Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of Buzzing Bees in Fruit Set and Seed Set of Solanumviolaceum in Sri Lanka

Plant-pollinator interactions are often considered as tightly coevolved, mutualistic relationships. The present study aimed at determining the flower visiting bees of the vegetable crop, Solanum violaceum, and the efficiency of buzz pollination by bees on fruit and seed production in Sri Lanka. Seven bee species: Hoplonomia westwoodi, Amegilla comberi, Patellapis kaluterae, Xylocopa tenuiscapa, Apis dorsata, Trigona iridipennis, and Ceratina hieroglyphica visited the flowers of S. violaceum, and the first four species were buzzing bees. Buzzing bees were the first to visit Solanum flowers and were followed by nonbuzzing bees. Handling time of H. westwoodi and P. kaluterae varied with the availability of pollen in anthers that deplete with the age of flower and stayed longer at new flowers than at old flowers. Handling time of the larger buzzing bee, H. westwoodi, was higher than that of the smaller P. kaluterae. The fruit set, seed set, and seed germinability in flowers visited by buzzing bees were significantly higher than those of the flowers bagged to exclude pollinators.
Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae) as a Potential New Alternative for the Mitigation of Tick Infestation

Ticks are hematophagous parasites of most vertebrate animals and can transmit various pathogens. After mosquitoes, ticks are considered the most prevalent group of ectoparasitic arthropods to transmit pathogens to humans and rank first in the transmission of agents that cause disease in animals. The primary tool used to control these ectoparasites is the use of chemical products; however, resistance to several of these chemical compounds has already been reported in various locations worldwide. Considering this reality, several studies of plant extracts have been developed aiming to identify new compounds that are able to control ticks. In this context, the essential oil of Tagetes minuta may be a promising alternative in the control of some species of ticks. T. minuta is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Asteraceae and is popularly known in Brazil as “cravo-de-defunto” or wild marigold. In this review, we highlight four species of ticks that are considered important for both animal and public health in Brazil. Here, we address the methods of tick control to provide a foundation for new studies and highlight the use of phytotherapeutic T. minuta as a promising alternative in the control of these ectoparasites.
Use of ultrasound on foods and enzyme inactivation.

In recent years, researches have concentrated on nonthermal food preservation techniques because of the unwanted quality changes of foods exposed to high temperature during traditional thermal treatments. In the last decade studies have been performed on the use of ultrasound for food preservation with traditional methods or as an alternative to traditional methods. This method attracts scientists because it can reduce processing time and energy and prolongs shelf life of foods. In this method energy, that is extracted from sonic waves at 20 kHz or above is used. Inactivation process of ultrasound is generally expressed by cavitation mechanism. When ultrasound is used with heat and/or pressure, it generates a synergistic effect on the inactivation of enzymes and microorganisms found in foods. In this study, an information about inactivation mechanism of ultrasound and its application on foods and enzyme inactivation was given.
The AGILE monitoring of Cygnus X-3: transient gamma-ray emission and spectral constraints

We present the AGILE-GRID (Astro-rivelatore Gamma a Immagini LEggero – Gamma-Ray Imaging Detector) monitoring of Cygnus X-3, during the period between November 2007 and July 2009. We report here the whole AGILE-GRID monitoring of Cygnus X-3 in the AGILE “pointing” mode data-taking, to confirm that the γ-ray activity coincides with the same repetitive pattern of multiwavelength emission and analyze in depth the overall γ-ray spectrum by assuming both leptonic and hadronic scenarios. Seven intense γ-ray events were detected in this period, with a typical event lasting one or two days. These durations are longer than the likely cooling times of the γ-ray emitting particles, implying we see continuous acceleration rather than the result of an impulsive event such as the ejection of a single plasmoid that then cools as it propagates outwards. Cross-correlating the AGILE-GRID light curve with both X-ray and radio monitoring data, we find that the main events of γ-ray activity were detected while the system was in soft spectral X-ray states (RXTE/ASM (Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer/All-Sky Monitor) count rate in the 3−5 keV band 3 counts s −1 ), that coincide with local and often sharp minima of the hard X-ray flux (Swift/BAT (Burst Alert Telescope) count rate 0.02 counts cm −2 s −1 ), a few days before intense radio outbursts. This repetitive temporal coincidence between the γ-ray transient emission and spectral state changes of the source turns out to be the spectral signature of γ-ray activity from this microquasar. These γ-ray events may thus reflect a sharp transition in the structure of the accretion disk and its corona, which leads to a rebirth of the microquasar jet and subsequent enhanced activity in the radio band. The γ-ray differential spectrum of Cygnus X-3 (100 MeV–3 GeV), which was obtained by averaging the data collected by the AGILE-GRID during the γ-ray events, is consistent with a power law of photon index α = 2.0 ± 0.2. Finally, we examine leptonic and hadronic emission models for the γ-ray events and find that both scenarios are valid. In the leptonic model – based on inverse Compton scatterings of mildly relativistic electrons on soft photons from both the Wolf-Rayet companion star and the accretion disk – the emitting particles may also contribute to the overall hard X-ray spectrum, possibly explaining the hard non-thermal power-law tail seen during special soft X-ray states in Cygnus X-3.
The Perceived Destination Image of Hangzhou City of China as Received in the Travel Blogs of Western Tourists

This study explored travel blogs as a manifestation of travel experience, along with the destination image of Hangzhou city of China from the perspective of western tourists. Frequency analysis, semantic network analysis as well as content analysis were taken in this study which aims to reveal the perception of western travelers to Hangzhou. The data for this study was from the blogs of western tourists who had been to Hangzhou. Empirical results revealed that the overall perceived destination image of Hangzhou was positive, with particular strengths in tourist attractions and major weaknesses in meals and transportation.
FLUTE-EM : Electromigration-Optimized Net Topology Considering Currents and Mechanical Stress

This is a personal version, original copyright is with IEEE. Please quote as: S. Bigalke and J. Lienig. FLUTE-EM: Electromigration-optimized net topology considering currents and mechanical stress. In Proc. of 26th IFIP/IEEE Int. Conf. on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI-SoC), Oct. 2018. Abstract—The future reliability of integrated circuits is endangered by ever shrinking feature sizes and the resulting rise in electromigration (EM) damage. In order to guarantee reliability in future circuits, new approaches are needed in physical synthesis. These approaches must prioritize reliability constraints, such as EM-induced stress reduction during nettopology generation. In line with these insights, our rectilinear Steiner tree is optimized for currents and mechanical stress. We thus aim for optimized EM robustness rather than minimal wire length in the generated net topology. Our results imply a mechanical stress reduction in most cases of more than 50%, thereby significantly abating EM vulnerability. In addition, we show that reservoirs can further reduce the absolute mechanical stress level, and we present an equation for directly calculating the optimal reservoir length.
Being a school-based teacher educator: developing pedagogy and identity in facilitating work-based higher education in a professional field

Facilitating work-based learning in higher education involves the educator in developing both their pedagogy and their professional identity. A current policy drive in England is towards school-embedded teacher education programmes facilitated by school-based teacher educators. The promoted schemes involve postgraduate student teachers being formally based in schools for the duration of their programme. This work-based approach involves school-based teacher educators who teach school students regularly as well as having a considerable responsibility for teaching and coaching their student teachers. This is a significant change from previous partnership-based teacher education where university-based teacher educators collaborated with school-based ‘mentors’, experienced teachers, to provide taught sessions in the university plus work-based learning in school. Many of these postgraduate teacher education programmes include credit-bearing modules at Masters level and an award at postgraduate certificate level. After qualification some teachers use these credits to study part-time towards a full Masters award. This paper focuses on the workplace learning and developing identity of a school-based teacher educator who teaches music classes for school students, contributes to extracurricular music activities in the school, and educates ten secondary music specialist postgraduate student teachers completing a one-year postgraduate programme. The study uses a reflective diary kept by the school-based teacher educator for a full academic year combined with semi-structured interviews at intervals. The interview transcripts and selected segments of the reflective diary were subjected to qualitative thematic analysis. The findings of this small-scale study suggest that there is great potential in the schoolembedded approach to facilitate powerful classroom experiences for student teachers supported by coaching and opportunities for collaborative and reflective learning. However, for this integrated teacher education to be ‘higher education’ – rather than technical training – has important implications for the school as a workplace environment and for the professional knowing and identity of the school-based teacher educator. Learning to teach is complex, relational, and challenging and student teachers need space to be learners as well as teachers. Becoming an effective school-based teacher educator, facilitating work-based higher education, will be no less challenging.
A model for computational simulation of intuition

The main difficulty in all previous attempts to construct a mathematical model for human intuition is the lack of explanation wherefrom this outside help can come. If this help-message contains a piece of information about the problem to be solved then it is unbelievable that somebody sends such a help to us. If the help-message contains no information then why this message can help anybody. A possible mechanism of such a help based on finite automata is proposed. In the proposed model the advice comes in a form of a random sequence of symbols. It is quite possible that human organism can sometimes receive random signals from a non-living source outside the organism. This help indeed contains zero information about the problem but nonetheless it helps. Moreover, it turns out that this mechanism is different from probabilistic, nondeterministic and quantum computation.
The role of the PI 3 K / AKT / mTOR protein synthesis pathway in the skeletal muscle atrophy induced by COPD

Objective: To confirm the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR protein synthesis pathway in skeletal muscle atrophy induced by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to explore the possible targets in the signaling pathway inhibiting muscle atrophy. Methods: Rats exposed to chronic cigarette smoke (CS) were selected for our study, divided into two exposure groups sham-exposed and 12 weeks CS. Total RNA and protein were extracted from extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDLM) for Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis to assess the MHC expression. The proteins expression associated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway (PI3K, Akt, mTOR, GSK-3β, p70S6K1, and 4EBP1) were assessed by Western blot analysis. 2% FBS induces L6 cells to differentiate. IGF-1 (PI3K agonist) and 10% CSE exposed L6 myoblasts for 24 hours, then detect the expression of MHC, and the proteins associated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Results: Chronic CS exposure decreased the MHC expression. The phosphorylation levels of Akt, mTOR, GSK-3β, p70S6K1 and 4EBP1 were increased significantly after Chronic CS exposure, and no significant changes were observed in the protein levels of PI3K. CSE treatment also decreased MHC expression. PI3K agonist insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) treatment increased the MHC expression in comparison with simple CSE treatment. Not only the phosphorylation levels of Akt, mTOR, GSK-3β, p70S6K1, and 4EBP1 decreased significantly after CSE treatment, but also PI3K. Moreover, IGF-1 increased the phosphorylation levels of the protein synthesis pathway in comparison with simple CSE treatment. Conclusion: Chronic CS exposure induces muscle atrophy and activates PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Using IGF-1 activates PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway inhibits L6 myoblasts atrophy induced by CSE.
STOCHASTIC HOPF BIFURCATION OF QUASI-INTEGRABLE HAMILTONIAN SYSTEMS WITH TIME-DELAYED FEEDBACK CONTROL

The stochastic Hopf bifurcation of multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) quasi-integrable Hamiltonian systems with time-delayed feedback control subject to Gaussian white noise excitations is studied. First, the time-delayed feedback control forces are approximately expressed in terms of the system state variables without time delay, and the system is converted into anordinary quasi-integrable Hamiltonian system. The averaged Ito stochastic differential equations are derived by using the stochastic averaging method for quasi-integrable Hamiltonian systems. Then, an expression for the average bifurcation parameter of the averaged system is obtained approximately, and a criterion for determining the stochastic Hopf bifurcation caused by the time-delayed feedback control forces in the original system as the value of the average bifurcation parameter changing is proposed. An example is worked out in detail to illustrate the above criterion and its validity, and to show the e ffect of the time delay in the feedback control on the stochastic Hopf bifurcation of the system.
Trafik Yoğunluğunun Veri Görselleştirme Yöntemi ile Gerçek Zamanlı İzlenmesi İçin Yeni Bir Sistem Yaklaşımı

Gunumuzde teknolojik araclarin ziyadesiyle gelismis olmasi munasebetiyle buyuksehirlerin hemen hemen tamaminda trafik sisteminin izlenmesi icin degisik altyapilarin kurulmus olmasi bir gercektir. Cunku guvenlik, negatif bir durumda hemen mudahale, trafik akisinin duraksamadan devam etmesi gibi nedenlerden dolayi bu sistemler buyuk onem arz etmektedir. Ancak daha kucuk sehir ve ilcelerde bu sistemlerin kurulumu yuksek maliyetinden dolayi cok daha zor hale gelmektedir. Ayrica insanoglu gorsel ogeleri daha cabuk algilayip ve ayirt eder. Bu nedenle verilerin gorsellestirilmesi de buyuk onem tasimaktadir. Bu calismada maliyeti nispeten dusuk ve basit bir yontemle trafik yogunlugunun gercek zamanli olarak izlenebilmesi icin yeni bir sistem gelistirilmistir. Ayrica veriler veritabaninda uzun sureli saklanabileceginden dolayi aylik, yillik gibi analizler yapilabilecektir.
Improvement of orange ii photobleaching by moderate Ga 3+ doping of titania and detrimental effect of structural disorder on Ga overloading

Highly photoactive Ga3+-doped anatase modification of titania was prepared by homogeneous hydrolysis of aqueous solutions mixture of titanium oxo-sulphate TiOSO4 and gallium(III) nitrate with urea. Incorporation of Ga3+ into the anatase lattice has a clear positive effect on the photocatalytic activity under UV and Vis light irradiation up to a certain extent of Ga. Ga3+ doping decreased the size of the crystallites, increased surface area, and affected texture of the samples. Higher amount of gallium leads to the formation of a nondiffractive phase, probably photocatalytically inactive. The titania sample with 2.18wt. % Ge3+ had the highest activity during the photocatalysed degradation in the UV and visible light regions; the total bleaching of dye Orange II was achieved within 29 minutes. Ga concentration larger than 5% (up to 15%) significantly inhibited the growth of the anatase crystal domains which formed the nondiffractive phase content and led to remarkable worsening of the photobleaching efficiency.
Alien plants invade more phylogenetically clustered community types and cause even stronger clustering

Aim: Several hypotheses postulate that species invasion is affected by an interplay between the phylogenetic position of the invading species and the phylogenetic structure of the invaded community type. Some of them suggest that phylogenetic relatedness of invaders to native species promotes naturalization, because phylogenetically related alien species tend to have similar environmental adaptations as native species. Others predict that phylogenetic relatedness hampers naturalization because of stronger competition of aliens with native species and shared enemies. Here we ask how phylogenetic diversity of native species affects invasion across community types. Location: Czech Republic. Methods: All major plant community types at a national scale (88) were characterized by their species pools, i.e. lists of species that can potentially occur there. Of the total number of 2306 species, 1785 were native, 246 were archaeophytes and 275 were neophytes. For each species pool, we related the number of alien species to the phylogenetic diversity of the native species pool, calculated as mean phylogenetic distance (MPD) and mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD), including null models. Results: The number of alien species was related both to the phylogenetic structure of community types and to the phylogenetic position of alien species. Frequently disturbed herbaceous community types with strong phylogenetic clustering were more invaded than others, possibly due to disturbance acting as an environmental filter. Here, alien species increased the degree of phylogenetic clustering as they tended to be from the same lineages as native species. Such trends were not detected for phylogenetically more diverse community types such as forests. Main conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that relatedness of invaders to native species promotes invasion because of their shared adaptations to the same environments. Alien species more strongly invade community types that are phylogenetically clustered, and because they tend to be related to native species, invaded community types become even more clustered.
Distributed Bayesian Personalized Ranking in Spark

Bayesian Personalized Ranking (BPR) is a general learning framework for item recommendation using implicit feedback (e.g. clicks, purchases, visits to an item), by far the most prevalent form of feedback in the web. Using a generic optimization criterion based on the maximum posterior estimator derived from a Bayesian analysis, BPR differentiates itself from other common recommendation algorithms in two main aspects. First, it directly optimizes the final objective of ranking. Second, it abstracts away the underlying rating computation model (which could be, for instance, matrix factorization or k-nearest-neighbors). In this paper, we define a distributed version of BPR using matrix factorization for the Spark ecosystem, which we implement in both Scala and Python (https://github.com/alfredolainez/bpr-spark).
Building and sustaining support for national parks in the 21st century: Why and how to save the national park experience from extinction

Understanding and enhancing societal support for national parks is critical for their survival globally, especially in the uncertain and rapidly changing economic and political environment of the 21st century. This paper argues that the continuing availability of a diversity of visitor experiences in national parks is essential for cultivating this support. Employing national park experiences as key tools for building and sustaining societal support, and the strategies for doing so, have received limited attention by scholars. This paper aims to conceptualize the benefits and threats to visitor experiences in national parks as a basis for cementing their protection and enhancement into park management practices. It does this by drawing on literature investigating the benefits of visiting parks as a theoretical and empirical foundation for identifying the range of visitor experiences that need to be saved from extinction. Principles for endangered species management, derived from conservation biology, are then used as a conceptual lens to examine the threats to these experiences. A values-based perspective suggests the need to both address threats to these experiences and foster the associated benefits to visitors and society. A suite of management strategies at the park/site level and systems level are suggested to reduce threats to the quality and diversity of visitor experiences as well as enhance the benefits of visiting national parks. These strategies can be engaged to complement rather than replace the current impact-focused approach to managing the visitor experience. Concluding recommendations for future research include: clarifying the threats to the visitor experience globally and the synergies between them, exploring the relationship between the management of settings in national parks and the accrual of benefits, and initiating and analyzing the efficacy of interventions designed to maintain and enhance the benefits of visiting national parks. Such initiatives are central to both saving the visitor experience from extinction and for building and sustaining support for national parks in the twenty-first century.
Chapter 2 Computational Toxicology : Application in Environmental Chemicals

This chapter provides an overviewof computationalmodels that describe various aspects of the source-to-health effect continuum. Fate and transport models describe the release, transportation, and transformation of chemicals from sources of emission throughout the general environment. Exposure models integrate the microenvironmental concentrations with the amount of time an individual spends in these microenvironments to estimate the intensity, frequency, and duration of contact with environmental chemicals. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models incorporate mechanistic biological information to predict chemical-specific absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Values of parameters in PBPKmodels can be measured in vitro, in vivo, or estimated using computational molecular modeling. Computational modeling is also used to predict the respiratory tract dosimetry of inhaled gases and particulates [computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models], to describe the normal and xenobiotic-perturbed behaviors of signaling pathways, and to analyze the growth kinetics of preneoplastic lesions and predict tumor incidence (clonal growth models).