Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factor Analysis of Coping Strategies among Subjects of Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: A Study at Tertiary Care Center

Objective: To assess successful adaptive coping strategies to handle craving among subjects with alcohol dependence syndrome.Methodology: Alcohol dependent subjects on follow-up who were abstinent for a period of 1 month were assessed on coping strategies inventory to assess the strategies to remain abstinent. The study was done by purposive sampling method at a tertiary care centre over a period of 24 months.Results: An exploratory factor analysis was used to study the structural framework of the items. Parallel analysis using Keeling's regression equation showed 8 factor model of the scale. Self-regulation, problem solving, avoidance, self-criticism, low emotional regulation & problem solving (mixed factor), catharsis, fantasizing and self-criticism mixed factor) & denial & problem confrontation (mixed factor) were important 8 factors used by the patients to maintain abstinence.Conclusion: Self-regulation, Problem solving, avoidance which are the main coping strategies should be the incorporated into the main line of treatment to prevent relapse of alcohol dependence subjects.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SUGARCANE CROPS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NWFP

The present study was conducted with the broad aims to know about area, production, and profitability of sugarcane crops with special reference to NWFP (i.e., Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshehra and Peshawar districts). Primary as well as secondary data ranging from1983-2005 were used for analysis. Cobb-Douglas production function has been used in order to identify the various factors (i.e., land, labour and capital) impact on sugarcane production in the study area and the method of least squares (OLS) has been applied as an analytical technique. The results revealed that innovation/technology has a positive influence on the dependent variable output. Further, results shows that the sum of the elasticities is greater than unity, this implies that the agricultural sector is producing in the stage of increasing return to scale, which means that the allocation of inputs in this sector is not optimal.
Research Productivity in Management Schools of India: A Directional Benefit-of-Doubt Model Analysis

Given the growing emphasis on research productivity in management schools in India, the present authors developed a composite indicator (CI) of research productivity, using the directional benefit-of-doubt (D-BOD) model, which can serve as a valuable index of research productivity in India. Specifically, we examined overall research productivity of the schools and the faculty members during the 1968-2014 and 2004-2014 periods in a manner never done before. There are four key findings. First, the relative weights of the journal tier, total citations, impact factor, author h-index, number of papers, and journal h-index varied from high to low in order for estimating the CI of a faculty member. Second, both public and private schools were similar in research productivity. However, faculty members at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) outperformed those at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Third, faculty members who had their doctoral degrees from foreign, relative to Indian, schools were more productive. Among those trained in India, alumni of IITs, compared to those of IIMs, were more productive. Finally, IIMs at Ahmedabad and Bangalore and the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad have seemingly more superstars than other schools among the top 5% researchers during 2004-2014. These findings indicate a shift in the priority from mere training of managers to generating impactful knowledge by at least two of the three established public schools, and call attention to improving the quality of doctoral training in India in general and IIMs in particular. Suggestions for improving research productivity are also offered.
On the immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus - Immune complexes, type I interferon system, complement system and platelets

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune rheumatic disorder characterized by inflammation in several organ systems. SLE patients have an impaired ability to clear dying cells which leads to the exposure of several nuclear antigens which might break self tolerance. Autoantibodies directed against the nuclear antigens will form large immune complexes (ICs) which are central in the immunopathogenesis of SLE. Through activation of the complement system, ICs mediate tissue destruction, and through interaction with immune cells ICs induce large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-alpha. Furthermore, ICs might activate platelets and thus be involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases which is increased in SLE patients. In this thesis I have investigated the immunopathogenesis of SLE with an emphasis on ICs, type I interferon (IFN) system, complement system and platelets. In the first papers we studied the plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) and properties regulating their IFN-alpha producing ability, a central cytokine in the SLE pathogenesis. We found that C1q, a component of the classical pathway of the complement system, could regulate the type I interferon production by pDCs (Paper I). Furthermore, pDCs were able to produce a pro-inflammatory protein, S100A8/A9, which is increased in SLE patients (Paper II). Next we observed that the complement system and type I IFN system affect the platelets. Platelets isolated from SLE patients were more activated, had a type I IFN signature (Paper III), as well as complement deposition on the cell surface (Paper IV). Both the type I IFN signature and the complement deposition were associated with cardiovascular disease and venous thrombosis. In the final paper we found that EndoS, a bacterial endoglycosidase, abolished all pro-inflammatory properties of ICs isolated from SLE patients (Paper V). Thus, we suggest that EndoS has the potential to be developed as a new therapy against SLE considering its potent IC-modulating effects. In summary, this thesis confirms a central role of immune complexes and their subsequent pro-inflammatory effects in the immunopathogenesis of SLE and development of cardiovascular disease and venous thrombosis. (Less)
Dynamic Diatom Response to Changing Climate 0-1.2 Ma at Lake El'Gygytgyn, Far East Russian Arctic

Abstract. The Lake El'gygytgyn sediment record contains an abundant diatom flora through most intervals of the lake's history, providing a means to create and test hypotheses concerning the lake's response to changing climates. The 0–1.2 Ma core interval is characterized by shifts in the dominant planktonic genera and events of exceptional concentration and diversity. Warm interglacial intervals have enhanced concentration and diversity of the plankton. This response is most extreme during exceptional events corresponding to marine isotope stages (MIS) 11 and 31. Diatom concentration and diversity also increase during some cold intervals (e.g., MIS 2), suggesting conditions of lake circulation and nutrient cycling promoting diatom production during these events. Short intervals of low plankton concentration accompanied by shifts in the dominant genus of the lake suggest conditions during certain cold events generate a severe impact on plankton production. The absence of these events during extended intervals of low summer insolation variability suggests a muted cold-event response of the lake system linked to regional climate.
Remodelling of Lee’s Knife Diffraction Loss Model as a Function of Line of Site Percentage Clearance

In this paper, remodeling of Lee’s piecewise knife diffraction loss model is presented. The original Lee’s piecewise knife diffraction loss model is expressed as a function of Fresnel-Kirchoff diffraction parameter. The computation of the Fresnel-Kirchoff diffraction parameter requires detailed terrain and link parameters. However, for quick link planning the Fresnel-Kirchoff diffraction parameter can be computed from the knowledge of the line of site percentage clearance alone. Moreover, in line of site link design, the required or acceptable obstruction clearance is specified in terms of line of site percentage clearance. Consequently, in this paper, the Lee’s model is remodeled into new piecewise functions that are entirely functions of line of site percentage clearance. The new version of Lee’s model is validated with the results of knife edge diffraction loss obtained from the original Lee’s piecewise knife diffraction loss model. With the new model it is easier to determine the diffraction loss that will be caused by any obstruction at a given line of site percentage clearance.
Experimental Quantification of the Effect of Nonlinearities on the EIS Spectra of the Cathodic Electrode of an Alkaline Electrolyzer

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a very powerful tool to study the behavior of electrochemical systems. According to Ohm's generalized law, the impedance concept is only valid if the linearity condition is met. In the case that the linearity condition is not achieved, the obtained impedance spectra will present distortions which may lead to biased or even erroneous results and conclusions. In this work, an experimental quantification of the effect of nonlinearities on EIS spectra was performed in order to determine the order of magnitude of the effect of the nonlinearity of the system on the obtained spectra of the cathodic electrode of an alkaline electrolyzer.
Modeling Water Quality Impacts of Growing Corn, Switchgrass, and Miscanthus on Marginal Soils

The goal of the study was to model water quality impacts of growing perennial grasses on marginal soils. The GLEAMS-NAPRA and RUSLE models were used to simulate long-term surface runoff, percolation, erosion, total phosphorus (TP), and nitrate (NO3-N) losses associated with the production of corn-based bioenergy systems (i.e. conventional tillage corn and corn grain plus stover removal), switchgrass and Miscanthus on three marginal quality soils and one good quality soil in Indiana. Simulations showed that switchgrass and Miscanthus had no effect on annual runoff, but decreased percolation by at least 17%. Results also suggested a potential for reduction in erosion for Miscanthus across the soil types examined when compared to corn-based bioenergy production. The production of switchgrass and Miscanthus did not have significant effects on the simulated TP and NO3-N losses in runoff compared to corn production systems. Nitrates leached from fertilized Miscanthus production were approximately 90% lower than NO3-N leached from the production of fertilized switchgrass and corn systems. Additional studies are needed to better understand the hydrology, erosion and nutrient responses of Miscanthus and switchgrass production to meet bioenergy demands.
Mobile Search Engine using Clustering and Query Expansion

Internet content is growing exponentially and searching for useful content is a tedious task that we all deal with today. Mobile phones lack of screen space and limited interaction methods makes traditional search engine interface very inefficient. As the use of mobile internet continues to grow there is a need for an effective search tool. I have created a mobile search engine that uses clustering and query expansion to find relevant web pages efficiently. Clustering organizes web pages into groups that reflect different components of a query topic. Users can ignore clusters that they find irrelevant so they are not forced to sift through a long list of off-topic web pages. Query expansion uses query results, dictionaries, and cluster labels to formulate additional terms to manipulate the original query. The new manipulated query gives a more in depth result that eliminates noise. I believe that these two techniques are effective and can be combined to make the ultimate mobile search engine. Table of
Information searching strategies in web-based science learning: the role of internet self-efficacy

The purpose of this study was to explore students' information searching strategies in Web-based science learning activities and further examine the influence of students' Internet self-efficacy on these strategies. Eight subjects were randomly selected from a pool of 73 college freshmen based on mixed genders and Internet self-efficacy levels. In-depth case studies and comparisons were used to analyse subjects' Web-based searching and learning achievement, online searching strategies and the role of Internet self-efficacy. The results showed evidence that high Internet self-efficacy students had better information searching strategies and learned better than those with low Internet self-efficacy in a Web-based learning task. This study further proposed a framework for analysing Web-based searching strategies. This study also reflected the importance of explicitly helping students acquire better metacognitive Web searching strategies.
Evaluation of near surface material degradation in concrete using nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves

Comparative studies of nondestructive evaluation methods have shown that nonlinear ultrasonic techniques are more sensitive than conventional linear methods to changes in material microstructure and the associated small-scale damage. Many of the material degradation processes such as carbonation in concrete, corrosion in metals, etc., initiate at the surface. In such cases, ultrasonic Rayleigh surface waves are especially appropriate for detection and characterization of damage since their energy is concentrated in the top layer of the test object. For the civil engineering infrastructure, only a limited number of field applicable nonlinear ultrasonic techniques have been introduced. In this paper a nonlinear ultrasonic measurement technique based on the use of Rayleigh waves is developed and used to characterize carbonation in concrete samples. This work develops a collinear mixing technique for concrete structures. Wedge transducer is used for the generation and an accelerometer for the detection of the.
Use of Different Levels of High Fiber Sunflower Meal in Commercial Leghorn Type Layer Diets

An experiment was conduced to evaluate the inclusion of high fiber Sunflower Meal (SFM) in commercial layer diets in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 8 replicates and 4 hens in each replicate. After determining chemical composition of sunflower meal 4 diets with equal CP (14.5%) and other nutrients except energy containing 0, 5, 10, 15 percent of high fiber sunflower meal were formulated. During the experiment feed consumption, hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed conversion ratio, haugh unit, egg specific gravity and mortality, were measured weekly. In the beginning and the end of the experiment body weight of the hens were measured individually. The results indicated that use of 10 percent of sunflower meal hadn't significant effect on feed consumption, hen-day egg production. However increasing sunflower meal up to 15 percent decreased feed consumption, egg production and egg weight, 5.70, 7.06 and 5.49 percent respectively, while feed conversion ratio increased significantly (p<0.05). Egg parameters were not affected by the SFM inclusion rate. According to the results of this experiment it can be concluded that 10 percent of high fiber sunflower meal can be used in laying hen diets without adverse effect on performance and egg parameters.
Media Violence Effects on Brain Development

Substantial research has indicated that media violence induces both short- and long-term increases in aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Recently, neuroimaging techniques have begun to identify the mechanisms driving these changes. An important avenue that these neuroimaging tools can address is how exposure to media violence in childhood affects brain development, which can have lifelong behavioral consequences. This review highlights neuroimaging research examining how media violence exposure affects the pediatric brain. While such research is limited, evidence suggests that prefrontal mechanisms for controlling emotion and behavior are altered by exposure to violent media. Therefore, long-term increases in aggression and decreases in inhibitory control due to excessive media violence exposure may result from impaired development of prefrontal regions. However, additional neuroimaging research is necessary to establish whether and how exposure to media violence specifically shapes subsequent neural maturation. To optimize the use of neuroimaging in this inquiry, imaging studies should not stand on their own, but instead must be integrated with more traditional research paradigms to establish a more complete picture of effects. Future research must employ more longitudinal approaches to better characterize long-term effects that high exposure to violent screen media may have on brain development, particularly prefrontal and limbic brain regions.
Enantiomeric Influences in Neuroleptic Binding to Models of the Dopamine Receptor

ENANTIOMERIC INFLUENCES IN NEUROLEPTIC BINDING TO MODELS OF THE DOPAMINE RECEPTOR by Timothy A. Robert Various in vitro models are believed to represent a physiologically relevant dopaminergic component of schizo­ phrenia. Neuroleptic agents competitively inhibit both dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase (DA/AC) and radiolabeled agonist or antagonist binding In neuronal homogenates. The effects of a few dopamine antagonists have been shown to be stereospecific in vivo and in vitro. Experiments were under­ taken to further examine the in vitro dopaminergic effects of optically active phenothiazTne derivatives. Such studies were also intended to help clarify the relationship between DA/AC, 3H-dopamine binding (3H-DA), and 3H-spiroperidol. (3H-SP) binding. Binding studies were performed in calf caudate nucleus homogenates with (+) and (-) methotrimeprazine, (+) and (-) thioridazine, (+) and (+) promethazine, (+) and (-) dioxopromethazine, and (+) and (-) P-892. Various concentrations were examined for their ability to compete with 5nM 3H~DA or 0.15nM 3H-SP binding. In addition, (+) and (-) methotrimeprazine isomers were evaluated in the DA/AC assay. Rat caud­ ate nuclei were pooled and homogenized in the studies of methotrimeprazine inhibition of DA/AC cyclic adenosine 3',5* monophosphate (cAMP) production. Enzyme activity was esti­ mated by measuring, via radioimmunoassay, pmol cAMP produced/ mg protein/minute. It was observed that there was a significant (P<0.05, analysis of variance) isomeric effect only for the neuro­ leptics, thioridazine and methotrimeprazine, in displacing 3H-DA wheras 3H-SP competition exhibited stereospecificity with promethazine and dioxoproraethazine as well. Isomer pairs differed in their magnitudes of stereospecificity (ratio of 50% inhibitory concentrations of (+) and (-) iso­ mers) between 3H-DA and 3H-SP displacement. In marked con­ trast to the radioligand binding results, DA/AC failed to exhibit an isomeric effect upon inhibition with methotrimep­ razine. These observations suggest that the binding sites for dopamine agonists and antagonists associated with these in vitro models are all different molecular species. iii.
Partial Word Knowledge and Vocabulary Growth during Reading Comprehension

The experiment investigated the development of vocabulary knowledge in elementary school children as a function of story reading for partially known and unknown words. Fourth graders participated in a vocabulary checklist in which they provided definitions or sentences for words they knew (known words) and checked off words they did not know the meaning of but were familiar with (partially known words). Children then read stories containing some of these words. The remaining words served as a control. Vocabulary growth was small but even for both partially known and unknown words. However, the characteristics of the words being learned themselves (particularly, part of speech and concreteness) were more important in determining this growth than aspects of the texts.
Effect of salt tolerant Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth under soil salinity: A comparative study

This study was conducted to examine the comparative effect on wheat plant health inoculated with the two different rhizobacterial strains Bacillus sp. (JG3) and Pseudomonas sp. (JG7) under soil salinity. Total seven potential salt tolerant strains were isolated from the saline soils of BBAU-Lucknow. The bacterial strains have been investigated for nitrogen fixatation, phosphate solubilization, ammonia, indole acetic acid and hydrogen cyanide production activities. Based on morphological and biochemical activities the strains JG3 was designated as Bacillus sp. and the strain JG7 was designated as Pseudomonas sp. Both the strains witness positive for the different plant growth promoting traits. In comparison of strain JG7, strain JG3 inoculated wheat seeds enhance plant height by 32.32%, root length by 37.84%, fresh weight by 28.2% and dry weight by 15.51% in FYM amended soils. We observe in this study that seeds treated with Bacillus sp. found significantly effective in plant growth promotion compared to Pseudomonas sp. in saline soil. Based on the comparative experimental study reported herein, it is pointedly observed that the use of salt tolerant PGPRs are effective for facilitating plant health in salt stress environments
FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Machine and Vehicle Systems Structural Safety Design for Real-World Situations Using Computer Aided Engineering for Robust Passenger

Road traffic continues to cause more than a million fatalities worldwide every year. Although many steps have been taken to improve occupant protection in car crashes, challenges still remain for car designers. In the present study, real-world data derived from frontal crashes has been used as a base for identifying crash situations where occupants are severely or fatally injured in cars despite them having been awarded top-ratings in crashworthiness evaluation tests. One situation identified is small overlap crashes, where injuries are commonly related to intrusion. Another is large overlap situations, where injuries are not directly linked to intrusion but rather to vehicle deceleration and interaction with restraint systems. The aim of the studies constituting this thesis was to develop design methods for robust crashworthiness of future passenger cars and propose solutions to mitigate injuries in large overlap situations. Research was performed using simulation models ranging from simple mass-spring elements to detailed Finite Element (FE) models of contemporary passenger cars. A newly developed methodology has been proposed as a main contribution based on the research undertaken, in order to provide a comprehensive way of simulating and visualising structural robustness in car-to-car frontal crashes. The methodology was applied to identify worst-case scenarios both regarding intrusion (oblique small overlap scenarios) and deceleration (large, but not full, overlap scenarios). Further development of this methodology has been proposed in order to address issues of crash compatibility, as well as a tool for securing robustness in future mass reduction scenarios. Another contribution is the proposal of an adaptive front structure to reduce passenger compartment deceleration levels by actively decoupling the front subframe on a contemporary passenger car in a range of frontal car-to-car crash scenarios. Results suggest a deceleration reduction potential equivalent to reducing the velocity change in a frontal crash by up to 44%. The findings of the present study are compared to previous work and future applications are suggested.