Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Identity of place” in the context of urbanization

The article shows that there is a contradictory process involving the growing influence of globalization and localization in Russia nowadays. The empirical base is the data of mass opinion surveys in the regions of Russia for years 2006-2017. The methods of analysis is the calculation of the location layer index, dispersion, and regression analysis. It is revealed that the spread of global practices may contradict the growing importance of local environment, manifested as “identity of place”. In the dynamics of Russian reality, the “identity of place” in its local, geographical terms is reduced. At the same time, the importance of family and professional circles of communication is increasing while the importance of communication on the basis of “place of living” is decreasing. This process is not contrary to the logic of urbanization. The growth of cities, the processes of agglomeration are getting people outside their local circles, and increasing the level of trust of individuals to strangers, but in Russia, these processes have decelerated and in some aspects changed their orientation. The weakness of such significant for socialization factors like education and type of employment seems worrisome.
Interactive effects of vegetation type and elevation on aboveground and belowground properties in a subarctic tundra

An improved knowledge of how contrasting types of plant communities and their associated soil biota differ in their responses to climatic variables is important for better understanding the future impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems. Elevational gradients serve as powerful study systems for answering questions on how ecological processes can be affected by changes in temperature and associated climatic variables. In this study, we evaluated how plant and soil microbial communities, and abiotic soil properties, change with increasing elevation in subarctic tundra in northern Sweden, for each of two dominant but highly contrasting vegetation types, namely heath (dominated by woody dwarf shrubs) and meadow (dominated by herbaceous species). To achieve this, we measured plant community characteristics, microbial community properties and several soil abiotic properties for both vegetation types across an elevation gradient of 500 to 1000 m. We found that the two vegetation types differed not only in several above- and belowground properties, but also in how these properties responded to elevation, pointing to important interactive effects between vegetation type and elevation. Specifically, for the heath, available soil nitrogen and phosphorus decreased with elevation whereas fungal dominance increased, while for the meadow, idiosyncratic responses to elevation for these variables were found. These differences in belowground responses to elevation among vegetation types were linked to shifts in the species and functional group composition of the vegetation. Our results highlight that these two dominant vegetation types in subarctic tundra differ greatly not only in fundamental aboveground and belowground properties, but also in how these properties respond to elevation and are therefore likely to be influenced by temperature. As such they highlight that vegetation type, and the soil abiotic properties that determine this, may serve as powerful determinants of how both aboveground and belowground properties respond to strong environmental gradients.
Taxamat: Automated biodiversity data management tool - Implications for microbiome studies.

Working with biodiversity data is a computationally intensive process. Numerous applications and services provide options to deal with sequencing and taxonomy data. Professional statistics software are also available to analyze these type of data. However, in-between the two processes there is a huge need to curate biodiversity sample files. Curation involves creating summed abundance values for chosen taxonomy ranks, excluding certain taxa from analysis, and finally merging and downsampling data files. Very few tools, if any, offer a solution to this problem, thus we present Taxamat, a simple data management application that allows for curation of biodiversity data files before they can be imported to other statistics software. Taxamat is a downloadable application for automated curation of biodiversity data featuring taxonomic classification, taxon filtering, sample merging, and downsampling. Input and output files are compatible with most widely used programs. Taxamat is available on the web at http://www.taxamat. com either as a single executable or as an installable package for Microsoft Windows platforms.
Approach to ontology construction based on text mining

Abstract The use of ontologies as representations of knowledge is widespread but until recently their construction has been entirely manual. We argue in this paper for the use of text corpora and automated natural language processing methods for the construction of ontologies. A method of constructing a dynamic agricultural ontology based on text mining is proposed by comparing thesaurus with ontology. First, AGROVOC is transformed into a concept schema in OWL (a web ontology language). Then, the further relations among concepts are mined from the literature subject‐indexed by AGROVOC. The problem of ontology construction is solved by this method. It is also easier to build more accurate domain ontology. At the same time the method depends less heavily on input from domain experts.
42 DEVELOPMENT OF PIG EMBRYOS CLONED FROM DONOR CELLS TREATED WITH TRICHOSTATIN A

Development to the blastocyst stage following nuclear transfer is dependent on the donor cell's ability to reprogram its genome to a totipotent state. Reprogramming of the transferred somatic nuclei must be completed by the time normal activation of the embryonic genome occurs (Solter 2000 Nat. Rev. Genet. 1, 199–207). Recently, Enright et al. (2003 Biol. Reprod. 69, 896–901) reported that in vitro development of cloned cow embryos was improved by treatment of donor cells with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, TrichostatinA (TSA). So far, there are no reports available for adult pig fibroblast cells treated with TSA. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the development of handmade cloned embryos in pig could be improved by using TSA-treated donor cells. Adult pig fibroblast cells were treated with 100, 150, or 200 nm TSA for 24 h, compared to untreated controls, and were then used as donor cells. The cells were electrofused with handmade enucleated pig oocytes separately and were activated with calcium ionophore and cycloheximide. They were subsequently cultured in porcine zygote medium 3 (PZM-3; Yoshioka et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 112–119) using the well of the well system (WOW; Vajta et al. 2000 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55, 256–264). Experiments were repeated 4 times and the data were analyzed with AVEDEV and t-test in Excel (Microsoft Excel 2007). The cleavage rates and the total cell numbers per blastocyst were similar between groups (P > 0.05), as shown in Table 1. However, the cloned blastocyst rate using donor cells treated with 100 nm TSA was higher than in the other groups (69.9 ± 4.7% v. 43.6 ± 4.3%, 43.1 ± 5.8%, or 46.6 ± 3.6%; P < 0.05), as shown in Table 1. These data suggest that proper TSA treatment for donor cells before somatic cloning improves the rate of development of porcine handmade cloned embryos to the blastocyst stage. Further research is needed to examine the in vivo development of embryos reconstructed with TSA-treated donor cells. Table 1. Developmental ability of cloned pig embryos derived fromTSA-treated donor cells
Austroeupatorium inulifolium invasion increases arbuscular mycorrhizal abundance in Cymbopogon-dominated grasslands in Knuckles Conservation Area

Plant invasions can interfere with above- and belowground dynamics of ecosystems, which eventually alter the ecosystem functions. However, relatively less attention has been drawn to assess the impacts of invasion on the soil microbial community. Austroeupatorium inulifolium has been spreading into different landuse types in the Knuckles Conservation Area (KCA) for the last few years, including Cymbopogon dominated grasslands. Therefore, the study investigated whether this invasion has altered the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) abundance and the diversity in these grasslands through isolation and identification of AMF spores in three different habitats, namely less- and highly-invaded grasslands (LIG and HIG, respectively) and nearby lower montane forest patch (LMF), which is free of Austroeupatorium invasion . The results revealed that the invasion has significantly increased the AMF spore abundance. However, the LMF reported the highest AMF diversity compared to invaded grasslands. AMF richness showed no difference between the habitats. The results highlighted the importance of investigating the changes caused to the soil microbial community due to invasions and their implications for site restoration. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v42i4. 7735 J.Natn. Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2014 42 (4): 361-364
β‐secretase as a target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Finding inhibitors of the first step of the amyloid cascade, Aβ42 generation, is a major goal of Alzheimer's disease drug development. Two target protease activities, β‐and γ‐secretase, were detected more than 10 years ago but progress in this area has been slow because the enzymes were not identified. Using an expression cloning strategy we have identified a novel membrane bound aspartic protease, BACE1, as β‐secretase. The enzyme has been characterized in detail. The X‐ray crystal structure, which is critical for rational inhibitor design, has been solved and shown to be similar to that of other pepsin family members. Our recent knockout studies show that BACE1 is critical for Aβ generation, but the knockout mice show an otherwise normal phenotype, raising the possibility that therapeutic BACE1 inhibition could be accomplished without major mechanism based toxicity. Target‐mediated toxicity of β‐secretase inhibition cannot be ruled out, however, as long as the major substrates of this enzyme are unknown. Although various peptidic β‐secretase inhibitors have been published, the key challenge now is the generation of more drug‐like compounds that could be developed for therapeutic purposes. The focus of this review is progress in the β‐secretase field from the identification of the enzyme in 1999 to the most recent publications. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Retrieval of precise land surface temperature from ASTER night-time thermal infrared data by split window algorithm for improved coal fire detection in Jharia Coalfield, India

Abstract The study proposed a methodology for the retrieval of precise Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Jharia Coalfield from night-time ASTER multispectral thermal infrared (TIR) data by split-window algorithm (SWA) using atmospheric transmittance and band-specific Land Surface Emissivity (LSE). For deriving night-time atmospheric transmittance, water vapor content was retrieved from night-time ASTER TIR data by modified split-window covariance and variance ratio approach. Improved LSE was retrieved by the proposed modified LSE model by integrating refined thermal emission-vegetation cover model, modified normalized difference water index and bandwidth-weighted red band reflectivity model. The retrieved SWA LST was compared with LST obtained by single-channel algorithm (SCA) across three coal fire test sites to demonstrate significant improvement in temperature contrast between coal fire and background pixels. Besides, SWA LST based coal fire thermal anomalies are significantly comparable (including substantially reduced false alarms) with in-situ observations than that of SCA LST.
Birds of a feather? The determinants of impartiality perceptions of the IMF and the World Bank

Abstract The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank ascribe to impartiality in their mandates. At the same time, scholarship indicates that their decisions are disproportionately influenced by powerful member states. Impartiality is seen as crucial in determining International Organizations’ (IOs) effectiveness and legitimacy in the literature. However, we know little about whether key interlocutors in national governments perceive the International Financial Institutions as biased actors who do the bidding for powerful member states or as impartial executors of policy. In order to better understand these perceptions, we surveyed high-level civil servants who are chiefly responsible for four policy areas from more than 100 countries. We found substantial variations in impartiality perceptions. What explains these variations? By developing an argument of selective awareness, we extend rationalist and ideational perspectives on IO impartiality to explain domestic perceptions. Using novel survey data, we test whether staffing underrepresentation, voting underrepresentation, alignment to the major shareholders and overlapping economic policy paradigms are associated with impartiality perceptions. We find substantial evidence that shared economic policy paradigms influence impartiality perceptions. The findings imply that by diversifying their ideational culture, IOs can increase the likelihood that domestic stakeholders view them as impartial.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Workers: Balancing Practices Analysis Between
 Work and Family

The objective of this article is to analyze Corporate Social Responsibility practices that contribute to the balance between work and family from the perspective of working women in the industrial sector. Such practices in this paper include flexibility in working hours, part-time work, home office, extended licenses, and managerial and social support. Qualitative and descriptive research included field research and interviewed fifteen women workers from three major Brazilian industries and documentary research. Data analysis was done through content analysis. Based on the research findings, it was noticed that Corporate Social Responsibility practices directed at the family of workers are not enough for them to balance their lives between work and family, a result that deserves consideration by employees and employers.
Regulated Unmasking of the Cryptic Binding Site for Integrin αMβ2 in the γC-Domain of Fibrinogen†

Fibrinogen is a ligand for leukocyte integrin αMβ2 (CD11b/CD18, Mac-1) and mediates adhesion and migration of leukocytes during the immune-inflammatory responses. The binding site for αMβ2 resides in γC, a constituent subdomain in the D-domain of fibrinogen. The sequence γ383−395 (P2-C) in γC was implicated as the major binding site for αMβ2. It is unknown why αMβ2 on leukocytes can bind to immobilized fibrinogen in the presence of high concentrations of soluble fibrinogen in plasma. In this study, we have investigated the accessibility of the binding site in fibrinogen for αMβ2. We found that the αMβ2-binding site in γC is cryptic and identified the mechanism that regulates its unmasking. Proteolytic removal of the small COOH-terminal segment(s) of γC, γ397/405−411, converted the D100 fragment of fibrinogen, which contains intact γC and is not able to inhibit adhesion of the αMβ2-expressing cells, into the fragment D98, which effectively inhibited cell adhesion. D98, but not D100, bound to the recombinan.
E-Governance and Bureaucratic Corruption in Nigeria

Purpose: This paper is an inquiry into the issue of bureaucratic corruption in Nigeria and how e-governance can serve as a panacea. The purpose of the paper is to assess the link between e-governance and bureaucratic corruption in Nigeria. Public officials’ perceptions of bureaucratic corruption and e-governance in the country are also examined. Methodology: The paper brings together anecdotal and statistical evidence that indicates a significant nexus between e-governance and reduction of bureaucratic corruption. It is based on surveys with the use of a structured questionnaire. Conclusions are drawn from the combination of descriptive and inferential analysis. The survey covers a total of 125 respondents using random sampling. Findings: Principally, the paper reveals that bureaucratic corruption is visible and rampant in Nigeria and a great number of people are of the view that e-governance can help in curbing bureaucratic corruption in the country. The results suggest that e-governance initiatives, if genuinely implemented, will result in the reduction of bureaucratic corruption in Nigerian public sector. This reduction in bureaucratic corruption will further have a positive effect on the society in achieving good governance and societal harmony. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: To this end, the paper briefly provides a theoretical discussion of technology and bureaucratic corruption as held by different scholars, including Marx and Smith, Joseph, Ekeh, and Ake. It explains that e-governance is gaining popularity as a mechanism for enhanced public service delivery in underdeveloped and developing countries. It also argues that e-governance is capable of reducing bureaucratic corruption risks via improving public officials’ monitoring and ensuring that the need for citizen interaction with gatekeepers for key services is reduced.
Investigating the enigmatic Aeolosaurini clade: the caudal biomechanics of Aeolosaurus maximus (Aeolosaurini/Sauropoda) using the neutral pose method and the first case of protonic tail condition in Sauropoda

ABSTRACT The neck posture and function in sauropods have been widely studied during the last decades. The cartilaginous neutral pose (CNP) method is commonly used in biomechanical reconstructions by positioning the vertebrae with the joint surfaces aligned to obtain the ‘neutral pose’. However, few studies have analysed the posture and function of the tail of sauropods. The published data suggest that most sauropods maintained their tails in a horizontal position. We test the neutral pose hypothesis in the anterior caudal vertebrae (C4 to C9) of Aeolosaurus maximus (Titanosauria, Sauropoda), a member of Aeolosaurini endemic of South America, by using the following methodologies: CNP, and range of movement (RoM). The results show that the tail of A. maximus possibly presented in a sigmoidal format which differs from the horizontal position commonly inferred to other sauropods. A. maximus is the first sauropod with caudal vertebrae presenting in situ protonic posture, which corroborates the neutral pose hypothesis and demonstrates that this characteristic is possibly a feature of the Aeolosaurini clade.
Don't forget about synchronization! Guidelines for using locks on graphics processing units

Heterogeneous devices are becoming necessary components of high performance computing infrastructures, and the graphics processing unit (GPU) plays an important role in this landscape. Given a problem, the established approach for exploiting the GPU is to design solutions that are parallel, without data dependencies. These solutions are then offloaded to the GPU's massively parallel capability. This design principle often leads to developing applications that cannot maximize GPU hardware utilization. The goal of this article is to challenge this common belief by empirically showing that allowing even simple forms of synchronization enables programmers to design solutions that admit conflicts and achieve better performance. Our experience shows that lock‐based solutions to the k‐means clustering problem, implemented using two well‐known locking strategies, outperform the well‐engineered and parallel KMCUDA on both synthetic and real datasets; with an average 8× faster runtimes across all locking algorithms on a synthetic dataset and 1.7× faster on a real world dataset across all locking algorithms (and max speedups of 71.3× and 2.75×, respectively). We validate these results using a more sophisticated clustering algorithm, namely fuzzy c‐means and summarize our findings by identifying three guidelines to help make concurrency effective when programming GPU applications.
Blind Joint Polarization Demultiplexing and IQ Imbalance Compensation for $M$-QAM Coherent Optical Communications

A novel joint polarization demultiplexing and IQ imbalance compensation scheme for coherent optical communications that uses global update is proposed and analyzed through numerical simulations. We describe the system model and derive its related equations. Next, we formulate our blind $M$-QAM arbitrary approach based on EASI algorithm and using the second order statistics of the observed signals. A comparison of the proposed joint method with the traditional CMA for polarization demultiplexing followed by BASS for IQ imbalance compensation is also reported. Evaluated metrics (EVM, MSE, BER) demonstrate its effectiveness compared with CMA cascaded with BASS algorithm.
SLIME PRODUCTION AND DNase ACTIVITY OF STAPHYLOCOCCI ISOLATED FROM RAW MILK

In this study, 851 Staphylococci isolates isolated from 38 raw milk samples were investigated for DNase activity and slime production. The 851 Staphylococci isolates were identified as 704 Staphylococcus aureus and 147 coagulase-negative staphylococci. Coagulase – negative staphylococci isolates were classified as 32.7% S. cohnii, 19.7% S. hominis, 19.1% S. xylosus, 12.9% S. epidermidis, 8.2% S. capitis, 4.8% S. haemolyticus, 1.4% S. simulans and 1.4% S. saprophyticus by using Dichotomous scheme. DNase agar was used to investigate for DNase activity. DNase activity was found in 93.6% of 704 S. aureus and 10.2% of 147 coagulase – negative staphylococci. DNase activity was positive in 42.9% of S. haemolyticus, 20.7% of S. hominis, 17.9% of S. xylosus and 2.1% of S. cohnii isolates. No DNase activity was found in S. epidermidis, S. capitis, S. simulans and S. saprophyticus isolates. Slime production of S. aureus and coagulase – negative staphylococci from raw milk samples was investigated by using Congo Red Agar method. Slime production was positive in 5.1% of S. aureus and 42.2% of 147 coagulase – negative staphylococci. Slime production was positive in 100% of S. simulans, 68.4% of S. epidermidis, 50% of S. cohnii, 50% of S. saprophyticus, 37.9% of S. hominis, 32.1% of S. xylosus and 16.7% of S. capitis isolates. None of the 7 S. haemolyticus isolates had slime production. In conclusion, slime production and DNase activity are important virulence factors to identify pathogenic staphylococci.
Gibberellins, amylase and germination

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