Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TRAP EFFICIENCY OF ALMATTI RESERVOIR IN KRISHNA BASIN – A CASE STUDY

In this paper an attempt has been made to study the sedimentation aspects of this reservoir and to evolve the sedimentation rates and trap efficiency of Almatti reservoir.When a dam is constructed on a river to store water, sediments transported by the water flow are also stored and reservoir capacity is gradually reduced by sediment accumulation. Prediction of sediment distribution in reservoirs is an important issue for dam designers to determine the reservoir active storage capacity, outlet sill elevation, dam stability, recreational facilities, and back water conditions. In this study, the sediment deposition in Almatti on Krishna river in Karnataka is studied . The sediment rates are worked out considering the hydrographic surveys conducted by State of Karnataka and the same are compared with the hydrometrical observations conducted by CWC at various G&D stations in Krishna river. The trap efficiency is also estimated considering the observations at the gauging stations . It is observed that the hydrographic and hydrometry observations fairly tally. The trap efficiency worked out as 84.3 % a bit different from Brunes trap efficiency median curve. The trap efficiency more or less converges to the lower envelop curve.
17 Pathways of Atmospheric CO 2 through Fluvial Systems

As the main pathway for the ultimate preservation of terrigenous production in modern environments, the transfer of organic matter from the land to the oceans via fluvial systems is a key link in the global carbon cycle (Ittekot and Haake 1990; Degens et al. 1991; Hedges et al 1992). Hence, the “role” of rivers in the global carbon cycle is most typically expressed as the fluvial export of total organic and dissolved inorganic carbon from land to the ocean (e.g., Likens et al. 1981). As will be discussed in more detail later this in chapter, the most common literature estimations of the magnitude of these fluxes are 0.4 petagrams of carbon per year (PgC y-1) for total organic carbon (evenly divided between particulate and dissolved organic phases), and 0.4 PgC y-1 for dissolved inorganic carbon. While these bulk fluxes are small components of the global C cycle, they are significant compared to the net oceanic uptake of anthropogenic CO2 (Sarmiento and Sundquist 1992) and to the interhemispheric transport of carbon in the oceans (Aumont et al. 2001). This chapter examines and expands on several inconsistencies in this conventional model. The first is in the estimates of the flux quantities and in the relative influence of natural and anthropogenic processes in determining these fluxes. While much river research has emphasized concentrations of carbon, sediments, and/or nutrients, with a focus on export to the oceans (Meybeck 1982, 1991; Degens et al 1991; Milliman and Syvitski 1992), considerable uncertainties remain. The second problem is that the role of fluvial systems may not be limited to fluvial exports to the coastal zone. Continental sedimentation may sequester large amounts of carbon in lower depressions and wetlands (Stallard 1998; Smith et al. 2001). More recent estimates indicate that CO2 outgassing to the atmosphere from river systems may be an important pathway (Cole and Caraco 2001; Richey et al. 2002).
PARASITES OF WATERFOWL FROM SOUTHWEST TEXAS: I. THE NORTHERN CINNAMON TEAL, Anas cyanoptera septentrionalium

Seventeen northern cinnamon teal, Anas cyanoptera septentrionalium were collected in Hudspeth County, Texas: 10 in January, 1974, and seven in September, 1974. Fifteen parasite species were recovered: 11 were new host records. Three species of parasites were recorded from spring migrants and 15 from fall migrants.
Biomechanical Attributes of Lunging Activities for Older Adults

&NA; Flanagan, S.P., M‐Y Wang, G.A. Greendale, S.P. Azen, and G.J. Salem. Biomechanical attributes of lunging activities for older adults. J. Strength Cond. Res. 18(3):599–605. 2004. —The purpose of this study was to characterize the mechanical demands of the lower‐extremity musculature during the standing forward lunge (FL) and the standing lateral lunge (LL) exercises performed by older adults. Twenty healthy older adults (9 men, 11 women, mean age 75.0 ± 4.4 years) performed FL and LL while instrumented for biomechanical analysis. Lower‐extremity net joint moments, powers, impulse, and mechanical energy expenditure were determined using standard inverse dynamics techniques. The FL preferentially targeted the hip extensors, producing a greater flexion angle (12.8%), peak joint moment (13.6%), joint power (56.5%), and mechanical energy expenditure (25.1%). Conversely, LL targeted the ankle plantar flexors, producing greater dorsiflexion angles (19.3%), joint moments (40.9%), impulse (87.0%), and mechanical energy expenditure (61.1%). Kinetic differences at the knee were less consistent. Fitness professionals may use this information to better match the biomechanical attributes of FL and LL activities with the needs of the trainee.
Urban neighborhoods and depressive symptoms among older adults.

OBJECTIVE This study seeks to determine whether depressive symptoms among older persons systematically vary across urban neighborhoods such that experiencing more symptoms is associated with low socioeconomic status (SES), high concentrations of ethnic minorities, low residential stability and low proportion aged 65 years and older. METHODS Survey data are from the Study of Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD), a 1993 U.S. national probability sample of noninstitutionalized persons born in 1923 or earlier (i.e. people aged 70 or older). Neighborhood data are from the 1990 Census at the tract level. Hierarchical linear regression is used to estimate multilevel models. RESULT The average number of depressive symptoms varies across Census tracts independent of individual-level characteristics. Symptoms are not significantly associated with neighborhood SES, ethnic composition, or age structure when individual-level characteristics are controlled statistically. However, net of individual-level characteristics, symptoms are positively associated with neighborhood residential stability, pointing to a complex meaning of residential stability for the older population. DISCUSSION This study shows that apparent neighborhood-level socioeconomic effects on depressive symptoms among urban-dwelling older adults are largely if not entirely compositional in nature. Further, residential stability in the urban neighborhood may not be emotionally beneficial to its aged residents.
Anti-lock braking and traction control concept for all-terrain robotic vehicles

This paper focuses on a new traction control concept for autonomous land-vehicles. This system avoids wheel slip greater than the critical wheel slip S/sub cr/ during acceleration and deceleration. We present an original approach to detecting an excess over S/sub cr/, without knowledge of its actual value, which depends on tire/ground combinations. This approach allows the control system to adapt itself to every kind of terrain. In order to illustrate a potential application of this concept, we present the design of an autonomous all-terrain vehicle, for which this control strategy has been developed. Sensor instrumentation, crucial for system stability, is also discussed.
Endothelial cells freshly isolated from resistance-sized pulmonary arteries possess a unique K(+) current profile.

We have, for the first time, developed a reliable method for freshly isolating viable endothelial cells from resistance-sized rat pulmonary arteries. The endothelial origin of these cells was confirmed using indirect immunofluorescence, utilizing fluorescently labeled low-density lipoprotein. Biophysical and pharmacological patch-clamp experiments conducted under quasiphysiological cationic gradients revealed that these cells had a mean resting membrane potential of approximately -38 mV and displayed a delayed-rectifying K(+) current. Immunohistochemical staining of rat lung cross-sections revealed an abundance of K(V)1.5 channel protein in pulmonary endothelium. This is the first report of a delayed-rectifying K(+) current in endothelial cells of resistance-sized pulmonary arteries. Since changes in membrane potential associated with K(+) channel activity affect release of vasoactive substances from endothelial cells, this finding has important implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying control of pulmonary vascular tone.
The gene, the polygene, and the genome.

T HIS month, geneticists will assemble in Great Britain for the XVIIth International Congress of Genetics. The last British Congress, in Edinburgh in 1939, was abruptly terminated by the outbreak of World War 11. From the perspective of 1993, we can see a series of triumphs in Britain that have shaped our science over this century. In the distant background, the physician GARROD (1 904) enunciated inborn errors of human metabolism, presaging the one gene/one enzyme formalism (see BEARN 1993). The tradition of monitoring mammalian phenotypes by urinalysis led to the identification of phenylketonuria as a recessive metabolic disorder by PENROSE and QUASTEL (1937); this continues in this issue of GENETICS (SHEDLOVSKY et ai. 1993). The major postwar British scientific campaigns that have matured our science are broadly known to all: the elucidation of the linear and three-dimensional structures of proteins (SANGER 1955; KENDREW et al. 1958; PERUTZ et al. 1960) and DNA (WATSON and CRICK 1953), the triplet code (CRICK et al. 1961), mRNA (BRENNER, JACOB and MESELSON 196 l), X chromosome inactivation (LYON 1961), and gametic imprinting (SEARLE and BEECHEY 1978; CAITANACH and KIRK 1985). Readers of this column will be familiar with some of the field generals in these British campaigns: HAL-
Contour-based object orientation estimation

Real-time object orientation estimation is an actual problem of computer vision nowadays. In this paper we propose an approach to estimate an orientation of objects lacking axial symmetry. Proposed algorithm is intended to estimate orientation of a specific known 3D object, so 3D model is required for learning. The proposed orientation estimation algorithm consists of 2 stages: learning and estimation. Learning stage is devoted to the exploring of studied object. Using 3D model we can gather set of training images by capturing 3D model from viewpoints evenly distributed on a sphere. Sphere points distribution is made by the geosphere principle. It minimizes the training image set. Gathered training image set is used for calculating descriptors, which will be used in the estimation stage of the algorithm. The estimation stage is focusing on matching process between an observed image descriptor and the training image descriptors. The experimental research was performed using a set of images of Airbus A380. The proposed orientation estimation algorithm showed good accuracy (mean error value less than 6°) in all case studies. The real-time performance of the algorithm was also demonstrated.
Why Do Students Engage in e-Learning: A Chinese Perspective

This paper presents a study on how Chinese students understand e-learning. Twenty university students who took part in a course “Introduction to e-learning” were interviewed and data were analyzed using the method of phenomenography. The findings can be presented as four qualitatively different conceptions of e-learning: e-learning as (1) supplement to face-to-face learning or the metaphor of after-meal dissert; (2) informal resource-based learning or the metaphor of a mobile library; (3) activity-based learning or the metaphor of a ladder to knowledge; (4) community-based learning or the metaphor of a food sharing banquet. The aim of the study is to shed light on Chinese students' conceptions of e-learning, which are of significance to e-tutors in offering e-learning services.
Genetics of Hypercalciuric Nephrolithiasis

Abstract: Renal stone disease (nephrolithiasis) affects 5% of adults and is often associated with hypercalciuria. Hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis is a familial disorder in more than 35% of patients, and may occur as a monogenic disorder, or as a polygenic trait involving 3 to 5 susceptibility loci in man and rat, respectively. Studies of monogenic forms of hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis in man, for example, Bartter syndrome, Dent's disease, autosomal dominant hypocalcemic hypercalciuria (ADHH), hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis with hypophosphatemia, and familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria have helped to identify a number of transporters, channels, and receptors that are involved in regulating the renal tubular reabsorption of calcium. Thus, Bartter syndrome, an autosomal recessive disease, is caused by mutations of the bumetanide‐sensitive Na‐K‐Cl (NKCC2) cotransporter, the renal outer‐medullary potassium channel (ROMK), the voltage‐gated chloride channel, CLC‐Kb, or in its β subunit, Barttin. Dent's disease, an X‐linked disorder characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria, hypercalciuria, and nephrolithiasis, is due to mutations of the chloride/proton antiporter, CLC‐5; ADHH is associated with activating mutations of the calcium‐sensing receptor, which is a G protein‐coupled receptor; hypophosphatemic hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis associated with rickets is due to mutations in the type 2c sodium–phosphate cotransporter (NPT2c); and familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria is due to mutations of paracellin‐1, which is a member of the claudin family of membrane proteins that form the intercellular tight junction barrier in a variety of epithelia. These studies have provided valuable insights into the renal tubular pathways that regulate calcium reabsorption and predispose to kidney stones and bone disease.
Altered Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis in Cerebellar Granule Cells of Prion Protein‐Deficient Mice

Abstract: Previous studies have indicated that recombinant cellular prion protein (PrPC), as well as a synthetic peptide of PrPC, affects intracellular calcium homeostasis. To analyze whether calcium homeostasis in neurons is also affected by a loss of PrPC, we performed microfluorometric calcium measurements on cultured cerebellar granule cells derived from prion protein‐deficient (Prnp0/0) mice. The resting concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was found to be slightly, but significantly, reduced in Prnp0/0 mouse granule cell neurites. Moreover, we observed a highly significant reduction in the [Ca2+]i increase after high potassium depolarization. Pharmacological studies further revealed that the L‐type specific blocker nifedipine, which reduces the depolarization‐induced [Ca2+]i increase by 66% in wild‐type granule cell somas, has no effect on [Ca2+]i in Prnp0/0 mouse granule cells. Patch‐clamp measurements, however, did not reveal a reduced calcium influx through voltage‐gated calcium channels in Prnp0/0 mice. These data clearly indicate that loss of PrPC alters the intracellular calcium homeostasis of cultured cerebellar granule cells. There is no evidence, though, that this change is due to a direct alteration of voltage‐gated calcium channels.
The Role of Landscape Connectivity in Planning and Implementing Conservation and Restoration Priorities. Issues in Ecology

Landscape connectivity, the extent to which a landscape facilitates the movements of organisms and their genes, faces critical threats from both fragmentation and habitat loss. Many conservation efforts focus on protecting and enhancing connectivity to offset the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity conservation, and to increase the resilience of reserve networks to potential threats associated with climate change. Loss of connectivity can reduce the size and quality of available habitat, impede and disrupt movement (including dispersal) to new habitats, and affect seasonal migration patterns. These changes can lead, in turn, to detrimental effects for populations and species, including decreased carrying capacity, population declines, loss of genetic variation, and ultimately species extinction.
DIGITAL OVERLAY OF FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAMS AND FUNDUS IMAGES FOR TREATMENT OF SUBRETINAL NEOVASCULARIZATION

A system for comparing sequential fundus photographs and angiograms has been developed using a personal computer and commercially available image processing software. This process provides rapid results and a high degree of accuracy in image correlation, even when images come from different cameras with different magnifications. Though no concentrated effort was made to compare the superiority of this method to the manual technique, the value of the manual results is fully acknowledged, and this technique is offered as another method of achieving the same end. This technique can be used to determine the adequacy of treatment of subretinal neovascularization, recurrence of subretinal neovascularization in subsequent angiograms, pigment epithelial creep, and changes in fundus lesions.
Importance of an immunodominant surface-exposed loop on outer membrane protein P2 of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) frequently causes recurrent infections of the respiratory tract in humans. Previous indirect evidence suggested that a strain-specific immune response occurs following infection and that this immune response is directed at an immunodominant epitope on the bacterial surface. To test this hypothesis, mice and rabbits were immunized with whole cells of a strain of NTHI and the antiserum was characterized to identify the antigens to which antibodies were directed. All animals made a prominent antibody response to the loop 5 region of the P2 molecule, which is the major outer membrane protein. Rabbit serum showed complement-dependent bactericidal activity. Adsorption of the immune serum with the loop 5 fusion peptide removed bactericidal activity and also abolished reactivity to P2 detected by an immunoblot assay, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a radioimmunoprecipitation assay. These data indicate that immunization with whole cells of NTHI results in a prominent antibody response which is directed at epitopes on the loop 5 region of the P2 molecule. Thus, a strain-specific immune response to NTHI occurs as a result of the expression of an immunodominant epitope on the P2 molecule.
Effects of traditional physical training and visual computer feedback training in frail elderly patients. A randomized intervention study.

BACKGROUND Physical training to increase muscle strength and balance is considered useful for prevention of falls in older people. AIM This study compares conventional balance training with visual computer feedback training. DESIGN This was a randomized controlled 12-week intervention trial with pre- and post-training evaluations. SETTING Out-patients referred to a geriatric falls and balance clinic. POPULATION Thirty-five patients were randomized into two training groups. METHODS Both groups received progressive resistance muscle strength training and physical fitness training. Additionally, one group received traditional balance training and the other group received computer feedback balance training. Strength, physical endurance, balance and falls efficacy scale scoring were assessed before and after end of training. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients (77%) were available for the evaluation; mean compliance was 71%. In the combined group, significant mean improvement was observed in knee extension (19%), ankle dorsiflexion (16%), sitting to standing (16%), and in the six-minute walk test (8%). In the traditional balance training group, the static balance in the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance standing on a foam mat with closed eyes showed a significant increase (80%). No increase occurred in the computer balance training group. However, the computer feed-back training group showed a marked improvement that was up to 400% in the training specific performance. CONCLUSION Elderly frail patients were able to increase muscle strength and physical endurance. A limited improvement was seen in the static balance tests. The computer feedback group showed a remarkable increase in training specific performance. Clinical Rehabilitation Impact.
A study of the minimum inhibitory concentration and mode of action of oregano essential oil, thymol and carvacrol

Aims: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oregano essential oil (OEO) and two of its principle components, i.e. thymol and carvacrol, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was assessed by using an innovative technique. The mechanism of action of the above substances was also investigated.
Are cross-country studies of the Environmental Kuznets Curve misleading ? New evidence from time series data for Germany

In recent years, extensive literature on the Environmental Kuznets Curve leading to optimistic policy conclusions has attracted great attention. However, the underlying cross-section estimations are not very reliable. Accordingly, this contribution uses time series data for a single country with good data quality: Germany. With a specification that includes all theoretical variations and different appropriate estimation procedures, it is found that only for few pollutants can the typical EKC pattern be confirmed. For the major part, however, it is concluded that the doubts about the suitability of the EKC approach are well-founded. JEL Classification: Q00, Q20, Q25
Reviews of the progress of Dairy Science: Mastitis control – progress and prospects

Of the cattle diseases that are of major economic importance to dairy farmers, mastitis has proved to be the most refractory. It cannot be eradicated and although it is now possible to deal effectively with infections caused by some pathogens, little progress has been made against others. Schemes have been devised and widely practised that markedly reduce levels of infection (i.e. the proportion of cows or quarters infected), but their value has been questioned because in some herds acute clinical mastitis may not be reduced. This review examines the progress made in controlling mastitis, putting into perspective the problems that remain to be solved. It also assesses the prospects for success of various lines of research, so that decisions can be made on whether changes in the direction of research on mastitis control are needed if further progress is to be made. The extent of the mastitis literature makes it impractical to refer to all the published research. References have been limited to key publications, reviews and monographs.