Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies on the Phytodiversity of a Sacred Grove and its Traditional Uses in Karaikal District, U.T. Puducherry

India is a land of diverse natural resources with the strong traditions of nature conservation practices. The sacred groves are the representatives of climax vegetation and exhibit the diversity of species such as trees, climbers, epiphytes and other shade loving herbs. Well-preserved sacred groves are storehouses of valuable medicinal and other plants having high economic value and serve as a refuge to threatened species. The present paper deals with floristic composition of angiosperms grown in a sacred grove located in Karaikal district and to document its traditional medicinal uses. The present work also elucidates the species composition of 59 plants species of flowering plants which spreads in 55 genera and 30 families. Many rural people in the district were using the plants from the sacred grove to cure many common diseases. This kind of degraded sacred groves should be immediately restored or regenerated using appropriate technologies and by raising awareness among the rural people regarding the importance of sacred grove and its conservation.
Comparing societies and cultures: challenges of cross-cultural survey research as an approach to spatial analysis

»Gesellschaftsund Kulturvergleich. Die Leistungsfähigkeit der interkulturell-vergleichenden Umfrageforschung als Methode der Raumanalyse«. The paper shows how cross-cultural, cross-societal, cross-national, multinational and international comparative survey researchers have been handling space since the 1950s and how it can be used for spatial analysis. Using the concepts of the Survey Life Cycle and the Total Survey Error (TSE), the paper discusses two major methodological problems cross-cultural survey methodology faces: The problems of (1) equivalence and (2) demarcation.
JACOBIAN-FREE ACCELERATING CONVERGENCE METHOD FOR NONLINEAR SYSTEM OF EQUATIONS

In this paper, we present a Jacobian free accelerating conver- gence of the successive approximation method for solving nonlinear system of equations. The set of parameters is introduced for successive approximation method as consequence accelerating convergence is achieved. The convergence condition and rate of convergence are derived analytically. Some numerical il- lustrations are given and we compared these methods with Newton's method and successive approximation method.
A Novel Behavior-based Navigation Architecture of Mobile Robot in Unknown Environments

This study proposes behavior-based navigation architecture, named BBFM, for mobile robot in unknown environment with obstacles. The architecture is carried out in three steps: (i) analyzing the navigation problem to determine parameters of the architecture; (ii) designing the objective functions to relate input data with the desired output; and (iii) fusing the output of each objective function to generate the optimal control signal. We use fuzzy logic to design the objective functions and multi-objective optimization to find the Pareto optimal solution for the fusion. A number of simulations, comparisons, and experiments were conducted. The results show that the proposed architecture outperforms some popular behaviorbased architectures in navigating the mobile robot in complex environments.
Carrier Assisted Emulsion Liquid Membrane Process for Recovery of Basic Dye from Wastewater using Continuous Extractor

Nowadays, water pollution has become major issue especially dye contaminated wastewaters from the textile industry. Dye causes serious environmental pollution and health problems. The removal of color from dye-contaminated wastewaters in the related industries becomes a major concern all over the world. In this research, several parameters of dye extraction and recovery in the continuous emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) process were investigated. This process consisted of three phases which are external (feed) phase, membrane phase and internal phase. The membrane phase was prepared by dissolving extractant bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and hydrophobic surfactant sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) in kerosene as diluents. The internal phase consisted of an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The important parameters governing the extraction process of dye such as stirring speed, initial dye concentration, Span 80 concentration and treat ratio (volume ratio of emulsion to external phase) were studied. The results showed that the optimum condition for 25ppm initial concentration of dye extraction are 250 rpm stirring speed, 5% (w/v) Span 80 and treat ratio 1:5. At this condition, the percentage of dye extraction, stripping and recovery were 98%, 82% and 81% respectively. Hence, continuous ELM technique is proven to be a very promising technique in industrial wastewater treatment and recovery of dye.
Growth Inhibition and Anti-Cancer Activity of the Human Hepatocarcinoma HepG2 Cell Line in Vitro Study Using Human, Camel and Cow Milk

"Certain food has resilient anticancer amalgams which can be rummage-sale for the cure and stoppage of cancer. The study scrutinized the cytotoxicity of human, camel, cow milk on animal carcinomatous cell line using tissue culture teqnique. In the existing study the inhibitory special effects of human, camel and cow milk at concentrations of 1.25%,2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% alongside human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cell line in vitro were strongminded. The results signpost that anti-cancer activity of each type of milk used in the study and the growth restraint rate (%) was related to the milk concentration, so that a (50%) concentration of gave the highest growth inhibition rate, followed by the 40%, 30% and 20, 10% concentrations. Theirs significant difference between the concentration When compare between the three type of milk, also Statistical analysis association between the effect of different type of milk displayed significant difference ( P ˂ 0.05). The results visibly displayed that human and camel milk have potent cytotoxic and cytostatic effects on studied the cell line. On the basis of these results we can conclude that human and camel milk has strong cytotoxic effect on human carcinomatous cells".
ARE INVASIVE SPECIES THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS OF CHANGE IN DEGRADED ECOSYSTEMS

Few invaded ecosystems are free from habitat loss and disturbance, leading to uncertainty whether dominant invasive species are driving community change or are passengers along for the environmental ride. The ''driver'' model predicts that invaded communities are highly interactive, with subordinate native species being limited or ex- cluded by competition from the exotic dominants. The ''passenger'' model predicts that invaded communities are primarily structured by noninteractive factors (environmental change, dispersal limitation) that are less constraining on the exotics, which thus dominate. We tested these alternative hypotheses in an invaded, fragmented, and fire-suppressed oak savanna. We examined the impact of two invasive dominant perennial grasses on community structure using a reduction (mowing of aboveground biomass) and removal (weeding of above- and belowground biomass) experiment conducted at different seasons and soil depths. We examined the relative importance of competition vs. dispersal limitation with experimental seed additions. Competition by the dominants limits the abundance and re- production of many native and exotic species based on their increased performance with removals and mowing. The treatments resulted in increased light availability and bare soil; soil moisture and N were unaffected. Although competition was limiting for some, 36 of 79 species did not respond to the treatments or declined in the absence of grass cover. Seed additions revealed that some subordinates are dispersal limited; competition alone was insufficient to explain their rarity even though it does exacerbate dispersal inefficiencies by lowering reproduction. While the net effects of the dominants were negative, their presence restricted woody plants, facilitated seedling survival with moderate disturbance (i.e., treatments applied in the fall), or was not the primary limiting factor for the occurrence of some species. Finally, the species most functionally distinct from the dominants (forbs, woody plants) responded most significantly to the treatments. This suggests that relative abundance is determined more by trade-offs relating to environmental conditions (long- term fire suppression) than to traits relating to resource capture (which should most impact functionally similar species). This points toward the passenger model as the underlying cause of exotic dominance, although their combined effects (suppressive and facilitative) on community structure are substantial.
Southern infrared proper motion survey - III. Constraining the mass function of low mass stars

The stellar mass function is one of the fundamental distributions of stellar astrophysics. Its form at masses similar to the Sun was found by Salpeter (1955, ApJ, 121, 161) to be a power-law m -α with a slope of α = 1.35. Since then the mass function in the field, in stellar clusters and in other galaxies has been studied to identify variation due to environment and mass range. Here we use results from previous papers in the SIPS series to constrain the mass function of low mass stars (0.075 M ⊙ < m < 0.2 M ⊙ )- We use simulations of the local low mass stellar population to model the results of the SIPS-II survey. We then vary the input parameters of these simulations (the exponent of the mass function a and a stellar birthrate parameter /3) and compare the simulated survey results with those from the actual survey. After a correction for binarity and taking into account potential errors in our model we find that a = -0.62 ± 0.26 for the quoted mass range.
Evolution in Regional Planning: The Italian Path

Focus of the paper are the models and practices of regional spatial planning activated in Italy in the most recent years, in order to evidence the innovation occurred and the challenges that regional planning institutions are facing. Compared to a theoretical and legislative framework that tends to separate the different types of regional planning (spatial, landscape, development planning), the experimental framework is characterized by pluralistic approaches in which a balance between a normative and a strategic nature of the territorial plan is searched, in order to introduce perspectives of economic and social development. In a continuous process of institutional reflexivity and learning, the regional institutions have now achieved that the notion of 'region' has become more about social interaction than geographical location. For that, interesting experiences of intraregional and interregional cooperation are developing, as called Interregional table of PadanoAlpine-Maritime Macro Area in Northern Italy, a place-based approach generating supra-local shared visions that are of a certain interest.
A glance on dystonias, how to recognize and handle them

Dystonia refers to an involuntary, repetitive, sustained, painful and twisting movements of the affected body part. This movement disorder was first described in 1911 by Hermain Oppenheim, and many studies have been conducted to understand the mechanism, the diagnosis and the treatment of dystonia ever since. However, there are still many unexplained aspects of this phenomenon. Dystonia is diagnosed by clinical manifestations, and various classifications are recommended for the diagnosis and the treatment. Anatomic classification, which is based on the muscle groups involved, is the most helpful classification model to plan the course of the treatment. Dystonias can also be classified based on the age of onset and the cause. These dystonic syndromes can be present without an identified etiology or they can be clinical manifestations of a neurodegenerative or neurometabolic disease. In this review we summarized the differential diagnosis, definition, classifications, possible mechanisms and treatment choices of dystonia.
Antagonistic activity of selected strains of Bacillus thuringiensis against Rhizoctonia solani of chili pepper

The aim of this work was to determine, in vitro, the antagonistic effectiveness of 60 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis against damping-off and root and stem rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani. The strains were obtained from the International Collection of Entomopathogenic Bacillus at the FCB-UANL. During the in vitro dual culture assay only 16 of the strains displayed an inhibitory effect. Six strains were chosen to be screened simultaneously by volatile antibiotics, thermostability and seedling assay. In the volatile antibiotics assay, the strains GM-11 and GM-121 showed the best inhibitory effect over R. solani growth. None of the strains showed an efficient antagonistic effect during the thermoestability assay. In seedling assay, majority of the antagonistic isolates, GM-23, GM-11and GM-121, were effective in the reduction of R. solani infection. In addition, GM-23 increased the length of pepper seedlings. These results suggest that the B. thuringiensis strains studied have an excellent potential to be used as bio-control agents of R. solani in chili pepper.
New information on Hauffiosaurus (Reptilia, Plesiosauria) based on a new species from the Alum Shale Member (Lower Toarcian: Lower Jurassic) of Yorkshire, UK

Abstract: An almost complete, three‐dimensionally preserved plesiosaurian from the Hildoceras bifrons Zone of the Alum Shale Member (Whitby Limestone Formation; Lower Toarcian) of Yorkshire, UK, is described in detail. This represents a new species of Hauffiosaurus, H. tomistomimus, distinguished from H. zanoni (Harpoceras serpentinum Zone, Lower Toarcian, Germany) by the proportionally shorter neck and strongly concave preaxial margin of the tibia. It differs from H. longirostris (previously ‘Macroplata’longirostris; Har. serpentinum Zone, Yorkshire) by the absence of prominent midline ridges on the dorsal surface of the premaxillae and ventral surface of the mandibular symphysis, and the absence of midline pterygoid contact ventral to the basioccipital. Several synapomorphies support a monophyletic Hauffiosaurus: broad longitudinal troughs occupy the dorsolateral surface of the maxilla and the posterior half of the lateral surface of the dentary; basicranial fontanelle bounded laterally by posterolaterally elongate projections of an undetermined ossification; and the neural arch contacts the rib facet in all postaxial cervical vertebrae. However, the systematic position of Hauffiosaurus, as a pliosauroid or basal plesiosauroid, remains uncertain. There is little evidence for geographic differentiation of Lower Toarcian plesiosaurian faunas in the United Kingdom and Germany as minor differences between abundant taxa may arise from temporal offset of fossils from these regions, and marked taxonomic differences are confined to rare taxa whose absence in one or other area may be attributable to incomplete sampling. Lack of consensus on the relationships of Lower Jurassic plesiosaurians requires further detailed description of Lower Jurassic taxa.
Disguised Employment - The Nature of Forced Entrepreneurship

Present labor markets are in the wind of change. A widely made distinction between employees and individual contractors has been challenged. The study discusses abductively, i.e. both conceptually and empirically, the nature of being a responsible employer. Consequently, the two central concepts are: a) responsibility and b) employment relationship. The empirical research task is: Why does disguised employment exist? Question of the research is: What is disguised employment as forced entrepreneurship? The approach is qualitative and abductive, which in this case means a twoway dialogue between the findings gained from literature and interviews. For this exploration, twelve open and unstructured interviews were conducted, two authentic written descriptions of dispute cases were analyzed and three concluding theme-based interviews were made by phone to clarify some remaining open questions. Disguised employment causes harm to employers and employees in the form of forced contracts, lack of experience in firms and unethical and irresponsible outsourcing. Responsible employment is a balance between rights, obligations, power and corporate social responsibility.
EFFECT OF POMEGRANATE JUICE AND PEEL ON ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES AND LIPID PROFILE IN CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS.

Doaa M. Genena 1 and Neveen F. Agamy 2 . 1. Fellow of Nutrition, Medical Research Institute University of Alexandria 2. Assistant Professor of food analysis, High Institute of Public HealthUniversity of Alexandria . Manuscript Info Abstract . Manuscript History
Screening of some rice varieties and landraces cultivated in Nigeria for drought tolerance based on phenotypic traits and their association with SSR polymorphisms

Breeding for drought tolerance based on direct selection for high grain yield under drought has been hindered by the complex nature of drought tolerance mechanisms and the approaches used. Molecular marker-based approaches are a promising alternative. In this study, 30 rice (Oryza sativa L.) accessions cultivated in Nigeria were screened in a greenhouse for drought tolerance based on morpho-physiological traits and assessed for DNA polymorphisms using SSR markers for possible marker – trait associations. Our results showed that five Nigerian rice landraces (IJS-02, IJS-09, IK-PS, IK-FS and Lad-f) and three improved varieties (FARO-44, IR-119 and IWA-8) were highly drought tolerant. Sixteen of 20 markers tested yielded amplified products and generated 221 alleles (4 – 5 alleles per marker) with PIC values ranging from 0.24 - 0.95 per marker. Although, none of the markers were present in all the accessions that were found to be highly drought tolerant with respect to any particular morph-physiological trait, some of the markers (RM252, RM331, RM432, RM36, RM525, RM260 and RM318) amplified alleles unique to nearly all the tolerant Nigerian landraces (IJS-02, IJS-09, IK-PS, IK-FS) and FARO-11, a drought tolerant control. These markers may be usefully exploited for molecular breeding of rice for drought tolerance.
Influence of Welding Parameters on Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Welded 6061-T6 Launch Box

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a welding process which deals with joining parts in a solid state at low temperature to result in welded parts with excellent mechanical performance, such as low distortion and high tensile strength. Additionally friction stir welding is applicable to aluminum alloy products with precision dimensions. By using friction stir welding parameters, this research studies the tensile strength, hardness, elongation rates, and shrinkage of extruded 6061-T6 alloy. Results indicate that the joining strength of the extruded 6061-T6 alloy can reach 78% of the base metal after friction stir welding. Meanwhile, welding parameters can accurately predict and control the welding distortion of welded products. This research applies these results in the manufacturing of launch boxes to arrive at a technology that can be directly applied to welded products without expensive as-welded modifications.
Development of mathematics anxiety scale: Factor analysis as a determinant of subcategories

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument for measuring students’ mathematics anxiety scale (MAS) with high psychometric property. A survey research design was used involving 510 students randomly selected from secondary schools. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was carried out to determine the number of factors to be retained in the MAS subcategories. The factors were extracted using maximum likelihood method and the pattern matrix was rotated using Oblimin with Kaiser Normalization which converged after 22 iterations. The final 20-item MAS contained two anxiety subcategories: learning mathematics anxiety (Cronbach’s alpha = .86) and perception of difficulty and motivation (Cronbach’s alpha = .74). The reliability coefficient of the instrument was . 90 with sufficient evidence of content and face validity.
A New Approach to Derive Priority Weights from Additive Interval Fuzzy Preference Relations Based on Logarithms

This paper investigates the consistency definition and the weight-deriving method for additive interval fuzzy preference relations (IFPRs) using a particular characterization based on logarithms. In a recently published paper, a new approach with a parameter is developed to obtain priority weights from fuzzy preference relations (FPRs), then a new consistency definition for the additive IFPRs is defined, and finally linear programming models for deriving interval weights from consistent and inconsistent IFPRs are proposed. However, the discussion of the parameter value is not adequate and the weights obtained by the linear models for inconsistent IFPRs are dependent on alternative labels and not robust to permutations of the decision makers’ judgments. In this paper, we first investigate the value of the parameter more thoroughly and give the closed form solution for the parameter. Then, we design a numerical example to illustrate the drawback of the linear models. Finally, we construct a linear model to derive interval weights from IFPRs based on the additive transitivity based consistency definition. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method, we compare our method to the existing method on three numerical examples. The results show that our method performs better on both consistent and inconsistent IFPRs.
When Passions Constitute Peace: Tocquevillian Equality as Political Ethics of Pacificism

As political passions continue to fuel world conflicts, the conditions under which passions constitute peace become of scholarly and policy importance. Passions understood as socio-political guarantees of peace open a possibility of exploring the ethics of war and peace through the often ambiguous role of political passions. This essay discusses the possibility that the passion for equality represents a solid claim in the political ethics of pacificism through the analysis of egalitarian passions in Tocqueville’s Democracy. Tocquevillian democracy, best characterized by “equality of conditions,” rests primarily on passions. As a particular form of pacificism, such equality can create and sustain peace by shaping peace-loving citizens and regimes. In order to build upon potentially violent passions, a peaceful egalitarian system requires that passions be structured in a hierarchy that is established through equality as long as it maintains social ties without harming freedom. When seen as both passion and a form of existence – in other words as a ‘dialectic’ – democracy becomes the interpretive and ethical key for understanding the source of a political system’s strength, stability and peace. The analysis of Tocquevillian equality contributes to the development of the theory of pacificism as a nuanced and theoretically sound form of an ethics of peace.