.013λ<sub>0</sub> ×0.02λ<sub>0</sub> at 40 MHz) and 98 g, respectively. The gain and pattern of the fabricated antenna are measured in an elevated range that is in nearly free-space conditions. Measurements are shown to be in good agreement with the design predictions from simulation.
TMS320C66x multicore DSP efficiency in radar imaging applications

Radar imaging is a very attractive application of digital signal processing widely used in modern space-, air- and ground-borne systems. Radar imaging algorithms are featured with very high computational requirements. New trends in processor platforms with a high level of computational power are very important for radar imaging implementation. TMS320C66x multicore DSP from Texas Instruments is one of a promising computational platform for radar imaging systems. It demonstrates good performance in embedded computing with low power consumptions. A test task implementation on TMS320C6678 multicore DSP is considered in this paper. The test task is described and implemented stage by stage on one core of TMS320C6678 device with an analysis of processing time limitations. 8-core implementation is considered then. It is shown that test task is done in 4.9 ms with 1 core and 0.99 ms with 8 cores implementation. The paper demonstrates an efficiency of TMS320C66x DSP platform in radar imaging applications and discusses the questions of an efficient multicore programming.
A new abnormal hemoglobin O Padova, alpha 30 (B11) Glu -- Lys, and a dyserythropoietic anemia with erythroblastic multinuclearity coexisting in the same patient.

A patient with a not previously described abnormal hemoglobin (α30Glu → Lys) and dyserythropoietic anemia with erythroblastic multinuclearity is reported. The heat stability and the functional properties of the new abnormal hemoglobin, named hemoglobin O Padova, are normal, although the replacement lies in the α1β1 interchain contact. The hemolytic condition, which was much improved by splenectomy, therefore appears to be linked to the hereditary erythroblastic multinuclearity similar to hereditary erythroblastic multinuclearity with positive acidified serum test (HEMPAS). In addition to the leading features observed in published cases of this entity, our case exhibited some immunologic peculiarities.
Blood circulation and fluid dynamics in the eye.

The nutrition of the intraocular tissues is accomplished by the retinal vessels, the uveal vessels, and by the aqueous humor. Both morphologically and physiologically the retinal vessels are similar to those in the brain. The endothelial cells of the capillaries are attached to each other by tight junctions, the resistance vessels respond poorly to a large number of drugs, and the blood flow through the retina is autoregulated and very little affected by the sympathetic nervous system. The blood vessels of the iris also have morphological and permeability characteristics similar to those in the brain but they are under a strong influence from the sympathetic nerves and react to many drugs. The blood flow is autoregulated. The blood vessels of the choroid and the ciliary processes are similar to those in the small intestine and in the kidney. The endothelial cells of the capillaries are fenestrated; the vessels respond to sympathetic nervous stimulation and to a large number of vasoactive drugs. Autoregulation of the blood flow is intermediate in the ciliary body and very poor or absent in the choroid.
The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture

The paper focuses on conservation agriculture (CA), defined as minimal soil disturbance (no-till, NT) and permanent soil cover (mulch) combined with rotations, as a more sustainable cultivation system for the future. Cultivation and tillage play an important role in agriculture. The benefits of tillage in agriculture are explored before introducing conservation tillage (CT), a practice that was borne out of the American dust bowl of the 1930s. The paper then describes the benefits of CA, a suggested improvement on CT, where NT, mulch and rotations significantly improve soil properties and other biotic factors. The paper concludes that CA is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly management system for cultivating crops. Case studies from the rice–wheat areas of the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia and the irrigated maize–wheat systems of Northwest Mexico are used to describe how CA practices have been used in these two environments to raise production sustainably and profitably. Benefits in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on global warming are also discussed. The paper concludes that agriculture in the next decade will have to sustainably produce more food from less land through more efficient use of natural resources and with minimal impact on the environment in order to meet growing population demands. Promoting and adopting CA management systems can help meet this goal.
Supporting Distributed Extreme Programming (Extended Abstract)

Extreme programming (XP) is arguably improving the productivity of small, co-located software development teams. In this extended abstract, we describe an approach that overcomes the XP constraint of co-location by introducing a process-support environment (called MILOS) that helps software development teams to maintain XP practices in a distributed setting. MILOS supports project coordination, information routing, team communication, and pair programming.
From modeling to enactment of distributed workflows: an agent-based approach

This paper proposes an agent-based approach which seamlessly supports the phases of modeling and enactment of distributed workflows. An agent-based distributed workflow model is basically obtained by instantiating a MAS (Multi-Agent System) meta-model for the management of distributed workflows by means of a workflow schema based on the Workflow Patterns. In order to enact an obtained agent-based model, a JADE-based workflow enactment framework, directly designed upon the MAS meta-model, was developed.
C . 5 Geographically Weighted Regression

Geographically weighted regression (GWR) was introduced to the geography literature by Brunsdon et al. (1996) to study the potential for relationships in a regression model to vary in geographical space, or what is termed parametric nonstationarity. GWR is based on the non-parametric technique of locally weighted regression developed in statistics for curve-fitting and smoothing applications, where local regression parameters are estimated using subsets of data proximate to a model estimation point in variable space. The innovation with GWR is using a subset of data proximate to the model calibration location in geographical space instead of variable space. While the emphasis in traditional locally weighted regression in statistics has been on curve-fitting, that is estimating or predicting the response variable, GWR has been presented as a method to conduct inference on spatially varying relationships, in an attempt to extend the original emphasis on prediction to confirmatory analysis (Páez and Wheeler 2009). In GWR, a regression model can be fitted at each observation location in the dataset, although the model calibration locations are not restricted to observation locations. The spatial coordinates of the data points, either individual data points or areal centroids, are used to calculate inter-point distances, which are input into a kernel function to calculate weights that represent spatial dependence between observations. For each model calibration location, i = 1, . , n, the GWR model is
A Mediator Role of Perceived Organizational Support in Workplace Deviance Behaviors, Organizational Citizenship and Job Satisfaction Relations: A Survey Conducted With Artificial Neural Network

The aim of the research is to estimate the effect of workplace deviance behavior on organizational citizenship and job satisfaction and to put forward the mediator role of the organizational support perception in possible relations. The information based on hypothetical and literature are provided in the research principally and then the research part including the questionnaire applied to the employees of Kirsehir Municipality is presented. The validity and reliability tests have been performed successfully and the artificial neural network method has been used as the analysis method. In parallel with the averages and correlation values of the variables in the analysis the Artificial Neural Networks have been modelled by determining the inputs and outputs. In accordance with the findings obtained the workplace deviance behavior has a negative impact on the organizational citizenship and job satisfaction and the organizational support perception can take the mediator role as a relative for eliminating the abovementioned effect. When the artificial neural networks’ being used as the analysis method and the difficulties in measuring the workplace deviance behavior are taken into consideration it can be stated that the findings obtained have at a certain level of originality in terms of management discipline.
Pannexins in ischemia-induced neurodegeneration

Pannexin 1 (Px1, Panx1) and pannexin 2 (Px2, Panx2) form large-pore nonselective channels in the plasma membrane of cells and were suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. To directly test a potential contribution of pannexins in ischemia-related mechanisms, we performed experiments in Px1−/−, Px2−/−, and Px1−/−Px2−/− knockout mice. IL-1β release, channel function in astrocytes, and cortical spreading depolarization were not altered in Px1−/−Px2−/− mice, indicating that, in contrast to previous concepts, these processes occur normally in the absence of pannexin channels. However, ischemia-induced dye release from cortical neurons was lower, indicating that channel function in Px1−/−Px2−/− neurons was impaired. Furthermore, Px1−/−Px2−/− mice had a better functional outcome and smaller infarcts than wild-type mice when subjected to ischemic stroke. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Px1 and Px2 underlie channel function in neurons and contribute to ischemic brain damage.
Production of a Self-Aligned Scaffold, Free of Exogenous Material, from Dermal Fibroblasts Using the Self-Assembly Technique

Many pathologies of skin, especially ageing and cancer, involve modifications in the matrix alignment. Such tissue reorganization could have impact on cell behaviour and/or more global biological processes. Tissue engineering provides accurate study model by mimicking the skin and it allows the construction of versatile tridimensional models using human cells. It also avoids the use of animals, which gave sometimes nontranslatable results. Among the various techniques existing, the self-assembly method allows production of a near native skin, free of exogenous material. After cultivating human dermal fibroblasts in the presence of ascorbate during two weeks, a reseeding of these cells takes place after elevation of the resulting stroma on a permeable ring and culture pursued for another two weeks. This protocol induces a clear realignment of matrix fibres and cells parallel to the horizon. The thickness of this stretched reconstructed tissue is reduced compared to the stroma produced by the standard technique. Cell count is also reduced. In conclusion, a new, easy, and inexpensive method to produce aligned tissue free of exogenous material could be used for fundamental research applications in dermatology.
SVD based Watermarking Method for Medical Image Security

Most commonly watermarking is done for authentication purposes. Due to the widespread use of medical images for telemedicine applications the watermarking process gains more attention in the medical field i.e. for secure transmission of medical images from one hospital to another, for presenting the image as court evidence etc. This paper gives a comparative analysis on applying the watermark on the diagonal matrix of the SVD decomposed. The usefulness of SVD in watermarking applications and mathematical models are also given briefly. The performance is verified using PSNR, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Image Quality Index.
Cellular microRNAs Repress Vesicular Stomatitis Virus but Not Theiler’s Virus Replication

Picornavirus’ genomic RNA is a positive-stranded RNA sequence that also serves as a template for translation and replication. Cellular microRNAs were reported to interfere to different extents with the replication of specific picornaviruses, mostly acting as inhibitors. However, owing to the high error rate of their RNA-dependent RNA-polymerases, picornavirus quasi-species are expected to evolve rapidly in order to lose any detrimental microRNA target sequence. We examined the genome of Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) for the presence of under-represented microRNA target sequences that could have been selected against during virus evolution. However, little evidence for such sequences was found in the genome of TMEV and introduction of the most under-represented microRNA target (miR-770-3p) in TMEV did not significantly affect viral replication in cells expressing this microRNA. To test the global impact of cellular microRNAs on viral replication, we designed a strategy based on short-term Dicer inactivation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Short-term Dicer inactivation led to a >10-fold decrease in microRNA abundance and strongly increased replication of Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which was used as a microRNA-sensitive control virus. In contrast, Dicer inactivation did not increase TMEV replication. In conclusion, cellular microRNAs appear to exert little influence on Theiler’s virus fitness.